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Acknowledgement of partial funding by Astra-Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, ALK-Abello. The researchers are totally independent of the funder; BackgroundOutdoor moulds are classically associated with exacerbations of asthma.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper was to examine nasal allergy morbidity by studying the short-term relationship between mould spore exposure and daily sales of reimbursable anti-allergic treatment in central France.MethodsThe relationship between daily changes in mould concentrations and daily sales obtained from the national healthcare database was analysed with generalized additive models, taking into account confounding factors such as air pollution, weather conditions, pollen counts, and days of the week.ResultsDuring the study, the average total yearly number of treated people was around 10000 over approximately 230000 surveyed. The relative risk (95% CI confidence interval) of sales of oral antihistamines with topical treatment associated with an interquartile increase in mould concentration was significant for Cladosporium 1.079 [1.019-1.142] and Aspergillus-Penicillium (Asp-Pen) 1.051 [1.021-1.082] in the whole population. When the influence of age and sex was considered, the relationship was significant only in male children aged 0-12years and those aged between 13 and 49years for Cladosporium: 1.256 [1.081-1.460] and 1.151 [1.063-1.245], respectively. The relationship was also significant for Asp-Pen: 1.038 [1.003-1.075] for those aged between 13 and 49years and 1.056 [1.007-1.108] for adults over 50years of age.ConclusionThe association between prescribed daily sales of oral antihistamines with topical treatment sales is associated with temporal changes to Cladosporium and Aspergillus-Penicillium in the whole population. When the influence of age and sex was considered, these two moulds contributed to prescribed medication sales only in the male general population.

Introduction Mettre a la disposition du corps medical un outil de diagnostic sur la presence d’acariens dans des echantillons de poussieres, reposant sur une methode immunologique. Suite aux travaux publies [1] concernant la comparaison de l’Acaritest® avec un test Elisa, acariens, cette etude complementaire permet une comparaison de l’Acaritest® avec l’Acarex test® et le test Elisa Der p, Der f. Methodes L’etude a consiste a realiser differents tests sur les memes echantillons de poussieres issus de matelas, de moquettes, de tapis, ou encore d’un canape: – la recherche d’allergenes majeurs des acariens Der p et Der f par la methode immuno-enzymatique Elisa (test specifique et quantitatif) realisee au laboratoire d’etude et de recherche en environnement et sante de Rennes; – la recherche de la guanine, produit final du metabolisme azote des acariens, par l’Acarex test® (test semi-quantitatif, pas de seuil de detection en allergenes majeurs); – la recherche de la proteine Der p1 (D Pter) et de la proteine Der f1 (D Far), par l’Acaritest® (test immuno-chromatographique semi-quantitatif). Le seuil de detection en allergenes d’acariens est de 0,1 μg/g de poussiere. Resultats Sur les echantillons testes, l’Acaritest® est en accord avec le test de reference Elisa a un taux de 87 % alors que l’Acarex test® est en accord avec le test Elisa a un taux de 52 %. Conclusion Les resultats permettent de montrer la bonne correlation entre les methodes utilisant l’immunologie et permettent aux medecins et aux CMEI d’apprecier en temps reel le niveau d’allergenes d’acariens dans l’echantillon.

Les progres technologiques et les besoins de l’industrie agro-alimentaire ont conduit a selectionner et a modifier physiquement ou chimiquement la structure des amidonspour obtenir des textures plus veloutees ou pour repondre a des problemes de conditionnement. Ces modifications doivent preserver l’aspect nutritionnel tout en permettant un traitement industriel plus facile. De plus, les amidons modifies chimiquement sont consideres comme des additifs, leur emploi est donc limite tandis que les transformations chimiques autorisees sont strictement definies par la legislation. Puisque la valeur economique des amidons augmente avec leur degre de modification, des tests physiques et chimiques ont ete developpes pour les controler et les identifier mais ces methodes sont longues et demandent des techniciens experimentes. Comme la plupart des modifications conduisent a des changements structuraux, la spectroscopie IRTF a ete envisagee comme technique experimentale pour leur reconnaissance. La complexite du probleme d’identification provient du croisement de differentes informations pour chaque echantillon, son origine, ses proprietes et modifications qui peuvent, de plus, etre multiples. Un tres grand nombre de combinaisons est possible et nous avons developpe des methodes non-supervisees (Analyse en Composantes Principales, reseau auto-organise de Kohonen) afin de grouper les echantillons en fonction de leur origine vegetale et des modifications physiques et chimiques qu’ils ont subies. Par les methodes supervisees (regression multivariee, reseaux a retro propagation de l’erreur) une prediction de l’origine et des modifications a ete realisee et discutee selon le critere de l’erreur standard de prediction.

Musculoskeletal pain has become a major public health problem with medical, occupational and socioeconomic implications. This paper reviews the problem of musculoskeletal back pain, impairment and implications for disability with specific reference to recent meta-analyses such as those performed by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (1994) and the IASP Task Force on Pain in the Workplace (1995). Data from these and other studies are consistent with our clinical findings suggesting that most cases of low back pain are idiopathic with an obscure etiology. As such they should be classified as non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) or back pain of undetermined etiology. The authors suggest that despite a paucity of objective findings many patients receive diagnoses difficult to justify and extensive diagnostic evaluation, some of which may be inappropriate and contribute to iatrogenic disability. Principles for appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic management are discussed with specific attention to risk factors likely to adversely influence treatment outcome and contribute to unnecessary disability.

The behaviour of Rhizobium meliloti and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (three strains of each) during storage in atmospheres of controlled relative humidities (r.h.) offrom 3 to 83.5% at 30°C in the presence of air were investigated. Whatever the r.h. values imposed, the desiccation step did not significantly affect the survival rates except for B. japonicum G49. However, differences in behaviours and tolerances against protracted storage at the five r.h. values tested were noted between rhizobia and bradyrhizobia. Rhizobium meliloti strains were found more susceptible to storage at 3 or 83.5% r.h. than B. japonicum strains. Whatever the r.h. values, cell populations of B. japonicum declined at a rather constant rate and no surviving cells were observed after 100 days of storage. On the contrary, two step decreases were noted for R. meliloti stored at ⩽ 67.8% r.h. and appreciable survival rates were still obtained after 100 days of storage at 22, 43.6 or 67.8% r.h. Based on scanning electron microscope examinations, it was found that drying by itself did not morphologically affect brady(rhizobia) cells. The combined processes of drying and rehydration led to minor increases in cell volumes (for cells stored at 83.5% r.h.) and appearance of numerous granules and strands of exopolymers (for cells stored at 3% r.h.). After storage in their dried states, loss of infectiveness was observed for B. japonicum cells whereas R. meliloti cells maintained the same degree of symbiotic infectivity.

A new analytical method based on Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) using chemometric tools to treat spectral data is proposed to study the degradation of aqueous phenolic solutions by photo-Fenton process. Obtained results were validated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) taken as a reference method. First a discrimination of the different steps of phenol degradation was possible by applying a principal component analysis (PCA). Then a description of the reaction evolution was successfully made using MCR-ALS, a multivariate curve resolution method which has permitted to obtain the concentration profiles of phenol and its photoproducts. Kinetics of their formation and disappearance described with this new approach are in agreement with HPLC results. This methodology may be a good alternative to classical analyses for monitoring of the degradation reactions because a lot of data are recorded and treated simultaneously. It shows how species concentration varies over time, informing thus on the reaction mechanism because a structural identification of products is possible through pure extracted spectra.

Introduction La relation entre l’exposition aux pollens et la RCA traitee est bien connue 1 . L’objectif de cette etude est de voir si l’exposition aux moisissures exterieures met en evidence la meme association. Methodes L’assurance-maladie (regime general) a fourni les donnees de consommation de medicaments anti-allergiques (maa) par les 300 000 habitants du grand Clermont pendant 5 ans (2008–12). Un episode de RCAT etait defini par la prescription sur une meme ordonnance d’un maa par voie orale ET par voie locale (nasale ou oculaire). Les relations entre les variations quotidiennes de la concentration de spores de moisissures et les variations quotidiennes de RCAT etaient analysees par un modele de regression de Poisson, en tenant compte de la pollution atmospherique, des donnees meteorologiques, et des pollens. Resultats Toutes classes d’âge confondues, le risque de RCAT associee a une augmentation d’un interquartile de la concentration de spores exterieures n’augmentait pas de facon significative. En revanche, en analyse par sous-classe d’âge, on observe, pour la classe d’âge ≥ 65 ans, une augmentation significative de la RCA traitee avec Cla : RR [intervalle de confiance] : 1,03 [1,001–1,07]. Conclusion L’exposition aux spores exterieures de Cla est associee a une augmentation de la RCAT chez les sujets de plus de 65 ans sur le grand Clermont pendant une periode d’observation de 5 ans.

Tropical legumes of the genera Sesbania and Aeschynomene are known to form nitrogen-fixing nodules on their stems. Because of their high N2-fixing potential, these plants are successfully used as green manure in paddy-fields and significantly improve the rice yield (Ladha et al., 1988; Ndoye, 1990). In both genera, nodule formation occurs at predetermined sites which always correspond to root primordia present all along the stem (Dreyfus and Dommergues, 1981). Sesbania rostrata is known to be associated with both Rhizobium and Azorhizobium, the latter genus being very specific to this species (Dreyfus et al., 1988). In the genus Aeschynomene which comprises about 250 tropical species, more than 20 species are known to bear stem-nodules. According to their nodulation, Aeschynomene species are divided into three groups: in the first group (eg. Ae. Americana, Ae. elaphroxylon) plants are only nodulated on roots or submerged part of the stem. The second (eg. Ae. Afraspera, Ae. nilotica) and third group (eg. Ae. Indica, Ae. sensitiva) comprise all stem-nodulating species. They differ by cross-inoculation patterns and by the accessibility to infection of the root primordia present on the stem, the second group being more profusely nodulated than the third group (Alazard, 1985; Alazard and Duhoux, 1988). The first group of Aeschynomene is known to be nodulated by typical slow-growing strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium (Alazard, 1985). Until recently, this heterogeneous genus which includes all slow-growing strains has not been divided into species, except that strains nodulating soybean (Glycine max) are conventionally called Bradyrhizobium japonicum. At least three DNA homology groups have been differentiated (Hollis et al., 1981). Recently, Kuykendall et al. (1992) proposed a new species Bradyrhizobium elkanii for members of the DNA homolgy group II. Bradyrhizobium japonicum is closely related to the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Young et al., 1991) and to Blastobacter denitrificans and the genera Afipia and Nitrobacter (Willems and Collins, 1992; Young, 1992). Moreover, the slow-growing strain BTAil isolated from stem nodules of Aeschynomene indica (group III) was shown to be a photosynthetic bacterium (Evans et al., 1990). Although BTAil had physiological and growth properties that were considered more characteristic of Rhizobium than that of Bradyrhizobium, it was also recently shown to belong to the Bradyrhizobium-Rhodopseudomonas rRNA cluster (Young et al., 1991).

Room and low-temperature CD of the title dienones and trienones ( 3 to 9 ) clearly show that a conformational equilibrium occurs between two ring A half-chair conformers. The relative stability of the two conformers depends on substitution of ring A. These results may be extended to other series of steroids and in particular to 4-en-3-ones. CD of these enones ( 14 to 28 ) is consistent with a conformational equilibrium between the known quasi- cis -quasi- trans conformers. The controversial conformational behaviour of 2 β-substituted 19-nor-4-en-3-ones is explained by a dynamic equilibrium in solution between the two afore-mentioned conformers rather than by single twist or deformed boat conformer.

The major feature of Quantified Judgment Method of Analyses (QJMA) is the Quantified Judgment Model (QJM), which is a metheniatical simulation of historical combat. The QJM systematically converts recorded statistical and descriptive data on ground combat engagements into quantified assessments of the force strength and combat potential of the opposing sides, thus permitting a ratio of their relative combat power. It does so by modifying the recorded strength of each in men and weapons by values representing the variables of combat, to the extent the record permits. These modifiers include such tangible variables as posture, weather, terrain, air superiority, mobility, logistical effectiveness, and vulnerability, and such intangibles (which can sometimes be assessed from the records) as leadership, morale, training, and experience. To permit comparison of the combat power ratio of the QJM with the outcomes of the historical engagements which produced the data, outcomes are represented quantitatively in terms of mission accomplishment, relative spatial effectiveness (ground gaining or holding), and relative casualty effectiveness.

The purpose of task 4 is to provide refined duration values for engagements for which detailed data is available. The original data base gives battle duration in days, but this time increment is considered by CAA to be too coarse for many statistical analyses. All reasonable temporal descriptions were considered in determining an engagement's duration, and, if contradictory evidence was found, the information judged to be most reliable was used. The purpose of task 5 is to provide the defender's width of front for those engagements in which the defender's frontage differs significantly from that of the attacker.

Table of Contents: Task 2 - Clarification of the Total Engaged Personnel Strength Data; and Task 3 - Clarification of the Basis for Assigning Victory. The purpose of task 2 is to identify the type of personnel strength given for an engagement. Three categories of personnel strength are provided: Start Strength, Average Daily Strength, and Total Engaged Strength. The purpose of task 2 is to identify the basis used to determine victory or success in an engagement. two criteria were employed to determine victory in an engagement. 1) Decisive (or 'Clear-cut') Resolution of Combat; and 2) Mission Accomplishment.

This study is an examination of forced posture changes by combat units. From information gathered from the literature, historical research, and focused discussion groups of veterans, a list of factors associated with such changes of combat posture was compiled. A model of forced posture changes suitable for incorporation into a ground combat model was developed. Two sets of model parameters were derived from historical data. One set is suitable for use in divisional-level engagements and one set for use at the regimental level. The average success rate of correct posture change identification in the historical engagements is 80%. Keywords: Breakpoint, Combat posture change, Combat model, Combat narratives.

Contents: Task 6 - Clarification of the Defender Posture Description; Task 7 - Identification of the Quality of Strength and Loss Data; Task 8 - Development of Strength and Attrition Histories for Selected Battles; and Task 9 - Assistance in Eliminating Unwanted Redundancies.

The study 'Isolating the Guerrilla,' consisting of three volumes, examines historical experience relevant to a politico-military technique of counterinsurgency: isolating guerrilla forces from internal and external support. Volume I contains the report analysis of the historical information reviewed. Volume II includes nine case studies which, for the purposes of this project, were considered to be either classic or basic. Volume III includes ten supporting case studies, which offer relevant experience, but which have not been explored in the same detail as the basic examples.