Associations of Cardiovascular Health Metrics in Childhood and Adolescence With Arterial Health Indicators in Adolescence: The PANIC Study.

Background: Our aim was to assess the relationships of cardiovascular health metrics, cardiorespiratory fitness, lean mass, and fat percentage with arterial structure and function from childhood to adolescence.

Methods And Results: Five hundred four children aged 6 to 9 years were examined in the PANIC (Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children) study at baseline, 2 and 8 years later. The associations of adjusted American Heart Association cardiovascular health metrics (smoking status, body mass index-SD score, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, diet quality, plasma total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose categorized into poor, intermediate, and ideal), the American Heart Association cardiovascular health score, cardiorespiratory fitness measured by maximal oxygen uptake in a bicycle exercise test, lean mass and fat percentage with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were analyzed cross-sectionally and longitudinally in 277 participants at age 15 to 17 years.

Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Using Acidithiobacilli.

Sewage sludge contains a significant amount of phosphorus (P), which could be recycled to address the global demand for this non-renewable, important plant nutrient. The P in sludge can be solubilized and recovered so that it can be recycled when needed. This study investigated the P solubilization from sewage sludge using and .

Longitudinal associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness with arterial health in children - the PANIC study.

We investigated the longitudinal associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with arterial health among children. In our primary analyses, we investigated 245 children (girls 51.8%) aged 6-9 years participating in the baseline examinations who had data on arterial health at 2-year follow-up.

Associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and diet quality with biomarkers of inflammation in children.

We investigated the associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and diet quality with biomarkers of inflammation in 390 children (192 girls, 198 boys) aged 6-8 years. PA energy expenditure (PAEE), light PA, moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and ST were assessed by combined movement and heart rate sensor. Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index was calculated using data from 4 d food records.

Associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with heart rate variability in 6- to 8-year-old children: The PANIC Study.

Background: Associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with heart rate variability (HRV) in children are unclear. We examined associations of cardiometabolic risk score (CRS) and individual cardiometabolic risk factors with HRV variables in 6- to 8-year-olds.

Methods: The participants were a population-based sample of 443 children participating in baseline measurements of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children trial.

Associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness with heart rate variability in 6- to 9-year-old children: the PANIC study.

Purpose: To study the associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with heart rate variability (HRV) in children.

Methods: The participants were a population sample of 377 children aged 6-9 years (49% boys). ST, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and PA energy expenditure (PAEE) were assessed using a combined heart rate and movement sensor, maximal power output per kilograms of lean body mass as a measure of CRF by maximal cycle ergometer exercise test, and HRV variables (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, and HF) using 5 min resting electrocardiography.

Associations of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity With Arterial Stiffness and Arterial Dilatation Capacity in Response to a Bout of Exercise in Children.

To investigate the associations of directly measured peak oxygen uptake ( ) and body fat percentage (BF%) with arterial stiffness and arterial dilatation capacity in children. Findings are based on 329 children (177 boys and 152 girls) aged 8-11 years. was assessed by a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer and scaled by lean body mass (LM).

Production and characterization of bioaerosols for model validation in spacecraft environment.

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of two bioaerosol generation systems (dry and wet generation) for the aerosolization of microorganisms isolated from the International Space Station, and to calibrate the produced bioaerosols to fulfill the requirements of computational fluid dynamics model (CFD) validation. Concentration, stability, size distribution, agglomeration of generated bioaerosol and deposition of bioaerosols were analyzed. In addition, the dispersion of non-viable particles in the air was studied.

Reproducibility of pulse wave velocity and augmentation index derived from non-invasive occlusive oscillometric tonometry analysis in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term reproducibility of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) assessed by the non-invasive oscillometric device. Altogether of 55 (19 boys, 36 girls) adolescents 16-19-years-of-age participated in the study. PWVao and AIx% were measured during the same laboratory visit at 2 min intervals using the Arteriograph™ device.

Associations of Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time With Arterial Stiffness in Pre-Pubertal Children.

Purpose: To investigate the relationships of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) to arterial stiffness in prepubertal children.

Method: Altogether 136 children (57 boys, 79 girls) aged 6-8-years participated in the study. Stiffness index (SI) was assessed by pulse contour analysis based on photoplethysmography.

Comparison of methods for assessing temporal variation of growth of fungi on building materials.

Fungal growth on indoor surfaces can decay building materials and release hazardous substances that affect indoor air quality. Despite the numerous methods available for growth determination, there is no commonly accepted standard. The goal of this study was to compare five different assay methods for the measurement of fungal growth: cultivation, MS-based determination of ergosterol, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity, quantitative PCR and microscopic spore counting.

The effect of chlorine and combined chlorine/UV treatment on coliphages in drinking water disinfection.

Chlorine disinfection is a globally used method to ensure the safety of drinking water. However, it has not always been successful against viruses and, therefore, it is important to find new methods to disinfect water. Seventeen different coliphages were isolated from the treated municipal wastewater.

Release and characteristics of fungal fragments in various conditions.

Intact spores and submicrometer size fragments are released from moldy building materials during growth and sporulation. It is unclear whether all fragments originate from fungal growth or if small pieces of building materials are also aerosolized as a result of microbial decomposition. In addition, particles may be formed through nucleation from secondary metabolites of fungi, such as microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs).

Finger skin temperatures in 8- to 11-year-old children: determinants including physical characteristics and seasonal variation. The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study.

Purpose: The fingertip skin temperature (FST) reflects skin blood flow, and FST measurement has been suggested for the investigation of vascular responses. As a limitation, the multifactorial nature and the seasonal variation in measured values have been earlier described in adults but not in children. In the present study, we identify the modifiers of FST in a population sample of Finnish children.

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and adiposity with arterial stiffness in children.

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and body fat percentage (BF%) with arterial stiffness and dilation capacity were investigated in 160 prepubertal children (83 girls) 6-8 years of age. We assessed CRF (watts/lean mass) by maximal cycle ergometer exercise test, total PA, structured exercise, unstructured PA, commuting to and from school, recess PA and total and screen-based sedentary behavior by questionnaire, BF% using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and arterial stiffness and dilation capacity using pulse contour analysis. Data were adjusted for sex and age.

Effects of fungal species, cultivation time, growth substrate, and air exposure velocity on the fluorescence properties of airborne fungal spores.

Unlabelled: Real-time bioaerosol monitoring is possible with fluorescence based instruments. This study provides information on major factors that can affect the fluorescence properties of airborne fungal spores. Two fluorescence-based bioaerosol detectors, BioScout, and ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UVAPS), were used to study fluorescent particle fractions (FPFs) of released spores of three fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Penicillium brevicompactum).

Cardiorespiratory fitness, respiratory function and hemodynamic responses to maximal cycle ergometer exercise test in girls and boys aged 9-11 years: the PANIC Study.

Purpose: We aimed to provide comprehensive data on and reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness, respiratory function and hemodynamic responses during and after maximal cycle ergometer test in children.

Methods: The participants were a population sample of 140 children (69 girls) aged 9-11 years. Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured from pre-exercise rest to the end of recovery.

Susceptibility of green and conventional building materials to microbial growth.

Green building materials are becoming more popular. However, little is known about their ability to support or limit microbial growth. The growth of fungi was evaluated on five building materials.

Twenty seven new species of Orthocentrus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae; Orthocentrinae) with a key to the Neotropical species of the genus.

We describe 27 new species of parasitoid wasps of the genus Orthocentrus (Ichneumonidae: Orthocentrinae) from the Neotropical region, where previously only one species of the genus (O. insularis Ashmead) was known, and provide a key to all described Orthocentrus species of the region. Based on previous studies and additional material that we have seen from the region, describing these species is only an initial attempt to document the Neotropical orthocentrine fauna.

Normal values for heart rate variability parameters in children 6-8 years of age: the PANIC Study.

Background: Measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful method for examining cardiac autonomic control. HRV has been measured in many studies among adults, but research on this topic among children is limited. We therefore defined reference values for a large number of HRV parameters among children.

Sand filters for removal of microbes and nutrients from wastewater during a one-year pilot study in a cold temperate climate.

Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are recognised as potential threats to groundwater or other water environments subject to discharged effluents. In this study, the microbiological and nutrient removal properties of three different pilot-scale sand filters (SFs) were followed over a one-year period. Moreover, a separate phosphorus removal unit was tested for six months.

A new species of Lathrolestes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Ecuadorian Amazonia, with a key to the Neotropical species of the genus.

Here we describe and illustrate a new parasitoid wasp species, Lathrolestes gauldisp. n. from the lowland rainforest of eastern Ecuador and provide a key to the Neotropical species of the genus.

Metabolic risk factors are associated with stiffness index, reflection index and finger skin temperature in children--Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study.

Background: Childhood metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been found to predict adulthood MetS, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the early identification of children at increased risk of these diseases. Children with clustering of metabolic risk factors have been reported to have a mild arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction, but limited evidence is available from population-based samples of children.

Methods And Results: The associations of metabolic risk factors with arterial stiffness, tone and endothelial function were studied in 173 prepubertal children (90 girls) 6-8 years of age.

DNA barcoding and morphology reveal two common species in one: Pimpla molesta stat. rev. separated from P. croceipes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae).

Correct species identification is the basis of ecological studies. Nevertheless, morphological examination alone may not be enough to tell species apart. Here, our integrated molecular and morphological studies demonstrate that the relatively widespread and common neotropical parasitoid wasp Pimpla croceipes Cresson, 1874 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) actually consists of two distinct species.