The structure and dielectric properties of sodium nitrite and its solid solutions confined in porous glasses have been studied. The temperature dependences of the order parameter and the unit cell volume for NaNO 2 embedded into porous glasses with different pore sizes were studied by neutron diffraction in the ferro-and paraelectric phases. The characteristic sizes of nanoparticles are determined. It is shown that at a size of nanoparticles smaller than~50 nm a crossover of the phase transition from first order to second order is observed. The effect of doping of sodium nitrite with potassium nitrite on the dielectric properties of the nanocomposite materials was studied and a strong lowering of the dielectric losses was observed.

Central UV irradiation was effective at reducing airway hyperresponsiveness manifested as PEFR variability and some clinical symptoms. A larger cohort controlled longitudinal study to validate the clinical health effects of UV irradiation as a primary indoor environmental intervention for allergic asthma is necessary to confirm this finding.

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Significant elevation of cytokines including TNFa, IL6 and CRP have been reported in adults with histories of early life trauma. Fewer studies have assessed inflammatory status in children after maltreatment. Standardization of maltreatment case criteria via medical diagnosis and utilization of biorepository samples are innovations in this study. METHODS: Plasma samples were identified from a large pediatric biorepository with linked electronic medical health records. Maltreatment cases (n519) were identified by ICD-code inclusion and exclusion criteria with case validation by expert consensus review. Non-maltreated controls (n557) were identified by application of ICD-code exclusion criteria as well as chart review and were matched by age, sex, race, ethnicity, and community deprivation index (CDI). Serum cytokines were measured simultaneously, in duplicate, using ELLA multiplex fluorometric ELISA technology (IL1b, IL2, IL4, IL6, IL10, IL12p70, IFNg and TNFa; Protein Simple, Bio-Techne). hsCRP was measured by absorbance ELISA (R&D Systems, Bio-Techne). Results beyond the limits of quantitation or with CV greater than 20% in duplicate samples were excluded. Statistical analyses included non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests, linear regression, and factor analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in cytokines in cases versus controls by non-parametric assessment or linear regression of logtransformed cytokines adjusted for age, gender, BMI and CDI (eg hsCRP adjusted-R 2 50.058). Factor analysis supported one factor that was not significantly different between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, increased inflammation by elevated cytokines was not seen in children with a prior diagnosis of maltreatment. Expansion of the sample size and consideration of prospective data collection is warranted.

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