Attributable factors to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis based on the observation of consecutive drug resistance test results

Determining whether there is evidence of underutilization of outpatient mental health care by Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries relative to the general population is the purpose of this study. It analyzes data from the 1994-1995 DoD Health Beneficiary Survey and compares the mental health status and usage rates of active duty members and their families with benchmark levels found in the general population. Although the mental health status for the DoD beneficiary population was found to be generally the same as that of the general U.S. population within gender categories, gender-specific usage rates of mental health services of DoD beneficiaries in the groups examined were well below rates recorded for the general population. The concept of psychological readiness is also introduced. Several recommendations for increasing access to mental health care are presented.     

3D-CT cystography with perspective volume-rendering

We evaluated the clinical utility of 3D-CT cystography using the perspective volume rendering technique in 5 patients with disorders of the urinary bladder and prostate. Unlike the conventional orthostatic volume-rendering technique, the capability of optional visual point settlement in the urinary bladder precluded cutting a subset of acquired data for luminal inspection, and permitted observation closer to lesions. Consequently, the technique enabled the evaluation of the accurate size, shape, and relation to adjoining mucosa and the region shaded by bulky tumor. 3D-CT cystography using the perspective volume-rendering technique facilitated 3-D inspection of the bladder lumen.     

Establishment of a modified rankine method for the separate determination of free and combined sulphites in foods. III

Summary Considerable improvements were made to the original Rankine method. Replacement of aspiration with an injection system contributed a great deal to the simplification of procedure, being accompanied with an increase in reproducibility. Air (flow rate 1.01/min) was used for injection because the use of inert gas gave little increase in recovery rate.Sodium bisulphite (free sulphite) and three kinds of combined sulphite compound (bisulphite adducts of acetaldehyde, pyruvic acid and D-mannose) were used to find the most suitable conditions for the separate determination of free and combine sulphites.Free sulphite was expelled from the sample by bubbling at 0 °C for 30 min. It was confirmed that no combined sulphite was dissociated under these conditions. The phosphoric acid concentration had an important role in the liberation of sulphite. When 25% phosphoric acid was used, more than 99% of free sulphite was expelled by cold bubbling and more than 99% of combined sulphite was recovered by heating afterwards for 10 min.The scope of the modified Rankine method was also extended to the determination of sulphite in concentrated orange juice.

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Verwendung der modifizierten Rankine-Methode zur getrennten Bestimmung von Sulfiten in Lebensmitteln. III

Zusammenfassung Die Rankine-Methode wurde bedeutend verbessert. Ein Umtausch der Aspiration mit Blasensystem trug beträchtlich zur Vereinfachung des Bestimmungsverfahrens bei, und die Reproduzierbarkeit wurde verbessert. Luft (Fließrate 1,01/min) wurde als Blasengas benutzt, da der Gebrauch von Inertgas für die Wiederfindungsrate unbedeutend ist.Natriumhydrogensulfit (freies Sulfit) und drei Arten gebundener Sulfite (Acetaldehydhydrogensulfit, Pyruvathydrogensulfit undd-Mannosehydrogensulfit) dienten dazu, die geeignetsten Bedingungen für die getrennte Bestimmung der freien und gebundenen Sulfite zu ermitteln.Freies Sulfit wurde bei 0 °C durch 30 min Durchblasen vertrieben. Hierbei ging kein gebundenes Sulîit verloren. Die Phosphorsäurekonzentration war wichtig für die Freisetzung des Sulfites. Wenn man 25%ige Phosphorsäure verwendet, werden > 99% freien Sulfites beim Durchblasen in der Kälte vertrieben, während > 99% gebundenen Sulfites durch nachheriges 10 min langes Erhitzen wiedergewonnen werden.Die modifizierte Rankine-Methode wurde weiterhin für konzentrierte Säfte verwendet.

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Studies on the Analyses of Sulphites in Foods (III)     

The development of bi-based high-temperature superconductor and coil

Ag-sheathed Bi-2223 superconducting oxide conductors with a critical current density of 66,000 A/cm² at 77 K and coils that have generated magnetic fields of approximately 1.5 Tesla at 4.2 K have been successfully developed. The conductors consist of piled-up bundles of four to six sheets of element tapes with transport currents of approximately 200 Amps. The core size limit (CSL) prevented the production of single conductors that had the capacity to transport a current as high as 200 Amps at 4.2 K. Until now, it was difficult to develop a conductor having both high critical current density and the capability of transporting a large amount of current simultaneously. The role of CSL in large scale applications of high temperature superconducting oxides is discussed.     

Enhancement in thermoelectric power factor of M/T/N and M/Bi/M/Bi/M (M and N = Cu or Ni) composite devices welded with T = Bi or Bi<Subscript>0.88</Subscript>Sb<Subscript>0.12</Subscript> alloy

The resultant thermoelectric power factors P of M/T/N and M/Bi/M/Bi/M (M and N = Cu or Ni) devices welded with T = Bi or Bi_0.88Sb_0.12 alloy were measured at 298 K and compared with P values calculated as a function of x by treating these devices as an electrical and thermal circuit, where x is the ratio of thickness of Bi or Bi-Sb alloy to the interval between two thermocouples. Consequently, the Seebeck coefficients of M/T/N devices were enhanced significantly in the middle range from x = 0.3 to 0.8, and the observed P values have a local maximum at small x below x = 0.35. The x-dependence of P values of M/T/N devices was found to be explained well by the simple model proposed here when an enhancement factor in and some reduction in thermal conductivity of pure metal were taken into the calculation. As a whole, however, the observed P values of double-layered M/Bi/M/Bi/M devices are lower than those of single-layered M/Bi/M, so that the macroscopic multi-layering of thermoelectric materials has no effect on the enhancement in P. The maximum P (= 22.1 mW/K²m) of Cu/Bi-Sb/Cu is 1.5 times larger than that of Cu/Bi/Cu and reached 3.6 times as large as the mean value of 5.7 and 6.6 mW/K²m of the high-performance bulk p- and n-type bismuth-telluride compounds.     

Neuronal pathways for activation of inhibitory interneurons in pyriform cortex of the rabbit

The neuronal pathways responsible for the fast inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) elicited in principal cells in the pyriform cortex (PC) by volleys from the olfactory bulb (OB), the lateral olfactory tract (LOT), the anterior commissure (AC), and the deep-lying structures of the PC (DPC) were studied in the rabbit. The central latencies of the fast IPSPs (measured from the onset of the monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) elicited by volleys through the LOT) ranged between 3.0 and 9.3 ms (5.5 +/- 1.3 (SD) ms; n = 54) in the case of OB shocks and between 4.5 and 6.5 ms (5.1 +/- 0.7 (SD) ms; n = 7) in the case of LOT shocks. The onset latencies of the fast IPSPs were between 2.5 and 11.8 ms (5.1 +/- 1.8 (SD) ms; n = 66) in the case of DPC shocks and between 3.5 and 10.1 ms (5.8 +/- 1.5 (SD) ms; n = 61) in the case of AC shocks. The conditioning OB or LOT shocks almost completely eliminated the LOT-evoked fast IPSP when the testing shock was applied at the peak period of the conditioning slow IPSP. The conditioning OB shocks also eliminated the initial part of the OB-evoked fast IPSP, leaving the later part of the fast IPSP almost unchanged. Thus, the onset latency of the OB-evoked fast IPSP was lengthened by 7.1 +/- 2.9 (SD) ms (n = 35) by the conditioning OB shock. The conditioning OB or DPC shocks left the peak amplitude of the DPC-evoked fast IPSP almost unaffected. Similarly, the conditioning OB or AC shocks left the peak amplitude of the AC-evoked fast IPSP almost unaffected. The conditioning OB, DPC, or AC shocks had only a slight influence on the onset latency of the DPC- or AC-evoked fast IPSPs. Rhythmical steps at intervals of 3-5 ms were observed in the rising phase of the OB-evoked fast IPSP. This was interpreted as a result of a repetitive impingement of interneuronal discharges on the impaled cells. Spatial facilitation was observed among the fast IPSPs evoked by volleys from the OB, DPC, and AC when shocks were applied at suitable intervals. A slight facilitation was also seen between the LOT-evoked fast IPSP and the DPC- or AC-evoked fast IPSP. These results were interpreted as a result of the convergence of excitatory synaptic inputs onto the presumed inhibitory interneurons from the four structures of the brain. A temporal facilitation of the fast IPSPs was observed when the OB, DPC, or AC shocks were applied repetitively at short intervals. This suggests a temporal facilitation of the spike discharges of the presumed inhibitory interneurons under similar conditions. From these results, criteria were determined for identifying the inhibitory interneurons.     

Effects of phenol on the properties of pitch produced thermally from the petroleum vacuum residue

A petroleum vacuum residue was thermally treated at 430 °C, with continuous addition of phenol to either the vapour phase or the liquid phase of the reacting system. Addition of phenol to the vapour phase increased the yield of the cracked oil and the fixed carbon of the residual pitch. When phenol was charged to the liquid phase, the yield of the oil remained unchanged, but the amount of the benzeneinsoluble matter in the pitch decreased, probably owing to the inhibition by phenol of the polymerization-condensation reactions of aromatic compounds. In both additions the cracked oil had a higher boiling point than that produced without phenol. Substitution of phenol with methyl groups increased the extent of cracking and coking properties (Roga Index) of the pitch. The effective order of phenol and its derivatives is: Phenol < m-Cresol < o-Cresol < p-Cresol < 2, 4-Dimethylphenol < 2, 6-Dimethylphenol < 2, 4, 6-Trimethylphenol Polyhydric phenol, e.g. catechol, and naphthol also enhanced the cracking reactivity of the residue.     

A case of chronic lung abscess showing a cloudy shadow of the right upper lobe, diagnosed by transbronchial aspiration cytology

A 58-year-old healthy woman was admitted to our hospital on 8th October, 1991 for detailed investigation of an abnormal shadow on chest roentgenogram, which was detected by mass survey. The chest roentgenogram showed a cloudy shadow of the right upper lobe, and retrospectively, this abnormal shadow had been present since 1986. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed complete obstruction of right B1b bronchus by regenerated bronchial mucosa. Aseptic pus was detected in the obstructed bronchus by means of transbronchial aspiration cytology (TBAC) and chronic lung abscess was diagnosed. The chest roentgenograms of this case is very unusual, and we were unable to find a similar case of chronic lung abscess diagnosed by means of TBAC.     

Formation of radioactive cesium microparticles originating from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident: characteristics and perspectives

ABSTRACT

Following identification of radioactive Cs microparticles (CsMPs) in aerosol samples from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), numerous reports on CsMPs have been published. This paper reviews recent progress in the measurement and characterization of CsMPs by advanced analytical techniques, including advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron X-ray analysis. These analyses revealed that the CsMPs contained Si, Fe, Zn, Cs, and minor quantities of U together with some fission products. Uranium in the CsMPs was identified as being in the form of uraninite and (U,Zr)O₂. Detailed advanced TEM analysis has clarified some of the processes resulting in the alteration of constituents of the nuclear fuels and containment vessel materials during this severe accident. In addition, a detailed report on the elemental compositions and structures of the fuel debris fragments collected inside and outside of the primary containment vessel²⁵ highlighted the fact that the fuel debris fragments contained nanoparticles with the U and Zr components having similar structures to that of the CsMPs. This similarity in structures has stimulated further research on the structure and elemental constituents, especially for U and Zr in the CsMPs, and has opened up new avenues for studying the chemical characteristics of the fuel debris.     

In Situ Measurement of Bridging Stresses in Toughened Silicon Nitride Using Raman Microprobe Spectroscopy

Bridging stresses that result both from elastic tractions and frictional interlocking in the wake of an advancing crack have been evaluated quantitatively via in situ Raman microprobe spectroscopy in a toughened Si₃N₄ polycrystal. Crack opening displacement (COD) profiles of bridged cracks also have been measured quantitatively via scanning electron microscopy to substantiate the piezospectroscopic determination of microscopic stresses via Raman spectroscopy. The highest spatial resolution of the stress measurement in the Raman apparatus was 1 µm, as dictated by the optical lens that was used to focus the laser on the sample. Measurements of the bridging stresses were performed both at fixed sites (as a function of the applied load) and along the profile behind the crack tip (under a constant load). Rather high stress values (i.e., 0.4-1.1 GPa) were measured that corresponded with unbroken ligaments that bridged the crack faces in elastic fashion, whereas frictional sites were typically under a lower tensile stress (0.1-0.5 GPa). Mapping the near-tip COD profile and the bridging stresses at the (normal) critical load for catastrophic fracture enabled us to calculate the crack-tip toughness and to explain the rising R -curve behavior of the material. From a comparison with conventional fracture-mechanics data, a self-consistent view of the mechanics that govern the toughening behavior of the Si₃N₄ polycrystal could be obtained. In particular, crack bridging is proven to be, by far, the most important mechanism that contributes to the toughening of polycrystalline Si₃N₄ materials.