Issues in evaluating vocational rehabilitation programs.

Addresses issues in the evaluation of vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs for the disabled and discusses examples of 10 common evaluation problems typically encountered in assessing VR services. The usefulness of conducting an initial evaluability assessment is emphasized to identify and deal with potential obstacles to evaluation and to prevent a premature evaluation effort. It is concluded that, in spite of the complexity of carrying out evaluation research, the improvement of VR and other rehabilitation services depends on this program-monitoring and budget-justifying activity. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of cell polarity on retrovirus-mediated gene transfer to differentiated human airway epithelia

Gene transfer with recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) provides the potential to permanently correct inherited lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Several problems prevent the application of MuLV-based recombinant retroviruses to lung gene therapy: (i) the lack of cell proliferation in mature pulmonary epithelia, (ii) inefficient gene transfer with a vector applied to the apical surface, and (iii) low titers of many retroviral preparations. We found that keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) stimulated proliferation of differentiated human tracheal and bronchial epithelia. Approximately 50% of epithelia divided in response to KGF as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine histochemistry. In airway epithelia stimulated to divide with KGF, high-titer ampho- and xenotropic enveloped vectors preferentially infected cells from the basal side. However, treatment with hypotonic shock or EGTA transiently increased transepithelial permeability, enhancing gene transfer with the vector applied to the mucosal surfaces of KGF-stimulated epithelia. Up to 35% of cells expressed the transgene after gene transfer. By using this approach, cells throughout the epithelial sheet, including basal cells, were targeted. Moreover, the Cl- transport defect in differentiated CF airway epithelia was corrected. These findings suggest that barriers to apical infection with MuLV can be overcome.     

Demethylation of the progesterone receptor CpG island is not required for progesterone receptor gene expression

In a previous study we have shown that an intravenous infusion of pramlintide (an analogue of human amylin) delayed gastric emptying, but the dose of pramlintide was supraphysiological in relation to the amylin response to food in non-diabetic subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine the dose response relationship of subcutaneous injections of pramlintide on gastric emptying and to determine whether administration of the drug before one meal has an impact on the subsequent meal. Eleven men with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were studied in a double-blind, randomised, four-way crossover design. None had autonomic neuropathy. Euglycaemia was maintained overnight before the study day. At -30 min the patients self-injected their usual morning insulin and at -15 min they injected the study drug (either placebo or 30, 60 or 90 microg pramlintide) subcutaneously. At 0 min they ate a standard meal consisting of a pancake, labelled with 99mTc, and a milkshake containing 3-ortho-methylglucose (3-OMG). Gastric emptying images were obtained for the next 8 h. At 240 min the subjects ate a similar meal, but on this occasion the pancake was labelled with (111)In. All three doses of pramlintide delayed emptying of the solid component of the first meal (p < 0.004) with no significant difference between the drug doses. There were no differences between placebo and pramlintide after the second meal. All three doses of pramlintide resulted in a prolongation in the time to peak plasma 3-OMG level (p < 0.0001) after the first meal but there was no difference after the second meal.     

The Effects of Limited Spares and Scheduled Downtime Upon The Dependability of a Simple System

Preventive maintenance and repair during a mission have an important effect on the dependability of ships' systems. Space and weight limitations mean that not all repairs can be carried out during the mission and this limits the dependability which can be achieved. Using a simple diesel generator arrangement as an example, this paper discusses the relationships between dependability, downtime for preventive maintenance, proportion of failures repairable at sea, and equipment failure rate.     

Studies of aversive conditioning for alcoholics: A critical review of theory and research methodology.

Reviews studies of the applications of aversive conditioning procedures to alcoholics. The review is divided into sections on electrical and chemical aversive stimulation and is organized according to the level of research design used. While many positive outcomes are reported, inconsistent theoretical underpinnings of the research are also reported. The lack of systematic investigation of relationships between therapist, patient, and technique characteristics indicate the need for further investigation. The ethics of using the techniques reviewed with human Ss are discussed. (62 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fly's eye: a counting camera for thermal neutrons-some applications, problems, and prospects

An area detector for thermal neutrons based on image intensification techniques has been described. Some capabilities and limitations of the detection system have been discussed. Among the former are high spatial resolution, high instantaneous counting rate, electronic zoom, time-gating, and integration. The detector is limited in that the maximum counting rate for a resolution element is 60 regularly spaced counts per second. Also, the nonuniformity of response over the detector puts a limit on the useful size and necessitates point-by-point calibration. In addition, a higher efficiency for neutron detection would be desirable. Some typical applications of the system are crystal inspection, neutron magnetic diffraction topography, and searches for temperature-induced changes in diffraction patterns. The future application of solid-state television sensors and microchannel-plate intensifiers to improve the system were briefly mentioned.