The College of American Pathologists, 1946-1996. Quality Assurance Service

Since its creation in 1970, the College of American Pathologists Quality Assurance Service Committee has provided important and highly respected interlaboratory programs for daily quality control. In 1988, this committee extended its domain by announcing Q-Probes, a unique benchmarking program for laboratory quality assurance. Because of the success and rapid growth of this program during the next 2 years, the Quality Assurance Service Committee expanded into two committees, namely, QAS-QC and QAS-QA, with expertise concentrated, respectively, in quality control and quality assurance. These committees have compiled a history of significant scientific and educational contributions to members, the international laboratory community, other physicians, and patients. New directions for both committees are now underway so that their contributions can continue in the rapidly changing field of pathology and laboratory medicine.     

Quantification of historical dust exposures in the diatomaceous earth industry

Quantitative estimates of dust exposure in a diatomaceous earth (DE) mining and milling operation have been derived based on air sampling records for the period 1948-1988. A total of 6395 records was included in the analysis. Conversion of results obtained by particle counting, expressed as millions of particles per cubic feet (mppcf) of gravimetrically from a filter cassette and expressed as mg m-3 total, were converted to mg m-3 respirable dust using a conversion factor derived from data obtained during the same periods at the plant. Conversion factors were calculated as the average difference of means on the log scale in order to provide stable and consistent conversions and as a ratio of arithmetic means so that the results could be compared with similar studies. After converting the available data to mg m-3 respirable dust, geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) concentrations were 0.37 (2.43) during the 1950s and 0.17 (2.35) during later periods. Exposures were estimated using two linear models, one estimating the changes in concentration over time, and the other providing job-specific mean exposures during the more recent period. Extrapolation of the estimates to periods prior to the availability of any data was done using a subjectively-determined scaling factor. The average estimated respirable dust concentrations for 135 jobs were 3.55 (+/-1.25), 1.37 (+/-0.48), 0.47 (+/-0.16) and 0.29 (+/-0.10) mg m-3 prior to 1949, 1949-1953, 1954-1973 and 1974-1988, respectively. Despite the limitations of the available data, the estimation procedures used are expected to provide reasonable quantitative estimates of silica-containing dust exposure for subsequent exposure-response analyses.     

Enhancement of the Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Performance by Modification of the Cathode Microporous Layer Using Carbon Nanofibers

Mass transfer is a key parameter affecting the performance of the passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), which work under natural convection. In this study, effect of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) addition to the cathode microporous layer (MPL) on the performance of the passive DMFCs was investigated. The results indicated that CNFs content has a significant influence on both of the mass transport and the electrochemical surface area (ECSA). Interestingly, addition of the CNFs (20 wt.%) leads to increase the power density of the passive DMFC to 160% compared to pristine carbon black MPL. At low current density, the CNFs content has no influence on the performance, while at high current density the maximum performance can be obtained at 20 wt.% CNFs then the performance decreases with further increase in the CNFs content. Although the highest catalyst utilization is observed at 40 wt.% CNFs, a maximum power density of 36 mW cm^–2 can be obtained at 20 wt.% CNFs and this is related to the significant effect of the mass transfer resistance under the passive operation conditions. Overall, addition of CNFs to the MPL can be considered an effective strategy to modify the passive DMFCs performance.     

Kainate-induced apoptosis in cultured murine cerebellar granule cells elevates expression of the cell cycle gene cyclin D1

Recent evidence suggests that neuronal apoptosis is the consequence of an inappropriate reentry into the cell cycle. Expression of the cell cycle gene cyclin D1, a G1-phase cell cycle regulator, was examined in primary cultures of murine cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) during kainate (KA)-mediated apoptosis. Using cultures of CGCs, we found that a 24-h exposure to KA (1-3,000 microM) induced a concentration-dependent cell death with neurons exhibiting characteristic apoptotic morphology and extensive labeling using the terminal transferase-mediated nick end-DNA labeling (TUNEL) method. KA induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in expression of cyclin D1 as determined by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. KA-induced apoptosis and cyclin D1 expression exhibited a similar concentration dependence and were significantly attenuated by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (50 microM), indicating a KA receptor-mediated effect. Here we present evidence for the first time that KA-induced apoptosis in cultured CGCs involves the induction of cyclin D1, suggesting its involvement in excitotoxic receptor-mediated apoptosis.     

Isolation and characterization of Carnobacterium, Lactococcus, and Enterococcus spp. from cooked, modified atmosphere packaged, refrigerated, poultry meat

The microbiota of commercially produced, cooked and modified atmosphere packaged poultry meat was followed during storage at 3.5 degrees C for up to 7 weeks. The dominant microbiota consisted of Lactococcus raffinolactis (117 isolates), Carnobacterium divergens (61 isolates), Carnobacterium piscicola (11 isolates), Lactococcus garvieae (four isolates), Lactococcus lactis (one isolate) and Enterococcus faecalis (three isolates). All isolates were screened for production of bacteriocins. Only C. piscicola isolates produced an inhibitory substance active against other lactic acid bacteria and against several Listeria spp. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were used for the differentiation of Carnobacterium, L. raffinolactis, L. lactis, and L. garvieae strains associated with the modified atmosphere packaged poultry products. No false PCR products were observed with other closely related bacterial species.     

Reliability-based optimization of laterally loaded piles

A general approach to the reliability-based analyses and the optimum designs of laterally loaded piles (LLOP) is presented. This approach takes into consideration all behavior and side constraints specified by standard specifications for piles. Additionally, the casual effect of corrosion of piles with time is considered in formulation with limiting state functions. The solution to reliability-based problems is obtained by a computer program (RELLOP). A general reliability based methodology is developed and implemented in the developed computer program (RELLOP) for both element and system limit states. Numerical examples demonstrating the feasibility of considering multiple limit states and system reliability requirements in the design of laterally loaded piles are presented. Effects on the reliability-based design solution of allowable reliability levels, and time of exposure to corrosion are also illustrated.     

Modified Ultrasonic Technique to Study Gd-Doped ZnO Films

Normal ultrasonic transducers of 0.5, 1, and 2 MHz are modified using delay lines which are made of Quartz. Such modification is to ameliorate the capability of the transducer to investigate Gd-doped ZnO thin films whose thickness is too thin. The normal transducers cannot test materials that have too thin thickness due to the near fields of these transducers. The near field is considered as blind area of the transducer. Therefore, the specimen under test must have thickness bigger than the near field of the used transducer, or instead delay lines can be used. Samples of Gd-doped ZnO thin films are prepared using sol gel technique. The ultrasonic pulse echo method is used at room temperature. Flaws are found in different prepared specimens. Results show that such delay lines are suitable to ameliorate the ultrasonic transducer to test Gd-doped ZnO thin films.     

Bibliometric analysis of the evolution of biochar research trends and scientific production

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - Biochar has caught great attention over the last decade, yielding a large number of publications in a broad range of disciplines. This scientometric...     

Physiochemical characterizations of hydroxyapatite extracted from bovine bones by three different methods: Extraction of biologically desirable HAp

In the present study, subcritical water and alkaline hydrolysis methods are proposed methodologies for extraction of natural hydroxyapatite bioceramic from bovine bone. In these processes, the bovine bones powder were treated by high pressure water at 250 °C for 1 h and 25% (wt) sodium hydroxide at 250 °C for 5 h, respectively. Also the conventional calcination methodology has been utilized as well (T = 850 °C for 1 h). The obtained apatites from the three treatment processes have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), electron scanning microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE SEM). FT IR and XRD results affirmed that both the proposed methods and the traditional one can eliminate the collagen and other organic materials present in the bovine bones. The physiochemical characterizations for the obtained apatites have proved that the subcritical water and the alkaline hydrolysis relatively preserve the carbonate content present in the biological apatite, so they yield carbonated hydroxyapatite which is medically preferable. While, the thermal process produces almost hydroxyapatite carbonate-free.