Requirement for multiple lymphocyte subsets in protection by a live attenuated vaccine against retroviral infection

STUDY DESIGN: A case report and literature review of thoracic hyperkyphosis deformity secondary to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in Cushing's disease. OBJECTIVES: To identify the pathophysiology of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and to outline the diagnosis and treatment options for a patient with severe spinal deformity secondary to unrecognized excess glucocorticoid activity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is seen in patients exposed to supraphysiologic levels of endogenous or exogenously administered glucocorticoids. In these patients, glucocorticoids act to suppress bone formation and increase bone resorption by indirect and direct effects. These patients have a high prevalence of trabecular bone loss, resulting in much higher rates of vertebral body collapse and pathologic fracture and thus causing an increased propensity toward kyphotic spinal malalignment. METHODS: The literature was reviewed and case reports studied. This case report highlights the pathophysiology of the disease process that caused the spinal deformity and the surgical intervention used to correct the kyphotic deformity after the metabolic problem was resolved. RESULTS: This patient has responded well to treatment and surgical intervention to correct a thoracic hyperkyphotic deformity without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Unrecognized endogenous production of glucocorticoids in Cushing's disease should be considered in young adult patients with progressive osteoporotic spinal deformities.     

Activated Carbon for Removing Tetrachloroethylene from Alcohol Solutions

Alcohol (cosolvent) flooding is a relatively new, in situ technique for enhancing the removal of organic solvents from groundwater aquifers. Recovery of the alcohol for reinjection is important for ensuring the cost-effectiveness of this technology. The research goal was to investigate the ability of activated carbon to remove tetrachloroethylene (PCE) from alcohol solutions, allowing reuse of the alcohol in the cosolvent-flooding process. Laboratory studies were conducted using PCE (concentrations ranged from 10 to 100,000 mg∕L) and isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. Alcohol concentrations ranged from 0 to 80% (v∕v). A field application conducted at the Dover National Test Site in Delaware consisted of treating 60 to 70% (v∕v) ethanol solutions containing PCE concentrations ranging from 500 to 2,000 mg∕L with carbon-filled drums. PCE adsorbed onto activated carbon even at high alcohol concentrations; however, the Freundlich coefficient (Kf) was reduced by almost two orders of magnitude with increasing alcohol concentrations. In the field, activated carbon successfully treated ethanol solutions, allowing alcohol reinjection in the cosolvent flood. The results demonstrated technical and economic feasibility of the reuse of alcohol from cosolvent-flooding activities.     

An ergonomic evaluation of infant life jackets: Donning time & donning accuracy

Canada is considering the development of a new standard for infant/child life jackets. Eight currently available (approved and non-approved) infant/child life jackets were procured for evaluation. Fifty-six participants were chosen as a sample of convenience from the general public for testing. The life jackets were divided into two groups of four, which were donned on a soft infant manikin procured from the Red Cross. In 224 attempts at donning, only 43 (19%) attempts resulted in the life jacket being donned correctly in less than 1 min. Only one life jacket came close to a good design and passed the life jacket standard for donning time and accuracy. Failure rates were observed across all the participants irrespective of age, gender, experience with children and experience with recreational marine equipment. Accuracy and speed of donning the life jacket were hampered as the number of donning sub-tasks increased. It was concluded that it is possible to design a life jacket that can be donned correctly in under 1 min. The life jacket must be of simple, intuitive design and fall naturally into the anatomical shape of the child. A minimum number of ties, zips and clips should be used in the design, and if such connectors are used they should be color coded or of different shapes and sizes to avoid confusion.     

A Stackable Bonding-Free Flextensional Piezoelectric Actuator

A flextensional actuator was designed using commercial multilayer stacked actuator so as to produce large displacements at intermediate force levels. The simple design chosen eliminated the need for bonding the actuators into the frame and permitted easy series connection of multiple units. To satisfy the need for a fiber grating tuning device to interrogate an array of Bragg grating fiber optic stress sensors, a tuning device using four series connected units was constructed. The unit performs well, but the actual measured amplification is less than theoretical expectation. The problem was traced to unwanted flexing of the simple original frame and a hinged more robust flexing beam construction was shown to eliminate the problem.     

Controlled manipulation of molecular samples with thenanoManipulator

The nanoManipulator system adds a virtual-reality interface to an atomic-force microscope (AFM), thus providing a tool that can be used by scientists to image and manipulate nanometer-sized molecular structures in a controlled manner. As the AFM tip scans the sample, the tip-sample interaction forces are monitored, which, in turn, can yield information about the frictional, mechanical, material, and topological properties of the sample. Computer graphics are used to reconstruct the surface for the user, with color or contours overlaid to indicate additional data sets. Moreover, a force feedback stylus, which is connected to the tip via software, allows the user to directly interact with the macromolecules. This system is being used to investigate carbon nanotubes, DNA, fibrin, adeno- and tobacco mosaic virus. It is now also possible to insert this system into a scanning electron microscope which provides the user with continuous images of the sample, even while the AFM tip is being used for manipulations     

De-nationalization and de-securitization of transboundary water resources: the Israeli–Palestinian case

Many people think of transboundary water in terms of national security. However, water is not, nor is it likely to become, a cause of war. Rather, the need is for water security, which implies that water management must balance the goals of efficiency, equity, sustainability and implementability. This article suggests how a joint management structure for fresh water can be designed to promote ongoing resolution of issues, and do so in a way that de-nationalizes and de-securitizes transboundary water. Though designed with the Israeli–Palestinian case in mind, the approach is applicable wherever water divides rather than unites states or peoples.     

Urban Social Policy,Race, Aimd The Education Of Planners

This paper examines the impact of contemporary urban social problems, especially those related to race and the black ghetto, on the planning profession in general and the education of planners in particular. Several dimensions of the planner's role are discussed, leading to the making of a case for a greatly intensified effort in the training of social policy planners. Kecommendations are made concerning the content and structure ivhich should characterize such new training programs.     

30—THE INTERFACIAL TENSION OF GREASES FROM THE TIP AND BASE OF THE WOOL FIBRE AND THE RÔLE OF INTERFACIAL TENSION IN THE SCOURING OF RAW WOOL

An investigation is described in which the interfacial tensions (γ) of greases extracted from the tip and base regions of raw-wool staples were measured against buffer solutions and against a Lo-Flo scour liquor. The γ-pH curves for tip and base greases against the scour liquor were found to-cross so that the tip grease had the higher γ at higher pH. The use of the detergent 9-ethoxy-nonylphenol lo lower the value of γ became ineffective with a concentrated Lo-Flo liquor.     

Biomarkers of exposure and dose: state of the art.

Biomarkers provide methods to measure changes in biological systems and to relate them to environmental insults and disease processes. Biomarkers can be classified as markers of exposure and dose, markers of sensitivity, and markers of disease. It is important that the differences and applications of the various types of biomarkers be clearly understood. The military is primarily interested in early biomarkers of exposure and dose that do not require high levels of sensitivity but can be used to rapidly triage war fighters under combat or terrorist conditions and determine which, if any, require medical attention. Biomarkers of long-term radiation risk represent the second area of interest for the military. Biomarkers of risk require high sensitivity and specificity for the disease and insult but do not require rapid data turnaround. Biomarkers will help provide information for quick command decisions in the field, characterise long-term troop risks and identify early stages of radiation-induced diseases. This information provides major positive reassurances about individual exposures and risk that will minimise the physical and psychological impact of wartime radiation exposures.