Comparison of three monoclonal antibody pools for the detection of respiratory viral antigen in respiratory secretions

The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivities of commercial monoclonal antibody pools to be used as an initial rapid screen for detection of viral antigens in respiratory secretions. The availability of commercial monoclonal antibodies has dramatically improved the detection of viruses by immunofluorescence techniques in exfoliated cells obtained from respiratory secretions. Several companies have recently introduced monoclonal antibody pools to detect the presence of respiratory viruses in a single preparation. Ninety-four stored slide preparations that had previously been examined by individual monoclonal antibodies were tested using three commercial monoclonal antibody pools produced by Sanofi (UK), Dako (UK), and Quadratech (UK). These monoclonal antibody pools had a sensitivity of 79.6%, 90.9%, and 100%, respectively, when compared with the original results. The overall intensity of immunofluorescence was also examined.     

Cryptosporidium Log-inactivation with Ozone Using Effluent CT10, Geometric Mean CT10, Extended Integrated CT10 and Extended CSTR Calculations

The draft Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) contains Cryptosporidium log-inactivation CT tables (ozone-in-water concentration [residual], “C” times contact time, T). Depending on water temperature, Cryptosporidium CT values that are listed are 15 to 25 times greater than CT values for equivalent Giardia log-inactivation credit. The elevated operating dose required for Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit has the potential to increase disinfection by-product (DBP) formation (e.g., bromate). Calculating CT value accurately will minimize ozone dose, which will decrease operating cost and lower DBP formation, and at the same time maintain disinfection protection through implementation of scientifically based safety factors. Various methods are available for calculating CT value. The method chosen depends largely on the available information concerning ozone residual characteristics and hydrodynamic features of the ozone contactor, plus local regulatory requirements. Four methods are discussed in this paper. Each method can be used to calculate Giardia, virus, and Cryptosporidium log-inactivation credit.     

Nanostructured polymer blends: Synthesis and structure

Nanostructured polymer blends prepared via anionic ring opening polymerizations of cyclic monomers in the presence of a pre-made polymer melt exhibit a number of special properties over traditional polymer blends and homopolymers. Here, we report on a simple and versatile method of in situ polymerization of macrocyclic carbonates in the presence of a maleic anhydride polypropylene (mPP) matrix and a surface-active compatibilizer (i.e. PC grafted onto a mPP backbone generated in situ) to yield a micro- and nanostructured polymer blends consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) minor phase, and a polypropylene (PP) major phase. By varying the processing conditions and concentration of the macrocyclic carbonate it was possible to reduce the size of the PC dispersions to an average minor diameter of 150 nm. NMR and TEM characterizations indicate that the PC dispersions do not influence crystal content in the PP phase. Overall, the results point to a simple strategy and versatile route to new polymeric materials with enhanced benefits.     

Neuropsychological functioning of girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder followed prospectively into adolescence: Evidence for continuing deficits?

The current study prospectively followed girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with a matched comparison sample, 5 years after childhood neuropsychological assessments. Follow-up neuropsychological measures emphasized attentional skills, executive functions, and language abilities. Paralleling childhood findings, the childhood-diagnosed ADHD group displayed moderate to large deficits in executive/attentional performance as well as in rapid naming relative to the comparison group at follow up (Mage 14.2 years). ADHD-inattentive versus ADHD-combined contrasts were nonsignificant and of negligible effect size, even when a refined, sluggish cognitive tempo subgroup of the inattentive type was examined. Although ADHD versus comparison group differences largely withstood statistical control of baseline demographics and comorbidities, control of childhood IQ reduced executive function differences to nonsignificance. Yet when the subset of girls meeting diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adolescence was compared with the remainder of the participants, neuropsychological deficits emerged even with full statistical control. Overall, childhood ADHD in girls portends neuropsychological and executive deficits that persist for at least 5 years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Supramedullary modulation of sympathetic vasomotor function

1. Supramedullary structures including the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the midbrain cuneiform nucleus (CnF) project directly and indirectly to premotor sympatho-excitatory neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) that are critically involved in the generation of sympathetic vasomotor tone. 2. Electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that activation of depressor sites within the MPFC is associated with splanchnic sympathetic vasomotor inhibition and inhibition of the activity of RVLM sympathoexcitatory neurons. 3. Antidromic mapping and anatomical studies support the notion that a relay in the nucleus tractus solitarius is involved in the cardiovascular response to MPFC stimulation. 4. The midbrain CnF, which lies adjacent to the midbrain periaqueductal grey, is a sympathoexcitatory region of the midbrain reticular formation. Sympathoexcitatory responses evoked from the CnF are associated with short-latency excitation of RVLM neurons. 5. Cuneiform nucleus stimulation induces the expression of mRNA for the immediate early genes c-fos and NGFI-A in mid-brain, pontine and hypothalamic structures. 6. The MPFC and CnF are supramedullary structures with opposing modulatory influences on sympathetic vasomotor drive, whose roles in cardiovascular control mechanisms warrant further investigation.     

Sexual dimorphism of circulating somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor I and II, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, and insulin: relationships to growth rate and carcass characteristics in growing lambs

The effects of sex and age on patterns of circulating somatotropin (ST) concentration and plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, insulin, and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were studied in ram, wether, and ewe lambs (n = 7 or 8) sampled at mean ages of 81 (I1) and 158 d (I2). Between 81 and 158 d of age, rams grew more rapidly than wethers (P < .01), and wethers grew more rapidly than ewes (P < .01). The sex differences in growth were reflected in empty body weight at slaughter: rams > wethers > ewes (P < .05). Mean plasma ST concentrations, ST pulse amplitude, and integrated plasma ST concentrations were greater (P < .05) in rams than in ewes at I1 and I2. Characteristics of the ST plasma profile in wethers were generally intermediate between those of rams and ewes. The interpulse interval was greater in ewes than in wethers at I2. The IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were greater in rams than in ewes at both sampling times. Plasma IGF-II was greater in ewes than in rams at I2. Mean plasma ST was approximately two thirds less at I2 than at I1 regardless of sex. Mean plasma ST and IGF-I at both ages were positively correlated with growth. Mean plasma ST at I2 was negatively correlated with fatness at slaughter. Sex and age significantly affected patterns of circulating ST and concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in prepubertal growing lambs, under conditions for which growth rates and composition were also sexually dimorphic.     

Effects of sampling site on passage rate estimates in heifers fed alfalfa hay or a high concentrate diet

Rate of passage from the rumen was estimated from samples from the rumen, duodenum, ileum, and rectum after four crossbred heifers were dosed with cobalt ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ytterbium-labeled alfalfa or corn grain as digesta markers. Diets consisted of chopped alfalfa hay or an 80% concentrate mixture fed twice daily at 2.0% of body weight (dry matter per day) in two trials. Rates of particulate passage were calculated by two mathematical models, and influence of site of sampling on rate of ruminal passage was appraised. Rate of fluid passage calculated from ruminal samples was more rapid than rates from samples at the duodenum, ileum, and rectum for both the alfalfa diet (10.6 versus 6.3, 5.6, and 5.6% X h-1) and the 80% concentrate diet (10.3 versus 6.8, 7.2, and 6.1% X h-1). With the alfalfa diet, rates of fluid passage estimated from ruminal and rectal samples were correlated .98 despite the marked disparity of means. Rates of passage of particulates estimated from samples from the duodenum, ileum, and rectum were not correlated. Estimates of rate of digesta passage from the rumen differed with postruminal site of sampling.     

President’s column.

Presents remarks from the president of the APA's Division 13 (Division of Consulting Psychology). The author discusses the second annual Colorado conference on consulting to corporations and business; the planning for Division activities at the APA convention in Los Angeles; and the affect of health reform on consulting psychology and consulting psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirical efficiency and volume relationships for HPGe detectors

We have extended the empirical work of Vano et al.[1] relating the slope of the detector efficiency curve to the active volume for Ge detectors. The analysis was carried out using Monte Carlo techniques and covered a wide range of incident energies (200 keV-20 MeV) and active volumes (19.6 cm³–396 cm³). It is shown that the expression of Vano et al.[1] is only valid over the energy range 200 keV-3 MeV for active volumes <50 cm³. The upper bound decreases to 2 MeV for volumes of a few hundred cm³. The usable energy range can, however, be extended to 6 MeV by introducing higher order terms into the polynomial. Above this energy, the shape of the efficiency curve is better described by a non-linear function since linear forms fail simultaneously to fit large active volumes and high energies. We therefore propose a composite function which reduces to the form given in Vano et al. in the low energy/active volume limit. By comparison with the Monte Carlo results, it is estimated that relative efficiencies can be calculated to within 6% over the energy range 200 keV-20 MeV and active volumes 20 cm³–400 cm³. Since the largest errors occur for the smallest volumes, we recommend that for energies <3 MeV a two-fold approach be followed, i.e. using the expression of Vano et al.[1] for active volumes less than 50 cm³ and the proposed non-linear form for larger volumes. For high energy work (E > 3 MeV), we advocate the non-linear form. In this way, average errors can be kept 3%. Finally, we point out that the real power of the expression of Vano et al. lies not in predicting efficiencies, but active volumes.