Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using recombinant borrelial antigens for serodiagnosis of Borrelia burgdorferi infection

The basic tenet of continuous quality improvement is that there is always room for additional improvement in the clinical care provided to patients. The opportunities for this improvement come from the analysis of information collected during the ongoing monitoring of important elements of care. The provision of clinical psychiatric care is seen as a complex process that is dependent on the effective functioning of all of the health and mental health care organization. The concept of continuous quality improvement is the most recent stage in a long process of defining and redefining the basic goals and tenants of medical and psychiatric quality assurance. The determination of the actual improvement of psychiatric and mental health care due to quality assurance is a substantial and important technical problem. The determination of the value of this improvement in mental health care is an even greater ethical and social problem.     

Development of a new combined corrosion protection system for chloride‐contaminated reinforced concrete structures

Chloride‐induced damage of reinforcing steel is especially for parking garages and bridges often very severe as large amounts of chlorides act on horizontal surfaces which could lead to fast ingress of these detrimental ions up to the level of the reinforcement and subsequently to high rates of corrosion. In order to avoid the disadvantages of conventional rehabilitation (unreliable prognosis with patch repair or high costs and regular maintenance with cathodic protection using impressed current) a new combined protection system was developed where the principle of drying out the concrete (by means of a surface protection system) is combined with a temporary cathodic protection (by means of a sprayed zinc layer) during the transitional period of the drying out process. This new system was tested both in the laboratory and on‐site at a pilot application. Based on the results obtained the possibilities and limitations of the new system are discussed in this paper.     

The CLAS forward electromagnetic calorimeter

The CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Lab utilizes six iron-free superconducting coils to provide an approximately toroidal magnetic field. The six sectors are instrumented individually to form six independent spectrometers. The forward region (8°<θ<45°) of each sector is equipped with a lead–scintillator electromagnetic sampling calorimeter (EC), 16 radiation lengths thick, using a novel triangular geometry with stereo readout. With its good energy and position resolution, the EC is used to provide the primary electron trigger for CLAS. It is also used to reject pions, reconstruct π° and η decays and detect neutrons. This paper treats the design, construction and performance of the calorimeter.     

Dorsal spondylodesis of unstable thoracolumbar fractures by a far-lateral approach to the disc

A case of temporal bone chrondroblastoma is reported. The presenting symptom was a serious otitis. The finding on physical examination was partial facial palsy. The tumor was removed through a middle fossa approach. Chondroblastoma is a rare tumor that represents 1% of all primary bone tumors. In the temporal bone only 34 cases have been reported. The histologic diagnostic should be difficult. Radical excision is suggested regarding its tendency to recur.     

Hemoglobin M equon beta 41 (C7) phenylalanine leads to tyrosine

A severe hemolytic crisis was observed in a 34-yr-old female of English-Irish extraction following a viral illness treated with acetaminophen. Heinz bodies and heat instability were present only during a transient hemolytic event. A challenge dose of acetaminophen caused no detectable hematologic abnormality. Structural studies of the hemoglobin during hemolysis and again after complete recovery localized the abnormality to tryptic peptide beta Tp-5, and automated sequencing of I 125-labeled beta chains indicated a replacement of phenylalanine (C7) beta 41 by tyrosine. Substitution of the next residue, phenylalanine (CD1) beta 42 by serine (Hb Hammersmith), has resulted in chronic severe Heinz body hemolytic anemia. The lack of chronic anemia in the present disorder may reflect the different relationships of beta41 and beta 42 and/or the similarities in volume and hydrophobicity of tyrosine and phenylalanine. It is suggested that substitution of tyrosine for phenylalanine in Hb Mequon may disturb the critical environment around the heme group and render it susceptible to oxidative denaturation in the presence of infections and/or drugs.     

A Compact High-Resolution Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS)

More precise information on the chemisty, dynamics, and energy budget of the middle atmosphere can be derived from globally and simultaneously measured concentration profiles of a substantial number of atmospheric trace gases. Such a data base can be obtained from infrared limb spectra which are recorded by spaceborne instruments. Fourier transform spectrometers are especially appropriate for such a task. In this paper are discussed characteristic features and performance parameters of a compact high-resolution (0.05 cm-1) rapid-scanning (1 s) interferometer for measurements in the 2 to 15-?m region. Technical data of a cryogenic version as well as of an uncooled satellite instrument are presented.     

Capillary viscometer for use with crosslinking polymer melts

A capillary viscometer is described which adapts a conventional capillary rheometer for use with crosslinking polymers. Illustrative data obtained with the viscometer using diallyl phthalate resin are included.