Flexible polymer composite electromagnetic crystals

The dielectric properties of a ceramic powder (BaTiO₃) filled thermoplastic elastomer (EPDM TPE) were investigated for use in a flexible electromagnetic crystal. Materials were produced that had a high dielectric constant (approximately 9) and low loss tangent (less than 0.01). Materials were extruded and injection molded so as to povide low‐cost processing. Mechanical and electromagnetic test results showed the effect of processing conditions on the final quality of the composite. The shear rate during processing and the number of mixing cycles were found to affect the final material characteristics significantly. An electromagnetic crystal woven from extruded rods showed good reflectivity in the 10–15 GHz region.     

An anti-IL-2 antibody increases serum half-life and improves anti-tumor efficacy of human recombinant interleukin-2

We examined the ability of anti-human recombinant interleukin-2 (hu rIL-2) monoclonal antibody DMS-1.10 to increase serum half-life of hu rIL-2, and the effect of this complex on inhibition of tumor progression in a B16-F10 murine melanoma model. In C57B1/6 mice, intravenous (i.v.) injection of DMS-1.10 premixed with 1 x 10(4) units (U) of hu rIL-2 at a 1:1 molar ratio extended serum half-life greater than 10-fold (222 min) when compared to the same dose of hu rIL-2 alone (20 min). In a murine tumor model, multiple intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of non-neutralizing DMS-1.10 premixed with hu rIL-2 at a 5:1 molar ratio reduced the growth rate of subcutaneous (s.c.) B16-F10 tumor in C57B1/6 mice by 64% when compared to PBS and irrelevant antibody treated controls. Although similar treatment with hu rIL-2 alone reduced tumor growth rate by 46%, it was significantly less effective than the premixed treatment. Results from a flow cytometry assay confirm B16-F10 does not have IL-2 receptors, precluding direct inhibition of tumor growth by hu rIL-2 treatments. We propose that therapeutic efficacy of hu rIL-2 is improved by prolonging the in vivo half-life with an anti-IL-2 antibody, thus augmenting hu rIL-2 bioactivity and enhancing the hosts immune response against tumor.     

Demonstration of Sustainable Development of Groundwater through Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)

Water Resources Management - Sustained pumping of groundwater can lead to declining water levels in wellfields and concerns regarding the sustainability of groundwater resources. Aquifer Storage...     

Duration of slip-resistant shoe usage and the rate of slipping in limited-service restaurants: results from a prospective and crossover study

Several studies have indicated that slip-resistant shoes may have a positive effect on reducing the risk of slips and falls, a leading cause of injury at work. Few studies, however, have examined how duration of shoe usage affects their slip-resistance properties. This study examined the association between the duration of slip-resistant shoes usage and the self-reported rate of slipping in limited-service restaurant workers. A total of 475 workers from 36 limited-service restaurants in the USA were recruited to participate in a 12-week prospective study of workplace slipping. Of the 475 participants, 83 reported changing to a new pair of shoes at least once during the 12-week follow-up. The results show that slip-resistant shoes worn for less than six months were moderately more effective than those worn for more than six months. Changing to a new pair of shoes among those wearing slip-resistant shoes at baseline was associated with a 55% reduction in the rate of slipping (RR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23–0.89). Further research is needed to develop criteria for the replacement of slip-resistant shoes.

Practitioner Summary: The duration of usage impacts the slip-resistance properties of slip-resistant shoes. Slip-resistant shoes worn for less than six months were moderately more effective in reducing slips than slip-resistant shoes worn for more than six months. Shoe use policies should not only encourage or require their use but also include guidance on replacing slip-resistant shoes at regular intervals.     

Occupational slip, trip, and fall-related injuries--can the contribution of slipperiness be isolated?

To determine if the contribution of slipperiness to occupational slip, trip and fall (STF)-related injuries could be isolated from injury surveillance systems in the USA, the UK and Sweden, six governmental systems and one industrial system were consulted. The systems varied in their capture approaches and the degree of documentation of exposure to slipping. The burden of STF-related occupational injury ranged from 20 to 40% of disabling occupational injuries in the developed countries studied. The annual direct cost of fall-related occupational injuries in the USA alone was estimated to be approximately US$6 billion. Slipperiness or slipping were found to contribute to between 40 and 50% of fall-related injuries. Slipperiness was more often a factor in same level falls than in falls to lower levels. The evaluation of the burden of slipperiness was hampered by design limitations in many of the data systems utilized. The resolution of large-scale injury registries should be improved by collecting more detailed incident sequence information to better define the full scope and contribution of slipperiness to occupational STF-related injuries. Such improvements would facilitate the allocation of prevention resources towards reduction of first-event risk factors such as slipping.     

Confidential Incident Reporting on the UK Railways: The ‘CIRAS’ System

The paper describes CIRAS (Confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis System), a confidential reporting system developed by the authors in collaboration with ScotRail, the Health and Safety Executive, Railtrack and the (now defunct) British Rail Board. After a two-year pilot/developmental study with ScotRail during 1995–97, the system is now subscribed to by all but one of the major train operating companies, rail infrastructure and maintenance companies with a presence in Scotland; plus a developing profile in the rest of the UK.  CIRAS gathers data in three ways: (i) from an initial report form or telephone call, (ii) from a structured follow-up telephone questionnaire, and (iii) from an in-depth interview with a researcher (telephone or face-to-face, according to priority). The interviews bring to light details of personal motive, and of intended/unintended actions, which are not commonly found on company-run databases because of their association with disciplinary procedures. Information is processed through a human factors model and fed back to the companies involved, in disidentified form, to take corrective action.  The basic structure of the human-factors model is described; data are presented on reports received to date which have been processed through this model. The system has recently been recommended by a UK Parliamentary Committee and by Railtrack Safety and Standards Directorate for extension to the UK network as a whole.     

An analysis for estimating the probability of particle coalescence in liquid phase sintered systems

During liquid phase sintering solid particles move about within the liquid and make contact with each other. Microstructural examination of liquid phase sintered alloys clearly indicates that some of these contacts lead to particle coalescence even in systems in which wetting of the solid by the liquid is presumed to occur. Under these circumstances, the grain boundary formed by the particles must have a rather low energy and hence, misorientation. In this study, attention is directed at the problem of calculating the probability of a collision between particles that lead to the formation of a low angle grain boundary and hence, coalescence. By making simple but physically plausible assumptions about the nature of low angle grain boundaries, the coalescence probabilityp _c can be determined as a function of a parameterθ where θ = withγ _SL =solid-liquid surface energy,γ _ss = average solid-solid grain boundary energy and У is the angular extent of the energy cusp associated with a low angle grain boundary. A simple analytical expression ofp _c ,p _c = 0.1θ (1-cosθ) is derived and found to be in excellent agreement with other techniques for calculatingp _c for values ofθ ≲ 10 deg, the range most probable for liquid phase sintered alloys. Some discussion of the accuracy and assumptions of the present model is also given.     

Resolving Ambiguity: The Effect of Experience on Interpretation of Ambiguous Events in Generalized Social Phobia.

The authors examined the effect of learning on multiple encounters with sources of social ambiguity in individuals with generalized social phobia (GSP). The authors modified G. B. Simpson and H. Kang's (1994) paradigm and presented prime-target word pairs to individuals with GSP and nonanxious controls (NACs) to prime threat and nonthreat meanings of homographs and examine the effect of this priming on later encounters with that homograph. Consistent with previous research, NACs showed faster response latencies naming a target primed by a homograph with the same meaning activated in two successive trials than naming the same target primed by an unrelated word. Furthermore, NACs showed slower response latencies naming a target when a different meaning of the homograph prime was activated in successive trials than naming a target primed by an unrelated word. GSP participants did not show this pattern in learning a nonthreat meaning of a homograph. These results support the hypothesis that a faulty learning mechanism may be involved in social anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reach and posture hand preferences during arboreal feeding in sifakas (Propithecus sp.): A test of the postural origins theory of behavioral lateralization.

Sixteen sifakas (11 Propithecus verreauxi coquereli, 2 Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi form majori, and 3 Propithecus tattersalli) were videotaped as they fed on leaves in an arboreal context. The hand used to feed and the hand used to maintain postural stability was coded. For each subject, the lateral bias of the hand used to feed was opposite the hand used in postural support. Seven sifakas displayed no bias for feeding or posture-related hand use, 7 sifakas displayed significant feeding-related reach preferences for pulling branches to the mouth (5 left- and 2 right-hand preferences), and 9 sifakas exhibited significant hand preferences for postural support (2 left-, 7 right-hand preferent). Although these data do not strongly support the postural origins theory of behavioral lateralization, the modal preference pattern for sifakas that displayed significant hand preferences for posture and feeding involve a left bias for feeding and a right bias for postural support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)