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One-dimensional 27Al, 23Na Magic-Angle-Spinning (MAS) NMR and 27Al Multiple-Quantum Magic-Angle-Spinning NMR (MQMAS) measurements are reported for the δ-isomer of the Al13 Keggin structure at high spinning speed and 14.1 T field. Values for the CQ and η parameters are on the same scale as those seen in other isomers of the Al13 structure. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed for comparison to the experimental fits using the B3PW91/6-31+G* and PBE0/6-31+G* levels of theory, with the Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP) on marination and meat quality characteristics of turkey breasts were investigated. Breast muscles from 45 turkey hens were removed from the carcasses within 30 mm postmortem. From each bird, the breast from one side was treated with HDP and the other side served as a nontreated control. Breasts were then marinated in either 15 or 30% brine (water, salt, and phosphate) based on muscle weight with vacuum tumbling for 30 mm or nonmarinated. The control and HDP-treated breasts from each bird received the same marination treatment. Brine uptake, processing yield, and cooking loss were measured as processing characteristics and texture, color, and expressible moisture were measured to document changes in meat quality. Hydrodynamic pressure processing increased (P < 0.001) brine uptake after 10 and 30 mm of marination and increased (P < 0.001) processing yield compared with controls. The HDP-induced improvements in these processing characteristics were augmented at 30% brine levels compared with 15% brine. Cooking loss was lower (P < 0.001) in marinated breasts compared with nonmarinated samples. Hydrodynamic pressure processing decreased (P < 0.0001) Warner-Bratzler shear force and significantly influenced texture profile parameters, resulting in reduced hardness but increased cohesiveness and springiness compared with controls at both marination levels. Hydrodynamic pressure processing did not influence color (L*, a, and b*) or expressible moisture values compared with controls at either mannation level. Marinated samples (15 and 30% brine levels) had lower (P < 0.001) Warner-Bratzler shear force values and lower (P < 0.05) hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness values compared with nonmarinated samples. Data from this study suggest that HDP enhances brine absorption, increases processing yield, and improves texture characteristics in marinated turkey breasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To enhance the clinical utility of the Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Questionnaire (PPQ), the current study sought to refine the measure by changing the item response options from dichotomous choices to a likert scale format.Study Design:Using a convergent/divergent validity design and two data sources (traditional survey and World Wide Web), 58 high-risk and 86 low-risk mothers answered four questionnaires.Results:Principal components analysis of items on the modified PPQ revealed three components conceptually similar to the diagnostic criterion associated with PTSD. In addition, convergent and divergent validity of the modified measure was supported. The clinical utility of the modified PPQ was established with a strong positive likelihood ratio.Conclusion:The modified PPQ is a useful clinical tool for identifying mothers experiencing significant emotional distress during the postnatal period so they may be referred for mental health services.Journal of Perinatology (2006) 26, 533–539. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211562; published online 6 July 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular transcriptional repressor RBP-Jkappa associates with the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens (EBNAs) determined to be essential for transformation of human primary B lymphocytes. It was demonstrated through genetic analysis that interaction between the viral transactivator EBNA2 and RBP-Jkappa is essential for EBV immortalization of primary B lymphocytes. We have shown that the association of RBP-Jkappa with intracellular NOTCH1 differs significantly in B and T cells. Immunoprecipitation analyses with antibodies to both the intracellular forms of NOTCH1 and to RBP-Jkappa demonstrated that little or no RBP-Jkappa is associated with NOTCH1 in B cell lines compared to the RBP-Jkappa associated with NOTCH1 in T cell lines and was further demonstrated in human primary lymphocytes. Additionally, EBNA2 can compete with intracellular NOTCH1 for binding to GST-RBP-Jkappa in vitro. Northern blot for the cellular gene hairy enhancer of split (HES1) demonstrated that HES1 is upregulated in the EBV transformed lymphoblastoid cells expressing high levels of EBNA2 and in a T cell line SupT1 overexpressing intracellular activated NOTCH1. Hence, EBNA2 may be able to compete for the available pool of RBP-Jkappa more effectively in human B cells than in T cells and provides a possible explanation for the ability of EBV to potently and efficiently infect and immortalize human B cells. Leukemia (2000) 14, 84-92. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practice guidelines and standards of care are detailed models of intervention processes that describe goals, objectives, processes, procedures, and interactions. Disciplines other than social work have developed practice guidelines, and it is appropriate for social work to also define standards or guidelines. This article describes an attempt by hospital social work staff to enact social work standards of care for suicidal clients. The difficulties and challenges of developing standards and guidelines are discussed, and reasons for the lack of success of the attempt are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) delivers targeted radiation to Somatostatin Receptor (SSR) expressing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN). We sought to assess the predictive and prognostic implications of tumour dosimetry with respect to response by 68 Ga DOTATATE (GaTate) PET/CT molecular imaging tumour volume of SSR (MITVSSR) change and RECIST 1.1, and overall survival (OS). Methods: Patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) NEN who received LuTate followed by quantitative SPECT/CT (Q-SPECT/CT) the next day (Jul 2010 to Jan 2019) were retrospectively reviewed. Single time-point (STP) lesional dosimetry was performed for each cycle using population-based pharmacokinetic modelling. MITVSSR and RECIST 1.1 were measured at 3-months post PRRT. Results: Median of 4 PRRT cycles were administered to 90 patients (range 2–5 cycles; mean 27.4 GBq cumulative activity; mean 7.6 GBq per cycle). 68% received at least one cycle with radiosensitising chemotherapy (RSC). RECIST 1.1 partial response was 24%, with 70% stable and 7% progressive disease. Cycle 1 radiation dose in measurable lesions was associated with local response (odds ratio 1.5 per 50 Gy [95% CI: 1.1–2.0], p = 0.002) when adjusted by tumour grade and RSC. Median change in MITVSSR was -63% (interquartile range -84 to -29), with no correlation with radiation dose to the most avid lesion on univariable or multivariant analyses (5.6 per 10 Gy [95% CI: -1.6, 12.8], p = 0.133). OS at 5-years was 68% (95% CI: 56–78%). Neither baseline MITVSSR (hazard ratio 1.1 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.2], p = 0.128) nor change in baseline MITVSSR (hazard ratio 1.0 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.1], p = 0.223) were associated with OS when adjusted by tumour grade and RSC but RSC was (95% CI: 0.2, 0.8, p = 0.012). Conclusion: Radiation dose to tumour during PRRT was predictive of radiologic response but not survival. Survival outcomes may relate to other biological factors. There was no evidence that MITVSSR change was associated with OS, but a larger study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines whether student evaluation of business course instructors is independent of expected grades, course level, and instructor gender and status. Method; Hypotheses; Results; Instruments.

A correction to the article "Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Genetic Competence in Streptococcus Sanguinis" is presented.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP) and aging on the processing characteristics and final meat quality of moisture-enhanced pork loins. Boneless pork loins ( n = 24) were split into 3 portions and assigned treatments: control (non-HDP treated, brine-injected), HDP treated before brine-injection, or HDP treated after brine-injection. Pork loins were injected with a salt/phosphate/water solution to 110% of original weight on day 0, intermittently tumbled 3 h, and then held overnight. Meat quality and protein characteristics were measured on days 1 and 8. HDP-treated loins had greater ( P < 0.05) brine retention after overnight equilibration and a higher ( P < 0.05) processing yield than controls. Warner–Bratzler shear force and expressible moisture decreased ( P < 0.0001) with aging from days 1 to 8, but were not significantly affected by either HDP treatment. When the drip loss data from HDP treatments were pooled, HDP samples had lower drip loss values than controls. L* and b* measurements exhibited significant HDP by aging interaction effects, but a* was not influenced by either HDP or aging. Myofibrillar protein solubility and gel electrophoresis measurements of protein degradation were influenced by aging treatments. Data from this study suggest that HDP may have beneficial effects on the processing and final product quality of moisture-enhanced pork loins. Practical Application: This study demonstrates that hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP) is an effective postharvest technology for improving the processing and meat quality characteristics of moisture-enhanced pork loin products, benefiting both meat processors and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three models each of consumer instant-read bimetal and digital thermometers were tested for accuracy, precision and response time compared with a calibrated thermocouple in cooked 80 and 90% lean ground beef patties and boneless and bone-in split chicken breasts. At the recommended insertion times, the percent of measurements matching a calibrated thermocouple were 14–69% for bimetal and 0–64% for digital thermometers. Bimetals averaged 2–11F and the digitals averaged 1–20F less than the thermocouple readings. With longer insertion times, bimetals registered 25–81% and digitals registered 14–92% of the products as cooked. Bimetals averaged 1–9F and the digitals averaged 2–7F less than the thermocouples. Measurement repeatability (precision) was high within and between individual thermometers of the same model. Results indicate that the consumer thermometers evaluated in this study required more than the recommended time to register products as cooked. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consumers are advised to use thermometers to ensure that meat products are properly cooked. Bimetal and digital thermometers are readily available to consumers. There has been no research conducted on the response times and accuracy of these types of thermometers in cooked meat products. Bimetal and digital thermometers underreported the actual product temperatures. It appears that these thermometers need additional time to register the product as fully cooked. Consumers using these thermometer models would assume that the product was not at the target temperature for food safety and would continue to cook the product longer. While this would ensure food safety by the product being overcooked, this could have a detrimental effect on the overall eating quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine different commercially available instant-read consumer thermometers (forks, remotes, digital probe and disposable color change indicators) were tested for accuracy and precision compared with a calibrated thermocouple in 80 and 90% lean ground beef patties and boneless and bone-in chicken breasts cooked on gas grills, electric griddles and baked in consumer ovens. All models registered less than 42% of the products as cooked at the recommended insertion time except for one indicator model which registered greater than 50% of the products as cooked in five meat product/cooking method combinations. Average thermometer readings deviated from the thermocouple by as much as 64F. Increasing insertion time increased percentage of product registering as cooked and decreased the temperature difference. Measurement repeatability (precision) was high within and between individual thermometers of the same model. These results indicate that consumers using these thermometers would cook meat products to higher temperatures than necessary to destroy harmful microorganisms. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consumers are urged to use thermometers when cooking meat products. Consumer fork, remote, digital probe and disposable indicator thermometers are aggressively marketed for their convenience to the consumer. There is relatively little scientific information regarding the accuracy and response time for these types of thermometers. The results of this study conclude that these thermometers register temperatures much lower than the thermocouple temperatures. As a result, consumers will cook meat products to a higher end point temperature, which provides extra food safety but in some cases may cause detrimental quality changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of salinity on the relationship between Na+-K+-ATPase and sulfogalactosyl ceramide (SGC) in the basolateral membrane of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill epithelium. SGC has been implicated as a cofactor in Na+-K+-ATPase activity, especially in Na+-K+-ATPase rich tissues. However, whole-tissue studies have questioned this role in the fish gill. We re-examined SGC cofactor function from a gill basolateral membrane perspective. Nine SGC fatty acid species were quantified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and related to Na+-K+-ATPase activity in trout acclimated to freshwater or brackish water (20 ppt). While Na+-K+-ATPase activity increased, the total concentration and relative proportion of SGC isoforms remained constant between salinities. However, we noted a negative correlation between SGC concentration and Na+-K+-ATPase activity in fish exposed to brackish water, whereas no correlation existed in fish acclimated to freshwater. Differential Na+-K+-ATPase/SGC sensitivity is discussed in relation to enzyme isoform switching, the SGC cofactor site model and saltwater adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of salinity on the relationship between Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and sulfogalactosyl ceramide (SGC) in the basolateral membrane of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill epithelium. SGC has been implicated as a cofactor in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, especially in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase rich tissues. However, whole-tissue studies have questioned this role in the fish gill. We re-examined SGC cofactor function from a gill basolateral membrane perspective. Nine SGC fatty acid species were quantified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and related to Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in trout acclimated to freshwater or brackish water (20 ppt). While Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity increased, the total concentration and relative proportion of SGC isoforms remained constant between salinities. However, we noted a negative correlation between SGC concentration and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in fish exposed to brackish water, whereas no correlation existed in fish acclimated to freshwater. Differential Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase/SGC sensitivity is discussed in relation to enzyme isoform switching, the SGC cofactor site model and saltwater adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on alcohol use and abuse among frail older adults has been minimal. This population, however, is growing rapidly and will continue to grow in the coming impaired elders who were clients of a county Health and Social Services Department. Retrospective chart audits found that 24% of the sample actively used alcohol at the time of the study. Additionally, 4% of the total sample and 17% of those actively using alcohol were defined as problems drinkers based on CAGE scores of two or more affirmative answers. Bivariate analysis revealed gender (being male) as the only significant predictor in alcohol use (p < .05), with men three times more likely to drink than women. Men had significantly higher (p < .05) CAGE scores than their female counterparts. Those who used alcohol had similar amounts of medications prescribed to them as those who were non-drinkers. This study suggests that alcohol use and abuse does exist in frail older persons in similar proportions to older adults who are less frail. Further research is needed to examine potential interventions for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficulties and delays in insurance pre-authorization (pre-auth) can negatively impact patient care, resulting in postponing, modifying, or even cancelling radiation therapy for patients. Unfortunately, pre-auth delays are not uncommon. The purpose of our project was to perform a root cause analysis of reasons for pre-auth delays, and implement solutions to optimize our workflow to better serve our patients. Our primary objectives were to decrease the mean time for clinical treatment plan (CTP) completion, and for number of cases delayed/denied, by 50% each. We performed a root cause analysis of reasons for pre-auth delays and used the PDSA & A3 quality improvement methods. We sampled ∼2 cases per disease site (total 19 cases from July – Aug 2022) to determine the "current state," pre-interventions. Countermeasures included: 1) customizing our CTP templates for each disease site to contain the specific clinical information required by each insurer, 2) formalizing earlier completion of CTPs through task automation at time of scheduling CT simulation in our Care Path, and 3) continuously refining our countermeasures based on monthly status updates and department meetings. We tracked various physician, authorization, and outcome-metrics between October 2022 and January 2023, including mean time for CTP completion, % usage of our Care Path, % usage of revised CTP templates, mean time until pre-auth initiated & completed, % of cases requiring peer-to-peer phone calls, and % of cases denied/delayed. There were 417 patients from a variety of disease sites who had a CT simulation at our institution between October 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023. Mean time for CTP completion (from the time of CT simulation request) improved from 16 days at baseline to 7 days by the end of the project. In the beginning, only 5% of CTPs were completed within 2 days of scheduling the CT simulation, and this improved to 42-56% during the project period. Percent usage of the Care Path improved dramatically from 16% to 91%, as did % usage of our revised CTP templates, from 0% to 96%. Despite initial lag in pre-authorization team workflow changes, the % of pre-authorizations initiated by day 3 from CT request improved from 32% at baseline to 48% by month 4. Mean time to complete insurance pre-authorizations improved from 16 days at baseline to 10 days. The percent of cases requiring peer to peer or were denied was reduced significantly from 32% at baseline to 4-11%. Improvingtimeliness and details of CTP documentation by using our Care Path and revising CTP templates improved efficiency of insurance pre-auth completion, and reduced the number of cases delayed/denied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of polyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 1400 amu have been deposited by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE). The deposition was carried out in vacuum (∼10[sup -6] Torr) with an ArF (λ=193 nm) laser at a fluence of 220–230 mJ/cm2. Films were deposited on NaCl plates and glass microscope slides. Both deionized water (H[sub 2]O) and chloroform (CHCl[sub 3]) were used as matrices. The physiochemical properties of the films are compared via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results show that the matrix used during MAPLE can greatly affect the chemical structure and molecular weight distribution of the deposited film. The infrared absorption spectrum shows evidence for C–Cl bond formation when CHCl[sub 3] is used as a matrix, while there is little evidence in the IR data for photochemical modification when H[sub 2]O is used as a matrix. Time-of-flight analysis was performed using a quadrupole mass spectrometer to monitor evaporation of a frozen CHCl[sub 3] target during laser exposure. Using this approach, we determined that the TOF spectra for m/z=35 (Cl) and m/z=85 (CHCl[sub 2]) differed significantly in both width and peak arrival time, indicating that neutral chlorine atoms were produced at the target surface. We attribute the reduction in molecular weight and structural modification of the film deposited using CHCl[sub 3] to the presence of these highly reactive species. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the consistency, reliability, and validity of an implicit review instrument that measures the quality of care provided to children in the emergency department (ED).Data Sources/study Setting: Medical records of randomly selected children from 12 EDs in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN).Study Design: Eight pediatric emergency medicine physicians applied the instrument to 620 medical records.Data Collection/extraction Methods: We determined internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and inter-rater reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We evaluated the validity of the instrument by correlating scores with four condition-specific explicit review instruments.Principal Findings: Individual reviewers' Cronbach's alpha had a mean of 0.85 with a range of 0.76-0.97; overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.90. The ICC was 0.49 for the summary score with a range from 0.40 to 0.46. Correlations between the quality of care score and the four condition-specific explicit review scores ranged from 0.24 to 0.38.Conclusions: The quality of care instrument demonstrated good internal consistency, moderate inter-rater reliability, high inter-rater agreement, and evidence supporting validity. The instrument could be useful for systems' assessment and research in evaluating the care delivered to children in the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All areas of healthcare, including pathology, are being challenged by the reality that the days of ever increasing budgets are over and the key debate is about how to provide value for money. As originally described by Porter and Tiesberg, value-based healthcare is defined as maximising outcomes over cost by moving away from fee for service models to ones that reward providers on the basis of outcomes (1). While production efficiencies will continue to evolve, the opportunities for future stepwise improvements in production costs are likely to have diminished. The focus now is on delivering improved testing outcomes in a relatively cost neutral or at least cost effective way. This brings pathology into line with other health services that focus on value for money for payers, and maximising health outcomes for consumers. This would signal a break from the existing pathology funding model, which does not directly recognise or reward the contribution of pathology towards improved health outcomes, or seek to decommission tests that offer little clinical value. Pathology has a direct impact on clinical and economic outcomes that extend from testing and it is important to garner support for a new approach to funding that incentivises improvements of the overall quality and contribution of the pathology service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The use of time-resolved four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) in radiotherapy requires strict quality assurance to ensure the accuracy of motion management protocols. The aim of this work was to design and test a phantom capable of large amplitude motion for use in 4D-CT, with particular interest in small lesions typical for stereotactic body radiotherapy. Methods: The phantom of 'see-saw' design is light weight, capable of including various sample materials and compatible with several surrogate marker signal acquisition systems. It is constructed of polymethylmethacrylate (Perspex) and its movement is controlled via a dc motor and drive wheel. It was tested using two CT scanners with different 4D acquisition methods: the Philips Brilliance Big Bore CT (helical scan, pressure belt) and a General Electric Discovery STE PET/CT (axial scan, infrared marker). Amplitudes ranging from 1.5 to 6.0 cm and frequencies of up to 40 cycles per minute were used to study the effect of motion on image quality. Maximum intensity projections (MIPs), as well as average intensity projections (AIPs) of moving objects were investigated and their quality dependence on the number of phase reconstruction bins assessed. Results: CT number discrepancies between moving and stationary objects were found to have no systematic dependence on amplitude, frequency, or specific interphase variability. MIP-delineated amplitudes of motion were found to match physical phantom amplitudes to within 2 mm for all motion scenarios tested. Objects undergoing large amplitude motions (>3.0 cm) were shown to cause artefacts in MIP and AIP projections when ten phase bins were assigned. This problem can be mitigated by increasing the number of phase bins in a 4D-CT scan. Conclusions: The phantom was found to be a suitable tool for evaluating the image quality of 4D-CT motion management technology, as well as providing a quality assurance tool for intercenter/intervendor testing of commercial 4D-CT systems. When imaging objects with large amplitudes, the completeness criterion described here indicates the number of phase bins required to prevent missing data in MIPs and AIPs. This is most relevant for small lesions undergoing large motions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP) and aging on the overall quality and protein characteristics of pork loins. Boneless pork loins (n = 12) were split into anterior and posterior halves and were assigned to control and HDP treatments. Following treatment on day 0, each half was divided into two portions (0 and 7 days aging). Samples were removed for the determination of Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), centrifugal moisture loss (CML), gravitational drip loss (DL), color, protein solubility and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of whole muscle protein extracts. WBSF decreased with HDP (P < 0.05) and aging treatments (P < 0.0001). CML decreased (P < 0.0001) with aging. Controls exhibited slightly less DL after 1 day than HDP samples, but the increase in DL between 1 and 7 days was similar for control and HDP samples. Treatment effects on L *, a * and b * measurements were minimal. Myofibrillar and total protein solubility were higher (P < 0.01) in HDP samples compared with controls at day 0 but not at day 7. Sarcoplasmic protein solubility decreased (P < 0.05) with aging. SDS-PAGE analysis of muscle proteins demonstrated a strong aging effect and only minor HDP differences. With aging, bands corresponding to 30–33 and 135 kDa increased (P < 0.0001), while bands corresponding to 38 and 95 kDa decreased (P < 0.05) in intensity (relative to the actin band). The 60 kDa band intensity increased (P < 0.05) with both aging and HDP treatments. Thus, data from this study suggest that HDP enhances aging tenderization in pork loins through the physical disruption of the muscle ultrastructure while having little detrimental effect on other parameters of pork quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study demonstrates that hydrodynamic pressure processing is an effective postharvest technology for enhancing aging tenderization in pork loins through the physical disruption of the muscle ultrastructure with minimal impacts on other pork quality parameters such as water-holding capacity and color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenderization effects of hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP), blade tenderization (BT) and a combination of BT followed by HDP (BT + HDP) were evaluated with 12 top rounds from Brahman cattle selected for toughness. Warner–Bratzler shear testing was performed on the day of treatment (D0) and after storage (D7). On D0, BT and HDP increased tenderness by 18% and BT + HDP yielded a 14% improvement over control steaks. Tenderness increased (P < 0.05) for HDP and BT + HDP treatment between D0 and D7, whereas tenderness did not change for BT treatment. Control samples increased (P < 0.05) in tenderness because of aging alone (20% improvement). Overall tenderness improvements for BT + HDP and HDP (D7) versus control (D0) were 37 and 29%, respectively. BT provided instant tenderization but without additional improvement during aging. HDP and BT + HDP resulted in instantaneous tenderization that also increased over time and provided the greatest amount of overall improvement in tenderness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) sits at the outermost part of the ATLAS Inner Detector, encasing the Pixel Detector and the Semi-Conductor Tracker (SCT). The TRT combines charged particle track reconstruction with electron identification capability. This is achieved by layers of xenon-filled straw tubes with periodic radiator foils or fibers providing TR photon emission. The design and choice of materials have been optimized to cope with the harsh operating conditions at the LHC, which are expected to lead to an accumulated radiation dose of 10 Mrad and a neutron fluence of up to 2middot1014 n/cm2 after ten years of operation. The TRT comprises a barrel containing 52 000 axial straws and two end-cap parts with 320 000 radial straws. The total of 420 000 electronic channels (two channels per barrel straw) allows continuous tracking with many projective measurements (more than 30 straw hits per track). The assembly of the barrel modules in the US has recently been completed, while the end-cap wheel construction in Russia has reached the 50% mark. After testing at the production sites and shipment to CERN, all modules and wheels undergo a series of quality and conformity measurements. These acceptance tests survey dimensions, wire tension, gas-tightness, high-voltage stability and gas-gain uniformity along each individual straw. This paper gives details on the acceptance criteria and measurement methods. An overview of the most important results obtained to-date is also given [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The transition radiation tracker (TRT) is one of the three subsystems of the inner detector of the ATLAS experiment. It is designed to operate for 10 yr at the LHC, with integrated charges of ∼ 10 C/cm of wire and radiation doses of about 10 Mrad and 2 × 1014 neutrons/cm². These doses translate into unprecedented ionization currents and integrated charges for a large-scale gaseous detector. This paper describes studies leading to the adoption of a new ionization gas regime for the ATLAS TRT. In this new regime, the primary gas mixture is 70%Xe-27%CO2-3%O2. It is planned to occasionally flush and operate the TRT detector with an Ar-based ternary mixture, containing a small percentage of CF4, to remove, if needed, silicon pollution from the anode wires. This procedure has been validated in realistic conditions and would require a few days of dedicated operation. This paper covers both performance and aging studies with the new TRT gas mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ATLAS Inner Detector consists of three sub-systems, the Pixel Detector at the innermost radius, the Semi-Conductor Tracker at intermediate radii, and the Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) at the outermost radius in front of the electromagnetic calorimeter. The TRT provides a combination of continuous tracking with many projective measurements based on individual drift-tubes (or straws) and of electron identification based on radiator fibres or foils interleaved between the straws themselves. This paper describes the current status of design and construction of the various components of the TRT: the assembly of the barrel modules has recently been completed, that of the end-cap wheels is well underway, and the on-detector front-end electronics is in production. The detector modules and front-end electronics boards will be integrated together over the next year, the barrel and end-cap TRT parts will be assembled and tested with their SCT counterparts during 2005 and installation and commissioning in the ATLAS pit will take place at the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) performance depends critically on the choice of the active gas and on its properties. The most important operational aspects, which have led to the final choice of the active gas for the operation of the TRT at the LHC design luminosity, are presented. The TRT performance expected at these conditions is reviewed, including pile-up effects at high luminosity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Several prototypes of the Transition Radiation Tracker for the ATLAS experiment at the LHC have been built and tested at the CERN SPS accelerator. Results from detailed studies of the straw-tube hit registration efficiency and drift-time measurements and of the pion and electron spectra without and with radiators are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The techniques to measure the position of sense wires and field wires, the gas gain and the gas flow rate inside wire chambers using a collimated and filtered X-ray beam are reported. Specific examples are given using barrel modules of the Transition Radiation Tracker of the ATLAS experiment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ceftiofur sodium, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, is active against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens of veterinary importance. This study was designed to compare the bioequivalence of the sodium salt in cattle after a single intramuscular (i.m.) or subcutaneous dose (s.c.) of 2.2 mg ceftiofur equivalents/kg body weight. The criteria used to evaluate bioequivalence were (1) the area under the curve from time of injection to the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the assay (AUC0-LOQ), and (2) time concentrations remained above 0.2 μg/mL (t>0.2). Twelve crossbred beef cattle were enrolled in a three-period, two-treatment crossover trial, with a minimum 2-week washout period between doses of 2.2 mg ceftiofur equivalents/kg. Blood samples were collected serially for up to 72 h post-injection. Plasma samples were then analyzed using a validated assay that measures ceftiofur, and all desfuroylceftiofur-related metabolites, by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as the stable derivative, desfuroylceftiofur acetamide. A maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 13.9±3.55 μg/mL was observed from 0.67-2.0 h after i.m. administration, whereas a Cmax of 13.6±3.85 μg/mL was observed from 0.67–3.0 h after s.c. administration. The AUC0-LOQ was 108±35.0 μg · h/mL after i.m. dosing, compared with 105±29.8 μg · h/mL after s.c. dosing. The pre-established criterion for equivalence of the AUC0-LOQ for the i.m. and s.c. routes of administration was satisfied. The t>0.2 was 49.2±8.55 h after i.m. administration, compared with 47.0±9.40 h after s.c. administration. The pre-established criterion for equivalence of the t>0.2 for i.m. and s.c. administration was satisfied. The equivalence of AUC0-LOQ and t>0.2 for i.m. and s.c. administration of 2.2 mg ceftiofur equivalents (CE)/kg doses of ceftiofur sodium suggest similar therapeutic efficacy and systemic safety for the two routes of administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging respiratory disease agents, increased antibiotic resistance, and the loss of effective vaccines threaten to increase the incidence of respiratory disease in military personnel. We examine six respiratory pathogens (adenoviruses, influenza viruses, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Bordetella pertussis) and review the impact of the diseases they cause, past efforts to control these diseases in U.S. military personnel, as well as current treatment and surveillance strategies, limitations in diagnostic testing, and vaccine needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of recombinant interleukin-7 (IL-7) on the clinical course of murine leishmaniasis and the development of the accompanying immune response was investigated. Previously, IL-7 has been shown to possess stimulatory capacity for different cell types of the immune and haematopoietic system critically involved in the defence against Leishmania major (L. major), such as macrophages which are activated for the elimination of the parasite by IL-7. In contrast to these in vitro data, the present study indicates that treatment of genetically susceptible BALB/c mice with IL-7 at the onset of the infection leads to enhanced lesion development and a significantly accelerated death of the animals. This was correlated with a 40-fold increased parasite burden in spleens and lymph nodes. While the specific antibody response against L. major was not altered and lymphocytes of IL-7-treated mice produced comparable amounts of the T-helper type-2 (Th2) cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, less interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was measurable after antigenic stimulation of lymph node and spleen cells in vitro. One of the major changes appearing by the first week after infection in IL-7-treated mice was the increase of the total cell number in spleen and lymph nodes draining the local infection. Analysis of the cellular composition revealed that the enhanced cellularity was predominantly due to a rise in the B-cell compartment. Since antigen presentation by B cells has been implicated in the development of Th2 cells, the disease-aggravating activity of IL-7 is thought to he primarily due to augmentation of B lymphopoiesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the long-term conservation research on the dynamics at the Virginia Coast biosphere reserve ecosystem. Background on the management of the biosphere reserve and management amidst landscape change; History on the impact of human habitation on landscape and ecosystem dynamics; System concepts in biosphere research and applications of the proposed model for morphology studies.

In-flight exposure to nicotine, urinary cotinine levels, and symptom self-reports were assessed in a study of nine subjects (five passengers and four attendants) on four routine commercial flights each of approximately four hours' duration. Urine samples were collected for 72 hours following each flight. Exposures to nicotine measured during the flights using personal exposure monitors were found to be variable, with some nonsmoking areas attaining levels comparable to those in smoking sections. Attendants assigned to work in nonsmoking areas were not protected from smoke exposure. The type of aircraft ventilation was important in determining the levels of in-flight nicotine exposure. The environmental tobacco smoke levels that occurred produced measurable levels of cotinine (a major metabolite of nicotine) in the urine of passengers and attendants. Passengers who experienced the greatest smoke exposure had the highest levels of urinary cotinine. Changes in eye and nose symptoms between the beginning and end of the flights were significantly related both to nicotine exposure during the flight and to the subsequent urinary excretion of cotinine. In addition, subjects' perceptions of annoyance and smokiness in the airplane cabin were also related to in-flight nicotine exposure and urinary excretion measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlation with functional measures of ventilation or perfusion varies widely and no prior study has evaluated correlation between densitometry and lobar ventilation/perfusion in patients with severe emphysema. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility and findings of Gallium-68 ventilation/perfusion positron emission tomography-CT ( SP 68 sp Ga-VQ/PET-CT) in severe emphysema assessment. [Extracted from the article]

Background mMCC is a rare, highly aggressive neuroendocrine cancer of the skin with a poor prognosis. ICIs have favourable efficacy and safety in clinical trials. We outline single centre experience utilising ICIs in mMCC. Methods Medical records of patients (pts) with mMCC treated with ICIs from Aug 2015 to Dec 2018 at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Australia were retrospectively analysed. RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, CD3 and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) on tumor samples were performed. Baseline tumor volumes and responses were assessed with FDG-PET scans using the Hicks criteria. Results 23 pts with mMCC were treated with ICIs. Pt characteristics are summarised in the table. A median of 8 cycles (range 1 to 47) were administered, with treatment ongoing in 6 pts. Objective responses (OR) were observed in 14 pts (61%); 10 (44%) complete metabolic responses (CMR) and 4 (17%) partial metabolic responses (PMR). Median time to response was 8 weeks (range 6 to 12) and 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 39%. Increased OR were seen in pts aged less than 75 (OR 8/10, 80% vs 46%), pts with normal baseline LDH (OR 5/7, 71% vs 50%), pts with an immune-related adverse event (irAE) (OR 6/6, 100% vs 47%) and in MCPyV negative pts (OR 11/16, 69% vs 43%). Pts with a CMR had lower mean-tumor volume on baseline FDG-PET scan (CMR: 35.7mL, no CMR: 187.8mL, p = 0.05). No correlation was seen between tumor PD-L1 positivity and response to ICI (p = 0.25) or MCPyV status (p = 0.76). Similarly, no association was seen between OR and CD3 staining within the tumor (p = 0.07). 10 pts received radiation (RT) during ICI: 4 pts started RT concurrently (OR 75%, CMR 50%), 3 pts had isolated ICI-resistant lesions successfully treated with RT and 3 pts with multisite progression continued to progress despite RT. 6 pts (26%) had a Grade 1-2 irAE. Table: 341O Baseline characteristics Patient Characteristics  n = 23  Age (years) Median (range)  75 (64 to 91)  Gender Male Female  18 5  ECOG 0 12 3  8 12 3  ICI Avelumab Pembrolizumab Other (BGB-A317)  15 5 3  MCPyV status Positive Negative  7 16  Visceral disease  17  Prior chemotherapy  10  History of autoimmune disease  2  Previous immunosuppression  2  Patient Characteristics  n = 23  Age (years) Median (range)  75 (64 to 91)  Gender Male Female  18 5  ECOG 0 12 3  8 12 3  ICI Avelumab Pembrolizumab Other (BGB-A317)  15 5 3  MCPyV status Positive Negative  7 16  Visceral disease  17  Prior chemotherapy  10  History of autoimmune disease  2  Previous immunosuppression  2  Table: 341O Baseline characteristics Patient Characteristics  n = 23  Age (years) Median (range)  75 (64 to 91)  Gender Male Female  18 5  ECOG 0 12 3  8 12 3  ICI Avelumab Pembrolizumab Other (BGB-A317)  15 5 3  MCPyV status Positive Negative  7 16  Visceral disease  17  Prior chemotherapy  10  History of autoimmune disease  2  Previous immunosuppression  2  Patient Characteristics  n = 23  Age (years) Median (range)  75 (64 to 91)  Gender Male Female  18 5  ECOG 0 12 3  8 12 3  ICI Avelumab Pembrolizumab Other (BGB-A317)  15 5 3  MCPyV status Positive Negative  7 16  Visceral disease  17  Prior chemotherapy  10  History of autoimmune disease  2  Previous immunosuppression  2  Conclusions ICIs showed efficacy and safety consistent with trial data. Younger age, negative MCPyV status, normal LDH, lower baseline FDG-PET tumor volume and irAEs are potentially associated with enhanced response. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure R.J. Hicks: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options: Telix Pharmaceuticals; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Endocyte; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: GE Medical Systems. R. Tothill: Honoraria (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck Serono. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]