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Abstract: Aims: We evaluated the effects of Bacillus anthracis surrogates, low surface concentrations, surface materials and assay methods on false‐negative rate (FNR) and limit of detection (LOD95) for recovering Bacillus spores using a macrofoam‐swab sampling procedure. Methods and Results: Bacillus anthracis Sterne or Bacillus atrophaeus Nakamura spores were deposited over a range of low target concentrations (2–500 per coupon) onto glass, stainless steel, vinyl tile and plastic. Samples were assayed using a modified Rapid Viability‐PCR (mRV‐PCR) method and the traditional plate culture method to obtain FNR and LOD95 results. Conclusions: Mean FNRs tended to be lower for mRV‐PCR compared to culturing, and increased as spore concentration decreased for all surface materials. Surface material, but not B. anthracis surrogate, influenced FNRs with the mRV‐PCR method. The mRV‐PCR LOD95 was lowest for glass and highest for vinyl tile. LOD95 values overall were lower for mRV‐PCR than for the culture method. Significance and Impact of Study: This study adds to the limited data on FNR and LOD95 for mRV‐PCR and culturing methods with low concentrations of B. anthracis sampled from various surface materials by the CDC macrofoam‐swab method. These are key inputs for planning characterization and clearance studies for low contamination levels of B. anthracis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of changing economies and patterns of development, the definition of heritage is diversifying and the role of inventories in local heritage planning is coming to the fore. The Durand neighbourhood is a layered and complex area located in inner-city Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and the second subject area in a set of pilot inventory studies to develop a new city-wide inventory strategy for the City of Hamilton,. This paper presents an innovative digital workflow developed to undertake the Durand Built Heritage Inventory project. An online database was developed to be at the centre of all processes, including digital documentation, record management, analysis and variable outputs. Digital tools were employed for survey work in the field and analytical work in the office, resulting in a GIS-based dataset that can be integrated into Hamilton's larger municipal planning system. Together with digital mapping and digitized historical resources, the Durand database has been leveraged to produce both digital and static outputs to shape recommendations for the protection of Hamilton's heritage resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I treat the reflectance of light from coastal ocean water in terms of diffused volume scattering phase function P(θ) derived from successive products of the normalized volume scattering function β(θ). My results show that the wavelength dependence for backscattering in a multiple scattering process is directly proportional to the angle-independent dimensionless source function b/a, which is the ratio of the total volume scattering coefficient b and the total volume absorption coefficient a. I use this result to produce a statistical formula for remote sensing reflectance (Rra). The statistical formula shows good agreement with experimental data, and—unlike the standard oceanographic expressions for Rrs given in terms of bb/(a + bb), where bb is the volume backscattering coefficient—the statistical relationship for Rrs accounts for the effects of photon turnaround and reduces to the expected asymptotic limits for diffuse reflectance when a → 0 but bb remains finite and when bb → 0 but a and b remain finite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the application of routine techniques of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to establish a systematic procedure for global analysis of the in situ reflectance from coastal water. Estimation of volume scattering and absorption coefficients; General optical properties of coastal water; Infrared properties of bulk reflectance.

Describes the use of electroreflectance-photoreflectance technique to investigate photoreflectance modulation in layered electronic material. Direction of the electric field; Measurement of modulated reflectance through perturbation frequency analysis of the electric field; Mechanism of the reflectance modulation.

This research on human body dimensions offers data for creating comfortable and efficient workplaces. Focusing on Slovak university students (2003-2023) as a representation of the adult population, the study measured 25 key anthropometric dimensions. 11355 respondents (5219 women and 6136 men) were selected for the analysis. This data, analyzed through descriptive statistics, empowers designers to tailor work environments and their elements to individual needs, minimizing worker fatigue and maximizing productivity. The findings are applicable across various design fields: Informing dimensions and functionalities of tools, workspaces, and controls in industrial design and guiding short- and long-term product development in consumer product design. By analyzing future workforce trends through university students, this research helps ensure workplace designs remain relevant and ergonomically sound., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are biomaterials with scientifically proven potential to improve sustainability in construction. Although mycelium-based products are not entirely new, their use in engineering presents challenges due to the inherent properties of this fungal material. This study investigated professional architects' and interior designers' perceptions of MBCs, focusing on familiarity, aesthetic appeal, and willingness to use. The first phase of the survey explored respondents' views on material-related ecological design principles. In the second phase, respondents evaluated ten small architectural objects crafted from MBCs, focusing on form, detail, and visual appeal. The last phase of the survey measured their interest in using mycelium in their design work. The results revealed that MBCs were relatively unknown among the surveyed professionals; only every second respondent knew this material. Despite this, 90% found MBCs visually appealing after seeing the examples. Interestingly, the natural, unprocessed appearance of the material was assessed as less aesthetically pleasing, with thermal treatment improving its perceived value. Architects were more receptive to using MBCs in their professional projects for customers than for personal use. This observation points to a 'double standard': professional architects are more open to using MBCs in projects not intended for their own use., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Using a wheelchair over uneven terrain generates vibrations of the human body. These vibrations result from mechanical energy impulses transferred from the ground through the wheelchair components to the user's body, which may negatively affect the quality of the wheelchair use and the user's health. This energy can be dissipated through the structure of the wheelchair frame, such as polymer and carbon fiber composites. This article aims to compare a wheelchair with an aluminum alloy frame and a carbon fiber frame in terms of reducing kinematic excitation acting on the user's body. Three wheelchairs were used in the study, one with an aluminum alloy frame (reference) and two innovative ones with composite frames. The user was sitting in the tested wheelchairs and had an accelerometer attached to their forehead. The vibrations were generated by applying impulses to the rear wheels of the wheelchair. The obtained results were analyzed and compared, especially regarding differences in the damping decrement. The research shows that using modern materials in the wheelchair frame has a beneficial effect on vibration damping. Although the frame structure and material did not significantly impact the reduction in the acceleration vector, the material and geometry had a beneficial effect on the short dissipation time of the mechanical energy generated by the kinematic excitation. Research has shown that modern construction materials, especially carbon fiber-reinforced composites, may be an alternative to traditional wheelchair suspension modules, effectively damping vibrations.

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are alternative biopolymers for designing sustainable furniture and other interior elements. These innovative biocomposites have many ecological advantages but present a new challenge in aesthetics and human product acceptance. Grown products, made using living mycelium and lignocellulosic substrates, are porous, have irregular surfaces and have irregular coloring. The natural origin of these types of materials and the fear of fungus can be a challenge. This research investigated the level of human acceptance of the new material. Respondents were students of architecture who can be considered as people involved in interior design and competent in the design field. Research has been performed on the authors' prototype products made from MBCs. Three complementary consumer tests were performed. The obtained results measured the human reactions and demonstrated to which extents products made of MBCs were "likeable" and their nonobvious aesthetics were acceptable to the public. The results showed that MBC materials generally had a positive or not-negative assessment. The responses after the pairwise comparison of the MBC with wall cladding samples pointed out the advantage of ceramic reference material above the MBC based on an overall assessment. The respondents also believed that the chamotte clay cladding would be easier to fit into the aesthetics of a modern interior and would in better accordance with its style. Although the MBC was less visually appealing, the respondents nevertheless found it more interesting, original, and environmentally friendly. The experiments suggested that the respondents had double standards regarding MBCs. MBCs were generally accepted as ecological, but not in their own homes. All of these results support current and future applications of MBCs for manufacturing items where enhanced aesthetics are required.

Swelling and shrinkage anisotropy affect the susceptibility to an assembly of wooden elements by changing designed clearances or interference fits. This work described the new method to measure mounting holes' moisture-induced shape instability and its verification using three sets of twin samples made of Scots pinewood. Each set of samples contained a pair with different grain patterns. All samples were conditioned under reference conditions (relative air humidity-RH = 60% and temperature 20 °C), and their moisture content (MC) reached equilibrium (10.7 ± 0.1%). On the side of each sample, the seven mounting holes of 12 mm in diameter were drilled. Immediately after drilling, Set 1 was used to measure the effective hole diameter with 15 cylindrical plug-gauges with diameters of 0.05 mm step, while Set 2 and Set 3 were separately re-seasoned by six months in two extreme conditions. Set 2 was conditioned with air at 85% RH (reached an equilibrium MC of 16.6 ± 0.5%), while Set 3 was exposed to air at 35% RH (reached an equilibrium MC of 7.6 ± 0.1%). Results of the plug gauge tests highlighted that holes in the samples subjected to swelling (Set 2) increased an effective diameter in the range of 12.2-12.3 mm (1.7-2.5%), while samples subjected to shrinking (Set 3) reduced the effective diameter to 11.9-11.95 mm (0.8-0.4%). To accurately reproduce the complex shape of the deformation, gypsum casts of holes were made. The 3D optical scanning method was used to read the gypsum casts' shape and dimensions. The 3D surface map of deviations analysis provided more detailed information than the plug-gauge test results. Both the shrinking and swelling of the samples changed the shapes and sizes of the holes, but shrinking reduced the effective diameter of the hole more than swelling increased it. The moisture-induced changes in the shape of holes are complex: the holes ovalized with a different range, depending on the wood grain pattern and hole depth, and were slightly extended in diameter at the bottom. Our study provides a new way to measure 3D hole initial shape changes in wooden elements during desorption and absorption.

The thermal treatment of wood can improve the appearance of the wood product's surface, its dimensional stability, and resistance to fungal attacks. However, the heat treatment changes the technological properties of wood, making it a new engineering material. This work investigates the effect of the low-thermal treatment of birch wood ( Betula pendula Roth.), European beech wood ( Fagus sylvatica L.), and alder wood ( Alnus glutinosa L.) on the fine dust particles creation during woodworking. The samples of thermally treated wood with temperatures commonly used for the change of wood colour (105, 125, and 135 °C) were compared with reference samples made of natural wood. All 12 variants of the tested woods were milled using the 5-axis CNC machining center (20 mm diamond cutter, rotational speed 18,000 rev·min -1 , the depth of cut 3 mm, feed rates of 2, 4 and 6 m∙min -1 ). A sieving analysis method allowed measuring the dust particle size distributions in all dust samples. The experiment's result analysis points out that wood type, thermal treatment, and feed rate meaningfully affect the size distribution of dust particles. Compared to birch wood and beech wood, the milling of alder wood samples created a much higher content of the finest dust particles, with particle sizes smaller than 0.032 mm. Increased temperatures in thermal treatment increase the share of fine dust particles with sizes smaller than 0.125 mm, compared to wood in its natural state. Milling with a lower feed rate (2 m·min -1 ) creates finer dust than processing with higher feed rates (4 and 6 m·min -1 ). Generally, the milling of alder in a natural or thermally treated state is a source of fine dust particles, particularly at low feed speed-rate milling, compared to birch and beech wood. In general, these results indicate that the low temperature thermal treatment parameters attribute new technological properties to all thermally modified types of wood tested.

General principles derived from anatomical studies of human body sizes should be applied to chair designs. Chairs can be designed for a specific user or a particular group of users. Universal chairs for public spaces should be comfortable for the largest possible group of users and should not be adjustable, such as office chairs. However, the fundamental problem is that the anthropometric data available in the literature either come from many years ago and are out of date or do not provide a complete set of all the dimensional parameters of a sitting human body position. This article proposes a way to design chair dimensions solely based on the height range of the intended chair users. For this purpose, based on literature data, the main structural dimensions of the chair were assigned to the appropriate anthropometric body measurements. Furthermore, calculated average body proportions for the adult population overcome the incompleteness, outdated and burdensome access to anthropometric data and link the main chair design dimensions to one easily accessible anthropometric parameter: human height. This is achieved by seven equations describing the dimensional relations between the chair's essential design dimensions and human height or even a height range. The result of the study is a method of determining the optimal functional dimensions of a chair for a chosen range of sizes of its future users based only on users' height range. Limitations of the presented method: the calculated body proportions are correct only for people with a standard body proportion characteristic of adults, i.e., they exclude children and adolescents up to 20 years of age, seniors, and people with a body mass index exceeding 30.

Domestic cradles are beds that are movable but non-mobile for babies up to five months of age. The "anthropo-mechanical" cradle simulates the physiological movement of the human body. The article reviews scientific literature discussing the impacts of swinging on infants, provides classifications of all currently used cradles due to how the child moves, and briefly describes modern technologies within cradle automation. This made it possible to calculate and propose safe motion parameters within mechatronic cradles. The main conclusions of the article are as follows: (1) the scientific literature reports the beneficial effects of harmonic movement on a child, (2) motion analyses substantiating the classifications of all cradles into six types (tilting, yawing, hammock, Sarong, swing, and surging cradle; the classification criterion included the nature of the cradle movement in relation to the planes and anatomical axes of the child's body), (3) modern technologies allowing for the use of movement with thoughtful parameters, thus, safer for a child, (4) movement within the parameters similar to the motion and speed passively performed by the child in the womb while a mother is walking was considered beneficial and safe, and (5) the use of advanced technology allows for the possibility to devise and create an automatic mechatronic cradle with a child-safe motion. Future innovative anthropo-mechanical cradles that follow physiological human motion parameters can be used safely, with a vertical amplitude ranging from -13 to + 15 mm and a frequency of up to 2 Hz.

Active tourism improves human health and well-being regardless of age or disabilities. The paper analyses and describes current issues concerning the tourism of people with disabilities. The starting point is the currently insufficient availability of tourist offers for individuals with considerable motor dysfunctions. One of the causes for these limitations stems from deficiencies in transport means for people with disabilities. It was found that for a disabled passenger using public transport, it is crucial to consider its accessibility in the context of the entire transport system. Another cause is the limited popularity of innovative, atypical assistive equipment for people with disabilities. Those insights point out that novel assistive technologies need to be developed, as it is necessary to more effectively support the activity of people with disabilities in all areas of life, including tourism, as this enhances their social rehabilitation. This paper indicates the needs and describes and analyses examples of own original, innovative devices supporting the areas mentioned above of activity for people with disabilities. These analyses resulted in developing an algorithm to design innovative equipment, considerably expanding the tourism potential of people with motor disabilities. This design process focuses on the needs of people with disabilities and facilitates the development of novel classes of assistive technologies, thus promoting new areas of activity for all.

Mycelium-Based Composites (MBCs) are innovative engineering materials made from lignocellulosic by-products bonded with fungal mycelium. While some performance characteristics of MBCs are inferior to those of currently used engineering materials, these composites nevertheless prove to be superior in ecological aspects. Improving the properties of MBCs may be achieved using an adequate substrate type, fungus species, and manufacturing technology. This article presents scientifically verified guiding principles for choosing a fungus species to obtain the desired effect. This aim was realized based on analyses of scientific articles concerning MBCs, mycological literature, and patent documents. Based on these analyses, over 70 fungi species used to manufacture MBC have been identified and the most commonly used combinations of fungi species-substrate-manufacturing technology are presented. The main result of this review was to demonstrate the characteristics of the fungi considered optimal in terms of the resulting engineering material properties. Thus, a list of the 11 main fungus characteristics that increase the effectiveness in the engineering material formation include: rapid hyphae growth, high virulence, dimitic or trimitic hyphal system, white rot decay type, high versatility in nutrition, high tolerance to a substrate, environmental parameters, susceptibility to readily controlled factors, easy to deactivate, saprophytic, non-mycotoxic, and capability to biosynthesize natural active substances. An additional analysis result is a list of the names of fungus species, the types of substrates used, the applications of the material produced, and the main findings reported in the scientific literature.

When designing products to fit a specific user, it is essential to know the user's upper limb range and strength capabilities at each point of the range space. This is particularly relevant when those capabilities are atypical, e.g., in cases of nonstandard body dimensions, disability, or old age. In this paper, we describe a new method to measure and model the strength capabilities at each point of any person's upper limb range and then present this information in the form of an Individual Convenient Zone (ICZ) model, which is helpful in virtual product prototyping (CAD) for a specific user. The proposed new method includes creating a database of multiple, detailed, spatial-force characteristics, quickly identifying and modeling the ICZ of any human, and analyzing the ergonomics of a product using a digital human model in combination with the ICZ model. The paper also describes an example of how the proposed methodology can be used to customize kitchen furniture design to the ICZ of a specific senior. The expected result of incorporating ICZ into the design is a better fit between the designed product and the user's needs, supporting user-centered design methodology. Using ICZ enables the involvement of end-users in product design (participatory design). This is particularly important when designing for people with mobility impairments who are more sensitive to nonergonomic solutions. The ICZ modeling method described in this article may have broader applications beyond kitchen furniture design; it could be used to design workspaces and other similar areas where humans reside and perform manipulation activities.

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have attracted growing attention due to their role in the development of eco-design methods. We concurrently analysed scientific publications, patent documents, and results of our own feasibility studies to identify the current design issues and technologies used. A literature inquiry in scientific and patent databases (WoS, Scopus, The Lens, Google Patents) pointed to 92 scientific publications and 212 patent documents. As a part of our own technological experiments, we have created several prototype products used in architectural interior design. Following the synthesis, these sources of knowledge can be concluded: 1. MBCs are inexpensive in production, ecological, and offer a high artistic value. Their weaknesses are insufficient load capacity, unfavourable water affinity, and unknown reliability. 2. The scientific literature shows that the material parameters of MBCs can be adjusted to certain needs, but there are almost infinite combinations: properties of the input biomaterials, characteristics of the fungi species, and possible parameters during the growth and subsequent processing of the MBCs. 3. The patent documents show the need for development: an effective method to increase the density and the search for technologies to obtain a more homogeneous internal structure of the composite material. 4. Our own experiments with the production of various everyday objects indicate that some disadvantages of MBCs can be considered advantages. Such an unexpected advantage is the interesting surface texture resulting from the natural inhomogeneity of the internal structure of MBCs, which can be controlled to some extent.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to be one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal tract disorders. Management of GERD is individualized for each patient depending on severity of symptoms, complications of GERD and patient/physician preference. The different management options include life style modification, pharmacological therapy, minimally invasive procedures and surgery. The final decision regarding management should be made based on an individualized patient centered approach on a case-by-case basis in consultation with a multidisciplinary team including primary care physician, gastroenterologist and surgeon. We provide a comprehensive review for the management of GERD., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Since its advent in the 1980s endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has played an important role in the diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic management of various gastrointestinal malignancies. EUS has emerged as a vital tool in the evaluation of esophageal cancer as it provides a detailed view of the layers of the esophageal wall and surrounding tissues. This permits determination of tumor invasion depth and local lymph node metastases. It is the most sensitive and specific method available for locoregional staging of esophageal cancer. The information obtained via EUS is vital in determining the appropriate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. Thus, this article aims to present a review of the accuracy and utilization of EUS in the staging of esophageal cancer., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Aims: We evaluated the effects of Bacillus anthracis surrogates, low surface concentrations, surface materials and assay methods on false-negative rate (FNR) and limit of detection (LOD 95 ) for recovering Bacillus spores using a macrofoam-swab sampling procedure., Methods and Results: Bacillus anthracis Sterne or Bacillus atrophaeus Nakamura spores were deposited over a range of low target concentrations (2-500 per coupon) onto glass, stainless steel, vinyl tile and plastic. Samples were assayed using a modified Rapid Viability-PCR (mRV-PCR) method and the traditional plate culture method to obtain FNR and LOD 95 results., Conclusions: Mean FNRs tended to be lower for mRV-PCR compared to culturing, and increased as spore concentration decreased for all surface materials. Surface material, but not B. anthracis surrogate, influenced FNRs with the mRV-PCR method. The mRV-PCR LOD 95 was lowest for glass and highest for vinyl tile. LOD 95 values overall were lower for mRV-PCR than for the culture method., Significance and Impact of Study: This study adds to the limited data on FNR and LOD 95 for mRV-PCR and culturing methods with low concentrations of B. anthracis sampled from various surface materials by the CDC macrofoam-swab method. These are key inputs for planning characterization and clearance studies for low contamination levels of B. anthracis., (© 2018 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Introduction: A wheelchair is a special vehicle designed specifically for people with walking limitations. One of the types is an active wheelchair. This is a manually propelled wheelchair, the design and structure of which maximise the mobility of its given user at the expense of accepted instability., Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and present a hierarchy of potential incidents causing a health hazard and reducing the mobility of individuals with ambulatory disability who use active wheelchairs in non-urban settings., Material and Methods: Information about incidents connected with wheelchair use was collected from interviews with disabled individuals, based on a questionnaire. Recorded data were analysed using the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA)., Results: The results comprise a list of hazards for wheelchair user with ascribed priority numbers metrising their significance., Conclusions: An ordered list of hazards connected with wheelchair operation situations is useful when designing active wheelchairs and when learning the technique of wheelchair riding.

We present the results of a study of optical scattering and backscattering of particulates for three coastal sites that represent a wide range of optical properties that are found in U.S. near-shore waters. The 6000 scattering and backscattering spectra collected for this study can be well approximated by a power-law function of wavelength. The power-law exponent for particulate scattering changes dramatically from site to site (and within each site) compared with particulate backscattering where all the spectra, except possibly the very clearest waters, cluster around a single wavelength power-law exponent of -0.94. The particulate backscattering-to-scattering ratio (the backscattering ratio) displays a wide range in wavelength dependence. This result is not consistent with scattering models that describe the bulk composition of water as a uniform mix of homogeneous spherical particles with a Junge-like power-law distribution over all particle sizes. Simultaneous particulate organic matter (POM) and particulate inorganic matter (PIM) measurements are available for some of our optical measurements, and site-averaged POM and PIM mass-specific cross sections for scattering and backscattering can be derived. Cross sections for organic and inorganic material differ at each site, and the relative contribution of organic and inorganic material to scattering and backscattering depends differently at each site on the relative amount of material that is present.

A three-year (2001-2003) monitoring effort of 14 northeastern Minnesota lakes was conducted to document relationships between water-level fluctuations and mercury bioaccumulation in young-of-the-year (YOY) yellow perch (Perca flavescens) collected in the fall of each year at fixed locations. Six of those lakes are located within or adjacent to Voyageurs National Park and are influenced by dams on the outlets of Rainy and Namakan lakes. One site on Sand Point Lake coincides with a location that has nine years of previous monitoring suitable for addressing the same issue over a longer time frame. Mean mercury concentrations in YOY yellow perch at each sampling location varied significantly from year to year. For the 12-year monitoring site on Sand Point Lake, values ranged from 38 ng gww(-1) in 1998 to 200 ng gww(-1) in 2001. For the 14-lake study, annual mean concentrations ranged by nearly a factor of 2, on average, for each lake over the three years of record. One likely factor responsible for these wide variations is that annual water-level fluctuations are strongly correlated with mercury levels in YOY perch for both data sets.

We examine the problem of uniqueness in the relationship between the remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) and the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of ocean water. The results point to the fact that diffuse reflectance of plane irradiance from ocean water is inherently ambiguous. Furthermore, in the 400 < lambda < 750 nm region of the spectrum, Rrs(lambda) also suffers from ambiguity caused by the similarity in wavelength dependence of the coefficients of absorption by particulate matter and of absorption by colored dissolved organic matter. The absorption coefficients have overlapping exponential responses, which lead to the fact that more than one combination of IOPs can produce nearly the same Rrs spectrum. This ambiguity in absorption parameters demands that we identify the regions of the Rrs spectrum where we can isolate the effects that are due only to scattering by particulates and to absorption by pure water. The results indicate that the spectral shape of the absorption coefficient of phytoplankton, a(ph)(lambda), cannot be derived from a multiparameter fit to Rrs(lambda). However, the magnitude and the spectral dependence of the absorption coefficient can be estimated from the difference between the measured Rrs(lambda) and the best fit to Rrs(lambda) in terms of IOPs that exclude a(ph)(lambda).

We use remote-sensing reflectance from particulate R(rs) to determine the volume absorption coefficient a of turbid water in the 400 < lambda < 700-nm spectral region. The calculated and measured values of a(lambda) show good agreement for 0.5 < a < 10 (m(-1)). To determine R(rs) from a particulate, we needed to make corrections for remote-sensing reflectance owing to surface roughness S(rs). We determined the average spectral distribution of S(rs) from the difference in total remote-sensing reflectance measured with and without polarization. The spectral shape of S(rs) showed an excellent fit to theoretical formulas for glare based on Rayleigh and aerosol scattering from the atmosphere.

We use remote sensing reflectance (RSR) together with the inherent optical properties of suspended particulates to determine the backscattering ratio b(b)/b for coastal waters. We examine the wavelength dependence of b(b)(lambda) and f(lambda)/Q(lambda) and establish the conditions when C(lambda) in RSR(lambda) approximately or = C(lambda)b(b)(lambda)/a(lambda) can be treated as a constant. We found that for case 2 waters, RSR was insensitive to the natural fluctuations in particle-size distributions. The cross-sectional area of the suspended particulate per unit volume, x(g), showed an excellent correlation with the volume scattering coefficient.

Pertussis toxin (PT) is a major virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis, and also an important protective antigen. PT is an oligomeric A-B type toxin in which the S1 subunit has the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity whereas the B-oligomer mediates its binding to target cell receptors. To analyze the immunological properties of S1 and to generate probes to localize and characterize S1 functional domains, we synthesized four sets of peptides and peptide analogs corresponding to potentially critical regions of the S1 subunit. Two peptide-KLH conjugates were found to be capable of inducing PT-neutralizing antibodies in rabbits as judged by the CHO cell clustering assay. These peptides comprise residues 1-18 (N18-S1) and 121-138 (NAD-S1), respectively. Immunization with the unconjugated C-terminal peptide C35-S1 (residues 201-235) in the presence of Freund's adjuvant also elicited PT-neutralizing antibodies, indicating that the C-terminal region of S1 contains a potent functional T-helper cell epitope. Using truncated peptide analogs of N18-S1, we have demonstrated that the first three N-terminal residues are essential for inducing neutralizing antibodies. The NAD-S1 peptide elicited a neutralizing antibody response when coupled to KLH via its N-terminal end but not via its C-terminal residue. Identification of these B-cell neutralization epitopes represents a first step towards the rational design of a synthetic vaccine against whooping cough.

Recent studies indicate that the gag gene products may play a crucial role in the immune response against HIV infection since clinical progression to AIDS is associated with a reduction in the level of circulating antibodies to gag p24 and antibodies raised against p17 peptide can inhibit HIV1 infection in vitro. Using conventional structure prediction algorithms for T-cell and B-cell epitopes, we have selected and chemically synthesized several gag peptides. In particular, an unconjugated HIV1-p24 peptide containing both B- and T-cell epitopes in tandem plus Freund's adjuvant induced a strong antibody response in both mice and rabbits against p24 and its precursor p55 as judged by immunoblotting. In addition, the peptide presented in the appropriate MHC context was shown to be highly stimulatory for p24 specific murine T-cell clones.

Changes in snow reflectivity as a function of dustfall were used to measure dust deposition rates in terms of satellite reflectivity data. The results show that for dry snow conditions, snow reflectivity can be approximated by Kubelka-Munk theory. Dustfall above threshold values of 10 microg/cm(2) can be detected using Landsat computer tape data. Determination of dust deposition over ice-covered lakes and harbors appears in good agreement with sampling measurements.

Light scattering by individual particulates is used in a multiple-detector system to categorize the composition of suspended solids in terms of broad particulate categories. The scattering signatures of red clay and taconite tailings, the two primary particulate contaminants in western Lake Superior, along with two types of asbestiform fibers, amphibole and chrysotile, were studied in detail. A method was developed to predict the concentration of asbestiform fibers in filtration plant samples for which electron microscope analysis was done concurrently. Fiber levels as low as 5 x 10(4) fibers/liter were optically detectable. The method has application in optical categorization of samples for remote sensing purposes and offers a fast, inexpensive means for analyzing water samples from filtration plants for specific particulate contaminants.

Determination of residual radiance is essential in remote sensing measurements of suspended solids in the absence of real-time ground-truth data. We present some typical background corrections for Lake Superior and determine the spectral distribution of the residual radiance from three major categories of turbidity in the lake. The results tested with Landsat 2 digital tape data indicate that for large bodies of water general information on atmospheric scattering, water clarity, and optical properties of suspended solids enables one to estimate the concentrations of particulates to within +/-0.5 mg/liter in the absence of real-time ground-truth data.

Morphological analysis of compartments in terms of volumes and the orientation of the cells and their nuclei within very small mesenteric arteries and arterioles is being carried out. Samples were from simultaneously sham operated and instrumented control and one-clip two kidney Goldblatt sustained (30 days) hypertensive dogs. Collection of specimens was standardized, i.e. sampling location, perfusion fixation, embedding, staining, and sectioning by methods proven to preserve in vivo dimensions. Serial thick cross sections (0.5 mu) were subjected to high voltage electromicrography (1.0 MeV) at 2500x and then linearly enlarged 3x photographically. The glossy micrographs (7500x) were made into montages and the contours of the smooth muscle layer (vascular smooth muscle), the endothelium (E), nuclei (N), and the internal lamina (IL) were digitized on a large GTCO digi-pad with input to a microcomputer (PC-Limited, Turbo) equipped with a 20 MB hard disk and coprocessor. Solid and transparent image reconstructions and computerized dissection of cell compartments were performed. Compartment volumes of vascular smooth muscle, IL, E and N, and individual cell and nuclear volumes, as well as nuclear/cytoplasmic ratios were calculated. Image reconstructions are presented. The emphasis is on methods and these are discussed in terms of useability for determining accurate microvessel morphology in health and disease, with particular emphasis on assessment of hypertrophy and hyperplasia in experimental hypertension, and architectural angiogenesis in general.