Search

This paper presents a two-phase cooling method using the R134a refrigerant to dissipate the heat energy (loss) generated by power electronics (PEs), such as those associated with rectifiers, converters, and inverters for a specific application in hybrid-electric vehicles. The cooling method involves submerging PE devices in an R134a bath, which limits the junction temperature of PE devices while conserving weight and volume of the heat sink without sacrificing equipment reliability. First, experimental tests that included an extended soak for more than 850 days were performed on a submerged insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and gate-controller card to study dielectric characteristics, deterioration effects, and heat-flux capabilities of R134a. Results from these tests illustrate that R134a has high dielectric characteristics and no deterioration of electrical components. Second, experimental tests that included a simultaneous operation with a mock automotive air-conditioner (A/C) system were performed on the same IGBT and gate-controller card. Data extrapolation from these tests determined that a typical automotive A/C system has more than sufficient cooling capacity to cool a typical 30-kW traction inverter. Last, a discussion and simulation of active cooling of the IGBT junction layer with the R134a refrigerant is given. This technique will drastically increase the forward current ratings and reliability of the PE device

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain hardness affects many end-product quality traits and is controlled primarily by the Hardness (Ha) locus that contains the Puroindoline a and b genes (Pina and Pinb, respectively). All soft hexaploid wheats carry the same Pin alleles, and hard wheats carry a mutation in Pina or Pinb. Here we test the heritability and milling and flour quality effects of increased Pin dosage in soft wheat. Previous experiments have suggested that grain softness can be enhanced by increasing Ha locus dosage through chromosome substitutions. Segregation data from a cross of cultivar Chinese Spring substitution lines with six doses of the Ha locus to the locally adapted soft wheat cultivar Vanna indicate that the substituted B genome Ha locus was not transmitted and that the A genome Ha locus was transmitted normally. Genotypes with the added Pins on the A genome produced seeds that were 7.4 hardness units softer. These softer double Ha genotypes were lower in flour yields, but produ...

Scanning probe microscopy is now an accepted tool in both industrial and research efforts. Its development parallels the advances in technology and imaging applications found in the history of progress of both transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. All three forms of microscopy ultimately suffer a fundamental application problem—situations arise where it is either unreasonable or impossible to observe a particular sample within the sample stage of the microscope. For the transmission and electron and scanning electron microscopies, this problem has been resolved by resorting to making a replica of the area of interest on the actual sample and preparing the replica so that it may be imaged directly by the desired microscopy technique. This work attempts to ascertain the suitability of observing replicas using a scanned probe microscope; specifically, employing the techniques of atomic force microscopy to image plastic surface replicas.

172 consecutive patients admitted with suspected unilateral peritonsillar sepsis were studied. Needle aspiration of the peritonsillar space was performed, and they were all then treated with intravenous antibiotics (usually benzylpenicillin). Any pus obtained was cultured. The aspiration was repeated if the patient was not improving after 24 h. A quantity of pus was aspirated at the first attempt from 91 patients (53%); 82 of these required no further aspiration but 7 required a further single aspiration and 2 required a further 2 aspirations before resolution of the sepsis. 71 of the 81 patients (88%) from whom pus had not been aspirated, and who were therefore initially considered to have peritonsillar cellulitis, required no further aspirations. However, 6 subsequently drained pus spontaneously and 4 produced a positive aspirate on a second occasion. Four patients required a change in their antibiotic therapy. We have found the combination of needle aspiration and parenteral antibiotics to be an effective treatment of peritonsillar sepsis. All patients were spared the unpleasant and painful experience of an incision and drainage procedure.

Soil texture, moisture content, and pH data from an agricultural field area of 48 × 32 m in a Suffolk sandy loam soil in the Virginia Coastal Plain was examined for spatial trends. Trend surface analysis of sand, silt, and clay content data (n = 35) found that 68%, 74%, and 31% of the total variability in sand, silt, and clay content, respectively, was explained by second-order trend surfaces. Soil moisture content and pH also exhibited spatial trends, which resulted in statistically significant differences between subsurface moisture content and pH in two 18 × 27 m subplots within the study area. Both moisture content and pH trends had some similarity to the trend for clay content. The spatial trends in these soil properties, however, did not translate directly into spatial trends in depth to center of bromide mass, indicating the influence of other factors in the variability of chemical distribution in the soil.

Virgil, in his description of the establishment of a new city by Aeneas for those Trojans who wished to remain in Sicily, is thinking of the Roman practice of colonial foundation: ‘Meanwhile Aeneas marked out the city with the plough and allocated the houses (by lot)’. We may note the personal role of the founder, the ploughing of the ritual first furrow, the organized grants to the settlers and the equality of treatment implied in the use of lot (sortiri). Virgil was writing at the end of the first century B.C. at a time of great activity in land distribution, but the Romans had been founding colonies from the mid fourth century. Each colony involved the creation of an urban area and the settlement of people on the surrounding agricultural land, and so perpetuated the city state, which was central to ancient life and culture. Indeed a colony was a smaller image of Rome itself. In the early Republic, colonies, either of Latins or of Roman citizens, were established on the periphery of Roman territory, largely for military and strategic reasons. Between 200 and 173 B.C. more than 40,000 may have received plots of land, amounting to about 1,000 square miles of territory. Later, the motives for colonial foundations became more complex, being closely connected with increasing economic and political problems. There can have been few more important aspects in the development of colonies than the need to find land for discharged troops. These in the main were rank and file soldiers who would expect equal shares in land allocations.

The effect of interpolation method on the estimation of steady state infiltrability was evaluated. Four interpolation methods, namely, the inverse distance weighting method, punctual kriging with the assumption of a linear semi-variogram, quintic polynomial interpolation, and the method of minimum surface curvature, were evaluated. These methods were found to produce significantly different interpolated surfaces. While all the methods failed to reproduce the complexity of the true infiltrability distribution, conventional inverse-distance weighting produced the most accurate surfaces. There was no significant increase in accuracy for grid saturation densities in excess of 25%, nor was there any advantage to interpolating with log infiltrability instead of infiltrability.

In 1882, the United States Geological Survey began its National Mapping Program to map the nation using a series of several thousand topographic quadrangles. Since that date, the program and the maps themselves have undergone many changes due mainly to technological advances in mapping methods. Though older maps are a fascinating source, the use of data collected from historic USGS topographic maps in modern applications necessitates a general knowledge of their potentials and limitations. This study compares representations of terrain features on historic maps compiled using plane table methods with the same features as represented on more accurate modern maps compiled using photogrammetry. Using the modern map as a standard, errors in the old maps are identified and defined. Measures of closed contour lines record the angularity of the line, the length of the line, the area within the contour, the shape of the feature and spatial relationships between contour pairs. The analysis relates errors to these geometric components of contour lines. Due to practices of smoothing and generalization of contour lines in plane table surveys, measures of both angularity and shape are significantly different between older and newer maps. Systematic errors, a consistent displacement of contour lines in a similar direction, are also identified on the historic maps.En 1882, les Leves geologiques des Etats-Unis (USGS) ont entrepris leur programme de cartographie pour representer la nation au moyen d'une serie de plusieurs milliers de quadrilateres topographiques. Depuis cette date, le programme et les cartes elles-memes ont subi plusieurs changements, dus principalement aux progres technologiques dans les methodes cartographiques. Quoique les cartes plus vieilles representent une source fascinante de donnees, l'utilisation a des fins modernes de ces memes donnees recueillies a partir de cartes topographiques historiques des Leves geologiques requiert une connaissance generale de leur potentiel et de leur limitation. Cet article compare les representations d'elements sur le terrain tels que compiles sur les cartes historiques au moyen des methodes de la planchette avec les representations des memes elements sur des cartes plus modernes et plus precises, tels que compiles au moyen de la photogrammetrie. En utilisant les cartes modernes comme etalons, on a identifie et defini les erreurs dans les vieilles cartes. La mesure de courbes de niveau fermees enregistre le caractere anguleux de la ligne, sa longueur, la surface contenue par la courbe, la forme de l'element et les relations spatiales entre les paires de courbes. L'analyse relate des erreurs dans les composantes geometriques des courbes de niveau. A cause de la pratique du lissage et de la generalisation des courbes de niveau lors des leves a la planchette, les mesures des aspects anguleux et de la forme sont significativement differentes entre les anciennes et les nouvelles cartes. On a de plus identifie sur les cartes historiques des erreurs systematiques qui consistent en un deplacement uniforme de courbes de niveau dans une meme direction.

Background:Ear, nose and throat emergency clinic services vary greatly between trusts. Their common aim is to enable acute conditions to be seen quickly and effectively within an optimum environment. There is however no ‘gold standard’ for service.Objectives:To identify an efficient model of service, and to determine whether introduction of a referral and appointment based system improves patient waiting times and appropriateness of referrals.Methods:A prospective audit, comprising: an initial survey to appraise the existing service; telephone surveys of eight trusts in the West Midlands to determine variability of ENT emergency clinic services and to identify components of an effective service; and re-audit following implementation of a verbal referral and appointment based service.Results:The new service significantly reduced patient waiting times, from 70 minutes to 35 minutes (t = 6.776;p Conclusions:A verbal referral and appointment based system improves patient waiting times and appropriateness of referrals. Maintenance of high referrer compliance with such a system should be considered, and a tool for monitoring referring practitioners is suggested. This clinic construct model is offered as an example in order to aid delivery of an effective ENT emergency service in departments with similar patient demand and staff resources.

Between 1975 and 1987, 115 patients underwent inferior turbinectomy and 87% were available for review. The nature and extent of their pre- and postoperative symptoms were determined, and rhinoscopy was undertaken to establish the completeness of turbinectomy and the presence of intranasal complications. Of these patients, 88% reported improvements in nasal obstruction and 50 to 78% of the patients who had experienced other troublesome nasal symptoms reported improvements in these. Primary hemorrhage occurred in two patients and during the early postoperative months three patients experienced crusting, three had spotty bleeding, and one had discomfort caused by increased airway patency. On examination nine patients had mild asymptomatic crusting, seven had incompletely resected turbinates, and 12 had intranasal adhesions. None had atrophic rhinitis.

This paper presents a generalized nonactive power theory, in which the instantaneous currents (active and nonactive) and instantaneous powers (active and nonactive) are defined. This theory is implemented in a parallel nonactive power compensation system. The theory is valid if the system is three-phase or single-phase, sinusoidal or non-sinusoidal, periodic or non-periodic, balanced or unbalanced. Four cases, three-phase balanced RL load, three-phase unbalanced RL load, diode rectifier load, and single-phase RL load are tested in the experiments. A subharmonic load compensation and a non-periodic load compensation are simulated in Matlab. The simulation and experimental results not only verify the validity of the theory, but also show that this theory can perform instantaneous nonactive power compensation with fast dynamic response.

Distributed energy resources (DER) are quickly making their way to industry primarily as backup generation. They are effective at starting and then producing full-load power within a few seconds. The distribution system is aging and transmission system development has not kept up with the growth in load and generation. The nation's transmission system is stressed with heavy power flows over long distances, and many areas are experiencing problems in providing the power quality needed to satisfy customers. Thus, a new market for DER is beginning to emerge. DER can alleviate the burden on the distribution system by providing ancillary services while providing a cost adjustment for the DER owner. This report describes 10 types of ancillary services that distributed generation (DG) can provide to the distribution system. Of these 10 services the feasibility, control strategy, effectiveness, and cost benefits are all analyzed as in the context of a future utility-power market. In this market, services will be provided at a local level that will benefit the customer, the distribution utility, and the transmission company.

The number of goblet cells on the inferior bulbar conjunctiva increases in response to daily wear contact lens use. We conducted a study to examine whether daily wear soft contact lenses worn on a 2-week disposable schedule would also induce the same goblet cell response.Twenty-eight subjects who had never worn contact lenses were fit with 38% water polymacon lenses. The lenses were worn on a daily wear basis and replaced every two weeks over a 6-month period. Goblet cell count was determined by impression cytology of the inferior bulbar conjunctiva.No significant increase in goblet cell count was observed in the subjects during the 6 months period; the 3.23% baseline goblet cell count was never exceeded. In our previous study, after 6 months of conventional daily wear lens use, the goblet cell count increased from a baseline of 4.19% to 8.0%.It appears that wearing daily wear soft contact lenses on a disposable basis may be less irritating to the ocular surface than wearing soft contact lenses on a conventional daily wear basis.

Noncardiac mortality in congestive heart failure (CHF) is substantial.To define the specific causes of noncardiac mortality among hospitalized CHF patients.Retrospective medical record audit.Three hospitals in British Columbia and Alberta, 1992-93.A total of 2216 consecutive patients admitted with CHF.The overall mortality rate was 404 of 2216 (18%). Cause of death was cardiac in 290 of 404 (72%) patients, with an average age of 76 years. However, 114 of 404 (28%) deaths, in patients with an average age of 69 years, had noncardiac causes. Four causes accounted for almost 70%, of the noncardiac deaths: cancer (24%); pneumonia (16%); other pulmonary diseases, including embolism (15%); and cerebrovascular disease (11%). Renal disease (9%), gastrointestinal disorders (9%), non-pulmonic sepsis (7%), multiple system failure (5%) and trauma or surgical complications (4%) accounted for most of the remaining noncardiac deaths.Noncardiac causes produce a substantial proportion of deaths among elderly and sick CHF patients. As the survival of patients with CHF improves, the relative risk of noncardiac mortality in this population will likely increase. However, since hospitalized CHF patients so closely reflect their general population counterparts in terms of cause-specific mortality risk, the search for an ideal therapy might be viewed as a quixotic search for the cure of death.

Unilateral secretory otitis media is a recognized presenting feature of nasopharyngeal neoplasia. In the two cases presented, biopsy from the nasopharynx revealed an unsuspected underlying adenocarcinoma. The need to biopsy the normal looking post-nasal space is highlighted.

Some patients can wear contact lenses with a low tear breakup time while others with an identical tear breakup time cannot wear lenses. This suggests the current method of tear film assessment is inadequate at differentiating between these two types of patients. The study attempts to expand our knowledge of the tear film with special attention directed to a critical yet little studied component: mucin. Mucin is vital to maintenance of the tear film and functions as a tear film stabilizer. The condition of the precorneal tear film is a major determinant in the success of contact lens wear.Eighteen subjects free of ocular surface disease who had never worn contact lenses had the goblet cell density of their inferior bulbar conjunctiva determined by impression cytology. The subjects were then fit in a 38 percent water polymacon lens and their goblet cell density determined on a monthly basis for 6 months.Nearly a 2-fold increase in goblet cell density was observed in 88 percent of the subjects over the 6-month period. The first statistically significant increase occurred 5 months after the initiation of lens wear when the goblet cell density rose from 4.19-7.84 percent.We speculate the increase in goblet cells is an adaptive response of the ocular surface to a coated daily wear contact lens.

Pupillary dilation to perform binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy has become a routine part of optometric practice. Many patients find the resulting photophobia and incapacity of near vision to be an inconvenience. Rev-Eyes (0.5% dapiprazole HCl) is a new alpha-antagonist reported to reverse the effects of pupillary dilation in approximately one hour. This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of Rev-Eyes in a routine clinical setting.Seventy-nine subjects free of eye disease that ranged in age from 21 to 40 years received 0.5% proparacaine, 2.5% phenylephrine, and 1.0% tropicamide in each eye. Rev-Eyes was administered to 61 subjects. Eighteen control subjects received 5% NaCl. Effects on pupil diameter, accommodation, and distance and near visual acuity were measured. Conjunctival vasodilation, corneal stippling, patient comfort, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were also evaluated.Our results confirm that a statistically significant reduction in pupil diameter is achieved 60 minutes after installation of Rev-Eyes. However, no significant improvement was obtained in any of the other functional aspects measuredOur data suggest limited utility for Rev-Eyes with a young population. The recovery rate of near visual acuity and amplitude of accommodation is identical with or without Rev-Eyes.

In a dose response study in foxes, the median protective dose of ERA BHK21 vaccine in a blister pack bait was 10(6.0) tissue culture infective doses (TCID)/mL, while artificially aged baits with titers of 10(6.3) TCID/mL induced seroconversion in 78% of foxes. There was no significant difference in the development of antibodies in foxes receiving 1, 2 or 3 mL volumes of vaccine in the bait. When baits were exposed to the elements and fed to foxes over a 21 day period, 85% of the animals seroconverted. Age, sex and the way in which the vaccine container was contacted did not appear to be factors in the responses of these animals. Juvenile foxes, approximately six months of age, were marked more readily with the tetracycline bait marker than older animals. Approximately 25% of foxes did not appear to respond well to vaccination and the titer of the vaccine was a critical factor in producing seroconversion in these animals.

An in-office procedure for assessment of the conjunctival epithelium, goblet cells, mucin and immune cells is described. The collection of three samples from each eye greatly improves cell harvest and increases reproducibility of the technique called impression cytology. The protocol and its pitfalls are discussed as well as the numerous applications of impression cytology.

Pus obtained by needle aspiration of 91 peritonsillar abscesses was examined microbiologically. A positive culture was obtained in 55 patients (60 per cent). Sixty-four bacteriological isolates were grown. Forty patients had a pure growth of a single organism, of which 21 (53 per cent) were beta Haemolytic streptococci. Pure growths of Staphylococcus aureus were found in only three patients. Fifteen patients had mixed organisms, including anaerobes, in their pus and the resistance to penicillin was low. Only the bacteroides species were generally penicillin resistant. The vast majority of patients made a good recovery following needle drainage of the abscess and treatment with parenteral penicillin. The patients with a mixture of penicillin sensitive and penicillin resistant organisms also made a good clinical recovery following needle drainage and administration of parenteral penicillin. The relevance of these findings in the pathogenesis and management of peritonsillar sepsis is discussed.

A case of post-cricoid carcinoma, occurring in a patient with Fanconi's anaemia is presented. The case illustrates the rare association of the two diseases. The problems with the management of such a case are discussed.

Twenty-six meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), ten woodchucks (Marmota monax), thirteen grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), thirteen ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis), six red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and eight great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) received vaccinia virus recombinant expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein (V-RG) by direct instillation into the oral cavity. Each of ten coyotes (Canis latrans) received the virus in two vaccine-laden baits. Several voles and most of the gulls died from diseases unrelated to vaccination during the observation period, but all other animals remained healthy and survived. These deaths from causes other than vaccination and the absence of any lesions suggestive of vaccinia infection indicate that it is unlikely that any animal suffered or died as a result of V-RG administration. In addition several animals showed an unexpected high level of rabies neutralizing antibodies.

The purpose of this study was to investigate dry storage of rigid gas-permeable contact lenses as an alternative to wet storage. This study evaluated the constancy of lens base curve between the two storage methods for lens materials that spanned the spectrum of oxygen permeability values. The differences found in lens base curve between wet and dry storage for any lens material evaluated did not reach a level considered to be clinically significant, although differences in average base curve constancy did exist among the lens materials. Base curve change did not increase with increasing lens material oxygen permeability value (Dk).

Insecticides were evaluated for rootworm larval suppression in a field composed of Cozad silt loam soils. ‘DeKalb 580’ hybrid corn was ridge planted near North Platte, NE, on 1 May. At the time of planting, soil moisture was adequate for germination. Soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm was about 7°C. Treatments were applied at planting to 5 X 40 ft plots in a RCB design with four replicates. Insecticides were applied with either a planter-mounted “Smart Box” applicator or a bicycle wheel applicator-mounted noble box. On 15 Jul four plants from each plot were collected and the roots were washed. The roots were then rated for rootworm damage using the 1-6 Iowa State scale. Treatment means were analyzed with ANOVA and were separated with Fisher’s protected test of least significant difference.

Insecticides were evaluated for rootworm larval suppression in two fields composed of Cozad silt loam soils. ‘DeKalb 580’ hybrid corn was ridge-planted in Field 1 on 1 May. At the time of planting, soil moisture was adequate for germination. Soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm was about 13°C. Four replicates of each treatment were applied at planting 5 X 40 ft plots in a RCB design. In Field 2, granular and liquid insecticides were applied to untreated strips immediately prior to cultivation on 13 Jun. The ‘Mycogen 6220’ hybrid plants were in the early whorl stage (V3 stage) of development at the time of application. Rootworm eggs began hatching about 6 Jun. The treatments were replicated four times in 10 X 35 ft plots arranged in a RCB design. The granular treatments were applied in a band over the whorl of the plants. Furadan 4F was broadcast over the top of the plants in a total volume of 25 gpa at 30 psi. Treatments in both fields were evaluated 12 Jul by rating washed roots of four plants from each replicate, using the 1 -6 Iowa State root damage rating scale.

Y-Tex experimental ear tags (YT-615) were compared with PYthon® 10% ear tags for horn fly control on beef cattle. The study was initiated 17 Jun at the West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte, NE. Cattle used in the trial were randomly selected from a herd of 200 heifers. Ear tags were applied as follows: YT-615 applied to 25 heifers (one tag per heifer), PYthon applied to 30 heifers (two tags per heifer) and PYthon applied to 120 heifers (one tag per heifer). An untreated group of 10 heifers served as a comparison. The three treatment groups were maintained in separate native range pastures throughout the study period. Horn fly counts were recorded at weekly intervals by counting flies on both sides of a minimum of 15 heifers during each fly counting session.

Y-Tex PYthon® (10%) ear tags were applied to 80 crossbred cows (1 tag/cow) 25 May. The study was conducted at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE. A herd of 44 cows served as an untreated control. Fly counts were recorded on a weekly basis by counting the total number of flies on both sides of a cow with a minimum of 15 cows included during each fly counting session.

Ivomec® pour-on was evaluated in two studies at two different locations in West Central Nebraska. In study No. 1, Ivomec was applied to 72 yearling steers located at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE. The steers were weighed and the Ivomec was applied at the recommended rate. A second application was made 28 d later, 7 Jul. A group of 44 cows served as an untreated control. In study No. 2, Ivomec pour-on was compared to 1% Co-Ral dust bags (force-use, to obtain water) for horn fly control. This study was located near North Platte, NE, in native range. Ivomec was first applied to 41 heifers 27 May at the recommended rate and subsequent applications were made about every 28 d until the end of the study. Treatment dates were 27 May, 30 June, and 4 Aug. Eighty heifers utilized the 1% Co-Ral dust bags and a group of 10 cows served as an untreated control. Horn fly counts for both studies were recorded at weekly intervals by counting the total number of horn flies on both sides on an animal.

Discusses the unique configuration of circular four electrode capacitors which permits diagnosis and assessment of changes in capacitance without using a reference standard of superior stability to make the measurements.

A post-coupling semipermeable membrane technique for determining the activity of acid phosphatase in sections of skeletal muscle has been developed and investigated for its reproducibility and validity. Cryostat sections of unfixed muscle mounted on dry dialysis membranes are first incubated for 1-4 at 37 degrees C on a gelled medium containing 4 mM naphthol AS-BI phosphate buffered at pH 5. They are next transferred to another gel containing only hexazotised Pararosanaline and incubated for a further 30 min. Finally, they are treated with 70% ethanol, dried in air, and mounted. The final reaction product (FRP) deposited within muscle fibres is mostly distributed as a fine reticular network, tentatively identified as sarcoplasmic reticulum. Large FRP "granules' of the kind observed with Meijer's simultaneous coupling membrane technique are not formed. The method is reproducible and valid in terms of several working criteria. For example, the mean absorbance of the FRP at its absorption maximum increases linearly with incubation time; and in model sections containing various amounts of a subcellular fraction rich in acid phosphatase, the mean absorbance after a constant incubation time is proportional to the enzyme concentration. FRP is formed at approximately twice the rate it is deposited in the simultaneous coupling method. The most important advantage of the post-coupling method over the simultaneous coupling method is that the inhibition of the enzyme by coupling reagents is avoided.

The in vitro immunomodulatory activities of a number of saponins (crude Quillaja saponin, Quillayanin, Quil-A and glycyrrhizic acid) are described. Addition of these saponin preparations to mouse spleen cell cultures resulted in significant cell proliferation. B-cells were induced to proliferate in the presence of the crude saponin, and T-cells in the presence of Quil-A. On the other hand, Quillayanin and glycyrrhizic acid stimulated both T- and B-lymphocytes equally. The selective proliferation of subtypes of lymphocytes correlated with restimulation responses by polyclonal mitogens. Pretreatment by lymphocytes with crude saponins induced significant T-cell responses to PHA and Con A, and to T-independent B-cell stimulation by LPS. Pulse exposure of spleen cells to Quil-A resulted in enhanced cell proliferation when restimulated with PHA, Con A and PWM. In comparison, similar exposure of lymphocytes to Quillayanin or glycyrrhizic acid produced markedly increased responses to PHA, Con A, PWM and LPS. Incubation of lymphocytes in the presence of Quillaja saponins and Quillayanin caused effector cell generation as determined in a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction. In the case of lymphocytes cultured in the presence of crude saponins or glycyrrhizic acid, the supernatants contained active soluble factors. This was demonstrated by the observation that the addition of supernatants to spleen cell cultures induced spontaneous cell proliferation, and also amplified their responses to a suboptimal dose of PHA. The experimental data suggest that different components in the Quillaja saponin preparations may have selective effects on various subtypes of cell populations. Glycyrrhizic acid has the most profound immunomodulatory activity in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cisplatinum significantly prolongs survival in end stage head and neck cancer but only 30-40% of patients respond. Many receive chemotherapy with little or no benefit and it would obviously be advantageous to determine in advance those patients likely to benefit. In 2 phase III trials of chemotherapy in end stage disease, 129 patients have been treated with cisplatinum, either alone or in 2-drug combination with bleomycin, methotrexate or 5-fluorouracil. Factors analysed in the entire group were age, sex, site, previous treatment, performance status and the use of cisplatinum in combination. A high albumen and oro- or nasopharyngeal site were significantly favourable, while a hypopharyngeal, middle ear, skin or paranasal site were all significantly unfavourable. In the separate analysis of the subgroup with recurrent disease, site of recurrence and time to recurrence were analysed in addition to the factors named above. Although similar trends to those in the entire group were observed none reached significant levels. In the subgroup with advanced previously untreated disease, histological grade was analysed in addition to the above factors. Good performance status emerged as significantly favourable. The emerging trends provide some insight regarding outcome but are not sufficiently clearcut to allow a decision to be made on who should and who should not be treated.

Summary 264 larvae and two eggs of the goat warble fly were collected in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Culture of larvae on various media in the laboratory was unsuccessful. Some mature third instar larvae pupated naturally and 13 flies eventually emerged. A description is given of the eggs, which are unlike any others so far described, and a description of a pupa that developed from a larva identified as P. aegagri is also given. Warbles were seen in goats from early October to early March. Pupation lasted between 45 and 76 days, but nearly all flies emerged in mid-April during a period of warm weather. The two eggs were collected from goats in the field towards the end of April. Larvae and flies were identified as P. aegagri, P. silenus and P. crossii according to descriptions given in the literature, but larvae that were identified as one species gave rise to flies that were identified as another species. Larvae with different characteristics were collected on occasions from the same flock at the same time. It ...

POPULATIONS of stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), were evaluated at 27 feedlots and 1 dairy in eastern Nebraska in 1980 and 1981. Stable flies occurred through the summers at all locations and the average population measurements at different locations varied by a ratio of more than 5 to 1. Seasonal variations were similar on most feedlots, increasing from low levels in May to maximum levels in July and fluctuating between medium and high levels until September/The population measures were used to estimate production losses of 2.30 kg and 3.51 kg per animal for the summers of 1980 and 1981, respectively

Mouse serum interferons induced by polyI:C, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), reovirus, and Mengo virus were assayed in monolayers of mouse L-929 cells by the plaque-reduction method using both VSV and Mengo as challenge viruses. Titers obtained with Mengo virus as challenge were all lower than with VSV. With the interferons induced by VSV, reovirus, and polyI:C, the reductions were of the order of two- to three-fold. With Mengo virus-induced interferon the reduction was much greater (about 17-fold). This offers an explanation for the observation that, unit for unit (measured by the plaque reduction of VSV), Mengo virus-induced interferon is only about [Formula: see text] as effective as polyI:C-induced interferon in protecting mice against lethal infection with Mengo virus. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that an interferon antagonist is produced in the serum of mice infected with Mengo virus. This antagonist, which is not produced in mice inoculated with polyI:C, or reovirus, effectively blocks the antiviral action of interferon during Mengo virus infections, both in vivo and in vitro.

We have compared the protective effect in AKR mice of poly I:C and bacterial endotoxins against lethal doses of Mengo virus. Administered intravenously or intraperitoneally, both interferon inducers protected mice to about the same extent from virus challenges of 2–3 LD50's. Endotoxin, however, was unable to protect the mice effectively against higher challenge doses of virus. Evidence is presented that the level of protection afforded by both inducers is related to the level of circulating interferon produced. We have also shown that a single intravenous dose of poly I:C results in the appearance of two distinct bursts of interferon activity, with maxima at about 2 h and 9 h post injection. Endotoxin, on the other hand, produced only one peak of activity, at 2 h post injection.

Certain commercial preparations of bovine albumin, fraction V, show inhibitory activity in the rubella hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests. This does not appear to be due to albumin per se, but instead to a contaminant (or contaminants) with the properties of a lipoprotein. All inhibitory activity can be removed from albumin preparations by treatment with kaolin, gel filtration, or flotation ultracentrifugation. We have found that, even when there was no inhibition of HA titers, kaolin treatment of the albumins prior to their incorporation into the test diluent resulted in more clearly defined agglutination patterns. Reasons for and against including albumin in the test diluent are discussed. It is concluded that, although not essential, it is a worthwhile additive. Our data suggest, however, that each batch of albumin used for this purpose should be checked for the presence of inhibitor, and that treatment with kaolin might be considered as a routine step prior to its incorporation into the test diluent.

A total of 15 835 ticks was identified, mainly from sheep and goats, in a livestock survey in Cyprus in 1970–72. Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Koch, H. a. excavatum Koch, H. marginatum marginatum Koch, H. m. turanicum Pom., H. m. rufipes Koch, Haemaphysalis sulcata C. & F., Ixodes crenulatus Koch and Rhipicephalus turanicus Pom. & Matikashvili are recorded for the first time in Cyprus. H. sulcata was found in all parts of the island; Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. were mostly seen in the low drier areas, and Ixodes gibbosus Nutt. in the wetter areas; Boophilus annulatus (Say) was confined to one small area. Ticks were most common in autumn and early winter. Haemaphysalis sulcata and I. gibbosus were only found in the winter months, whereas Hyalomma spp. were found all the year round but especially in the warmer months. The Hyalomma subspecies showed some differences in seasonal distribution. Immature Rhipicephalus ticks were found in the colder months whereas the adults were seen mainly in the spring and early summer. Immature Haemaphysalis sulcata and Hyalomma spp. were extremely rare on ruminants. Only adults of I. gibbosus were seen in the first year of the survey, whereas only immatures, mainly larvae, were seen in the second year. The period of attachment of R. bursa C. & F. adults was shorter than that of R. turanicus and corresponded closely to the incidence of babesiosis in sheep and goats. The predilection sites of ticks for cattle, sheep and goats are given.

Foxes were vaccinated orally (by bait), gastrically (by stomach tube) and by scarification with a vaccinia recombinant virus expressing the rabies glycoprotein. Neutralizing antibodies against rabies virus were detected at two weeks postvaccination in 8/8 foxes in the bait-fed group, in 3/6 foxes inoculated by stomach tube and in 2/2 of the scarified foxes. After challenge at three months postvaccination with street rabies virus, all foxes that had developed antibodies were protected. The high rate of seroconversion, high levels of antibodies, and resistance to challenge suggest that this recombinant virus might be a suitable vaccine for oral immunization of foxes against rabies.

The clinician is almost entirely dependent on the histopathologist to accurately diagnose minor salivary gland tumours, but in some cases the histological interpretation of the specimen is very difficult. Recently it has been demonstrated using immunohistochemical techniques that S-100 protein is present in some salivary gland tissues and its localization has been used as an aid in the differentiation of major salivary gland tumours. To assess its value in the diagnosis of minor salivary gland tumours it was localized in sections from 15 such tumours using both a standard peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) and a newly developed immunogold-silver staining sequence (IGSS) technique. Strong staining for S-100 protein was seen in the nuclei and cytoplasm of the cellular areas and also in the cells in the chondroid and myxoid areas of pleomorphic adenomas. Generally the staining was more intense and widespread with the IGSS method. No staining was observed in any of the other tumour types. We conclude that S-100 protein localization is a valuable aid in the differentiation of minor salivary gland tumours. Furthermore, the IGSS method enables more sensitive ‘reading’ of the staining reaction.