Small-Scale Testing to Study Mitigation of Acceleration on Simulated Vehicles

This dissertation investigates various means for mitigating acceleration experienced by passengers on vehicles subjected to blast loading. In order to complete this study, small-scale testing of simulated vehicles was used. The explosives designated for this research are exclusively buried in saturated sand, which will act as the loading media for the simulated vehicles. In addition to explosive testing, various tests were performed dynamically using a high-pressure gas gun. Initially, tests were performed to better understand the effects of vehicle mass and stand-off distance on vehicle acceleration due to blast loads; after which, studies were conducted to mitigate the acceleration. Test plates used in this study vary in both size and geometry. When necessary, simple plate geometries are employed to investigate various mitigation parameters. Ultimately, much of the testing was conducted on simplified scaled versions of vehicles likely to be subjected to attack. This paper focuses mainly on mitigation through crushing of thin-walled cylinders, but also investigates the advantages of applying polymeric coatings to dynamically loaded structures. Piezoelectric accelerometers are used in conjunction with high speed videography to collect test data. In addition to acceleration, impulse and kinetic energy of each test plate is examined. This research, though funded by the US Army, will be of use to all branches of the armed forces utilizing Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles. The ultimate goal of this research is to help create a vehicle that will increase the probability that the passengers will survive a blast event with minimal long-term damage to the brain

A qualitative exploration of therapists’ experiences as clients who prematurely terminated their therapy in England

This qualitative study explored experiences of prematurely terminating adult individual therapy from the perspectives of therapists as clients in England. The aims of the study were to gain an overview of the experience of prematurely terminating therapy; to understand the experience of dissatisfaction when this is given as a reason for prematurely terminating therapy; and to inform and thus help improve practice. Rates of premature termination from counselling and psychotherapy remain high despite a considerable body of research into possible predictors of this phenomenon. Few studies have explored clients’ experiences of premature termination in depth. Clients often report dissatisfaction as a reason for premature termination, and this experience is under-researched. From practitioners’ perspectives, little is known about indicators of dissatisfaction, and how to manage premature termination if it occurs. The study was conducted in two stages. The purposeful sample were therapists who, as clients, prematurely terminated personal therapy after attending at least two sessions. Participants self-selected as having prematurely terminated therapy. Stage one used an online qualitative survey to gain an overview of participants’ experiences of premature termination, and the 40 usable responses were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. The survey was used to recruit participants for stage two. In stage two, six semi-structured interviews were carried out with participants who had prematurely terminated therapy for reasons of dissatisfaction. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Overall, the major themes created were: feeling dissatisfied; client becomes unable to continue therapy; and communication about the premature termination. The findings confirm the importance of the working alliance in therapy, and illuminate how the alliance failed to develop in experiences of dissatisfaction. It is argued that understanding clients’ experiences could enable practitioners to recognise the presence of dissatisfaction, and adapt therapy, if appropriate, to minimise avoidable premature termination. The need for therapy to ‘add value’ was also identified. The findings indicate a failure by some therapists to act in a relational way when clients prematurely terminated therapy, thereby disrupting the dominant discourse about the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Clients’ needs at the point of premature termination were identified. The findings of this study are not generalisable but may be transferable. The study concludes that therapists’ management of how therapy ends is just as important as the management of how it begins, regardless of how it ends. This has implications for practice and training. Areas for further research are identified

Mapping of National School Food Policies across the EU28 plus Norway and Switzerland

Background: With childhood obesity prevalence on the rise in many European countries, schools may serve as a protected environment for children to learn healthy diet and lifestyle habits. Policy makers, educators and researchers would benefit from a comprehensive overview of European school food policies. Methods: We screened public databases, EU level reports, national ministerial websites and the scientific literature to collate official school food policies across Europe. Member States representatives checked that all appropriate documents (total of 34 policies) had been identified and referenced, and they reviewed and confirmed the extracted data. Results: Mandatory standards are defined in 18 of the policies (53%), the remainder offering voluntary guidelines. Top 3 policy aims are to improve child nutrition (97%), teach healthy dietary/lifestyle habits (94%) and reduce/prevent obesity (88%). Variations mainly relate to the types of meals targeted (e.g. lunch, breakfast, snack, dinner); whether standards/recommendations are nutrient- and/or food-based; and if vending machines and the wider food environment (kiosks near schools, packed lunches from home, etc.) are considered. Conclusion: We provide an up-to-date overview of European school food policies. The next step will be to assess the need and feasibility for developing best practice guidelines for school food policies in Europe, bearing in mind cultural and structural differences between countries.JRC.I.2-Public Health Policy Suppor

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling schemes: a comprehensive review

This JRC Science for Policy report was produced in support of a Commission report on front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling. It provides a review of the scientific literature concerning FOP nutrition labelling and its effects on consumers, food business operators, and the single market. A major emphasis is placed on consumer attention, preferences, and understanding of different FOP schemes, as well as effects on food purchasing and implications for diet and health. The report also considers in how far producer efforts on food reformulation and innovation may be affected by the introduction of FOP nutrition labelling schemes, describes potential unintended consequences of introducing FOP nutrition labelling, and highlights knowledge gaps and directions for future research. An extensive, yet non-exhaustive overview of FOP schemes around the globe complements the literature review.JRC.F.1-Health in Societ

Mapping and zooming in on childhood obesity

Overweight and obesity are a challenge for children and adolescents worldwide and in the EU. This report shows the dimension of the challenge at the EU level and tells a series of stories, illustrated through maps, that highlight and make the case for the importance of showing data disaggregated at various levels (by socio-economic status or by region – NUTS2, and even NUTS3). The data and maps presented show that education level for example, is an important determinant of obesity. Data collected at local level are a powerful source of knowledge that can and should be used for evidence-informed and truly tailor-made targeted actions and policies. This is illustrated by the comprehensive yearly evaluation of children's health that the Portuguese city of Gaia organises and the actions that stem from it. Interventions at local level based on local data have immediacy and deliver a sense of action and empowerment that is hardly achievable at national level. The stories selected here are mere examples; other stories, using other disaggregated data sets, could have been told. There is room and need for deepening data collection relevant to children's health and childhood obesity and to make it more accessible and comparable. This will benefit decision-makers at every level, public health practitioners and researchers. And most importantly, it will benefit the health of children and adolescents in our continent.JRC.F.1-Health in Societ

Use and understanding of nutrition information on food labels in six European countries

Aim: The goal of the study was to investigate the use of nutrition information on food labels and understanding of guideline daily amount (GDA) front-of-pack nutrition labels in six European countries. Subjects and methods: In-store observations and in-store interviews were conducted in major retailers in the UK (n = 2019), Sweden (n = 1858), France (n = 2337), Germany (n = 1963), Poland (n = 1800) and Hungary (n = 1804), supplemented by questionnaires filled out at home and returned (overall response rate 50.3%). Use of labels was measured by combining in-store observations and in-store interviews on concrete purchases in six product categories. Understanding of GDA front-of-pack nutrition labels was measured by a variety of tasks dealing with conceptual understanding, substantial understanding and health inferences. Demographics, nutrition knowledge and interest in healthy eating were measured as potential determinants. Results: Across six product categories, 16.8% of shoppers were found to have looked for nutrition information on the label, with the nutrition grid (table or list), GDA labels and the ingredients list as the main sources consulted and calories, fat and sugar the information most often looked for. Understanding of GDA labels was high in the UK, Sweden and Germany, and more limited in the other countries. Regression analysis showed that, in addition to country-specific differences, use and understanding are also affected by differences in interest in healthy eating and in nutrition knowledge and by social grade. Conclusion: Understanding of nutrition information seems to be more widespread than use, suggesting that lack of use is a question of not only understanding, but also motivation. Considerable national differences exist in both understanding and use, some of which may be attributed to different histories of the role of nutrition in the public debate

GagPol-specific CD4+ T-cells increase the antibody response to Env by intrastructural help

Background: Immunization of rhesus macaques against Gag of SIV resulted in a more rapid appearance of Env antibodies after infection with SIV or SHIV challenge viruses although the vaccines lacked an Env component. We therefore explored whether T helper cells specific for internal HIV proteins could provide intrastructural help for Env-specific B cells and thus increase the Env antibody response. Results: Mice were immunized by adenoviral vector or DNA vaccines against GagPol and then boosted with virus-like particles (VLP) containing GagPol and Env. Env-specific antibody levels after the VLP booster immunizations were significantly higher in GagPol-immunized mice than in mock-vaccinated controls. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells from GagPol-immunized mice also enhanced the Env antibody response to VLP immunization in the recipient mice. Depending on the presence of VLPs, co-cultivation of CD4+ T cells from GagPol-primed mice with BCR transgenic B cells specific for a protein presented on the surface of the VLPs also resulted in the activation of the B and T cells. Conclusions: Our study indicates that GagPol-specific T helper cells may provide intrastructural help for Env antibody responses. This cross-talk between immune responses directed against different components of the retroviral particle may be relevant for the immunopathogenesis of retroviral infections and allow to improve virus like particle vaccine approaches against HIV

Stability indicating liquid chromatographic method for determination of lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in fixed dose combination formulations

This study describes the development and validation of a stability indicating high performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and their degradants. The method uses a Reprosil®-pur basic C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) maintained at 30°C, methanol and a mixture of buffers (2.3 g/L ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and 1.32 g/L of diammonium hydrogen phosphate, pH 3.9) for gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and UV detection at 270 nm. Good separation of lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and their potential impurities was achieved. The stability indicating ability of the developed method was validated by subjecting both active ingredients to hydrolytic and oxidative stress conditions and separating the degradation products from their respective intact drugs. The calibration curve was linear over the 80-120 μg/mL concentration range for both active ingredients with r2> 0.99. A recovery rate of 99.8 % for lamivudine and 99.3 % for tenofovir disoproxil fumarate confirmed the accuracy of the method for the simultaneous determination of both drugs in the fixed-dose combination.Keywords: Stability indicating liquid chromatography, lamivudine, tenofovir, validatio

Innate signalling molecules as genetic adjuvants do not alter the efficacy of a DNA-based influenza A vaccine

In respect to the heterogeneity among influenza A virus strains and the shortcomings of current vaccination programs, there is a huge interest in the development of alternative vaccines that provide a broader and more long-lasting protection. Gene-based approaches are considered as promising candidates for such flu vaccines. In our study, innate signalling molecules from the RIG-I and the NALP3 pathways were evaluated as genetic adjuvants in intramuscular DNA immunizations. Plasmids encoding a constitutive active form of RIG-I (cRIG-I), IPS-1, IL-1β, or IL-18 were co-administered with plasmids encoding the hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein derived from H1N1/Puerto Rico/8/1934 via electroporation in BALB/c mice. Immunogenicity was analysed in detail and efficacy was demonstrated in homologous and heterologous influenza challenge experiments. Although the biological activities of the adjuvants have been confirmed by in vitro reporter assays, their single or combined inclusion in the vaccine did not result in superior vaccine efficacy. With the exception of significantly increased levels of antigen-specific IgG1 after the co-administration of IL-1β, there were only minor alterations concerning the immunogenicity. Since DNA electroporation alone induced substantial inflammation at the injection site, as demonstrated in this study using Mx2-Luc reporter mice, it might override the adjuvants´ contribution to the inflammatory microenvironment and thereby minimizes the influence on the immunogenicity. Taken together, the DNA immunization was protective against subsequent challenge infections but could not be further improved by the genetic adjuvants analysed in this study