Views from the Ohio manufacturing index

An introduction to the experimental Ohio Manufacturing Index and a brief examination of the recent patterns of manufacturing growth occurring in the state.Manufactures - Ohio ; Ohio ; Economic indicators - Ohio

Hepatitis C Diagnoses in an American Indian Primary Care Population

BACKGROUND: Despite large disparities in the burden of chronic liver disease, data on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among American Indians (AIs) are lacking. We reviewed hepatitis C diagnoses in 35,712 AI/AN primary care patients. MAIN FINDINGS: At least one HCV-associated ICD-9 code was recorded in 251 (1%) patients between October 1, 2001 and September 30, 2003. An HCV enzyme-linked immunoassay (HCVEIA) was sent in 209 (83.0%); 206/209 (99%) were positive. Confirmatory testing was performed in 144/206 (70%) HCV-EIA positive patients; HCV infection was confirmed in 144 (100%). In the 90/144 (63%) charts with risk factor documentation, injection drug use was the most common risk factor (61/90, 68%). Deficiencies were present in hepatitis B and HIV testing, and hepatitis A and B vaccination. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in laboratory workup of HCV and co-infections, risk factor ascertainment and documentation, and adult vaccination are needed to address HCV effectively in this population

Microsporidial Infections in Immunodeficient and Immunocompetent Patients

Microsporidia are obligate, intracellular, spore-forming protozoal parasites. Their host range is extensive and includes most invertebrates and all classes of vertebrates. Five microsporidial genera (Enterocytozoon, Encephalitozoon, Septata, Pleistophom, and Nosema) and unclassified microsporidia have been associated with human disease, which appears to manifest primarily in immunocompromised persons. The clinical manifestations of microsporidiosis are diverse and include intestinal, pulmonary, ocular, muscular, and renal disease. The majority of microsporidial infections in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are attributed to Enterocytozoon bieneusi, an important cause of chronic diarrhea and wasting. Four cases of microsporidial infection among persons not infected with HIV who had documented or presumed cellular immunodeficiency and four cases of corneal stroma infection due to microsporidia in immunocompetent patients have been described. Furthermore, the first case of traveler's diarrhea due to E. bieneusi in an immunocompetent and otherwise healthy patient is reported in this issue. The sources of human microsporidial infections and modes of transmission are unknow

Parched elastohydrodynamic lubrication: Instrumentation and procedure

A counter rotating bearing rig was designed and constructed to study transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication phenomena. New instrumentation is described and test procedures are documented. Ball and race speed measurement systems and the capacitance (film thickness) measurement system were upgraded. Methods for measuring bearing torque and race temperatures were implemented

Hot hydrogen testing of metallic turbo pump materials

The objectives of this investigation are to expose heat resistant alloys to hydrogen at elevated temperatures and to use various microstructural and analytical techniques to determine the chemical and rate process involved in degradation of these materials due to hydrogen environment. Inconel 718 and NASA-23 (wrought and cast) are candidate materials. The degradation of these materials in the presence of 1 to 5 atmospheric pressure of hydrogen from 450 C to 1100 C was examined. The hydrogen facility at Auburn University was used for this purpose. Control experiments were also conducted wherein the samples were exposed to vacuum so that a direct comparison of the results would separate the thermal contribution from the hydrogen effects. The samples were analyzed prior to and after exposure. A residual gas collection system was used to determine the gaseous species produced by any chemical reaction that may have occurred during the exposure. Analysis of this gas sample shows only the presence of H2 as expected. Analyses of the samples were conducted using optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and weight change. There appears to be no change in weight of the samples as a result of hydrogen exposure. In addition no visible change on the surface structure was detected. This indicates that the materials of interest do not have strong interaction with hot hydrogen. This is consistent with the microstructure results

Hot Hydrogen Testing of Refractory Metals and Ceramics

The objective of this investigation is to develop a technique with which refractory metal carbide samples can be exposed to hydrogen containing gases at high temperatures, and to use various microstructural and analytical techniques to determine the chemical and rate processes involved in hydrogen degradation in these materials. Five types of carbides were examined including WC, NbC, HfC, ZrC, and TaC. The ceramics were purchased and were all monolithic in nature. The temperature range investigated was from 850 to 1600 C with a hydrogen pressure of one atmosphere. Control experiments, in vacuum, were also conducted for comparison so that the net effects due to hydrogen could be isolated. The samples were analyzed prior to and after exposure. Gas samples were collected in selected experiments and analyzed using gas chromography. Characterization of the resulting microstructure after exposure to hydrogen was conducted using optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and weight change. The ceramics were purchased and were all monolithic in nature. It was found that all samples lost weight after exposure, both in hydrogen and vacuum. Results from the microstructure analyses show that the degradation processes are different among the five types of ceramics involved. In addition, the apparent activation energy for the degradation process is a function of temperature even within the same material. This indicates that there are more than one mechanism involved in each material, and that the mechanisms are temperature dependent

Vaccination Coverage Among American Indian and Alaska Native Children, 2006–2010

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A previous study on vaccination coverage in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population found that disparities in coverage between AI/AN and white children existed from 2001 to 2004 but were absent in 2005. The objective of this study was to describe vaccination coverage levels for AI/AN children aged 19- 35 months in the United States between 2006 and 2010, examining whether gains found for AI/AN children in 2005 have been sustained. METHODS: Data from the 2006 through 2010 National Immunization Surveys were analyzed. Groups were defined as AI/AN (alone or in combination with any other race and excluding Hispanics) and white-only non-Hispanic children. Comparisons in demographics and vaccination coverage were made. RESULTS: Demographic risk factors often associated with underimmunization were significantly higher for AI/AN respondents compared with white respondents in most years studied. Overall, vaccination coverage was similar between the 2 groups in most years, although coverage with 4 or more doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was lower for AI/AN children in 2008 and 2009, as was coverage with vaccine series measures the series in 2006 and 2009. When stratified by geographic regions, AI/AN children had coverage that was similar to or higher than that of white children for most vaccines in most years studied. CONCLUSIONS: The gains in vaccination coverage found in 2005 have been maintained. The absence of disparities in coverage with most vaccines between AI/AN children and white children from 2006 through 2010 is a clear success. These types of periodic reviews are important to ensure we remain vigilant

Multiple Signaling Pathways of Human Interleukin-8 Receptor A: Independent Regulation by Phosphorylation

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) receptor A (CXCR1) couples to a pertussis toxin- sensitive G protein to mediate phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) activation and cellular responses. Responses to CXCR1 are attenuated by prior exposure of neutrophils to either IL-8, a cleavage product of the fifth component of complement (C5a) or n-formylated peptides (formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine, fMLP). To characterize the role of receptor phosphorylation in the regulation of the CXCR1, a phosphorylation- deficient mutant, M2CXCR1, was constructed. This receptor, stably expressed in RBL-2H3 cells, coupled more efficiently to G protein and stimulated enhanced phosphoinositide hydrolysis, cAMP production, exocytosis, and phospholipase D activation, and was resistant to IL-8-induced receptor internalization. The rate and total amount of ligand stimulated actin polymerization remained unchanged, but interestingly, chemotaxis was decreased by ~30% compared with the wild type receptor. To study the role of receptor phosphorylation in cross-desensitization of chemoattractant receptors, M2CXCR1 was coexpressed with cDNAs encoding receptors for either fMLP (FR), C5a (C5aR), or platelet-activating factor (PAFR). Both C5aR and PAFR were cross-phosphorylated upon M2CXCR1 activation, resulting in attenuated guanosine 5\u27-3\u27-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTPγS) binding in membranes. In contrast, FR and M2CXCR1 were resistant to cross- phosphorylation and cross-inhibition of GTPγS binding by other receptors. Despite the resistance of M2CXCR1 to cross-phosphorylation and receptor/G protein uncoupling, its susceptibility to cross-desensitization of its Ca2+ response by fMLP and C5a, was equivalent to CXCR1. Regardless of the enhancement in certain receptor functions in M2CXCR1 compared with the wild type CXCR1, the mutated receptors mediated equivalent PLCβ3 phosphorylation and cross-desensitization of Ca2+ mobilization by FR, C5aR, and PAFR. The results herein indicate that phosphorylation of CXCR1 regulates some, but not all of the receptors functions. While receptor phosphorylation inhibits G protein turnover, PLC activation, Ca2+ mobilization and secretion, it is required for normal chemotaxis and receptor internalization. Since phosphorylation of CXCR1 had no effect on its ability to induce phosphorylation of PLCβ3 or to mediate class-desensitization, these activities may be mediated by independently regulated pathways

Absorption in the Infrared of Surface Electromagnetic Waves by Adsorbed Molecules on a Copper Surface

Experimental Observations Have Been Made for the First Time that Surface Electromagnetic Wave (SEW) Spectroscopy Can Be Used to Measure the Infrared Spectra of Adsorbed Molecules and Very Thin Films on Metal Surfaces. using a Tunable CO2 Laser (9.2-10.8 Μm Wavelength), the 975 and the 1037 Cm-1 Resonances of 5-25 Å Thick Physiosorbed Benzene on Copper Were Observed. Broadening of These Resonances for the Thinnest Layers of Benzene Was Observed. Also SEW Spectroscopy and Ellipsometry Were Used to Study Thin Films of Cellulose Acetate (15-75 Å) on Copper. Further, It Was Shown that Film Thicknesses Determined by SEW Spectroscopy Are in Agreement with the Ellipso metric Thicknesses and that the SEW Method is More Sensitive for Very Thin (\u3c25 \u3eÅ) Films. Copyright © 1976 American Institute of Physics