Spacelab contamination assessment. Payload/orbiter contamination control requirement study

The activities and the results obtained under the payload/orbiter contamination control requirement study were documented, and the integrated shuttle payload contamination evaluation computer model was developed. Spacelab design and development analysis based upon the predicted Spacelab induced contaminant environments were conducted utilizing the space program

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for urinary albumin at low concentrations

We describe an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for urinary albumin. It requires only commercially available reagents, can detect as little as 16 micrograms of albumin per liter, and analytical recovery ranges from 92 to 116%. The assay is simple, rapid, and inexpensive. Albumin excretion was 6.2 (SD 4.1) mg/24 h in healthy subjects (n = 40), 14.7 (SD 7.2) mg/24 h in albumin-test-strip-negative Type I diabetics (n = 11), and 19.7 (SD 16.2) mg/24 h in patients with essential hypertension (n = 12)

Payload/orbiter contamination control requirement study: Spacelab configuration contamination study

The assessment of the Spacelab carrier induced contaminant environment was continued, and the ability of Spacelab to meet established contamination control criteria for the space transportation system program was determined. The primary areas considered included: (1) updating, refining, and improving the Spacelab contamination computer model and contamination analysis methodology, (2) establishing the resulting adjusted induced environment predictions for comparison with the applicable criteria, (3) determining the Spacelab design and operational requirements necessary to meet the criteria, (4) conducting mission feasibility analyses of the combined Spacelab/Orbiter contaminant environment for specific proposed mission and payload mixes, and (5) establishing a preliminary Spacelab mission support plan as well as model interface requirements; A summary of those activities conducted to date with respect to the modelling, analysis, and predictions of the induced environment, including any modifications in approach or methodology utilized in the contamination assessment of the Spacelab carrier, was presented

Experimental investigation of contamination prevention techniques to cryogenic surfaces on board orbiting spacecraft

Within the simulation limitations of on-orbit conditions, it was demonstrated that a helium purge system could be an effective method for reducing the incoming flux of contaminant species. Although a generalized purge system was employed in conjunction with basic telescope components, the simulation provided data that could be used for further modeling and design of a specific helium injection system. Experimental telescope pressures required for 90% attenuation appeared to be slightly higher (factor of 2 to 5). Cooling the helium purge gas and telescope components from 300 to 140 K had no measurable effect on stopping efficiency of a given mass flow of helium from the diffuse injector

Induction of Granulysin and Perforin Cytolytic Mediator Expression in 10-Week-Old Infants Vaccinated with BCG at Birth

Background. While vaccination at birth with Mycobacterium bovis Bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG) protects against severe childhood tuberculosis, there is no consensus as to which components of the BCG-induced immune response mediate this protection. However, granulysin and perforin, found in the granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and Natural Killer (NK) cells, can kill intracellular mycobacteria and are implicated in protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods. We compared the cellular expression of granulysin and perforin cytolytic molecules in cord blood and peripheral blood from 10-week-old infants vaccinated at birth with either Japanese or Danish BCG, administered either intradermally or percutaneously. Results. In cord blood, only CD56+ NK cells expressed granulysin and perforin constitutively. These cytolytic mediators were upregulated in CD4+ and CD8+ cord blood cells by ex vivo stimulation with BCG but not with PPD. Following BCG vaccination of neonates, both BCG and PPD induced increased expression of granulysin and perforin by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. There was no difference in expression of cytolytic molecules according to vaccination route or strain. Conclusions. Constitutive expression of perforin and granulysin by cord blood NK-cells likely provides innate immunity, while BCG vaccination-induced expression of these cytolytic mediators may contribute towards protection of the neonate against tuberculosis

Influence of strenuous exercise on albumin excretion

Renal albumin excretion rate was 7.3 mg/24 h (SEM 0.5, range 0.6-21.0) in 66 healthy subjects. This rate increased markedly during and shortly after strenuous exercise on a bicycle ergometer (before: 5.5 +/- 0.6 micrograms/min; during and just after: 16.9 +/- 2.2 micrograms/min; P less than 0.001; n = 30). However, albumin excretion/24 h was not significantly higher during 24 h with a period of strenuous exercise than during 24 h without such exercise (10.3 +/- 0.9 mg/24 h vs 8.5 +/- 0.7 mg/24 h)

Increased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is a poor prognostic factor in patients with primary operable and inoperable pancreatic cancer

Background: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed as an indicator of systemic inflammatory response. Previous findings from small-scale studies revealed conflicting results about its independent prognostic significance with regard to different clinical end points in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients. Therefore, the aim of our study was the external validation of the prognostic significance of NLR in a large cohort of PC patients. Methods: Data from 371 consecutive PC patients, treated between 2004 and 2010 at a single centre, were evaluated retrospectively. The whole cohort was stratified into two groups according to the treatment modality. Group 1 comprised 261 patients with inoperable PC at diagnosis and group 2 comprised 110 patients with surgically resected PC. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method. To evaluate the independent prognostic significance of the NLR, the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied. Results: Multivariate analysis identified increased NLR as an independent prognostic factor for inoperable PC patients (hazard ratio (HR)=2.53, confidence interval (CI)=1.64–3.91, P<0.001) and surgically resected PC patients (HR=1.61, CI=1.02–2.53, P=0.039). In inoperable PC patients, the mGPS was associated with poor CSS only in univariate analysis (HR=1.44, CI=1.04–1.98). Conclusion: Risk prediction for cancer-related end points using NLR does add independent prognostic information to other well-established prognostic factors in patients with PC, regardless of the undergoing therapeutic modality. Thus, the NLR should be considered for future individual risk assessment in patients with PC

Seeking String Theory in the Cosmos

We review the existence, formation and properties of cosmic strings in string theory, the wide variety of observational techniques that are being employed to detect them, and the constraints that current observations impose on string theory models.Comment: 25 pages; contribution for String Cosmology issue of Classical and Quantum Gravity. References added and other improvements. Matches journal versio

Cortical depth dependent functional responses in humans at 7T: improved specificity with 3D GRASE

Ultra high fields (7T and above) allow functional imaging with high contrast-to-noise ratios and improved spatial resolution. This, along with improved hardware and imaging techniques, allow investigating columnar and laminar functional responses. Using gradient-echo (GE) (T2* weighted) based sequences, layer specific responses have been recorded from human (and animal) primary visual areas. However, their increased sensitivity to large surface veins potentially clouds detecting and interpreting layer specific responses. Conversely, spin-echo (SE) (T2 weighted) sequences are less sensitive to large veins and have been used to map cortical columns in humans. T2 weighted 3D GRASE with inner volume selection provides high isotropic resolution over extended volumes, overcoming some of the many technical limitations of conventional 2D SE-EPI, whereby making layer specific investigations feasible. Further, the demonstration of columnar level specificity with 3D GRASE, despite contributions from both stimulated echoes and conventional T2 contrast, has made it an attractive alternative over 2D SE-EPI. Here, we assess the spatial specificity of cortical depth dependent 3D GRASE functional responses in human V1 and hMT by comparing it to GE responses. In doing so we demonstrate that 3D GRASE is less sensitive to contributions from large veins in superficial layers, while showing increased specificity (functional tuning) throughout the cortex compared to GE