Energy Design Guides for Army Barracks: Preprint

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NREL are developing target energy budgets and design guides to achieve 30% energy savings. This paper focuses the design guide for one type of barracks called unaccompanied enlisted personal housing

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Detection of Schistosoma mansoni Eggs in the Gut of Mice

Background: The gold standard for diagnosing Schistosoma mansoni infections is the detection of eggs from stool or biopsy specimens. The viability of collected eggs can be tested by the miracidium hatching procedure. Direct detection methods are often limited in patients with light or early infections, whereas serological tests and PCR methods fail to differentiate between an inactive and persistent infection and between schistosomal species. Recently, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) has been introduced as a diagnostic tool in several fields of medicine. In this study we evaluated CLSM for the detection of viable eggs of S. mansoni directly within the gut of infected mice. Methodology/Principal Findings: The confocal laser scanning microscope used in this study is based on the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II scanning laser system in combination with the Rostock Cornea Module (image modality 1) or a rigid endoscope (image modality 2). Colon sections of five infected mice were examined with image modalities 1 and 2 for schistosomal eggs. Afterwards a biopsy specimen was taken from each colon section and examined by bright-field microscopy. Visualised eggs were counted and classified in terms of viability status. Conclusions/Significance: We were able to show that CLSM visualises eggs directly within the gut and permits discrimination of schistosomal species and determination of egg viability. Thus, CLSM may be a suitable non-invasive too

Extremely Low-Energy Design for Army Buildings: Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility; Preprint

This paper describes the integrated energy optimization process for buildings and building clusters and demonstrates this process for new construction projects and building retrofits. An explanation is given of how mission critical building loads affect possible site and source energy use reduction in Army buildings

Results of use of fibrin glue for surgical treatment of urethral stricture

Influence of fibrin glue on results of surgical treatment of urethral stricture in experience with 32 rats and in clinic at 65 men is investigated. Glue use has led to significant reduction of operative time, tightness increase of an anastomotic seam, to reduction of catheterisation duration terms and to decrease in frequency of recurrence of urethral stricture.</em

Quality of life of men after various methods of operative treatment for urethral stricture

Quality of life of patients was the best after substitution buccal urethroplasty and Turner-Warwick modified by Webster anastomotic urethroplasty, than after internal optical urethrotomy. It is caused by high frequency of recurrence of urethral stricture after internal optical urethrotomy that dictates necessity of its use only at strict indications.</em