Glyphosate, AMPA and glufosinate in soils and earthworms in a French arable landscape

Although Glyphosate-based herbicides are often marketed as environmentally friendly and easily biodegradable, its bioavailability and risks to wildlife raise significant concerns. Among non-target organisms, earthworms which live in close contact with the soil can be directly exposed to pesticides and harmed. We investigated soil contamination and the exposure of earthworms to glyphosate, its metabolite AMPA, and glufosinate in an arable landscape in France, both in treated (i.e. temporary grasslands and cereal fields under conventional farming), and nontreated habitats (i.e. hedgerows, permanent grasslands and cereal fields under organic farming) (n = 120 sampling sites in total). Glyphosate, AMPA and glufosinate were detected in 88%, 58% and 35% of the soil samples, and in 74%, 38% and 12% of the earthworm samples, respectively. For both glyphosate and AMPA, concentrations in soils were at least 10 times lower than predicted environmental concentrations. However, the maximum glyphosate soil concentration measured (i.e., 0.598 mg kg-1) was only 2 to 3 times lower than the concentrations revealed to affect earthworms (survival and avoidance) in the literature. These compounds were found both in conventional and organic farming fields, thus supporting a recent study, and for the first time they were detected in hedgerows and grasslands. However, glyphosate and AMPA were more frequently detected in soils from cereal fields and hedgerows than in grasslands, and median concentrations measured in soils from cereal fields were significantly higher than in the two other habitats. Bioaccumulation of glyphosate and AMPA in earthworms was higher than expected according to the properties of the molecules. Our findings raised issues about the high occurrence of glyphosate and AMPA in soils from cropped and more natural areas in arable landscapes. They also highlight the potential for transfer of these molecules in terrestrial food webs as earthworms are prey for numerous animals.

Last Interglacial Iberian Neandertals as fisher-hunter-gatherers

Marine food-reliant subsistence systems such as those in the African Middle Stone Age (MSA) were not thought to exist in Europe until the much later Mesolithic. Whether this apparent lag reflects taphonomic biases or behavioral distinctions between archaic and modern humans remains much debated. Figueira Brava cave, in the Arrábida range (Portugal), provides an exceptionally well preserved record of Neandertal coastal resource exploitation on a comparable scale to the MSA and dated to ~86 to 106 thousand years ago. The breadth of the subsistence base-pine nuts, marine invertebrates, fish, marine birds and mammals, tortoises, waterfowl, and hoofed game-exceeds that of regional early Holocene sites. Fisher-hunter-gatherer economies are not the preserve of anatomically modern people; by the Last Interglacial, they were in place across the Old World in the appropriate settings.

Pharmacist Intervention in Risk Reduction Study in High-Risk Cardiac Patients: The Effect of 2 Methods of Pharmacist Training

Objective:

To assess the effect of intensive vs conventional training on pharmacist-suggested implementation of cardiac risk reduction efforts in community practice.

Methods:

Sixty-one volunteer pharmacists from 40 pharmacies were randomized to 1 of 2 educational groups: intensive or conventional training in cardiac risk reduction. With training complete, pharmacists identified and approached patients at high risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) at their practice sites to participate in the program. After a patient interview, pharmacists documented the relevant CAD risk factors and medication history, and then faxed this information, along with risk reduction recommendations, to the primary care physician. Patients were then encouraged to book a medical appointment for further assessment and treatment, if warranted. Follow-up occurred at 4, 16, and 24 weeks to determine if any pharmacist-suggested risk reduction measures had been implemented. Pharmacists were reimbursed $30 per patient accrued.

Results:

A total of 217 patients were enrolled in the study, and of those, 216 had follow-up data available for analysis. No significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to mean number of patients enrolled per pharmacist (4.3 vs 2.7) and the proportion of pharmacists completing at least 1 patient (17/27 vs 14/34). Feedback from pharmacists on program delivery indicated no significant difference in satisfaction with the training provided. The recommendations forwarded by pharmacists of the intensive group (35.8%) received greater acceptance by physicians than those in the conventional group (23.8%).

Conclusion:

Although results are preliminary, intensive training for pharmacists was more likely to result in improvements in cardiovascular risk reduction therapy than when conventional training was used.

Pharmacist Intervention in Risk Reduction Study: High-Risk Cardiac Patients

Objectives:

Although there are guidelines for managing patients at high vascular risk, many people remain undertreated. This community-based study was designed to 1) measure the ability of the pharmacist—physician collaboration to affect a broad array of drug-related endpoints and 2) to compare 2 methods of training community pharmacists to collaborate with physicians on cardiac patient care. This paper focuses on the first outcome, and a companion paper will address the second outcome.

Methods:

We used a before-and-after design to assess pharmacists' ability to affect drug-related endpoints. We identified patients by various methods, one of which was medication profiles. Those providing consent were educated on risk factor modification and encouraged to consult their physicians. Pharmacists subsequently faxed the details of their assessments to the primary care physician, along with suggestions for therapy changes. Our outcome measure was the proportion of patients who achieved a composite of either a dose increase or a new target medication as a result of pharmacist recommendations during the study.

Results:

A total of 61 pharmacists recruited 217 patients, and of these, follow-up was completed on 216. Of the patients for whom a pharmacist made a suggestion, pharmacologic risk reduction therapy was initiated or enhanced in 53.7%.

Conclusion:

This community pharmacist—based program improved utilization of the therapies known to decrease vascular risk in patients considered high risk.

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of sulfate reorientations in LiNaSO4

A nuclear magnetic resonance study of the sulfate ion reorientations in β-LiNaSO4 has been carried out. The influence of the SO4 reorientational jumps on the quadrupolar interactions of (7)Li nuclei was investigated by a jump reorientational model, which has not previously been applied to sulfates. The activation energy required for the SO4 reorientations was found to be 0.19 eV. It was also revealed that the SO4 reorientational disorder should be associated with a small anomaly of a heat capacity at around 600 K, which was previously observed experimentally.

Acute external ear lesions: clinical aspects, assessment and management

Acute external ear lesions: clinical aspects, assessment and management. We reviewed the literature concerning the assessment and the management of the external ear traumas, which is not very rich. Nevertheless, we outlined the practical attitudes in the four major conditions met: the auricular haematoma, the auricular perichondritis, the auricular laceration and auricular bums. All these pathologies must be promptly treated because there is a risk of perichondritis, which can destroy the cartilage and will result in a severely deformed ear. Auricular haematomas must be drained as soon as possible, lacerations with exposed cartilage must be stitched urgently, and burnt ears should be washed, coated with alginates (Flaminal@) and covered with a loose dressing. Antibioprophyl- axy should always be prescribed after a complete microbiological sampling.

Motional narrowing under diffusion of two spin sub-lattices in LiNaSO4

An expression for the dipolar correlation function characterizing the fluctuations of the Hamiltonian under uncorrelated diffusion of two cationic sub-lattices in a solid has been obtained. A corresponding formula, which can be used for fitting the two-step temperature dependencies of the NMR line width, has been deduced. We also considered the case of a distribution of correlation times and deduced a corresponding analytical fitting function. Elaborated expressions have been applied to the NMR line width analysis of LiNaSO4 in the temperature range 295-788 K.

Guided wave topological imaging of isotropic plates

Topological imaging is a recent method. So far, it has been applied to bulk waves, and high resolution has been demonstrated for imaging scatterers even with a single ultrasonic insonification of the inspected medium. This method consists of (i) emitting waves and measuring the response of the medium; (ii) solving two propagation problems: the direct problem, where the experimental source is simulated, and the adjoint problem, where the source is the time-reversed difference between the measured wave field and that obtained from the direct problem; (iii) computing the image by simply multiplying both wave fields together in the frequency domain, and integrating over the frequency. The speed of the method depends only on the cost of the field computations that are performed in the defect-free medium. The present work deals with the application of topological imaging to plate guided waves. Combining modal theory and Fourier analysis, the computations are performed in a very short time. In the investigated cases, two-dimensional in-plane imaging is based on propagation of the single S0 Lamb mode. Despite very high dispersion of that mode, scatterers are accurately located and the spatial resolution is equal to about one wavelength.

Modeling of ray paths of head waves on irregular interfaces in TOFD inspection for NDE

The TOFD (Time of Flight Diffraction) technique is a classical ultrasonic inspection method used in ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE). This inspection technique is based on an arrangement of two probes of opposite beam directions and allows a precise positioning and a quantitative evaluation of the size of cracks contained in the inspected material thanks to their edges diffraction echoes. Among the typical phenomena arising for such an arrangement, head waves, which propagate along the specimen surface and are chronologically the first waves reaching the receiver, are notably observed. Head wave propagation on planar surfaces in TOFD configurations is well known. However, realistic inspection configurations often involve components with irregular surfaces, like steel excavated specimens. Surface irregularity is responsible for numerous effects on the scattering of bulk waves, causing the melting of surface and bulk mechanisms in the head wave propagation. In order to extend the classical ray approach on these complex cases, a generic algorithm of ray tracing between interface points (GIRT) has been designed. With respect to time of flight minimization (i.e. the Generalized Fermat's Principle), ray paths can be computed by GIRT for different natures of waves scattered by the complex surfaces or by flaws. The head wave fronts computed by GIRT are notably in good agreement with FEM simulated results. This algorithm, based on pure kinematic analysis of waves propagation, represents a first step in the future development of a complete ray theory for head waves simulation on irregular interfaces.

Anisotropy of rotational diffusion, dipole-dipole cross-correlated NMR relaxation and angles between bond vectors in proteins

Cross correlations between the fluctuations of dipolar (13)C(α)-(1)H(α) interactions yield information about the relative orientation of successive (13)C(α)-(1)H(α) bond vectors in proteins, in turn providing a direct handle on their structure and dynamics in solution. However, overall anisotropic reorientation must be taken into account in the interpretation of cross-correlation rates. The protein shown, human ubiquitin, has amino acid residues in white where the cross-correlation rates deviate from those predicted for a rigid structure.

77Se solid-state NMR investigations on As(x)Se(1-x) glasses using CPMG acquisition under MAS

(77)Se (I=1/2) solid-state NMR is a very sensitive probe of the local structure of selenide glasses, which themselves are promising for optical applications. In this work, we show that although (77)Se has a low natural abundance (7.58%) and a wide spectral range, the sensitivity can be dramatically increased using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) trains of rotor-synchronized π pulses during the detection of (77)Se magnetization but may be affected by chemical shift anisotropy when the Magic Angle Spinning rate is not fast enough and by offset effects. The indirect dimension of the T(2)(CPMG)-resolved spectrum shows a strong influence of the J-couplings between naturally occurring (77)Se pairs. The resulting spectra show that the structural model known as "chains crossing model" is not entirely suitable to describe the glassy network of the Se-rich compositions.

The Carbon-Lithium Negative Electrode for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Polymer Electrolyte

Several types of carbonaceous materials are evaluated as negative electrodes for lithium storage in polymer electrolyte based cells operated at 100ºC. The corresponding faradaic efficiencies of the spherical cycle and the achieved reversible first capacity and rate capacity will be given. A meso carbon yielded a higher capacity than the theoretical 372 mAh/g. This is tentatively explained by the necessary enhancement of the carbon/polymer interfacial properties through the formation of C-Li-O bonding at the carbon surface and by the possible formation of multilayers of lithium on the external a,b planes of disordered carbons. The formation of the passivating layer on the carbon surface will be described.

A lithium-ion type battery using coke and LiNiO2 as the negative and positive leads and POE-LiCIO4 was operated at 100ºC and cycled galvanostatically. Good reversible capacity was attained with the LiNiO2 electrode.

Effect of HF in LiPF6 Based Electrolytes on the Properties of Surface Passivation Films Formed on Graphite Electrodes in Li Secondary Batteries

The effect of hydrofluoric acid (HF) concentration in conventional LiPF6/EC+DEC electrolyte on the properties of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films formed on synthetic graphite electrode and the electrochemical performance were studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis and electrochemical measurement. The morphology and composition of SEI are affected by a small amount of HF in the electrolyte. Higher F content in the SEI was observed when high HF electrolyte were used, although the irreversible capacities used for formation of SEI were nearly the same value. The cycleability of the synthetic graphite electrode was greatly improved when surface film contains larger amount of LiF.

Influence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene promoter polymorphism -765 on graft loss after renal transplantation

A G-->C polymorphism has been identified in the human cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene promoter at position -765 with C allele leading to a decreased promoter activity with low prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. PGE2 has strong immunomodulatory properties that could influence graft survival. We studied the association between this polymorphism and allograft failure in two independent cohorts of renal transplant recipients (RTRs) including a total of 603 patients. The functional effect of COX-2 gene promoter polymorphism was analyzed by measuring serum levels of PGE2. Median follow-up was 8.7 and 7.9 years for the first and second cohort, respectively. Analysis of 603 patients identified 20 CC (3.3%), 179 GC (29.7%) and 404 GG (67%) carriers. Patients with the GG genotype had significantly higher serum PGE2 concentrations than patients with the C allele. Carriers with a C allele have an independent increased risk of graft loss (hazard ratio (HR) 2.43 [95% CI 1.19-4.97], p = 0.015 for cohort 1; HR 1.72 [95% CI 0.99-3.77], p = 0.051 for cohort 2) compared to GG patients. COX-2 gene promoter polymorphism at position -765 (G-->C) is associated with a higher rate of graft loss in RTRs. Such findings may be used to influence immunosuppressive strategies and optimize patient management.

Tag-mass: specific molecular imaging of transcriptome and proteome by mass spectrometry based on photocleavable tag

MALDI tissue imaging of tissues has become a promising technique for tracking biomarkers while determining their location and structural characterization. We have now developed specific targeting probes (oligonucleotides, antibodies), named Tag-Mass. This approach is based on probes modified with a photocleavable linker coupled with a tag cleaved and detected using mass spectrometry. Tag-Mass development is the key for a rapid, sensitive, and accurate approach to correlate levels of expression of different mRNA or proteins in diseases.

Genetic control of oil content in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

In oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) like in most oleaginous crops, seed oil content is the main qualitative determinant that confers its economic value to the harvest. Increasing seed oil content is then still an important objective in oilseed rape breeding. In the objective to get better knowledge on the genetic determinism of seed oil content, a genetic study was undertaken in two genetic backgrounds. Two populations of 445 and a 242 doubled haploids (DH) derived from the crosses "Darmor-bzh" x "Yudal" (DY) and "Rapid" x "NSL96/25" (RNSL), respectively, were genotyped and evaluated for oil content in different trials. QTL mapping in the two populations indicate that additive effects are the main factors contributing to variation in oil content. A total of 14 and 10 genomic regions were involved in seed oil content in DY and RNSL populations, respectively, of which five and two were consistently revealed across the three trials performed for each population. Most of the QTL detected were not colocalised to QTL involved in flowering time. Few epistatic QTL involved regions that carry additive QTL in one or the other population. Only one QTL located on linkage group N3 was potentially common to the two populations. The comparisons of the QTL location in this study and in the literature showed that: (i) some of the QTL were more consistently revealed across different genetic backgrounds. The QTL on N3 was revealed in all the studies and the QTL on N1, N8 and N13 were revealed in three studies out of five, (ii) some of the QTL were specific to one genetic background with potentially some original alleles, (iii) some QTL were located in homeologous regions, and (iv) some of the regions carrying QTL for oil content in oilseed rape and in Arabidopsis could be collinear. These results show the possibility to combine favourable alleles at different QTL to increase seed oil content and to use Arabidopsis genomic data to derive markers for oilseed rape QTL and identify candidate genes, as well as the interest to combine information from different segregating populations in order to build a consolidated map of QTL involved in a specific trait.

Principal surface wave velocities in the point focus acoustic materials signature V(z) of an anisotropic solid

This paper deals with the point focus beam (PFB) acoustic materials signature V(z) of an anisotropic solid, and in particular how it tends to be dominated by a limited number of principal surface rays. These rays are associated with propagation directions in which the Rayleigh wave (RW), pseudo-surface acoustic wave (PSAW) or a lateral wave slowness has an extremum. The phenomenon is interpreted in terms of the complex azimuthally averaged reflectance function of the surface, and also explained on the basis of a ray model. We illustrate the phenomenon with a number of examples, pertaining to the surfaces of single crystal copper and a carbon-fibre epoxy composite. In the case of copper, which has a much larger acoustic impedance than the water couplant, the oscillations in V(z) are dominated by principal RW and PSAW, whereas for the composite there is no RW or pseudo-SAW to be discerned with acoustic microscopy (AM), and V(z) is dominated by principal lateral waves. The utility of PFB AM in the study of anisotropic solids is further elaborated with examples showing how V(z) is sensitive to surface orientation, and how V(z) is affected by the presence of a surface over layer. The phenomena examined in this paper expand the scope for determining materials characteristics, such as elastic constants, crystallographic orientation, residual stress and over layer properties, from PFB V(z) measurements.

Facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening among Chinese Canadian women

BACKGROUND

Chinese Canadian women have higher cervical cancer incidence, and lower Pap testing, rates than the general Canadian population. Predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors associated with ever having a Pap test, and having a recent Pap test within the last 2 years, were assessed in Chinese women in British Columbia using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model.

METHOD

Chinese women (n=512) between the ages of 20 and 79 years and residing in Greater Vancouver were interviewed about Pap testing, health care, traditional health beliefs, acculturation and sociodemographic characteristics. Two analyses were done, comparing women who had ever and never had a Pap test, and comparing women who had and had not received a recent Pap test. Focus groups and qualitative interviews ensured cultural sensitivity in the survey questionnaire.

RESULTS

Seventy-six percent reported ever having a Pap test and 57% reported having a Pap test within the last 2 years. Traditional health beliefs were not associated with ever or recent Pap testing. However, belief that Pap testing prevented cancer and general knowledge about the Pap test were associated with screening. Concern about pain/discomfort with the test, availability of time, culturally sensitive health care services and recommendation for Pap testing by a physician were also associated with screening. Factors differed for ever, and recently, having a Pap test.

INTERPRETATION

Pap testing is less common among Chinese Canadian women. Continuing education about Pap testing is recommended for physicians serving underscreened Chinese women. Culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials are needed for the Chinese community.

Inhomogeneous plane wave and the most energetic complex ray

This paper presents a study on the wave surfaces of anisotropic solids. In addition to the classical and real rays, which are defined by the normal to the slowness surfaces, it is obtained complex rays, which are associated to specific inhomogeneous plane waves. Referring to the complex Christoffel's equation and to the Fermat's principle, an intrinsic equation can be associated to these complex rays. Limiting the study to principal planes and plotting the associated complex wave surfaces, it can be shown that four energetic rays always exist in any directions for both quasi-isotropic and anisotropic media (even beyond the cusp). Consequently, it is always possible to define four closed wave surfaces (real or not).

Meckel's diverticulum and mesenterium commune in a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding after aspirin intake was reported in a 64-year-old woman. Gastroscopy, colonoscopy and selective mesenteric angiography failed to reveal the source of hemorrhage; only a midgut malrotation was suggested by angiography. Small bowel enema finally demonstrated a blind sac on the antimesenteric border of the ileum, corresponding to a Meckel's diverticulum. This embryological remnant of the vitelline duct was associated with a mesenterium commune. Laparoscopy confirmed the small bowel study, and resection of the diverticulum was easily carried out. It is, to our knowledge, the first time that these developmental abnormalities have been preoperatively diagnosed together.

Monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant reverses a principal histologic parameter of formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine-induced disease

The mechanisms by which administration of a formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine resulted in enhanced disease among children after they later became naturally infected with the virus remains largely undefined. After immunization and live virus challenge, the cotton rat demonstrated the histopathologic marker of the enhanced disease, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration of lung alveolar spaces. We now report that immunization with formalin-inactivated vaccine formulated with the adjuvant, 3-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A, dramatically reduces or eliminates the polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration within the alveoli of cotton rats post-challenge. We suggest, that this or similar adjuvants may be beneficial components of candidate non-replicating respiratory syncytial virus vaccines, whose development has been hampered by safety concerns.

Probing aerogels by multiple quantum filtered (131)Xe NMR spectroscopy

At the interface between solid surfaces and cavities filled with gaseous or liquid xenon, the nuclear magnetization of (131)Xe (S = (3)/(2)) is subject to quadrupolar interactions which may lead to higher rank single-quantum coherences that can be described by tensor elements T(2,)(+/-)(1) and T(3,)(+/-)(1). This can be demonstrated by multiple-quantum filtered (MQF) NMR experiments. In gaseous xenon on Pyrex surfaces, the primary source of such coherences was shown to be coherent evolution induced by a nonvanishing average quadrupolar coupling. In this contribution, MQF NMR is applied to aerogels filled with liquid xenon to demonstrate the potential of this technique for material sciences. Xenon in the liquid phase provides a sufficient spin density to obtain reasonable signal-to-noise ratios. Coherent evolution and relaxation both contribute to the creation of higher rank coherences depending on the presence or absence of water molecules on the surface. These two processes can be distinguished experimentally and provide complementary information about the surface of the host material.

Efficacy and safety studies of a recombinant chimeric respiratory syncytial virus FG glycoprotein vaccine in cotton rats

Several formulations of a recombinant chimeric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine consisting of the extramembrane domains of the F and G glycoproteins (FG) were tested in cotton rats to evaluate efficacy and safety. The FG vaccine was highly immunogenic, providing nearly complete resistance to pulmonary infection at doses as low as 25 ng in spite of inducing relatively low levels of serum neutralizing antibody at low vaccine doses. Upon RSV challenge animals primed with FG vaccine showed quite mild alveolitis and interstitial pneumonitis, which were eliminated by the addition of monophosphoryl lipid A to the formulation.

Surface acoustic waves at the vacuum-thermoviscoelastic solid interface

The present investigation concerns the propagation of surface waves at the vacuum-solid interface of a solid which is isotropic and thermoviscoelastic, i.e., for which the effects of heat conductivity need to be taken into account. Calculations show that, in addition to the Rayleigh wave, a thermal surface wave propagates that couples both the thermal and the elasticity effects. This latter wave is interpreted in terms of evanescent plane waves. The displacement field associated with this wave is calculated and interpreted. Some experimental results are also presented.

Transient Lamb waves: comparison between theory and experiment

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the generation of transient Lamb waves inside an immersed plate by a time limited signal. The transient Lamb waves are the solutions of the characteristic equation of the plate for complex frequency and real slowness, in contrast to the leaky Lamb waves, for which the slowness is complex and the frequency is real. By using a large transducer in agreement with the real slowness assumption, the excitation of these transient Lamb waves is observed experimentally both in reflection and transmission for a tone burst excitation. Particular attention is paid to the A0 mode for which the amplitude increases exponentially in time. As a result, the total reflected waveform contains in this case a transient contribution, coming from the generation of the A0 mode, that precedes the forced regime. It is shown that there is a very good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental time exponential amplitude variations of the transient Lamb waves. For the A0 mode, the transient signal is qualitatively explained by a group velocity higher than the phase velocity.

Identification of occupational cancer risks in British Columbia. A population-based case-control study of 995 incident breast cancer cases by menopausal status, controlling for confounding factors

Lifetime occupational histories as well as information on known and suspected breast cancer risk factors were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire from 1018 women with incident breast cancer ascertained from the British Columbia Cancer Registry, and from 1020 population controls. A matched case-control study design was used. Conditional logistic regression for matched sets data and the likelihood ratio were used in a two-step procedure and were performed separately for pre-menopausal women, post-menopausal women, and for all cases combined. Excess risk was noted for several white-collar occupations. Significantly increased risk was observed: (1) among pre-menopausal women: in electronic data-processing operators; barbers and hairdressers; in sales and material processing occupations; and in the food, clothing, chemical and transportation industries; (2) among post-menopausal women: in schoolteaching; in medicine, health, and nursing occupations; in laundry and dry-cleaning occupations; and in the aircraft and automotive, including gasoline service station, industries. Several significant associations were also seen in the combined group of pre- and post-menopausal women, particularly in crop farmers and in the fruit and vegetable, publishing and printing, and motor vehicle repair industries. The results of this study suggest excess breast cancer risk in a number of occupations and industries, notably those that entail exposure to solvents and pesticides.

Comparison between the dispersion curves calculated in complex frequency and the minima of the reflection coefficients for an embedded layer

Analytical solutions of Lamb functions for symmetric and antisymmetric elastodynamic modes propagating within a solid layer embedded in an infinite medium are presented. Alternative theoretical analyses of such modes are performed, first in terms of the usual approach of harmonic heterogeneous plane waves (real frequency and complex slowness) and then in terms of transient homogeneous plane waves (complex frequency and real slowness). An example structure of a 0.1-mm-thick "alpha case" (an oxygen-rich phase of titanium that is relatively stiff) plate embedded in titanium is used for the study. A large difference between the usual dispersion curves calculated in real frequency and complex slowness and those calculated in complex frequency and real slowness is shown. Thus the choice between a spatial and a temporal parameter to describe the imaginary part of the guided waves is shown to be significant. The minima and the zeros of the longitudinal and shear plane-wave reflection coefficients are calculated and are compared with the dispersion curves. It is found that they do not match with the dispersion curves for complex slowness, but they do agree quite well with the dispersion curves for complex frequency. This implies that the complex frequency approach is better suited for the comparison of the modal properties with near-field reflection measurements.

Ultrasonic waves propagation in absorbing thin plates application to paper characterization

Guided wave theory is applied to a thin orthotropic and absorbing plate for low frequency propagation of ultrasonic waves. The aim of this paper is to give some physical interpretations of the non-destructive characterization of paper materials, which are cellulosic fibrous networks. It is shown that the propagation problem reduces to two normal modes of propagation in the plane of the plate. Each of them depends on four complex and independent stiffnesses that are combinations of elementary complex stiffnesses of the media. The imaginary part of these stiffnesses corresponds to a possible mechanism of energy dissipation during the wave propagation for this kind of material. The reverse problem, which gives four complex values, is then numerically solved using a small attenuation assumption. The specially designed experimental set-up has led to the first measurements of tracing paper damping factors. The phase velocity measurements of the plate waves agree with the results already found by several paper researchers. As a particular and new result, the shear wave velocities are found to present a quasi-isotropic repartition in the plane of the paper sheet. It was found that the absorbing phenomenon can occur for each propagation mode in such a material. The attenuation values are small, except for one of them that corresponds to a coupling term in the propagation model. The anisotropy of their repartition is also shown in the case of quasi-longitudinal waves.

Long term disability rates in a cohort of Air Canada pilots

Causes of long term disability (LTD) were collected between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1990 among all active pilots in a cohort of Air Canada pilots. During this 10-yr period, 474 (20.9%) of the 2271 pilots had LTD; there were 1107 cases of LTD corresponding to a total duration of leave of absence of 4161 mo. Frequencies of the main diagnostic categories were: injuries: 249 (22.5%); mental disorders: 175 (15.8%); circulatory system: 157 (14.2%); digestive system: 128 (11.6%); and musculoskeletal system: 121 (10.9%). LTD rates increased with age, ranging from 1.86-9.22 per 1000 pilots per year from the younger (20-29 yr) to the older age group (50-59 yr), respectively. Several causes of LTD could be potentially preventable, in particular injuries which accounted for 63.6% of all causes in the younger age group and remained a significant condition at subsequent ages.

A clinically relevant HIV-1 subunit vaccine protects rhesus macaques from in vivo passaged simian-human immunodeficiency virus infection

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether immunization with recombinant HIV-1 envelope protein derived from a clinical isolate could protect macaques from infection with an in vivo passaged chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV).

DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 16 animals were studied from which three groups of four animals were immunized with vaccine formulations of the CC-chemokine receptor-5-binding recombinant gp120 of HIV-1W6.1D. Four weeks after the last immunization, all 16 animals were intravenously challenged with in vivo passaged SHIV derived from the same HIV-1 group B clinical isolate (W6.1D) as the vaccines.

RESULTS

Vaccine protection from infection was demonstrated in 10 out of 12 macaques immunized with recombinant gp120. Complete protection from infection was achieved with all of the animals that received the SBAS2-W6.1D formulation, a potent inducer of both T-cell and humoral immune responses. Partial protection was achieved with SBAS1-W6.1D, a formulation based on immunomodulators known to induce T-cell responses in humans. In vaccinated animals that were infected, virus load was reduced and infection was delayed.

CONCLUSIONS

In a relatively large number of primates, vaccine efficacy was demonstrated with a clinically relevant HIV-1 vaccine. These results reveal that it is possible to induce sterilizing immunity sufficient to protect from infection with SHIV which was passaged multiple times in vivo. Our findings have implications for current HIV-1 clinical vaccine trials and ongoing efforts to develop safe prophylactic AIDS vaccines.

Reducing cervical cancer among First Nations women

First Nations women in British Columbia have a four to six times higher mortality rate from cancer of the cervix than do women in the general population. Their participation in the provincial Cervical Cytology Screening Program (CCSP) is less regular and less frequent than other women in B.C. Likewise, they have more difficulty in obtaining culturally suitable health care services from respectful and consistent professionals. These issues should be of critical concern to nurses, as nurses provide the majority of health services to First Nations people.

Cervical cytology screening. How can we improve rates among First Nations women in urban British Columbia?

OBJECTIVE

To determine Pap smear screening rates among urban First Nations women in British Columbia; to identify facilitators and barriers; and to develop, implement, and evaluate specific interventions to improve Pap smear screening in Vancouver.

DESIGN

Computer records of band membership lists and the Cervical Cytology Screening Program registry were compared to determine screening rates; personal interviews and community meetings identified facilitators and barriers to urban screening programs. A community advisory committee and the project team collaborated on developing specific interventions.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Purposive sample of British Columbia First Nations women, focusing on women living in Vancouver.

INTERVENTIONS

Poster, art card, and follow-up pamphlet campaign; articles in First Nations community papers; community meetings; and Pap smear screening clinics for First Nations women.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pap smear screening rates among BC First Nations women according to residence and reasons for not receiving Pap smears.

RESULTS

Pap smear screening rates were substantially lower among First Nations women than among other British Columbia women; older women had even lower rates. No clear differences were found among First Nations women residing on reserves, residing in Vancouver, or residing off reserves elsewhere in British Columbia. Facilitators and barriers to screening were similar among women residing on reserves and in Vancouver. Many First Nations women are greatly affected by health care providers' attitudes, abilities to provide clear information, and abilities to establish trusting relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

Family physicians are an important source of information and motivation for Pap smear screening among First Nations women.

Cohort study of Air Canada pilots: mortality, cancer incidence, and leukemia risk

Despite the special working environment and exposures of airline pilots, data on risk of death and cancer incidence in this occupational group are limited. The authors investigated a cohort of 2,740 Air Canada pilots who contributed 62,449 person-years of observation. All male pilots employed for at least 1 year on and since January 1, 1950, were studied. The cutoff date for outcome information was December 31, 1992. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) were used to compare mortality rates and cancer incidence rates of the cohort with the respective Canadian population rates. Ninety percent confidence intervals of the SMR and SIR were calculated. Statistically significant decreased mortality was observed for all causes (SMR = 0.63, 90% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.70), for all cancers (SMR = 0.61, 90% CI 0.48-0.76), and for all noncancer diseases (SMR = 0.53, 90% CI 0.45-0.62). Mortality from aircraft accidents was significantly raised (SMR = 26.57, 90% CI 19.3-35.9). Significantly decreased cancer incidence was observed for all cancers (SIR = 0.71, 90% CI 0.61-0.82), rectal cancer (SIR = 0.42, 90% CI 0.14-0.96), lung cancer (SIR = 0.28, 90% CI 0.16-0.46), and bladder cancer (SIR = 0.36, 90% CI 0.12-0.82). Prostate cancer (SIR = 1.87, 90% CI 1.38-2.49) and acute myeloid leukemia (SIR = 4.72, 90% CI 2.05-9.31) were significantly increased. The preferred relative risk model for radiation-induced nonchronic lymphoid leukemia (Beir V report) was applied to the cohort by using published estimates of in-flight radiation exposures. The estimated relative risk ranged from 1.001 to 1.06 and did not differ significantly from the observed SIR (SIR = 1.88, 90% CI 0.80-3.53). However, the incidence rate of acute myeloid leukemia was significantly increased. Monitoring of in-flight radiation exposure and long-term follow-up of civil aviation crew members is needed to further assess cancer incidence and leukemia risk in this special occupational group.

Human pharmacokinetic study of immediate-release (codeine phosphate) and sustained-release (codeine Contin) codeine

The authors compared, in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study in 13 healthy adult volunteers, the single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics, relative bioavailability, and side effects of a new oral sustained-release formulation of codeine (SRC) containing 150 mg codeine base, with oral immediate-release codeine phosphate (IRC). Sustained-release codeine was given at a dose of 150 mg every 12 hours for 5 doses; IRC was given at a dose of 60 mg (2 x 30 mg) every 4 hours for the first 3 doses, and 30 mg every 4 hours thereafter for 12 doses. Plasma codeine levels were determined using a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography method and corrected for dose administered and codeine base equivalent. Mean values for single-dose pharmacokinetic parameters for SRC and IRC, respectively, were: Cmax of 217.8 and 138.8 ng/mL; Tmax of 2.3 and 1.1 hours; AUC0-inf of 1202.3 and 1262.4 ng.mL-1.hour-1; and t1/2el of 2.6 hours for both formulations. Their respective mean steady-state pharmacokinetic parameters were: Cmax of 263.8 and 222.9 ng/mL; Tmax of 3.2 and 1.1 hours; AUC0-12h of 1576.4 and 1379.1 ng.mL-1.hour-1; and t1/2el of 2.8 and 2.3 hours. These results indicate comparable bioavailability between both formulations with SRC providing delayed peak plasma levels. The sustained-release character of SRC can be explained by a delayed absorption, which is not limiting to drug elimination. Sustained-release codeine provides higher plasma codeine levels over a broader time interval and is expected to improve pain management.

Cervical cancer screening in Canadian Native women. Adequacy of the Papanicolaou smear

Cervical cancer mortality remains high in Canadian Native women in British Columbia. Underutilization of the Provincial Cytology Screening Program by Canadian Native women has been documented. Another potential factor is the quality of specimens obtained. Proportions of unsatisfactory smears and smears lacking endocervical cells, which reflect the sampling technique, were compared between Canadian Native and other British Columbian women. The findings suggest that differences in the quality of cytologic smears do not explain the observed discrepancy in cervical cancer mortality between Canadian Native and non-Native populations.

Rate of death from cervical cancer among native Indian women in British Columbia

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of death from cervical cancer among native Indian women and non-native women in British Columbia from 1953 to 1984.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of data retrieved from the British Columbia Division of Vital Statistics.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Age-standardized death rate and relative rate.

RESULTS

The rate of death from cervical cancer was significantly higher among the native women than among the non-native women throughout the study period. No deaths from cervical cancer were recorded in women under 20 years of age. Among those 20 to 64 the relative rate increased from 3.83 in 1953-62 to 6.53 in 1973-84; among those 65 or more it decreased slightly. For the entire study period the relative rate for women 20 to 64 years old was 5.95 and for those 65 or older 2.98.

CONCLUSION

The rate of death from cervical cancer among native women in British Columbia is unacceptably high, probably because the provincial screening program does not reach as many native women as it does non-native women.

The evaluation of analgesic effects in cancer patients as exemplified by a double-blind, crossover study of immediate-release versus controlled-release morphine

We compared the effects of controlled-release and immediate-release morphine preparations in adult patients with moderate-to-severe cancer pain and report methodologic approaches to pain evaluation. The study consisted of a two-phase randomized crossover trial preceded by a titration phase; all phases were conducted under double-blind conditions. To evaluate pain intensity, a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Present Pain Intensity scale of the McGill Pain Questionnaire were used. Additional morphine solution for breakthrough pain was used as an outcome measure. Pain was evaluated nine times daily, which permitted correlation of pain scores with the pharmacokinetic patterns of the test drugs. Side effects were rated once daily, using a scale from 0 to 3. To assess the relative importance of side effects, a toxicity index was designed based on both the intensity and duration of each side effect. The overall VAS pain scores during treatment with controlled-release and immediate-release morphine were 1.3 (SD = 0.1) and 1.4 (SD = 0.2), respectively. Use of supplemental morphine solution for breakthrough pain expressed as the percentage of the daily dose of the test drug was 5.5% for the controlled-release drug and 10.9% for the immediate-release drug. Differences in pain scores, side effects, and supplemental morphine requirement between the two groups were not significant. We discuss methodologic issues in double-blind clinical trials of analgesics, in particular the validity of "Patient Preference" as an outcome measure and problems related to the titration phase.