Comparisons of highly virulent H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated from humans and chickens from Hong Kong

Genes of an influenza A (H5N1) virus from a human in Hong Kong isolated in May 1997 were sequenced and found to be all avian-like (K. Subbarao et al., Science 279:393-395, 1998). Gene sequences of this human isolate were compared to those of a highly pathogenic chicken H5N1 influenza virus isolated from Hong Kong in April 1997. Sequence comparisons of all eight RNA segments from the two viruses show greater than 99% sequence identity between them. However, neither isolate's gene sequence was closely (>95% sequence identity) related to any other gene sequences found in the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the nucleotide sequences of at least four of the eight RNA segments clustered with Eurasian origin avian influenza viruses. The hemagglutinin gene phylogenetic analysis also included the sequences from an additional three human and two chicken H5N1 virus isolates from Hong Kong, and the isolates separated into two closely related groups. However, no single amino acid change separated the chicken origin and human origin isolates, but they all contained multiple basic amino acids at the hemagglutinin cleavage site, which is associated with a highly pathogenic phenotype in poultry. In experimental intravenous inoculation studies with chickens, all seven viruses were highly pathogenic, killing most birds within 24 h. All infected chickens had virtually identical pathologic lesions, including moderate to severe diffuse edema and interstitial pneumonitis. Viral nucleoprotein was most frequently demonstrated in vascular endothelium, macrophages, heterophils, and cardiac myocytes. Asphyxiation from pulmonary edema and generalized cardiovascular collapse were the most likely pathogenic mechanisms responsible for illness and death. In summary, a small number of changes in hemagglutinin gene sequences defined two closely related subgroups, with both subgroups having human and chicken members, among the seven viruses examined from Hong Kong, and all seven viruses were highly pathogenic in chickens and caused similar lesions in experimental inoculations.     

Waking a sleeping giant-the planning for success of a large projectprocess at a large urban teaching hospital

The early planning of a project organization and process is critical to the eventual success of a large, complex project. Beth Israel Medical Center, a 1180 bed teaching hospital in New York City, embarked in 1991 on a plan to implement clinical information computer systems throughout its facilities. This project is described. The project manager considered the unique cultural and organizational aspects of Beth Israel in order to develop a strategy for the project. Strategy objectives included promoting broad educational awareness, establishing quick project momentum and visibility, gaining the approval of a competing organizational department, and developing a productive and effective project team. The start-up phase of any project can make or break the project. If one does not set the correct tone and build the correct organization, one can easily doom the project before it has ever had a chance to develop     

Thymic alterations in feline GM1 gangliosidosis

GM1 gangliosidosis is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by progressive neurological deterioration with premature death seen in children and numerous animals, including cats. We have observed that thymuses from affected cats greater than seven months of age (GM1 mutant cats) show marked thymic reduction compared to age-matched normal cats. The studies reported here were done to describe alterations in the thymus prior to (less then 90 days of age) and during the development of mild (90 to 210 days of age) to severe (greater than 210 days of age) progressive neurologic disease and to explore the pathogenesis of the thymic abnormality. Although histologic examination of the thymus from GM1 affected cats less than 210 days of age showed no significant differences from age-matched control cats, thymuses from GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age were significantly reduced in size (approximately 3-fold). Histologic sections of lymph nodes, adrenal glands, and spleens from GM1 gangliosidosis-affected cats showed no significant differences. Flow cytometric analyses showed a marked decrease in the percentage of immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes (p < 0.001) and significantly increased CD4-CD8+ cells (p < 0.01) in GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age when compared to normal age matched cats. Co-labelling with CD4, CD8, and CD5 indicated an increase in the percentage of GM1 mutant cat thymocytes at this age which were CD5high, suggesting the presence of more mature cells. Cytometric analyses of subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes indicated an increase in CD4-CD8+ cells (p < 0.05) with concurrent decreases in CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8- cells (which were not significant). Similar analyses of thymocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations from cats < 210 days of age showed no significant differences between GM1 mutant and normal cells. GM1 mutant cats at all ages had increased surface binding of Cholera toxin B on thymocytes, indicating increased surface GM1 ganglioside expression. Increases were highly significant in GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age. In situ labelling for apoptosis was increased in GM1 mutant cats between 90 to 200 days of age when thymic masses were within normal limits. In GM1 mutant cats over 200 days of age, decreased labelling was observed when thymic mass was reduced and the CD4+CD8+ subpopulation, known to be very susceptible to apoptosis, was significantly decreased. These data describe premature thymic involution in feline GM1 gangliosidosis and suggest that increased surface GM1 gangliosides alters thymocyte development in these cats.     

Some measurements of fire turbulence

It is important to be able to predict the rate of smoke and fire spread in buildings in order to optimize the design of escape routes and the siting of detectors and sprinklers. The available mathermatical procedures based on turbulence models require experimental guidance. This paper describes the measurement of some turbulence parameters in smoke and flame plumes moving under a ceiling. Time correlation techniques are applied to signals obtained from thermocouple and Langmuir probes. Space-time correlations in the hot layer show similar trends to those in decaying isotropic turulence from wind tunnels but superimposed upon a coherent sine wave produced by vortex shedding at the fire. Data are also presented of the probability of chemical reaction at several locations in the hot layer.     

Antenna Diversity Performance in Mitigating the Effects of Portable Radiotelephone Orientation and Multipath Propagation

Antenna diversity can mitigate signal impairments caused by random angular orientation and multipath radio propagation when using portable radiotelephones. Cumulative distributions of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) were determined for antenna diversity using realistic orientation and multipath propagation models. In a random orientation and multipath propagation environment with -6 dB average crosspolarization coupling, two-branch selection diversity with two perpendicular antennas yields anS/Ndistribution with the same slope as two-branch selection diversity in the fixed-oriented mobile radio environment. The distribution for random orientation is about 4.5 dB worse, however, than the mobile radio distribution.     

The photo-oxidation of poly(vinyl chloride) investigated by a stress relaxation technique

A stress relaxation technique was used to study the kinetics of the photo-oxidation of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) film. The effects of ultraviolet irradiation were characterized by the slope of a difference line between the stress relaxation curve of an irradiated test sample and that of a nonirradiated control. An activation energy of 12 kcal/-mole was obtained for the rate-controlling reaction, which was postulated to be hydrogen abstraction from the substrate by peroxy radicals. The rate of relaxation was dependent on the radiation energy, being greater at lower energies. It was also independent of oxygen pressure at “high” pressures and dependent at “low” pressure. The nature of the plasticizer and the presence of stabilizer and ultraviolet absorbers all affected the relaxation behavior.     

Pedestal control in a diac-triac circuit

The diac-triac circuit discussed has a controlled pedestal with a cosine ramp, and may be used as the basis of many circuits, including a simple soft-start circuit which has very small losses.     

Survey of shell egg processing plant sanitation programs: effects on non-egg-contact surfaces

To successfully implement a hazard analysis critical control point plan, prerequisite programs are essential. Sanitation standard operating procedures are an important part of such a plan and can reduce contamination levels so that food safety and quality are not adversely affected. Noncontact surfaces in the shell egg processing plants can serve as a reservoir of cross-contamination. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of sanitation programs used in a variety of shell egg processing facilities (in-line, off-line, and mixed operations). Fourteen different noncontact surfaces were sampled in nine commercial facilities across the southeastern United States. Non-egg-contact surfaces were defined as those where the shell egg does not come into direct contact with the surface or with the fluid from that surface. Gauze pads soaked in sterile phosphate-buffered saline were used for sampling at the end of a processing day (POST) and again the next morning prior to operations (PRE). Aerobic plate counts (APCs) and numbers of Enterobacteriaceae were determined. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between POST and PRE counts for either population recovered from the 14 sampling sites. Only samples from the floor under the farm belts, nest-run loader, washers, and packer heads were reduced by 1 log CFU/ml of rinsate for APCs or Enterobacteriaceae counts. APCs of more than 10(4) CFU/ml of rinsate were recovered from many samples. Highest APCs were found on the floor under the farm belt and on shelves of the nest-run carts. High APCs were found on the wheel surface for off-line carts and on the loading dock floor. Highest Enterobacteriaceae counts were found in samples from the floor, drain, and nest-run egg cart shelves. A lack of significant difference between POST and PRE counts indicates that current sanitation programs could be improved. These data suggest that traffic patterns for the movement of eggs and materials through the plant should be reevaluated so that cross-contamination is reduced.