The effects of proteoglycan surface patterning on neuronal pathfinding.

Protein micropatterning techniques are increasingly applied in cell choice assays to investigate fundamental biological phenomena that contribute to the host response to implanted biomaterials, and to explore the effects of protein stability and biological activity on cell behavior for in vitro cell studies. In the area of neuronal regeneration the protein micropatterning and cell choice assays are used to improve our understanding of the mechanisms directing nervous system during development and regenerative failure in the central nervous system (CNS) wound healing environment. In these cell assays, protein micropatterns need to be characterized for protein stability, bioactivity, and spatial distribution and then correlated with observed mammalian cell behavior using appropriate model system for CNS development and repair. This review provides the background on protein micropatterning for cell choice assays and describes some novel patterns that were developed to interrogate neuronal adaptation to inhibitory signals encountered in CNS injuries.

The management of health and safety hazards in tourist resorts. World Tourism Organization.

The enjoyment of a holiday has to do with landscape, buildings, people, and their activities. For truly sustainable development, these components need to become better integrated. Ways of achieving this were discussed at the IVth World Health Organization International Conference on Tourist Health, Rimini, Italy, in May 1994. It was agreed that attention to the health enhancing aspects of each component in the built environment is essential. Risks to health from man-made hazards in tourist resorts therefore need to be eliminated where possible, or otherwise minimised, contained or controlled. A systematic approach is outlined here in which owners, managers, operators, workers and users all have responsibilities and in which occupational physicians can contribute.

Hierarchical task analysis for ergonomics research. An application of the method to the design and evaluation of sound mixing consoles.

Hierarchical task analysis, the procedure originally devised by Annett and his colleagues for determining training needs, was applied to the task of mixing sound in order to identify the human factors requirements that need to be taken into consideration in the design and evaluation of sound mixing consoles. A number of ergonomics problems were identified and potential solutions tentatively suggested. Following the task analysis a comparative simulation study was devised in order to test the hypothesis that the functional grouping of control knobs, with increased spacing between functional groups relative to the spacing within functional groups, is superior to functional grouping per se. Reaction time data strongly support the hypothesis. This suggests that the present practice in mixing console design of arranging control panels so that the components are spaced equidistant or quasi-equidistant, irrespective of their functions, is detrimental to operator performance. The role and importance of task analysis in human factors research is discussed. Hierarchical task analysis is advocated on the grounds that the resulting task description facilitates the systematic identification of ergonomics problems.

Immunofluorescent patterns in the skin in Besnier's prurigo. The eczema asthma syndrome.

The immunofluorescent patterns in the skin of eighteen patients with Besnier's prurigo were studied at different stages of eczematous lesions. The presence, distribution pattern, and numbers of immunoglobulin and complement-positive lymphocytes in twenty-nine biopsies are reported. In all cases IgE-positive lymphocytes were present in both clinically uninvolved and involved skin. IgG, IgM and IgE-positive lymphocytes showed a characteristic distribution pattern in the dermis. In the acute stages IgM deposition was prominent in the basement membrane zone and it is suggested that damage to the basement membrane results in diffusion of immunoglobulin and complement into the epidermis. These features were not present in a control group of normal skin and of other dermatoses.