TEMPUS-A microgravity electromagnetic levitation facility for parabolic flights.

During the ∼22 s lasting free fall phase in an aircraft flying a parabola, the aboard installed electromagnetic levitation facility "TEMPUS" is used to investigate contactless and undisturbed of gravity induced convection thermophysical properties and microstructure formations of hot and highly reactive metal or semiconductor melts. The completely contactless handling and measurement of a liquid by the levitation technique keeps the melt free of contamination and enables the extension of the accessible sample temperature range far into the undercooled liquid state below the melting point. Additionally, the state of reduced weight during parabolic flights allows us to considerably decrease the strongly disturbing electromagnetic levitation forces acting in ground-based facilities on the suspended liquids. The present paper explains in detail the basic principle and the technical realization of the TEMPUS levitation facility and its attached measurement devices. Furthermore, it presents some typical experiments performed in TEMPUS, which also show the advantages resulting from the combination of reduced weight, electromagnetic levitation, and contactless measurement techniques. The control and data recording, as well as the planning, preparation, and operation of the TEMPUS experiments within the parabolic flight campaign, are another aspect outlined in the following.

Electromagnetic levitation containerless processing of metallic materials in microgravity: rapid solidification.

Space levitation processing allows researchers to conduct benchmark tests in an effort to understand the physical phenomena involved in rapid solidification processing, including alloy thermodynamics, nucleation and growth, heat and mass transfer, solid/liquid interface dynamics, macro- and microstructural evolution, and defect formation. Supported by ground-based investigations, a major thrust is to develop and refine robust computational tools based on theoretical and applied approaches. This work is accomplished in conjunction with experiments designed for precise model validation with application to a broad range of industrial processes.

Integration and decentralisation of TB-HIV services increases HIV testing of TB cases in Rajasthan, India.

The proportion of tuberculosis (TB) patients tested for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the state of Ra-jasthan, India, is limited by the availability of HIV testing facilities. Rajasthan implemented a policy of initiating TB-HIV diagnosis at all health institutions in July 2013. The number of TB diagnostic facilities increased from 33 to 63 in Banswara District and from 22 to 68 in Jhunjhunu District, while the number of HIV testing facilities in these districts increased from 1 to 53 and from 10 to 81, respectively, after the policy implementation. The proportion of TB patients tested for HIV increased by respectively 27% and 19%.

La proportion de patients tuberculeux (TB) testés pour le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) dans l'état du Rajasthan, Inde, est limitée par la disponibilité de lieux de tests du VIH. Le Rajasthan a mis en œuvre une politique d'initiation du diagnostic TB dans toutes les structures de santé en juillet 2013. Le nombre de lieux de diagnostic TB a augmenté de 33 à 63 dans le district de Banswara et de 22 à 68 dans le district de Jhunjhunu, tandis que le nombre de lieux de test du VIH a augmenté de 1 à 53 et de 10 à 81, respectivement, après la mise en œuvre de cette politique. La proportion de patients TB testés pour le VIH a augmenté de 27% et 19%, respectivement, dans les deux districts.

La proporción de pacientes con tuberculosis (TB) que cuentan con la prueba del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en el estado de Rajastán en la India se ve limitada por la escasez de establecimientos que la practican. En julio del 2013 se introdujo en Rajastán una política de iniciar el diagnóstico de la TB y el VIH en todos los establecimientos de atención de salud. Después de la introducción de la política, el número de centros de diagnóstico de la TB en el distrito de Banswara aumentó de 33 a 63 y en el distrito Jhunjhunu aumentó de 22 a 68 y la progresión de centros con diagnóstico de la infección por el VIH en Banswazra fue de 1 a 53 centros y en Jhunjhunu de 10 a 81. La proporción de pacientes con TB que cuentan con una prueba del VIH en estos distritos aumentó un 27% y un 19%, respectivamente.

Pilot implementation of a contact tracing intervention for tuberculosis case detection in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Leveraging an existing community health strategy, a contact tracing intervention was piloted under routine programmatic conditions at three facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya. Data collected during a 6-month period were compared to existing programmatic data. After implementation of the intervention, we found enhanced programmatic contact tracing practices, noting an increase in the proportions of index cases traced, symptomatic contacts referred, referred contacts presenting to a facility for tuberculosis screening, and eligible contacts started on isoniazid preventive therapy. As contact tracing is scaled up, health ministries should consider the adoption of similar contact tracing interventions to improve contact tracing practices.

En s'appuyant sur la stratégie de santé communautaire existante, une intervention de recherche des contacts a été pilotée dans des conditions de routine des programmes dans trois structures du comté de Kisumu, Kenya. Les données recueillies sur une période de 6 mois ont été comparées aux données de programme existantes. Après la mise en œuvre de l'intervention, nous avons trouvé des pratiques améliorées de recherche des contacts dans les programmes, notant une augmentation des proportions de recherche des cas index, de référence des contacts symptomatiques, de présentation des contacts référés vers une structure de dépistage de la tuberculose et de mise en route des contacts éligibles sous traitement préventif par isoniazide. A mesure que la recherche des contacts est accrue, les ministres de la santé devraient envisager l'adoption d'interventions similaires de recherche des contacts afin d'améliorer les pratiques de recherche des contacts.

A partir de una estrategia de salud comunitaria existente, se puso a prueba una intervención de investigación de contactos de los pacientes tuberculosos (TB) en las condiciones programáticas corrientes, en tres establecimientos del condado de Kisumu en Kenia. Los datos recogidos durante un período de 6 meses se compararon con los datos existentes del programa. Después de la ejecución de la intervención se observó una intensificación de las prácticas programáticas de seguimiento de los contactos, con un aumento de la proporción de casos iniciales localizados, la remisión de los contactos sintomáticos, la remisión de los contactos que acudían a un centro con el fin de practicar la detección de la TB y un aumento del número de pacientes idóneos que comenzaban el tratamiento preventivo con isoniazida. Al ampliar la escala del seguimiento de los contactos, los ministerios de salud deberían considerar la adopción de intervenciones de investigación de contactos semejantes a la que se ensayó en el presente estudio, con el fin de mejorar las prácticas de localización de contactos.

Tuberculosis and excess alcohol use in the United States, 1997-2012.

BACKGROUND: Excess alcohol use among tuberculosis (TB) patients complicates TB control strategies. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the role of excess alcohol use in TB control, we describe the epidemiology of excess alcohol use and TB in the United States among those aged ⩾15 years. DESIGN: Using data reported to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System, 1997-2012, we examined associations between excess alcohol use and TB treatment outcomes and markers for increased transmission (involvement in a local genotype cluster of cases) using multivariate logistic regression. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to examine the relationship between excess alcohol use and the rate of conversion from positive to negative in sputum culture results. RESULTS: Excess alcohol use was documented for 31 207 (15.1%) of 207 307 patients. Prevalence of excess alcohol use was greater among male patients (20.6%) and US-born patients (24.6%). Excess alcohol use was associated with a positive sputum smear result (aOR 1.23, 95%CI 1.18-1.28) and death during treatment (vs. completion of treatment) (aOR 1.16, 95%CI 1.10-1.22). The rate of culture conversion was higher among patients without excess alcohol use (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20, 95%CI 1.18-1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Excess alcohol use was common among patients with TB, and was associated with TB transmission, lower rates of sputum culture conversion, and greater mortality.

[Comments on the standards for acceptance and consistency testing of systems for digital radiography]. / Kommentierungen zu den Normen zu Abnahme- und Konstanzprüfungen bei digitalen Radiographiesystemen (Projektionsradiographie).

Due to German regulations, acceptance and consistency tests have to be obtained by 12.31.2005 for all equipment used for computed radiography according to special standards published in DIN 6868. This article familiarizes all users with the most important aspects of these standards. In addition, explanatory and background information for establishing these regulations are provided.

beta2-Adrenergic receptor responsiveness of the calpain-calpastatin system and attenuation of neuronal death in rat hippocampus after transient global ischemia.

In the CNS, where Ca(2+) overload has been established as a mechanism contributing to neuronal damage associated with excitotoxicity, stroke and ischemia, there is interest in understanding the role of calpain inhibition in rescuing neurons from death. In these settings, the activation of large stores of latent calpain may rapidly lead to the demise of the neuron within hours. The activity of calpain is strictly regulated by calcium concentrations and interactions with calpastatin (endogenous calpain inhibitor). The interaction between calpains and calpastatin is calcium dependent, and little is known about the regulation of the neuronal calpain-calpastatin system in vivo. It has been postulated that calpastatin can be modulated by nerve growth factors (NGFs). We have demonstrated in vitro as well as in vivo a neuroprotective effect of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clenbuterol (CLN) mediated through an increased NGF expression. In this study we attempt to find out whether CLN is capable (1) of modulating proteolysis regulated by the calpain-calpastatin system and (2) of attenuating DNA-fragmentation induced by cerebral ischemia. Rats received CLN daily for 1 week, were then subjected to ischemia and finally perfused at different times post-ischemia. The proteolytic activity of calpain was measured by the immunolocalisation of calpastatin and spectrin-breakdown products (SBP). The time course of apoptosis was assessed by terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-staining. CLN reduced CA1-hippocampal cell damage by 23%, attenuated DNA-laddering and decreased proteolysis of spectrin by enhancing calpastatin activity. These results provide evidence that CLN is a potent neuroprotective substance, which through the enhancement of calpastatin synthesis attenuates the apoptotic machinery and modulates proteolysis.

Effective reduction of neuronal death by inhibiting gap junctional intercellular communication in a rodent model of global transient cerebral ischemia.

Gap junctions assemble astrocytes into syncytia, allowing exchange of metabolites, catabolites, and second-messenger molecules. Connexin43 is the predominant connexin of astrocytic gap junctions. The distribution of gap junction protein connexin43 was analyzed in different subfields of the hippocampal formation as a function of time after transient forebrain ischemia. One decisive key step in understanding why an ischemic insult gradually expands may be to establish how gap junction channels permit dying cells in the ischemic focus to communicate, in particular, with viable cells. The role of gap junctional intercellular communication in the hippocampus under ischemic conditions could be decisive for cell death propagation. We found that the vulnerable CA1/CA2 subfields have a higher density of gap junctions than the resistant CA3/CA4 areas, that changes in the distribution of connexin43 immunoreactivity may correlate with the phenomenon of selective vulnerability, and that inhibition of astrocytic gap junction permeability by octanol restricts the flow of undesirable neurotoxins that could potentially exacerbate neuronal damage. This provides a novel perspective for analysis of the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia.

[Quality assurance from the viewpoint of the x-ray film industry]. / Qualitätssicherung aus der Sicht der Filmindustrie.

The parameters of a film-screen-combination are listed in the directive to section 16 of the german X-ray Regulation. These parameters are determined by methods described in DIN standards and published by the manufacturer. Comparable but less precise parameters are determined in the Acceptance Test. For physical reasons it is not possible to determine the speed of an X-ray film or the intensification factor of a screen separately. The films, screens and processing chemicals delivered by the members of the manufacturer association ZVEI are kept below a deviation (expressed as relative contribution to the system speed S) of +/- 10% for the majority of products, the upper limit is +/- 15%. Poor storage and transport conditions may adversely affect the quality of X-ray films. A special labeling of the film box shall serve to guarantee safe distribution channels. The processing conditions are adjusted at the Acceptance Test according to the manufacturers recommendations. The Constancy Test of film processing serves to maintain these correct conditions. Methods deviating from the DIN-method are of limited (Bayerische method) or no value (Stuttgart method).

[The Kodak AMBER imaging system--a new approach to lung imaging]. / Das Kodak AMBER Imaging System--ein neuer Weg der Lungenaufnahmetechnik.

The exposure range of X-ray films is often too small for objects with large absorption differences. This holds true also for wide latitude films. The large absorption differences can be equalized with the Kodak AMBER Imaging System by means of local exposure control. The AMBER System is a variation of the slit technique, where the narrowly collimated beam is divided into 21 beam segments the intensity of which is controlled in relation to the absorption in the object. This results in radiographs which are well exposed in the lung parenchyma and the mediastinum. An AMBER System has been routinely used for chest radiography in the Klinikum Mannheim since April 1990. The radiographs with the AMBER-Systems show an improved image quality especially in the mediastinum and the thorax wall resulting in a gain in diagnostic information.

[Experiences with processing control in the radiology department of a large municipal hospital]. / Erfahrungen mit der Verarbeitungskontrolle im Institut für Röntgendiagnostik eines grossen kommunalen Krankenhauses.

Processing control is an important part of quality control in X-ray diagnostics. From 1 July 1984 to 31 December 1985 the processing of 10 of the 11 processors in the Radiology Department at the Augsburg Municipal Hospital was controlled regularly on a total of 304 days. The speed index was at 95.8%, the contrast index at 96.1% within the limits recommended by the Federal German DIN standard. Processing control has proved meaningful and effective in keeping processing on a constant level. It also indicates where to look for the reasons for poor image quality. It takes less than 5 minutes to carry out the processing control of one processor. Processing control is a task of the radiographer.

[Image quality assurance in x-ray diagnostic units. Information on DIN 6868 standard series]. / Sicherung der Bildqualität in röntgendiagnostischen Betrieben. Informationen zur Normenreihe DIN 6868.

The Working Group for Standardisation justifies and comments on the establishment of a standard series for image quality assurance in X-ray diagnostic services (DIN 6868). In order to promote compliance with these standards, the users are given some background information on the structure of the standard series and on the recommended procedures to be followed. The definitions for the various hierarchically arranged tests, such as constancy test, status test, acceptance test as well as a definition for the term "base-line image quality" are explained.