Temperature measurements during high flux ion beam irradiations.

A systematic study of the ion beam heating effect was performed in a temperature range of -170 to 900 °C using a 10 MeV Au(3+) ion beam and a Yttria stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) sample at a flux of 5.5 × 10(12) cm(-2) s(-1). Different geometric configurations of beam, sample, thermocouple positioning, and sample holder were compared to understand the heat/charge transport mechanisms responsible for the observed temperature increase. The beam heating exhibited a strong dependence on the background (initial) sample temperature with the largest temperature increases occurring at cryogenic temperatures and decreasing with increasing temperature. Comparison with numerical calculations suggests that the observed heating effect is, in reality, a predominantly electronic effect and the true temperature rise is small. A simple model was developed to explain this electronic effect in terms of an electrostatic potential that forms during ion irradiation. Such an artificial beam heating effect is potentially problematic in thermostated ion irradiation and ion beam analysis apparatus, as the operation of temperature feedback systems can be significantly distorted by this effect.

Endemic infectious diseases and biological warfare during the Gulf War: a decade of analysis and final concerns.

Infectious diseases were one of the first health threats confronted by Coalition troops deployed to the Arabian desert in August 1990. On the basis of experiences in World War II, the major endemic infectious disease risks were thought to be sandfly fever, cutaneous leishmaniasis, diarrheal disease, and malaria. Although there was active surveillance, no case of sandfly fever and few other endemic infectious diseases were identified among over 500,000 U.S., British, and Canadian ground troops. In addition, there was no diagnosis of biological warfare (BW) exposure, and BW agents were not detected in clinical, environmental, or veterinary samples. The most common infectious disease problems were those associated with crowding (acute upper respiratory infections) and reduced levels of sanitation (travelers-type diarrhea). Only one endemic infectious disease has been confirmed as causing chronic health problems: visceral Leishmania tropica infection (viscerotropic leishmaniasis). However, this protozoan infection was diagnosed in only 12 U.S. veterans, and no new cases have been identified during the last 8 years. Infectious diseases were not a serious problem for Gulf War troops because of extensive preventive medicine efforts and favorable weather and geographic factors. Moreover, it is unlikely that an endemic infectious disease or a BW agent could cause chronic health problems and remain undetected over a 10-year period.

Clinical findings for the first 1000 Gulf war veterans in the Ministry of Defence's medical assessment programme.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical findings in the first 1000 veterans seen in the Ministry of Defence's Gulf war medical assessment programme to examine whether there was a particular illness related to service in the Gulf. DESIGN: Case series of 1000 veterans who presented to the programme between 11 October 1993 and 24 February 1997. SUBJECTS: Gulf war veterans. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis of veterans' conditions according to ICD-10 (international classification of diseases, 10th revision). Cases referred for psychiatric assessment were reviewed for available diagnostic information from consultant psychiatrists. RESULTS: 588 (59%) veterans had more than one diagnosed condition, 387 (39%) had at least one condition for which no firm somatic or psychological diagnosis could be given, and in 90 (9%) veterans no other main diagnosis was made. Conditions characterised by fatigue were found in 239 (24%) of patients. At least 190 (19%) patients had a psychiatric condition, which in over half was due to post-traumatic stress disorder. Musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory conditions were also found to be relatively common (in 182 (18%) and 155 (16%) patients respectively). CONCLUSION: Many Gulf war veterans had a wide variety of symptoms. This initial review shows no evidence of a single illness, psychological or physical, to explain the pattern of symptoms seen in veterans in the assessment programme. As the veterans assessed by the programme were all self selected, the prevalence of illness in Gulf war veterans cannot be determined from this study. Furthermore, it is not known whether the veterans in this study were representative of sick veterans as a group.

Gulf health research.

This update has described how Gulf health research has developed over the past two years. In January 1996, MoD asked the MRC for their assistance in commissioning a programme of research to investigate Gulf veterans' health concerns. The MRC issued a 'Call for Proposals' in May 1996. All proposals were peer-reviewed and detailed applications were invited from a short-list of nine. In October 1996 the MRC recommended to MoD that two epidemiological studies should be funded; one to be carried out by Professor Cherry from Manchester University and the other by Dr Doyle of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The MRC also recommended that these researchers should collaborate with Professor Wessely of King's College, London who had already been funded by the Americans to conduct an epidemiological study on British Gulf veterans. In making their recommendations, the MRC advised that the researchers should assess the feasibility of tracing ex-service personnel and the availability of exposure data. Both these areas are giving cause for concern. The researchers are working with MoD staff to improve the quality of available address data. The main challenge facing MoD now is to ensure that the input data provided to researchers is of a high enough standard to enable them to achieve acceptable response rates. Since commissioning the epidemiological studies, there have been two further initiatives. In May 1997, the Government announced that MoD would commission research to investigate potential adverse effects to the combination of medical counter-measures administered to British personnel during Operation GRANBY. Preliminary work on this programme has started. In March 1998, the Government announced that Professor Wessely's team would be funded to carry out a thorough neurophysiological assessment of unwell veterans and controls identified during his epidemiological study.

Investigating Gulf veterans' health concerns.

In order to answer the questions arising from the health concerns of Gulf veterans, the Defence Medical Services have collated relevant health data so that they may be systematically analysed. However, data coverage is limited and there are concerns about its quality. Intramural studies alone will not be robust enough to determine of veterans are experiencing an excess of ill-health so a programme of epidemiological studies will be commissioned in collaboration with the Medical Research Council.

The smoking habits of young soldiers.

In a survey of the smoking habits of over 6,000 young soldiers, it was found that the prevalence of regular smoking was 45%. Though the prevalence of regular smoking in young soldiers is higher than the general prevalence rate for smoking in 16 to 19-year olds in the civilian population, the excess is considered to be a reflection of the social and geographical background of Army recruits. The survey found that young soldiers who smoke, smoke heavily. Eighty two percent smoked more than 20 cigarettes per week, 58% more than 40 cigarettes per week. This is higher than has been recorded by any previous survey of young soldiers. The proportion of young soldiers who have never smoked has risen markedly over the years. This survey found that 34% had never smoked.