Perforin is detrimental to controlling [corrected] C. muridarum replication in vitro, but not in vivo.

CD4 T cells are critical for clearing experimental Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infections. Two independent in vitro CD4 T cell mechanisms have been identified for terminating Chlamydia replication in epithelial cells. One mechanism, requiring IFN-γ and T cell-epithelial cell contact, terminates infection by triggering epithelial production of nitric oxide to chlamydiacidal levels; the second is dependent on T cell degranulation.

Computer-generated reminders and quality of pediatric HIV care in a resource-limited setting.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of clinician-targeted computer-generated reminders on compliance with HIV care guidelines in a resource-limited setting.

Methods: We conducted this randomized, controlled trial in an HIV referral clinic in Kenya caring for HIV-infected and HIV-exposed children (<14 years of age). For children randomly assigned to the intervention group, printed patient summaries containing computer-generated patient-specific reminders for overdue care recommendations were provided to the clinician at the time of the child's clinic visit.

Effect of moderate to vigorous physical activity on long-term clinical outcomes and pain severity in fibromyalgia.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between long-term maintenance of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and clinical outcomes in fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: Patients with FM (n = 170) received individualized exercise prescriptions and completed baseline and followup physical activity assessments using the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire at weeks 12, 24, and 36. The primary outcome was the change in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Physical Impairment (FIQ-PI) score.

Readiness for living independently among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the association of time (high school to post-high school), living situation (independent of parents or not), diabetes-specific self-efficacy, and worry about hypoglycemia and how diabetes-specific self-efficacy and worry about hypoglycemia are associated with diabetes management among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Participants (N = 114) completed measures on diabetes management, diabetes-specific self-efficacy, and worry about hypoglycemia during the last 6 months in high school (T1) and diabetes management, diabetes-specific self-efficacy, and living situation post-high school (T2). General linear mixed model for the diabetes management outcome was used to test associations with diabetes-specific self-efficacy, worry about hypoglycemia, time, and living situation independent variables.

Impulse control, diabetes-specific self-efficacy, and diabetes management among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To explore the relationships among impulse control, diabetes-specific self-efficacy, and diabetes management behaviors among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 204 high school seniors (M = 18.25 years, SD = .

Research to encourage exercise for fibromyalgia (REEF): use of motivational interviewing, outcomes from a randomized-controlled trial.

Objectives: Regular exercise is associated with important benefits in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Unfortunately, long-term maintenance of exercise after a structured program is rare. The present study tested the efficacy of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to promote exercise and improve symptoms in patients with FM.

Grandparents and child passenger safety.

Purpose: This study compares child passenger safety (CPS) practices of grandparents versus parents and determines grandparents' opinions on car safety seats (CSS), barriers to use, and ways to transport grandchildren safely.

Methods: Observational surveys were conducted on a convenience sample of drivers transporting children younger than sixteen years at 25 locations by certified child passenger safety technicians observing children in motor vehicles and recorded use of child passenger restraints. The drivers were surveyed on their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding CPS.

Effect of calibration and environmental condition on the performance of direct-reading organic vapor monitors.

The performance of three MIRAN SapphIRe Portable Infrared Ambient Air Analyzers and three Century Portable Toxic Vapor Analyzers equipped with photoionization (PID) and flame ionization (FID) detectors was compared with charcoal tube sampling. Relationships were investigated using two different calibration methods at four cyclohexane concentrations, three temperatures, and four relative humidities. For the first method, the TVA monitors were calibrated with a single concentration of methane for the FID, and isobutylene for the PID.

Selecting Processes to Minimize Hexavalent Chromium from Stainless Steel Welding: Eight welding processes/shielding gas combinations were assessed for generation of hexavalent chromium in stainless steel welding fumes.

Unlabelled: Eight welding processes/shielding gas combinations were assessed for generation of hexavalent chromium (Cr) in stainless steel welding fumes. The processes examined were gas metal arc welding (GMAW) (axial spray, short circuit, and pulsed spray modes), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). The Cr fractions were measured in the fumes; fume generation rates, Cr generation rates, and Cr generation rates per unit mass of welding wire were determined.

Effects of covered solid sorbent tube sample holders on organic vapor measurements.

A study was conducted to examine whether there are significant differences between organic vapor concentrations measured using charcoal tubes with three different configurations: uncovered sample holder (open tube), SKC, and Buck brand covered sample holders. A fractional factorial experimental design was used with the following factors and levels: vapor (n-hexane vs. m-xylene), pump type (pulsating vs.

Estimating the risk of solid organ malignancy in patients undergoing routine computed tomography scans after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) scans are routinely used for graft surveillance in patients who have had endovascular repair (EVAR) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. There is a growing concern for cancers associated with inadvertent use of CT scans. We report the estimated risk of radiation associated solid organ malignancy caused by routine surveillance CT after EVAR using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII) model created by U.

Oxygenation index predicts mortality in pediatric stem cell transplant recipients requiring mechanical ventilation.

The mortality in the ICU for pediatric HSCT recipients remains high. Early pulmonary complications continue to be an obstacle to the survival. We hypothesize OI is a predictor for mortality in critically ill pediatric HSCT recipients.

An inter-laboratory study to determine the effectiveness of procedures for discriminating amphibole asbestos fibers from amphibole cleavage fragments in fiber counting by phase-contrast microscopy.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration do not regulate cleavage fragments of amphibole and serpentine minerals as asbestos, even when particles meet the dimensional criteria for counting under standard phase-contrast microscopy methods. The OSHA ID-160 method cautions that discriminatory counting is difficult and should not be attempted unless necessary and no procedure is provided for differentiation. A standard published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International D7200-06) includes an attempt to codify a procedure but recognizes that the procedure should be validated in an inter-laboratory study.

PmpG303-311, a protective vaccine epitope that elicits persistent cellular immune responses in Chlamydia muridarum-immune mice.

Urogenital Chlamydia serovars replicating in reproductive epithelium pose a unique challenge to host immunity and vaccine development. Previous studies have shown that CD4 T cells are necessary and sufficient to clear primary Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infections in the mouse model, making a protective CD4 T cell response a logical endpoint for vaccine development. Our previous proteomics studies identified 13 candidate Chlamydia proteins for subunit vaccines.

Plac8-dependent and inducible NO synthase-dependent mechanisms clear Chlamydia muridarum infections from the genital tract.

Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital serovars replicate predominantly in genital tract epithelium. This tissue tropism poses a unique challenge for host defense and vaccine development. Studies utilizing the Chlamydia muridarum mouse model have shown that CD4 T cells are critical for clearing genital tract infections.

Important child occupant saftety trends, indiana between 2005 and 2010.

This study reviews trends, rear facing, top tether use, and seating position for children younger than 13y among motor vehicle passengers in Indiana. This is an observational, cross-sectional survey of drivers transporting children 15 years and younger and drivers collected at 25 convenience locations randomly selected in Indiana during summers 2005 through 2010. Observations were conducted by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST).

Validation of an evacuated canister method for measuring part-per-billion levels of chemical warfare agent simulants.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) research on direct-reading instruments (DRIs) needed an instantaneous sampling method to provide independent confirmation of the concentrations of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants. It was determined that evacuated canisters would be the method of choice. There is no method specifically validated for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods.

Quantitative mid-infrared diffuse reflection of occupational wood dust exposures.

Occupational exposure to airborne wood dust has been implicated in the development of several symptoms and diseases, including nasal carcinoma. However, the assessment of occupational wood dust exposure is usually performed by gravimetric analysis, which is non-specific. In this study, a mid-infrared (mid-IR) diffuse reflection method was adapted for direct on-filter determination of wood dust mass.

Size-selective sampling of particulates using a physiologic sampling pump.

Recent laboratory research indicates physiologic sampling of gas and vapor may provide more representative estimates of personal exposures than traditional methods. Modifications to the physiologic sampling pump (PSP) used in that research are described which extend its usefulness to size-selective sampling of particulates. PSPs used in previous research varied motor speed to keep sampling proportional to the subject's inhalation.

Association of sleep quality with depression in police officers.

Poor sleep quality has been shown to adversely affect neurobehavior including an increase in depression symptoms. Police officers are at increased risk of poor sleep quality due to occupational factors. This study analyzed self-reported sleep and depression data from police officers; 391 police officers from Buffalo, New York reported on sleep and depression by completing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) questionnaires.

Association of perceived stress with sleep duration and sleep quality in police officers.

The objective was to investigate associations ofperceived stress with sleep duration and quality among 430 police officers. Perceived stress was assessed using the perceived stress scale. Sleep duration and quality were assessed using the Pittsburg sleep quality index questionnaire.

Fungal pigments inhibit the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of darkly pigmented fungi.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been used to discriminate moniliaceous fungal species; however, darkly pigmented fungi yield poor fingerprint mass spectra that contain few peaks of low relative abundance. In this study, the effect of dark fungal pigments on the observed MALDI mass spectra was investigated. Peptide and protein samples containing varying concentrations of synthetic melanin or fungal pigments extracted from Aspergillus niger were analyzed by MALDI-TOF and MALDI-qTOF (quadrupole TOF) MS.

Evaluation of the COSHH Essentials model with a mixture of organic chemicals at a medium-sized paint producer.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essentials model was evaluated using full-shift exposure measurements of five chemical components in a mixture [acetone, ethylbenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, and xylenes] at a medium-sized plant producing paint materials. Two tasks, batch-making and bucket-washing, were examined. Varying levels of control were already established in both tasks and the average exposures of individual chemicals were considerably lower than the regulatory and advisory 8-h standards.

Wood dust sampling: field evaluation of personal samplers when large particles are present.

Recent recommendations for wood dust sampling include sampling according to the inhalable convention of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7708 (1995) Air quality--particle size fraction definitions for health-related sampling. However, a specific sampling device is not mandated, and while several samplers have laboratory performance approaching theoretical for an 'inhalable' sampler, the best choice of sampler for wood dust is not clear. A side-by-side field study was considered the most practical test of samplers as laboratory performance tests consider overall performance based on a wider range of particle sizes than are commonly encountered in the wood products industry.