To compare the effectiveness of training in heat and in sweat clothing in cool conditions on improving heat tolerance, two groups of active subjects (n = 6 in each) performed an interval running heat-tolerance test before and after a 7-day experimental treatment. On each treatment day the subjects attempted to complete 4 x 15 min interval treadmill running periods (a 7.5 s effort every 30 s, on 15 km h-1, 15% grade; the same exercise format as the heat-tolerance test), which were interspersed with 5-min recovery periods (total time each day = 80 min). Group 1 (heat) ran in shorts, socks and shoes in hot humid conditions, and Group 2 (sweat clothing) ran in cool conditions dressed in shorts, socks and T-shirt covered by a polyester-cotton tracksuit, over which was worn 100% nylon spray-proof pants and jacket (cotton lined) with an acrylic cloth bobble hat (beanie) on the head. Both groups displayed changes typical of heat acclimatization over the 7-day period, with significant decreases in final rectal temperature (Tr) and heart rate (HR) being evident, but no change in sweat loss. Mean skin temperature (Tsk) was similar in both groups during the training sessions (heat group: 34.8-35.7 degrees C; sweat clothing group 34.9-35.5 degrees C). After the heat-tolerance test, both groups had significantly lower Tr, Tsk and HR values than before, and sweating sensitivity (g m-2 h-1 degrees C rise in Tr) was significantly increased. There was only one significant difference between the two groups (Tsk, 20th min value). It was concluded that training in sweat clothing in cool conditions can provide the same improvements in heat tolerance as training in hot humid conditions where a fixed exercise intensity and duration are used.

We have developed a rapid screening assay that allows us to estimate the alkaline phosphatase content of mouse L-M cell colonies immobilized on polyester cloth. This permitted the identification and isolation of two mutant clones with increased constitutive alkaline phosphatase activity and six clones that fail to express this activity when treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Both of the strains with increased constitutive activity have basal enzymatic activities that are 6- to 7-fold higher than the activity of the parental strain. The extents to which the cyclic nucleotide further induces alkaline phosphatase in these two strains are different, however, indicating that they represent two classes of mutants. Studies using amino acids and synthetic peptides as alkaline phosphatase inhibitors suggest that only one alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme predominates, in both the parental and the mutant cell lines, with or without induction by cyclic nucleotide. Comparison to mouse tissues indicates that our cell lines express an isozyme resembling that found in kidney and bone. The six clones that fail to express alkaline phosphatase activity when treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP also have extremely low basal levels of the enzyme. All of these mutant strains continue to synthesize protein when treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP and undergo growth cessation and morphological changes in the presence of this agent. Thus, the mutations all appear to affect factors specific to the expression of alkaline phosphatase activity rather than factors that affect general cellular responsiveness or permeability to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The characterization of these strains may help elucidate mechanisms of eukaryotic membrane protein biogenesis, enzyme induction, and regulation of gene expression by cyclic nucleotides.

Four traps used in capturing hunting female S. damnosum s.l. are discribed: the slat trap, the enclosure trap, the fan trap, and the sticky trap. In forest a man hidden inside a trap, but removing his exhaled breath through a long hose, attracted 4 times as many flies as did an unbaited trap. When the man exhaled normally into the trap the number of flies taken rose again by a further factor of 4. Carbon dioxide gas, emitted from inside the trap attracted some two-thirds as many flies as a man exhaling normally inside the trap. In both forest and Sudan-savanna environments the catches of a man stationed on an open stretch of land and fully exposed to view while his exhaled breath was removed through a long hose, were not substantially lower than those of a man in a similar situation who exhaled normally. In forest a motionless man, partly hidden among vegetation, attracted fewer flies than a moving man who was fully exposed to view (a) when both men removed their exhaled breath through long hoses, and (b) when they exhaled normally. In the forest a trap baited with CO2 gas (250 cc per min) caught more flies than a similar, unbaited trap, but the preformance of CO2-baited traps, as compared with that of human collectors, was highly variable. Catches in CO2-baited traps were uniformly low in the Sudan-savanna. In forest, removal of olfactory substances from the human skin, by vigorous washing and application of petroleum jelly, or by wearing impermeable clothing, greatly reduced the numbers of flies attracted. No such reduction was observed in Sudan savanna. In the forest, cloths, worn by men for several days and then used as bait, attracted about 10 times as many flies as did similar, unworn cloths. Addition of CO2 gas produced a 4-fold increase in the attractiveness of worn cloths and an 18-fold increase in that of unworn cloths. No corresponding experiments were done in the savanna. Fan traps could become contaminated by human handling during the assembly and setting-up procedures. They were thus rendered attractive to flies. In the Sudan-savanna, the catches of men positioned in front of warm rock surfaces were lower than those of men stationed on coller, sandy surfaces. This suggests that body heat may be an additional attractant factor. The results suggest that "forest" S. damnosum s.l. (presumably S. squamosum) females rely heavily on smell as an attractant and, to a lesser extent, on sight and exhaled breath. Smell appears to be the only obligatory attractant, and it can act by itself. This raises the possibility that a trap might be developed which incorporates only smell stimuli as bait. For "savanna" S. damnosum s.l. (presumably S. damnosum s.s.) neither smell nor exhaled breath appear to be important attractants, and some other factor, perhaps sight, appears to be the dominant attractant in this zone.

This is a laboratory investigation on the emissions from batch combustion of representative infectious ("red bag") medical waste components, such as medical examination latex gloves and sterile cotton pads. Plastics and cloth account for the majority of the red bag wastes by mass and, certainly, by volume. An electrically heated, horizontal muffle furnace was used for batch combustion of small quantities of shredded fuels (0.5-1.5 g) at a gas temperature of approximately 1000 degrees C. The residence time of the post-combustion gases in the furnace was approximately 1 s. At the exit of the furnace, the following emissions were measured: CO, CO2, NOx, particulates and polynuclear aromatic compounds (PACs). The first three gaseous emissions were measured with continuous gas analyzers. Soot and PAC emissions were simultaneously measured by passing the furnace effluent through a filter (to collect condensed-phase PACs) and a bed of XAD-4 adsorbent (to capture gaseous-phase PACs). Analysis involved soxhlet extraction, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results were contrasted with previously measured emissions from batch combustion of pulverized coal and tire-derived fuel (TDF) under similar conditions. Results showed that the particulate soot) and cumulative PAC emissions from batch combustion of latex gloves were more than an order of magnitude higher than those from cotton pads. The following values are indicative of the relative trends (but not necessarily absolute values) in emission yields: 26% of the mass of the latex was converted to soot, 11% of which was condensed PAC. Only 2% of the mass of cotton pads was converted to soot, and only 3% of the weight of that soot was condensed PAC. The PAC yields from latex were comparable to those from TDF. The PAC yields from cotton were higher than those from coal. A notable exception to this trend was that the three-ring gas-phase PAC yields from cotton were more significant than those from latex. Emission yields of CO and CO2 from batch combustion of cotton were, respectively, comparable and higher than those from latex, despite the fact that the carbon content of cotton was half that of latex. This is indicative of the more effective combustion of cotton. Nearly all of the mass of carbon of cotton gasified to CO and CO2 while only small fractions of the carbon in latex were converted to CO2 and CO (20% and 10%, respectively). Yields of NOx from batch combustions of latex and cotton accounted for 15% and 12%, respectively, of the mass of fuel nitrogen indicating that more fuel nitrogen was converted to NOx in the former case, possibly due to higher flame temperatures. No SO2 emissions were detected, indicating that during the fuel-rich combustion of latex, its sulfur content was converted to other compounds (such as H2S) or remained in the soot.

BACKGROUND

Paper mulberry has been used for thousands of years in Asia and Oceania for making paper and bark-cloth, respectively. Museums around the world hold valuable collections of Polynesian bark-cloth. Genetic analysis of the plant fibers from which the textiles were made may answer a number of questions of interest related to provenance, authenticity or species used in the manufacture of these textiles. Recovery of nucleic acids from paper mulberry bark-cloth has not been reported before.

METHODS

We describe a simple method for the extraction of PCR-amplifiable DNA from small samples of contemporary Polynesian bark-cloth (tapa) using two types of nuclear markers. We report the amplification of about 300 bp sequences of the ITS1 region and of a microsatellite marker.

CONCLUSIONS

Sufficient DNA was retrieved from all bark-cloth samples to permit successful PCR amplification. This method shows a means of obtaining useful genetic information from modern bark-cloth samples and opens perspectives for the analyses of small fragments derived from ethnographic materials.

Because of growing concern about the spread of antibiotic-resistant gram-positive bacteria in burn and trauma units, an inexpensive, safe, effective means of spot-disinfecting fabrics (such as privacy curtains) that remain in clinic or patient rooms as various patients use the rooms was sought. From comparisons of cost and safety data, 3% hydrogen peroxide was chosen to be tested for its efficacy in the control of these bacteria. Systematic laboratory testing used 30 antibiotic-resistant and sensitive staphylococci and enterococci and 4 common hospital fabrics: cotton (clothing), terry cloth (towels), cotton-polyester blend (scrub suits), and polyester (curtains). Without disinfection, bacteria survived for many hours to several days. After a single spraying with 3% hydrogen peroxide, all bacteria on all fabrics were dead within 5 to 120 minutes. On-site testing targeted privacy curtains in patients' rooms. Curtain edges that tended to be grabbed when moving the curtain showed a mixture of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (median, 22 bacteria/24 cm2). After these areas were sprayed with 3% hydrogen peroxide, no bacteria were found. It was concluded that spraying with 3% hydrogen peroxide is a safe, inexpensive, effective means of spot-disinfecting fabrics in patients' rooms; this simple procedure may limit the spread of potentially pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Blood cholinesterase (CHE) activities and urinary dialkyl phosphate levels of five mixer-loaders and four mixer-loader applicators, using a closed-transfer system in conjunction with mixing-loading and application equipment, were monitored over a period of 18 weeks. Airborne pesticide residues in the breathing zone during mixing-loading and the transfer of concentrated liquid pesticide from their original container to mix and spray tanks were determined along with airborne residues during ground application. Blood ChE activities of the majority of the workers increased slightly during the study with increased use of toxic organophosphates and carbamates. Urinary dialkyl phosphate levels varied between 0.02 and 2.4 ppm. During the study, the blood ChE activities of two mixer-loaders decreased and dialkyl phosphate levels of 2.4 ppm were found in the urine of one worker. An investigation indicated that the workers had failed to use the provided closed-transfer system. Airborne residues from liquid pesticides during closed transfer and mixing-loading averaged 5.8 microgram/m3, while residues from dusty powders averaged 152 microgram/m3. Airborne residues during ground application averaged 3.7 microgram/m3 during the workday. Mevinphos residues on cloth patches averaged 0.2 microgram/cm2.

The correct use of moisturizers and cleansers is an integral component of the skin care regimen for any patient with dermatologic disease. As discussed in this article, moisturizers that contain certain ingredients, including occlusives and humectants, offer the most complete benefits with regard to repair of the damaged stratum corneum. When used appropriately, these products not only improve skin hydration by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) but also help to restore the skin barrier and improve the aesthetic appearance of the skin, which is an important concern from the patient's perspective. The use of skin cleansers also is a central consideration in patients with dermatologic disease, but these agents vary widely and must be selected carefully on the basis of the patient's clinical presentation. In most cases, syndets, combars, and lipid-free cleansers offer clear advantages over true soaps. In addition, a variety of cleansing implements such as mesh sponges, particulate abrasive scrubs, and woven face cloths are available, though most are not well suited for use by patients with barrier damage. Because improper skin care can worsen the condition or impede the treatment outcome, proper moisturizing and cleansing are essential components of an overall treatment plan to ensure a satisfactory therapeutic outcome in patients with any barrier defect.

Experiments were conducted to adapt the cloth Nzi trap to a format suitable for fixed applications in biting fly sampling or control. Catches of tabanids [Tabanus L., Chrysops (Meigen), and Hybomitra Enderlein], and stable flies [Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)] in painted plywood traps were compared with those in standard phthalogen blue cloth traps, and in similarly painted cloth traps. The Manitoba horse fly trap and the Tabanus nigrovittatus Macquart "greenhead" box trap were used as additional standards during one tabanid season. Shiny features of traps reduced catches, e.g., paint on cloth instead of wood, or use of aluminum screening instead of netting. Nevertheless, appropriately painted plywood Nzi traps caught as many biting flies as did standard cloth Nzi traps, if paint finishes were matte, and with the use of phthalogen blue colorants. Nzi traps collected about the same tabanid fauna as the Manitoba and T. nigrovittatus traps, but with improved catches of Chrysops and Tabanus. Recommendations are provided on appropriate color matching, and selection of readily-available materials for trap construction.

A topical dose, in 1 microliter acetone, of 0.02 microgram-2-[1-methyl-2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy) ethoxy] pyridine, the juvenile hormone mimic pyriproxyfen (S-31183, Sumitomo Chemical Co.), caused an adult female tsetse, Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood, to produce non-viable offspring for the whole of her life. Using 14C labelled pyriproxyfen it was determined that as little as 0.001 microgram transferred to the in utero larva was sufficient to arrest development in the pupal stage. A formulation in vegetable oil was prepared for treating black cotton cloth targets which caused females to pick up 0.1 microgram active ingredient (a.i.) by tarsal contact during 1 min of exposure. Males exposed similarly for between 1 and 5 min transferred up to 0.016 microgram a.i. to females if they mated immediately after treatment. Doses as low as 0.01 micrograms in 10 microliters oil cm-2 on black cotton cloth targets caused females to produce non-viable offspring for at least two reproductive cycles following exposure. However, a dose of 0.1 microgram in 10 microliters oil cm-2 was necessary for an exposed male to cause disruption of the reproductive potential of his mate. This juvenile hormone mimic has potential to induce sterility via both sexes of tsetse using treated targets or traps under field conditions.

Large soft-tissue defects following close-range shotgun blasts remain a major technical challenge to trauma surgeons. During the period 1980 through 1988, 43 patients who survived greater than 48 hours following this injury were managed in our center. The locations of their soft-tissue defects were: extremity, 22; abdomen/chest, 18; and head/neck, three. All patients underwent immediate surgical exploration and wide debridement of all devitalized tissue along with repair of associated injuries. Management included mandatory frequent dressing changes, debridement, irrigation in the operating room, and the perioperative administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Four patients whose abdominal wall defects could not be initially closed had temporary placement of rayon cloth to prevent evisceration. Overall, four patients underwent delayed primary closure, eight were covered with split-thickness skin grafts, nine had closure with myocutaneous flaps, and 19 closed by secondary intent. Two patients, who were transferred to us following initial management, developed wound sepsis due to inadequate debridement and both eventually required amputation as did one patient who developed early myonecrosis following lengthy arterial repair. Frequent operative dressing changes, adequate debridement, and irrigation minimize sepsis following close-range shotgun blasts and should be the treatment of choice for this devastating injury. Techniques of wound closure need to be individualized to the particular situation.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative complications of jugular vein phlebectasia (JVP), and to recommend diagnostic methods and treatment choices.

METHODS

Thirty-six cases of JVP were reviewed (right vein in 27, left in 6, and bilateral in 3). The internal jugular veins were the most commonly involved. The main complaint was the soft and compressible mass in the neck. Ultrasound or color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was performed on all the children. Surgical intervention was performed in 32 cases, and the other 4 cases were conservatively followed up for 4 to 6 years.

RESULTS

Ultrasound or CDFI demonstrated local dilatation of the unilateral or bilateral veins in all the patients. Surgical intervention included ligation of the involved jugular vein in 31 cases and draping with medical Dacron cloth in 1 case. All of the operated children recovered uneventfully, except 3 for cases who underwent ligation of the right internal jugular vein.

CONCLUSIONS

Valsalva maneuver was most important for establishing the diagnosis. Ultrasound or CDFI was the diagnostic procedure of choice to confirm the diagnosis of JVP. Surgical ligation or excision of unilateral jugular vein was recommended for cosmetic and psychological purposes. However, special attention must be paid to prevent postoperative complications in case of ligation of right internal jugular vein. Or else, treatment should be conservative (follow-up).

Inhalation injury was produced in sheep which were chronically prepared for study. The injury was induced by insufflating them with smoke from burning cotton cloth. One group of animals was treated with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen and another group was untreated. Eight hr following the administration of smoke, there was an elevation of lung lymph flow in both groups. These changes were not as severe in the animals which were treated with ibuprofen. The pulmonary changes which occur following smoke inhalation injury are associated with elevations of the metabolites of arachidonic acid, especially those generated by the cyclooxygenase pathway. These metabolites in some way contribute to the pathophysiological changes induced by the inhalation of smoke, since they are reduced by the administration of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.

We recently introduced a passive dust sampling method for airborne endotoxin and glucan exposure assessment-the electrostatic dustfall collector (EDC). In this study, we assessed the effects of different storage and extraction procedures on measured endotoxin and glucan levels, using 12 parallel EDC samples from 10 low exposed indoor environments. Additionally, we compared 2- and 4-week sampling with the prospect of reaching higher dust yields. Endotoxin concentrations were highest after extraction with pyrogen-free water (pf water) + Tween. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-Tween yielded significantly (44%) lower levels, and practically no endotoxin was detected after extraction in pf water without Tween. Glucan levels were highest after extraction in PBS-Tween at 120 degrees C, whereas extracts made in NaOH at room temperature or 120 degrees C were completely negative. Direct extraction from the EDC cloth or sequential extraction after a preceding endotoxin extraction yielded comparable glucan levels. Sample storage at different temperatures before extraction did not affect endotoxin and glucan concentrations. Doubling the sampling duration yielded similar endotoxin and only 50% higher glucan levels. In conclusion, of the tested variables, the extraction medium was the predominant factor affecting endotoxin and glucan yields.

Redox proteins attached to surfaces designed for biocatalysis hold promise for future clean synthetic routes. It is advantageous for these biocatalysts to operate in low-toxicity fluids with a high capacity to dissolve reactants. Here we report cross-linked films of myoglobin (Mb) and poly(L-lysine) (PLL) chemically attached to oxidized carbon cloth cathodes that in microemulsions feature the protein in a water-rich film environment with reactant in an oil-rich environment. These cross-linked Mb/PLL films were the most stable in microemuslions and had the largest turnover rates for epoxidation of styrene compared to lightly cross-linked or uncross-linked Mb/poly(styrene sulfonate) films. Up to 40-fold larger turnover rates were found in bicontinuous microemulsions compared to oil-in-water microemulsions and micelles. Enhanced turnover rates are correlated with up to 10-fold faster mass transport of solutes in the oil phases of the bicontinuous fluids.

Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) are the main microorganisms that participate in the bioremediation of sulfide-rich wastewater. To reveal the SOB community structure and determine which members of SOB contribute to the sulfide oxidation in a sulfide-rich cloth printing and dyeing wastewater treatment plant, specific primer pairs dsrA 625F/877R, soxB 704F/1199R, and sqr 473F/982R based on the SOB functional genes encoding dissimilatory sulfite reductase, sulfate thioesterase/thiohydrolase, and sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase were designed. The restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that the diversity indices and the abundance of each OTU have no significant changes after time, which suggested the SOB community in the sulfide removing bioreactor have high steady phylogenetic analysis of functional gene-based clone libraries detected the SOB from Chlorobia, α-proteobacteria, β-proteobacteria, and γ-proteobacteria. The combined clone library showed the presence of dominant members of the SOB species closely related to families Halothiobacillaceae (17%), Hydrogenophilaceae (14%), and Rhodocyclaceae (13%), which may contribute to the sulfide oxidation in wastewater treatment process. This work provides a precise understanding of SOB microbial community within sulfide removing bioreactor, and the result gives assistance for the optimization of the treatment systems for sulfide biological degradation.

Monitoring by means of blood and urine analysis for methanol was successfully applied in 32 male workers who were exposed to methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer at 6 ppm as a geometric mean and at 112 ppm as the maximum. Measurement of time-weighted average (TWA) intensity of the vapor exposure was successfully conducted with a diffusive sampler with activated carbon cloth as an adsorbent. Methanol concentrations in whole blood, serum, and urine samples were measured by headspace gas chromatography. The methanol concentrations in the three biological samples collected at the end of 8-h workshifts related linearly with the TWA MMA vapor concentrations, with correlation coefficients of 0.8-0.9. Quantitative evaluation of MMA in vapor and of methanol in urine suggests that only 1.5% of MMA inhaled will be excreted in urine as methanol. There were no significant clinical symptoms or abnormal hematological or serum biochemical findings at this exposure level, except that some workers complained throat irritation and frequent cough and sputa. The results indicate that biological monitoring by analysis for methanol is sensitive enough to detect MMA exposure at levels at which no serious health effects are to be expected.

OBJECTIVE

To compare cellulase production by Aspergillus niger ATCC 10864 biofilms on polyester cloth and freely suspended cultures in shaken flasks and microbioreactors of bubble column type.

RESULTS

Both shaken flasks and oxygenated microbioreactors containing 40 ml of production medium were used to compare cellulase secretion by free mycelium and biofilm cultures. Free mycelium cultures grew better in flasks than in microbioreactors producing compact and fluffy pellets, respectively, while the opposite was found for biofilm cultures without any visible change in biofilm morphology. Cellulase activities and volumetric productivities attained by biofilms in flask cultures were 70% higher than that produced by free mycelium cultures and threefold higher when biofilms were grown in microbioreactors.

CONCLUSIONS

Fungal biofilms developed on polyester cloth in both flasks and microbioreactors produce higher cellulase yields and volumetric productivities than free mycelium cultures at lower biomass levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study are of commercial and biological interest. All productivity parameters revealed that fungal biofilms may be used for the production of cellulase and other proteins in various types of bioreactors. Moreover, they may be used as model systems to study differential gene expression related to cell adhesion.

A survey was conducted in the second half of a working week on 33 women who either applied glue (with cyclohexane as an almost exclusive solvent component) or worked in the vicinity of glue application. Carbon cloth-equipped diffusive samplers were used for personal measurement of time-weighted average intensity of exposure to the solvent. The geometric mean and the highest cyclohexane concentration observed in air were 27 ppm and 274 ppm, respectively. Concentrations of cyclohexanol in urine samples and cyclohexane in whole blood and serum collected at the end of a shift showed significant correlations with the solvent exposure levels. Urinary cyclohexanone also correlated, but with a smaller correlation coefficient. The observation suggests that cyclohexanol in urine and cyclohexane in blood or serum collected at the end of a shift are useful indicators of occupational exposure to cyclohexane vapor. Quantitative estimation of balance at the end of the shift suggested that only a minute portion (< 1%) of cyclohexane absorbed is excreted in the urine as cyclohexanol, almost exclusively as a glucuronide. A survey of subjective symptoms revealed an increase in the prevalence of "dimmed vision " and "unusual smell", but hematology and serum biochemistry testing did not indicate any specific signs.

OBJECTIVE

We provide a design for an effective suture practice board for surgical instruction that is both easily assembled and repaired.

METHODS

This model's design is achieved through inexpensive materials that do not compromise adequate simulation through repetitive use. We used a wooden board, synthetic microfiber cloth, and metal plates and screws to create the suture board. Two pieces of synthetic microfiber cloth, folded along the long axis, were attached to the outer edges of the wooden board using an electric screwdriver, with the metal plates and screws to secure the attachment.

RESULTS

Upon completion of construction, we have a board sufficient for instructing various suturing techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Our suture board design provides an effective practice material that is an improvement in cost, as well as reusability compared with other models. Our board has the advantage over animal tissues, such as chicken's or pigs' feet, because it is not perishable and maintains its durability over extended periods of time. This model is advantageous compared with other commercially available synthetic models because the materials are cheaper and more easily replaced. Our suture board model provides sufficient simulation to enhance the user's skills across various suturing techniques in a manner that is cost-effective in production and maintenance.

Most epidemiologic studies employ a vacuum cleaner used by a trained technician to collect household allergens. This approach is labor intensive, equipment dependent, and impractical if study subjects reside over a wide geographic area. We examined the feasibility of a self-administered dust collection method, using an electrostatic cloth sent by conventional mail, to obtain allergen measurements. Thirty-two nonasthmatic twins from the California Twin Program wiped areas in the family room, kitchen, and bedroom, according to standardized instructions, and returned the cloths by mail. Allergen concentrations for Der-p-1, Der-f-1, Fel-d-1, and Bla-g-2 were determined using ELISA, and intrahouse and room-to-room concentrations were compared. Der-p-1 and Fel-d-1 were found in most homes, with highest concentrations in bedrooms and kitchens, respectively. Der-f-1 and Bla-g-2 were rarely found. Intrahouse Der-p-1 and Fel-d-1 concentrations were highly correlated and statistically significant (for Der-p-1, bedroom vs. kitchen, p=.0003, bedroom vs. family room, p=.0001, and family room vs. kitchen, p=.002; for Fel-d-1, bedroom vs. kitchen, p=.0004, bedroom vs. family room, p<.0001, and family room vs. kitchen, p=.0001). Reported cat ownership was strongly correlated with household Fel-d-1 concentrations (p<.005). In another comparison from different homes of children enrolled in the La Casa atopy prevention study, allergen concentrations measured from dust collected by a single operator from the left and right half of the same room in 21 homes were compared. Levels of Bla-g-2, Der-p-1, and Fel-d-1 concentrations collected from right and left halves of the same room were highly correlated, with r2 ranging from .7 to .9, and were highly statistically significant (all p values<.01). We conclude that nonintrusive and self-administered dust collection, using commercially available electrostatic dust cloths, sent by conventional mail services, is a promising alternative to technician-collected vacuumed dust for measuring indoor allergens in population-based studies, although further validation of the method is necessary.

This paper provides a formal connexion between springs and continuum mechanics in the context of one-dimensional and two-dimensional elasticity. In a first stage, the equivalence between tensile springs and the finite element discretization of stretching energy on planar curves is established. Furthermore, when considering a quadratic strain function of stretch, we introduce a new type of springs called tensile biquadratic springs. In a second stage, we extend this equivalence to non-linear membranes (St Venant-Kirchhoff materials) on triangular meshes leading to triangular biquadratic and quadratic springs. Those tensile and angular springs produce isotropic deformations parameterized by Young modulus and Poisson ratios on unstructured meshes in an efficient and simple way. For a specific choice of the Poisson ratio, 0.3, we show that regular spring-mass models may be used realistically to simulate a membrane behavior. Finally, the different spring formulations are tested in pure traction and cloth simulation experiments.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), has become the primary target of foliar insecticides in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., throughout the Midsouth over the past several years. This prompted a reevaluation of existing action thresholds for flowering cotton under current production practices and economics. A trial was conducted at 19 locations throughout the Midsouth during 2006 and 2007. Threshold treatments ranged from a weekly automatic insecticide application to a very high threshold of 10 tarnished plant bugs per 1.5 row-m on a black drop cloth. Individually, all locations reached the lowest threshold, and eight locations had a significant yield loss from tarnished plant bugs. Across all locations, lint yield decreased 0.85 to 1.72% for each threshold increase of one tarnished plant bug per 1.5 row-m. Yield loss was most closely correlated to pest density during the latter half of the flowering period. The relationship between plant bug density or damage and yield was similar for drop cloth, sweep net, and dirty square sampling methods, but the correlations among these sampling methods were not high. Incorporating actual insecticide application data from the trial and average production and economic factors for Midsouth cotton, the economic threshold, if monitoring once per week, should be between 1.6 and 2.6 tarnished plant bugs per 1.5 row-m during the flowering period. More frequent monitoring or situations where insecticide applications are more efficacious may alter this threshold.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were sampled in commercial cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., fields in 2007 and 2008 in South Carolina and Georgia. The main species collected with the beat cloth and sweep net methods were green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say) (63 and 57%, respectively); brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say) (23 and 18%, respectively); and southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (14 and 22%, respectively). Average stink bug densities were 0.145 +/- 0.010 (mean +/- SEM) for adults and 0.250 +/- 0.027 for nymphs per 3.7 m of row by using the beat cloth method. Average stink bug densities were 0.291 +/- 0.016 for all adults and 0.137 +/- 0.018 for all nymphs per 50 sweeps. A density of two southern green stink bugs per 3.7 m of row by using the beat cloth method required 43 samples (reliability or precision, Dx = 0.3) for population estimation, whereas 88 samples were necessary for a density of two southern green stink bugs per 50 sweeps. At low densities, the sweep net was a more cost-reliable sampling method for all species and life stages. For adult stink bugs, the beat cloth method became more reliable at densities of 1.0, 3.2, and 5.8 stink bugs per 3.7 m of cotton row for southern green stink bug, brown stink bug, and green stink bug, respectively. Sequential sampling consistently reduced sample size for all insects compared with a fixed sampling plan.