The Influence of Yarn and Weave Structures on Acoustic Materials and the Effect of Different Acoustic Signal Incidence Angles on Woven Fabric Absorption Possibilities

Utilizing textile-based acoustic materials can be considered basically from two points of view. First, it may be used as a sound absorbing material. Second, it may be used as a decoration that gives the surrounding area a new artistic appearance. To improve the acoustic possibilities of any woven fabric, it is necessary to study the influences of yarn characteristics and the internal structures of weave interlacement. To understand the impact of the yarn on the fabric, the samples were prepared using only polyester fiber as textured, twisted, and staple yarns. Regarding this experiment, the basic weave’s structure type, such as plain, rib, sateen, and twill, were used. Overall, 16 woven fabrics were prepared. The investigation was performed in the range of low to medium acoustic frequencies. The experiments were conducted in an anechoic chamber. Compared to other yarn types, fabrics formed from textured polyester yarn had higher sound absorption properties. Moreover, the observed results show that the different incidence angles of acoustic signals influence the measured sound absorption properties of a textile.     

Short communication: Misleading microscopy in amoebiasis

High prevalences of intestinal amoebiasis are commonly reported by microscopy in Ethiopia. In order to confirm the actual occurrence of Entamoeba histolytica we collected 108 stool specimens from different hospitals & health centers from patients in whom haematophagous trophozoites were believed to be found. We detected only a single E. histolytica case while 77 (71.3%) were E. dispar and the remaining 30 samples were negative for both species by real-time PCR based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence of E. histolytica and E. dispar. The tradition of microscopy in a routine diagnostic set-up appears unsatisfactory to reliably differentiate rbc-engulfing amoeba from non-invasive amoeba in wet smears.     

Does non-pharmacological therapy for antenatal depression reduce risks for the infant?

Depression during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes for the infant such as preterm birth. These risks are not reduced with pharmacological treatment, but the effect of non-pharmacological therapies is unknown. We performed a systematic review to assess the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in non-pharmacologically treated depressed women compared to non-depressed women. We found no studies that met our inclusion criteria, highlighting a critical need for research on this topic.     

Relapsing fever in children--demographic, social and clinical features.

Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is an acute febrile illness endemic Ethiopia. To date reports of childhood LBRF are few. The demographic, social and clinical features of eighty children with LBRF admitted to Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital, Addis Abeba between 1989 and 1991 is presented. The mean age of patients was 8.8 years (range 4 months to 15 years). The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Seventy-seven (97%) patients came from Addis Abeba. They came from poor families living in overcrowded homes. Fever, headache, right upper quadrant pain, chills and rigors were common symptoms. Fever and hepatosplenomegaly were common signs. Three drug regimens were used in the treatment of patients. A combination of penicillin and tetracycline, chloramphenicol alone and erythromycin alone, all given for 3 days. There was only one death. The literature on LBRF in adults is reviewed and the results are compared (1).     

Modeling Complex Disease with Demographic and Environmental Covariates and a Candidate Gene Marker

We randomly chose replicates 28 and 29 of the simulated data sets of Genetic Analysis Workshop 12 to model the dependence of affection status on covariates, quantitative traits, and genes using all living pedigree members. First we explored the relationship of affection status to demographic and environmental factors using logistic regression and the Cox proportional hazards models. In the second stage of our analyses the generalized transmission disequilibrium test (GTDT) was applied to nuclear families with at least two affected siblings to select single markers and high‐risk alleles, which were tested in the population association analyses including all pedigree members. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the joint contributions of genetic and nongenetic factors and a block‐recursive modeling approach was adopted to study inherent hierarchical dependence structure in the data. We found that allele 2 on marker 35 of chromosome 6 is associated with higher risk compared with the other 3 alleles of this marker. In addition to this significant genetic effect, age at exam and four of the five quantitative traits (QT1, QT2, QT4, and QT5) had a significant association with the disease. Our results were obtained without knowledge of the true disease generating models. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Teaching invasive perinatal procedures: assessment of a high fidelity simulator-based curriculum.

OBJECTIVE: Learning curves pose a difficult problem in the teaching of technical skills: how do you teach procedural skills without compromising patients' health? A simulator-based curriculum has been designed to minimize the risks to patients undergoing amniocentesis by shifting the learning curve away from patients and into the laboratory. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a high-fidelity simulator-based curriculum in improving the performance of amniocentesis by obstetric trainees. DESIGN: Thirty trainees received a course on the practice of amniocentesis. The curriculum consisted of a lecture, a syllabus, and a hands-on training session with the simulator. Pre- and post-training performance were evaluated with two rating scales. Training and performance evaluation were completed using the same simulator. The effectiveness of the simulator-based workshop and the effect of year of training were assessed using a two-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Performance scores improved from a mean score of 55% to 94% using checklist scoring and from 57% to 88% using global ratings. The two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of training (F1,60 = 43.57; P < 0.001) accounting for 45% of the variance in scores, and a significant effect of experience level (F2,60 = 9.16; P < 0.001) accounting for 25% of the variance in scores. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive curriculum based on a high-fidelity simulator was effective at improving skills demonstrated on the simulator. The challenge remains to establish that skills acquired on a simulator are transferable to the clinical setting.     

Salivary and Serum Antibody Response Against Neisseria meningitidis After Vaccination With Conjugate Polysaccharide Vaccines in Ethiopian Volunteers

Meningococcal conjugate vaccines induce serum antibodies crucial for protection against invasive disease. Salivary antibodies are believed to be important for hindering meningococcal acquisition and/or clearance of established carriage. In this study, we measured salivary IgA and IgG antibodies induced by vaccination with a monovalent serogroup A conjugate vaccine or a tetravalent A, C, W and Y conjugate vaccine, in comparison with antibody levels in serum. Saliva and serum samples from Ethiopian volunteers (1–29 years) collected before and eight times on a weekly basis after receiving the serogroup A conjugate vaccine, the tetravalent serogroup A, C, W and Y conjugate vaccine, or no vaccine (control group), were analysed using a multiplex microsphere immunoassay for antibody detection. Serogroup‐specific IgG antibody levels in saliva increased significantly after vaccination with both vaccines. The monovalent serogroup A vaccine also induced an increase in salivary IgA antibodies. A strong correlation between serogroup‐specific IgG antibodies in saliva and serum, and a somewhat lower correlation for IgA, was observed for all serogroups. There was also a strong correlation between specific secretory IgA and IgA antibodies in saliva for all serogroups. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines are able to elicit salivary antibodies against serogroup A, C, W and Y correlating with antibody levels in serum. The strong correlation between saliva and serum antibody levels indicates that saliva may be used as a surrogate of systemic antibody responses.     

Circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in urban Greek couples

A convenience sample of 14 adults (seven couples) who intentionally nap regularly was recruited to describe circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in a culture in which afternoon naps are routine. Participants wore a wrist actigraph for 48 hr during May to obtain two peaks and troughs of activity data. Peak activity, estimated by cosinor analysis (acrophase), occurred at 1542 hours for men and at 1600 hours for women. Compared to their male partners, women had a later acrophase and a significantly stronger 24-hr rhythm, despite similar nap and nighttime sleep schedules. Men had more awakenings during the night and slightly shorter naps than did women. For the 24-hr period, men averaged 6.8 +/- 1.0 hr of sleep and women averaged 7.4 +/- 1.1 hr. Results indicate that Greek adults delay sleep onset at night and awaken early in the morning. Among this small group, naps are an accepted cultural behavior.