Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Cowen.
Over many years, healthcare professionals have strived to improve the quality of patient care. The idea that collaborative care might achieve further improvements is relatively new but is a natural consequence of the Patient's Charter (1992) and other national standards. This article describes how multidisciplinary care planning was introduced in the stroke rehabilitation unit at Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral Hospital NHS Trust.
Giant kelps (which may reach lengths of 45 m) are a prominent exception to the general rule that wave-swept organisms are small. The ability of these kelps to maintain their large size in the presence of ocean waves has been attributed to their extreme flexibility and the concomitant tendency to 'go with the flow', a tendency that reduces the hydrodynamic forces imposed on the plant. However, the flexibility of giant kelps carries with it the potential for the organism to apply an inertial load to its own structure if the blade mass reaches the end of its tether. Here, we examine the complex trade-off between flexibility and inertial loading using a simple computational model of the bull kelp Nereocystis luetkeana. In field and laboratory tests, the model accurately predicts the forces and motions imposed on flexible structures in wave-induced flows. Subsequent predictions from the model suggest that mature N. luetkeana can indeed benefit from moving with the flow, but that the forces imposed on juveniles are actually increased by the plant's flexibility. Furthermore, the benefit accrued from going with the flow is sensitive to the shape of the plant. If the bull kelp were to grow while maintaining a juvenile shape, the stress placed on its stipe would be drastically increased by dynamic loading, and these inappropriately shaped plants would be subjected to a high risk of breakage. For certain combinations of wave height, wave period and stipe length, the increased stress in hypothetical 'small'-shaped plants may be associated with chaotic motion of the blade mass.
Ten of 16 isolates of avian adenovirus could be readily classified as members of serotypes 2, 5, or 7. However, 6 exhibited broad neutralization reactions which created typing problems. Detailed studies of these interactions revealed that our prototype for serotype 5 (i.e., T-8; subsequently found to be an "intermediate" strain) contributed to this broad cross-reactivity because it shared antigens with members of serotypes 5 and 7. As a result of this study, TR-59 or 58-1 is recommended as the suitable prototype for the serotype 5 viruses. The 6 broadly reactive isolates were classified as serologic "variants" of serotypes 5 and 7.
Chicken adenoviruses were isolated from asymptomatic chickens on each of 7 farms tested; a majority of them induced cytopathology by the second serial passage. Although adenoviruses were isolated from chickens ranging in age from 8 to 34 weeks, the highest isolation rate was from those 8 to 14 weeks. Eight serotypes (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) were identified in a relatively small geographic area; serotypes 1, 4, 7, and 9 were isolated most frequently. Multiple serotypes were found on 6 of 7 farms, with 1 farm having 4 serotypes identified. Repeat isolations of the same serotypes were noted on 2 farms. The pattern of virus isolations was generally related to age but varied according to farm. Although new serotypes kept appearing, even after birds came into lay, no clinical problems were associated with them. The incidence of precipitin reactors tended to be low (10-40%) in immature birds but reached 80% or more after sexual maturity. The "antiserum pool" modification of the VN test was found to be accurate and less cumbersome than the conventional procedure for typing isolants.
Four avian adenovirus isolants (Indiana C, DPI-2, IBH-2, and B-3)were examined for pathogenicity in laying birds. None affected shell quality, and only one (IBH-2) had even a minimal effect on egg production (faster decline). Of three isolants tested (Indiana C, DPI-2, and IBH-2), only IBH-2 caused feed intake to be reduced. No other clinical signs were observed during these experiments. Egg transmission, virus excretion, and antibody production were found to mimic patterns reported for serotype-1 avian adenoviruses.