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Biomedical subjects

J A Newman

Publications and source records attributed to J A Newman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Verification of biomechanical methods employed in a comprehensive study of mild traumatic brain injury and the effectiveness of American football helmets.

Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, occurs in many activities, mostly as a result of the head being accelerated. A comprehensive study has been conducted to understand better the mechanics of the impacts associated with concussion in American football. This study involves a sequence of techniques to analyse and reconstruct many different head impact scenarios. It is important to understand the validity and accuracy of these techniques in order to be able to use the results of the study to improve helmets and helmet standards. Two major categories of potential errors have been investigated. The first category concerns error sources specific to the use of crash test dummy instrumentation (accelerometers) and associated data processing techniques. These are relied upon to establish both linear and angular head acceleration responses. The second category concerns the use of broadcast video data and crash test dummy head-neck-torso systems. These are used to replicate the complex head impact scenarios of whole body collisions that occur on the football field between two living human beings. All acceleration measurement and processing techniques were based on well-established practices and standards. These proved to be reliable and reproducible. Potential errors in the linear accelerations due to electrical or mechanical noise did not exceed 2% for the three different noise sources investigated. Potential errors in the angular accelerations due to noise could be as high as 6.7%, due to error accumulation of multiple linear acceleration measurements. The potential error in the relative impact velocity between colliding heads could be as high as 11%, and was found to be the largest error source in the sequence of techniques to reconstruct the game impacts. Full-scale experiments with complete crash test dummies in staged head impacts showed maximum errors of 17% for resultant linear accelerations and 25% for resultant angular accelerations.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1999

A distance to the galaxy NGC4258 from observations of Cepheid variable stars.

Cepheid variable stars pulsate in a way that is correlated with their intrinsic luminosity, making them useful as 'standard candles' for determining distances to galaxies; the potential systematic uncertainties in the resulting distances have been estimated to be only 8-10%. They have played a crucial role in establishing the extragalactic distance scale and hence the value of the Hubble constant. Here we report observations of Cepheids in the nearby galaxy NGC4258; the distance calculated from the Cepheids is 8.1 +/- 0.4 Mpc, where the uncertainty does not include possible systematic errors. There is an independently determined geometric distance to this galaxy of 7.2 +/- 0.5 Mpc, based on the observed proper motions of water masers orbiting the central black hole; the distances differ by 1.3sigma. If the maser-based distance is adopted and the Cepheid distance scale revised accordingly, the derived value of the Hubble constant would increase by 12 +/- 9%, while the expansion age of the Universe would decrease by the same amount.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Identification of Mycoplasma iowae by colony immunoblotting utilizing monoclonal antibodies.

The utility of monoclonal antibody Mab-2C in identification of Mycoplasma iowae (MI) by colony immunoblotting technique was explored. Colony immunoblots of reference MI strains, field isolates, and mycoplasmas recovered from experimentally inoculated turkey embryos were probed with Mab-2C. The monoclonal antibody identified colonies of all the MI isolates tested and did not cross-react with colonies of M. gallisepticum, M. synoviae, or M. meleagridis. In western immunoblots of 22 MI field isolates, Mab-2C showed immunoreactivity with an antigen of approximately 45 kD molecular weight. No phenotypic variation of the epitope recognized by Mab-2C was observed in colony immunoblots of MI colonies. The monoclonal antibody reported here can be used for identification of MI colonies by a simple and rapid colony immunoblot method.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Toward a comprehensive biomechanical injury cost model.

The proposed biomechanical injury cost model utilizes surrogate-based injury assessment functions to predict the probability of occurrence and the probable cost of specific injuries to the head, thorax, abdomen, and lower extremities. The resulting probability cost is a function of the number, location, and severity of injuries. As more precise injury assessment functions and more accurate cost estimates become available, the model will become an effective tool for comparing and classifying different injury patterns.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed1992

Enhancement of antibody response of turkeys to trivalent avian influenza vaccine by positively charged liposomal avridine adjuvant.

Trivalent avian influenza (AIV) antigens (H4N8, H5N2 and H7N3), mixed with positively charged, negatively charged and neutral avridine-containing liposomes, and oil-emulsion were subcutaneously administered to 6-week-old turkeys. Charged liposomal avridine adjuvant, either positive or negative, produced a better antibody response than uncharged liposomal avridine or oil-emulsion adjuvants when used in a trivalent avian influenza vaccine. The antibody response to the different antigens was generally greater to the positively charged adjuvanted vaccine compared with the negatively or neutral charged or oil-emulsion adjuvanted vaccines and these differences were significant (P less than 0.05) with the three antigens. The results suggest that the positively charged liposomal avridine plays a significant role as adjuvant to the AIV antigens.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1991

A quantitative measurement of the effect of avian influenza virus on the ability of turkeys to eliminate Pasteurella multocida from the respiratory tract.

The effect of avian influenza virus (AIV) infection on the ability of turkeys to eliminate Pasteurella multocida from the respiratory tract was evaluated. Four-week-old turkeys were experimentally infected with an apathogenic AIV subtype (H5N2) by the oculonasal route and subsequently superinfected with P multocida (Urbach strain) by the intranasal route three days after infection with AIV. Quantitative clearance of P multocida from the trachea and lung was determined using a pour plate technique on samples collected at intervals after infection. Samples from turkeys which had been infected with AIV were found to yield more P multocida than those from turkeys which had not been infected with AIV. The numbers of P multocida increased in infected birds to a greater extent than in birds which had not been infected with the virus. The present study suggests that AIV infection may contribute to the increased numbers and a decreased clearance of P multocida in turkeys.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Key issues in mergers and acquisitions. Healthcare organizations must approach collaborations with caution.

Most collaborations between healthcare providers are based on a desire to better serve their communities, develop critical mass, eliminate duplicative services, create economies of scale, and enhance survivability. Unfortunately, collaborations may not always produce the benefits desired. Thus careful planning and execution are critical to first determine whether the transaction makes sense and, if it does, to develop strategies that maximize the expected benefits. Whether the participating entities are secular, religious, public, or private, I recommend they consider the following 11 key issues when evaluating or pursuing a merger or acquisition: (1) understand the transaction's magnitude, (2) assess the alternatives, (3) select potential partners carefully, (4) determine and examine threshold issues early, (5) focus on the right issues, (6) agree on a valuation approach, (7) recognize the importance of governance, (8) develop an acceptable structure, and use a memorandum of understanding, (9) establish and adhere to a communications policy, (10) perform due diligence, and (11) recognize the significance of activities after the transaction.

Catholicism↗
PubMed1991

Identification and characterization of viral polypeptides from type-II avian adenoviruses.

The polypeptides of serologically related viruses of hemorrhagic enteritis (HE) in turkeys, marble spleen disease (MSD) in pheasants, and splenomegaly in chickens (SMC) were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and analyzed by protein immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies to HE virus (HEV). The viral polypeptides II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII were detected on SDS-PAGE with the size range from 18 to 97 kDa in HEV. Viral polypeptides II, III, V, VI, and VII were detected in MSD virus and virus of SMC. Protein immunoblotting of viral proteins with anti-HEV serum revealed antigenic differences between the 3 viruses of avian adenovirus type-II examined. The differences were that the polypeptides II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII were identified in HEV and the polypeptides II, V, VI, and VII were identified in MSD virus and virus of SMC. The bands of penton base (polypeptide III) and fiber (polypeptide IV) were seen in HEV only by protein immunoblotting.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1990

Preliminary data on efficacy of Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccines containing different adjuvants in laying hens.

Chickens were vaccinated subcutaneously twice, at 13 and 17 weeks of age. The vaccines used were the whole organisms of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) adjuvanted with multilamellar positively charged (MPC) liposomes or oil-emulsion. Other chickens received the same bacterins but supplemented with Salmonella typhimurium cell wall protein mitogen (STP) (50 micrograms/dose). At 21 weeks of age, each bird was challenged in the right and left caudal thoracic air sacs. The challenge dose/chicken was 1.3 x 10(5) CFU of MG (R-strain). A significant immunoglobulin (Ig) response specific to MG was observed in sera of chickens collected 3 weeks after the first and second vaccination with MG adjuvanted with MPC liposomes or oil-emulsion. The same two treatments had highly significant MG-titers in eggs collected during the first and second month post challenge. Both groups had highly significant protection (P less than 0.05) against MG transmission in eggs layed during the first month post challenge. Vaccination with MG organisms adjuvanted to MPC liposomes or oil-emulsion resulted in higher egg production, during the first month following challenge, in comparison to the unvaccinated-challenged birds; the same two groups had higher egg production in the second month following challenge compared to unvaccinated-challenged birds, but not significantly different (P greater than 0.05). The addition of STP to bacterins containing MG organisms adjuvanted to MPC liposomes or oil-emulsion, resulted in a significant reduction (P less than 0.05) of the Ig-specific to MG in sera and in a significant drop in egg production (P less than 0.05) during the first month following challenge.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Identification of the antigenic components of paramyxovirus-3, paramyxovirus-6 and Newcastle disease virus in turkeys.

The aim of this study was to use the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western immunoblotting as possible tools to differentiate infections in turkeys by different paramyxoviruses. Pooled hyperimmune sera of turkeys infected with either paramyxovirus-3 (PMV-3), paramyxovirus-6 (PMV-6), or Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were assayed for antibodies specific to the three viruses by the ELISA and Western immunoblotting. ELISA results showed cross reactions of turkey antibodies between PMV-3 and PMV-6 antigens, while turkey antibodies to NDV did not cross-react with any of the other paramyxoviruses. The immunoblots of sera from birds infected with PMV-3 (Minnesota turkeys and Iowa chickens) reacted to low molecular weight polypeptides of PMV-3 of 29, 32, and 34 kDa, and to a high molecular weight band of 200 kDa. The same Minnesota turkey sera had a cross reaction to the 200 kDa polypeptide of PMV-6, while the Iowa chicken sera did not. Both sera had no apparent reaction to NDV proteins. Western immunoblotting showed that the turkey PMV-3 sera had a specific reaction to a 220 kDa polypeptide present in PMV-3, but not in PMV-6, while the turkey PMV-6 sera had a specific reaction to a 130 kDa polypeptide present in PMV-6, but not in PMV-3. Immunoblots of pooled sera from turkeys infected with PMV-6 (Minnesota source) reacted to the 200 kDa protein present in both PMV-3 and PMV-6; however, no reaction occurred between this sera and NDV proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of Mycoplasma gallisepticum subunit and whole organism vaccines containing different adjuvants by western immunoblotting.

Chickens were vaccinated with subunit (adhesin protein) or whole organisms of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) adjuvanted with multilamellar positively charged liposomes or oil-emulsion. Sera were collected before and following the first (13 weeks of age) and second (17 weeks of age) vaccination. The chicken sera were used in western immunoblotting against whole MG polypeptides. Vaccination with the subunit (MG-adhesin) bacterin containing positively charged liposomes resulted in antibody response specific to adhesin band (75 kD) at 3 weeks post the first and second vaccination; however, crossreactions of the same antibodies occurred to MG proteins of 85 kD (3 weeks after the first vaccination) and 56 kD (3 weeks after the second vaccination). Vaccination with whole MG proteins containing positively charged liposomes resulted in significant immunopotentiation of antibodies against low molecular weight polypeptides of MG (less than 48.0 kD). The addition of Salmonella typhimurium cell wall proteins mitogens (STP) to the different bacterins suppressed the antibody responses to some MG polypeptides.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Identification of the antigenic components of the virulent Mycoplasma gallisepticum (R) in chickens: their role in differentiation from the vaccine strain (F).

The antibody response to different proteins of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) was studied in chickens experimentally infected with virulent MG R strain. The chickens were challenged at 8 weeks of age by the intranasal route. Each cockerel received 1.3 X 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU). MG strains (R and F) were banded by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The banding pattern was distinctively different between the two strains in the range of 92.5 to 200 kilodaltons (kD). Chicken sera collected at different times following challenge were analyzed by Western blot to determine the patterns of antibodies raised to specific MG proteins (R versus F strains). Early in infection (2 weeks postchallenge), antibodies to 60-kD and 75-kD polypeptides of MG R strain were produced. Subsequently (greater than or equal to 4 weeks postchallenge), antibodies recognized a larger number of MG antigens in both strains. The immunoblot patterns remained the same in the period 8-11 weeks postinfection in each of the two strains; however, the patterns were different when the two strains were compared. The early response recognized the 75-kD protein in the R strain while it recognized the 80-kD protein in the F strain. The late response recognized the 130-kD protein and the protein slightly heavier than 200 kD in the R strain. These two bands did not appear in the immunoblot performed against the F strain of MG. Electroeluted protein of MG R strain, namely adhesin (75 kD), showed a hemagglutination activity (HA) on chicken red blood cells. With the appearance of antibodies specific to the 60-kD and 75-kD polypeptides, there was a significant rise in hemagglutination-inhibition geometric mean titer of chicken sera.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Managing a successful organizational change.

To survive in today's competitive environment, hospitals must prepare themselves to effectively manage organizational changes such as downsizing or mergers. By analyzing the change process and understanding key roles, managers will be likely to ensure a smooth and successful transition. And a smooth and well-managed change will produce positive results by reducing the amount of time needed for the change to take affect, minimizing or avoiding productivity declines, keeping morale high, and encouraging confidence in hospital leadership.

Efficiency↗
PubMed1988

Efficacy of infectious bronchitis virus vaccines against heterologous challenge.

Twenty-four-week-old white Leghorn layers were inoculated subcutaneously with a killed Newcastle disease-infectious bronchitis (Massachusetts type) virus (MIBV) vaccine. Twenty-eight weeks after vaccination, the birds were challenged intraocularly with the Arkansas strain of infectious bronchitis virus (AIBV) to determine the effects of heterologous virus exposure on egg production, egg quality and serum antibody response of the birds. The challenged hens laid significantly (P less than 0.005) fewer eggs than the unchallenged layers. Eggs laid by the unchallenged groups weighed significantly more (P less than 0.005) than those laid by the challenged groups. Further, the internal quality (Haugh units) and shell quality of eggs laid by the AIBV-challenged hens was significantly (P less than 0.005) inferior to those from the unchallenged hens. In addition, the AIBV-challenged hens laid more soft-shell, misshapen and small eggs than the unchallenged hens. The Arkansas serum haemagglutination inhibition (AIBV-HI) titres of AIBV challenged birds increased up to four weeks after challenge. The corresponding MIBV haemagglutination-inhibition (MIBV-HI) titres decreased during the same period. The study indicates that killed MIBV vaccine offered no protection to birds exposed to heterologous AIBV.

Animals↗