Cost considerations when controlling air quality.
The options when designing a clean room or controlled environment are numerous. The advantages and disadvantages of designs and recommendations on cost-effectiveness are outlined.
Air Conditioning↗
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Results for “Environment, Controlled”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
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Thirty-month relapse trajectory cluster groups among adolescents discharged from out-patient treatment.
AIMS: To identify adolescent relapse trajectory groups following discharge from out-patient substance abuse treatment. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents aged 12-18, who were assigned randomly to one of five out-patient interventions (n = 563) in four United States communities and followed-up 3, 6, 9, 12 and 30 months post-intake. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-report measures of days using any alcohol or other drugs (AOD), days of alcohol use, days of cannabis use, days of heavy use, days of crack/cocaine use, days of heroin/opiate use, days AOD use interfered with responsibilities and days in a controlled environment. FINDINGS: Adolescents can be grouped empirically into five relapse trajectories over 30 months following out-patient treatment: (a) low AOD use with limited days in a controlled environment; (b) low AOD use with high days in a controlled environment; (c) moderate/decreasing AOD use; (d) increasing AOD use; and (e) consistently high AOD use. CONCLUSIONS: There was considerable heterogeneity in the relapse trajectories, varying by the initial response to treatment, the stability (versus increase/decrease) of the response and an interaction with time in a controlled environment. Cannabis and alcohol were the two main substances involved, although the two groups with the poorest trajectories had increasing levels of cocaine, opiate and other substance use at the 30-month follow-up. This study demonstrates the chronicity of substance use even among a subgroup of adolescents and the importance of studying more complex longitudinal patterns of recovery.
Adolescent↗
The role of sulcular environment in controlling epithelial keratinization.
The influence of the sulcular environment on the keratinization of the outer surface gingival epithelium was tested in three young adult Rhesus monkeys. A total of 40 mucoperiosteal flaps were raised, and inverted so as to bring the outer surface epithelium in contact with the tooth, and were sutured. The experimental time intervals varied from 1 hour to 60 days. The monkeys received H3 thymidine 1 hour prior to sacrifice. The material was prepared for histologic and radioautographic evaluation. Results indicated that the outer surface epithelium changes its morphology to a nonkeratinized epithelium devoid of deep rete pegs when in close contact with the tooth, resulting in the anatomical characteristics normally seen in sulcular epithelium. It is concluded that the sulcular environment has the capability of controlling the keratinizing potential of the outer surface gingival epithelium. It is further suggested that the constant irritation of bacterial plaque and its products may be responsible for the premature desquamation of the sulcular epithelium which in turn might not allow its full differentiation.
Animals↗
Effect of lamp type and temperature on development, carbon partitioning and yield of soybean.
Soybeans grown in controlled environments are commonly taller than field-grown plants. In controlled environments, including liquid hydroponics, height of the dwarf cultivar "Hoyt" was reduced from 46 to 33 cm when plants were grown under metal halide lamps compared to high pressure sodium lamps at the same photosynthetic photon flux. Metal halide lamps reduced total biomass 14% but did not significantly reduce seed yield. Neither increasing temperature nor altering the difference between day/night temperature affected plant height. Increasing temperature from 21 to 27 degrees C increased yield 32%. High temperature significantly increased carbon partitioning to stems and increased harvest index.
Biomass↗
An overview of Japanese CELSS research activities.
Many research activities regarding Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) have been conducted and continued all over the world since the 1960's and the concept of CELSS is now changing from Science Fiction to Scientific Reality. Development of CELSS technology is inevitable for future long duration stays of human beings in space, for lunar base construction and for manned mars flight programs. CELSS functions can be divided into two categories, Environment Control and Material Recycling. Temperature, humidity, total atmospheric pressure and partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, necessary for all living things, are to be controlled by the environment control function. This function can be performed by technologies already developed and used as the Environment Control Life Support System (ECLSS) of Space Shuttle and Space Station. As for material recycling, matured technologies have not yet been established for fully satisfying the specific metabolic requirements of each living thing including human beings. Therefore, research activities for establishing CELSS technology should be focused on material recycling technologies using biological systems such as plants and animals and physico-chemical systems, for example, a gas recycling system, a water purifying and recycling system and a waste management system. Based on these considerations, Japanese research activities have been conducted and will be continued under the tentative guideline of CELSS research activities as shown in documents /1/, /2/. The status of the over all activities are discussed in this paper.
Air Conditioning↗
Maximizing performance feedback effectiveness through videotape replay and a self-controlled learning environment.
This study was designed to examine whether participants who could control the schedule of performance feedback (KP) would learn differentially from those who received a rigid feedback schedule while learning a complex task. Participants (N = 48) were randomly assigned to self-controlled KP (SELF), summary KP (SUMMARY), yoked control (YOKE), or knowledge of results only (KR) conditions. Data collection consisted of an acquisition phase and a 4-day retention phase during which right-handed participants performed a left-handed ball throw. Overall, throwing form improved across trial blocks during acquisition, with the SUMMARY, SELF, and YOKE groups showing more improvement than the KR group. During retention, the SELF group retained a higher level of throwing form and accuracy in comparison to the other groups. Results suggest that when given the opportunity to control the feedback environment, learners require relatively less feedback to acquire skills and retain those skills at a level equivalent to or surpassing those who are given more feedback but receive it passively.
Biofeedback, Psychology↗
De novo design of defined helical bundles in membrane environments.
Control of structure and function in membrane proteins remains a formidable challenge. We report here a new design paradigm for the self-assembly of protein components in the context of nonpolar environments of biological membranes. An incrementally staged assembly process relying on the unique properties of fluorinated amino acids was used to drive transmembrane helix-helix interactions. In the first step, hydrophobic peptides partitioned into micellar lipids. Subsequent phase separation of simultaneously hydrophobic and lipophobic fluorinated helical surfaces fueled spontaneous self-assembly of higher order oligomers. The creation of these ordered transmembrane protein ensembles is supported by gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism spectroscopy, equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Airborne viable particles and total number of airborne particles: comparative studies of active air sampling.
This paper presents results from a comparative study of different impaction air samplers under simulated operational conditions in a controlled environment. Furthermore measurements have been performed in a body-box during evaluation of clean-room clothing and in a day care center. Microbial monitoring of controlled environments can be performed in several ways, and with the aid of different sampling instruments. Knowing the limitations of the chosen system is of vital importance for the correct evaluation and interpretation of the results. The number of Colony Forming Units (CFU) detected by one method cannot be directly compared with results from another method. The obtained results seem to indicate that in a controlled environment the exposure situation with a human contamination source gives an approximate relationship between the total number of airborne particles and the number of aerobic airborne viable particles detectable with standard methods.
Air Microbiology↗
Using technology to control the environment.
Over the last 5 years, technological advances have resulted in specialized technical aids, such as electronic communication devices, computer input devices, and environmental control systems, which have made it possible for many persons who are severely physically disabled to enjoy greater functional independence within the home, school, workplace, and the community. This paper focuses on environmental control systems and discusses how occupational therapists match environmental control systems with clients' needs.
Adult↗
Yield comparisons and unique characteristics of the dwarf wheat cultivar 'USU-Apogee'.
Extremely short, high yielding cultivars of all crop plants are needed to optimize the food production of bioregenerative life support systems in space. In the early 1980's, we examined over a thousand wheat genotypes from the world germplasm collection in search of genotypes with appropriate characteristics for food production in space. Here we report the results of 12 years of hybridization and selection for the perfect wheat cultivar. 'USU-Apogee' is a full-dwarf hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar developed for high yields in controlled environments. USU-Apogee was developed by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and released in April 1996. USU-Apogee is a shorter, higher yielding alternative to 'Yecora Rojo' and 'Veery-10', the short field genotypes previously selected for use in controlled environments. The yield advantage of USU-Apogee is 10 to 30% over these other cultivars, depending on environmental conditions. USU-Apogee (45-50 cm tall, depending on temperature) is 10 to 15 cm shorter than Yecora Rojo and 1 to 4 cm shorter than Veery-10. USU-Apogee was also selected for resistance to the calcium-induced leaf tip chlorosis that occurs in controlled-environments. Breeder seed of USU-Apogee will be maintained by the Crop Physiology Laboratory and seed is available for testing on request.
Calcium↗
Two strategies for family intervention in schizophrenia: a randomized trial in a Mediterranean environment.
Controlled intervention studies carried out in families of schizophrenia patients have been shown to have a positive impact in relapse prevention, but it remains to be seen whether different forms of family intervention affect outcomes other than relapse and hospital readmission in different ways. This study compared the outcome profile of relevant clinical variables after two different family intervention strategies for schizophrenia patients in public health care in a Spanish sample. We conducted a randomized controlled study comparing (1) a relatives group (RG) and (2) a single-family behavioral family therapy (BFT), both offered as standard treatment in one catchment area in Valencia. All randomized patients were included in the main analysis, and all cases remained in the therapy group to which they were originally assigned regardless of whether they suffered a relapse. The relapse rate at 12 months for the 87 cases studied was not significantly different in the two groups, but the two approaches did affect outcomes other than relapse and rehospitalization (such as social functioning, dose of antipsychotic medication, "delusions" and "thought disorder") in different ways. The BFT approach offered more advantages than the RG approach. The results suggest that these approaches should always be implemented in a clinical environment in a Mediterranean setting.
Adult↗
Interferon-gamma listericidal action is mediated by novel Rab5a functions at the phagosomal environment.
Control and clearance of Listeria monocytogenes infection is an interferon-gamma-dependent process. The listericidal mechanism of action involves activation of NADPH oxidase and inducible nitric-oxide synthase to produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediate radicals, respectively. Recently, we have described in a nonpathogenic model of L. monocytogenes (hemolysin negative mutant strain) that the interferon-gamma-inducible GTPase Rab5a contributed to Listeria destruction in resting macrophages. Here, we report in a pathogenic model of L. monocytogenes (hemolysin-positive strain) that Rab5a plays a central role in Listeria destruction induced by interferon-gamma and within the phagosomal environment. These findings reveal the importance of Rab5a as the responsible factor mediating the listericidal action of interferon-gamma. Active Rab5a causes remodeling of the phagosomal environment, facilitates the translocation of Rac2 to LM phagosomes, and regulates the activity of this GTPase. Rac2 activation and translocation governs the phagocyte NADPH oxidase activity and the consequent reactive oxygen intermediate production that leads to killing of the pathogen.
Animals↗
[Effect of a controlled abacterial environment on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of suppurative wounds].
The present work deals with the data on the isolation rate of P. aeruginosa from suppurative wounds of different origin during their treatment by the commonly used methods under dressings and by the open method under the conditions of controlled germ-free environment. The results of the immunotyping of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from patients treated by different methods are presented. The dynamics of changes in the isolation rate of P. aeruginosa at different periods of treatment, both by the open method and with the use of dressings, is shown. Among P. aeruginosa strains isolated from suppurative wounds, those belonging to immunotypes 6, 7 and 2, as well as nontyping strains, occurred most frequently. Treatment in the controlled germ-free environment permits the protection of the wound surface from hospital infection. During treatment with the use of dressings the cases of hospital infection were revealed (31.3%). Such infection occurred, as a rule, at a later period of treatment.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
Thermal stability of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor in a cholesterol lipid environment.
Controlled heating of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) vesicles inactivates the alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Bgtx) binding sites with a T50 (temperature at which 50% of the initial capacity to bind alpha-Bgtx remains) of 60 +/- 0.2 degrees C. The same value was obtained for receptor reconstituted in lipid vesicles from Torpedo electroplax where the % mol composition of cholesterol to phospholipid was 30. However, when the reconstitution was carried out in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA) vesicles (3:1 molar ratio), T50 of the curves decreased to 56 +/- 0.2 degrees C and no carbamylcholine stimulated 22Na+ flux was detected. Inclusion of cholesterol in the DOPC-DOPA vesicles increased the toxin binding site stability. The maximal T50 of the toxin binding curves was 63 +/- 0.1 degrees C when the % mol cholesterol/mol DOPC:DOPA in the vesicles was 33. Under these conditions AChR was able to translocate ions, a property that was lost upon heating at 46 degrees C. Preincubation of AChR in the presence of d-tubocurarine, tetracaine or procaine did not affect T50 values of toxin binding. However, a slight increment in thermal stability was found when the receptor was preincubated in the presence of carbamylcholine. The results show that cholesterol requirements for protecting against thermal inactivation of toxin binding and ion gating properties are different and the carbamylcholine-bound receptor may have a different conformation.
Animals↗
1,3,5-tristyrylbenzene dendrimers: a novel model system to explore oxygen quenching in a highly organized environment.
Control of the efficiency of photoisomerization by oxygen was demonstrated for 1,3,5-tristyrylbenzene dendrimers 1-3; the large dendrons do not significantly affect the photochemistry itself due to volume-conserving isomerization mechanisms but may affect the mobility of the molecules.
Journal Article↗
Nausea and vomiting in the postoperative patient-controlled analgesia environment.
Despite common clinical opinion that patient-controlled analgesia should be renamed 'patient-controlled nausea', there is little evidence in support of the notion that postoperative nausea and vomiting are exacerbated by the method. Indeed, data indicate that opioid-sparing techniques are not associated with less postoperative nausea and vomiting. Although some evidence suggests that certain opioids are less emetogenic than others, this too does not stand scrutiny when compared across patients, although research is still required to find whether individual patients are better treated with a particular opioid. Similarly, the emerging practice of combining anti-emetics with patient-controlled analgesia needs wider study before it can be supported.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled↗
Size relationship between airborne viable bacteria and particles in a controlled indoor environment study.
UNLABELLED: An attempt was made to determine the relationship between airborne viable bacteria (predominantly of human origin) and particle concentrations of different sizes in a controlled environmental chamber focusing on the effect of temperature setting. At temperature settings of 20 degrees and 26 degrees C, six subjects performed simulated office work for 2.5 h, and the particle and total bacteria concentrations at six aerodynamically corresponding size ranges were measured at 20-min intervals. The study revealed that the main contributor of viable bacteria was humans. Viable bacteria concentrations in the size range between 1 and 3 microm was higher at 20 degrees C than at 26 degrees C. Bacteria >7.5 microm showed good correlation with particles of similar minimum size, and it is postulated that this may be because of bacteria rafting on skin scales shed by the subjects. At sizes between 3 and 7.5 microm, the correlations indicated that bacteria exists as clumps, while at size ranges between 1.0 and 2 microm bacteria exists freely. At 26 degrees C, bacteria of size >7.5 microm correlated with exhaled carbon dioxide indicating nasal carriers. Viability of bacteria was shown to be affected by thermal effects. The percentages of particles that were viable bacteria at the different sizes were all found to be very low (<1%). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Due to their respiratory health effects, determining exposure to airborne viable bacteria and particles of different sizes requires the study of their behavior in relation to each other. This study attempts to characterize the relationships of bacteria and particles that are predominantly of human origin. Findings of this work will help researchers in understanding how bacteria levels co-exist with particles of corresponding aerodynamic size across different size ranges between 20 degrees and 26 degrees C.
Air Microbiology↗
Effect of hydrophobic coating on the behavior of a hygroscopic aerosol powder in an environment of controlled temperature and relative humidity.
Powders of uncoated disodium fluorescein (DF) and DF coated with various amounts of lauric or capric acids were generated as aerosols in an environment of controlled temperature and relative humidity. The particle size and distribution of these powders were characterized using a cascade impactor and a computerized data inversion method of analysis. Disodium fluorescein exhibited a hygroscopic growth ratio of 1.5 at a relative humidity of 97%. This growth was reduced to 1.3 by coating with 0.15 g of lauric acid or 0.8 g of capric acid per gram of DF, and was eliminated with 0.2 g of lauric acid or 0.18 g of capric acid per gram of DF. The reduction in hygroscopic growth probably reflects an inhibition of the growth rate. In the time following generation and prior to deposition in the collection device, approximately 40 s, the coated aerosol powders do not seem to reach their equilibrium droplet diameter. These studies indicate that these combinations of DF and fatty acid would result in larger equilibrium droplet diameters than that of the dye alone.
Aerosols↗