We found previously that immunizing cyclophosphamide-treated mice with one Paramyxoviridae virus mixed with dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide induces T cells which apparently also recognize other Paramyxoviridae viruses. This finding and the fact that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) infect children early in life led us to ask if prior RSV or PIV infections influence the antibody response to measles and mumps vaccine viruses. Detection of virus-specific IgG in serum specimens collected randomly or at defined times after measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccination was done with solid-phase enzyme immunoassays. The antibody-binding data obtained were converted to serum antibody titers by an immunoassay curve-fitting computer program. Prior infection by RSV and PIVs correlated with an augmented IgG response not only to measles and mumps virus, but also to rubella virus. Furthermore, the augmentation was greater for responders below the median response. These data show that common early childhood viral infections can influence immunity induced by the MMR vaccine.
Evaluation of serological techniques for titration of rubella antibody. K L Herrmann, P E Halonen, J A Stewart, H L Casey, J M Ryan, A D Hall, and K E CaswellCopyRight https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.59.2.297 Published Online: August 29, 2011
A quantitative analysis of geoscientists' published opinions on continental drift theory between 1907 and 1950 indicates that the more prominent scientists resisted this revolutionary theory. Was this resistance based on the greater knowledge of these productive geoscientists, or were they protecting their reputations? The latter interpretation gains plausibility because the current acceptance of plate tectonics implies that the previous evidence given for drift should have established it as a plausible theory. The analyses and discussion in this paper illustrate (a) how quantitative evidence can be related to the `interests' perspective; (b) the importance of assumptions in distinguishing `social' and `scientific' interests; and (c) some of the elements in the `strong programme' in the sociology of scientific knowledge.
Some of the most significant factors in determining runway capacity are air traffic control regulations. Interaircraft separation regulations have been established to provide maximum safety to the travelling public. Thus any modification of these regulations, in an attempt to increase capacity, must have sufficient benefits to outweigh any increase in risk. A simulation indicated that the required separation between two arriving aircraft of 5,490 m could be reduced to 4,570 m, with a modeled 15% increase in capacity and a 1.5% increase in risk. Further simulations indicated that parallel runways spaced as close as 914 m apart could be operated independently, with capacity increases of between 38% and 95% and no estimated increase in risk. Reducing the present requirement to separate arriving aircraft from departing aircraft by 3,560 m to 1,825 m was estimated to result in a 25% increase in capacity with only a 1.5% increase in risk.
The quality of experience (QoE) of any virtual environment is important to its users; if its QoE is too low, users will cease using the VE. Measuring QoE requires measuring users' responses to the VE. There are three main methods for assessing humans in a VE: subjective, performance, and physiological. Each method lets the researcher collect different types of information: user attitude towards a VE, whether the user can complete a task, and whether a VE poses a health danger towards the user. While many virtual researchers also measure telepresence, there is some controversy to its real correlation with QoE.
An enzyme immunoassay (EIA), an immunoblot assay (IB), and an indirect immunofluorescence assay were developed for detection of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) antibodies in human serum. Cross-absorption studies with EIA or IFA using HHV-7 and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) antigens indicated that most human sera contain cross-reactive HHV-6 and HHV-7 antibodies and that the degree of cross-reactivity varies between individual serum specimens. Inhibition of homologous antibody activity by absorption with heterologous virus ranged from 0 to 57% by EIA. However, for every sample tested, absorption with homologous virus removed more activity than did heterologous virus. An 89-kDa protein was identified as an HHV-7-specific serologic marker by IB. Activity to this protein was not removed by absorption with HHV-6 antigen. Of the three assays, the EIA was the most sensitive (94%), while the IB was the most specific (94%). Approximately 80% of specimens collected from German adults and children older than 2 years were positive for HHV-7 antibodies by these assays.
