Copper naphthenate treatments for engineered wood composite panels.

This paper reports on preliminary investigation of the properties of randomly oriented strandboard which had waterborne or powdered copper naphthenate incorporated into the board during manufacture. When compared to zinc borate-treated controls, the mechanical properties of strandboard were not adversely affected by treatment with either form of copper naphthenate. In general, values for mechanical properties followed the trend untreated controls > waterborne CuN = powdered CuN > ZnB. Water absorption and dimensional properties followed a similar trend. This preliminary study suggests that CuN is a viable alternative treatment for engineered wood composites.

Performance of copper naphthenate and its analogs as ground contact wood preservatives.

For several years, an extensive research program investigating new preservative systems has been ongoing at Mississippi State University. This paper details our continuing experience with field testing of copper naphthenate and other copper carboxylate preservative systems. Results from field stake tests at an AWPA Zone 4 test site are presented. In general, copper carboxylates made with 'synthetic' acids yielded results equivalent to or only slightly lower than systems with straight naphthenic acids or nap acids amended with synthetic neodecanoic acid bottoms. Oil carrier formulations outperformed those in water or light organic solvents. All systems carried in oil would qualify as ground contact preservatives at the proper retention.

The mutagenicity of diesel-exhaust particle extracts collected under smog-chamber conditions using the Salmonella typhimurium test system.

This study was designed to detect the effect that different environmental conditions have upon diesel-exhaust organics. In this study, diesel exhaust was injected into the Calspan smog chamber under different conditions, and the resulting particles were collected upon Pallflex glass-fiber filters. After extraction from the particles with methylene chloride, the organics were solvent exchanged to dimethyl sulfoxide and tested in the Salmonella typhimurium plate-incorporation test. Results demonstrate that the irradiation of propylene, SO2, NO and NO2 produces ozone and a mutagenic moiety. Unless another mitigating factor (e.g., ozone) was present or formed, irradiation did not alter the mutagenic response of the organics. The production or injection of ozone into chamber tended to reduce the mutagenic response of the collected organics. In summary, this study demonstrates that ambient conditions can alter the mutagenic response of diesel-exhaust organics.

Infrared emission of organic compounds stimulated by a laser beam.

A modified long-pathlength cell is described for laser-excitation of infrared emission spectra. The sensitivity of detection is about 1 ng l . for acetone and methyl iodide.

Suitability of live and fire-killed small-diameter ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees for manufacturing a new structural wood composite.

Finding alternative uses for raw material from small-diameter trees is a critical problem throughout the United States. In western states, a lack of markets for small-diameter ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) can contribute to problems associated with overstocking. To test the feasibility of producing structural composite lumber (SCL) beams from these two western species, we used a new technology called steam-pressed scrim lumber (SPSL) based on scrimming technology developed in Australia. Both standing green and fire-killed ponderosa and lodgepole pine logs were used in an initial test. Fire-killed logs of both species were found to be unsuitable for producing SPSL but green logs were suitable for producing SPSL. For SPSL from green material, ponderosa pine had significantly higher modulus of rupture and work-to-maximum load values than did SPSL from lodgepole pine. Modulus of elasticity was higher for lodgepole pine. The presence of blows was greater with lodgepole pine than with ponderosa. Blows had a negative effect on the mechanical properties of ponderosa pine but no significant effect on the mechanical properties of SPSL from lodgepole pine. An evaluation of non-destructive testing methods showed that X-ray could be used to determine low density areas in parent beams. The use of a sonic compression wave tester for NDE evaluation of modulus of rupture showed some promise with SPSL but requires further research.

Bending properties of wood treated with a new organic wood preservative system.

This study investigated the effect of treatment of southern pine with a new generation, all organic wood preserving system on the mechanical properties in bending. Static bending tests showed no deleterious effects of treatment on property values when compared with untreated controls. Values for samples treated to 0.774 kg/m(3) total active ingredients (ai) were lower when compared to a lower retention (0.184 kg/m(3)) or to a standard copper azole system, but were not different than water-treated controls.

Kaupapa maori: explaining the ordinary.

This paper gives an overview of the kaupapa and processes of a Maori health research unit and it's researchers within the university environment. It begins with an understanding that research is often viewed with suspicion by Maori, is implicated in the process of colonisation and that Maori research has, in part, grown out of dissatisfaction with prevailing methodologies. Unfortunately this has also involved confronting the argument that there is no such thing as kaupapa maori research. Defining kaupapa maori research is therefore not a comfortable exercise. The need to define, discuss or explain its existence in itself serves as a reminder of the power of colonisation. Kaupapa maori begins as a challenge to accepted norms and assumptions about knowledge and the way it is constructed and continues as a search for understanding within a Maori worldview. If kaupapa maori is about taking for granted a Maori worldview, then this discourse in itself subverts our right to be maori-ordinary. We are now the other in our own country. While kaupapa maori research may be seen as taking a distinctive approach and having underlying principles or aspects which are based on this Maori worldview, methods are likely to be subordinate to the issues and utility of the research and may be drawn from a range of methodologies. By taking a position that challenges norms and assumptions, kaupapa maori research involves a concept of the possibility and desirability of change. The research should aim to make a positive difference (Smith, 1999) and therefore the use, usefulness and ownership of the research are of paramount importance.

Adverse skin reaction from vitamin K1.

Two patients with erythematous, tender, indurated plaques at the site of intramuscular injections of vitamin K1 are described. In one of these, condition was reproduced by the injection of a test dose. In both cases, there was associated liver disease. The red, indurated plaques cleared in 4-14 days. There have been two previous reports in the literature of similar lesions. Altough some of the patients showed sclerodermatous changes at the same site within 2 years of the injections. These unusual reactions have only been seen in patients with liver disease and when a variety of drugs have been administered. It may be that these factors are important in the initiation of the cutaneous response.

Extramedullary blast transformation in the central nervous system in idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM) is a myeloproliferative syndrome characterized by anemia, fibrosis of the bone marrow, variable proliferation of megakaryocytes, myelocytic and erythrocytic precursors, and splenomegaly. Extramedullary hematopoiesis can develop in diverse areas. Unlike in chronic granulocytic leukemia, transformation to acute leukemia is uncommon in IM. Transformation to acute leukemia is usually accompanied by the findings of progressive increase in blasts in peripheral blood or bone marrow [1]. We have recently treated a patient with an unusual transition from IM to acute leukemia in whom leukemic transformation began in the central nervous system.

Febrile transfusion reaction following initial transfusion in a man with immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and granulocyte autoantibodies.

A 69-year-old man with immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and autoimmune hemolytic anemia who had no previous exposure to blood products developed a severe febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction following the initial infusion of packed red blood cells. The reaction recurred with transfusion of packed red blood cells, but not when freeze-thawed red blood cells were used. Immunofluorescence techniques demonstrated granulocyte antibodies in his serum and on the surface of his granulocytes. Circulating immune complex, HLA, and platelet antibodies were not present. The granulocyte antibodies fluctuated in titers with disease activities, and could be completely removed from the serum by autologous granulocyte absorption. We conclude that our patient had granulocyte autoantibodies which probably produced febrile transfusion reactions.

A comparison of efficacy of sargramostim (yeast-derived RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived RhuG-CSF) in the therapeutic setting of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study in 181 afebrile cancer patients with ANC levels < 500/microL receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy was undertaken to compare sargramostim (yeast-derived recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, RhuG-CSF) in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Patients received daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of either agent until ANC levels reached at least 1500/microL. There was no statistical difference between treatment groups in the mean number of days to reach an ANC of 500/microL, but the mean number of days to reach ANC levels of 1000/microL and 1500/microL was approximately one day less in patients receiving filgrastim. Fewer patients in the sargramostim arm were hospitalized, and they had a shorter mean length of hospitalization, mean duration of fever, and mean duration of i.v. antibiotic therapy compared with patients who received filgrastim. Both growth factors were well tolerated. No patient was readmitted to the hospital after growth factor was discontinued. Sargramostim and filgrastim have comparable efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of standard-dose chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in community practice.

Randomized trial comparing the tolerability of sargramostim (yeast-derived RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived RhuG-CSF) in cancer patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study in cancer patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy was undertaken to evaluate and compare the tolerability of sargramostim (yeast-derived recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, RhuG-CSF) in the prophylaxis or treatment of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. In all, 137 evaluable patients received sargramostim (300 micrograms; 193 mg/m2) or filgrastim (481 mg; 7 mg/kg) once daily by self-administered s.c. injection, usually beginning within 48 h after completion of chemotherapy. With the exception of a slightly higher incidence of grade 1 fever (< 38.1 degrees C) with sargramostim, there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence or severity of local or systemic adverse events possibly related to the growth factors. Although the study was not designed to evaluate efficacy directly, there also were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups in total days of growth factor therapy, days of hospitalization, or days of i.v. antibiotic therapy during the treatment period. Both sargramostim and filgrastim were comparably well tolerated when given by s.c. injection in this group of patients, and no clinically significant differences between the growth factors were demonstrated.