Predictors of social distancing compliance in an Australian sample.

Pandemics are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been the most fatal coronavirus outbreak of the 21st century. To reduce person-to-person transmission, interventions such as social distancing have been recommended; however, it is anticipated that 80% compliance is required to control the outbreak. A questionnaire was used to assess the factors related to compliance with social distancing restrictions using a modified version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) that included participants' understanding of restrictions. The questionnaire included 18 vignettes (violating, non-violating and ambiguous) to assess participants' knowledge of the social distancing restrictions and intentions to violate them. Participants were also presented the social distancing restrictions relevant at the time of completion and they were asked to consider the restrictions when anticipating their behavior in the vignettes. In line with the predictions of the TPB, intentions to adhere to restrictions and perceived behavioral control predicted participants' self-reported behaviors. Further, attitudes (ATT) toward social distancing restrictions and knowledge of the restrictions predicted intentions to adhere to them. Public health messaging should aim to increase the understanding of the restrictions, e.g. through the use of example scenarios of permitted and prohibited behaviors. This would be particularly beneficial when changes are implemented to promote the understanding of the restrictions and positive ATT toward them.

Characterisation of carbonic anhydrases from tissues of the cat.

1. Red blood cells from several members of the cat family have been found to contain only carbonic anhydrase (EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes of the "high activity" (carbonic anhydrase II class) in red blood cells. 2. Two carbonic anhydrase II type isozymes have been isolated from red cells of the domestic cat. Kinetic and structural characterisation shows that the two isozymes have identical composition except for a probable difference of one amide group. The general characteristics of cat red cell carbonic anhydrase are similar to other mammalian carbonic anhydrase II isozymes, in particular the dog carbonic anhydrase II. 3. A carbonic anhydrase I (low activity) isozyme has been isolated and characterised from cat caecal mucosa. This carbonic anhydrase I is similar to the carbonic anhydrase I extracted from canine red cells. Comparative studies showed that whereas members of the dog family have carbonic anhydrase I and carbonic anhydrase II in red cells the cat family has only a carbonic anhydrase II type isozyme, however, cat liver and spleen homogenates were also found to contain carbonic anhydrase I identical to that found in caecum.

Plasma vitamin D-binding globulin in vitamin D deficiency, pregnancy and chronic liver disease.

Plasma concentrations of vitamin D-binding globulin were measured by radial immunodiffusion in healthy subjects, pregnancy, and during oestrogen therapy. Subjects with disorders of vitamin D metabolism (dietary deficiency, malabsorption, anticonvulsant therapy, chronic liver disease) were also studied. Neither sex nor age influenced the plasma vitamin D-binding globulin concentration in healthy subjects, but there was a significant increase in concentration during pregnancy and oestrogen therapy. Elevated levels were found in vitamin D deficient elderly but not younger subjects, while levels in subjects with chronic liver disease were significantly reduced. Normal levels of vitamin D-binding globulin were present in hypervitaminosis D and no vitamin D-binding globulin was detected in human milk. No correlation was observed between plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels and plasma vitamin D-binding globulin concentrations.

Intra-articular therapy of experimental arthritis with a derivative of triamcinolone acetonide incorporated in liposomes.

Triamcinolone acetonide-21-palmitate was synthesized and incorporated into liposomes for intra-articular treatment of an experimentally-induced arthritis in the knee joints of rabbits. The liposomal formulation was more efficient than free triamcinolone acetonide in solution in suppressing the arthritis. Using radioactive tracers, it was found that triamcinolone acetonide-21-palmitate incorporated into liposomes was retained in the articular cavity, together with the liposomal lipids, for a much longer period than free triamcinolone acetonide, and this correlated with its anti-inflammatory effect.

Infrared transmission polarizers by photolithography.

The design of a grid polarizer is discussed and the effect of supporting it on various substrates is evaluated using a transmission line analogy. A method of making such a grid polarizer by photolithographic techniques is described, and measurements on a device suitable for use at wavelengths between 20 micro and several hundred microns are presented. Their performance compares favorably with polarizers made by other methods.

Rapid diagnosis of thyroid disease using carbonic-anhydrase immunoassay.

Erythrocyte carbonic-anhydrase-I (C.A.I.) concentration was measured by radial immunodiffusion in 30 thyrotoxic patients and 15 myxoedemic patients, the results being compared with those found in a control group of 90 euthyroid individuals. In thyrotoxicosis the erythrocyte-C.A.I. concentration was found to be below 10-29 mg/g haemoglobin, whereas the normal range varied from 11-1 to 22-5 mg C.A.I./g Hb. Low values were found in 4 patients with triiodothyronine(T3)-toxicosis. In myxoedema, the mean erythrocyte-C.A.I. concentration, though elevated at 20-37 mg/g Hb, fell within the normal range. In pregnancy, the erythrocyte-C.A.I. concentration rose with time, the mean value at tern being 20-6 +/-S.D. 3-3 mg/g Hb. In a group of women taking oral contraceptives, a low erythrocyte-C.A.I. concentration was noted--an effect which was most obvious among those taking low-oestrogen contraceptives. It is suggested that erythrocyte-C.A.I. estimation provdes a rapid screening test for thyrotoxicosis.

Superoxide dismutase variants in Newfoundland--a gene from Scandinavia?

An electrophoretic survey of variant red cell enzyme phenotypes in an isolated community in Newfoundland gave gene frequencies in marked contrast to those found in the capital, St. John's. In particular, a variant of red cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) gave a high variant frequency. Possible origins of the variant SOD allele are discussed.

Vitamin-D metabolism in nephrotic syndrome.

Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-OHD3) and vitamin-D-binding globulin (V.D.B.G.) were significantly reduced in ten nephrotic subjects. V.D.B.G., which is undetectable in normal urine, was present in substantial amounts in the urine of each nephrotic subject. Administration of 3H-labelled cholecalciferol to three subjects resulted in the rapid appearance of the labelled vitamin in the urine, mainly as the 25-hydroxylated metabolite bound to V.D.B.G. in amounts which could largely account for the low plasma-25-OHD3. The plasma half-life of 25-OHD3 was substantially reduced in the nephrotic syndrome.

[Chronology of the postnatal ossification of the shoulder and elbow joints in the Siamese cat (Felis catus L.)]. / Cronología de osificación postnatal de las articulaciones del hombro y codo en el gato siamés (Felis catus L.).

A study was done by radiological techniques to show the chronology of ossification of the shoulder and cubit joints in the Siam cat, from birth up to the 25th week of postnatal development. For this experiment we used 40 little cats (19 males and 21 females) belonging to 11 litters subjected to different controls: pattern race, healthy, feeding, growing up and radioactivity. The time of the appearance and the evolution of the ossification centers is determined as well as the phenomenon of fusion during this time. The postnatal ossification from both joints of the Siam cat is compared with that of the common cat.

Differences in fibre population in dog muscles of different functional purpose.

Samples were taken from particular sites of the tibialis cranialis (extensor), flexor digitalis medialis (flexor) and pectineus (adductor) muscles of 27 dogs of different breeds--German shepherd, Spanish greyhound, Spanish mastiff and Iberian hound. Samples, which were taken from right and left limbs, were subjected to histochemical analysis using ATPase (pH 9.4, 4.6 and 4.2) and NADH-tr. Fibre population was assessed using an IBAS-2 Kontron image analyser.

Muscle fibre morphometry in three dog muscles of different functional purpose in different breeds.

Following a study of fibre population fibre size was determined in three muscles of different functional purpose in four breeds of dog with different locomotory capacities. Samples were taken from specific sites in the tibialis cranialis (extensor), flexor digitalis medialis (flexor) and pectineus (adductor) muscles of 27 dogs of four different breeds--German shepherd, Spanish greyhound, Spanish mastiff and Iberian hound--. Samples were subjected to histochemical analysis using ATPase (pH 9.4) and fibre size was assessed using an IBAS-2 Kontron image analyser.

[Chronology of the postnatal ossification of the thoracic limb in the Siamese cat (Felis catus L.)]. / Cronología de osificación postnatal del autópodo torácico en el gato Siamés (Felis catus L.).

A study was done by radiological techniques to show the chronology of ossification of the thoracic autopodo of the Siam cat from birth up to the 25th week of postnatal development. For this experiment we used 40 little cats (19 males and 21 females) belonging to 11 litters subjected to different controls: pattern race, healthy, feeding, grow up and radioactivity. The time of the appearance and evolution of the centres that form the basipodo, metapodo and acropodo of the thoracic limb is determined. Likewise it is analyzed the phenomenon of fusion during that time to define the main ossification sequence in the carpo. The aspects of the postnatal ossification of the thoracic autopodo in the Siam cat are compared with the literature of different authors about the common cat.

Histochemical skeletal muscle fibre types in the sheep.

In this study, the differentiation of adult and postnatal muscle fibres in sheep longissimus thoracis muscle has been characterized. By using a variety of histochemical methods, we have investigated the m-ATPase and metabolic activities of skeletal muscle fibres in adult sheep and lambs aged between 1 day and 3 months. Types I, IIA, IIB and IIC fibres were identified. The results showed that the interpretation of the fibre type composition depends on the methods used. The findings also revealed that the fibre types IIA and IIB can be separated histochemically in sheep by using the correct m-ATPase technique, even at early stages of postnatal development, and that the origin of the four different fibres of the adult can be traced back to early postnatal stages.