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in this article, the Second World-War generation, discusses memories of Victory in Europe Day. On May 8, 1945, Great Britain celebrate the end of the Second World War and Europe Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the Servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives. It further discusses memories of street party on VE day.

(J. Extra-Corpor. Technol.19[2] p. 221–227 Summer 1987, 13 refs.) The accuracy of cardiac output (Q) determinations by the indicator dilution method will depend, amongst other things, upon the precision of the instruments used to make the measurements. Using an in vitro calibration we determined the accuracy and reproducibility of the measured flow from three different thermodilution computercatheter systems in our institution. The regression equation describing the relationship between computed and true flow, Computed Flow= M (True flow) + B where M = the slope and B = the intercept of the regression line, was determined for each system. These equations defined the extent to which the system departed from 1 00% accuracy in the idealized environment of a flow-bench model. As such, they quantify the minimum error that is likely to be encountered when the same measurement is made in vivo.

The article focuses in the participation of injured British military personnel under the Armed Forces Para Snowsports Team in the Paralympics games. The performance athletes and foundation skiers are led by Major Elizabeth Winfield, Scott Meenagh from the Parachute Regiment, former Royal Engineer Steve Arnold and coach Sergeant Simon Allanson. The statement of Winfield about the chances of the team inn the games is presented.

Very little is known about subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), a recently described intermediate state, in high-income countries.

OBJECTIVES:Globally, the prevalence of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance has been increasing. This study sought to identify trends in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) among foreign-born persons in Alberta, a major immigrant-receiving province of Canada. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study design was used to investigate the prevalence of MDR-TB in foreign-born culture-positive TB cases between 1982 and 2011. Relevant demographic, clinical and laboratory data were abstracted from the TB Registry, individual medical records and the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health. RESULTS:Of the 2,234 foreign-born culture-positive TB cases in Alberta in 1982–2011, 27 (1.2%) had MDR-TB. Overall, MDR was associated with age <65 years (p=0.025), TB relapse/retreatment, and diagnosis and arrival in the last decade (2002–2011). The prevalence of MDR-TB in 2002–2011 was 2.1%, a significant increase from 0.65% in 1982–1991 (p=0.022) and 0.56% in 1992–2001 (p=0.009). Only immigrants from the Philippines and Vietnam showed a significant increase in the prevalence of MDR-TB between the first two decades and the last. Compared to MDR-TB cases reported in the first two decades, those reported in the last decade were more frequently younger than 35 years of age, new active versus relapse/retreatment cases and diagnosed with non-respiratory versus respiratory TB. In 1992–2011, MDR-TB strains had unique DNA fingerprints. CONCLUSIONS:Recent trends in the prevalence and clinical characteristics of foreign-born MDR-TB cases have important implications for TB case management in Canada. Early diagnosis of MDR-TB, using genotypic drug susceptibility testing, is suggested in foreign-born TB cases at increased risk of being MDR. OBJECTIFS:La prévalence de la résistance aux médicaments antituberculeux augmente à l’échelle mondiale. Nous avons voulu cerner les tendances de la tuberculose multirésistante (TMR) chez les personnes nées à l’étranger vivant en Alberta, une province du Canada qui accueille un grand nombre d’immigrants. MÉTHODE:Au moyen d’une étude de cohorte rétrospective, nous avons analysé la prévalence de la TMR entre 1982 et 2011 parmi les cas nés à l’étranger avec culture positive pour la tuberculose. Les données pertinentes (démographiques, cliniques et de laboratoire) ont été analysées à partir du Registre de la tuberculose, des dossiers médicaux des sujets et du laboratoire de santé publique provincial. RÉSULTATS:Sur les 2 234 cas nés à l’étranger avec culture positive pour la tuberculose relevés en Alberta entre 1982 et 2011, 27 (1,2 %) avaient une TMR. Dans l’ensemble, la multirésistance aux médicaments était associée à l’âge de <65 ans (p=0,025), à la rechute ou au retraitement de la tuberculose, et au diagnostic et à l’arrivée au pays au cours de la dernière décennie (2002–2011). La prévalence de la TMR en 2002–2011 était de 2,1 %, en hausse significative par rapport à 0,65 % en 1982–1991 (p=0,022) et à 0,56 % en 1992–2001 (p=0,009). Seuls les immigrants des Philippines et du Vietnam ont affiché une augmentation significative de la prévalence de la TMR entre les deux premières décennies et la dernière. Comparativement aux cas de TMR déclarés dans les deux premières décennies, ceux déclarés au cours de la dernière décennie avaient plus souvent moins de 35 ans, étaient des nouveaux cas actifs plutôt que des cas de rechute ou de retraitement et présentaient un diagnostic de tuberculose non respiratoire plutôt que de tuberculose respiratoire. Les empreintes génétiques des souches de TMR relevées entre 1992 et 2011 étaient uniques. CONCLUSION:Les tendances récentes de la prévalence et des caractéristiques cliniques des cas de TMR nés à l’étranger ont d’importantes conséquences pour la prise en charge de la tuberculose au Canada. Il est suggéré de faire le diagnostic précoce de la TMR, à l’aide de tests génotypiques de sensibilité médicamenteuse, chez les cas nés à l’étranger qui courent un risque accru de présenter une tuberculose multirésistante.

Using panel data from a large sample of Canadian establishments, the authors examine whether there is any link between adoption of an employee profit-sharing plan and subsequent employee earnings. Overall, growth in employee earnings during the five-year period subsequent to adoption of profit sharing was significantly higher in establishments that had adopted profit sharing, as compared with those establishments that had not done so. Employees in establishments that paid high wages before profit sharing adoption appeared to benefit more than employees in other establishments, although employees in other establishments did eventually benefit from profit sharing.

This paper describes the development and implementation of the conflict-based assessment of pedestrian safety (CAPS) methodology for the evaluation of pedestrian accessibility at complex intersections. Significant research has explored pedestrian access to modern roundabouts and other complex intersections, and a significant focus has been placed on accessibility for pedestrians who were blind. A majority of these studies relied on actual street crossings by study participants under the supervision of a trained orientation and mobility specialist. These crossing studies quantified risk from a measurement of intervention events, in which the orientation and mobility specialist had to physically stop the participant from crossing. Although such studies provide useful data on the crossing risk at a particular intersection, street crossings can be dangerous to the study participants and are time-consuming and expensive to conduct. The CAPS method emphasizes the use of conflict-based safety factors to quantify risk in a framework compatible with indicator studies. This method relates pedestrian crossing decisions to advanced measurements of vehicle dynamics to estimate lane-by-lane conflicts and identifies the grade of conflict on the basis of a five-criterion rating scale. The CAPS framework was applied to a study of crossings by blind pedestrians at a multilane roundabout. The resulting risk scores were calibrated from the actual orientation and mobility interventions observed during the study. The calibrated CAPS framework correctly matched all (high-risk) orientation and mobility intervention events and further identified other (lower-risk) pedestrian-vehicle conflicts. The CAPS framework provides a more efficient, objective, and consistent safety assessment of pedestrian crossings in a research context, without the need for pedestrians to step into the roadway.

Five cues were evaluated with respect to their usefulness in directing the headings of pedestrians who were blind during street crossings. The study was conducted at a simulated crosswalk, with the angle of the crosswalk varied relative to the approach and direction of the slope of the ramp. Three cues worked well over the distance equivalent to the width of a six-lane road.

Accurately aligning to a crosswalk is an important component of safe street crossing for pedestrians who are blind. Six alignment cues were evaluated in a simulated crosswalk environment in which the angle of the crosswalk was not always in line with the slope of the ramp. The effectiveness of each cue is reported and implications are discussed.

The tuberculin skin test (TST) is often used to screen for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in school children, many of whom were bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated in infancy. The reliability of the TST in such children is unknown.

The article informs that the U.S. has reinvigorated its urban operations instructors' course in a bid to ensure military personnel can deal with complexities of fighting on city streets. It is noted that the three-week programme recently underwent a successful debut in which officers were provided skills they need to flourish in sprawling town centres and protect vulnerable local populations.

The article reports that the Royal Regiment of Scotland is being replaced by the Royal Gurkha Rifles as the spearhead of the Kabul Security Force, following its return from a nine-month tour in the nation's capital the soldiers of 2nd Battalion. It is mentioned that the mission sees troops providing protection for the various Nato advisers and is known as Op Toral.

The article focuses on a new course introduced by the British Army covering the role of women in peace and security operations. Topics covered include an aim to create greater awareness among Service personnel about the pressing issues on gender and sexual violence, and insights from women officers who champion the cause including Colonel Kathie Knell and Major Rachel Grimes.

The article previews the XE saloon automobile from Jaguar.

ID=Universal HIV testing of tuberculosis (TB) patients, defined as testing greater than 80% of incident cases, has been recommended but not achieved in Canada. The objectives of this study were: i) to assess the success of an ‘opt-out’ approach, whereby HIV testing is routine unless the patient specifically chooses otherwise, and ii) to determine the risk factors for HIV in patients tested before and after this approach was implemented. ID=TB and HIV databases in the province of Alberta were cross-matched before HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) was available (1991-1997), after HAART but before ‘opt-out’ testing was implemented (1998-2002), and after ‘opt-out’ testing was implemented (2003–2006), and the HIV status of TB patients in each time period was described. The demographic and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive and -negative TB patients aged 15–64 years were compared. ID=HIV testing of TB patients increased from 11.5% before HAART, to 44.9% after HAART but before ‘opt-out’ testing, to 81.9% after ‘opt-out’ testing was implemented. Between 1991 and 2006, 50 TB patients were diagnosed with HIV co-infection, all in the age group 15–64 years. Among TB patients aged 15–64 years who were HIV tested, those testing positive were significantly less likely to be female and to have respiratory TB and significantly more likely to have both respiratory and non-respiratory TB. The prevalence of HIV positivity in HIV-tested TB patients aged 15–64 years was 7.4% in 2003–2006. ID=Universal HIV testing of TB patients is achievable through ‘opt-out’ HIV testing. ID=Le test de dépistage du VIH appliqué systématiquement chez les patients atteints de tuberculose, reconnu pour dépister plus de 80 % des nouveaux cas, a été recommandé au Canada, mais il n’a pas été fait. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient: 1) d’évaluer le succès d’une approche permettant de refuser le test, selon laquelle le dépistage du VIH est habituel à moins que le patient choisisse de le refuser, et 2) de déterminer les facteurs de risque pour le VIH chez les patients à qui on a fait passer le test de dépistage avant et après la mise en oeuvre de cette approche. ID=Les bases de données sur la tuberculose et le VIH dans la province de l’Alberta ont été croisées avant que le Traitement antirétroviral hautement actif (HAART) soit disponible (1991-1997), après la disponibilité du HAART, mais avant que le test de dépistage optionnel ne soit mis en place (1998-2002), et après la mise en oeuvre du test de dépistage optionnel (2003–2006), et l’état du VIH chez les patients atteints de tuberculose pour chaque période a été décrit. Les caractéristiques démographiques et cliniques des patients atteints de tuberculose et atteints du VIH ou non âgés de 15 à 64 ans ont été comparées. ID=Le test de dépistage du VIH chez les patients atteints de tuberculose est passé de 11,5 % avant la disponibilité du HAART, à 44,9 % après la disponibilité du HAART, mais avant le test de dépistage optionnel, à 81,9 % après la mise en oeuvre du test de dépistage optionnel. Entre 1991 et 2006, 50 patients atteints de tuberculose ont été diagnostiqués avec une infection au VIH; ces patients étaient tous âgés entre 15 et 64 ans. Parmi les patients atteints de tuberculose âgés de 15 à 64 ans qui ont été testés positifs pour le VIH, les patients testés positifs étaient beaucoup moins susceptibles d’être de sexe féminin et d’avoir la tuberculose respiratoire et beaucoup plus susceptibles d’avoir la tuberculose respiratoire et non respiratoire. La prévalence de la positivité au VIH chez les patients atteints de tuberculose testés positifs au VIH âgés entre 15 et 64 ans était de 7,4 % en 2003–2006. ID=Le test de dépistage du VIH appliqué systématiquement chez les patients atteints de tuberculose est réalisable si l’on offre la possibilité de le refuser.

The article reports developments in the British military as of late 2015, particularly the continuous efforts to prepare combat-ready soldiers. It features the Infantry Battle School, which is training junior and senior noncommissioned officer (NCO), section commanders, and foreign soldiers. Also cited is the comment by the school's Major Bev Allen of the school's mission.

This article presents two target-location experiments. In the first experiment, 19 participants located a 25-foot chalk circle 93% of the time with a Global Positioning System (GPS) compared to 12% of the time without it. In a single-subject follow-up experiment, the participant came within 1 foot of the target on all GPS trials. Target-location techniques are described.

Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is important medically and indicative of a public health problem. An understanding of the epidemiology and case characteristics of pediatric TB, in a province that accepts large numbers of immigrants, can inform TB elimination strategy. All cases of pediatric TB notified in Alberta between 1990 and 2004 were identified in the TB Registry. Individual diagnostic criteria were reviewed and case patients were related to a population grid derived from Statistics Canada censuses and population estimates of Status Indians from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada. Incidence rates were determined by ethnic group and gender. Clinical/mycobacteriologic case characteristics were compared by ethnic group and birth country. Among 124 notified cases, 95 (96 episodes) met strict diagnostic criteria: 45 Status Indians, 30 Canadian-born ‘other’ and 21 foreign-born. Incidence rates were much higher in Status Indians and the foreign-born compared to the Canadian-born ‘other’; 10.7, 5.4, and 0.4 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Among Canadian-born ‘other’ cases, 12 were Métis and 11 were Canadian-born children of foreign-born parents. Compared to foreign-born cases, Canadian-born cases were more likely to have a source case in Alberta, to be detected through contact tracing, to have primary pulmonary TB, and to have a rural address. Pediatric TB in Alberta is mainly the result of ongoing transmission in Aboriginal peoples and immigration to Canada of persons with latent TB infection. The elimination of pediatric TB will require interruption of transmission in Aboriginal peoples and prevention of disease in immigrants. Outre son importance sur le plan médical, la tuberculose infantile est l’indicateur d’un problème de santé publique. La connaissance de l’épidémiologie et des caractéristiques des cas de tuberculose infantile en Alberta, une province qui accueille des immigrants en grand nombre, pourrait étayer la stratégie d’élimination de la tuberculose. Nous avons relevé dans le registre de la tuberculose tous les cas de tuberculose infantile déclarés en Alberta entre 1990 et 2004. Les critères de diagnostic de chaque cas ont été examinés, et les cas déclarés ont été reportés sur une grille démographique dérivée des recensements de Statistique Canada et des estimations de la population des Indiens de plein droit du ministère fédéral des Affaires indiennes et du Nord. Des taux de fréquence ont été calculés par groupe ethnique et par sexe. Les aspects cliniques et mycobactériologiques de chaque cas ont été comparés selon le groupe ethnique et le pays d’origine. Sur les 124 cas déclarés, 95 cas (soit 96 accès de tuberculose) répondaient strictement aux critères de diagnostic: 45 Indiens de plein droit, 30 « autres » sujets nés au Canada et 21 sujets nés à l’étranger. Les taux de fréquence étaient beaucoup plus élevés chez les Indiens de plein droit et les sujets nés à l’étranger que chez les « autres » sujets nés au Canada (soit 10,7, 5,4 et 0,4 pour 100 000 personnes-année, respectivement). Chez les « autres » sujets nés au Canada, 12 étaient des Métis et 11 étaient des enfants nés au Canada de parents étrangers. Par rapport aux cas de tuberculose infantile chez les sujets nés à l’étranger, les cas répertoriés chez les sujets nés au Canada étaient plus susceptibles d’avoir un cas source situé en Alberta, d’avoir été détectés par recherche de contacts, de présenter une tuberculose pulmonaire primaire et d’avoir une adresse rurale. La tuberculose infantile en Alberta résulte principalement de la transmission continue du virus dans la population autochtone et de l’immigration au Canada de personnes atteintes de tuberculose latente. L’élimination de la tuberculose infantile nécessite donc à la fois l’interruption de la transmission du virus chez les Autochtones et la prévention de l’évolution de la maladie chez les immigrants.

On April 1, 2004, BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin), a tuberculosis (TB) control vaccine, was discontinued in all but four high-risk communities in Alberta. To confirm the safety of vaccine withdrawal, and for future planning, the annual risk of infection (ARI) was determined in preschool First Nations children. First Nations children born into reserve communities in Alberta between April 1, 1998 and March 31, 2004, and still living on reserve in 2004–2005, were identified. Health centre TB histories were validated by cross-referencing the birth cohort with the provincial TB Registry. Children that were not BCG vaccinated and not known to be tuberculin skin test (TST) positive underwent a TST. Birth cohort children were grouped as follows: (i) BCG vaccinated; (ii) BCG non-vaccinated, no TST; (iii) BCG non-vaccinated, TST; (iv) BCG vaccination status unknown. The ARI was calculated and the age and community characteristics of the groups were compared. There were 8,447 children in the 6-year birth cohort, 4,699 (55.6%) vaccinated, 2,696 (31.9%) non-vaccinated, and 1,052 (12.5%) whose vaccination status was unknown. Of the non-vaccinated children, 1,921 (71.3%) were tested and only 2 were TST positive. No other TST positive, BCG non-vaccinated children were identified in the TB Registry cross-match. The prevalence of infection in 2004–2005 was 0.1% and the ARI was 0.03%. The community risk of TB exposure was comparable in tuberculin-tested and non-tested BCG non-vaccinated children. In low BCG-uptake First Nations communities in Alberta, the ARI is low and it is safe to withdraw BCG. Le 1er avril 2004, le vaccin BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) contre la tuberculose a été abandonné partout en Alberta sauf dans quatre communautés à risque élevé. Afin de confirmer que le retrait du vaccin ne posait aucun danger et de planifier les programmes futurs, nous avons calculé le risque annuel d’infection (RAI) chez les enfants d’âge préscolaire membres des Premières nations. Nous avons répertorié les enfants membres des Premières nations nés dans les réserves de l’Alberta entre le 1er avril 1998 et le 31 mars 2004 qui vivaient toujours dans des réserves en 2004–2005. Nous avons ensuite validé les dossiers sur la tuberculose des centres sanitaires en faisant des recoupements entre la cohorte de naissance et le registre provincial sur la tuberculose. Les enfants n’ayant pas reçu le BCG et n’ayant pas eu un résultat positif à un test de sensibilité cutané à la tuberculine (TST) ont été soumis à un TST. Les enfants de la cohorte de naissance ont été regroupés comme suit: i) vaccinés par le BCG; ii) non vaccinés par le BCG, sans TST; iii) non vaccinés par le BCG, avec TST; iv) statut vaccinal inconnu par rapport au BCG. Nous avons calculé le RAI, puis comparé l’âge et les caractéristiques communautaires des groupes. Sur les 8 447 enfants dans la cohorte de naissance de six ans, 4 699 (55,6 %) étaient vaccinés, et 2 696 (31,9 %) ne l’étaient pas; le statut vaccinal des autres (1 052, soit 12,5 %) était inconnu. Sur les enfants non vaccinés, 1 921 (71,3 %) avaient été testés, et 2 seulement étaient positifs pour le TST. Aucun autre enfant positif pour le TST et non vacciné par le BCG n’a été identifié par recoupement avec le registre de la tuberculose. La prévalence de l’infection en 2004–2005 était de 0,1 %, et le RAI était de 0,03 %. Le risque communautaire d’exposition à la tuberculose était comparable chez les enfants non vaccinés par le BCG, qu’ils aient subi ou non le test cutané à la tuberculine. Dans les communautés des Premières nations de l’Alberta où les taux de vaccination par le BCG sont faibles, le risque annuel d’infection est faible également, et le retrait du BCG ne pose pas de danger.

This article describes the key differences between roundabouts and traditional intersections that have traffic signals or stop signs and discusses how these differences may affect the mobility of pedestrians who are visually impaired. It also provides a brief summary of the authors’ research on this topic and suggests strategies for addressing the access issues that roundabouts sometimes create.

ABSTRACTEndogenous nitric oxide (NO) has antimycobacterial properties. We tested the hypothesis that exogenous (inhaled) NO can be safely delivered and can accelerate airway disinfection for pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated with standard therapy. Exogenous NO administered at 80 ppm for 72 h can be safely delivered but does not accelerate airway disinfection.

AbstractObjective:To assess the validity of current estimates of the noncontagiousness of sputum smear-positive respiratory tuberculosis (TB) on treatment.Design:A descriptive analysis of the mycobacteriologic response to treatment.Setting:A TB inpatient unit of a Canadian hospital.Patients:Thirty-two HIV-seronegative patients with moderate to advanced sputum smear-positive respiratory TB were treated with uninterrupted, directly observed, weight-adjusted isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide. Each patient's initial isolate was drug susceptible and each patient's sputum mycobacteriology was systematically followed until 3 consecutive sputum smears were negative on 3 separate days.Results:The time to smear conversion varied remarkably (range, 8 to 115 days; average, 46 days) and was influenced by sputum sampling frequency. Only 3 patients (9.4%) had smear conversions by 14 days and only 8 (25%) had smear conversions by 21 days, the average time it took for drug susceptibility test results to become available. During the first 21 days of treatment, the semiquantitative sputum smear score decreased rapidly and the time to detection of positive cultures doubled. Within the time to smear conversion, virtually all smear-positive specimens (98%) were culture positive and only 34% of the patients had culture conversions (ie, 3 consecutive negative cultures).Conclusion:Current estimates of the noncontagiousness of sputum smear-positive respiratory TB on treatment (for 14 days, for 21 days, or until smear conversion) are estimates of relative noncontagiousness. They do not signal absolute noncontagiousness (culture conversion). Semiquantitative smear and time-to-detection data suggest that respiratory isolation beyond 21 days of optimal treatment should be selective.