ADCP Measurements of Gravity Currents in the Chicago River, Illinois

A unique set of observations of stratified flow phenomena in the Chicago River was made using an upward-looking acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) during the period November 20, 2003 to February 1, 2004. Water density differences between the Chicago River and its North Branch (NB) seem to be responsible for the development of gravity currents. With the objective of characterizing the occurrence, frequency, and evolution of such currents, the ADCP was configured to continuously collect high-resolution water velocity and echo intensity profiles in the Chicago River at Columbus Drive. During the observation period, 28 gravity current events were identified, lasting a total of 77% of the time. Sixteen of these events were generated by underflows from the NB and 12 of these events were generated by overflows from the NB. On average, the duration of the underflow and overflow events was 52.3 and 42.1?h, respectively. A detailed analysis of one underflow event, which started on January 7, 2004, and lasted about 65?h, was performed. This is the first time that ADCP technology has been used to continuously monitor gravity currents in a river.     

Connecting the research and nursing processes: making a difference in baccalaureate students' attitudes and abilities

Student nurses are often intimidated by the research process. They also frequently have negative attitudes about working with the elderly, especially in long-term care settings. This article describes a clinical project designed to help students improve their attitudes, knowledge, and skills toward research and care of the elderly by connecting the research process and the nursing process. Students implement research-based clinical practice in a long-term care setting. Student evaluations indicate that project goals are achieved. Nursing staff evaluation data indicate that they find student projects interesting and useful in updating resident care plans.     

A comparison of predictors of success on NCLEX-RN for African American, foreign-born, and white baccalaureate graduates

Research into the biological bases of human intelligence differences is surveyed. Work on brain event-related potentials (ERPs) suggests that people with high IQ test scores: (1) show faster responses in some test conditions; (2) have ERP waveforms that can be distinguished from those of people with lower IQs; and (3) might have less variability in their ERPs. People with higher psychometric intelligence have, on average, larger brains, and possibly faster neural conduction speed. A few small functional brain-scanning studies suggest that, in healthy individuals, people who are of higher IQ have lower cerebral metabolic rates during mentally active conditions. This has led to the speculation that brighter people have more efficient brains. Despite some well-replicated findings in the search for the 'biology of human intelligence' there is a dearth of explanatory accounts to link cognitive performance differences with variance in brain mechanisms.     

"Mother-baby" biliary endoscopy: the University of Chicago experience

Recoverin is a calcium-binding protein expressed in retinal photoreceptors. It appears to delay the termination of the phototransduction cascade by blocking the phosphorylation of photoexcited rhodopsin. The goal of this study was to determine if recoverin mRNA and protein are expressed in cultured human Y79 retinoblastoma cells, so that this cell line could be used as a model to study the mechanism of recoverin gene expression in the retina. A cDNA encoding human recoverin was PCR cloned and used for prokaryotic expression of recoverin protein. Polyclonal antibodies raised against pure recombinant recoverin were used for western blotting and immunocytochemistry of Y79 cells grown as attachment cultures in the presence of the differentiating agents dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) or butyrate. Northern blot analysis was performed on mRNA extracted from Y79 cells that were also treated with the differentiating agents. In Y79 cell monolayer cultures, recoverin was immunolocalized to the cell cytoplasm, and immunoreactivity was increased dramatically by the addition of 2 mM butyrate to the culture medium. Butyrate treatment also caused an increase in the development of neurite-like cellular processes. Addition of 4 mM dbcAMP resulted in a moderate increase in both recoverin immunoreactivity and number of cellular processes. Western and northern blots of butyrate and dbcAMP-treated Y79 cell cultures demonstrated an increase in recoverin protein and RNA expression, respectively, comparable with that observed with immunocytochemistry. These data suggest that, under the influence of the differentiating agent butyrate, Y79 cells exhibit an increase in expression of the photoreceptor protein recoverin and a concomitant morphological differentiation toward a neuronal phenotype.     

Comparison of female and male graduates of southern Appalachian family practice residencies

PURPOSE: One aim of Southern Appalachian family practice residencies is to produce graduates for surrounding physician-needy areas. Some evidence suggests that women are less likely to go to rural areas and that they practice differently than men. This study investigated the practice patterns and location of Appalachian family practice residency female and male graduates. METHODS: Surveys were sent to graduates of seven family practice residencies from 1984 to 1994 in the Southern Appalachian area to determine practice patterns, locations, and reasons for choosing practices. RESULTS: Women were more likely than men to be single and not to have children. More women worked part-time. Women's and men's practice patterns and characteristics were similar except that women were more likely to provide prenatal care and do vaginal deliveries. Women in similar percentages practiced in small towns, and a greater percentage of women practiced in rural areas with populations of less than 2,500. CONCLUSIONS: Female family practice residency graduates from Appalachian residencies are fulfilling the purposes of their residencies as well as male graduates, although more of them are working part-time.     

Program of the Sixty-fourth Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association: August 30-September 5, 1956, Chicago Illinois.

Presents information regarding the 64th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, held August 30th-September 5th, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois. Provided here are General Announcements (i.e., time and place, registration, and meeting room locations); pre-Convention session information; a list of APA Divisions; and a list, with summaries, of the Convention's presentations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Medicine at the primary care level (optional undergraduate subject at the University of Alicante): 2 years of experience

OBJECTIVE: We want to put on record two years' experience of undergraduate teaching of an optional subject, "Medicine at the Primary Care level". This was given to sixth-year students by Family and Community Medicine specialist doctors within the Department of Medicine. DESIGN AND SETTING: A crossover study carried out at the University of Alicante. PARTICIPANTS: In the first year, 73 out of the 102 students making up the complete course took part (71.6%); and in the second year, 33 out of 93 (35.5%). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The methodology employed, the teaching staff and the documents handed out were given high marks by the students in both cases; as were the course contents in the second year. Deficiencies were noted in the presentation of practical hypotheses. In the first course the students criticised the lack of certain points, basically the tackling of the more common chronic pathologies, something which was corrected in the second year. The survey identified students' wishes to spend longer on the subject. CONCLUSIONS: The students valued positively the existence of a theoretical content specific to Primary Care Medicine. In particular, they requested to be taught performance patterns for prevalent pathologies and for seminars to be organised around practical hypotheses.     

A survey of PhD graduates from the Department of Psychology of the University of Georgia.

Surveyed 202 PhD psychology graduates to determine present location, activities, and reactions about their college experience. Except for complaints of lower salaries and expressions of greater dissatisfaction, the replies of the 32 female respondents were quite similar to those of the 144 males. The more satisfied graduates tended to have lower undergraduate GPAs and lower Quantitative Graduate Record Examination scores. A few of the more recent clinical psychology graduates reported some specific dissatisfactions: They viewed their present jobs as less secure and more poorly paid than did the satisfied graduates. However, reported levels of remuneration did not reflect these differences. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multi-institutional survey of graduates of pediatric anesthesia fellowship: assessment of training and current professional activities

We surveyed all the graduates of four fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia between 1985 and 1993 to assess their current professional activities, their evaluation of fellowship training, and their opinions on future directions of such training. One-hundred ninety-one (62%) of the graduates responded. Nearly all of the respondents had sought fellowship training for pediatric anesthesia and thought that the training was worthwhile. At the time of the survey, 40% worked in a children's hospital, 72% had university or affiliate positions, and 54% had a practice that was > 50% pediatric. Those with > or = 12 mo fellowship and/or board certification in pediatrics were the most likely to have a pediatric-dedicated practice. Seventy percent of the respondents thought that fellowship training should be for 12 mo, and the proportion of respondents who recommended inclusion of training in pain management and clinical research was greater than the number who had actually received such training. Fifty-eight percent of respondents supported restriction of fellowship positions in the future, but 83% did not support a mandatory 2-yr fellowship with research training. We conclude that fellowships in pediatric anesthesia seem to be successful in providing training that is not only satisfying to the trainees, but that is also followed by active involvement in the care of children and in the training of residents and fellows in anesthesia. Additional information should be gathered to assess the impact of this training on pediatric care, to formulate a standardized curriculum, and to justify support for such training in the future. Implications: We surveyed graduates of four fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia (1985-1993) to assess current professional activities, fellowship training, and future directions of such training. Fellowships in pediatric anesthesia seem to provide training that is satisfying to trainees and that is followed by active involvement in the care of children.     

Comparison of two methods of therapy level calibration at 60Co gamma beams

The accuracy and traceability of the calibration of radiotherapy dosimeters is of great concern to those involved in the delivery of radiotherapy. It has been proposed that calibration should be carried out directly in terms of absorbed dose to water, instead of using the conventional and widely applied quantity of air kerma. In this study, the faithfulness in disseminating standards of both air kerma and absorbed dose to water were evaluated, through comparison of both types of calibration for three types of commonly used radiotherapy dosimeters at 60Co gamma beams at a few secondary and primary standard dosimetry laboratories (SSDLs and PSDLs). A supplementary aim was to demonstrate the impact which the change in the method of calibration would have on clinical dose measurements at the reference point. Within the estimated uncertainties, both the air kerma and absorbed dose to water calibration factors obtained at different laboratories were regarded as consistent. As might be expected, between the SSDLs traceable to the same PSDL the observed differences were smaller (less than 0.5%) than between PSDLs or SSDLs traceable to different PSDLs (up to 1.5%). This can mainly be attributed to the reported differences between the primary standards. The calibration factors obtained by the two methods differed by up to about 1.5% depending on the primary standards involved and on the parameters of calculation used for 60Co gamma radiation. It is concluded that this discrepancy should be settled before the new method of calibration at 60Co gamma beams in terms of absorbed dose to water is taken into routine use.     

Delivery at the Institute for Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Messina University Polyclinic. Comparison of two periods

BACKGROUND: Delivery methods and current pregnancy monitoring, comparing the last twenty-years in the light of new medical and diagnostic findings are presented. METHODS AND RESULTS: Moreover, examining carefully vaginal and laparotomic delivery it is to be noticed that a more careful wait can increase spontaneous deliveries, with the due exceptions, so that the rate of cesarean section is established on current values. CONCLUSIONS: At last it is to be hoped that maternal mortality and morbility decrease and particularly fetal mortality so as to guarantee a future devoid of psychophysic handicaps to newborn infants.     

Relation between foremen's leadership attitudes and the skill level of their work groups.

Studied the relation between foremen's leadership attitudes, as measured by the Leadership Opinion Questionnaire, and the skill level of their work groups. Ss were 243 foremen and 66 general foremen in a manufacturing plant. Results indicate that the skill level of the foremen's work group was significantly related (p     

Serum albumin level and activities of daily living in centenarians

The relationship between serum albumin level and activities of daily living was studied in 95 centenarians. There were 73 women (12 rank J: free-living, 18 rank A: unable to go outside without help, 20 rank B: bedridden but able to sit on the bed, 23 rank C: completely bedridden) and 22 men (9 rank J, 7 rank A, 6 rank B or C). The serum albumin level (mean +/- S.D. 4.0 +/- 0.4 g/dl) of the rank J women was at the lower limit of normal for young adults. The albumin levels of rank A, rank B, and rank C were 3.7 +/- 0.4 g/dl, 3.5 +/- 0.3 g/dl, and 3.4 +/- 0.4 g/dl, respectively. The levels of rank B and rank C women were significantly lower than that of rank J women. The albumin level of rank J men (3.9 +/- 0.3 g/dl) was lower than that of young adults. The albumin level of ranks B and C men (3.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl) was significantly lower than that of rank J men. The A/G ratio or albumin fraction (%) measured by serum electrophoresis was similar to that of the serum albumin level of centenarians of both sexes. There were no significant differences in the serum protein level or in the peripheral hemoglobin level between rank J centenarians and those of other ranks, for both sexes. The serum albumin level is a valuable indicator of the ability to perform activities of daily living and may be a useful prognostic index in centenarians.     

Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia

Although recently developed drugs have brought significant improvement, the treatment of psychotic disorders still presents serious drawbacks. Because inherent complexity and lack of satisfactory understanding of the underlying pathophysiology impose limits for rational drug design, resourceful approaches in the search for antipsychotics are pertinent. This article reports pharmacological properties of alstonine, a heteroyohimbine-type alkaloid, which exhibited an antipsychotic-like profile, inhibiting amphetamine-induced lethality, apomorphine-induced stereotypy, and potentiating barbiturate-induced sleeping time. Atypical features of alstonine were the prevention of haloperidol-induced catalepsy and lack of direct interaction with D1, D2 and 5-HT2A receptors, classically linked to antipsychotic mechanism of action.     

Radio psychology and psychotherapy: Comparison of client attitudes and expectations.

We compared the expectations and attitudes of two groups of subjects who sought psychological help. One group (n?=?47) comprised callers to a radio counseling program broadcast in Israel that offers psychological help to parents and children; the second group (n?=?34) consisted of individuals who had received counseling in a child guidance clinic located in an urban center in Israel. We primarily compared the subjects' attitudes toward receiving psychological help. The results indicate that the attitudes of those who received help in the clinic were more positive than those who called the radio program. In addition, we investigated the satisfaction levels of callers to the radio counseling program and of those who received help in clinics. Last, we examined the callers' expectations of the radio counseling program and found them to be in keeping with the goals of primary prevention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of programmed and prose culture training upon attitudes and knowledge.

A programmed culture training manual, developed for nurses working in Pitjantjatjara communities in South Australia, was compared with parallel essay training for effects upon knowledge, attitudes to Aboriginals, and motivation to work with Aboriginals. Two experiments were conducted, one with 14 community welfare workers and the other with 74 postgraduate nurses. In Exp I, Ss were randomly allocated to either programmed training or prose training, whereas in Exp II, Ss were randomly allocated to a programmed, a prose, or a no-training condition. Results show that the manual had a stronger effect than essay training or no training upon retention and generalization of culture knowledge. Manual training also seemed to make trainees more cautious about their willingness to work with Aboriginals than essay-trained Ss. There were no significant effects on attitudes. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)