Natural history of menopause

Etymologically meaning "cessation of menstruation", the menopause is in fact a phenomenon which occurs over several years and can be divided into two phases: a period of "pre"-menopause, approximately from the age of 40 to 50, during which ovulation becomes increasingly less frequent, leads to decreased fertility and progesterone deficiency (luteal insufficiency), whereas the confirmed "menopause", which occurs between the age of 50 and 55, is the disappearance of all follicles, leading to estrogen deprivation. The risk associated with the "pre"-menopause is an "unopposed estrogen effect", with its cellular effects on target-tissues. The problem of confirmed menopause is decreased tissue trophicity, not only of the genital area, but of the body in general (skin, bone, blood vessels, etc.) as a consequence of estrogen deprivation. Replacement therapy is the logical treatment: progestins during the "pre"-menopause, estrogens in combination with progestins once "menopause" is confirmed.     

Treatment of bleeding duodenal ulcer. A study of mortality and indication of surgical treatment. Apropos of 557 cases

From 1986 to 1996, 557 patients are treated for acute ulcer bleeding. The sex ratio is five to one for men, the average age is 40 years old. The duodenal ulcer is revelated by haemorrhage in 25.8%. 181 patients underwent a surgical operation (32%). This percentage is higher that those encountered in the literature, due probably to our specific context (patients from low socioeconomic level, can not afford medical treatment, medical surveillance or control, lack of blood products in emergency. The most practiced surgical treatment is weinberg operation: "Troncular Vagotomy" with "pyroloplasty" and "ulcer sean" practiced in 86.1% of the cases; "Troncular Vagotomy" with "Gastro-intestinal anastomosis" is operated in 7.7% of the cases; "Superselective Vagotomy" and "Seromyotomy" is practiced in 3.8%, with the "Antroduodenectomy" is practiced in 1.1% of the cases. The overall death rate observed is about 4% this value increase to 11% after surgical treatment. This death rate is lower than the literature, that's probably anociated the fact that most of our patients are young and do not hold severe weaknesses. This study indicates that mortality was related to the patient's age, the patient's condition and recurrent haemorrhages.     

A taxonomy of instrumental conditioning.

Proposes a classification scheme for instrumental conditioning paradigms based on 4 dichotomies: (a) whether the organism is required to "emit" or "omit" a response, (b) whether a "desirable" or "aversive" stimulus event is made contingent upon the response, (c) whether the operation performed upon this stimulus event is one which "increases" or "decreases" its magnitude or intensity, and (d) whether or not the organism is given any "signal" prior to the response as to the consequent stimulus event. The resulting classification scheme includes 16 distinct paradigms, each of which is illustrated with research examples (when they are known to exist) and with examples from "real-life" situations. The relationship between the present scheme and previous classification attempts is indicated, and a meaningful and consistent nomenclature is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A strategic response to the occupational health establishment

The experiences of occupational health and safety "activists" in Canada reveal the limits of achieving reform in working conditions by technical efforts in combination with rank-and-file activation. The author argues that the way union "activists" approach occupational health and safety limits workers in dealing with their actual experiences and understanding about workplace hazards and risks, then discusses the condition for the awakening of their critical consciousness as a basis of acting on hazardous working conditions. The first movement in the way the worker apprehends the work environment is a movement of negation and is the prior condition to a critical and disclosive discourse about workplace hazards. It is the positive side of "No!" and the taking seriously of workers' rights. It is this negation of the negative that holds out the greatest hope for solidarity and a liberatory community in workplaces, since legislated workers' rights as the basis of protection have become a facade. Workers can respond with the power of saying "No!" in solidarity with suffering workers, and then work through appropriate principles, ends, or strategies avoiding entrapment by a "telos" in the first instance. By laying out these "ends" or a strategic paradigm, one introduces a "conversation stopper" for workers and atrophies their activation.     

Conformity--Good and Bad.

In reading Marie Jahoda's "Psychological Issues in Civil Liberties," (American Psychologist, 11, 1956, pp. 234-240) I was struck with the ambiguous use of the term "conformity" and the alarm which borders on the hysterical. Lest the unwary reader swallow this seeming hysteria uncritically, some clarification of the semantical differences in the term is in order. There is no argument here with the praiseworthy experimental design and methodology which Jahoda presents--it is with her ambiguous concept of "conformity." "Conformity" as used by Jahoda connotes a collective adherence by an irrational society to drab and erroneous beliefs or doctrines. Thus, the terms "arid conformity" and "stultifying conformity." There is the other concept of conformity which describes the value preferences of highly civilized societies. There is the other concept of conformity which describes the value preferences of highly civilized societies. The first connotation would apply to Hitler's Germany--the authoritarian and ethnocentric society that savagely eliminated those who disagreed. The second or favorable connotation applies to those values, laws, and institutions which have been formulated and refined with blood and tears down through the centuries and are now "conformed" to and "adhered" to by Englishmen and Americans with an intuitive grasp of their worth. In this sense no society is possible without conformity. It is our thesis that conformity (in the second sense) is necessary; and that sanctions of some sort are indispensable in order that any conformity be achieved in an orderly society. The sanctions or coercions take different forms: education, social pressures, and laws. The alarm with which liberals view these sanctions becomes clear when the concept of relativity is invoked. They formulate an inflexible doctrine of "freedom" which prohibits sanctions of any kind. Thus, through their tinted glasses of "license," every move is labeled "thought control," "book burning," or stultifying "conformity." Liberals should examine themselves for "self-consistency." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice.

Reviews the book, Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice by Mark A. Runco (see record 2007-00543-000). This book consists of 11 chapters with the following titles: "Cognition and Creativity," "Developmental Trends and Influences on Creativity," "Biological Perspectives on Creativity," "Health and Clinical Perspectives," "Social, Attributional, and Organizational Perspectives," "Educational Perspectives," "History and Historiometry," "Culture and Creativity," "Personality and Motivation," "Enhancement and the Fulfillment of Potential," and "Conclusion: What Creativity Is and What It Is Not." Beyond this all-encompassing content, the volume is crammed with illustrations and with all those "boxes" that are so characteristic of introductory textbooks in psychology. Each chapter also begins with appropriate quotations and a didactic "Advanced Organizer." Finally, Runco closes with 63 pages of references and a 15-page subject index. The reviewer has one major complaint: Runco seems to have adopted an "open the floodgates" approach that sometimes results in the almost willy nilly insertion of ideas and material. One consequence of this tendency is that the illustrations and boxes are at times less useful than they ought to be. Another repercussion of Runco's leave-nothing-out approach is that it occasionally leads to the presentation of ideas with minimal if any discussion or commentary. The reviewer does assert though, that for someone in the market for a text for use in an introductory creativity course, a book that is wide-ranging and most current, Runco's Creativity is a good choice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

中国稀土行业存在“资源诅咒”吗?——基于企业层面和城市层面的分析

基于Wind数据库及《中国城市统计年鉴》数据,分别从企业层面和城市层面对我国稀土行业是否存在“资源诅咒”现象进行实证检验。结果表明:企业层面,我国稀土行业存在“资源诅咒”,原因是稀土企业存在“短视”行为,低质量地盲目扩张阻碍了TFP增长,研发投入低及未发挥负债积极的财务杠杆作用。拥有采矿权的稀土企业“资源诅咒”更加严重;城市层面也存在资源的“诅咒”,传导机制基于城市层面存在明显的“挤出”效应,主要体现在对社会固定资产投资、人力资本、技术创新和外商投资的挤出,同时还弱化了城市的制度环境。      

Quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow by the microsphere model with super-early 123I-IMP brain SPECT

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was quantitatively measured in 6 healthy young volunteers based on "super-early" acquisition of N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (IMP) brain SPECT obtained 4-6 min after IMP injection with a three-head rotating gamma camera and the microsphere (MS) model. The ratio of radioactivity (count/pixel/min) in the conventional early SPECT image (taken 25-55 min after IMP injection) to that in the "super-early" image for each brain region negatively correlated with regional CBF value obtained with the "super-early" MS method. This indicates that wash-out of IMP from the regions with higher CBF is faster than that from the regions with lower CBF and that CBF values are underestimated with the conventional MS method in regions with higher CBF. Regional CBF was quantitatively measured with the "super-early" MS method and the ARG method, a recently developed method based on two-compartment model. The mean cortical CBF was 52.5 +/- 7.0 (ml/100 g/min, mean +/- SD) with the "super-early" MS method and 47.5 +/- 3.3 with the ARG method. The CBF values obtained with the "super-early" MS method agreed with those previously reported with positron emission tomography. Since the MS method is theoretically the simplest model, the "super-early" MS method can be applied various disorders of the central nervous system where the behavior of IMP is not fully understood.     

General immune reactivity and herpes genitalis (author's transl)

Twenty-two Japanese women with herpes genitalis were examined for subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulin and immune skin tests. The number of "active" T lymphocytes was significantly less in those with herpes genitalis, as compared to the healthy controls. Differences between the number of "total" T lymphocytes and "total" B lymphocytes between the patients and controls were nil. The levels of serum IgA and IgM were increased in patients with herpes genitalis. Mean diameter of both PPD and PHA skin test in patients was within normal ranges. These findings suggest that to some extent, the cellular immunity associated with "active" T lymphocyte is suppressed in patients with herpes genitalis. The significance of the elevated serum IgA and IgM is now being investigated.     

Structural properties and catalytic performance of the LaCuZn mixed oxides for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

A series of La-Cu-Zn-O mixed oxide catalysts were synthesized by a co-precipitation method and calcined under different temperatures. The XRD, BET, TPR, N_2 O-adsorption, XPS, SEM and TPD techniques were carried out to measure the aimed catalysts. The results indicated that the chemical environment of lanthanum element changes with the increase of calcination temperature. The La_2 CuO_4 perovskite structure is obtained at the temperature higher than 823 K and the special copper species appear in the perovskites due to the special structure property. The catalysts with La_2 CuO_4 perovskite structure show higher methanol selectivity compared with the mixed copper catalyst. For the perovskite catalysts, the conversion of CO_2 changes with the same tendency of the copper species ratio((Cu~(α+)+Cu~0)/(Cu_(Total))%), which implied both Cu~(α+) and Cu~0 are important active sites in the perovskite catalyst for the reaction.     

带钢冷轧机的设备结构变革

论述了本公司专利“一种八辊轧机”的特点及其优越性,为了说明问题以800中型八辊轧机与传统结构的900六辊轧机进行对比并对重要的工艺和设备参数进行了论述,结果说明八辊轧机无论在建设投资、生产成本、工作性能都有很大优越性。     

A simplified micromethod for fluoride analysis

"VIDAS Stallertest" is a new screening test for breathing allergy. It allows the detection of 10 different lung specific allergens including domestic acarids (D1), pollents (G3, W6, W21, T3 and T9), pets dander (E1 and E2), moulds (M6), cockroach (16). The method is an immunoenzymatic reaction that contains a cartridge and a cone that is cover with the allergen's mixture and is automated on the VIDAS system. The results are compared to various skin tests analyzed by instantaneous reading for 102 patients. "VIDAS Stallertest" shows an excellent agreement (93%) with the allergic patients as well as with those that are not. The specificity of the new screening test is very high (91%). A comparative study between "VIDAS Stallertest" and "Phadiatop" performed on 155 consultants in allergist office shows a correlation of 93%, a sensitivity and a specificity of 91 and 95%, respectively. "VIDAS Stallertest" is a reliable method in first intention for the general practitioner who faces a putative breathing allergy. Moreover, this is an excellent biological check-up for a questionable or negative skin test.     

Chronic diseases, coping with illness and complementary medicine

The increasing demands for complementary medical practises by patients with chronic diseases is seen in the context of a global model of contending with disease. The author assumes that only few variables of this model may influence "supply and demand" in the "marketplace of complementary medical methods" and that the importance of these methods may fade. Finally the encounter with patients asking for complementary medical methods is considered.     

高职高专形势与政策课教学的创新

高职高专的形势与政策教育是对高职高专学生进行思想政治教育的重要途径之一。在当前复杂的社会环境下,形势与政策课的教学内容与教学方式存在教学内容理论性太强,没有吸引力、教学方式方法单一、学生学习形势与政策课的热情没有得到激发等问题。因此,高职高专的形势与政策课的教学内容应根据学生的特点,充分发挥学生的自主性,把历史与现实相结合,采取多种教学模式,运用现代化的教学手段,达到形势与政策课的教学目标。     

Is textbook knowledge of ultrasonography also valid in emergency admission?

Textbook knowledge of sonography is not immediately applicable in emergencies where the favourable prerequisites characterizing the standard case are often lacking. The question therefore arises of what textbook knowledge is also viable in the average emergency unit, under what circumstances and for which clinical questions. The answer to this differentiated question is a graded concept with "primary emergency sonography", "extended" and "standard sonography". The indications and advantages of "primary emergency sonography" in contrast to standard procedure are discussed in detail. The key to success depends on meticulous introduction and training, strict compliance with indications and principle, and rigorous surveillance by an experienced ultrasonic specialist. In addition further scientific examination of the concept is necessary.     

Electric-spark alloying of steel with tungsten-free hard metals

Conclusions A study was made of the ESA of steel with tungsten and tungsten-free TN type hard metals in different units and under different conditions, with and without anode dressing. It has been established that in alloying under finishing conditions the erosion of a dressed TN-20 alloy anode is greater than that of an undressed one; this is due to the formation of stable oxide films on the electrode surfaces. In contrast to this, in treatment under rough conditions the erosion of an undressed anode is greater because the oxide films cannot withstand the higher thermal stress generated during alloying. In ESA with tungsten alloys maximum erosion under both finishing and rough conditions is observed with undressed specimens. This is attributable to the formation of a defective zone promoting periodic brittle disintegration in the course of treatment. Removing the defective zone decreases the erosion of the material. The most favorable conditions for the formation of a reinforced layer are created in the alloying of a dressed cathode surface, and consequently it is best to perform ESA with a specific time of not more than 1 min/cm². Use of treatment conditions with large thermal loads increases the thickness and hardness of the reinforced layer. Reinforcement with TK type alloys sets up a stress which is greater on the specimen surface and extends to a greater depth than the stress generated in alloying with TN type hard metals. Electrodes made of the tungsten-free TN-20 hard metal can be used instead of tungsten alloy electrodes for the ESA of processes V and VI. The resultant reinforced layer is sufficiently thick and continuous.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 11(239), pp. 64–69, November, 1982.     

Electric Rolling of Powder Materials with a Dielectric Phase

The effect of dielectric phase content on the properties of powder matrix composites (Kh20N802M, NPG80, Nibon20) prepared by electric-pulse sintering with rolling is studied. The change in properties is most pronounced in composites with a filler that has greater hardness than the matrix material. The highest specific electrical resistivity, ultimate tensile strength, and a reduction in hardness are achieved with identical volume fractions of components and the maximum exponent in the Joule component of electric current. Use of electric-pulse sintering with rolling makes it possible to prepare strips with a large fraction of nonforming phase, especially from highyield powders.     

Simplified "push" technique for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) by the "pull" technique is the standard method in pediatric patients. Modifications have been reported for adults but few in children. Problems with the "pull" technique including pericatheter infection due to contamination of the tube tract with oral flora, repeated insertion of the endoscope, potential esophageal injury from the catheter, and the possible need for another endoscopy for catheter removal, prompted our interest in a simpler technique. The "push" technique requires insertion of the endoscope only once to insufflate and visualize the insertion site. A modified Seldinger technique is used to insert a 14F acrylic Foley catheter. We have used this technique to place PEG tubes in 8 children age 6 weeks to 17 years (mean, 6 years), for failure to thrive due to cystic fibrosis (3), neurological impairment (4), and undetermined cause (1). Operative time averaged 15 minutes. All PEGs were used within 24 hours. This "push" technique of PEG insertion is safe, simple, quick, and obviates many of the potential risks inherent in the "pull" technique. The "push" technique deserves a more widespread application in children.