Retrenchment management: coping with fewer tax dollars

Since the early 1970s, local governments in the USA have faced limited tax income combined with double-digit inflation. As a result, every local service from fire prevention to recreation has had to be closely scrutinized. Local administrators and politicians have evolved new and innovative retrenchment management policies to respond to both the demands of citizens and the fewer dollars available. A combination of denial of new programmes and public sector pay austerity, with public education and use of community organizations is providing ways to stretch limited funds. The reality in many communities across the USA is that local government and its services will not be growing in the future.     

Copolymerization of bromophenylmaleimide with ethyl or butyl methacrylate

N‐p‐Bromophenylmaleimide (BrPMI) does not polymerize in solution by conventional free radical mechanism. However, it readily polymerized in bulk when mixed with a free radical initiator and heated in a microwave oven for 7–8 min. Copolymerization of ethyl methacrylate or butyl methacrylate with BrPMI was conducted in dioxane. The copolymers were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated by a non‐linear least‐square analysis. Thermal analysis indicated a great improvement in thermal stability of the copolymers compared with the methacrylate homopolymers. BrPMI was also polymerized in bulk in the DSC pan, which allowed the calculation of the activation energy of its polymerization. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sooner is better than perfect [millenium bug]

The author warns that it is not just personal computers and corporate IT systems that are at risk from impending date changes. He argues that the danger of embedded systems failing to cope should be just as great a cause for concern     

Unusual gunshot injuries

Ectopic meningioma outside the skull and spinal column is uncommon. We report a cutaneous meningioma of the scalp in a 77-year-old man. A review of types and their management options are discussed. We also highlight that in certain carefully selected cases, these lesions can be treated conservatively.     

Influence of craniofacial surgery on the social attitudes toward the malformed and their handling in different cultures and at different times: a contribution to social world history

A historic overview including the European, American, Asian, and African continents is given on attitudes toward and the handling of humans with congenital malformations in ancient cultures and on pertinent customs in some prehistoric peoples. Figures of early works of art showing malformed individuals are presented testifying to this worldwide and timeless problem of humankind. In parallel, analogous patient photographs from our hospital before and after reconstructive surgery are shown. Philosophies of ancient Greece, rome, and China on the subject of malformed infants essentially did not differ from the known attitudes of the less developed tribes in Europe and pre-Columbian America, although the means of elimination of unwanted offspring were rather passive (exposure) than active (manual killing). A radical change in attitudes and practices occurred with the spread of the Christian religion and its political installment in Europe. The care for the underprivileged including the malformed ones was considered a Christian duty to be performed with compassion and love. In our century, the clocks have been and apparently are turned back again. Atheistic and Darwinian influences, political atheism, and the belief in "higher ethics" issued by "superman" have led to a relapse into barbarism, also within the medical system. We, as craniofacial surgeons, are privileged to have the means to turn the clocks forward again by rehabilitating the physically most underprivileged: those with conspicuous craniofacial malformations. The necessary techniques exist and are applied, as the figures of patients from our hospital demonstrate, but the will and the emotional strength for their consequent application require more than our hands.     

News & notes.

This article gives the latest information about the Society for the History of Psychology. It announces that David B. Baker will become News & Notes Editor for History of Psychology in 2006. It covers statements from the candidates for the presidential elections in Division 26, the candidate for secretary-treasurer, and the candidates for representative to council. It also discusses the 2005 meeting of the council of representatives and provides the Society for the History of Psychology's 2005 Convention Program. There is also personal news, as well as a notice of death. The article concludes by summarizing the History of Psychology Around the World: Philemon Foundation Lectures, C. G. Jung Center, Houston, Texas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)