Warm tub bath during labor. A study of 1385 women with prelabor rupture of the membranes after 34 weeks of gestation

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence of a bath on infectious morbidity in mothers and neonates in women with prelabor rupture of the membranes after 34 weeks of gestation. METHODS: A nonrandomized study of 1385 healthy women. During the first stage of labor 538 women wanted a bath while 847 did not. The women awaited spontaneous contractions up to 24 or 72 hours after the membranes had ruptured before labor was induced with oxytocin. Digital examinations of the cervix were avoided until onset of active labor or until the time induction was planned. For statistical analysis Fisher's exact test was used. RESULTS: Chorioamnionitis during labor occurred in 1.1% of the women in the bath group and in 0.2% in the reference group (p = 0.06). Postpartum endometritis was found in three cases both in the bath group (0.6%) and in the reference group (0.4%) (p = 0.68). The frequency of neonates receiving antibiotics was 3.7% and 4.8% respectively (p = 0.43). CONCLUSION: A tub bath did not increase the risk of maternal or neonatal infection after premature rupture of the membranes and prolonged latency.     

The voices of registered play therapists as supervisors.

This study examined the background, perceived training needs, and issues of Registered Play Therapist Supervisors (n = 305) and their supervisees. Supervisors completed a four-part survey regarding demographics, supervisor and supervisee issues, and perceptions of training needs for supervisors of play therapists. Important findings are the lack of training in and possible understanding of clinical supervision, the lack of perceived need for supervision of supervision, and the absence of countertransference as an important issue for supervisors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Progression of different udder inflammation indicators and their episode length after onset of inflammation using automatic milking system sensor data

In automatic milking systems (AMS), sensors can measure cow behavior and milk composition at every milking. The aim of this observational study of previously collected data was to gain insight into the differences in dynamics of udder inflammation indicators between cows that recover and those that do not recover after detection of an initial inflammation. Milk diversion (milk separated from the bulk tank and thus indicating farmer intervention), conductivity, and somatic cell count (SCC) data from 4 wk before the initial inflammation to 12 wk after the initial inflammation were used to analyze 2,584 cases of udder inflammation. An udder inflammation case was defined as an initial observation of SCC ≥200,000 cells/mL as well as 1 additional SCC measurement >200,000 cells/mL within 10 d after the initial case, among other requirements. The data originated from 15 AMS herds in 6 countries. Four subsets of cows were created based on whether milk was diverted after the initial inflammation and whether the udder inflammation cases recovered, using a 10-d rolling average SCC threshold of 200,000 cells/mL and checking whether this rolling mean was below the threshold within 90 d after the initial inflammation as the indication of recovery. This formed the following subsets of cow lactations: milk diverted–recovered, milk diverted–not recovered, no milk diverted–not recovered, no milk diverted–recovered. Thresholds of 100,000 SCC/mL and 300,000 SCC/mL for the definition of case and recovery were also applied in a sensitivity analysis but with no substantial difference in results. Linear mixed models were used for each subset to study the variation in SCC (natural logarithm of SCC divided by 1,000) and σ-conductivity (natural logarithm of standard deviation of quarter conductivities). When observing the fraction of cows with SCC <200,000 cells/mL in the recovery subsets, most cows recovered within 20 d after the initial inflammation. In the recovery subsets, both σ-conductivity and SCC stabilized, mostly within 3 to 4 wk after the initial inflammation. σ-Conductivity stabilized above the pre-onset level in all subsets and did not show a clear increase in the no-milk-diverted subgroups, whereas SCC stabilized closer to the pre-onset level. Overall, this study indicated a cutoff point between nonchronic and chronic changes in indicators 3 to 4 wk after the initial inflammation for SCC and σ-conductivity.     

Mechanical response of a mine composite material to extreme heat

The use of cemented paste backfills (CPB, a mine composite tailings material) in underground mining is currently increasing in importance globally. However, despite the tremendous progress made in understanding the factors affecting the performance of CPB, little attention has been devoted to the impact of high temperatures on its mechanical properties. This article presents the results of experimental investigations into the mechanical responses of CPB when subjected to high thermal loads. Samples made with silicate and pure cement or a mix of 50/50 cement and slag or fly ash were heated at 100, 200, 400 and 600°C, and the unconfined compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, stress–strain behaviour and microstructure evaluated by laboratory tests. The results show that high temperatures have a significant influence on the mechanical properties of CPB, which should be taken into account when determining an appropriate mix for the binder.      

Azeotropic graft polymerizations of dienes and acrylonitrile onto poly(propylene oxide)

Graft copolymerizations of isoprene or butadiene with acrylonitrile in an approximately 2:1 weight ratio onto poly(propylene oxide) are azeotropic. These products, when vulcanized with sulfur, yield elastomers with excellent tensile properties.     

Proposition pour une classification des graveleux latéritiques (application au cas du sénégal)

Studies of considerable data of laterite or lateritic soils to formulate a simple and reliabile predictive technique of road design or traffic specifications was vigorously advocated by investigators (CEBTP, BCEOM, the Lyon Associates and the african geotechnical laboratories). Commonly the use of lateritic soils is the basement of road paved or unpaved in the tropics. The well-known WASHOO (1955) and the AASHOO test in the USA (1956–1962), gave an estimation of the thickness of the road. The AASHOO test is derived from statistical studies for the design of road. It's based on the evaluation of the CBR index and its relation with the thickness. Peltier (1962) has shown that the relation between CBR and thickness can be approximated by the introduction of new parameters in relation with European soils and his work is the only one used in the African Tropical Countries for road pavement. The present work is derived from data complied from 1945 to 1992 by the Ministry in charge of road construction in Senegal. From these data, we proposed new specifications for road design, using statistical methods of computing. We also discuss some relations between the CBR index and some geotechnical parameters. So, it is known that the common use of the CBR index for road design is not appropriate, because the CBR may be certainly a shear strength characteristic of the soil and its relation with other parameters can be found acording to mechanical properties. Finally, the authors show that the use of a high level statistical analysis can be, supplied by the estimation of means and standard deviation. The ACP or AFD statistical methods proved that the qualitative parameters have no significant impact on the global results (without CBR evaluation): lateritic soils from Senegal have in general, the same behaviour and cannot be separated by differences from the origin of the parent rock. In fact, it is known (Gidigasu, 1976), that the composition and origin of the parent rock have a considerable influence on the soil behaviour. These results are in fact, no longer in accordance with that observation in the cases of the laterites from Senegal.     

Detection of rural electrification in Africa using DMSP-OLS night lights imagery

We report on the first systematic ground-based validation of the US Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) night lights imagery to detect rural electrification in the developing world. Drawing upon a unique survey of villages in Senegal and Mali, this study compares night-time light output from the DMSP-OLS against ground-based survey data on electricity use in 232 electrified villages and additional administrative data on 899 unelectrified villages. The analysis reveals that electrified villages are consistently brighter than unelectrified villages across annual composites, monthly composites, and a time series of nightly imagery. Electrified villages appear brighter because of the presence of streetlights, and brighter villages tend to have more streetlights. By contrast, the correlation of light output with household electricity use and access is low. We further demonstrate that a detection algorithm using data on night-time light output and the geographic location of settlements can accurately classify electrified villages. This research highlights the potential to use night lights imagery for the planning and monitoring of ongoing efforts to connect the 1.4 billion people who lack electricity around the world.     

Advances in network simulation

Network researchers must test Internet protocols under varied conditions to determine whether they are robust and reliable. The paper discusses the Virtual Inter Network Testbed (VINT) project which has enhanced its network simulator and related software to provide several practical innovations that broaden the conditions under which researchers can evaluate network protocols