Surface Areas of Nitrated Hydrotalcites

Hydrotalcites in the nitrate form were prepared using microwave irradiation in the hydrotreatment step. The surface area (BET) of nitrated hydrotalcites was evaluated. Solids were characterized by atomic absorption, X-ray diffraction and BET analysis. Thermal pretreatment temperature determined the surface area of the hydrotalcites.     

Validity and inter-observer reliability of subjective hand-arm vibration assessments

Exposure to mechanical vibrations at work (e.g., due to handling powered tools) is a potential occupational risk as it may cause upper extremity complaints. However, reliable and valid assessment methods for vibration exposure at work are lacking. Measuring hand-arm vibration objectively is often difficult and expensive, while often used information provided by manufacturers lacks detail. Therefore, a subjective hand-arm vibration assessment method was tested on validity and inter-observer reliability.     

Flow profile measurement in microchannel using the optical feedback interferometry sensing technique

The need to accurately measure flow profiles in microfluidic channels is well recognised. In this work, we present a new optical feedback interferometry (OFI) flow sensor that accurately measures local velocity in fluids and enables reconstruction of a velocity profile inside a microchannel. OFI is a self-aligned interferometric technique that uses the laser as both the transmitter and the receiver thus offering high sensitivity, fast response, and a simple and compact optical design. The system described here is based on a commercial semiconductor laser and has been designed to achieve a micrometer-range spatial resolution. The sensor performance was validated by reconstructing the velocity profile inside a circular cross-section flow-channel with 320  $\upmu $ m internal diameter, with a relative error smaller than 1.8 %. The local flow velocity is directly measured, thus avoiding the need for model based profile calculation and uncertainties inherent to this approach. The system was validated by successfully extracting the flow profiles in both Newtonian and shear-thinning liquids.     

Making a Clean Sweep of Cultural Heritage

Digitization brings about new ways of analyzing data from cultural heritage areas. Automatic error detection, as input to semiautomatic error correction, is one type of analysis that can be found high on the priority list of cultural heritage data managers and researchers. We describe a general approach to cleaning cultural heritage databases. We present four case studies on databases from different cultural heritage institutions, and describe an information system in which we embed our error detector in a larger framework, enabling researchers to access, check, and correct their data more easily than before.     

Electromyographic and neuromuscular variables in post-polio subjects

OBJECTIVE: Post-polio subjects experience functional deterioration many years after developing acute poliomyelitis and have been shown previously to have a deficit in strength recovery after isometric activity. This study characterized the size and stability of the motor units in a group of post-polio subjects with macro and single fiber electromyography (EMG) and correlated these variables with isometric strength, endurance, "work capacity," and strength recovery after fatiguing isometric exercise. DESIGN: A cohort of 12 post-polio subjects was tested for neuromuscular function. Electromyographic variables were determined on a separate day. SETTING: Volunteers were recruited from the community and tested in our neuromuscular research laboratory. SUBJECTS: A volunteer sample was obtained from advertisements. All subjects acknowledged post-polio syndrome symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuromuscular variables were isometric knee extension peak torque, endurance (time to exhaustion) at 40% of maximal torque, tension time index, and recovery of torque at 10 minutes. Electromyographic variables were macro EMG and single fiber EMG (percent blocking and jitter). RESULTS: Macro EMG amplitude was ninefold the control value, and both jitter and blocking were greatly increased in comparison to control values. Isometric strength significantly (p < .05) correlated negatively with macro EMG amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: The weakest subjects had the greatest number of muscle fibers within the motor unit (as measured by macro EMG amplitude). Jitter and blocking did not correlate with neuromuscular function.     

Addressing a state''s physician workforce priorities through the funding of graduate medical education: the TennCare model

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in second-, third-, and fourth-year medical students' knowledge of bloodborne pathogen exposure risks, as well as their attitudes toward, and intentions to comply with, Universal Precautions (UP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Surveys about students' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to comply with UP were completed by 111 second-year (preclinical), 80 third-year, and 60 fourth-year medical students at Washington University School of Medicine in the spring of 1996. RESULTS: Preclinical students knew more than clinical students about the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine, use of antiretroviral therapy after occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, and nonvaccinated healthcare workers' risk of infection from needlestick injuries (P<.001). Students' perceived risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and attitudes toward hepatitis B vaccine did not differ, but preclinical students agreed more strongly that they should double glove for all invasive procedures with sharps (P<.001). Clinical students agreed more strongly with reporting only high-risk needlestick injuries (P=.057) and with rationalizations against using UP (P=.008). Preclinical students more frequently reported contemplating or preparing to comply with double gloving, wearing protective eyewear, reporting all exposures, and safely disposing of sharps, whereas students with clinical experience were more likely to report compliance. Clinical students also were more likely to report having "no plans" to practice the first three of these precautions (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to comply with UP between students with and without clinical experience may have important implications for the timing and content of interventions designed to improve compliance with UP.     

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension with inhaled nitric oxide during hepatic transplantation in an adolescent: reversibility of pulmonary hypertension after transplantation

Accusations of rape or sexual harassment are currently very high-profile in the military. This article discusses rape allegations in the military legal system from a psychiatric perspective. The original definition of "rape trauma syndrome" and subsequent psychiatric thinking about the diagnosis are briefly outlined. Common reactions seen in military victims in this era are described. A prototypical military case is presented. An adequate evaluation of an alleged victim is outlined. Credentials and preparation of an expert witness are also briefly discussed, with cautions about the use of expert testimony in cases of alleged sexual assault and rape trauma syndrome.     

Refractory head and neck pain. A difficult problem and a new alternative therapy

Mitral valve repair was performed in six patients by transferring the posterior tricuspid leaflet with its sub-valvular apparatus onto the mitral valve. This new technique considers the tricuspid valve as the patients own tissue bank where the posterior leaflet and eventually the adjacent part of the anterior leaflet is used as a "donor" valve, based on the knowledge that the right atrio-ventricular valve can be efficiently repaired with a very low risk of significant dysfunction. The mitral repair consists of incorporating the tricuspid autograft by securing the tricuspid papillary muscle to the mitral papillary muscle and by suturing the leaflet tissue where required. A mitral annuloplasty ring reinforces the repair. The tricuspid valve is subsequently repaired by annular plication and leaflet suture. A tricuspid ring is necessary to maintain efficient remodeling. The six patients ages ranged from 20 to 70 years. A etiology, was rheumatic in the first case and degenerative in the following. In three cases, sterilised endocarditis was responsible for ruptured chordae and leaflet destruction. The mitral insufficiency was located in a commissural area in 4 cases, and was due to a widespread posterior prolapse in 2. Post-operative control transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the excellent results of the repair and proved that, in selected cases, the tricuspid leaflet inserted onto the mitral apparatus is very efficient in correcting mitral insufficiency, without causing significant tricuspid impairment. With a 3 to 7 month follow-up, the results are stable.