Successful Aging

This issue's Works in Progress department presents six abstracts for projects that are developing interesting solutions to the elderly's quality of life challenges. The first two abstracts discuss projects that will help provide the elderly with freedom and independence by instrumenting their environments with supportive technology. The next two abstracts discuss projects building specialized user interfaces for addressing some of the challenges associated with aging, such as vision impairment. The final two abstracts present projects that will aid independence for the elderly by providing remote monitoring and assistance.     

Charge comparison protection of transmission lines-relayingconcepts

The authors describe the relaying concepts of charge comparison. Charge comparison is a new transmission line protection system. It is a form of current differential relaying. Charge comparison largely resolves the traditional problems of current differential relaying of transmission lines, which are that protection is lost if a channel fails, a large channel capacity is required, and precise channel delay compensation is required. This technique is suitable for the protection of two- or three-terminal AC transmission lines, of all lengths and voltage levels, with or without series of shunt compensation, with three-hole or single-pole tripping     

Rational use of rubella vaccine for prevention of congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas

Seventy-three spinal cord injured patients with central cord syndrome who had undergone inpatient rehabilitation, were studied retrospectively with regard to their demographic, neurologic and functional characteristics. There were 67 males and six females with a mean age of 53.5 years. Falls was the commonest mechanism of injury (54.8%) followed by motor vehicle accidents. Eleven patients sustained cervical fractures and 41 had radiological evidence of cervical spondylosis. Seventeen patients had sensory impairment and significant spasticity was present in 14 patients. Significant improvements in the admission/discharge ASIA motor scores and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores (P < 0.001) were noted after rehabilitation. Ninety-two percent of patients were continent of bladder on discharge compared to 64.4% on admission. Multiple regression analysis revealed three factors associated with a better functional outcome, namely, higher admission MBI scores, absence of spasticity and younger age (P < 0.05).     

Imported measles. A potential control problem

From Dec 23, 1978, through Jan 31, 1979, an outbreak of five laboratory-confirmed cases and four clinical cases of measles occurred in a Vietnamese refugee population living in a single housing complex in Albuquerque, NM. The index cases were in two refugee siblings in whom measles was incubating on arrival in the United States. Despite spread through three subsequent generations of disease transmission within the Vietnamese population, there was no additional spread into the general Albuquerque population. Responsible factors included the age distribution of susceptible persons, the social isolation of the refugee population, and the physical structure of the housing complex. There is a need to identify the problem of imported measles in "ethnic islands" in need of vaccination.     

A bulk electrolysis Raman spectroelectrochemical cell using a rotating electrode

A fast bulk electrolysis Raman spectroelectrochemical cell is described. The cell employs a large-area platinum gauze and disk assembly which can be rotated at speeds up to 5,000 rpm. The complete electrolysis of a 5-mL solution can be achieved in less than 6 min using a 2,000 rpm rotation rate. The resonance Raman spectrum of (TPP*+)Cu(II) was collected in situ in this cell.     

Reversible binding of chlorpromazine to brain tubulin

Isolated lamb hearts perfused at 13degrees C. with acellular perfusates developed progressive intersitital edema and a rise in vascular resistance. They did not exhbit any electrical or mechanical activity. In contrast, hearts perfused with whole fresh blood remained well preserved, had no edema or change in vascular resistance, and contracted vigorously while being perfused at 10degrees and 13degrees C. This study was designed to determine which particular component(s) of whole blood contributed to improved cardiac preservation. Isolated lamb hearts were perfused for 18 hours at 13degrees C. with plasma containing platelets and some or no red blood cells. Continuously fresh plasma was obtained from a donor animal by means of a flow-through centrifuge. Hearts perfused at 13degrees C. with fresh plasma of either low or high platelet count contracted during the initial 2 to 4 hours of the perfusion only and were as poorly preserved as hearts perfused with acellular microfiltered plasma. A hematocrit value of 2 to 5 per cent in the plasma perfusate resulted in the hearts being preserved almost as well as with fresh whole blood; they showed a forceful cardiac activity at 13degrees C., there was no edema, the vascular resistance was stable, and after rewarming they had good ventricular function. The improvement in cardiac preservation brought about by addition of a minimal amount of red blood cells suggests a specific effect of erythrocytes on the cardiac microcirculation.     

Multicultural Considerations in the Delivery of Play Therapy Services.

It is estimated that by the year 2025, the number of minority children will outnumber the number of majority children in the United States. Play therapists have an increasing need to be able to provide culturally sensitive services. This article discusses issues of culture, ethnic identity, and minority status and their relevance to the practice of play therapy. Play therapists can improve their cultural sensitivity through (a) expanding their knowledge of specific cultures of children they serve, (b) increasing their ability to understand the variety of cultural influences on a child and assessing the impact of the various influences, and (c) increasing their understanding of the ways children from minority cultures are taught to cope with minority status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The United States--The Netherlands Round Table Conference on immunization. Summary report

A group of public health scientists from the United States and The Netherlands met at a Bicentennial Round Table Conference December 1-2, 1982, to discuss the latest developments in immunization against infectious diseases, focusing on pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, and rubella. The major differences in immunization practices in the two countries are: (a) In The Netherlands, inactivated polio vaccine is used exclusively; in the United States, the oral polio vaccine is used. Polio-myelitis has virtually disappeared from both countries. (b) In The Netherlands, the pertussis component of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) is not given to children over the age of 1 year, whereas in the United States, it is given to children up to their seventh birthday. (c) Rubella vaccine is given only to girls at ages 11-12 years in The Netherlands, but to all children at ages 12-15 months in the United States. (d) Mumps vaccine is not administered to children in The Netherlands, but in the United States it is given routinely to children at 12-15 months (in combination with measles and rubella vaccine). The participants concluded that both the United States and The Netherlands have effective immunization programs that have significantly reduced the impact of these diseases.     

Structure and function of the rabbit bladder altered by chronic obstruction or cystitis

In a prospective 5-year-study the development of adiposity was tested in a population group consisting of about 30,000 persons. It was shown that during the time of investigation the population decreased in its total number, the consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates and meat, however, increased. As it was established in 1968, the proportion of the adipose persons (more than 20% of the Broca-weight) and the percental average deviation from the Broca-weight (calculated in decennium classes) was more than in the comparable population groups in the GDR. Contrary to expectation the examination further showed that on an average men exhibited a trend to the increase in weight, but on the average women decreased in weight. In all age groups (with the exception of the 60- to 69-year-old persons) the proportion of obese persons was significantly lower in 1973 than in 1968. Unchangedly adipose are the diabetics who also have a by far higher average weight than the healthy population and who up to now do not reveal an inclination to the decrease in weight. With 2.9% the average frequency of diabetes is also adequately high.