Cavitation and spallation in liquid metal droplets produced by subpicosecond pulsed laser radiation.

The deformation and fragmentation of liquid metal microdroplets by intense subpicosecond Ti:sapphire laser pulses is experimentally studied with stroboscopic shadow photography. The experiments are performed at a peak intensity of 10^{14}W/cm^{2} at the target's surface, which produces shock waves with pressures in the Mbar range. As a result of such a strong impact, the droplet is transformed into a complex-shaped hollow structure that undergoes asymmetrical expansion and eventually fragments. The hollow structure of the expanding target is explained by the effects of cavitation and spallation that follow the propagation of the laser-induced shock wave.

Sjögren's syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is the most common autoimmune disorder among women. Symptoms occur when the infiltration of immune cells into the salivary and lacrimal glands causes a progressive decline in sight, smell, and taste. Although symptoms seriously disrupt quality of life, the disease's vague manifestations usually prevent individuals from seeking immediate help. By the time a diagnosis is rendered, significant systemic organ involvement may have occurred. Although there is no cure, clinician understanding of the epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of SS enhances its symptomatic management in primary care settings.

American nursing scholars abroad, 1985-1995.

PURPOSE: To explore the international activities of American nursing scholars from 1985 to 1995, as indicated by their international teaching, scholarship, and consultation. METHODS: All faculty (N = 2,254) teaching in nursing doctoral programs in the United States were surveyed using an investigator-designed questionnaire. The professional characteristics of American nursing scholars who worked abroad and the dates, nature, and types of international activities they undertook were ascertained. From a total of 928 usable returns, 247 described international activity. FINDINGS: Data indicated a three-fold increase in international activity from 1985 to 1995 in the three major areas investigated. Universities in Western Europe and Asia were the most frequent recipients of nursing scholarly activity. The scholars or representatives of the host institutions made approximately half the initial contacts. The international hosts or U.S. universities were the predominant providers of funding. Nurses most likely to participate in international scholarly activity were senior faculty who were full professors in doctoral-granting institutions, published in international journals, presented educational topics, and were recognized by peers through membership in honorary organizations. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial increase in international nursing scholarship occurred during the decade studied, particularly related to teaching.

Quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study reports the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the quality of life of 37 SLE patients by using two quality of life (QOL) instruments, the Sickness Impact Profile and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2. Findings suggested that SLE affects all areas that are considered essential for QOL including alertness behavior, recreation/pastime, sleep and rest, home management, social interaction, and emotional balance. Findings suggest that in the management of chronic illnesses such as SLE, QOL assessments may provide health care professionals with data that would enhance the likelihood of designing holistic interventions.

Anticancer drugs for noncancer diseases.

An increasing body of evidence supports the use of anticancer drugs to control symptoms and slow the progress of immune-mediated disorders. Drugs such as nitrogen mustard, azathioprine, and methotrexate, among others, are now being used to treat several types of immune-mediated disorders. However, the use of anticancer drugs for noncancer diseases differs significantly from their traditional use in treating cancer and has important implications for nursing care.

Systemic lupus erythematosus. Part 2: Diagnosis, treatment modalities, and nursing management.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and symptom management of systemic lupus erythematosus have now made the disease compatible with normal life span. However, systemic lupus erythematosus remains a multisystem disorder with no cure. Consequently, every specialty, particularly medical-surgical nursing, is challenged to provide comprehensive care to these patients.

Why so many women? Part 1. Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disorder that predominantly affects women. While numerous factors may account for the etiology of SLE, the influence of gender-based sex hormones on the prevalence of SLE and autoimmune disorders among women is currently being evaluated.

Evaluating the clarity of research reports written for research subjects.

It is not simple to report research results to the people who participated in the research as subjects of study. Few evaluations have examined subjects' understanding of written research findings. In two recent studies of solvent exposure, subjects received brief summaries of the research. Before they were sent, the summaries were evaluated by research, health, and communication specialists as well as by representatives of the target audience. For one of the studies, interviews were conducted with subjects before and after they received the reports. Although the subjects said they understood the summary, their answers to questions about its content indicated otherwise. The results suggest that researchers not rely on subjects' self-assessments of their understanding but instead design methods to test subjects' knowledge directly. Those tests would be most valuable if applied in formative evaluations, when the opportunity exists to improve the research summaries.

The P300 event-related potential. The effects of sleep deprivation.

We monitored 15 healthy young adults during 18 hours of sleep deprivation. Subjects were repeatedly tested on measures of the P300 (P3) event-related potential, reaction time, body temperature, and a subjective rating of fatigue. Statistically significant decreases in P3 amplitude (P < or = .01) and increases in P3 latency (P < or = .0001) were found during sleep deprivation. These changes correlated with body temperature and fatigue and were not due to circadian variation. Reaction time did not show a significant change over time. We conclude that the P3 potential is a more sensitive cognitive measure of sleep deprivation than reaction time, a measure commonly used in previous studies. We provide a review of the literature on the P3 and recommend the use of the P3 as a marker to examine sleep deprivation in health professionals.

Challenges of worker notification in neurotoxic studies of the central nervous system.

Researchers who study the central nervous system (CNS) face special challenges in notifying study participants about the research results. There are human research guidelines regarding the communication of information to subjects at the outset of a CNS research study. Yet there are few guidelines on how to communicate to the subject the research findings and the interpretation of individual results at the study's conclusion. The research subjects may desire detailed information, unequivocal conclusions, understandable interpretations, and clear suggestions about what to do next. Fulfilling these needs, however, is not a simple task for the researcher because outcomes are predicated on statistical uncertainty and the research tests may not be appropriate for individual assessment. We describe methods we have used to communicate with research subjects in two CNS neurotoxic field studies. We suggest that further research examine this important notification process.

The validity of study group assignments based on occupational histories obtained from questionnaires.

This study examined the validity of self-reported work histories for use in epidemiological studies of toxic exposures. Two uses that were examined were the assignment of subjects to exposure groups and the estimation of exposure duration. Questionnaire responses and data extracted from employment files were compared for 161 retired automobile workers. The questionnaire method assigned subjects to two extreme groups with 99% accuracy but rejected 30% of the subjects because of ambiguous data. Self-reports of exposure duration correlated moderately with the file estimates (r = .63, P = .01). The discrepancy between subjects' estimates and actual exposure duration correlated with subjects' job mobility. The findings indicate that the validity of self-report data declines with the precision required of the data, but that self-reports may have sufficient validity for studies that use extreme-group designs.

Determinants of career attainments of doctorates in nursing.

The career attainments of graduates of doctoral programs in nursing during two academic career stages after the doctorate were examined. Educational associations and work experiences were the most important determinants of postdoctoral career attainments. The quality of the doctoral program attended and predoctoral work experiences significantly influenced initial institutional quality, which in turn influenced current institutional quality. The current institutional quality, then, had direct effects on current attainments in the areas of professorial rank, publication productivity, and income. Graduate school quality was the most important factor in first institutional quality, as it tracked faculty into certain strata of the higher educational hierarchy. Consistent with the academic stratification system in higher education, those in high quality programs attained lower professorial ranks but higher publication productivity and higher recognition than those who gained employment in unranked schools.

Neurotoxic effects of methylene chloride: are they long lasting in humans?

The neurotoxicity of methylene chloride (MC) is of special interest because of its acute effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and its metabolic conversion to carbon monoxide. A cohort study of retired airline mechanics was conducted to examine the hypothesis that long term exposure to MC results in lasting effects on the CNS. Retirees were studied to eliminate effects of current occupational exposures. The total retiree population (n = 1758) was surveyed to identify mechanics who met specific occupational, demographic, and medical criteria. A group of eligible retirees having long term exposure to MC and another group with low probability of exposure to solvents were given a comprehensive battery of physiological and psychological tests. The exposure groups were similar for all potential confounders that were measured. No statistically significant differences between groups were detected on outcome measures, although subtle differences in attention and memory were identified. Thus no firm evidence was found to support the hypothesis of lasting CNS effects in retired mechanics with long term exposure to MC.

Rival conceptions in doctoral education in nursing and their outcomes: an update.

The need for two distinct types of doctoral programs in nursing was historically well conceived and well articulated. The growing literature on the doctoral education in nursing, however, shows that the implementation of the concept has not produced the intended results, that is the coexistence of academic and professional doctoral programs in nursing has not resulted in the differentiated career paths for the graduates. Instead, the competing aims of doctoral education in nursing, paved the way to varying doctoral titles, and weakened the claims of professional doctoral programs as preparing for advanced clinical practice. More significantly, however, this development is threatening the future existence of professional doctoral programs in nursing.