Retrospective dosimetry for Latvian workers at Chernobyl.

Between 1986 and 1991 approximately 6500 Latvian inhabitants were recruited for clean-up work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Their absorbed doses are usually unknown, because less than half of them had their external exposure officially documented. Clinical investigations show a high morbidity rate for these clean-up workers when compared with that of the general population. In order to understand the causes of their diseases and the impact of ionising radiation, electron spin resonance (ESR) has been used to measure the absorbed doses in human tooth enamel. The doses estimated by ESR were between two and three times higher than previously documented and are in accord with the results of immunological and biological tests. The results may be explained by considering the effects of irradiation caused by long-lived incorporated radionuclides.

Thermoluminescence centres created selectively in MgO crystals by fast neutrons.

A possibility of using the thermoluminescent detection of collision-created interstitial centres in MgO by the TL peak at 700 K, arising at the radiative recombination of anion interstitials with F+ centres, for the selective detection of fast neutrons in mixed neutron-gamma fields, is examined. Selectivity and sensitivity of such a detector are discussed. For the present time, the sensitivity of the thermoluminescent detection of anion interstitials created by neutron irradiation is comparable to that of the EPR detection of F+ centres, the main limitations of the thermoluminescence method being connected with the background thermoluminescence and absence of suitable luminescence centres in this temperature region, when undoped and untreated MgO crystals are used. Possible ways to overcome these shortcomings are discussed.

[Ultrasound-guided percutaneous antegrade wirsungography in chronic calcifying pancreatitis]. / Ultrahanggal vezérelt percutan antegrad wirsungographia idült kalcifikáló pancreatitisben.

Dilated pancreatic duct was found by ultrasonography in a patient in association with the characteristic sonographic features of chronic calcifying pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed an obstruction of the Wirsung's duct 3 cm far from the papilla of Vater. Further parts of the duct could not be opacified by this manner. However, visualisation of the rest of the pancreatic duct was successfully performed by ultrasonically guided antegrade wirsungography making the preoperative planning of the suitable type of surgery possible. Beside the case history the importance of the is method is also discussed in diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.

Caring for an aging society: cohort values and eldercare services.

Understanding the impact of cohort values is important in trying to project future aging service needs. The cultural characteristics of cohorts yet to reach the age of 65 are compared with those already "old," with specific focus on the Baby Boomers. Aging policies (and available services) reflect the cultural notions of age and aging held as normative during the historical era in which they are enacted. Previous research into lifestyle preferences, consumer practices, and key characteristics is drawn upon to investigate the values of Baby Boomers in light of their projected needs for eldercare services. Cohort research and generational marketing practices offer a promising foundation for exploring how best to develop, target, and deliver aging services that most effectively utilize our social resources.

Hemispheric differences in global versus local processing: still unclear.

Laterality studies examining the recognition of hierarchical letter forms in normal subjects have had a checkered history. Early ones reported evidence of right hemisphere global and left hemisphere local processing, but later ones found little evidence of lateralized effects. Here three reaction time experiments examine suggestions made in the literature that the asymmetries appear only with small stimulus eccentricities, few experimental trials, or short stimulus exposures. No evidence is found to support a right-hemisphere-global and left-hemisphere-local distinction. However, Experiment 3 reports a shift toward right hemisphere processing of local letters as stimulus duration is curtailed, suggesting right hemisphere involvement when visual conditions are impoverished. These outcomes pose a challenge for clinical reports that differently lateralized cortical lesions have different effects on global and local processing.

[Bilateral testicular tumors]. / Uber bilaterale Hodentumoren.

Five patients with bilateral testicular tumours were treated in the ten year period 1966 to 1975. In two patients the tumour appeared on both sides at the same time, while in three cases it developed 3/4, 6 and 7 years apart, respectively. The tumour was detected in one case in a retained testicle; in 4 cases the testicles were in the scrotum. Factors promoting development of the tumour and the diagnostic possibilities are discussed. It is recommended to remove the testicle by high division of the funiculus and to apply postoperative radiotherapy. In the presence of metastases administration of cytostatics is necessary. The possibilities of hormone substitution are discussed.

Continuous-wave room-temperature laser oscillation of Cr(3+):MgO.

Continuous-wave laser oscillation of Cr(3+):MgO at room temperature was realized under argon-ion laser pumping at 476 and 514 nm. The free-running laser wavelength was 840 nm, and with different mirror sets laser oscillation at 824, 830, 870, and 878 nm was also realized. With different crystals a maximum output power of 48 mW and a lowest threshold with respect to the absorbed pump power of 80 mW were realized. The slope efficiencies with respect to the absorbed pump power were as high as 2.3%. No thermal effects were observed for absorbed pump powers as great as 2.7 W.

Psychological predictors of admission and discharge global assessment of functioning scale scores for geropsychiatric inpatients.

This study examined psychological predictors of Global Assessment of Functioning Scale scores (GAF) at intake and at discharge for geropsychiatric inpatients. A total of 301 predominantly male geropsychiatric inpatients were recruited from the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Path analysis was used to test a model proposing causal paths of psychological predictors (cognitive status, depression, agitation, general psychiatric status) to GAF scores on admission and discharge. At admission, all four psychological predictors had positive paths to the admission GAF scale scores but at discharge, only two (i.e., cognitive status and general psychiatric status) of the four psychological predictors had positive paths to the discharge GAF scale scores. The admission GAF scale scores also had a positive path to the discharge GAF scale scores. The overall functioning level of geropsychiatric inpatients may be predicted by measures which assess overall cognitive status and general psychiatric functioning during hospitalization. Results prompt consideration of a modified global scale specifically reflecting an older adult's activities during this period of life.