Harmonium: A pulse preserving source of monochromatic extreme ultraviolet (30-110 eV) radiation for ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy of liquids.

A tuneable repetition rate extreme ultraviolet source (Harmonium) for time resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of liquids is presented. High harmonic generation produces 30-110 eV photons, with fluxes ranging from ∼2 × 10(11) photons/s at 36 eV to ∼2 × 10(8) photons/s at 100 eV. Four different gratings in a time-preserving grating monochromator provide either high energy resolution (0.2 eV) or high temporal resolution (40 fs) between 30 and 110 eV. Laser assisted photoemission was used to measure the temporal response of the system. Vibrational progressions in gas phase water were measured demonstrating the ∼0.2 eV energy resolution.

High-gain harmonic-generation free-electron laser seeded by harmonics generated in gas.

The injection of a seed in a free-electron laser (FEL) amplifier reduces the saturation length and improves the longitudinal coherence. A cascaded FEL, operating in the high-gain harmonic-generation regime, allows us to extend the beneficial effects of the seed to shorter wavelengths. We report on the first operation of a high-gain harmonic-generation free-electron laser, seeded with harmonics generated in gas. The third harmonics of a Ti:sapphire laser, generated in a gas cell, has been amplified and up-converted to its second harmonic (λ(rad)=133 nm) in a FEL cascaded configuration based on a variable number of modulators and radiators. We studied the transition between coherent harmonic generation and superradiant regime, optimizing the laser performances with respect to the number of modulators and radiators.

Hábitos alimentarios y experiencia de caries en adultos jóvenes en Rosario Argentina / Food habits and caries experience in young adult from Rosario Argentina

En Rosario la atención odontológica se brinda en ámbitos privados y públicos. Los servicios públicos carecen de programas para evitar la pérdida dentaria en adultos. Nuestro objetivo fue describir el perfil epidemiológico de experiencia de caries y hábitos dietéticos en tres sub-poblaciones de adultos jóvenes. Aplicando una anamnesis estandarizada se investigaron 517 pacientes, ambos sexos, 15-45 años, concurrentes a un servicio privado (19 por ciento) y dos públicos (81 por ciento), uno céntrico y otro marginal. Variables investigadas: consumo de lácteos y alimentos dulces, estado bucal y escolaridad. Se aplicaron pruebas estadísticas t de student, ANOVA y chi-cuadrado. Promedios hallados: cariados 1,7 ±2,0 en privado, 4,1±2,8 en públicos (p=0.0001); ausentes 5,4±5,2 en privado, 6,8±5,4 en públicos (p=0.04); obturados 4,4±4,2 en privado, 1,3±2,2 en públicos (p<0.0001). Nivel de escolaridad: superior en el privado (p<0.0001). Consumo diario de lácteos: mayoría en privados (p<0.001). En los servicios públicos los pacientes reemplazan la leche por el mate y relacionan su ingesta con la gravidez, lactancia o la dejan para los niños. Tipos de golosinas o dulces de riesgo consumidos: en el sector privado fueron panificados tipo facturas, tortas, galletitas y dulces, y en los públicos caramelos blandos, alfajores y dulce de leche. El consumo de alimentos dulces de menor riesgo fue de helados, pastillas, gaseosas y chocolates en los privados y de caramelos duros y chicles con y sin azúcar en los públicos. Si bien un alto número de personas los ingieren a cualquier hora, los pacientes privados fueron minoría, mientras que en su consumo sólo después de una comida éstos fueron mayoría.

Spherical-grating monochromator with a variable-line-spaced grating for synchrotron radiation.

An optical design for spherical-grating monochromators for application to synchrotron radiation is presented. High spectral and spatial performance is obtained with a spherical variable-line-spaced grating coupled to a spherical mirror with its tangential plane coincident with the grating's equatorial plane. The monochromator works without an entrance slit in an off-Rowland configuration with a fixed entrance arm and demagnification on the exit slit. The law for groove-space variation of the grating compensates for the main spectral aberrations; spectral focusing in an extended energy range is ensured by a slight change in the exit arm with translations of the order of a few tens of millimeters. The inclusion of a spherical mirror ensures focusing on a plane perpendicular to the plane of spectral dispersion. The ultimate resolution is limited by the slope errors of a single spherical surface. The layout is applied to the design of a high-resolution monochromator for the 1000-250-eV region.

Occupation and histopathology of lung cancer: A case-control study in Rosario, Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Male age-adjusted lung cancer mortality rate is high in Rosario City, Argentina (62.7 per 100,000). METHODS: Case-control study involving interviews with 367 male lung cancer patients and 576 controls. RESULTS: The histological distribution detected was: squamous cell 39%, adenocarcinoma 34%, small cell carcinoma 13%, and other or no specified cell type 14%. When comparing with the group unlikely to be exposed to occupational carcinogens, a 60% increase in risk was observed for the remaining occupations (P < 0.008). Risks were high for drivers (OR=1.9, CI: 1.1-4.0), construction (OR=2.5, CI: 1.0-5.9), and agricultural workers also (OR=1.8, CI: 1. 1-3.1). In regard to squamous cell carcinoma, increased risks were observed in the metal industry, particularly in welders (OR=2.9, CI: 1.0-10.1) and mechanics (OR=1.8, CI: 0.9-4.2). Smoking was not a substantial confounding effect. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposures partly account for the high lung cancer mortality rate among male residents of Rosario City.

Irritable bowel syndrome: clinical and psychopathological correlations.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder in gastroenterology consultations. Our objectives were to assess patients' psychic functioning, the relationships between psychopathology and pain, the degree of psychopathology in constipated and diarrheic subgroups, and if previous abdominal surgery was related to pain intensity. Forty-five gastroenterological outpatients, both sexes, were studied. Patients were grouped as predominantly constipated, predominantly diarrheic, or alternating constipation and diarrhea. After diagnosis, patients had: Psychologist half-guided interviews, Bender Visuomotor Gestalt Test, Hammer Graphic Tests, and Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Tests. The last one showed that 78% suffered from distortion in reality perception; 100% thought away from reality and had a deficit in organizing capability, synthesis, and integration. Within psychological gnosiology, these patients would be diagnosed as borderline personalities and this would imply an overlapping of neurotic and psychotic functioning. Affective vulnerability and overadjustment to environment were found, and this finding is an original one to the best of our knowledge.

Cluster analysis with constraints: its use with breast cancer mortality rates in Argentina.

One approach to analyse geographic variations of a disease within a country is through mortality rates in administrative areas. In some geographical areas the rates can be unstable due to their low population. Thus, the statistical analysis of the rate could be not significant due to low population, not because of the real value. An alternative approach to this problem is to set a minimum level of population that enables valid statistical comparisons with the national rate to be made. It is decided to apply an algorithm that groups neighbouring geographical units that reach the minimum population. In the resulting regions, mortality rates are calculated, and the geographic patterns are analysed through the Moran's I coefficient of spatial clustering. This paper presents an application of this approach to mortality rates from breast cancer by Argentine departments, political administrative units into which a province is divided. Applying this procedure, 217 regions were obtained. In two of the regions the rates were significantly higher than the national rate, while in 40 regions they were significantly lower. Significant spatial grouping, reflected by a Moran I coefficient of O-47, was observed.

[Occupational exposure and lung cancer in smokers]. / Exposición ocupacional y cáncer de pulmón en fumadores.

High male lung cancer incidence and mortality in Rosario city, Argentina, have been found in previous studies. A project was undertaken for the purpose of evaluating the life-time occupational history as well as the duration and intensity of cigarette smoking as determinants of histologic cell types in 211 male patients with primary lung cancer. Their histologic cell types were: squamous 39%, adenocarcinoma 29%, small cell 18%, and others and not specified 14%. An association was found between histologic cell types and occupations (p < 0.0001), adenocarcinoma being more prevalent in office personnel, teachers, accountants, lawyers, and squamous in the other, supposedly dirtier working environments, mainly in those men who had begun to work in farming and later transferred to mechanics and metallurgy. These latter ones were diagnosed at a younger age than those in other occupations, with a significant difference for squamous and small cell. No differences in the smoking intensity were found between the occupational groups. The mean age these patients began to smoke at was 15 years for those with squamous and small cell, and 17 years for those with adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). An interesting finding was the difference at their mean-age at diagnosis, 58 years for smokers and 68 for ex-smokers (p < 0.0001). Studies are needed to elucidate the interplay of risk factors in the etiology of histologic subtypes of lung cancer.

[Psychological differences between ulcer and non-ulcer dyspeptic patients]. / Diferencias psicológicas entre pacientes ulcerosos y dispépticos no ulcerosos.

The existence of differences in the psychological profile of 39 endoscopically evaluated patients with ulcer (U) and non ulcer (NU) dyspepsia were examined. There were 21 U and 18 NU subjects. Cigarette smoking, intake of alcohol, coffee, mate, aspirin and NSAID were recorded, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Personality traits were determined by the Rorschach Test, considering psychological profile (introversive, extroversive, self-restrained), impulse and emotion control (do not allow their expression, impulsive, adequately conveyed) and level of social adaptation (low, normal, high). U and NU subjects experienced a similar number of potentially stressful life events. However, U patients perceived their events more negatively. Although no one type of "ulcer personality" was found consistently, ulcer patients tended to be more introversive and they had a better social adaptation than NU.

Diferencias psicológicas entre pacientes ulcerosos y dispépticos no ulcerosos / [Psychological differences between ulcer and non-ulcer dyspeptic patients]

The existence of differences in the psychological profile of 39 endoscopically evaluated patients with ulcer (U) and non ulcer (NU) dyspepsia were examined. There were 21 U and 18 NU subjects. Cigarette smoking, intake of alcohol, coffee, mate, aspirin and NSAID were recorded, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Personality traits were determined by the Rorschach Test, considering psychological profile (introversive, extroversive, self-restrained), impulse and emotion control (do not allow their expression, impulsive, adequately conveyed) and level of social adaptation (low, normal, high). U and NU subjects experienced a similar number of potentially stressful life events. However, U patients perceived their events more negatively. Although no one type of [quot ]ulcer personality[quot ] was found consistently, ulcer patients tended to be more introversive and they had a better social adaptation than NU.

Variation in smoking-related lung cancer risk factors by cell type among men in Argentina: a case-control study.

A high mortality rate for lung cancer (62.7 per 100,000) is found in Rosario, Argentina. To investigate the reasons for this high rate, a case-control study was carried out among 215 male cases with histologically confirmed lung cancer and 433 hospitalized controls for conditions unrelated to tobacco consumption. Odds ratios (OR) of squamous cell (SQ), adenocarcinoma (AD), and small cell (SM) carcinoma of the lung associated with different characteristics of the smoking habit were quantified. Ninety-eight percent of the cases had smoked regularly. Smokers were significantly younger at diagnosis than ex-smokers (P < 0.0001), a pattern consistent for all cell types. The ORs for the heaviest cf the lowest consumption categories were 15.3 for SQ, 11.6 for AD, and 11.6 for all lung cancer (P < 0.0001). Risks associated with the use of unfiltered cigarettes were three to five times higher than those for filtered cigarettes, depending on cell types. For ex-smokers, risks after 10 years of nonsmoking were about 12 times lower than those of current smokers (P < 0.001). To halt further increases in lung cancer, preventive measures in Argentina should be directed primarily towards smoking control.

Blood lipid associations in 18 year-old men.

The association of cigarette smoking, physical activity at work, and social class with total cholesterol and with high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were examined in a random sample of 238 males, of 18 years of age, of Rosario, Argentina. The mean (mg/dl) total serum cholesterol of the whole sample was 174.7, the high density lipoprotein cholesterol 52.8, and the low density lipoprotein cholesterol 121.5. Black tobacco consumers, evenly distributed by social class, had higher levels of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Total cholesterol was higher in the high social class, differently from what smokers' distribution by social class, would lead one to expect. While a highly negative association was found between social class and physical activity at work, there were no significant differences in lipoprotein levels between manual and non-manual workers. It is possible that the nutritional differences by social class still prevail over the smoking habit in their influence on the lipoprotein levels in these subjects.

[Prevalence of smoking in young people and their parents. Important associations with education and occupation]. / Prevalencia del habito de fumar en jóvenes y sus padres. Asociaciones relevantes con educacion y ocupación.

Rosario, with a million inhabitants, is the second major urban concentration in Argentina and serves as the commercial and industrial center for a large area. In view of the lack of information on the present prevalence of smoking in this area as for the country as a whole, a study was performed on random samples of young people and university students of medicine and economics, as well as on their parents. Information was obtained on their life smoking habits, education and occupation. The prevalence of the habit was higher: a) in men, both in the youngsters and their parents; b) in medical students than in those of the economic sciences; c) in parents with university education. The smoking habit of these subjects and parents was highly associated (p less than 0.001) in the sample of young people, although no association was found between the prevalence of smoking among university students and their parents. Peer smoking was the main factor influencing the onset of cigarette smoking given by 69% of the subjects. Knowledge of specific adverse health effects of smoking was poor. Attitudes toward restrictive measures were highly associated (p less than 0.001) with the non-smoker category. Based on these findings, we conclude that while there is a need for educational programs for the population in general, the university as a whole and specifically the school of medicine should implement a program to increase knowledge and awareness on this public health problem.

Cancer mortality and some socio economic correlates in Rosario, Argentina.

The age-standardized mortality rates by sex for cancer of all sites and some specific sites were calculated in the 22 areas of Rosario (Argentina). The rates by area were correlated with education, occupation, housing quality and population density, applying Kendall's tau. Cervical cancer rates showed the strongest correlations, which were positive with illiteracy, unqualified occupations and poor housing. These variables presented positive correlations with stomach cancer also, which were more significant in males than in females. Colon and breast cancer rates had positive correlations with the highest levels of education, occupational status, housing conditions and population density.

[Significant correlations of mortality due to stomach and colonic cancer in Rosario with other neoplastic sites]. / Asociaciones relevantes de la mortalidad por cáncer de estómago y colon en Rosario con otras localizaciones neoplásicas.

The age standardized mortality rates, by sex, for cancer all sites and some diagnostic sites were calculated in the 22 Areas of the city of Rosario during the period 1977-81. The rates of the different cancer sites, by Areas, were correlated with stomach and colon cancers, by sex, applying the Kendall's tau, a non-parametric method of correlation. While the mortality rates for cancer all sites and for stomach cancer in males were higher than in females in almost all of the Areas, for colon cancer they were almost similar. Colon cancer rates in both sexes had negative correlations with infant mortality rates, and in females had positive correlations with breast cancer, and negative correlations with cervix and uterus cancer. Stomach mortality rates had negative correlations with those of colon in both sexes, and positive correlations with total cancer and infant mortality rates. The distribution of the mortality rates of some cancer sites and their correlations suggest that some risk factors and shared in their causal chain.