Types, distribution, and seasonal occurrence of sounds attributed to Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) recorded in the eastern tropical Pacific, 1999-2001.

Vocalizations resembling known Bryde's whale sounds were recorded on autonomous hydrophones at seven sites in the eastern tropical Pacific. Five short (<3 s) low-frequency (<80 Hz) "phrase" types were observed. "Swept alternating tonal" phrases included a 37-Hz tone and often a 25-16-Hz downswept tone, while "nonswept alternating tonal" phrases had a predominant tone at 29 Hz and often additional tones at 16 and 47 Hz. Alternating tonal phrases were found in 79% of the total hours in which phrases were detected, and occurred primarily at the eastern hydrophone sites. "Burst-tonal" phrases included tones that were often preceded by a wideband burst of noise. The "low burst-tonal" phrase contained tones at 19 and 30 Hz, and was detected at five of the hydrophone sites. The "high burst-tonal" phrase included a 42-Hz tone and was observed only on the northwestern hydrophones. A single "harmonic tone" phrase type was observed that included a fundamental tone at 26 Hz and at least two harmonics; this phrase was observed exclusively at the eastern hydrophone stations. This opportunistic survey has shown that acoustics is an effective means of studying this poorly understood, pelagic balaenopterid.

High incidence of congenital rubella syndrome after a rubella outbreak.

Previous studies of the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) after rubella outbreaks have been limited because most women with infection during the first trimester elected to have their pregnancies terminated. After a rubella outbreak in 1991 we measured prospectively the impact of maternal infection on CRS among the Amish in one county in Pennsylvania. We compared rubella serology of Amish women delivering before and after the outbreak and cord blood rubella IgM from Amish and non-Amish infants. Before the outbreak 20% of Amish women were susceptible to rubella; after the outbreak 4% were (P = 0.001). Of Amish infants 15% tested positive for rubella IgM; no non-Amish infants did (P < 0.001). This rubella outbreak in a largely unimmunized community led to a high rate of CRS. The annual CRS rate among the Amish was 2130/100,000 live births. Health care providers should promote immunization in all clients and intensify efforts among the Amish.

Mortality in a cohort of homeless adults in Philadelphia.

BACKGROUND: Homeless people are at high risk for death from many causes, but age-adjusted death rates for well-defined homeless populations have not been determined. METHODS: We identified 6308 homeless persons 15 to 74 years of age who were served by one or both of two agencies for the homeless in Philadelphia between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1988. Using a data base that contained all deaths in Philadelphia and listings of all Philadelphia residents during the same period, we compared the mortality rate for this homeless population with the rate in the general population of Philadelphia. RESULTS: The age-adjusted mortality rate among the homeless was 3.5 times that of Philadelphia's general population (95 percent confidence interval, 2.8 to 4.5). The age-adjusted number of years of potential life lost before the age of 75 years was 3.6 times higher for the homeless people than for the general population (345 vs. 97 years lost per 1000 person-years of observation). Fifty-one of the 96 deaths of homeless persons (53 percent) occurred during the summer months. Mortality rates were higher among the homeless than in the general population for nonwhites, whites, women, and men. Within the homeless cohort, white men and substance abusers had higher mortality rates than other subgroups, but even homeless people not known to be substance abusers had a threefold higher risk of death than members of the general population. Injuries, heart disease, liver disease, poisoning, and ill-defined conditions accounted for 73 percent of all the deaths among the homeless. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless adults in Philadelphia have an age-adjusted mortality rate nearly four times that of Philadelphia's general population. White men and substance abusers are at particularly high risk. Matching cohorts of homeless people to death records is a useful way to monitor mortality rates over time, evaluate interventions, and identify subgroups with an increased risk of death.