Broadband, millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for large-format, cryogenic aluminum oxide optics.

We present two prescriptions for broadband ($ {\sim} 77 - 252\;{\rm GHz} $), millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for cryogenic, sintered polycrystalline aluminum oxide optics: one for large-format (700 mm diameter) planar and plano-convex elements, the other for densely packed arrays of quasi-optical elements-in our case, 5 mm diameter half-spheres (called "lenslets"). The coatings comprise three layers of commercially available, polytetrafluoroethylene-based, dielectric sheet material. The lenslet coating is molded to fit the 150 mm diameter arrays directly, while the large-diameter lenses are coated using a tiled approach. We review the fabrication processes for both prescriptions, then discuss laboratory measurements of their transmittance and reflectance. In addition, we present the inferred refractive indices and loss tangents for the coating materials and the aluminum oxide substrate. We find that at 150 GHz and 300 K the large-format coating sample achieves $ (97 \pm 2)\% $ transmittance, and the lenslet coating sample achieves $ (94 \pm 3)\% $ transmittance.

Attitudes of NICU professionals regarding feeding blood-tinged colostrum or milk.

OBJECTIVE: Mothers of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients sometimes bring expressed milk that is blood tinged to the NICU. In certain instances, the blood contamination appears minimal, whereas in others, the milk is quite dark pink. We have observed inconsistencies in practice regarding whether or not to feed blood-tinged colostrum or milk to NICU patients. We know of no evidence that establishes best practice in this area, and thus we sought to determine attitudes of NICU professionals on which to base a potentially best practice. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a web-based anonymous survey of attitudes of NICU professionals at Intermountain Healthcare regarding feeding blood-tinged expressed milk to NICU patients. These professionals included neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, NICU nurses, NICU dieticians and lactation consultants. RESULT: Survey results were returned from 64% (426 of 667) of those to whom it was sent. A total of 75% of respondents reported that their practice was NOT to feed the blood-tinged milk illustrated in the figure as sample 2, and nearly all respondents (98%) reported that they would NOT feed the milk illustrated as sample 3. The majority of the neonatologists (56%) and the lactation consultants (58%) recommended feeding moderately bloody milk (sample 2), whereas only 22% of the neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs), NICU nurses and NICU dieticians recommended feeding such samples (<0.001). The most frequently selected reason for NOT feeding blood-tinged milk was that it would likely cause gastrointestinal upset and feeding intolerance (selected by 77%). The majority (87%) overestimated the amount of blood contaminating a milk sample (sample 3). CONCLUSION: As colostrum and human milk feedings can be of value to NICU patients, evidence should be assembled to document whether feeding blood-tinged samples indeed have the problems listed by the survey respondents. Such evidence is needed to enable informed decisions involving the benefits vs risks of feeding blood-tinged expressed milk to NICU patients.

Asian immigration: the view from the United States.

"The focus of this essay will be restricted to contemporary Asian immigration, especially as it is seen from the United States....I shall examine policies first, followed by data on recent immigration from Asia to the United States. Impacts will be discussed primarily with regard to the United States and to the immigrants themselves. Finally, I will conclude with speculations as to the future course of immigration to the United States from Asia."

Causes of adverse responses to soybean milk replacers in young calves.

Sixty Holstein bull calves were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups following an initial 3-d colostrum feeding period. They were fed either whole cows' milk or ethanol-extracted or hexane-extracted soy flour in milk replacers to 6 wk of age. These products were used to identify possible causative factors associated with adverse responses to soybean in milk replacers. Average weight gains to 6 wk of age were 13.8, 7.3, and 2.8 kg and mortality was 0/20, 4/20, and 9/20 for calves fed milk, ethanol-extracted soy, and hexane-extracted soy, respectively. Heart rates (beats/min) were increased by the soy flours: 99.1 (ethanol extracted) and 116.3 (hexane extracted) versus 87.6 (milk). There was also an increased respiratory rate (breaths/min) with 67.6 and 61.1 versus 41.6 for the same treatment groups. Intradermal wheal growths verified an allergic sensitivity to the soybean products. Serum prostaglandin F2 alpha was 22% higher in the serum of calves fed the hexane-extracted soy milk replacer than in the serum of calves fed milk. Phenolic compounds in the soybean flour were implicated as possible causative factors in the adverse responses to the soybean milk replacers. Ethanol extraction of the soy flour was more effective than hexane extraction in removing phenolic compounds (2.19 vs. 1.00% phenolics).

Feeding and management of dairy heifers for optimal lifetime productivity.

A total of 433 Holstein heifer calves were fed two different energy amounts from 6 wk of age to breeding weight to determine the effect of early nutrition and age at first calving on lifetime performance. A control group of 182 heifers was fed according to the Beltsville growth standard. A second group of 251 heifers was accelerated in growth by providing more energy during early development. Both groups of heifers were bred at a minimum weight of 340 kg. Average ages at first calving for control and accelerated heifers were 24.6 mo and 22.2 mo with corresponding 305-d first lactation unadjusted milk production values of 6985 and 6729 kg and unadjusted milk fat yields of 222 and 216 kg. Average 305-d milk production values through subsequent lactations for control and accelerated animals, were lactation 2, 7790, 7842 kg; lactation 3, 8200, 8330 kg; lactation 4, 9481, 9134 kg; lactation 5, 9865, 9588 kg; lactation 6, 9515, 10,108; lactation 7, 9661, 10,112. Average total milk yields over five lactations were 42,321 and 41,623 kg. Percentages of cows remaining in the herd after five lactations were 19 and 18 for control and accelerated animals. Reproductive problems, mastitis, and deaths accounted for 70% of cows leaving the herd and did not differ between treatment groups.

Asian Americans: growth, change, and diversity.

PIP: The 1980 US census counted 3.5 million Asian Americans, up from 1.4 million in 1970. Asian Americans made up just 1.5% of the total US population of 226.5 million as of April 1, 1980, but this was the 3rd largest racial or ethnic minority after blacks and Hispanics. Asians increased far more during the 1970s (141%) than blacks (17%) or Hispanics (39%). This Bulletin examines the characteristics of Asian Americans, how their numbers have grown, where they live, how different groups vary in age structure, childbearing, health, and longevity. It reports on the kinds of households Asian Americans form and how they fare with regard to education, occupation, and income. Asian Americans are now often perceived as the model minority. As a whole, they are better educated, occupy higher rungs on the occupational ladder, and earn more than the general US population and even white Americans. This Bulletin presents the 1st comprehensive look at many important facts about Asian Americans and how the groups differ. Special tabulations of data collected in the 1980 census are provided. The 1980 census data are the latest available to give a true picture at the national level of Asian Americans and the various groups among them. The Bulletin examines the current numbers of Asian Americans and how this population is defined. The major Asian American groups are Chinese (21%), Filipinos (20%), Japanese (15%), Vietnamese (21%), Koreans (11%), and Asian Indians (10%). Except for the latest-arrived Vietnamese, the fertility of the 6 groups is lower than the white average. The following areas are also discussed: mortality and health; families and households; education; Asian youth; employment; income and poverty; and future prospects.^ieng

Influences of methionine hydroxy analog on milk and milk fat production, blood serum lipids, and plasma amino acids.

Feeding for 150 days of 25 g per day of methionine hydroxy analog was tested on 100 cows (52 treated and 48 controls) in the Brigham Young University herd. Effect of days after parturition of initiating methionine hydroxy analog feeding also was observed. Milk yields were not affected by methionine hydroxy analog, but fat percent and fat yields were increased 21 and 17% by the additive. Abnormally low milk fat by control cows (2.84%) magnified the response to methionine hydroxy analog feeding. Feeding methionine hydroxy analog beginning 0 to 12 days postpartum elicited much larger increases of milk fat than started later (17 to 102 days). Blood from the coccygeal vein of 20 cows from each treatment had 10% more triglycerides from cows fed methionine hydroxy analog than from control cows. Increases of arterio-venous differences across the mammary gland of triglycerides and lipoproteins of blood serum suggested that increases of milk fat could have resulted from greater uptake of performed fat by the udder. Feeding methionine hydroxy analog increased methionine, isoleucine, and leucine in serum of coccygeal vein, but methionine was the only amino acid with significantly higher arteriovenous differences across the mammary gland.

Life tables by ethnic group for Hawaii, 1980.

PIP: The Hawaiian life tables presented in this study are constructed by utilizing recent mortality and population data provided by the US Census and the Hawaii State Department of Health. The problems and solutions encountered when dealing with a small state with a smal population are discussed. Along with the problem of data irregularities -- such as death fluctuations during short periods of time -- the most vexing problems lay in the procedure to close the tables. There are a number of ways to close the life tables; several are based on the assumption that certain mortality functions follow a specified type of curve. The conservative approach chosen involves a regression equation that tends to minimize differences among the various ethnic groups. For the combined sexes and for all ethnic groups combined, the regression equation gives a life expectancy at age 75 of 10.59 years and a life expectancy at birth of 76.92 years. This approach slightly underestimates life expectancy at birth for the total population. Because of this, tables for the numerically small groups are less reliable than are the tables for the larger groups and for the total population. Results show that: 1) female life expectancy at birth is 81 1/2 years; 2) male life expectancy is 75 years; and 3) life expectancy by ethnic group shows Chinese and Japanese rank the highest, Filipinos next highest, Caucasians and others have the next highest, and Hawaiians and part Hawaiians have the lowest. It is clear that marked nortality differentials remain between ethnic groups and between the sexes in Hawaii.^ieng

International and internal migration decision making: a value-expectancy based analytical framework of intentions to move from a rural Philippine province.

"The study compares determinants of internal and international migration intentions, drawing upon interview data from a sample of adults in Ilocos Norte, a largely rural province in the Philippines. A regression model is applied to test the relative determinants of intentions to migrate to Manila and to Hawaii. The study is based on a value-expectancy model of migration decision making. The results document the importance of subjective expectations related to the attainment of different values and goals in Manila and Hawaii."

Milk gases, mastitis and milking machines.

Recent studies both in the field and in research laboratories demonstrate that pressure changes within a milk machine system can cause bacteria-laden milk droplets to be introduced into the teat during milking. The injection of milk droplets into the teat cistern by pressure differentials across the teat orifice is dependent upon: dissolved gases in the milk, the level of vacuum, the time the teat is exposed to vacuum after the end point of milking, and the resistance of the teat wall to collapse in response to the internal vacuum space within the teat cistern after milking. Recent evidence using scanning electron microscopy, supported by field studies, demonstrates manufacturing problems of teat cup inflations as they relate to bacteriologic contamination in the environment of the teat. A new approach is needed in mastitis control research to include an independent agency for the evaluation of milking machines as they relate to tissue damage and microbial recontamination of the teat orifice.

Regression estimates of mortality from incomplete death registration.

PIP: Regression models using data from 280 populations have been used to develop a procedure to estimate life expectancy at birth using incomplete vital registration data under the alternative assumption of constant rules of incompleteness at all ages and all ages over 5 years. The model based on the latter assumption is preferred, since registration is usually less complete at ages below 5 than at older ages. These models were applied to 43 countries with reliable death registration data and 25 countries with incomplete registration data. The estimates of life expectancy at birth were found to be generally consistent with the UN estimates and those of a 1977 study. By use of a tabulation of registered deaths and population by broad age categories, it is possible to estimate with reasonable accuracy a common measure of mortality. The procedures are applicable regardless of the extent of underregistration under the basic assumption of constant rates of registration completeness at ages above 5. Application to data for several countries lends support to the plausability of this assumption and results in fairly accurate estimates. The importance of exploring empirical relationships between demographic indices and the usefulness of publishing vital registration data on a regular basis, even when registration is very incomplete is noted.^ieng

The effect of induced abortion on the incidence of Down's syndrome in Hawaii.

There was a decrease in the recorded number of cases and in the incidence rate of Down's syndrome in Hawaii between 1963-1969 and 1971-1977. Independent of all other factors, induced abortion accounted for 43 percent of the decline in the number of cases, based on the assumption that a substantial number of clandestine abortions were being performed in Hawaii before the 1970 legalization of abortion. However, if we assume that very few illegal abortions were performed prior to 1970, there would have been an actual 3.5 percent increase in the number of cases of Down's syndrome in the absence of legal abortion. Declining pregnancy rates and decreasing age-specific incidence rates of Down's syndrome also contributed to the drop in the number of cases between 1963-1969 and 1971-1977.

PIP: This study uses data from Hawaii birth and death certificates and from the Department of Health Mental Retardation Registry for 1963-69 and 1971-77 to investigate whether there has been a decrease in the number of babies born with Down's syndrome since the legalization of abortion, and to what degree such a decrease may be attributed to legal abortion. High and low estimates of Down's syndrome prevalence and 3 types of measures used to estimate the change in its incidence lead to the conclusion that the number of cases and the incidence rates of Down's syndrome fell by between 24.5% and 48% between 1963-69 and 1971-77. A mathematical decomposition was made of the relative impact on the decline in number of cases observed between the 2 periods of 5 factors: Down's syndrome incidence rates by age, number and distribution of women of childbearing age, and pregnancy, abortion and fetal death rates by age. Four sets of data are derived, the most likely of which assumes that a significant number of induced abortions occurred before legalization and that the recorded cases of Down's syndrome represent almost complete coverage. Under these assumptions the number of cases of Down's syndrome fell by 24 between the 2 periods, and 43% of the total decline was accounted for by a rise in the rate of induced abortions, independent of all other factors. Declining pregnancy rates and decreasing age-specific incidence rates also contributed to the decline in number of cases.