Prospective study on the effect of shirt sleeves and ties on the transmission of bacteria to patients.

Costs associated with hospital-acquired infections lead to policies aimed at decreasing their incidence. Clothing restrictions are often implemented in response, but they are based on little scientific evidence. This study is a prospective, controlled investigation of the effect of shirt sleeves and ties on the transmission of bacteria from doctors to patients. Results show that wearing an unsecured tie results in greater transmission, but that sleeve length does not affect transmission rate. The design is a possible model for further controlled experiments to fill the evidence gap regarding the transmission of micro-organisms from healthcare workers to patients.

Effect of reentrant cone geometry on energy transport in intense laser-plasma interactions.

The energy transport in cone-guided low- Z targets has been studied for laser intensities on target of 2.5x10(20) W cm(-2). Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) imaging and transverse optical shadowgraphy of the rear surfaces of slab and cone-slab targets show that the cone geometry strongly influences the observed transport patterns. The XUV intensity showed an average spot size of 65+/-10 microm for slab targets. The cone slabs showed a reduced spot size of 44+/-10 microm. The shadowgraphy for the aforementioned shots demonstrate the same behavior. The transverse size of the expansion pattern was 357+/-32 microm for the slabs and reduced to 210+/-30 microm. A transport model was constructed which showed that the change in transport pattern is due to suppression of refluxing electrons in the material surrounding the cone.

Evidence of short-range screening in shock-compressed aluminum plasma.

We have investigated the angular variation in elastic x-ray scattering from a dense, laser-shock-compressed aluminum foil. A comparison of the experiment with simulations using an embedded atom potential in a molecular dynamics simulation shows a significantly better agreement than simulations based on an unscreened one-component plasma model. These data illustrate, experimentally, the importance of screening for the dense plasma static structure factor.

Wide angle crystal spectrometer for angularly and spectrally resolved X-ray scattering experiments.

A novel wide angle spectrometer has been implemented with a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite crystal coupled to an image plate. This spectrometer has allowed us to look at the energy resolved spectrum of scattered x rays from a dense plasma over a wide range of angles (approximately 30 degrees ) in a single shot. Using this spectrometer we were able to observe the temporal evolution of the angular scatter cross section from a laser shocked foil. A spectrometer of this type may also be useful in investigations of x-ray line transfer from laser-plasmas experiments.

The detection of shame in group psychotherapy: uncovering the hidden emotion.

Shame, recently so extensively investigated in the individual and family therapy literature, has remained curiously underexplored in the group literature since Alonso and Rutan's noteworthy article on the subject in 1988. Shame is frequently bypassed because, as a result of its hidden nature, its presence is often not detected. This article strives to insure that shame does not go unaddressed. We catalogue and discuss six defenses that may suggest the subterranean workings of shame: (1) focusing on themes that stress similarities among members, (2) generating feelings of scorn and disdain, (3) avoiding here-and-now material, (4) inducing guilt, (5) transference reactions, and (6) preserving the illusion of the leader's infallibility. The best antidote for shame's neglect is a heightened readiness to detect it. Such detection is important because shame plays some role in many of our patients' complaints.

The cytokines: a review of interleukins.

Over the past decade much has been elucidated concerning the cellular and molecular basis for health and disease. This increase in information has created a large gap in knowledge between the research scientist and the clinician. The following review attempts to bridge this gap by describing each of the thirteen interleukins and relating their functions to the clinical presentation of periodontal disease.

Osteoporosis: a risk factor for dental implants and in the prognosis of periodontal therapy.

Two patients were referred to the Graduate Periodontal Clinic, one for placement of dental implants, the other for treatment of advanced periodontal disease. It was determined from an analysis of the Hounsfield scales of bone density from a CT scan that the patient requesting dental implants had severe osteoporotic changes and was, therefore, not a good candidate for the procedure. The second patient's medical history revealed multiple fractures occurring over the years that suggested the presence of osteoporosis. This diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by referral of the patient to an osteoporosis clinic.

An observation and group dynamics model for teaching psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Teaching and learning psychoanalytic psychotherapy are complex tasks involving the necessary integration of cognitive and affective elements. A model for this process is described that uses long-term observation of the teacher-mentor conducting therapy with a single patient. This method supplements and complements the use of supervision and case conferences to train psychoanalytic psychotherapists. The advantages of the observational mode are considered as well as the dynamics inherent in the group process and the discussion that follows the observation period. Such a pedagogical method emphasizes the important integration of affective and cognitive elements.

Leadership of mental health consultation groups: a model for group therapists.

Group therapists often lead consultation groups. For effective leadership it is important to distinguish between consultation groups and psychotherapy groups. A consultation group is one in which a leader serves as consultant to the members. Group process variables of task, contract, role of the leader, and effect of the larger system should be understood by the consultant. The process of defining, testing, and maintaining these variables encourages exploration of resistance and parallel process, and is an important aspect of the ongoing learning. Consultation group leaders should understand the importance of serving as group leader but not group therapist.