The Mars Observer gamma ray spectrometer will return data related to the elemental composition of Mars. The instrument has both a gamma ray spectrometer and several neutron detectors. The gamma ray ...spectrometer will return a spectrum nominally every 20 s from Mars permitting a map of the elemental abundances to be made. The gamma rays are emitted from nuclei involved in radioactive decay, from nuclei formed by capture of a thermal neutron, and from nuclei put in an excited state by a fast-neutron interaction. The gamma rays come from an average depth of the order of a few tens of centimeters. The spectrum will show sharp emission lines whose intensity determines the concentration of the element and whose energy identifies the element. The neutron detectors, using the fact that the orbital velocity of the Mars Observer spacecraft is similar to the velocity of thermal neutrons, determine both the thermal and epithermal neutron flux. By combining the results from both techniques it is possible to map the depth dependence of hydrogen in the upper meter as well. These data permit a variety of Martian geoscience problems to be addressed including the crust and mantle composition, weathering processes, volcanism, and the volatile reservoirs and processes.
The current gamma-ray/neutron instrumentation development effort at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center aims to extend the use of active pulsed neutron interrogation techniques to probe the subsurface ...geochemistry of planetary bodies in situ. All previous NASA planetary science missions, that used neutron and/or gamma-ray spectroscopy instruments, have relied on a constant neutron source produced from galactic cosmic rays. One of the distinguishing features of this effort is the inclusion of a high intensity 14.1 MeV pulsed neutron generator synchronized with a custom data acquisition system to time each event relative to the pulse. With usually only one opportunity to collect data, it is difficult to set a priori time-gating windows to obtain the best possible results. Acquiring time-tagged, event-by-event data from nuclear induced reactions provides raw data sets containing channel/energy, and event time for each gamma ray or neutron detected. The resulting data set can be plotted as a function of time or energy using optimized analysis windows after the data are acquired. Time windows can now be chosen to produce energy spectra that yield the most statistically significant and accurate elemental composition results that can be derived from the complete data set. The advantages of post-processing gamma-ray time-tagged event-by-event data in experimental tests using our prototype instrument will be demonstrated.
To describe the baseline clinical characteristics of patients in the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial (IONDT).
The IONDT is a single-masked, multicenter, randomized clinical trial.
...Twenty-five US clinical centers.
Eligibility criteria for randomization to either optic nerve sheath decompression surgery or careful follow-up included a diagnosis of acute unilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a visual acuity of 20/64 or worse and better than no light perception, and an age of 50 years or older. Patients who were eligible except for having visual acuity better than 20/64 were not randomized, but were followed up.
Each patient underwent a standardized history and examination by certified study personnel within 14 days of the onset of symptoms. Masked personnel performed outcome measurements.
Of 420 patients with NAION, 258 were randomized, and 162 were not randomized and are being followed up. Sixty-two percent of the patients were men and 95% were white. The mean +/- SD age at onset was 66.0 +/- 8.7 years. Hypertension was reported in 47% of the patients in the IONDT, and 24% of the patients had diabetes mellitus. Forty-two percent of the patients recalled the onset of visual symptoms to be within 2 hours of awakening. Initial visual acuities in the study eye ranged from 20/20 or better to light perception, with 49% of the patients seeing better than 20/64 and 34% of the patients seeing 20/200 or worse. The mean Westergren sedimentation rate was 18.4 mm/h, with 9% of the patients having a rate greater than 40 mm/h. The nonrandomized patients (visual acuity better than 20/64) were younger, 72% were male, and they had a lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
Although our baseline findings are derived from a selected population of patients with NAION who were eligible for the IONDT, they provide the first description of NAION from a large prospective study that used a standard definition of NAION and only included patients who were identified within 2 weeks of the onset of symptoms.
Sure, you can start publishing updates and sending friend and follow requests, but those communications are just the preliminary steps to social media marketing success. The power of social media ...marketing comes from the relationships you develop with your online audience (who will become brand advocates and will talk about your business, champion it, and defend it against naysayers). --
Of 2,807 specimens from blood donors and men in industry, 340 or 12 per cent had serum protein-bound iodine values of 4.0 micrograms or less per 100 cc. In a selected group of 610 “white collar” ...workers, 52 or 8.5 per cent had similar low values. Careful reexamination of a sample of the latter group indicated that at least 75 per cent of them had hypothyroidism needing treatment. Further analysis of the factors producing hypothyroidism and the validation of the incidence found is warranted. If the incidence observed in this study is confirmed, these findings indicate that 6 per cent to 9 per cent, or more than a million middle aged American men have hypothyroidism.
247 recruits completed a 10-wk training program as intensive case managers (ICMs). The ICM workforce is comprised of mature, well educated, and experienced persons, aged 21–62 yrs. 54% of the ...trainees were social workers, 12% were rehabilitation specialists, and 10% were psychologists. The demographic profile of ICMs demonstrates the effectiveness recruiting experienced and culturally diverse personnel to work with individuals with long-term psychiatric disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
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To monitor the incidence of burnout among New York City Intensive Case Managers (ICMs), the Intensive Case Management Training Faculty at the Hunter College School of Social Work initiated a ...longitudinal study of this phenomenon in May, 1989, via a series of annual self-administered questionnaires.
Data covering the first year of operation of the New York City Intensive Case Management Program indicate a statistically significant lower incidence of burnout among New York City ICMs as compared to the national norm for mental health workers established by Maslach and Jackson (1981a). Moreover, there is a favorable correlation of the three indicators in Maslach's Burnout Inventory-emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA)-with three ICM program factors-length of ICMs' job tenure, ICM program and provider agency support, and ICMs' success/difficulty in accessing resources for their clients.
Specifically, the longer an ICM's on-the-job tenure, the less the ICM's feelings of EE and DP and the greater the ICM's sense of PA. Low EE of ICMs also appeared consistent with their perceived success in overcoming barriers and accessing resources for their clients and with the provision of support to them by ICM provider agencies. Conversely, perceived difficulty in accessing resources and overcoming barriers, the latter evidenced by perceived lack of support or responsiveness from community provider agencies, contributed to increased feelings of EE and DP.
These findings point to ICMs' longevity, a corresponding low job turnover rate, and a sense of competence on the part of ICMs in performing their jobs as keys to effective intensive case management, and to the success of New York City ICM provider agencies in instituting the managerial practices advocated by psychosocial rehabilitation proponents that promote ICM job competence and retention.
Nonetheless, ICMs continue to voice their frustration with persistent systems barriers, and top-level ICM program administrators have yet to provide sufficient support and develop effective strategies to help ICMs overcome them. A second ICM survey, which focused on these concerns, was completed in June, 1991. Its results will be issued at a future date.
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