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The present work was focused to design a cheap, rapid, portable and easy to use filter paper based assay for the qualitative and quantitate analysis of acetone. Sodium alginate gel was loaded with the acetone specific optical signal probe, and subsequently coated onto filter paper surface to design portable colorimetric assays for acetone monitoring. The color of the paper sensor strip was observed to change from dark yellow to light yellowish in the presence of varying concentrations of acetone. Three different color analyzing models including RGB, HSV, and LAB were employed to probe the output optical signal, and their performance was compared in terms of better interpretation of the generated signal. The LAB model was found to provide better analytical figures of merit with a linear response for the acetone concentration ranging from 2.5 to 1500 ppm, and a limit of detection of 0.5 ppm. Furthermore, the specificity of the designed filter paper based sensor was demonstrated against different common interfering compounds. The results demonstrated the potential of our proposed filter paper based sensor as a novel tool for the analysis of acetone.

Objective Prostate cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and there is limited knowledge on its preventable risk factors. A number of occupational exposures in natural resource-based industries are suspected to be related to prostate cancer risk. This study investigates associations between employment in these industries and prostate cancer. Methods Data were from a population-based, case–control study previously conducted in Northeastern Ontario. Incident cases (N=760) aged 45–85 years and diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1995 and 1998 were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry. Controls (N=1632) were recruited using telephone listings, and were frequency matched to cases by age. Lifetime occupational history was collected for all participants. Logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and their associated 95% CIs. Results Elevated risks were observed for employment in forestry and logging industries (OR=1.87, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.73) and occupations (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.35), and these risks increased with duration of employment for ≥10 years. Elevated risks were also found for employment in wood products industries (OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.97), and paper and allied products industries (OR=1.43, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.00), and when duration of employment was ≥10 years. There were also elevated risks in agriculture and mining-related work; however, these findings were not consistent across industry and occupation categories. Conclusions Prostate cancer risk may be associated with work in several natural resource industries, primarily in the forest industries. To further evaluate observed associations, studies should focus on natural resource-based exposures in larger populations with improved exposure assessment.

Background: Measurement of the duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is common practice, serving as an important index of the severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a predictor of functional outcome. However, controversy exists regarding the nature of PTA; some studies indicate that it is a confusional state with symptoms that extend beyond disorientation and amnesia. Objective: To evaluate the contribution of the severity of acute confusion 1 month after TBI to prediction of employment at 1 year after injury, comparing it with PTA duration. Methods: Prospective study involving 171 participants with complete data, who met the study criteria, from 228 consecutive TBI Model System admissions. Outcome measures included weekly administration of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DelRS-R98) to measure the severity of acute confusion. Evaluations closest to 1 month after injury were used for study purposes. Duration of PTA was defined as the interval from injury until two consecutive Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test scores of ⩾76 were obtained within a period of 24–72 h. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to predict employment status at 1 year after injury. Results: Age, education and DelRS-R98 were significant predictors accounting for 34% of outcome variance. Individuals with greater confusion severity at 1 month after injury, older age and lower levels of education were less likely to be employed at 1 year after injury. Severity of confusion was more strongly associated with employment outcome (r s = −0.39) than was PTA duration (r s = −0.34). Conclusions: In addition to demographic indices, severity of acute confusion makes a unique contribution to predicting late outcome after TBI.

Objectives: To evaluate functioning, 18 months after surgery, of 49 patients with good neurological recovery following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), and to determine the extent of any improvements in disturbances of mood, cognitive functioning, and levels of activity and participation previously observed at 9 month follow up. Methods: SAH patients, matched for age, gender, and occupation with healthy control participants, completely quantitative measures of mood (HADS, FIES, BDI) and activity/participation (BICRO-39 scales), and a brief cognitive assessment battery (verbal fluency, digit span, prose recall). Controls completed the HADS and the BICRO-39. Results: Patients showed some recovery of cognitive functioning, though impairments of prose recall persisted. Anxiety and depression symptoms were higher in patients than in controls, but fewer than 20% scored in the clinical range on any questionnaires except for RIES-Intrusive thoughts (22%); only three showed signs of full blown post-traumatic stress disorder. Almost half showed elevated dependence on others for domestic activities and organisation and abnormally low levels of employment. Very little variance in outcome was predicted by demographic variables, neurological or cognitive impairment, prior life stress, or mood. However, levels of social activity and self-organisation were related to persisting fatigue. Conclusions: The observed decline in intrusive thoughts and avoidance over time is consistent with that seen after life threatening illness or trauma. The persistent reductions in independence and levels of employment may in some cases reflect considered lifestyle adjustments rather than adverse and unwanted changes but in others indicate a need for focused rehabilitation.

The article offers information on the paper industry in India and the contributions of the said industry to the country's economy. Topics discussed include the economic aspects of the industry including its portion in the global paper production, employment, and its use of technology; the status of exports and imports; and forecast for growth in paper demand in fiscal year (FY) 2020.

Web-based surveys have become more prevalent in areas such as evaluation, research, and marketing research to name a few. The proliferation of these online surveys raises the question, how do response rates compare with traditional surveys and at what cost? This research explored response rates and costs for Web-based surveys, paper surveys, and mixed-mode surveys. The participants included evaluators from the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Results included that mixed-mode, while more expensive, had higher response rates.

To assess overall resource consumption, work capacity and quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis in nine European countries.Information on resource consumption related to multiple sclerosis, informal care by relatives, productivity losses and overall quality of life (utility) was collected with a standardised pre-tested questionnaire from 13,186 patients enrolled in national multiple sclerosis societies or followed up in neurology clinics. Information on disease included disease duration, self-assessed disease severity and relapses. Mean annual costs per patient (Euro, 2005) were estimated from the societal perspective.The mean age ranged from 45.1 to 53.4 years, and all levels of disease severity were represented. Between 16% and 29% of patients reported experiencing a relapse in the 3 months preceding data collection. The proportion of patients in early retirement because of multiple sclerosis ranged from 33% to 45%. The use of direct medical resources (eg, hospitalisation, consultations and drugs) varied considerably across countries, whereas the use of non-medical resources (eg, walking sticks, wheel chairs, modifications to house and car) and services (eg, home care and transportation) was comparable. Informal care use was highly correlated with disease severity, but was further influenced by healthcare systems and family structure. All types of costs increased with worsening disease. The total mean annual costs per patient (adjusted for gross domestic product purchasing power) were estimated at Euro 18,000 for mild disease (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)4.0), Euro 36,500 for moderate disease (EDSS 4.0-6.5) and Euro 62,000 for severe disease (EDSS7.0). Utility was similar across countries at around 0.70 for a patient with an EDSS of 2.0 and around 0.45 for a patient with an EDSS of 6.5. Intangible costs were estimated at around Euro 13,000 per patient.

Objectives: To examine very long term psychosocial outcome following severe brain injury in a large cohort, with the aim of evaluating Thomsen’s observation that even after very serious head trauma the long term outcome in some patients is reasonably good. Methods: The cohort consisted of 80 patients who had suffered severe brain injury evaluated at a mean time of 17 years post injury (range 10–32 years). Information regarding employment status and relationship status was obtained during clinical interview. Psychosocial outcome measures included the Supervision Rating Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient Competency Rating Scale, and Community Integration Questionnaire. Results: Of the cohort, 72.0% lived independently, 28.7% were in full time employment, and 60.0% were married or cohabiting. The mean rating of life satisfaction was “slightly dissatisfied”, but no serious emotional problems were evident from self report ratings on the HADS. Mean functional competency ratings and community integration levels were just below those reported for non-disabled patients. Conclusions: Results indicate that although long term psychosocial functioning in patients with severe head injury remains compromised, long term adjustment may be better than expected from data reported by studies assessing psychosocial outcome at earlier stages of recovery.

Objective: To examine the relative impact of two chronic neurological disorders, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, by comparing patients' scores on the medical outcomes study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) with the health profile of the United Kingdom population norms. Methods: 638 people representing the full spectrum of multiple sclerosis and 227 patients with Parkinson's disease were studied. Health status was measured by the SF-36. Scores for the eight health domains were compared after controlling for age, sex, disease duration, mobility, social class, ethnicity, education, marital status, and employment status. Results: People with multiple sclerosis and those with Parkinson's disease had significantly worse health than the general population on all eight domains measured by the SF-36. The relative impact of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease were similar, but multiple sclerosis resulted in poorer scores on physical functioning and better scores in mental health. People with mild multiple sclerosis who walked without an aid also had significantly worse scores in all dimensions than the general UK population. Conclusions: The results highlight the need for further research into aspects of health measured by the SF-36. Nevertheless, generic measures that are applicable across multiple diseases may fail to address clinically important aspects of the impact of specific disorders.

We examined mortality in a retrospective follow-up study of 3,241 workers employed between 1970-1992, in four pulp and paper mills in Catalonia, Spain. Vital status was determined for 95% of the cohort. Exposure was reconstructed using job histories and a company exposure questionnaire. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were derived using mortality rates of Spain as the reference. For all workers, mortality from all causes (SMR = 76; 95%; confidence intervals [CI] = 65-88; 189 deaths) and all malignant neoplasms (SMR = 93; CI = 72-119; 65 deaths) were less than the expected. Excess risk was observed for mortality from all neoplasms in females (SMR = 168; CI = 84-303; 11 deaths), for large intestine cancer in both sexes (SMR = 250; CI = 115-525; 8 deaths), particularly after 10 years of employment and latency (SMR = 355; CI = 154-701; 8 deaths), and for breast cancer in females (SMR = 286; CI = 77-732; 4 deaths). These findings suggest that workers employed in the pulp and paper industry may have an excess risk of specific cancers.

The study reported here describes the links between non-farm employment and child nutritional status in rural coastal Kenya using a model adapted from an operational model commonly used in nutrition planning. Four studies were conducted in 1994 and 1995 in a community in Kwale district. Three of these studies were nonfarm employment and subsistence food production, household income and food accessibility, and maternal employment and child care and house health environment. The findings of these three studies were used in the design of the fourth study which assessed the whole model.Households which combined both NFE and agricultural sources of income had higher total incomes than those which depended on only one source. The relation between non-farm employment and nutritional status was weak. There was a positive relation between household income and the level of household food expenditure, which, in turn, was positively associated with long-term nutritional status of children. Higher energy intake was associated with food diversity and increased with income level. The sources of differences in food diversity within income groups were not sought. Household income and time spent in the non-farm activities per woman had no direct linear effects on the components of child care. However, income did affect housing quality, while time affected household sanitation/hygiene. Maternal employment had no effect on the components of child care and household-living conditions when controlling for the age of the youngest child, mother's education and household income. This is attributed to the fact that the mother had a lot of "spare time". Hence, this analysis suggests that non-farm employment can open an opportunity to provide for enhanced child's long-term nutritional status through the effect of total income on nutrient intake and through purchased goods that improve housing quality. Women's time in non-farm employment, although affecting house sanitation/hygiene, does not have to compromise the nutritional status of children. It is concluded that the framework used by households to allocate their resources of time and income is different from the framework used for programming and policy development. The role of non-economic factors in the difference between two frameworks is suggested as a focus for future research.

The study reported here describes the links between non-farm employment and child nutritional status in rural coastal Kenya using a model adapted from an operational model commonly used in nutrition planning. Four studies were conducted in 1994 and 1995 in a community in Kwale district. Three of these studies were nonfarm employment and subsistence food production, household income and food accessibility, and maternal employment and child care and house health environment. The findings of these three studies were used in the design of the fourth study which assessed the whole model.Households which combined both NFE and agricultural sources of income had higher total incomes than those which depended on only one source. The relation between non-farm employment and nutritional status was weak. There was a positive relation between household income and the level of household food expenditure, which, in turn, was positively associated with long-term nutritional status of children. Higher energy intake was associated with food diversity and increased with income level. The sources of differences in food diversity within income groups were not sought. Household income and time spent in the non-farm activities per woman had no direct linear effects on the components of child care. However, income did affect housing quality, while time affected household sanitation/hygiene. Maternal employment had no effect on the components of child care and household-living conditions when controlling for the age of the youngest child, mother's education and household income. This is attributed to the fact that the mother had a lot of "spare time". Hence, this analysis suggests that non-farm employment can open an opportunity to provide for enhanced child's long-term nutritional status through the effect of total income on nutrient intake and through purchased goods that improve housing quality. Women's time in non-farm employment, although affecting house sanitation/hygiene, does not have to compromise the nutritional status of children. It is concluded that the framework used by households to allocate their resources of time and income is different from the framework used for programming and policy development. The role of non-economic factors in the difference between two frameworks is suggested as a focus for future research.

All members of Local 158 of the United Paperworkers International Union in Cloquet, Minnesota, were invited to attend a meeting to notify them about the outcome of the Union's study concerning exposure to asbestos fiber. Union members and their families were contacted by letter, radio and television announcements, area newspapers, and word of mouth. They were informed about the medical screening that was being planned and about other information on asbestos-related diseases. During the meeting, they were asked to attend one of the educational sessions, to schedule an appointment for the screening, and to fill out a medical history. It was determined that paperworkers with asbestos-related disease might have rights to at least two types of compensation: worker's compensation from their employers and/or court- or jury-awarded compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Other sources of compensation such as social security of disability pensions might also be available to eligible individuals. The Union did not have a complete listing of all the individuals who worked at plants or in operations where asbestos exposure may have occurred. The Union solicited the aid of the Minnesota Department of Health to help identify former asbestos-exposed workers and to develop an ongoing screening and medical program for workers who were exposed but did not develop symptoms of asbestos-related disease; these illnesses usually take 20 years or more to develop. However, the Union was able to follow-up the notification and subsequent screening by sending members and their families the results of the initial screenings and other information concerning the status of any legal actions taken on behalf of the exposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Letter concerning a position in horticulture and botany at Utah Agricultural College, copies given to J. C. Blair, J. L. Snyder, and L. H. Bailey.