Do vaginal lactobacilli prevent preterm labour?

No Abstract

The usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid tests for neurosyphilis

To determine the usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests for syphilis at a large academic hospital, clinical and laboratory data on 644 patients in whom such testing was requested over a 12-month period were analysed. In 198 cases (31 %) the Treponema paJlidum haemagglutination (TPHA) screening test could not be performed because of insufficient fluid. Thirty-eight of the remaining patients were diagnosed as having active neurosyphilis. Examination of 22 files of patients who had a positive TPHA and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs) test together with a negative CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test revealed that other CSF measures indicating disease activity (CSF protein, cells or IgG index) were not utilised optimally. In 10 (45%) of these patients neurosyphilis was not diagnosed despite either abnormal or incomplete CSF biochemical analysis, indicating that if the CSF VDRL is used as the sole marker for disease activity, some cases of neurosyphilis are likely to be missed

Process model to implement organisational team sport interventions in an organisation

A number of studies have been conducted on the benefits that organisational team sport interventions have for the employees and the organisation, but no formal studies were conducted on the implementation of these interventions in an organisation. The purpose of this research was to compile a process model for the implementation of organisational team sport at organisations. The qualitative exploration study was conducted with 63 sports participants and nine sports coordinators from nine different financial organisations in the Gauteng region. The data were collected by means of focus groups and individual interviews. The results indicate that the implementation process starts where top management initiates sporting activities and makes the employees aware of sporting events. The employees need to be informed through induction, presentations, electronic mail, sports competitions among different departments and videos. The employees’ interest in the type of sport needs to be determined. Different sport managers or sport committees appointed for the different sports will be responsible to make known the different events, coordinate training sessions and events, and draw up annual budgets. Various sports facilities need to be established. The findings should contribute valuable new knowledge on the process model to implement organisational team sport in an organisation.http://academic.sun.ac.za/sajrsper/am201

Structure Functions of the Nucleon in a Statistical Model

Deep inelastic scattering is considered in a statistical model of the nucleon. This incorporates certain features which are absent in the standard parton model such as quantum statistical correlations which play a role in the propagation of particles when considering Feynman diagrams containing internal lines. The inclusion of the ${\cal O}(\alpha_{s})$ corrections in our numerical calculations allows a good fit to the data for $x\geq 0.25$. The fit corresponds to values of temperature and chemical potential of approximately $T=0.067$ GeV and $\mu=0.133$ GeV. The latter values of parameters, however, give rise, for all $x$, to a large value for $R=\sigma_{L}/\sigma_{T}$.Comment: 16 pages TeX, 11 figures available as Postscript files, University of Bielefeld preprint BI-TP 93/3

Organisation team sport interventions to overcome diversity constraints in the workplace

Particular organisations which implement formal organisational team sport participation, do not know whether the specific sport intervention contributes to the diversity management objectives of the organisations. A qualitative study was done to determine whether organisation team sport interventions have an impact on the participating employee’s relationships, trust and respect towards each other despite their differences. The diversity constraints relevant in this study are race, ethnicity, generation gaps, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, parental status, education and income. The study was conducted among 26 employees employed at two financial organisations in South Africa and participating in organisation team sport. The data was collected by means of focus group interviews and individual interviews where open-ended questions and probing questions to participants were asked. Data analysis was used to make sense of, formulate and arrange the data so that it can be presented in a clear and logical account. Lastly, a conclusion of this study and discussion of the limitations and recommendations for organisations in terms of the implementation of organisation team sport interventions to overcome diversity barriers in an organisation, as well as further research was made

Experiences of employees who participate in organisational team sport activities

More than a third of an employee’s time is often spent in a stressful environment – the workplace. The stress can be alleviated when employees treat each other with trust and respect and when friendships are forged. Relationships are necessary for effective teamwork in organisations and will not develop without mutual trust and respect. The purpose of this research was to explore the employees’ experiences regarding relationships, trust and respect related to participation in organisational team sport. Improved relationships, trust and respect among employees should enhance the competence in the organisation because the organisation works towards mutual goals. Once the goals of the organisation are aligned, the organisation can move forward through strong leadership. The qualitative exploration study was conducted among 26 employees of two financial organisations that engage in organisational team sport. The data were collected by means of focus group interviews. The results indicated that a strong bond was established between employees in the organisation during organisational team sport. Organisational team sport should be considered as a vehicle for improving cohesion and increasing trust and respect in a workforce, since it enhances friendships among employees. The contributions that organisational team sport makes to an organisation are all requirements for an effective workforce. The findings contribute valuable new knowledge to the literature on the influence of organisational team sport on relationships, trust and respect between employees.http://jetems.scholarlinkresearch.or

UV and EUV Instruments

We describe telescopes and instruments that were developed and used for astronomical research in the ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelength ranges covered by these bands are not uniquely defined. We use the following convention here: The EUV and UV span the regions ~100-912 and 912-3000 Angstroem respectively. The limitation between both ranges is a natural choice, because the hydrogen Lyman absorption edge is located at 912 Angstroem. At smaller wavelengths, astronomical sources are strongly absorbed by the interstellar medium. It also marks a technical limit, because telescopes and instruments are of different design. In the EUV range, the technology is strongly related to that utilized in X-ray astronomy, while in the UV range the instruments in many cases have their roots in optical astronomy. We will, therefore, describe the UV and EUV instruments in appropriate conciseness and refer to the respective chapters of this volume for more technical details.Comment: To appear in: Landolt-Boernstein, New Series VI/4A, Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology; Instruments and Methods, ed. J.E. Truemper, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 201