Electroweak Physics

The status of precision electroweak measurements as of summer 2002 is reviewed. The recent results on the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and on neutrino-nucleon scattering are discussed. Precision results on the electroweak interaction obtained by the experiments at the SLC, LEP and TEVATRON colliders are presented. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of the minimal Standard Model and are used to constrain its parameters, including the mass of the Higgs boson. The final LEP results on the direct search for the Higgs boson of the Standard Model are presented.Comment: Plenary talk presented at the 31st ICHEP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 24-31, 200

Depression and Suicidal Behavior in the Elderly: A Literature Review

Depression and suicide are significant health problems in the United States and Japan, and suicide is still considered primarily a phenomenon of adolescence to middle age. However, it is also a significant problem in the elderly (65 years old and above). The purpose of this report was to review the literature relative to the depression and suicide in the elderly in the United States and Japan. Several important factors involved with elderly suicide were different between the 2 countries. While Americans suffer from psychological problems, Japanese more likely suffer from physiological problems. Cultural and religious backgrounds play an important role in the decision to commit suicide

Slug length estimation for gas-liquid slug flow in T-shaped microdevices with liquid film

13th IFAC Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Process Systems, including Biosystems DYCOPS 2022, Busan, Republic of Korea, 14–17 June 2022To realize stable long-term operation of microdevices with gas-liquid slug flow, the slug lengths have to be monitored and controlled, because they influence mass transfer performance. In this study, an experimental investigation was carried out to analyze the gas-liquid slug flow in a T-shaped microdevice with a liquid film. The experimental result showed that the pressures in gas and liquid feeding tubes oscillate periodically along the formation of a pair of gas and liquid slugs. Then, the correlation equation between the liquid film thickness and the number of capillaries was identified on the basis of the experimental data. Based on these results, a method for estimating slug lengths and liquid film thickness from measurements of feed pressure and feed flowrate was developed. The developed method is non-invasive and does not affect slug formation or the manner of gas-liquid slug flow. Its effectiveness was assessed through an experimental case study, and the relative root mean square errors of estimated slug lengths were within 8.5%. The result show that the developed method can be applied to the monitoring of slug lengths

Implementation of Work Sampling in an Acute Rehabilitation Unit: Assessing Nursing Efficiency

To establish appropriate staffing guidelines, roles, reduced labor costs and reduced cost per unit of service, i) identification of work with appropriate staff members, and ii) development and utilization of a patient acuity system were studied in an acute rehabilitation unit of a hospital in central Illinois. Acuity of patients (n = 127) was categoried by using assisting levels of minimal, moderate and maximal based on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score. The FIM score was reevaluated each week. In the 1st month, volume and time studies were done on all rehabilitation patients. In the 2nd month, roles of the registered nurse (RN) and the unlicensed assistive personnel (UPA) were clarified; and in the 3rd month, patients' acuity levels were reestablished and staffing management was adjusted. This system also clearly identified patients' acuity and the role of RNs and UPAs. Hours per unit of RN service was cut from 8.85 to 7.49 per 8 h shift. Cost per unit of service was decreased from $163.6 to$105.2. A total annual savings of $268,410 indicated a big financial impact on the unit with almost the same level of patient satisfaction as before. The results of the study suggest that the work sampling method for a management and organizational development program can be used to objectively assess work load of RNs as a first step

Depression and Suicidal Behavior in the Elderly: A Literature Review

Depression and suicide are significant health problems in the United States and Japan, and suicide is still considered primarily a phenomenon of adolescence to middle age. However, it is also a significant problem in the elderly (65 years old and above). The purpose of this report was to review the literature relative to the depression and suicide in the elderly in the United States and Japan. Several important factors involved with elderly suicide were different between the 2 countries. While Americans suffer from psychological problems, Japanese more likely suffer from physiological problems. Cultural and religious backgrounds play an important role in the decision to commit suicide

A Comparative Study on Medical Care for Children in Schools for the Handicapped in Japan and in the United States

We conducted a survey to document the number of students who needed medical care at schools for the handicapped in Osaka, Japan and in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The ratio of students who needed medical care was similar in both cities (10 to 15%). In Dayton, all schools had school nurses who administered medical care to those who needed it. In contrast, in Osaka, medical care was administered by people at various levels of medical training and knowledge