Assessment of Neuropsychological Trajectories in Longitudinal Population-Based Studies of Children

This paper provides a strategy for the assessment of brain function in longitudinal cohort studies of children. The proposed strategy invokes both domain-specific and omnibus intelligence test approaches. In order to minimise testing burden and practice effects, the cohort is divided into four groups with one-quarter tested at 6-monthly intervals in the 0–2-year age range (at ages 6 months, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 years) and at annual intervals from ages 3–20 (one-quarter of the children at age 3, another at age 4, etc). This strategy allows investigation of cognitive development and of the relationship between environmental influences and development at each age. It also allows introduction of new domains of function when age-appropriate. As far as possible, tests are used that will provide a rich source of both longitudinal and cross-sectional data. The testing strategy allows the introduction of novel tests and new domains as well as piloting of tests when the test burden is relatively light. In addition to the recommended tests for each age and domain, alternative tests are described. Assessment methodology and knowledge about child cognitive development will change over the next 20 years, and strategies are suggested for altering the proposed test schedule as appropriate

Demonstration of a hybrid collisional soft-x-ray laser

Includes bibliographical references (pages 033803-4-033803-5).We report on a demonstration of x-ray-ultraviolet amplification following collisional excitation in a discharge-created plasma waveguide irradiated by a picosecond optical laser pulse. A capillary discharge was used to generate a sulfur plasma column with a large concentration of Ne-like ions and a radially concave electron density profile. The intense short laser pulse rapidly heated the electrons, producing amplification in the 3p 1S0-3s 1P1 transition of Ne-like S at 60.8 nm. The integrated gain-length product obtained exciting a 3-cm-long capillary with a 0.46-J short laser pulse is 6.8. The beam divergence was observed to decrease as a function of plasma column length, reaching 2.5 mrad for 30-mm-long capillaries. This hybrid laser pumping scheme could lead to a new generation of efficient tabletop soft-x-ray lasers

Hybridly pumped collisional soft X-ray laser in Ne-like sulphur

Includes bibliographical references (page 98).We describe an experiment demonstrating XUV amplification following collisional excitation in a discharge-created plasma waveguide irradiated by a picosecond optical laser pulse. A capillary discharge was used to generate a plasma radiation pipe with a radially concave electron density profile. Temporally resolved transmission characteristics and guiding effect have been measured. An intense short laser pulse rapidly heated the electrons, producing amplification in the 3p1S0-3s 1P1 transition of Ne-like S at 60.84 nm. The integrated gain-length product obtained within a 3 cm active medium with a laser energy of 0.46 J was ~6.8. The pump energy depletion has been analysed as well. This new, hybridly pumped soft X-ray laser with the transient gain offers a new way towards efficient tabletop coherent XUV sources

Fast capillary discharge plasma as a preformed medium for longitudinally pumped collisional x-ray lasers

Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-220).Simulations of plasma dynamics in a fast capillary discharge are presented. The temporal dependence of the plasma column's resistance validates the one-dimensional model that was used in the numerical simulations. Numerical analysis of the laser absorption determines the pump parameter range for efficient excitation of longitudinally pumped transient collisional x-ray lasers

Cytogenetic analysis of an exposed-referent study: perchloroethylene-exposed dry cleaners compared to unexposed laundry workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Significant numbers of people are exposed to tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, PCE) every year, including workers in the dry cleaning industry. Adverse health effects have been associated with PCE exposure. However, investigations of possible cumulative cytogenetic damage resulting from PCE exposure are lacking.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eighteen dry cleaning workers and 18 laundry workers (unexposed controls) provided a peripheral blood sample for cytogenetic analysis by whole chromosome painting. Pre-shift exhaled air on these same participants was collected and analyzed for PCE levels. The laundry workers were matched to the dry cleaners on race, age, and smoking status. The relationships between levels of cytological damage and exposures (including PCE levels in the shop and in workers' blood, packyears, cumulative alcohol consumption, and age) were compared with correlation coefficients and t-tests. Multiple linear regressions considered blood PCE, packyears, alcohol, and age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant differences between the PCE-exposed dry cleaners and the laundry workers for chromosome translocation frequencies, but PCE levels were significantly correlated with percentage of cells with acentric fragments (R²= 0.488, p < 0.026).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There does not appear to be a strong effect in these dry cleaning workers of PCE exposure on persistent chromosome damage as measured by translocations. However, the correlation between frequencies of acentric fragments and PCE exposure level suggests that recent exposures to PCE may induce transient genetic damage. More heavily exposed participants and a larger sample size will be needed to determine whether PCE exposure induces significant levels of persistent chromosome damage.</p

Functions and methods of price formation in local government unit

W pracy przedstawiono funkcje i metody kształtowania ceny w jednostkach samorządu terytorialnego. Artykuł został podzielony na dwie podstawowe części. W pierwszej części przedstawiono znaczenie ceny w zarządzaniu jednostką terytorialną oraz zaprezentowano jakie wykorzystuje się metody jej kształtowania oraz jakie funkcje pełni. Druga część prezentuje wyniki badań zrealizowanych w województwie lubelskim. Badania były przeprowadzone przy pomocy kwestionariusza ankiety skierowanego do: pracowników gmin, mieszkańców oraz przedsiębiorców. Badania przestawiają zależność pomiędzy poziomem konkurencyjności gminy jaki reprezentowali respondenci, a stopniem wykorzystania poszczególnych metod.This paper presents functions and methods of formation prices in local government units. Paper was divided into two fundamental parts. First part makes analysis of the reasons why knowledge about prices is most important in management of local government. There were also presented the definitions prices and described which it perform the functions. Second part of the paper presents the results carried studies in the Lublin province. This part considering above mentioned problems there were presented the survey results elaborated basing upon questionnaire directed to three different entities; commune staff, inhabitants and businessmen in which there were presented dependences between commune competitiveness level and the degree of particular methods using

Analysis of resources and environment of communes on the example of Lubelskie province

Analiza SWOT jest zalecaną techniką pozwalającą zidentyfikować oraz podsumować mocne i słabe strony, szanse i zagrożenia miejsca i jego otoczenia. Przeprowadzono analizę czynników wpływających na zasoby i otoczenie gmin wiejskich na przykładzie województwa lubelskiego.A SWOT - analysis is a recommended technique to summarise and make visible the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the place and its environment so the aim of this work is an analysis to influence factors for resources and environment of manual communes on the example of lubuskie province

Attractiveness of Lublin region communes from the entrepreneurs point of view

Na rozwój przedsiębiorstwa wpływają m.in. posiadane zasoby jednostki terytorialnej. Według przedsiębiorców reprezentujących gminy województwa lubelskiego najważniejszymi czynnikami świadczącymi o atrakcyjności ich gmin są: walory krajobrazowo-przyrodnicze, imprezy kulturalno-oświatowe oraz infrastruktura komunikacyjna. Najwięcej ankietowanych uważało swoje jednostki za atrakcyjne turystycznie oraz konkurencyjne pod względem zasobów naturalnych.Enterprise development is influenced among others by assets of territorial unit. This paper identifies and examines some factors which are attractive from the point of enterpreneur view who realized before some investments on commune terrain as well as for external investors. The most import ant factors showing an attractiveness of communes according to enterprises representing the communes of Lublin region are like follows: landscape-natural values, educational-cultural events as well as communicative infrastructure. The majority of respondents regarded their own entities to be attractive for tourists and competitive taking into account natural resources