Observations of collimated ionization channels in aluminum-coated glass targets irradiated by ultraintense laser pulses

Filamentary ionization tracks have been observed via optical probing inside Al-coated glass targets after the interaction of a picosecond 20-TW laser pulse at intensities above 10(19) W/cm(2). The tracks, up to 700 mu m in length and between 10 and 20 mu m in width, originate from the focal spot region of the laser beam. Simulations performed with 3D particle-in-cell and 2D Fokker-Planck hybrid codes indicate that the observations are consistent with ionization induced in the glass target by magnetized, collimated beams of high-energy electrons produced during the laser interaction.

High-gain x-ray lasing at 11.1 nm in sodiumlike copper driven by a 20-J, 2-ps Nd:glass laser

Evidence of high gain pumped by recombination has been observed in the 5g-4f transition at 11.1 nn in sodiumlike copper ions with use of a 20-J 2-ps Nd:glass laser system. The time- and space-integrated gain coefficient was 8.8 +/- 1.4 cm(-1), indicating a single-transit amplification of similar to 60 times. This experiment has shown that 2 ps is the optimum pulse duration to drive the sodiumlike copper recombination x-ray lasing at 11.1 nm. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America

The UNCRC and social workers' relationships with young children

In the UK, The Munro Review of Child Protection (2010, 2011a, 2011b) has recently highlighted that among the failings in safeguarding children known to social services is the lack of meaningful relationships between social workers and children. In her final report, Munro (2011b) has made recommendations for a more child-centred system anchored on two themes – the child's journey and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This article illustrates by way of practical examples how the UNCRC, together with the detailed advice and guidance contained in the UNCRC general comments numbers 5, 7 and 12, provides the best framework for developing effective social work relationships with, and safeguarding, young children.

Child Welfare as Child Protection Then and Now: What Social Workers Did and Continue to Do

The research reported here builds on the work of one of the authors who, some thirteen years ago, in a similar study, examined the potential for social workers to shift from a child protection to a child welfare practice orientation. As with the original research study, this present project seeks to examine the everyday practices of social workers with children and families as revealed by file analysis, vignette questionnaires (reported here) and interviews with families and social workers (to be reported). A twenty-item vignette questionnaire was completed by fifty-five social workers (65.5 per cent response rate). It was found that there was little agreement on coding decisions with regard to which cases should be designated child protection or child welfare. Further analysis revealed that, regardless of such coding decisions, families tended to receive similar responses by social workers. The results demonstrate that, whilst there has been a reduction in the headline numbers of child protection investigations undertaken across Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, the everyday patterns of practice with families and children where parenting concerns remain evident reflect child protection risk management priorities and practices. 

Effect of a multifaceted intervention on adherence to hand hygiene among healthcare workers:A cluster-randomized trial

OBJECTIVES. Adherence to hand hygiene among healthcare workers (HCWs) is widely believed to be a key factor in reducing the spread of healthcare-associated infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention to increase rates of adherence to hand hygiene among HCWs and to assess the effect on the incidence of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization. DESIGN. Cluster-randomized controlled trial. SETTING. Thirty hospital units in 3 tertiary care hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. INTERVENTION. After a 3-month baseline period of data collection, 15 units were randomly assigned to the intervention arm (with performance feedback, small-group teaching seminars, and posters) and 15 units to usual practice. Hand hygiene was observed during randomly selected 15-minute periods on each unit, and the incidence of MRSA colonization was measured using weekly surveillance specimens from June 2007 through May 2008. RESULTS. We found that 3,812 (48.2%) of 7,901 opportunities for hand hygiene in the intervention group resulted in adherence, compared with 3,205 (42.6%) of 7,526 opportunities in the control group (P <.001; independent t test). There was no reduction in the incidence of hospital-acquired MRSA colonization in the intervention group. CONCLUSION. Among HCWs in Ontario tertiary care hospitals, the rate of adherence to hand hygiene had a statistically significant increase of 6% with a multifaceted intervention, but the incidence of MRSA colonization was not reduced.

Chemical Exposures of Women Workers in the Plastics Industry with Particular Reference to Breast Cancer and Reproductive Hazards.

Despite concern about the harmful effects of substances contained in various
plastic consumer products, little attention has focused on the more heavily
exposed women working in the plastics industry. Through a review of the
toxicology, industrial hygiene, and epidemiology literatures in conjunction
with qualitative research, this article explores occupational exposures in producing
plastics and health risks to workers, particularly women, who make up
a large part of the workforce. The review demonstrates that workers are
exposed to chemicals that have been identified as mammary carcinogens and
endocrine disrupting chemicals, and that the work environment is heavily
contaminated with dust and fumes. Consequently, plastics workers have a
body burden that far exceeds that found in the general public.

Regulation of arsenic mobility on basaltic glass surfaces by speciation and pH

The importance of geothermal energy as a source for electricity generation and district heating has increased over recent decades. Arsenic can be a significant constituent of the geothermal fluids pumped to the surface during power generation. Dissolved As exists in different oxidation states, mainly as As(III) and As(V), and the charge of individual species varies with pH. Basaltic glass is one of the most important rock types in many high-temperature geothermal fields. Static batch and dynamic column experiments were combined to generate and validate sorption coefficients for As(III) and As(V) in contact with basaltic glass at pH 3-10. Validation was carried out by two empirical kinetic models and a surface complexation model (SCM). The SCM provided a better fit to the experimental column data than kinetic models at high pH values. However, in certain circumstances, an adequate estimation of As transport in the column could not be attained without incorporation of kinetic reactions. The varying mobility with pH was due to the combined effects of the variable charge of the basaltic glass with the pH point of zero charge at 6.8 and the individual As species as pH shifted, respectively. The mobility of As(III) decreased with increasing pH. The opposite was true for As(V), being nearly immobile at pH 3 to being highly mobile at pH 10. Incorporation of appropriate sorption constants, based on the measured pH and Eh of geothermal fluids, into regional groundwater-flow models should allow prediction of the As(III) and As(V) transport from geothermal systems to adjacent drinking water sources and ecosystems.