bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palliative care research: trading ethics for an evidence base
Authors: Jubb A M
Published: December 2002

Good medical practice requires evidence of effectiveness to address deficits in care, strive for further improvements, and justly apportion finite resources. Nevertheless, the potential of palliative care is still held back by a paucity of good evidence. These circumstances are largely attributable to perceived ethical challenges that allegedly distinguish dying patients as a special client class. In addition, practical limitations compromise the quality of evidence that can be obtained from empirical research on terminally ill subjects.

This critique aims to appraise the need for focused research, in order to develop clinical and policy decisions that will guide health care professionals in their care of dying patients. Weighted against this need are tenets that value the practical and ethical challenges of palliative care research as unique and insurmountable. The review concludes that, provided investigators compassionately apply ethical principles to their work, there is no justification for not endeavouring to improve the quality of palliative care through research.
Withholding life prolonging treatment, and self deception
Authors: Sayers G M , Perera S
Published: December 2002

Objectives:To compare non-treatment decision making by general practitioners and geriatricians in response to vignettes. To see whether the doctors’ decisions were informed by ethical or legal reasoning.

Design:Qualitative study in which consultant geriatricians and general practitioners (GPs) randomly selected from a list of local practitioners were interviewed. The doctors were asked whether patients described in five vignettes should be admitted to hospital for further care, and to give supporting reasons. They were asked with whom they would consult, who they believed ought to make such decisions, and whether the relatives’ preferences would influence their decision making.

Main measures:To analyse the factors influencing the doctors’ decisions not to admit otherwise terminally ill patients to hospital for life prolonging treatment.

Results:Seventeen GPs and 18 geriatricians completed the interview. All vignettes produced strong concordance in decision making between both groups. Ten per cent of the doctors would provide life prolonging treatment to patients with severe brain damage. Most would admit a surgical patient regardless of age or disability. Medical reasons were largely used to explain decision making. The wishes of relatives were influential and resource considerations were not. There was variability regarding decision making responsibility.

Conclusions:Little attempt was made to link decision making with ethical or legal concepts and there may have been non-recognition, or denial, of the ethical consequences of failure to admit. The process of decision making may involve deception. This may be conscious, because of the illegality of euthanasia, or unconscious (self deception), because of deepseated medical and societal reluctance to accept that intentionally withholding life prolonging treatment may equate with intentionally causing death.
Medical authority and nursing integrity
Authors: de Raeve L
Published: December 2002

This paper explores the respective legitimacy or illegitimacy of medical authority over nursing work. The analysis makes use of Joseph Raz’s ideas concerning the nature of authority. Various scenarios are considered which lend themselves to differing interpretations, and the conclusion reached is that acting in accordance with legitimate medical authority enhances rather than compromises the nurse’s professional integrity. Difficulties, however, may lie in disentangling legitimate from illegitimate attempts to control nursing work.
The ethics of prophylactic antibiotics for neurosurgical procedures
Authors: Savitz S I , Rivlin M M , Savitz M H
Published: December 2002

The prophylactic use of antibiotics has become a routine procedure in many areas of medicine. In neurosurgery, however, there is considerable debate over their use in the prevention of postoperative infection. We pose several ethical questions about antibiotic prophylaxis in a neurosurgical setting. These questions are discussed under the following categories: responsible usage of antibiotics; the ethical dilemmas of controlled, antibiotic clinical trials, and some problems inherent in not using prophylactic antibiotics.
Evaluation of do not resuscitate orders (DNR) in a Swiss community hospital
Authors: Junod Perron N , Morabia A , de Torrenté A
Published: December 2002

Objective:To evaluate the effect of an intervention on the understanding and use of DNR orders by physicians; to assess the impact of understanding the importance of involving competent patients in DNR decisions.

Design:Prospective clinical interventional study.

Setting:Internal medicine department (70 beds) of the hospital of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

Participants:Nine junior physicians in postgraduate training.

Intervention:Information on the ethics of DNR and implementation of new DNR orders.

Measurements and main results:Accurate understanding, interpretation, and use of DNR orders, especially with respect to the patients’ involvement in the decision were measured. Junior doctors writing DNR orders had an extremely poor understanding of what DNR orders mean. The correct understanding of the definition of a DNR order increased from 31 to 93% (p<0.01) after the intervention and the patients’ involvement went from 17% to 48% (p<0.01). Physicians estimated that 75% of their DNR patients were mentally competent at the time of the decision.

Conclusion:An intervention aimed at explaining the ethical principles and the definition of DNR orders improves understanding of them, and their implementation, as well as patient participation. Specific efforts are needed to increase the involvement of mentally competent patients in the decision.
Undignifying institutions
Authors: Seedhouse D , Gallagher A
Published: December 2002

Declarations of the importance of dignity in health care are commonplace in codes of practice and other mission statements, yet these documents never clarify dignity’s meaning. Their vague aspirations are compared to comments from staff and patients about opportunities for and barriers against the promotion of dignity in elderly care institutions. These suggest that while nurses and health care assistants have an intuitive understanding of dignity, they either do not or cannot always bring it about in practice. Thus, despite stated intentions to promote dignity, it appears that the circumstances of at least some elderly care institutions cause patients to experience avoidable indignities. Such institutions are “undignifying institutions” because they fail to acknowledge dignity’s basic components, focus excessively on quantifiable priorities, and have insufficient resources available to assure consistently dignifying care. As a partial solution, we argue that health workers should be taught to understand and specify the components of dignity, which will better prepare them to challenge undignifying practices and to recognise opportunities for dignity promotion.
Consent to open label extension studies: some ethical issues
Authors: Wainwright P
Published: December 2002

A frequent feature of pharmaceutical research is the open label extension study, in which patients participating in double blind placebo controlled trials of new medications are invited, on completion of the initial trial, to take the study drug for some further period. Patients are openly given the active substance at this stage, regardless of their assignment in the initial trial. Investigators are typically reluctant to unblind the patients’ assignment at the point of entry into the open label phase, on the grounds that this may introduce ascertainment bias in the main study.

It is argued that patients invited to participate in open label extension studies cannot give a proper consent to such research unless they know to which arm of the main trial they were recruited. It is further argued that to recruit certain groups of patients from placebo controlled trials into open label extension studies may also be unethical for clinical reasons.
Clinical issues on consent: some philosophical concerns
Authors: Worthington R
Published: December 2002

On occasions, laws on consent are subject to modification, largely on account of being subject to common law rather than statute—for example, in the UK. Guideline publications such as the UK Department of HealthReference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatmentare intended to provide information for clinicians on when and how to apply current laws in everyday clinical situations. While the extent to which guidelines influence clinician behaviour depends on how much they are read and followed, what is also relevant, and sometimes omitted from consideration, is discussion about underlying philosophical concepts.

This paper analyses philosophical weaknesses relating to English laws on consent, the main focus of attention beingappliedethics and the rights of adults with incapacity. It draws comparisons between the US and the UK, and advocates changes in English law in order to help rectify weaknesses in patient protection. Discussion includes references to Scottish law, and the use of advance directives, and it voices concerns about over-reliance on “best interests” determinations. The problem is partly one oflogicalanalysis, and what can happen is that best interests determinations fail to show proper respect for adults lacking the capacity to consent to examination or treatment on their own behalf. This is fundamentally a matter of rights, and requires further investigation and appropriate legal remedies in order to respond to ethical deficiencies in English law as it now stands.
Tobacco, taxation, and fairness
Authors: McLachlan H V
Published: December 2002

The author defends himself against an attack by Smith and Bopp on his views on smoking and taxation. The theory that, on the grounds of equity and/or fairness, smokers should pay via taxation on tobacco for the health care costs of treating smoking-related medical conditions is discussed and shown to be defective. It is argued that the fundamental mistake that Smith and Bopp make is to confuse and conflate the separate issues of whether particular taxes are fair and whether they are justifiable. The conclusion is reached that an excise duty on tobacco is a good tax. It is a non-fair or even an unfair tax but it is justified on grounds other than fairness.
Mortality among US and UK veterans of the Persian Gulf War: a review
Authors: Kang H K , Bullman T A , Macfarlane G J , Gray G C
Published: December 2002

Mortality data on Gulf War veterans was reviewed as a means of evaluating the long term consequences of the war. Studies were located from searches of Medline, Proceedings of the Conference on Federally Sponsored Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Research, Proceedings of the American Public Health Association Annual Meetings, Annual Reports to Congress, and personal contacts with knowledgeable investigators. Data on study design, methods, and results were obtained from published studies of both US and UK veterans who served in the Persian Gulf. The methodology and results of studies are summarised and evaluated. Additional research recommendations based on reviewed studies are presented. It is concluded that in both US and UK studies, mortality from external causes was higher, while mortality from all illnesses was lower among Gulf War veterans in comparison to those of non-Gulf War veterans. Increased mortality from external causes is consistent with patterns of postwar mortality observed in veterans of previous wars. Further follow up of Gulf War veterans and their controls is warranted for evaluating the mortality risk from diseases with longer latency periods.
Definition and assessment of specific occupational demands concerning lifting, pushing, and pulling based on a systematic literature search: Table 1
Authors: Bos J , Kuijer P P F M , Frings-Dresen M H W
Published: December 2002

Aims:(1) To find a universal strategy for the identification of specific demands of a job or task, focusing on occupations in which there may be an increased risk for health complaints owing to these specific demands. (2) To select reliable and valid tests concerning lifting, pushing, and pulling, which consider the relation between occupational work demands and the assessment of the maximally acceptable load on an individual level.

Methods:Literature search was performed using Medline (1988 to May 2001), Embase (1966 to May 2001), and NIOSHTIC (1971–98).

Results:No universal strategy was found for the definition of specific occupational demands. Therefore a “three step strategy” was formulated for defining specific occupational demands in a job or a task in order to prevent health complaints on an individual level. Many tests were found in the literature concerning lifting, but only a few concerning pushing and pulling. None of the tests concerning pushing, pulling, or lifting considered the relation between work demands and the assessment of the maximally acceptable load on an individual level. Furthermore, none of the tests met the criteria of reliability and prognostic value for musculoskeletal complaints completely. Only for the prognostic value of relative strength capacity tests concerning pushing pulling and lifting, did there appear to be limited proof for the development of musculoskeletal complaints.

Conclusions:In general, for the prevention of work related health complaints, it can be suggested that more attention should be paid to: (1) the definition of specific occupational demands; (2) the assessment of specific occupational demands; and (3) the quality of tests for specific occupational demands.
Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis of a disability prevention model for back pain management: a six year follow up study
Authors: Loisel P , Lemaire J , Poitras S , Durand M-J , Champagne F , Stock S , Diallo B , Tremblay C
Published: December 2002

Aims:To test the long term cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of the Sherbrooke model of management of subacute occupational back pain, combining an occupational and a clinical rehabilitation intervention.

Methods:A randomised trial design with four arms was used: standard care, occupational arm, clinical arm, and Sherbrooke model arm (combined occupational and clinical interventions). From the Quebec WCB perspective, a cost-benefit (amount of consequence of disease costs saved) and cost-effectiveness analysis (amount of dollars spent for each saved day on full benefits) were calculated for each experimental arm of the study, compared to standard care.

Results:At the mean follow up of 6.4 years, all experimental study arms showed a trend towards cost benefit and cost effectiveness. These results were owing to a small number of very costly cases. The largest number of days saved from benefits was in the Sherbrooke model arm.

Conclusions:A fully integrated disability prevention model for occupational back pain appeared to be cost beneficial for the workers’ compensation board and to save more days on benefits than usual care or partial interventions. A limited number of cases were responsible for most of the long term disability costs, in accordance with occupational back pain epidemiology. However, further studies with larger samples will be necessary to confirm these results.
Cross sectional study on lung function of coke oven workers: a lung function surveillance system from 1978 to 1990
Authors: Wu J , Kreis I A , Griffiths D , Darling C
Published: December 2002

Aims:To determine the association between lung function of coke oven workers and exposure to coke oven emissions.

Methods:Lung function data and detailed work histories for workers in recovery coke ovens of a steelworks were extracted from a lung function surveillance system. Multiple regressions were employed to determine significant predictors for lung function indices. The first sets of lung function tests for 613 new starters were pooled to assess the selection bias. The last sets of lung function tests for 834 subjects with one or more year of coke oven history were pooled to assess determinants of lung function.

Results:Selection bias associated with the recruitment process was not observed among the exposure groups. For subjects with a history of one or more years of coke oven work, each year of working in the most exposed “operation” position was associated with reductions in FEV1of around 9 ml (p = 0.006, 95% CI: 3 ml to 16 ml) and in FVC of around 12 ml (p = 0.002, 95% CI: 4 ml to 19 ml). Negative effects of smoking on lung function were also observed.

Conclusions:Exposure to coke oven emissions was found to be associated with lower FEV1and FVC. Effects of work exposure on lung function are similar to those found in other studies.
Relation between colour vision loss and occupational styrene exposure level
Authors: Gong Y Y , Kishi R , Katakura Y , Tsukishima E , Fujiwara K , Kasai S , Satoh T , Sata F , Kawai T
Published: December 2002

Aims:To investigate the relation between colour vision loss and the exposure level of styrene. Exposure level included the current exposure concentration, past cumulative exposure, and the maximum exposure level in the past.

Methods:Colour vision was examined by the Lanthony desaturated panel D-15 test for 76 subjects exposed to styrene in a fibreglass reinforced plastics boat plant (as an exposed group) and 102 non-exposed subjects (as a control group). The current exposure level was expressed by the concentration of atmospheric styrene and end shift urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) levels. The individual cumulative exposure index (CEI) was calculated, based on the exposure frequency and urinary MA concentrations measured for the past eight years.

Results:The Colour Confusion Index (CCI) of the exposed group showed a significant difference from the age matched controls. However, only a slight significant relation was found between CCI and the concentration of urinary MA plus PGA. In this study, the exposed group was further divided into two subgroups (as sub-MA+PGA groups) by the median of urinary MA plus PGA of each subject. The dividing line between the subgroups was 0.24 g/g creatinine, which was equivalent to an atmospheric concentration of styrene of about 10 ppm. The CCI values of both the sub-MA+PGA groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. The relation between CCI value and the maximum exposure concentration in the past eight years was examined. It was found that the CCI values of the group with the maximum exposure concentration of styrene over 50 ppm were significantly higher than that of the other groups.

Conclusions:Exposure to styrene would impair colour vision even if the exposure concentration was lower than 10 ppm. Furthermore, if the maximum concentration of styrene exposure transiently exceeded 50 ppm in the past, the styrene related damage might remain. Thus, the safe limit of exposure to styrene and the relation between exposure to styrene and the degree of damage to ocular structure, retina, optic nerve, and brain need to be re-examined.
Respiratory symptoms and diseases among workers in the soft tissue producing industry
Authors: Kraus T , Pfahlberg A , Gefeller O , Raithel H J
Published: December 2002

Aims:To correlate the prevalence of respiratory tract symptoms and diseases with dust and fibre exposure in the soft tissue industry in Germany.

Methods:Ambient monitoring was performed for inhalable, respirable dust and fibres in seven soft tissue producing factories. In 441 workers (72 controls, 90 moderate, 279 high exposure) a standardised questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, diseases, occupational history, and smoking habits was used. Crude differences in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relation between the respiratory symptoms/diseases and the cumulative dust and fibre exposure, respectively, while adjusting for age, gender, smoking habits, and factory. The effects of exposure intensity and duration were differentiated by categorising dust/fibre concentrations and years of exposure separately and setting up logistic regression models.

Results:The mean concentrations for inhalable, respirable, and fibrous dusts were 10.3 mg/m3, 0.22 mg/m3, and 415 000 fibres/m3. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) with relation to cumulative dust exposure intensity were significantly raised for blocked nose (18.2), mucosal irritation (6.5), dry nose (8.9), cough (3.5), phlegm (7.5), exercise induced dyspnoea (2.6), hoarseness (11.3), and sneezing attacks (7.9) (ORs for highest exposure categories). Cumulative dust or fibre exposure had no significant effects on the prevalence of respiratory diseases. For all symptoms with significantly raised ORs, combined effects of intensity and duration of exposure were found.

Conclusions:Because of the high prevalence of respiratory symptoms a reduction of dust exposures is recommended. Chronic exposure effects could not be found in this study, however, a healthy worker effect has to be considered.
Self perceived work related stress and the relation with salivary IgA and lysozyme among emergency department nurses
Authors: Yang Y , Koh D , Ng V , Lee C Y , Chan G , Dong F , Goh S H , Anantharaman V , Chia S E
Published: December 2002

Aims:To assess and compare the self perceived work related stress among emergency department (ED) and general ward (GW) nurses, and to investigate its relation with salivary IgA and lysozyme.

Methods:One hundred and thirty two of 208 (63.5%) registered female ED and GW nurses participated in the study. A modified mental health professional stress scale (PSS) was used to measure self perceived stress. ELISA methods were used to determine the salivary IgA and lysozyme levels.

Results:On PSS, ED nurses had higher scores (mean 1.51) than GW nurses (1.30). The scores of PSS subscales such as organisational structure and processes (OS), lack of resources (RES), and conflict with other professionals (COF) were higher in ED than in GW nurses. ED nurses had lower secretion rates of IgA (geometric mean (GM) 49.1 μg/min) and lysozyme (GM 20.0 μg/min) than GW nurses (68.2 μg/min, 30.5 μg/min). Significant correlations were observed between PSS and log IgA and lysozyme secretion rates. OS, RES, and COF were correlated with log IgA and lysozyme levels.

Conclusion:ED nurses, who reported a higher level of professional stress, showed significantly lower secretion rates of salivary IgA and lysozyme compared to GW nurses. Salivary IgA and lysozyme were inversely correlated with self perceived work related stress. As these salivary biomarkers are reflective of the mucosal immunity, results support the inverse relation between stress and mucosal immunity.
Passive smoking and its impact on employers and employees in Hong Kong
Authors: McGhee S M , Hedley A J , Ho L M
Published: December 2002

Aims:To estimate the prevalence of passive smoking at work in the whole workforce in Hong Kong (population 6.8 million), the characteristics of the passive smokers, any extra use of health care among passive smokers, and who pays for that health care.

Methods:A random sample of 14 325 households was contacted by telephone; 6186 responding adults who worked full time were asked about their employment, their most recent use of health care and the cost of that care, their medical benefits, and their exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace. After weighting the sample for sex, age, household size, and income, 4739 subjects were included in the analysis.

Results:Of 1961 full time workers who did not smoke, 47.5% were exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace compared with only 26% exposed at home. Exposure at work was associated with being younger, male, married, less educated, and having a lower income. Those exposed at work were 37% more likely to report having visited a doctor for a respiratory illness in the previous 14 days. Employers were paying 28% of the cost of these visits, the government paid 8%, and the individuals paid 63%. If extrapolated to the 3 million workers in the Hong Kong population, employers would pay just over US$9 million per year, while the affected workers would pay around US$20 million.

Conclusion:As well as the costs of active smoking, the cost of extra health care utilisation associated with passive smoking is an additional cost being paid by those employers who have not established smoke free workplaces and by their employees.
Influence of years engaged in agriculture and number of pregnancies and deliveries on mortality of inhabitants of the Jinzu River basin area, Japan
Authors: Kobayashi E , Okubo Y , Suwazono Y , Kido T , Nishijo M , Nakagawa H , Nogawa K
Published: December 2002

Background:The occurrence of itai-itai disease is thought to be affected by such factors as pregnancy, lactation, hormonal disorders, aging, and calcium deficiency.

Aims:To study the influence of years engaged in agriculture and number of pregnancies and deliveries on the mortality of inhabitants of the Jinzu River basin area, which has been an endemic region for itai-itai disease.

Methods:From 6667 participants (3181 men, 3486 women; participation rate 93.4%) in the 1967 health survey, 3639 subjects (1591 men, 2048 women) whose years engaged in agriculture were established, and 2559 women/2410 women with a known number of pregnancies/deliveries were selected as the target population. These data were confirmed on the basis of self reported replies confirmed afterwards by interview. The survival survey was conducted for 6127 days from 1 August 1967 to 10 May 1984. Subjects were divided according to three water systems: the Jinzu River, non-Jinzu River, and mixed water system; the influence on mortality of the years engaged in agriculture and the number of pregnancies/deliveries was analysed using a Cox’s proportional hazards model according to the water systems.

Results:The mean years engaged in agriculture and mean number of pregnancies/deliveries were not different among the three water systems. Cox’s hazard ratios of these parameters to mortality were not statistically significant in the any of the water systems.

Conclusions:Neither the years engaged in agriculture nor the number of pregnancies/deliveries influenced mortality in subjects living not only in the non-Jinzu River basin but also in the Jinzu River basin using a Cox’s proportional hazards model.
Two-loop QED bound-state calculations and squared decay rates
Authors: Jentschura U D , Keitel C H , Pachucki K
Published: December 2002

We discuss the ε method as used in various recent QED bound-state calculations by considering mathematical-model examples. Recently obtained results for higher order self-energy binding corrections at the two-loop level are reviewed. Problems associated with the interpretation of squared decay rates as radiative bound-state energy-level shifts are discussed. We briefly expand on the relation of squared decay rates to nonresonant and radiative corrections to the Lorentzian line shape, including their dependence on the experimental process under study.

PACS Nos.: 31.15-p, 12.20Ds
A new value for the mass of the electron from an experiment on the g factor in 12C5+ and 16O7+
Authors: Beier T , Djekic S , Häffner H , Hermanspahn N , Kluge H -J , Quint W , Stahl S , Valenzuela T , Verdú J , Werth G
Published: December 2002

We present a derivation of the electron's mass from our experiment on the electronic g factor in 12C5+ and 16O7+ together with the most recent quantum-electrodynamical predictions. The value obtained from carbon reads me = 0.000 548 579 909 3(3) u, that from oxygen me = 0.000 548 579 909 2(5) u. The value from carbon agrees with the currently accepted one within 1.5σ but is four times more precise. The contributions to the uncertainties of our values are discussed.

PACS Nos.: 14.60Cd, 06.20Jr, 31.30Jv, and 32.10Fn
Optical measurement of the 2S hyperfine interval in atomic hydrogen
Authors: Fischer M , Kolachevsky N , Karshenboim S G , Hänsch T W
Published: December 2002

We report on work towards an optical measurement of the 2S hyperfine interval in atomic hydrogen. The experimental setup, possible systematic effects, and first preliminary results are discussed.

PACS Nos.: 12.20Fv, 32.10Fn, 32.30Jc, 42.62Fi
Cascade problems in precision physics with muonic and hadronic hydrogen
Authors: Markushin V E
Published: December 2002

Recent progress in the theory of atomic cascade in hydrogen-like exotic atoms is reviewed from the viewpoint of precision experiments with µ  p, π p, K  p, and [Formula: see text]p atoms.

PACS Nos.: 36.10-k, 32.30Rj, 32.70Jz, 32.80Cy
Nonvariational and nonadiabatic calculations on the hydrogen molecular ion and its µ  isotopes
Authors: Yakhontov V , Jungen M
Published: December 2002

A nonadiabatic, nonvariational, and computationally inexpensive scheme to describe bound and continuum states of three-body molecular ions, including µ -mesonic ions, is proposed. The method relies on treating perturbatively the nonadiabatic coupling between the BornOppenheimer (BO) particle states and nuclear motion terms, such that the appropriate expansion parameter is the mass ratio of the lightest particle in the system to that of the heaviest one. In practice, the method requires solving, numerically, a system of coupled inhomogeneous Schrödinger equations with effective potentials that depend on the "internuclear" separation, R, and allow for the mixing of BO states because of nonadiabatic terms in the Hamiltonian. The utility of our approach is clearly evidenced by the results of the numerical calculations carried out for rovibrational states of several lowest J in the H+2 and (ppµ) molecules. These demonstrate that nonadiabatic eigenenergies and eigenstates, both of the bound and scattering type, for ordinary as well as µ-mesonic molecules can be directly and quite accurately calculated from the same principles in the entire range of R, without making use of the variational techniques that more sophisticated studies of this kind are usually based on.

PACS Nos.: 31.15Ar, 31.15Pf
Recent results and current status of the muon g  2 experiment at BNL
Authors: Redin S I , Carey R M , Efstathiadis E , Hare M F , Huang X , Krinen F , Lam A , Miller J P , Paley J , Peng Q , Rind O , Roberts B L , Sulak L R , Trofimov A , Bennett G W , Brown H N , Bunce G , Danby G T , Larsen R , Lee Y Y , Meng W , Mi J , Morse W M , Nikas D , Ozben C , Prigl R , Semertzidis Y K , Warburton D , Druzhinin V P , Fedotovich G V , Grigoriev D , Khazin B I , Logashenko I B , Ryskulov N M , Shatunov Yu. M , Solodov E P , Orlov Yu. F , Winn D , Grossmann A , Jungmann K , Putlitz G zu , Walter P von , Debevec P T , Deninger W , Gray F , Hertzog D W , Onderwater C JG , Polly C , Sedykh S , Sossong M , Urner D , Yamamoto A , Bousquet B , Cushman P , Duong L , Giron S , Kindem J , Kronkvist I , McNabb R , Qian T , Shagin P , Timmermans C , Zimmerman D , Iwasaki M , Kawamura M , Deile M , Deng H , Dhawan S K , Farley F J , Grosse-Perdekamp M , Hughes V W , Kawall D , Pretz J , Sichtermann E P , Steinmetz A
Published: December 2002

The muon (g  2) experiment E821 is currently in progress at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Four data-taking runs for positive muons and one run for negative muons were successfully accomplished in 19972000 and 2001, respectively. Results of the 19972000 runs have been published, thus completing our experiment for µ+. Data analysis for the 2001 run for µ  is currently in progress. To provide measurement of aµ = ½(g  2)µ at the same level of accuracy as for aµ+ = ½(g  2)µ+, we would need one more data-taking run.

PACS Nos.: 31.15Pf, 31.30Jv, 32.10Hq
Precise theory of the Stark effect on hydrogen- and helium-like atoms
Authors: Ovsiannikov V D , Pal'chikov V G
Published: December 2002

The relativistic effects on the dipole polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities are considered for different kinds of energy levels in hydrogen- and helium-like atoms. The relativistic Coulomb Green's function is used for calculating the susceptibilities of the ground-state hydrogen up to terms of order (α Z)10. Both relativistic and interelectronic corrections are determined for the ground state of helium. The formulas are given for polarizability and hyperpolarizability in the relativistic "screened-charge" approximation. The anticrossing of the triplet 3PJ states with zero magnetic quantum number is studied on the basis of perturbation theory for degenerate states. General expressions are given for the dipole matrix elements, up to the fourth order in field strength, within the basis of close fine-structure substates with equal angular momenta L and different total momenta J. The calculation of the higher order matrix elements is carried out with the use of the Green's function in the model potential approximation.

PACS Nos.: 31.10Dk, 31.15Ar, 31.30Jv, 32.10-f, 31.25Eb
Testing of QED theory on the Rydberg series for the He-like multicharged ions
Authors: Pal'chikov V G , Skobelev I Yu. , Faenov A Ya.
Published: December 2002

The paper examines the 1/Z expansion method in calculating the energy levels, ionization energies, and wavelengths of the resonant Rydberg states 1snp 1P1 for atoms belonging to the helium isoelectronic sequence. The interactions of the bound electrons are treated as a perturbation that results in the electronelectron Breit interaction, relativistic corrections, and quantum electrodynamic (QED) contributions. By comparing the calculated wavelengths with a number of observed wavelengths, the QED contributions to the ground state are analyzed.

PACS Nos.: 31.20Di, 31.20Tz, 31.30Jv, 31.50+W
Systematic model calculations of the hyperfine structure in light and heavy ions
Authors: Tomaselli M , Kühl Th. , Nörtershäuser W , Ewald G , Sanchez R , Fritzsche S , Karshenboim S G
Published: December 2002

Systematic model calculations are performed for the magnetization distributions and the hyperfine structure (HFS) of light and heavy ions with a mass close to A ~ 6 208 235 to test the interplay of nuclear and atomic structure. A high-precision measurement of lithium-isotope shifts (IS) for suitable transition, combined with an accurate theoretical evaluation of the mass-shift contribution in the respective transition, can be used to determine the root-mean-square (rms) nuclear-charge radius of Li isotopes, particularly of the halo nucleus 11Li. An experiment of this type is currently underway at GSI in Darmstadt and ISOLDE at CERN. However, the field-shift contributions between the different isotopes can be evaluated using the results obtained for the charge radii, thus casting, with knowledge of the ratio of the HFS constants to the magnetic moments, new light on the IS theory. For heavy charged ions the calculated n-body magnetization distributions reproduce the HFS of hydrogen-like ions well if QED contributions are suppressed. Ab-initio calculations of the HFS of 209Bi80+ were performed to analyse this surprising result. Here, the boiling of the QED vacuum gives an important contribution to the HFS, thus modifying the theoretical results of other models. The investigations performed have initiated detailed studies of the structure of lithium-like ions heavier then bismuth, to obtain predictions for the experiments on uranium, which are proposed at PHELIX-XRL.

PACS Nos.: 31.15Pf, 31.30Jv, 32.10Hq, 21.10GV, 21.10FT, 21.60-n, 21.60+n
VNIIFTRI cesium fountain
Authors: Domnin Yu. S , Elkin G A , Novoselov A V , Kopylov L N , Baryshev V N , Pal'chikov V G
Published: December 2002

The state of affairs with the development of the Russian cesium fountain is presented. Design of the physical parts, the laser system, and the optical system is briefly outlined. The preliminary results of the operation with a magnetic-optical trap (MOT) and molasses are described. Temperatures of about 20 µ K for MOT and 10 µ K for molasses are reached.

PACS Nos.: 06.30Ft, 32.80Pj, 42.50Vk
Nonresonant corrections for the hydrogen atom
Authors: Labzowsky L N , Solovyev D A , Plunien G , Soff G
Published: December 2002

The nonresonant (NR) corrections are estimated for the 1s2p one-photon and for the 1s2s two-photon resonances in the hydrogen atom. These corrections depend on the measurement process and set the limit for the accuracy of atomic frequency measurements. With the measurement process accepted in recent experiments the NR contribution for the 1s2s transition energy can reach 103 Hz while the experimental inaccuracy is quoted to be ±46 Hz.

PACS Nos.: 31.30Jv, 12.20Ds, 06.20Jr, 31.15-p
One-loop self-energy correction to the bound-electron g factor
Authors: Yerokhin V A , Indelicato P , Shabaev V M
Published: December 2002

Accurate numerical evaluation of the one-loop self-energy correction to the 1s-electron g factor in H-like ions is presented to all orders in the parameter Zα. This calculation significantly improves the accuracy of theoretical values of the corresponding g factor in low- and medium-Z ions.
Search for an exotic three-body decay of orthopositronium o-Ps   γ + X1 + X2
Authors: Crivelli P
Published: December 2002

We carried out a model independent search for an exotic three-body decay of orthopositronium o-Ps [Formula: see text] γ + X1 + X2 into a photon and two weak interacting particles X1 and X2. The existence of this decay could explain the discrepancy between the measured and the predicted values of the orthopositronium-decay rate in vacuum. Our result excludes this decay mode as the origin of the discrepancy and an upper limit on the branching ratio has been set B(o-Ps [Formula: see text] γ + X1 + X2) < 4.4 x 105 (at the 90% confidence level), for the photon energy in the range from 40 < Eγ < 400 keV and for the weak interacting particles X mass range 0 [Formula: see text] mX1 + mX2 [Formula: see text] 900 keV.

PACS No.: 36.10Dr
Measurement of the gJ factor of a bound electron in hydrogen-like oxygen 16O7+
Authors: Verdú J L , Beier T , Djekic S , Häffner H , Kluge H -J , Quint W , Valenzuela T , Werth G
Published: December 2002

The magnetic moment of the electron bound in hydrogen-like oxygen O7+ has been determined using the "continuous SternGerlach effect" in a double Penning trap. We obtained a relative precision of 2 x 109. This tests calculations of bound-state quantum electrodynamics and nuclear correction.

PACS No.: 32.10Dk
Hyperfine quenching of the 23P0,2 states in He-like ions
Authors: Volotka A V , Shabaev V M , Plunien G , Soff G , Yerokhin V A
Published: December 2002

The transition probabilities of the lines 11 S0  23 P0 and 11 S0  23 P2 in He-like ions with nonzero nuclear spins are calculated. The hyperfine-quenching effect on the lifetimes of the 23 P0,2 states is investigated. The Coulomb and Breit interelectronic interactions are taken into account to the order (α Z)2/Z by means of perturbation theory. The calculation is performed for both length and velocity gauges. The transition rates evaluated are in good agreement with previous 1/Z and CI calculations.

PACS No.: 32.70Cs
Development of the new method of positronium generation. Abilities and future trends
Authors: Antropov V , Ivanov A , Korotaev Yu. , Mamedov T , Meshkov I , Seleznev I , Sidorin A , Smirnov A , Syresin E , Trubnikov G , Yakovenko S
Published: December 2002

Presently the positron ring dedicated to positronium generation and called the Low Energy Positron Toroidal Accumulator (LEPTA) is under construction at JINR (Dubna). The main application of this ring is the generation of a monoenergetic and directed flux of positronium atoms and its use in experiments. Positronium is generated in interactions of positrons, circulating inside a storage ring accumulator, with free electrons of the cooling electron beam that have velocities very close to the positron velocities. This allows us to obtain a high positronium flux with small angular and velocity spreads of the atoms and provides a significant advantage for the proposed arrangement of experiments, so-called positronium-in-flight setups, as compared with traditional approaches in which positronium was generated in targets. In particular, the precision in measuring positronium parameters (lifetime, the probability of decays with momentum conservation, charge invariant violation (CPT violation), fine structure of the positronium spectrum, and Lamb-shift measurements) can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, some experiments that are unrealistic within traditional schemes become feasible with the proposed facility.

PACS No.: 36.10Dr
Precise energies of highly excited hydrogen and deuterium
Authors: Kotochigova S , Mohr P J , Taylor B N
Published: December 2002

The energy levels of hydrogen and deuterium atoms are calculated to provide frequencies for transitions between highly excited states with principal quantum number n up to 200. All known quantum electrodynamics and relativistic corrections have been included in the calculation. In some cases, contributions originally calculated for a few states have been extrapolated to highly excited states. The fundamental constants necessary for the calculation are taken from the 1998 CODATA least-squares adjustment. Evaluated uncertainties take into account uncertainties in the theoretical calculations, uncertainties in the fundamental constants, and covariances between the various contributions and input parameters.

PACS Nos.: 31.15Pf, 31.30Jv, 32.10Hq
The diamagnetic effect on the intensity of helium radiation lines
Authors: Ovsiannikov V D , Chernushkin V V
Published: December 2002

The changes of the radiation matrix elements, probabilities, and line intensities in a strong magnetic field are studied for the helium lines, corresponding to transitions between Zeeman manifolds with |m| [Formula: see text] 3. The effect of a selective field action on radiation lines is discovered that may reduce and enhance corresponding matrix elements and induce the dipole-forbidden transitions with the selection rule |Δl| = 3.

PACS Nos.: 32.60+i, 32.70Fw, 32.30-r
The PaschenBack effect in helium spectra revisited
Authors: Ovsiannikov V D , Tchaplyguine E V
Published: December 2002

The complete information for the intensities of the Zeeman components in the helium triplet lines corresponding to the radiation transitions n3 PJM [Formula: see text] n' 3S1M ' is analyzed in the field-strength region from anomalous Zeeman effects to complete PaschenBack effects. The diagonalization of the paramagnetic interaction for n3PJM was carried out for the states with magnetic quantum number M = 0 in the Hilbert space of dimension 3, taking account of all three fine-structure sublevels, J = 0,1,2. The results of the numerical calculations for line positions and intensities are presented in a table and figures. The departure from the previously known data is discussed.

PACS Nos.: 32.60+i, 32.70Fw, 32.30-r
Hadronic effects in leptonic systems: muonium hyperfine structure and anomalous magnetic moment of muon
Authors: Eidelman S I , Karshenboim S G , Shelyuto V A
Published: December 2002

The contributions of hadronic effects to muonium physics and the anomalous magnetic moment of muon are considered. Special attention is paid to higher order effects and the uncertainty related to the hadronic contribution to the hyperfine-structure interval in the ground state of muonium.

PACS Nos.: 12.20-m, 36.10Dr, 31.30Jv, 13.65+i
The g factor in a light two-body atomic system: a determination of fundamental constants to test QED
Authors: Karshenboim S G , Ivanov V G
Published: December 2002

The energy levels of a two-body atomic system in an external homogeneous magnetic field can be presented in terms of the magnetic moments of their components, however, those magnetic moments being related to bound particles differ from their free values. The study of bound g-factors in simple atomic systems are now of interest because of recent progress in experiments on medium-Z ions and of a new generation of muonium experiments possible with upcoming intensive muon sources. We consider bound corrections to the g factors in several atomic systems, for which experimental data are available in the literature: hydrogen, helium-3 ion, muonium, hydrogen-like ions with spinless nuclei with medium Z.

PACS Nos.: 12.20Fv, 31.30Jv, 32.10Hq
The structure of light nuclei and its effect on precise atomicmeasurements
Authors: Friar J L
Published: December 2002

The paper consists of three parts: (i) what every atomic physicist needs to know about the physics of light nuclei (and no more); (ii) what nuclear physicists can do for atomic physics; and (iii) what atomic physicists can do for nuclear physics. A brief qualitative overview of the nuclear force and calculational techniques for light nuclei will be presented, with an emphasis on debunking myths and on recent progress in the field. Nuclear quantities that affect precise atomic measurements will be discussed, together with their current theoretical and experimental status. The final topic will be a discussion of those atomic measurements that would be useful to nuclear physics.

PACS No.: 31.30Gs
Relativistic linear response wave function of the lowest ns 1/2 states in hydrogen-like atoms. New analytic results
Authors: Yakhontov V
Published: December 2002

A novel closed-form analytic representation for the linear response relativistic wave function of the hydrogenic ns 1/2 level that is exposed to a uniform dipole radiation of frequency ω is reported. This result is derived using a relativistic version of the PodolskySternheimerDalgarnoLewis method, that is, by means of direct analytical solving of the appropriate inhomogeneous ω-dependent Dirac equation, thus requiring no prior knowledge of the relativistic Coulomb Green's function. The utility of the formulas obtained for numerous potential applications is illustrated by new results of analytic and numerical calculations of the relativistic dipole dynamic polarizabilities of the 1s1/2 and 2s1/2 levels in hydrogen-like atoms.

PACS Nos.: 31.15Pf, 31.30Jv, 32.10Hq
A detector with high detection efficiency in 4- and 5-photon-positronium annihilations
Authors: Chiba M , Nakagawa J , Tsugawa H , Ogata R , Nishimura T
Published: December 2002

We first measured 4- and 5-photon annihilations in positronium using a multiphoton spectrometer (UNI), which consists of 32 NaI(Tl) scintillators with lead shields, each being located on a surface of an icosidodecahedron. The front face of each scintillator is placed at a distance of L = 262 mm from the center of the UNI. With this setup, the detection efficiency of 4- and 5-photon-annihilation processes are too small to get a sufficient number of events to analyze the physics. To obtain a larger detection efficiency, we must set the NaI(Tl) scintillators closer to the target. The original principle in designing the UNI was to suppress backgrounds (BG) and make them as low as possible allowing modest efficiencies for 4- and 5-photon-annihilation events, i.e., to get the highest signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The new concept is to get the highest S/σ where σ is an error of one standard deviation of the signal including BG effects. A higher S/σ means a larger number of events with smaller BG taking into account a statistical effect. The detection efficiencies with BG effects are studied with respect to L using a detector simulator based on the EGS4 code in which 2- to 5-photon-annihilation events are generated by quantum-electrodynamic processes based on GRACE and BASES/SPRING codes. As a result, the detection efficiency and S/σ of 5-photon annihilations at L = 136 mm are 529 and 17 times larger than those at L = 262 mm, respectively.

PACS Nos.: 36.10Dr, 12.20Fv, 13.10+q