bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased prevalence of hypertension in a population exposed to aircraft noise
Authors: Rosenlund M , Berglind N , Pershagen G , Järup L , Bluhm G 
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVESTo investigate whether there is a relation between residential exposure to aircraft noise and hypertension.METHODSThe study population comprised two random samples of subjects aged 19–80 years, one including 266 residents in the vicinity of Stockholm Arlanda airport, and another comprising 2693 inhabitants in other parts of Stockholm county. The subjects were classified according to the time weighted equal energy and maximum aircraft noise levels at their residence. A questionnaire provided information on individual characteristics including history of hypertension.RESULTSThe prevalence odds ratio for hypertension adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and education was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0 to 2.5) among those with energy averaged aircraft noise levels exceeding 55 dBA, and 1.8 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) among those with maximum aircraft noise levels exceeding 72 dBA. An exposure-response relation was suggested for both exposure measures. The exposure to aircraft noise seemed particularly important for older subjects and for those not reporting impaired hearing ability.CONCLUSIONSCommunity exposure to aircraft noise may be associated with hypertension.Main messagesExposure to aircraft noise may be a risk factor for hypertension.It is suggested that special attention be paid to maximum noise levels because of possible physiological effects from aircraft noise.
Prognostic factors for respiratory sickness absence and return to work among blue collar workers and office personnel
Authors: Alexopoulos E C , Burdorf A 
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVESTo analyze factors that determine the occurrence of sickness absence due to respiratory disorders and the time it takes to return to work.METHODSA longitudinal study with 2 year follow up was conducted among 326 male blue collar and white collar workers. The survey started with an interview on respiratory complaints and spirometry. Sixty six (21%) workers were lost to follow up. Complete data on sickness absence among 251 workers during the follow up were collected from absence records and self reports. Regression analysis based on a proportional hazards model was applied to identify risk factors for the occurrence and duration of sickness absence due to respiratory disorders.RESULTSDuring the follow up 35% workers attributed at least one period of sickness absence to respiratory complaints, which accounted for 14.2% of all days lost. A history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) did not predict sickness absence for COPD; the same was true for chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD). Complaints about asthma contributed significantly to absence due to asthma (relative risk (RR) 3.96; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.99 to 7.90). Job title was a significant predictor of sickness absence due to respiratory complaints. Decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC, <80% of the reference value) was also a significant predictor of absence due to asthma (RR 4.03; 95% CI 1.41 to 11.54) and of respiratory absence (RR 2.49; 95% CI 1.07 to 5.79). Absence with respiratory complaints was not associated with age, height, body mass index, or smoking. Duration of employment was a weak almost significant predictor against respiratory absenteeism (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.97). Return to work after respiratory absence was worse for blue collar workers than office personnel (RR 5.74; 95% CI 1.90 to 17.4 for welders, and RR 6.43; 95% CI 2.08 to 19.85 for metal workers).CONCLUSIONSAsthmatic complaints in the 12 months before the study were associated with sickness absence for these complaints during the follow up. An abnormal level of FVC also influenced respiratory absenteeism. Blue collar workers had more often and more prolonged absences due to respiratory disorders than white collar workers. Workers with absence due to respiratory complaints were at higher risk of subsequent sickness absence in the next year.
Short term respiratory effects of acute exposure to chlorine due to a swimming pool accident
Authors: Agabiti N , Ancona C , Forastiere F , Di Napoli A , Lo Presti E , Corbo G M , D'Orsi F , Perucci C A 
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVEAcute exposure to chlorine causes lung damage, and recovery may proceed slowly for several weeks. The short term respiratory effects of acute chlorine inhalation during a swimming pool accident were examined.METHODSA total of 282 subjects (134 children, aged <14 years) inhaled hydrogen chloride and sodium hypochlorite during an accident caused by a malfunction of the water chlorinating system in a community pool in Rome in 1998. Most people received bronchodilators and cortisone at the emergency room; five children were admitted to hospital. A total of 260 subjects (92.2%) were interviewed about duration of exposure (<3, 3–5, >5 minutes), intensity of exposure (not at all or a little, a moderate amount, a lot), and respiratory symptoms. Lung function was measured in 184 people (82 children) after 15–30 days. The effects of exposure to chlorine were analysed through multiple linear regression, separately in adults and in children.RESULTSAcute respiratory symptoms occurred among 66.7% of adults and 71.6% of children. The incidences were highest among those who had chronic respiratory disease and had a longer duration of exposure. In about 30% of the subjects, respiratory symptoms persisted for 15–30 days after the accident. Lung function levels were lower in those who reported a high intensity of exposure than in those who reported low exposure, both in children and in adults (mean (95% confidence interval (95% CI)) differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1,) were −109 (−310 to 93) ml, and −275 (−510 to −40) ml, respectively).CONCLUSIONPersistent symptoms and lung function impairment were found up to 1 month after the incident. Although community pool accidents happen rarely, the medical community needs to be alerted to the possible clinical and physiological sequelae, especially among susceptible people.
Occupational risk factors for male bladder cancer: results from a population based case cohort study in the Netherlands
Authors: Zeegers M P A , Swaen G M H , Kant I , Goldbohm R A , van den Brandt P A 
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVESThis study was conducted to estimate risk of bladder cancer associated with occupational exposures to paint components, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), diesel exhausts, and aromatic amines among the general population in The Netherlands.METHODSA prospective cohort study was conducted among 58 279 men. In September 1986, the cohort members (55–69 years) completed a self administered questionnaire on risk factors for cancer including job history. Follow up for incident bladder cancer was established by linkage to cancer registries until December 1992. A case-cohort approach was used based on 532 cases and 1630 subcohort members. A case by case expert assessment was carried out to assign to the cases and subcohort members a cumulative probability of occupational exposure for each carcinogenic exposure.RESULTSMen in the highest tertiles of occupational exposure to paint components, PAHs, aromatic amines, and diesel exhaust had non-significantly higher age and smoking adjusted incident rate ratios (RRs) of bladder cancer than men with no exposure: 1.29 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.71 to 2.33), 1.24 (95% CI 0.68 to 2.27), 1.32 (95% CI 0.41 to 4.23) and 1.21 (95% CI 0.78 to 1.88), respectively. The associations between paint components and PAHs and risk of bladder cancer were most pronounced for current smokers. Among former smokers it seemed that for cumulative probability of exposure to paint components and PAHs, men who had smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day had RRs below unity compared with men who had smoked less than 15 cigarettes a day, whereas among current smokers the opposite was found. Exposure to diesel exhaust was positively associated with risk of bladder cancer among current and former smokers who had smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day.CONCLUSIONSThis study provided only marginal evidence for an association between occupational exposure to paint components, PAHs, aromatic amines, and bladder cancer. Despite the small proportion of exposed subjects, an interaction with cigarette smoking was found, specifically for paint components, suggesting that the carcinogenic effect on the bladder might decrease after stopping smoking.
Effluents from a pulp and paper mill: a skin and health survey of children living in upstream and downstream villages
Authors: Lee J , Koh D , Andijani M , Saw S M , Munoz C , Chia S E , Wong M L , Hong C Y , Ong C N 
Published: July 2002

Objectives:A health survey of three villages (upstream village Rantau Baru and two downstream villages, Sering and Pelalawan) in the vicinity of a pulp and paper mill along the Kampar river in the province of Riau, Indonesia was conducted to find whether exposure to the effluents from the mill was related to skin conditions and ill health.Methods:A cross sectional survey was carried out of children living in the three villages.Results:Common skin conditions such as dermatitis, fungal infections, insect bites, and miliaria were found. No significantly increased risk of dermatitis or any illness in general was found with increasing levels of exposure to river water for downstream villages when compared with the upstream village. However, there was an increased risk of diarrhoea in Sering especially with drinking water directly from the river (prevalence rate ratio (PRR) 4.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.4 to 63.9). An increased risk was also found within the upstream village Rantau Baru (PRR 2.3, 95% CI 0.9 to 5.8) and downstream village Sering (PRR 1.4, 95% CI 0.4 to 5.2) when children who drank water directly from the river were compared with those who never did. Analysis of the river water also showed physical and chemical variables within the acceptable range except for faecal coliforms (6 MPN/100 ml) found in the sample taken from Sering.Conclusions:The effluent from the mill is unlikely to be causing skin conditions and ill health. Diarrhoea may be due to faecal coliform contamination of the water because all raw sewerage is deposited in the river. Community health outreach programmes are being implemented based on these findings.
Widal agglutination test − 100 years later: still plagued by controversy
Authors: Olopoenia Lateef A , King Aprileona L 
Published: July 2002

Summary
We review the significance of the Widal agglutination test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Over 100 years since its introduction as a serologic means of detecting the presence of typhoid fever, the Widal test continues to be plagued with controversies involving the quality of the antigens used and interpretation of the result, particularly in endemic areas. Areas of concern with clinical and laboratory significance discussed in this review include: the techniques of test performance, interpretation of results, limitation of the value of the test results in endemic typhoid areas, the quality of the antigens used, and alternative diagnostic tests.
Venlafaxine-induced serotonin syndrome with relapse following amitriptyline
Authors: Perry Nicholas K 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
A case of venlafaxine-induced serotonin syndrome is described with relapse following the introduction of amitriptyline, despite a 2-week period between the discontinuation of one drug and the commencement of the other. Electroencephalography may play an important part in diagnosis. With the increasing use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, greater awareness of the serotonin syndrome is necessary. Furthermore, the potential for drug interactions which may lead to the syndrome needs to be recognised.
Smoking and diabetes in Chinese men
Authors: Ko G T C , Chan J C N , Tsang L W W , Critchley J A J H , Cockram C S 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Smoking is a major cardiovascular risk factor and cause of death. Diabetes mellitus is also associated with an increased mortality and morbidity. Evidence concerning whether smoking increases the incidence of diabetes remains conflicting. Glycaemic status and smoking habits were analysed in 3718 Chinese subjects in order to assess the possible association between smoking and risk of diabetes in the Chinese population. The World Health Organisation 1998 criteria were used for the diagnosis of glucose intolerance. Smoking was defined as current cigarette smoking or ex-smoking without regard to daily consumption. The smoking habits of the studied subjects were correlated with glycaemic status. There were 3003 (80.8%) women and 715 (19.2%) men. The mean age (SD) was 38.4 (12.8) years (median 35.0, range 12–88 years). Of the 3718 subjects, 786 (21.1%) had diabetes, 708 (19.1%) had impaired glucose tolerance, and 2224 (59.8%) had normal results. Of the 3003 women, only 87 (2.9%) were smokers. The female smokers were younger, heavier, and had higher alcohol consumption than non-smokers. The prevalence of diabetes was similar between female smokers and non-smokers after adjustment for age, body mass index, family history of diabetes, and alcohol. Of the 715 men, 175 (24.5%) were smokers. The male smokers were younger, had lower blood pressure, and higher alcohol consumption. After adjustment for age, body mass index, family history of diabetes and alcohol, the male smokers had lower blood pressure, higher one hour plasma glucose, and more diabetes. Using logistic regression analysis (stepwise forward) with age, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, and family history of diabetes as independent variables to predict the risk of having diabetes, age and body mass index are independently associated with diabetes in both men and women. In addition, smoking is independently associated with the risk of diabetes in men, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval, CI) being 1.705 (1.106 to 2.630). Family history of diabetes is independently associated with the risk of diabetes in women, and the odds ratio (95% CI) is 1.643 (1.314, to 2.053). In conclusion, it was found that smoking is independently associated with diabetes after adjustment for age, body mass index, alcohol, and family history of diabetes in Hong Kong Chinese men, the odds ratio being 1.7. The prevalence of smoking in Hong Kong Chinese women is low and its association with diabetes is inconclusive.
Thiamine deficiency in patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a pilot study
Authors: Seligmann H , Levi R , Konijn A M , Prokocimer M 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Malignancy associated primary thiamine deficiency has been documented in several experimental tumours, sporadic clinical case reports, and in a number of patients with fast growing haematological malignancies.
Thiamine status was assessed prospectively in 14 untreated B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients, and in 14 age matched control patients with non-malignant disease. Patients with any known cause of absolute, relative, or functional thiamine deficiency were excluded.
High (&gt;15%) thiamine pyrophosphate effect (TPPE), indicating thiamine deficiency, was found in five out of 14 CLL patients (35.7%) and in none of the controls (p=0.057). Mean (SD) TPPE in the thiamine deficient patients group was 21.6 (3.4)%. In all the patients, thiamine deficiency was subclinical. No correlates for the thiamine deficiency have been found save for an increment of more than 20% in the total leucocyte count over the preceding three months, which was found in all five thiamine deficient patients compared with only one of the nine non-thiamine deficient CLL patients.
Thus, CLL patients may be prone to develop primary thiamine deficiency possibly promoted by the increased leucocytes span, which may increase thiamine consumption. Since even subclinical thiamine deficiency may be detrimental to the patient's clinical course, and in view of the theoretical danger of thiamine promoted tumour cell proliferation, further large scale studies are warranted to confirm this observation, and to elucidate the issue of thiamine supplementation to CLL patients.
The SU(2) realization for the Morse potential and its coherent states
Authors: Dong S -H 
Published: July 2002

A realization of the raising and lowering operators for the Morse potential is presented. We show that these operators satisfy the commutation relations for the SU(2) group. Closed analytical expressions are derived for the matrix elements of different functions such as 1/y and d/dy. The harmonic limit of the SU(2) operators is also studied. The transition probability between two eigenstates produced by a harmonic perturbation as a function of the operators [Formula: see text]±,0 is discussed. The average values of some observables in the coherent states |α > for the Morse potential are also calculated. PACS Nos.: 02.30+b, 03.65Fd, 42.50Ar, and 33.10Cs
System level concurrency control for distributed database systems
Authors: Rosenkrantz Daniel J. , Stearns Richard E. , Lewis Philip M. 
Published: July 2002

A distributed database system is one in which the database is spread among several sites and application programs “move” from site to site to access and update the data they need. The concurrency control is that portion of the system that responds to the read and write requests of the application programs. Its job is to maintain the global consistency of the distributed database while ensuring that the termination of the application programs is not prevented by phenomena such as deadlock. We assume each individual site has its own local concurrency control which responds to requests at that site and can only communicate with concurrency controls at other sites when an application program moves from site to site, terminates, or aborts.
This paper presents designs for several distributed concurrency controls and demonstrates that they work correctly. It also investigates some of the implications of global consistency of a distributed database and discusses phenomena that can prevent termination of application programs.
Some New Results in Pseudo-Random Number Generation
Authors: Van Gelder A. 
Published: July 2002

Pseudo-random number generators of the power residue (sometimes called congruential or multiplicative) type are discussed and results of statistical tests performed on specific examples of this type are presented. Tests were patterned after the methods of MacLaren and Marsaglia (M&M).
The main result presented is the discovery of several power residue generators which performed well in these tests. This is important because, of all the generators using standard methods (including power residue) that were tested by M&M, none gave satisfactory results.

The overall results here provide further evidence for their conclusion that the types of tests usually encountered in the literature do not provide an adequate index of the behavior of
n
-tuples of consecutively generated numbers. In any Monte Carlo or simulation problem where
n
supposedly independent random numbers are required at each step, this behavior is likely to be important.

Finally, since the tests presented here differ in certain details from those of M&M, some of their generators were retested as a check. A cross-check shows that results are compatible; in particular, if a generator failed one of their tests badly, it also failed the present author's corresponding test badly.
Value-based clock gating and operation packing
Authors: Brooks David , Martonosi Margaret 
Published: July 2002

The large address space needs of many current applications have pushed processor designs toward 64-bit word widths. Although full 64-bit addresses and operations are indeed sometimes needed, arithmetic operations on much smaller quantities are still more common. In fact, another instruction set trend has been the introduction of instructions geared toward subword operations on 16-bit quantities. For examples, most major processors now include instruction set support for multimedia operations allowing parallel execution of several subword operations in the same ALU. This article presents our observations demonstrating that operations on “narrow-width” quantities are common not only in multimedia codes, but also in more general workloads. In fact, across the SPECint95 benchmarks, over half the integer operation executions require 16 bits or less. Based on this data, we propose two hardware mechanisms that dynamically recognize and capitalize on these narrow-width operations. The first, power-oriented optimization reduces processor power consumption by using operand-value-based clock gating to turn off portions of arithmetic units that will be unused by narrow-width operations. This optimization results in a 45%-60% reduction in the integer unit's power consumption for the SPECint95 and MediaBench benchmark suites. Applying this optimization to SPECfp95 benchmarks results in slightly smaller power reductions, but still seems warranted. These reductions in integer unit power consumption equate to a 5%-10% full-chip power savings. Our second, performance-oriented optimization improves processor performance by packing together narrow-width operations so that they share a single arithmetic unit. Conceptually similar to a dynamic form of MMX, this optimization offers speedups of 4.3%-6.2% for SPECint95 and 8.0%-10.4% for MediaBench.Overall, these optimizations highlight an increasing opportunity for value-based optimizations to improve both power and performance in current microprocessors.
The CRAY-1 computer system
Authors: Russell Richard M. 
Published: July 2002

This paper describes the CRAY-1, discusses the evolution of its architecture, and gives an account of some of the problems that were overcome during its manufacture.
The CRAY-1 is the only computer to have been built to date that satisfies ERDA's Class VI requirement (a computer capable of processing from 20 to 60 million floating point operations per second) [1].
The CRAY-1's Fortran compiler (CFT) is designed to give the scientific user immediate access to the benefits of the CRAY-1's vector processing architecture. An optimizing compiler, CFT, “vectorizes” innermost DO loops. Compatible with the ANSI 1966 Fortran Standard and with many commonly supported Fortran extensions, CFT does not require any source program modifications or the use of additional nonstandard Fortran statements to achieve vectorization. Thus the user's investment of hundreds of man months of effort to develop Fortran programs for other contemporary computers is protected.
A review of recent developments in solving ODEs
Authors: Gupta Gopal K. , Sacks-Davis Ron , Tescher Peter E. 
Published: July 2002

Mathematical models when simulating the behavior of physical, chemical, and biological systems often include one or more ordinary differential equations (ODEs). To study the system behavior predicted by a model, these equations are usually solved numerically.
Although many of the current methods for solving ODEs were developed around the turn of the century, the past 15 years or so has been a period of intensive research. The emphasis of this survey is on the methods and techniques used in software for solving ODEs.
ODEs can be classified as stiff or nonstiff, and may be stiff for some parts of an interval and nonstiff for others. We discuss stiff equations, why they are difficult to solve, and methods and software for solving both nonstiff and stiff equations. We conclude this review by looking at techniques for dealing with special problems that may arise in some ODEs, for example, discontinuities.
Although important theoretical developments have also taken place, we report only those developments which have directly affected the software and provide a review of this research. We present the basic concepts involved but assume that the reader has some background in numerical computing, such as a first course in numerical methods.