bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lung function among asbestos cement factory workers: Cross‐sectional and longitudinal study
Authors: Siracusa Andrea , Cicioni Carla , Volpi Roberto , Canalicchi Patrizia , Brugnami Giuliana , Comodi Anna Rita , Abbritti Giuseppe 
Published: April 2007

AbstractVentilatory capacity tests and standardized respiratory questionnaires were used in 1973 and in 1980 to measure the effect of mixed dust exposure in the asbestos cement industry on respiratory symptoms and lung function in 65 exposed workers and 30 controls (exposed to polyvinyl chloride but not to asbestos). Workers exposed to asbestos had 1) a higher prevalence of breathlessness and chest pain, and a higher incidence of breathlessness; 2) lower 1980 values of forced vital capacity (FVC) (0.27‐0.83 liters) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) (0.23‐0.62 liters); and 3) a faster decline (nearly 40 ml/year) in FVC and FEV1 between 1973 and 1980. The FVC annual decrease was 52.5 ml in the subjects with more than 15 years since first asbestos exposure, whereas it was 24.3 ml in those with less than 15 years, suggesting a faster decline after 15 years of exposure. The effect of asbestos exposure and smoking habits was less than additive as regards pulmonary function.
Pleural mesothelioma after a short interval from first exposure in the wine filter industry
Authors: Scansetti G. , Mollo F. , Tiberi G. , Andrion A. , Piolatto G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractPleural mesotheliomas are usually reported after a long interval has passed since first exposure to asbestos. We, however, describe a case observed after a latent period of only 7.5 years in a worker exposed in a factory manufacturing auxiliary products for wine treatment, including chrysotile asbestos filters. The exposure to asbestos lasted 3‐4 months per year, during which airborne fiber concentrations ranged from 1 to 4 ff/cc in the patient's workplace. Due to the characteristics of the manufacturing process, the asbestos fibers were very thin in diameter. The patient also suffered from nasal breathing impairment. An examination of the literature showed that asbestos‐related mesotheliomas have been reported, albeit rarely, after less than 10 years from onset of exposure. Therefore, it is believed that this case should be related to past exposure to asbestos.
Acute effects of the work environment on pulmonary functions of swine confinement workers
Authors: Donham Kelley J. , Zavala Donald C. , Merchant James 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA sample population of owner/operators of swine confinement production facilities (21 subjects in 21 different facilities) were tested by spirometry immediately before and after a 4‐hr work period. These confinement workers had statistically significant decrements in flow rates ranging from 3.3% (mean FVC) to 11.9% (mean FEF25–75). The air within the work environment was sampled for particulates and gases during the exposure period. There was suggestive evidence for a dose–response association between environmental exposures to carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). There was also some evidence for an additive relationship between smoking and work environment exposure on decline in lung function. The results of this study indicate that those working in swine confinement buildings experience irritation to the respiratory tract which is manifest by decreased flow rates. These findings suggest this exposure represents an emerging occupational health hazard. Further studies are warranted to assess the potential for chronic or irreversible damage to the respiratory tract.
Further cases of lead poisoning from wine
Authors: Perrelli G. , Capellaro E. , Pira E. , Maina G. , Vergnano P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractLead intoxication has been reported to occur as a consequence of nonoccupational exposure, the source being mostly the leaching of lead from fluid containers in domestic use.Three such cases are described, for which the cause has been identified to be in the lining of the vat used to contain home‐made wine. All cases are members of the same family.
The value of computerised axial tomography in the assessment of workers exposed to asbestos
Authors: Sluis‐Cremer Gerhard K. , Thomas Raymond Glyn , Schmaman Ian B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractNineteen men who had been exposed to asbestos for long periods were subjected to an examination of the lungs by means of computerised axial tomography (CT). Some features of asbestos‐related disease are shown better on CT than on conventional roentgenograms, and occasionally features not shown at all on conventional films may be demonstrated on CT. It was concluded that CT may be useful in cases with borderline and doubtful signs on conventional films, and very occasionally in persons with long exposure who have normal conventional films.
Cervicobrachial disorders in certain occupations, with special reference to compression in the thoracic outlet
Authors: Sällström Johan , Schmidt Hans 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOne hundred ninety‐one workers in three different occupations were examined regarding presence of symptoms from the cervicobrachial region. Eighteen percent of the workers (27% of the female and 11% of the male workers) had symptoms of compression in the thoracic outlet. However, only 2% of all workers had pronounced symptoms of compression in the thoracic outlet. In addition, 27% of the workers (33% of the female and 23% of the male workers) had symptoms of other cervicobrachial disorders. Thus, 45% of the workers had symptoms from the cervicobrachial region. The workers with symptoms of compression in the thoracic outlet were significantly younger than the workers with other symptoms of cervicobrachial disorders, p < 0.01. No significant correlation was noted between vascular compression and symptoms of compression in the thoracic outlet.
Arterial hypertension and noise: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Belli Stefano , Sani Luciano , Scarficcia Giorgina , Sorrentino Raffaela 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe occurrence of permanent arterial hypertension was studied among the workers of a textile plant (490 subjects) exposed to high frequency noise, at levels often exceeding 100 dBA. The prevalence of the disease among these workers was compared to that observed in a reference series (450 subjects). A prevalence rate ratio equal to 1.34 (1.14–1.57) was estimated, taking into account several determinants of disease acting as confounding factors in the study. The results, which are in good agreement with those obtained in similar studies, are discussed.
Sources of respiratory insult in the poultry processing industry
Authors: Lenhart Steven W. , Olenchock Stephen A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAlthough the agricultural community has focused a great deal of attention on improving the overall health of poultry for production purposes, the health of poultry workers has, by comparison, received less direct attention. Recent studies suggest that poultry workers who come in direct contact with live birds may be at risk of pulmonary dysfunction, including the development of chronic respiratory diseases.Exposure of poultry workers to live birds results in potential pulmonary insult from a variety of allergenic and immunologic agents, as well as nuisance dust particles. In addition, marked levels of gram‐negative bacterial endotoxins and antibiotic‐resistant bacteria contaminate the occupational environment. Health care professionals should be aware of the potential sources of respiratory insult to workers in poultry processing and related industries.
Occupational hazards to health care workers: Report of a conference
Authors: Omenn Gilbert S. , Morris Sharon L. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractHealth care workers are exposed to an array of physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial hazards. At a national conference in Seattle May 11–13, 1983, hospital occupational medicine programs were characterized as lagging far behind those in industries with comparable illness and injury rates. Participants and speakers recommended that health care workers be trained to recognize occupational hazards; that epidemiologic, laboratory, and clinical studies be undertaken to discern trends and establish the mechanisms of effects from hazardous exposures; and that adequate employee health and safety programs be established in health care settings.
Retired and former asbestos workers in Hawaii
Authors: Fournier‐Massey Gisele , Wong Gabriel , Hall Thomas C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn 1979, a pilot survey defined respiratory status and unmet health care needs of retired and former male asbestos workers in Hawaii. Of 1,401 identified subjects, 741 were contacted and 411 were interviewed. Forty‐five subjects were between 39 and 54 years of age; 208, between 55 and 64; and 158, age 65 or more. They represented the main ethnic groups—Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian and part‐Hawaiian, and Japanese—on Oahu.Most subjects had had significant exposure to asbestos in a shipyard, and 83% were current nonsmokers (160 had never smoked, and 111 were ex‐smokers for ten years or more). Taking age and ethnicity into account, our group had more chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal problems than the comparable male population of Oahu in 1979, but fewer such problems than active shipyard workers elsewhere. These problems related primarily to current smoking status and secondarily to the length of asbestos exposure. Health care was available, but former workers used it less than retirees, despite having more symptoms. Very few abnormalities were reported by the subjects on their chest X‐rays, pulmonary function tests, and sputum cytology performed elsewhere.These findings are compared to those of other shipyards, and support the hypothesis that the biological effects of asbestos exposure are generally mild in Hawaii.
Mechanisms for modification of bromobenzene hepatotoxicity by coadministered toluene and chlorobenzene
Authors: Koizumi Akio , Sadamoto Tetsuo , Naganuma Hiroshi , Ikeda Masayuki 
Published: April 2007

AbstractHepatotoxicity of bromobenzene (2 mmole/kg) in combination with toluene or chloro‐benzene (4 mmole/kg each) were studied in vivo on the basis of GPT elevation and histological examinations. Both toluene and chlorobenzene suppressed bromobenzene hepatotoxicity 24 hr after the treatment, and chlorobenzene dramatically potentiated the toxicity at 48 hr. The glutathione level became lower at 12 hr and recovered at 24 hr when bromobenzene was given alone. The recovery delayed until 48 hr when chlorobenzene was coadministered. In experiments in vitro with microsomes from phenobarbital‐pretreated rats, both toluene and chlorobenzene at 0.6 mM inhibited p‐bromophenol formation noncompetitively but had no effect on o‐isomer formation. Multiple factors may determine overall hepatotoxicity in combined exposure; bromobenzene hepatotoxicity will be suppressed in the early phase owing to metabolic inhibition of 3,4‐epoxidation, but potentiated later because of delayed recovery in the glutathione level. A time‐saving yet reliable assay system with an ECD‐gas chromatograph was developed for bromobenzene metabolism study.
Survey of reproductive hazards among oil, chemical, and atomic workers exposed to halogenated hydrocarbons
Authors: Savitz David A. , Harley Barbara , Krekel Sylvia , Marshall Julie , Bondy Jessica , Orleans Miriam 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSeveral halogenated hydrocarbons are suspected of causing adverse reproductive effects. Because of such concerns, the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union surveyed the reproductive histories of two groups of workers. One group worked at plants engaged in the production or use of halogenated hydrocarbons (exposed) whereas the others had no such opportunity for exposure (nonexposed). Although a low response rate precludes firm conclusions, the 1,280 completed questionnaires provide useful data for generating hypotheses in this developing field of interest. A history of diagnosed cancer was reported more frequently among exposed workers. The infant mortality rate was also significantly elevated among the offspring of exposed workers. No risk gradient was observed for episodes of infertility, fetal loss, congenital defects, or low‐birth‐weight offspring. Concerns with nonresponse, exposure characterization, possible confounding factors, and limited statistical power are addressed. The results provide further suggestions which help to direct studies of occupational reproductive risks.
A proportionate mortality analysis of California agricultural workers, 1978–1979
Authors: Stubbs Harrison A. , Harris John , Spear Robert C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThere are few published reports of epidemiologic studies of the risks of agricultural work. Members of this occupational group have been of special concern because of their exposure to pesticides, some of which are mutagens and animal carcinogens. A previous proportionate mortality study of California agricultural workers was based on deaths recorded among white males of this occupational group during 1959–1961. We have conducted a proportionate mortality analysis of all deaths recorded during 1978–1979 among California farm workers and farm owner/managers. In general, the findings of our study are consistent with those of the previous study. For farm workers, we found proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) which were consistently elevated for all race and sex categories (in which there were 6 or more decedents) for deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, all respiratory disease, and all infective and parasitic diseases. The PMRs for the former three causes of death were also found to be elevated across several race and sex categories for farm owner/managers. We also found a significant and consistent deficit of deaths among farm workers and farm owner/managers due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. The proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs) for cancer of the stomach and cancer of other lympahtic tissue were elevated, although not necessarily statistically significantly, for several race and sex categories among farm workers and farm owner/managers. The PCMR for cancer of the cervix was statistically significant for white female farmworkers.
Pneumoconiosis associated with exposure to glass and abrasive particles
Authors: Brody Julia , Miller Albert , Langer Arthur M. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA patient with a history of decorating glass fixtures by means of abrasive etching presented with a disease characterized by diffuse infiltrates on chest roentgenogram and restriction and diffusion impairment on pulmonary function testing. Mineralogic analysis of biopsied pulmonary lesions showed particles consistent in composition to the glasses etched and abrasives used. The former particles were noncrystalline. Silicate mineral phases were identified as well, these displaying crystalline properties. Previous studies of workers exposed to abrasives, ie, silicon carbide and emery (as a form of corundum) suggest slight pneumoconiotic risk exists; this is also the case for workers exposed to forms of industrially made glass. The question is raised as to whether there exists, in this present case, an etiological association between exposure to respirable glassy particles and the development of pulmonary scarring.
An alternative method for purification of a major thaumatin‐like grape protein (VVTL1) responsible for haze formation in white wine
Authors: Muhlack R. A. , Waters E. J. , Lim A. , O'Neill B. K. , Colby C. B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA new laboratory‐based method for obtaining gram quantities of a principal heat‐unstable thaumatin‐like protein (VVTL1), in wine is presented. Separation and purification from grape juice was achieved by cation exchange and ultra‐filtration. Purity was confirmed by HPLC, sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and high‐sensitivity amino acid analysis. This alternative method is more rapid and compact and can efficiently produce much larger quantities (>100×) than the current laboratory technique. Copyright © 2007 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The small dispersion limit of the Korteweg‐de Vries equation. I
Authors: Lax Peter D. , David Levermore C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn Part I the scattering transform method is used to study the weak limit of solutions to the initial value problem for the Korteweg‐deVries (KdV) equation as the dispersion tends to zero. In that limit the associated Schrödinger operator becomes semiclassical, so the exact scattering data is replaced by its corresponding WKB expressions. Only nonpositive initial data are considered; in that case the limiting reflection coefficient vanishes. The explicit solution of Kay and Moses for the reflectionless inverse transform is then analyzed, and the weak limit, valid for all time, is characterized by a quadratic minimum problem with constraints. This minimum problem is reduced to a Riemann‐Hilbert problem in function theory.In Parts II and III we use function theoretical methods to solve the Riemann‐Hilbert problem in terms of solutions to an auxiliary initial value problem.The weak limit satisfies the KdV equation with the dispersive term dropped until its derivatives become infinite. Up to that time the weak limit is a strong L2‐limit. At later times the weak limit is locally described by Whitham's averaged equations or, more generally, by the equations found by Flaschka et al. using multiphase averaging. For large times, behavior of the weak limit is studied directly from the minimum problem.
On the “piano movers'” problem I. The case of a two‐dimensional rigid polygonal body moving amidst polygonal barriers
Authors: Schwartz Jacob T. , Sharir Micha 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe present an algorithm that solves a two‐dimensional case of the following problem which arises in robotics: Given a body B, and a region bounded by a collection of “walls”, either find a continuous motion connecting two given positions and orientations of B during which B avoids collision with the walls, or else establish that no such motion exists. The algorithm is polynomial in the number of walls (O(n5) if n is the number of walls), but for typical wall configurations can run more efficiently. It is somewhat related to a technique outlined by Reif.
The nonlinear interaction of a laser beam with a plasma pellet
Authors: Bayliss Alvin , Kriegsmann Gregory A. , Morawetz Cathleen S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA model is developed which simulates the interaction of a laser beam with a plasma. The model allows for a nonlinear dependence of the density on the amplitude of the electric field. Numerical results show that for strong nonlinearities time‐harmonic fields cannot be obtained. Instead pulses of electromagnetic energy (solitary waves) are formed inside the plasma and carry energy away from the plasma.
The small dispersion limit of the Korteweg‐de Vries equation. III
Authors: Lax Peter D. , David Levermore C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn Parts I and II we have derived explicit formulas for the distribution limit u of the solution of the KdV equation as the coefficient of uxxx tends to zero. This formula contains n parameters β1, …, βn whose values, as well as whose number, depends on x and t. In Section 4 we have shown that for t<tb, n=1, and the value of β, was determined. In Section 5 we have shown that the parameters βi satisfy a nonlinear system of partial differential equations.In Part III, Section 6 we show that for t large, n=3, and we determine the asymptotic behavior of β1, β2, β3, and of u and u2, for t large. The explicit formulas show that u and u2 are O(t−1) and O(t‐2) respectively (see formulas (6.2) and (6.24)).In Section 7 we study initial data whose value tends to zero as x→+∞, and to ‐1 as x→−∞. If one accepts some plausible guesses about the behavior of solutions with such initial data, we derive an explicit formula for the solution and determine the large scale asymptotic behavior of the solution:
equation image
.The function s(ζ) is expressible in terms of complete elliptic integrals; a similar formula is derived for U2.In Section 8 we indicate how to extend the treatment of this series of papers to multihumped (but still negative) initial data.
A particle limit for the wave equation with a variable wave speed
Authors: Hagedorn George A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe study short wavelength solutions to the n‐dimensional wave equation utt =(c(x))2Δu. We prove that the propagation of certain spatially localized pulses is determined by a time dependent analogue of geometrical optics up to an error whose energy tends to zero in the zero wavelength limit. Our method is very explicit, and no difficulties are incurred as the pulses propagate through caustics. Our goal is to study the physical question of where the energy propagates, rather than the more mathematical question of the propagation of singularities which has been studied in Fourier integral operators.
Translation representations for automorphic solutions of the wave equation in non‐euclidean spaces. I
Authors: Lax Peter D. , Phillips Ralph S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper deals with the spectral theory of the Laplace‐Beltrami operator Δ acting on automorphic functions in n‐dimensional hyperbolic space Hn. We study discrete subgroups Γ which have a fundamental polyhedron F with a finite number of sides and infinite volume. Concerning these we have shown previously that the spectrum of Δ contains at most a finite number of point eigenvalues in [‐(1/2(n ‐ 1))2, 0], and none less than (1/2(n ‐1))2. Here we prove that the spectrum of Δ is absolutely continuous and of infinite multiplicity in (‐∞, ‐(1/2(n ‐ 1))2). Our approach uses the non‐Euclidean wave equation introduced by Faddeev and Pavlov,Energy EF is defined as (ut, ut)‐(u, Lu), where the bracket is the L2 scalar product over a fundamental polyhedron with respect to the invariant volume of the hyperbolic metric. Energy is conserved under the group of operator U(t) relating initial data to data at time t. We construct two isometric representations of the space of automorphic data by L2(R, N) which transmute the action of U(t) into translation. These representations are given explicitly in terms of integrals of the data over horospheres. In Part II we shall show the completeness of these representations.utt‐Lu = 0, L = Δ + (1/2(n ‐ 1))2.
Convergence of a large time step generalization of Godunov's method for conservation laws
Authors: Leveque Randall J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA natural generalization of Godunov's method for Courant numbers larger than 1 is obtained by handling interactions between neighboring Riemann problems linearly, i.e., by allowing waves to pass through one another with no change in strength or speed. This method is well defined for arbitrarily large Courant numbers and can be written in conservation form. It follows that if a sequence of approximations converges to a limit u(x,t) as the mesh is refined, then u is a weak solution to the system of conservation laws.For scalar problems the method is total variation diminishing and every sequence contains a convergent subsequence. It is conjectured that in fact every sequence converges to the (unique) entropy solution provided the correct entropy solution is used for each Riemann problem.If the true Riemann solutions are replaced by approximate Riemann solutions which are consistent with the conservation law, then the above convergence results for general systems continue to hold.