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Biomedical subjects

L S Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to L S Taylor.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Flanged coaxial microwave probes for measuring thin moisture layers.

We obtain an analytical, closed-form expression for the input admittance of a flanged, open-ended coaxial line radiating into a layered lossy material. The effect of higher modes as well as the dominant mode have been taken into consideration. The results obtained in the experimental measurement of the microwave reflection coefficient of the probe radiating into very thin water layers are described and compared with the results obtained from numerical calculations based on a theoretical model. The measurements were made in the 5.0-7.0 GHz range. The results demonstrate, for example, the usefulness of this type of device in measuring thin moisture layers in the outer layer of the human skin.

Body Water↗
PubMed1990

School district compliance with regulations for resource and special class programs.

This article reports the results of a survey of special education teachers in New York State regarding state regulations for resource and special class programs. Three hundred and fifty-seven special education teachers in 31 randomly selected school districts responded to a questionnaire. Results indicated that the majority of districts were in compliance with the regulations the survey addressed; however, 13% to 31% of the teachers' responses indicated noncompliance with specific regulations in some school districts. Other problems in special education programs were also identified in the survey.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Screening for cancer and coronary risk factors through a nurse practitioner-staffed preventive health clinic.

The Preventive Health Examination (PHE) program was designed to screen for cancer of the lung, colon, skin, and prostate (or breast) and to detect the risk factors for coronary artery disease, i.e., arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking, and obesity. To investigate the cost-effectiveness of PHE performed by nurse practitioners, the first 176 subjects enrolled in the PHE program at a northeastern, suburban VA Medical Center were evaluated prospectively. The subjects were recruited through random mailing. The direct cost of PHEs was $80 per patient. PHEs were performed on 171 men and 5 women, mean age 57.2 years, divided into groups according to the date of evaluation. Nine percent of patients had findings highly suspicious of cancer (lung nodules in 7, skin lesions in 9). As a consequence, one patient underwent lobectomy for squamous carcinoma of the lung and another underwent prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Fifty-five percent of patients had high cholesterol levels, 53% were obese, 30% were heavy cigarette smokers, and 19% were hypertensive. Nineteen percent of the patients had three or more coronary artery disease risk factors. We conclude that low cost PHEs performed by nurse practitioners have a high yield in detecting risk factors for coronary artery disease, and for detecting potentially treatable malignancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Will radiation control be by reason or regulation?

Following a very brief review of the development of our present radiation-protection philosophy, attention is directed to what the author sees as current problems. The only prognostication will be that at least certain of the problems outstanding or developing today will be among those that will have to be addressed in the coming four decades. For the past six decades, the major effort has been the development of the science and philosophy of radiation biology and its application to protection against radiation hazards, whether real or imagined. For three decades there has been public concern about radiation generally, the core of the problem being inadequate education of the public and the media on the subject. For a little over one decade, there has been rapidly developing growth of tort litigation generally, involving ionizing radiation in particular. These are the three major lines of attention in the radiation-protection area today; between two of them there are already some of the aspects of "the arena." Behind all three lies an overwhelming lack of understanding by, and education of, the public, which shows mostly in the public fetish for absolute safety which, of course, cannot be. These must be the major concerns of the radiation-protection community in the coming four decades.

History, 20th Century↗
PubMed1982

Optimal dietary conditions for hemoccult testing.

Preliminary rehydration of Hemoccult II slides increases slide sensitivity for blood and lowers the false-negative rate for colorectal cancer. To test the effect of this modification on the false-positive rate due to peroxidase-containing foods, 156 healthy young subjects crossed between diets of differing peroxidase content. Hemoccult II slides were prepared in duplicate for testing with and without rehydration. When developed without rehydration, only seven (0.4%) of 1856 slides were positive, the positive results occurring with challenge diets containing 250 g rare red meat. With preliminary rehydration, 53 (5.7%) of 926 slides were positive, in 26 (17%) of the 156 subjects on a challenge diet that included rare red meat and uncooked fruit and vegetables. Well-cooked red meat also gave positive tests, Diets excluding red meat but with large quantities of uncooked fruit and vegetables produced only five positive results in 314 rehydrated tests, in 3 of 53 subjects. On a strict low-peroxidase diet, two of 310 tests, in 2 of 52 subjects, were positive. Rehydration of Hemoccult slides and exclusion of red meat and certain other high-peroxidase foods should give optimal sensitivity and specificity for colorectal cancer detection. The effect of these conditions on yield of lesions and false-positive rates should be tested in screening programs.

Adult↗