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PubMed1985

Design verification on a speech synthesizer using electron beam testing techniques.

The use of Electron Beam Testing (EBT) techniques in the verification both of the circuit and of electric simulation tools turns out to be very powerful and promises to improve the reliability and performance of VLSI circuit design by providing an effective feedback from measurements to circuit design. That is true within the traditional design environment and, more effectively, in a standard cell design approach, characterized by a fast development and update time. In the latter case it is really possible to take strong advantage of tools and circuit improvements. The design tool taken into account is the world-wide used electrical simulator SPICE. The EBT system used, allows in sampling mode 1 ns time resolution and applies an oscilloscope with programmable digitizer to display the acquired waveforms. The actual example is carried out on a 2-phase generator inside a VLSI circuit: a speech synthesizer (Linear Predicting Code technique) designed in CSELT and implemented in a N-MOS 4 micron process by SGS-ATES.

Communication Devices for People with Disabilities↗
PubMed1983

[Epidemiology of chemical cancers].

The relationship between environment and the development of human carcinomas is no longer questionable. The term environment designates exposures that are both collective (pollution of air, water, occupational environment) and individual (tobacco, food, drugs). Epidemiological research, supported by experimental investigations, has led to the determination of a "profile" of various risk factors. This profile is always incomplete since man continuously modifies his environment, thus exposing himself to agents against which he has no protective mechanisms. The multiplicity of chemical or physical carcinogenetic agents makes their study difficult as the development of a carcinoma is probably not due to contact with a single carcinogenic factor but rather of the sum of all possible causative agents. Current data on the role of chemical environmental factors (pollution, occupational environment, dietary factors, tobacco, drugs) in the development of the various forms of cancer will be exposed and discussed.

Carcinogens, Environmental↗
PubMed2026

Impact of Physical Environment of Pediatric Inpatient Wards on Children: A Systematic Literature Review.

ObjectiveThe study aimed to examine empirical studies published between 2003 and 2025 to identify elements of physical environments influencing health outcomes and experiences of children and families.BackgroundIn the past 40 years, research has shown that the physical environment influences the health and well-being of patients in the healthcare environment. However, similar research in the context of "pediatric inpatient wards" remains underexplored.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to identify relevant articles. All extracted articles underwent a three-step screening process using PRISMA. A total of 30 eligible articles were used for the analysis. The protocol is registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023408997).ResultsKey findings reveal positive and negative impacts of identified elements. Positive-effect elements include play spaces, space for parents, natural light, connections with nature, and so on, which promote comfort, healing, and emotional resilience. Conversely, negative-effect elements, such as noise, artificial lighting, uncomfortable temperature, and so on, contribute to stress and disrupted sleep. Mixed effects were observed for elements like art and television, which underscore the complexity of designing environments that address the diverse needs of different age groups and genders.ConclusionsThe review findings highlight significant knowledge gaps. The study also tries to bridge existing gaps between research and practice by systematically identifying environmental elements, offering actionable insights to architects, designers, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Future research must adopt rigorous, culturally inclusive approaches to advance the field of pediatric healthcare design and ensure equitable care across diverse sociocultural contexts.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Effect of heterosis on performance of mice across three environments.

Performance of six genetic groups of mice was studied in three different environments in order to determine the effect of heterosis on consistency of performance in varied environments. Designed as a 3 x 6 factorial, data were analyzed using least squares analyses of variance. Genetic group effects, environmental effects, genetic group x environment interaction, and heterosis were examined for 42-d weight, age and weight at vaginal opening, age and weight at puberty, ovulation rate (determined by total corpora lutea), number of implantations, and number of fetuses at 10 d of gestation. Weight at vaginal opening, ovulation rate, implantation rate and total number of fetuses exhibited significant heterosis. Regression of these traits against an environmental index (mean performance of all genetic groups over environments) provided an estimate of stability of performance. In general, genetic groups exhibiting heterosis expressed more consistent performance across environments than pure lines did. We conclude that a stability model could be used to aid in identification of lines with consistent performance for production traits in variable environments.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Changes in student learning styles and adaptive learning competencies following a senior preceptorship experience.

The purpose of this pre-post comparison study was to examine the effect of the preceptorship experience on the learning styles (the manner in which individuals process information from the environment), adaptive competencies (the congruences between personal skills and task demands) and environmental press perceptions (the subjects' perceptions of the importance of each adaptive competency to effective functioning in a designated environment) of 37 fourth-year baccalaureate nursing students. Using Kolb's theory of experiential learning as the theoretical framework for the study, it was found that the students' learning styles were inconsistently categorized by two versions of Kolb's learning style inventory. The preceptorship experience was perceived by students to have significantly (P < 0.05) improved the development of their adaptive learning competencies. Students perceived the importance of divergent, accommodative and convergent learning competencies to be lower after the preceptorship experience, with the only significant difference (P < 0.05) being between pre- and post-convergent competencies. The preceptorship experience, however, was found to contribute significantly more (P < 0.001) to the students' development of most adaptive competencies than their weekly clinical experiences. The findings support the notion that a senior preceptorship programme is a valuable and worthwhile learning experience to include in baccalaureate nursing curricula.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Group home designs for initiating community-based treatment with mentally retarded adolescent offenders.

Increasingly, mentally retarded adolescent offenders are being diverted into community-based residential treatment. Thus, many of these aggressive youths, who would previously have been institutionalized are now diverted into available group home settings. Implementing restrictive aspects of treatment regimens with this population frequently evokes intense escape/avoidance behaviors which cannot be controlled at those open sites. As a result, in traditional group homes these adolescents readily avoid therapy, run away recurrently, and thus pose serious risks to themselves and the community. The authors describe two secure group home designs which seem to promote consistent treatment of this difficult population, while protecting the local community. Preliminary evidence is presented indicating that these specially designed environments are essential adjuncts to the initial phase of treatment of mentally retarded adolescent offenders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Readability and sensitivity of a new faecal occult blood test in a hospital ward environment. Comparison with an established test.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the readability and sensitivity of a new guaiac faecal occult blood test, HemoccultSENSA, with those of a standard guaiac-based test, Hemoccult, in a normal working environment. DESIGN: The two tests were performed in parallel on routine clinical and contrived faecal specimens; those developing the tests were blinded as to the test type. SETTING: All tests were carried out in the hospital ward environment under normal conditions by nurses working in the ward. SAMPLES: Fifty faecal samples from healthy volunteer subjects (low concentrations of haemoglobin were added to 40 of these samples) and 145 faecal samples from 65 inpatients likely to have gastrointestinal bleeding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Test positivity rate, and graded measures of colour intensity, colour stability and colour pattern. RESULTS: With patients' samples, the new test gave a greater number of positive results than the standard test (73.1% v. 65.5%; 95% confidence interval of the difference, 3.3%-11.9%). With contrived samples, the blue colour produced during development was more intense (P less than 0.0003), more stable (P less than 0.0025) and covered a larger area (P less than 0.01) with the new test compared with the standard test. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the better readability and slightly higher sensitivity of the new test. They justify its use in the ward environment or doctor's office. Patients being tested should consume a low peroxidase diet until the specificity of the new test has been fully evaluated.

Color↗
PubMed1980

Design considerations for mental health facilities.

The design environment of mental health facilities can facilitate the human interactions essential to treatment and can help in meeting clients' basic needs for safety and security, for self-esteem, and for the development of interpersonal and social skills. To determine the factors in the design of interior spaces that optimize clients' response to therapy, the author made a study of six Indiana community mental health centers. Drawing on that study and other sources, she presents design recommendations for mental health facilities for such areas as reception and admission areas, corridors and stairwells, therapists' offices, inpatient rooms, and dayrooms. Other discussions cover the relation of color, visual patterning, and light, and the selection of materials and finishes.

Architectural Accessibility↗
PubMed1994

Laminar air flow versus reverse isolation: nurses' assessments of moods, behaviors, and activity levels in patients receiving bone marrow transplants.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To compare nursing assessments of moods, behaviors, and activity levels of patients receiving bone marrow transplants (BMTs) according to type of isolation environment. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive. SETTING: University BMT unit. SAMPLE: Records of 22 patients receiving BMT treated over a two-year period-12 were treated in laminar air flow (LAF) rooms and 10 in reverse isolation. METHODS: Using a retrospective chart review, daily nursing assessments of patients' moods, behaviors, and activity levels were collected and compared based on type of isolation. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Type of isolation and patient's behavior, mood, and activity level. FINDINGS: Patients assigned to LAF had significantly higher anxiety levels at admission than those assigned to reverse isolation. CONCLUSIONS: Admission to LAF isolation appeared to be more anxiety-provoking than admission to reverse isolation; however, this finding needs to be replicated in a study with a prospective design using standardized psychosocial assessment. Findings are consistent with the evidence that patients view isolation as a temporary inconvenience rather than a major stressor. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Future research is needed. Preparing patients for isolation can include tours, educational materials, and explanations of procedures and events. Physical contact, even through gloves, can impart warmth and caring in the isolation environment.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1982

[The sensory-integrative process and its influence on child development (author's transl)].

A child develops and learns skills by interacting with his environment. Play provides him with the sensory stimulation his brain needs in order to be able to allow him to respond in a meaningful way to these stimuli. Until the age of seven the brain is thus prepared for the challenges of the classroom. The neurologic problem in the child with a sensory integrative dysfunction prevents him from processing the sensations of his own play, so he cannot develop the adaptive responses that organize the brain and his actions. This child needs a specially designed environment in order to experience joy and satisfaction during his play, that allow him to learn higher skills and organize the brain functions. The purpose of this article is to clarify what sensory integration is and how it influences the child's development.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1986

Initial environment influences amphetamine-induced stereotypy: subsequently environment change has little effect.

Saline-treated and amphetamine-treated (7 mg/kg, ip, immediate) male rats from a Sprague-Dawley substrain were observed in two test environments designed to elicit different investigative responses in normal rats. Snout contact with the substrate was generated by placing the rat in a small enclosed cage. Absence of snout contact was induced by placement of the rat on a square elevated platform. Detailed ethological records were kept of locomotion, rearing, sitting, grooming, gnawing, and sleeping throughout the 90-min session. Amphetamine-treated rats incorporated environmentally contingent bodily postures into their forms of stereotyped behavior. The postures were characteristic of those evinced initially by the saline-treated rats in the same test environment. The control rats showed appropriate changes in their investigative behavior when the apparatus was changed at 10 and at 30 min postinjection. The amphetamine-treated rats, however, were completely unresponsive to such changes at 30 min and only partially so at 10 min postinjection. It was concluded that there is a temporal gradient of decreasing readiness to modify repetitive behavior after a single, large dose of amphetamine.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1994

[Pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents].

OBJECTIVE: To establish what the most common complications are in the pregnancies of adolescent women in our environment. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Pregnant women who had their children in the Ciudad de Jaén Maternity Centre. PATIENTS: Pregnant women who gave birth in our centre in 1991 and 1992. The study group was composed of 104 adolescents (under 19 years old) and the control group by 7,824 non-adolescent pregnant women during this same period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The most common general complication is the threat of premature delivery, which was more common in pregnant women under 19 than in the control group (p < 0.001). There was no higher incidence among the adolescents of any other medical or obstetric pathology, including the frequency of Caesarean deliveries and neonatal morbidity/mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In our environment, the most common complication in adolescent pregnancies is the threat of premature birth. For other pathologies there are no differences from other women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Compliance with recommendations for universal precautions among prehospital providers.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the compliance of emergency medical responders with local employer and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for disposal of sharps and use of personal protective equipment in the prehospital environment. DESIGN: Prospective, single-blinded observational study of 297 ambulance runs conducted for 3 months. SETTING: A metropolitan emergency medical service system. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-nine emergency medical technicians and paramedics. INTERVENTIONS: None. RESULTS: Observers recorded the handling of sharps and the use of personal protective equipment in four situations: i.v. line placement, endotracheal intubation, large-wound management, and body fluid hazard. Emergency medical workers properly handled sharps in 24 of 65 situations (37%). They were usually compliant with glove use during the observed procedures. However, compliance with the use of other personal protective equipment was poor. CONCLUSION: Sharps were often improperly handled. Most workers complied with recommendations for the use of gloves but often underused goggles, masks, and gowns. Although education and restructuring of the environment and equipment may improve compliance, strong consideration should be given to developing standardized and more practical recommendations for the prehospital environment.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMed1992

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and associated factors in Chinese living in Beijing and in Mauritius. The Mauritius Non-Communicable Disease Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities and to evaluate the association between these abnormalities and the levels of coronary heart disease among Chinese living in different environments. DESIGN: Cross sectional surveys. SETTING: Beijing, China, and the island of Mauritius. SUBJECTS: Random samples of people aged 35-64 years in Beijing (621 men, 642 women) in 1984 and in Mauritius among Chinese (137 men, 130 women) and non-Chinese (1265 men, 1432 women) in 1987. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities suggesting coronary heart disease and of associated risk factors. RESULTS: Prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities suggesting coronary heart disease was significantly lower in Beijing (4.0%) than in Mauritian Chinese (24.3%) and Mauritian non-Chinese (24.5%). Mean serum concentrations of total and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower in Beijing Chinese than in Mauritian Chinese, but smoking and hypertension were slightly more prevalent. Overall, men with electrocardiographic abnormalities had higher risk factor levels than those with a normal electrocardiogram regardless of ethnic origin. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of coronary heart disease and associated risk factors was different among Chinese living in two different environments: in Beijing in the People's Republic of China and in Mauritius. Chinese, who traditionally have a very low frequency of coronary heart disease, are by no means protected against coronary heart disease and other non-communicable diseases. Therefore, primary prevention of coronary heart disease is a major challenge for preventive medicine in China, as well as in many other developing countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Inability of human sperm to change their orientation in response to external chemical stimuli.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether human sperm can respond to external chemical stimuli by orienting themselves toward chemoattractants or withdrawing from hostile environments. DESIGN: Controlled laboratory assays. SETTING: Normal human sperm and two other flagellated micro-organisms were exposed to various potential chemoattractant or chemorepellent substances. INTERVENTION: Human sperm, Euglena viridis, and Escherichia coli were exposed to various substances from the female reproductive system or to various toxic agents by placing them within tiny wells in a sealed minichamber. They were followed by microscopic observation and by intermittent photography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Images of photographed micro-organisms were analyzed for signs of attraction to or withdrawal from the test substances. RESULTS: Human sperm neither changed their orientation toward nor accumulated next to the well that contained cervical mucus, uterine cavity and follicular fluid, cumulus cells, or intact nonfertilized human eggs. Contrary to other micro-organisms that turned away from sources of hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, ethanol, or glutaraldehyde, human sperm did not withdraw from these solutions. They swam along the ascending chemical gradient, facing ahead while becoming immobilized by these agents. CONCLUSION: It may be implied from the observation that they did not turn away from a hostile environment when expected to do so or turn toward chemoattractants that human sperm do not respond to external chemical stimuli and, most probably, chemotaxis between human sperm and ova in nature does not exist.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Origin and distribution of seasonal allergies. A primary care view].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the seasonal allergy distribution and its relation with grass pollen in environment. DESIGN: Ecological and descriptive study. SITE. Primary care centre in townshipe Coslada (Madrid). PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANT: People who are attended because of seasonal allergy from 20th April to 14th June in 1990 and 1991, of the total people covered by a primary care team. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: No differences were found in relation to sex. 5-19 age group cumulated 66.1 and 61.2% of the episodes in 1990 and 1991 respectively. 36.2 and 31% (1990-1991) described respiratory difficulties and 21.5 and 18.8% respiratory wheezings. 82.7 and 88.4% of patients asserted that the symptoms repeated annually. Patients who related known allergy, 91.8 and 98.3% attributed their problems to grass pollen. Correlations of r = 0.5207 (p < 0.001) in 1990 and r = 0.4978 (p < 0.01) in 1991 between grass pollen the day before and the notification date were found. CONCLUSIONS: We found the highest care assistance in the infant-juvenile age group, the same as an important number of cases with asthmatic symptomatology. We seen a moderate relationship between the episodes notification date and grass pollen in the environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Sarcoidosis: retrospective analysis of 14 cases].

OBJECTIVE: A clinical evaluation of Sarcoidosis in our environment. DESIGN: A retrospective and descriptive analysis of 14 cases encountered between 1988 and 1990. SITE. In-hospital patients studied within a catchment area of 200,000 people. PATIENTS AND OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: 13 women and 1 man ranging in age from 24 to 63 (X = 37. DS 13). All of them were confirmed histologically. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Six patients received V.O. steroid treatment. 28.5% started as Nodose Erythema, 28.5% as Respiratory Syndrome, 21% as general Toxic Syndrome. 35% were without clinical symptoms; 25% Arthralgias, 21% cough. Thoracic X-ray with bilateral hiliar adenopathies 78%; interstitial pattern 28.5%. Analytically, Monocitosis was presented in 43%; Anaemia, Hypergammaglobulinemia, rise in Transaminases in 35%; a normal ACE in 50% and raised ACE in 35%. There was a positive pulmonary Cammagraphy (Galio) in 50%. Diagnostic confirmation was made by means of transbronchial B (28%), Mediastinoscopy (14%), open Pulmonary B. (14%), Hepatic B (14%), osseous B. and Daniels (14%) and peripheric adenopathy B (14%). Pulmonary circulatory capacity (DLCO-KCO) was decreased in 3 cases. Statistic 1, 71%; 11, 14%, 111, 14%. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcoidosis is not so rare in our environment as had been thought. Factors such as a Northerly geographical situation, low temperatures, the long duration of the disease, improvement in diagnostic methods and a high level of awareness have all influenced this high number of cases found in an area of 200,000 inhabitants. The disease's clinical behaviour in our environment does not differ from that described by other spanish and foreign authors.

Adult↗