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Many postage stamps illustrate themes, persons, or topics with rheumatologic connections. Examples include scientists from related disciplines, victims of rheumatic diseases, drugs used for arthritis, and stamps commemorating events such as World Rheumatism Year. A brief orientation to postage stamps and philately is given, and a small collection of rheumatologically related stamps is illustrated.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine if the use of a patient survey or a chart stamp could increase the implementation of adolescent preventive health care in a family practice center. METHODS: Subjects were all patients 13 to 18 years old (date of birth 1972 to 1977), who visited the Aultman Family Practice Centers from October 1, 1989, through September 30, 1990 (N = 801 patient visits). Three different 1-month interventions (patient questionnaire, physician stamp, and both patient questionnaire and physician stamp) as well as a 1-month control period were implemented. The effect of the intervention on adolescent preventive health care was measured by review of documentation in the patient's chart. RESULTS: Those charts that indicated that either the questionnaire or stamp had been used showed significantly more documented discussion of issues relating to mood, injury, sexuality, exposure to toxins, and lifestyle (all P < .01). These discussions most commonly took place during a visit for a physical examination. The percentage of visits with documented discussions did not vary significantly according to type of reminder, nor with any physician or patient characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a reminder, especially in the context of an office visit for a physical examination, significantly increased the implementation of adolescent preventive health care in this family practice center.
UNLABELLED: In today's medico-legal environment, the importance of identification of the authors of notes in patient medical charts cannot be overemphasized. We evaluated three different techniques of signing patient notes, over a one month period, in order to determine which technique was the most effective in identifying the author of the note. Surgical NCHDs in our hospital were divided into three groups. Group 1 was asked to sign the notes as they normally would. Group 2 was asked to print their name in block capitals after their signature and Group 3 was given pens with a personal self inking stamp to be used in addition to signing the notes. The number of signatures in all the charts, compliance with the assigned technique and the legibility of signatures were calculated. RESULTS: in Group 1, all NCHDs signed their name when writing notes (100% compliance), however the NCHD's signature was identified only 37% of the time. In Groups 2 (who signed in block capitals) and Group 3 (who used the pen with personalised stamp) the author was identifiable 100% of the time when the respective signing method was used. Using the pen with personalised self inking stamp was significantly more popular (77% compliance) compared to signing in block capitals (46% compliance). In conclusion the pen, with personalised self inking stamp, provides a fast and effective means to clarify signatures of NCHD's documentation, which is not only important in a day to day patient management, but is essential from a medico-legal stand point.
This article explores a neglected topic in the social welfare, poverty, and demographic literatures--the link between population density and welfare participation in the United States. Longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics are used to meet two objectives: first, to test whether a relationship exists between population density and use of the food stamp program among eligible households; second, to explore the potential reasons for such a relationship. Our findings show that population density has a strong, positive impact on the likelihood of participating in the food stamp program. Low-income respondents in urban areas are significantly more likely to use food stamps in both an aggregate and a multivariate context. In analyzing the dynamic underlying such an effect, we find that those in urban areas are more likely to possess accurate eligibility information and to hold less adverse attitudes toward the use of welfare. These factors in turn increase the likelihood of food stamp participation.
CONTEXT: Welfare reform under the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act replaced entitlement to cash assistance for low-income families with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, thereby terminating or decreasing cash support for many participants. Proponents anticipated that continued receipt of food stamps would offset the effects of cash benefit losses, although access to food stamps was also restricted. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of loss or reduction of welfare with food security and health outcomes among children aged 36 months or younger at 6 urban hospitals and clinics. DESIGN AND SETTING: A multisite retrospective cohort study with cross-sectional surveys at urban medical centers in 5 states and Washington, DC, from August 1998 through December 2000. PARTICIPANTS: The caregivers of 2718 children aged 36 months or younger whose households received welfare or had lost welfare through sanctions were interviewed at hospital clinics and emergency departments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Household food security status, history of hospitalization, and, for a subsample interviewed in emergency departments, whether the child was admitted to the hospital the day of the visit. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounding factors, children in families whose welfare was terminated or reduced by sanctions had greater odds of being food insecure (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.9), of having been hospitalized since birth (AOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.7) and, for the emergency department subsample, of being admitted the day of an emergency department visit (AOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0) compared with those without decreased benefits. Children in families whose welfare benefits were decreased administratively because of changes in income or expenses had greater odds of being food insecure (AOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2) and of being admitted the day of an emergency department visit (AOR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.4-5.6). Receiving food stamps does not mitigate the effects of the loss or reduction of welfare benefits on food security or hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: Terminating or reducing welfare benefits by sanctions, or decreasing benefits because of changes in income or expenses, is associated with greater odds that young children will experience food insecurity and hospitalizations.
Focusing on the final step of osteoclastogenesis, we studied cell fusion from tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive mononuclear cells into multinuclear cells. TRAP-positive mononuclear cells before generation of multinuclear cells by cell fusion were differentiated from RAW264.7 cells by treatment with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), and then the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by culturing for further 12 h. LPS-induced cell fusion even in the absence of RANKL. Similarly, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and peptidoglycan (PGN) induced cell fusion, but M-CSF did not. The cell fusion induced by RANKL, TNF-alpha, and LPS was specifically blocked by osteoprotegerin (OPG), anti-TNF-alpha antibody, and polymyxin B, respectively. LPS- and PGN-induced cell fusion was partly inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha antibody but not by OPG. When TRAP-positive mononuclear cells fused to yield multinuclear cells, phosphorylation of Akt, Src, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38MAPK (p38), and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed. The specific chemical inhibitors LY294002 (PI3K), PP2 (Src), U0126 (MAPK-ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK), and SP600125 (JNK) effectively suppressed cell fusion, although SB203580 (p38) did not. mRNA of nuclear factor of activated T-cells c1 (NFATc1) and dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) during the cell fusion was quantified, however, there was no obvious difference among the TRAP-positive mononuclear cells treated with or without M-CSF, RANKL, TNF-alpha, LPS, or PGN. Collectively, RANKL, TNF-alpha, LPS, and PGN induced cell fusion of osteoclasts through their own receptors. Subsequent activation of signaling pathways involving PI3K, Src, ERK, and JNK molecules was required for the cell fusion. Although DC-STAMP is considered to be a requisite for cell fusion of osteoclasts, cell fusion-inducing factors other than DC-STAMP might be necessary for the cell fusion.
This paper describes a method for microcontact printing protein solutions onto polymer substrates temporarily activated by oxygen plasma. Following plasma treatment, poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) stamps were coated with an aqueous laminin solution then placed in direct contact with plasma-treated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates. This process resulted in well defined laminin stripes on the PMMA surface when printing was performed within 45min of the plasma treatment. Axonal outgrowth from embryonic chick dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was largely confined to the stamped pattern, while over 90% of primary rat Schwann cells adhered to the protein stamped areas on the PMMA substrates. Oxygen-plasma treatment of the PMMA surface was necessary to deposit proteins that direct axonal outgrowth from chick DRG and Schwann cell adherence.
Until recently our evaluation of impotent men included a psychiatric evaluation, and history and physical examination by a urologist to determine whether the impotence was organic or psychogenic. After the introduction of specific laboratory methods, such as nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring and penile blood pressure studies, clinicians relied heavily on these tools. We evaluated 33 impotent patients and compared the results of the laboratory methods to the initial diagnoses of the psychiatrist and the urologist to determine if the new methods would confirm our initial impressions or uncover different diagnoses. Thirteen patients were considered to have psychogenic impotence by the clinicians and only 1 patient in this group had evidence of organicity when the laboratory tests were used. Twelve patients were considered to have organic impotence by the clinicians and this was confirmed in 75 per cent of the cases by laboratory testing. Thus, clinical evaluation predicted the outcome of laboratory methods in 92 per cent of the psychogenic group and 75 per cent of the organic group. In addition, postage stamps were used during nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring and in predicting the outcome of nocturnal tumescence monitoring the stamp test had a sensitivity and a specificity of 91 per cent. Many patients presenting with erectile impotence can be evaluated adequately by a psychiatrist and a urologist without the support of expensive laboratory tests. The postage stamp test is useful when nocturnal penile tumescence monitors are not available. Finally, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is of limited value as a screening device.
The control of surface properties and spatial presentation of functional molecules within a microfluidic channel is important for the development of diagnostic assays and microreactors and for performing fundamental studies of cell biology and fluid mechanics. Here, we present a simple technique, applicable to many soft lithographic methods, to fabricate robust microchannels with precise control over the spatial properties of the substrate. In this approach, the patterned regions were protected from oxygen plasma by controlling the dimensions of the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp and by leaving the stamp in place during the plasma treatment process. The PDMS stamp was then removed, and the microfluidic mold was irreversibly bonded to the substrate. The approach was used to pattern a nonbiofouling poly(ethylene glycol)-based copolymer or the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid within microfluidic channels. These nonbiofouling patterns were then used to fabricate arrays of fibronectin and bovine serum albumin as well as mammalian cells. In addition, further control over the deposition of multiple proteins onto multiple or individual patterns was achieved using laminar flow. Also, cells that were patterned within channels remained viable and capable of performing intracellular reactions and could be potentially lysed for analysis.
Lithography plays a key role in integrated circuits, optics, information technology, biomedical applications, catalysis, and separation technologies. However, inorganic lithography techniques remain of limited utility for applications outside of the typical foci of integrated circuit manufacturing. In this communication, we have developed a novel stamping method that applies pressure on the upper surface of the stamp to regulate the dewetting process of the inorganic buffer and the evaporation rate of the solvent in this buffer between the substrate and the surface of the stamp. We focused on generating inorganic microstructures with specific locations and also on enabling the ability to pattern gradients during the crystallization of the inorganic salts. This approach utilized a combination of lithography with bottom-up growth and assembly of inorganic crystals. This work has potential applications in a variety of fields, including studying inorganic material patterning and small-scale fabrication technology.
n-Alkanethiols HS-(CH2)n-CH3 such as hexadecanethiol (HDT, n = 15), octadecanethiol (ODT, n = 17), and eicosanethiol (ECT, n = 19) have been shown to provide highly protective etch resists on microcontact-printed noble metals. As the quality of the printed pattern strongly depends on the mobility of the ink compound, we focused on understanding the diffusion behavior of HDT, ODT, and ECT in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamps. We used a commercial PDMS material (Sylgard184), which is commonly used for microcontact printing (muCP), and a custom-synthesized one with a higher modulus. On the basis of linear-diffusion experiments, which maintained realistic printing conditions, we showed that the ink transport in the stamp follows Fick's law of diffusion. We then determined the diffusion coefficient by analytical and numerical modeling of the diffusion experiments. Numerical calculations were carried out with the finite-difference method applying more realistic boundary conditions (ink adsorption). Values for the diffusion coefficients of the three ink compounds in the two different PDMS materials all are on the order of (4-7) x 10(-7) cm2 s(-1). The scope and limits of the mathematical models are discussed. To demonstrate the potential of such models for microcontact printing, we simulate multiple printing cycles of an inked stamp and compare the results with experimental data.
This paper reports the design of surfaces on which thermotropic liquid crystals can be used to image affinity microcontact printed proteins. The surfaces comprise gold films deposited onto silica substrates at an oblique angle of incidence and then functionalized with a monolayer formed from 2-mercaptoethylamine. Ellipsometric measurements confirm the transfer of anti-biotin IgG to these surfaces from affinity stamps functionalized with biotinylated bovine serum albumin (BSA), while control experiments performed using anti-goat IgG confirmed the specificity of the IgG capture on the stamp. On these surfaces, anti-biotin IgG caused nematic phases of 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB, Delta epsilon = epsilon(parallel) - epsilon(perpendicular) > 0) to assume orientations that were parallel to the surfaces (planar anchoring) but with azimuthal orientations that were distinct from those assumed by the liquid crystals on the amine-terminated surfaces not supporting IgGs. Following incubation of these samples for >8 h at 36 degrees C, we observed that the amine-terminated regions of the surface not supporting IgG cause 5CB to undergo a transition from planar to perpendicular (homeotropic). Because N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA) (Delta epsilon < 0) does not undergo a similar transition in orientation, this transition is consistent with the effects of an electrical double layer formed at the amine-terminated surface on the liquid crystal. Following the transition to homeotropic anchoring, the liquid crystals provide high optical contrast between regions of the surface supporting and not supporting IgG. We conclude that amine-terminated surfaces (I) uniformly align liquid crystals when not supporting proteins and (II) have sufficiently high surface free energy to capture proteins delivered to the surface from an affinity stamp, and thus they form the basis of a useful class of surfaces on which affinity microcontact printed proteins can be imaged using liquid crystals.
We describe a method to exploit the mass-transfer limitations of microcontact printing for the fabrication of surfaces with well-defined, arbitrarily shaped composition variations. An analysis of the transport processes reveals that the printing of hexadecanethiol (HDT) from poly(dimethylsiloxane) is purely diffusion-controlled. Stamps with geometries that enhance surface-normal diffusion paths therefore allow not only the contours, but also the local density of self-assembled monolayers to be controlled. We use stamps with variable thickness and uniform ink concentration to print HDT density gradients on gold, depleting the stamps during the process. In the second step, a perfluorinated thiol fills the vacancies in the partial monolayer to form a two-component gradient that we analyze by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Linear and radial gradients are shown here as examples for a wide range of geometries that can be fabricated with high precision using the method.
The soft lithographic replication of patterns with a low filling ratio by microcontact printing (microCP) is problematic due to the poor mechanical stability of common elastomeric stamps. A recently described strategy to avoid this problem employs a modified patterning method, positive microcontact printing ((+)microCP), in which a stamp with a mechanically more stable inverted relief pattern is used. In contrast to conventional negative microCP ((-)microCP), in the contact areas a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is printed of a "positive ink", which provides only minor etch protection, whereas the noncontacted areas are subsequently covered with a different, etch-resistant SAM, prior to development by chemical etching. With the aim to identify novel, highly versatile positive inks, the patterning of gold by (+)microCP with mercaptoalkyloligo(ethylene glycol)s (MAOEGs), the subsequent adsorption of octadecanethiol (ODT), and the final development by wet chemical etching have now been studied. A polydisperse mixture of mercaptoundecylocta(ethylene glycol) derivatives was found to provide the best patterning results. The surface spreading of the positive ink during stamping, the exchange of printed MAOEGs with ODT, and the choice of the right etching bath were identified as key parameters that influence the achievable pattern resolution and contrast. Due to the modular composition of functionalized alkyloligo(ethylene glycol) derivatives, (+)microCP with these positive inks has the potential for easy adaptation to a variety of materials and development conditions.
High-density Pd line arrays with 55 nm line-width were obtained using nanocontact-printed dendrimer monolayers. Elastomeric PDMS stamps for nanocontact printing were replicated from silicon master molds which were fabricated by UV nanoimprinting in combination with reactive ion etching. The fabrication method effectively controlled the aspect ratios of high-density lines for resolving the problems encountered in both replicating silicon masters to PDMS stamps and printing with the replicated PDMS stamps. Using the PDMS nanostamp with an optimized aspect ratio, a self-assembled monolayer of dendrimer was patterned on a Pd film via nanocontact printing, which was facilitated by the strong interaction between Pd and amine groups of the dendrimer. The patterned self-assembled monolayer was used as an etch-resist mask against the wet etchant of Pd, leaving behind a high-density Pd line array over large areas. The resulting functional Pd nanopattern is of practical significance in microelectronics and bio- or gas-sensing devices.
High-quality CdTe nanoparticles stabilized with thioglycolic acid (TGA) are patterned on SiO2/Si surfaces using microcontact printing (microCP). Due to the weak interaction of the nanoparticles with the stamp surface, tailoring of gas flow rate during the inking process as well as the type and scale of the patterns on the stamp are used to control the distribution of the nanoparticles on the structured stamp surface. This distribution is then transferred the printed regions. Either edge printing or homogeneous printing can be achieved under optimized conditions. In addition, new structures such as nanowires form under certain conditions.
We report a route for synthesizing patterned carbon nanotube (CNT) catalysts through the microcontact printing of iron-loaded poly(styrene-block-acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) micellar solutions onto silicon wafers coated with thin aluminum oxide (Al(2)O(3)) layers. The amphiphilic block copolymer, PS-b-PAA, forms spherical micelles in toluene that can form quasi-hexagonal arrays of spherical PAA domains within a PS matrix when deposited onto a substrate. In this report, we dip a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) molded stamp into an iron-loaded micellar solution to create a thin film on the PDMS features. The PDMS stamp is then put in contact with a substrate, and uniaxial compressive stress is applied to transfer the micellar thin film from the PDMS stamp onto the substrate in a defined pattern. The polymer is then removed by oxygen plasma etching to leave a patterned iron oxide nanocluster array on the substrate. Using these catalysts, we achieve patterned vertical growth of multiwalled CNTs, where the CNTs maintain the fidelity of the patterned catalyst, forming high-aspect-ratio standing structures.
In this work, a soft lithographic approach has been developed to duplicate photoinduced surface-relief-gratings (SRGs) of azo polymer films to generate the surface pattern replicas composed of different materials on various substrates. For this purpose, thin films of an epoxy-based azo polymer (BP-AZ-CA) were prepared by spin-coating, and SRGs with different structures were inscribed by exposing the films to interference patterns of Ar(+) laser beams at modest intensity (150 mW/cm(2)). Using the azo polymer films as masters, stamps of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were prepared by replica molding. The PDMS stamps were then used to transfer the solutions of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT), and BP-AZ-CA to different substrates by contact printing. Through this process, surface pattern replicas made of the functional materials were obtained. The pattern formation and quality depended on the factors such as the solution concentration, contacting time in the printing process, and printing pressure. Under the proper conditions, the printed patterns showed the same grating periods as the masters and the same relief depths as the stamps (replicas of the masters). This approach, showing some attractive characteristics such as the easiness of master preparation and the versatility of soft fabrication processes, can be applied to the fabrications of optical functional surfaces, sensors, and photonic devices.