Distribution characteristics of ¹³⁷Cs, Pu isotopes and ²⁴¹Am in soil in Korea.

Cesium-137, Plutonium isotopes and (241)Am were studied in soil samples collected from Korea between 2006 and 2008 to provide information on the distribution and origin of Pu isotopes and (241)Am. The vertical profiles of radionuclides showed higher activity concentrations at the surface layer and then gradually decreased with depth. A good correlation between (137)Cs and (239,240)Pu was observed, whereas a poor relationship between (137)Cs and (241)Am was found.

Changes in total concentrations and assessed background concentrations of heavy metals in moss in Lithuania and the Czech Republic between 1995 and 2005.

Data on concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in moss collected on the lightly industrialized territory of Lithuania and on the highly industrialized territory of the Czech Republic in 1995, 2000 and 2005 is used to separate the background and anthropogenic contributions to heavy metal concentrations in moss. The distribution of the concentration logarithms allowed us to determine a background mode, and to estimate the background concentration of heavy metals from this mode. The method was then applied for an estimation of the contribution of local sources to the total pollution level in both countries.

Ethnic differences in posttraumatic stress disorder after musculoskeletal trauma.

Background: Psychological distress is known to contribute to poor outcomes in orthopedic patients. Limited information exists concerning ethnic differences in psychological sequelae after musculoskeletal injury. This study examined ethnic variations in prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after musculoskeletal trauma.

Evaluation of the impact of long-range transport and aerosol concentration temporal variations at the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

Ambient particles vary greatly in their ability to affect visibility, climate and human health. The fine fraction of aerosol is responsible for greater and wider effects on human health; thus, investigation of this fraction is very important. Continuous measurements of PM2.

Restoring the patient's voice. The therapeutics of illness narratives.

Reflective and insightful autobiographical accounts of illness not only illuminate fundamental disruptions in selfhood and continuity of life that accompany illness, but authors of such accounts also maintain that narration is an important way to make sense of an illness episode, to restore personhood and connectedness, and to reclaim the illness experience from the medical meta-narrative. That witnessing and helping to order illness narratives can be a caring/healing nursing practice modality with significant healing potential is supported both by narrative theory and by nursing's theoretical and philosophical legacy. The challenge for the nurse guided by narrative ideas is to give primacy to the patient's voice, to listen for meaning rather than for facts, and to provide a relationship enabling the evolution of the patient's story.