Using the parallel disk method of activation analysis, the (n,2n) reaction cross section in 141-Pr was measured as a function of neutron energy in the range 15.4 to 18.4 MeV. The bombarding neutrons were produced from the 3-T(d,n)4-He reaction, where the deuterons were accelerated by the 3-MV Van de Graff generator of the North Texas Regional Physics Laboratory in Denton, Texas.

Background: The role of Midwife Obstetric Units (MOUs) as lead caregivers for low risk pregnancies has been a topic of much debate in recent years. It has been suggested that MOUs are more cost effective, and have a less interventionist approach to low risk pregnancies, when compared to Consultant Obstetric Units (COUs). Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to compare intrapartum delivery procedures, methods of delivery, and maternal and neonatal wellbeing for low risk pregnancies between a MOU and a COU. The second objective was to investigate the predictors of key outcomes such as caesarean sections and perineal tears. The research was carried out at a private obstetric unit in Gauteng from January 2005-June 2006. Materials and Methods: The study design was a retrospective cohort study, by means of a record review of routinely collected data. 808 subjects (212 COU and 596 MOU patients) satisfied the criteria for a low risk pregnancy during the defined period and were included in the analysis. Results: Overall the MOU had fewer interventions than the COU, but had very similar maternal and neonatal outcomes. MOU patients were less likely to have an epidural than COU patients (p<0.001), and more likely to utilise a bath for pain relief (p<0.001). The MOU was also less likely to induce a patient than the COU (p=0.002). Primiparous patients accounted for more than 95% of the caesarean section (C/S) rate (p<0.001), with the COU performing 2.2 times more C/S on primiparous patients than the MOU. Vaginal birth in the MOU was 2.6 times more likely to be an underwater birth (UWB) than the COU (p<0.001). Positive predictors for C/S were COU care, primiparous status and induction of labour. UWB was a positive predictor for grade 1 and 2 perineal tears. There were no maternal or neonatal deaths, in either unit, during the study period. There were no significant differences between the MOU and COU for maternal morbidity indicators (tears, postpartum haemorrhage, and retained placenta) or neonatal morbidity indicators (Apgar < 7 at 5 minutes and neonatal ICU admission). Conclusion: The MOU had fewer intrapartum interventions (epidurals and induction of labour) and lower C/S rates than the COU for low risk pregnancies, yet maternal and neonatal outcomes were similar. This study suggests that the MOU can function just as effectively as the COU for low risk pregnancies. Therefore the establishment of more MOUs would have immense resource implications for both the public and private health sectors in South Africa.

Introdução - A taxa de cesárea no Estado de São Paulo está próxima de alcançar 60 por cento e a curva da última década mostra uma tendência de crescimento anual de 2 por cento . Objetivo Caracterizar a rede de assistência ao parto e identificar fatores de risco para o parto cesáreo. Métodos - Estudo retrospectivo, tipo corte transversal, dos nascidos vivos hospitalares de mães residentes dos DRS de Baixada Santista (BS), Grande São Paulo (GSP) e São José do Rio Preto (SJRP) ocorridos no ano de 2009. Utilizou-se os bancos de dados do SINASC e do CNES. Foram avaliadas as variáveis referentes: as mães, as gestações, os recém-nascidos, os municípios de residência das mães, e hospitais de parto. Foram utilizadas análises bivariadas, razão de prevalência e Teste Qui-quadrado; e análise multivariada, utilizando a técnica de regressão logística. Resultados - O porte dos municípios e a rede de hospitais que prestaram assistência ao nascimento diferiram consideravelmente entre os DRS. A rede SUS foi responsável por 74 por cento do nascimentos da BS, 62 por cento na GSP e 83 por cento de SJRP, portanto a rede privada teve maior participação na GSP. Os nascimentos da BS e SJRP ocorreram na sua maior parte em hospitais de médio volume de partos, enquanto na GSP a maior parte ocorreu em hospitais com grande volume de partos. A prevalência do parto cesáreo foi de 58 por cento na BS, 53 por cento na GSP e 80 por cento em SJRP. Os fatores de risco nos três DRS foram: mães em idade avançada, mães com alta escolaridade, mães primíparas; gravidez múltipla; ter feito 7 consultas ou mais de pré-natal; RN de raça/cor branca; e, nascer em hospitais não-SUS. Destes, merecem destaque as variáveis nascer em hospitais não SUS e gravidez múltiplaque apresentaram maiores valores de OR. Nos DRS da BS e GSP, também foram fatores de risco: nascer fora do município de residência e nascer em hospitais SUS não-públicos. Outras características só foram fator de risco para o DRS da GSP: nascer pré-termo; nascer com BPN e nascer em hospitais com baixo ou grande volume de partos. Conclusão - As diferenças existentes entre as redes de assistência ao nascimento dos DRS estudados refletiram nos fatores de risco associados ao parto cesáreo nestes DRS, de forma com que o conjunto de fatores de risco envolvidos no parto cesáreo fosse distinto para cada DRS. / Introduction - The Cesarean section rates in the state of São Paulo is close to achieve 60 per cent and the curve of the last decade shows a trend of annual increase of 2 per cent . Objective To characterize the network birth care and to identify cesarean risk factors. Methods- Retrospective study, in transversal cut, of hospitals live birth, which mothers lived in the DRS of the Baixada Santista (BS), Grande São Paulo (GSP) and São José do Rio Preto (SJRP), at the year of 2009. The SINASC and the CNES data bank was used. The variables related to: mothers, pregnancies, newborns, district of mother\'s residence, and birth hospitals were evaluated. bivariate analyzes, prevalence ratios and chi-square were used, as the multivariate analysis using logistic regression. Results - The districts size and the hospitals network that provided the birth assistance were considerably different among the DRS. The SUS network was responsable for 74 per cent of the BS\' births, 62 per cent of the GSP\'s births and 83 per cent of the SJRP\'s births. Therefore, the private network was more participative in the GPS. The births at the BS and at the SJRP ocurred, mostly, at Hospitals with average childbirth volume, while at the GSP the biggest part ocurred at hospitals with large volume of births. The cesarean section prevalence was 58 per cent at the BS, 53 per cent at the GSP and 80 per cent at the SJRP. Risk factors in those three DRS were: older mothers, mothers with high education, first-time mothers, multiple pregnancies, seven or more pre-natal care visits, newborn race/ caucasian, and birth at a non SUS hospitals. The variables birth at a non SUS hospital\'\' and multiple pregnancy deserve to be highlighted, since they showed the higher rates of fetal death. Being born outside the residence area or in a non SUS hospital were also risk factors at the BS and the GSP. Preterm birth, being born with low birth weight and birth in hospitals with low or high volume of deliveries were risk factors only at the GSP\'s Regional Health Department. Conclusion The diferences between the birth care networks in each DRS reflects in the risk factors associated with cesarean section. Because of that, the set of risk factors associated with cesarean section were different to each DRS.

Foram realizadas medidas das seçõesde choque de produção de raios X L, L e L bem como medidas das seções de choque de ionização das subcamadas L1, L2 e L3 para os elementos Au e Ta com o Acelerador de elétrons Microtron de São Paulo, do Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo. Os alvos foram produzidos no Laboratório de Alvos do Pelletron por evaporação desses elementos sobre substratos finos de carbono. Eles foram posicionados no centro da câmara de irradiação, de modo que o feixe incidia perpendicularmente à sua superfície. Os raios X decorrentes da ionização do alvo de tântalo foram observados com um detetor de Si(Li), enquanto que para o alvo de ouro usou-se um detetor HPGe, ambos posicionados a 120 graus em relação ao feixe. As curvas de eficiência de ambos os detetores foram levantadas usando as fontes de calibração e ajustando os pontos obtidos com um modelo analítico. Para cada energia de feixe, a seção de choque foi determinada a partir das áreas dos picos dos raios X característicos, da corrente incidente no alvo, da eficiência de deteção no pico e da espessura do alvo. As áreas dos picos foram determinadas pelo ajuste de uma forma gaussiana, a corrente incidente no alvo foi medida com um copo de Faraday e corrigida para a dispersão dos elétrons ao passarem pelo alvo, e as medidas de espessura dos alvos foram realizadas pelo método de retro-espalhamento de Rutherford (RBS). Os resultados experimentais obtidos ficaram acima do calculado com a aproximação de Born de ondas distorcidas para as medidas de seção de choque de produção de raios X L, L do Au e para os multipletos L e L do Ta. Para o grupo L do Au e do Ta as medidas foram consistentes com o modelo teórico. Os dados encontrados na literatura para ambos os elementos referem-se todos a energias próximas do limiar de ionização da camada L e nessa faixa são consistentes com o modelo teórico, embora em alguns casos afetados por incertezas superiores a 20%. Este trabalho traz as primeiras medidas para a seção de choque de produção de raios X L do Ta para energias superiores a 50 keV. / Measurements were made of the L, L and L x-rays production cross section and also of the ionization cross section of subshell L1 , L_2 and L3 for the elements Au and Ta in the electron accelerator Microtron of São Paulo, located at the Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo. The targets used were produced in the Pelletron Targets Laboratory and consisted of fine targets evaporated on thin carbon substrates. These targets were positioned in the center of the Microtrons irradiation chamber, so that the focused beam perpendicular to the surface. The x-ray originated from the ionization of the Ta target were obtained with a Si(Li), for the Au target it was used a HPGe detector, both positioned at 120 degrees relative to the electrons beam. The efficiency curve for both detectors was made by using calibration sources and by adjusting the points with a analytical model. For every beam energy the x-rays production cross section were obtained by an accurate knowledge of the peak areas, of the current incident on the target, of the absolute efficiency, and of the thickness of the target. The peak areas were determined by fitting a Gaussian shape, the measurements of the current were made with a Faraday cup and it were corrected for the electrons\' dispersion when they pass through the target, and the measurements of the thickness were performed with the method of Rutherford Back Scattering (RBS). The experimental results were above the Born approximation of distorted waves for measurements of L and L x-rays production cross sections of Au and for the multiplets L and L and of Ta. The measurements of L group of Au and Ta were consistent with the theoretical model. The data founded in literature for both elements are all near to the region of the threshold ionization energy of the shell L, on that energy range they are consistent with the theoretical model, although in some instances they are affected by uncertainties greater than 20%. This work presents the first measurements of Ta L x-rays production cross section to energies above 50 keV.

This series of studies was the first to evaluate the effects of the Section 28 pilot study on the treatment of vulnerable child witnesses in English Crown Courts. Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act implemented mandatory Ground Rules Hearings, during which the judge, lawyers, and intermediary (if applicable) discussed appropriate accommodations to be made for child witnesses, following which the cross-examination could be pre-recorded. Analyses examined 43 cases that implemented the special measures ('Section 28' cases) and 44 cases that did not implement the special measures ('Non-Section 28' cases) that took place between 2012 and 2016. Analyses revealed that children in the Section 28 cases experienced less systemic delay than their counterparts. In addition, the trial preparation in the Section 28 cases was more thorough and this was associated with less risky questioning in the cross-examinations. However, younger children experienced longer delays and had fewer accommodations made for them than older children, regardless of condition. Additional analyses demonstrated that the forensic interviews replaced the evidence-in-chief in most cases almost entirely, with prosecutors asking few substantive questions. In the Section 28 cases, defense lawyers used fewer suggestive questions and asked less complex questions than Non-Section 28 defense lawyers. However, both types of lawyers still predominantly asked option-posing questions. Regardless of condition, defense lawyers asked fewer suggestive questions than their counterparts in other common-law countries and they asked younger children less complex questions. Results indicate that, although the Section 28 pilot study has not fixed all of the existing problems, it has significantly reduced systemic delay and improved the treatment of child witnesses in Crown Courts and thus should be rolled out nationally. As well, regardless of condition, English lawyers and judges seem receptive to recent special measures and appear to be effectively implementing them.

La médicalisation de la naissance et plus largement de la reproduction humaine s’accélère et nous assistons à la banalisation de la césarienne et à l’émergence des césariennes sur demandes maternelles, sans indication médicale. Chez les femmes qui demandent une césarienne pour accoucher, les craintes concernant le sexe et la sexualité sont manifestes, comme l’est la question de la maîtrise de soi et des événements. Mais quant est-il au plan latent ? Dans la continuité des travaux portant sur l’image du corps, du versant maternel du traumatisme de la naissance et de la psychosexualité féminine, je propose l’hypothèse suivante : l’accouchement est pour la femme une expérience singulière tant au regard des fonctions de la reproduction humaine qu’à celui de la sexualité féminine. À ce titre, il se situe au point de contact entre la clinique de la périnatalité, du devenir mère, dans son corps et dans sa psyché, et de la clinique du féminin, du devenir ou du rester femme. Dans cette perspective, comment appréhender le contenu latent de la demande des femmes qui choisissent la césarienne sans indication médicale pour accoucher de leur premier enfant ? La demande maternelle de césarienne est-elle une modalité spécifique du traitement de la problématique sexuelle œdipienne féminine réactivée par l’accouchement ? Cette recherche qualitative, comparative et longitudinale se déroule au sein du service de gynécologie obstétrique de l’Institut hospitalier Franco-Britannique. À partir d’un échantillon composé de 24 femmes, je compare les processus psychiques des parturientes qui demandent une césarienne sans indication médicale, pour accoucher d’un premier enfant, et ceux des parturientes « tout venant ». Je les rencontre au cours d’entretiens semi-directifs de recherche réalisés à trois temps différents : au cours du troisième trimestre de la grossesse, lors de leur séjour à la maternité et à deux mois de post-partum. / In the context of the medicalization of birth and the banalization of caesarian sections,the literature and clinical experience demonstrate the rise of maternal requests for c-section,without medical indication, for the delivery of a first child. The research explores, within apsychoanalytical frame of reference, the singular somatopsychic experience that constituteschildbirth. It approaches the question of the use of the genital passage from the perspective ofinstinctive effraction, with reference to the Freudian theory of trauma articulated with that offemale psychosexual development. Could the recourse to the caesarian delivery be understoodas a specific method for the treatment of sexual excitation — genital and infantile — causedby the representations and the experience of the body during childbirth? Methodology : Aclinical, qualitative, comparative and longitudinal research conducted in three time periods ofpre- and postpartum. The research tools used are clinical semi-directed research interviews,drawings and self-assessment questionnaires. The sample was made up of 22 primiparae, 10having elected a caesarian delivery and 12 from the general patient population. Results :Elective c-section would permit the containment of the instinctive intensity caused by themanifest representations of the corporal experience of vaginal delivery; whereas in the generalpopulation group, the fear of pain would appear to play the role of a latent protective shield.The conflict between the fantasmatic realization of the oedipal desires and the necessarymaintenance of the link to the maternal imago would be replayed during the time of thedelivery for the women of both groups. The refusal of the passive position and, in certaincases, the existence of a fusional link to the preoedipal maternal imago would becharacteristic of the women having elected a caesarian delivery. For most of them, therecourse to a c-section would appear to contribute to liberation from the always prevalentprimary object; the recourse to the c-section serving the function of third party separator.Other research paths, such as the fragility of the corporal shoring as support of narcissismcould translate the emergence, appeared during the course of this research and would need tobe explored through further research.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 211-214. / by Peter Eric Bosted. / Ph.D.

Introdução - A taxa de cesárea no Estado de São Paulo está próxima de alcançar 60 por cento e a curva da última década mostra uma tendência de crescimento anual de 2 por cento . Objetivo Caracterizar a rede de assistência ao parto e identificar fatores de risco para o parto cesáreo. Métodos - Estudo retrospectivo, tipo corte transversal, dos nascidos vivos hospitalares de mães residentes dos DRS de Baixada Santista (BS), Grande São Paulo (GSP) e São José do Rio Preto (SJRP) ocorridos no ano de 2009. Utilizou-se os bancos de dados do SINASC e do CNES. Foram avaliadas as variáveis referentes: as mães, as gestações, os recém-nascidos, os municípios de residência das mães, e hospitais de parto. Foram utilizadas análises bivariadas, razão de prevalência e Teste Qui-quadrado; e análise multivariada, utilizando a técnica de regressão logística. Resultados - O porte dos municípios e a rede de hospitais que prestaram assistência ao nascimento diferiram consideravelmente entre os DRS. A rede SUS foi responsável por 74 por cento do nascimentos da BS, 62 por cento na GSP e 83 por cento de SJRP, portanto a rede privada teve maior participação na GSP. Os nascimentos da BS e SJRP ocorreram na sua maior parte em hospitais de médio volume de partos, enquanto na GSP a maior parte ocorreu em hospitais com grande volume de partos. A prevalência do parto cesáreo foi de 58 por cento na BS, 53 por cento na GSP e 80 por cento em SJRP. Os fatores de risco nos três DRS foram: mães em idade avançada, mães com alta escolaridade, mães primíparas; gravidez múltipla; ter feito 7 consultas ou mais de pré-natal; RN de raça/cor branca; e, nascer em hospitais não-SUS. Destes, merecem destaque as variáveis nascer em hospitais não SUS e gravidez múltiplaque apresentaram maiores valores de OR. Nos DRS da BS e GSP, também foram fatores de risco: nascer fora do município de residência e nascer em hospitais SUS não-públicos. Outras características só foram fator de risco para o DRS da GSP: nascer pré-termo; nascer com BPN e nascer em hospitais com baixo ou grande volume de partos. Conclusão - As diferenças existentes entre as redes de assistência ao nascimento dos DRS estudados refletiram nos fatores de risco associados ao parto cesáreo nestes DRS, de forma com que o conjunto de fatores de risco envolvidos no parto cesáreo fosse distinto para cada DRS. / Introduction - The Cesarean section rates in the state of São Paulo is close to achieve 60 per cent and the curve of the last decade shows a trend of annual increase of 2 per cent . Objective To characterize the network birth care and to identify cesarean risk factors. Methods- Retrospective study, in transversal cut, of hospitals live birth, which mothers lived in the DRS of the Baixada Santista (BS), Grande São Paulo (GSP) and São José do Rio Preto (SJRP), at the year of 2009. The SINASC and the CNES data bank was used. The variables related to: mothers, pregnancies, newborns, district of mother\'s residence, and birth hospitals were evaluated. bivariate analyzes, prevalence ratios and chi-square were used, as the multivariate analysis using logistic regression. Results - The districts size and the hospitals network that provided the birth assistance were considerably different among the DRS. The SUS network was responsable for 74 per cent of the BS\' births, 62 per cent of the GSP\'s births and 83 per cent of the SJRP\'s births. Therefore, the private network was more participative in the GPS. The births at the BS and at the SJRP ocurred, mostly, at Hospitals with average childbirth volume, while at the GSP the biggest part ocurred at hospitals with large volume of births. The cesarean section prevalence was 58 per cent at the BS, 53 per cent at the GSP and 80 per cent at the SJRP. Risk factors in those three DRS were: older mothers, mothers with high education, first-time mothers, multiple pregnancies, seven or more pre-natal care visits, newborn race/ caucasian, and birth at a non SUS hospitals. The variables birth at a non SUS hospital\'\' and multiple pregnancy deserve to be highlighted, since they showed the higher rates of fetal death. Being born outside the residence area or in a non SUS hospital were also risk factors at the BS and the GSP. Preterm birth, being born with low birth weight and birth in hospitals with low or high volume of deliveries were risk factors only at the GSP\'s Regional Health Department. Conclusion The diferences between the birth care networks in each DRS reflects in the risk factors associated with cesarean section. Because of that, the set of risk factors associated with cesarean section were different to each DRS.

Foram realizadas medidas das seçõesde choque de produção de raios X L, L e L bem como medidas das seções de choque de ionização das subcamadas L1, L2 e L3 para os elementos Au e Ta com o Acelerador de elétrons Microtron de São Paulo, do Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo. Os alvos foram produzidos no Laboratório de Alvos do Pelletron por evaporação desses elementos sobre substratos finos de carbono. Eles foram posicionados no centro da câmara de irradiação, de modo que o feixe incidia perpendicularmente à sua superfície. Os raios X decorrentes da ionização do alvo de tântalo foram observados com um detetor de Si(Li), enquanto que para o alvo de ouro usou-se um detetor HPGe, ambos posicionados a 120 graus em relação ao feixe. As curvas de eficiência de ambos os detetores foram levantadas usando as fontes de calibração e ajustando os pontos obtidos com um modelo analítico. Para cada energia de feixe, a seção de choque foi determinada a partir das áreas dos picos dos raios X característicos, da corrente incidente no alvo, da eficiência de deteção no pico e da espessura do alvo. As áreas dos picos foram determinadas pelo ajuste de uma forma gaussiana, a corrente incidente no alvo foi medida com um copo de Faraday e corrigida para a dispersão dos elétrons ao passarem pelo alvo, e as medidas de espessura dos alvos foram realizadas pelo método de retro-espalhamento de Rutherford (RBS). Os resultados experimentais obtidos ficaram acima do calculado com a aproximação de Born de ondas distorcidas para as medidas de seção de choque de produção de raios X L, L do Au e para os multipletos L e L do Ta. Para o grupo L do Au e do Ta as medidas foram consistentes com o modelo teórico. Os dados encontrados na literatura para ambos os elementos referem-se todos a energias próximas do limiar de ionização da camada L e nessa faixa são consistentes com o modelo teórico, embora em alguns casos afetados por incertezas superiores a 20%. Este trabalho traz as primeiras medidas para a seção de choque de produção de raios X L do Ta para energias superiores a 50 keV. / Measurements were made of the L, L and L x-rays production cross section and also of the ionization cross section of subshell L1 , L_2 and L3 for the elements Au and Ta in the electron accelerator Microtron of São Paulo, located at the Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo. The targets used were produced in the Pelletron Targets Laboratory and consisted of fine targets evaporated on thin carbon substrates. These targets were positioned in the center of the Microtrons irradiation chamber, so that the focused beam perpendicular to the surface. The x-ray originated from the ionization of the Ta target were obtained with a Si(Li), for the Au target it was used a HPGe detector, both positioned at 120 degrees relative to the electrons beam. The efficiency curve for both detectors was made by using calibration sources and by adjusting the points with a analytical model. For every beam energy the x-rays production cross section were obtained by an accurate knowledge of the peak areas, of the current incident on the target, of the absolute efficiency, and of the thickness of the target. The peak areas were determined by fitting a Gaussian shape, the measurements of the current were made with a Faraday cup and it were corrected for the electrons\' dispersion when they pass through the target, and the measurements of the thickness were performed with the method of Rutherford Back Scattering (RBS). The experimental results were above the Born approximation of distorted waves for measurements of L and L x-rays production cross sections of Au and for the multiplets L and L and of Ta. The measurements of L group of Au and Ta were consistent with the theoretical model. The data founded in literature for both elements are all near to the region of the threshold ionization energy of the shell L, on that energy range they are consistent with the theoretical model, although in some instances they are affected by uncertainties greater than 20%. This work presents the first measurements of Ta L x-rays production cross section to energies above 50 keV.

Background: The postnatal failures of expression of the hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase system suggest there are developmental deficiencies in the mechanism to ‘switch-on’ this key enzyme of gluconeogenesis at the time of birth in both preterm and term infants. The evidence for hormonal regulation of this critical enzyme system in animal studies, in adult humans, and studies of cell lines make the possible failure of hormonal control around the time of birth an important hypothesis to test, but before this can be done, further studies of perinatal metabolism and its hormonal control need to be undertaken. Objective: To describe the hormonal and metabolic profiles of ‘unstressed’ term infants delivered by elective caesarean section. Methods: One hundred and fifty three women who had an elective caesarean section for a singleton pregnancy at term in Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee were recruited between July 2004 and April 2006. Maternal venous blood was taken for glucose and lactate estimations. Umbilical venous cord blood was obtained for the measurement of glucose, lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, amino acids (alanine, arginine, citruline, cystine, GABA, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine ornithine, phenyalanine, serine,taurine, threonine, tyrosine and valine), insulin, glucagon, human growth hormone, cortisol, catechols (EPI, NE, DA, DOPA, DHPG, DOPAC) and their sulfated conjugates (EPI sulfate, NE sulfate, DA sulfate, DOPA sulfate, DHPG sulfate, DOPAC sulfate), and blood gas and acid-base profiles. Results The mean maternal glucose and lactate levels were 4.28 mmol/l and 1.8 mmol/l respectively. Three infants were hypoglycaemic with umbilical blood glucose levels of less than 2.6 mmol/l. The mean infant glucose and lactate levels were as expected for full term infants at 3.3 mmol/l and 2.2 mmol/l respectively. High mean levels of insulin and catechols were noted at birth. There was a significant positive association between umbilical venous cord glucose levels and maternal venous glucose levels (p=<0.001) but no association of umbilical venous cord glucose levels with amino acids, insulin, glucagon, human growth hormone, cortisol and catechols. Conclusions: This extensive data set of levels of metabolites and hormones in infants at birth acts as a reference source and will be valuable for evaluating any effects of antenatal or intrapartum factors on the hormonal and metabolic profiles of infants at birth as well as to investigate the mechanisms to ‘switch-on’ the key enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase. Objective: To describe the hormonal and metabolic profiles of ‘unstressed’ term infants delivered by elective caesarean section. Methods: One hundred and fifty three women who had an elective caesarean section for a singleton pregnancy at term in Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee were recruited between July 2004 and April 2006. Maternal venous blood was taken for glucose and lactate estimations. Umbilical venous cord blood was obtained for the measurement of glucose, lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, amino acids (alanine, arginine, citruline, cystine, GABA, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine ornithine, phenyalanine, serine, taurine, threonine, tyrosine and valine), insulin, glucagon, human growth hormone, cortisol, catechols (EPI, NE, DA, DOPA, DHPG, DOPAC) and their sulfated conjugates (EPI sulfate, NE sulfate, DA sulfate, DOPA sulfate, DHPG sulfate, DOPAC sulfate), and blood gas and acid-base profiles. Results: The mean maternal glucose and lactate levels were 4.28 mmol/l and 1.8 mmol/l respectively. Three infants were hypoglycaemic with umbilical blood glucose levels of less than 2.6 mmol/l. The mean infant glucose and lactate levels were as expected for full term infants at 3.3 mmol/l and 2.2 mmol/l respectively. High mean levels of insulin and catechols were noted at birth. There was a significant positive association between umbilical venous cord glucose levels and maternal venous glucose levels (p=<0.001) but no association of umbilical venous cord glucose levels with amino acids, insulin, glucagon, human growth hormone, cortisol and catechols.