Hand force of men and women over 65 years of age as measured by maximum pinch and grip force

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of age and gender on 4 measures of grip and pinch force of well elderly community dwellers and to provide normative values. The hypotheses were that age and gender affect pinch and grip force and that these 2 factors might interact. Hand strength of 224 seniors 65-92 years old was tested. Grip and pinch force decreased in successively older age groups past 65 years. Men's grip force exceeded that of women in all age groups. Men's hand-force decline was steeper than that of women over successive age groups, suggesting that gender differences in force decreased with age. Trends were the same for all 4 types of grip- and pinch-force measurement but were most clearly visible in grip and key-pinch force. Norms were provided for seniors age 65-85+ years in 5-yr increments.     

美国的外籍劳工

目前，居住在美国的外籍居民多达3700万，其中将近1／3并未获得美国政府的许可；在1100多万未经许可的外籍居民中，大约2／3在美国从业。2006年，布什总统曾提出一项议案，建议“在劳资双方自愿的基础上，美国雇主聘用外籍劳工从事美国人不愿从事的职业”，但该议案并未被共和党主导的国会通过。那么，这一提案是否真能通过人道的方式应对非法移民问题，又能否切实解决非熟练工人的就业问题呢？或许，这一提案会重蹈20世纪墨西哥短期合同工计划（导致当前墨西哥移民在美国蔓延）的覆辙？