Sociology is concerned with only two-thirds of the lives of its human subjects and has systematically ignored one-third of them either as sources of data or as occasions for theorizing. Such an initial exaggeration has, I hope, despite its admitted crassness, a serious intention. My purpose is to direct attention, albeit speculatively, to the question of how a sociologist might approach a topic which is, for once, quite literally a 'taken-forgranted, common-sense feature of everyday life', the apparently a-sociological phenomenon of unconsciousness, the unsurprising human habit of sleeping, or at least of wanting to sleep, for several hours of every night of all of our lives. Of course, the elementary objections to such an enterprise appear, at least at first, fairly convincing. Sociology, after all, despite its multifarious definitions and its all-embracing, even imperialistic, disciplinary tendencies is concerned, following the recommendation of H. Stuart Hughes--as useful as any that have followed it--at its most basic level with the relationship between individual consciousness and social structure. Any interest in the social dimensions of sleep would therefore seem to deny even the possibility of any sensible sociological comment. Sleep would seem to be one genuine example, death being the other, of an arguably non-social experience characterized by a lack of individual intention and as such situated beyond the intellectual reach of a discipline more involved with the structural constraints on and 'unintended consequences' of the rational action of individual members of society. Even the language conventionally used in describing sleep--'falling asleep', 'dropping off', 'dead to the world'--would seem to emphasize this lack, not only of social control but of individual volition. The question might then be posed, not so much of what sociology can say about sleep, as what has sociology to do with sleep at all, given its apparently essential 'asocial inaction'? It is tempting to suggest that this very reluctance of the topic to 463 9 1993 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

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Urinary excretion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites and DNA binding of coal tar components in male mice were investigated following the ingestion of a coal tar adulterated diet. Male B6C3F1 mice were able to tolerate an F0927 basal gel diet which contained from 0.1 to 1% coal tar (tar weight/dry food weight) for 15 days. Mice maintained on a 0.1 and 0.2% coal tar diet had body weight gains similar to those of control animals. However, mice maintained on the 0.5 and 1.0% diet had body weight gains considerably lower than control values. Chemical-DNA adduct formation was detected and quantified in lung and forestomach tissue of animals on 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1% coal tar containing diets. A dose-related effect was observed in lung DNA adduct formation while no dose effect was observed in forestomach tissue. In addition, overall adduct levels in lung tissue were considerably higher than forestomach levels for animals on the 0.5 or 1% diet. In contrast, DNA adduct levels were highest in the forestomach of animals on diets lower in coal tar content (0.1 or 0.2%). Chemical-DNA adducts of coal tar components were also evaluated for four other coal tar samples which varied in chemical composition. Mice were maintained on diets containing 0.25% of each coal tar for 15 days. Chemical-DNA adducts were detected in lung, liver, and spleen for all animals receiving these coal tar diets. DNA adduct patterns were similar while quantitative differences were observed between coal tar samples and tissue sites. Highest adduct levels were detected in lung DNA. Benzo[a]pyrene content in coal tar samples could not account for the DNA adduct levels observed with coal tar ingestion. The urinary excretion of select PAH metabolites following coal tar ingestion was evaluated by using urine collected on days 1 and 14 of diet administration. The levels of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine, the major PAH metabolite detected, correlated with the pyrene content of these coal tars. These data demonstrate that coal tar components are readily bioavailable following ingestion.

The systemic bioavailability of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from ingested soils containing manufactured gas plant (MGP) tar was evaluated in mice. Soil and organic extract of each soil were incorporated into a diet and fed to mice for two weeks. 1-Hydroxypyrene levels in urine and chemical:DNA adduct levels in lungs were used as biomarkers of PAH systemic bioavailability. Estimates of PAH relative bioavailability were determined by comparing the bioavailability observed between each soil and corresponding organic extract. In all but one case, bioavailability estimates based on 1-hydroxypyrene levels in urine indicate that the presence of MGP tar on soil results in a considerable decrease in PAH systemic bioavailability (9−75%). Similarly, PAH bioavailability estimates based on chemical:DNA adduct formation ranged from nondetectable to 76%. These results clearly indicate that the bioavailability of PAH is less than 100% when soil contaminated with MGP tar is ingested by mice. In addition, the experimental methods employed in this study appear suitable for evaluating the effects of soil on the gastrointestinal absorption and systemic bioavailability of PAH from soil containing complex organic mixtures.

Assistive Technology (AT) has been utilized to support people with dementia (PwD) and their carers in the home. Such support can extend the time that PwD can remain safely at home and reduce the burden on the tertiary healthcare sector. Technology can assist people in the hours of darkness as well as during the day. The objective of this literature review is to evaluate reported healthcare technologies appropriate to night time care. This paper summarises and categorises the current evidence base. In all, 131 abstracts were returned from a database search, yielding fifty four relevant papers which were considered in detail. While night-time specific studies identified very few papers (4 papers, 7%), most of the more general AT findings could be adopted to benefit night-time assistance. Studies have used technology for prompting and reminding as loss of time and forgetfulness are major problems; for monitoring daily activities in a sensor enriched environment and utilised location aware technologies to provide information to enhance safety. Technology also supports a range of therapies to alleviate symptoms. Therapies include the delivery of music and familial pictures for reminiscing, the use of light therapy to enhance wellbeing and the provision of mental tasks to stimulate the brain and maintain activity levels.