The use of computer technology in pediatric neuropsychology

The paper is dedicated to creating methods of computerized diagnostics adequate to the problems of children neuropsychology. An original battery, based on the principle of psychometric approach to diagnostics, was used. Z-scaling was utilized in processing the data. 39 children with spastic hemiparesis, aged 9-10 years, and 40 healthy children, aged 8-9 years, were examined. The results were compared to the age norms and were recalculated into Z-scales; thus it became feasible to discern reliable deviation of the parameters from the mean level, taking into account their variance. Further processing of the data obtained was carried out using a special procedure based on Bayes method. This procedure permitted not only to evaluate the mean group characteristics of the children with focal brain damages but also to obtain individual topic diagnoses. Validity of the method was tested. 85% coincidence of the clinical and test results was reached. A conclusion is drawn on the reliability of this method for diagnosing focal brain damages in children with residual encephalopathies. Using this computerized procedure is a promising direction in further advance of children neuropsychology methods.     

The use of on-line computer technology in a mental health admitting system.

Describes an on-line computer application in a mental health admitting system that collects psychological, social, and physical information from the patient at the time of application, and summarizes, interprets, and prints reports that are available immediately for use in clinical intake decision making. The effects of this prototype admissions system on patient care, the design of treatment programs, and measures of patient progress are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

8098单片机在单相调压器中的应用

将8098单片机所特有的用软件来实现A/D,D/A及PWM信号输出的特性应用在模拟式移相电路中,展示了模拟式移相电路改造成具有智能化特点的一条有效途径。     

Learning with technology: use of case-based physical and computer simulations in professional education

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a low dosage (0.3 mg/day) of unopposed conjugated estrogens can be used without incurring an elevated risk of endometrial cancer. METHODS: In this case-control study, cases (n = 484) consisted of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer between 1985 and 1991 in three counties in Western Washington. Controls (n = 780) were identified using random digit dialing within the same three counties. Subjects were interviewed in person to obtain basic demographic and medical history information, as well as specific information about hormone use. RESULTS: Eighteen cases and eight controls had taken 0.3 mg/day of unopposed conjugated estrogens and no other dose or preparation of estrogens (risk relative to that of women who had not taken postmenopausal hormones = 5.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3, 13.0). The risk was particularly high in women whose use of this dose was both current and of more than 8 years' duration (odds ratio = 9.2, 95% CI 2.9, 29.0). The elevation in risk in users of 0.3 mg/day was similar in size to that associated with the daily unopposed use of 0.625 mg of conjugated estrogens. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a dosage of 0.3 mg per day of unopposed conjugated estrogens is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.     

Human studies with glucagon-like-peptide-1: potential of the gut hormone for clinical use

So far, a wealth of data originating from in vitro or animal experiments has been collected supporting the concept that the gut hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) may serve as a model molecule for the design of a new drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This is supported by observations that GLP-1 has potent insulinotropic action in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It enhances beta-cell sensitivity to glucose stimulated insulin secretion. GLP-1 may also have a role in the treatment of impaired glucose tolerance, where the beta-cell is already insensitive to changes in plasma glucose concentrations. It may, as has previously been shown in animal models of 'prediabetes', delay the progressive decline in glucose tolerance to NIDDM. The glucose-dependent action of this peptide is an important feature in the treatment of NIDDM as it will protect against hypoglycaemic reactions, the most serious acute side-effect of antidiabetic therapy. Glucose utilization may be enhanced which would improve metabolic control in both NIDDM and IDDM. A glucagon lowering effect will further enhance metabolic control. This article reviews current experiences of the effects of GLP-1 in human studies. It points out the outcomes and limitations of previous trials and discusses future directions for the investigation of its potential use as a new agent in diabetes treatment.     

The teaching of computer programming and digital image processing in radiography

The increased use of digital processing techniques in Medical Radiations imaging modalities, along with the rapid advance in information technology has resulted in a significant change in the delivery of radiographic teaching programs. This paper details a methodology used to concurrently educate radiographers in both computer programming and image processing. The students learn to program in visual basic applications (VBA), and the programming skills are contextualised by requiring the students to write a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) package. Program code generation and image presentation interface is undertaken by the spreadsheet Microsoft Excel. The user-friendly nature of this common interface enables all students to readily begin program creation. The teaching of programming and image processing skills by this method may be readily generalised to other vocational fields where digital image manipulation is a professional requirement.     

The use of an interactive computer program for the education of parents of asthmatic children

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a single evening meal (gorging) on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in normal individuals observing the Ramadan Fast. During the Ramadan month, Muslims refrain from food and liquids during the day and eat a large meal after sundown. DESIGN: Sequential measurement of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in Muslims observing the Ramadan Fast and non-fasting individuals. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Bedouin town of Rahat, in the northern Negev area of Israel. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two healthy subjects who fasted during Ramadan and 16 non-fasting laboratory workers, were studied before Ramadan, at week 1, 2 and 4 of the Ramadan month, and again four weeks after the end of Ramadan. RESULTS: Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) rose significantly (P < 0.001) at the week 4 measurement, returning to basal levels 4 weeks after the end of Ramadan. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma HDL increased by 23% after four weeks of gorging. The dietary change did not affect the composition of other lipoproteins, such as LDL, VLDL or Lp(a), other plasma biochemical parameters, or BMI. Prolonged gorging, well tolerated by all individuals, is a very effective non-pharmacological method to increase plasma HDL-cholesterol.     

The clinical use of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of mycobacterial diseases

Mycobacterial diseases often require prolonged therapy with multidrug regimens. Fluoroquinolones have excellent bactericidal activity against many mycobacteria; achieve effective serum, tissue, and intracellular levels following oral administration; and produce few adverse effects. These properties have led to the increasing use of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of mycobacterial infections. We reviewed clinical studies and reports involving the use of fluoroquinolones for mycobacterial diseases. Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and pefloxacin exhibit clinical efficacy against mycobacterial diseases, especially tuberculosis and leprosy. Fluoroquinolones have generally been administered in regimens that include other agents. However, when a fluoroquinolone has been found to be the sole active agent in a multidrug regimen, the ready emergence of resistance to fluoroquinolones has been recognized, just as when they have been used as monotherapy. Therefore, to forestall the emergence of resistance to fluoroquinolones during the treatment of mycobacterial diseases, these drugs should always be used in combination with at least one other active agent, and they should be used only when effective alternative drugs are not available.     

The use of computer systems dedicated to day surgery

As a management consulting firm and a system house which has developed computer systems specifically to support Day Surgery activities, we are often asked by nurses, doctors and managers of Day Surgery units to help clarify their needs for an information system. This article summarises the key questions which are asked, together with answers which we have given, based on our in-depth reviews at many hospitals which are reorganising and making significant investments in Day Surgery facilities.     

计算机技术在能源报表系统中的应用

本文介绍利用VFP6.0语言设计的报表软件，实现基层单位和集团公司能源报表的生成、上报及汇总分析。解决了因各基层单位报表格式不同，而只能进行人工采集数据、分析、统计数据的问题。     

The use of equipoise in clinical trials

We present two new microfabricated cantilever-beam force transducers. The transducers were fabricated from thin silicon-nitride films, and were used respectively to measure forces generated by two small-muscle preparations: the single myofibril, and the single actin filament in contact with a myosin-coated surface. A simple resonance method was developed to characterize the transducers. Because of the high reproducibility of lever dimensions and the consistency of the modulus of elasticity, few calibration measurements sufficed to characterize the stiffness of all the levers on a single wafer.     

The safety of treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin in clinical use: a review of controlled studies

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has now been approved for the treatment of renal anemia, anemia of prematurity, cancer-associated anemia, AIDS-associated anemia and as concomitant treatment for patients with or without autologous blood donation awaiting elective surgery. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview, based on the results of controlled studies, of the anticipated safety profile of rhEPO in various indications and to assess whether treatment with rhEPO influences the incidences of certain adverse events in these indications. The anticipated adverse events differ from indication to indication and generally reflect the corresponding underlying illness. With most indications, no relevant differences in the incidences of adverse events are observed between rhEPO and placebo-control/patients. Only in the rhEPO therapy of renal anemia is an increased incidence of hypertensive events observed in the rhEPO groups, a finding that is not reproduced with the other indications. The controlled studies forming the basis of this review provide no evidence of a relevant increase in the risk of thromboembolic events during rhEPO therapy. Overall, it may be stated that rhEPO treatment, where strictly indicated, is a safe form of therapy. As with any other treatment, the risk of side effects in certain predisposed patients must also be weighed against the desired clinical benefits.     

Practice of computer use in radiotherapy planning

The main problems of radiotherapy planning are discussed with respect to use of computers now being available for a greater number of centers. One of the most essential premises is apart from clear ideas on a modern target volume concept - a sufficiently high speed in producing realistic summarized isodose contours for any radiation therapy arrangement in any individual patient's cross section outline. This problem being solved, those individual summarized isodose figures have to be critically evaluated and therefore the importance of applicable meaningful optimization criteria come into account. The properties of such criteria, which must be quantifiable, generally applicable and really relevant for judgement on quality of a plan, had to be accepted, before automatic optimization procedures could be developed; principles involved are presented. By means of a short series of examples, namely 60Co fixed field combinations with and without use of wedges, combinations of arc therapy for a number of clinical tasks. It has been pointed out, that most experienced estimate by the eye would have been by far insufficient when compared to the automized computer optimization when using such simple criteria as 1. homogeneity of absorbed dose within target volume, 2. numerically limited absorbed dose within areas of risk, 3. as low as possible radiation effects to all "outside areas". It seems to be a real danger, that so called isodose libraries, how high their merits might be estimated, may change into an "isodose bcemetery", unless we'll be successful for each individual clinical case by use of computers, which are now prepared to supply the best possible variant of the standard plan or the primary radiotherapy idea. Regular use of computers in such a way will furthermore give an incomparable documentation material.     

Psychology of computer use: XLV. Cognitive spontaneity as a correlate of computer anxiety and attitudes toward computer use

The relationship of cognitive spontaneity with measures of computer anxiety and attitudes toward computer use was investigated in a sample of 178 individuals attending advanced courses in management. As expected, a significant negative relationship between cognitive spontaneity and computer anxiety was found. The relationship remained significant even with statistical control for computer experience. The relationship between cognitive spontaneity and attitudes toward computer use was positive but not significant. The results imply both a direct and an indirect relationship between cognitive spontaneity and computer anxiety. Further, the results support the suggestion that computer anxiety and attitudes toward computer use are related but distinct constructs.     

Discrete distributions for use in twin studies

We describe several new discrete distributions motivated by the study of longevity in twins. All individuals both living and dead at a given age are randomly paired. The univariate distribution models the number of these pairs where both individuals are alive. If there is a positive association to longevity in twins, then we would expect to see an excessive number of twin pairs both alive at older ages relative to the number of living individuals. We obtain Poisson and normal approximations to the exact distribution. Multivariate distributions are developed to allow for simultaneous and conditional inference at different ages. Odds-ratio parameter models provide a measure of the association of longevity within twin pairs. These models indicate an excessive number of identical twin pairs both alive after age 60 in a cohort of twins born between 1870 and 1880 in Denmark. Monozygotic twins are contrasted with dizygotic twins to separate the genetic and environmental contributions to the similarity in longevity among twins.     

Resource-saving and nature-preserving potential of powder materials and technology; use in the area of processing of secondary resources

Publication of the materials of the seminar was started in No. 5 of this year.