Analog and digital descriptions of behavior.

Discusses the signal representation of an event and computer-generated analogs, both of which attempt to represent a continuous function in nature (e.g., body temperature) by means of a continuous function in another medium (e.g., a graph). Although an analog is an inferior method of representing reality compared to abstract symbol systems involved in language or numbers, it is the superior system in some cases (e.g., carpentry). This paradox is examined in 3 areas: learning a complex skill, single-case personality research, and clinical research. Reasons for the appeal of analog systems in these areas are discussed. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analog versus digital: extrapolating from electronics to neurobiology

We review the pros and cons of analog and digital computation. We propose that computation that is most efficient in its use of resources is neither analog computation nor digital computation but, rather, a mixture of the two forms. For maximum efficiency, the information and information-processing resources of the hybrid form must be distributed over many wires, with an optimal signal-to-noise ratio per wire. Our results suggest that it is likely that the brain computes in a hybrid fashion and that an underappreciated and important reason for the efficiency of the human brain, which consumes only 12 W, is the hybrid and distributed nature of its architecture.     

Pattern of cell death during optic cup formation in the tree shrew Tupaia belangeri

Literature has much to offer the psychotherapist. This paper has discussed some lessons for the psychotherapist contained in Franz Kafka's short story, The Metamorphosis. The therapist, like the therapist-reader of this story, can empathize with Gregor's monstrous change but still must hold him personally accountable. At the same time, the therapist-reader becomes increasingly impressed with the malignant nature of the Samsa household, and its role in generating Gregor's capacity for self-deception. The story also instructs about the paradox of catastrophe: Gregor is treated no less respectfully after his metamorphosis than he was before it. The therapist is thereby reminded of the centrality of feelings in human affairs. The constriction of Gregor's space does not cut him off from human feeling; rather, Gregor's inability to access, know, and take responsibility for his own feelings, especially his destructive ones, results in his constrictedness and detachment. In thinking about the story as dream, or in imagining a patient's account of a reality situation as if it were a dream, unseen mental process and content become more apparent. The disgusting, loathsome arrangements that people make with each other can evoke, be it in the therapist-reader or the therapist, reactions of aversion or hate. Such arrangements become more understandable when the importance, sometimes the necessity, of human attachment is appreciated. And finally, Kafka's The Metamorphosis alerts us to a sometimes but powerful preference and countertransference pitfall: we don't want to be bugged.     

Morphological changes induced by colchicine in the chick optic cup in early stages of development. A stereological study

In this study chick embryo optic cups at HH stage 13 of development were analyzed under normal conditions and after inoculation with colchicine for 1, 2, 4, and 8 h. Several changes were seen after these periods of treatment: 1) modifications of the structure, with thicker regions in the cup and a general decrease in the total volume according to the duration of exposure to the drug (about 4 times less than normal, 5,035 x 10(3) microns 3 vs 1,334 x 10(3) microns 3 after 8 h of treatment); 2) enlargement of the ventricular cavity and its closure, due to failure of approximation of retinal and pigmentary layers; 3) failure of lens development, with delay and impairment of pit formation and deformation of all structures; lens volume was less than normal (about 4 times less, 2,148 x 10(3) microns 3 vs 658 x 10(3) microns 3 after 8 h of treatment); 4) a general segregation of the cells making up the structure, principally in the more active proliferating zones. The local alterations found are described.     

Detection of aneurysm in subarachnoid hemorrhage--CT angiography vs. digital subtraction angiography

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and the efficacy of administering tirapazamine by a slow-releasing polymer disc that was implanted interstitially into a U251 (human glioblastoma multiforme) tumor grown in nude mice. Tumor-bearing animals, with a tumor nodule 0.8 cm3 in size, were distributed to groups receiving combinations of empty or drug-containing polymer implants in the tumor or contralateral leg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) drug, and/or irradiation. The drug (i.p.) alone (14 mg/kg x6) or in combination with tumor drug implant (2 mg) did not significantly increase the tumor volume doubling time compared to that of control animals. Given with 12 Gy of irradiation in twice a day 2-Gy fractions, combined i.p. drug and tumor drug implant significantly delayed tumor growth compared to irradiation alone, which was not achieved with either drug treatment alone added to irradiation. Toxicity, as manifested by transient weight loss, was primarily seen in animals receiving radiation and i.p. tirapazamine. These results indicated that a slow-releasing tirapazamine disc can be produced and the addition of an interstitially implanted tirapazamine disc further increased the effectiveness of i.p. tirapazamine.     

35 mm film vs. digital photography for patient documentation: is it time to change?

35 mm photography is currently the standard method of documenting a patient's appearance and recording the post-operative changes. With rapidly advancing technology, the digital system is now capable of providing vivid pictures that have multiple advantages over conventional 35 mm photography. Namely, digital pictures are comparatively inexpensive to take, can be stored as digital information, easily retrieved, and immediate viewing and imaging are possible. For many applications in plastic surgery patient documentation, digital photography is now more affordable and flexible than the 35 mm film system. The following is a cost and quality comparison between the two systems.     

Contemporary methods for functional analysis of the optic nerve

Complex methods of statistic analysis for parameters of automated perimetry and visual evoked potentials were presented. The examinations were performed in 14 patients with compressive visual neuropathy, in 14 patients with optic neuritis, in 20 patients with demyelinative visual neuropathy and in 20 patients with optic nerve atrophy. Multidimensional analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed. The methods proved useful for differential diagnosis of optic neuropathy.     

Zinc in selected hospital diets. Comparison of analysis vs. calculation

Lung lavage samples obtained from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) had significantly higher levels of total protein per ml lavage fluid (0.49 vs. 0.30 mg/ml). A significant increase in the absolute and relative amounts of a low molecular weight glycoprotein (15,000 mol wt) was noted in lavage specimens from CF patients. Reserpine-treated rats also showed a significant increase in the total protein recovered in the lung lavage fluid with a 233% increase in the absolute and relative amounts of a low molecular weight glycoprotein (15,000 mol wt). Thus, reserpine induced changes in the secretions of the lung of the rat which are similar to those observed in samples obtained from the lung of CF patients.     

Laparoscopic myomectomy. Time and cost analysis of power vs. manual morcellation

The electroimpedance indicators' dilution (EIID) technique was used to study the possibility of a simultaneous separate assessment of the biological heart and LVAD performance in the position of LVB. The experimental part of the research was performed on 5 dogs; an artificial ventricle of the pulsing type (USA) with cusps was used as a pump. The clinical part of the work was conducted on 5 patients after open-heart surgery who had the clinical picture of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock; a centrifugal pump "Biopump" (Medtronic, USA) was used. The authors have shown a principally important possibility of applying the EIID, technique for studying the performance curves which are the integral derivatives of the work of a specific hybrid system--"the biological heart-assist device". From the practical viewpoint the EIID technique permits in the read time mode to control continuously the part of the pumping function which is assumed by the patient's own heart. This information can serve as the basis for making the prognosis and determining the further tactics of treatment; the restoration of the heart performance or its replacement by transplantation.     

宝钢数字化自动煤岩分析技术

多学科合作开发的数字化自动煤岩分析技术,采用高精度和可改变曝光时间数码摄像头,扩展了灰度级, 提高了反射率测定精度。利用所获高分辩率显微图像,采用图像识别技术,实现煤岩组分的自动识别分类。结合自动扫描、自动聚焦,实现了煤岩特性的自动快速分析。克服了显微光度计速度慢和图像分析仪精度低的不足,继承了显微光度计精度高和图像分析仪的测定速度快的优点,使得测定结果准确、可靠。实现了煤岩特性测定的数字化和自动化,速度快、劳动强度低,操作人员不要经过专业培训。     

Internships vs. field training for industrial psychologists.

It "… is better to take advantage of opportunities for training that now exist in industry than to sell industry on the merits of internship programs." Practical difficulties of organizing, developing, and maintaining psychological internships in industry are indicated. The merits of a work-centered program are discussed. Twenty-five years of "experience… (with a great variety of college graduates including psychologists) indicates that internships for industrial psychologists are unnecessary." "An internship can be described as a weaning period… . Few industrial employers are interested in weanlings." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A technique for removing an intrapelvic acetabular cup

Metaphorical expression is viewed as a fundamental way of symbolizing used to develop nursing theory. The Sea of Life poem depicts a metaphor for explicating a theoretical structure derived from principles of the human becoming theory: Transforming occurs in the revealing-concealing of valuing. The Sea of Life, an original poem, sets forth the idea that unique meanings are co-created through human-environment relationships. The concepts of valuing, revealing-concealing, and transforming are linked through the poem to lived experiences. The easily recognizable concrete lived experiences which flow from the poem are re-conceptualized to formulate research questions.     

Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of using methotrexate vs Goeckerman therapy for psoriasis. A pilot study

PURPOSE: To compare topical tetracaine 0.5% alone and with intracameral lidocaine 1% as a local anesthetic agent in phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. SETTING: The Toronto Hospital-Western Division, Toronto, Canada. METHODS: Fifty-nine consecutive patients (60 eyes) having phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable acrylic IOL (AcrySof) were randomized into 1 of 2 groups: The intracameral balanced salt solution (BSS) group received topical tetracaine 0.5% plus intracameral BSS; the intracameral lidocaine group received topical tetracaine 0.5% with preservative-free intracameral lidocaine 1%. The patients' subjective experience of pain was measured at 4 points during surgery using a 4-point pain scale. Patient and surgeon satisfaction with the anesthesia used was measured using a 5-point satisfaction scale. Central endothelial cell counts were obtained preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured preoperatively and 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean pain score after phacoemulsification was significantly higher in the intracameral BSS group than in the intracameral lidocaine group (0.63 +/- 0.7 [SD] and 0.23 +/- 0.4, respectively, P < .019). The mean pain score at the end of surgery was also significantly higher in the intracameral BSS group than in the intracameral lidocaine group (0.60 +/- 0.6 and 0.21 +/- 0.4, respectively; P < .014). The surgeon satisfaction score was significantly lower for the intracameral BSS group than for the intracameral lidocaine group (3.90 +/- 1.2 and 4.73 +/- 0.8, respectively; P < .0007). There was no difference in patient satisfaction between the intracameral BSS and intracameral lidocaine groups (4.60 +/- 0.6 and 4.70 +/- 0.8). Endothelial cell loss 1 month postoperatively was similar between the 2 groups (6.1% +/- 8% and 6.7% +/- 6%). Ninety-seven percent of patients (29/30) in each group noted BCVA improvement from preoperatively. The rate of potential visual acuity recovery was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Topical tetracaine 0.5% with intracameral lidocaine was safe and effective in patients having phacoemulsification with IOL implantation. The advantage of using intracameral lidocaine 1% over a placebo was a significant decrease in the patients' subjective experience of pain and in the surgeon's satisfaction with the anesthesia used. None of the other parameters measured in this study differed significantly between the 2 groups.     

Morphometric analysis of the optic disc surface. The level of smoothness as a diagnostic parameter for glaucoma

PURPOSE: Since the glaucomatous loss of nerve fibers changes the appearance of the optic disc, we evaluated the morphology of the surface of the optic disc in normal and glaucomatous eyes by using a computerized system to provide the reciprocal position of a large number of points placed on its surface in order to study the clinical significance of differences in the 'smoothness' of optic disc surface. METHODS: The morphology of the optic disc surface was evaluated by means of simultaneous stereoscopic videographic pictures (IMAGEnet X Rev-3.51b-Topcon Europe, The Netherlands): the reciprocal distribution of a large number of points located on the surface of one eye of 100 subjects randomly chosen (45 normal and 55 glaucoma patients) was studied. In order to define the level of 'smoothness' of the optic disc surface, the differences of the relative position of each surface point were studied by measuring the standard deviation (SD) from the average heights of the points (n. ranging from 623 to 1916 depending on the size of the disc area) that identify the optic disc surface. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation of the reciprocal location of the points, placed on the optic disc surface at the different measurements performed by a single operator was 10.4%. The differences in Optic Disc Surface Smoothness (ODSS) between glaucoma and normal group were statistically significant (p < 0.0001 using Mann-Whitney U test). No correlation was detectable between age and standard deviation. The best threshold value, calculated using ROC methodology, able to separate the two groups was: normal group: SD < or = 17.79 (-1 x 10(-2) mm); glaucoma group: SD > -17.79 (-1 x 10(-2) mm). Such threshold value had a sensitivity of 82.1%, a specificity of 92.2% and a diagnostic precision (DP) of 86.5% in dividing the glaucoma group from the normal group. CONCLUSION: ODSS is a global index of optic disc conditions based on quantitative measurements of the morphology of the optic disc surface. As such it does not provide information about the location and the characteristics of optic disc damage. Nevertheless, ODSS measurement is able to separate normal from glaucomatous optic disc with a rather interesting sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic precision (DP). As such it could be useful both for research and clinical applications.     

Genetic analysis of Drosophila larval optic nerve development

To identify genes necessary for establishing connections in the Drosophila sensory nervous system, we designed a screen for mutations affecting development of the larval visual system. The larval visual system has a simple and stereotypic morphology, can be recognized histologically by a variety of techniques, and is unnecessary for viability. Therefore, it provides an opportunity to identify genes involved in all stages of development of a simple, specific neuronal connection. By direct observation of the larval visual system in mutant embryos, we identified 24 mutations affecting its development; 13 of these are larval visual system-specific. These 13 mutations can be grouped phenotypically into five classes based on their effects on location, path or morphology of the larval visual system nerves and organs. These mutants and phenotypic classifications provide a context for further analysis of neuronal development, pathfinding and target recognition.