A Mixed-Mode BIST Scheme Based on Folding Compression

In this paper a new scheme of mixed mode scan-based BIST is presented with complete fault coverage,and some new concepts of folding set and computing are introduced.This scheme applies single feedback polynomial of LFSR for generation pseudo-random patterns as well as for compressing and extending seeds of folding sets and an LFSR, where we encode seed of folding set as an initial seed of LFSR .Moreover these new techniques are 100% compatible with scan design .Experimental results show that the proposed scheme outperforms previously published approaches based on the reseeding of LFRSRs.     

Expenditures for the treatment of major depression

At present, little information is available on specific chromosomal aberrations in malignant melanomas of different subtypes and different growth behaviors. Therefore, we have applied fluorescence in situ hybridization on isolated interphase cells from paraffin sections of 79 primary tumors of malignant melanomas: 47 nodular melanomas and 32 superficial spreading melanomas in various stages. We used centromeric probes for the chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, X, and Y and a midisatellite probe localized in 1p36. The number of chromosomal aberrations and the ploidy of the cells rose with the tumor stage in both subtypes, although in superficial spreading melanomas, fewer chromosomal abnormalities were detectable than in nodular melanomas. A deletion in 1p36 could only be found in nodular melanomas (mostly in higher tumor stages), not in superficial spreading melanomas. Our results show that the different histologic subtypes of malignant melanoma of the skin differ also in their chromosomal aberrations. In addition, it seems that there may be a correlation between the growth characteristics and putative tumor suppressor genes on 1p36.     

Physical abuse among depressed women

BACKGROUND: The evidence-based approach to medical care involves the explicit use of evidence on the magnitude of the effects of interventions to inform diagnostic and treatment decisions. This article critiques current mainstream guidelines on the management of hypertension in the elderly (aged 60 years and over) and presents an alternative evidence-based approach. METHODS: Three major national and international guidelines for the management of hypertension from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and from a joint World Health Organisation/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) Working Party were appraised and the evidence on which they were based was reviewed. The relevant evidence was also assessed to determine the likely magnitude of risks and benefits of anti-hypertensive treatment in older people and an alternative approach to making treatment decisions, based on the New Zealand guidelines for the management of hypertension, is described. RESULTS: Hypertension management guidelines from the UK, US and WHO/ISH made similar recommendations about which elderly patients should be treated, although there were some ambiguities in their advice. Treatment recommendations were based primarily on blood pressure levels which were set at about 160 mm Hg systolic and/or 90 mm Hg diastolic. The threshold levels were based mainly on the cut-off blood pressure levels used in randomised trials of anti-hypertensive drug treatment, rather than the estimated magnitude of treatment benefit. Each of the guidelines acknowledged the important effect of associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors on the likely benefits of treatment, but did not expand on the magnitude of this effect. No patient-specific estimates of the likely absolute benefits of treatment were provided in any of the guidelines. In contrast the New Zealand guidelines for the management of hypertension recommend the use of explicit estimates of absolute CVD risks and benefits to inform treatment decisions. They were designed to provide practitioners with estimates of the likely absolute risk of CVD in patients with different risk factor profiles and with estimates of the absolute benefits of treatment. The New Zealand guidelines recommend that drug treatment be considered in patients with a 5-year risk of CVD of about 10-15% or more; approximately 25 patients with a 10-15% risk would require treatment for 5 years to prevent one CVD event. As elderly patients are generally at higher absolute CVD risk than younger people, the New Zealand recommendation give priority to the treatment of older patients. In order to take account of differences in life expectancy and the medical costs of caring for elderly people, absolute risk-based guidelines can be improved by incorporating potential years of life gained from treatment and the cost-effectiveness of treatment expressed as $/quality adjusted life years gained. Preliminary analyses indicate that the cost-effectiveness of treatment is generally greatest in patients in their 60s and early 70s. Treatment in younger people is not usually very cost-effective because of their low absolute risk of CVD and the cost-effectiveness of treatment in people over about 75 years declines because of the increasing cost of non-CVD morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The explicit assessment of absolute CVD risks and likely treatment benefits in patients with hypertension can usefully inform treatment decisions and provide a more rational basis for initiating therapy than blood pressure levels alone. This approach highlights the generally greater CVD risk and potential treatment benefits in older compared with younger hypertensive patients. The absolute risk-based approach can be further enhanced by providing decision makers with patient-specific data on the potential life years gained from treatment and its cost-effectiveness. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)     

Approximation eines Blockes durch einen äquivalenten Zylinder bei der Temperaturfeldberechnung

Überführung des zweidimensionalen Wärmeleitproblems eines Blockes mit quadratischem Querschnitt in ein eindimensionales Wärmeleitproblem für einen Zylinder mit äquivalentem Querschnitt. Temperaturfeldberechnung mit zweidimensionalem Blockmodell mittels digitaler Simulation als Voraussetzung der Bestimmung der Parameter des äquivalenten Zylindermodells.     

Classification of rheumatoid joint inflammation based on laser imaging

We describe a classification system for a novel imaging method for arthritic finger joints. The basis of this system is a laser imaging technique which is sensitive to the optical characteristics of finger joint tissue. From the laser images acquired at baseline and follow-up, finger joints can automatically be classified according to whether the inflammatory status has improved or worsened. To perform the classification task, various linear and kernel-based systems were implemented and their performances were compared. Based on the results presented in this paper, we conclude that the laser-based imaging permits a reliable classification of pathological finger joints, making it a sensitive method for detecting arthritic changes.     

Lymph drainage in the human dental pulp

We investigated which structural components are responsible for maintaining interstitial fluid equilibrium in the pulpal tissue, for which the existence of an effective lymph drainage is postulated. There have been only a small number of investigations on pulpal lymph tissue. Therefore, we decided to perform a detailed structural analysis. Twenty vital, healthy teeth that had to be extracted for orthodontic reasons were immersed in Patent Blue for 10 to 15 minutes after opening the pulpal cavity. They were then extracted and the dental pulps were opened by cleavage of the surrounding hard tooth structure. Subsequently, the specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopic investigation. A clear blue ring of stain was detected by light microscopy in Weil's zone in the coronal region of the pulp, the cell-rarefied layer surrounded by the odontoblasts. No dye deposition was observed in the apical part. However, using transmission electron microscopy, capillary structures with typical morphological characteristics of lymphatic vessels were found apically. The coronal part of the pulp did not reveal any such vascular structures. It may be concluded from these findings that the lymph in the coronal region is collected in interstitial tissue clefts and drained towards the apex, whence it is further transported via lymph capillaries.