Evaluation of an extremely flatulent patient: case report and proposed diagnostic and therapeutic approach

We recently encountered a patient with severe flatulence who previously had been subjected to innumerable diagnostic tests and ineffective therapies based on the belief that his rectal gas was produced in the colon. Analysis of three flatus samples demonstrated that nitrogen (N2) was the predominant flatus gas whereas the three gases produced in the gut (CO2, H2 [hydrogen], and CH4 [methane]) comprised <16% of rectal gas. This result plus a series of other diagnostic tests clearly indicated that the patient's flatus was derived almost entirely from swallowed air. Based on this case, the present report summarizes available data on excessive flatulence and suggests a rational approach to the patient complaining of this problem. Particular emphasis is placed upon a sequential strategy consisting of: 1) a count of flatus passages to determine if the subject truly is abnormal (normal: <20 passages/day); 2) an analysis of flatus to determine if the flatus originates from swallowed air (predominantly nitrogen) or intraluminal production (predominantly CO2, H2, and CH4); and 3) treatment based upon the origin of the rectal gas.     

Extended field radiotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Sixteen patients with laparotomy-proved Stages I-III non-Hodgkin's lumphoma were treated with high dose extended field irradiation. All patients obtained complete remission and 75% remain continually free of disease for 22+ to 63+ months. When the extent of disease is carefully delineated by a thorough staging procedure which includes laparotomy, irradiation alone may cure a high percentage of patients.     

The Water-Jar Einstellung Test as a measure of rigidity: Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by E. E. Levitt (Psychological Bulletin, 1955[Sep], Vol 53[5], 347-370). On page 368, right-hand column; the text: "1. After eight years of research, evidence for the validity of the water-jar test as a measure of validity is still lacking." should read: "1. After eight years of research, evidence for the validity of the water-jar test as a measure of rigidity is still lacking.". (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1958-02905-001.) The primary purpose of the present paper is to examine the validity of the water-jar test as a rigidity measure by critically reviewing studies involving its use as such an index." Correlations between the water-jar test (WJT) and numerous criterion measures are generally statistically nonsignificant. On the basis of several studies it is tentatively concluded that a low negative correlation between the WJT and intelligence exists. The notion that rigidity increases under stress is not supported by the research evidence. The author concludes that evidence for the validity of the WJT is lacking and that the WJT, from a psychometric point of view, is poor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design Criteria for Noncoherent Gaussian Channels with MFSK Signaling and Coding

This paper presents data and criteria to assess and guide the design of modems for coded noncoherent communication systems subject to practical system constraints of powerS, bandwidthW, noise spectral density N0, coherence time Tc, and number of orthogonal signalsM. Three basic receiver types are analyzed for the noncoherent multifrequency-shift keying (MFSK) additive white Gaussian noise channel: hard decision, unquantized (optimum), and quantized (soft decision). Channel capacity and computational cutoff rate Rcompare computed for each type and presented as functions of the predetection signal-to-noise ratioST/N_{0}and the number of orthogonal signalsM = 2TW. This relates the channel constraints of power, bandwidth, coherence time, and noise power to the optimum choice of signal durationT leq T_{c}and signal numberM.     

Long-distance ESP: A controlled study.

Using a group of 22 transmitters (Ts) in Los Angeles, and 3 groups of receivers (Rs) in Los Angeles (N = 28), New York (N = 15), and Sussex, England (N = 14), a long-distance ESP study was conducted in which a series of 3 emotional episodes and 3 control episodes were shown Ts in Los Angeles. After each episode, Ts wrote their reactions, while at the same (local) time, Rs wrote their free associations. After writing these impressions, Rs were shown a pair of slides and chose the 1 slide which best matched their impressions. Results show that the 57 Rs scored significantly beyond chance expectations (p     

Software Reliability

During the last decade there have appeared in the literature many contributions on the reliability aspects of computer hardware, but relatively few on software. We see this balance changing as software is now becoming the most expensive and complex item in a computer installation. This situation is intensifying as applications become more sophisticated, as larger teams are required to produce the software, and as software mistakes that enter operational systems become more costly. We believe that this condition will be remedied when tools as powerful as those available for ensuring the reliability of hardware become available for software.     

The Imaging Of Surface Step Structures By Dark Field Electron Microscopy

The dark field imaging of monatomic surface steps is studied by weak beam electron microscopy using reflections in higher order Laue zones. Dynamical theory calculations of the step intensities and of the diffuse background intensity in various diffracting conditions are in moderately good agreement with experimental observation on (111) thin films of gold. From grooving effects visible at incoherent twin boundaries, the boundary energy is estimated to be about one-third of the surface energy. The extension of the method to other crystal surfaces or other materials is discussed.