The role of endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Pseudofolliculitis barbae, commonly referred to as "razor bumps" or "ingrown hairs," is a papular and pustular, foreign body inflammatory reaction that can affect any individual who has curly hair and who shaves. This condition is a particular nuisance to African-Americans. This report will discuss the causes of pseudofolliculitis barbae and present a systematic approach to treatment.     

Reliability and criterion validity of an observation protocol for working technique assessments in cash register work

We evaluated the intra- and inter-observer reliability and criterion validity of an observation protocol, developed in an iterative process involving practicing ergonomists, for assessment of working technique during cash register work for the purpose of preventing upper extremity symptoms. Two ergonomists independently assessed 17 15-min videos of cash register work on two occasions each, as a basis for examining reliability. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing these assessments with meticulous video-based analyses by researchers. Intra-observer reliability was acceptable (i.e. proportional agreement >0.7 and kappa >0.4) for 10/10 questions. Inter-observer reliability was acceptable for only 3/10 questions. An acceptable inter-observer reliability combined with an acceptable criterion validity was obtained only for one working technique aspect, ‘Quality of movements’. Thus, major elements of the cashiers’ working technique could not be assessed with an acceptable accuracy from short periods of observations by one observer, such as often desired by practitioners.

Practitioner Summary: We examined an observation protocol for assessing working technique in cash register work. It was feasible in use, but inter-observer reliability and criterion validity were generally not acceptable when working technique aspects were assessed from short periods of work. We recommend the protocol to be used for educational purposes only.     

Triangulation of Points,Lines and Conics

The problem of reconstructing 3D scene features from multiple views with known camera motion and given image correspondences is considered. This is a classical and one of the most basic geometric problems in computer vision and photogrammetry. Yet, previous methods fail to guarantee optimal reconstructions—they are either plagued by local minima or rely on a non-optimal cost-function. A common framework for the triangulation problem of points, lines and conics is presented. We define what is meant by an optimal triangulation based on statistical principles and then derive an algorithm for computing the globally optimal solution. The method for achieving the global minimum is based on convex and concave relaxations for both fractionals and monomials. The performance of the method is evaluated on real image data.

Usefulness of ST-segment elevation in lead III exceeding that of lead II for identifying the location of the totally occluded coronary artery in inferior wall myocardial infarction

The presence of ST-segment elevation in lead III exceeding that of lead II, particularly if combined with ST elevation in lead V1, proved to be a powerful marker for occlusion of the proximal or midportion of the right coronary artery. These findings helped to determine the extent of myocardium at risk in inferior wall myocardial infarction and may further guide the decision to administer thrombolytics.     

Molecular MR Imaging Probes

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been successfully applied to many of the applications of molecular imaging. This review discusses by example some of the advances in areas such as multimodality MR-optical agents, receptor imaging, apoptosis imaging, angiogenesis imaging, noninvasive cell tracking, and imaging of MR marker genes.     

Tracking the concentration of heterotrophic plate count bacteria from the source to the consumer's tap

The goal of this project was to quantify the concentration of heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria within water reaching consumer's taps, and from the sources used by a major utility serving the City of Tucson, AZ. With this information, the amounts and sources of HPC bacteria consumed at the tap could be determined. Samples of water were collected on a monthly basis from two well fields, the CAVSARP recovery well field and Southern Avra Valley well field which serves as one of the groundwater sources for Tucson, AZ, and the distribution system which serves the same homes from which tap water was also tested. The average concentration of HPC in source waters within Southern Avra Valley Wells was 56 CFU/ml (range 1-1995/ml). From the CAVSARP recovery well field, corresponding values were 38 CFU/ml (1 to 502 CFU/ml). Unblended groundwater in the chlorinated distribution system averaged 22 CFU/ml (range 1-794). Blended water at the chlorinated distribution site averaged 47 CFU/ml (range 10-158). There was a major shift in the percentage of gram negative to gram-positive bacteria from the wells to the distribution system, to the tap. In the surface CAP source water, 76% of the bacteria were gram-negative compared to 27% gram-negative in the CAVSARP recovery wells. In contrast, Avra Valley wells contained 17% gram-negative bacteria. In both the Tucson groundwater distribution sites and blended distribution sites, the corresponding number of gram negative bacteria was 12%. Finally at the tap, only 0.2% of the bacteria were gram-negative. The average number of bacteria in household taps averaged 3072 HPC/ml and was equal or greater than 500 ml 68% of the time. This study shows that the number of HPC bacteria increases dramatically from the distribution system to the consumers tap. Thus, the major source of bacteria ingested by the average consumer in Tucson originates from bacteria within the household distribution system or the household tap, rather than from source waters or the distribution system. It is also clear that consumers' regularly consume more than 500 HPC/ml from drinking water taken from the household tap.     

Atmospheric Noise Study Program

Replacement of noise grade maps by a computer program will give more accurate results than are now obtained. The means for accomplishing the change are discussed.     

On the Definition and Measurement of Occupied Bandwidth

Measurement of the occupied bandwidth is not a simple matter as the term is now defined. This is particularly true for emissions which are measured at a great distance from the transmitter. The emission class studied here is frequency modulation with noise as the modulating signal. The emitted spectrum is first separated into three parts, namely, spurious emissions, harmonic emissions, and the fundamental emission. The first of these is discussed qualitatively, whereas the second and the third are treated quantitatively. An equation is given for computing the maximum expected amplitude of the harmonic emissions. A probability density function has been found that links the Laplacian and the Gaussian probabilities. This function is then used to demonstrate the practicality of a measurement method and to aid in the justification for a modification to the existing definition of occupied bandwidth.     

Multiparameter magnetic relaxation switch assays

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) can serve as magnetic relaxation switches (MRSw's), switching from a dispersed to a clustered state, or the reverse, due to the presence of molecular targets, with changes in the spin-spin relaxation time of water (T2). Biotinylated NP probes reacted with an avidin molecular target to form stable NP clusters, which permitted several NMR parameters to be measured as a function of cluster size. Associated with avidin-induced NP cluster formation was an increase in the spin-spin relation rate (1/T2), while the spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T1)was unaffected. On the basis of the selective effects of NP cluster formation on T2, we developed a T1/T2 interrogation method where NP probe concentration and avidin analyte were unknown and both were determined. A third NMR parameter examined was the replication of T2 measurements, which were used to rapidly determine whether the ratio of avidin to biotinylated NP was optimal or whether additional biotinylated NP was needed. The T1/T2 and T2 replication interrogation methods illustrate how MRSw assays can employ multiple parameters, instead of relying only on T2, to obtain information about the reaction of NPs with molecular targets.     

Learning approaches for housing,service and infrastructure project organizations

Capturing and sharing experiences that may be applicable in several projects is generally recognized as a way of enhancing the performance of construction projects. Several studies have reported difficulties in applying learning approaches that could be applicable for a wide range of projects. The learning behaviour in three types of construction project: housing, service and infrastructure, is examined by the means of a questionnaire study including 51 construction projects and more than 800 responses from clients, designers, contractors’ managers, contractors’ workers and subcontractors. The effects of leadership, openness and influence are considered. Based on a factor analysis, three approaches to learning were identified: organizing for learning, experimenting and networking. While housing project organizations do not demonstrate any specific preferences, service project organizations show a focus on networking and infrastructure project organizations show the highest interest in experimenting. On the basis of these results it can be concluded that learning approaches are dependent on the type of project. Thus adopting different learning approaches for different types of construction project seems to be a more relevant strategy than implementing a ‘one size fits all’ learning approach for all construction project organizations.