Clinical rounds. The effect of outpatient cardiac education on knowledge and healthy behaviours

BACKGROUND: Plateosteosynthesis by intraoral approach of mandibular fractures gives the best cosmetical result but presents a rather difficult procedure. AIMS: Comparison of intra- versus extraoral approach in plateosteosynthesis of mandibular fractures. METHODS: Plate type, experience of the surgeon, age and sex of the patient, as well as hospital stay and rate of the septic complications were analysed retrospectively in 248 patients of the OMF Department (University Freiburg) with mandibular fractures with respect in view of the operative approach used. RESULTS: The method of osteosynthesis was found to be the strongest determinant. Concerning the surgical approach significant correlation was found between age and sex, and surgical experience. Operative approach was found to have no effect on hospitalization and septic complications. CONCLUSION: Operative approach does not have either medical nor economical consequences in the surgical management of mandibula fractures.     

New criteria for robust integer-valued designs in linear models

We investigate the problem of designing for linear regression models, when the assumed model form is only an approximation to an unknown true model, using two novel approaches. The first is based on a notion of averaging of the mean-squared error of predictions over a neighbourhood of contaminating functions. The other is based on the usual D-optimal criterion but subject to bias-related constraints in order to ensure robustness to model misspecification. Both approaches are integer-valued constructions in the spirit of Fang and Wiens [2000. Integer-valued, minimax robust designs for estimation and extrapolation in heteroscedastic, approximately linear models. J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 95(451), 807-818]. Our results are similar to those that have been reported using a minimax approach even though the rationale for the designs presented here are based on the notion of averaging, rather than maximizing, the loss over the contamination space. We also demonstrate the superiority of an integer-valued construction over the continuous designs using specific examples. The designs which protect against model misspecification are clusters of observations about the points that would have been the design points for classical variance-minimizing designs.     

Postdoctoral education-training for specialty practice: Long anticipated, finally realized.

Recommendations for broad and generic predoctoral education and training and postdoctoral specialization for practice have been made by psychology education and training conference groups since 1949. The number of postdoctoral education and training offerings has grown steadily over the succeeding decades. Selected data on postdoctoral education and training are presented in this article for a sample of 388 current postdoctoral education and training sites. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Casein, actin, and tubulin expression during early involution in bovine and murine mammary tissue.

Hybridization methods and in vitro translation were used to examine the expression and functional condition of messenger RNA encoding caseins and cytoskeletal proteins in the mammary gland during early involution. In the mouse, steady state mRNA levels for alpha-, beta-, and gamma-caseins coordinately decreased to 20% of initial levels between 12 and 72 h after pup removal. In vitro translatability of mouse casein mRNA, as determined by immunoprecipitation, electrophoresis, and gel slice counting, revealed a pattern that closely paralleled mRNA expression. In contrast, bovine casein mRNA levels were only slightly reduced by 72 h postmilking, whereas in vitro translatability decreased by about one-half. Northern blot analysis of total mouse mammary RNA that were hybridized with probes to cytoskeletal proteins showed a gradual decrease of alpha-tubulin mRNA, but an increase in beta-actin mRNA during early involution. Two-dimensional gel analysis of in vitro translated products indicated a concordant increase in beta-gamma-actin. In the cow, beta-actin mRNA at 72 h of involution was equal to or greater than that during lactation. These results demonstrate the generally slower involution response in the cow and suggest that differing regulations are involved. Early events of cellular involution may be related to a reorganization of the cytoskeleton.     

Characteristics of successful policemen and firemen applicants.

The Ss were 243 successful applicants for the positions of policemen and firemen who were placed on the eligibility lists for these 2 positions during 1959-62. Each was studied individually in an 8-hr. examination which included the WAIS, MMPI, EPPS, SVIB, Rorschach, 5 other instruments, and an interview. The results reveal that these successful Civil Service applicants are of high intelligence (IQ 113) and have superior personality adjustment. Interests of policemen applicants are social service in orientation, while those of firemen are primarily technical and business in orientation. The study reveals that, at least in 1 large city, fire and police departments are recruiting superior young men into their ranks. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spectral imaging of O(2) infrared atmospheric airglow with an InGaAs array detector

A linear InGaAs array was used in an interference filter spectral imager to monitor the twilight decay of the O(2) Infrared Atmospheric (0-1) band in the twilight airglow. The interference filter was centered at 1.582 μm and had a bandwidth (full width at half-maximum) of 1.0 nm. The imaging lens was a simple doublet, and a Fresnel lens was used for smearing any possible sky inhomogeneities. Spectra measured over Toronto in October 1994 show that the sensitivity and spectral discrimination against the contaminating OH spectrum are potentially sufficient to infer meaningful rotational temperatures. The improvements that would result from an area InGaAs array are discussed.     

Holistic simulation of wind turbines with fully aero-elastic and electrical model

Requirements for the design of wind turbines advance facing the challenges of a high content of renewable energy sources in the public grid. A high percentage of renewable energy weaken the grid and grid faults become more likely, which add additional loads on the wind turbine. Load calculations with aero-elastic models are standard for the design of wind turbines. Components of the electric system are usually roughly modeled in aero-elastic models and therefore the effect of detailed electrical models on the load calculations is unclear. A holistic wind turbine model is obtained, by combining an aero-elastic model and detailed electrical model into one co-simulation. The holistic model, representing a DFIG turbine is compared to a standard aero-elastic model for load calculations. It is shown that a detailed modelling of the electrical components e.g., generator, converter, and grid, have an influence on the results of load calculations. An analysis of low-voltage-ride-trough events during turbulent wind shows massive increase of loads on the drive train and effects the tower loads. Furthermore, the presented holistic model could be used to investigate different control approaches on the wind turbine dynamics and loads. This approach is applicable to the modelling of a holistic wind park to investigate interaction on the electrical level and simultaneously evaluate the loads on the wind turbine.

     

Bio‐Sintering/Bio‐Fusion of Silica in Sponge Spicules

The synthesis of siliceous spicules in both demosponges and hexactinellids is enzymatically driven via silicatein. This enzyme exists both intra‐spicularly and in the extra‐spicular space. It catalyzes the formation of bio‐silica constituting the silica lamellae that are formed during the appositional (layer‐by‐layer) growth of the spicules. The extent of (bio‐silica forming) activity of silicatein from the demosponge Suberites domuncula measured in vitro reflects the amount of bio‐silica required for the formation of spicules in vivo. It is shown that during growth and maturation of the spicules in demosponges a bio‐fusion process occurs that results in an intra‐spicular sintering of the silica lamellae to form compact silica rods. The morphological characterization of the globular asters (microscleres) from the demosponge Geodia cydonium revealed that these spherical spicules are formed from a tuft of silicatein filaments which radiate from a common origin. While in demosponges a complete intra‐spicular bio‐sintering/bio‐fusion process occurs, this process is incomplete in hexactinellid spicules. There, only the most inner lamellae of the spicules fuse leaving the more peripheral silica lamellae separate. However, within this class of sponges several families (example Euplectella aspergillum) show a bio‐sintering process between individual spicules. There, bio‐silica is secondarily deposited onto mature spicules, giving rise to an ordered array of bio‐silica bridges. Furthermore we report that for the formation of the strong and stiff bio‐silica skeleton of sponges a hardening process is required that is (presumable) driven by cell‐membrane bound aquaporin channels which allow the removal of water, released during the bio‐silica polycondensation reaction.