Video evaluation of pediatric trauma codes

Video-recorded trauma resuscitations have been used to evaluate patient care and staff performance in a pediatric trauma center. Incorporated into a continuous quality improvement program, the effort has been successful in identifying patient care on a case-by-case basis that has or has not met preestablished standards. It has been used to identify noteworthy actions by the medical, nursing, and ancillary staff and to recognize any other problems that affect patient care. The program is an example of a successful continuous quality improvement program.     

Large scale identification of genes involved in cell surface biosynthesis and architecture in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The sequenced yeast genome offers a unique resource for the analysis of eukaryotic cell function and enables genome-wide screens for genes involved in cellular processes. We have identified genes involved in cell surface assembly by screening transposon-mutagenized cells for altered sensitivity to calcofluor white, followed by supplementary screens to further characterize mutant phenotypes. The mutated genes were directly retrieved from genomic DNA and then matched uniquely to a gene in the yeast genome database. Eighty-two genes with apparent perturbation of the cell surface were identified, with mutations in 65 of them displaying at least one further cell surface phenotype in addition to their modified sensitivity to calcofluor. Fifty of these genes were previously known, 17 encoded proteins whose function could be anticipated through sequence homology or previously recognized phenotypes and 15 genes had no previously known phenotype.     

Self-talk in youth with anxiety disorders: States of mind, content specificity, and treatment outcome.

This study investigated the relationship between childhood anxiety disorders, the valence and content of self-statements, and the impact of treatment on the internal dialogue. Participants (151 8- to 13-year-olds) included 71 youth with anxiety disorders and 80 control participants. Positive and negative self-statements and a states-of-mind (SOM) ratio were examined. Results indicated that the negative self-statements and SOM ratio (but not positive self-statements) of children with anxiety disorders significantly predicted anxiety. Results also indicated that negative (but not positive cognition) and SOM ratio predicted improvement in anxiety after treatment and mediated treatment gains. Results of analyses to explore the content specificity hypothesis were mixed. The impact of negative self-talk on children's anxious symptomatology and favorable treatment outcome is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis of Ultrafine β"-Alumina Powders via Flame Spray Pyrolysis of Polymeric Precursors

Flame spray pyrolysis of a polymeric precursor is used to prepare ultrafine powders that, when sintered, convert to essentially pure phase lithium-doped sodium β"-alumina. The precursor Na_1.67 Al_10.67 Li_0.33 [N(CH₂CH₂O)₃]_10.67-[OCH₂CH₂O]·x(HOCH₂CH₂OH) has been synthesized from stoichiometric amounts of metal hydroxides and tri-ethanolamine (N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃, TEA) in excess ethylene glycol. The precursor is dissolved in ethanol, and an atom-ized spray of the solution is combusted in a specially con-structed flame spray apparatus. Combustion occurs at ∼2000°C, followed by immediate quenching. This proce-dure provides for a measure of kinetic control over the process. The resulting nanopowder particles are 50–150 nm in diameter and exhibit powder X-ray diffractometry pat-terns similar to β"-alumina. Heating the nanopowder at 30°C/min to 1200°C with a 1 hisotherm converts it to pure β"-alumina. In preliminary sintering studies, green powder compacts (∼65% theoretical density) sintered at 1600°C for 12 min densify to 3.0 ± 0.1 g/cm 3 (∼92% theoretical density) with minimal loss of Na₂O. This procedure offers several processing and cost advantages over conventional β"-alumina syntheses.     

Experimental observation of tool wear in rotary ultrasonic machining of advanced ceramics

As one of the cost-effective machining methods for advanced ceramics, rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) has attracted much attention and there exist numerous publications on the process. However, few investigations on tool wear in the RUM process have been reported. This paper, for the first time in literature, presents an experimental observation on tool wear in RUM of silicon carbide (SiC). It first reviews some related wear mechanisms for grinding wheels and some techniques for studying the wheel wear mechanisms. After describing the experimental procedures, it presents and discusses the results on tool wear and cutting forces in RUM of SiC. It also discusses some practical implications of the findings from this study.     

Dispersion correction with a robust fiber grating cover the full c-band at 10-gb/s rates with <0.3-dB power penalties

Robust wide-bandwidth fiber Bragg gratings have been produced for use as dispersion compensators that yield <0.3-dB power penalties due to distortion over an 80-km transmission fine of nonzero dispersion-shifted fiber in a 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero optical communications system.     

Genome scan of human systemic lupus erythematosus: evidence for linkage on chromosome 1q in African-American pedigrees

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by production of autoantibodies against intracellular antigens including DNA, ribosomal P, Ro (SS-A), La (SS-B), and the spliceosome. Etiology is suspected to involve genetic and environmental factors. Evidence of genetic involvement includes: associations with HLA-DR3, HLA-DR2, Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaR) IIA and IIIA, and hereditary complement component deficiencies, as well as familial aggregation, monozygotic twin concordance >20%, lambdas > 10, purported linkage at 1q41-42, and inbred mouse strains that consistently develop lupus. We have completed a genome scan in 94 extended multiplex pedigrees by using model-based linkage analysis. Potential [log10 of the odds for linkage (lod) > 2.0] SLE loci have been identified at chromosomes 1q41, 1q23, and 11q14-23 in African-Americans; 14q11, 4p15, 11q25, 2q32, 19q13, 6q26-27, and 12p12-11 in European-Americans; and 1q23, 13q32, 20q13, and 1q31 in all pedigrees combined. An effect for the FcgammaRIIA candidate polymorphism) at 1q23 (lod = 3.37 in African-Americans) is syntenic with linkage in a murine model of lupus. Sib-pair and multipoint nonparametric analyses also support linkage (P < 0.05) at nine loci detected by using two-point lod score analysis (lod > 2.0). Our results are consistent with the presumed complexity of genetic susceptibility to SLE and illustrate racial origin is likely to influence the specific nature of these genetic effects.     

Comparative intestinal and colonic absorption of [4-14C] cholesterol in the rat

[4-¹⁴C] Cholesterol was administered as an aqueous emulsion with triolein and dry non-fat milk either directly into the upper duodenum or into the ileocaecal junction of lymph duct cannulated rats. Lymph flow rates were similar in the two groups of animals. Whereas ca. 53% of the administered tracer dose of cholesterol was absorbed when introduced into the upper small intestine, only 0.06% appeared in lymph when administered into the caecum. Furthermore, less than 0.01% of the administered isotope was detected in urine and blood. The data demonstrate that the large intestine does not contribute significantly to the absorption of exogenous cholesterol in the rat.     

The impact on patient satisfaction of the introduction of family medicine residents into a model practice facility

This study examines the effects on patient satisfaction of the introduction of family medicine residents into the staff of an ongoing private practice that joined a Department of Family Medicine. Questionnaires were administered to clinic patients during a four-week period four months prior to when residents began seeing patients at the clinic and again five months after residents joined the clinic staff. Satisfaction at both times was high; however, significant declines from Time 1 to Time 2 were noted on most items. Analysis showed that this decline was not related to dissatisfaction within the residents. A questionnaire was also mailed to a sample of patients who had not visited the clinic more than once during the first year of the resident program there. Three fourths of these individuals still viewed themselves as patients of the clinic. Implications of these findings for family medicine residency training programs are discussed.