Allelotype analysis of uterine leiomyoma: localization of a potential tumor suppressor gene to a 4-cM region of chromosome 7q

The degree and nature of patient involvement in consultations with health professionals influences problem and needs recognition and management, and public accountability. This paper suggests a framework for understanding the scope for patient involvement in such consultations. Patients are defined as co-producers of formal health services, whose potential for involvement in consultations depends on their personal rights, responsibilities and preferences. Patients' rights in consultations are poorly defined and, in the National Health Service (NHS), not legally enforceable. The responsibilities of patients are also undefined. I suggest that these are not to deny, of their own volition, the rights of others, which in consultations necessitate mutuality of involvement through information-exchange and shared decision-making. Preferences should be met insofar as they do not militate against responsibilities and rights.     

Complementary therapies for depression: an overview

Depression is one of the most common reasons for using complementary and alternative therapies. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the evidence available on the treatment of depression with complementary therapies. Systematic literature searches were performed using several databases, reference list searching, and inquiry to colleagues. Data extraction followed a predefined protocol. The amount of rigorous scientific data to support the efficacy of complementary therapies in the treatment of depression is extremely limited. The areas with the most evidence for beneficial effects are exercise, herbal therapy (Hypericum perforatum), and, to a lesser extent, acupuncture and relaxation therapies. There is a need for further research involving randomized controlled trials into the efficacy of complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of depression.     

SPARC deficiency leads to early-onset cataractogenesis

PURPOSE: To determine the role of SPARC (secreted protein, acidic, and rich in cysteine) in cataractogenesis by examining mice deficient in a matricellular protein SPARC. METHODS: Mice were rendered SPARC-deficient by a targeted disruption of the gene. Slit-lamp microscopy and histology were used to examine the eyes of SPARC-null and wild-type mice from birth to 14 months of age. RESULTS: SPARC-null mice developed opacities in the posterior cortex of the eye as early as 1.5 months after birth. The diffuse cataracts appeared to progress toward the anterior cortex and reached maturity in many animals by 3.5 months of age. Early stages of cataractogenesis in SPARC-null mice included inhibition of normal lens fiber cell differentiation, degeneration of fiber cells, vacuole formation at the equator, and liquefaction of the cortex. No cataracts were detected in wild-type mice up to the age of 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: The early onset of cataracts in SPARC-null mice establishes that the gene is essential to the maintenance of lens transparency.     

Revitalization of the Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health

This article is based on research into patients' perceptions of being in hospital. Time, ordinarily taken for granted, becomes a significant problem for people in hospital. Patients seek control over time that they do not seem to have during their stay in hospital. They try to keep track of time and find ways of passing it, while believing that precious personal time is lost to them. The insight gained into differing perceptions of time and how patients coped with these can be used to reduce some of the tensions and negative aspects of the way time is experienced in hospital.     

Stability analysis for discrete linear systems with state saturation by a saturation-dependent Lyapunov functional

This paper concerns the stability analysis problem of discrete linear systems with state saturation using a saturation-dependent Lyapunov functional.We introduce a free matrix characterized by the sum of the absolute value of each elements for each row less than 1,which makes the state with saturation constraint reside in a convex polyhedron.A saturation-dependent Lyapunov functional is then designed to obtain a sufficient condition for such systems to be globally asymptotically stable.Based on this stability criterion,the state feedback control law synthesis problem is also studied.The obtained results are formulated in terms of bilinear matrix inequalities that can be solved by the presented iterative linear matrix inequality algorithm.Two numerical examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

浅析波普艺术中的装饰语言

从人类运用艺术来表达感情和生活始,装饰与艺术便如影随形。波普艺术作为重要的艺术流派,其中的装饰语言值得人们探究。本文以波普艺术为切入点,重点从装饰图案的角度解析波普艺术中的装饰语言。结合产生的背景,分析波普艺术采用装饰图案的产生原因;再以色彩、形式等方面分析波普风格装饰图案的特征,寻求波普艺术视觉审美中的亮点,以期能对中国当代设计艺术有所启发与帮助。     

磁场信号检测误差分析及补偿算法

针对载体自身磁场特性及三轴磁传感器误差特性建立了地磁导航干扰误差补偿模型,通过对模型进行简化变形,利用系统辨识的最小二乘估计算法(LS)求取误差特性参数.数据分析表明:该方法简单易实现,简化了复杂的求解过程,基本达到了误差补偿的要求.     

综合战场态势仿真系统设计与实现

为了满足海军诸兵种一体化作战模拟系统从整体上展现综合战场态势的需求,基于高层体系结构( HLA)技术,提出了综合战场态势仿真系统的设计方案,分析了系统所需的功能,阐述了系统实现时所涉及的5个关键技术,重点解决了在态势中如何显示矢量军标的难题,并优化了数据更新流程及态势显示处理方法,极大地提高了态势显示刷新的速度与效率,最后用仿真实验验证了该设计方案的可行性与合理性.     

一种保护标价的多属性反向拍卖模型

多属性反向拍卖作为一种电子采购方式已被广泛应用于电子商务中.在大多数拍卖模型中,投标者的标价信息对于拍卖者来说完全公开,在拍卖者和个别投标者共谋情况下,会造成投标者之间的地位不平等,给其他投标者造成经济损失.文中在逼近理想解评标方法和安全多方计算基础上,提出一种保护标价的多属性反向拍卖模型,该模型采用了安全逼近理想解协议,实现标价保密和投标者地位公平,抵御拍卖者与个别投标者的共谋.