Agency for Health Care Policy and Research

Use of the serotonin uptake antidepressants is growing. These agents are thought to be safer than the tricyclic antidepressants, but clinicians should be aware that with overdoses, seizure activity and cardiac dysrhythmias have been reported in the medical literature. Physicians should be prepared to recognize and manage these overdosages. An illustrative case and a review of the literature are presented.     

Use of saline-filled tissue expanders to protect the small bowel from radiation

Over the past 7 years, 58 saline-filled tissues expanders (TEs) have been temporarily placed in 57 patients. The indications for TE placement were: small bowel exclusion from external-beam radiation therapy (N = 25), interstitial RT (N = 16), or both (N = 13) when there was insufficient omentum to provide adequate exclusion. Of the 57 patients, 24 had primary tumors (4 colon, 4 endometrial, and 11 rectal cancer; 3 sarcomas, 1 schwannoma; and 1 vaginal cancer). The remaining 33 patients (58%) had recurrent cancers (3 anal, 8 colon, and 16 rectal cancers; and 6 sarcomas), of whom 26 (79%) had received prior RT. Of the 58 TEs, 15 were placed superior to the iliac vessels and 43 were placed in the pelvis. Complications included post-withdrawal enterocutaneous fistulae in four patients, TE deflation in three patients, and TE extrusion in one patient. Improvements in TE design and removal techniques have reduced the incidence of these complications. When no native tissue is available for small bowel exclusion, the saline-filled TE is a safe, effective substitute.     

Technische Möglichkeiten und Akzeptanz mobiler Anwendungen

Mobile data communication applications, referred to in this paper as mobile applications, were one of the technological innovation and investment targets in recent years. From the past it became obvious that mono-disciplinary approaches to investigate mobile applications have shortcomings when it comes to successful innovation and investment decisions as interdependencies are insufficiently addressed. The paper therefore aims at structuring the scientific contributions of computer science, business economics and sociology in the context of mobile applications to approximate a holistic understanding comprising technological feasibility, economic opportunities and human needs.     

Frame synchronization in a photonic network of time multiplexedspace switches via a feedback scheme

A method for frame synchronization in a photonic network of time multiplexed space switches is presented. The method, which is based on a feedback scheme, is first introduced for frame synchronization in a single-switch configuration. The feedback scheme is then extended to both hierarchical (tree topology) and nonhierarchical (general topology) multiswitch configurations. Using this feedback scheme has the advantage of providing a mechanism for frame synchronization to be achieved initially, without the need for accurate transmission time measurements, and allowing synchronization to be maintained within very tight bounds. The methods presented require additional electronics at the switches, but electronics only for control purposes, not in the path of the information bits. However, optical delay elements are needed in the path of information bits on some links of the network. The proposed schemes also reduce the amount of synchronization equipment needed, compared to other methods     

The Relations of Problem Behavior Status to Children's Negative Emotionality, Effortful Control, and Impulsivity: Concurrent Relations and Prediction of Change.

The relations of children's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors to their concurrent regulation, impulsivity (reactive undercontrol), anger, sadness, and fearfulness and these aspects of functioning 2 years prior were examined. Parents and teachers completed measures of children's (N = 185; ages 6 through 9 years) adjustment, negative emotionality, regulation, and behavior control; behavioral measures of regulation also were obtained. In general, both internalizing and externalizing problems were associated with negative emotionality. Externalizers were low in effortful regulation and high in impulsivity, whereas internalizers, compared with nondisordered children, were low in impulsivity but not effortful control. Moreover, indices of negative emotionality, regulation, and impulsivity with the level of the same variables 2 years before controlled predicted stability versus change in problem behavior status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypolipidemic activity of 6-alkoxycarbonyl-3-aryl-1,3,5-triazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-diones and 2-alkoxycarbonyl-5-aryl-1,3,5-triazine-4,6(1H,5H)-diones in rodents

Significant hypolipidemic activity was demonstrated by 6-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3,5-triazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione, 2-ethoxycarbonyl-5-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,5-trizine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione in rodents at 20 mg/kg/day. These agents lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels by approximately 40% in mice after 16 d. Tissue lipids in rat liver, small intestinal mucosa, aortic wall and feces were reduced by treatment with the agents. Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were reduced in the rat; high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were elevated after 14 d of treatment. The activities of regulatory enzymes,e.g., acetyl-CoA synthetase, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase,sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidylate phosphohydrolase and heparin-induced lipoprotein lipase, involved inde novo synthesis of hepatic lipids were affected by the agents. The new compounds may represent another class of potentially useful hypolipidemic agents for the treatment of atherosclerosis since HDL cholesterol levels were increased and VLDL and LDL cholesterol levels were lowered by some of the agents.     

Enhancing nitrification in vertical flow constructed wetland utilizing a passive air pump

Nitrification of simulated secondary effluent solution using a variant of the vertical flow bed constructed wetland was studied. In this system oxygen required for the nitrification process is supplied by a passive air pump. The passive air pump is based on a fill and draw cycle, where oxygen depleted air is removed from the system while fresh air is introduced. Each volume of effluent drained is displaced by an equal volume of fresh air. Spatial and temporal oxygen distribution in the system as a function of drained effluent volume was investigated. Experimental results of nitrification and the corresponding oxygen consumption show good agreement with theoretical calculations based on physico–chemical considerations. Observations show that while oxygen distribution within the media was found to be non-uniform at the beginning of each cycle, it approached more uniform distribution with time. The latter resulted mainly from diffusion of oxygen in the gaseous phase.     

Filial therapy with Chinese parents: Effects on parental empathic interactons, parental acceptance of child and parental stress.

Determined the effectiveness of a 10-wk filial therapy training model as an intervention method for Chinese parents living in the US. Results of the analyses of covariance reveal that the Chinese parents in the experimental group had a significant increase in their level of empathic interactions with their children; a significant increase in their attitude of acceptance toward their children; and a significant reduction in their level of stress related to parenting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mechanical properties and microstructure of boron-alloyed steel 19 MnB 4

Microalloying elements are useful to achieve maximum improvements of the mechanical properties in boron alloyed steels supposedly because they form precipitates with nitrogen and carbon to protect boron from precipitation. On the other hand, they are most useful for austenitic grain refinement and for the generation of the required minimum austenitic grain size (MAGS). A second heat treatment (700°C 9h/air) before quenching the Jominy samples is only efficient in a certain range of austenitic grain size. No increase of hardenability is observed above a certain plateau austenitic grain size (PAGS) for each steel group. A minimum austenitic grain size (MAGS) is required to achieve maximum strength. Boron can only improve the hardenability and tensile properties, if the austenitic grain size before martensitic transformation is optimal. Titanium appears to be the most effective element to prevent boron precipitation. The hardenability, yield and impact strength of the steel group B–AI–Ti is good, especially for sample 44.     

Ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in healthy male paramedics during a workday and a nonworkday.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 11(3) of Health Psychology (see record 2008-10739-001). On page 52, the sentence "For example, the paramedics stood 16.44 times more while home than while at the station" should read "For example, the paramedics stood more while home than while at the station."] Compared ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in 30 White male paramedics (aged 20–43 yrs) during a 24-hr workday and a 24-hr nonworkday. During the 24-hr period as a whole, there were no BP differences between the workday and the nonworkday, but HR was higher during the nonworkday than during the workday. Systolic BP (SBP) recorded in the ambulance on the workday was elevated 9.8 mm Hg, compared with SBP recorded in a car on the nonworkday; it was also 7.2 mm Hg higher at the scene of an accident and at the hospital than during nonworkday activities. Ratings of moods in diaries indicated that paramedics felt more unhappiness, stress, and sadness and less feelings of pleasantness at work than at home. Rather than being elevated for the entire 24-hr period, work BP seemed to reflect the relatively high stress associated with specific situations in the work of a paramedic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)