Community pharmacists' perceptions on their role in counseling patients on lifestyle modifications.

Background: Patients need an accessible health care provider who can assist in lifestyle counseling for chronic disease states. Pharmacists are easily accessible in the community, as a recent study found that nearly 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy. Thus, pharmacists are ideally positioned to offer counseling on lifestyle modifications at this health care access point.

Implementing High Q-Factor HTS Resonators to Enhance Probe Sensitivity in C NMR Spectroscopy.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) probes using thin-film high temperature superconducting (HTS) resonators provide exceptional mass sensitivity in small-sample NMR experiments for natural products chemistry and metabolomics. We report improvements in sensitivity to our 1.5 mm C-optimized NMR probe based on HTS resonators.

The effects of thermal treatment and irradiation on the chemical properties of natural diamonds.

The modification of nitrogen-contaminated diamonds into color-enhanced diamonds is usually achieved by irradiation and thermal treatment (annealing). These treatments affect nitrogen contamination chemical bonding, vacancy concentration, and atom orientation centers in the diamond lattice. In this study, natural diamonds were subjected to irradiation and thermal annealing color enhancement treatments to produce green, blue, and yellow fancy diamonds.

Application of Counter-wound Multi-arm Spirals in HTS Resonator Design.

Significant sensitivity improvements have been achieved by utilizing high temperature superconducting (HTS) resonators in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes. Many nuclei such as C benefit from strong excitation fields which cannot be produced by traditional HTS resonator designs. We investigate the use of double-sided, counter-wound multi-arm spiral HTS resonators with the aim of increasing the excitation field at the required nuclear Larmor frequency for C.

C-Optimized HTS NMR RF Coil Design at 21.1 T.

We present the design of a novel high-temperature superconductor double-sided racetrack resonator for a C optimized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) transmitter/receiver coil. The coils operate in a 21.1 T magnet and accommodate a 3 mm × 6.

Effect of Diamond Polishing and Thermal Treatment on Carbon Paramagnetic Centers' Nature and Structure.

Diamonds contain carbon paramagnetic centers (stable carbon radicals) in small concentrations (at the level of ~1 × 10 spins/mg) that can help in elucidating the structure of the nitrogen atoms' contaminants in the diamond crystal. All diamonds that undergo polishing are exposed to high temperatures, owing to the friction force during the polishing process, which may affect the carbon-centered radicals' concentration and structure. The temperature is increased appreciably; consequently, the black body radiation in the visible range turns orange.

Accommodation of Pulsed Field Gradients with Cascade Field Regulation in Powered Magnets.

High magnetic fields significantly improve the resolution and sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy measurements, which presents exciting research opportunities in areas of chemistry, biology, and material science. Powered magnets can provide much higher magnetic fields than persistent mode superconducting magnets but suffer from temporal magnetic field fluctuations due to power supply ripple and variations in cooling water temperature and flow rate which make powered magnets non-viable for high resolution NMR experiments. Previous work has demonstrated that a multi-rate sampled data cascade control system may be used to improve the resolution of NMR experiments in powered magnets.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome after Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than 89 million people worldwide. As the pandemic rages on, more complications of the disease are being recognized, including stroke, cardiovascular disease, thromboembolic events, encephalopathy, seizures, and more. Peripheral nervous system involvement, particularly Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), is of special interest, given the increasing reports of cases related to COVID-19.

Progress Towards a Higher Sensitivity C-Optimized 1.5 mm HTS NMR Probe.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes using thin-film high temperature superconducting (HTS) resonators offer high sensitivity and are particularly suitable for small-sample applications. We are developing an improved 1.5 mm HTS NMR probe designed for operation at 14.

Achieving 1 ppm field homogeneity above 24 T: Application of differential mapping for shimming Keck and the Series Connected Hybrid magnets at the NHMFL.

Powered resistive and resistive-superconductive hybrid magnets can reach fields higher than superconducting NMR magnets but lack the field homogeneity and temporal stability needed for high resolution NMR. Due to field fluctuations in powered magnets, commercially available mapping systems fail to produce maps of these magnets with sufficient reproducibility, thus hampering attempts to improve homogeneity of the field they generate. Starting with a commercial mapper, we built a mapping system which uses a two-channel (measurement + reference) mapper probe.

On-line determination of deuterium content in water FTIR spectroscopy.

Hydrogen stable isotope ratios are critical indicators in environmental geochemical studies for characterizing runoff, determination of groundwater groups and water uptake by plants (generally used in combination with O analysis). While the common technique for this hydrogen isotope measurement is Mass Spectrometry, FTIR (Fourier transform infra-red) spectroscopy may be an alternative method, with the advantage of direct and simple operating measurements. The FTIR spectrometer has the advantage of performing measurements, which can delineate continuous geochemical processes.

The quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) identifies septic patients in the out-of-hospital setting.

Background: Recently a multispecialty, multinational task force convened to redefine the criteria for organ dysfunction, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. The study recommended the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score to identify sepsis patients. The qSOFA is felt to be the initial screen to prompt a more in-depth sepsis workup.

NMR spectroscopy up to 35.2T using a series-connected hybrid magnet.

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has brought to field a Series-Connected Hybrid magnet for NMR spectroscopy. As a DC powered magnet it can be operated at fields up to 36.1T.

(39) K and (23) Na relaxation times and MRI of rat head at 21.1 T.

At ultrahigh magnetic field strengths (B0  ≥ 7.0 T), potassium ((39) K) MRI might evolve into an interesting tool for biomedical research. However, (39) K MRI is still challenging because of the low NMR sensitivity and short relaxation times.

Modulation of cross polarization in motionally averaged solids by Variable Angle Spinning NMR.

In systems where the dipolar couplings are partially averaged by molecular motion, cross-polarization is modulated by sample spinning. The cross-polariation efficiency in Variable Angle Spinning (VAS) and Switched Angle Spinning (SAS) experiments on mobile samples is therefore strongly dependent on the spinning angle. We describe simulations and experimental measurements of these effects over a range of spinning angles from 0° to 90°.

Finding the best examples of healthcare quality improvement in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: The purpose of this study was to summarise the current state of healthcare quality improvement literature focusing on sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Conventional methods of searching the literature were quickly found to be inadequate or inappropriate, given the different needs of practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa, and the inaccessibility of the literature.

Results: The group derived a core list of what were deemed exemplary quality improvement articles, based on consensus and a search into the "grey" literature of quality improvement.

Pneumatic switched angle spinning NMR probe with capacitively coupled double saddle coil.

Switched angle spinning (SAS) experiments can be used for generating isotropic-anisotropic correlations in oriented samples in a single experiment. In order for these methods to become widespread, specialized hardware is required. Here we describe the electronic and mechanical design and performance of a double-resonance SAS probe.

Alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms among hospital employees exposed to a SARS outbreak.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms among hospital employees exposed to a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, and the relationship between types of exposure to the SARS outbreak and subsequent alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms.

Methods: A survey was conducted among 549 randomly selected hospital employees in Beijing, China, concerning the psychological impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak. Subjects were assessed on sociodemographic factors and types of exposure to the outbreak, and on symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS), alcohol abuse/dependence and depression.

An effort to improve electronic health record medication list accuracy between visits: patients' and physicians' response.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a secure web-based patient portal called Patient Gateway (PG) in producing more accurate medication lists in the electronic health record (EHR), and whether sending primary care physicians (PCPs) a clinical message updating them on the information their patients provided caused physicians to update the EHR medication list.

Methods: We compared the medication list accuracy of 84 patients using PG with that of 79 who were not. Patient-reported medication discrepancies were noted in the EHR in a clinical note by research staff and a message was sent to the participants' PCPs notifying them of the updated information.

Use and perceived benefits of handheld computer-based clinical references.

Objective: Clinicians are increasingly using handheld computers (HC) during patient care. We sought to assess the role of HC-based clinical reference software in medical practice by conducting a survey and assessing actual usage behavior.

Design: During a 2-week period in February 2005, 3600 users of a HC-based clinical reference application were asked by e-mail to complete a survey and permit analysis of their usage patterns.

[Results of a complex evaluation of accommodative asthenopia in using different-design video monitors].

Eighty volunteer computer operators were examined experimentally under the conditions of working with different-type video monitors, i.e. electron-beam (EB), liquid-crystal (LC), including different visual loads (typing, computer games, and gaze fixation).

Incidence of leukemia and other cancers in Down syndrome subjects in Israel.

Epidemiologic data have confirmed the high susceptibility of persons with Down syndrome (DS) to leukemia. The question of proneness to other kinds of cancer is still open. In this study we reassessed the incidence rates of leukemia and other malignancies in Israeli DS subjects, based on the total population.

Risk factors for infant mortality in Down's syndrome: a nationwide study.

The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for the excessive infant mortality rates (IMR) of infants with Down's syndrome (DS). The study population included all 847 Jewish DS births in Israel during 1979-83 and 1987-91. Cases were identified through the National DS Registry.

[The current problems of electromagnetic safety in computer classes].

He paper presents the data on the present-day situation in the computer classes in general educational schools to show electromagnetic safety. It shows that most of 37 classes do not satisfy the requirement of electromagnetic safety and proposes modes of elimination of this danger.

[Topical problems of hygienic certification of computers].

The paper provides evidence that while making a hygienic certification of computers it is necessary to rely not only on their physical and technical data, but on the characteristics obtained by defining the integral physiological parameters of the quality of displayed information perception. According the state standards CaH [symbol: see text] 2.2.