An infrastructure for realizing custom-tailored augmented reality user interfaces.

Augmented Reality (AR) technologies are rapidly expanding into new application areas. However, the development of AR user interfaces and appropriate interaction techniques remains a complex and time-consuming task. Starting from scratch is more common than building upon existing solutions.

Ethical and legal aspects of global tobacco control.

On 28 February 2005, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force as a result of at least 40 countries becoming State Parties through ratification of this first ever health treaty sponsored by the World Health Organization. This article discusses the bioethical, trade, and legal aspects of global tobacco control. Special emphasis is given to globalisation of tobacco use and the challenges it poses to sovereign nations.

Why we need to rethink the diseases of affluence.

Novotny discusses the implications of a new study in examining the relationship between national income and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Improving diet and physical activity: 12 lessons from controlling tobacco smoking.

On behalf of Oxford Vision 2020, a partnership dedicated to preventing the forecast worldwide growth of chronic diseases, the authors suggest that 12 lessons learnt from attempts to control tobacco smoking could be used to tackle the chronic disease epidemics evolving from unhealthy diets and a lack of physical activity

Noncommunicable disease mortality in the Russian Federation: from legislation to policy.

Political, social and economic transitions that occurred as a result of the regime change in Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation from the late 1980s to the early 1990s led to a sudden increase in mortality across the region, with more than 80% of deaths being attributable to preventable causes, such as cardiovascular disease, lifestyle factors and injuries. The Russian Federation has experienced some of the most dramatic population declines in the world. Countrywide health reforms have been implemented, although they continue to ignore the impact of the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Russian Federation.

Occurrence of notched T wave in healthy family members with the long QT interval syndrome.

The notched T wave is considered 1 of the diagnostic signs of long QT interval syndrome (LQTIS). The investigators report observations of notched T waves in noncarrier members of families with LQTIS and compare the exercise-induced dynamic behavior of these complex T-wave patterns in mutation carriers and noncarriers of 3 families with LQTIS.

Shot noise of a quantum shuttle.

We formulate a theory for shot noise in quantum nanoelectromechanical systems. As a specific example, the theory is applied to a quantum shuttle, and the zero-frequency noise, measured by the Fano factor F, is computed. F reaches very low values (F approximately 10(-2)) in the shuttling regime even in the quantum limit, confirming that shuttling is universally a low noise phenomenon.

[Molecular genetic aspects of arrhythmias].

The sequencing of human genome was completed in 2001. The position of particular DNA base is established-i.e.

Quantum shuttle in phase space.

We present a quantum theory of the shuttle instability in electronic transport through a nanostructure with a mechanical degree of freedom. A phase space formulation in terms of the Wigner function allows us to identify a crossover from the tunneling to the shuttling regime, thus extending the previously found classical results to the quantum domain. Further, a new dynamical regime is discovered, where the shuttling is driven exclusively by the quantum noise.

[Arterial diseases in women using combined hormonal contraceptives].

Objective: To determine the association between myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke and use of combined oral contraceptives.

Design: Review of literature.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital of Merciful Brothers, Brno, Czech Republic.

Hunchback is required for the specification of the early sublineage of neuroblast 7-3 in the Drosophila central nervous system.

The Drosophila ventral nerve cord (VNC) derives from neuroblasts (NBs), which mostly divide in a stem cell mode and give rise to defined NB lineages characterized by specific sets of sequentially generated neurons and/or glia cells. To understand how different cell types are generated within a NB lineage, we have focused on the NB7-3 lineage as a model system. This NB gives rise to four individually identifiable neurons and we show that these cells are generated from three different ganglion mother cells (GMCs).

Airway pressure release ventilation with a short release time in a child with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) allows ventilation and oxygenation to occur at lower peak and mean airway pressures than conventional positive pressure ventilation. The use of APRV in adults is an effective method of ventilation for patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, the use of APRV in children is less established.

[The role of ergometric testing in diagnosis of latent long QT syndrome].

Background: The long QT syndrome is a genetically determined disease based on mutations of ion membrane channel genes. The resulting prolongation of repolarization increases a risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. The diagnosis is problematic in individuals with borderline or even normal corrected QT interval value.

[Pacemaker dysfunction during use of a mobile telephone].

Ubiquitious electronic equipment increases the number of potential sources of electromagnetic interference with sufficient energy to influence a pacemaker function. Besides others the mobile phone play important role. A 76 year-old female patient with pacemaker was hospitalized because of bilateral congestive heart failure.

Trends in adult cigarette smoking in California compared with the rest of the United States, 1978-1994.

Objectives: This study compared trends in adult cigarette smoking prevalence in California and the remainder of the United States between 1978 and 1994.

Methods: We used data from National Health Interview Surveys and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys to compare trends in smoking prevalence among persons 18 years and older.

Results: In both California and the remainder of the United States, the estimated annual rate of decline in adult smoking prevalence accelerated significantly from 1985 to 1990: to -1.

[Electric programmed ventricular stimulation using a permanent cardiac pacing system--a noninvasive method in arrhythmia].

Background: Complex forms of ventricular arrhythmias often occur in patients with an implanted permanent cardiac pacing system. Some of the pacemakers are provided with software which allows electrophysiological testing of the cardiac conduction system by coupling with an external diagnostic pacemaker via their programmer. This method is non-invasive.

Extended degree and continuing education preferences of California public health professionals.

The authors conducted a randomized mail survey of members of six public health organizations in California. The purpose of the survey was to assess public health practitioner interest and resources available to participate in public health extended degree programs and public health continuing education (CE). The response rate was 52 percent (N = 262).

Consumption and production waste: another externality of tobacco use.

Objective: To describe the waste produced by and environmental implications of individual cigarette consumption (filter tips, packages, and cartons) and tobacco manufacturing.

Study Selection: All available articles and reports published since 1970 related to cigarette consumption and production waste were reviewed.

Data Sources: Global cigarette consumption data were used to estimate cigarette butt and packaging waste quantities.