The potential of digital behavioural tests as a diagnostic aid for psychosis.

Timely interventions have a proven benefit for people experiencing psychotic illness. One bottleneck to accessing timely interventions is the referral process to the specialist team for early psychosis (STEP). Many general practitioners lack awareness or confidence in recognising psychotic symptoms or state.

Diagnostic models to predict nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA recovery from incinerated teeth.

Teeth are frequently used for human identification from burnt remains, as the structure of a tooth is resilient against heat exposure. The intricate composition of hydroxyapatite (HA) mineral and collagen in teeth favours DNA preservation compared to soft tissues. Regardless of the durability, the integrity of the DNA structure in teeth can still be disrupted when exposed to heat.

The development of a tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated teeth using colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size data.

This study presents a novel tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated pig teeth as a proxy for understanding impacts of fire on human teeth. Previous studies on the estimation of temperature-exposure of skeletal elements have been limited to that of heat-exposed bone. This predictive tool was developed using a multinomial regression model of colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size variables using data obtained from unheated pig teeth and teeth incinerated at 300 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C.

Integrating spectrophotometric and XRD analyses in the investigation of burned dental remains.

Heat alters colour and crystallinity of teeth by destruction of the organic content and inducing hydroxyapatite crystal growth. The colour and crystallite changes can be quantified using spectrophotometric and x-ray diffraction analyses, however these analyses are not commonly used in combination to evaluate burned dental remains. In this study, thirty-nine teeth were incinerated at 300-1000 °C for 15 and 30 min and then measured using a spectrophotometer and an x-ray diffractometer.

Pre-emptive thoracic endovascular aortic repair is unnecessary in extended type A (DeBakey type I) aortic dissections.

Objective: Pre-emptive thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) improves late survival and limits progression of disease after type B aortic dissection, but the potential value of pre-emptive TEVAR has not been evaluated after type A dissection extending beyond the aortic arch (DeBakey type I). The purpose of this study was to compare disease progression and need for aortic intervention in survivors of acute, extended type A (ExTA) dissections after initial repair of the ascending aorta versus acute type B aortic dissections.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with ExTA or type B dissections between 2011 and 2018 were studied.

Development of a Classification Scheme for Examining Adverse Events Associated with Medical Devices, Specifically the DaVinci Surgical System as Reported in the FDA MAUDE Database.

Objective: To examine the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE) database to capture adverse events experienced with the Da Vinci Surgical System. In addition, to design a standardized classification system to categorize the complications and machine failures associated with the device.

Summary Background Data: Overall, 1,057,000 DaVinci procedures were performed in the United States between 2009 and 2012.

Scanning electron microscope and micro-CT evaluation of cranial sutures in health and disease.

Current knowledge of suture biology has been ascertained as a result of morphological studies of normal cranial sutures (and rarely those undergoing craniosynostosis). These were initially undertaken often using histological investigations, or more recently using CT scans, as investigative tools, but have often used animal models. However, recent technological advances have provided the potential to refine our understanding of the ultrastructure by the use of new advanced scanning technology, which offers the possibility of more detailed resolution.

Kinetics of adsorption of high molecular weight anionic polyacrylamide onto kaolinite: the flocculation process.

The adsorption kinetics of anionic polyacrylamide flocculant onto kaolinite clay are examined as a function of flocculant dosage and pH. Special attention has been given to the flocculation effect during the adsorption process and the resulting inhibition of further adsorption. At pH 8.

Adolescent attributes contributing to the imposter phenomenon.

Personality traits, self-perceptions, beliefs, and feelings that accompany the Imposter Phenomenon (IP) have been identified in adults but little research with adolescents has been reported. The present research describes data from a sample of 11th and 12th graders in order to examine predictors of IP among adolescents. The participants completed measures of the IP, global self-worth, social support and self-concept.

Effects of chemical functional groups on the polymer adsorption behavior onto titania pigment particles.

The effects of functional groups on polymer adsorption onto titania pigment particles have been investigated as a function of pH and ionic strength using polyacrylic acid and modified polyacrylamides. The polyacrylamides include the homopolymer, an anionic copolymer with hydroxyl and carboxylate group substitution, and a nonionic copolymer with hydroxyl group substitution. Adsorption isotherms and infrared spectroscopy were used to examine the polymer-pigment interactions.

Radiocaesium activity concentrations in the fruit-bodies of macrofungi in Great Britain and an assessment of dietary intake habits.

Radiocaesium activity concentrations in the fruit-bodies of some species of macrofungi are higher than in many other foodstuffs. The consumption of fruit-bodies contributes significantly to radiocaesium intake of humans in some countries. In the United Kingdom, the collection of wild fungi has generally been considered to be of minor importance and there are few data on consumption rates or radiocaesium activity concentrations in most edible species.

Outreach services: issues and challenges.

Tompkins-McCaw Library of Virginia Commonwealth University has planned and implemented four one-year outreach service projects during the past two years. These projects were funded by the National Library of Medicine and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeastern/Atlantic Region. The projects focus on information access for public health nurses, HIV/AIDS information access, and circuit librarian services in rural Southern Virginia.

"Bridging the information gap" for Virginia public health nurses.

This project was designed to increase the public health nurse's knowledge and use of health science information resources available from the National Library of Medicine's databases through the use of the Grateful Med software program. In 1994, the Tompkins-McCaw Library located on the Medical College of Virginia Campus (MCV) of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was awarded a Nursing Information Access Grant from the Southeastern/Atlantic Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). This project was a collaboration of the Tompkins McCaw Library, the VCU School of Nursing, and The Virginia Department of Health.

Lamivudine plus zidovudine compared with zalcitabine plus zidovudine in patients with HIV infection. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. North American HIV Working Party.

Objective: To compare the safety and activity of lamivudine plus zidovudine with the safety and activity of zalcitabine plus zidovudine in patients with moderately advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who had received zidovudine.

Design: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, 24-week study with a blinded extension through at least 52 weeks.

Setting: 21 sites in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

HIV-1 RNA levels and the development of clinical disease. North American Lamivudine HIV Working Group.

Objective: To assess the prognostic value of HIV RNA levels for predicting clinical disease independently of the CD4 lymphocyte count in patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Design: Cohort of HIV-infected patients from two trials of lamivudine therapy.

Patients: For 620 patients randomized in the North American NUCA3001 and NUCA3002 trials of lamivudine, HIV RNA levels were measured (median, seven measures per patient) and CD4 counts were assessed at a central laboratory (median, 13 counts per patient).

Comparison of cefuroxime axetil and amoxicillin-clavulanate suspensions in treatment of acute otitis media with effusion in children.

Two hundred sixty-three pediatric patients from the ages of 3 months to 11 years were enrolled in a randomized, investigator-blinded, multicenter study comparing the clinical and bacteriological efficacies and safety of cefuroxime axetil suspension (CAE) with those of amoxicillin-clavulanate suspension (AMX-CL) in the treatment of acute otitis media with effusion. Patients received CAE at 30 mg/kg of body weight per day (n = 165) in two divided doses or AMX-CL at 40 mg/kg/day (n = 98) in three divided doses for 10 days. The primary pathogens among 200 isolates from pretreatment cultures of middle ear fluid were identified as follows: Haemophilus influenzae (39%), over a third of which were beta-lactamase positive; Streptococcus pneumoniae (34%); and Moraxella catarrhalis (16%).

Behavioral assessment of a hydranencephalic neonate.

This study attempted to clarify the role of the cerebral cortex in neonatal behavior by administering the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale-Kansas revision to a hydranencephalic infant; particularly of interest were behaviors that are implicated in infant social responsiveness. The examination revealed extremely deviant responses on portions of the exam, including items that measure response decrement and orientation. However, this infant was observed to approximate normal neonatal responding on items relating to motor maturity and reactivity.

A quality assurance process in health sciences libraries.

A goal of libraries is to assure the improvement of library services. Many organizations have attempted to use standards as a method to assure quality services, but often standards have failed through a lack of individual commitment to those standards and to the methodology used in establishing the standards. Many segments of the health care field have adopted the concept of quality assurance and are applying it to the service and care they provide.