Mental regulation of the state of the body during exposure to prolonged longitudinal acceleration

It has been demonstrated by centrifugation studies that from the psychological point of view operator's activities when exposed to acceleration are complex and require continuous mental regulation of the health state. During exposure to acceleration it is important to develop in the operator a specific mental property--the skill to distribute attention between operator's tasks to be solved and mental regulation of his own health state.     

Interconnections between thermal perception and exercise capacity in the heat

Some models of exercise regulation suggest that exercise performance, rather than being solely limited by the attainment of fatigue in one or more physiological systems, is modulated by psychological factors. Extrapolating from such models, exercise capacity and voluntary performance during exercise in hot environments may be governed by a complex interplay between the physiological effects of hyperthermia along with psychological input stemming from the conscious perception of the thermal environment. Evidence is emerging for a neuroanatomical basis for peripheral and central thermal receptors to elicit both a distinct physiological response such as shivering or sweating along with being mapped into an overall subjective sensation of homeostasis. Experimental evidence supporting this interactivity includes the demonstration that physiological manipulations, such as an increased fitness, appear to confer an attenuation of thermal discomfort during whole-body exercise despite similar levels of physiological strain. At the same time, psychological interventions have proven effective in decreasing perceived thermal strain and extending exercise performance in hot environments. The purpose of this review was to survey the potential interactions between thermal perception and exercise performance in the heat.     

Psychological benefits of sports for disabled people: a review

This article reviews literature on the psychological benefits of sports for the disabled. Beginning with traditional models and resource development models of rehabilitation, an integrative model of sports for the disabled is suggested, emphasizing the concept of efficacy-based empowerment through sport. Empirical research is reviewed according to the conceptual categories of this model: (a) performance accomplishments and functional efficiency, (b) perceived self-efficacy, (c) self-concept and self-esteem, (d) personality disorders, mood states and locus of control and (e) activity level and social acceptance. This review suggests that most psychological constructs expressed within the empowerment model are positively affected by physical activity in disabled people, when applied properly. Several recommendations are outlined for beneficial application of the model in practice as well as for future research topics.     

Evaluation of anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous return in a young child with heterotaxy: a case study--implications for military dependent care

The case of a young male patient with a complex admixture lesion who required a comprehensive anatomic evaluation before palliative cardiac surgery is presented. We describe a safe anesthesia protocol for obtaining the late-acquisition, gadolinium-enhanced, magnetic resonance angiographic images necessary to define the complex pulmonary and systemic venous anatomic features of his cardiac admixture lesion. Subspecialty physician staffing implications for the care of military dependants with congenital heart disease who might benefit from evaluation using this safe simple protocol and readily available magnetic resonance imaging technology are addressed.     

Gadolinium‐based contrast agents and NSF: Evidence from animal experience

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a potentially severe systemic disease typically characterized by fibrosis of the skin and connective tissues. The etiology of NSF is still unknown but is likely to be multifactorial. Specific triggers under scientific evaluation have included surgery and/or the occurrence of thrombosis or other vascular injury, proinflammatory state, the administration of high doses of erythropoietin, and more recently the use of gadolinium‐based contrast agents (GBCAs). The aim of this review is to summarize knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of NSF and the potential role of GBCAs in its pathology, with a focus on animal experiments. The potential role of complex stability of GCBAs will be highlighted by results from several in vitro and in vivo experiments in rodent models of NSF. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1268–1276. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Problem od mental image in aviation psychology]

This paper discusses theoretical aspects of aviation psychophysiology, specifically the problem of image control of objective actions of a pilot. The general concept representing a system of psychic control of pilot's actions is an image of the flight. Its structural components include: an image of spatial position, an image of an instrumental panel, and the feeling of an aircraft. It is shown that these three information-cognitive components are insufficient to use the flight image for controlling objective actions. It is important to supplement it with object-activity components. Using the flight image concept and experimental observations, a model of controlling objective actions of a pilot is discussed. Components of the model form a closed self-regulating system with direct and feedback control loops. It is underlined that the knowledge of functional patterns of mental images of a pilot is required not only to explain his actions at work but also to solve problems of designing his professional activities and to develop means and methods of his training.     

Attempted child-stealing: post-ictal psychosis and psychological distress.

Baby-stealing is probably one of the more taboo crimes in our society. Its connection with psychological distress, while generally acknowledged, is not always well understood. In this paper we present an unusual and complex case of a woman who attempted to steal young babies while in a state of extreme psychological distress following epileptic seizures. While the post-epileptic state was characterized as 'psychotic' there were clear psychological antecedents to explain the form in which the postical psychosis was expressed. Treatment strategies included modification of medication regime and use of cognitive therapy to ameliorate the impact of postictal confusion.     

年轻飞行员胜任特征评价模型

目的　探讨新形势下优秀年轻飞行员胜任特征心理品质评价特点 ,为其心理选拔与岗位匹配提供理论依据。　方法　采用多级估量模糊集 (MFS)评判技术编制《优秀初级军官心理品质调查表》 ,对 175名飞行员和 2 5 39名其他军兵种军官进行调查。　结果　①事业心等 9项指标被确定为评价优秀年轻飞行员最重要的指标 (MFS值 >0 70 4 ) ;②事业、忠诚、纪律、聪慧和敢为 5项指标的赋值上飞行员显著高于其他军兵种 (P <0 0 1) ;③根据 36项指标的重要程度和特异性建立年轻飞行员胜任特征评价模型。　结论　本研究为年轻飞行员胜任特征评价模型的建立提供了理论依据和技术支持。     

MR Protocol Optimization With Deep Learning: A Proof of Concept

PurposeThis study was performed to demonstrate that a properly trained convolutional neural net (CNN) can provide an acceptable surrogate for human readers when performing a protocol optimization study. Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) were used as a proof of concept for this study.MethodsFollowing institutional review board approval, a curated set of 2007 paired knee MR images was extracted from the author’s picture archival and communications system for 1523 normal knees and 484 knees with torn ACLs. A pair (1 fat-saturated (FS) and 1 non-fat-saturated (NFS)) of midline sagittal images was extracted from each knee. CNNs were trained for both the FS and NFS image sets and used to make predictions on a previously unseen test set of images.ResultsReceiver operating characteristic area under the curve for the NFS and FS CNNs were, respectively, 0.9983 and 0.9988. Specificity was identical (0.993) for both NFS and FS images. FS sensitivity (0.98) and NFS sensitivity (0.88) were statistically significantly different (P = 0.0253).ConclusionsBoth FS and NFS performed very well for the diagnosis of ACL tears, although FS sensitivity was superior to NFS sensitivity. The CNNs provided an acceptable surrogate for a human reader in this study. Pulse sequence optimization studies such as this can be opportunistically performed on image sets collected for many other machine learning purposes.     

General assessment of the patient with cancer for the interventional oncologist

Treating cancer involves more than high-tech regional and local therapies. To participate effectively in the care of patients with cancer, the interventional radiologist needs to have a basic understanding of all of the elements that make up the complete evaluation of the cancer patient. This understanding also facilitates interactions with other oncological experts that are necessary to care for these complex patients. Proper assessment of the patient is a key step in the treatment process.     

Reproducibility and dependence on diffusion weighting of line scan diffusion in the lumbar intervertebral discs

PURPOSE: To investigate the dependence of line scan diffusion imaging (LSDI) in the lumbar vertebral discs on diffusion weighting, fat suppression (FS), and postprocessing noise correction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven normal volunteers were scanned using 4 b-value and 12 b-value LSDI protocols, with and without FS. Three repeated four b-value scans were performed for evaluation of the reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated with mono- and biexponential decay models. Two-point ADC analysis for 12 b-value scans was performed with and without noise correction to evaluate the ADC dependence on diffusion weighting. Correlations between different ADC calculation and acquisition methods were evaluated. RESULTS: Monoexponential ADC measures had a coefficient of variation (CV) under 3%, while use of a constrained biexponential increased the CV to 6% to 9%. Strong dependence on b-value was seen from chemically shifted marrow fat signal and noise. These systematic variations in ADC were eliminated using noise correction and FS. ADC values from 4 and 12 b-value FS scans correlated strongly (R2 = 0.91), while biexponentially derived ADC values correlated moderately well with the FS ADC (R2 = 0.51). CONCLUSION: LSDI gives reproducible ADC measurements in the lumbar discs, largely independent of b-value and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when used with noise correction and FS.     

Organization of municipal medical-and-social rehabilitation of the invalids of able-bodied age-veterans of armed conflicts

A territorial model of the organization of medical-and-social rehabilitation of labor-liable-age invalids was studied basing on the results of the experiment which enabled to test in practice the system of rehabilitation, ensuring step-by-step persistent successive complex rehabilitation process with an individual approach to each invalid according to his or her health, personality, labor ability, social environment. The efficacy of this treatment was higher than executing separate medical and professional rehabilitation of invalids.     

Methodology of controlled clinical studies on the primary treatment of operable breast cancer

We discuss in this paper the thesis that the underlying questions in breast cancer clinical trials are complex in nature and that multivariate procedures are required for statistical analysis. The variety of statistics resulting from multiple significance testing may be insufficient and misleading. Analysis using multivariate methods centres around interactions between treatments and prognostic factors, time dependence of treatment effects, multi-state models of the disease process, and problems of quality of life. Interpretation of results is not an easy task, as can be shown by some recent examples in the field. In the Federal Republic of Germany full informed consent will have to be taken into account. Emphatically we reject the often held view that legal problems can be bypassed by using historical controls instead of controlled clinical trials. As an alternative we favour the concept of a comprehensive cohort study with a randomised trial being just a part of it.     

Assessing the expert: a call for reciprocal disclosure in Canada

The requirement that the state disclose to an accused person all evidence in its possession which is not clearly irrelevant is a tenet fundamental to contemporary criminal law in Canada. In essence, the right to full answer and defence implies that the individual be allowed to completely understand the case which has been brought against him or her. This paper examines the concept of reciprocal disclosure, whereby the defence is obligated to provide evidence to the state. The confines of the ensuing discussion are limited to expert evidence and, more particularly, to psychiatric and psychological testimony. By arguing that early production of an expert's opinion advances rather than retards the interests of justice, the author attempts to debunk some of the myths which are used in Canadian legal circles to justify the suppression of opinion evidence by the defence until the last possible moment.     

基于SWOT分析的军事预防医学发展战略评价指标体系与模型研究

目的 为军事预防医学(MPM)发展战略评价提供指标体系和模型.方法 利用SWOT分析MPM发展战略的内外部条件,构建评价指标体系;利用层次分析法,通过专家咨询,计算确定各项指标权重;利用SWOT分析构建MPM发展战略评价模型和对持矩阵;通过实证研究判断MPM发展战略评价指标体系和模型的有效性.结果构建了包括研发质量、研发难度、研发需求、研发支撑4个一级指标,研究水平、学术地位等16个二级指标的评价指标体系;建立了MPM发展战略的优劣势、机会威胁、SWOT评价模型;构建了MPM发展战略对持矩阵.结论该评价指标体系和模型能准确评价MPM发展战略,可为MPM发展战略的制订提供科学依据.     

Evaluating forensic DNA profiles using peak heights,allowing for multiple donors,allelic dropout and stutters

Increases in the sensitivity of DNA profiling technology now allow profiles to be obtained from smaller and more degraded DNA samples than was previously possible. The resulting profiles can be highly informative, but the subjective elements in the interpretation make it problematic to achieve the valid and efficient evaluation of evidential strength required in criminal cases. The problems arise from stochastic phenomena such as “dropout” (absence of an allele in the profile that is present in the underlying DNA) and experimental artefacts such as “stutter” that can generate peaks of ambiguous allelic status. Currently in the UK, evidential strength evaluation uses an approach in which the complex signals in the DNA profiles are interpreted in a semi-manual fashion by trained experts aided by a set of guidelines, but also relying substantially on professional judgment. We introduce a statistical model to calculate likelihood ratios for evaluating DNA evidence arising from multiple known and unknown contributors that allows for such stochastic phenomena by incorporating peak heights. Efficient use of peak heights allows for more crime scene profiles to be reported to courts than is currently possible. The model parameters are estimated from experimental data incorporating multiple sources of variability in the profiling system. We report and analyse experimental results from the SGMPlus system, run at 28 amplification cycles with no enhancements, currently used in the UK. Our methods are readily adapted to other DNA profiling systems provided that the experimental data for the parameter estimation is available.     

不同需要趋向对飞行员临床心理状态评估结果的影响

目的 通过对飞行人员不同需要趋向的分析,探讨相关因素对飞行员临床心理状态评估结果的影响与干扰情况,讨论分析如何通过技术性方法解决这些影响因素的可能性.方法 通过个别测量法,采用症状自评量表与不同需要趋向的等级分析,对258名男性飞行员的临床心理测评结果及其影响因素进行了统计分析.结果 ①不同需要趋向等级组之间在症状自评量表(SCL-90)的评定结果上,存在极显著性统计学差异(P<0.01),②不同需要趋向等级组与特殊观察组之间,也在诸多因子项上出现显著性差异,提示特殊观察组具有一定异质性的特点.结论 飞行员不同的需要趋向对临床心理症状评估结果具有极其显著的影响,提示在飞行员临床心理健康评定和结论中要特别关注;对自评量表所有条目都选同一否定答案的飞行员,建议对其临床心理评定结果列为个别评定与关注.     

Depiction of the Periosteum Using Ultrashort Echo Time Pulse Sequence with Three-Dimensional Cone Trajectory and Histologic Correlation in a Porcine Model

ObjectiveTo evaluate the signal intensity of the periosteum using ultrashort echo time pulse sequence with three-dimensional cone trajectory (3D UTE) with or without fat suppression (FS) to distinguish from artifacts in porcine tibias.Materials and MethodsThe periosteum and overlying soft tissue of three porcine lower legs were partially peeled away from the tibial cortex. Another porcine tibia was prepared as three segments: with an intact periosteum outer and inner layer, with an intact periosteum inner layer, and without periosteum. Axial T1 weighted sequence (T1 WI) and 3D UTE (FS) were performed. Another porcine tibia without periosteum was prepared and subjected to 3D UTE (FS) and T1 WI twice, with positional changes. Two radiologists analyzed images to reach a consensus.ResultsThe three periosteal tissues that were partially peeled away from the cortex showed a high signal in 3D UTE (FS) and low signal on T1 WI. 3D UTE (FS) showed a high signal around the cortical surface with an intact outer and inner periosteum, and subtle high signals, mainly around the upper cortical surfaces with the inner layer of the periosteum and without periosteum. T1 WI showed no signal around the cortical surfaces, regardless of the periosteum state. The porcine tibia without periosteum showed changes in the high signal area around the cortical surface as the position changed in 3D UTE (FS). No signal was detected around the cortical surface in T1 WI, regardless of the position change.ConclusionThe periosteum showed a high signal in 3D UTE and 3D UTE FS that overlapped with artifacts around the cortical bone.     

Three-dimensional computed tomographic imaging of complex congenital cardiovascular abnormalities

Primary evaluation of congenital cardiac abnormalities traditionally relies upon echocardiography and conventional angiography, both of which have potential limitations. Echocardiography is an operator dependant study, limited by a small window and patient movement. Conventional angiography is an invasive procedure with an inherent risk of catheter complication such as vessel damage, bleeding, stroke and infection. During angiography, overlapping of the pulmonary and systemic circulation often provides a confusing picture given complex anatomy. Another limiting factor of particular significance in young children is radiation dose and contrast administration during catherization procedures. Three-dimensional MDCT provides an alternative to alleviate these pitfalls of traditional cardiac diagnostic studies. Development of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and 3D software provides new methods for non-invasive visualization and evaluation of congenital cardiac abnormalities. The multiplanar, volumetric functions allow faster and more complete computed tomography diagnosis and better understanding of clinical relevance of complex cardiac anatomy. In addition, 3D imaging is particularly useful for preoperative planning and postoperative outcomes. This essay provides case studies to illustrate the usefulness of MDCT/3D CT for evaluation of complex congenital heart disease.