Web-based Diagnostic Imaging Service Using XML Forms

Traditionally, radiology has been conceived as a support department providing patient scanning services to the other clinical departments in a hospital. However, recent advancements in networking technology and related information systems such as picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and radiology information system (RIS) provide new opportunities for inventing different types of diagnostic imaging businesses such as teleradiology. In this article, we examined the business processes of currently operating imaging centers and proposed a prototype of an information system that can facilitate their workflows in a more efficient way. The principal component of our proposed system is a report management module built on extensible markup language (XML) technologies that allows much flexibility and convenience for both imaging technicians and radiologists.     

Some notes on uncertainty; Federal policy and innovation

The legislative background and current responsibilities of the new National Center for Health Care Technology (NCHCT) are discussed. The NCHCT's charge is to consider the stage of development, the actual or potential risks, costs and rate of use of health care technology. The role of Government in supporting new technologies, stimulating innovation and encouraging application of research products is considered. These issues are discussed in the context of the uncertainty inherent in planning and the formulation of public policy.     

人体组织中血液灌注率和动脉血温度的无损测量研究

由于人体组织中存在血液对流传热和代谢产热，当皮肤表面绝热后，皮肤表面的温度将上升，体表温升值是人体组织中血液灌注率和动脉血温度的函数，根据实际测量的体表温升与时间的关系就可以测出活体组织的血液灌注率和动脉血温度。根据一维Pennes生物传热方程，推导出了体表绝热后人体组织中及皮肤表面温度分布的解析解，并对人体组织中的血液灌注率及动脉血温度进行了实验测量。由于测量过程中利用的只是皮肤表面的温度信息，无须引入外加热源，对人体组织完全不会造成损伤，亦避免了干扰人体组织的正常生理状态，整个测量系统也比较简单。     

Designs for Instruction, Designs for Change: Distributing Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice

We comment on the target article by Weingardt (this issue), which discusses recent advances in instructional design and technology (IDT) and their implications for dissemination of evidence-based practices. These arguments are extended to the topic of psychological intervention design, and possibilities for new intervention structures are briefly explored. Finally, comments are offered on maintaining a careful balance between technological and social processes in the effort to promote the dissemination of innovative and evidence-based psychological procedures.     

Adaptive motor unit action potential clustering using shape and temporal information

An adaptive algorithm is described that groups motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), detected in a composite EMG signal during signal decomposition, and creates partial motor unit action potential trains (MUAPTs). Data-driven MUAP shape and motor unit firing-pattern based criteria are used to form the clusters. An algorithm for estimating MUAPT temporal parameter, which provides accurate estimates even for partially defined trains, is used to obtain firing-pattern information. No a priori knowledge is required regarding the number of clusters or the distribution of their template shapes. The clustering algorithm when applied to real concentric-needle detected MUAP data provides accurate and useful clustering results. Compared to a classical leader-based algorithm, it provides more robust performance, is better able to estimate the true number of motor units represented in a set of detected MUAPs, and obtains more complete and accurate MUAPTs.     

Silicon neuron simulation with SPICE: tool for neurobiology and neural networks

The paper deals with computer simulations of ‘silicon neurons’, which are assemblies of CMOS circuits that generate the equivalents of the ionic currents and of the action potentials of real (biological) neurons. The circuit simulation program SPICE is used to simulate the generation of action potentials by a silicon neuron. Moreover, the equivalent circuits of silicon synapses are described and the behaviours of simple two- and three-neuron networks are analysed. Implications for the areas of neurobiology and formal neural networks are briefly considered.     

Bacterial colonization of the uterine cervix and success rate in assisted reproduction: results of a prospective survey

BACKGROUND: Overgrowth of bacteria in the birth canal is associated with an increased risk of late miscarriage, preterm labour, post-partum endometritis and low birthweight. Conception rates in assisted reproduction treatments (ART) remain frustratingly low. We examined whether the nature of bacterial flora, found in the uterine cervical canal at embryo transfer, is associated with the rate of conception in ART. METHODS: We sampled for bacteriological culture the cervical canal of 204 patients who underwent embryo transfer. Of these, 139 (68%) were of fresh embryos, following recent vaginal oocyte retrieval and prophylactic antibiotic therapy, and 65 (32%) of frozen-thawed embryos, without any vaginal intervention in the preceding days. Bacteriological work-up included identification, colony count and antibiotic susceptibility profile. Conception was correlated with bacterial type and colony count. RESULTS: In 75 patients (36.8%) sterile cervical cultures or lactobacillus were recorded. Of these 75 patients, 23 (30.7%) conceived, whereas among the 129 in whom any pathogenic micro-organism was recovered only 21 (16.3%) conceived (P = 0.002). No difference in colonization was found between women who underwent frozen-thawed versus fresh embryo transfer (57 and 67% respectively). Any Gram-negative colonization was associated with no conception. All Gram-positive, and 90% of the Gram-negative bacteria, were sensitive to augmentin. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to conceive in ART is significantly associated with bacterial colonization of the uterine cervix.