Development of X-ray CCD camera based X-ray micro-CT system.

Availability of microfocus X-ray sources and high resolution X-ray area detectors has made it possible for high resolution microtomography studies to be performed outside the purview of synchrotron. In this paper, we present the work towards the use of an external shutter on a high resolution microtomography system using X-ray CCD camera as a detector. During micro computed tomography experiments, the X-ray source is continuously ON and owing to the readout mechanism of the CCD detector electronics, the detector registers photons reaching it during the read-out period too. This introduces a shadow like pattern in the image known as smear whose direction is defined by the vertical shift register. To resolve this issue, the developed system has been incorporated with a synchronized shutter just in front of the X-ray source. This is positioned in the X-ray beam path during the image readout period and out of the beam path during the image acquisition period. This technique has resulted in improved data quality and hence the same is reflected in the reconstructed images.

Potential-derived point-charge model study of electrostatic interactions in DNA base components.

Ab initio electrostatic potentials obtained using STO-3G wavefunctions for guanine, cytosine, adenine, and thymine are used to calculate potential-derived (PD) point charges for these base components. Calculated PD point charges are used to estimate the electrostatic contributions to hydrogen-bonding and stacking interaction energies of ten sequence isomers of B-DNA. These estimates are in excellent agreement with the results of the more elaborate segmental multipole moment expansion technique.

Use of restraint and seclusion in psychiatric settings in New York State.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined rates of use restraint and seclusion during September 1992 in 125 psychiatric settings in New York State. METHODS: Psychiatric centers and general hospitals with psychiatric services were surveyed by mail about use of restraint and seclusion during a one-month period and about facility characteristics. Four measures of use of restraint and seclusion were calculated: percentage of patients restrained, percentage of patients secluded, rate of seclusion orders, and rate of restraint orders. RESULTS: Use of restraint and seclusion varied dramatically among the psychiatric settings studied. Use of restraint was not related to use of seclusion. Of the 112 tested relationships between facility and patient characteristics and variations in the restraint and seclusion measures, only 12 proved to be significant. None of the variables correlated significantly with variations in more than two of the four measures of restraint or seclusion, and only three correlated with at least two of the four measures. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in use of restraint and seclusion in psychiatric settings in New York State are dramatic and difficult to correlate with differences in the patient populations. The authors suggest that such variations prevail because of the disparate clinical perspectives on the advisability of restraint and seclusion and the limited comparative monitoring of restraint and seclusion practices in psychiatric settings.

Understanding the parents who are mentally retarded: guidelines for family preservation programs.

This article reviews eight programs in New York State that provide parenting training and direct assistance to parents who are mentally retarded. Common lessons learned by the programs are discussed and guidelines are set forth on staffing, family enrollment and retention, service provision, and risk-management practices for work with similar clients. The families in these programs are briefly profiled, based on data collected on approximately half of the parents and children.

From paper tigers to consumer-centered quality assurance tools: reforming incident-reporting systems.

A practical framework for program administrators seeking to improve the effectiveness of their incident reporting and investigation procedures and practices was provided. Too often, these systems, which are designed by outside parties, are viewed by program administrators as instruments of risk exposure rather than viable tools for risk management and quality improvement. Program administrators were encouraged to take control of their incident-reporting systems by transforming them into viable consumer-centered quality assurance tools to meet the quality improvement needs of their own program. Specific performance indicators for effective systems were proposed, including consumer-centeredness; accountable reporting; thorough fact-finding; and prompt identification and implementation of corrective actions, fairness, and cost-effectiveness.

Potential derived point charge model study of electrostatic interaction energies in some complexes of water with uracil, thymine, and cytosine.

Potential derived (PD) point charges and segmental multipole moments are calculated for water, uracil, thymine, and cytosine using STO-3G quality wave functions. The PD point charges are used to estimate the electrostatic interaction energies for a series of complexes of water with these nucleic acid bases. It is shown here that the results obtained using simple PD charge model is very similar to those obtained from more elaborate segmental multipole moment analysis.

Potential-derived point-charge model study of electrostatic interaction energies in some hydrogen-bonded systems.

Mulliken's atomic changes (MC) and potential derived (PD) point charges obtained from STO-3G wave functions are used to study the electrostatic interaction energies for a series of representative hydrogen-bonded complexes. The results of the above-mentioned models are compared with the more accurate results of segmental multipole moment (SMM) expansion, and it is shown that the PD model is superior to the MC model. The results of PD model are shown to be well correlated with the results of SMM expansion technique. Results of our calculations using 6-31G and 6-31G** PD charges are also reported here. Electrostatic interaction energies obtained using 6-31G** PD charges are compared with the 6-31G** SCF interaction energies available for the nine hydrogen-bonded dimers of ammonia, water, and hydrogen fluoride and a good correlation between the two is shown. The interrelationship between the results of different basis sets are also examined for the PD point-charge model. The electrostatic interaction energies obtained using STO-3G PD model are shown to be well correlated to the results of 6-31G and 6-31G** PD models.

Spigelion hernia: fascia lata repair is an alternative option in absence of prolene mesh.

Spigelian hernia is rare. Seven cases of Spigelian hernia are presented. These include two recurrent Spigelian hernias. Incisional hernias through Spigelian aponeurosis after Pfannensteil incision are not included. Clinical examination is the mainstay of diagnosis. The true incidence is possibly higher, as a low Spigelian hernia is not recognised and often diagnosed as a direct inguinal hernia. Ultrasound scanning is recommended, as it is non-invasive and easily available and can detect the hernial orifice in the Spigelian fascia at an early stage. Recurrence of Spigelian hernia took place in two cases through the site of prolene stitch of a previous repair. Hernioplasty with tension free fascia lata graft/prolene mesh was carried out in all cases. The cost of fascia lata graft is only a scar in the thigh. In a mean follow-up of 3.1 -year no patient has reported back with recurrence This is the ideal substitute for the patients in developing countries where synthetic meshes are still not freely available.