Ureteroenteric fistula shown only on bone imaging

An unusual case of dislocation of the midfoot through the calcaneocuboid and naviculocuneiform joints is presented. The prognosis is excellent for most midfoot dislocations, as long as they are recognized and treated early.     

Shape selectivity as a function of pore size in epoxidation of alkenes with supported titanium catalysts

Reactant shape selectivity of supported titanium catalysts for epoxidation of cyclohexene and 2-hexene has an excellent correlation with the pore diameter of the catalysts. With titanosilicate the preference to cis isomer epoxidation is small compared to TiO₂-SiO₂ probably because of the restriction of its diffusion imposed by the zeolite micropore structure.     

Assimilative and co-metabolic degradation of chloral hydrate by bacteria and their bioremediation potential

Although the bacterial degradation of chloral hydrate (CH) has been recognized for several decades, its degradation pathway by assimilation has not been demonstrated. In this paper, we report the isolation of the LF54 bacterial strain, which utilizes CH as its sole carbon and energy source. LF54 converted CH into trichloroethanol (TCAol), which was dehalogenated to dichloroethanol (DCAol), and CO(2) was detected as the end product. Another strain that we isolated, RS20, co-metabolized CH into TCAol. Our 16S rRNA gene sequencing and taxonomic analyses revealed that the LF54 and RS20 strains belong to the Pseudomonas and Arthrobacter genera, respectively. When the two strains were inoculated into soil microcosms, both degraded 0.3mM CH to undetectable levels (<0.01mM) within 5days. These results suggest that LF54 and RS20 could be used in the bioremediation of CH-contaminated environments.     

Three-vessel study of cerebral blood flow using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging: effect of physical characteristics

The development of phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (P-C MRI) provides a noninvasive method for measurement of volumetric blood flow (VFR). We performed P-C MRI to study the effects of physical characteristics on cerebral blood flow. VFR of the left and right internal carotid arteries and basilar artery were measured using P-C MRI and total cerebral blood flow (tCBF) was calculated by summing up the VFR values in the three vessels. Moreover, we investigated the changes in these blood flows as influenced by age, head size, height, weight, body surface area, and handedness. The blood flows were 142 +/- 58 ml/min (mean +/- standard deviation) in the basilar artery; and 229 +/- 86 ml/min in the left, and 223 +/- 58 ml/min in the right internal carotid artery; and tCBF was 617 +/- 128 ml/min. Significant increases were observed in head size-related change of VFR in the basilar artery (p = .028) and height-related change of tCBF (p = .045). The other characteristics did not significantly influence any VFR. The results suggest that head size and height may reflect CBF, and that these effects should be considered when changes of CBF are diagnosed. Phase-contrast MRI is useful for a noninvasive and rapid analysis of cerebral VFR and has potential for clinical use.     

FATIGUE STRENGTH OF NON-LOAD-CARRYING FILLET WELDED JOINTS: EFFECTS OF WELD RESIDUAL STRESSES AND STRESS CONCENTRATION

The fatigue strength of non-load-carrying fillet welded joints of KE36(TMCP) steel was studied. Both residual stress measurements and fatigue tests were carried out, with the plate thickness, the plate width and the heat input being varied. Specimens given a Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) were also prepared. The plate width had no effect on the fatigue strength, because it hardly affected the transverse residual stresses at the weld toe. However, the heat input influenced the transverse residual stress distribution, and a significant difference in fatigue strength due to the heat input was observed, especially when N≥ 10⁶ cycles. It was also found that PWHT removed almost all the residual stresses at the weld toe, improving the fatigue strength drastically. In this study, the values of stress concentration factor K₂ were estimated by Machida's method and it was concluded that the thickness effect resulted from a combination of both stress concentration and residual stresses with the contribution of the latter being particularly significant for N≥ 10⁶ cycles.     

Monitoring biofilm development in a microfluidic device using modified confocal reflection microscopy

The feasibility of a method to monitor biofilm development non-destructively in a microfluidic device was addressed. Here, we report that biofilm growth could be non-destructively monitored by an image analysis technique based on modification of confocal reflection microscopy.     

Numerical Characterization of Dosimetry,Human Body Resistance and Heart Current Resulting from Power-Frequency Touch Current for an Anatomically Realistic Human Model

Characteristics of power-frequency touch current inside an anatomically realistic human model of Japanese adult were numerically analyzed under various scenarios of current paths using a modified scalar potential finite difference (SPFD) method. Then, complex distributions of the current density in the model were visually illustrated. Results of the dosimetry of current density for excitable tissues indicates that the touch current within the reference level (0.5 mA) does not always satisfy the basic restriction of current density in the light of ICNIRP guideline for general public. Two sets of the internal body resistances R_i (i.e., 1130–1510Ω and 1460–1920Ω) are obtained, depending on the conductivity sets used. Although R_i considerably depends on the current scenario concerned, the highest values of Ri were obtained for the hand-to-hand scenario, regardless of the conductivity set. The inhomogeneous model always gives a higher value of R_i than does the homogeneous model that has a single conductivity equivalent to the weighted-average conductivity of the inhomogeneous model. It is found that the conductivity of muscle has significant influence on R_i, and that the resistance around the wrist and ankle is one of the predominant parameters to decide R_i. It is clearly shown that the current scenarios affect the pattern of the heart current flow, especially the direction of it, to a large extent. It is found that a current of 34–40% of touch current flows into the heart, and then the heart-current ratio is remarkably larger than old data. The heart-current factors of around 0.85 obtained are almost independent of the current scenarios, unlike those indicated in IEC60479-1, provided that the direction of heart current is ignored. © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An Opportunistic Directional MAC Protocol with Pulse/Tone Exchange in Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - This paper proposes a Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol using directional antennas in wireless ad-hoc networks, which achieves frame-collision reduction,...     

“<Emphasis Type="Italic">It’s like holding a human heart</Emphasis>”: the design of Vital + Morph,a shape-changing interface for remote monitoring

Based on the concept of data physicalization, we developed Vital + Morph, an interactive surface for remote connection and awareness of clinical data. It enables users located in remote places to monitor and feel the vital signs measured from a hospitalized person through shape-change. We propose shape-changing interfaces as a way of making data physicalization a richer, intriguing and memorable experience that communicates complex information and insights about data. To demonstrate and validate our proposed concept, we developed an exploratory study about the design and its implications. For evaluating the social impact of shape-changing interfaces in the context of remote monitoring, we presented Vital + Morph in several Media Art festivals. We collected and analyzed the feedback from the visitors during the exhibitions, and discussed the possibilities of the proposed system. A preliminary evaluation shows how shape-changing displays are perceived by users, which establishes not only the potential benefits but also highlights the concerns that several users have raised. Through this study, we aim to contribute to the design of remote monitoring systems by providing a novel approach for displaying clinical data that consider the richness of the physical world. In today’s information-driven society, we should not just focus on how abstract data are collected and analyzed, but also on how it can be presented and incorporated into our daily lives.