Electric Current Measurement with Enhanced Sensitivity Using two Metal-coated Fibres

Abstract

An optical interferometric method using two metal-coated single-mode fibres is proposed for d.c. electric current measurement. Experimental results prove that the sensitivity of measurement can be well enhanced by the new method.     

Noninvasive glucose monitoring in vivo with an optical heterodyne polarimeter

An amplitude-sensitive optical heterodyne polarimeter was set up to monitor noninvasively the aqueous glucose concentration in a rabbit's eye. A Zeeman laser in conjunction with a Glan-Thompson analyzer was used to generate an optical heterodyne signal. The amplitude of the heterodyne signal linearly related to the optical rotation angle of the aqueous glucose. The concentration of the aqueous glucose in a rabbit's eyeball was measured in vivo. There was a 30-min time delay between observations of aqueous glucose and blood glucose. The detection capability and the reproducibility of the experiment are demonstrated and discussed.     

New one-week, low-dose triple therapy for the treatment of duodenal ulcer with Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial therapy is the recommended treatment for duodenal ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The eradication of bismuth-based triple therapy with bismuth subcitrate, metronidazole and amoxicillin is limited by low compliance, drug resistance and side-effects. Two-week proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy has a higher eradication rate but is costly. This study was designed to compare the efficacy, patient compliance and cost of short-term PPI-based triple therapy with those of bismuth-based triple therapy. METHODS: Ninety patients with active duodenal ulcer disease and H pylori infection, proven with the 13C-urea breath test and CLO test (Campylobacter-like organism test) were treated randomly in three therapeutic groups: Group A, DeNol 120 mg, amoxicillin 500 mg and metronidazole 250 mg four times a day orally for 14 days; Group B, omeprazole 20 mg plus clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day and amoxicillin 500 mg four times a day for 14 days; Group C, omeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 250 mg and metronidazole 500 mg twice a day for seven days. Nizatidine 150 mg twice a day was given continuously following the end of anti-H pylori therapy for each group. Two months later, endoscopy, the CLO test and 13C-urea breath test were repeated to assess the eradication rate of H pylori and the ulcer-healing rate. Drug tolerance was evaluated by patients themselves by daily recording of any side-effects. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients completed the entire course of therapy and evaluation for H pylori infection. The H pylori eradication rates in Groups A, B and C were 75% (21/28), 93% (26/28) and 89% (25/28), respectively (p = 0.466). The ulcer healing rate was 86% (24/28) in Group A and 89% (25/28) in Groups B and C (p = 0.764). A total of 74 patients (88%) were free from symptoms at the end of the triple therapy. Symptom relief was faster in patients with PPI-based triple therapy (Groups B and C) (days 3 and 4) than for patients with bismuth-based triple therapy (day 5). The cost of Group C therapy was lower than that for Groups A and B. There were no major side-effects in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: One-week triple therapy with omeprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole is highly effected for the eradication of H pylori. A therapeutic regime of one week's duration with lower cost, good compliance and mild side-effects may offer a good choice for treatment of duodenal ulcer associated with H pylori infection in clinical practice.     

Surface properties and interfacial adhesion studies of aramid fibres modified by gas plasmas

The surface of aramid (Kevlar 49) fibre was modified by NH₃, O₂ or H₂O plasmas in order to improve the adhesion to epoxy resin. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and static secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SSIMS) were used to identify the chemical compositions and functional groups of the plasma-treated fibre surface, respectively. The surface topography and mechanical properties of plasma-treated fibres were also investigated. After plasma treatments, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of aramid-fibre/epoxy-resin composites, as measured by the microbond pull-out technique, was markedly improved (43–83% improvement) and the fibre strength was only little affected (less than 10% loss). Significant improvement in the IFSS principally resulted from forming the covalent bonds between the newly reactive functionalities at the modified fibre surfaces and the epoxides of the resin.     

Lack of effect of food on the steady state pharmacokinetics of BMS-181101, an antidepressant, in healthy subjects

An annual atmospheric pollen survey was performed for 14 consecutive years in the autumn at Sakado city, Saitama prefecture. The survey was performed on the transition of pollen dispersion of major allergen plants: ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), Humulus japonicus, Artemisia spp. and Gramineae. 1. Annual total pollen count of ragweed showed marked increases beginning from 1991. Total pollen count in 1991 was 8.8 times and that in 1996 was 18.6 times that in 1983. This increase is probably caused by marked proliferation of giant ragweed which is left without mowing as it is on a dry riverbed, and consequently produces much more pollen than short ragweed. 2. Annual increases in total pollen counts of other major plants which disperse their pollen in the same season as ragweed were 0.95 times in 1991 and 0.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Humulus japonicus, 0.68 times in 1991 and 1.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Artemisia spp. and 1.3 times in 1991 and 1.4 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Gramineae. None of these species showed a marked increase of pollen dispersion although they showed some annual variation. The above findings suggest that changes in the proliferous state of various allergenic plants due to environmental change should be considered with respect to characteristics of pollen allergy.     

Development of FRP Short-Span Deployable Bridge—Experimental Results

For military and civilian applications, there exists a need for lightweight, inexpensive, short-span bridges that can be easily transported and erected with minimal equipment. Owing to its favorable properties, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has been shown to be feasible for the construction of such bridges. Investigations into the behavior of a short-span bridge structural concept, adapted to the material properties of commercially available glass FRP (GFRP) pultruded products, are presented. A 4.8-m span prototype was built from GFRP sections, bonded throughout to form a tapered box beam, with a width of 1.2?m and a height at midspan of approximately 0.5?m. The box beam represents a single trackway of a double-trackway bridge, whose trackways could be connected by light structural elements. The quasi-static and dynamic behavior of the prototype box beam was investigated in ambient laboratory and field conditions to assess the design and construction techniques used, with a view to designing a full-scale 10-m GFRP bridge. Laboratory testing of the prototype box beam used single and pairs of patch loads to simulate wheel loading. These tests confirmed that the box beam had sufficient stiffness and strength to function effectively as a single trackway of a small span bridge. Field testing of the structure was undertaken using a Bison vehicle (13,000?kg), driven at varying speeds over the structure to establish its response to realistic vehicle loads and the effects of their movement across the span.     

Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the treatment of critically ill patients

To evaluate the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the treatment of critically ill patients, 80 patients (51 male and 29 female; mean age, 53 years) undergoing both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE were studied in a 2-year period. Of these, 48 patients were studied in the ICU, while the other 32 patients were directly referred from the emergency departments. Indications for the study included suspected aortic dissection (34 patients), hemodynamic instability (22 patients), suspected cardiac source of embolism (11 patients), evaluation of the severity of mitral regurgitation (7 patients), and suspected infective endocarditis (6 patients). The probe was passed successfully in 78 of 80 attempts (98 percent). No significant complications were recorded during the transesophageal echocardiographic study. Transesophageal echocardiography provided critical information that was not obtained by TTE in 39 of 78 studies (50 percent, p < 0.005). Cardiac surgery was prompted by TEE findings in 14 patients (18 percent) and these findings were all confirmed at operation. Transesophageal echocardiography was a safe, well-tolerated, and valuable diagnostic approach for the rapid detection of specific cardiac abnormalities in patients with critical illness; TEE should be considered in the treatment of critically ill patients especially when TTE provided inadequate information.     

TPX/siloxane blend membrane for oxygen enrichment

The effects of composition, molecular weight, and milling temperature on homogeneity, gas permeability, selectivity of oxygen/nitrogen, and mechanical strength of the TPX/siloxane blend membranes were studied. By adjusting the blending conditions and hence controlling the homogeneity, the gas permeability of TPX membrane was significantly improved without loss of oxygen/nitrogen selectivity. The oxygen permeability of 1.57 × 10^?8 cm³ (STP) cm/cm² s cm Hg and the oxygen/nitrogen permeation ratio of 6.92 can be obtained under the condition of TPX (MX-001)/siloxane (75,000 MW) = 9/1 at 65°C milling temperature. This membrane possesses 133 kg/cm² tensile strength and 92% elongation. The morphology of the blend membranes was studied.     

Identification and characterization of a protease produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in iron-limited medium

Two proteolytic proteins (about 43 and 90 kDa) were produced by clinical strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus cultured in iron-limited medium. The 43 kDa-protease was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ultrafiltration fractionation and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. This protease had an optimum pH range of 7 to 8, and an optimum reaction temperature of about 40 degrees C. It was heat-labile, being partially inactivated by heat-treatment at 60 or 90 degrees C for 10 min. The protease hydrolyzed casein, gelatin, elastin, collagen and hemoglobin. As a chymotrypsin-like protease, it was inhibited only by the chymostatin among seven protease inhibitors tested. Activity of this protease was partially inhibited by 1 mM of Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Hg2+ and slightly enhanced by Ca2+ and Ba2+. It was completely inactivated by orthophenanthroline (OPA), and the OPA-inactivated sample was partially reactivated by Ca2+ and Fe2+. In conclusion, this 43-kDa protease of V. parahaemolyticus was an unstable neutral chymotrypsin-like metalloprotease; Ca2+ and/or Fe2+ was essential for its activity or stability.     

Visual multiple secret sharing based upon turning and flipping

The secret sharing schemes in conventional visual cryptography are capable of sharing one secret image into a set of random transparencies (called shares) in the form of rectangles, which reveal the secret image to the human visual system when they are superimposed. Recently, visual secret sharing schemes involving multiple secrets have attracted much attention. By adopting rotations on one of the two encoded circle shares, more than two secrets could be shared. Yet, the encoding and decoding processes of circle shares need more sophisticated mechanisms than those of rectangular or square ones. In this paper, we explore the possibilities of visual multiple secret sharing using simply two rectangular or square shares. Specifically, we define some operations onto a transparency based upon turning over or flipping around. Then we propose visual cryptographic schemes that are able to encode two or four secrets into two rectangular shares and up to eight secrets into two square shares such that the secrets cannot be obtained from any single share, whereas they are revealed by stacking the two shares under various combinations of turning or flipping operations. The proposed schemes, which solidly elaborate the relationship between the encoded shares and the shared secrets, broaden the research scope and enrich the flexibility and applicability of visual cryptography or image encryption theoretically and practically.