Multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia: a distinctive pulmonary manifestation of tuberous sclerosis

We report a peculiar multifocal micronodular proliferation of pneumocytes occurring in a 24-yr-old woman with tuberous sclerosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. A computed tomographic scan of the chest demonstrated multiple minute nodules present throughout both lung fields. Histologically, the nodules were well demarcated, measured up to 1.6 mm in diameter, and were composed of thickened, fibrotic, alveolar septa lined by pleomorphic, type II pneumocytes. Positive immunohistochemical stains for keratin, BER-EP4, and surfactant, and negative immunohistochemical staining with an antibody recognizing Clara cells support an epithelial origin from type II pneumocytes. The absence of immunohistochemical staining for HMB45 suggests a histogenesis separate than the lesions of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. We failed to detect estrogen or progesterone receptors in either the lesions of lymphangioleiomyomatosis or the micronodular proliferations. Recognition of these unique lesions facilitates their distinction from other epithelial proliferations, particularly atypical bronchioloalveolar cell hyperplasia. This lesion appears to be a distinctive manifestation of tuberous sclerosis. It is probably hamartomatous.     

Stochastic and Dynamic Shipper Carrier Network Design Problem

The focus of this work is to determine the optimal storage capacity to be installed on transhipment nodes by shippers in a dynamic shipper carrier network under stochastic demand. A two stage linear program with recourse formulation is developed where in the first stage, the shipper decides the optimal capacity to be installed on transhipment nodes. In the second stage, the shipper chooses a routing strategy based on the realized demand. The performance of the following solution methods: Stochastic L Shaped Method, Regularized Decomposition and L Shaped Method with preliminary cuts were compared for various network sizes and numerous demand scenarios. A novel capacity shifting heuristic was introduced to generate a feasible implementable solution which significantly improves the performance of Regularized Decomposition and provides the best performance in the cases tested. Various ways of generating analytical bounds on the objective function value was discussed. The new capacity shifting heuristic was found to be efficient in generating tight upper bounds. Even though the formulation considered in this paper is for a single commodity, the model can be easily extended to account for multiple commodities.     

Reactive sputter-deposition of oxygenated amorphous carbon thin films in Ar/O2

Oxygenated amorphous carbon thin films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering using various argon and oxygen process gas mixtures. The X-ray diffraction data indicated that the predominantly amorphous films had more defined peaks with a higher partial pressure of oxygen. Results indicated that use of oxygen in the working gas enhanced the crystalline nature of the films. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy revealed that the surface roughness and film topography differed with the oxygen process gas variations. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed increased surface oxygen content with higher oxygen concentration in the working gas. Raman spectroscopy results suggested that the increased oxygen in the films may have led to a higher percentage of sp³-bonded carbon atoms. The growth rate (deposition rate) of the films decreased as the amount of oxygen increased. This decreased deposition rate was associated with an oxygen etching of the film.     

The effects of creatine ethyl ester supplementation combined with heavy resistance training on body composition, muscle performance, and serum and muscle creatine levels

Numerous creatine formulations have been developed primarily to maximize creatine absorption. Creatine ethyl ester is alleged to increase creatine bio-availability. This study examined how a seven-week supplementation regimen combined with resistance training affected body composition, muscle mass, muscle strength and power, serum and muscle creatine levels, and serum creatinine levels in 30 non-resistance-trained males. In a double-blind manner, participants were randomly assigned to a maltodextrose placebo (PLA), creatine monohydrate (CRT), or creatine ethyl ester (CEE) group. The supplements were orally ingested at a dose of 0.30 g/kg fat-free body mass (approximately 20 g/day) for five days followed by ingestion at 0.075 g/kg fat free mass (approximately 5 g/day) for 42 days. Results showed significantly higher serum creatine concentrations in PLA (p = 0.007) and CRT (p = 0.005) compared to CEE. Serum creatinine was greater in CEE compared to the PLA (p = 0.001) and CRT (p = 0.001) and increased at days 6, 27, and 48. Total muscle creatine content was significantly higher in CRT (p = 0.026) and CEE (p = 0.041) compared to PLA, with no differences between CRT and CEE. Significant changes over time were observed for body composition, body water, muscle strength and power variables, but no significant differences were observed between groups. In conclusion, when compared to creatine monohydrate, creatine ethyl ester was not as effective at increasing serum and muscle creatine levels or in improving body composition, muscle mass, strength, and power. Therefore, the improvements in these variables can most likely be attributed to the training protocol itself, rather than the supplementation regimen.     

测试电源的输入瞬变和负载瞬变

电源的输入瞬变和负载瞬变是表示电源对供电电源和负载电流产生突变的响应能力。电源的输出响应能够反应出电源对于因输入和负载跃变而产生的各种频率谐波的衰减能力。