Laparoscopic retropubic colposuspension (Burch procedure)

In order to investigate, if complement levels can be used as an indicator of clinical activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), levels of C3, C4, CH50, and C3d were measured in 79 patients, 41 with inactive, 31 with moderately active and 7 with severely active disease. Our study shows that C3d, and particularly the C3d/C3 ratio, provide sensitive markers for disease activity in SLE. Since C3d is a direct measurement of complement turnover, it reflects complement activation better than C3, C4 and CH50.     

STEELEX: A coupled expert system for integrated design of steel structures

Most expert systems developed so far are concerned with symbolic processing of a knowledge base. Solution of complex engineering problems often requires substantial numerical processing in addition to symbolic processing of heuristics and experiential knowledge. In this paper, we present STEELEX, a prototype knowledge-based expert system for integrated design of building structures consisting of moment-resisting steel frames. STEELEX is a coupled system in which AI symbolic processing is combined with conventional numerical processing. STEELEX produces the final detailed design including the beam-column connections ready for fabrication. In addition, it can explain the basis of design and the principles behind the design specification. STEELEX has been developed using a domain-specific tool called SDL (for Structural Design Language). Implemented in the INTERLISP environment, SDL provides a design problem-solving environment using a hierarchical cooperating specialists paradigm. STEELEX has a debugging facility and provides a multiwindow graphics interface for drawing isometric as well as orthographic views of the steel frame and beam-column connections.     

An enzyme immunoanalytical system based on sequential cross-flow chromatography

A new enzyme immunoanalytical concept that can be used for point-of-care testing has been investigated. Enzyme as a tracer requires a separate reaction step for signal generation, which follows the completion of immune complex formation with analyte (e.g., Hepatitis B surface antigen) in a sample. This has been a major factor limiting its utilization within the laboratory. We carried out such sequential processes employing chromatographic analysis, using two crosswise-arranged membrane pads in vertical and horizontal directions. The vertically arranged pads were the same as those in the usual format for pregnancy testing, for instance, with the exception of the use of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as tracer. By placing the horizontally arranged pads on each lateral side of the signal generation pad in the vertical arrangement, they were employed to supply substrate to the enzyme present in the immune complexes. The substrate flow was initiated after the antigen-antibody bindings to produce a signal, which was typically a color change in proportion to the analyte concentration. Under optimal conditions, the use of HRP labeling increased the detection capability of the assay approximately 30 times compared to that of gold colloids. Potential advantages of using the concept investigated are (1) provision of a rapid and simple immunoassay, (2) satisfaction of a clinical need for highly sensitive determination of analyte, and (3) utilization of relatively inexpensive, portable quantitation means.     

Improved production of ginsenosides in suspension cultures of ginseng by medium replenishment strategy

The objective of this study was to improve the accumulation of ginsenosides by the adventitious root cultures of ginseng, which are important secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical applications. The adventitious roots were cultured in bioreactors for 50 d using 1.5-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 mg/l indole acetic acid and 75 g/l sucrose. Kinetic studies of the nutrient composition of the spent medium revealed the gradual depletion of various inorganic nutrients and sugars. Cultures were supplied with fresh nutrient medium (medium exchange or replenishment with 0.75- and 1.0-strength MS medium) after 10 and 20 d of culture initiation to fulfill the nutritional requirements of adventitious roots. Medium replenishment strategy (with 1.0-strength MS medium after 20 d of culture) significantly improved the growth of adventitious roots and the biosynthesis of ginsenosides by the adventitious roots. This work is useful for the large-scale cultivation of adventitious roots for the production of ginsenosides.     

DADE: a fast data anomaly detection engine for kernel integrity monitoring

The Journal of Supercomputing - In computer systems, ensuring the integrity of the kernel assumes importance as attacks against the kernel allow an adversary to obtain the highest privilege within...     

Dopant‐Free Hole‐Transporting Materials for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Molecularly engineered novel dopant‐free hole‐transporting materials for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) combined with mixed‐perovskite (FAPbI₃)_0.85(MAPbBr₃)_0.15 (MA: CH₃NH₃⁺, FA: NH=CHNH₃⁺) that exhibit an excellent power conversion efficiency of 18.9% under AM 1.5 conditions are investigated. The mobilities of FA‐CN, and TPA‐CN are determined to be 1.2 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and 1.1 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively. Exceptional stability up to 500 h is measured with the PSC based on FA‐CN. Additionally, it is found that the maximum power output collected after 1300 h remained 65% of its initial value. This opens up new avenue for efficient and stable PSCs exploring new materials as alternatives to Spiro‐OMeTAD.     

Compressive mechanical properties of bovine cortical bone under varied loading rates

Bone tissue functions in varied mechanical systems of the body under static and dynamic conditions. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanical responses of bone at varied loading rates, especially those at fast loading rates. This study has investigated the effect of loading rate on the compressive mechanical properties of bovine cortical bone. Bone specimens of 3.85 mm in diameter and 7.7 mm in length were compressed longitudinally with the loading rates of 2 to 2000 mm/s (corresponding strain rates of 0.26 to 260 s(-1)). As a result, bovine cortical bone showed high linear elasticity when the loading rate was slow, and exhibited three definite regions of linear elasticity, plastic deformation, and densification at faster loading rates. The elastic modulus showed no dependency on the loading rate. Compressive strength, strain at fracture, and toughness increased as the loading rate increased under the condition that the loading rates were slower than each critical loading rate of 1000, 100, and 1500 mm/s, respectively. However, all showed no significant changes when the loading rates were faster than the corresponding critical loading rates. In conclusion, as the loading rate increased, changes in the compressive mechanical parameters were different depending on the parameter and the loading rate range. Compressive mechanical behaviour of bovine cortical bone showed a brittle nature under high strain rates (strain rates > 13 s(-1)). These findings should be reflected in the biomimetic simulation of biomaterials for bone tissue repair and engineering.     

Hair mercury concentrations of children and mothers in Korea: implication for exposure and evaluation

BACKGROUND: Mercury is a global pollutant that affects neurodevelopment of children. OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to measure and evaluate mercury concentration of children and mothers, and its association with exposure. METHODS: A cross-sectional assessment was done using questionnaires and hair mercury were analysed by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry in the National Institute for Minamata Disease in Japan. RESULTS: A total of 112 children and 111 mothers were included; mean age was 34 months and 32 years, respectively. 17.9% of children and 34.2% of mothers had concentrations greater than 1 parts per million (ppm) as reference level. Body weight at birth, feeding methods, maternal age, and maternal education level were significantly different in each group (p<.05). Mean maternal hair mercury level (0.91 ppm) was higher than children (0.74 ppm), and has a positive correlation between them (p<.05). 68.1% of children, 75% of pregnant period, 63.4% of lactating period, and 78.6% of last six months have been consuming fish. With multiple regression analysis, hair mercury levels in children aged less than 6 months had a linear relationship with body weight at birth, gestational weeks, feeding methods (breast- or bottle- feeding) and maternal educational level. While children aged over 6 months significantly differed with gender, frequency of fish servings per week, and frequency of maternal fish consumption in lactation period. And hair mercury levels had inverse linear relationship with maternal monthly income in this age group. Maternal mercury levels had linear relationship with maternal age. CONCLUSION: Mercury levels in children may be affected by their mothers due to similar dietary patterns. Further long-term large-scale and follow-up studies are needed.