Hypocalcemic-induced tetany that causes triceps and bilateral quadriceps tendon ruptures

Small-cell carcinoma (also known as oat-cell carcinoma) is a rare tumor that previously concerns the lung; small-cell carcinoma of the bladder is extremely rare (0.5% of all bladder malignancies). The Authors report here the case of a 78th years old man. Fourteen months before our observation he was submitted to a partial cystectomy for a small-cell carcinoma of the bladder cupola. There was no evidence of extra-vesical location at that moment and the patient was not submitted to any adjuvant therapy. At the moment of our observation the disease was very advanced and the patient died in a few time. The Authors discuss about the therapy of bladder small-cell carcinoma in the few cases described by the literature and about the survival of those patients. A radical surgical treatment in association with an adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy appears as a better way to treat these patients. On account of this case the Authors agree with this choice and conclude that only a combined treatment can allow a better survival.     

Optimization of the sputtering process parameters of GZO films using the Grey–Taguchi method

This paper examines the optimization of the process parameters of GZO films deposited on polyethylene terephthalate substrates by R.F. magnetron sputtering using the Taguchi method, aiming to obtain highly transparent and conductive films. The influences of the various sputtering factors (R.F. power, sputtering pressure, deposition time, substrate temperature and post-annealing temperature) on electrical resistivity and structural, morphological and optical transmittance of GZO films are analyzed. The electrical resistivity and the optical transmittance of GZO films were improved by post-annealing the substrate during the deposition process. Experimental results indicate the optimal process parameters in GZO films deposited on polyethylene terephthalate substrates can be determined effectively. The electrical resistivity of GZO films is decreased from 1.194 × 10⁻³ Ω cm to 8.627 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm and the optical transmittance is increased from 86.148% to 90%, leading to multiple performance characteristics in deposition qualities through the Grey–Taguchi method.     

Ring-Based Triple-Push VCOs With Wide Continuous Tuning Ranges

This paper proposes a new ring-based triple-push voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) architecture to achieve a wide tuning range and high operating frequencies. Two ring-based triple-push VCOs, one with a continuous frequency tuning range of 0.2-34 GHz, fabricated in 0.13- mum CMOS, and the other with a range of 0.1-65.8 GHz, fabricated in 90-nm CMOS, are presented in this paper. These two VCOs demonstrate that the proposed VCO architecture can achieve a very wide continuous tuning range, up to millimeter-wave frequencies, without any device-switching operations. In addition to the wide tuning range, the chip area of the proposed VCO is very small, allowing integration into a phase-locked loop. The power consumptions of the 0.2-34- and 0.1-65.8-GHz VCOs are 2-70 mW from a 2-V supply voltage, and 1.2-26.4 mW from a 1.2-V supply voltage, respectively. The fundamental and second harmonic rejections are better than 15 dB for both VCOs.     

Spectral-domain analysis of frequency selective surfaces comprised of periodic arrays of cross dipoles and Jerusalem crosses

A full-wave analysis for the problem of scattering frequency selective surfaces from (FSS) comprised of periodic arrays of cross dipoles and Jerusalem crosses is presented. The formulation is carried out in the spectral domain where the convolution form of the integral equation for the induced current is reduced to an algebraic one. The equation is then solved using the Galerkin's procedure applied in the spectral domain. A set of entire-domain type "junction basis functions," which, is demonstrated in this paper to be essential to account correctly for the discontinuous nature of the induced current at the junction of the cross, is included in the expansion for the unknown induced current. This analysis is computationally efficient, and its accuracy is verified by the agreement between the computed theoretical data and the experimental results reported by other authors.     

Determination of production run time and warranty length under system maintenance and trade credits

Manufacturers offer a warranty period within which they will fix failed products at no cost to customers. Manufacturers also perform system maintenance when a system is in an out-of-control state. Suppliers provide a credit period to settle the payment to manufacturers. This study considers manufacturer's production and warranty decisions for an imperfect production system under system maintenance and trade credit. Specifically, this study uses the economic production quantity to model the decisions under system maintenance and trade credit. These decisions involve how long the production run time and warranty length should be to maximise total profit. This study provides lemmas for the conditions of optimality and develops a theorem and an algorithm for solving the problems described. Numerical examples illustrate the solution procedures and provide a variety of managerial implications. Results show that simultaneously determining production and warranty decisions is superior to only determining production. This study also discusses the effects of the related parameters on manufacturer's decisions and profits. The results of this study are a useful reference for managerial decision-making and administration.     

Reducing drilling-induced delamination in composite tube by magnetic colloid back-up

Drilling is an indispensible machining process for building a load-carrying structure of composite materials. Delamination defect is often produced at the exit of drilling, which threatens the service safety of the structure. There are back-up methods to reduce delamination when drilling the open flat-plate composite structure, but none for drilling into the curved-surface or hollow-shape structures. This study describes an innovative method using electromagnet and the deformable inexpensive colloid mixed with iron powder to produce magnetic back-up force at drilling exit to suppress delamination in industrial tube parts. The delamination extent can be reduced by 60–80%. The optimal volume ratio of powder-to-colloid is found 1:3.     

Role of mass transfer in overall substrate removal rate in a sequential aerobic sludge blanket reactor treating a non-inhibitory substrate

A laboratory study was undertaken to explore the role of mass transfer in overall substrate removal rate and the subsequent kinetic behavior in a glucose-fed sequential aerobic sludge blanket (SASB) reactor. At the organic loading rates (OLRs) of 2-8 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/m³-d, the SASB reactor removed over 98% of COD from wastewater. With an increase in OLR, the average granule diameter (d_p = 1.1-1.9 mm) and the specific oxygen utilization rate increased; whereas biomass density of granules and solids retention time decreased (13-32 d). The intrinsic and apparent kinetic parameters were evaluated using break-up and intact granules, respectively. The calculated COD removal efficiencies using the kinetic model (incorporating intrinsic kinetics) and empirical model (incorporating apparent kinetics) agreed well with the experimental results, implying that both models can properly describe the overall substrate removal rate in the SASB reactor. By applying the validated kinetic model, the calculated mass transfer parameter values and the simulated substrate concentration profiles in the granule showed that the overall substrate removal rate is intra-granular diffusion controlled. By varying different d_p within a range of 0.1-3.5 mm, the simulated COD removal efficiencies disclosed that the optimal granular size could be no greater than 2.5 mm.     

Effects of molecular weight and molecular structure of low profile additives on the properties of bulk molding compound (BMC)

The effects of molecular weight and molecular structure of styrene(St)‐based and vinyl acetate(VAc)‐based low‐profile additive (LPA) on the curing kinetics and compatibility of unsaturated polyester (UP)/LPA system and linear shrinkage, water absorption rate, surface gloss and pigmentability of bulk molding compound (BMC) were investigated. Results show that the curing reaction rate decreases with an increase of the molecular weight of LPA due to the chain entanglement effect. The plasticizing effect of LPA on the (UP) network was reduced with an increase of the molecular weight of LPA. Water absorption of BMC increases as the molecular weight of LPA increases, implying that more microvoids were formed inside the BMC, resulting a lower linear shrinkage rate, and worse pigmentability. However, good shrinkage control LPA does not necessarily lead to a smoother surface and better surface gloss. Furthermore, modified LPAs possess better compatibility with UP, the final curing conversion of UP is elevated, and both better shrinkage control and surface properties are also observed.     

Assessment of reinforced poly(ethylene glycol) chitosan hydrogels as dressings in a mouse skin wound defect model

Wound dressings of chitosan are biocompatible, biodegradable, antibacterial and hemostatic biomaterials. However, applications for chitosan are limited due to its poor mechanical properties. Here, we conducted an in vivo mouse angiogenesis study on reinforced poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-chitosan (RPC) hydrogels. RPC hydrogels were formed by cross-linking chitosan with PEGs of different molecular weights at various PEG to chitosan ratios in our previous paper. These dressings can keep the wound moist, had good gas exchange capacity, and was capable of absorbing or removing the wound exudate. We examined the ability of these RPC hydrogels and neat chitosan to heal small cuts and full-thickness skin defects on the backs of male Balb/c mice. Histological examination revealed that chitosan suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells and accelerated fibroblast proliferation, while PEG enhanced epithelial migration. The RPC hydrogels promoted wound healing in the small cuts and full layer wounds. The optimal RPC hydrogel had a swelling ratio of 100% and a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of about 2000 g/m²/day. In addition, they possess good mechanical property and appropriate degradation rates. Thus, the optimal RPC hydrogel formulation functioned effectively as a wound dressing and promoted wound healing.