Allotype-associated differences in concentrations of human IgA2

A prospective clinical trial comparing adverse postmyelographic effects and myelographic quality of metrizamide and iohexol was conducted. Using a predetermined, randomized assignment, 24 horses exhibiting neurologic signs were administered either metrizamide (180 mgl/ml) or iohexol (180 mgl/ml) via cerebellomedullary puncture. Each horse was evaluated postmyelographically for adverse effects. Myelographic quality was assessed by a numerical scoring method. Adverse effects were observed more frequently with metrizamide (21) compared with iohexol (6) myelography (p < 0.05). Seizures, intensification of preexisting neurologic signs and prolonged anesthetic recovery were the most common complications after myelography. There was no difference in myelographic quality (p > 0.05). We conclude that iohexol is safer than metrizamide for equine myelography and that quality myelograms can be obtained with either contrast medium.     

Physical Violence Detection Based on Distributed Surveillance Cameras

Mobile Networks and Applications - In recent years, physical violence detection has become a research hotspot in the area of human activity recognition. With the improvement and full coverage of...     

Loss of heterozygosity in tuberous sclerosis hamartomas

We have previously described in tuberous sclerosis (TSC) hamartomas the phenomenon of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for DNA markers in the region of both the TSC2 gene on chromosome 16p13.3 and the TSC1 gene on 9q34. We now describe the spectrum of LOH in 51 TSC hamartomas from 34 cases of TSC. DNA was extracted from leucocytes or normal paraffin embedded tissue, and from frozen paraffin embedded hamartoma tissue from the same patient. The samples were analysed for 11 markers spanning the TSC1 locus and nine markers spanning the TSC2 locus. Twenty-one of 51 hamartomas showed LOH (41%). There was significantly more LOH on 16p13.3, with 16 hamartomas showing LOH around TSC2, and five in the vicinity of TSC1. No hamartoma showed LOH for markers around both loci. All the areas of LOH on chromosome 9 were large, but the smallest region of overlap lay between the markers D9S149 and D9S114, providing independent evidence for the localisation of the TSC1 gene. These data show that LOH is a common finding in a wide range of hamartomas, affecting the same TSC locus in different lesions from the same patient but not affecting both loci. These data support the hypothesis that both the TSC genes act as tumour suppressors and that the manifestations of TSC in patients with germline TSC mutations rise from "second hit" somatic mutations inactivating the remaining normal copy of the TSC gene.     

NMR studies on vortices in rotating3He-A

NMR measurements are reported on rotating³He-A in a long cylindrical geometry of 5 mm diameter at a liquid pressure of 29.3 bar and in axial magnetic fields of 14.2, 28.4, and 56.9 mT. At 28.4 mT, NMR studies are also reported in fields inclined by 25° and 90° from the axis of rotation. The frequency shift, the width, and the intensity of the spin wave modes localized on the soft vortex cores, as well as the additional broadening of the main NMR line during rotation, were measured as a function of temperature, angular velocity , magnetic field intensity, and its inclination angle. Also observed were a critical angular velocity of vortex formation, hysteretic behavior in the number of vortices when comparing accelerating rotation to decelerating, and metastable vortex densities, presumably a vortex tangle after rapid oscillatory acceleration. The results can be understood in terms of the continuous 4 vortices first proposed by Seppälä and Volovik.     

Imaging of two-dimensional unsaturated moisture flows in uncracked and cracked cement-based materials using electrical capacitance tomography

The development of visualizing tools to monitor unsaturated moisture flow in cement-based materials is of great importance, as most degradation processes in cement-based materials are connected to and take place in the presence moisture. This paper investigates the ability of electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) to image two-dimensional (2D) unsaturated moisture flow in cement-based materials. In ECT, the electrical permittivity distribution within an object is reconstructed based on measured capacitances between electrodes attached on the object’s surface. In a series of experiments, mortar specimens with and without discrete cracks were imaged with ECT during a 2D moisture ingress. The results show that ECT is able to monitor the evolution of the moisture flow, and to approximate the shape and position of the moisture front. These findings indicate that ECT is a viable method for monitoring and visualizing 2D unsaturated moisture flow in cement-based materials in the presence and absence of discrete cracks.     

Thermoset lactic acid‐based resin as a matrix for flax fibers

Thermoset composites were produced from flax fibers and a novel lactic acid (LA)‐based thermoset resin. This resin is based on methacrylated, star‐shaped oligomers of LA. The main purpose of this work was to evaluate whether this resin can be used to produce structural composites from flax fibers. Composites were prepared by spray impregnation followed by compression molding at elevated temperature. The tests showed that composites can be produced with as much as 70 wt% fiber. The composites were evaluated by tensile testing, flexural testing, charpy impact test, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and low‐vacuum scanning electron microscopy. The ageing properties in high humid conditions were evaluated, the Young's modulus ranged from 3 GPa to 9 GPa in the best case. This work shows that structural composites can be produced from renewable material. It is clear from the results that these composites have properties that make them suitable for furniture, panels, or automotive parts. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

A cutting force model for finishing processes using helical end mills with significant runout

Analytical cutting force models play an important role in a wide array of simulation approaches of milling processes. The accuracy of the simulated processes directly depends on the predictive power of the applied cutting force model, which may vary under specific circumstances. End milling processes with small radial cutting depths, e.g. finishing processes, are particularly problematic. In this case, the tool runout, which is usually neglected in established cutting force models, can become quite significant. Within this article, well-known cutting force models are implemented for runout-prone finishing processes and modified by integrating additional parameters. A method is presented for how these additional runout parameters can be efficiently determined alongside commonly used cutting coefficients. For this purpose, a large number of milling experiments have been performed where the cutting forces were directly measured using a stationary dynamometer. The measured cutting forces were compared with the simulated cutting forces to verify and assess the modified model. By using the presented model and calibration method, cutting forces can be accurately predicted even for small radial cutting depths and significant tool runout.     

Stable SOI micromachined electrostatic AC voltage reference

We have designed and manufactured a micromachined moving plate capacitor to be used as an AC voltage reference in electrical metrology. The reference is based on the characteristic AC current–voltage curve of the component having a maximum, the value of which ideally depends only on the geometry of the component and material properties of single crystalline silicon. The electrode surface stability is essential in this application and hence a new fabrication process has been developed to metallize both surfaces of an electrostatically actuated micromachined structure. The stability of the AC reference voltage at a frequency of 100 kHz and an RMS voltage value 6.4 V was measured to be ±60 ppm over 14 h.     

Characterizing and optimizing poly-l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone membranes for urothelial tissue engineering

Different synthetic biomaterials such as polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone and poly-l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (PLCL) have been studied for urothelial tissue engineering, with favourable results. The aim of this research was to further optimize the growth surface for human urothelial cells (hUCs) by comparing different PLCL-based membranes: smooth (s) and textured (t) PLCL and knitted PLA mesh with compression-moulded PLCL (cPLCL). The effects of topographical texturing on urothelial cell response and mechanical properties under hydrolysis were studied. The main finding was that both sPLCL and tPLCL supported hUC growth significantly better than cPLCL. Interestingly, tPLCL gave no significant advantage to hUC attachment or proliferation compared with sPLCL. However, during the 14 day assessment period, the majority of cells were viable and maintained phenotype on all the membranes studied. The material characterization exhibited potential mechanical characteristics of sPLCL and tPLCL for urothelial applications. Furthermore, the highest elongation of tPLCL supports the use of this kind of texturing. In conclusion, in light of our cell culture results and mechanical characterization, both sPLCL and tPLCL should be further studied for urothelial tissue engineering.