Classification of Alzheimer disease among susceptible brain regions

Statistical and machine learning techniques are frequently employed in the study of neuroimaging data for finding Alzheimer disease (AD) in clinical studies and in additional inquiries about research settings. AD affects the whole brain and as a result the quality of life, where most affected regions are the hippocampus (HP), middle temporal gyrus (MTG), entorhinal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). We used well-known classification methods to diagnose the affected regions of the brain at different stages of age using biomarker modalities and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at the resting state, and later marked the affected brain region on MRI. We have used well-known support vector machine (SVM), Fisher's linear discriminant analysis, artificial neural network, and logistic regression for the classification of AD. In the context of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, an SVM provided the best classification among AD stages. Moreover, analysis showed development of AD.     

A modified method for removal and stabilization of cesium metal in the vitrified matrix

Laboratory experiments were designed to investigate the separation and stabilization of cesium metal. Cesium was removed from simulated waste through sorption under certain physicochemical conditions. Silica sand (locally purchased) was used to remove cesium from simulated liquid waste. The range of pH and temperature was optimized and maximum removal (94–98%) of cesium was achieved with pH 10 at the temperature 36°C. Under optimized conditions with a temperature range of 301–315K ΔH, ΔSand ΔG _{309 K} for 150 ppm solution are ?27.22 ± 0.18 KJ/mol, ?74.1 ± 0.96 J/mol and ?3071 ± 2.1 KJ/mol respectively, and for 200 ppm solution thermodynamic entities are ΔH = ?20.2 ± 0.20 KJ/mol, ΔS = ?47.86 ± 0.66 J/mol and ΔG _{301 K} = ?4344 ± 3.7 KJ/mol. The sorbed metal ion has chances of desorption under changed physicochemical conditions in final disposal. To overcome this problem the final “secondary waste (metals on sorbents)” was stabilized by converting it into a stable vitreous borosilicate matrix through the vitrification process to prevent leaching. It was found that the sorbed cesium was evaporated during heating at 1250°C. The evaporation of cesium during vitrification was overcome by modifying the process. This modified vitrification process is found excellent to immobilize the sorbed cesium. Stability was tested by desorption attempts at different pH.     

Amorphous carbon films in direct current magnetron sputtering from regenerative sooting discharge

We present results of carbon coatings on metal substrates in cylindrical hollow cathode (CHC) direct current magnetron sputtering. This is a new technique for making amorphous carbon films by CHC magnetron sputtering from a regenerative sooting discharge. The carbon films are deposited on Cu and Al substrates in a Ne atmosphere and compared with the films of carbon soot on the same materials produced from a conventional 80A arc discharge between graphite electrodes in a He background gas. Raman spectroscopy reveals the existence of graphite and diamond-like structures from the arc discharge while in CHC magnetron sputtering, graphite-like structures are dominant. X-ray diffraction data of samples from the arc discharge show nano-size precipitates of Al₄C₃ of rhombohedral and hexagonal form for the aluminium sample and probable formation of diamond and hexagonal carbon in copper whilst in magnetron sputtering we obtain amorphous carbon films. Scanning electron microscope images of the surface show a collection of loose agglomerates of carbon particles in the arc discharge whereas, for magnetron sputtering, structures are regular with smooth edges and fine grains.     

Understanding the soft side of software projects: An empirical study on the interactive effects of social skills and political skills on complexity – performance relationship

While prior research considers project complexity as a double-edged sword, researchers and practitioners still remain unclear whether project complexity serves as productive or counterproductive ingredient for project performance. Our research brings clarity on the dynamic nature of complexity-performance relationship by integrating social exchange theory with recent developments in project management research to develop and test a novel framework involving interactive roles of social skills and political skills in software-projects. Regardless of calls for further empirical studies, researchers have predominantly neglected the fundamental role of human efforts and human interaction in outlining performance particularly in complex projects. Drawing on a survey based sample of 242 project managers and use of variance based structural equation modeling, the findings illuminate theoretical and practical contributions in better understanding complexities in software-projects performance. In addition, prioritizing human-centric factors i.e. social skills and political skills in supporting complexity- performance relationship further enhances contributions of this research.     

Quantitative determination of dynamical properties using coherent spatial frequency domain imaging

Laser speckle imaging (LSI) is a fast, noninvasive method to obtain relative particle dynamics in highly light scattering media, such as biological tissue. To make quantitative measurements, we combine LSI with spatial frequency domain imaging, a technique where samples are illuminated with sinusoidal intensity patterns of light that control the characteristic path lengths of photons in the sample. We use both diffusion and radiative transport to predict the speckle contrast of coherent light remitted from turbid media. We validate our technique by measuring known Brownian diffusion coefficients (D(b)) of scattering liquid phantoms. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of radiative transport were found to provide the most accurate contrast predictions. For polystyrene microspheres of radius 800 nm in water, the expected and fit D(b) using radiative transport were 6.10E-07 and 7.10E-07 mm2/s, respectively. For polystyrene microspheres of radius 1026 nm in water, the expected and fit D(b) were 4.7E-07 and 5.35 mm2/s, respectively. For scattering particles in water-glycerin solutions, the fit fractional changes in D(b) with changes in viscosity were all found to be within 3% of the expected value.     

Coronary steal through anomalous internal mammary artery graft. Treated by ligation without sternotomy

A patient who had undergone adequate coronary revascularization with a left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery and with saphenous vein grafts to the right coronary artery and to the 1st and 2nd obtuse marginal branches presented with early-onset recurrent angina. A repeat angiogram showed an abnormally large branch arising from the very proximal segment of the left internal mammary artery and supplying the whole lateral chest wall via many intercostal tributaries. Relief of symptoms was achieved by ligation of this branch, and the patient remains symptom free more than 6 years after the procedure.     

Cellulose-lanthanum hydroxide nanocomposite as a selective marker for detection of toxic copper

In this current report, a simple, reliable, and rapid method based on modifying the cellulose surface by doping it with different percentages of lanthanum hydroxide (i.e., 1% La(OH)₃-cellulose (LC), 5% La(OH)₃-cellulose (LC2), and 10% La(OH)₃-cellulose (LC3)) was proposed as a selective marker for detection of copper (Cu(II)) in aqueous medium. Surface properties of the newly modified cellulose phases were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis. The effect of pH on the adsorption of modified cellulose phases for Cu(II) was evaluated, and LC3 was found to be the most selective for Cu(II) at pH 6.0. Other parameters, influencing the maximum uptake of Cu(II) on LC3, were also investigated for a deeper mechanistic understanding of the adsorption phenomena. Results showed that the adsorption capacity for Cu(II) was improved by 211% on the LC3 phase as compared to diethylaminoethyl cellulose phase after only 2 h contact time. Adsorption isotherm data established that the adsorption process nature was monolayer with a homogeneous adsorbent surface. Results displayed that the adsorption of Cu(II) onto the LC3 phase obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Selectivity studies toward eight metal ions, i.e., Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II), were further performed at the optimized pH value. Based on the selectivity study, it was found that Cu(II) is highly selective toward the LC3 phase. Moreover, the efficiency of the proposed method was supported by implementing it to real environmental water samples with adequate results.     

The effects of ordering on the morphology of two-layer alumite—Forming a patterned interface

Two-layer alumite has been synthesized by three-step anodizing such that the 1st layer was formed by commonly known two-step anodizing at a prescribed voltage and the 2nd layer was formed at two-times higher anodizing voltage, in suitable electrolytes. When the 2nd layer is formed at an ordering voltage, alternate pores of the 1st layer continue growing through the 2nd layer, in a regular pattern. The neighboring pores cease their growth, possibly due to upward flow and thickening of barrier oxide at the new cell boundaries. The growing pores in the 2nd layer are equi-distant provided that the 1st layer is also formed under ordering conditions. If the 2nd layer is formed under non-ordering conditions the regular pattern at the interface is completely lost. Employing the two-layer alumite, nanowires by the 1st layer can be grown such that alternate pores remain empty, providing a new superlattice.     

Corrosion Inhibition of Zn-Al-Cu Alloy by 2-Aminothiazole

The inhibitive effect of 2-aminothiazole on corrosion of Zn-Al-Cu alloy was investigated in acid, neutral and alkaline media by impedance and polarization techniques. The impedance data were fitted to a simple equivalent circuit model and indicated control by a diffusion process. Satisfactory inhibition was obtained in alkaline and neutral media. On the other hand, quite low inhibition efficiency was observed in acid medium. Increase in concentration of the inhibitor increased the inhibitive effect, whereas the reverse was observed when the temperature was increased. Different adsorption isotherms were tested in neutral and alkaline media, the best fit was obtained for the Freundlich isotherm. The highest value for the free energy change was recorded in alkaline medium in accordance with the high inhibition efficiency observed in this medium.