Changes in choroidal innervation in Royal College of Surgeons rats with hereditary retinal degeneration

In Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with hereditary retinal degeneration loss of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and choriocapillaris is most pronounced in the upper-temporal quadrant. To investigate whether changes in choroidal vasodilative innervation might be involved in the RPE degeneration, we analyzed whole mount preparations of the retina and choroid stained for nitric oxide synthase and for NADPH-diaphorase (d) of 19 dystrophic RCS rats and 24 age-matched congenic controls of different age groups. Density of NADPH-d-positive nerve fibers was quantitatively evaluated in the upper-temporal and lower-nasal quadrant. Our results revealed that even in control animals there were much less positively stained nerve fibers in the upper-temporal than in the lower-nasal quadrant. Nerve fiber density in both quadrants increased for up to 3 months and remained nearly constant throughout life. In the dystrophic animals up to 3 months of age nerve fiber density was similar to that seen in the controls. In dystrophic animals older than 3 months nerve fiber density in the upper-temporal quadrant decreased significantly, whereas density in the lower-nasal quadrant revealed nearly the same values as in the age-matched controls. Decrease of NADPH-d stained nerve fibers in this quadrant occurred prior to the vascular changes in the choriocapillaris. In the retina of RCS dystrophic rats an increase of NADPH-d-positive amacrine cells was found only in 3-month-old animals. Most of these cells were located in the vicinity of irregularly arranged branches of the central retinal artery. In animals 5 months of age and older the number of cells decreased to the same values found in controls, so that we assume that increase of NADPH-d-positive amacrine cells is involved in capillary degeneration or sprouting.     

Experimental Studies of Hydrodynamics and Regime Transition in Bubble Columns

The detailed flow structures in bubble columns with and without internal draught tube have been investigated using the PIV technique. The onsets of transition due to vortex formation and different flow patterns with and without draught tube have been studied using the drift‐flux model and the experimentally measured Reynolds stresses. The role of solid particles and liquid viscosity, as well as bubbling orifice configuration on the flow patterns and regime transition has also been studied and discussed.     

Cover Picture: Dendritic Nanowire Growth Mediated by a Self‐Assembled Catalyst (Adv. Mater. 5/2005)

The dendritic nanostructures shown on the cover background were generated by self‐assembled Mn clusters deposited from the vapor phase during vapor–liquid–solid growth of InAs nanowires. By carefully controlling the timing and amount of the Mn precursor, on p. 598 Lauhon and co‐workers demonstrate a route to the formation of ordered hierarchical nanowire structures shown from various perspectives in the cover insets.     

Intelligent SOP manufacturing

Microsystems packaging is fundamentally dependent on the manufacture of microelectronic, photonic, radio frequency (RF), and MEMS devices. The system-on-package (SOP) approach has been identified as a key strategy for integrating these strategic packaging technologies. Because of rising costs, the challenge before SOP manufacturers is to offset capital investment with greater automation and technological innovation in the fabrication process. To reduce manufacturing cost, several important subtasks have emerged, including increasing fabrication yield, reducing product cycle time, maintaining consistent levels of product quality and performance, and improving the reliability of processing equipment. Because of the large number of steps involved, maintaining product quality in an SOP manufacturing facility requires the control of hundreds of process variables. The interdependent issues of high yield, high quality, and low cycle time are addressed by the ongoing development of several critical capabilities in state-of-the-art computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems: in situ process monitoring, process/equipment modeling, real-time process control, and equipment diagnosis. Recently, the use of computational intelligence in various manufacturing applications has increased, and the SOP manufacturing arena is no exception to this trend. Artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms (GAs), and other techniques have emerged as powerful tools for assisting CIM systems in performing various process monitoring, modeling, and control functions. This paper reviews current research in these areas, as well as the potential for deployment of these capabilities in state-of-the-art SOP manufacturing facilities.     

Line Broadening in the Fundamental Band of CO in CO-He and CO-Ar Mixtures

The effect of H. pylori infection on gastric motility and sensation is unclear. Our hypothesis is that H. pylori infection increases gastric sensation and reduces gastric accommodation and emptying. In eight H. pylori-positive and eight H. pylori-negative asymptomatic subjects, infection was proven by antral histology or culture. We evaluated: (1) gastric emptying of solids, (2) proximal gastric compliance, (3) fasting and postprandial proximal gastric tone and phasic contractions, (4) gastric sensation during balloon inflations or ingestion of cold water, and (5) abdominal vagal function. H. pylori infection was associated with lower gastric accommodation (median 75% postprandial increase in barostat balloon volume compared to fasting) when compared to the accommodation in uninfected volunteers (median 211% change from fasting). One H. pylori-positive subject had an abnormal abdominal vagal function test and her gastric accommodation response was reduced. Other motor and sensory functions in the two groups were similar. In asymptomatic volunteers, H. pylori infection and gastritis result in reduced accommodation (diastolic dysfunction) but no change in overall sensation or motor functions of the stomach.     

Numerical modelling and implementation of ferrite cored eddy current probes

This paper focuses on the development of a magnetic moment method of calculating vector field quantities for a highly permeable ferrite cored eddy current probe. Basis functions are used in this method to replace the scattered field caused by the probe core in accordance with the surface equivalence theorem. These functions are further developed and tested for accuracy and convergence. An efficient material profile equation, independent of probe coil and basis function properties, is also designed and verified. Collocation point selection and optimisation is finally undertaken leading to the accurate determination of probe source coil impedance. The accuracy of calculation is verified using an industry standard finite element solver.     

A novel antithrombin gene mutation: slippage and mispairing as a mechanism of genetic disease

Treatment options for acute leukemia relapsing after allogeneic BMT include conventional chemotherapy or a second transplant; however, results are rather discouraging, the first option being associated with poor survival and the second with a high mortality rate. More recently, donor leukocyte infusion (DLI) from the original donor has been used for relapsed patients in an attempt to induce a graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. This procedure is partially devoid of the toxicity inherent to a second BMT. At our Institution, a 36-year-old patient with biphenotypic AML in second complete remission after relapse following allogeneic BMT was treated with peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC)-enriched donor leukocytes, obtained after in vivo priming with rhG-CSF. The patient experienced extensive cGVHD but developed a testicular relapse while in full hematologic remission. After irradiation of the sanctuary site he remains free of disease, still with chronic GVHD, 21 months after bone marrow relapse. This case suggests that immunologically privileged sites are inaccessible to GVHD/GVL effect. This should be considered when planning salvage transplants procedures in patients at risk for extramedullary involvement.