A comparison of SPECT and planar ventilation perfusion lung scanning

In order to define the role of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolus; SPECT and Planar ventilation and perfusion lung studies were performed consecutively on eleven patients referred with suspected embolus. Three patients were shown to have 'high probability' ventilation perfusion mismatches. SPECT imaging allowed segmental localisation of the perfusion defect and revealed additional defects not seen on planar scans. SPECT lung study was performed with minimal technical difficulty and was well tolerated by all patients studied. SPECT is likely to become the method of choice for investigating patients referred with suspected pulmonary embolus.     

Temperature and relative humidity profiles during heat treatment of mills and its efficacy against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) life stages

Heat treatment involves raising the temperature of a food-processing facility to 50–60°C and maintaining these elevated temperatures for 24–36 h to kill stored-product insects. The pilot feed and flour mills at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, were subjected to heat treatment using gas and steam heaters, respectively, during 4–8 August 2001 to characterize temperature and relative humidity profiles and to determine efficacy against developmental stages of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Temperature and relative humidity profiles in each mill were electronically monitored in 10 different locations. Susceptibility of eggs, young instars, old instars, pupae, and adults of T. castaneum to heat was determined at the same 10 locations within each mill. The number of hours required to reach the target temperature of 50°C, number of hours above 50°C, and maximum temperatures varied between the mills and among mill locations. Relative humidity decreased predictably with an increase in temperature, and was 21% in most locations at 50°C or above. Two separate three-parameter non-linear regression models best described temperature and relative humidity profiles observed in each mill. Despite non-uniform heating at the sample locations, mortality of T. castaneum life stages was 100% in most locations, except in areas where temperatures were <50°C. Old instars and pupae appeared to be relatively heat tolerant when compared with other life stages, especially in the flour mill where lethal temperatures were attained. Possible reasons for the non-uniform heating observed at mill locations and survival of certain T. castaneum developmental stages are discussed.     

The use of bioelectrochemical systems in environmental remediation of xenobiotics: a review

Remediation of anthropogenic pollutants in our environment has become an imperative of the 21st century in order to sustain human activity and all life on the planet. With the current limitations of the existing technologies for this purpose, the need for innovative bioremediation technologies has become vitally important. Hitherto, electrochemically active microorganisms have only been a scientific curiosity and a platform for sustainable power production from waste material. However, recent research utilizing these electrochemically active microorganisms in bioelectrochemical systems (BES) has revealed their promising potential for bioremediation applications. The primary research focus of BES applications up-to now has been to optimize and increase their power output. The possibility of utilizing these systems for bioremediation applications has been a new facet of this field of work. This review provides a comprehensive outlook on the utilization of BES based technologies for remediation of xenobiotic environmental pollutants. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Free surface electrospun fibers: The combined effect of processing parameters

In this study, a free surface electrospinning experimental setup was developed based on rotating spiral copper wire electrode and used as the spinneret. The scheme was investigated by varying processing parameters including polymer solution concentration, distance between the electrode and the collector, applied voltage between the electrode, and the collector and wire electrode diameter. An average of fiber diameter ranged between 202 and 543 nm and a relative standard deviation ranged between 11.0 and 26.9% were obtained. The combined effects of processing parameters on the resulting fiber morphology were investigated. The analysis shows that in a multiple variable process like electrospinning, the interaction between the different processing parameters played an important role, rather than one parameter separately in obtaining desired nanofibers. Knowing the relative combined effects of processing parameters on fiber morphology should be useful for process control and prediction of electrospun fiber quality as it has been demonstrated in this study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:189–197, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

MR imaging of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma

MR imaging of a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the humerus is presented and correlated with gross and microscopic histology from the surgical specimen. The classification of chondrosarcoma and specific MR signal characteristics that suggest dedifferentiation are discussed.     

Renal function improves in liver transplant recipients when switched from a calcineurin inhibitor to sirolimus

Sirolimus (Rapamune; Wyeth-Ayerst, Philadelphia, PA) is a newer immunosuppressive drug with no known acute or chronic nephrotoxic effects; however, limited data are available in liver transplant recipients. We prospectively evaluated changes in renal function in liver transplant recipients after conversion from a calcineurin inhibitor to sirolimus monotherapy. We measured serial serum creatinine levels in liver transplant recipients with chronic nephrotoxicity caused by calcineurin inhibitors before and after conversion to sirolimus therapy. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Change in eGFR over time, incidence of acute hepatocellular rejection, and adverse events while being administered sirolimus monotherapy were recorded. Mean interval between liver transplantation and initiation of sirolimus therapy was 310 weeks (range, 9 to 780 weeks). Of 21 patients included in our study, 18 patients were converted to sirolimus monotherapy and 3 patients were switched to sirolimus and low-dose steroid therapy. Patients were followed up for a mean of 66.8 +/- 38.9 (SD) weeks after conversion. Renal function improved in 71% of patients (15 of 21 patients). Median eGFR improved significantly from 34 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the time of conversion to 43 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the last follow-up (27% increase in eGFR; P = 001). Median monthly change in eGFR was from -0.25 mL/min/1.73 m2 pre-sirolimus therapy to +1.28 mL/min/1.73 m2 post-sirolimus therapy (P =.09). Adverse events were mostly mild and self-limited. Only 1 patient developed biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection, which was treated with sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Two patients discontinued sirolimus therapy because of toxicity (oral ulceration, 1 patient; interstitial pneumonitis, 1 patient). Renal function improved significantly in the majority of liver transplant recipients with renal insufficiency caused by calcineurin inhibitors when converted to sirolimus therapy. Sirolimus monotherapy provided adequate immunosuppression with a low incidence of acute cellular rejection and minimal adverse events.     

利用RFID保护系统固件和其它知识产权

防伪的经典方法一直都是采用防伪包装或某种不可恢复的防拆包装，以及专门的标签印记技术。然而，任何在产品上可见的信息都可能被克隆，而且克隆信息可用于生产貌似真品的假冒产品。RFID被认为是库存控制和产品追踪管理的下一代条码技术，也能确保最终产品固件的安全和防止伪造，同时还能对产品的组成材料、保管环节及从原材料采购直到最终用户购买产品涉及到的各种周边情况的信息链进行安全记录管理。     

A 300-MHz 115-W 32-b bipolar ECL microprocessor

A full-custom single-chip bipolar ECL RISC microprocessor was implemented in a 1.0-μm single-poly bipolar technology. This research prototype contains a CPU and on-chip 2-KB instruction and 2-KB data caches. Worst-case power dissipation with a nominal -5.2 V supply is 115 W. The chip has been designed for a worst-case clock frequency of 275 MHz at a nominal supply. The chip verifies a new style of CAD tools developed during the design process, advanced packaging techniques for high-power microprocessors, and VLSI ECL circuit techniques