Arteriovenous malformation presenting as a complex pelvic mass with ureteral obstruction. A case report

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are an abnormal communication between arterial and venous structures. Pelvic AVMs have been infrequently described in the literature and represent an uncommon cause of a palpable pelvic mass. CASE: A case of pelvic AVM with ureteral obstruction occurred. The location and radiologic appearance of the AVM suggested a complex adnexal mass. During exploration and resection of the mass, significant bleeding was encountered. The diagnosis of AVM was made only retrospectively, with histologic examination of the specimen. CONCLUSION: AVMs are an uncommon and unique cause of pelvic pathology. Preoperative diagnosis will alert the surgeon as to the technically difficult resection that may be encountered and to the massive bleeding that can be associated with their removal.     

Frequency and etiology of calf losses and calf diseases before weaning in cow-calf farms. II. Microbiological and parasitological diagnoses in diarrheic calves]

Diarrhea is the most frequently diagnosed disease in Swiss cow-calf farms. During an longitudinal study conducted in 105 cow-calf farms in Switzerland in 1993-95, blood and fecal samples were collected from diarrheic calves and from calves that died because of diarrhea. Campylobacter spp. were detected in 42%, E. coli (VTEC) in 32%, rotavirus in 33%, coronavirus in 13%, coccidia in 43% and helminths in 8% of the cases. In some samples Yersinia pseudotuberculosis were isolated. The BVD-virus antigen was not detected in any of the calves examined. In most cases concurrent infection with several enteropathogens was diagnosed. Specific causes of diarrhea were therefore difficult to establish. The bacteriological findings of this study have implication for food safety: VTEC, Campylobacter spp. Yersinia spp. and cryptosporidia are considered as potential causes on zoonoses.     

Reliability aspects of microsensors and micromechatronic actuators for automotive applications

In modern cars microsensors and micromechatronic actuators play an essential and still increasingly important role as the interface between the vehicle with its complex functions of motor management, chassis systems, safety as well as comfort and convenience on the one hand and the respective electronic control units on the other hand. They have to fulfill their task in a harsh environment over the entire lifetime of an automobile. Therefore reliability aspects have moved more and more into the focus of engineering and research activities in microsystem technology. A methodical procedure is described that allows reliability issues to be approached efficiently. The implementation of the methodology is illustrated with real-life examples of reliability aspects of hot film mass air flow sensors, inertial sensors as well as piezoelectric actuators.     

A new ‘tailor-made’ methodology for the mechanical behaviour analysis of rubber-like materials: I. Kinematics measurements using a digital speckle extensometry

This paper is the first part of a work devoted to the setting-up of a methodology for the mechanical behaviour characterization of rubber-like materials, using a digital speckle extensometer. We present here the experimental approach, specific to large strain measurements. The proposed method is based on in-plane kinematics measurements using an optical extensometer. The whole two-dimensional field of in-plane displacements is obtained by a digital image processing. We discuss then the correlation calculations and how to achieve the optimal subset matching. Next, we specify how to derive the principal stretch ratios, and the accuracy on these components, issued from a subsequent numerical calibration.Finally, we present experimental data dealing with a carbon black, filled natural rubber, issued from uniaxial traction tests, pure shear tests, and tensile tests performed on double-edge notched tensile specimens.     

High accuracy path tracking for vehicles in presence of sliding: Application to farm vehicle automatic guidance for agricultural tasks

When designing an accurate automated guidance system for vehicles, a major problem is sliding and pseudo-sliding effects. This is especially the case in agricultural applications, where five-centimetre accuracy with respect to the desired trajectory is required, although the vehicles are moving on slippery ground. It has been established that RTK GPS was a very suitable sensor to achieve automated guidance with such high precision: several control laws have been designed for vehicles equipped with this sensor, and provide the expected guidance accuracy as long as the vehicles do not slide. In previous work, further control developments have been proposed to take sliding into account: guidance accuracy in slippery environments has been shown to be preserved, except transiently at the beginning/end of curves. In this paper, the design of this control law is first recalled and discussed. A Model Predictive Control method is then applied in order to preserve accuracy of guidance even during these curvature transitions. Finally, the overall control scheme is implemented, and improvements with respect to previous guidance laws are demonstrated through full-scale experiments.     

Laboratory simulated slipstream testing of novel sulfur removal processes for gasification application

The Wabash River Integrated Methanol and Power Production from Clean Coal Technologies (IMPPCCT) project is investigating an Early Entrance Coproduction Plant (EECP) concept to evaluate integrated electrical power generation and methanol production from coal and other carbonaceous feedstocks. Research, development and testing (RD&T) that is currently being conducted under the project is evaluating cost effective process systems for removing contaminants, particularly sulfur species, from the generated gas which contains mainly synthesis gas (syngas), CO₂ and steam at concentrations acceptable for the methanol synthesis catalyst. The RD&T includes laboratory testing followed by bench-scale and field testing at the SG Solutions Gasification Plant located in West Terre Haute, Indiana. Actual synthesis gas produced by the plant was utilized at system pressure and temperature for bench-scale field testing.     

Efficient identification of point mutations by automated DNA sequencing of artificial heterozygote samples

Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGAS) type 2 (Schmidt syndrome) is characterized by the association of primary adrenocortical insufficiency with autoimmune thyroid disease, and/or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In this report we describe the occurrence of two episodes of post-partum thyroiditis (PPT) after a first and second pregnancy as well the development acutely of adrenal insufficiency after a second pregnancy. A family history of autoimmune thyroid disease and IDDM as well as positive antiadrenal and antithyroid antibodies and HLA typing is evidence for an underlying polyendocrine autoimmune syndrome. This case report provides further evidence that the immune system that is suppressed in pregnancy to tolerate the fetal allograft can rebound post-partum to unmask polyendocrine autoimmune disorders such as adrenalitis and PPT in susceptible women.