Recurrence and death in non-small cell lung carcinomas: a prognostic model using pathological parameters, microvessel count, and gene protein products

Optimized stent expansion by high-pressure inflations of oversized balloons has initially been derived from experience obtained with the Palmaz-Schatz stent, whereas there is little experience with this strategy in the Wallstent. By using this approach with quantitative coronary angiographic guidance, 20 Wallstents and 20 Palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted in 34 patients and consecutively examined by conventional two-dimensional (2D) intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) and three-dimensional (3D) ICUS on the basis of the application of a pattern recognition algorithm. Ultrasound criteria of adequate stent expansion were defined as a complete apposition of the stent to the vessel wall, a stent symmetry index (SSI = minimum/maximum lumen diameter) > or = O.7, and a stent-reference lumen area ratio (SRR = Minimum intrastent lumen area/Average of proximal and distal reference lumen area) > or = O.8. In all cases a smooth angiographic lumen and a negative diameter stenosis, on the basis of a distal reference, was achieved. For the Wallstents ICUS showed a higher SSI (2D, 0.95 +/- 0.04 vs 0.85 +/- 0.09; p < 0.001; 3D, 0.90 +/- 0.09 vs 0.82 +/- 0.11, p < 0.05) and a lower SRR (2D, 0.66 +/- 0.12 vs 0.81 +/- 0.13, p < 0.005; 3D, 0.63 +/- 0.14 vs 0.74 +/- 0.15, p < 0.05) than for the Palmaz-Schatz stents. Ninety percent of failure in meeting these criteria resulted from a low SRR. The incidence of incomplete stent apposition (one in both stents) or SSI <0.7 was low and generally associated with an SRR <0.8. The Wallstents met the ICUS criteria less often (2D, 2(1O%) vs 10(50%), p < 0.01; 3D, 3(15%) vs 9(45%), p < 0.05), were significantly longer (35.1 +/- 7.7 mm and 14.3 +/- 3.3 mm, p < 0.0001), and generally demonstrated a larger vessel tapering, measured as proximal minus distal ICUS reference lumen area (1.33 +/- 2.91 mm2 vs 0.44 +/- 1.97 mm(2), not significant). Wallstents meeting the ICUS criteria, however, showed less vessel tapering (0.18 +/- 1.64 mm(2)). Thus optimized stent expansion was followed by excellent angiographic results for both Palmaz-Schatz and Wallstent. Although angiographic results and visual assessment of the ICUS examination suggested a good outcome, few Wallstents met the ICUS criteria in contrast to the Palmaz-Schatz stents. The low value of the SRR in the Wallstents is likely to be caused by vessel tapering, suggesting that this criterion may be unsuitable in assessing the adequacy of the expansion of relatively long stents such as the Wallstent.     

Proposed modification to the CIECAM02 colour appearance model to include the simultaneous contrast effects

A modified CIECAM02 colour appearance model, named CIECAM02‐m2, is proposed to enable CIECAM02 to predict the simultaneous contrast effect. The structure of the CIECAM02‐m2 is a development from CIECAM02, and contains two different procedures for modifying the reference white; one is for lightness and the other is for hue. The model was tested using a data set accumulated in this study and the LUTCHI data. The CV values for three colour attributes between predictions and experimental data were used to evaluate the accuracy of the model. The low CV values obtained show the performance of the CIECAM02‐m2 model to predict the simultaneous contrast effect satisfactorily. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 121 – 129, 2007     

Optically pumped submillimeter gas lasers and the prospects for constructing space-qualifiable LO systems

An optically pumped submillimeter laser operating in the 500 μm (600 GHz) to 100 μm (3 THz) spectral range is the primary and, at present, the only available local oscillator (LO) source for laboratory and astronomical heterodyne applications for this wavelength region. A short review of the state-of-the-art of submillimeter lasers as LO sources, with an emphasis given to receiver systems designed for airborne heterodyne observations, will be presented. The characteristics and prospects for constructing a spacequalifiable laser LO system will also be given.     

“车家宝”胶在制氧机超低温管路漏气上的应用

本文对“东家宝”胶在制氧机超低温管路漏气上的应用作了简要的介绍。     

Cation interdiffusion between thick film of YBa2Cu3O7-δ and ceramic substrate

Thick films of superconducting oxides, YBa₂Cu₃O_7-, were successfully made by conventional screen-printing technology on Al₂O₃, MgO, and ZrO₂ substrates. Interdiffusion between the superconductive film and substrate was investigated using analytical electron microscopy. The results indicate that MgO and ZrO₂ are superior to Al₂O₃ for substrate materials.     

Modeling of tool wear in drilling by statistical analysis and artificial neural network

The useful life of a cutting tool and its operating conditions largely control the economics of the machining operations. Hence, it is imperative that the condition of the cutting tool, particularly some indication as to when it requires changing, to be monitored. The drilling operation is frequently used as a preliminary step for many operations like boring, reaming and tapping, however, the operation itself is complex and demanding.

Back propagation neural networks were used for detection of drill wear. The neural network consisted of three layers input, hidden and output. Drill size, feed, spindle speed, torque, machining time and thrust force are given as inputs to the ANN and the flank wear was estimated. Drilling experiments with 8 mm drill size were performed by changing the cutting speed and feed at two different levels. The number of neurons in the hidden layer were selected from 1, 2, 3, …, 20. The learning rate was selected as 0.01 and no smoothing factor was used. The estimated values of tool wear were obtained by statistical analysis and by various neural network structures. Comparative analysis has been done between statistical analysis, neural network structures and the actual values of tool wear obtained by experimentation.     

Solvent effect on ageing of silica gels

The structure of silica gels derived from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with molar compositions of TEOSH₂OHNO₃=1100.4 and then aged in various solvents, was studied. The effect of various solvents having different physical properties on the gel structure, as well as the relationship between the solvent properties and the dried gel structure, were investigated. The density, surface area and pore-size distribution were measured. The results of the pore structure and SEM showed the aged gels to have a slit-shaped micropore, narrow pore-size distribution, and homogeneous microstructure. The density, surface area, pore size and pore volume of dried gels changed as the gels were subjected to ageing in various solvents. The surface area could be related to the polarity parameter of the ageing solvent.     

Process simulation and fabrication of advanced multi-step three-dimensional braided preforms

The fundamentals of multi-step braiding for the fabrication of three-dimensional fibre preforms for composites have been studied. To facilitate the understanding of the complex multi-step braiding processes, a computer simulation algorithm has been developed. The simulation acts as a tool to allow the identification of individual yarn paths, number and location of yarn groups, and braid geometry. It was found that individual control of the rows and columns of yarn carriers on a Cartesian braiding bed allows for the fabrication of advanced multi-step braids; the micro-structural possibilities of three-dimensional braids are thus greatly extended. Some basic relationships of the braiding parameters have been identified. It has been concluded that the traditional four-step and two-step braidings are special cases of multi-step braidings. To verify the feasibility of the structures, experimental investigations have also been carried out. Innovative braid architectures have been designed and fabricated using a prototype multi-step braiding machine.     

Greenhouse gases mitigation by CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> reforming of methane to hydrogen-rich syngas using praseodymium oxide supported cobalt catalyst

This study focuses on the potential of hydrogen-rich syngas production by CO₂ reforming of methane over Co/Pr₂O₃ catalyst. The Co/Pr₂O₃ catalyst was synthesized via wet-impregnation method and characterized for physicochemical properties by TGA, XRD, BET, H₂-TPR, FESEM, EDX, and FTIR. The CO₂ reforming of methane over the as-synthesized catalyst was studied in a tubular stainless steel fixed-bed reactor at feed ratio ranged 0.1–1.0, temperature ranged 923–1023 K, and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 30,000 h^?1 under atmospheric pressure condition. The catalyst activity studies showed that the increase in the reaction temperature from 923 to 1023 K and feed ratio from 0.1 to 1.0 resulted in a corresponding increase in the reactant’s conversion and the product’s yields. At 1023 K and feed ratio of 1.0, the activity of the Co/Pr₂O₃ catalyst climaxed with CH₄ and CO₂ conversions of 41.49 and 42.36 %. Moreover, the catalyst activity at 1023 K and feed ratio of 1.0 resulted in the production of H₂ and CO yields of 40.7 and 40.90 %, respectively. The syngas produced was estimated to have H₂:CO ratio of 0.995, making it suitable as chemical building blocks for the production of oxygenated fuel and other value-added chemicals. The used Co/Pr₂O₃ catalyst which was characterized by TPO, XRD, and SEM-EDX show some evidence of carbon formation and deposition on its surface.     

Dynamic behaviour of a magnetically actuated floating liquid marble

This paper reports the dynamic behaviour of a magnetically actuated floating liquid marble by analysing the oscillation of the marble. A liquid marble is a liquid droplet coated with hydrophobic powder. Magnetite particles inside the marble make it magnetic. The marble floats on a carrier liquid that contains aqueous glycerol of various concentrations. A permanent magnet located under the carrier liquid drives the floating marble with the initial velocity. Stopping the magnet abruptly causes the marble to oscillate around its final position for a few seconds. The oscillation was recorded and analysed using customised image processing and evaluation software. The damped harmonic motion model was then applied to the data and tested. Subsequently, critical parameters of the system such as the initial displacement, friction correction factor, the apparent frequency and the spring constant were determined and discussed. The simple experimental set-up and convenient theoretical approach allow us to characterise the marble motion under the influence of a magnet with good accuracy.