Intussusception caused by a carcinoma of the cecum during pregnancy: report of a case and review of the literature

Respiratory infections are the most common infection in children. They differ remarkably according to age, bacteria and viruses. Therefore a careful history of outbreak, age, former infections, involvement of surroundings, symptoms, etc are essential. The present study included 50 children, aged between 0.3 and 12 yrs, all treated ambulatorily. 21 received brodimoprim (B) and 29 erythromycin (E). Indications were: tonsillitis, bronchitis, otitis media, sinusitis and scarlet fever. Dosages were: B was given 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) initially followed by 5 mg/kg b.w., once-a-day. The duration of treatment varied between 4 and 14 days (mean 8.3 days). E was given 30.50 mg/kg b.w. 3 times per day; duration 4 to 14 days (mean 8.6 days). Overall results were: in group B:12 cures, 5 improvements, 3 failures; 1 not assessable. In group E: 20 cures, 8 improvements, 1 failure. Side effects: in group B: vomiting (1), skin reaction (2), discontinuation (2); in group E: skin reaction (1), diarrhea (5), diarrhea+vomiting (1); discontinuation (2). The differences in efficacy and tolerability in the two groups are not statistically significant. The improved compliance with a single versus t.i.d. dosages has to be taken into account.     

Photometric application of the Gram stain method to characterize natural bacterial populations in aquatic environments

The Gram stain method was applied to the photometric characterization of aquatic bacterial populations with a charge-coupled device camera and an image analyzer. Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were used as standards of typical gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, respectively. A mounting agent to obtain clear images of Gram-stained bacteria on Nuclepore membrane filters was developed. The bacterial stainability by the Gram stain was indicated by the Gram stain index (GSI), which was applicable not only to the dichotomous classification of bacteria but also to the characterization of cell wall structure. The GSI spectra of natural bacterial populations in water with various levels of eutrophication showed a distinct profile, suggesting possible staining specificity that indicates the presence of a particular bacterial population in the aquatic environment.     

Tracking and motion analysis of the left ventricle with deformable superquadrics

We present a new approach to analyse the deformation of the left ventricle of the heart based on a parametric model that gives a compact representation of a set of points in a 3-D image. We present a strategy for tracking surfaces in a sequence of 3-D cardiac images. Following tracking, we then infer quantitative parameters which characterize: left ventricle motion, volume of left ventricle, ejection fraction, amplitude and twist component of cardiac motion. We explain the computation of these parameters using our model. Experimental results are shown in time sequences of two modalities of medical images, nuclear medicine and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Video sequences presenting these results are on the CD-ROM.     

Effect of plastic deformation on the electrical resistivity of metals

Results from measurements of the electrical resistivity of copper and aluminum conductors under the action of a plane shock wave, and also analysis of the relationship between the electrical resistivity and the hydrostatic pressure and of the theoretical temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, has made it possible to elucidate the role of defect formation due to the plastic deformation of the metal and to determine its contribution to the increase in electrical resisitivity of the metal. It has been established that the concentration of defects depends on the pressure gradient in a plane shock wave.Institute of Dynamics of Geospheres, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow 117334. Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 47–53, May–June, 1995.     

Identification of gate electrode discontinuities in submicron CMOStechnologies, and effect on circuit performance

An experiment to determine the effect of gate electrode resistivity on circuit speed gave unexpected results: circuits with the lowest sheet resistance had the poorest circuit speed. Explanation of this behaviour required development of a new high-frequency method of measuring the impedance of the gate electrode. This method revealed that the circuits with a composite gate electrode had been formed with a partial discontinuity. The measurement technique is described, and the evidence of the discontinuity is shown. The effect of the discontinuity on device and circuit speed is demonstrated     

Dynamic elastic-plastic buckling phenomena in a rod due to axial impact

Dynamic elastic-plastic buckling phenomena which might develop in a rod from an axial impact loading are studied in order to identify the conditions for quasi-static behaviour. A discrete model for dynamic elastic-plastic buckling, which retains the axial and the lateral inertia forces, is proposed, and the relationship between the model parameters and the characteristics of an actual structure is given. Examples of different external loadings and boundary conditions are considered in order to clarify the influence of elastic-plastic axial wave propagation on the buckling process. The critical time for the initiation of buckling is obtained and the post-buckling behaviour of the model is analysed. Particular attention is paid to the role of the striking mass on the characteristics of the buckling process and on the development of the buckling shape. The numerical study reveals that the inertia of the striking mass affects considerably the development of the buckling shape causing different patterns of axial strain distributions at the initiation of buckling. The comparisons which are made between the model predictions and some previously published experimental data show that the buckling process is governed by the impact velocity as well as by the external loading history provided by the experimental technique.