Structure of a simulated muscle system

This paper describes a network system designed to realize the motion of a muscle. First, the motion of the network system is analyzed by a model system which consists of many electromagnets. Second, the control strategy of the network motion system, implemented with microactuators, is described. In the proposed network motion system, the total system consists of many force transmission lines and the superposition of the force signals propagated by the lines acts on the final actuator. The proposed motion control method is therefore called the Delay Superposition Method (DSM). Several experimental and numerical results confirm the validity of the proposed method.     

Idiopathic tumoral calcinosis involving the cervical spine

An increase in parasitaemia is not uncommon after initiation of treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but its exact significance is unknown. The time-course of parasitaemia was assessed retrospectively in 33 patients with severe imported malaria. In 19 patients (group 1) mean parasitaemia (+/- SEM) fell promptly after starting quinine treatment, from 24.9 +/- 4.1% on day 0 to 9.7 +/- 2.3% on day 1 and 1.8 +/- 0.7% on day 2. In 14 other patients (group 2), parasitaemia did not change significantly or increased, with mean parasitaemia (+/- SEM) of 9.5 +/- 2.1% on day 0, 17.2 +/- 2.6% on day 1, and 3.7 +/- 1.8% on day 2. Simplified acute physiology scores on admission (mean +/- SEM) were 17.4 +/- 1.4 in group 1 and 11.7 +/- 1.0 in group 2 (P = 0.006). The mean number of complications of malaria per patient (+/- SEM) was 2.9 +/- 0.5 in group 1 and 1.6 +/- 0.3 in group 2 (P = 0.046). Two group 1 patients died. Initially, more than 95% of peripheral blood parasites were tiny and small rings in both groups, and this distribution was unchanged on day 1, suggesting that the parasitaemia increase in group 2 was not due to release of sequestered mature parasites. In severe falciparum malaria, a rise in parasitaemia after treatment initiation may be of favourable prognostic significance and should not lead to aggressive therapeutic approaches such as exchange transfusion.     

Theoretical foundations for the 4×4 determinant method in computer graphics and geometric modelling

Theories of the 4×4 determinant method to resolve interference problems are described, in detail, in succession to the former paper [1]. First, various cases of the 4×4 determinant are discussed including the geometric implications by deriving a few fundamental relations. Secondly, normalization of the determinant is proposed. Thirdly, an intersection formula in homogeneous coordinates is verified which makes it possible to do consistent homogenous coordinate processing from the very beginning of geometric modelling to the very last of the objects displayed. Lastly an outline of how the 4×4 determinant method is applied to basic geometric problems is described.This article will provide, theoretical foundations for the 4×4 determinant method in computer graphics and geometric modelling.     

Functional parameters calculated by 99mTc-MAG3 in transplanted kidney

In rat anterior pituitary tumour cells (GH3/B6) thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) elicits a biphasic response. First, a release of intracellularly stored Ca2+ induces a hyperpolarization of the cell. Second, a depolarization thought to be induced by a reduction of the inward-rectifying K+ current (KIR) causes an increase in action potential frequency and a plateau-like increase in [Ca2+]i. It has been proposed that the two phases are induced by the actions of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and protein kinase C (PKC), respectively, but we demonstrate here that PKC is not responsible for the second phase increase in [Ca2+]i and suggest that the pathways diverge at the level of receptor and G protein coupling. Both phases of the TRH response were insensitive to pertussis toxin, but cholera toxin (CTX) selectively affected the second phase. After CTX pretreatment cells had a high spontaneous spiking frequency and smaller KIR amplitude. In these cells TRH failed to increase the action potential frequency after the first phase hyperpolarization, elicited only a transient peak increase in [Ca2+]i with no plateau phase and could only slightly reduce KIR. These effects of CTX are not mediated by its ability to increase cAMP via activation of GS, as increased cAMP levels neither inhibit KIR nor prevent its reduction by TRH. In addition, inhibition of protein kinase A activation did not block the second phase increase in [Ca2+]i induced by TRH, suggesting that the CTX-sensitive G protein mediating the second phase of the TRH response is not GS.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Bilophila wadsworthia isolates submitted for routine laboratory examination

MICs of antibiotics against Bilophila wadsworthia isolates were measured by agar and broth microdilution with pyruvic acid and by Etest. The inoculum size influenced greatly agar dilution. Despite discrepancies in MICs depending on the measurement method used, clindamycin consistently showed potent activity. Broth microdilution and Etest appear to be candidates for laboratory susceptibility testing.     

Lap welding of titanium and mild steel sheets by seam welding

Titanium, a metal with superior sea water corrosion resistance, is increasingly used in titanium clad steel applications for ocean structures. Titanium clad steel is normally manufactured by hot rolling or explosive deposition. Joining of titanium and iron leads to the formation of hard and brittle intermetallic compounds that impair the bond strength. It is therefore necessary to use an insert metal to suppress the occurrence of these compounds, particularly during rolling.^1-3     

A case of obstructive colitis caused by possible colostomy dysfunction

A case of obstructive colitis caused by possible stricture of colostomy is herein reported. A 58 year old female with an obstructive sigmoid colon cancer underwent an emergency descending decompression colostomy. At laparotomy, the colon proximal to the carcinoma was markedly distended and the bowel wall was thin, but the serosa appeared normal. Postoperatively, however, abdominal pain and distension persisted and low grade fever developed. Diarrhea through the colostomy continued. Nine days after the initial surgery, she underwent a left hemicolectomy. An abnormally thickened segment was identified in the resected specimen; normal mucosa was lost and several pseudopolyps were scattered. Histopathological findings of the abnormal segment were consistent with obstructive colitis. A preserved segment of normal mucosa intervened between the site of colostomy and the abnormal segment of obstructive colitis. A possible stenosis of the colostomy was considered to have caused colostomy dysfunction and subsequent obstructive colitis. She was complicated with anastomotic leakage due to the diseased colon being used for anastomosis. Obstructive colitis should be kept in mind in patients with obstructive colonic carcinomas who complain of persistent abdominal pain, distension and diarrhea in the early postoperative period after colostomy.     

Low-loss spot-size transformer by dual tapered waveguides (DTW-SST)

The reduction of the insertion loss of a spot-size transformer based on dual tapered waveguides (DTW-SST) by controlling the shape of the tapered portion is discussed. The transformer is easily fabricated using a shadow mask sputtering method. A method is described for controlling independently the parameters of the tapered portion, such as the maximum taper angle, and length, and the position of tapered portion with respect to the edge of the shadow mask. A large transformation ratio (5 and 1/5) and a low insertion loss (0.7 dB) have been obtained