Suspected skeletal dysplasias: femur length to abdominal circumference ratio can be used in ultrasonographic prediction of fetal outcome

OBJECTIVES: Skeletal dysplasias are a group of bone growth disorders, some of which can be recognized prenatally. Certain types of skeletal dysplasias result in a lethal fetal outcome. The ability to predict this outcome prenatally would be important in counseling parents. This study evaluated the ratio of femur length to abdominal circumference as a predictor of fetal outcome in cases of suspected skeletal dysplasia. STUDY DESIGN: This 3-year retrospective study identified 18 cases of prenatally suspected skeletal dysplasia from a population of approximately 35,000 fetuses undergoing prenatal ultrasonography. The femur length/abdominal circumference ratio was calculated and compared with fetal-neonatal outcomes and diagnoses. RESULTS: Eighteen cases of suspected skeletal dysplasia were identified, and the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio was found to be a good predictor of fetal outcome independent of gestational age. A ratio < 0.16 resulted in a lethal outcome in nine of nine cases. Conversely, a ratio > or = 0.16 resulted in a diagnosis of a nonlethal form of skeletal dysplasia or a diagnosis that ruled out any form of skeletal dysplasia in nine of nine cases. CONCLUSIONS: The femur length/abdominal circumference ratio may be useful to predict a lethal fetal outcome when ultrasonography indicates a possible skeletal dysplasia.     

Computational experience with the solution of the matrix Lyapunov equation

This correspondence presents a comparative study of three methods for the numerical solution of the matrix Lyapunov equation. The test case is a 24th-order system with highly underdamped eigenvalues and a rather high degree of stiffness. The conclusions favor a method by Bartels and Stewart based on a reduction to Schur form of theAmatrix.     

Investigating driving behaviour of older drivers with mild cognitive impairment using a portable driving simulator

While there is a large body of research indicating that individuals with moderate to severe dementia are unfit to drive, relatively little is known about the driving performance of older drivers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of the current study was to examine the driving performance of older drivers with MCI on approach to intersections, and to investigate how their healthy counterparts perform on the same driving tasks using a portable driving simulator. Fourteen drivers with MCI and 14 age-matched healthy older drivers (aged 65–87 years) completed a 10-min simulator drive in an urban environment. The simulator drive consisted of stop-sign controlled and signal-controlled intersections. Drivers were required to stop at the stop-sign controlled intersections and to decide whether or not to proceed through a critical light change at the signal-controlled intersections. The specific performance measures included; approach speed, number of brake applications on approach to the intersection (either excessive or minimal), failure to comply with stop signs, and slower braking response times on approach to a critical light change. MCI patients in our sample performed more poorly than controls across a number of variables. However, because the trends failed to reach statistical significance it will be important to replicate the study using a larger sample to qualify whether the results can be generalised to the broader population.     

Co-encapsulation of fish oil with phytosterol esters and limonene by milk proteins

Co-encapsulated microcapsules containing three lipophilic bioactive components (LBCs) including fish oil, phytosterols and limonene were studied and compared with those containing only fish oil. Milk proteins (whey protein isolate and sodium caseinate in a ratio of 4:1) were used as wall materials. Results show that good quality microcapsules can be obtained at inlet temperature of 170 °C and outlet temperature of 70 °C, with the wall to core ratio of 4:1. There was no significant different (p > 0.05) in the microencapsulation efficiency and the oxidation indicators (PV and AV) after the accelerated storage for both types of microcapsules. However, the retention of EPA and DHA in the LBCs-microcapsules was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the fish oil microcapsules. The phytosterols content was unchanged but loss of limonene occurred after storage. The LBCs-microcapsules had better flavor/odour profile than the fish oil microcapsules after drying and storage.     

Improved measurements of doping profiles in silicon using CV techniques

One of the problems of doping profile measurements using CV techniques is that numerical differentiation is required. This can, under certain circumstances, result in very noisy profiles. A method is presented for obtaining noise-free profiles by choosing a step size that takes account of the resolution of the capacitance meter to ensure that the maximum profile detail is retained. A range of other factors that can affect profiling accuracy is also reviewed     

Properties and Stability of Spray-Dried and Freeze-Dried Microcapsules Co-Encapsulated with Fish Oil,Phytosterol Esters,and Limonene

The objectives of this study were to investigate the properties and stability of microcapsules containing fish oil co-encapsulated with phytosterol ester and limonene, prepared by spray-drying and freeze-drying methods. Whey protein isolate and soluble corn fiber were used as wall materials in the encapsulation process. The properties of microcapsules, including structure, glass transition, volatile/non-volatiles retention, microencapsulation efficiency, oxidation stability, color measurement, and sensory profiles, were evaluated after drying and during a seven-day accelerated storage trial. The finding reveals that drying methods have an effect on the retention of volatile fraction and the physical structure of the wall matrix consisted of WPI and SCF, consequently influencing the storage stability of the powders. Significantly higher retention of volatile fraction (p < 0.05) and lower surface oil were found in the spray-dried samples, resulting in the higher microencapsulation efficiency. However, samples dehydrated by both methods have good redispersion properties, showing no statistical significance (p > 0.05). The oxidation of the encapsulated oils was comparable for both spray- and freeze-dried samples during the seven-day accelerated storage trial but the loss of limonene flavor was significantly higher in the freeze-dried samples (p < 0.05). Sensory evaluation indicated that the addition of limonene could mask the unpleasant fishy odor in the co-encapsulated microcapsules. Overall, freeze drying did not produce powders with superior properties and did not show better protection towards the core materials than spray drying.     

Postmetallisation annealing of aluminium-silicon gate MOS capacitors

Postmetallisation annealing (PMA) is widely used to reduce midgap interface trap densities in aluminium gate MOS structures. It is shown that the presence of 1% silicon in the aluminium inhibits PMA and that increased PMA times result in an increase rather than a decrease in midgap interface trap densities for AlSi.