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Serial
Terms modified by Serial Selected AbstractsAnterior neural centres in echinoderm bipinnaria and auricularia larvae: cell types and organizationACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2 2002Thurston C. Lacalli Abstract Serial and interval electron micrograph series were used to examine the anterior part of the ciliary band system in the bipinnaria larva of Pisaster ochraceus and the auricularia larva of Stichopus californicus for evidence of ganglion-like organization. The bipinnaria has paired concentrations of Multipolar with Apical Processes (MAP) cells in this region that correspond in position with previously identified clusters of serotonergic and peptidergic neurones. MAP cells located in the centre of the band have well-developed apical processes, but no cilium. Those at the sides of the band have fewer processes, but some have recumbent cilia that extend under the glycocalyx, suggesting a sensory function. Comparable cell types are not found elsewhere in the band, a clear indication that the apical parts of the ciliary band system are organized in a distinctive fashion. Two neuronal cell types were identified in the apical region of the auricularia larva, a conventional bipolar neurone that corresponds with previously described serotonergic apical cells, and more numerous MAP cells for which there is no previous record and hence, no known transmitter. Previous immunocytochemical studies are summarized and re-examined in the light of these results. Relevant evolutionary issues are also discussed, but the data fail to provide strong evidence either for or against Garstang's hypothesis that the chordate brain and spinal cord derive from larval ciliary bands resembling those of modern echinoderms. [source] Implementation of a sic based MC-CDMA base station receiver,EUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 5 2002Andrew C. McCormick The implementation of a multi carrier-code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) base station receiver incorporating decision statistic ordered successive interference cancellation multi-user detection in low power CMOS hardware is investigated. Serial and parallel cancellation architectures are compared and it is shown that the parallel one operates in far fewer clock cycles than its serial counterpart. A detailed description of architecture is given including the parallel algoridim used to implement the multi-user detection. Results show the power consumption and fixed point performance of the circuit. [source] A zinc finger HIT domain-containing protein, ZNHIT-1, interacts with orphan nuclear hormone receptor Rev-erb, and removes Rev-erb,-induced inhibition of apoCIII transcriptionFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 20 2007Jiadong Wang The orphan receptors, Rev-erb, and Rev-erb,, are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily and specifically repress apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) gene expression in rats and humans. Moreover, Rev-erb, null mutant mice have elevated very low density lipoprotein triacylglycerol and apoCIII levels. However, ligands for Rev-erb are unknown and the regulatory mechanism of Rev-erb is poorly understood. Conceivably, cofactors for Rev-erb may play an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. In this study, a zinc finger HIT domain-containing protein, ZNHIT-1, interacted with Rev-erb,. ZNHIT-1 was found to be a conserved protein in eukaryotes and was highly abundant in human liver. Furthermore, ZNHIT-1 was identified as a nuclear protein. Serial truncated fragments and substitution mutations established a putative nuclear localization signal at amino acids 38,47 of ZNHIT-1. A putative ligand-binding domain of Rev-erb, and the FxxLL motif of ZNHIT-1 were required for their interaction. Finally, ZNHIT-1 was recruited by Rev-erb, to the apoCIII promoter and removed the Rev-erb,-induced inhibition of apoCIII transcription. These findings demonstrate that ZNHIT-1 functions as a cofactor to regulate the activity of Rev-erb,, and may play a role in lipid metabolism. [source] Aged mice have enhanced endocortical response and normal periosteal response compared with young-adult mice following 1 week of axial tibial compressionJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 9 2010Michael D Brodt Abstract With aging, the skeleton may lose its ability to respond to positive mechanical stimuli. We hypothesized that aged mice are less responsive to loading than young-adult mice. We subjected aged (22 months) and young-adult (7 months) BALB/c male mice to daily bouts of axial tibial compression for 1 week and evaluated cortical and trabecular responses using micro,computed tomography (µCT) and dynamic histomorphometry. The right legs of 95 mice were loaded for 60 rest-inserted cycles per day to 8, 10, or 12,N peak force (generating mid-diaphyseal strains of 900 to 1900 µ, endocortically and 1400 to 3100 µ, periosteally). At the mid-diaphysis, mice from both age groups showed a strong anabolic response on the endocortex (Ec) and periosteum (Ps) [Ec.MS/BS and Ps. MS/BS: loaded (right) versus control (left), p,<,.05]. Generally, bone formation increased with increasing peak force. At the endocortical surface, contrary to our hypothesis, aged mice had a significantly greater response to loading than young-adult mice (Ec.MS/BS and Ec.BFR/BS: 22 months versus 7 months, p,<,.001). Responses at the periosteal surface did not differ between age groups (p,>,.05). The loading-induced increase in bone formation resulted in increased cortical area in both age groups (loaded versus control, p,<,.05). In contrast to the strong cortical response, loading only weakly stimulated trabecular bone formation. Serial (in vivo) µCT examinations at the proximal metaphysis revealed that loading caused a loss of trabecular bone in 7-month-old mice, whereas it appeared to prevent bone loss in 22-month-old mice. In summary, 1 week of daily tibial compression stimulated a robust endocortical and periosteal bone-formation response at the mid-diaphysis in both young-adult and aged male BALB/c mice. We conclude that aging does not limit the short-term anabolic response of cortical bone to mechanical stimulation in our animal model. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research [source] Pharmacokinetic comparison of orally-disintegrating metoclopramide with conventional metoclopramide tablet formulation in healthy volunteersALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2009R. FASS Summary Background, Oral tablet formulations of metoclopramide are effective therapies for gastroparesis and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; however, difficulty swallowing tablets or nausea/vomiting may reduce patient adherence to therapy. Because of this, a metoclopramide orally-disintegrating tablet (ODT) has been developed. Aim, To evaluate the bioequivalence of a single administration of a 10-mg metoclopramide ODT and a conventional 10-mg oral metoclopramide tablet in healthy volunteers. Methods, In a randomized, single-dose, crossover study, healthy volunteers received single administration of 10-mg metoclopramide ODT and 10-mg conventional metoclopramide tablet, with a 7-day interval between treatments. Serial blood samples were collected before dosing and during 24 h post-treatment. Results, Forty-one volunteers completed both treatment arms. Metoclopramide ODT was bioequivalent to conventional tablets; 90% CIs for geometric mean treatment ratios of Cmax [91.6% (90% CI, 87.7,95.8%)], AUClast [97.3% (90% CI, 94.5,100.2%)] and AUCinf [97.6% (90% CI, 94.5,100.8%)] were within the predefined range. Of the 44 volunteers included in the safety analysis, 9 (20%) reported AEs after ODT, compared with 13 (30%) after conventional tablets. Conclusion, In healthy volunteers, single administration of 10-mg metoclopramide ODT was well tolerated and bioequivalent to single administration of a conventional 10-mg metoclopramide tablet. [source] Evaluation of Gd(III)DTPA-terminated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as contrast agents for MR imagingNMR IN BIOMEDICINE, Issue 1 2006Sander Langereis Abstract Different generations of Gd(III)DTPA-terminated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers {G1 [n,=,4 Gd(III) ions per molecule], G3 (n,=,16) and G5 (n,=,64)} and reference Gd(III)DTPA complex [G0 (n,=,1)] were characterized in terms of (i) longitudinal (r1) and transverse (r2) relaxivities in mouse blood plasma, (ii) concentration detection limits in vitro and (iii) in vivo contrast-enhanced MR imaging (CE-MRI) in mice at 1.5,,,T. Serial and dynamic CE-MRI were performed to monitor the distribution of MRI contrast agent in the heart, arteries, renal system, liver, spleen, bladder and tumor periphery. The relaxivities increased non-linearly with molecular weight (for G0 ionic r1,=,8.1,mM,1,s,1 and ionic r2,=,8.6,mM,1,s,1 to G5 19.3 and 25.0, respectively). The minimal detectable dendrimer concentration was more than two orders of magnitude lower for G5 (8.1,×,10,8,M) than for G0 (3.1,×,10,5,M). Sub-millimeter-sized blood vessels were well visualized with serial CE-MRI with each contrast agent. Dynamic CE-MRI showed timely renal clearance for all contrast agents, but a stronger and a prolonged blood signal enhancement for the higher generations of the dendritic contrast agent. Moreover, G0 and G1 showed a rapid tumor wash-in and wash-out, whereas G3 and G5 displayed a more gradual and prolonged tumor wash-in. In conclusion, both G0 and dendritic contrast agents G1, G3 and G5 are well suited for non-tissue-specific MRI of sub-millimeter-sized blood vessels and evaluating tumor microcirculatory characteristics in mice. Higher generations of dendritic contrast agents display lower concentration detection limits, which suggests their future use for molecular imaging. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Ring chromosome 6 in three fetuses: Case reports, literature review, and implications for prenatal diagnosisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 2 2002Maik Urban Abstract Prenatal and postnatal findings in three fetuses with a ring chromosome 6 are presented, and the literature of this rare cytogenetic disorder is reviewed. The described fetuses illustrate the broad spectrum of the clinical manifestation of ring chromosome 6. In one fetus, the disorder was diagnosed incidentally by a routine amniocentesis due to advanced maternal age. The other two fetuses were hydrocephalic and had other congenital anomalies. Remarkably, the ring chromosome 6 tends to disappear in cultured amniotic fluid cells; karyotyping revealed complete or nearly complete monosomy 6. In contrast, the ring was preserved in high proportions of fetal leukocytes. Postnatal growth retardation is the only consistent finding of this chromosomal disorder. Maternal age is not significantly above average. An additional review of 20 literature cases revealed a striking tendency to hydrocephalus, either due to deficient brain growth or secondary to an aqueductal stenosis. Children with hydrocephalus and ring chromosme 6 tend to display facial dysmorphism and may have additional malformations, growth failure, eye anomalies, and seizures. In contrast, there are two reports on children with a ring chromosome 6 who had short stature, normal appearance, and a normal or almost-normal psychomotor development. In such patients at the mild end of the clinical spectrum, the phenotype is basically restricted to what Kosztolányi. [1987: Hum Genet 75:174,179] delineated as "ring syndrome," comprising "severe growth failure without major malformations, without a specific deletion syndrome, with only a few or no minor anomalies, and mild to moderate mental retardation." This "ring syndrome" is considered to occur independently of the autosome involved in the ring formation. The overall impression from our cases and from the literature review of cases with ring chromosome 6 is that the karyotype-genotype correlation is poor. This makes prognostic counseling of parents difficult and unsatisfactory. Serial targeted ultrasound examinations, especially of the brain, are decisive factors in elucidating the prognosis. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Three-Dimensional Serial Section Computer Reconstruction of the Arrangement of the Structural Components of the Parabronchus of the Ostrich, Struthio Camelus LungTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2009John N. Maina ,Cubed' three-dimensional computer reconstruction (from serial sections) of the exchange tissue (parenchyma) of the lung of the ostrich, Struthio camelus showing the profuse anastomoses of the air capillaries (shown in cyan) and the blood capillaries (shown in red). While the two terminal respiratory units interdigitate very copiously as they interface intimately, thereby optimizing the respiratory surface area, regarding their size and shape, they are not mirror images as has previously been reported nor do they spatially form a counter-current arrangement, as they have been commonly modelled. See Maina et al., "Three-Dimensional Serial Section Computer Reconstruction of the Arrangement of the Structural Components of the Parabronchus of the Ostrich, Struthio Camelus Lung," on page 1685, in this issue. [source] Serial and single-victim rapists: differences in crime-scene violence, interpersonal involvement, and criminal sophistication,BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW, Issue 2 2008Jisun Park M.A., M.Sc. Three categories of crime-scene behaviors (violence, interpersonal involvement, and criminal sophistication) among a group of 22 serial and 22 single-victim rapists were studied. Findings indicate that serial rapists were more likely to display a higher level of criminally sophisticated behaviors to avoid detection, whereas single-victim rapists were more likely to behave violently and engage in some form of interpersonal involvement with their victims. Implications of these findings for investigation and for understanding offenders' behavior are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Parallel space-filling curve generation through sortingCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 10 2007J. Luitjens Abstract In this paper we consider the scalability of parallel space-filling curve generation as implemented through parallel sorting algorithms. Multiple sorting algorithms are studied and results show that space-filling curves can be generated quickly in parallel on thousands of processors. In addition, performance models are presented that are consistent with measured performance and offer insight into performance on still larger numbers of processors. At large numbers of processors, the scalability of adaptive mesh refined codes depends on the individual components of the adaptive solver. One such component is the dynamic load balancer. In adaptive mesh refined codes, the mesh is constantly changing resulting in load imbalance among the processors requiring a load-balancing phase. The load balancing may occur often, requiring the load balancer to perform quickly. One common method for dynamic load balancing is to use space-filling curves. Space-filling curves, in particular the Hilbert curve, generate good partitions quickly in serial. However, at tens and hundreds of thousands of processors serial generation of space-filling curves will hinder scalability. In order to avoid this issue we have developed a method that generates space-filling curves quickly in parallel by reducing the generation to integer sorting. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A cache-efficient implementation of the lattice Boltzmann method for the two-dimensional diffusion equationCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 14 2004A. C. Velivelli Abstract The lattice Boltzmann method is an important technique for the numerical solution of partial differential equations because it has nearly ideal scalability on parallel computers for many applications. However, to achieve the scalability and speed potential of the lattice Boltzmann technique, the issues of data reusability in cache-based computer architectures must be addressed. Utilizing the two-dimensional diffusion equation, , this paper examines cache optimization for the lattice Boltzmann method in both serial and parallel implementations. In this study, speedups due to cache optimization were found to be 1.9,2.5 for the serial implementation and 3.6,3.8 for the parallel case in which the domain decomposition was optimized for stride-one access. In the parallel non-cached implementation, the method of domain decomposition (horizontal or vertical) used for parallelization did not significantly affect the compute time. In contrast, the cache-based implementation of the lattice Boltzmann method was significantly faster when the domain decomposition was optimized for stride-one access. Additionally, the cache-optimized lattice Boltzmann method in which the domain decomposition was optimized for stride-one access displayed superlinear scalability on all problem sizes as the number of processors was increased. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Carvedilol Produces Sustained Long-Term Benefits: Follow-Up at 12 YearsCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 1 2009John F. MacGregor MD The authors measured long-term outcomes of patients who initiated carvedilol between 1990 and 1992 to test the hypothesis that carvedilol produces sustained benefits in heart failure patients. The study population consisted of 57 patients who completed a carvedilol placebo-controlled phase II trial. Patients were given open-label carvedilol and were titrated to the maximum dose. Patients were assessed by serial multigated acquisition, echocardiography, and symptom scores. Survival was assessed for all patients and censored as of January 1, 2004. Survival for ischemic vs nonischemic patients was compared using the log-rank test and further compared using Cox regression, controlling for covariates. Etiology of heart failure was ischemic in 15 patients and nonischemic in 42 patients. Median follow-up was 12.9 years. Resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart failure symptom scores improved at 4 months of treatment and were sustained at 24 months. Left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LVIDS) and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole decreased significantly at 4 and 8 months, respectively, and LVIDS continued to improve at 24 months. Overall mortality was 43% in nonischemic patients and 73% in ischemic patients. In a multivariate analysis, ischemic etiology and baseline LVEF were significant predictors of mortality. Carvedilol produces sustained improvements in left ventricular remodeling and symptoms. Long-term survival is good, particularly in nonischemic patients. [source] Detection of tumor cells in body cavity fluids by flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analysisDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 8 2006Awtar Krishan Ph.D. Abstract Measurement of electronic volume versus DNA content of nuclei can be used to discriminate between normal and malignant cells. Epithelial membrane antigen immunocytochemistry (EMA-ICC), a helpful ancillary test in body cavity fluids, is not universally accurate for detecting malignancy in effusions. The current study was undertaken to determine if multiparametric flow cytometry (based on simultaneous analysis of light scatter, nuclear volume, DNA, and nuclear protein content) in combination with (EMA-ICC) could be used for the detection of malignant cells in peritoneal and pleural fluids. We studied 130 body cavity fluids (68 peritoneal and 62 pleural fluids) by conventional cytology and multiparametric laser flow cytometry. EMA-ICC was performed using EMA antibodies and L-SAB detection system (DakoCytomation, Carpinteria, CA). EMA-ICC had significantly higher sensitivity than conventional cytology (79% versus 59%, P = 0.016) and ploidy (79% versus 38%, P = 0.001). Cytology had significantly higher specificity than ploidy (97% versus 82%, P = 0.012). The differences in specificity between EMA-ICC and ploidy (87% versus 82%, P= 0.607) or EMA-ICC and cytology (87% versus 97%, P = 0.109) were not statistically significant. However, assuming serial testing, sensitivity increased significantly for the combinations of cytology and EMA-ICC (79.4%, P = 0.016) and cytology and ploidy (73.5%, P = 0.004) as compared to cytology alone (58.8%). Also, the combination of cytology and ploidy had a higher sensitivity than ploidy alone (73% versus 38%, P < 0.0001). However, the sensitivity associated with the three tests used in serial (85.3%) was not significantly different from the sensitivities corresponding to the combination of cytology and EMA-ICC (79%) or cytology and ploidy (73%). Multiparametric flow cytometry utilizing high resolution DNA, nuclear volume, protein measurement, and ICC, in combination with cytomorphology, may be a valuable tool for rapid identification of malignant cells in body cavity fluids. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34:528,541. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Resting Echocardiography for the Early Detection of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Chest Pain Unit PatientsECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2010Vito Maurizio Parato M.D. Aim: The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of resting echocardiography to detect an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) before the occurrence of ischemic electrocardiogram (ECG) changes or troponin-T elevations. Methods: Four hundred and three patients who presented to the emergency room (ER) with chest pain, normal ECGs, and normal troponin-T levels were admitted to the cardiologist-run Chest Pain Unit (CPU) for further monitoring. They underwent serial resting echocardiography for monitoring of left ventricle wall motion (LVWM), ECG telemetry monitoring, and serial troponin-T measurements. Results: An ACS was detected in 49 patients (12.1%). These 49 patients were then subdivided into three different groups based on the initial mode of detection of their ACS. In group A, 16 of 49 (32.6%) patients had ACS shown by echocardiographic detection of LVWM abnormalities. In group B, 24 of 49 (48.9%) patients had an ACS detected by ischemic ECG changes. In group C, 9 of 49 (18.3%) patients had an ACS detected by troponin-T elevations. The shortest time interval between CPU-admission and ACS-detection occurred in group A (A vs. B, P < 0.003; A vs. C, P < 0.0001). In group A, cardiac angiogram showed that the culprit coronary lesion was more frequent in the circumflex artery (11 out of 16; 68.7%) (LCx vs. LAD, P < 0.02; LCx vs. RCA, P < 0.001) and of these 11 patients with circumflex lesions, the ECG was normal in eight (72.7%) patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the utility of LVWM monitoring by serial echocardiography as part of a diagnostic protocol that can be implemented in a CPU. Furthermore, echocardiography could become an essential tool used in the diagnosis of ACS secondary to circumflex lesions. (Echocardiography 2010;27:597-602) [source] A label-free protein microfluidic array for parallel immunoassaysELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 20 2006Zhan-Hui Wang Abstract A label-free protein microfluidic array for immunoassays based on the combination of imaging ellipsometry and an integrated microfluidic system is presented. Proteins can be patterned homogeneously on substrate in array format by the microfluidic system simultaneously. After preparation, the protein array can be packed in the microfluidic system which is full of buffer so that proteins are not exposed to denaturing conditions. With simple microfluidic channel junction, the protein microfluidic array can be used in serial or parallel format to analyze single or multiple samples simultaneously. Imaging ellipsometry is used for the protein array reading with a label-free format. The biological and medical applications of the label-free protein microfluidic array are demonstrated by screening for antibody,antigen interactions, measuring the concentration of the protein solution and detecting five markers of hepatitis,B. [source] Diagnosis at dusk: Malignant hypertension and phaeochromocytoma in a 6-year-old girlEMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA, Issue 1 2008John Corcoran Abstract Phaeochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-secreting tumour that may arise at any age, but is particularly unusual in childhood. The case of a 6-year-old girl who presented with a prolonged history of general malaise, headaches and abdominal pain is reported. On examination, she was noted to have malignant hypertension. Subsequent imaging of the abdomen demonstrated a left adrenal mass, with the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma being confirmed by serial raised urinary metanephrines. Sympathetic blockade was established prior to definitive surgical treatment, resulting in complete resolution of the patient's symptoms and hypertension. Genetic screening of the family has since identified a previously undocumented missense mutation in the patient's VHL gene. The case raises the importance of routine measurement of blood pressure in all paediatric patients regardless of age, presentation or other factors. [source] MRI Volumetric Analysis in Rasmussen Encephalitis: A Longitudinal StudyEPILEPSIA, Issue 2 2003Masanori Takeoka Summary: ,Purpose: Rasmussen encephalitis is a progressive inflammatory process with difficult-to-control focal or lateralized seizure activity, leading to hemispheric dysfunction and atrophy in advanced stages. Anatomic changes of atrophy may be subtle in earlier phases of the disease, and progressive changes on serial scans may be difficult to detect. We report a case of early-stage Rasmussen encephalitis with a relatively stable clinical course in whom we performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based volumetric analysis over an interval of 1 year, to assess for volumetric changes. Methods: Volumetric analysis was performed on two successive MRI scans obtained at age 5 and 6 years, by using the CARDVIEWS program (J Cogn Neurosci, 1996). The images were segmented into gray- and white-matter structures according to signal intensity of their borders semiautomatically, with manual corrections. The cerebral cortex was further subdivided into smaller parcellation units according to anatomic landmarks identifiable on MRI. Results: Stable left cerebral hemispheric atrophy and progressive atrophy in the left precentral gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, and left cerebellar atrophy were detected over the 1-year interval. Conclusions: Volumetric analysis enables early detection and quantification of anatomic changes, identification of focal involvement, and assists in determining the severity of disease and timing for surgical interventions such as hemispherectomy. [source] The role of the magnocellular pathway in serial deployment of visual attentionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 8 2004Alicia Cheng Abstract Normal human visual function often demands detection of a target among a number of other objects cluttering the scene, such as when searching for a known face in a crowd. In these and similar tasks, the search performed is a serial one, with an attentional spotlight scanning the objects of the scene. We have investigated whether one of the afferent channels in vision, the colour-blind magnocellular pathway, is essential in such serial searches. We did this by using items that were isoluminant with the background but of a different colour, for which the magnocellular cells would be blind. The search in these conditions required much longer reaction times than when even a very small luminance contrast (2%) was added to the items. Because such luminance contrasts can be detected only by magnocellular cells and not by neurons of the other channels (parvocellular and koniocellular), the magnocellular pathway appears vitally important for serial search. In contrast, in a feature search task, which does not require allocation of attentional resources, the search was as efficient with isoluminance as when luminance contrast was added to the items. [source] Imaging of Cell-to-Material Interfaces by SEM after in situ Focused Ion Beam Milling on Flat Surfaces and Complex 3D-Fibrous Structures,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 11 2009Anne Greet Bittermann Detailed analysis of the cell-to-implant interface needs to be performed prior to medical application. As these interfaces are often not accessible for direct visualization SEM after in situ focused ion beam milling was explored that allows selecting the regions of interest and serial sectioning for analysis of large scale implant architecture/topology down to detailed sub-cellular structures in one sample that might be very useful for (bio)material characterization. [source] Performance analysis of a generic system model for uncoded IDMA using serial and parallel interference cancellation,EUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 5 2008Oliver Nagy This paper shows how to accurately describe a fully synchronised interleave division multiple access (IDMA) scheme without channel coding by a matrix model. This model allows the derivation of the optimal detector and provides additional insights into the IDMA principle, and we show that the matrices are structured and sparse. We use BER and EXIT charts to study the performance of parallel and serial interference cancellation schemes and demonstrate that the latter converges faster and is independent of the scrambling code. Any bit interleaved DS-CDMA system can be viewed as a special case of IDMA, and an IDMA receiver can therefore be used to detect DS-CDMA signals. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On extrinsic information of good binary codes operating over Gaussian channelsEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 2 2007M. Peleg We show that the extrinsic information about the coded bits of any good (capacity achieving) binary code operating over a Gaussian channel is zero when the channel capacity is lower than the code rate and unity when capacity exceeds the code rate, that is, the extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart is a step function of the signal to noise ratio and independent of the code. It follows that, for a common class of iterative receivers where the error correcting decoder must operate at first iteration at rate above capacity (such as in turbo equalization, iterative channel estimation, parallel and serial concatenated coding and the like), classical good codes which achieve capacity over the Additive White Gaussian Noise Channel are not effective and should be replaced by different new ones. Copyright © 2006 AEIT. [source] Prognostic significance of secondary cytogenetic alterations in follicular lymphomasGENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 12 2008Nathalie A. Johnson Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent lymphoma with a long median survival. Transformation to a more aggressive histology (TLy) is a major cause of mortality. The critical events leading to TLy are unknown. We assessed the prognostic significance of secondary cytogenetic alterations on overall survival (OS) and transformation from 210 diagnostic FL biopsies. We analyzed serial and transformed karyotypes for recurrent alterations that predict transformation. Over 10 years, 31% of cases developed TLy. The only alteration in diagnostic karyotypes that correlated with an inferior OS was an additional X chromosome in males only (P = 0.005) suggesting that other mechanisms including epigenetic factors and over-expression of genes on the X chromosome may play a role in FL pathogenesis. In transformed karyotypes, 8q24 (MYC) translocations were common (14/37) and resulted in a median survival of 3 months posttransformation (P = 0.01). In serially obtained biopsies (28 pts), 43% of the later biopsies lacked the cytogenetic alterations found in the original FL karyotype, suggesting that karyotypic progression of FL is not strictly linear in all cases. Consequently, studying clonal evolution in FL using serial biopsies may not represent the full complexity of genetic alterations leading to transformation. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A Parallel PCG Solver for MODFLOWGROUND WATER, Issue 6 2009Yanhui Dong In order to simulate large-scale ground water flow problems more efficiently with MODFLOW, the OpenMP programming paradigm was used to parallelize the preconditioned conjugate-gradient (PCG) solver with in this study. Incremental parallelization, the significant advantage supported by OpenMP on a shared-memory computer, made the solver transit to a parallel program smoothly one block of code at a time. The parallel PCG solver, suitable for both MODFLOW-2000 and MODFLOW-2005, is verified using an 8-processor computer. Both the impact of compilers and different model domain sizes were considered in the numerical experiments. Based on the timing results, execution times using the parallel PCG solver are typically about 1.40 to 5.31 times faster than those using the serial one. In addition, the simulation results are the exact same as the original PCG solver, because the majority of serial codes were not changed. It is worth noting that this parallelizing approach reduces cost in terms of software maintenance because only a single source PCG solver code needs to be maintained in the MODFLOW source tree. [source] Top-down influences on lexical selection during spoken word production: A 4T fMRI investigation of refractory effects in picture namingHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 11 2006Greig de Zubicaray Abstract Spoken word production is assumed to involve stages of processing in which activation spreads through layers of units comprising lexical-conceptual knowledge and their corresponding phonological word forms. Using high-field (4T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we assessed whether the relationship between these stages is strictly serial or involves cascaded-interactive processing, and whether central (decision/control) processing mechanisms are involved in lexical selection. Participants performed the competitor priming paradigm in which distractor words, named from a definition and semantically related to a subsequently presented target picture, slow picture-naming latency compared to that with unrelated words. The paradigm intersperses two trials between the definition and the picture to be named, temporally separating activation in the word perception and production networks. Priming semantic competitors of target picture names significantly increased activation in the left posterior temporal cortex, and to a lesser extent the left middle temporal cortex, consistent with the predictions of cascaded-interactive models of lexical access. In addition, extensive activation was detected in the anterior cingulate and pars orbitalis of the inferior frontal gyrus. The findings indicate that lexical selection during competitor priming is biased by top-down mechanisms to reverse associations between primed distractor words and target pictures to select words that meet the current goal of speech. Hum Brain Mapp, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Detection of trends in annual extreme rainfallHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 18 2003Kaz Adamowski Abstract Information on intensity,duration,frequency of rainfall is commonly required for a variety of hydrologic applications. In this study, trends are estimated for different durations of annual extreme rainfall using the regional average Mann,Kendall S trend test. The method of L-moments was employed to delineate homogeneous regions. The trend test was modified to account for observed autocorrelation, and a bootstrap methodology was used to account for the observed spatial correlation. Numerical analysis was performed on 44 rainfall stations from the province of Ontario, Canada, for a 20 year time frame. This was done using data from homogeneous regions established using the L-moments procedure for the annual maximum observations for the following durations: 5, 10, 15 and 30 min, and 1, 2, 6 and 12 h. Depending on different rainfall durations, four or five homogeneous regions were delineated. Based on a 5% significance level, approximately 23% of the regions tested had a significant trend, predominantly for short-duration storms. Serial dependency was observed in 2·3% of data sets and spatial correlation was found in 18% of the regions. The presence of serial and spatial correlation had a significant impact on trend determination. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Mothers' attachment representations and choice of infant care: center care vs. homeINFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2001Nina Koren-KarieArticle first published online: 14 SEP 200 Abstract In the debate concerning the effects of day care on infant development, insufficient attention has been paid to the potential relationship between pre-existing emotional differences among mothers and the type of care they choose for their infants. To shed light on this issue, this study examines the attachment representations of mothers who choose day-care centres as opposed to mothers who choose to remain at home with their infants. Participants were 76 primiparous mothers. Mothers' attachment classifications were assessed by the Adult Attachment Interview [AAI; Main M, Kaplan N, Cassidy J. 1985. Security in infancy, childhood, and adulthood: a move to the level of representation. In Growing Points of Attachment Theory and Research. Monograph of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50, (1,2, serial no. 209), Bretherton I, Waters E (eds); 66,104]. Results indicate that more Day-care than Home-Care mothers are classified as insecurely attached. These results highlight the contribution of maternal emotional characteristics to the effects of diverse child care arrangements on infant development. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Apical inflammatory root resorption: a correlative radiographic and histological assessmentINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 6 2000M. Laux Abstract Aim To assess the reliability of routine single radiographs in the diagnosis of inflammatory apical root resorption by correlating the radiographic and histological findings. Methodology The material comprised serial and step serial sections of plastic-embedded root-apices with attached apical periodontitis lesions that were prepared for a previous study and the diagnostic radiographs. The histological sections of 114 specimens were analysed by light microscopy and categorized into three groups: (i) those without any resorption (0); (ii) those with moderate resorption (+); and (iii) those with severe resorption (+ +). The radiographs were examined by a separate examiner and graded with a similar categorization of no resorption (0); moderate (+); and severe (+ +) apical resorption. Results Radiographically, 19% of the teeth were diagnosed as having apical inflammatory root resorption, whereas histologically, 81% of the teeth revealed apical inflammatory root resorption. A correlative radiographic and histological assessment (n = 104) revealed a coincidence of diagnosis in 7% of the specimens and noncoincidence of diagnosis in 76% of the specimens. Conclusions The results indicate that routine single radiographs are not sufficiently accurate or sensitive to consistently diagnose apical root resorptive defects developing as a consequence of apical periodontitis. [source] Large eddy simulation of turbulent flows via domain decomposition techniques.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 4 2005Part 1: theory Abstract The present paper discusses large eddy simulations of incompressible turbulent flows in complex geometries. Attention is focused on the application of the Schur complement method for the solution of the elliptic equations arising from the fractional step procedure and/or the semi-implicit discretization of the momentum equations in velocity,pressure representation. Fast direct and iterative Poisson solvers are compared and their global efficiency evaluated both in serial and parallel architecture environments for model problems of physical relevance. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nargile (Hubble-Bubble) smoking-induced hand eczemaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 11 2002Meltem Onder MD A 65-year-old retired man with hand eczema presented to the Dermatology clinic in October of 2001. He complained of scaly, fissured plaque-type lesions over the radial margin of his right index finger and thumb (Fig. 1). He first noticed these changes 2 years ago. There was no history of irritation from his occupation. None of the other family members were affected. There was no history of atopy or psoriasis. Figure 1. Hyperkeratotic scaly plaques along the outer margin of the right index finger and thumb related with habit of nargile smoking The physical examination was remarkable for scaly, fissured, hyperkeratotic patches on the palms and palmar surfaces of the finger tips of the right hand. No nail changes were noted. The other fingers were free from lesions. There were no changes on the feet or soles. A diagnosis of eczema was suspected. Hobbies and repeated trauma to the hands were investigated. He had a habit of "nargile" smoking,starting at 35 years of age and he was using this apparatus more than 2 h a day. We performed patch tests with European standart test serial and they were negative. Yeast examination using KOH was negative. The diagnosis of Nargile (Hubble-bubble) eczema was made. It was advised that he stop smoking. Mild topical corticosteroids and emollient with urea were started. Clinical evaluation demonstrated resolution of the lesions after 2 weeks of therapy. [source] Changes in the Isolated Delayed Component as an Endpoint of Catheter Ablation in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Predictor for Long-Term SuccessJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008AKIHIKO NOGAMI M.D. Introduction: Although successful ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is feasible in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), long-term recurrence is common. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of a change in the isolated delayed component (IDC) as an endpoint of the catheter ablation in ARVC. Methods and Results: Eighteen patients (48 ± 11 years) with ARVC were studied. Detailed endocardial mapping of the right ventricle (RV) was performed during sinus rhythm. IDCs were recorded in 16 patients and the latest IDCs were related to the VT circuit. Catheter ablation was carried out in the areas with the IDCs. At the end of the session, the IDC was electrically dissociated in one, disappeared in five, exhibited second-degree block in one, was significantly delayed (,50 ms) in three, and remained unchanged in six. The change in the IDC was correlated with the change in the type II/III late potentials in the signal-averaged electrocardiography (ECG) and the inducibility of the clinical VT after the ablation. During a follow-up of 61 ± 38 months, VT recurred in six. The patients with a changed IDC had a significantly lower VT recurrence than those with no IDC or an unchanged IDC (P < 0.02). Conclusion: In patients with ARVC, (1) the IDCs during sinus rhythm are related to the clinical VT and can be a target for the ablation, (2) a change in the IDC can be used as an endpoint, and (3) qualitative analyses of the serial signal-averaged ECGs may be useful for the long-term follow-up. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||