Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Small Diameter (small + diameter)
Selected AbstractsThe Uncertainty in SCHF-DT Thermal Conductivity Measurements of Lotus-Type Porous CopperADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 10 2009Hiroshi Chiba Abstract Lotus-type porous metals with many straight pores are attractive for use as heat-sinks because a large heat-transfer capacity can be obtained, due to the small diameter of the pores. In order to use lotus-type porous copper effectively as a heat sink, it is important to know the effective thermal conductivity considering the effect of pores on heat conduction in the material. Since these metals have anisotropic pores, a steady-state comparative longitudinal heat-flow method for measuring thermal conductivity, referring to an ASTM standard, is better than other methods. So far, the effective thermal conductivity of lotus-type porous copper has been measured by using specimens of different thickness (the SCHF-DT method). In this paper, the uncertainty in the effective thermal conductivity of a specimen measured using this method was evaluated by comparison between numerical analysis and current experimental data. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The uncertainty showed good agreement with the uncertainty analysis; 2) The contribution of the thermal grease thickness was large, based on a combined standard uncertainty analysis; and, 3) The effective thermal conductivity perpendicular to the pores of lotus copper can be measured within 10% uncertainty by this method. [source] Determining soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity from single ring infiltration testsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007J. Touma Summary The difference between the cumulative infiltration occurring during three-dimensional axisymmetric and one-dimensional vertical flow is a linear function of time. The slope of this line is a function of the source radius, initial and final volumetric soil water contents and the soil sorptivity. This allows the determination of the sorptivity and saturated conductivity of the soil from data of axisymmetric flow in a single ring of small diameter under negligible head of water. The method is based on the optimization of the sorptivity and saturated conductivity on the one-dimensional vertical cumulative infiltration inferred from axisymmetric flow data. To examine the reliability of the method to determine these parameters, numerical three- and one-dimensional data are generated on soils with known hydrologic properties from the literature. The linearity versus time of the difference of the two types of flow is verified. Several physically based expressions for the vertical cumulative infiltration as a function of time are considered. The optimized values of the sorptivity and saturated conductivity are compared to the their real known values. Despite the large errors on the optimized parameters, namely the saturated conductivity, the error on the vertical predicted cumulative infiltration is limited to 10%. This makes possible the application of this method on a large scale for hydrological modelling purposes. [source] Application of a coil-type TDR probe for measuring the volumetric water content in weathered granitic bedrockHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 6 2008Shin'ya Katsura Abstract As a first step toward describing water flow processes in bedrock, a coil-type time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe capable of measuring volumetric water content, ,, in weathered bedrock at three depths was prepared. Because the coil-type TDR probe is large in diameter (19 mm), it can be installed even in highly weathered bedrock more easily and appropriately than conventional TDR probes that consists of two or three rods of small diameter (5-8 mm). The probe calibrations suggest that the values measured by the probe are very sensitive to changes in ,. Using the calibrated probe together with commercially available profile soil moisture sensors, the , profile was monitored for 1 year. Even rainfall events with relatively small cumulative rainfall of 15 mm increased the bedrock ,, and the increments were comparable to those in the soil. After the end of the rainfall events, the bedrock , displayed a more rapid drop than the soil, and varied little during the period of no rainfall. The water storage showed similar tendencies. These observations suggest that the bedrock , is controlled by clearly distinguishable macropores and micropores within the bedrock. It is concluded that the coil-type TDR probe is very effective in determining , in weathered bedrock, and that bedrock, conventionally defined by conducting cone penetration tests and treated as impermeable, does conduct and hold substantial amounts of water, and therefore contribute greatly to hydrological processes in headwater catchments. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reaching consensus in multiagent decision makingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 3 2010Antonio Maturo A group decision making procedure, when developed in a dynamic context, grows from both an evolving knowledge base and the changes in the positions of the components, or experts, of the group. Agreement and compromise go with and drive the steps of the procedure. Let us consider the case that a committee of experts is constituted to take decisions about a subject of social interest. Usually the job ends if a majority of the members of the committee have not too different opinions about the last state of the decision. We intend to clarify the meaning of the statement "have not too different opinions," to define a structure for the concept of consensus. We assume that an external chairman, with complete information about the state of all the components of group, urges or invites decision makers to reach a consensus. The judgements of the experts are represented, in this framework, by points in a metric space, and the consensus is obtained by a dynamical construction of a maximal winning coalition contained in a ball with a fixed and suitably small diameter. This also allows us to deal with the concept of consensus in terms of algorithm. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Fabrication of DBSA-doped polyaniline nanorods by interfacial polymerizationJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Shihai Ding Abstract An interfacial polymerization was used to fabricate dodecybenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA)-doped polyaniline (DBSA-PANI) nanorods with diameter range from 40 nm to 1 ,m. The molar ratio of aniline to ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS), the concentrations of DBSA and reaction temperature had an effect on the morphology and size of products. It was found that lower concentration of DBSA and lower temperature will be helpful to the formation of rod-like PANI nanostructures with a relative small diameter. UV,vis and FTIR measurements were used to characterize the chemical structure of the obtained samples. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Preparation and characterization of silver containing chitosan fibersJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007Yimin Qin Abstract Silver containing chitosan fibers were prepared by blending fine particles of a silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate compound into the spinning solution. It was possible to distribute the silver containing particles in the chitosan fiber because of the high viscosity of the spinning solution and the small diameter of the particles. Because the silver ions are imbedded inside the sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate complex, the chitosan fibers remain white in color without being oxidized by the silver ions. The release of silver ions from the silver containing chitosan fibers were studied by placing the fibers in contact with distilled water, solution A, and aqueous protein solutions. Results showed that the release of silver ions was low in water, while in solution A and protein solutions, the silver ions are activated through ion exchange and chelation. The silver ions can significantly enhance the antimicrobial properties of the chitosan fibers. Experimental results showed that when placed in contact with the silver containing chitosan fibers, the reduction in bacteria count can be more than 98%. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3622,3627, 2007 [source] The influence of endothelial cells on the ECM composition of 3D engineered cardiovascular constructs,JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009Rolf A. A. Pullens Abstract Tissue engineering of small diameter (<5 mm) blood vessels is a promising approach to develop viable alternatives for autologous vascular grafts. Development of a functional, adherent, shear resisting endothelial cell (EC) layer is one of the major issues limiting the successful application of these tissue engineered grafts. The goal of the present study was to create a confluent EC layer on a rectangular 3D cardiovascular construct using human venous cells and to determine the influence of this layer on the extracellular matrix composition and mechanical properties of the constructs. Rectangular cardiovascular constructs were created by seeding myofibroblasts (MFs) on poly(glycolic acid) poly-4-hydroxybutyrate scaffolds using fibrin gel. After 3 or 4 weeks, ECs were seeded and co-cultured using EGM-2 medium for 2 or 1 week, respectively. A confluent EC layer could be created and maintained for up to 2 weeks. The EGM-2 medium lowered the collagen production by MFs, resulting in weaker constructs, especially in the 2 week cultured constructs. Co-culturing with ECs slightly reduced the collagen content, but had no additional affect on the mechanical performance. A confluent endothelial layer was created on 3D human cardiovascular constructs. The layer was co-cultured for 1 and 2 weeks. Although, the collagen production of the MFs was slightly lowered, co-culturing ECs for 1 week results in constructs with good mechanical properties and a confluent EC layer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The effects of multiple passes on the epidermal thermal damage pattern in nonablative fractional resurfacing,LASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009Dieter Manstein MD Background and Objective Nonablative fractional resurfacing is a concept of cutaneous re-modeling whereby laser-induced microscopic treatment zones (MTZs) are surrounded by normal viable tissue. Such thermal damage pattern with a small diameter of individual lesions allows fast re-epithelialization with minimal side effects. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the fraction of thermal injury per unit surface area (fill factor) and lesion size in relation to pulse energy and number of passes. Methods Full thickness abdominal skin samples were exposed ex vivo to the Fraxel SR 750 laser (Reliant Technologies, Mountain View, CA). One set of exposures was performed for pulse energies in the range of 8 to 40 mJ for a single pass at 250 MTZ/cm2. A second set of exposures was performed at 10 mJ with number of passes from 1 to 30. The thermal damage pattern was assessed by incubation of epidermal sheets with NitroBlueTetrazoliumChloride (NBTC) stain. Size of individual MTZ and fill factor were determined by image analysis (ImageJ, NIH, Bethesda, MD) of digital micrographs. Results Width of the thermal injury zone was directly related to the pulse energy used. The fill factor did not have a uniform relationship with the number of passes. Due to the stochastic placement of individual MTZs, even for greater number of passes, some residual undamaged tissue was found. Due to formation of thermal damage clusters, defined as overlapping individual MTZs, the size of the resulting clustering lesions which we defined as microscopic treatment cluster (MTC) increased linearly as a function of the number of passes. Conclusion We have described the fill factor as it relates to the number of passes and have demonstrated that the average size of individual lesions depends on the number of passes. Clustering of MTZs lead to the development of MTC, the average size of which increased with the number of passes. The clinical implications of these findings are contingent on further studies. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:149,153, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Sensor Mechanism and Afferent Signal Transduction of the Urinary Bladder: Special Focus on transient receptor potential Ion ChannelsLUTS, Issue 2 2010Masayuki TAKEDA In the urine storage phase, mechanical stretch stimulates bladder afferents. These urinary bladder afferent sensory nerves consist of small diameter A, - and C-fibers running in the hypogastic and pelvic nerves. Neuroanatomical studies have revealed a complex neuronal network within the bladder wall. The exact mechanisms that underline mechano-sensory transduction in bladder afferent terminals remain ambiguous; however, a wide range of ion channels (e.g. TTX-resistant Na+ channels, Kv channels and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotidegated cation channels, degenerin/epithelial Na+ channel), and receptors (e.g. TRPV1, TRPM8, TRPA1, P2X2/3, etc.) have been identified at bladder afferent terminals and have implicated in the generation and modulation of afferent signals, which are elcited by a wide range of bladder stimulations including physiological bladder filling, noxious distension, cold, chemical irritation and inflammation. The mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) family consists of 28 channels that can be subdivided into six different classes: TRPV (Vanilloid), TRPC (Canonical), TRPM (Melastatin), TRPP (Polycystin), TRPML (Mucolipin), and TRPA (Ankyrin). TRP channels are activated by a diversity of physical (voltage, heat, cold, mechanical stress) or chemical (pH, osmolality) stimuli and by binding of specific ligands, enabling them to act as multifunctional sensors at the cellular level. TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM8, and TRPA1 have been described in different parts of the urogenital tract. Although only TRPV1 among TRPs has been extensively studied so far, more evidence is slowly accumulating about the role of other TRP channels, ion channels, and receptors in the pathophysiology of the urogenital tract, and may provide a new strategy for the treatment of bladder dysfunction. [source] Asymptotic expansions for eigenvalues in the presence of small inhomogeneitiesMATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES, Issue 1 2003H. Ammari Abstract We provide a rigorous derivation of an asymptotic formula for perturbations in the eigenvalues caused by the presence of a finite number of inhomogeneities of small diameter with conductivity different from the background conductivity. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The morphometric analysis of the central retinal arteryOPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 4 2005Necdet Kocabiyik Abstract In this study, we aimed to investigate some features of the central retinal artery (CRA), which supplies the internal aspect of the retina. The CRA is the main vessel supplying blood to the retina. The origin, course and penetration point of the optic nerve by the CRA were studied in 30 human orbits. We compared the right sides to the left sides on the basis of gender in order to statistically analyse the relation between them. The CRA arose directly from the ophthalmic artery in 28 specimens. In two specimens, however, it arose in common with the medial posterior ciliary artery. When we observed the penetration point (site) of the CRA into the optic nerve, in 28 of 30 (93.3%) cases, the artery entered the nerve from the lower medial aspect and in two (6.7%) cases from the upper lateral aspect. The CRA penetrated the optic nerve between 6.4 and 15.2 mm behind the eyeball and reached the eyeball through the centre of the optic nerve. Because of the small diameter of the artery, it has a high risk of getting damaged during a surgical approach to the orbit. Therefore the anatomical relationships of this artery must be well known. [source] Segmental Pulmonary Vein Ablation: Success Rates with and without Exclusion of Areas Adjacent to the EsophagusPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008KLAUS KETTERING M.D. Background: Catheter ablation has become the first line of therapy in patients with symptomatic recurrent, drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). The occurrence of an atrioesophageal fistula is a rare but serious complication after AF-ablation procedures. This risk is even present during segmental pulmonary vein (PV) ablation procedures because the esophagus does frequently have a very close anatomical relationship to the right or left PV ostia. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether the exclusion of areas adjacent to the esophagus does have a significant effect on the success rates after segmental pulmonary vein ablation procedures. Methods: Forty-three consecutive patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF were enrolled in this study. In all patients, a segmental PV ablation procedure was performed. The procedures were facilitated by a 3D real-time visualization of the circumferential mapping catheter placed in the pulmonary veins using the NavXÔ system (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA; open irrigated tip ablation catheter; 43°C; 30 W). In 21 patients, a complete ostial PV isolation was attempted regardless of the anatomical relationship between the ablation sites and the esophagus (group A). In the remaining 22 patients, the esophagus was marked by a stomach tube and areas adjacent to the esophagus were excluded from the ablation procedure (group B). After discharge, patients were scheduled for repeated visits at the arrhythmia clinic at 1, 3, and 6 months after the ablation procedure. Results: The segmental pulmonary vein ablation procedure could be performed as planned in all patients. In group A, all pulmonary veins could be isolated successfully in 14 out of 21 patients (67%). A mean number of 3.7 pulmonary veins (SD ± 0.5 PVs) were isolated per patient. The main reasons for an incomplete PV isolation were: small diameter of the PVs, side branches close to the ostium, or poorly accessible PV ostia. In group B, all PVs could be isolated successfully in only 12 out of 22 patients (55%; P = 0.54). A mean number of 3.2 PVs (SD ± 0.9 PVs) were isolated per patient (P = 0.05). This was mostly due to a close anatomical relationship to the esophagus. The ablation strategy had to be modified in 16/22 patients in group B because of a close anatomical relationship between the left (n = 10) or right (n = 6) PV ostia and the esophagus. After 3 months, the percentage of patients free from an AF recurrence was not significantly different between the two groups (90% vs 95%; P = 0.61). After 6 months, there was no significant difference between the success rates either (81% vs 82%; P = 1.0). There were no major complications in both groups. Conclusions: The exclusion of areas adjacent to the esophagus results in a moderately higher percentage of incompletely isolated PVs. However, it does not have a significant effect on the AF recurrence rate during short-term and mid-term follow-up. [source] Frontal polymerization of acrylic monomers for the consolidation of stonePOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 4 2005Silvia Vicini Abstract Polymeric products are largely used for consolidation of stone in the field of cultural heritage. Nevertheless, the main problem of polymeric compounds is related to their macromolecular nature, it being difficult for a polymer to penetrate inside the pores which may have a very small diameter. These considerations are the starting points for in situ polymerization. According to this technique, not the pre-formed polymer, but the monomer is introduced into the stone and it is polymerized in situ in a subsequent step. Frontal polymerization (FP) is a particular technique in which the heat released by the exothermal reaction of monomer to polymer conversion is exploited to promote the formation of a hot traveling front able to propagate and self-sustain the reaction. In the present work, FP is performed inside the pores of the stone and the results lead to the conclusion that the hot front is still active in the presence of an inorganic material which dissipates partially the heat released during the polymerization. In addition some recent applications of FP are discussed in comparison with the traditional polymerization for the in situ consolidation and protection of stones. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of Betamethasone Treatment on Central Myelination in Fetal Sheep: An Electron Microscopical StudyANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 2 2008C. Raschke Summary The long-term effect of betamethasone on the myelination of commissural and associational fibres was investigated in fetal sheep. We studied the corpus callosum and subcortical white matter by electron microscopy. Axons were subdivided into classes according to their axonal diameter: class I: ,0.65 ,m; class II: 0.66,0.84 ,m; class III: ,0.85 ,m. Under control conditions, the different functions of the white matter tracts examined were reflected by three morphological criteria: (1) there was a diverse percentage of axonal classes in the investigated areas. In corpus callosum the axons of class II predominate (47.1%). In the subcortical white matter, class I axons with small diameter are in majority (40.8%). (2) In the subcortical white matter more axons are present, with especially large diameter and hence of axonal class III. (3) The axons of subcortical white matter have thicker myelin sheaths than those of the corpus callosum. Betamethasone administration caused a significant decrease of class II axons in the corpus callosum (36.9%). In corpus callosum, axons of all classes present thicker myelin sheaths. Betamethasone administration resulted in a change in the formation of the myelin sheath in the commissural fibres of the corpus callosum but not in the associational fibres of the subcortical white matter. This could be the morphological correlate to behavioral and cognitive changes known to occur in humans after prenatal glucocorticoid treatment. [source] The impact of loads on standard diameter, small diameter and mini implants: a comparative laboratory studyCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008Simon Rupert Allum Abstract Objectives: While caution in the use of small-diameter (,3.5 mm) implants has been advocated in view of an increased risk of fatigue fracture under clinical loading conditions, a variety of implant designs with diameters <3 mm are currently offered in the market for reconstructions including fixed restorations. There is an absence of reported laboratory studies and randomized-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate clinical efficacy for implant designs with small diameters. This laboratory study aimed to provide comparative data on the mechanical performance of a number of narrow commercially marketed implants. Materials and methods: Implants of varying designs were investigated under a standardized test set-up similar to that recommended for standardized ISO laboratory testing. Implant assemblies were mounted in acrylic blocks supporting laboratory cast crowns and subjected to 30° off-axis loading on an LRX Tensometer. Continuous output data were collected using Nexygen software. Results: Load/displacement curves demonstrated good grouping of samples for each design with elastic deformation up to a point of failure approximating the maximum load value for each sample. The maximum loads for Straumann (control) implants were 989 N (±107 N) for the 4.1 mm RN design, and 619 N (±50 N) for the 3.3 mm RN implant (an implant known to have a risk of fracture in clinical use). Values for mini implants were recorded as 261 N (±31 N) for the HiTec 2.4 mm implant, 237 N (±37 N) for the Osteocare 2.8 mm mini and 147 N (±25 N) for the Osteocare mini design. Other implant designs were also tested. Conclusions: The diameters of the commercially available implants tested demonstrated a major impact on their ability to withstand load, with those below 3 mm diameter yielding results significantly below a value representing a risk of fracture in clinical practice. The results therefore advocate caution when considering the applicability of implants ,3 mm diameter. Standardized fatigue testing is recommended for all commercially available implants. [source] An Approach to the Synthesis of Silicon Carbide Nanowires by Simple Thermal Evaporation of Ferrocene onto Silicon WafersEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 25 2007Jun-Jie Niu Abstract Scales of silicon carbide nanowires (SiC-NWs) with high quality were synthesized by direct thermal evaporation of ferrocene onto silicon wafers at high temperature. Ferrocene decomposed into iron and carbon, which was subsequently treated with silicon to form SiC-NWs at high temperature. The SiC-NWs possess small diameters of , 20 nm and lengths of several ,ms. Furthermore, the samples show a uniform morphology, crystalline structure, and a very thin oxide layer. The main crystal direction of [111] was confirmed by high-resolution field-emission-transmission electron microscopy (HR-FETEM). The Raman scattering spectra showed two peaks at , 796 (TO) and , 980 cm,1 (LO) with varying intensity ratios at different positions. The band line fluctuation was contributed to the Raman selection rules. With reference to the experimental results, we suggested a tentative growth model according to the vapor,liquid,solid (VLS) mechanism. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007) [source] An investigation on thermal-recycling of recycled plastic resin (spherically symmetric analysis of abrupt heating processes of a micro plastic-resin particle)HEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 4 2006Ryuji Yamakita Abstract A fundamental understanding of the physical properties of a micro plastic-resin particle subjected suddenly to hot combustion gas, such as the temperature history in the micro particle and its lifetime, is necessary for effectively realizing thermal recycling of recycled plastic resin. However, micro plastic particles have such small diameters, ranging from 100 µm to 200 µm, that the measurement of temperature histories within them is extremely difficult. In this paper, therefore, a spherically symmetric one-dimensional analysis is applied to the abrupt heating process of a micro plastic resin particle in a high temperature inert atmosphere. Variations of the temperature history and the lifetime with the ambient gas temperature and the initial particle diameter are numerically analyzed, by dividing the entire heating process into four independent periods; the solid heating period, the melting period, the liquid heating period, and the vaporization period. Effects of the Nusselt number on the particle lifetime are also discussed. It is found that, by suitably taking account of the influences of heat transfer properties, the proposed simplified analysis is useful for estimating the fundamental and overall temperature characteristics of a micro plastic resin particle under abrupt heating. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 35(4): 279,293, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20113 [source] Using anionic polymerizable surfactants in ultrasonically irradiated emulsion polymerization to prepare polymer nanoparticlesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008Yuhui He Abstract An ionic polymerizable surfactant, sodium sulfopropyl-laurylmaleate (M12), was synthesized and used as an emulsifier, an initiator, and a comonomer in ultrasonically irradiated emulsion polymerization. FTIR spectra and gravimetric method results indicated that copolymers P(Styrene-M12) and P(Butylacrlate-M12) were prepared successfully by ultrasonically irradiated emulsion polymerization and the composition of M12 elevated with the increasing concentration of M12 added. TEM photographs of P(St-M12) showed that the nanoparticles with small diameters (20,45 nm) were prepared. With the increase of M12 concentration, the particle size became smaller and the size distribution became wider. The P(BA-M12) particles size was also small (<100 nm) but the size distribution was wide due to the high reactivity of BA. Because surfmer M12 was chemically bonded with the latex particles, the stability of the copolymer latex prepared by ultrasonically irradiated emulsion polymerization was much better than that of the homopolymer latex (PSt or PBA) prepared by the same way. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Demyelination Induces the Decline of the Myelinated Fiber Length in Aged Rat White MatterTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Chen Li Abstract To determine the exact reason for the age-related decline of the myelinated fiber length in white matter, we performed this study. In middle-aged rats, there was age-related loss of the unmyelinated fibers with large diameters. The demyelination of the myelinated fibers with small diameters in middle-aged rat white matter might make the age-related decrease of the unmyelinated fibers with small diameters in the white matter unnoticeable. However, in old-aged female rats, the unmyelinated fibers with large and small diameters significantly degenerated together and that the unmyelinated fibers formed from the demyelination of the myelinated fibers could not replenish the age-related loss of the unmyelinated fibers in the white matter. In conclusion, this study suggested that demyelination of myelinated fibers with small diameters in aged white matter might be the key mechanism of the significant decline of the myelinated fiber length in aged white matter. Anat Rec, 292:528,535, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quantitative coronary arteriography on digital flat-panel systemCATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 2 2004Paul L. Van Herck MD Abstract On images acquired with a digital flat-panel (DFP) detector, known for its better image quality, the performance of a validated quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) software, CAASII (Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System or CAAS), and a DFP-dedicated QCA algorithm (flat-panel analysis software or FPAS) was compared in a phantom and a patient study. On phantom, FPAS performed with higher accuracy the quantification of the smallest tubes and the calibration of an empty catheter. The overall accuracy and precision for the quantification procedure was better for FPAS (0.07 ± 0.04 mm) than for the CAAS (0.19 ± 0.06 mm; P = 0.03 and P < 0.01, respectively). In the patient study, the main difference between the two algorithms was found in the small diameters: CAAS almost always gave higher values than FPAS for the minimal luminal diameter (P < 0.001) and could only give values up to 70% for diameter stenosis. In conclusion, the FPAS can be considered more appropriate for assessing severe stenoses on digital flat-panel images. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;63:192,200. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The impact of loads on standard diameter, small diameter and mini implants: a comparative laboratory studyCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008Simon Rupert Allum Abstract Objectives: While caution in the use of small-diameter (,3.5 mm) implants has been advocated in view of an increased risk of fatigue fracture under clinical loading conditions, a variety of implant designs with diameters <3 mm are currently offered in the market for reconstructions including fixed restorations. There is an absence of reported laboratory studies and randomized-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate clinical efficacy for implant designs with small diameters. This laboratory study aimed to provide comparative data on the mechanical performance of a number of narrow commercially marketed implants. Materials and methods: Implants of varying designs were investigated under a standardized test set-up similar to that recommended for standardized ISO laboratory testing. Implant assemblies were mounted in acrylic blocks supporting laboratory cast crowns and subjected to 30° off-axis loading on an LRX Tensometer. Continuous output data were collected using Nexygen software. Results: Load/displacement curves demonstrated good grouping of samples for each design with elastic deformation up to a point of failure approximating the maximum load value for each sample. The maximum loads for Straumann (control) implants were 989 N (±107 N) for the 4.1 mm RN design, and 619 N (±50 N) for the 3.3 mm RN implant (an implant known to have a risk of fracture in clinical use). Values for mini implants were recorded as 261 N (±31 N) for the HiTec 2.4 mm implant, 237 N (±37 N) for the Osteocare 2.8 mm mini and 147 N (±25 N) for the Osteocare mini design. Other implant designs were also tested. Conclusions: The diameters of the commercially available implants tested demonstrated a major impact on their ability to withstand load, with those below 3 mm diameter yielding results significantly below a value representing a risk of fracture in clinical practice. The results therefore advocate caution when considering the applicability of implants ,3 mm diameter. Standardized fatigue testing is recommended for all commercially available implants. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||