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Technical Point (technical + point)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	45%
Life Sciences	18%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	18%

Selected Abstracts

Carotid angioplasty and stenting in octogenarians: Is it safe?

CATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 3 2008
M. Henry MD
Abstract Purpose: Elderly patients have a higher risk of complications in carotid endarterectomy. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether carotid artery stenting (CAS) performed in octogenarians also increases the procedure related risk. Methods: 870 patients (male 626) mean age 70.9 ± 9.3 years underwent 930 CAS for de novo lesions (n = 851) restenoses (n = 54) post radiation (n = 14) inflammatory arteritis (n = 9) post trauma aneurysms (n = 2). Indications for treatment: symptomatic carotid stenosis , 70% (n = 577) or asymptomatic stenosis , 80%. Patients were separated into two age groups: <80 years (749 patients, 806 CAS) and >80 years (121 patients, 124 CAS). 187 CAS performed without protection (N.P,) 6 patients >80 years, 743 with protection (NP+) (occlusion balloon: 334, filters: 404, reversal flow: 6) 118 patients >80 years. Data analysis included neurological complications, death and myocardial infarction (MI) rate at 30 days, anatomical particularities. Technical points will be described depending on the age of the patient. Results: Technical success 804/806 in patients <80 years, 123/124 in patients >80 years (NS). 30 days outcomes: in the patient group <80 years we observed 9 TIA (1.1%) 3 without NP (1.7%) 6 with NP (0.9%), 5 minor strokes (0.6%) 2 without NP (1.1%) 3 with NP (0.5%), 3 major strokes: 2 without NP (1.1%) 1 with NP (0.2%), 5 deaths (0.6%) 2 without NP (1.1%) 3 with NP (0.5%). Death/stroke/MI: 14 (1.8%) 6 without NP (3.3%), 8 with NP (1.3%). In the group >80 years, we observed 2 TIA (1.7%) 1 without NP 1 with NP (0.92%) 1 minor stroke without NP (17%) no major stroke, no death. Death/stroke/MI 1 without NP (17%). Conclusion: CAS can be performed in elderly patients without higher risk than in younger patients. But good indications, a meticulous technique, protection devices are mandatory and some technical points must be pointed out to avoid neurological complications and failures. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

A Hybrid Approach to Multiple Fluid Simulation using Volume Fractions

COMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 2 2010
Nahyup Kang
Abstract This paper presents a hybrid approach to multiple fluid simulation that can handle miscible and immiscible fluids, simultaneously. We combine distance functions and volume fractions to capture not only the discontinuous interface between immiscible fluids but also the smooth transition between miscible fluids. Our approach consists of four steps: velocity field computation, volume fraction advection, miscible fluid diffusion, and visualization. By providing a combining scheme between volume fractions and level set functions, we are able to take advantages of both representation schemes of fluids. From the system point of view, our work is the first approach to Eulerian grid-based multiple fluid simulation including both miscible and immiscible fluids. From the technical point of view, our approach addresses the issues arising from variable density and viscosity together with material diffusion. We show that the effectiveness of our approach to handle multiple miscible and immiscible fluids through experiments. [source]

Comparison of the effectiveness of five extraction methods for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum from potato tubers

EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 2 2001
J. Martin
In the EU Control Directives, the recommended extraction procedure for testing potatoes for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum comprises incubation followed by differential centrifugation. This method can be qualified as complex because of the number of different steps required. This study evaluates five different extraction methods for each bacterium from both a technical point of view and for the quality of the results. Results showed that in the case of C. m. sepedonicus the clarification step should be avoided. The incubation/shaking method with three subsamples gives at least as satisfactory results as the official EU procedure. It also has other advantages, facilitating immunofluorescence readings due to the reduced quantity of plant debris, and improving the speed and the reliability of the analysis. [source]

Converging New Public Management Reforms and Diverging Accounting Practices in Flemish Local Governments

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001
Johan Christiaens
This paper aims at presenting a comparative study of the diverging development of accounting reforms in Flemish local governments in terms of accounting from a technical point of view. On the one hand, the objectives and the framework of current governmental accounting reforms aiming at improving New Public Management are currently converging. On the other hand, a conceptual examination reveals that the prescribed accounting practices are widely diverging and apparently this is also the case for the practical implementation of the reformed accounting systems. By way of conclusion, a number of possible reasons for this unsuccessful proliferation are presented. [source]

Electrospinning of Manmade and Biopolymer Nanofibers,Progress in Techniques, Materials, and Applications

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 18 2009
Seema Agarwal
Abstract Electrospinning of nanofibers has developed quickly from a laboratory curiosity to a highly versatile method for the preparation of a wide variety of nanofibers, which are of interest from a fundamental as well as a technical point of view. A wide variety of materials has been processed into individual nanofibers or nanofiber mats with very different morphologies. The diverse properties of these nanofibers, based on different physical, chemical, or biological behavior, mean they are of interest for different applications ranging from filtration, antibacterial coatings, drug release formulations, tissue engineering, living membranes, sensors, and so on. A particular advantage of electrospinning is that numerous non-fiber forming materials can be immobilized by electrospinning in nanofiber nonwovens, even very sensitive biological objects such as virus, bacteria, and cells. The progress made during the last few years in the field of electrospinning is fascinating and is highlighted in this Feature Article, with particular emphasis on results obtained in the authors' research units. Specific areas of importance for the future of electrospinning, and which may open up novel applications, are also highlighted. [source]

Group decision and distributed technical support

INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2004
M.F. Norese
Abstract A group of 45 decision-makers (local authorities and representatives from the communities) worked together for 16 months, with a facilitator group, to identify relevant criteria to analyze the consequences of a plant location. Two multi-criteria models, one for an incinerator and the other for a waste disposal plant, were elaborated and an ELECTRE method was used to compare sites and rank them, with the aim of selecting the best sites for which an environmental impact assessment procedure will be activated. A virtual team, from different organizations, supported this work from a technical point of view. This kind of ,distributed support' to a multi-criteria decision required actions of coordination and knowledge filtering and interpreting. The paper proposes an analysis of this participatory decision process and synthesizes the difficulties and results of the multi-criteria decision aid intervention. [source]

Evaluation of bone surface registration applying a micro-needle array

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 11 2007
Kurt Schicho
Abstract Aim: In this study we present and evaluated a new registration technology for the jaw-bone surface. It is based on a micromechatronic device for the generation of a "mechanical image" of the bone surface by means of an array of micro-needles that are penetrating the soft tissue until they touch the surface of the bone. This "mechanical impression image" is aligned with the CT data set. Material and Methods: Based on laboratory measurements on 10 specially prepared jawbone models we evaluate the accuracy of this new registration method. Results: Our measurements of the 10 specimens revealed a maximum overall location error of 0.97 mm (range: 0.35,0.97 mm). Conclusions: From the technical point of view the presented registration technology has the potential to improve the performance (i.e. accuracy and avoidance of errors) of the registration process for bony structures in selected applications of image-guided surgery. [source]

Use of Transgenic Animals to Improve Human Health and Animal Production

REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 4 2005
L-M Houdebine
Contents Transgenic animals are more widely used for various purposes. Applications of animal transgenesis may be divided into three major categories: (i) to obtain information on gene function and regulation as well as on human diseases, (ii) to obtain high value products (recombinant pharmaceutical proteins and xeno-organs for humans) to be used for human therapy, and (iii) to improve animal products for human consumption. All these applications are directly or not related to human health. Animal transgenesis started in 1980. Important improvement of the methods has been made and are still being achieved to reduce cost as well as killing of animals and to improve the relevance of the models. This includes gene transfer and design of reliable vectors for transgene expression. This review describes the state of the art of animal transgenesis from a technical point of view. It also reports some of the applications in the medical field based on the use of transgenic animal models. The advance in the generation of pigs to be used as the source of organs for patients and in the preparation of pharmaceutical proteins from milk and other possible biological fluids from transgenic animals is described. The projects in course aiming at improving animal production by transgenesis are also depicted. Some the specific biosafety and bioethical problems raised by the different applications of transgenesis, including consumption of transgenic animal products are discussed. [source]

ATP activates both receptor and sustentacular supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium of Xenopus laevis tadpoles

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 1 2006
Dirk Czesnik
Abstract Nucleotides and amino acids are acknowledged categories of water-borne olfactory stimuli. In previous studies it has been shown that larvae of Xenopus laevis are able to sense amino acids. Here we report on the effect of ATP in the olfactory epithelium (OE) of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. First, ATP activates a subpopulation of cells in the OE. The ATP-sensitive subset of cells is almost perfectly disjoint from the subset of amino acid-activated cells. Both responses are not mediated by the well-described cAMP transduction pathway as the two subpopulations of cells do not overlap with a third, forskolin-activated subpopulation. We further show that, in contrast to amino acids, which act exclusively as olfactory stimuli, ATP appears to feature a second role. Surprisingly it activated a large number of sustentacular supporting cells (SCs) and, to a much lower extent, olfactory receptor neurons. The cells of the amino acid- and ATP-responding subsets featured differences in shape, size and position in the OE. The latencies to activation upon stimulus application differed markedly in these subsets. To obtain these results two technical points were important. We used a novel dextran-tetramethylrhodamine-backfilled slice preparation of the OE and we found out that an antibody to calnexin, a known molecular chaperone, also labels SCs. Our findings thus show a strong effect of ATP in the OE and we discuss some of the possible physiological functions of nucleotides in the OE. [source]

Comparative analysis of putative periodontopathic bacteria by multiplex polymerase chain reaction

JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008
M. Morikawa
Background and Objective:, The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been applied for the rapid and specific detection of periodontopathic bacteria in subgingival plaque and is potentially of clinical benefit in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis subjects. However, several technical points need to be modified before the conventional PCR detection system can be used by clinicians. Material and Methods:, To develop a PCR-based technique more applicable for clinical use than conventional PCR, we established a multiplex PCR for five putative periodontopathic (Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia) and two nonperiodontopathic (Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus salivarius) species of bacteria using whole-plaque suspension as templates, and detected bacteria in subgingival plaque taken from 85 subjects at the supportive periodontal therapy stage after active periodontal treatments. Results:, Among putative periodontopathic bacteria, the detection frequency of T. denticola and P. gingivalis was elevated in parallel with higher probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss, and had 4.2,14.1 times increasing odds of the clinical parameters tested. Detection of any of the five species of putative periodontopathic bacteria markedly increased the odds ratio of a higher probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing. Conclusion:, The multiplex PCR system developed in this study enabled the detection of all the bacteria under investigation in one reaction tube in a less time- and labor-intensive manner than conventional PCR. These results support the potential clinical use of multiplex PCR for detecting periodontopathic bacteria and for evaluating therapeutic strategies and predicting the prognosis for each subject. [source]