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Irregularities
Kinds of Irregularities Selected AbstractsLiposuction and Menstrual IrregularitiesDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2004Carolyn I. Jacob MD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Discussion of Chief Executive Officer Equity Incentives and Accounting IrregularitiesJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010JOHN E. CORE First page of article [source] Microwave regeneration of zeolites in a 1 meter columnAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2009Matthias Meier Abstract Although sorption is a common method of removing volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from processes, the adsorbent must be regenerated to repeat the process. The use of microwaves to regenerate the bed of adsorbent can be more efficient than conventional heating methods. Desorption of methanol from a silicalite zeolite was studied by the use of microwaves in cylindrical column. Temperature probes at five axial and three radial positions monitored the temperature profile in time. A significant amount of microwave energy passed through the dry zeolite bed, whereas a strong attenuation occurs if methanol is adsorbed. The radial temperature distribution conforms to theoretical predictions; however, microwave reflections cause a distortion of the predictions in the axial direction. Irregularities during the saturation of the bed indicated a chemical reaction during the irradiation with microwaves. A fraction of the methanol reacted under microwave irradiation to form dimethylether and water, and to methoxylate the zeolite surface. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Association study between two variants in the DOPA decarboxylase gene in bipolar and unipolar affective disorder,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 5 2002Esther Jahnes Abstract Irregularities of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission have been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), also known as aromatic L -amino acid decarboxylase, is an enzyme involved directly in the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin and indirectly in the synthesis of noradrenaline. Therefore, the DDC gene can be considered as a candidate gene for affective disorders. Recently, two novel variants were reported in the DDC gene: a 1-bp deletion in the promoter and a 4-bp deletion in the untranslated exon 1. Subsequently, an association case,control study including 112 English patients and 80 Danish patients with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) revealed a significant association with the 1-bp deletion. This finding prompted us to analyze whether this effect was also present in a larger and ethnically homogeneous sample of 228 unrelated German patients with BPAD (208 patients with BP I disorder, 20 patients with BP II disorder), 183 unrelated patients with unipolar affective disorder (UPAD), and 234 healthy control subjects. For both BPAD and UPAD we could not detect a genetic association with either variant. Thus, our results do not support an involvement of the 1-bp or 4-bp deletion within the DDC gene in the etiology of affective disorders. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Stochastic Response of a Continuous System with Stochastic Surface Irregularities to an Accelerated LoadPROCEEDINGS IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS & MECHANICS, Issue 1 2003C.A. Schenk The problem of calculating the second moment characteristics of the response of a general class of nonconservative linear distributed parameter systems with stochastically varying surface roughness, excited by a moving concentrated load, is investigated. In particular the case of an accelerated load is discussed. The surface roughness is modeled as a Gaussian stationary second order process. For the stochastic representation of the surface roughness a orthogonal series expansion of the covariance kernel, the so called Karhunen-Loéve expansion, is applied. The resulting initial/boundary value problem is transformed by eigenfunction expansion into the modal state space. Second moment characteristics of the response are determined numerically by direct integration using a Runge-Kutta method. [source] The temperament of pre-term, low birth weight infants and its potential biological substratesRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 6 2004Sandra J. Weiss Abstract Temperament profiles of pre-term, low birth weight (LBW) infants were assessed at 6 months of age using standardized norms from the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ). The contributions of perinatal risk, ethnicity, and gender to various temperament dimensions were examined. The sample included 152 infants with a mean birth weight of 1687 g and a mean gestational age of 31 weeks. Eighty percent of the infants were classified as having temperaments that were difficult to manage. Irregularity of the infants' biorhythms, slowness in their ability to adapt to changes, and distractibility were the most problematic. Birth weight, gestational age, and gender were not associated with temperament. Perinatal morbidity was related to the temperament dimension of infant persistence, with implications for the infant's attention span and task performance. Euro American infants were rated as more persistent and less intense in emotional expression than were infants of other ethnic groups. Results suggest the need for a more direct assessment of the effects of neurobiological processes on development of temperament phenotypes and for measurement of temperament that is socioculturally appropriate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:392,402, 2004 [source] Roughness Characterization through 3D Textured Image Analysis: Contribution to the Study of Road Wear LevelCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2004M. Khoudeir The microtexture is defined as surface irregularities whose height ranges from 0.001 mm to 0.5 mm and whose width is less than 0.5 mm (Alvarez and Mprel, 1994). The deterioration due to the road traffic, especially polishing effect, involves a change in the microtexture. So, we suggest a method to characterize, through image analysis, wear level or microroughness of road surfaces. We propose then, on one hand a photometric model for road surface, and, on the other hand, a geometrical model for road surface profile. These two models allow us to develop roughness criteria based on the study of the statistical properties of: the distribution of the gray levels in the image, the distribution of the absolute value of its gradient, the form of its autocorrelation function, and the distribution of its curvature map. Experiments have been done with images of laboratory-made road specimens at different wear levels. The obtained results are similar to those obtained by a direct method using road profiles. [source] Effective radial Liapunov exponent for the radial diffusion of test electronsCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 3-4 2003A. Maluckov Abstract The radial diffusion of test electrons in the bounded magnetic field region with irregularities is a realization of the magnetic (deterministic) and collisional (statistical) stochasticities. To clarify the development of stochasticities the effective radial Liapunov exponent Ler, the number of the electron trajectories (magnetic field lines) with positive radial Liapunov exponent Np, the distribution of the radial Liapunov exponent, Kolmogorov entropy and 3D Liapunov exponent are calculated numerically. In the absence of collisions the overlapping among magnetic islands (generation of the global stochasticity) is indicated by the qualitative change from negative to positive Ler in the long time limit. The fact that Np < N, where N is the number of test electrons, is the sign of sticking to the magnetic field structures. From the viewpoint of the radial Liapunov exponents both stochasticities manifest similarly. It is shown that the distribution of the radial Liapunov exponents is not the elementary one, except in the region of the extremely frequent collisions and partially destroyed magnetic field. Transition of the radial diffusion from the strange to the standard diffusion [1] is related with neglecting sticking of the electrons to the magnetic field structures by enough frequent collisions. [source] Morphological irregularities and features of resistance to apoptosis in the dcp-1/pita double mutated egg chambers during Drosophila oogenesisCYTOSKELETON, Issue 1 2005Ioannis P. Nezis Abstract In the present study, we demonstrate the most novel characteristic morphological features of Drosophila egg chambers lacking both dcp-1 and pita functions in the germline cells. Dcp-1 is an effector caspase and it has been previously shown to play an important role during Drosophila oogenesis [McCall and Steller, 1998 : Science 279 : 230,234; Laundrie et al., 2003 : Genetics 165 : 1881,1888; Peterson et al., 2003 : Dev Biol 260 : 113,123]. The completion of sequencing and annotation of the Drosophila genome has revealed that the dcp-1 gene is nested within an intron of another distinct gene, called pita, a member of the C2H2 zinc finger protein family that regulates transcriptional initiation. The dcp-1,/,/pita,/, nurse cells exhibit euchromatic nuclei (delay of apoptosis) during the late stages of oogenesis, as revealed by conventional light and electron microscopy. The phalloidin-FITC staining discloses significant defects in actin cytoskeleton arrangement. The actin bundles fail to organize properly and the distribution of actin filaments in the ring canals is changed compared to the wild type. The oocyte and the chorion structures have been also modified. The oocyte nucleus is out of position and the chorion appears to contain irregular foldings, while the respiratory filaments obtain an altered morphology. The dcp-1,/,/pita,/, egg chambers do not exhibit the rare events of spontaneously induced apoptosis, observed for the wild type flies, during mid-oogenesis. Interestingly, the mutated egg chambers are protected by staurosporine-induced apoptosis in a percentage of 40%, strongly suggesting the essential role of dcp-1 and/or pita during mid-oogenesis. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 60:14,23, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Safety and Effectiveness of Single-Pass Erbium:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate PhotodamageDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 8 2004David K. Avram MD Background. There are several treatment modalities for mild to moderate photodamage. The demand for effective treatments with minimal side effects has increased. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of short-pulsed erbium:YAG laser in treating mild to moderate photodamage. Methods. Twenty patients were treated with the short-pulse erbium:YAG laser on the face and neck. One pass was given over the entire face with two to three passes over the perioral and periorbital regions. Patients were evaluated for improvement of pigmentary irregularities, skin texture, and fine wrinkles. All side effects were recorded at follow-up visits. Two lasers were used, Sciton and Cynosure CO3, under local anesthesia. Results. There was a 58% reduction in pigment irregularities and a 54% improvement in skin texture. There was minimal improvement in fine wrinkles with one pass. Two and three passes resulted in a 50% reduction in wrinkles. The procedure was minimally painful. Side effects included 3 to 5 days of erythema and edema. Patients returned to work within 3 days on average. There were no infections. Patient satisfaction with the procedure was rated as very good. There was no difference in efficacy or adverse effects with either laser. Conclusions. One-pass short-pulse erbium:YAG laser in treating photodamage of the face and neck is safe and effective. There are minimal side effects and patients heal within 3 to 5 days. [source] Fine-needle aspiration of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphomaDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Frances Manosca M.D. Abstract We report the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology findings of Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-cell Lymphoma (SCPTCL) in a 66-year-old woman who presented with a four month history of asymptomatic subcutaneous nodules on her right chest wall and back. An excisional biopsy of the right chest nodules was performed, and the diagnosis of SCPTCL was rendered. On a follow-up visit, several skin lesions were noted throughout her body. A fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the right inguinal region was performed. The FNA yielded cellular smears, composed mainly of sheets of epithelioid histiocytes and scattered multinucleated cells. However, no distinct granulomas were noted. The background of the cytological smears showed scattered atypical lymphoid cells, some of which displayed nuclear membrane irregularities. To the best of our knowledge, the cytological features on FNA material of SCPTCL have not been described. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;31:338,339. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Adenocarcinoma in colonic brushing cytology: High-grade dysplasia as a diagnostic pitfallDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Gordon H. Yu M.D. Abstract Cytologic evaluation of brushing specimens obtained from the colon may be useful in the diagnosis of neoplastic and inflammatory lesions, as previous studies have reported favorable sensitivity and specificity figures for this procedure. In this study, we report our experience with 80 colonic brushings examined over a 5-yr period. Thirty cases received an atypical or malignant cytologic diagnosis. Nineteen of 20 cases diagnosed cytologically as adenocarcinoma revealed adenocarcinoma on biopsy; one case showed only adenomatous epithelium on biopsy and subsequent resection. Cases diagnosed cytologically as "atypical" or "adenomatous" showed adenocarcinoma, adenoma, and inflammatory conditions upon biopsy. Slides from 30 atypical/malignant cases were retrospectively reviewed for a number of cytomorphologic features and were correlated with the histologic diagnosis. Cases from histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma tended to show greater degrees of altered nuclear polarity, nuclear pleomorphism, membrane irregularities, and chromatin pattern alterations than those from histologically proven adenomatous or inflammatory lesions. The most likely cause of a false-positive diagnosis in this setting is sampling of an adenoma with high-grade dysplasia which fails to meet histologic criteria for adenocarcinoma (invasion of the underlying muscularis mucosae). Thus, in the second part of the study, we examined histologic sections from surgically excised adenomas to determine the frequency with which profound nuclear atypia is at least focally present, potentially resulting in a false-positive cytology diagnosis upon brushing. Slides from 51 cases were reviewed; cytologic atypia beyond that typically observed in adenomas was not observed in 43% of cases. However, profound nuclear atypia was present in 6% of cases; cytologic evaluation of a brushing specimen from these lesions may have resulted in a false-positive diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, despite the histologic diagnosis of adenoma with severe dysplasia. The remaining cases demonstrated intermediate degrees of atypia. These findings serve to quantitate the frequency with which cytohistologic discrepancies might be expected for mass lesions of the colon. Diagn. Cytopathol. 24:364,368, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Evaluation of the influence of vertical irregularities on the seismic performance of a nine-storey steel frameEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2006Fragiadakis Michalis Abstract A methodology based on incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) is presented for the evaluation of structures with vertical irregularities. Four types of storey-irregularities are considered: stiffness, strength, combined stiffness and strength, and mass irregularities. Using the well-known nine-storey LA9 steel frame as a base, the objective is to quantify the effect of irregularities, both for individual and for combinations of stories, on its response. In this context a rational methodology for comparing the seismic performance of different structural configurations is proposed by means of IDA. This entails performing non-linear time history analyses for a suite of ground motion records scaled to several intensity levels and suitably interpolating the results to calculate capacities for a number of limit-states, from elasticity to final global instability. By expressing all limit-state capacities with a common intensity measure, the reference and each modified structure can be naturally compared without needing to have the same period or yield base shear. Using the bootstrap method to construct appropriate confidence intervals, it becomes possible to isolate the effect of irregularities from the record-to-record variability. Thus, the proposed methodology enables a full-range performance evaluation using a highly accurate analysis method that pinpoints the effect of any source of irregularity for each limit-state. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease in 5641 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiographyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 6 2008H. F. Alber ABSTRACT Background, Although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are well-established predictors for future cardiovascular events, little information is available regarding their correlation with the prevalence and severity of angiographically evaluated coronary artery disease (CAD). Material and methods,, Five thousand six hundred forty-one consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD were analysed. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by routine blood chemistry and questionnaire. CAD severity was graded by visual estimation of lumen diameter stenosis with significant stenoses defined as lumen diameter reduction of , 70%. Coronary angiograms were graded as one-, two- or three-vessel disease, as nonsignificant CAD (lumen irregularities < 70%) or non-CAD. Results,, HDL-C (60·3 ± 18·5 vs. 51·9 ± 15·3 mg dL,1; P < 0·001) was higher and CRP was lower (0·65 ± 1·68 vs. 1·02 ± 2·38 mg dL,1; P < 0·001) in non-CAD (n = 1517) compared to overall CAD patients (n = 4124). CAD patients were older (65·2 ± 10·5 years vs. 59·9 ± 11·4 years), more often diabetics (19·2% vs. 10·6%) and hypertensives (79·2% vs. 66·0%) and included more smokers (18·8% vs. 16·5%) (all P < 0·005). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (124·5 ± 38·3 vs. 126·0 ± 36·3 mg dL,1; P = NS) was similar in overall CAD and non-CAD patients with more statin users (43·4% vs. 27·9%; P < 0·001) among CAD patients. Comparing non-CAD with different CAD severities using analysis of variance, results did not change substantially. In a multivariate analysis, HDL-C and CRP remained independently associated with the prevalence of CAD. In addition, HDL-C is also a potent predictor for the severity of CAD. Conclusions,, In this large consecutive patient cohort, HDL-C and CRP are independently associated with the prevalence of CAD. In this analysis, HDL-C is an even stronger predictor for CAD than some other major classical risk factors. [source] Vehicle fatigue damage caused by road irregularitiesFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 5 2009K. BOGSJÖ ABSTRACT Road roughness causes fatigue-inducing loads in travelling vehicles. Road sections with a high degree of roughness are of special interest because these have a significant impact on vehicle's fatigue life. This study is focused on the statistical description and analysis of vehicle damage caused by irregularities. Standard statistical analysis tools are not straightforwardly applicable because of the non-stationary property of the irregularities. However, it is found that the road irregularities' influence on vehicles can be accurately described using a ,local' narrow-band approximation of the fatigue damage intensity. [source] "Tongue sandwich" bolster for skin graft immobilization,HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 7 2002Charles E. Butler MD Abstract Background Because of surface irregularities and continuous movement of the tongue, predictable immobilization of split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) for tongue defects is difficult to achieve. Methods A novel composite, bilayer foam bolster was used to immobilize a STSG after reconstruction of more than 80% of the tongue mucosa after resection of a squamous cell carcinoma and extensive leukoplakia. Dorsal and ventral bolster components were placed over the STSG and affixed using transglossal, through-and-through sutures. Results The composite foam bolster provided uniform compression along the highly irregular and mobile skin-grafted surface. Graft survival was excellent, and there were no complications. Conclusions The "tongue sandwich" bolster is quickly and easily fabricated, immobilizes the tongue in a fully expanded position, and provides excellent apposition of STSGs to highly irregular and vascular surfaces. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 705,709, 2002 [source] Microvascular irregularities are associated with composition of squamous epithelial lesions and correlate with subepithelial invasion of superficial-type pharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Satoshi Fujii Fujii S, Yamazaki M, Muto M & Ochiai A (2010) Histopathology56, 510,522 Microvascular irregularities are associated with composition of squamous epithelial lesions and correlate with subepithelial invasion of superficial-type pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma Aims:, Superficial squamous epithelial lesions of the pharynx are increasingly recognized by architectural changes in the intraepithelial papillary capillary loop (IPCL) assessed by narrow-band imaging (NBI). The aim was to explore the histology of squamous epithelial precursor lesions and superficial-type pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (STPSCC), including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ and early invasive SCC, by focusing on microvascular irregularities to investigate the composition of those lesions and to explore the pathological characteristics of STPSCCs. Methods and results:, Several pathological factors including thickness of intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma (IESCC) and tumour thickness and microvascular density (MVD) were examined in 104 STPSCCs from 69 patients. The results show that architectural change of IPCL was recognized in precursor lesions in parallel with architectural disturbance and cytological atypia for criteria of diagnosing dysplasia. In 104 STPSCCs, the MVD of IESCC was correlated with the thickness of IESCC (P = 0.0115). Moreover, invasive SCC showed significantly higher MVD of IESCC (P = 0.0078) and there was significant correlation between the thickness of IESCC and subepithelial invasion (P < 0.0001). Conclusions:, Microvascular irregularities are an important pathological factor in carcinogenesis and early invasiveness of SCC of the pharynx. [source] Retracted and replaced: A modelling study of hyporheic exchange pattern and the sequence, size, and spacing of stream bedforms in mountain stream networks, Oregon, USAHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 15 2005Michael N. Gooseff Abstract This article has been retracted and replaced. See Retraction and Replacement Notice DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6350 Studies of hyporheic exchange flows have identified physical features of channels that control exchange flow at the channel unit scale, namely slope breaks in the longitudinal profile of streams that generate subsurface head distributions. We recently completed a field study that suggested channel unit spacing in stream longitudinal profiles can be used to predict the spacing between zones of upwelling (flux of hyporheic water into the stream) and downwelling (flux of stream water into the hyporheic zone) in the beds of mountain streams. Here, we use two-dimensional groundwater flow and particle tracking models to simulate vertical and longitudinal hyporheic exchange along the longitudinal axis of stream flow in second-, third-, and fourth-order mountain stream reaches. Modelling allowed us to (1) represent visually the effect that the shape of the longitudinal profile has on the flow net beneath streambeds; (2) isolate channel unit sequence and spacing as individual factors controlling the depth that stream water penetrates the hyporheic zone and the length of upwelling and downwelling zones; (3) evaluate the degree to which the effects of regular patterns in bedform size and sequence are masked by irregularities in real streams. We simulated hyporheic exchange in two sets of idealized stream reaches and one set of observed stream reaches. Idealized profiles were constructed using regression equations relating channel form to basin area. The size and length of channel units (step size, pool length, etc.) increased with increasing stream order. Simulations of hyporheic exchange flows in these reaches suggested that upwelling lengths increased (from 2·7 m to 7·6 m), and downwelling lengths increased (from 2·9 m to 6·0 m) with increase in stream order from second to fourth order. Step spacing in the idealized reaches increased from 5·3 m to 13·7 m as stream size increased from second to fourth order. Simulated upwelling lengths increased from 4·3 m in second-order streams to 9·7 m in fourth-order streams with a POOL,RIFFLE,STEP channel unit sequence, and increased from 2·5 m to 6·1 m from second- to fourth-order streams with a POOL,STEP,RIFFLE channel unit sequence. Downwelling lengths also increased with stream order in these idealized channels. Our results suggest that channel unit spacing, size, and sequence are all important in determining hyporheic exchange patterns of upwelling and downwelling. Though irregularities in the size and spacing of bedforms caused flow nets to be much more complex in surveyed stream reaches than in idealized stream reaches, similar trends emerged relating the average geomorphic wavelength to the average hyporheic wavelength in both surveyed and idealized reaches. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A socioemotional intervention in a Latin American orphanage,INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010Robert B. McCall A pilot intervention that emphasized training and technical assistance to promote warm, sensitive, and responsive one-on-one caregiver,child interactions primarily during feeding and bathing/changing was implemented using regular staff in a depressed orphanage for children birth to approximately 8 years of age in Latin America. Despite a variety of unanticipated irregularities in the implementation of the intervention, many beyond the researchers' control, ward environments improved; caregivers displayed more warm, sensitive, and responsive interactions with children; and children improved an average of 13.5 developmental quotient (DQ) points after 4+ months' exposure to the completed intervention. Furthermore, 82% of the children had DQs greater than 70 before the intervention, but only 27.8% did so afterward. Although the training for all caregivers was aimed at children birth to 3 years, the number of different caregivers was reduced, and technical assistance was provided only to caregivers serving children less than 3 years, younger and older children (3,8 years) improved approximately the same amount. However, children who were transitioned from a younger to an older ward during the intervention improved less than did children who remained in either a younger or an older ward, the first evidence suggesting that the common orphanage practice of periodically graduating children from one homogeneous age group to another may impede their development. The study is consistent with others that have shown that orphanages can be changed, and increases primarily in warm, sensitive, responsive caregiver,child interactions can produce improvements in children's development. Se implementó una intervención experimental piloto que enfatizaba entrenamiento y asistencia técnica con el fin de promover interacciones de uno a uno cálidas, sensibles y receptivas entre el niño y quien le presta el cuidado, usando el personal de servicio regular en un deprimente orfanato para niños recién nacidos hasta aproximadamente los 8 años de edad en América Latina. A pesar de la variedad de irregularidades no anticipadas en cuanto a la implementación de la intervención, muchas de ellas fuera del control de los investigadores, el ambiente de los pabellones mejoró; quienes prestaban el cuidado mostraron interacciones más cálidas, sensibles y receptivas con los niños; y los niños mejoraron hasta llegar a un promedio de 13.5 puntos en el cociente de desarrollo después de más de 4 meses de estar expuestos a la intervención completa. Es más, 82% de los niños tenía un cociente de desarrollo de menos de 70 antes de la intervención, pero solamente 27.8% tuvo ese resultado después de la misma. Aunque el entrenamiento para quienes prestaban el cuidado fue dirigido a niños recién nacidos hasta los 3 años de edad, y el número de diferentes prestadores de cuidado se redujo de tal manera que la asistencia técnica se les dio solamente a quienes cuidaban niños de menos de 3 años, tanto los niños más pequeños como los mayores (3-8 años) mejoraron aproximadamente la misma cantidad. Sin embargo, los niños que hicieron la transición de un pabellón para niños pequeños a uno para niños mayores durante la intervención mejoraron menos que los niños que permanecieron en el pabellón para niños pequeños o en el pabellón para niños mayores, lo cual representa la primera evidencia que sugiere que la práctica común en los orfanatos de periódicamente graduar niños de un grupo de edad homogénea y pasarlo a otro grupo pudiera impedir el desarrollo de los niños. El estudio es consistente con otros que muestran que los orfanatos pueden ser cambiados y que los incrementos primariamente en las interacciones cálidas, sensibles y receptivas entre el niño y quien le cuida pueden producir mejoras en el desarrollo de los niños. Une intervention pilote ayant mis l'accent sur la formation et l'assistance technique afin de promouvoir des interactions mode de soin-enfant personnalisées chaleureuses, sensibles et réceptives durant les repas et la bain/change ont été mises en place en utilisant un groupe d'employés habituels dans un orphelinat pauvre pour des enfants de la naissance à approximativement 8 ans en Amérique Latine. En dépit d'une variété d'irrégularités non anticipées durant la mise en application de l'intervention, beaucoup d'entre elles n'ayant pas pu être contrôlées par les chercheurs, les services de l'orphelinats ont progressé; les modes de soin ont fait preuve de plus d'interactions chaleureuses, sensibles et réceptives avec les enfants; et les enfants ont progressé d'une moyenne de 13,5 DQ points après quatre mois d'exposition et ce jusqu'à la fin de l'intervention. De plus, 82% des enfants avait des DQ inférieurs à 70 avant l'intervention, mais c'était seulement le cas de 27,8% d'entre eux après. Bien que la formation de tous les modes de soin avait eu pour but les enfants de la naissance à l'âge de trois ans, et bien que le nombre de modes de soin différents ait été réduit, et que l'assistance technique n'ait été donnée qu'aux modes de soin s'occupant des enfants de moins de trois ans, les enfants les plus jeunes et les enfants les plus vieux (3-8 ans) ont progressé à peu près de la même manière. Cependant, les enfants ayant transitionné d'un service pour les plus jeunes vers un service pour les âgés durant l'intervention ont moins progressé que les enfants étant restés soit dans un service pour les plus jeunes soit dans un service pour les plus âgés, les premières preuves suggérant que cette pratique commune dans un orphelinat de faire passer périodiquement les enfants d'une groupe d'âge homogène à un autre freine peut-être le développement. Cette étude s'accorde avec d'autres études qui montrent que les orphelinats peuvent être changés et que les augmentations avant tout dans les interactions mode de soin-enfant chaleureuses, sensibles et réceptives peuvent produire des améliorations dans le développement de l'enfant. Ein Pilot-Projekt mit Interventionscharakter und dem Ziel, durch Ausbildung und technische Unterstützung eine warme, sensible und angemessene eins-zu-eins Betreuer-Kind Interaktionen v. a. beim Füttern und Baden bzw. An- und Ausziehen zu ermöglichen, wurde innerhalb eines Waisenhauses für depressive Kindern im Alterspektrum Geburt bis ca. 8 Jahre in Lateinamerika umgesetzt. Trotz einer Vielzahl von unerwarteten Herausforderungen bei der Durchführung der Intervention, die von den Forschern nicht kontrolliert werden konnten, verbesserten sich Umweltfaktoren: Die Bezugspersonen zeigten wärmere, sensiblere und mehr angemessene Interaktionen mit den Kindern; die Kindern verbessert ihre DQ um durchschnittlich 13,5 Punkten, nachdem sie 4 oder mehr Monate an der Intervention teilnahmen. Außerdem hatte 82% der Kinder eine DQ <70 vor der Intervention, aber nur mehr 27,8% danach. Obwohl die Ausbildung für alle Pflegepersonen die mit Kindern im Alterbereich Geburt bis 3 Jahren ausgerichtet war und die Anzahl der verschiedenen Bezugspersonen reduziert wurde und technische Unterstützung nur für Pflegepersonen des o. g. Altersbereichs angeboten wurde, profitierten sowohl jüngere (0-3 Jahre) als auch ältere Kinder (3-8 Jahre) im gleichen Maße von der Intervention. Allerdings verbesserten sich die Kinder weniger, die von einer Station für jüngere Kinder auf eine Station für ältere Kinder während der Intervention wechselten. Dies weißt darauf hin, dass die gängige Praxis der altershomogenen Altersgruppen in Waisenhäusern möglicherweise deren Entwicklung behindert. Die Studie steht im Einklang mit anderen Untersuchungen, die auch aufzeigen, dass das Milieu in Waisenhäusern geändert werden kann und warme, sensible und angemessene Bezugsperson-Kind-Interaktionen zur Verbesserungen der Entwicklung von Kindern beitragen. [source] Residual bacteria in root apices removed by a diagonal root-end resection: a histopathological evaluationINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008S. Lin Abstract Aim, To assess bacteria in the apical portion of the root end after 45° root-end resection in teeth with persistent periapical lesions. Methodology, The study included 27 apical root segments from patients with persistent periapical lesions. Histological sections of the coronal part of the amputated root segment were stained with Brown and Brenn to detect the presence of bacteria in the main root canal and/or in irregular root spaces and dentinal tubules. The quality of each root canal filling was evaluated using preoperative radiographs of filling, length of root filling as assessed from the distance between its apical end and the radiographic apex, diameter of apical preparation, and presence of apical perforations or deviations from the root canal. Two endodontists, blinded to the bacteriological results, independently evaluated the radiographs. Results, Bacteria were present in 23 (85.2%) specimens: five in only the main canal (21.7%), 10 in only the dentinal tubules and irregular spaces (43.5%), and eight in both irregular spaces and dentinal tubules and in the main root canal (34.8%). No correlation was found between the technical quality of the root filling assessed radiographically and bacterial presence in the central canal or irregular areas. Conclusions, Infected irregular areas were found in the root tips of teeth with persistent periapical lesions. This was found regardless of the radiographic quality of the root filling. Diagonal, 45° root-end resection may expose such contaminated irregularities to the periapical tissue. [source] The effectiveness of syringe irrigation and ultrasonics to remove debris from simulated irregularities within prepared root canal wallsINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 10 2004S.-J. Lee Abstract Aim, To compare the ability of syringe irrigation and ultrasonic irrigation to remove artificially placed dentine debris from simulated canal irregularities within prepared root canals. Methodology, After canal enlargement, twelve canines were split longitudinally into two halves. On the wall of one half of each root canal a standard groove of 4 mm in length, 0.2 mm in width and 0.5 mm in depth was cut, 2,6 mm from the apex, to simulate uninstrumented canal extensions. On the wall of the other half, three standard saucer-shaped depressions of 0.3 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in depth were cut at 2, 4 and 6 mm from the apex to simulate uninstrumented canal irregularities. Each groove and depression were filled with dentine debris mixed with 2% NaOCl to simulate a situation when dentine debris accumulates in uninstrumented canal extensions and irregularities during canal preparation. Each tooth was re-assembled by reconnecting the two halves, using wire and an impression putty material. Two per cent NaOCl was then delivered into each canal either using syringe irrigation (n = 8) or using ultrasonic irrigation (n = 8). Before and after irrigation, images of the two halves of the canal wall were taken, using a microscope and a digital camera, after which they were scanned into a PC as TIFF images. The amount of remaining dentine debris in the grooves and depressions was evaluated by using a scoring system between 0,3: the higher the score, the more the debris. The data were analysed by means of the Mann,Whitney U -test. Results, Both forms of irrigation reduced the debris score significantly. The debris score was statistically significantly lower after ultrasonic irrigation than after syringe irrigation (P = 0.002 for grooves, P = 0.047 for depressions). Conclusion, Ultrasonic irrigation ex vivo is more effective than syringe irrigation in removing artificially created dentine debris placed in simulated uninstrumented extensions and irregularities in straight, wide root canals. [source] eXtended Stochastic Finite Element Method for the numerical simulation of heterogeneous materials with random material interfacesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 10 2010A. Nouy Abstract An eXtended Stochastic Finite Element Method has been recently proposed for the numerical solution of partial differential equations defined on random domains. This method is based on a marriage between the eXtended Finite Element Method and spectral stochastic methods. In this article, we propose an extension of this method for the numerical simulation of random multi-phased materials. The random geometry of material interfaces is described implicitly by using random level set functions. A fixed deterministic finite element mesh, which is not conforming to the random interfaces, is then introduced in order to approximate the geometry and the solution. Classical spectral stochastic finite element approximation spaces are not able to capture the irregularities of the solution field with respect to spatial and stochastic variables, which leads to a deterioration of the accuracy and convergence properties of the approximate solution. In order to recover optimal convergence properties of the approximation, we propose an extension of the partition of unity method to the spectral stochastic framework. This technique allows the enrichment of approximation spaces with suitable functions based on an a priori knowledge of the irregularities in the solution. Numerical examples illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method and demonstrate the relevance of the enrichment procedure. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Bayesian meta-modelling of engineering design simulations: a sequential approach with adaptation to irregularities in the response behaviourINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 15 2005A. Farhang-Mehr Abstract Among current meta-modelling approaches, Bayesian-based interpolative methods have received significant attention in the literature. These methods are particularly known for their capability to adapt to the response function behaviour in order to generate good meta-models with fewer experiments. Current Bayesian adaptation techniques, however, are mainly based on the assumption that some variables are more important (or sensitive) than others. These less sensitive variables are weighted less or ignored to reduce the dimension of the design space. This assumption limits the scope and applicability of these models since in many practical cases none of the variables can be completely ignored or weighted less than others. This paper proposes a pragmatic approach that identifies regions of the design space where more experiments are needed based on the response function behaviour. The proposed approach adaptively utilizes the information obtained from previous experiments, builds interim meta-models, and identifies ,irregular' regions in which more experiments are needed. The behaviour of the interim meta-model is then quantified as a spatial function and incorporated into the next stage of the design to sequentially improve the accuracy of the obtained meta-model. The performance of the new approach is demonstrated using a numerical and an engineering example. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Use of image analysis techniques for objective quantification of the efficacy of different hair removal methodsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007S. Bielfeldt In the field of consumer-used cosmetics for hair removal and hair growth reduction, there is a need for improved quantitative methods to enable the evaluation of efficacy and claim support. Optimized study designs and investigated endpoints are lacking to compare the efficacy of standard methods, like shaving or plucking, with new methods and products, such as depilating instruments or hair-growth-reducing cosmetics. Non-invasive image analysis, using a high-performance microscope combined with an optimized image analysis tool, was investigated to assess hair growth. In one step, high-resolution macrophotographs of the legs of female volunteers after shaving and plucking with cold wax were compared to observe short-term hair regrowth. In a second step, images obtained after plucking with cold wax were taken over a long-term period to assess the time, after which depilated hairs reappeared on the skin surface. Using image analysis, parameters like hair length, hair width, and hair projection area were investigated. The projection area was found to be the parameter most independent of possible image artifacts such as irregularities in skin or low contrast due to hair color. Therefore, the hair projection area was the most appropriate parameter to determine the time of hair regrowth. This point of time is suitable to assess the efficacy of different hair removal methods or hair growth reduction treatments by comparing the endpoint after use of the hair removal method to be investigated to the endpoint after simple shaving. The closeness of hair removal and visible signs of skin irritation can be assessed as additional quantitative parameters from the same images. Discomfort and pain rating by the volunteers complete the set of parameters, which are required to benchmark a new hair removal method or hair-growth-reduction treatment. Image analysis combined with high-resolution imaging techniques is a powerful tool to objectively assess parameters like hair length, hair width, and projection area. To achieve reliable data and to reduce well known image-analysis artifacts, it was important to optimize the technical equipment for use on human skin and to improve image analysis by adaptation of the image-processing procedure to the different skin characteristics of individuals, like skin color, hair color, and skin structure. [source] Quantitative model of cellulite: three-dimensional skin surface topography, biophysical characterization, and relationship to human perceptionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005L. K. Smalls Gynoid lipodystrophy (cellulite) is the irregular, dimpled skin surface of the thighs, abdomen, and buttocks in 85% of post-adolescent women. The distinctive surface morphology is believed to result when subcutaneous adipose tissue protrudes into the lower reticular dermis, thereby creating irregularities at the surface. The biomechanical properties of epidermal and dermal tissue may also influence severity. Cellulite-affected thigh sites were measured in 51 females with varying degrees of cellulite, in 11 non-cellulite controls, and in 10 male controls. A non-contact high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) laser surface scanner was used to quantify the skin surface morphology and determine specific roughness values. The scans were evaluated by experts and na,ve judges (n = 62). Body composition was evaluated via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; dermal thickness and the dermal,subcutaneous junction were evaluated via high-resolution 3D ultrasound and surface photography under compression. Biomechanical properties were also measured. The roughness parameters Svm (mean depth of the lowest valleys) and Sdr (ratio between the roughness surface area and the area of the xy plane) were highly correlated to the expert image grades and, therefore, designated as the quantitative measures of cellulite severity. The strength of the correlations among na,ve grades, expert grades, and roughness values confirmed that the data quantitatively evaluate the human perception of cellulite. Cellulite severity was correlated to BMI, thigh circumference, percent thigh fat, architecture of the dermal,subcutaneous border (ultrasound surface area, red-band SD from compressed images), compliance, and stiffness (negative correlation). Cellulite severity was predicted by the percent fat and the area of the dermal,subcutaneous border. The biomechanical properties did not significantly contribute to the prediction. Comparison of the parameters for females and males further suggests that percent thigh fat and surface area roughness deviation are the distinguishing features of cellulite. [source] An unusual association of pemphigus vulgaris with hyperprolactinemiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2002MNAMS, Sujay Khandpur MD A 21-year-old unmarried woman presented with oral ulcerations and generalized, itchy, fluid-filled, skin lesions of 10 days' duration. The lesions ruptured spontaneously, resulting in extensive denuded areas covered by crusts. One month prior to this, she experienced pain and enlargement of both breasts with galactorrhea. Her menstrual cycles were normal initially, but later she developed menstrual irregularities. No past history suggestive of any other systemic or skin disease, including atopy or drug allergies, could be obtained. Her family history was not contributory. Dermatologic examination revealed multiple, flaccid bullae and extensive denuded areas of skin covered with crusts over the scalp, face, trunk, and upper and lower limbs (Fig. 1). Bulla spread sign and Nikolsky's sign were positive. The oral mucosa, including the lips, buccal surface, tongue, and palate, showed multiple erosions covered with necrotic slough. The rest of the mucocutaneous and systemic examination was within normal limits. Figure 1. Extensive erosions and flaccid bullae over the trunk with breast enlargement The patient's diagnostic work-up revealed: hemoglobin, 11.2 g%; total leukocyte count, 7400/mm3; differential leukocyte count, P62L34E2M2; erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 34 mm/h. A peripheral blood smear examination, urinalysis, blood sugar, and renal and liver function tests were normal. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were nonreactive. Antinuclear antibody, lupus erythematosus (LE) cell, rheumatoid factor, and anti-dsDNA levels were normal. Serum protein electrophoresis demonstrated increased levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody. The serum prolactin level was significantly raised to 139.49 ng/mL (normal, 3.6,18.9 ng/mL). The sex hormone levels, however, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and progesterone, were within normal limits. The thyroid hormone profile was also unaltered. Chest X-ray was normal. Ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis revealed no visceral abnormality and computerized tomography (CT) scan of the pituitary sella showed no adenoma. Mammography was negative for breast malignancy. A Tzanck smear prepared from the base of the erosion showed multiple acantholytic cells and lymphocytes. Histologic examination from an intact vesicle was suggestive of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), showing a suprabasal cleft with acantholytic cells and the basal layer demonstrating a "row of tombstones" appearance (Fig. 2). Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) revealed the intercellular deposition of IgG and C3 throughout the epidermis in a "fishnet pattern." Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test performed on rat esophagus for circulating IgG antibody was positive in a titer of 1 : 120. Figure 2. Photomicrograph showing suprabasal cleft with "row of tombstones" appearance, suggestive of pemphigus vulgaris (hematoxylin and eosin, × 40) Based on the clinical and immunohistological features, a diagnosis of PV with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia was made. The patient was treated with bromocriptine mesylate (Tablet Proctinal, Glaxo Wellcome Ltd, India) at a dose of 2.5 mg twice a day. After 2 months of therapy, significant improvement in the skin lesions was observed. The existing lesions re-epithelialized with a drastic reduction in the number and distribution of new vesicles. However, no change in the mucosal erosions was noticed. IIF test demonstrated a lower antibody titer (1 : 40). The breast complaints also improved with a reduction in serum prolactin level to 6.5 ng/mL. The patient refused further treatment as she experienced nausea and dizziness with bromocriptine. After 2 weeks, the disease relapsed with the appearance of new vesicles over the forearms, abdomen, back, and thighs. She again complained of breast tenderness and galactorrhea, and the serum prolactin level was 95 ng/mL. The IgG titer increased to 1 : 120. Hence, treatment with oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) and bromocriptine (2.5 mg twice a day) with an antiemetic was initiated. After 6 weeks, the skin lesions had cleared completely, the breast symptoms had improved, menses had become regular, and the prolactin level had decreased to 4 ng/mL. IIF test was negative for circulating antibody. Steroids were tapered off and maintenance therapy with bromocriptine at a dose of 2.5 mg/day was continued. [source] Spatially adaptive color filter array interpolation for noiseless and noisy dataINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMAGING SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Dmitriy Paliy Abstract Conventional single-chip digital cameras use color filter arrays (CFA) to sample different spectral components. Demosaicing algorithms interpolate these data to complete red, green, and blue values for each image pixel, to produce an RGB image. In this article, we propose a novel demosaicing algorithm for the Bayer CFA. For the algorithm design, we assume that, following the concept proposed in (Zhang and Wu, IEEE Trans Image Process 14 (2005), 2167,2178), the initial interpolation estimates of color channels contain two additive components: the true values of color intensities and the errors that are considered as an additive noise. A specially designed signal-adaptive filter is used to remove this so-called demosaicing noise. This filter is based on the local polynomial approximation (LPA) and the paradigm of the intersection of confidence intervals applied to select varying scales of LPA. This technique is nonlinear and spatially-adaptive with respect to the smoothness and irregularities of the image. The presented CFA interpolation (CFAI) technique takes significant advantage from assuming that the original data is noise-free. Nevertheless, in many applications, the observed data is noisy, where the noise is treated as an important intrinsic degradation of the data. We develop an adaptation of the proposed CFAI for noisy data, integrating the denoising and CFAI into a single procedure. It is assumed that the data is given according to the Bayer pattern and corrupted by signal-dependant noise common for charge-coupled device and complementary-symmetry/metal-oxide semiconductor sensors. The efficiency of the proposed approach is demonstrated by experimental results with simulated and real data. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 17, 105,122, 2007 [source] Structural and photooxidation studies of poly(styrene oxide) prepared with Maghnite-H+ as cationic catalystJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Aïcha Hachemaoui Abstract The nature of irregularities and end-groups in poly(styrene oxide) samples prepared using Maghnite-H+ as a cationic catalyst were studied by 1H- and 13C-NMR at 200 MHz. Head-to-head (H-H) and tail-to-tail (T-T) irregularities are detected in all the samples studied. Secondary hydroxyl terminal groups are identified in polymers prepared with Maghnite-H+. Poly(styrene oxide) was found to undergo chain scission by aging at 25°C. It was confirmed that oxidation of this type of polymers results from the important sensitivity of the polyether soft segment to oxidative degradation. For this reason, the scissions due to the oxidation of the material lead to notable quantities of low molecular weight photoproducts. Among the various structures produced by the oxidative degradation process, benzoate and secondary hydroxyl groups are identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] S/e-PTFE episcleral buckling implants: An experimental and histopathologic studyJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2002B. Mortemousque Abstract To investigate tissue changes induced by the implantation of a silicone band coated with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (S/e-PTFE) used as scleral buckling, an experimental and histopathological study was performed in rabbits. The right eyes of eight rabbits were implanted for 28,85 days with S/e-PTFE. No complications were encountered in any of the eyes, so histopathological examinations could be performed. Encapsulations combined with numerous giant cells were found to be surrounding the implants in seven eyes, and deposits from the mineral salts of calcium were found in three eyes, forming granulomas possibly caused by irregularities of the implant surface. The porous structure allowed a peripheral colonization by fibrovascular tissue. Taking into account the histological results, the use of this material does not appear suitable. However, this inflammation was limited and did not merge on surrounding tissues. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 63: 686,691, 2002 [source] Constraints to Drought Contingency Planning in Spain: The Hydraulic Paradigm and the Case of SevilleJOURNAL OF CONTINGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2000Leandro Del Moral Ituarte Spain is equipped with an extensive hydraulic infrastructure, aimed at the correction of temporal and spatial irregularities in the availability of water resources. This structural network, mainly based on surface water, is the manifestation of the traditional hydraulic paradigm, which has technical, economic, socio-political and cultural ramifications. The traditional water management perspective tends to view drought as the structural deficit between water demand and water regulation capacity. This conceptualisation of drought led primarily to a structural response, while ignoring the need for drought risk assessment and water crisis management rules. The traditional hydraulic paradigm can, paradoxically, be regarded as one of the main constraints to the development of drought contingency planning and drought management. However, a new dynamism has entered the water policy arena, which encompasses elements of both innovation and persistence of the traditional perception. This dynamism is analysed through the Seville water management system, which is often affected by drought and severe water crises. 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