Strategies for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion according to the region of transverse maxillary deficiency

This study evaluated different techniques for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) according to the type of transverse maxillary deficiency using computed tomography (CT). Six adult patients with bilateral transverse maxillary deficiencies underwent SARME. the patients were equally divided into three groups: Group I, maxillary atresia in both the anterior and posterior regions; Group II, greater maxillary atresia in the anterior region; and Group ill, increased maxillary atresia in the posterior region. in Group I, a subtotal Le Fort I osteotomy was used. in Group II, a subtotal Le Fort I osteotomy was used without pterygomaxillary suture disjunction. in Group III, a subtotal Le Fort I osteotomy was used with pterygomaxillary suture disjunction and fixation of the anterior nasal spine with steel wire. the midpalatal suture opening was evaluated preoperatively and immediately after the activation period using CT. for Group I, the opening occurred parallel to midpalatal suture; for Group II, the opening comprised a V-shape with a vertex on the posterior nasal spine; and for Group III, the opening comprised a V-shape with a vertex at the anterior nasal spine. the conclusion was that the SARME technique should be individualized according to the type of transverse maxillary deficiency.

Fuzzy-Rough Sets Assisted Attribute Selection

R. Jensen and Q. Shen. Fuzzy-Rough Sets Assisted Attribute Selection. IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 73-89, 2007.

Intention and Causation in Medical Non-Killing: The impact of criminal law concepts on euthanasia and assisted suicide

null RAE2008

Microwave-Assisted Biginelli Reaction

Excellent laboratory procedure for a small focused library of dihydropyrimidinones. Good example of a multicomponent reaction performed using microwave irradiation.

Managing diversity in practical ambient assisted living ecosystems

Though the motivation for developing Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) systems is incontestable, significant challenges exist in realizing the ambience that is essential to the success of such systems. By definition, an AAL system must be omnipresent, tracking occupant activities in the home and identifying those situations where assistance is needed or would be welcomed. Embedded sensors offer an attractive mechanism for realizing ambience as their form factor and harnessing of wireless technologies aid in their seamless integration into pre-existing environments. However, the heterogeneity of the end-user population, their disparate needs and the differing environments in which they inhabit, all pose particular problems regarding sensor integration and management

ROLE OF ICAM-1-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS IN ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CARRIER-ASSISTED DRUG DELIVERY

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is a transmembrane protein found on the surface of vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Its expression is upregulated at inflammatory sites, allowing for targeted delivery of therapeutics using ICAM-1-binding drug carriers. Engagement of multiple copies of ICAM-1 by these drug carriers induces cell adhesion molecule (CAM)-mediated endocytosis, which results in trafficking of carriers to lysosomes and across ECs. Knowledge about the regulation behind CAM-mediated endocytosis can help improve drug delivery, but questions remain about these regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, little is known about the natural function of this endocytic pathway. To address these gaps in knowledge, we focused on two natural binding partners of ICAM-1 that potentially elicit CAM-mediated endocytosis: leukocytes (which bind ICAM-1 via β₂ integrins) and fibrin polymers (a main component of blood clots which binds ICAM-1 via the γ3 sequence). First, inspired by properties of these natural binding partners, we varied the size and targeting moiety of model drug carriers to determine how these parameters affect CAM-mediated endocytosis. Increasing ICAM-1-targeted carrier size slowed carrier uptake kinetics, reduced carrier trafficking to lysosomes, and increased carrier transport across ECs. Changing targeting moieties from antibodies to peptides decreased particle binding and uptake, lowered trafficking to lysosomes, and increased transport across ECs. Second, using cell culture models of leukocyte/EC interactions, inhibiting regulatory elements of the CAM-mediated pathway disrupted leukocyte sampling, a process crucial to leukocyte crossing of endothelial layers (transmigration). This inhibition also decreased leukocyte transmigration across ECs, specifically through the transcellular route, which occurs through a single EC without disassembly of cell-cell junctions. Third, fibrin meshes, which mimic blood clot fragments/remnants, bound to ECs at ICAM-1-enriched sites and were internalized by the endothelium. Inhibiting the CAM-mediated pathway disrupted this uptake. Following endocytosis, fibrin meshes trafficked to lysosomes where they were degraded. In mouse models, CAM-mediated endocytosis of fibrin meshes appeared to remove fibrin remnants at the endothelial surface, preventing re-initiation of the coagulation cascade. Overall, these results support a link between CAM-mediated endocytosis and leukocyte transmigration as well as uptake of fibrin materials by ECs. Furthermore, these results will guide the future design of ICAM-1-targeted carrier-assisted therapies.

A framework for e-learning: a blended solution?: current developments in technology-assisted education

This paper describes a Framework for e-Learning and presents the findings of a study investigating whether the use of Blended Learning can fulfill or at least accommodate some of the human requirements presently neglected by current e-Learning systems. This study evaluates the in-house system: Teachmat, and discusses how the use of Blended Learning has become increasingly prevalent as a result of its enhancement and expansion, its relationship to the human and pedagogical issues, and both the positive and negative implications of this reality. [From the Authors]

The ecology of Bacillus thuringiensis on the Phylloplane: colonization from soil, plasmid transfer, and interaction with larvae of Pieris brassicae

Seedlings of clover (Triflorium hybridum) were colonized by Bacillus thuringiensis when spores and seeds were co-inoculated into soil. Both a strain isolated in the vegetative form from the phylloplane of clover, 2810-S-4, and a laboratory strain, HD-1, were able to colonize clover to a density of about 1000 CFU/g leaf when seeds were sown in sterile soil and to a density of about 300 CFU/g leaf in nonsterile soil. A strain lacking the characteristic insecticidal crystal proteins produced a similar level of colonization over a 5-week period as the wild type strain, indicating that crystal production was not a mitigating factor during colonization. A small plasmid, pBC16, was transferred between strains of B. thuringiensis when donor and recipient strains were sprayed in vegetative form onto leaves of clover and pak choi (Brassica campestris var. chinensis). The rate of transfer was about 0.1 transconjugants/recipient and was dependent on the plant species. The levels of B. thuringiensis that naturally colonized leaves of pak choi produced negligible levels of mortality in third instar larvae of Pieris brassicae feeding on the plants. Considerable multiplication occurred in the excreted frass but not in the guts of living insects. Spores in the frass could be a source of recolonization from the soil and be transferred to other plants. These findings illustrate a possible cycle, not dependent on insect pathology, by which B. thuringiensis diversifies and maintains itself in nature.

Genome- and transcriptome-assisted development of nuclear insertion/deletion markers for Calanus species (Copepoda: Calanoida) identification

Copepods of the genus Calanus are key zooplankton species in temperate to arctic marine ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, species identification remains challenging. Furthermore, the recent report of hybrids among Calanus species highlights the need for diagnostic nuclear markers to efficiently identify parental species and hybrids. Using next-generation sequencing analysis of both the genome and transcriptome from two sibling species, Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus glacialis, we developed a panel of 12 nuclear insertion/deletion markers. All the markers showed species-specific amplicon length. Furthermore, most of the markers were successfully amplified in other Calanus species, allowing the molecular identification of Calanus helgolandicus, Calanus hyperboreus and Calanus marshallae.

The Role of Tool/Sheet Contact in Plug-Assisted Thermoforming.

Plug-assisted thermoforming produces a wide range of polymer products through a combination of deformation by air pressure and contact with tool surfaces. In this paper the role of tool/sheet contact in determining the process output is investigated. A combination of thermoforming, friction and heat transfer tests were carried out on common tool and sheet materials. The results show that the typical friction coefficients for the material combinations are within the range 0.1 to 0.3, but the values rise sharply on approaching thermoforming temperatures. Thermal imaging tests demonstrate that all of the plug materials significantly cool the heated sheet on contact, even over very short periods of time. The temperature of the plug is very important. At low plug temperatures heat transfer effects predominate, whereas at high plug temperatures friction effects predominate. A plug temperature of approximately 100oC balances these effects and creates the most effective material distribution.