Cerebral aneurysm exclusion by CT angiography based on subarachnoid hemorrhage pattern: a retrospective study

Contexte : Identifier les patients avec une hémorragie sous-arachnoïdienne spontanée chez qui l'angio-CT suffit pour exclure des anévrysmes rompus.Méthodes : Une étude rétrospective a été effectuée de tous les patients avec une hémorragie sous-arachnoïdienne qui ont eu un angio-CT ainsi qu'une angiographie par cathéter dans le but d'exclure un anévrysme. Les cas négatifs de l'angio-CT (sans anévrysmes) ont été classés d'après leur schéma hémorragique au CT dans les catégories suivantes : « anévrysmale », « périmésencéphalique » puis « sans hémorragie ».Résultats : Deux-cent-quarante-et-un patients ont été inclus. Une sensibilité de 96.4% et une spécificité de 96.0% ont été observée pour l'exclusion d'anévrysmes par l'angio-CT. Parmi les 78 cas négatifs de l'angio-CT, chacun des 35 cas avec un motif hémorragique périmésencéphalique ou sans hémorragie au CT n'ont pas eu d'anévrysmes démontrés à l'angiographie par cathéter.Conclusions: L'angio-CT est fiable pour exclure les anévrysmes rompus lorsqu'un motif hémorragique périmésencéphalique ou pas d'hémorragie sont visibles au CT à une semaine depuis le début des symptômes.

Classification and fingerprinting of different berries based on biochemical profiling and antioxidant capacity

The objective of this work was to evaluate the biochemical composition of six berry types belonging to Fragaria, Rubus, Vaccinium and Ribes genus. Fruit samples were collected in triplicate (50 fruit each) from 18 different species or cultivars of the mentioned genera, during three years (2008 to 2010). Content of individual sugars, organic acids, flavonols, and phenolic acids were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, while total phenolics (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), by using spectrophotometry. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) were performed to evaluate the differences in fruit biochemical profile. The highest contents of bioactive components were found in Ribes nigrum and in Fragaria vesca, Rubus plicatus, and Vaccinium myrtillus. PCA and CA were able to partially discriminate between berries on the basis of their biochemical composition. Individual and total sugars, myricetin, ellagic acid, TPC and TAC showed the highest impact on biochemical composition of the berry fruits. CA separated blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry as isolate groups, while classification of strawberry, black and red currant in a specific group has not occurred. There is a large variability both between and within the different types of berries. Metabolite fingerprinting of the evaluated berries showed unique biochemical profiles and specific combination of bioactive compound contents.

Development of Craniofacial Bone Defect Reconstruction Implant Based on Fibre-Reinforced Composite with Photopolymerisable Resin Systems. Experimental studies in vitro and in vivo.

Reconstruction of defects in the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) area has mainly been based on bone grafts or metallic fixing plates and screws. Particularly in the case of large calvarial and/or craniofacial defects caused by trauma, tumours or congenital malformations, there is a need for reliable reconstruction biomaterials, because bone grafts or metallic fixing systems do not completely fulfill the criteria for the best possible reconstruction methods in these complicated cases. In this series of studies, the usability of fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) was studied as a biostable, nonmetallic alternative material for reconstructing artificially created bone defects in frontal and calvarial areas of rabbits. The experimental part of this work describes the different stages of the product development process from the first in vitro tests with resin-impregnated fibrereinforced composites to the in vivo animal studies, in which this FRC was tested as an implant material for reconstructing different size bone defects in rabbit frontal and calvarial areas. In the first in vitro study, the FRC was polymerised in contact with bone or blood in the laboratory. The polymerised FRC samples were then incubated in water, which was analysed for residual monomer content by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that this in vitro polymerisation in contact with bone and blood did not markedly increase the residual monomer leaching from the FRC. In the second in vitro study, different adhesive systems were tested in fixing the implant to bone surface. This was done to find an alternative implant fixing system to screws and pins. On the basis of this study, it was found that the surface of the calvarial bone needed both mechanical and chemical treatments before the resinimpregnated FRC could be properly fixed onto it. In three animal studies performed with rabbit frontal bone defects and critical size calvarial bone defect models, biological responses to the FRC implants were evaluated. On the basis of theseevaluations, it can be concluded that the FRC, based on E-glass (electrical glass) fibres forming a porous fibre veil enables the ingrowth of connective tissues to the inner structures of the material, as well as the bone formation and mineralization inside the fibre veil. Bone formation could be enhanced by using bioactive glass granules fixed to the FRC implants. FRC-implanted bone defects healed partly; no total healing of defects was achieved. Biological responses during the follow-up time, at a maximum of 12 weeks, to resin-impregnated composite implant seemed to depend on the polymerization time of the resin matrix of the FRC. Both of the studied resin systems used in the FRC were photopolymerised and the heat-induced postpolymerisation was used additionally.

Positive time-frequency distributions based on joint marginal constraints

This correspondence studies the formulation of members ofthe Cohen-Posch class of positive time-frequency energy distributions.Minimization of cross-entropy measures with respect to different priorsand the case of no prior or maximum entropy were considered. It isconcluded that, in general, the information provided by the classicalmarginal constraints is very limited, and thus, the final distributionheavily depends on the prior distribution. To overcome this limitation,joint time and frequency marginals are derived based on a "directioninvariance" criterion on the time-frequency plane that are directly relatedto the fractional Fourier transform.

A new low-latitude Late Paleocene-Early Eocene radiolarian biozonation based on Unitary Associations: Applications for accreted terranes.

The late Paleocene - early Eocene sequences of DSDP Leg 10 Sites 86, 94, 95, and 96, Leg 43 Site 384 and ODP Leg 171B Hole 1051A have been re-sampled and re-examined for radiolarians. A new late Paleocene to early Eocene low-latitude radiolarian zonation suited for the correlation of accreted terranes is established by using the Unitary Association (UA) method. This method has the property of attributing equal weight to each species occurrence, which has the advantage of not being dependant on a limited set of key datums. Twenty-two UAs have been erected and correlated to the existing age models (given by nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera and radiolarians) for each site. The 22 UAs have been united into seven Unitary Associations Zones (UA Zones) (JP10-JE4) to increase lateral traceability. Herein we present the resulting composite range chart and correlation between the studied cores. The position of the UA Zones in the Paleogene timescale of.Berggren et al. (1995) have been estimated using a general consensus correlation with calcareous microfossil groups and the existing radiolarian zonation. Reproducible radiolarian events identified in the present work are bound to directly tied and compiled absolute ages given by Nigrini et al. (2006) and Sanfilippo and Nigrini (1998a). The RP zones (Sanfilippo and Nigrini 1998a) and the UA Zones are consistent. Unitary Associations permit to distinguish supplementary zonal subdivisions within RP7 and RP6. Topotypes from DSDP Leg 10 have been illustrated using mainly SEM imaging to facilitate the identification of re-crystallized forms.

Early selection in open-pollinated Eucalyptus families based on competition covariates

The objetive of this work was to evaluate the influence of intergenotypic competition in open-pollinated families of Eucalyptus and its effects on early selection efficiency. Two experiments were carried out, in which the timber volume was evaluated at three ages, in a randomized complete block design. Data from the three years of evaluation (experiment 1, at 2, 4, and 7 years; and experiment 2, at 2, 5, and 7 years) were analyzed using mixed models. The following were estimated: variance components, genetic parameters, selection gains, effective number, early selection efficiency, selection gain per unit time, and coincidence of selection with and without the use of competition covariates. Competition effect was nonsignificant for ages under three years, and adjustment using competition covariates was unnecessary. Early selection for families is effective; families that have a late growth spurt are more vulnerable to competition, which markedly impairs ranking at the end of the cycle. Early selection is efficient according to all adopted criteria, and the age of around three years is the most recommended, given the high efficiency and accuracy rate in the indication of trees and families. The addition of competition covariates at the end of the cycle improves early selection efficiency for almost all studied criteria.

Prevalence of hypertension in schoolchildren based on repeated measurements and association with overweight.

OBJECTIVE: Most studies assess the prevalence of hypertension in pediatric populations based on blood pressure (BP) readings taken on a single visit. We determined the prevalence of hypertension measured on up to three visits in a Swiss pediatric population and examined the association between hypertension and overweight and selected other factors. METHODS: Anthropometric data and BP were measured in all children of the sixth school grade of the Vaud canton (Switzerland) in 2005-2006. 'Elevated BP' was defined according to sex-specific, age-specific and height-specific US reference data. BP was measured on up to two additional visits in children with elevated BP. 'Hypertension' was defined as 'elevated BP' on all three visits. RESULTS: Out of 6873 children, 5207 (76%) participated [2621 boys, 2586 girls; mean (SD) age, 12.3 (0.5) years]. The prevalence of elevated BP was 11.4, 3.8 and 2.2% on first, second and thirds visits, respectively; hence 2.2% had hypertension. Among hypertensive children, 81% had isolated systolic hypertension. Hypertension was associated with excess body weight, elevated heart rate and parents' history of hypertension. Of the children, 16.1% of boys and 12.4% of girls were overweight or obese (CDC criteria, body mass index >or= 85th percentile). Thirty-seven percent of cases of hypertension could be attributed to overweight or obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of children with elevated BP based on one visit was five times higher than based on three measurements taken at few-week intervals. Our data re-emphasize the need for prevention and control of overweight in children to curb the global hypertension burden.

Genetic variability of hull-less barley accessions based on molecular and quantitative data

The objective of this work was to characterize and quantify the genetic, molecular, and agronomic variability of hull-less barley genotypes, for the selection of parents and identification of genotypes adapted to the irrigated production system in the Brazilian Cerrado. Eighteen hull-less barley accessions were evaluated, and three covered barley accessions served as reference. The characterization was based on 157 RAPD molecular markers and ten agronomic traits. Genetic distance matrices were obtained based on molecular markers and quantitative traits. Graphic grouping and dispersion analyses were performed. Genetic, molecular, and agronomic variability was high among genotypes. Ethiopian accessions were genetically more similar, and the Brazilian ones were genetically more distant. For agronomic traits, two more consistent groupings were obtained, one with the most two-rowed materials, and the other with six-rowed materials. The more diverging materials were the two-rowed CI 13453, CN Cerrado 5, CN Cerrado 1, and CN Cerrado 2. The PI 356466, CN Cerrado 1, PI 370799, and CI 13453 genotypes show agronomic traits of interest and, as genetically different genotypes, they are indicated for crossing, in breeding programs.

Ambient intelligence application based on environmental measurements performed with an assistant mobile robot

This paper proposes the use of an autonomous assistant mobile robot in order to monitor the environmental conditions of a large indoor area and develop an ambient intelligence application. The mobile robot uses single high performance embedded sensors in order to collect and geo-reference environmental information such as ambient temperature, air velocity and orientation and gas concentration. The data collected with the assistant mobile robot is analyzed in order to detect unusual measurements or discrepancies and develop focused corrective ambient actions. This paper shows an example of the measurements performed in a research facility which have enabled the detection and location of an uncomfortable temperature profile inside an office of the research facility. The ambient intelligent application has been developed by performing some localized ambient measurements that have been analyzed in order to propose some ambient actuations to correct the uncomfortable temperature profile.

Developing Service Promise Concept Based on Supply Chain

Diplomityön tavoitteena on analysoida ja kehittää palvelulupauskonseptia toimitusketjuun perustuen Halton Oy:ssä. Työ toteutettiin, koska asiakaslähtöinen liiketoimintatapa on voimakkaasti valtaamassa alaa tuote- ja tuotantopainotteiselta toimintatavalta. Tuotteiden erinomaisuus koetaan markkinoilla yhä useammin itsestään selvyytenä. Prosessien tehokas hallitseminen ja asiakkaan kokeman lisäarvon muodostaminen ovat muodostuneet ratkaisevimmaksi kilpailuedun luojaksi. Toimitusketjun hallinnalla ja sähköisellä kaupankäynnillä on tärkeä rooli tämän kilpailuedun muodostumisessa.Diplomityö käsittelee uuden palvelulupauskonseptin tarjoamia etuja Halton Oy:lle. Työssä pureudutaan toimitusketjun ja sähköisen kaupankäynnin integraatiomahdollisuuksiin. Tarkoituksena on selvittää parhaat mahdolliset kriteerit Haltonin palvelulupauskonseptilleja luoda menetelmät yrityksen materiaalivirtojen sekä uuden konseptin analysoinnille ja kehittämiselle jatkossa.

Investigation ofsolid - state cooler based on electrocaloric effect

Electrocaloric cooling based on ability of material to change temperature by applying an electric field under adiabatic conditions is relatively new and challenging direction of ferroelectrics research. In this work we report about analytical, simulation and experimental data for BaSrTiO3 thin film and bulk ceramic samples. Detailed discussion of a theoretical base of the electrocaloric effect is included. Demonstrated experimental and computational results exemplify rational approach to a problem of solid-state cooler construction.

Paediatric bi-ventricular external assist device based on artificial muscles

Objective: Existing VADs are single-ventricle pumps needing anticoagulation. We developed a bi ventricular external assist device that reproduces the physiological heart muscle movement completely avoiding anticoagulants. Methods: The device has a carbon fibre skeleton fitting a 30-40 kg patient's heart, to which a Nitinol based artificial muscle is connected. The artificial muscle wraps both ventricles. The strength of the Nitinol fibres is amplified by a pivot articulation in contact with the ventricle wall. The fibres are electrically driven and a dedicated control unit has been developed. We assessed hemodynamic performances of this device using a previously described dedicated bench test. Volume ejected and pressure gradient has been measured with afterload ranging from 25 to 50mmHg. Results: With anafterload of 50mmHg the system has an ejection fraction (EF) of 10% on the right side and 8% on the left side. The system is able to generate a systolic ejection of 5,5 ml on the right side and 4,4 ml on the left side. With anafterload of 25mmHg the results are reduced of about 20%. The activation frequency is 80/minute resulting in a total volume displacement of 440 ml/minute on the right side and 352 ml/minute on the left side. Conclusions: The artificial muscle follows Starling's law as the ejected volume increases when afterload increases. These preliminary studies confirmed the possibility of improving the EF of a failing heart using artificial muscle for external cardiac compression. This device could be helpful in weaning CPB and/or for short-term cardio-circulatory support in paediatric population with cardiac failure.