Search

A four-year-old male Saint Bernard dog with a scrotal hydrocele was referred with a history of scrotal swelling and emaciation. Physical and hematological evaluation revealed dirofilaria infestation and liver function abnormalities. Ultrasonography showed fluid collection in each peritesticular area and in the peritoneal cavity. The dog survived only 10 days after the initial presentation. At necropsy, umbilicated nodular masses in the liver, hemorrhagic ascites, heart dirofilariasis, and accumulated transudate in the scrotum were observed. Histopathologic and immunofluorescence examination revealed cholangiocarcinoma in the liver, indicating the cause of liver failure and ascites accumulation. Severe edema was seen in the mediastinal connective tissue of spermatic cord and heartworm DNA from the spermatic cord tissue was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. In the present case, it was suspected that the acquired hydrocele might have been caused by ectopic migration of filarial worms or by severe hypoproteinemia induced by liver failure.

We propose herein an algorithm to resample the Raman spectra which aims to correct the predicted error induced by spectral shift. The same set of training data for both human and nonhuman blood Raman spectra was applied to build the model using partial least squares (PLS) method. Several kinds of Raman spectra of the blood samples originating from human, goose, monkey, chicken, sheep and duck without spectral shift were used to validate the model. The Raman spectra of the same blood samples with a shift of 9.18 cm-1 were used to illustrate the influence of the spectral shift to the model. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed, Raman spectra with spectral shift were resampled. The results show that the resampling algorithm can improve both the stability and accuracy of the model and reduce the impact of the spectral shift, which is promising for quantitative or qualitative analysis in Raman spectroscopy for complex samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic-scale [Fe/Pt]n multilayer films with different total thickness were prepared on thermally oxidized Si (100) substrates at room temperature by monatomic layer deposition using dc-magnetron and rf-magnetron sputtering. Effects of the total thickness on (001) texture, surface morphology, and magnetic properties of the postannealed films have been investigated. It is found that the particlelike structure films with perfect (001) texture and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are obtained with a thickness of less than or equal to 6.5 nm. After 500 °C annealing, the films with thickness of 6.5 and 11.9 nm show very smooth surface. In addition, with increasing total thickness of the films, (001) texture and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the annealed films deteriorate, and the films become continuous in structure. The total thickness of the films also affects the exchange-coupling interaction among FePt magnetic grains and the magnetization reversal process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure and Mg doped ZnO thin films were deposited at 400 °C on glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition. An x-ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to investigate the structural properties of the thin films. It is found that all the thin films have a preferred (002) orientation. The peak position of (002) orientation is found to shift from 34.39° to 34.55°. The lattice constants of ZnO thin films were also obtained from XRD data. It is found that, with the increase of the dopant concentration, the lattice constant a decreases from 3.25 to 3.23 Å, and c decreases from 5.20 to 5.16 Å. From the spectrophotometer transmittance data, the band gap energies of the thin films were calculated by a linear fitting process. The band gap energy of Mg doped ZnO thin film increases with increasing dopant concentration. In photoluminescence (PL) spectra, two PL emission peaks are found in pure ZnO thin films, one is the near band edge (NBE) emission at 3.28 eV, and the other is green-yellow-red emission at around 2.4 eV. However, with the increase of the dopants, no green-yellow-red emissions are found in PL of Mg doped ZnO thin films. The NBE emission has a blueshift compared with that of pure ZnO thin film (as much as 0.12 eV). As time goes on, NBE emission in pure ZnO thin film is enhanced, and the green-yellow-red emissions disappear. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantum dot transistors (QDT) and a nanowire transistor from a metal-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MESFET)-type GaAs wafer was fabricated and characterized at low temperatures. The nanodevices showed a quantum mechanical effect like scanning electron microscope (SET) through excited states and negative differentail resistance (NDR).

This paper presents an online method for calculating the glucose concentration based on laser ranging and radio frequency identification (RFID). We derive a theoretical formula on the reading distance and received signal backscattering power of the RFID tag attached to the surface of glucose solution. Subsequently, the former measurement values are converted to the corresponding glucose concentration. Finally, a fitted model of the relationship of glucose concentration, reading distances and received power is established. The experimental data are compliant to the theoretical counterparts. This online method could be applied to dynamic measurement in automatic assembly line and has the advantages of excellent versatility, high measuring accuracy, stable performance and quick response speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiTi shape-memory alloys may release poisonous Ni ions at the alloys’ surface. In an attempt to prepare a well-performing surface layer on an NiTi sample, the thermally grown TiO2 layer, which formed during the heat treatment of NiTi, was removed and replaced with a new TiO2 layer prepared using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, it was found that the ALD layer prepared at as low a temperature as 100 °C contained Ti in oxidation states + 4 and + 3. As for static corrosion properties of the ALD-coated NiTi samples, they further improved compared to those covered by thermally grown oxide. The corrosion rate of samples with thermally grown oxide was 1.05 × 10−5 mm/year, whereas the corrosion rate of the ALD-coated samples turned out to be about five times lower. However, cracking of the ALD coating occurred at about 1.5% strain during the superelastic mechanical loading in tension taking place via the propagation of a localized martensite band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic performance parameters of multiple tags in radio frequency identification (RFID) system include reading efficiency, reading distance, and so on. The reading performance of multiple tags could be hardly satisfied due to existing algorithms, so the geometric distribution of multiple tags is arranged reasonably to improve the reading performance of RFID system in this paper. An online detection system based on laser ranging is designed to measure the reading distance and extract the location of RFID tags. Simultaneously, a support vector machine (SVM) is used to analyse and predict the reading distance of RFID tags under various geometric distributions. The results show that the optimal geometric distribution of tags could be obtained by analysing the predicted reading distance of tags. This method could improve the dynamic performance of multiple tags and reduce the corresponding reading error in RFID system effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the function of self-diagnosis and self-healing for smart composite structures health monitoring system, this paper proposed a smart structure based on liquid core optical fibre (LCOF) sensor network. A model of loads recognition algorithm based on particle swarm optimization-support vector regression (PSO-SVR) is presented to achieve the self-diagnosis of the LCOF sensor system. Furthermore, the loading experiments were conducted on the E-51 composite structures plate embedded with eight liquid core fibre sensors. The relationship between the changes of light intensity in fibre sensor and loads positions was researched on. The support vector regression (SVR) model was established using sample data to predict loads position. And the parameters were optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. And the test error is 0.245%. The study showed that this method can effectively determine the loads positions with small size training sample. It realized the self-diagnosis system for liquid core fibre sensors and it provides a foundation for the future research on the self-repairing for smart composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new architecture for a dynamic random-access-memory (DRAM) capable of storing multiple values by using a single-electron transistor (SET). The gate of a SET is designed to be connected to a plurality of DRAM unit cells that are arrayed at intersections of word lines and bitlines. In this SET-DRAM hybrid scheme, the multiple switching characteristics of SET enables multiple value data stored in a DRAM unit cell, and this increases the storage functionality of the device. Moreover, since refreshing data requires only a small amount of SET driving current, this enables device operating with low standby power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of measuring fat content in soybean milk at room temperature (25°C) based on the Y-type optical fiber sensor is presented. The measurement system consists of a light source, Y-type optical fiber sensor, detector, thermoelectric cooler (TEC), preamplifier, second-level amplifier, A/D converter, and microprocessor. Based on the Mie theory, the diffuse reflection light intensity is adopted as the optical parameter representing the fat content in soybean milk. In this way the standard model of the system was established based on the diffuse reflection light intensity (the output voltage) of 40 soybean milk samples with different fat content. A prediction was also made to verify the measurement accuracy of the system (the prediction errors are within ±3 % of results). Results of this study indicate the feasibility of using this technology for soybean milk fat analysis that is suitable for the milk laboratory or field analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EfficientCO2capture by chemical absorption is currentlygaining interests for the control greenhouse gas emissions. In thiswork, a nonaqueous process was developed to regenerate CO2below 373 K by removing methanol first after the hybrid solventof monoethanolamine (MEA) and methanol had absorbed CO2. A model was accordingly developed to analyze the performance ofthe desorption process. Experiments were performed to determine themissing reaction kinetics of nonaqueous solvent regeneration of CO2to help develop the model. The predicted gas concentration,axial velocity, energy consumption, and desorption efficiency agreedwell with the stripper experimental data. A parametric analysis wasconducted to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, leansolvent loading, gas/liquid ratio, packing, and internals on the energyconsumption and desorption efficiency. All analyses were performedunder three defined desorption conditions: N2, methanolvapor, and steam as purge gases. Major energy savings were clearlyidentified because of feasible desorption temperatures below 373 Kunder nonaqueous desorption conditions. N2purge gas desorptionconditions offered the minimum energy consumption of 2.28 GJ/t, being24% below the typical value of 3.0 GJ/t. Additionally, it was foundthat the nonaqueous environment improved the desorption efficiencyby 10% compared to that obtained by typical aqueous solution regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weperformed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on multiaminesolutions of CO2capture to optimize the conventional aminesolvents (MEA, MDEA, DEA, AMP, and TEA). A synergy molecular dynamicsmodel (SMD) was developed for the CO2and amine solutions,in which the molecular synergy number (MSN) was introduced to quantifyinteractions between diffusion and molecule motion. The SMD modelinvolved with the force field was validated with experimental datafrom CO2, amine, and water systems. The best synergy forthe MDEA-DEA-TEA system was achieved at the ratio of 3:1:1, with aminimum MSN being 3.89. The overall synergy in ternary amine systemswas found to be better than that in quaternary and quintuple aminesystems. Several optimized multiamine solution systems were identified.The MDEA-DEA-TEA solution could simultaneously provide better diffusivityand less drag force with mass transfer coefficient being 33.33 % higherthan that of AMP. The MEA-MDEA-DEA-TEA solution could improve CO2transport by increasing 18 % of diffusivity when varyingthe ratio from 1:1:1:1 to 2:1:1:1. All of the results above provideda benchmark to optimize the amine mixing solution design for CO2capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactive waste management is now a much discussed public issue, especially since the Taiwanese government announced that three operating nuclear power plants will be decommissioned on schedule. Safe, efficient, reliable, and sustainable solutions to the management of radioactive wastes are critical to the feasibility of the nuclear decommissioning project. Because of the lack of system integration within radioactive waste storage facilities, most of the radioactive waste information systems remain inconsistent. Therefore, the establishment of an intelligent integrated system that provides active assistance in tracing the processes of radioactive wastes is urgent. This study is based on the technology of radio frequency identification for detection of radioactive waste locations. An automatic identification mechanism can monitor the status of storage and instantly notify the relevant parties. Meanwhile, this platform also employs the software agent as the infrastructure to construct the integrated information system architecture; the software agent has been widely accepted as an effective method to integrate heterogeneous systems of the new paradigm. The overall framework will help enhance the monitoring performance for radioactive waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one electron-based operating half-adder, the smallest arithmetic block, has been implemented on silicon-on-insulator structure whose basic element is a nanoscale single-electron transistor (SET) with two symmetrical side-wall gates. Grayscale contour plots of the resulting cell output voltages exhibit the Coulomb blockade-induced periodic alternating high/low features. Their voltage transfer characteristics display typical Sum and Carry-Out functions for binary, multi-valued (MV), and binary-MV mixed input voltages. Moreover, the half-adder function converts into a subtraction mode by adjusting control gates of the SET element. This flexible multi-valued cell provides an arithmetic block for the SET MV logic family of high density integration, operating with ultra-low power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo investigate the long-term clinical course and visual outcomes of Peters' anomaly cases treated with various treatment modalities.Patients and MethodsAll patients with Peters' anomaly treated at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1985 to 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who were followed for more than 5 years after the first visit were enrolled for analysis of the visual outcome. Final visual outcomes were presented with respect to disease severity and treatment modalities. Disease severity was determined according to the corneal status and accompanied eye anomalies in mild or severe form. Treatment plans were classified into the following groups: (1) a medical treatment group; (2) a surgical treatment group; and (3) a no-treatment group.ResultsA total of 106 eyes in 76 patients were diagnosed as Peters' anomaly, and 90 eyes in 65 patients were analysed regarding the visual outcome. Overall, 60 eyes (67%) had severe disease, and 30 eyes (33%) had mild disease. Twenty-six eyes (29%) received medical treatment, 44 eyes (49%) received surgical treatment, and 20 eyes (22%) received no treatment. The mean final visual acuity was 1.415 logMAR, 2.344 logMAR, and 2.282 logMAR, respectively. The visual outcomes of the eyes with mild disease in each group were significantly better than the eyes with severe disease.ConclusionsThe long-term visual outcomes of Peters' anomaly differed according to the disease severity in each treatment group. Therefore, before making treatment plans for Peters' anomaly, it is important to investigate the corneal status and accompanying eye disease to determine disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo report a series of patients who presented with an atypical retinal traction band, which was developed after an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical record of three patients (five eyes) who had been referred to a tertiary care centre for the management of fibrous retinal traction band, which occurred after a bevacizumab injection for stage 3 ROP with plus disease. Clinical features and courses of these eyes were described based on the medical record and RetCam fundus photography.ResultsAll three patients had taken an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab with or without concomitant laser photocoagulation as an initial treatment option for the active stage 3 ROP. With close follow-ups, regression of extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation and plus disease was noted invariably. After the regression of ROP, atypical fibrous traction membrane had arisen along the major vascular arcades with 2.5 to 4 months of latency, which progressed into tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in three out of five eyes.ConclusionIn active stage 3 ROP, fibrous tractional membrane and subsequent TRD along the major vascular arcades were developed unpredictably after the regression of neovascular activity following bevacizumab injection as an initial treatment. Therefore, ROP patients who received bevacizumab treatment without previous retinal photocoagulation should be closely followed for more than 4 months after the treatments even if the disease seems to have regressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]