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Ultrasound measurements of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and optic disc height (ODH) measured outside pregnancy correlate with intracranial hypertension. Data on the usefulness of ocular ultrasonography in preeclampsia are limited.To determine whether ONSD and ODH are greater in patients with features of severe preeclampsia compared to healthy controls.Consecutively admitted patients with severe preeclampsia (according to the ACOG Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy) and healthy term control pregnant women were included in this prospective observational study. Optic nerve sheath diameter measured 3 mm behind the globe and ODH were assessed using ocular ultrasonography. Patients with severe preeclampsia were compared to controls before delivery, and at one and four days post-delivery.We included 30 patients with severe preeclampsia and 30 controls. Optic nerve sheath diameter was significantly higher in patients with severe preeclampsia compared to controls before delivery, and one day and four days post-delivery (P 0.001). Optic disc height was significantly greater in patients with severe preeclampsia compared to controls before delivery (P 0.001), and one day (P 0.001) but not four days, post-delivery (P=0.66). Before delivery, 43% of patients with severe preeclampsia had an ONSD5.8 mm and 77% an ODH ≥1 mm: compatible with intracranial hypertension. None of the control patients had an ONSD of5.8 mm or an optic disc height of ≥1 mm before or after delivery.Severe preeclampsia was associated with a significantly higher ONSD and increased ODH, which could be ultrasonographic evidence of papilledema.

This paper presents a nonlinear sliding mode control (SMC) scheme for interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs).The proposed SMC is able to reduce the settling time without an overshoot by giving a low damping ratio at the initial time and a high damping ratio as the output reaches the desired setpoint. At the same time, it enables a fast convergence in finite time. To improve the efficiency of a system in the constant torque region, the control system incorporates the maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) algorithm. The stability of the nonlinear sliding surface is guaranteed by Lyapunov stability theory. The effectiveness of the proposed nonlinear SMC scheme is verified experimentally. From these experimental results, the proposed nonlinear SMC method reveals a faster transient response, smaller steady-state speed error, and low sensitivity to system uncertainties.

Atherosclerosis shares many similarities with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, among them rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and antibodies against beta2-glycoprotein I (anti- β 2GPI) have been detected in sera of RA patients in several studies. We demonstrated aCL and anti- β 2GPI in a selected group of 70 patients with RA (premenopausal women, non-diabetic, non-hypertensive) and compared them with age- and sex-matched controls. There was a significant higher internal carotid artery intima-media thickness and number of plaques in RA patients compared to controls. aCL of IgG and IgM classes were present in 15.7% of RA patients as compared to 5% in the control group. Thirty percent of RA patients had anti- β 2GPI of IgG, IgM and IgA classes compared to 7.5% in controls. Major differences were seen in IgG and IgA classes. Our results support the idea that aCL and anti- β 2GPI represent an important risk factor for atherosclerosis in RA patients. Elevated levels of phosphatidylserine-dependent antiprothrombin antibodies did not contribute significantly to the general prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Layered BaTiO3–Ni cermet composites with a constant composition but diversified microstructures were produced by a rolling-and-folding processing method. These composites differ from conventional laminates in that their interface has a tendency to be wavy, with a globular or elongated second phase within a continuous matrix phase. Based on an analysis of the (di)electric properties and Monte Carlo simulations we confirmed the critical influence of the composite’s microstructural characteristics on the percolation threshold. We found that the dielectric properties of the composite, when it is in the insulation regime, were controlled by the insulating BaTiO 3 phase. A giant effective permittivity of around 200 000, with modest losses of tan δ < 0.04, was measured when the percolation threshold approached the composition of the cermet. Partial decomposition and deformation of the layered structure resulted in the creation of conducting paths, whereas further homogenization again shifted the percolation threshold above the actual composition of the cermet. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new transposon, Tn5431, composed of Tn1721- and Tn3-like genes, was discovered on an Escherichia coli ColV plasmid encoding aerobactin synthesis.