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AbstractIntrinsic brain activity provides the functional framework for the brain's full repertoire of behavioral responses; that is, a common mechanism underlies intrinsic and extrinsic neural activity, with extrinsic activity building upon the underlying baseline intrinsic activity. The generation of a motor movement in response to sensory stimulation is one of the most fundamental functions of the central nervous system. Since saccadic eye movements are among our most stereotyped motor responses, we hypothesized that individual variability in the ability to inhibit a prepotent saccade and make a voluntary antisaccade would be related to individual variability in intrinsic connectivity. Twenty-three individuals completed the antisaccade task and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A multivariate analysis of covariance identified relationships between fMRI oscillations (0.01–0.2 Hz) of resting-state networks determined using high-dimensional independent component analysis and antisaccade performance (latency, error rate). Significant multivariate relationships between antisaccade latency and directional error rate were obtained in independent components across the entire brain. Some of the relationships were obtained in components that overlapped substantially with the task; however, many were obtained in components that showed little overlap with the task. The current results demonstrate that even in the absence of a task, spectral power in regions showing little overlap with task activity predicts an individual's performance on a saccade task.

Continuous improvement is a vital component of an effective performance management system. Simply measuring performance will not result in system improvements. Getting improvement in any service requires an educational strategy for linking performance measurement to the implementation of the specific system improvements. The aim of the paper is to identify the effectiveness and implementation of the kaizen programme in an electronics manufacturing company. Customers focus on product quality, delivery time and cost. Because of this a company should introduce a quality system to improve and increase both quality and productivity continuously. Kaizen is a methodology that aims to increase the availability of the existing equipment hence reducing the need for further capital investment. This paper identifies role of maintenance in reducing production cost and increasing plant profit with the implementation of kaizen. Use of the Timed-PDCA concept makes it possible to pursue productivity improvement in the current works including nurturing motivations to workers concurrently by arranging kaizen theme.

We have synthesized Ru1Sr2Gd2-xCexCu2O10 (Ru-1222) materials using several concentrations of Ce. All ruthenocuprate compounds have been characterised by using standard X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM). The concentration of Ce affects transport properties drastically. Compounds with x=0.5 remain nonsuperconducting with moderate resistivity even after annealing in different conditions. Enormous change in the normal state resistivity has been observed in different annealing conditions of Ru-1222 with x=0.5. Superconducting properties have been observed in compounds with x=0.65. The highest critical temperature obtained is 27.5K for x=0.65. In addition, the duration of annealing in flowing oxygen is found to be effective in changing the normal state resistivity for x=0.65.

A highly sensitive and selective high performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence detection method has been developed and validated forthe quantification of rivastigmine in rat plasma and brain. Protein precipitation and one-step liquid—liquid extraction techniques were utilized forthe extraction of RSM from brain and plasma, respectively, along with an internai standard. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a column inertsil ODS-3V and a mobile phase consisting of ammonium acetate buffer (20mM, pH4.5) and acetonitrile (76:24, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1ml/min. The lower limit of quantitation for the developed method was 10ng/mL for both matrices. The method was found to be accurate and reproducible and was successfully used to quantify levels of RSM in plasma and brain following intravenousadministration of RSM in rats.

A novel model-based technique is presented in this paper for the estimation of the fault size in different components of rolling contact bearings. A detailed dimensional analysis of the problem is carried out and an experimental methodology using the Box–Behnken design is applied to generate the experimental data set. First, the analysis of the vibration acceleration amplitude at fault frequency, its dependence on the bearing operating, and fault parameters using the obtained vibration data set are carried out by statistical analysis of variance. Numerical equations are developed then using the experimental data set for the correlation of the vibration acceleration amplitude in the frequency domain with the fault sizes based on the developed dimensionless terms. A hybrid backpropagation neural network integrating genetic algorithm is also developed to check the computational performance of the developed model equations. Validation of the proposed method is carried experimentally also for three seeded defect sizes on the outer race, inner race, and rolling element. The maximum model accuracy observed is for the inner race defect case with a predictive accuracy of 99.44% and for the roller defect case, it is 98.77%. The deviance observed for the model predictive performance is maximum for the outer race defect case with the least accuracy of 90.47% amongst all.

ObjectiveWe assessed the probability that mid-aged women with a Kellgren and Lawrence (K–L) score of 1 are likely to progress to a score of 2 or regress to a score of zero at a second time point, 2–3 years later.

ObjectiveWe evaluated C-reactive protein (C-RP), a quantitative marker of the acute phase response, as a potential biomarker of prevalent and incident osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK).

Discrepancies exist between radiographic osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) and report of knee joint pain. Little is known about how these two definitions of osteoarthritis (OA) and their correlates differ between African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) women.

Complex knee injuries are common, often resulting from multiple forces: varus, valgus, hyperextension, hyperflexion, internal rotation, external rotation, anterior or posterior translation, and axial load. Certain combinations of forces are known to cause specific injury patterns. After a review of the literature, the authors developed a mechanism-based classification system based on patterns of bone marrow edema and ligament injury for complex knee injuries depicted at magnetic resonance imaging. The classification system takes into account knee position and forces and recognition of patterns of bone injury and complementary soft-tissue injury. Ten mechanism-based injury patterns were recognized: (a) pure hyperextension, (b) hyperextension with varus, (c) hyperextension with valgus, (d) pure valgus, (e) pure varus, (f) flexion with valgus and external rotation, (g) flexion with varus and internal rotation, (h) flexion with posterior tibial translation, (i) patellar dislocation (flexion, valgus, and internal rotation of femur on fixed tibia), and (j) direct trauma. Recognition of these patterns may help assess the full extent of knee injury, particularly at the posterolateral and posteromedial corners of the knee.

Osteoarthritis (OA) has been characterized as a slowly evolving degenerative disease affecting cartilage and bone, with a multifactorial etiology that may differ depending on the joint site. Because OA has been considered a disease of the elderly, few population-based studies have examined its frequency and characteristics in persons under the age of 45.

To determine whether Caucasian women ages 28–48 years with newly defined osteoarthritis (OA) would have greater bone mineral density (BMD) and less bone turnover over time than would women without OA. Data were derived from the longitudinal Michigan Bone Health Study. Period prevalence and 3-year incidence of OA were based on radiographs of the dominant hand and both knees, scored with the Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) scale. OA scores were related to BMD, which was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and to serum osteocalcin levels, which were measured by radioimmunoassay. The period prevalence of OA (K/L grade ≥2 in the knees or the dominant hand) was 15.3% (92 of 601), with 8.7% for the knees and 6.7% for the hand. The 3-year incidence of knee OA was 1.9% (9 of 482) and of hand OA was 3.3% (16 of 482). Women with incident knee OA had greater average BMD (z-scores 0.3–0.8 higher for the 3 BMD sites) than women without knee OA (P < 0.04 at the femoral neck). Women with incident knee OA had less change in their average BMD z-scores over the 3-year study period. Average BMD z-scores for women with prevalent knee OA were greater (0.4–0.7 higher) than for women without knee OA (P < 0.002 at all sites). There was no difference in average BMD z-scores or their change in women with and without hand OA. Average serum osteocalcin levels were lower in incident cases of hand OA (>60%; P = 0.02) or knee OA (20%; P not significant). The average change in absolute serum osteocalcin levels was not as great in women with incident hand OA or knee OA as in women without OA (P < 0.02 and P < 0.05, respectively). Women with radiographically defined knee OA have greater BMD than do women without knee OA and are less likely to lose that higher level of BMD. There was less bone turnover among women with hand OA and/or knee OA. These findings suggest that bone-forming cells might show a differential response in OA of the hand and knee, and may suggest a different pathogenesis of hand OA and knee OA.

A texture discriminant based on spatial frequencies is proposed for characterizing B-scans of Achilles’ tendon. The anisotropic echo texture of normal tendon has an ellipsoidal spatial spectrum that can be quantified by the ratio of the major-to–minor axis and by the direction of the major axis. Applying a moving window to the B-scan, a corresponding tissue elliptical axis ratio (TEAR) image is derived that segments out tendon. The algorithm was applied to B-scan images taken from 13 volunteers, 6 of whom had tendon abnormalities: tendon rupture (n= 3) or cholesterol deposits (xanthomas) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (n= 3). The average TEAR value was 1.75 ± 0.17 for normal tendon, 1.04 ± 0.06 for torn tendon, and 1.31 ± 0.16 for tendons with xanthomas. The dispersion of the directionality vectors was used to further differentiate tendons with xanthomas from normal tendons. This technique appears to be useful for characterizing both diffuse and focal tendon abnormalities.

Second harmonic generation and temperature autostabilized nonlinear dielectric element (TANDEL) effect have been studied for ferroelectric solid solutions (NaxK1−x)VO3and (NaxLi1−x)VO3in the vicinity of the Curie temperature. The generated second harmonic is linear for low biasing d.c. fields with zero off-set. The deviations from linear behaviour and a sharp decrease in the amplitude of second harmonic is observed at higher d.c. bias voltages. The TANDEL elements, in the autostabilized state, adjust their impedance against the variation of applied a.c. voltage. The observed zero off-set might be due to the presence of defects which give internal bias and generate second harmonic.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the utility of continuous electroencephalography (EEG) during balloon test occlusion (BTO) of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Continuous EEG monitoring and [O-15] H2O PET cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies were completed in 34 patients undergoing BTO of the ICA. CBF determinations were obtained as a baseline without carotid occlusion, and following balloon occlusion, with continuous EEG monitoring. Patients were divided into three groups based on clinical and CBF response to BTO.Group I had no clinical signs or symptoms and had a CBF decrease less than 10 ml/100 g/min ipsilateral to the occlusion. Group II had no symptoms but CBF fell to 35 to 25 ml/100 g/min on the occluded side. Group III were clinically unable to tolerate occlusion or CBF fell to less than 25 ml/100 g/min on the occluded side.The results of continuous 21 channel EEG monitoring were assessed at the time of the examination and retrospectively reviewed for changes in the EEG pattern indicative of ischaemia. On the basis of PET CBF, eighteen patients were classified as Group I, four as Group II, and twelve as Group III. EEG evidence of ischaemia was seen in three patients, all members of Group III. Of the three patients, only one patient had clinical signs or symptoms of ischaemia. All four patients in Group II had PET quantitated CBF levels indicating carotid sacrifice should be done with caution or following a presacrifice by-pass procedure, and nine patients in Group III with PET quantitated CBFs below eligibility for carotid sacrifice, were not identified by EEG monitoring.Even when CBF falls below 25 ml/100 g/minute continuous EEG monitoring is insensitive to reduction in perfusion. Reliance upon EEG for detection of cerebral hypoperfusion in interventionl neuroradiological procedures will significantly underestimate ischaemic risk.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effects of acetazolamide on cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by [O-15] H2O positron emission tomography (PET) during balloon test occlusion (BTO) of the internal carotid artery (ICA).[O-15] H2O PET cerebral blood flow studies were completed in 20 patients undergoing BTO. CBF determinations were obtained without carotid occlusion as a baseline, following balloon occlusion, and as a third scan with balloon occlusion after an intravenous acetazolamide bolus.The balloon was left deflated between scans, and was only inflated immediately before and during the 90 second period of time needed for CBF determination.Significance was determined at the P<0.05 level. Two of twenty studies were technical failures. Prior to acetazolamide there was a significant decrease in CBF (P<0.0007) ipsilateral to the occlusion.After acetazolamide administration there was no statistically significant change in flow on the occluded side (P<0.3047); however, there was a significant increase in cerebral blood flow (P<0.0002) on the non-occluded side.In this patient population, there was no acetazolamide-induced CBF decompensation (steal) phenomenon or haemodynamically significant risk in CBF ipsilateral to the occlusion.

The temperature autostabilizing nonlinear dielectric element (TANDEL) effect and second harmonic generation have been studied in the ferroelectric solid solutions of (Pbx-Ba1−x)TiO3and (Pbx-Sr1−x)TiO3near the Curie temperature used as TANDEL. The generated second harmonics are linear for low d.c. biasing fields with zero off-set while they decrease sharply at higher d.c. biasing fields. The results show that these solid solutions might be used as TANDEL elements.

We describe the CT appearance of pulmonary zygomycosis (mucormycosis), an opportunistic infection typically occurring in immunocompromised patients.

In this modern world, due to limited fossil fuels, increasing cost, and environmental concerns a clean and sustainable transportation system in the form of electric vehicles (EV) is now becoming popular. On the other hand, electric vehicles have an advantage such as zero-emission, less maintenance, comfortable ride, less noise, etc. An electric vehicle is driven by an electric motor so considering driving patterns and road traffic conditions the vehicle often requires braking operation. The most common method is to employ mechanical brakes to reduce the speed of EV. However, mechanical braking mechanism results in friction which in turn, into heating losses and reduces the efficiency of EV. Therefore, regenerative braking system (RBS) and energy management system are employed in addition to mechanical braking for increasing the braking efficiency of the EV system. It is reported in many literatures about different regenerative braking control techniques for EV systems. This paper presents a review of regenerative braking and braking energy management techniques by considering different driving situations and road conditions.

The feasibility of photoacoustic tomography (PAT) in imaging human peripheral joints in a noninvasive manner was demonstrated through studies of cadaver human fingers. Based on the intrinsic optical contrast, intra- and extra-articular tissue structures in the finger at the levels of the joints were visualized successfully with satisfactory spatial resolution. The imaging depth of PAT in the near-infrared region enables the cross-sectional imaging of a human finger as a whole organ. As a novel technology with unique advantages, PAT holds promise for early diagnosis of inflammatory joint disorders and accurate monitoring of disease progression and response to therapy.

Partial liquid ventilation is a new technique to improve oxygenation in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. In a patient with status asthmaticus and tension pneumothorax treated with subsequent liquid ventilation, radiopaque perfluorocarbon was identified along bronchovascular structures, in the mediastinum, and in the retroperitoneum. Perfluorocarbon outlined on CT and chest radiography the anatomic pathway by which spontaneous pneumomediastinum develops following alveolar rupture, as described earlier by histopathologic study in animals. This represents the radiopaque equivalent of radiolucent pneumomediastinum. Perfluorocarbon remained in the pulmonary interstitium on radiography 30 days after beginning liquid ventilation, without sequelae.

Peliosis hepatis is an unusual disorder characterized by blood filled hepatic spaces. We describe the appearances of this entity on ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The importance of peliosis hepatis is that it may be an indicator of a treatable underlying condition.

The Strain Nonuniformity Index (SNI) was introduced as a strain distribution based failure criterion about 10 years ago and its application to prediction of failure in industrial sheet metal components was demonstrated in the previous Conferences. Quantitatively, the SNI represents the rate of change of spatial strain gradient. This means that higher the SNI, sharper the neck, and hence greater is the likelihood of failure. It is immaterial as to how the neck / strain gradient came into existence, and failure is linked with the threshold value of this quantity, beyond which failure could be expected. Since phenomenological parameters are not linked with the process of establishing a threshold SNI, it does not seriously matter whether it was aluminium that was formed or whether it was steel, it does not very much matter if it was hot forming or cold forming. The present paper describes the methodology of estimating the threshold SNI for each of the numerous critical planes in the deforming sheet metal component. Interestingly, the relationship between SNI of major strain and SNI of the thickness strain was found to lie in a narrow band for a diverse set of materials. This therefore helps in finding the critical planes on which the SNI at a given punch travel has crossed the threshold value and failure locations so determined have correlated well with the shopfloor predictions as presented earlier.

Low frequency Radio Experiment (LORE) is a proposed space payload for space weather observations from space, operating between few kHz to 30 MHz. This paper presents preliminary design and practical implementation of LORE antenna systems, which consist of three mutually orthogonal mono-poles. Detailed computational electromagnetic simulations, carried out to study the performance of the antenna systems, are presented followed up by laboratory tests of the antennas as well as radiation tests with a long range test range, designed for this purpose. These tests form the first phase of the design and implementation of the full LORE prototype later in the year.

In this paper, we present a case study of Low Frequency Radio Experiment (LORE) payload to probe the corona and the solar disturbances at solar offsets greater than 2 solar radii, i.e., at frequencies below 30 MHz. The LORE can be complimentary to the planned Indian solar mission, "Aditya-L1" and its other payloads as well as synergistic to ground-based interplanetary scintillation (IPS) observations, which are routinely carried out by the Ooty Radio Telescope. We discuss the baseline design and technical details of the proposed LORE and its particular suitability for providing measurements on the detailed time and frequency structure of fast drifting type-III and slow drifting type-II radio bursts with unprecedented time and frequency resolutions. We also brief the gonio-polarimetry, which is possible with better-designed antennas and state-of-the-art electronics, employing FPGAs and an intelligent data management system. These would enable us to make a wide range of studies, such as nonlinear plasma processes in the Sun-Earth distance, in-situ radio emission from coronal mass ejections (CMEs), interplanetary CME driven shocks, nature of ICMEs driving decelerating IP shocks and space weather effects of solar wind interaction regions.