Search

Numerous studies have shown that multiple fans with a piezoelectric actuator (MFPA) system can provide better cooling ability than a single piezoelectric fan with low power consumption and low noise. In this study, five MFPA models were designed and developed to be applied inside a pico projector, and the resonant frequency, the vibrational amplitude and the power consumption of these models were measured. Moreover, the Nusselt number, Richardson number, and thermal resistance were used to evaluate the thermal performance of the MFPA. The results reveal that the MFPA model with a combination of 35-mm long carbon fiber plates and 5-mm long Mylar plates achieves the optimal thermal performance. The thermal resistance, Nusselt number, and Richardson number of the MFPA model were, respectively, 4.13 K/W, 81.25, and 0.018 under 8-W heater power. Further experiments were performed with the optimal model set in different orientations. The results show that the Nusselt number dropped from 81.25 to 59.10 when the orientation changed from the normal case to the upside-down case at 8-W heater power.

In this study, multiple fans with a piezoelectric actuator (MFPA) system was adopted to transfer the heat inside a pico projector. Different MFPA models with different dimensional combinations of carbon fiber plates and Mylar plates were developed and their thermal performance along with resonant frequency and vibrating amplitude and power consumption were investigated. The result showed that the MFPA system with the combination of a 35 mm carbon fiber plate and a 5 mm Mylar plate had the best thermal performance with the thermal resistance of 4.93 W/m-K while the input power for the heater was 8 W and input voltage for the MFPA was 80 V. Meanwhile, the average vibrational amplitude reached 12.25 mm with the power consumption of 0.12 W at the resonant frequency of 61.5 Hz. To further enhance the cooling ability, this MFPA model was connected to the heat pipe module, and the efficiency of this model was compared to that of the rotary fan. The result revealed that the MFPA system on the heat pipe module achieved an amazing efficiency of 40.6% while that of the rotary fan was 47.3%, and the power consumption for the MFPA was 0.12 W which was merely 8.6% of 1.35 W for the rotary fan.

This paper presents the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) with statistical experiments to model and characterise WC/Co deposits of the plasma sprayings. In this study, the eight control factors were designed in a L18 factorial orthogonal array, and the effects of process conditions on the surface morphology were critically reviewed in the experiments. The surface topography properties and microstructure were studied.A gradient steepest descent algorithm in the trained ANN was used to explore the relationships between variables and responses. Artificial neural network modelling for WC/Co coatings estimation is compared by response surface methodology. The best values obtained were 2·164 and 2·871% of error percentage for the surface roughness by the best ANN and the response surface methodology model respectively. The experimental results indicate that using a statistical experiment coupled to an ANN strategy offers an effective, efficient and adaptive approach for developing a robus...

Connector fingers are metallic pads at the edge of a printed circuit board (PCB). They must be inspected after plating to ensure that an adequate coating of gold has been applied. The gold-plated surface is not uniform, but produces a homogeneous texture in the image. In this paper, we propose two entropy measures of chromatic and structural regularities for the automatic defect inspection of gold-plated fingers (edge connectors) on PCBs. One entropy measure uses two chromatic features derived from the CIELUV colour space to detect colour anomalies, and the other measure uses edge angles to detect structural defects on gold-plated surfaces. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method is effective and efficient for detecting various defects such as pinholes, copper exposure, and nicks and roughness on gold-plated surfaces.

Thrombomodulin (TM), a thrombin receptor on the endothelial cell surface, plays an important role in the regulation of blood coagulation. In this study, recombinant TM containing six epidermal growth factor-like structures (D2), and serine and threonine (Ser/Thr)-rich domain (D3), TMD23 (corresponding to Ala224-Ser497), was prepared by a recombinant baculovirus expression system and purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and affinity nickel-chelating column chromatographies. TMD23 in combination with thrombin could effectively activate protein C. TMD23 alone could enhance Glu-plasminogen activation by single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator in a dose-dependent manner. The specific binding of plasminogen to TMD23 was also demonstrated and the binding was inhibited by e-aminocaproic acid. In conclusion, our results suggest that TMD23 could specifically bind to plasminogen and effectively enhance plasminogen activation.

Iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and iron-nickel (FeNi) platings were carried out potentiostatically on rotating disk electrodes. The effects of boric acid on the iron and nickel reduction rates were evaluated. Experimental results support the surface competition of adsorption of ferrous and nickel ions on the electrode surface in FeNi alloy deposition. Boric acid prevents the electrode surface passivation on nickel reduction. Furthermore, boric acid acts as a surface agent and functions as a selective membrane which blocks the passage of the reduction of nickel but permits the reduction of iron in a retarded rate. The existence of boric acid alters the polarization behaviours in the FeNi system significantly.

Cyclin D1 plays an important role in cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase. Cyclin D1 overexpression has been identified in many human neoplasms, including a variety of carcinomas. A systematic study of cyclin D1 expression in renal carcinomas and oncocytomas has not been reported. Ninety-six renal epithelial neoplasms, 78 renal carcinomas (45 clear-cell, 18 papillary, and 15 chromophobe), and 18 oncocytomas were analyzed immunohistochemically using routinely fixed tissue sections and a cocktail of two monoclonal anti-cyclin D1 antibodies. One thousand cells were manually counted, and the percentage of cyclin D1 positive cells was calculated. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies using chromosome 11 centromeric and 11q13 specific probes were performed on a subset of clear-cell carcinomas and oncocytomas. Cyclin D1 immunoreactivity was observed in 23 (51%) of 45 clear-cell, 5 (28%) of 18 papillary, and 2 (13%) of 15 chromophobe carcinomas. Nine (50%) of 18 oncocytomas were positive for cyclin D1. Cyclin D1 expression in clear-cell carcinomas did not correlate with survival. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies on eight clear-cell carcinomas and seven oncocytomas revealed normal chromosome 11 number and no evidence of amplification of the 11q13 locus. Thus, cyclin D1 can be immunohistochemically demonstrated in approximately one-half of renal oncocytomas and clear-cell carcinomas and is less frequent in papillary and chromophobe carcinomas. The mechanism of cyclin D1 expression is unknown, but it does not seem to be related to extra copies of chromosome 11 or to gene amplification.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is a monoclonal T-cell neoplasm associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) that occurs almost exclusively in adults. This report concerns a Romanian girl who had recurrent skin eruptions since infancy, subcutaneous tumors in childhood, and peripheral blood lymphocytosis, which initially developed at the age of 12 years. The circulating lymphocytes were of helper T-cell immunophenotype. Serologic studies demonstrated a number of HTLV-1 antigens in the child and her mother, and molecular analyses revealed monoclonal T-cell-receptor gamma gene rearrangement and detectable HTLV-1 proviral DNA. Conventional cytogenetic studies revealed a t(3;6)(q23;q27) chromosome translocation in most of the neoplastic cells. The patient initially responded well to interferon alfa therapy and showed regression of skin lesions and diminished lymphocytosis, but 4 years later, she developed massive lymphadenopathy and leukemic infiltration of the breast. At last clinical follow-up, at the age of 17 years, the patient had stable low-level peripheral lymphocytosis and subcutaneous tumors while being continuously treated with interferon alfa. Our review of the literature revealed six additional children with HTLV-1-associated T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, including one case with a similar clinical presentation and ethnic background. To our knowledge, the t(3;6)(q23;q27) translocation identified in this patient's neoplasm has not been previously reported in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cases and may explain the early onset of disease. Although adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is rare in Romania, the identification of healthy carriers and vertical transmission raise the possibility that Romania might be an endemic region for HTLV-1 infection.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA has been detected in approximately 15% of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck. Recent studies have shown a predilection of HPV for certain anatomical sites, especially the tonsillar region, with viral DNA identified in approximately 60% of SCCs of the Waldeyer's tonsillar ring. This study was undertaken to determine whether there are differences in morphology or in oncogene expression in SCC of the tonsil with and without detectable HPV DNA. Twenty-two SCCs of the tonsil were analyzed for the presence of HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using both a consensus primer set (My09/My11) and type-specific primers. Viral transcription was established in both primary and metastatic tumors by RNA in situ hybridization. The morphology of invasive SCC was classified into three subtypes: well keratinized (K-SCC), intermediate keratinized (I-SCC), and poorly keratinized (P-SCC). Expression of p53, pRB, and cyclin D1 (bcl-1) were studied by immunohistochemistry. In these cases (6 K-SCCs, 2 I-SCCs, and 14 P-SCCs), HPV DNA was detected in 14 (64%), with 11 containing HPV-16 (10 P-SCCs, 1 I-SCCs, and 0 K-SCCs) and 1 each containing HPV-33, HPV-59, and an unclassified HPV type (all P-SCCs). Viral oncoprotein E6/E7 transcription was demonstrated in 7 of 7 HPV-16-positive tumors. Cyclin D1 protein overexpression was detected in the majority of HPV-negative tumors (7 of 8 cases), whereas it was minimal or absent in 13 HPV-positive tumors. Overexpression of p53 protein was detected in 3 HPV-negative K-SCCs. In the HPV-positive tumors, fewer malignant cells expressed pRB and the staining was less intense than in the HPV-negative cancers. HPV DNA and E6/E7 expression, especially HPV-16, is detected in the majority of tonsillar SCCs and is almost exclusively associated with a poorly keratinized tumor histology. Decreased expression of cyclin D1, pRB, and p53 in tumors with HPV DNA is consistent with the known effects of the viral oncoproteins on the cellular protein. The morphology of the HPV-positive tumors suggests that HPV may have a predilection for a population of nonkeratinizing squamous cells or that the virally transformed cells inhibit keratinization of the tumor cells. Well keratinized tonsillar SCCs lack HPV DNA and are associated with overexpression of cyclin D1 protein and/or p53, suggesting that mechanisms that alter the cell cycle regulatory proteins, either by interaction with viral oncoproteins or by changes in the cellular proteins themselves, is critical for tumorigenesis of tonsillar SCC.

The monoclonal antibody, HBME-1, generated against the microvillous surface of mesothelial cells, has been shown to have significant reactivity in histologic sections of follicular-derived thyroid malignancies. We examined the diagnostic utility of HBME-1 in thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. Twenty-four aspirates from 23 patients were evaluated. Only cases with adequate cell blocks and tissue follow-up were studied. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed on air-dried, direct smears and on sections from Bouin's-fixed, paraffin-embedded cell blocks with a standard avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method with epitope retrieval. The same immunostaining technique was applied to the corresponding formalin-fixed tissue sections. Eight (57%) of the 14 malignant aspirates showed strong cytoplasmic and/or membrane immunoreactivity for HBME-1. The cell-block and direct-smear preparations were positive in five of seven papillary carcinomas (one follicular variant), one of one minimally invasive follicular carcinoma, and one of four hybrid tumors with mixed papillary and follicular features. An additional hybrid tumor case was focally positive only in the smear slide. The eighth positive case was an adenosquamous carcinoma of the larynx that invaded into the thyroid (smear preparation was negative for this case). The 10 benign lesions were negative. All of the malignant-tumor tissue sections were positive for HBME-1, and focal positivity was seen in 5 of 10 benign resection specimens. We conclude that a positive immunostain for HBME-1 on a thyroid FNA is supportive evidence that the lesion is a carcinoma, that a negative result for HBME-1 does not preclude the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma, and that HBME-1 can be effectively applied to thyroid FNA specimens and can be a valuable adjunct in the cytologic diagnosis of thyroid malignancies.

Reports connect Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) with various types of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and body-cavity-based lymphomas (primary effusion lymphomas). KSHV DNA sequences have also been detected in a few non-KS malignant vascular tumors. To determine whether KSHV is associated with malignant vascular tumors involving the body cavities, 11 primary vascular tumors of the serous membranes (4 angiosarcomas, 7 hemangioendotheliomas) were tested for KSHV sequences by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization. The tumors were from patients who were not known to be immunocompromised. KSHV sequences were detected in the penile KS control but were absent in all 11 specimens studied. Our results were consistent with previous reports that KSHV sequences were rarely detected in non-KS vascular lesions. The results also suggested that although KSHV sequences might be present in primary effusion tumors such as primary effusion lymphoma, they might not be found in other tumors related to body cavities or to serous membranes.

The product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (Rb) is a substrate of the cell cycle-regulated cdc2 and cdk kinases. The Rb protein is phosphorylated from S through M phases of the cell cycle and is dephosphorylated in G1. In in vivo phosphorylated Rb protein, we have found ten phosphotryptic peptides, all of which could be phosphorylated by cdc2 kinase, p34cdc2, in vitro. The sites of phosphorylation for eight of the ten peptides have been mapped and they conform to the known p34cdc2 phosphorylation consensus. Although the activated p34cdc2 in mitotic cells is the major phosphorylation enzyme for Rb, the Rb kinase activity of p34cdc2 is not activated at G1/S transition. A cyclin A/p33 complex is activated at G1/S. We have assembled active cyclin B1/p34cdc2 complex in insect cells. The insect cell-derived kinase complex phosphorylates histone H1 well but exhibits a poor Rb kinase activity. These results indicate that the retinoblastoma protein is phosphorylated by distinct cyclin/kinase complexes in the cell cycle and suggest a regulation of the substrate specificity of the p34cdc2/cyclin complex.