bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical computation of large partial differential equations on memory hierarchy
Authors: Sato Takashi
Published: November 2007

Often, partial differential equations for the case of numerical computation are solved. However, to solve partial differential equations whose order of dimensions are more than 2, main memory is not large enough even in the main frame or super computers, not to mention workstations or personal computers. Thus, we have to use external memory to solve large partial differential equations numerically. This paper proposes an algorithm to solve numerically by explicit methods, large partial differential equations which are time‐dependent and have fixed boundary conditions. In this algorithm, neighbor mesh points are placed together in main memory. Also, even partially, they are computed toward the time axis as far as possible. In other words, this method computes mesh points toward the time axis with priority, reusing computed data in main memory. The proposed algorithm is unique in this point. It is faster than conventional methods in proportion to D√P where P is the bulk of the main memory and D is the order of dimensions.
A task mapping method for a hypercube
Authors: Horiike Satoshi
Published: November 2007

This paper presents a new algorithm for task mapping onto a hypercube. The structure of parallel programs can be expressed by a task graph. With this graph, the algorithm generates a mapping that reduces communications costs considerably.

When the target computer is an n‐dimensional cube (n‐cube), the algorithm is composed of n stages. It starts with an initial state in which the tasks are mapped onto 2+ 0‐cubes. At each stage k, the task graph is mapped onto 2n‐k k‐cubes. The mapping onto k‐cube can be accomplished by combining two (k ‐1)‐cubes.
Order preserving code having a search tree
Authors: Sato Takashi
Published: November 2007

Recently, computers have been used not only for numerical computations but also for various data processing applications. Thus, the ability to store data has become more important.

This paper considers external memory which supports a large amount of computer memory and studies its effective utilization and rapid accesses. Tabular data structure having a domain for each column such as a relation table of a relational database or set of records in a file also are considered. The idea is to combine updatable and order‐preserving code and search trees.

A compact data structure which supports both functions can be obtained. Cost analysis shows that its space is less than half of that of a table with B‐tree indexing structure and that its speed is as fast as when B‐trees are employed. Moreover, fast coincidental or range search can be possible under the conditions when no B‐tree could be used. This is because the.code obtained from the proposed method has minimum length and order preserving characteristics.
Stuck‐open faults test generation for cmos combinational circuits
Authors: Kajihara Seiji , Itazaki Noriyoshi , Kinoshita Kozo
Published: November 2007

This paper proposes a stuck‐open test generation system which generates test patterns with high fault coverage for single stuck‐open faults in CMOS combinational circuits. In the proposed method, although the stuck‐open faults are treated at switch level in each cell consisting of CMOS logic gates, test patterns for the overall circuit are generated at gate level using a path sensitization method. To reduce the number of test patterns, a gate level circuit is partitioned into subcircuits. Also, heuristics are introduced to select a sensitizing path dynamically such that a pair of test vectors could detect many more faults. Finally, some results are presented about test pattern generation for combinational benchmark circuits.
Method of diagnosing single bridging faults in combinational circuit
Authors: Yamada Teruhiko , Yamazaki Kouji
Published: November 2007

A diagnosis method for single bridging faults in combinational circuits is proposed. In this method the cause of an error observed at the outputs is analyzed using a diagnosis table constructed based on the circuit and its test patterns. The size of the diagnosis table is proportional to the number of nets the number of tests and much smaller than the fault dictionary.

The results of experiments conducted using the test patterns for single stuck‐at faults show that the testing time is nearly proportional to the size of the circuit and that the number of possible fault locations can be reduced to 20 to 30. Hence, it is expected that by conducting fault simulations for those fault possibilities, a maximal resolution can be obtained within a reasonable amount of computation time.
Neural network model of temporal pattern memory
Authors: Doya Kenji , Yoshizawa Shuji
Published: November 2007

This paper proposes a neural network model which memorizes temporal patterns such as movement patterns of animals. A transient or periodic signal waveform is memorized and regenerated as a transient response waveform or a waveform of an autonomous oscillation in the continuous‐time neural network with recurrent connections. The back‐propagation (BP) learning rule, which has been used primarily in the discrete‐time neuron model with feed‐forward connections, is extended in two ways so that it is applicable to the continuous‐time neural model with recurrent connections.

As a result of computer simulation, it is shown that “direct BP learning,” which considers only the direct effect of the output of the hidden unit on the output unit, has almost the same learning performance with less computation time than “simultaneous BP learning,” which is based more strictly on the learning by the steepest descent.
Edge location to subpixel precision and analysis
Authors: Nomura Yoshihiko , Sagara Michihiro , Naruse Hiroshi , Ide Atsushi
Published: November 2007

This paper proposes a new method of locating an edge in a digital image to sub‐pixel precision by using gray‐level information in the neighborhood of the edge alone. The location of the edge is determined by fitting the first derivatives of gray‐level values to a normal‐distribution curve using the least‐squares method and by regarding the location of the extreme value of the curve as the location of the edge. By comparing the proposed method with five conventional methods it is shown that the method requires the smallest amount of computation generally and minimum systematic errors in a sharp edge. The errors in an edge location measurement caused by image noises are quantized and are shown by a graph so that errors under an arbitrary condition can easily be estimated.
Quadratic curve detection by sampling manner
Authors: Mori Katsumi , Kawakubo Kazuo , Ikenoue Jun‐Ichi
Published: November 2007

This paper considers the “Segment Pairs Matching” (SPM) method which detects the quadratic curves (e.g., circles and ellipses, etc.) mingled in other patterns such as letters, symbols and straight lines. The SPM method determines the set of sample points lying on the quadratic curves by using the matching condition (named “SPM condition”) which is a restriction on the formation of the sample points. The SPM condition is derived from the algebraic necessary condition under which a quadratic curve can be formed so as to pass through more than five given points. Through theoretical discussions, we clarify the geometrical meaning of the SPM condition and give the generalized formula. The SPM condition plays a geometrical role in deciding whether or not a given curve has a diameter. Then some experimental results show that the SPM condition is approved by digital picture processing and the quadratic curves can be detected with high reliability. Comparison with the Hough Transform demonstrates that the SPM method has the following merits: (i) the processing is done in the picture space; (ii) the operations are very simple (i.e., arithmetical operations); and (iii) the process can be effectively performed from coarse to fine.
μ‐PULSER: A reactive operating system for personal robots
Authors: Yakoh Takahiro , Anzai Yuichiro , Sugawara Tomoyoshi
Published: November 2007

When the “personal robot,” which is one of the future goals of the autonomous mobile robot, is viewed from the standpoint of computer control, there must be a reactive mechanism that reflects the sudden change of the sensor output on the emergency processing task. When the personal robot is viewed as a robot owned by the individual and to be used for the individual purposes, it must be highly expandable and flexible so that the functions and the hardware configuration can be varied according to the purpose. To support such a robot, the authors developed a multithread operating system μ‐PULSER. μ‐PULSER provides a high‐speed synchronization mechanism among threads, which helps to realize the reactive control of the robot. The high‐speed communication mechanism is provided among the threads, by utilizing the forementioned synchronization mechanism. By minimizing the kernel, it is made possible to reconfigure dynamically the system by exchanging and adding the servers. This paper discusses the design and implementation of μ‐PULSER. It is shown by actual measurement and evaluation that the synchronization and the communication mechanism among the threads have sufficiently high speeds to meet the requirement of robot control.
Synthesis of two‐phase quasi‐delay‐insensitive circuits from dependency graphs
Authors: Kagotani Hiroto , Nanya Takashi
Published: November 2007

Recently, the efficiency of asynchronous circuits has again attracted a great deal of attention. In this paper, a synthesis method of delay‐sensitive circuits is presented. In this method, a directed graph representing dependencies between microoperations such as register transfers and arithmetic operations is given as the specification of a circuit. Under some constraints of the graph for correct synthesis, the control circuit is implemented by translating graph nodes to the associated circuit blocks. It controls data‐paths in a two‐phase manner by handshakes. This method allows designers to describe parallelism easily in their specifications. The cost of synthesis is low.
An example‐based disambiguation of english prepositional phrase attachment
Authors: Sumita Eiichiro , Furuse Osamu , Iida Hitoshi
Published: November 2007

The English prepositional phrase often has multiple candidates for attachment. Usually, it is difficult to determine uniquely the attachment of the prepositional phrase only by the syntactic analysis. Since the prepositional phrase appears with a high frequency, it is a very important problem in English analysis to disambiguate the attachment. In the machine translation, for example, the translation of the preposition and consequently the translation of the whole sentence become unnatural if the attachment of the prepositional phrase is not correctly identified.

This paper proposes the Example‐Based Disambiguation (EBD) method, which is composed of the following processes: (1) examples (prepositional phrase and its attachment) are extracted from the corpus; (2) the semantic distance between the input expression and the example is calculated according to the thesaurus; and (3) the attachment of the prepositional phrase is disambiguated using the example with the minimum distance. Through the comparison experiment between the proposed method and the conventional method, it is shown that the former is better in terms of the success rate in the determination of the prepositional phrase attachment.
Sustainable development: premises, understanding and prospects
Authors: Hull Zbigniew
Published: November 2007

Humanity now finds itself at a ‘turning point’ and is looking for new visions of further development. One such vision is provided by the sustainable development concept, though this is understood in different ways. The conceptualizations of sustainable development within the worlds of politics and business still lie within the framework of the earlier paradigm of civilizational development. At the same time, the possibility of development being understood in a quite separate way is taking shape, and this may represent a starting point for a new vision of social development. The latter will necessitate a fundamental and far‐reaching rethinking and revision of the philosophical (above all the anthropological and axiological), economic and political underpinnings of any further development, as well as an incorporation of sustainable development content into every sphere and aspect of humanity's cultural evolution. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Diffusion of oligomers from polydimethylsiloxane stamps in microcontact printing: Surface analysis and possible application
Authors: Yunus S. , de Looringhe C. de Crombrugghe , Poleunis C. , Delcorte A.
Published: November 2007

The present study investigates polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomer diffusion occurring when contacting PDMS rubber against another material. Several surface analysis techniques (ToF‐SIMS, XPS, contact angle measurement, AFM, SEM, interferential polarized microscopy: Sarfus) are used to characterize surfaces that have been in contact with noninked PDMS rubber stamps. While the effect of several parameters such as time of contact and ageing of prepatterned surfaces seem to give comprehensible effects on the oligomer deposition, other parameters such as the stamp's shape give paradoxical but reproducible results on the deposited quantity. The results provide us with a better understanding of the transfer and diffusion of PDMS oligomers on certain types of substrates (Al, SiO2). In addition to establishing a better control of the side effects in microcontact printing, this study suggests applications that take advantage of oligomer diffusion. In particular, the capability of using PDMS transfer on a metallic surface to protect selected areas from chemical etching is assessed. In this context, oligomers are no longer harmful contaminants but the actual ink needed for a soft‐lithographic process. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A methodology for curve‐fitting of the XPS Si 2p core level from thin siloxane coatings
Authors: O'Hare Lesley‐Ann , Hynes Alan , Alexander Morgan R.
Published: November 2007

Plasma‐enhanced coating processes are recognised as a route to well‐adhered, conformal coatings, and are often used as a means of modifying the surface properties of materials, while having a minimal effect on the bulk characteristics of the substrate. Here, a method for providing an understanding of the chemistry of siloxane coatings prepared by plasma liquid deposition in atmospheric pressure (AP) is described.

An iterative Si 2p–C 1s method for curve‐fitting the C 1s and Si 2p core levels of siloxane coatings thinner than the depth of analysis of XPS has been developed when the substrate is poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film. In addition to the determination of unambiguous binding energy positions for four siloxy environments, this has allowed the elemental composition of the coating to be determined in isolation of the substrate.

Application of the binding energies to the Si 2p core levels of industrially relevant materials where the composition is not known by any other means can now be carried out. This can be used to provide understanding of the relationship between coating chemistry and plasma parameters, which is essential in the development of novel processes such as AP plasma liquid deposition, and will result in the deposition of coatings with controlled properties. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing maintainability change over multiple software releases
Authors: Kozlov Denis , Koskinen Jussi , Sakkinen Markku , Markkula Jouni
Published: November 2007

The focus of the paper is to reveal the relationships between software maintainability and other internal software quality attributes. The source code characteristics of five Java‐based open‐source software products are analyzed using the software measurement tool SoftCalc. The relationships between maintainability and internal quality attributes are identified based on the Pearson product moment correlation analysis. Our results show negative correlations between maintainability and some well‐known internal software quality attributes, as well as the ones between maintainability and complexity metrics. Particularly, according to our results, the Number of Data Variables Declared and the Decisional Complexity McClure Metric have the strongest correlations with maintainability. The results of our study, that is to say, knowledge about the relationships between internal software quality attributes and maintainability, can be used as a basis for improvement of software maintainability at earlier stages of the software development process. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combining fetal nuchal fold thickness with second‐trimester biochemistry to screen for trisomy 21
Authors: Borrell A. , Mercade I. , Casals E. , Borobio V. , Seres A. , Soler A. , Fortuny A. , Cuckle H.
Published: November 2007

Objective

To assess second‐trimester screening for trisomy 21 by combining ultrasound nuchal fold (NF) measurement with maternal serum biochemistry.

Methods

NF, maternal serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP) and free β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) were determined concurrently at 14–19 weeks' gestation in a study population comprising 1813 women with singleton pregnancies, including 1257 unselected women undergoing serum screening for trisomy 21 (1999–2002), and 556 high‐risk pregnancies prior to amniocentesis (2003–2005), 402 of whom had positive serum screening tests. The results were expressed in multiples of the gestation‐specific normal median (MoMs).

Results

There were 1799 unaffected singleton pregnancies, and their NF values approximately fitted a log Gaussian distribution over a wide range. There was a weak but statistically significant correlation between log NF and log AFP (r = − 0.069, P < 0.005) and the correlation coefficient between log NF and log free β‐hCG was even smaller and not statistically significant (r = 0.038, P = 0.11). Among the seven trisomy 21 pregnancies, the median NF level was 1.53 MoM (geometric mean 1.75 MoM), a highly statistically significant increase compared with unaffected pregnancies (P < 0.0001, one‐tail Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test). In pregnancies referred because of positive serum screening tests (391 unaffected, seven cases of trisomy 21, one of monosomy X and three other chromosomal anomalies) the use of NF to modify the serum screening risk would have reduced the invasive procedures in unaffected pregnancies by 46% without affecting the detection rate of trisomy 21 or other anomalies. Statistical modeling predicted that adding NF to AFP and free β‐hCG would increase detection more than would adding unconjugated estriol as well as inhibin‐A, an analyte that is difficult to measure with precision.

Conclusions

The addition of NF measurement to second‐trimester biochemical markers improves screening performance, and could overcome drawbacks in the implementation of inhibin‐A assay in clinical practice. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physicochemical and Rheological Properties of Crystallized Blends Containing trans‐free and Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Authors: Reyes‐Hernández J. , Dibildox‐Alvarado E. , Charó‐Alonso M. A. , Toro‐Vazquez J. F.
Published: November 2007

Three vegetable oil blends, intended for formulation of high melting temperature confectionary coatings, were prepared by mixing different proportions of coconut oil, palm stearin, and either partially hydrogenated soybean oil (PH‐SBO) or native soybean oil (i.e., trans‐free SBO). The blends were crystallized under the same isothermal conditions and the crystallized systems evaluated by DSC, SFC, polarized light microscopy, and rheology under low [i.e., G′ and yield stress (σ*)] and high (i.e., creep and recovery profiles) stress forces. Overall, all trans‐free blends showed lower SFC and heat of crystallization than the ones obtained with PH‐SBO blends. These results showed that trans‐fatty acids decrease the level of structural order of the crystals, and probably also the organization of the crystal network. As a result, most of the crystallized blends with PH‐SBO showed lower σ* values and higher creep profiles (i.e., softer texture) than trans‐free blends, particularly in systems crystallized at high supercooling and blends with saturated medium chain TAG. Nevertheless, at particular crystallization temperatures some trans‐free formulations provided crystallized systems with rheological properties that would result in softer textures than the ones obtained with PH‐SBO blends. Knowledge of the rheological properties under low and high stress forces is vital when comparing the functionality of crystallized TAG systems with and without TAG with trans‐fatty acids.
A New Soy Flour‐Based Adhesive for Making Interior Type II Plywood
Authors: Huang Jian , Li Kaichang
Published: November 2007

In this study, we developed a formaldehyde‐free adhesive from abundant, renewable, and inexpensive soy flour (SF). The main ingredients of this adhesive included SF, polyethylenimine (PEI), and maleic anhydride (MA). The optimum formulation of this adhesive and the optimum hot‐press conditions for making plywood were investigated. A three‐cycle soak test and a boiling water test (BWT) were employed for evaluating the strength and water‐resistance of plywood bonded with this adhesive. Results showed that SF, PEI, MA and sodium hydroxide were all essential components for the adhesive and the SF/PEI/MA weight ratio of 7/1.0/0.32 resulted in the highest water‐resistance. When the hot‐press temperature was in the range of 140–170 °C, both water‐resistance and shear strength of plywood bonded with the adhesive remained statistically the same, except that the dry shear strength of plywood at 170 °C was statistically lower than that at 160 °C. When the hot‐press time ranged from 2 to 6 min, the plywood panels at 5 min had the highest boiling water test/wet (BWT/w) shear strength. The plywood panels made at 5 min had a higher dry shear strength than those made at 3 min. Plywood panels bonded with this SF/PEI/MA adhesive exceeded the requirements for interior applications.
Changes in the expression of NaV1.7, NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 in a distinct population of dorsal root ganglia innervating the rat knee joint in a model of chronic inflammatory joint pain
Authors: Strickland Iain T. , Martindale Jo C. , Woodhams Peter L. , Reeve Alison J. , Chessell Iain P. , McQueen Daniel S.
Published: November 2007

Voltage‐gated sodium channels play an essential role in regulating the excitability of nociceptive primary afferent neurones. In particular the tetrodotoxin‐sensitive (TTX‐S) NaV1.7 and the tetrodotoxin‐resistant (TTX‐R) NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 channels have been suggested to play a role in inflammatory pain. Previous work has revealed acute administration of inflammatory mediators, such as Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) or carrageenan caused an upregulation in the levels of NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 protein in DRG (dorsal root ganglia) tissue up to 4 days post‐insult. In the present study, the expression of NaV1.7, NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 was examined over a 28 day timecourse during a rat model of FCA‐induced chronic inflammatory joint pain. Using the retrograde tracer Fast Blue (FB) and specific NaV1.7, NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 sodium channel antibodies, immunohistochemical staining techniques were used to study sodium channel expression in a distinct population of L3–L5 knee joint afferent DRGs. In the ganglia, counts were made of positively labelled cells in the FB population. The results demonstrate that, following FCA injection, NaV1.9 expression is upregulated at days 14, 21 and 28 post‐FCA, with NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 showing increased channel expression at days 14 and 28. These observations are accompanied by a unilateral joint hypersensitivity in the FCA‐injected knee indicated by a behavioural shift in weight distribution measured using an incapacitance tester. The increased presence of these channels suggests that NaV1.7, NaV1.8 and NaV1.9 play a role, at least in part, in the maintenance of chronic inflammatory pain several weeks after the initial insult.
Which tinnitus patients benefit from transcranial magnetic stimulation?
Authors: Kleinjung Tobias , Steffens Thomas , Sand Philipp , Murthum Tobias , Hajak Goeran , Strutz Juergen , Langguth Berthold , Eichhammer Peter
Published: November 2007

Objectives

Chronic tinnitus is associated with hyperactivity of the central auditory system. Low‐frequency repetitive transcra‐nial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex has been proposed as a treatment for chronic tinnitus. This study determined the factors that predict a beneficial outcome with rTMS treatment.

Study Design

Forty‐five patients with chronic tinnitus underwent 10 sessions of low‐frequency rTMS to their left auditory cortex. The treatment outcome was assessed with a tinnitus questionnaire. Therapeutic success was related to the patients' clinical characteristics.

Results

A significant reduction in tinnitus complaints occurred after rTMS. In the questionnaire, 40% of the patients improved by five points or more. Treatment responders were characterized by shorter duration of tinnitus complaints and no hearing impairment.

Conclusion

Tinnitus‐related neuroplastic changes might be less pronounced in patients with normal hearing and a short history of complaints. This could explain why those patients benefitted more from rTMS treatment.
A comparison of polysomnography and the WatchPAT in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Kenny P. Pang , Christine G. Gourin , David J. Terris
Published: November 2007

Objective

Our goal was to validate the WatchPAT in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Design

We conducted a prospective, blinded, nonrandomized clinical trial.

Methods

Patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea scheduled for an overnight level I polysomnogram were offered enrollment in a study to compare the WatchPAT (Itamar Ltd, Israel) device with polysomnography. Patients wore the WatchPAT device simultaneously while undergoing polysomnography during evaluation in the sleep lab.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients participated in the study. They had a mean age of 50.1 years (range, 31–73 years) and mean body mass index of 34.6 kg/m2 (range, 21.2–46.8 kg/m2). There was high correlation between the polysomnogram and WatchPAT apnea‐hypopnea index (r = 0.9288; 95% confidence interval = 0.8579–0.9650, P < 0.0001). The lowest oxygen saturation also showed high correlation (r = 0.989; 95% confidence interval = 0.9773–0.9947, P < 0.0001). The overall polysomnogram and WatchPAT sleep times revealed a correlation of r = 0.5815 (P = 0.005).

Conclusion

The WatchPAT showed a high correlation with the polysomnogram in apnea‐hypopnea index, lowest oxygen saturation, and sleep time.

Significance

It's use as a reliable tool in the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Anterior lateral thigh flap for buccal mucosal defect after resection of buccal cancer
Authors: Chuang Hui‐Ching , Su Chih‐Ying , Jeng Seng‐Feng , Chien Chih‐Yen
Published: November 2007

Objective

To preserve oral function after buccal cancer resection, a free anterior lateral thigh flap (ALTF) was used to cover the buccal mucosal defect.

Study Design and Setting

Nine patients who underwent primary surgical treatment between June 2005 and September 2006 for buccal cancer were enrolled in this study. An ALTF was used to repair the defect immediately after tumor resection. Oral function, including mouth‐opening width, oral intake, and teeth cleaning, were compared pre‐ and postoperatively.

Results

No difference was observed in the mouth‐opening width between that preoperatively and three months postoperatively (P = 0.54). The oral intake and teeth cleaning also remained unchanged three months postoperatively.

Conclusion

Repair of a buccal mucosa defect with a free anterior lateral thigh flap is a good alternative for selected patients who undergo resection of buccal cancer; oral function is likely to be preserved.
The effect of vocal hygiene education for patients with vocal polyp
Authors: Yun Young‐Sun , Kim Min‐Beom , Son Young‐Ik
Published: November 2007

Objective

The authors aimed to assess the effect of vocal hygiene education for patients suffering with vocal polyp and to discover the meaningful factors that can predict better outcomes with performing vocal hygiene.

Study Design and Setting

Voice evaluation and vocal hygiene education were provided to 340 consecutive patients with vocal polyp. Three months later, 175 of the 340 patients completed a follow‐up evaluation. According to the change in polyp size, these patients were divided into two groups: the “improvement” and the “no improvement.” The effect of vocal hygiene was assessed. Eight parameters were compared between these two groups.

Results

The “improvement” group was composed of 20% of the 340 patients and 38% of the 175 patients. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that nonsmokers with a small polyp had the greatest possibility of improvement with vocal hygiene and so avoid unnecessary surgery.

Conclusion

Patients who do not smoke and who have a polyp that is small in size have a much better chance to improve their voice by performing vocal hygiene.
Relationships between nasal obstruction, observed apnea, and daytime sleepiness
Authors: Udaka Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Hideaki , Fujimura Takeyuki , Hiraki Nobuaki , Shiomori Teruo , Kitamura Takuro , Ueda Narihisa , Inaba Tsuyoshi , Fujino Yoshihisa
Published: November 2007

Objective

We administered a questionnaire survey to a working population in an attempt to clarify the relationships between self‐reported nasal obstruction, observed apnea during sleep, and daytime sleepiness.

Study Design

A total of 7980 daytime workers were asked to complete questionnaires about nasal obstruction, apnea during sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Of the 7702 responses, the data from 4818 subjects were analyzed. Nasal obstruction and observed apnea were graded into 3 categories. Daytime sleepiness was assessed by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

Results

Subjects with chronic nasal obstruction had 5.22 and 2.17 times higher odds for having habitual observed apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), respectively, compared with those without nasal obstruction (P < 0.001). After adjusting for 3 potential confounding factors (age, sex, and body mass index) and the presence of habitual observed apnea, odds ratios for having EDS decreased, but still remained significant.

Conclusion

Nasal obstruction is likely to cause daytime sleepiness, at least in part, by causing sleep‐disordered breathing including apnea during sleep.
The characteristics of Hep‐2 cell with multiple drug resistance induced by Taxol
Authors: Li Li , Alice C. Jiang , Pin Dong , Yi Wan , Zi Wei Yu
Published: November 2007

Objectives

To investigate the characteristics of Hep‐2 cell with multidrug resistance (MDR) induced by Taxol.

Study Design

Hep‐2 cells were exposed in stepwise escalating concentration of Taxol to develop the resistant cell line‐Hep‐2T. Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and rhodamine accumulation were studied through flow cytometry. The MDR1 and MRP1 genes were detected through real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR, and the corresponding proteins were detected through Western blotting.

Results

The drug resistance of Hep‐2T cells to Taxol, doxo‐rubicin, gemcitabine, 5‐FU, and cisplatin all increased. The percentage of G0/G1 phase and the antiapoptosis ability increased significantly compared with Hep‐2 cells. Both MDR1 and MRP1 also increased at gene and protein level, though MDR1 was more prominent.

Conclusion

More emphasis should be laid on MDR1/Pgp, the non‐Pgp substrate chemotherapeutic agents, and the changes of cell cycle distribution to prevent MDR induced by Taxol.

Significance

These findings may provide theoretical support for the reverse of MDR.
External auditory canal closure: an alternative management for the refractory chronically draining ear
Authors: Yoshida Naohiro , Cunningham Calhoun D. , McElveen John T.
Published: November 2007

Objective

To discuss the surgical technique and evaluate the effectiveness of external auditory canal (EAC) closure in patients with refractory chronically draining ears.

Study Design and Setting

A retrospective case review of seven patients who underwent EAC closure for chronically draining ears at a private tertiary otologic referral center between 2001 and 2004. Three patients underwent concomitant placement of a BAHA implant, and one patient underwent cochlear implantation during a second‐stage procedure.

Results

All seven patients had successful closure of the external auditory canal with elimination of chronic drainage. The follow‐up interval ranged from 10 to 35 months. There were no cases of iatrogenic cholesteatoma formation or breakdown of the ear canal closure.

Conclusion and Significance

In patients with refractory chronically draining ears, EAC closure, alone or in conjunction with a bone‐anchored implant, may be a treatment option. A BAHA implant can be placed during the initial procedure or staged.
Thermal injury to the tongue from an operative laryngoscope
Authors: McMullin Brian T. , Blumin Joel H. , Merati Albert L.
Published: November 2007

Objective

To understand risk and possible mechanisms of thermal injury to the tongue during suspension laryngoscopy.

Study Design and Setting

Tongue injury was noted following suspension laryngoscopy in a cluster of cases; the findings raised suspicion for thermal injury. To characterize the potential for thermal injury, a lighted laryngoscope was placed in contact with samples of tongue. Tissue heating was recorded over time at fixed distances from the light carrier within a laryngoscope. Comparisons were made between two light sources and carriers.

Results

Maximal tissue heating using a newer‐model light source and new carrier was 16.7°F immediately beneath the light carrier tip and 19.8°F at 1 cm distal to the carrier tip. Other combinations of an older source and carriers failed to raise temperatures. Heating up to 10.7°F occurred with the new source and an older carrier.

Conclusion and Significance

Tissue heating may occur from contact with operative laryngoscopes. This is an important patient safety issue in laryngology.
The motion of conventional and novel total ossicular replacement prostheses during changes in static pressure
Authors: Mills Robert , Zadrozniak Marek , Jie Zhang
Published: November 2007

Purpose

To investigate the motion of prostheses used to reconstruct ears with an absent stapes arch.

Study Design

We have studied the motion of conventional total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORPs) and a novel incusstapes replica prosthesis (ISRP), which connects the malleus head to the footplate, during changes in middle ear pressure (+400 to −400 dPa) in fresh human temporal bones using digital video clips and photographs. The pressure in the (sealed) external auditory meatus was varied using a manual tympanometer. The displacements of the prostheses in the medial to lateral plane have been measured using the dimensioning tool of Corel Draw.

Results

During changes in static pressure, TORPs move more in the lateral to medial plane than ISRPs. The motion of ISRPs is similar to that of the intact ossicular chain.

Conclusion

The ISRP design is less likely to damage the cochlea during changes in static pressure than a conventional TORP, but the maximum medial displacement of the TORPs studied was less than 0.1 mm.
Prophylactic antiemetic effect of midazolam after middle ear surgery
Authors: Jung Jae Sik , Park Jun Sik , Kim Si Oh , Lim Dong Gun , Park Sung Sik , Kwak Kyung Hwa , Cho Jin Duck , Jeon Young Hoon
Published: November 2007

Objective

To investigate the prophylactic antiemetic effect of midazolam after middle ear surgery.

Study Design

A prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study.

Subjects and Methods

Ninety women patients undergoing middle ear surgery with general anesthesia received intravenously either midazolam 0.075 mg/kg or normal saline (n = 45 each) after induction of anesthesia. The incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting, rescue antiemetics, pain intensity, and side effects such as headache, dizziness, and drowsiness were assessed during the first 24 hours after anesthesia.

Results

Midazolam groups showed total incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting. Patients who required rescue antiemetics were significantly lower than in saline group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in pain intensity and side effects such as headache, dizziness, and drowsiness between groups.

Conclusions

Midazolam 0.075 mg/kg is effective for reducing nausea and vomiting after middle ear surgery.
The effect of saline solutions on nasal patency and mucociliary clearance in rhinosinusitis patients
Authors: Hauptman Garrett , Ryan Matthew W.
Published: November 2007

Objective

To compare the effect of two saline nasal sprays on nasal patency and mucociliary clearance in patients with rhinosinusitis.

Study Design

Randomized double‐blind trial.

Subjects and Methods

Eighty patients with rhinosinusitis at a tertiary care academic center had nasal patency and mucociliary clearance measured. Each patient was then treated with either physiological or hypertonic saline. Nasal patency and mucociliary clearance measurements were repeated after treatment. Subjective evaluation was also performed.

Results

Both solutions improved saccharine clearance times (P < 0.0001). Buffered physiological saline significantly affected nasal airway patency (P = 0.006). Both solutions improved symptoms of nasal stuffiness (P < 0.0001) and nasal obstruction (P < 0.0001). Buffered hypertonic saline caused increased nasal burning/irritation compared with buffered physiological saline (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Buffered physiological and buffered hypertonic saline nasal sprays both improve mucociliary clearance, which is beneficial for treatment of rhinosinusitis. Additionally, buffered physiological saline improves nasal airway patency, whereas buffered hypertonic saline has no effect. Both solutions provide symptomatic relief, but buffered hypertonic saline is more irritating.
Wake dynamics of external flow past a curved circular cylinder with the free stream aligned with the plane of curvature
Authors: MILIOU A. , DE VECCHI A. , SHERWIN S. J. , GRAHAM J. M. R.
Published: November 2007

Three-dimensional spectral/hp computations have been performed to study the fundamental mechanisms of vortex shedding in the wake of curved circular cylinders at Reynolds numbers of 100 and 500. The basic shape of the body is a circular cylinder whose centreline sweeps through a quarter section of a ring and the inflow direction lies on the plane of curvature of the quarter ring: the free stream is then parallel to the geometry considered and the part of the ring that is exposed to it will be referred to as the ‘leading edge’. Different configurations were investigated with respect to the leading-edge orientation. In the case of a convex-shaped geometry, the stagnation face is the outer surface of the ring: this case exhibited fully three-dimensional wake dynamics, with the vortex shedding in the upper part of the body driving the lower end at one dominant shedding frequency for the whole cylinder span. The vortex-shedding mechanism was therefore not governed by the variation of local normal Reynolds numbers dictated by the curved shape of the leading edge. A second set of simulations were conducted with the free stream directed towards the inside of the ring, in the so-called concave-shaped geometry. No vortex shedding was detected in this configuration: it is suggested that the strong axial flow due to the body's curvature and the subsequent production of streamwise vorticity plays a key role in suppressing the wake dynamics expected in the case of flow past a straight cylinder. The stabilizing mechanism stemming from the concave curved geometry was still found to govern the wake behaviour even when a vertical extension was added to the top of the concave ring, thereby displacing the numerical symmetry boundary condition at this point away from the top of the deformed cylinder. In this case, however, the axial flow from the deformed cylinder was drawn into the wake of vertical extension, weakening the shedding process expected from a straight cylinder at these Reynolds numbers. These considerations highlight the importance of investigating flow past curved cylinders using a full three-dimensional approach, which can properly take into account the role of axial velocity components without the limiting assumptions of a sectional analysis, as is commonly used in industrial practice. Finally, towing-tank flow visualizations were also conducted and found to be in qualitative agreement with the computational findings.
Barotropically induced interfacial waves in two-layer exchange flows over a sill
Authors: NEGRETTI M. ELETTA , ZHU DAVID Z. , JIRKA GERHARD H.
Published: November 2007

Two-layer exchange flows are observed in the channels/straits connecting two water bodies of different densities. This study examines the nature of the barotropic forcing and its effect on the interfacial waves in two-layer exchange flows over a smooth/break underwater sill. Experiments were conducted with different initial conditions, distinguishing the case of hydrostatic disequilibrium and the case of a global pressure-balanced state. The experiments demonstrate that the baroclinic exchange flow is dominated by the barotropic-forcing-induced oscillations. A simplified barotropic model is developed to predict the period of the barotropic oscillation with an excellent agreement with experimental measurements. Detailed velocity and flow-rate measurements also indicate the importance of the barotropic forcing in exchange flows. The effect of the superimposed barotropic forcing on the interfacial wave characteristics is also investigated. Large two-dimensional surge-like structures are observed during the experiments, whose generation is shown to be related to the flow-rate oscillations. The length scales of these structures is comparable with the total water depth and is shown to increase with increasing Reynolds numbers.
Trapped edge waves in stratified rotating fluids: numerical and asymptotic results
Authors: ADAMOU ALEXANDER T. I. , CRASTER R. V. , SMITH STEFAN G. LLEWELLYN
Published: November 2007

The existence of trapped edge waves in a rotating stratified fluid with non-constant topography is studied using asymptotic and numerical techniques. A refinement of the classical WKBJ method is employed that is uniform at both the shoreline and caustic, where the classical approximation is singular, and is also uniform over long distances from the shore. This approach requires the use of comparison equations and it is shown that the two used previously in the literature are asymptotically equivalent in terms of the wave amplitude, but have small differences in the predicted wave frequencies. These asymptotic results, and results using shallow-water theory, are then compared to results from a careful numerical study of the nonlinear differential eigenvalue problem, allowing their range of practical applicability to be assessed. This numerical approach is also used to investigate whether trapping occurs in non-trivial and realistic geometries in the internal gravity wave band, which has been an open question for some time.
Strong interactions between two corotating quasi-geostrophic vortices
Authors: BAMBREY ROSS R. , REINAUD JEAN N. , DRITSCHEL DAVID G.
Published: November 2007

In this paper we investigate the interaction between two corotating quasi-geostrophic vortices. The initially ellipsoidal vortices are separated horizontally by a distance corresponding to the margin of stability, as determined from an ellipsoidal analysis. The subsequent interaction depends on four parameters: the vortex volume ratio, the vertical centroid separation, and the height-to-width aspect ratios of each vortex. The most commonly observed strong interaction is partial merger, where only part of the weaker vortex is incorporated into the stronger one or cast into filamentary debris. Despite the proliferation of small-scale filamentary structure during many vortex interactions, on average the self-induced vortex energy exhibits an ‘inverse cascade’ to larger scales, broadly consistent with spectral theories of turbulence. Curiously, we observe that a range of intermediate-scale vortices are preferentially sheared out during the interactions, leaving two main populations of large and small vortices.
Sound generated by aerodynamic sources near a deformable body, with application to voiced speech
Authors: HOWE M. S. , McGOWAN R. S.
Published: November 2007

An analysis is made of sound generation by aerodynamic sources near an acoustically compact body (or compact surface feature on a large boundary) that can deform in an arbitrary manner. It is shown how such problems can be investigated by simple extension of the compact Green's function used in the treatment of compact rigid bodies. It is known that this method can furnish rapid and accurate predictions of sound generated by flows with extensive, non-compact distributions of sources in cases where a numerical treatment requires at best tens or hundreds of hours of CPU time. Illustrative applications are made to study (i) the sound generated by a nominally rigid circular lamina of time-dependent radius held in an irrotational mean stream, and (ii) the production of voiced speech by vorticity interacting with a simple model of the vocal folds. In case (ii), it appears that predictions are represented well by a quasi-static approximation that permits the particular results of this paper and previous investigations to be generalized to arbitrarily configured folds.
Hydrodynamically coupled rigid bodies
Authors: NAIR SUJIT , KANSO EVA
Published: November 2007

This paper considers a finite number of rigid bodies moving in potential flow. The dynamics of the solid--fluid system is described in terms of the solid variables only using Kirchhoff potentials. The equations of motion are first derived for the problem of two submerged bodies where one is forced into periodic oscillations. The hydrodynamic coupling causes the free body to drift away from or towards the oscillating body. The method of multiple scales is used to separate the slow drift from the fast response. Interestingly, the free body, when attracted towards the forced one, starts to drift away after it reaches certain separation distance. This suggests that the hydrodynamic coupling helps in preventing collisions. The fluid's role in collision avoidance and motion coordination is examined further through examples. In particular, we show that a free body can coordinate its motion with that of its neighbours, which may be relevant to understanding the coordinated motion in fish schooling.
The tabernacula of Gregory the Great and the conversion of Anglo-Saxon England
Authors: Spiegel Flora
Published: November 2007

In a famous letter to his missionaries in England, Pope Gregory the Great suggested that the newly converted Anglo-Saxons should be encouraged to build small huts, or ‘tabernacula’, in conjunction with Christian festivals. He seems to have associated these structures with the Jewish festival of Sukkot, reflecting a missionary strategy modelled on both the biblical conversion of the Israelites and on Gregory's own proselytizing approach towards the Jews of Rome. Gregory's instructions are discussed in the light of historical writings and archaeological evidence, which suggest that ‘tabernacula’ were indeed constructed in England during the conversion period, possibly adapted from pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon ritual structures.
The genealogy of eagre ‘tidal surge in the river Trent’
Authors: COATES RICHARD
Published: November 2007

A case is made for the derivation of the regional word eagre ‘tidal surge’, ‘bore’, and relatives or variants found in other contexts, from OE ē(a)gor- meaning ‘flood’ or the like, despite the phonological difficulty. A Latin source is proposed. The evidence for the word is considered alongside place-name evidence, and explanations are tentatively reaffirmed, and proposed, respectively, for two problematic names in Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire.