bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated Mapping of Physical Effects to Functions Using Abstraction Ports Based on Bond Graphs
Authors: Helms Bergen , Schultheiss Hansjoerg , Shea Kristina
Published: April 2013

Innovation processes are highly susceptible to cyclic influences, such as evolving knowledge due to new technologies. In order to better meet these challenges, improved computational design support is required. Paper-based design methods have vast amounts of knowledge at their disposal in the form of their design catalogs. However, they lack a corresponding computational implementation that could lead to increased use in design. The method presented is targeted at making the physical effects contained in design catalogs available for use within computational design synthesis approaches. This paper introduces the notion of abstraction ports that are used to represent the valid mapping between functional operators and physical effects. For the automated assignment of abstraction ports, a method is presented that analyzes the equation structure of physical effects. This approach is derived from the modeling technique of bond graphs and is independent of any selection process proposed by design catalogs. Moreover, it allows for the uniform formalization of evolving knowledge in new physical effects that are not yet contained in design catalogs. The assignment of abstraction ports is successfully validated through the formalization of the physical effects of two design catalogs. Furthermore, a software prototype is developed that implements a search process for suitable physical effects for a given function. Future work includes the integration of quantitative characteristics of physical effects and the integration of the approach within the object-oriented graph grammar implementation booggie (project web site: http://booggie.org) for computational design synthesis.
Numerical Study of the Damped Oscillation of Liquid Column in U-Tube With Particle Method
Authors: Liang Yangyang , Xi Guang , Sun Zhongguo
Published: April 2013

The damped oscillation process of the liquid column in a U-tube is simulated and studied using the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method. The oscillation process is well reproduced and the effect of liquid properties as the density and viscosity is investigated, as well as the size effect of the U-tube. As key parameters, the amplitude and the period of the oscillation are calculated and analyzed when the flow conditions are changed. The results show that the amplitude and the average period of the oscillation process decrease when the liquid viscosity increases, and that the liquid density has a minor influence on the damping process. A critical finding for the size effect is that the oscillation process almost changes linearly with the size of the U-tube larger than the critical point, but nonlinearly when the size is scaled down. Larger viscosity results in shorter equilibrium time and viscosity plays a more important role in damping, especially for a smaller size of the U-tube. These versatile numerical protocols can present useful qualitative suggestions on the applications of a U-tube in many industrial fields.
Flow-Feedback Method for Mitigating the Vortex Rope in Decelerated Swirling Flows
Authors: Tănasă Constantin , Susan-Resiga Romeo , Muntean Sebastian , Bosioc Alin Ilie
Published: April 2013

When reaction hydraulic turbines are operated far from the design operating regime, particularly at partial discharge, swirling flow instability is developed downstream of the runner, in the discharge cone, with a precessing helical vortex and its associated severe pressure fluctuations. Bosioc et al. (2012, “Unsteady Pressure Analysis of a Swirling Flow With Vortex Rope and Axial Water Injection in a Discharge Cone,” ASME J. Fluids Eng., 134(8), p. 081104) showed that this instability can be successfully mitigated by injecting a water jet along the axis. However, the jet discharge is too large to be supplied with high pressure water bypassing the runner, since this discharge is associated with the volumetric loss. In the present paper we demonstrate that the control jet injected at the inlet of the conical diffuser can actually be supplied with water collected from the discharge cone outlet, thus introducing a new concept of flow feedback. In this case, the jet is driven by the pressure difference between the cone wall, where the feedback spiral case is located, and the pressure at the jet nozzle outlet. In order to reach the required threshold value of the jet discharge, we also introduce ejector pumps to partially compensate for the hydraulic losses in the return pipes. Extensive experimental investigations show that the wall pressure fluctuations are successfully mitigated when the jet reaches 12% of the main flow discharge for a typical part load turbine operating regime. About 10% of the jet discharge is supplied by the plain flow feedback, and only 2% boost is insured by the ejector pumps. As a result, this new approach paves the way towards practical applications in real hydraulic turbines.
Contact Kinematics in the Roller Screw Mechanism
Authors: Jones Matthew H. , Velinsky Steven A.
Published: April 2013

This paper investigates the nature of the contact between the load transferring surfaces in the roller screw mechanism, i.e., between the screw and roller threads and between the nut and roller threads. The analysis is applied to both planetary roller screws and recirculating roller screws. Prior work has neglected to take a fundamental approach toward understanding the kinematics of the contact between these components and, as a consequence, detailed analyses of aspects such as contact mechanics, friction, lubrication, and wear are not correctly carried out. Accordingly, in this paper, the principle of conjugate surfaces is used to establish contact at the screw/roller and nut/roller interfaces. The in-plane angles to the contact points are derived and it is shown that for the screw/roller interface, the contact point cannot lie on the bodies' line of centers, as has been the assumption in previous papers. Then, based on the curved profile of the roller thread, the radii of contact on the roller, screw, and nut bodies are also derived. Knowledge of the contact point locations is necessary in order to understand the interaction forces between the key components of the roller screw mechanism. The principal radii of curvature at the contact points and the angle between the principal axes are also derived. Lastly, a brief example is developed showing how the developed theory may be used to design a roller screw for improved stiffness and decreased contact stresses.
Geometric Design of Micro-Reducer With Multi-Output Shafts Distributed in Regular Polygon Form
Authors: Chen Yang-zhi , Fu Xiao-yan , Ding Jiang , Liang Shun-ke
Published: April 2013

Based on the theory of space curve meshing, a space curve meshing wheel (SCMW) transmission mechanism has been invented by present authors in recent years. To extend applications of the SCMW, design methods for a novel micro-reducer with multioutput shafts distributed in regular polygon form is proposed in the paper. It is featured with three regular polygons nested. The middle regular polygon, named as reference regular polygon (RRP), is composed of transmission shafts. Three aspects are proposed as below to design the reducer: first, primary design parameters are determined by research and experience, and formulas of center distances are derived; second, an approach to establish the analytical model of the RRP simply and effectively is presented, which shows that the geometric dimensions of the reducer mainly depend on the side length of the RRP; and third, the novel micro-reducer is determined after the side length formulas of the RRP derived from the model. The simplicity and effectiveness of the formulas presented are demonstrated by a series of computational simulations.
Impacts of Synthesis Reasoning on Ideation Effectiveness in Conceptual Design
Authors: Liu Ang , Lu Stephen C-Y.
Published: April 2013

Synthesis plays a critical role in determining the ideation effectiveness in conceptual design. When synthesis is formulated as a reasoning activity, there are several fundamental reasoning principles in formal logic that can be applied to support making the “what→how” propositions. This paper introduces three such principles that define a good what→how proposition in synthesis, namely the synthetic principle, the instantiation principle, and the abduction principle. Furthermore, we present a rigorous case study that explores the impacts of these reasoning principles on the ideation effectiveness. Specifically, we conduct a correlation analysis between the count of what→how propositions that follow and fail to follow every principle with different ideation metrics. The results provide clear evidence that certain correlations exist between the reasoning activity and the ideation effectiveness in conceptual design.
A Three-Dimensional Adaptive Mesh Generation Approach Using Geometric Modeling With Multi-Regions and Parametric Surfaces
Authors: Miranda Antonio C. O. , Lira William W. M. , Cavalcante-Neto Joaquim B. , Sousa Rafael A. , Martha Luiz F.
Published: April 2013

This work presents a methodology for adaptive generation of 3D finite element meshes using geometric modeling with multiregions and parametric surfaces, considering a geometric model described by curves, surfaces, and volumes. This methodology is applied in the simulation of stress analysis of solid structures using a displacement-based finite element method and may be extended to other types of 3D finite element simulation. The adaptive strategy is based on an independent and hierarchical refinement of curves, surfaces, and volumes. From an initial model, new sizes of elements obtained from a discretization error analysis and from geometric restrictions are stored in a global background structure, a recursive spatial composition represented by an octree. Based on this background structure, the model's curves are initially refined using a binary partition algorithm. Curve discretization is then used as input for the refinement of adjacent surfaces. Surface discretization also employs the background octree-based refinement, which is coupled to an advancing front technique in the surface's parametric space to generate an unstructured triangulated mesh. Surface meshes are finally used as input for the refinement of adjacent volumetric domains, which also uses an advancing front technique but in 3D space. In all stages of the adaptive strategy, the refinement of curves, surface meshes, and solid meshes is based on estimated discretization errors associated with the mesh of the previous step in the adaptive process. In addition, curve and surface refinement takes curvature information into account. Numerical examples of simulation of engineering problems are presented in order to validate the methodology proposed in this work.
High Pressure Turbine Low Radius Radial TOBI Discharge Coefficient Validation Process
Authors: Mirzamoghadam Alexander V. , Riahi Ardeshir , Morris Mark C.
Published: April 2013

A TOBI (tangential on board injection), or preswirl, system is a critical component of a high pressure turbine cooling delivery system. Its efficient performance and characterization are critical because the blade and disk life depend on the accuracy of delivering the required flow at the correct temperature and pressure. This paper presents a TOBI flow discharge coefficient validation process applied to a low radius radial configuration starting from a 1dimensional (1D) network flow analysis to a 3 dimensional (3D) frozen rotor computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the rotor cooling air delivery system. The analysis domain commences in the combustor plenum stationary reference frame, includes the TOBI, transitions to the rotating reference frame as the flow travels through the rotating cover plate orifice, continues up the turbine disk into the slot bottom blade feed cavity, and terminates in the turbine blade. The present effort includes matching a 1D network model with 3D CFD results using simultaneous goal-matching of the pressure predictions throughout the circuit, defining test rig pressure measurements at critical “nondisturbing” locations for quanification of pressure ratio across the TOBI, and finally comparing the TOBI flow coefficient resulting from stationary cold flow tests with what was obtained from the 3D CFD results. An analysis of the results indicates that the discharge coefficient varies with the pressure ratio and that the traditional method of using a constant discharge coefficient extracted from a cold flow test run under choked conditions leads to overpredicting turbine cooling flows. The TOBI flow coefficient prediction for the present study compares well with the stationary data published by otherresearchers for the configuration under investigation and the process described in this paper is general for any TOBI configuration.
GPU-Based Local Tone Mapping in the Context of Virtual Night Driving
Authors: Berssenbrügge Jan , Bonner Erik
Published: April 2013

Virtual prototyping of automotive headlights requires a realistic illumination model, capable of rendering scenes of high contrast in fine detail. Due to the high dynamic range (HDR) nature of headlight beam-pattern data, which is projected onto the virtual road, high dynamic range illumination models are required. These are used as the basis for illumination in simulations for automotive headlight virtual prototyping. Since high dynamic range illumination models operate on brightness ranges commensurate with the real world, a postprocessing operation, known as tone mapping, is required to map each frame into the device-specific range of the display hardware. Algorithms for tone mapping, called tone-mapping operators, can be classified as global or local. Global operators are efficient to compute at the expense of scene quality. Local operators preserve scene detail, but, due to their additional computational complexity, are rarely used with interactive applications. Local tone-mapping methods produce more usable visualization results for engineering tasks. This paper proposes a local tone-mapping method suitable for use with interactive applications. To develop a suitable tone-mapping operator, a state of the art local tone-mapping method was accelerated using modern, work-efficient GPU (graphics processing unit) algorithms. Optimal performance, both in terms of memory and speed, was achieved by means of general-purpose GPU programming with CUDA (compute unified device architecture). A prototypic implementation has shown that the method works well with high dynamic range OpenGL applications. In the near future, the tone mapper will be integrated into the virtual night driving simulator at our institute.
Comparison of Approaches to Quantify Arterial Damping Capacity From Pressurization Tests on Mouse Conduit Arteries
Authors: Tian Lian , Wang Zhijie , Lakes Roderic S. , Chesler Naomi C.
Published: April 2013

Large conduit arteries are not purely elastic, but viscoelastic, which affects not only the mechanical behavior but also the ventricular afterload. Different hysteresis loops such as pressure-diameter, pressure-luminal cross-sectional area (LCSA), and stress–strain have been used to estimate damping capacity, which is associated with the ratio of the dissipated energy to the stored energy. Typically, linearized methods are used to calculate the damping capacity of arteries despite the fact that arteries are nonlinearly viscoelastic. The differences in the calculated damping capacity between these hysteresis loops and the most common linear and correct nonlinear methods have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was thus to examine these differences and to determine a preferred approach for arterial damping capacity estimation. Pressurization tests were performed on mouse extralobar pulmonary and carotid arteries in their physiological pressure ranges with pressure (P) and outer diameter (OD) measured. The P-inner diameter (ID), P-stretch, P-Almansi strain, P-Green strain, P-LCSA, and stress–strain loops (including the Cauchy and Piola-Kirchhoff stresses and Almansi and Green strains) were calculated using the P-OD data and arterial geometry. Then, the damping capacity was calculated from these loops with both linear and nonlinear methods. Our results demonstrate that the linear approach provides a reasonable approximation of damping capacity for all of the loops except the Cauchy stress-Almansi strain, for which the estimate of damping capacity was significantly smaller (22 ± 8% with the nonlinear method and 31 ± 10% with the linear method). Between healthy and diseased extralobar pulmonary arteries, both methods detected significant differences. However, the estimate of damping capacity provided by the linear method was significantly smaller (27 ± 11%) than that of the nonlinear method. We conclude that all loops except the Cauchy stress-Almansi strain loop can be used to estimate artery wall damping capacity in the physiological pressure range and the nonlinear method is recommended over the linear method.
Addressing Some Misperceptions of the Joint Coordinate System
Authors: MacWilliams Bruce A. , Davis Roy B.
Published: April 2013

The joint coordinate system convention proposed by Grood and Suntay has been widely adopted, but often misrepresented. Previous work has argued by logical explanation of the approach that the joint coordinate system is a set of Euler or Cardan angles. The current work offers both an explanation and mathematical proof that the joint coordinate system convention is equivalent to a Cardan angle sequence, thereby demonstrating the joint coordinate system angles are both sequence dependent and orthogonal.
A real‐time regional adaptive exposure method for saving dose‐area product in x‐ray fluoroscopy
Authors: Burion Steve , Speidel Michael A. , Funk Tobias
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

Reduction of radiation dose in x‐ray imaging has been recognized as a high priority in the medical community. Here the authors show that a regional adaptive exposure method can reduce dose‐area product (DAP) in x‐ray fluoroscopy. The authors' method is particularly geared toward providing dose savings for the pediatric population.

Methods:

The scanning beam digital x‐ray system uses a large‐area x‐ray source with 8000 focal spots in combination with a small photon‐counting detector. An imaging frame is obtained by acquiring and reconstructing up to 8000 detector images, each viewing only a small portion of the patient. Regional adaptive exposure was implemented by varying the exposure of the detector images depending on the local opacity of the object. A family of phantoms ranging in size from infant to obese adult was imaged in anteroposterior view with and without adaptive exposure. The DAP delivered to each phantom was measured in each case, and noise performance was compared by generating noise arrays to represent regional noise in the images. These noise arrays were generated by dividing the image into regions of about 6 mm2, calculating the relative noise in each region, and placing the relative noise value of each region in a one‐dimensional array (noise array) sorted from highest to lowest. Dose‐area product savings were calculated as the difference between the ratio of DAP with adaptive exposure to DAP without adaptive exposure. The authors modified this value by a correction factor that matches the noise arrays where relative noise is the highest to report a final dose‐area product savings.

Results:

The average dose‐area product saving across the phantom family was (42 ± 8)% with the highest dose‐area product saving in the child‐sized phantom (50%) and the lowest in the phantom mimicking an obese adult (23%).

Conclusions:

Phantom measurements indicate that a regional adaptive exposure method can produce large DAP savings without compromising the noise performance in the image regions with highest noise.
A novel dose‐based positioning method for CT image‐guided proton therapy
Authors: Cheung Joey P. , Park Peter C. , Court Laurence E. , Ronald Zhu X. , Kudchadker Rajat J. , Frank Steven J. , Dong Lei
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

Proton dose distributions can potentially be altered by anatomical changes in the beam path despite perfect target alignment using traditional image guidance methods. In this simulation study, the authors explored the use of dosimetric factors instead of only anatomy to set up patients for proton therapy using in‐room volumetric computed tomographic (CT) images.

Methods:

To simulate patient anatomy in a free‐breathing treatment condition, weekly time‐averaged four‐dimensional CT data near the end of treatment for 15 lung cancer patients were used in this study for a dose‐based isocenter shift method to correct dosimetric deviations without replanning. The isocenter shift was obtained using the traditional anatomy‐based image guidance method as the starting position. Subsequent isocenter shifts were established based on dosimetric criteria using a fast dose approximation method. For each isocenter shift, doses were calculated every 2 mm up to ±8 mm in each direction. The optimal dose alignment was obtained by imposing a target coverage constraint that at least 99% of the target would receive at least 95% of the prescribed dose and by minimizing the mean dose to the ipsilateral lung.

Results:

The authors found that 7 of 15 plans did not meet the target coverage constraint when using only the anatomy‐based alignment. After the authors applied dose‐based alignment, all met the target coverage constraint. For all but one case in which the target dose was met using both anatomy‐based and dose‐based alignment, the latter method was able to improve normal tissue sparing.

Conclusions:

The authors demonstrated that a dose‐based adjustment to the isocenter can improve target coverage and/or reduce dose to nearby normal tissue.
A new segmentation framework based on sparse shape composition in liver surgery planning system
Authors: Wang Guotai , Zhang Shaoting , Li Feng , Gu Lixu
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

To improve the accuracy and the robustness of the segmentation in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) surgery planning system, the authors present a new segmentation framework that addresses challenges induced by the complex shape variations of patients’ livers with cancer. It is designed to achieve the accurate and robust segmentation of hepatic parenchyma, portal veins, hepatic veins, and tumors in the LDLT surgery planning system.

Methods:

The segmentation framework proposed in this paper includes two important modules: (1) The robust shape prior modeling for liver, in which the sparse shape composition (SSC) model is employed to deal with the complex variations of liver shapes and obtain patient‐specific liver shape priors. (2) The integration of the liver shape prior with a minimally supervised segmentation algorithm to achieve the accurate segmentation of hepatic parenchyma, portal veins, hepatic veins, and tumors simultaneously. The authors apply this segmentation framework to our previously developed LDLT surgery planning system to enhance its accuracy and robustness when dealing with complex cases of patients with liver cancer.

Results:

Compared with the principal component analysis, the SSC model shows a great advantage in handling the complex variations of liver shapes. It also effectively excludes gross errors and outliers that appear in the input shape and preserves local details for specific patients. The proposed segmentation framework was evaluated on the clinical image data of liver cancer patients, and the average symmetric surface distance for hepatic parenchyma, portal veins, hepatic veins, and tumors was 1.07 ± 0.76, 1.09 ± 0.28, 0.92 ± 0.35 and 1.13 ± 0.37 mm, respectively. The Hausdorff distance for these four tissues was 7.68, 4.67, 4.09, and 5.36 mm, respectively.

Conclusions:

The proposed segmentation framework improves the robustness of the LDLT surgery planning system remarkably when dealing with complex clinical liver shapes. The SSC model is able to handle non‐Gaussian errors and preserve local detail information of the input liver shape. As a result, the proposed framework effectively addresses the problems caused by the complex shape variations of livers with cancer. Our framework not only obtains accurate segmentation results for healthy persons and common patients, but also shows high robustness when dealing with specific patients with large variations of liver shapes in complex clinical environments.
High-Pressure Phase in Americium Metal
Authors: Roof R. B. , Haire R. G. , Schiferl D. , Schwalbe L. A. , Kmetko E. A. , Smith J. L.
Published: April 2013

X-ray diffraction studies at high pressure (above 150 kilobars) show that americium metal undergoes a phase change from a high-symmetry, face-centered cubic structure to an orthorhombic α-uranium structure. This transition results from the onset of
f
-electron bonding as the lattice is compressed.
Oxygen in the Sea Bottom Measured with a Microelectrode
Authors: Revsbech Niels Peter , Jørgensen Bo Barker , Blackburn T. Henry
Published: April 2013

The depth of penetration of oxygen into coastal marine sediments (water depth, 4 to 44 meters; 6° to 10°C) varied from 1 to 5.5 millimeters, as measured with membrane-covered oxygen microelectrodes. Below these upper few millimeters, oxygen was present only in the immediate vicinity of animal burrows. The depth of oxygen penetration is related to the rate at which oxygen is consumed in the sediment.
Elastase Digestion of Demembranated Sperm Flagella
Authors: Brokaw C. J.
Published: April 2013

The changes in adenosine triphosphate-reactivated motility resulting from digestion of Triton-demembranated sea urchin sperm flagella by elastase are those expected if the elastic interdoublet linkages between flagellar microtubules are particularly sensitive to digestion by elastase and take part in regulating the amplitude of flagellar bending.
Origin of Cushion Tissue in the Developing Chick Heart: Cinematographic Recordings of in Situ Formation
Authors: Kinsella Michael G. , Fitzharris Timothy P.
Published: April 2013

Differential interference microscopy and time-lapse cinematography were used to determine unequivocally the origin of cushion tissue cells migrating in situ in the atrioventricular region of the embryonic chick heart. These studies have verified the presumed endocardial origin of cushion tissue mesenchyme.
Network News: Powering Clinical Research
Authors: Selby Joseph V. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Kuntz Richard E. , Collins Francis S.
Published: April 2013

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute plans to build a large-scale network among patients, researchers, and health care delivery organizations.
A One-Man Show: Glioblastoma Constructs Its Own Niche
Authors: Ghajar Cyrus M.
Published: April 2013

Deadly brain tumors are able to generate components of their own microenvironment.
Spontaneous splenic rupture presenting as haemoperitoneum: coinfection ofPlasmodium vivaxandPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Agarwal Akshay A , Sonkar Abhinav , Kushwaha Jitendra , Gaurav Kushagra
Published: April 2013

Non-traumatic splenic rupture has been described in the medical literature as a clinical entity with grave consequences, if diagnosis and subsequent treatment are delayed. Various pathological reasons implicated in non-traumatic spontaneous splenic rupture have been described in literature ranging from infection, malignancy, metabolic disorders as well as haematological malignancies. This case reports a 30-year-old man who presented in the emergency department with complaints of fever and a sudden-onset abdominal pain with no history of trauma. At hospital admission, abdominal tenderness with splenomegaly was present with free fluid in abdomen. Haematological investigations established the coinfection ofPlasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivax. Radiological investigations revealed splenic laceration with moderate haemoperitoneum. The patient was managed conservatively with strict vital monitoring. Later on, elective splenectomy was performed. The authors report only the second case in literature with coinfection of plasmodium species presenting with haemoperitoneum.
Persistent duodenal ulcers bleeding in postkidney transplant patient treated by infliximab
Authors: Prueksapanich Piyapan , Pittayanon Rapat , Avihingsanon Yingyos , Rerknimitr Rungsun
Published: April 2013

A 50-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease was admitted for a living-donor kidney transplantation. On post-transplantation day 6, she developed antibody-mediated rejection and was treated with plasmapheresis, rituximab and intravenous immunoglobulin. 1 week later, she developed severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding from multiple duodenal ulcers along the bulb and the third part of the duodenum. She underwent 11 sessions of endoscopic and interventional therapies comprised with the combination of various techniques including bipolar coaptation, hemoclipping, band ligation and angiogram with coil embolisation of duodenal branch of gastroduodenal artery. Histopathology showed neither any organism nor any feature of graft-versus-host disease. However, empiric treatments with intravenous proton pump inhibitor and broad-spectrum antibiotics/antifungal were given but failed to heal the ulcer, and bleeding recurred from the new developed ulcers. Finally, a single dose of intravenous infliximab was administered to stop bleeding. The patient responded dramatically with rapid ulcers healing and there was no recurrent bleeding during a 3-month follow-up.
Colovesical fistula presenting with epididymitis
Authors: Arneill Matthew , Hennessey Derek Barry , McKay Damian
Published: April 2013

This article reports a case of colovesical fistula presenting with epididymitis. A 75-year-old man with a recent conservatively managed localised diverticular perforation presented to hospital with acute pain and swelling of his left testicle and epididymis. On further questioning, the patient reported passing air in his urine. Urine cultures grewEnterococcus faecalis. Ultrasound scan confirmed a diagnosis of bacterial epididymitis and the patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics. Subsequent CT imaging revealed air in the bladder and a colovesical fistula. The patient went on to have Hartmann's procedure with repair of the bladder defect. This case highlights that: (1) Colovesical fistulae may rarely present with epididymitis. (2) Colovesical fistulae are the most common cause of pneumaturia.
Idiopathic sphenoid sinus CSF rhinorrhoea
Authors: Gupta Manish , Gupta Monica , Bindra Gavinder , Singh Sunder
Published: April 2013

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea results from a direct communication between the CSF-containing subarachnoid space and the mucosa-lined space of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. We present a case of 40-year-old woman, presenting with clear, watery discharge through the right nostril spontaneously. The CT cisternography confirmed the diagnosis of sphenoid sinus CSF rhinorrhoea, with no intracranial pathology. The patient was managed by transnasal endoscopic procedure, wherein bath plug technique was followed using temporalis fascia and overlay grafting with fascia lata and fibrin glue. The patient has been symptom free for the last year.
Massive gastric dilation complicating diabetic gastroparesis
Authors: Ball William Robert , Sharples Alistair James
Published: April 2013

A middle-aged man presented at 4:00 with tense distended abdomen, severe pain and numb legs. His medical background included poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes. Abdominal x-ray showed a massively distended, featureless viscus on the left side of the abdomen thought to be a sigmoid volvulus. CT scan was delayed due to respiratory compromise from diaphragmatic splinting. Nasogastric and flatus tube decompression were attempted. Eventually CT was obtained and provisionally reported as a sigmoid volvulus. Emergency laparotomy was performed due to the risk of impending perforation. Operative findings were of a hugely distended stomach extending into the left iliac fossa almost completely occupying the abdominal cavity. Gastrotomy was used to decompress the stomach. No mechanical obstruction was identified. Postoperatively he had an episode of massive haematemesis thought to be due to sloughing of gastric mucosa. He was taken back to theatre and died on table.
An unusual combination of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma and arteriovenous malformation of the ureter in a young adult
Authors: Khawaja Ali , Aziz Wajahat , Nazim Syed Muhammad , Abbas Farhat
Published: April 2013

We present a case of a 24-year-old gentleman who presented with painless pan haematuria for 2 weeks. During the workup, he was diagnosed to have a retrocaval mass after a CT scan while cystoscopy revealed a polypoidal pulsating lesion in the left ureter. After surgical manipulation of the retrocaval mass, the blood pressure of the patient raised to 260/130 mm Hg. It was completely resected and diagnosed as extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma (paraganglioma) after histopathology. The lesion in the ureter was completely excised and fulgurated and diagnosed as an arteriovenous malformation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first patient to be presented in the literature with this unusual combination.
Right-sided colonic tuberculosis: a rare cause of ilio-psoas abscess
Authors: Demetriou George A , Nair Manojkumar S , Navaratnam Romi
Published: April 2013

Ilio-psoas abscess due to right colon origin is rare and normally occurs secondary to Crohn's disease, diverticulitis or cancer. We report a case of a caecal tuberculosis (TB) presented initially with an appendicular mass and systemic symptoms of fever and fatigue and 3 weeks after, with right-sided anterior thigh pain and found to have an ilio-psoas abscess. Colonoscopy and histology confirmed the diagnosis of caecal-TB. She had a CT drainage of the abscess and was discharged with anti-TB treatment and her drain in situ. Repeat pelvic MRI 10 days after treatment showed the abscess resolving and her systemic symptoms improving.
A retrospective 30-year follow-up study of former Swedish-elite male athletes in power sports with a past anabolic androgenic steroids use: a focus on mental health
Authors: Lindqvist A S , Moberg T , Eriksson B O , Ehrnborg C , Rosén T , Fahlke C
Published: April 2013

Background

The knowledge concerning the long-term effect of former anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS)-use on mental health is sparse.

Aim

This study aims to investigate whether previous AAS-use affects mental health, present sociodemographic data, sport activity and substance abuse in a retrospective 30-year follow-up study of former elite athletes.

Methods

Swedish male-elite power sport athletes (n=683) on the top 10 national ranking lists during any of the years 1960–1979 in wrestling, Olympic lifting, powerlifting and the throwing events in track and field answered a questionnaire.

Results

At least 20% of the former athletes admitted previous AAS-use. They had more often sought professional expertise for mental problems and had used illicit drugs compared to those not having used AAS. The AAS-users also differed in former sport activity pattern compared to non AAS-users.

Conclusions

It is clear that a relationship exists between use of AAS and mental-health problems. Further studies need to be done in order to clarify this relationship.
Cardiac events in football and strategies for first-responder treatment on the field
Authors: Schmied Christian , Drezner Jonathan , Kramer Efraim , Dvorak Jiri
Published: April 2013

Background

The incidence and outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and global strategies for prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in football are not known. The aim of this study was to estimate the occurrence of cardiac events in football and to investigate the preventive measures taken among the Fédération International de Football Association (FIFA) member associations internationally.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to the member associations of FIFA. The first section addressed the previous events of SCA, SCD or unexplained sports-related sudden death within the last 10 years. Further questions focused on football player medical screening strategies and SCA resuscitation response protocols on the field.

Results

126 of 170 questionnaires were returned (response rate 74.1%), and 103 questionnaires (60.6%) were completed sufficiently to include in further analysis. Overall, 107 cases of SCA/SCD and 5 unexplained football-associated sudden deaths were reported. These events occurred in 52 of 103 responding associations (50.5%). 23 of 112 (20.5%) footballers survived. 12 of 22 (54.5%) players treated with an available automated external defibrillators (AED) on the pitch survived. A national registry to monitor cardiac events was established in only 18.4% of the associations. Most associations (85.4%) provide regular cardiac screening for their national teams while 75% screen teams of the national leagues. An AED is available at all official matches in 68% of associations.

Conclusions

National registries to accurately measure SCA/SCD in football are rare and greatly needed. Deficiencies in emergency preparations, undersupply of AEDs on the field during matches, and variability in resuscitation response protocols and training of team-staff members should be addressed to effectively prevent SCD in football.
The next generation HydroCoil: initial clinical experience with the HydroFill embolic coil
Authors: Speirs John W D , Burke Thomas H , Lee Stefanie Y , Ala Brigitte D
Published: April 2013

Background

Complete packing of intracranial aneurysms has demonstrated a significant decrease in aneurysm recurrence rates with increased volumetric filling. The HydroCoil Embolization System (HES) was developed to increase volumetric filling within the aneurysm sac to maintain long term occlusion. To further enhance ease of HES deployment, a new next generation embolic coil, the HydroFill coil, was developed.

Objective

To report the first clinical experience with the HydroFill coil, focusing on safety and effectiveness, with immediate and long term follow-up on cases performed at a single institution by a single operator.

Methods

Retrospective angiographic and clinical analysis was performed on a non-randomized single arm registry of the first consecutive 11 patients with 14 intracranial saccular aneurysms treated during a 9 month period.

Results

The immediate angiographic occlusion rate according to the Raymond scale was 100%. Overall packing density of all coils used was 13–135% (mean 64%). The immediate complication rate was 9% (1/11 patients), secondary to a parent vessel occlusion which resolved after intravenous administration of eptifibatide (Integrilin) without neurological sequelae. The angiographic/MR angiography follow-up period for this series was 13–30 months, with an overall complete occlusion rate of 86% (12/14 aneurysms). 2/14 aneurysms (14%) converted from complete occlusion to filling of small neck remnants. Of the two, one (7%) was a cavernous aneurysm that was retreated.

Conclusions

Although this initial case series is small, this study demonstrates safe deployment of the HydroFill coil in ruptured and unruptured aneurysms without major complications, and with a high rate of occlusion on long term follow-up.
Geochemistry, petrography, and zircon U–Pb geochronology of Paleozoic metaigneous rocks in the Mount Veta area of east-central Alaska: implications for the evolution of the westernmost part of the Yukon–Tanana terrane
Authors: Dusel-Bacon Cynthia , Day Warren C. , Aleinikoff John N.
Published: April 2013

We report the results of new mapping, whole-rock major, minor, and trace-element geochemistry, and petrography for metaigneous rocks from the Mount Veta area in the westernmost part of the allochthonous Yukon–Tanana terrane (YTT) in east-central Alaska. These rocks include tonalitic mylonite gneiss and mafic metaigneous rocks from the Chicken metamorphic complex and the Nasina and Fortymile River assemblages. Whole-rock trace-element data from the tonalitic gneiss, whose igneous protolith was dated by SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology at 332.6 ± 5.6 Ma, indicate derivation from tholeiitic arc basalt. Whole-rock analyses of the mafic rocks suggest that greenschist-facies rocks from the Chicken metamorphic complex, a mafic metavolcanic rock from the Nasina assemblage, and an amphibolite from the Fortymile River assemblage formed as island-arc tholeiite in a back-arc setting; another Nasina assemblage greenschist has MORB geochemical characteristics, and another mafic metaigneous rock from the Fortymile River assemblage has geochemical characteristics of calc-alkaline basalt. Our geochemical results imply derivation in an arc and back-arc spreading region within the allochthonous YTT crustal fragment, as previously proposed for correlative units in other parts of the terrane. We also describe the petrography and geochemistry of a newly discovered tectonic lens of Alpine-type metaharzburgite. The metaharzburgite is interpreted to be a sliver of lithospheric mantle from beneath the Seventymile ocean basin or from sub-continental mantle lithosphere of the allochthonous YTT or the western margin of Laurentia that was tectonically emplaced within crustal rocks during closure of the Seventymile ocean basin and subsequently displaced and fragmented by faults.
Manual faucets induce more biofilms than electronic faucets
Authors: Mäkinen Riika , Miettinen Ilkka T. , Pitkänen Tarja , Kusnetsov Jaana , Pursiainen Anna , Kovanen Sara , Riihinen Kalle , Keinänen-Toivola Minna M.
Published: April 2013

Electronic faucets (types E1 and E2) and manual (M) faucets were studied for microbial quality, i.e., biomass and pathogenic microbes of biofilms in the faucet aerator, the water, and the outer surface of faucet in a hospital in Finland. Heterotrophic plate count content reflecting culturable microbial biomass and adenosine triphosphate content representing viable microbial biomass were smaller in the biofilms of E1-type electronic faucets than E2-type electronic faucets or M faucets. The likely explanation is the mixing point of cold and hot water (E1 and M: in the faucet; E2: in a separate box 50 cm before the actual faucet part). The highest amounts of Legionella (serogroups 2–15 of Legionella pneumophila) in a water sample (5000 cfu/L) and in biofilm samples (May–June 2008 sampling: 240 cfu/mL; November 2008: 1100 cfu/mL) were found in one E1-type faucet, which was lacking a back pressure valve due to faulty installation. This study reveals that certain types of electronic faucets seem to promote hospital hygiene, as they were associated with less microbial growth in biofilms in the faucet aerator, than some other types of electronic faucets or manual faucets, likely owing to the mixing point of cold and hot water. However, the faucet type had no direct effect on the presence of Legionella spp. Also correct installation is crucial.
MODIFIED SPIN-WAVE THEORY FOR THE FRUSTRATED HEISENBERG ANTIFERROMAGNET ON A SQUARE LATTICE
Authors: WU YOU , CHEN YUAN
Published: April 2013

The effects of quantum fluctuations due to frustration between nearest neighbors and next-nearest neighbors of the quantum spin-half Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a square lattice are investigated by using the modified spin-wave theory (MSW). We have extended Takahashi's MSW theory, and studied the ground-state and finite-temperature properties of this model. The results calculated within this formalism on the thermodynamics agree quite well with the quantum Monte Carlo estimates, and exact diagonalization results. We have also compared the present method with the conventional spin wave theory.
WARM-POLYTROPIC INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE MODEL
Authors: SETARE M. R. , HOUNDJO M. J. S. , KAMALI V.
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we study warm inflationary universe models in the context of a polytropic gas. We derive the characteristics of this model in slow-roll approximation and develop our model in two cases: (1) for a constant dissipative parameter Γ; (2) Γ as a function of scalar field ϕ. In these cases, we will obtain exact solution for the scalar field and Hubble parameter. We will also obtain explicit expressions for the tensor-scalar ratio R, scalar spectrum index ns and its running αs in slow-roll approximation.
A STOCHASTIC MODEL FOR TRI-PARTITE SERVICE CONTRACTS
Authors: GAMCHI N. SHAMSI , ESMAEILI M. , MONFARED M. A. SANIEE
Published: April 2013

Warranty as a kind of service contract plays a key role in business and legal transactions today. In this paper, we present for the first time a tri-partite service contract model including a manufacturer, an agent and a customer under risk parameter. We determine an optimal sale price, a warranty period and a warranty price for the manufacturer under quantity discount policies. The optimal maintenance cost or repair cost is obtained by the maximizing of an agent's profit according to the penalty cost incurred due to waiting time. Moreover, the customer maximizes his/her satisfaction by purchasing several products and choosing a portfolio of service contracts. Whereas the risk-aversion parameter on the customer side has an impact on their decision for choosing the type of service contract. On the other hand, the discount rate regime on the manufacturer side influences the number of purchased products. We present some numerical examples to illustrate the working logic of our model.
Japan's Experience on Inclusive Growth
Authors: WATANABE Yorizumi
Published: April 2013

Calls for the economy to be restructured to reduce Japan's ballooning external surpluses and improve people's livelihood by making economic growth more dependent on domestic demand than exports remain an unrealised goal. The author argues that Japan's “life-long employment” and “seniority system” could be a point of reference for inclusive growth by other APT countries as it emphasises loyalty, recruiting from within and wage increases that commensurate with age and skills.
Thailand's Inclusive Growth and Regional Economic Cooperation
Authors: SERMCHEEP Sineenat
Published: April 2013

Thailand's development strategy has changed from growth-oriented to holistic people-oriented development. A new paradigm shift is evident in the 11th national development plan with creativity and knowledge as drivers of growth. The Thai experience shows that to achieve inclusive growth, human resource development through lifelong learning and joint research is important. So is harmonisation of logistics and ASEAN Economic Community, and cooperation in managing risk from natural disasters and environmental problems.
Achieving Inclusive Growth in the Philippines
Authors: NAVARRO Adoracion M
Published: April 2013

The Philippines' current development plan in pursuit of inclusive growth through strategies like infrastructure investment, improvement to governance, human development, employment creation, stable inflation and sustainable fiscal balance has resulted in early though limited successes. Challenges in the implementation include slow progress in public-private partnership programmes for infrastructure and inaccuracies in targeting the poor in the direct poverty relief programme. In fact, policy coherence and institutional strengthening are critical elements in pursuing inclusive growth.
China Moving Towards Inclusive Growth
Authors: FENG Xingyan
Published: April 2013

China's economy is characterised by a lack of balance, coordination and sustainability in its development, and some structural and environmental problems. China is determined to promote scientific development and accelerate the transformation of the growth model. The 12th Five-Year Programme is integral to rebalancing growth from export-driven to domestic consumption in order to achieve “higher quality growth” and “inclusive growth”. Renewed efforts are channelled to promote social equity and justice in larger regional context.