Abstract: Cancer is still one of the serious diseases threatening
the lives of human beings. How to have an early diagnosis and
effective treatment for tumors is a very important issue. The animal
carcinoma model can provide a simulation tool for the studies of
pathogenesis, biological characteristics, and therapeutic effects.
Recently, drug delivery systems have been rapidly developed to
effectively improve the therapeutic effects. Liposome plays an
increasingly important role in clinical diagnosis and therapy for
delivering a pharmaceutic or contrast agent to the targeted sites.
Liposome can be absorbed and excreted by the human body, and is
well known that no harm to the human body. This study aimed to
compare the therapeutic effects between encapsulated (doxorubicin
liposomal, Lipodox) and un-encapsulated (doxorubicin, Dox)
anti-tumor drugs using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits implanted with VX2 carcinoma at
left thighs were classified into three groups: control group (untreated),
Dox-treated group, and LipoDox-treated group, 8 rabbits for each
group. MRI scans were performed three days after tumor implantation.
A 1.5T GE Signa HDxt whole body MRI scanner with a high
resolution knee coil was used in this study. After a 3-plane localizer
scan was performed, three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE)
T2-weighted Images (T2WI) was used for tumor volumetric
quantification. Afterwards, two-dimensional (2D) spoiled gradient
recalled echo (SPGR) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI was
used for tumor perfusion evaluation. DCE-MRI was designed to
acquire four baseline images, followed by contrast agent Gd-DOTA
injection through the ear vein of rabbit. A series of 32 images were
acquired to observe the signals change over time in the tumor and
muscle. The MRI scanning was scheduled on a weekly basis for a
period of four weeks to observe the tumor progression longitudinally.
The Dox and LipoDox treatments were prescribed 3 times in the first
week immediately after the first MRI scan; i.e. 3 days after VX2 tumor
implantation. ImageJ was used to quantitate tumor volume and time
course signal enhancement on DCE images. The changes of tumor size
showed that the growth of VX2 tumors was effectively inhibited for
both LipoDox-treated and Dox-treated groups. Furthermore, the tumor
volume of LipoDox-treated group was significantly lower than that of
Dox-treated group, which implies that LipoDox has better therapeutic effect than Dox. The signal intensity of LipoDox-treated group is
significantly lower than that of the other two groups, which implies
that targeted therapeutic drug remained in the tumor tissue. This study
provides a radiation-free and non-invasive MRI method for
therapeutic monitoring of targeted liposome on an animal tumor
model.
Abstract: It is well-known that, using principal weak flatness
property, some important monoids are characterized, such as regular
monoids, left almost regular monoids, and so on. In this article, we
define a generalization of principal weak flatness called GP-Flatness,
and will characterize monoids by this property of their right (Rees
factor) acts. Also we investigate new classes of monoids called
generally regular monoids and generally left almost regular monoids.
Abstract: Rice Husk (RH) is the major byproduct in the
processing of paddy rice. The management of this waste has become
a big challenge to some of the rice producers, some of these wastes
are left in open dumps while some are burn in the open space, and
these two actions have been contributing to environmental pollution.
This study evaluates an alternative waste management of this
agricultural product for use as a civil engineering material. The RH
was burn in a controlled environment to form Rice Husk Ash (RHA).
The RHA was mix with lateritic clay at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%
proportion by weight. Chemical test was conducted on the open burn
and controlled burn RHA with the lateritic clay. Physical test such as
particle size distribution, Atterberg limits test, and density test were
carried out on the mix material. The chemical composition obtained
for the RHA showed that the total percentage compositions of Fe2O3,
SiO2 and Al2O3 were found to be above 70% (class “F” pozzolan)
which qualifies it as a very good pozzolan. The coefficient of
uniformity (Cu) was 8 and coefficient of curvature (Cc) was 2 for the
soil sample. The Plasticity Index (PI) for the 0, 2, 4, 6, 8. 10% was
21.0, 18.8, 16.7, 14.4, 12.4 and 10.7 respectively. The work
concluded that RHA can be effectively used in hydraulic barriers and
as a stabilizing agent in soil stabilization.
Abstract: Current study established for EEG signal analysis in
patients with language disorder. Language disorder can be defined as
meaningful delay in the use or understanding of spoken or written
language. The disorder can include the content or meaning of
language, its form, or its use. Here we applied Z-score, power
spectrum, and coherence methods to discriminate the language
disorder data from healthy ones. Power spectrum of each channel in
alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta frequency bands was measured.
In addition, intra hemispheric Z-score obtained by scoring algorithm.
Obtained results showed high Z-score and power spectrum in
posterior regions. Therefore, we can conclude that peoples with
language disorder have high brain activity in frontal region of brain
in comparison with healthy peoples. Results showed that high coherence correlates with irregularities
in the ERP and is often found during complex task, whereas low
coherence is often found in pathological conditions. The results of the
Z-score analysis of the brain dynamics showed higher Z-score peak
frequency in delta, theta and beta sub bands of Language Disorder
patients. In this analysis there were activity signs in both hemispheres
and the left-dominant hemisphere was more active than the right.
Abstract: In this numerical work, mixed convection and entropy
generation of Cu–water nanofluid in a lid-driven square cavity have
been investigated numerically using the Lattice Boltzmann Method.
Horizontal walls of the cavity are adiabatic and vertical walls have
constant temperature but different values. The top wall has been
considered as moving from left to right at a constant speed, U0. The
effects of different parameters such as nanoparticle volume
concentration (0–0.05), Rayleigh number (104–106) and Reynolds
numbers (1, 10 and 100) on the entropy generation, flow and
temperature fields are studied. The results have shown that addition
of nanoparticles to the base fluid affects the entropy generation, flow
pattern and thermal behavior especially at higher Rayleigh and low
Reynolds numbers. For pure fluid as well as nanofluid, the increase
of Reynolds number increases the average Nusselt number and the
total entropy generation, linearly. The maximum entropy generation
occurs in nanofluid at low Rayleigh number and at high Reynolds
number. The minimum entropy generation occurs in pure fluid at low
Rayleigh and Reynolds numbers. Also at higher Reynolds number,
the effect of Cu nanoparticles on enhancement of heat transfer was
decreased because the effect of lid-driven cavity was increased. The
present results are validated by favorable comparisons with
previously published results. The results of the problem are presented
in graphical and tabular forms and discussed.
Abstract: Cole-Cole parameters of 40 post-menopausal women
are compared with their DEXA bone mineral density measurements.
Impedance characteristics of four extremities are compared; left and
right extremities are statistically same, but lower extremities are
statistically different than upper ones due to their different fat
content. The correlation of Cole-Cole impedance parameters to bone
mineral density (BMD) is observed to be higher for dominant arm.
With the post-menopausal population, ANOVA tests of the dominant
arm characteristic frequency, as a predictor for DEXA classified
osteopenic and osteoporic population around lumbar spine, is
statistically very significant. When used for total lumbar spine
osteoporosis diagnosis, the area under the Receiver Operating Curve
of the characteristic frequency is 0.830, suggesting that the Cole-Cole
plot characteristic frequency could be a useful diagnostic parameter
when integrated into standard screening methods for osteoporosis.
Moreover, the characteristic frequency can be directly measured by
monitoring frequency driven angular behavior of the dominant arm
without performing any complex calculation.
Abstract: DNA analysis has been widely accepted as providing
valuable evidence concerning the identity of the source of biological
traces. Our work has showed that DNA samples can survive on
cartridges even after firing. The study also raised the possibility of
determining other information such as the age of the donor. Such
information may be invaluable in certain cases where spent cartridges
from automatic weapons are left behind at the scene of a crime. In
spite of the nature of touch evidence and exposure to high chamber
temperatures during shooting, we were still capable to retrieve
enough DNA for profile typing. In order to estimate age of
contributor, DNA methylation levels were analyzed using EpiTect
system for retrieved DNA. However, results were not conclusive, due
to low amount of input DNA.
Abstract: The current paper presents an extensive bottom-up
framework for assessing building sector-specific vulnerability to
climate change: energy supply and demand. The research focuses on
the application of downscaled seasonal models for estimating energy
performance of buildings in Greece. The ARW-WRF model has
been set-up and suitably parameterized to produce downscaled
climatological fields for Greece, forced by the output of the CFSv2
model. The outer domain, D01/Europe, included 345 x 345 cells of
horizontal resolution 20 x 20 km2 and the inner domain, D02/Greece,
comprised 180 x 180 cells of 5 x 5 km2 horizontal resolution. The
model run has been setup for a period with a forecast horizon of 6
months, storing outputs on a six hourly basis.
Abstract: Brownfields are one of the most important problems
that must be solved by today's cities. The topic of this article is
description of developing a comprehensive transformation of postindustrial
area of the former iron factory national cultural heritage
lower Vítkovice. City of Ostrava used to be industrial superpower of
the Czechoslovak Republic, especially in the area of coal mining and
iron production, after declining industrial production and mining in
the 80s left many unused areas of former factories generally
brownfields and backfields. Since the late 90s we are observing how
the city officials or private entities seeking to remedy this situation.
Regeneration of brownfields is a very expensive and long-term
process. The area is now rebuilt for tourists and residents of the city
in the entertainment, cultural, and social center. It was necessary do
the reconstruction of the industrial monuments. Equally important
was the construction of new buildings, which helped reusing of the
entire complex. This is a unique example of transformation of
technical monuments and completion of necessary new objects, so
that the area could start working again and reintegrate back into the
urban system.
Abstract: In this paper, an experiment was conducted to assess
the impact of online deliberation on citizens’ attitudes. Specifically,
this research compared pre and post deliberation opinions of
participants who deliberated online via an asynchronous platform
regarding the issue of political opinion polls. Results indicate that
online deliberation had a positive effect on citizens’ attitudes since it
was found that following deliberation participants changed their
views regarding public opinion polls. Specifically, online deliberation
improved discussants perceptions regarding the reliability of polls,
while suppressing their negative views about the misuse of polls by
media, polling organizations and politicians.
Abstract: Dynamics of a rotor supported by air bearings is
strongly depends on the pressure distribution between the rotor and
the bearing. In this study, internal pressure in air bearings is
numerical and experimental analyzed for different radial clearances.
Firstly the pressure distribution between rotor and bearing is modeled
using Reynold's equation and this model is solved numerically. The
rotor-bearing system is also modeled in four degree of freedom and it
is simulated for different radial clearances. Then, in order to validate
numerical results, a test rig is designed and the rotor bearing system
is run under the same operational conditions. Pressure signals of left
and right bearings are recorded. Internal pressure variations are
compared for numerical and experimental results for different radial
clearances.
Abstract: Radial profiles of particle velocities were investigated
in a 6.1m high methanol-to-olefins cold model experimental device
using a TSI laser Doppler velocimeter. The effect of axial height on
flow development was not obvious in fully developed region under the
same operating condition. Superficial gas velocity and solid
circulating rate had significant influence on particle velocity in the
center region of the riser. Besides, comparisons among rising,
descending and average particle velocity were conducted. The particle
average velocity was similar to the rising particle velocity and higher
than the descending particle velocity in radial locations except the wall
region of riser.
Abstract: The numerical simulation has made tremendous
advances in investigating the blood flow phenomenon through elastic
arteries. Such study can be useful in demonstrating the disease
progression and hemodynamics of cardiovascular diseases such as
atherosclerosis. In the present study, patient specific case diagnosed
with partially stenosed complete right ICA and normal left carotid
bifurcation without any atherosclerotic plaque formation is
considered. 3D patient specific carotid bifurcation model is generated
based on CT scan data using MIMICS-4.0 and numerical analysis is
performed using FSI solver in ANSYS-14.5. The blood flow is
assumed to be incompressible, homogenous and Newtonian, while
the artery wall is assumed to be linearly elastic. The two-way
sequentially coupled transient FSI analysis is performed using FSI
solver for three pulse cycles. The hemodynamic parameters such as
flow pattern, Wall Shear Stress, pressure contours and arterial wall
deformation are studied at the bifurcation and critical zones such as
stenosis. The variation in flow behavior is studied throughout the
pulse cycle. Also, the simulation results reveal that there is a
considerable increase in the flow behavior in stenosed carotid in
contrast to the normal carotid bifurcation system. The investigation
also demonstrates the disturbed flow pattern especially at the
bifurcation and stenosed zone elevating the hemodynamics,
particularly during peak systole and later part of the pulse cycle. The
results obtained agree well with the clinical observation and
demonstrates the potential of patient specific numerical studies in
prognosis of disease progression and plaque rupture.
Abstract: Rapidly changing factors that affect daily life also affect operational environment and the way military leaders fulfill their missions. With the help of technological developments, traditional linearity of conflict and war has started to fade away. Furthermore, mission domain has broadened to include traditional threats, hybrid threats and new challenges of cyber and space. Considering the future operational environment, future military leaders need to adapt themselves to the new challenges of the future battlefield. But how to decide what kind of features of leadership are required to operate and accomplish mission in the new complex battlefield? In this article, the main aim is to provide answers to this question. To be able to find right answers, first leadership and leadership components are defined, and then characteristics of future operational environment are analyzed. Finally, leadership features that are required to be successful in redefined battlefield are explained.
Abstract: Purpose: The study aimed to assess the depressant or
antidepressant effects of several Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory
Drugs (NSAIDs) in mice: the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
inhibitor meloxicam, and the non-selective COX-1 and COX-2
inhibitors lornoxicam, sodium metamizole, and ketorolac. The
current literature data regarding such effects of these agents are
scarce.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out on NMRI mice
weighing 20-35 g, kept in a standard laboratory environment. The
study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of
Medicine and Pharmacy „Carol Davila”, Bucharest. The study agents
were injected intraperitoneally, 10 mL/kg body weight (bw) 1 hour
before the assessment of the locomotor activity by cage testing (n=10
mice/ group) and 2 hours before the forced swimming tests (n=15).
The study agents were dissolved in normal saline (meloxicam,
sodium metamizole), ethanol 11.8% v/v in normal saline (ketorolac),
or water (lornoxicam), respectively. Negative and positive control
agents were also given (amitryptilline in the forced swimming test).
The cage floor used in the locomotor activity assessment was divided
into 20 equal 10 cm squares. The forced swimming test involved
partial immersion of the mice in cylinders (15/9cm height/diameter)
filled with water (10 cm depth at 28C), where they were left for 6
minutes. The cage endpoint used in the locomotor activity assessment
was the number of treaded squares. Four endpoints were used in the
forced swimming test (immobility latency for the entire 6 minutes,
and immobility, swimming, and climbing scores for the final 4
minutes of the swimming session), recorded by an observer that was
„blinded” to the experimental design. The statistical analysis used the
Levene test for variance homogeneity, ANOVA and post-hoc
analysis as appropriate, Tukey or Tamhane tests.
Results: No statistically significant increase or decrease in the
number of treaded squares was seen in the locomotor activity
assessment of any mice group. In the forced swimming test,
amitryptilline showed an antidepressant effect in each experiment, at
the 10 mg/kg bw dosage. Sodium metamizole was depressant at 100
mg/kg bw (increased the immobility score, p=0.049, Tamhane test),
but not in lower dosages as well (25 and 50 mg/kg bw). Ketorolac
showed an antidepressant effect at the intermediate dosage of 5
mg/kg bw, but not so in the dosages of 2.5 and 10 mg/kg bw,
respectively (increased the swimming score, p=0.012, Tamhane test).
Meloxicam and lornoxicam did not alter the forced swimming
endpoints at any dosage level.
Discussion: 1) Certain NSAIDs caused changes in the forced
swimming patterns without interfering with locomotion. 2) Sodium
metamizole showed a depressant effect, whereas ketorolac proved
antidepressant. Conclusion: NSAID-induced mood changes are not
class effects of these agents and apparently are independent of the
type of inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX-1 or COX-2).
Disclosure: This paper was co-financed from the European Social
Fund, through the Sectorial Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013, project number POSDRU /159
/1.5 /S /138907 "Excellence in scientific interdisciplinary research,
doctoral and postdoctoral, in the economic, social and medical fields
-EXCELIS", coordinator The Bucharest University of Economic
Studies.
Abstract: Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to infer
another’s mental state. With appropriate ToM, one can behave well in
social interactions. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that
patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) may damage ToM by
affecting on regions of the underlying neural network of ToM.
However, the question of whether there is cerebral laterality for ToM
functions remains open. This study aimed to examine whether there is
cerebral lateralization for ToM abilities in TLE patients. Sixty-seven
adult TLE patients and 30 matched healthy controls (HC) were
recruited. Patients were classified into right (RTLE), left (LTLE), and
bilateral (BTLE) TLE groups on the basis of a consensus panel review
of their seizure semiology, EEG findings, and brain imaging results.
All participants completed an intellectual test and four tasks measuring
basic and advanced ToM. The results showed that, on all ToM tasks,
(1) each patient group performed worse than HC; (2) there were no
significant differences between LTLE and RTLE groups; and (3) the
BTLE group performed the worst. It appears that the neural network
responsible for ToM is distributed evenly between the cerebral
hemispheres.
Abstract: The Scheduling and mapping of tasks on a set of
processors is considered as a critical problem in parallel and
distributed computing system. This paper deals with the problem of
dynamic scheduling on a special type of multiprocessor architecture
known as Linear Crossed Cube (LCQ) network. This proposed
multiprocessor is a hybrid network which combines the features of
both linear types of architectures as well as cube based architectures.
Two standard dynamic scheduling schemes namely Minimum
Distance Scheduling (MDS) and Two Round Scheduling (TRS)
schemes are implemented on the LCQ network. Parallel tasks are
mapped and the imbalance of load is evaluated on different set of
processors in LCQ network. The simulations results are evaluated
and effort is made by means of through analysis of the results to
obtain the best solution for the given network in term of load
imbalance left and execution time. The other performance matrices
like speedup and efficiency are also evaluated with the given
dynamic algorithms.
Abstract: Robotics brings together several very different
engineering areas and skills. There are various types of robot such as
humanoid robot, mobile robots, remotely operated vehicles, modern
autonomous robots etc. This survey paper advocates the operation of a
robotic car (remotely operated vehicle) that is controlled by a mobile
phone (communicate on a large scale over a large distance even from
different cities). The person makes a call to the mobile phone placed
in the car. In the case of a call, if any one of the button is pressed, a
tone equivalent to the button pressed is heard at the other end of the
call. This tone is known as DTMF (Dual Tone Multiple Frequency).
The car recognizes this DTMF tone with the help of the phone stacked
in the car. The received tone is processed by the Arduino
microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to acquire a
decision for any given input and outputs its decision to motor drivers
in order to drive the motors in the forward direction or backward
direction or left or right direction. The mobile phone that makes a call
to cell phone stacked in the car act as a remote.
Abstract: The thermal control in many systems is widely
accomplished applying mixed convection process due to its low cost,
reliability and easy maintenance. Typical applications include the
aircraft electronic equipment, rotating-disc heat exchangers, turbo
machinery, and nuclear reactors, etc. Natural convection in an inclined
square enclosure heated via wall heater has been studied numerically.
Finite volume method is used for solving momentum and energy
equations in the form of stream function–vorticity. The right and left
walls are kept at a constant temperature, while the other parts are
adiabatic. The range of the inclination angle covers a whole revolution.
The method is validated for a vertical cavity. A general power law
dependence of the Nusselt number with respect to the Rayleigh
number with the coefficient and exponent as functions of the
inclination angle is presented. For a fixed Rayleigh number, the
inclination angle increases or decreases is found.
Abstract: The article deals with modelling of the fire
pragmatism in the area of military management and its experimental
verification. Potential approaches are based on the synergy of
mathematical and theoretical ideas, operational and tactical
requirements and the military decision-making process. This issue
has taken on importance in recent times, particularly with the
increasing trend of digitized battlefield, the development of C4ISR
systems and intention to streamline the command and control process
at the lowest levels of command. From fundamental and
philosophical point of view, these new approaches seek to
significantly upgrade and enhance the decision-making process of the
tactical commanders.