Pre- and post-processing for Cosmic/NASTRAN on personal computers and mainframes

An interface between Cosmic/NASTRAN and GIFTS has recently been released, combining the powerful pre- and post-processing capabilities of GIFTS with Cosmic/NASTRAN's analysis capabilities. The interface operates on a wide range of computers, even linking Cosmic/NASTRAN and GIFTS when the two are on different computers. GIFTS offers a wide range of elements for use in model construction, each translated by the interface into the nearest Cosmic/NASTRAN equivalent; and the options of automatic or interactive modelling and loading in GIFTS make pre-processing easy and effective. The interface itself includes the programs GFTCOS, which creates the Cosmic/NASTRAN input deck (and, if desired, control deck) from the GIFTS Unified Data Base, COSGFT, which translates the displacements from the Cosmic/NASTRAN analysis back into GIFTS; and HOSTR, which handles stress computations for a few higher-order elements available in the interface, but not supported by the GIFTS processor STRESS. Finally, the versatile display options in GIFTS post-processing allow the user to examine the analysis results through an especially wide range of capabilities, including such possibilities as creating composite loading cases, plotting in color and animating the analysis

Importance of single or blended polymer types for controlled in vitro release and plasma levels of a somatostatin analogue entrapped in PLA/PLGA microspheres.

The aim of the work was to develop biodegradable microspheres for controlled delivery of the somatostatin analogue vapreotide and maintenance of sustained plasma levels over 2–4 weeks after a single injection in rats. Vapreotide was microencapsulated into end-group capped and uncapped low molecular weight poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) by spray-drying and coacervation. Microspheres were prepared from single and blended (1:1) polymer types. The microparticles were characterized for peptide loading, in vitro release and pharmocokinetics in rats. Spray-drying and coacervation produced microspheres in the size range of 1–15 and 10–70 μm, respectively, and with encapsulation efficiencies varying between 46% and 87%. In vitro release of vapreotide followed a regular pattern and lasted more than 4 weeks, time at which 40–80% of the total dose were released. Microspheres made of 14-kDa end-group uncapped PLGA50:50 or 1:1 blends of this polymer with 35 kDa end-group uncapped PLGA50:50 gave the best release profiles and yielded the most sustained plasma levels above a pre-defined 1 ng/ml over approximately 14 days. In vitro/in vivo correlation analyses showed for several microsphere formulations a linear correlation between the mean residence time in vivo and the mean dissolution time (r=0.958) and also between the amount released between 6 h and 14 days and the AUC6h–14d (r=0.932). For several other parameters or time periods, no in vitro/in vivo correlation was found. This study demonstrates that controlled release of the vapreotide is possible in vivo for a duration of a least 2 weeks when administered i.m. to rats. These results constitute a step forward towards a twice-a-month or once-a-month microsphere-formulation for the treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors

Interpretation of multispectral and infrared thermal surveys of the Suez Canal Zone, Egypt

Remote sensing airborne surveys were conducted, as part of the plan of rehabilitation, of the Suez Canal Zone using I2S multispectral camera and Bendix LN-3 infrared passive scanner. The multispectral camera gives four separate photographs for the same scene in the blue, green, red, and near infrared bands. The scanner was operated in the microwave bands of 8 to 14 microns and the thermal surveying was carried out both at night and in the day time. The surveys, coupled with intensive ground investigations, were utilized in the construction of new geological, structural lineation and drainage maps for the Suez Canal Zone on a scale of approximately 1:20,000, which are superior to the maps made by normal aerial photography. A considerable number of anomalies belonging to various types were revealed through the interpretation of the executed multispectral and infrared thermal surveys

Autonomous clustering using rough set theory

This paper proposes a clustering technique that minimises the need for subjective human intervention and is based on elements of rough set theory. The proposed algorithm is unified in its approach to clustering and makes use of both local and global data properties to obtain clustering solutions. It handles single-type and mixed attribute data sets with ease and results from three data sets of single and mixed attribute types are used to illustrate the technique and establish its efficiency

Detectability of colorectal neoplasia with fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the detectability of colorectal neoplasia with fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). Data for a total of 492 patients who had undergone both PET/CT and colonoscopy were analyzed. After the findings of PET/CT and colonoscopy were determined independently, the results were compared in each of the six colonic sites examined in all patients. The efficacy of PET/CT was determined using colonoscopic examination as the gold standard. In all, 270 colorectal lesions 5 mm or more in size, including 70 pathologically confirmed malignant lesions, were found in 172 patients by colonoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for detecting any of the colorectal lesions were 36 and 98%, respectively. For detecting lesions 11 mm or larger, the sensitivity was increased to 85%, with the specificity remaining consistent (97%). Moreover, the sensitivity for tumors 21 mm or larger was 96% (48/50). Tumors with malignant or high-grade pathology were likely to be positive with PET/CT. A size of 10 mm or smaller [odds ratio (OR) 44.14, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 11.44-221.67] and flat morphology (OR 7.78, 95% CI 1.79-36.25) were significant factors that were associated with false-negative cases on PET/CT. The sensitivity of PET/CT for detecting colorectal lesions is acceptable, showing size- and pathology-dependence, suggesting, for the most part, that clinically relevant lesions are detectable with PET/CT. However, when considering PET/CT for screening purposes caution must be exercised because there are cases of false-negative results

Suppressing bladder artifacts in bone SPECT of the pelvis

Objective: Bladder-filling reconstruction artifacts have a detrimental effect on the image quality of pelvic bone single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Using a simple protocol consisting of forced diuresis coupled with intravenous (IV) hydration, this study was undertaken to obtain an artifact-free pelvic SPECT after discarding the residual urinary activity. Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled. In group I, pelvic SPECT was performed directly after normal void, whereas in group II, SPECT was preceded by IV injection of 0.5 mg/kg furosemide (maximum 40 mg) coupled with IV infusion of 500 cc of physiologic saline. Bladder-filling reconstruction artifacts were analyzed in group I patients, who had their images reconstructed using both filtered backprojection and iterative algorithms, both qualitatively and quantitatively by means of regions of interest (ROIs) drawn around the artifact-bearing bone areas as well as the corresponding contralateral sites. For group II patients, besides visual analysis, ROIs were placed over the sites corresponding to those of the group I patients. In every patient, total counts of each ROI were normalized to a reference ROI placed over the sacrum, and a ratio was created. Results: Using filtered backprojection, two forms of artifacts were identified in group I patients: first, a streak pattern that extended to the sacro-iliac joint in nine (60%) patients, the hip joint in five (33%), the superior pubic rami in four (27%), the sacrum in three (20%), and the ischium in one (6%); second, a count loss subtype which extended to the hip joints in nine (60%) patients. Corresponding values after iterative reconstruction were two (13%) for the sacro-iliac joint, three (20%) for the hip joint, one (6%) for the superior pubic ramus, and one (6%) for the sacrum. In five (33%) patients, residual count loss artifacts were still identifiable after iterative reconstruction. However in group II, no such effects were observed because the bladder activity reached near background level in 14 (93%) of 15 patients after three successive voids with a 3.5-fold decrease in the mean value of total bladder count in comparison with group I patients. A statistically significant difference was found between artifact- and non-artifact-harboring ROIs in group I whichever the method used for reconstruction, whereas the values of right and left hemi-pelvis ROIs/sacrum in group II were almost identical. Conclusions: Forced diuresis coupled with parenteral hydration facilitates the acquisition of an artifact-free pelvic SPECT. Especially for clinical questions that focus on femoral heads and pubic bones, applying the aforementioned protocol may improve the diagnostic accuracy of pelvic bone SPEC

High speed synchrotron X-ray imaging studies of the ultrasound shockwave and enhanced flow during metal solidification processes

The highly dynamic behaviour of ultrasonic bubble implosion in liquid metal, the multiphase liquid metal flow containing bubbles and particles, and the interaction between ultrasonic waves and semisolid phases during solidification of metal were studied in situ using the complementary ultrafast and high speed synchrotron X-ray imaging facilities housed respectively at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, US, and Diamond Light Source, UK. Real-time ultrafast X-ray imaging of 135,780 frames per second (fps) revealed that ultrasonic bubble implosion in a liquid Bi-8 wt. %Zn alloy can occur in a single wave period (30 kHz), and the effective region affected by the shockwave at implosion was 3.5 times the original bubble diameter. Furthermore, ultrasound bubbles in liquid metal move faster than the primary particles, and the velocity of bubbles is 70 ~ 100% higher than that of the primary particles present in the same locations close to the sonotrode. Ultrasound waves can very effectively create a strong swirling flow in a semisolid melt in less than one second. The energetic flow can detach solid particles from the liquid-solid interface and redistribute them back into the bulk liquid very effectively

Compartmentalization of Cells Bearing "Rheumatic” Cell Surface Antigens in Peripheral Blood and Tonsils in Rheumatic Heart Disease

Monoclonal antibodies that recognize "rheumatic” antigens of peripheral blood non-T cells were used to study the compartmentalization of such cells in peripheral blood and tonsils of individuals with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and suitable control subjects. The peripheral blood of most (71%) of the 42 individuals with RHD contained cells reacting with monoclonal antibody 83S19.23 or 256S.10, whereas these cells were present in only 17% of the 41 control subjects (P < .02). However, none of 21 individuals with RHD had such cells in their tonsils, although they were present in the tonsils of 50% of the 40 control subjects (P < .03). These results may reflect a failure in RHD of organ-specific homing of cells with the epitopes recognized by the antibodies. The presence of these cells in tonsils may be important in the immune response to streptococcal pharyngeal infection, and their absence in RHD may be involved in the unusual immune responses characteristic of this diseas