Paradoxical emboli from calf and pelvic veins in cryptogenic stroke.

PURPOSE: The increased prevalence of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic strokes suggests the occurrence of paradoxical embolism. The identification of deep venous thromboses (DVTs) in this population would strengthen this hypothesis. The purpose of this study was to image the subdiaphragmatic venous system in a cohort of patients with cryptogenic strokes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 37 patients with cryptogenic brain ischemia and interatrial communication, duplex studies of calf, popliteal, and femoral veins, and magnetic resonance imaging venograms of the pelvis veins were performed. RESULTS: In 10 patients, DVTs were diagnosed that were considered to be the cause of cryptogenic brain ischemia on probable (n = 6) or possible (n = 4) bases. In these patients, the median time from stroke to DVT was 3.25 days. In 5 of these 10 patients, DVTs did not involve popliteal and femoral veins, areas thought most important to pulmonary embolism, but instead were isolated to calf or pelvic veins. Although none of these 10 patients had abnormal blood hypercoagulation tests, 8 of the 10 did have clinical conditions suggesting predisposition to developing DVTs, such as concomitant neoplasms or pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSIONS: Increased evidence for paradoxical embolism may emerge when diagnostic strategies use multiple imaging methods and evaluate a broad extent of the subdiaphragmatic veins

Symptoms and signs in individuals with serology positive for celiac disease but normal mucosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antibody serology is an important tool in the investigation of celiac disease (CD), but does not always correlate with mucosal appearance in the small intestine. Patients with positive CD serology but normal mucosa (Marsh 0) are at increased risk of future CD. In this study we describe a model for identifying and characterizing individuals with normal mucosa but positive CD serology. Such individuals are sometimes referred to as having latent CD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The records of ten Swedish pathology departments were used to identify individuals with biopsies indicating normal duodenal/jejunal mucosa. Using the national personal identification number, these data were linked with CD serology data (antigliadin, antiendomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies); and we thereby identified 3,736 individuals with normal mucosa but positive CD serology. Two independent reviewers then manually reviewed their biopsy reports to estimate comorbidity. We also randomly selected 112 individuals for validation through patient chart review.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The majority of the 3,736 individuals were females (62%). Children (0–15 years) made up 21.4%. The median number of biopsy specimen was 3. Our review of biopsy reports found that other gastrointestinal comorbidity was rare (inflammatory bowel disease: 0.4%; helicobacter pylori infection: 0.2%). Some 22% individuals selected for patient chart review had a relative with CD. The most common symptoms among these individuals were diarrhea (46%) and abdominal pain (45%), while 26% had anemia. Although 27% of the individuals selected for validation had been informed about gluten-free diet, only 13% were adhering to a gluten-free diet at the end of follow-up.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Individuals with positive CD serology but normal mucosa often have CD-like symptoms and a family history of CD.</p

Measurements of Flavour Dependent Fragmentation Functions in Z^0 -> qq(bar) Events

Fragmentation functions for charged particles in Z -> qq(bar) events have been measured for bottom (b), charm (c) and light (uds) quarks as well as for all flavours together. The results are based on data recorded between 1990 and 1995 using the OPAL detector at LEP. Event samples with different flavour compositions were formed using reconstructed D* mesons and secondary vertices. The \xi_p = ln(1/x_E) distributions and the position of their maxima \xi_max are also presented separately for uds, c and b quark events. The fragmentation function for b quarks is significantly softer than for uds quarks.Comment: 29 pages, LaTeX, 5 eps figures (and colour figs) included, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.

A Measurement of Rb using a Double Tagging Method

The fraction of Z to bbbar events in hadronic Z decays has been measured by the OPAL experiment using the data collected at LEP between 1992 and 1995. The Z to bbbar decays were tagged using displaced secondary vertices, and high momentum electrons and muons. Systematic uncertainties were reduced by measuring the b-tagging efficiency using a double tagging technique. Efficiency correlations between opposite hemispheres of an event are small, and are well understood through comparisons between real and simulated data samples. A value of Rb = 0.2178 +- 0.0011 +- 0.0013 was obtained, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The uncertainty on Rc, the fraction of Z to ccbar events in hadronic Z decays, is not included in the errors. The dependence on Rc is Delta(Rb)/Rb = -0.056*Delta(Rc)/Rc where Delta(Rc) is the deviation of Rc from the value 0.172 predicted by the Standard Model. The result for Rb agrees with the value of 0.2155 +- 0.0003 predicted by the Standard Model.Comment: 42 pages, LaTeX, 14 eps figures included, submitted to European Physical Journal

Measurement of the Michel Parameters in Leptonic Tau Decays

The Michel parameters of the leptonic tau decays are measured using the OPAL detector at LEP. The Michel parameters are extracted from the energy spectra of the charged decay leptons and from their energy-energy correlations. A new method involving a global likelihood fit of Monte Carlo generated events with complete detector simulation and background treatment has been applied to the data recorded at center-of-mass energies close to sqrt(s) = M(Z) corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 155 pb-1 during the years 1990 to 1995. If e-mu universality is assumed and inferring the tau polarization from neutral current data, the measured Michel parameters are extracted. Limits on non-standard coupling constants and on the masses of new gauge bosons are obtained. The results are in agreement with the V-A prediction of the Standard Model.Comment: 32 pages, LaTeX, 9 eps figures included, submitted to the European Physical Journal

Research of binders wetting property for preparation of feedstocks

The article describes the research of binders wetting property for preparation of feedstocks. The compositions of binders such as: 15% of polypropylene+85% of paraffin wax, 35% of polypropylene+65% of paraffin wax and 65% of polypropylene+35% of paraffin wax were determined. It is found that the wetting property of all binders' compositions is acceptable

Проект узла синтеза формалина

В данной работе был рассчитан реактор синтеза формалина, производительностью 210 тыс.тонн/год. Приведена технологическая схема производства метанола, реактор синтеза метанола, сборочные единицы реактора. В разделе «Финансовый менеджмент, ресурсоэффективность и ресурсосбережение» был рассчитан бюджет научно-технического исследования. В разделе «Социальная ответственность» были рассмотрены вредные и опасные факторы, а также влияние производства на окружающую среду.In this paper, the synthesis reactor formalin was calculated capacity of 210 thousand tons / year. The technological scheme for methanol production, methanol synthesis reactor, the reactor assembly units. In the "Financial management, resource efficiency and resource conservation" it was calculated budget scientific and technological research

Phase structure of ceramics Al[2]O[3]-ZrW[2]O[8]

In the course of work the phase composition of the ceramic composite material Al[2]O[3] - 50 % ZrW[2]O[8] was studied. On the polished surface of the Al[2]O[3]-ZrW[2]O[8] sintered composite can be allocated three areas: dark gray matrix, white inclusions of an irregular form and spherical inclusions. The average size of spherical inclusions was equal to 15 [mu]m. The phase structure of ceramic composite was presented by trigonal modification of aluminum oxide, cubic zirconium tungstate, monoclinic modification of zirconium oxide and tungsten oxide

Physical and mechanical properties and deformation behavior of porous ceramics based on plasma chemical powders Al[2]O[3], ZrO[2](MgO)

This work investigates the behavior of porous alumina and zirconia stabilized with magnesium oxide (within the porosity range of 18% to 70%) ceramics when subjected to deformation by compression and shearing. The analysis of strain-deformation curves showed that there was a transition from a typically brittle state for relatively dense ceramics, to a pseudo-plastic one with a high rate of porosity. The values of the effective elasticity modulus, effective shear modulus and Poisson's ratio decrease with an increase in volume in the pore space of ceramics, which correlates with the appearance of plural cracking during the deformation of ceramics with a high level of porosity. There was made analysis of the nature of the destruction of ceramics with the same level of porosity. The difference in the deformation behavior of the ZrO[2]-MgO compared to the Al[2]O[3] ceramic was the fact that the transition from a typically brittle to tively dense ceramics to the pseudo -plastic at a high level of porosity is implemented with a lower level of porosity