Network-aware design-space exploration of a power-efficient embedded application

The paper presents the design and multi-parameter optimization of a networked embedded application for the health-care domain. Several hardware, software, and application parameters, such as clock frequency, sensor sampling rate, data packet rate, are tuned at design- and run-time according to application specifications and operating conditions to optimize hardware requirements, packet loss, power consumption. Experimental results show that further power efficiency can be achieved by considering also communication aspects during design space exploratio

Infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum genotype I in conventionally reared piglets and lambs

Parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium are intracellular parasites that occur throughout the animal kingdom and have been reported in many species of mammals, including human. Most infections in humans are caused by two C. parvum genotypes, genotype I and genotype II; these are the human and the bovine (zoonotic) genotypes, respectively. Successful experimental infection of Cryptosporidium parvum genotype I "human genotype" is described in four conventionally reared piglets and in a lamb. The inoculum was originally obtained from two diarrheic children, and the Cryptosporidium genotypes were determined by PCR and rDNA sequencing. The infective dose was between 106 and 2×106oocysts. No clinical signs were observed in the infected animals, except in a piglet that showed watery diarrhea. The oocyst shedding period in positive animals ranged between 4 and 10 days. Histopathologic examination of the gastrointestinal tract of two positive piglets revealed shortening of the villi and denudation of the villous tips of the jejunum. In one piglet, the colon mucosa revealed numerous Cryptosporidium oocysts. The storage time of the inocula (≤3 weeks in PBS at 4°C) and the age of the animal (newborn) were important for the successful induction of infectio

Optimization of EDM process parameters for Al-SiC reinforced metal matrix composite

Volume 8 Issue 2 (February 201

Laser performance of perylenebis (dicarboximide) dyes with long secondary alkyl chains

The laser performance and related photophysical properties of two very soluble perylene dyes with long chain secondary alkyl groups were investigated in cyclohexane solution. With a dye laser as pump source a tuning range of 555–580 nm was obtained at an optimum concentration of 3×10–4 M. The quantum efficiencies (=0.29 and 0.21) were better than 1/2 that of rhodamine 6G. No photodegradation was observed over an excitation period of several hours

Gastric cancer missed at endoscopy

Stomach cancer is the fourth most common malignancy worldwide. Endoscopy (with biopsies) is the gold standard for its diagnosis but missed oesophageal and gastric cancers are not infrequent in patients who have undergone previous endoscopy. Errors by the endoscopist account for the majority of these missed lesions. The following report describes an incident in which there was a diagnostic error that led to a failed diagnosis of gastric cancer at first endoscopy. The implications for clinical and endoscopic practice are discussed.Keywords: Gastric cancer; Misdiagnoses; Diagnostic error; Endoscop

Distinction between the Poole-Frenkel and tunneling models of electric field-stimulated carrier emission from deep levels in semiconductors

The enhancement of the emission rate of charge carriers from deep-level defects in electric field is routinely used to determine the charge state of the defects. However, only a limited number of defects can be satisfactorily described by the Poole-Frenkel theory. An electric field dependence different from that expected from the Poole-Frenkel theory has been repeatedly reported in the literature, and no unambiguous identification of the charge state of the defect could be made. In this article, the electric field dependencies of emission of carriers from DX centers in AlxGa1-xAs:Te, Cu pairs in silicon, and Ge:Hg have been studied applying static and terahertz electric fields, and analyzed by using the models of Poole-Frenkel and phonon assisted tunneling. It is shown that phonon assisted tunneling and Poole-Frenkel emission are two competitive mechanisms of enhancement of emission of carriers, and their relative contribution is determined by the charge state of the defect and by the electric-field strength. At high-electric field strengths carrier emission is dominated by tunneling independently of the charge state of the impurity. For neutral impurities, where Poole-Frenkel lowering of the emission barrier does not occur, the phonon assisted tunneling model describes well the experimental data also in the low-field region. For charged impurities the transition from phonon assisted tunneling at high fields to Poole-Frenkel effect at low fields can be traced back. It is suggested that the Poole-Frenkel and tunneling models can be distinguished by plotting logarithm of the emission rate against the square root or against the square of the electric field, respectively. This analysis enables one to unambiguously determine the charge state of a deep-level defect

Colorectal cancer in Egypt is commoner in young people: Is this cause for alarm?

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide after lung and breast cancers with two-thirds of all CRCs occurring in the more developed regions of the world. CRC affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in those aged 50 years or older. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of CRC among patients undergoing colonoscopy in Egypt. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study. A total of 412 consecutive patients who underwent planned pancolonoscopy from January 2000 to January 2012 at our institution were assessed. All endoscopic examinations leading to a diagnosis of CRC were evaluated. The following parameters were analyzed: frequency of CRC, patient characteristics, indication for endoscopic examination, endoscopic findings, localization of CRC and histopathology. Results: CRC was diagnosed in 57 patients (14% of all colonoscopies). Fifty-six percent were female. The mean age was 51± 15 years (age range: 16–80 years). Twenty-five percent of cancers occurred in patients aged less than 40 years. The most frequent indication for colonoscopy was rectal bleeding (39%). The most common colonoscopy finding was mass (96%). Sixty-eight percent of CRC were located in the left colon and rectum. Ninety-one percent of CRC wereAdenocarcinoma. Conclusions: CRC is not uncommon among Egyptian patients subjected to colonoscopy. Thereare relatively higher CRC rates in patients under 40 years of age than reported in the West. This has implications relating to future epidemiological trends in Egypt. Physicians must have a greater awareness of the potential for CRC in young people in the Middle East.Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Birth cohort; Egypt 

Improving the quality of endoscopic polypectomy by introducing a colonoscopy quality assurance program

Background: Colonoscopy is a routine procedure in patients who present with bowel symptoms. Polyps can be identified and removed during colonoscopy. A colonoscopy quality-assurance program (CQAP) was instituted in 2003.Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of instituting a CQAP on the quality of endoscopic polypectomy (EP) in our patients.Patients and methods: An Initial assessment of EP practice in 2003 showed that four patients had polyps. Cecal intubation had been achieved in only two patients and a complete polyp description (CPD) had not been documented. Polypectomy was performed in two patients but the completeness of removal and retrieval of the polyps had not been assessed and histology had not been recorded. A quality improvement process was therefore instituted. This required full colonoscopy to the cecum, CPD and polypectomy to be performed for every polyp. There should be a 90% retrieval rate of all excised polyps and follow up of all histology reports. Seventy-six patients were assessed prospectively over the period 2004–2011.Results: Cecal intubation rates increased from 65% in years 2004–2007 to 90% in years 2008–2011 (t-proportion = 2.4 & CI= 4.7, highly significant). CPD rates increased from 35% to 100% (t-proportion = 6.5 & CI= 12.7,  highly significant). EP rates increased from 59% to 100% (t-proportion = 3.5 & CI= 6.9, highly significant). Percentage of procedures in which all polyps were judged completely removed increased from 41% to 86% (t-proportion = 3.6 & CI= 7, highly significant). Polyp retrieval rates, with retrieval of P90% of all excised polyps, increased from 80% to 92% (t-proportion = 0.87 & CI= 1.7, significant). Polyp histology documentation rates increased from 41% to 88% (t-proportion =3.7 & CI= 7.3, highly significant).Conclusion: The implementation of a quality assurance and improvement program improved the quality of EP in patients with polyp(s) detected during colonoscopy.Keywords: Colonoscopy; Polypectomy; Quality assurance; Juvenile polyp

Pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis using a modification of the Tan and Bianchi circumumbilical approach

Background/purpose Different approaches have been advocated for pyloromyotomy.  Since the introduction of umbilical pyloromyotomy, a number of studies have shown that it is as safe as the traditional right upper quadrant approach with superior  cosmetic results. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the safety  of pyloromyotomy for infantile hyprtrophic pyloric stenosis using a modification of the Tan–Bianchi approach.Patients and methods Over a period of 2 years, 20 infants with infantile  hypertrophic pyloric stenosis have been clinically evaluated. The umbilical approach was modified so that a transverse muscle cutting incision rather than a longitudinal midline linea alba incision was performed.Results The total number of cases included in this study was 20 [16 male (80%)  and four female (20%) patients]. Their ages ranged from 23 to 60 days (average  42.6 ±13.54 days), and their weights ranged from 2700 to 4000 g (mean 3605± 437.4 g). Pyloromyotomy was performed safely with negligible blood loss. Four cases of serosal tear occurred, with an incidence of 20%. None of our cases showed significant complications. The mean operating time was 52.5 ± 5.073 min. The postoperative hospital stay ranged from 24 to 72 h. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients, and, on follow-up, the circumumbilical incision left an almost undetectable scar.Conclusion Pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis using the modified Tan and Bianchi technique is feasible and safe, having an accepted operative time, early initiation of postoperative feeding, and short hospital stay. This modification combines the advantage of circumumbilical incision with its better cosmetic results and right transverse upper abdominal approach with its easy and feasible access to the pyloric mass.Keywords: operative intervention, pyloric stenosis, Tan–Bianchi approac