Hair density distribution profile to evaluate yarn hairiness and its application to fabric simulations

This article was published in the serial, Journal of the Textile Institute [Taylor and Francis / © The Textile Institute]. The definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00405000701462419This paper describes a new method for yarn hairiness evaluation that calculates the hair densities at varying distances from the yarn core using an image processing technique. The method is based on integrating the number of pixels for distances incremented by a pixel size from the yarn core edge. The experiments with various yarns showed that the hair density distribution profile (HDDP) exhibits two different exponential behaviors one below and the other above approximately 0.75 mm from the core. A total hairiness index (THw) is also calculated using the total number of hair pixels. A good correlation is observed between the proposed THw and Uster’s H index especially for grey cotton and cotton/polyester samples. A novel technique that generates realistic yarn simulations using the total hairiness and the hairiness distribution data along with the diametric irregularity is introduced. The simulations created are compared with actual yarn images in a qualitative manner. A simple single jersey knitted fabric simulation algorithm is also described utilizing the yarn simulation including hair distribution data, which gives a more realistic simulated fabric appearance

Eggshell calcification after intrathyroidal hemorrhage of retrosternal thyroid

We report a rare event of old hemorrhage into a thyroid causing respiratory distress. A 67-year-old man with chronic cough and recent dysphagia was found to have a retrosternal mass extending into the visceral mediastinum on chest roentgenogram. A computed tomographic (CT) scan confirmed eggshell callcification, which was 53 × 53 × 80 mm in size a retrosternal thyroid mass and revealed significant tracheal deviation to the right due to an extensive mass surrounded by a calcificated capsule in the left lobe of the thyroid gland with extension to the upper mediastinum. He successfully underwent left lobectomy of the thyroid gland with sternotomy. The pathological examination revealed intrathyroidal hemorrhage of the thyroid gland with massive intracystic old bleeding

Circadian changes and sex-related differences in fetal heart rate parameters

BACKGROUND: Previous researchers have studied circadian changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) on small sample sizes and in a strictly controlled environment. This study was undertaken to investigate these changes during the late second and third trimesters, using a portable fetal electrocardiogram recording device (Monica AN24) in pregnant women in home and hospital environments with unrestricted mobility. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 54 pregnant women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies between 25 and 40 weeks gestation. FHR recordings were made up to 16 h at home or in the hospital setting in the United Kingdom. FHR data over 90 min periods were averaged and the day (7:00 am-11:00 pm) and night (11:00 pm-7:00 am) data from the same individual were compared. Data were examined for evidence of sex-related differences. RESULTS: During the night, there was a significant reduction in basal heart rate (bFHR) and a significant increase in short term variation (STV) and long term variation (LTV) (P < 0.05). Basal FHR decreased (P < 0.002), whereas LTV increased (P = 0.014) with advancing gestation. Male fetuses showed greater day: night variation than females regardless of gestation (P = 0.014). There was a higher bFHR in fetuses monitored during the day in hospital (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there are sex-, environment and time-related differences in the FHR parameters measured. These differences may need to be considered taken when interpreting FHR data

A live weight-heart girth relationship for accurate dosing of east African shorthorn zebu cattle

The accurate estimation of livestock weights is important for many aspects of livestock management including nutrition, production and appropriate dosing of pharmaceuticals. Subtherapeutic dosing has been shown to accelerate pathogen resistance which can have subsequent widespread impacts. There are a number of published models for the prediction of live weight from morphometric measurements of cattle, but many of these models use measurements difficult to gather and include complicated age, size and gender stratification. In this paper, we use data from the Infectious Diseases of East Africa calf cohort study and additional data collected at local markets in western Kenya to develop a simple model based on heart girth circumference to predict live weight of east African shorthorn zebu (SHZ) cattle. SHZ cattle are widespread throughout eastern and southern Africa and are economically important multipurpose animals. We demonstrate model accuracy by splitting the data into training and validation subsets and comparing fitted and predicted values. The final model is weight0.262 =0.95 + 0.022 × girth which has an R2 value of 0.98 and 95 % prediction intervals that fall within the ±20 % body weight error band regarded as acceptable when dosing livestock. This model provides a highly reliable and accurate method for predicting weights of SHZ cattle using a single heart girth measurement which can be easily obtained with a tape measure in the field setting

Effect of Body Mass Index on work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress of computer workers in a developed ergonomic setup

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Work urgency, accuracy and demands compel the computer professionals to spend longer hours before computers without giving importance to their health, especially body weight. Increase of body weight leads to improper Body Mass Index (BMI) may aggravate work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational-psychosocial stress. The objective of the study was to find out the effect of BMI on work related musculoskeletal discomforts and occupational stress of computer workers in a developed ergonomic setup.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A descriptive inferential study has been taken to analyze the effect of BMI on work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational-psychosocial stress. A total of 100 computer workers, aged 25-35 years randomly selected on convenience from software and BPO companies in Bangalore city, India for the participation in this study. BMI was calculated by taking the ratio of the subject's height (in meter) and weight (in kilogram). Work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress of the subjects was assessed by Cornell University's musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire (CMDQ) and occupational stress index (OSI) respectively as well as a relationship was checked with their BMI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significant association (p < 0.001) was seen among high BMI subjects with their increase scores of musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From this study, it has been concluded that, there is a significant effect of BMI in increasing of work related musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational-psychosocial stress among computer workers in a developed ergonomic setup.</p

Comparison of diurnal variations, gestational age and gender related differences in fetal heart rate (FHR) parameters between appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses in the home environment

Objective To assess the influence of gender, time of the day and gestational age on fetal heart rate (FHR) parameters between appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses using a portable fetal ECG monitor employed in the home setting. Methods We analysed and compared the antenatal FHR data collected in the home setting on 61 healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies from 24 weeks gestation. Of the 61 women, 31 had SGA fetuses (estimated fetal weight below the tenth gestational centile) and 30 were pregnant with AGA fetuses. FHR recordings were collected for up to 20 h. Two 90 min intervals were deliberately chosen retrospectively with respect to signal recording quality, one during day-time and one at night-time for comparison. Results Overall, success rate of the fetal abdominal ECG in the AGA fetuses was 75.7% compared to 48.6% in the SGA group. Based on randomly selected episodes of heart rate traces where recording quality exceeded 80% we were able to show a marginal difference between day and night-time recordings in AGA vs. SGA fetuses beyond 32 weeks of gestation. A selection bias in terms of covering different representation periods of fetal behavioural states cannot be excluded. In contrast to previous studies, we neither controlled maternal diet and activity nor measured maternal blood hormone and heart rate as all mothers were monitored in the home environment. Conclusion Based on clinically unremarkable, but statistically significant differences in the FHR parameters between the AGA and SGA group we suggest that further studies with large sample size are required to assess the clinical value of antenatal fetal ECG monitoring

Serum RANKL, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and RANKL/OPG ratio in nephrotic children

Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) play key roles in the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). The aim of our study was to determine whether the cumulative glucocorticoid dose (CGCS) in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) has any effect on the concentration of serum RANKL and OPG and the RANKL/OPG ratio. The study population consisted of 90 children with INS, aged 3–20 years, who were treated with GCS. These children were divided into two groups according to the CGCS: low (L) <1 g/kg body weight (BW) and high (H) ≥1 g/kg BW, respectively. The control group (C) consisted of 70 healthy children. RANKL concentration was observed to be significantly higher and OPG significantly lower in INS children than in the reference group: 0.21 (range 0.01–1.36) versus 0.15 (0–1.42) pmol/l (p < 0.05), respectively, and 3.76 (1.01–7.25) versus 3.92 (2.39–10.23) pmol/l (p < 0.05), respectively. The RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly higher in INS children (p < 0.01). The concentration of RANKL, similar to the RANKL/OPG ratio, was significantly higher in Group H children than in Group L children: 0.46 (0.02–1.36 ) versus 0.19 (0.01–1.25) (p < 0.01) and 0.14 (0.01–0.71) versus 0.05 (0.002–0.37) (p < 0.01), respectively. The concentration of OPG was similar in both groups. There was a positive correlation between CGCS and the concentration of sRANKL as well as the RANKL/OPG ratio (in both cases r = 0.33, p < 0.05). Based on these results, we suggest that long-term exposure to GCS results in a dose-dependent increase in serum RANKL concentration and the RANKL/OPG ratio, but not in the level of serum OPG

International Network for Comparison of HIV Neutralization Assays: The NeutNet Report II

BACKGROUND: Neutralizing antibodies provide markers for vaccine-induced protective immunity in many viral infections. By analogy, HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies induced by immunization may well predict vaccine effectiveness. Assessment of neutralizing antibodies is therefore of primary importance, but is hampered by the fact that we do not know which assay(s) can provide measures of protective immunity. An international collaboration (NeutNet) involving 18 different laboratories previously compared different assays using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and soluble CD4 (Phase I study). METHODS: In the present study (Phase II), polyclonal reagents were evaluated by 13 laboratories. Each laboratory evaluated nine plasmas against an 8 virus panel representing different genetic subtypes and phenotypes. TriMab, a mixture of three mAbs, was used as a positive control allowing comparison of the results with Phase I in a total of nine different assays. The assays used either uncloned virus produced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (Virus Infectivity Assays, VIA), or Env (gp160)-pseudotyped viruses (pseudoviruses, PSV) produced in HEK293T cells from molecular clones or from uncloned virus. Target cells included PBMC and genetically engineered cell lines in either single- or multiple-cycle infection format. Infection was quantified by using a range of assay read-outs including extra- or intra-cellular p24 antigen detection, luciferase, beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene expression. FINDINGS: Using TriMab, results of Phase I and Phase II were generally in agreement for six of the eight viruses tested and confirmed that the PSV assay is more sensitive than PBMC (p = 0.014). Comparisons with the polyclonal reagents showed that sensitivities were dependent on both virus and plasma. CONCLUSIONS: Here we further demonstrate clear differences in assay sensitivities that were dependent on both the neutralizing reagent and the virus. Consistent with the Phase I study, we recommend parallel use of PSV and VIA for vaccine evaluation