Species composition, larval habitats, seasonal occurrence and distribution of potential malaria vectors and associated species of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Republic of Korea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Larval mosquito habitats of potential malaria vectors and related species of <it>Anopheles </it>from three provinces (Gyeonggi, Gyeongsangbuk, Chungcheongbuk Provinces) of the Republic of Korea were surveyed in 2007. This study aimed to determine the species composition, seasonal occurrence and distributions of <it>Anopheles </it>mosquitoes. Satellite derived normalized difference vegetation index data (NDVI) was also used to study the seasonal abundance patterns of <it>Anopheles </it>mosquitoes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mosquito larvae from various habitats were collected using a standard larval dipper or a white plastic larval tray, placed in plastic bags, and were preserved in 100% ethyl alcohol for species identification by PCR and DNA sequencing. The habitats in the monthly larval surveys included artificial containers, ground depressions, irrigation ditches, drainage ditches, ground pools, ponds, rice paddies, stream margins, inlets and pools, swamps, and uncultivated fields. All field-collected specimens were identified to species, and relationships among habitats and locations based on species composition were determined using cluster statistical analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In about 10,000 specimens collected, eight species of <it>Anopheles </it>belonging to three groups were identified: Hyrcanus Group - <it>Anopheles sinensis</it>, <it>Anopheles kleini</it>, <it>Anopheles belenrae</it>, <it>Anopheles pullus</it>, <it>Anopheles lesteri</it>, <it>Anopheles sineroides</it>; Barbirostris Group - <it>Anopheles koreicus</it>; and Lindesayi Group - <it>Anopheles lindesayi japonicus</it>. Only <it>An. sinensis </it>was collected from all habitats groups, while <it>An. kleini, An. pullus </it>and <it>An. sineroides </it>were sampled from all, except artificial containers. The highest number of <it>Anopheles </it>larvae was found in the rice paddies (34.8%), followed by irrigation ditches (23.4%), ponds (17.0%), and stream margins, inlets and pools (12.0%). <it>Anopheles sinensis </it>was the dominant species, followed by <it>An. kleini, An. pullus </it>and <it>An. sineroides</it>. The monthly abundance data of the <it>Anopheles </it>species from three locations (Munsan, Jinbo and Hayang) were compared against NDVI and NDVI anomalies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The species composition of <it>Anopheles </it>larvae varied in different habitats at various locations. <it>Anopheles </it>populations fluctuated with the seasonal dynamics of vegetation for 2007. Multi-year data of mosquito collections are required to provide a better characterization of the abundance of these insects from year to year, which can potentially provide predictive capability of their population density based on remotely sensed ecological measurements.</p

Cerebral aneurysm exclusion by CT angiography based on subarachnoid hemorrhage pattern: a retrospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage for whom CT angiography alone can exclude ruptured aneurysms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational retrospective review was carried out of all consecutive patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage who underwent both CT angiography and catheter angiography to exclude an aneurysm. CT angiography negative cases (no aneurysm) were classified according to their CT hemorrhage pattern as "aneurismal", "perimesencephalic" or as "no-hemorrhage."</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two hundred and forty-one patients were included. A CT angiography aneurysm detection sensitivity and specificity of 96.4% and 96.0% were observed. All 35 cases of perimesencephalic or no-hemorrhage out of 78 CT angiography negatives also had negative angiography findings.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CT angiography is self-reliant to exclude ruptured aneurysms when either a perimesencephalic hemorrhage or no-hemorrhage pattern is identified on the CT within a week of symptom onset.</p

The Effect of Location and Post-treatment on the Microstructure of EBM-Built Alloy 718

Additive manufacturing (AM) of Ni-based superalloys such as Alloy 718 may obviate the need for difficult machining and welding operations associated with geometrically intricate parts, thus potentially expanding design possibilities and facilitating cost-effective manufacture of complex components. However, processing AM builds completely free from defects, which may impair mechanical properties such as fatigue and ductility, is challenging. Anisotropic properties, microstructural heterogeneities and local formation of undesired phases are additional concerns that have motivated post-treatment of AM builds. This work investigates the microstructural changes associated with post-treatment of Alloy 718 specimens produced by Electron Beam Melting (EBM) for as-built microstructures at 3 build heights: near base plate, in the middle of build and near the top of the build. Two different post-treatment conditions, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) alone and a combined HIP with solutionising and two-step aging were examined and compared to the results for the as-built condition. The influence of various post-treatments on minor phase distributions (δ, γ″, carbides), overall porosity, longitudinal grain widths and Vickers microhardness was considered. The HIP treatment led to significant reduction in overall porosity and dissolution of δ phase, which led to appreciable grain growth for both post-treatment conditions. The variation in hardness noted as a function of build height for the as-built specimens was eliminated after post-treatment. Overall, the hardness was found to decrease after HIP and increase after the full HIP, solutionising and aging treatment, which was attributed to dissolution of γ″ during HIP and its re-precipitation in subsequent heat treatment steps

The Effect of Location and Post-treatment on the Microstructure of EBM-Built Alloy 718

Additive manufacturing (AM) of Ni-based superalloys such as Alloy 718 may obviate the need for difficult machining and welding operations associated with geometrically intricate parts, thus potentially expanding design possibilities and facilitating cost-effective manufacture of complex components. However, processing AM builds completely free from defects, which may impair mechanical properties such as fatigue and ductility, is challenging. Anisotropic properties, microstructural heterogeneities and local formation of undesired phases are additional concerns that have motivated post-treatment of AM builds. This work investigates the microstructural changes associated with post-treatment of Alloy 718 specimens produced by Electron Beam Melting (EBM) for as-built microstructures at 3 build heights: near base plate, in the middle of build and near the top of the build. Two different post-treatment conditions, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) alone and a combined HIP with solutionising and two-step aging were examined and compared to the results for the as-built condition. The influence of various post-treatments on minor phase distributions (δ, γ″, carbides), overall porosity, longitudinal grain widths and Vickers microhardness was considered. The HIP treatment led to significant reduction in overall porosity and dissolution of δ phase, which led to appreciable grain growth for both post-treatment conditions. The variation in hardness noted as a function of build height for the as-built specimens was eliminated after post-treatment. Overall, the hardness was found to decrease after HIP and increase after the full HIP, solutionising and aging treatment, which was attributed to dissolution of γ″ during HIP and its re-precipitation in subsequent heat treatment steps