MR imaging for diagnostic evaluation of encephalopathy in the newborn.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is used with increasing frequency to evaluate the neonatal brain because it can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information that is needed for optimal treatment and appropriate counseling. Special care must be taken in preparing encephalopathic neonates for an MR study, transporting them from the intensive care unit, monitoring their vital signs, and optimizing MR sequences and protocols. Moreover, to accurately interpret the findings, specific knowledge is needed about the normal MR imaging appearances of the physiologic processes of myelination, cell migration, and sulcation, as well as patterns of injury, in the neonatal brain at various stages of gestational development. Hypoxic-ischemic injury, the most common cause of neonatal encephalopathy, has characteristic appearances that depend on the severity and duration of the insult as well as the stage of brain development. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging and MR spectroscopy depict abnormalities earlier than do conventional MR imaging sequences. However, diffusion-weighted imaging, if performed in the first 24 hours after the insult, might lead to underestimation of the extent of injury. When the MR findings are atypical, the differential diagnosis of neonatal encephalopathy also should include congenital and metabolic disorders and infectious diseases. Despite recent advances in the MR imaging-based characterization of these conditions, the clinical history must be borne in mind to achieve an accurate diagnosis

An online analytical processing multi-dimensional data warehouse for malaria data

Malaria is a vector-borne disease that contributes substantially to the global burden of morbidity and mortality. The management of malaria-related data from heterogeneous, autonomous, and distributed data sources poses unique challenges and requirements. Although online data storage systems exist that address specific malaria-related issues, a globally integrated online resource to address different aspects of the disease does not exist. In this article, we describe the design, implementation, and applications of a multidimensional, online analytical processing data warehouse, named the VecNet Data Warehouse (VecNet-DW). It is the first online, globally-integrated platform that provides efficient search, retrieval and visualization of historical, predictive, and static malaria-related data, organized in data marts. Historical and static data are modelled using star schemas, while predictive data are modelled using a snowflake schema. The major goals, characteristics, and components of the DW are described along with its data taxonomy and ontology, the external data storage systems and the logical modelling and physical design phases. Results are presented as screenshots of a Dimensional Data browser, a Lookup Tables browser, and a Results Viewer interface. The power of the DW emerges from integrated querying of the different data marts and structuring those queries to the desired dimensions, enabling users to search, view, analyse, and store large volumes of aggregated data, and responding better to the increasing demands of users

Electronic structure of NiS_{1-x}Se_x

We investigate the electronic structure of the metallic NiS$_{1-x}$Se$_x$ system using various electron spectroscopic techniques. The band structure results do not describe the details of the spectral features in the experimental spectrum, even for this paramagnetic metallic phase. However, a parameterized many-body multi-band model is found to be successful in describing the Ni~2$p$ core level and valence band, within the same model. The asymmetric line shape as well as the weak intensity feature in the Ni~2$p$ core level spectrum has been ascribed to extrinsic loss processes in the system. The presence of satellite features in the valence band spectrum shows the existence of the lower Hubbard band, deep inside the $pd$ metallic regime, consistent with the predictions of the dynamical mean field theory.Comment: To be published in Physical Review B, 18 pages and 5 figure

Mechanical and Electronic Properties of MoS2_2 Nanoribbons and Their Defects

We present our study on atomic, electronic, magnetic and phonon properties of one dimensional honeycomb structure of molybdenum disulfide (MoS$_2$) using first-principles plane wave method. Calculated phonon frequencies of bare armchair nanoribbon reveal the fourth acoustic branch and indicate the stability. Force constant and in-plane stiffness calculated in the harmonic elastic deformation range signify that the MoS$_2$ nanoribbons are stiff quasi one dimensional structures, but not as strong as graphene and BN nanoribbons. Bare MoS$_2$ armchair nanoribbons are nonmagnetic, direct band gap semiconductors. Bare zigzag MoS$_2$ nanoribbons become half-metallic as a result of the (2x1) reconstruction of edge atoms and are semiconductor for minority spins, but metallic for the majority spins. Their magnetic moments and spin-polarizations at the Fermi level are reduced as a result of the passivation of edge atoms by hydrogen. The functionalization of MoS$_2$ nanoribbons by adatom adsorption and vacancy defect creation are also studied. The nonmagnetic armchair nanoribbons attain net magnetic moment depending on where the foreign atoms are adsorbed and what kind of vacancy defect is created. The magnetization of zigzag nanoribbons due to the edge states is suppressed in the presence of vacancy defects.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, first submitted at November 23th, 200

Brain and ventricular volume in patients with syndromic and complex craniosynostosis

textabstractPurpose: Brain abnormalities in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis can either be a direct result of the genetic defect or develop secondary to compression due to craniosynostosis, raised ICP or hydrocephalus. Today it is unknown whether children with syndromic craniosynostosis have normal brain volumes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate brain and ventricular volume measurements in patients with syndromic and complex craniosynostosis. This knowledge will improve our understanding of brain development and the origin of raised intracranial pressure in syndromic craniosynostosis. Methods: Brain and ventricular volumes were calculated from MRI scans of patients with craniosynostosis, 0.3 to 18.3 years of age. Brain volume was compared to age matched controls from the literature. All patient charts were reviewed to look for possible predictors of brain and ventricular volume. Results: Total brain volume in syndromic craniosynostosis equals that of normal controls, in the age range of 1 to 12 years. Brain growth occurred particularly in the first 5 years of age, after which it stabilized. Within the studied population, ventricular volume was significantly larger in Apert syndrome compared to all other syndromes and in patients with a Chiari I malformation. Conclusions: Patients with syndromic craniosynostosis have a normal total brain volume compared to normal controls. Increased ventricular volume is associated with Apert syndrome and Chiari I malformations, which is most commonly found in Crouzon syndrome. We advice screening of all patients with Apert and Crouzon syndrome for the development of enlarged ventricle volume and the presence of a Chiari I malformation

Організаційно-економічне забезпечення розвитку електронної промисловості

Розкрито питання організаційно-економічного забезпечення електронної промисловості в рамках організаційно-економічного механізму розвитку електронної промисловості на інноваційній основі, який регламентує діяльність державних, галузевих і підприємницьких структур, що забезпечують розвиток електронної промисловості. Ключові слова: електронна промисловість, організаційне забезпечення розвитку електронної промисловості, організаційно-економічний механізм, інноваційний розвиток.  Раскрываются вопросы организационно-экономического обеспечения электронной промышленности в рамках организационно-экономического механизма развития электронной промышленности на инновационной основе, который регламентирует деятельность государственных, отраслевых и предпринимательских структур, обеспечивающих развитие электронной промышленности. Ключевые слова: электронная промышленность, организационное обеспечение развития электронной промышленности, организационно-экономический механизм, инновационное развитие.  The paper deals with the issues of organizational and economic support of electronic industry in the framework of the organizational and economic mechanism of the above industry development on the basis of innovation. It regulates the activities of the government, sectoral and business organizations, which provide the development of the electronic industry. The proposalsare as follows: to work out a State Program of Development of the Electronic Industry, andto create a sectoral information system, a cluster “development of the electronic industry”, holding the electronic industry, a sectoral technology transfer system, training educational and scientific centres for the engineering staff. It is shown that at a corporate level the development of electronic industry is promoted by establishment of production facilities with the use of well-known brands and foreign electronic productions, technologies transfer with consideration of supply channels, introduction of business market mechanisms, IPC standards, and production information systems PDM/PLM. A specific feature of these measures is that to develop the issues of financial and economic, technical and technological, innovation and market support of the electronic industry development the methods of grouping, generalization of economic indicators received from the enterprises of this industry, and economic mathematical modelling using a correlation regression and structural logical analysis have been used. The application of these methods suggests that the use of the organizational and economic support contributes to promising development of the electronic industry in Ukraine which consists in formation of the core of the electronic industry and its integration in the world electronic space in the future. Keywords: electronic industry, organizational support of electronic industry development, organizational and economic mechanism, innovation-based development

Phaeoviruses discovered in kelp (Laminariales)

Phaeoviruses are latent double-stranded DNA viruses that insert their genomes into those of their brown algal (Phaeophyceae) hosts. So far these viruses are known only from members of the Ectocarpales, which are small and short-lived macroalgae. Here we report molecular and morphological evidence for a new Phaeovirus cluster, referred to as sub-group C, infecting kelps (Laminariales) of the genera Laminaria and Saccharina, which are ecologically and commercially important seaweeds. Epifluorescence and TEM observations indicate that the Laminaria digitata Virus (LdigV), the type species of sub-group C, targets the host nucleus for its genome replication, followed by gradual degradation of the chloroplast and assembly of virions in the cytoplasm of both vegetative and reproductive cells. This study is the first to describe phaeoviruses in kelp. In the field, these viruses infected two thirds of their host populations; however, their biological impact remains unknown