Dynamic three-dimensional shoulder MRI during active motion for investigation of rotator cuff diseases

Background MRI is the standard methodology in diagnosis of rotator cuff diseases. However, many patients continue to have pain despite treatment, and MRI of a static unloaded shoulder seems insufficient for best diagnosis and treatment. This study evaluated if Dynamic MRI provides novel kinematic data that can be used to improve the understanding, diagnosis and best treatment of rotator cuff diseases. Methods Dynamic MRI provided real-time 3D image series and was used to measure changes in the width of subacromial space, superior-inferior translation and anterior-posterior translation of the humeral head relative to the glenoid during active abduction. These measures were investigated for consistency with the rotator cuff diseases classifications from standard MRI. Results The study included: 4 shoulders with massive rotator cuff tears, 5 shoulders with an isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tear, 5 shoulders with tendinopathy and 6 normal shoulders. A change in the width of subacromial space greater than 4mm differentiated between rotator cuff diseases with tendon tears (massive cuff tears and supraspinatus tear) and without tears (tendinopathy) (p = 0.012). The range of the superior-inferior translation was higher in the massive cuff tears group (6.4mm) than in normals (3.4mm) (p = 0.02). The range of the anterior-posterior translation was higher in the massive cuff tears (9.2 mm) and supraspinatus tear (9.3 mm) shoulders compared to normals (3.5mm) and tendinopathy (4.8mm) shoulders (p = 0.05). Conclusion The Dynamic MRI enabled a novel measure; ‘Looseness’, i.e. the translation of the humeral head on the glenoid during an abduction cycle. Looseness was better able at differentiating different forms of rotator cuff disease than a simple static measure of relative glenohumeral position

On the predictive behaviour of the Indian monsoon in June 2009

Francis and Gadgil1 have made many interesting correlations of meteorological variables and events, and have proposed that unfavourable SST (sea surface temperature)gradient between the Bay of Bengal and EEIO (eastern equatorial Indian ocean) led to the large deficit of monsoon rainfall in 2009. In their own words, ‘. . . a drought was not expected from the predictions generated by the leading centres in the world using complex models of the coupled ocean–atmosphere system. Models had generally predicted above average rainfall for June–July–August (JJA) over most of the Indian region, which is almost the opposite to what was observed’

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Department of ChemistryRu-based sensitizers (N719, N3, black dye, etc.) have been developed continuously and reached an efficiency of ~11.7% under AM 1.5G irradiation (1000 W/m2). However, these Ru-based sensitizers are not adequate to commercialization because of a stability issue and a need of thick TiO2 film for a high power conversion efficiency (PCE). Therefore, we designed and synthesized total four organic sensitizers by varying functional groups ondonor moieties to understand the structure-property relationship of the solar cell devices, ranging from the stability to the efficiency in thin TiO2 film system. First, all the sensitizers were composed of dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene (DTT) as a ??-conjugated bridge for a strong stability against external environment. Second, three sensitizers (TP-1, TP-2 and TP-3) containedthe proton (control group), the methoxygroup, and the carbazole group on donor moieties respectively. TP-2 with methoxy groups achieved thehighest PCE of 8.70%and exhibited stronger thermal and light stability than TP-1 and TP-3which can be attributed to the good electron donating ability. However, TP-2 showed the lowest water stability.On the other hands, TP-3 with carbazole groups showed a relatively low PCE of 7.40%.TP-3 alsoexhibited weak thermal and light stabilitybecause 3,6-position of carbazole were easily oxidized by external energy but achieved the highest water stabilitypresumably bythe strong hydrophobicity of carbazole groups. Based on the observation, we postulated protecting role of functional groups on donors (TPA) and themselves was vital to determine the stability.Therefore, TP-4 with a 2-ethylhexyloxy group was designed and synthesized for protecting oxygen on alkoxy group. As a result, TP-4 achieved high stabilitiesin terms of thermal, light and water stability and aPCE as high as 7.80%due to the strong electron donating ability as shown in the methoxy group of TP-2.ope

Probing Cosmic-ray Propagation with TeV Gamma Rays from the Sun Using the HAWC Observatory

Cosmic rays in the inner solar system are subject to deflection by both the geomagnetic and interplanetary magnetic fields, and simultaneously interact with the Sun's photosphere resulting in the production of gamma rays. This phenomenon can be studied by observing the deficit ("shadow") in the cosmic ray flux from the direction of the Sun and searching for an excess photon signal above the isotropic background. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory in Mexico has been taking data on the solar disk at TeV energies since the end of 2014. We present our first efforts to estimate the luminosity of TeV gamma rays from the Sun which can be used to place limits on the production mechanisms, including astrophysical processes and beyond the standard model predictions.Comment: Presented at the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2017), Bexco, Busan, Korea. See arXiv:1708.02572 for all HAWC contribution

SIM-DSP: A DSP-Enhanced CAD Platform for Signal Integrity Macromodeling and Simulation

Macromodeling-Simulation process for signal integrity verifications has become necessary for the high speed circuit system design. This paper aims to introduce a “VLSI Signal Integrity Macromodeling and Simulation via Digital Signal Processing Techniques” framework (known as SIM-DSP framework), which applies digital signal processing techniques to facilitate the SI verification process in the pre-layout design phase. Core identification modules and peripheral (pre-/post-)processing modules have been developed and assembled to form a verification flow. In particular, a single-step discrete cosine transform truncation (DCTT) module has been developed for modeling-simulation process. In DCTT, the response modeling problem is classified as a signal compression problem, wherein the system response can be represented by a truncated set of non-pole based DCT bases, and error can be analyzed through Parseval’s theorem. Practical examples are given to show the applicability of our proposed framework

Neutrino and anti-neutrino energy loss rates due to iron isotopes suitable for core-collapse simulations

Accurate estimate of neutrino energy loss rates are needed for the study of the late stages of the stellar evolution, in particular for cooling of neutron stars and white dwarfs. The energy spectra of neutrinos and antineutrinos arriving at the Earth can also provide useful information on the primary neutrino fluxes as well as neutrino mixing scenario (it is to be noted that these supernova neutrinos are emitted after the supernova explosion which is a much later stage of stellar evolution than that considered in this paper). Recently an improved microscopic calculation of weak-interaction mediated rates for iron isotopes was introduced using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) theory. Here I present for the first time the fine-grid calculation of the neutrino and anti-neutrino energy loss rates due to $^{54,55,56}$Fe in stellar matter. In the core of massive stars isotopes of iron, $^{54,55,56}$Fe, are considered to be key players in decreasing the electron-to-baryon ratio ($Y_{e}$) mainly via electron capture on these nuclide. Core-collapse simulators may find this calculation suitable for interpolation purposes and for necessary incorporation in the stellar evolution codes. The calculated cooling rates are also compared with previous calculations.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures and 1 table. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1108.4569, arXiv:1203.4675, arXiv:1203.434