Stabilization of nonlinear systems with a slowly varying parameter by a control Lyapunov function.

Based on a control Lyapunov function (CLF) strategy, a novel approach for designing a controller for a slowly varying nonlinear system is proposed. The approach may be thought of as being in between the time-invariant and time-varying CLF techniques. If the time-invariant technique is used to control a slowly varying system, stability will not be guaranteed.

Linear transmission properties of a vertically stacked multiring resonator with a defect.

The linear characteristics of a vertically stacked multiring resonator (VMR) that can support a photonic bandgap with a defect located at the middle of the structure are investigated numerically. Initially, the spectral transfer characteristics of the uniform structure are studied. Then, the transmission properties of the VMR structure possessing a defect are investigated.

Pretreatment of spruce and oak by N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) for efficient conversion of their cellulose to ethanol.

Pretreatment of softwood spruce and hardwood oak with an industrial cellulose solvent, N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), was investigated prior to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to ethanol. The pretreatments were carried out at 90, 110 and 130 degrees C for 1-3 h with 85% NMMO solution, followed by non-isothermal simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (NSSF). This NSSF included hydrolysis with cellulase and beta-glucosidase for 24 h at 45 degrees C, followed by continuous saccharification and fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 37 degrees C for 3 days.

Cytologic phenotypes of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia-a single center study.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant disorder of lymphoid precursor cells, which could be classified according to morphological and cytochemical methods as well as immunophenotyping. Twenty patients with ALL, who had been referred to the Children's Medical Center Hospital, during the year 2007, were enrolled in this study in order to evaluate the morphologic and immunophenotypic profile of these patients. Cytologic analysis of blood and bone marrow samples revealed that the frequency of ALL-L1 was 70%, followed by ALL-L2 and ALL-L3.

Low saturation fluence antiresonant quantum dot SESAMs for MIXSEL integration.

Quantum dot (QD) semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) offer a larger design freedom than standard quantum well (QW) SESAMs. QD density, QD growth conditions, number of QD-layers, and post-growth annealing were optimized to independently reduce the saturation fluence and adjust the modulation depth for an antiresonant SESAM that supported for the first time passive modelocking of a vertical external-cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) with the same spot size on gain and absorber. The same spot size is a requirement for the modelocked integrated external-cavity surface emitting laser (MIXSEL) concept which enables wafer-scale fabrication of the ultrafast semiconductor laser.

Clinical evaluation of antimicrobial peptide [(99m)Tc/Tricine/HYNIC(0)]ubiquicidin 29-41 as a human-specific infection imaging agent.

Introduction: Ubiquicidin (UBI) 29-41 is a cationic synthetic antimicrobial peptide fragment that binds preferentially with the anionic microbial cell membrane at the site of infection. This study was conducted to evaluate the potentiality of [(99m)Tc/Tricine/HYNIC(0)]UBI 29-41 prepared from lyophilized kits as an infection imaging agent in humans.

Methods: Seven patients (5 males and 2 females; mean age=55 years; age range=35-75 years) with suspected bone or soft-tissue infections participated in this study.

Mutation of Streptomyces griseoflavus in order to obtain high yield desferrioxamine producing fused cells.

Streptomyces griseoflavus PTCC 1130 was mutated by UV irradiation. Two mutants were obtained (C7031 and S7011). These two mutants were able to produce desferioxamine.

Ischaemic postconditioning reduces peroxide formation, cytokine expression and leukocyte activation in reperfusion injury after abdominal aortic surgery in rat model.

Objective: We studied the protective effects of ischaemic postconditioning (PS) on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the lower extremities in a rat model of abdominal aortic intervention. We aimed to examine the evoked oxidative stress, cytokine expression and leukocyte activation after revascularisation surgery.

Methods: Anesthetized animals (48 Whistar rats) underwent a 60 min infrarenal aorta cross-clamping.

Reperfusion injury and inflammatory responses following acute lower limb revascularization surgery.

After revascularization of an acute arterial occlusion the development of a serious ischaemic-reperfusion injury is a menacing challenge and a hard task in peripheral vascular surgery. A whale of evidences point to oxidative stress, as an important trigger, in the complex chain of events leading to reperfusion injury. In the present study authors aimed to examine oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant-prooxidant state and leukocyte adhesion molecules (CD11a and CD18) expression following acute revascularization surgery of lower limb.

Effects of pioglitazone on erectile dysfunction in sildenafil poor-responders: a randomized, controlled study.

Purpose: The effects of pioglitazone on sildenafil responsiveness in men with erectile dysfunction(ED) and a history of poor response to sildenafil were assessed.

Methods: In a double-blinded study,38 men aged 47 +/- 1.5 years with moderate-to severe ED and poor response to sildenafil were randomly assigned to take a premedication of pioglitazone 30 mg (n=19) or placebo (n=19) once daily for 9 weeks along with on-demand use of sildenafil during the last month of pioglitazone treatment.

Isolation and purification of rat islet cells by flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry has been employed as a method to study homogeneity of isolated islet subpopulations. After collagenase digestion of rat pancreas and elutriation of tissue fragments, islets were isolated and dissociated, and cells were analyzed and sorted according to their low forward angle light scattering properties by using automated flow cytometry. A standardized procedure was developed for the preparation of rat islet cell grafts for purification of islet cells.

Preclinical evaluation of [99mTc/EDDA/tricine/HYNIC0, 1-Nal3, Thr8]-octreotide as a new analogue in the detection of somatostatin-receptor-positive tumors.

Purpose: Radiolabeled somatostatin analogues are important tools for the in vivo localization and targeted radionuclide therapy of somatostatin-receptor-positive tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new somatostatin analogue designed for the labeling with (99m)Tc: [6-hydrazinopyridine-3-carboxylic acid (HYNIC(0)), 1-Nal(3), Thr(8)]-octreotide ([HYNIC]-NATE), using ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (EDDA) and tricine as coligands.

Methods: Synthesis was preformed on a solid phase using a standard Fmoc strategy.

Paraoxonase phenotype distribution in a healthy Iranian population.

Human serum paraoxonase (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated esterase that protects against organophosphate neurotoxicity, and is proposed to play a role in lipid metabolism and the onset of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, paraoxonase activities and phenotype distribution in serum of 132 healthy Iranian individuals aged 17-68 years were assessed using dual substrate method. In the study population, a wide interindividual variability (up to 15-fold) of paraoxonase activity was found.

Frequency of paraoxonase 192/55 polymorphism in an Iranian population.

Paraoxonase (PON1) is a serum enzyme that plays an important role in prevention of atherosclerosis and also protects against organophosphate-induced neurotoxicity. PON1 displays a high variability in human populations. In this study, PON1-192 and -55 polymorphisms and correlation to serum PON1 activity were investigated in 132 healthy Iranian individuals from Isfahan province.

Confirmation of hydrazone formation in HYNIC-peptide conjugate preparation, and its hydrolysis during labeling with (99m)Tc.

Because of its monodenticity, 6-hydrazinopyridine-3-carboxylic acid (HYNIC) is of interest as a bifunctional chelator for labeling peptide with (99m)Tc. Here, we confirm the formation of hydrazone in HYNIC-conjugated peptide. The preparative HPLC was used to purify the HYNIC conjugated somatostatin-based peptide and the result showed two peaks, even after two consecutive purifications.

Tympanometric volume: a predictor of success of tympanoplasty in children.

Objectives: To determine if preoperative tympanometric volumes have any predictive value in the success of pediatric tympanoplasty.

Study Design And Setting: Retrospective chart review in a tertiary referral center.

Main Outcome Measures: Success was defined as no evidence of tympanic membrane perforation via otoscopic examination and normal aeration of the middle ear.

Interaction of papaverine with the enalapril-induced cough in guinea pig.

Background: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) like enalapril are extremely effective in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. One of the most important side-effects of these drugs which can lead to cessation of therapy is a persistant dry cough, induced because of increased bradykinin levels in the lung. Although antitussive alkaloids like codeine are effective in suppressing this cough, they too present a wide range of side-effects, most notably addiction.

Effect of sildenafil (Viagra) on memory retention of a passive avoidance response in rats.

The effects of an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of different doses of sildenafil, a cyclic guanosin monophosphate (cGMP) specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) inhibitor, on memory retention of young (2-month-old) and middle aged (12-month-old) male Wistar rats were investigated.

The role of integrin-linked kinase in liver wound healing.

Liver wound healing is an integrated process in which hepatic stellate cells play a major role. We hypothesized that the cellextracellular signaling protein integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is important in transducing signals from the extracellular matrix to stellate cells and thus plays a critical role in stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis during liver injury. Liver injury and subsequent stellate cell activation led to a 3-fold increase in ILK expression and increased kinase activity.

Palmar skin conductance compared to a developed stress score and to noxious and awakening stimuli on patients in anaesthesia.

Background: The number of fluctuations in the skin conductance per s (NFSC) as a measure of the sympathetic nervous system may be a tool for monitoring physiological stress during surgery and general anaesthesia. The purpose of this study was to find the sensitivity and specificity of the NFSC when compared to a peroperative clinical stress score. Moreover, different patterns of skin conductance responses were compared with the BIS score to find out if the mean level of skin conductance (SC) and NFSC monitoring could differentiate between awakening and noxious stimuli.

Histochemical assessment of nitric oxide synthase activity in aortic endothelial cells of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation of blood vessels is a common feature in diabetes, but the exact underlying mechanisms have not yet been clarified. In present study, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of aortic rings were evaluated in vitro in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic and age-matched control rats. Moreover, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity of aortic endothelial cells was assessed in both diabetic and healthy rats using histochemical staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase activity.

Coexistence of at least three distinct beta-adrenoceptors in human internal mammary artery.

The internal mammary artery (IMA) is currently the preferred conduit for myocardial revascularization. However, perioperative vasospasm and a hypoperfusion state during maximal exercise may limit its use as a bypass graft. The mechanism of spasm has not been clearly defined.

Atypical beta-adrenoceptors of rat thoracic aorta.

The possible existence of atypical beta-adrenoceptors in vascular smooth muscle of rat isolated thoracic aorta was investigated. Isoprenaline (10(-8)-10(-4) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation of phenylephrine (10(-5) M) precontracted rings of endothelium-denuded rat aorta in vitro. Isoprenaline-induced relaxation was resistant to blockade by atenolol (10(-6) M).