Von-Voss-Cherstvoy syndrome (DK-Focomelia): description of the first case in Spain and a literature review

Because hypercellularity is an important feature in acute serum sickness (AcSS), we quantified glomerular proliferation with immunoperoxidase staining using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA Mab) and studied its relationship with lymphocyte infiltration (M108 Mab). AcSS was induced in 31 New Zealand White rabbits; group A (n = 14), with proteinuria, sacrificed 6-8 days after immunization; group B (n = 10), without proteinuria, sacrificed 6-7 days after immunization; group C (n = 7), sacrificed prior to development of AcSS. Four normal rabbits were included as controls. Intraglomerular proliferation (PCNA-positive cells/glomerular cross section) was increased in group A (12.2 +/- SEM, 1.84) but not in groups B (0.93 +/- 0.17) and C (0.37 +/- 0.05), which were similar to controls (0.66 +/- 0.06). Lymphocyte infiltration (lymphs/glomerular cross section) increased with time and was more prominent in rabbits with proteinuria (1.9 +/- 0.21, P < 0.001 vs controls). Lymphocyte infiltration was correlated with proliferative activity (Spearman correlation, r = 0.67, P < 0.0001). There was correlation between the severity of glomerular deposition of IgG and C3 and glomerular proliferation and proteinuria. These studies demonstrate a chronological association between lymphocyte infiltration and proliferative activity in AcSS.     

Passive least-squares-type estimation algorithm for direct adaptive control

The standard least squares (LS) estimation algorithm is modified in such a way that it becomes passive. Therefore the scope of application of the LS algorithm is extended to those adaptive schemes whose convergence proof is based on passivity. The passive version of LS is presented in both continuous and discrete time.     

Local staging with CT of tumors of the upper urothelium

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of computerized tomography (CT) to stage transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. METHODS: 29 transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract submitted to nephroureterectomy were retrospectively evaluated. All 29 tumors had preoperative CT scans performed to stage the lesion. The pathological staging was compared to that of CT. RESULTS: 10 of the 29 tumors had CT evidence of tumor extension and 19 had localized noninvasive tumor on CT. Of the 10 patients with CT findings of tumor extension, 2 (20%) had superficial tumors and 8 (80%) had tumors that invaded into the adventitial fat, renal parenchyma or perirenal fat (pT3, pT4). Of the 19 patients with localized noninvasive tumor on CT, 13 (68%) had superficial tumors and 6 (32%) had pT3 or pT4 tumors. CT sensitivity for tumor invasion was 57% with a specificity of 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows that CT is of limited value in staging these tumors. When CT demonstrates direct tumor extension through the renal pelvic or ureteral wall, it is a sensitive indicator of high-stage tumor. However, the results obtained in low stage tumors must be viewed with caution.     

Evidence for Remote Effects of Dreissenid Mussels on the Amphipod Diporeia: Analysis of Lake Ontario Benthic Surveys, 1972–2003

The status of invasive dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis) and native amphipods (Diporeia spp.) in Lake Ontario was assessed in 2003 and compared with historical data. D. polymorpha (zebra mussels) were rarely observed in 2003, having been displaced by D. bugensis (quagga mussels). D. bugensis expanded its depth range from 38 m depth in 1995 to 174 m in 2003 and this dreissenid reached densities averaging 8,000/m² at all sites < 90 m. During the same time period, Diporeia populations almost completely disappeared from 0–90 m depth, continuing a declining trend from 1994–1997 reported in previous studies. The average density of Diporeia in the 30–90 m depth interval decreased from 1,380/m² to 63/m² between 1997 and 2003. Prior to 2003, areas deeper than 90 m represented a refuge for Diporeia, but even these deep populations decreased, with densities declining from 2,181/m2 in 1999 to 545/m2 in 2003. Two common hypotheses for the decline of Diporeia in the Great Lakes are food limitation and a toxin/pathogen associated with dreissenid pseudofeces. The Diporeia decline in deep waters preceded the expansion of D. bugensis to these depths, and suggests that shallow dreissenid populations remotely influence profundal habitats. This pattern of decline is consistent with mechanisms that act from some distance including nearshore dreissenid grazing and downslope transport of pseudofeces.     

Chattering-Free Sliding Mode Altitude Control for a Quad-Rotor Aircraft: Real-Time Application

Nowadays, the chattering problem in sliding mode control is one of the most important points to consider in real-time applications. To address this problem, a real-time robust altitude control scheme is proposed for the efficient performance of a Quad-rotor aircraft system using a continuous sliding mode control. The sensing of altitude measurement sensing is performed by a pressure sensor in order to obtain a robust altitude control of the vehicle in hovering mode both indoor and outdoor. The altitude measurement has the advantage of introducing this state information directly in the closed loop control which should be very useful for achieving robust stabilization of the altitude control. Accordingly, we propose a sliding mode control strategy without chattering. The sliding mode control proposed removes the chattering phenomenon by replacing a sign function with a high-slope saturation function. The control algorithm is derived from the Lyapunov stability theorem. Moreover, we have assumed that the actuators are able to respond quickly and accurately and we have not enforced limits on the control signals for a real-time application. Finally, to verify the satisfactory performance of proposed nonlinear control law, several simulations and experimental results of the Chattering-free sliding mode control for the Quad-rotor aircraft in the presence of bounded disturbances are presented.     

Wind Estimation for Accurate Airplane Path Following Applications

This paper explores the flight of small fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in a non-steady environment. The vulnerability of light airplanes to wind is analyzed and the effect of such perturbations on airplane performance is incorporated in the equations of motion. A straightforward wind computation approach, which relies on the difference between the predicted motion of the aircraft and the real motion measured by sensors, is presented in order to be used for a path following application. The analysis takes into account the effect of the noise in sensors measurements and in estimates of orientation and airspeed components. One approach to reducing noise in wind estimates is proposed based on on-line adaptation techniques. Parameter estimation with minimum-order design is obtained using tuning functions. Simulations are carried out representing real flight scenarios in which the wind field is not constant and the sensor measurements are imperfect.     

Fluorine-intercalated carbon fibers-I. structural and transport properties

The intercalation of fluorine in various types of carbon fibers (PAN-based or pitch-based, asreceived or high-temperature treated) has been investigated at room temperature in the presence of gaseous HF. Stage-1 compounds with C_2.5F to C₄F compositions are obtained for 10 bar F₂ pressures, whereas lower pressures (1 bar F₂) lead to stage-2 compounds. Although in higher stages (≥2) the electrical conductivity is generally larger than in the pristine fiber, in stage-1 compounds a drastic increase of resistivity is observed, ρ being more than one order of magnitude larger than that of the starting material. Finally, fluorine-intercalated GICs have been found appropriate to investigate the effects of disorder and reduced dimensionality.     

A color image watermarking framework for copyright protection of stereo images based on binocular just noticeable difference and LU decomposition

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The copyright protection of three-dimensional (3D) content is a matter of interest in artistic and creative works due to the rights of the holder for the...