Experiences and benefits of positron emitted tomography-computed tomography （PET-CT） combined with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） in the diagnosis of Stage 1 sarcoidosis

Background： The purpose of this study was to describe our experiences and analyze the benefits of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） combined with positron emitted tomography （PET）-computed tomography （CT） in the diagnosis of patients with early （Stage 1） sarcoidosis. Methods： From 1995 to 2006, seven patients （two males, five females）, with ages ranging from 26 to 58 years, were impressed with Stage 1 sarcoidosis （mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes involvements without lung involvement） by histological examination of intrathoracic lymph nodes （LNs） and/or lung parenchyma taken＇from VATS biopsy. Three of them received PET or PET-CT evaluation. VATS was approached from the right and left side in one and six patients, respectively, according to the locations of their lesions. Results： All the VATS biopsied LNs or lung specimens were adequate for establishing diagnosis. Mediastinal LNs were taken from Groups 3, 4 in four, Group 7 in two, and Groups 5, 6 in one of them. Hilar LNs biopsies were performed in four cases. Lung biopsy was performed in all but two cases. All of them were expressed pathologically or radiologically as Stage 1 sarcoidosis. PET-CT revealed high emission signals over these affected LNs. These patients received oral steroid treatment or follow up only. All of them were followed up from 5 months to 11 years with satisfactory results. Conclusion： VATS biopsy is a minimally invasive, safe and effective procedure. It can be used as a diagnostic altermative of transbronchial lung biopsy （TBLB）, and can harvest larger and more areas of specimens than mediastinoscopy for staging patients with sarcoidosis. PET-CT can provide us more accurate information about the characteristics and localization of these lesions before biopsy. VATS combined with PET-CT can provide more accurate and earlier diagnosis of patients with unknown intrathoracic lesions, including the sarcoidosis.     

A framework of region-based dynamic image fusion

INTRODUCTION Image fusion is a sub-area of more general topics of Information Fusion and Data Fusion and deals with static images and dynamic images (image sequences or video data) (Maitre and Bloch, 1997). By com-bining the information from a range of image data obtained by different sensors or the same sensor with different imaging schemes, the composite image al-ways presents the complementary information of different input images at the same time and provides us the integrated descr…     

An XPath-based OWL storage model for effective ontology management in Semantic Web environment

With the rapid growth of the Web, the volume of information on the Web is increasing exponentially. However, information on the current Web is only understandable to humans, and this makes precise information retrieval difficult. To solve this problem, the Semantic Web was proposed. We must use ontology languages that can assign data the semantics for realizing the Semantic Web. One of the representative ontology languages is the Web ontology language OWL, adopted as a recommendation by the World-Wide Web Consortium （W3C）. OWL includes hierarchical structural information between classes or prop- erties. Therefore, an efficient OWL storage model that considers a hierarchical structure for effective information retrieval on the Semantic Web is required. In this paper we suggest an XPath-based OWL storage （XPOS） model, which includes hierarchical information between classes or properties in XPath form, and enables intuitive and effective information retrieval. Also, we show the comparative evaluation results for the performance of the XPOS model, Sesame, and the XML file system-based storage （XFSS） model, in terms of query processing and ontology updating.     

What 37,000 citations can tell

A longitudinal study at the TUT （Tshwane University of Technology） used citation analysis to analyze the reference lists of 480 Master＇s and Doctoral （M and D） theses and dissertations submitted at TUT between 2004 and 2007. The purpose was to determine what types of information sources M and D students at TUT use most, how the patterns of use differ across the 7 faculties of the university, and to what extent the LIS （Library and Information Services） keeps or provides access to the journals that are mostly used by M and D students. More than 37,000 citations were analyzed over the 4-year period. The study found several similarities but also some distinct differences in the use of information sources across the 7 faculties of TUT. It also identified more than 60 different information sources used by M and D students. With regard to journal use, the study found that out of 3,641 different journals cited, most journals were only cited once over a period of 4 years. However, a small percentage of journals were highly and/or frequently cited.     

Infection frequency of Epstein-Barr virus in subgingival samples from patients with different periodontal status and its correlation with clinical parameters

Objective： To detect the infection frequencies of different genotypes of Epstein-Barr virus （EBV） in subgingival samples from chronic periodontitis （CP） patients, and to discuss the correlation between infection with EBV and clinical parameters. Methods： Nested-PCR assay was used to detect EBV-1 and EBV-2 in subgingival samples from 65 CP patients, 65 gingivitis patients and 24 periodontally healthy individuals. The amplicons were further identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis （RFLP） with endonucleases Afa I and Stu I. Clinical parameters mainly included bleeding on probing （BOP）, probing depth （PD）, attachment loss （AL） in six sites of the dentition. Results： In CP patients, gingivitis and periodontally healthy individuals, the infection frequencies were 47.7%, 24.6% and 16.7% for EBV-1, and 15.4%, 7.7% and 0% for EBV-2, respectively. In 2 out of the 65 CP patients co-infection of EBV-1 and EBV-2 was found. The positive rate of EBV-1 in chronic periodontitis patients was higher than that in gingivitis patients （P=-0.01） and periodontally healthy individuals （P=-0.01）. But no significant difference was shown in EBV-1 frequency between gingivitis patients and healthy individuals （P〉0.05） or in EBV-2 frequency among the three groups （P〉0.05）. In CP patients, higher mean BOP value was found in EBV-1 or EBV-2 positive patients than that in EBV negative ones （P〈0.01）, but with no statistical difference in the mean PD or AL value between EBV positive and negative patients （P〉0.05）. After initial periodontal treatment, 12 out of the 21 EBV-1 positive CP patients did not show detectable EBV-1 in subgingival samples. Conclusion： nPCR plus RFLP analysis is a sensitive, specific and stable method to detect EBV-1 and EBV-2 in subgingival samples. Subgingival infection with EBV-1 is closely associated with chronic periodontitis. Infection of EBV in subgingival samples was correlated with BOP.     

Measuring success： Evaluating educational programs

This paper reveals a new evaluation model, which enables educational program and project managers to evaluate their programs with a simple and easy to understand approach. The ＂index of success model＂ is comprised of five parameters that enable to focus on and evaluate both the implementation and results of an educational program. The integration of these parameters forms a complete and comprehensive picture, which in turn provides the most information on the success or failure of the program. The parameters are： （1） the relevance index, referring to an evaluation of predefined objectives; （2） the efficiency index, referring to the fiscal efficiency of the program; （3） the effectiveness index evaluating the attainment of the program＇s objectives; （4） the impact index gauging the effect on the consumers, for whom the program is undertaken; and （5） the final parameter is the program＇s sustainability index. Since Israel＇s education strategy currently leans towards site-based monitoring and evaluation, such a model can potentially be of great help to school management and staff.     

Association between infection of different strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porphyromonas gingivalis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans</Emphasis> in subgingival plaque and clinical parameters in chronic periodontitis

Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate subgingival infection frequencies ofPorphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains with genetic variation in Chinese chronic periodontitis （CP） patients and to evaluate its correlation with clinical parameters. Methods： Two multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） assays were developed to detect the 16SrDNA, collagenase （prtC） and fimbria （fimA） genes of P. gingivalis and the 16SrDNA, leukotoxin （lktA） and fimbria-associated protein （fap） genes ofA. actinomycetemcomitans in 60 sulcus samples from 30 periodontal healthy subjects and in 122 subgingival plaque samples from 61 patients with CP. The PCR products were further T-A cloned and sent for nucleotide sequence analysis. Results： The 16SrDNA,prtC andfimA genes ofP. gingivalis were detected in 92.6%, 85.2% and 80.3% of the subgingival plaque samples respectively, while the 16SrDNA, lktA andfap genes ofA. actinomycetemcomitans were in 84.4%, 75.4% and 50.0% respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed 98.62%-100% homology of the PCR products in these genes with the reported sequences. P. gingivalis strains with prtC＋/fimA＋ and A. actinomycetemcomitans with lktA＋ were predominant in deep pockets （〉6 mm） or in sites with attachment loss 〉5 mm than in shallow pockets （3-4 mm） or in sites with attachment loss 〈2 mm （P〈0.05）. P. gingivalis strains withprtC＋/fimA＋ also showed higher frequency in gingival index （GI）=3 than in GI=1 group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Infection ofP. gingivalis with prtC＋/fimA＋ and A. actinomycetemcomitans with lktA＋ correlates with periodontal destruction of CP in Chinese. Nonetheless P. gingivalis fim4, prtC genes and A. actinomycetem- comitans lktA gene are closely associated with periodontal destruction, while A. actinomycetemcomitansfap gene is not.     

Black boxes in analytical chemistry： University students misconceptions of instrumental analysis

Misconceptions of chemistry and chemical engineering university students concerning instrumental analysis have been established from coordinated tests, tutorial interviews and laboratory lessons. Misconceptions can be divided into： （1） formal, involving specific concepts and formulations within the general frame of chemistry; （2） operational/topical, dealing with specific capabilities, problems and operations in chemistry; （3） methodological, associated to peculiar methods of analytical chemistry and data treatment; and （4） social, regarding the relation of analytical data with the social frame. Such misconceptions define a non-structured view of analytical methods, procedures and protocols related with analytical instrumentation. Instruments are frequently viewed as an autonomous, error-free black box providing non-structured data with no need of calibration or control, whereas weak relationships are established between data and aims along the analytical process.     

Guava extract （Psidium guajava） alters the labelling of blood constituents with technetium-99m

Psidium guajava （guava） leaf is a phytotherapic used in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal and respiratory disturbances and is used as anti-inflammatory medicine. In nuclear medicine, blood constituents （BC） are labelled with technetium-99m （^99mTc） and used to image procedures. However, data have demonstrated that synthetic or natural drugs could modify the labelling of BC with ^99mTC. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of guava leaves on the labelling of BC with ^99mTc. Blood samples of Wistar rats were incubated with different concentrations of guava extract and labelled with ^99mTc after the percentage of incorporated radioactivity （%ATI） in BC was determined. The results suggest that aqueous guava extract could present antioxidant action and/or alters the membrane structures involved in ion transport into cells, thus decreasing the radiolabelling of BC with ^99mTc. The data showed significant （P〈0.05） alteration of ATI in BC from blood incubated with guava extract.     

A Critical Analysis of the Environments,Reasons and Constraints for which Naturalistic Codeswitching Occurs

Naturalistic codeswitching is a normal and powerful communicative feature of formal or informal bilingual interactions,which present linguists with part of their most fascinating analytical challenge.People use codeswitching in various communication environments such as in bilingual families or immigrant contexts for effective information exchange.The present article investigates the environments and reasons for occurrence of naturalistic codeswitching and analyzes the linguistic constraints and social constraints on naturalistic codeswitching with examples.A more thorough and authentic assessment of individuals’linguistic knowledge about codeswitching,as well as individuals’codeswitching habits,must include observations of codeswitching behavior in naturalistic environments.     

Transformation Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities for Rural Population ——Research and Practice of Rural Distance Education and information Service in Beijing

The disparities between urban and rural areas are increasingly widening with the development of the ＂digital divide＂; however, information technology plays an important role in accelerating rural development. After investigation and analysis, Beijing Academy of Agricukure and Forestry Sciences （BAAFS） has schemed out a network transmission solution and an user application system, which are adaptable to the reality in China＇s rural areas and provide a distance education for farmers with e-lectures, multi-media courseware and other information services, including website, Agricultural voice information Consultative Service System, Agricultural Intelligence-System and 3S technology. The rural distance education and information service system greatly contributed to the information-driven agriculture, the qualifying of farmers and the rural development. This paper introduces the training and learning modes of adult education in rural areas through modem information technology. Furthermore, the paper discusses the problems encountered during the development of Beijing rural distance education.     

The permanence and global attractivity of a competitive system with feedback controls and toxic substance

In this paper, we consider a nonautonomous competitive system with feedback controls and toxic substance. Some average couditions for the permanence and global attractivity of the system are obtained. It is shown that our results are generalization or improvement of those of Zhao, Jiang and Lazer E Nonlinear Analysis ： Real World Applications, 5 （ 4 ） （ 2004 ）, 265 - 276 1, Xia, Cao, Zhang and Chen Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications ,294 （ 2 ） （ 2004 ）, 503 - 5221 and Chen [ Nonlinear Analysis ： Real World Applications, in press ].     

Middle matching mining algorithm

1. Introduction With the increase in the amount of information, we feel the pressure from 搕he exploring information? and find that we are in a dilemma of having huge data but with little knowledge [1]. Data mining is an effective method to help us to get rid of the morass, and is a process of inferring knowledge from such huge data. A sequence is an ordered list of transactions (or itemsets), in which each transaction is a set of items. Typically there is a transaction-time associated with ea…     

A Method of Image Symmetry Detection Based on Phase Information

Traditional methods for detecting symmetry in image suffer greatly from the contrast of im-age and noise, and they all require some preprocessing. This paper presents a new method of im-age symmetry detection. This method detects symmetry with phase information utilizing logGabor wavelets,because phase information is stable and significant, while symmetric points produce pat-terns easy to be recognised and confirmable in local phase. Phase method does not require any preprocessing. and its result is accurate or invariant to contrast, rotation and illumination conditions. This method can detect mirror symmetry, rotating symmetry and curve symmetry at one time. Results of experiment show that, compared with pivotal element algorithm based on intensity information, phase method is more accurate and robust.     

Noise Reduction of Welding Defect Image Based on NSCT and Anisotropic Diffusion简

In order to reduce noise effectively in the welding defect image and preserve the minutiae information, a noise reduction method of welding defect image based on nonsubsampled contourlet transform （NSCT） and anisot-ropic diffusion is proposed. Firstly, an X-ray welding defect image is decomposed by NSCT. Then total variation （TV） model and Catte_PM model are used for the obtained low-pass component and band-pass components, respec-tively. Finally, the denoised image is synthesized by inverse NSCT. Experimental results show that, compared with the hybrid method of wavelet threshold shrinkage with TV diffusion, the method combining NSCT with P_Laplace diffu-sion, and the method combining contourlet with TV model and adaptive contrast diffusion, the proposed method has a great improvement in the aspects of subjective visual effect, peak signal-to-noise ratio （PSNR） and mean-square error （MSE）. Noise is suppressed more effectively and the minutiae information is preserved better in the image.     

Comparison of 1.5% lidocaine and 0.5% ropivacaine epidural anesthesia combined with propofol general anesthesia guided by bispectral index

Objective： To compare the effects of epidural anesthesia with 1.5% lidocaine and 0.5% ropivacaine on propofol requirements, the time to loss of consciousness （LOC）, effect-site propofol concentrations, and the hemodynamic variables during induction of general anesthesia guided by bispectral index （BIS） were studied. Methods： Forty-five patients were divided into three groups to receive epidurally administered saline （Group S）, 1.5% （w/w） lidocaine （Group L）, or 0,5% （w/w） ropivacaine （Group R） Propofol infusion was started to produce blood concentration of 4 lag/ml. Once the BIS value reached 40-50, endotracheal intubation was facilitated by 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium. Measurements included the time to LOC, effect-site propofol concentrations, total propofol dose, mean arterial blood pressure （MABP）, and heart rate （HR） at different study time points. Results： During induction of anesthesia, both Groups L and R were similar for the time to LOC, effect-site propofol concentrations, total propofol dose, MABP, HR, and BIS. The total doses of propofol administered until 1 min post-intubation were significantly less in patients of Groups R and L compared with Group S. MABP and HR were significantly lower following propofol induction compared with baseline values in the three groups, or MABP was significantly increased following intubation as compared with that prior to intubation in Group S but not in Groups R and L while HR was significantly increased following intubation in the three groups. Conclusion： Epidural anesthesia with 1.5% lidocaine and 0.5% ropivacaine has similar effects on the time to LOC, effect-site propofol concentrations, total propofol dose, and the hemodynamic variables during induction of general anesthesia.     

On Reversibility and Reverse Culture Shock in Translation

In this essay, the author is setting up a Chinese perspective on the reversibility of the translated text and how to avoidreverse cultural shock in translation under the context of information age and globalization. This argument also concerns with thetopics of maintain of the ambiguity of the original text and select of the original text. The author also discussed some aspects thatpossibly or potentially affect the reversibility of the translated texts and cause the Reverse Culture Shock. Then the essay offerssome strategies in dealing with such problems in translation.     

Simultaneous removal of ethyl acetate,benzene and toluene with gliding arc gas discharge

The simultaneous removal of ethyl acetate, benzene and toluene with relatively low or high initial concentration is studied using a laboratory scale gliding arc gas discharge （GA） reactor. Good decomposition efficiencies are obtained which proves that the GA is effective for the treatment of volatile organic compounds （VOCs） with either low or high concentration. A theoretical decomposition mechanism is proposed based on detection of the species in the plasma region and analysis of the decomposition by-products. This preliminary investigation reveals that the GA has potential to be applied to the treatment of exhaust air during color printing and coating works, by either direct removal or combination with activated carbon adsorption/desorption process.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on the growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy

The effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Miichthys miiuy weighing approximately 200-260 g were divided into five groups and reared in 15 tanks with closed circuiting culture system. The animals were fed 5 diets： basal diet only （control） or supplemented of the basal diet with C. butyricum at doses of 10^3 （CB1）, 10^5 （CB2）, 10^7 （CB3） or 10^9 （CB4） CFU/g. Compared with the control, the serum phenoloxidase activity was significantly increased by the supplementation （P〈0.05）, acid phosphatases activity was increased significantly （P〈0.05） at the doses of 10^9 CFU/g. Serum lysozyme activity peaked at dose of 10^7 CFU/g and in the skin mucus at dose of 10^9 CFU/g. Immunoglobulin M level in the serum and skin mucus was increased except at dose of 10^3 CFU/g （P〈0.05）. The growth at the dose of 10^9 CFU/g was higher than that of the control （P〈0.05）. It is concluded that supplementation of C. butyricum can mediate the humoral immune responses and improve the growth performance in Miichthys miiuy.     

Single-acting double-stator multi-pumps and multi-motors

We investigated a series of novel motors and pumps with a new structure called double-stator. Double-stator can be used as pump or motor just for the working condition on demand. A certain amount of pumps or motors are formed in one shell and these subpumps or submotors can work alone or in company without influence on other pumps or moters. This kind of double-stator pumps （motors） are called multi-pumps （multi-motors）. Through the analysis of multifarious connection modes of single-acting double-stator multi-pumps and multi-motors, the mathematical expressions of output flow rate, rotational speed and torque are acquired. The results indicate that different flow rates can be provided by one fixed displacement double-stator multi-pump system under the condition of an unalterable driven speed. Likewise, under the terms of a fixed input flow and without complex variable mechanisms, the functions of double speeds, multiple speeds and even differential connection can be realized by a double-stator multi-motor system with various output rotational speeds and torques.