FEEDBACK CONTROL OF A HEAT DIFFUSION SYSTEM WITH TIME-DEPENDENT SPATIAL DOMAIN

The problem of controlling the temperature distribution in a solid cylinder whose length varies with time and with one end in contact with a constant temperature medium is considered. This problem is motivated from that of controlling the temperature and thermal gradient inside a crystal pulled from a melt by the Czochralski method. Boundary feedback controls are derived by considering the time rate of change of a cost functional involving the deviations of both the solid temperature and its gradient from their desired values. The derived feedback controls consist of spatially distributed proportional-plus-rate and lag compensators and a non-linear feedback control involving the temperature gradient at the cylinder surface and the velocity of the spatial domain boundary. The resulting feedback-controlled system has the property that the cost functional along any motion decreases monotonically to zero with time. A numerical scheme for solving the partial differential equation of the feedback-controlled system is proposed. Typical numerical results on the dynamic behaviour of the feedback-controlled system obtained by means of the proposed scheme are presented.     

Arthroscopic Shoulder Stabilization: Is There Ever a Need to Open?

Recent studies show comparable results of arthroscopic shoulder stabilization techniques compared with the gold standard open Bankart reconstruction. Great technical advances and ever-increasing surgeon experience have rendered pathology once deemed an indication for open surgery as treatable by arthroscopic means. With this movement toward a more universal application of all-arthroscopic techniques, we might consider the following question: Is there ever a need to open? To answer this question, we must first consider normal anatomy and then appreciate the contribution of deranged pathoanatomy to recurrent instability in each individual case. The surgeon must then determine whether this is best addressed via an arthroscopic or open technique. Arthroscopy, as compared with open stabilization procedures, holds the potential benefits of decreased morbidity rates, early functional rehabilitation, and improved range of motion. Despite potential advantages, arthroscopic stabilization is clearly contraindicated when a significant pathologic lesion contributing to recurrent instability cannot be adequately addressed as a result of the limitations of current techniques or instrumentation. On the basis of this principle, we believe that sizable glenohumeral bone defects remain the only absolute contraindication to an all-arthroscopic approach. Many complicating issues, such as attenuated capsule, humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament lesions, cases of revision surgery, and collision or contact athletes, exist and warrant close attention. We prefer to think of these situations as “challenges” for which both arthroscopic and open surgery should be considered, rather than as true contraindications to arthroscopic shoulder stabilization. We are, by no means, advocating arthroscopic treatment in all cases of shoulder instability, because this would represent a gross oversimplification of the issues at hand. However, we do acknowledge that the steadfast contraindications to arthroscopic shoulder stabilization are decreasing every day.     

The role of mast cells and histamine in leukocyte-endothelium interactions in four rat strains

 The objective of the present study was to determine the role of mast cells and histamine in leukocyte-endothelium interactions in mesenteric venules of four rat strains: Brown Norway, Lewis, Sprague-Dawley and Wistar. Intravital microscopy showed that the mast cell stabilizer cromoglycate (5 mg/kg i.v. just before exteriorization of the mesentery) did not affect the baseline level and velocity of leukocyte rolling in any of the four strains. This finding is in agreement with the observation that cromoglycate pretreatment only slightly influenced mast cell degranulation in all strains except the Brown Norway. After mast cell stabilization, only in Sprague-Dawley did topical administration of histamine (10^–4 M) result in a significant increase in the level of leukocyte rolling and a decrease in the rolling velocity compared with the time control. Histamine induced leukocyte adhesion only in the Brown Norway strain. In conclusion, the hypothesis presented in other studies, that degranulation of mast cells, and more specifically the release of histamine, is of major importance for the induction of leukocyte-endothelium interactions in rat mesenteric venules is not generally applicable; the present study shows a clear strain dependency. Received: 18 July 1997 / Received after revision: 17 November 1997 / Accepted: 13 March 1998     

Voluntary head stabilization in space during oscillatory trunk movements in the frontal plane performed in weightlessness

 The ability voluntarily to stabilize the head in space during lateral rhythmic oscillations (0.59±0.09 Hz) of the trunk has been investigated during microgravity (μG) and normal gravity (nG) conditions (parabolic flights). Five healthy young subjects, who gave informed consent, were examined. The movements were performed with eyes open or eyes closed, during phases of either μG or nG. The main result was that head orientation with respect to vertical may be stabilized about the roll axis under μG with, as well as without vision, despite the reduction in vestibular afferent and muscle proprioceptive inputs. Moreover, the absence of head stabilization about the yaw axis confirms that the degrees of freedom of the neck can be independently controlled, as was previously reported. These results seem to indicate that voluntary head stabilization does not depend crucially upon static vestibular afferents. Head stabilization in space may in fact be organized on the basis of either dynamic vestibular afferents or a short-term memorized postural body schema. Received: 4 October 1995 / Accepted: 30 September 1996     

微创内固定系统治疗复杂股骨转子部骨折的初步报告

目的探讨微创内固定系统(LISS)治疗复杂股骨转子部骨折的可行性、手术技术及指征,并总结其近期临床治疗效果。方法自2005年6月～2006年5月,应用LISS治疗复杂股骨转子部骨折12例。骨折采用AO分类法,其中转子间骨折5例：31-A2．2型2例,31-A2．3型2例,31-A3．3型1例；转子下骨折7例：32-A3．1型1例,32-B1．1型3例,32-B2．1型1例,32-B3．1型2例。记录手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间,术后观察有无感染、下肢深静脉血栓、心肺疾患、应激性溃疡等并发症。术后1、2、3、6、12个月时常规随访。结果手术时间50～90 min,平均65 min；出血量50～400 mL,平均142 mL,术后住院时间6～15 d,平均9．3 d。无死亡病例。所有患者均未出现切口感染、下肢深静脉血栓、术后心肺疾患、应激性溃疡等并发症。12例均获得3～14个月(平均7．2个月)随访。10例在术后3个月复查骨折时达到临床愈合,1例假体周围骨折术后4个月、1例病理性骨折术后6个月达到临床愈合。所有患者在最后一次随访时均无骨折再移位、髋内翻畸形、内固定切出、内固定失败及股骨头坏死。结论微创反向使用股骨LISS从生物力学和解剖结构上都能满足股骨近端骨折内固定要求,并具有创伤小、操作简便、固定可靠、安全性高、并发症少的特点,尤其适用于老年人合并内科疾病、骨质疏松较重的转子间骨折及复杂的股骨近端骨折。熟练掌握间接复位技术,正确放置A孔导针,避免过早负重是手术成功的关键。     

Responses of Neurons of the Nucleus of the Optic Tract and the Dorsal Terminal Nucleus of the Accessory Optic Tract in the Awake Monkey

The nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and the dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract (DTN) are essential nuclei for the generation of slow-phase eye movements during horizontal optokinetic nystagmus. We recorded from 101 neurons (all directionally selective) in four NOT/DTN of three trained and behaving rhesus monkeys. Neuronal activity increased when stimuli moved ipsiversively with respect to the recording site and decreased below spontaneous activity when stimuli moved contraversively. While the monkey fixated a small spot, some NOT/DTN neurons did not respond at all to the retinal image slip of a whole-field random dot pattern; others showed a monotonic increase of activity to increasing velocities of that stimulus. The velocity range tested was up to 100°/s. During the execution of optokinetic nystagmus, 39 of 73 cells tested showed a velocity-tuned response with an average optimum at 21°/s retinal image slip. Following saccades during optokinetic nystagmus (quick phases), the NOT/DTN neuronal activity briefly attained the level of spontaneous activity, as predicted from the velocity selectivity during optokinetic nystagmus. Immediately upon cessation of optokinetic stimulation in the preferred direction, NOT/DTN activity returned to the spontaneous level and did not reflect the ongoing optokinetic afternystagmus in darkness. Most NOT/DTN neurons displayed direction selectivity also during smooth pursuit. Twenty-one of 50 cells tested (42%) always responded to the retinal slip of the target (target velocity cells), 16 cells (32%) responded to the retinal slip of the background (background velocity cells), and 13 cells (26%) did not respond at all during smooth pursuit. We conclude from our results that the NOT/DTN is an essential structure for the processing of the direction and speed of retinal image slip. This information is then used for the generation and maintenance of slow eye movements, preferentially during horizontal optokinetic nystagmus but also during pursuit eye movements.     

Stabilization of positive coupled differential‐difference equations with unbounded time‐varying delays

This paper researches the static output‐feedback stabilization of single‐input single‐output (SISO) positive coupled differential‐difference equations (CDDEs) with unbounded time‐varying delays. First, a necessary and sufficient condition is provided for the positivity and asymptotical stability of CDDEs with unbounded time‐varying delays. For this type of system, based on the constructed estimates of its solution, a necessary and sufficient condition on asymptotical stability is provided. Then, based on this criterion, for CDDEs with unbounded time‐varying delays, a kind of static output‐feedback controller is designed to ensure the positivity and asymptotical stability of the corresponding closed‐loop systems. It is also worth pointing out that the controller is designed by the linear programming method without parameterization technique. This design approach can also be applied to the static state feedback stabilization problem of CDDEs with unbounded time‐varying delays. Finally, two illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of our results.     

Solubilization and Stabilization of an Anti-HIV Thiocarbamate,NSC 629243, for Parenteral Delivery,Using Extemporaneous Emulsions

The O-alkyl-N-aryl thiocarbamate, I, (2-chloro-5-[[(l-methyl-ethoxy)thioxomethyl]amino]benzoic acid, 1-methylethylester, NSC 629243, also known as Uniroyal Jr.) is an experimental anti-HIV drug with very low water solubility (1.5 µg/mL). Early clinical studies required an injectable solution at 15 mg/mL, representing a solubility increase of 10⁴-fold. Adequate solubilization of this hydrophobic drug was achieved in 20% lipid emulsions. Extemporaneous emulsions were prepared by adding a concentrated drug solution to a commercially available parenteral emulsion. Various methods of preparation to minimize drug precipitation during its addition and enhance redissolution of precipitated drug were evaluated. The stability and mechanism(s) of decomposition of NSC 629243 in both 20% lipid emulsions and in natural oil vehicles were examined. In lipid emulsions, the shelf life at 25°C varied from 1 to >10 weeks, depending on the extent to which air was excluded from the preparation. The shelf life of 50 mg/mL solutions in natural oils at 25°C varied from <1 to >100 days depending on the oil and its supplier. A qualitative correlation was found between the initial rate of oxidation and the peroxide concentration in the oil. The primary degradation product in both systems was shown to be a disulfide dimer, II, formed via oxidation. Oxidation was inhibited by vacuum-sealing of emulsion formulations or incorporation of an oil-soluble thiol, thioglycolic acid (TGA), into oil formulations. TGA may inhibit oxidation by consuming free radicals or peroxide initiators or by reacting with the disulfide, II, to regenerate the starting drug.     

ENDOGENOUS EXPRESSION AND HLA STABILIZATION ASSAY OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM CTL EPITOPE MINIGENE IN HUMAN HLA- A2.1 AND HLA- B51 CELLS

INTRODUCTION Malaria is responsible for 300～ 500 million morbidity per year in the endemic tropical and subtropical areas, and Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most virulent form of human malaria infections, causes about 3 million deaths. The increasing incidence of resistance to most antimalarial drugs has stimulated researches aimed at controlling this disease by vaccination. Many studies have demonstrated the critical role played by CD8＋ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (C…     

Surface Modification of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Nanospheres by Biodegradable Poly(lactide)-Poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymers

The modification of surface properties of biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and model polystyrene nanospheres by poly(lactide)-poly(ethlene glycol) (PLA:PEG) copolymers has been assessed using a range of in vitro characterization methods followed by in vivo studies of the nanospheres biodistribution after intravenous injection into rats. Coating polymers with PLA:PEG ratio of 2:5 and 3:4 (PEG chains of 5000 and 2000 Da, respectively) were studied. The results reveal the formation of a PLA: PEG coating layer on the particle surface resulting in an increase in the surface hydrophilicity and decrease in the surface charge of the nanospheres. The effects of addition of electrolyte and changes in pH on stability of the nanosphere dispersions confirm that uncoated particles are electrostatically stabilized, while in the presence of the copolymers, steric repulsions are responsible for the stability. The PLA:PEG coating also prevented albumin adsorption onto the colloid surface. The evidence that this effect was observed for the PLA:PEG 3:4 coated nanospheres may indicate that a poly(ethylene glycol) chain of 2000 Da can provide an effective repulsive barrier to albumin adsorption. The in vivo results reveal that coating of PLGA nanospheres with PLA:PEG copolymers can alter the biodistribution in comparison to uncoated PLGA nanospheres. Coating of the model polystyrene nanospheres with PLA:PEG copolymers resulted in an initial high circulation level, but after 3 hours the organ deposition data showed values similar to uncoated polystyrene spheres. The difference in the biological behaviour of coated PLGA and polystyrene nanospheres may suggest a different stability of the adsorbed layers on these two systems. A similar biodistribution pattern of PLA:PEG 3:4 to PEG 2:5 coated particles may indicate that poly(ethylene glycol) chains in the range of 2000 to 5000 can produce a comparable effect on in vivo behaviour.