Showing papers by "Military Academy published in 2007"

Apocrine mixed tumor of the skin ("mixed tumor of the folliculosebaceous-apocrine complex"). Spectrum of differentiations and metaplastic changes in the epithelial, myoepithelial, and stromal components based on a histopathologic study of 244 cases.

Abstract: Background A systematic analysis of the entire spectrum of various forms of differentiation and metaplastic epiphenomena in cutaneous apocrine mixed tumor (AMT) has never been performed. Objective The purpose of our study was to study a large number of cutaneous mixed tumors so as to fully characterize the entire spectrum of differentiations and metaplastic changes that may occur in the epithelial, myoepithelial, and stromal components of AMT. Methods This article reports a light-microscopic study of 244 cases of cutaneous AMT, complemented by a literature review. Results All types of differentiation along the lines of the folliculosebaceous-apocrine unit can be seen in AMT. The spectrum of metaplastic changes in the epithelial components includes squamous metaplasia, mucinous metaplasia, oxyphilic metaplasia, clear cell change, columnar metaplasia, hobnail metaplasia, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The following changes in the myoepithelial component were documented: clear cell change, hyaline cells, plasmacytoid cells, spindling, and collagenous spherulosis. Stromal alterations included chondroid metaplasia, osseous metaplasia, and adipose metaplasia. Limitations This study utilizes tissue specimens that mainly came as consultations; therefore some inherent selection bias exists. Conclusions AMT displays a wide range of differentiation and metaplastic changes in its epithelial, myoepithelial, and stromal components. These phenomena are not mutually exclusive. When unduly prominent, they may present diagnostic pitfalls. Our findings corroborate those of previous publications, stressing the remarkable diversity of differentiation and metaplasias that may be found in cutaneous AMT. We propose that the most appropriate name for these lesions is "mixed tumor of the folliculosebaceous-apocrine complex."

Leadership and sex‐similarity: a comparison in a military setting

Abstract: In a study of the possible impact of leader and follower sex-similarity on leadership criteria, survey responses of 1,974 military cadets in 167 squads were analyzed at the completion of a month-long field training exercise. Analyses (which included a series of hierarchical linear models that explicitly accounted for the nested character of squad membership relative to a leader) yielded results that indicated that same-sex leader–subordinate pairings had more positive working relationships than different-sex pairings. However, leader ratings of subordinate performance did not yield clear evidence of such an effect. In addition, increases in the proportion of female members in a squad were not associated with differences in squad-level cohesion, while being associated with decreases in squad-level leader–member exchange (LMX). Subordinate reports of participation in decision making, although correlated positively with LMX, were not significantly different as a function of leader–subordinate sex-similarity. Implications are derived for managing demographic diversity in order to enhance within-unit functioning.

Internal GSM/DCS dual-band open-loop antenna for laptop application

Abstract: A novel open-loop antenna with a coupled-line gap for application as an internal laptop antenna for GSM/DCS dual-band operation is presented Owing to the use of the coupled-line gap, the proposed antenna can operate both as a half-wavelength loop structure at 900 MHz and a one-wavelength loop structure at 1800 MHz The antenna is easily printed on a dielectric substrate with a low cost and is then integrated to the supporting metal frame of the laptop display to achieve a compact size of 9 mm in height and 70 mm in length, making it very promising to be embedded within the casing of the laptop as an internal antenna Design considerations of the proposed antenna are described, and experimental and simulation results of the constructed prototype are presented Effects of the coupled-line gap on the dual-band operation of the proposed antenna are also analyzed © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 680–684, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (wwwintersciencewileycom) DOI 101002/mop22224

Increased γ‐globin gene expression in β‐thalassemia intermedia patients correlates with a mutation in 3′HS1

Abstract: We report a novel set of genetic markers in the DNaseI hypersensitive sites comprising the human beta-globin locus chromatin hub (CH), namely HS-111 and 3'HS1. The HS-111 (-21 G>A) and 3'HS1 (+179 C>T) transitions form CH haplotypes, which occur at different frequencies in beta-thalassemia intermedia and major patients and normal (nonthalassemic) individuals. We also show that the 3'HS1 (+179 C>T) variation results in a GATA-1 binding site and correlates with increased fetal hemoglobin production in beta-thalassemia intermedia patients. In contrast, the HS-111 (+126 G>A) transition, found in three normal chromosomes, is simply a rare polymorphism. We conclude that the CH haplotypes are useful genetic determinants for beta-thalassemia major and intermedia patients, while the 3'HS1 (+179 C>T) mutation may have functional consequences in gamma-globin genes expression.

Rotational and vibrational temperatures of molecular hydrogen in a hollow cathode glow discharge

Abstract: Optical emission spectroscopy is used for the determination of hydrogen molecule rotational Trot and vibrational Tvib and translational temperature Ttr. The experiment was carried out using copper or titanium hollow cathode discharges operated in pure hydrogen. The rotational temperature of excited electron energy levels is determined from Fulcher-? diagonal bands ( electronic transition, P-, Q- and R-branches), which were later used to derive the rovibronic temperature of the hydrogen molecule ground state, which is assumed equal to Ttr. The vibrational temperature Tvib is determined for the same electronic transition (Q-branch with ?' = 2,3; ?? = 0). For all temperatures the radial temperature distribution is reported.

Simultaneous versus sequential one-stage combined anterior and posterior spinal surgery for spinal infections (outcomes and complications).

Abstract: To compare simultaneous with sequential one-stage (same anaesthesia) combined anterior and posterior spinal surgery in the treatment of spinal infections in terms of the operation time, blood loss and complication rate. Fifty-six patients who underwent one-stage (same anaesthesia) simultaneous or sequential anterior decompression and posterior stabilisation of the involved vertebrae for spinal infection from January 1994 to December 2002 were reviewed. In group I (n=29), sequential anterior and posterior surgery was performed. In group II (n=27), simultaneous anterior and posterior spinal surgery was performed. With regard to age and gender, there was no statistical difference between both groups (P=0.05). The analysed and compared data between the two groups included the age, gender, blood loss, operation time and postoperative complications. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the duration of surgery, amount of blood transfusion needed and occurrence of major postoperative complications (P 0.05) without a subsequent loss of correction on follow-up radiographic films at a mean follow-up of 6.5 years (range, 3 to 11 years). Simultaneous anterior and posterior surgery is a good alternative procedure. It provides the ability to manipulate both anterior and posterior aspects of the spine at the same time and appears to result in less blood loss, a shorter operative time and fewer complications. However, gaining experience and the availability of two surgical teams are important factors in the success of the procedure.

International Collaboration under Threat: A Field Study in Kabul

Abstract: This report examines Dutch military personnel's attitudes toward international cooperation, while these attitudes were expressed under threatening (during the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan) or nonthreatening circumstances (in Europe). Findings indicate that concerns about death were significantly more present in Afghanistan relative to Europe, and in Afghanistan, concerns about death were found to be negatively correlated with willingness to collaborate internationally. These findings provide support for terror management processes in vivo, and have a number of important implications for international policy.

Excessive Doppler broadening of the H α line in a hollow cathode glow discharge-Radial distribution, influence of surface coverage and temperature effect

Abstract: A comparative study of the radial intensity distribution of the excessively Doppler broadened hydrogen Hα line in a hollow cathode (HC) glow discharge operated in hydrogen and argon-hydrogen gas mixtures with stainless steel (SS) and titanium (Ti) cathode is reported. The main interest of this work is focused on the dependence of radial distribution upon cathode material and cathode surface composition. The analysis of experimental radial distributions and results obtained from H + → metal surface interaction simulation combined with available data for H → metal target interaction explains the difference between SS and Ti cathodes. These results explain also the important role of metal hydrides at the cathode surface for discharge-HC interaction. The influence of the hollow cathode temperature on the radial distribution of the excessively broadened Hα line and on the emission of Ar I and Ar II lines from discharge in argon- hydrogen gas mixture are also investigated. The increase of the excessive Doppler broadened part of the Hα line profile with HC temperature is always detected. The intensity of Ar I and Ar II lines is also used to examine the influence of small admixtures of hydrogen in argon.

Hamiltonian laceability of faulty hypercubes

Abstract: We consider the occurrence of the combination of edge faults and vertex faults in hypercubes. To preserve the equitability of Qn, we restrict the faults on vertex occurring only on disjoint adjacen...

Effect of carbon nanotubes support in improving the performance of mixed electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution

Abstract: The effect of using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) vs. traditional carbon materials (as e.g., Vulcan XC-72) as supports for mixed non-platinum catalysts for hydrogen evolution was studied. Intrinsic changes in catalyst’s structure, surface and activity for hydrogen evolution were registered. It was found that MWCNTs significantly improve the activity of the catalysts as a result of (i) increase of the real surface area of the catalyst, (ii) improving the electrical conductivity of the electrode, (iii) better dispersion of active catalytic centers over the electrode surface and (iv) geometric nature of the nanotubes. This effect is most pronounced in the case of Ni-based catalyst, where the overpotential for hydrogen evolution was lowered by as much as 85 mV at a current density of 60 mA·cm –2 in alkaline electrolyte. The corresponding lowering of overpotential in the Co-based system was 35 mV.

SDTC Neural Network Traction Control of an Electric Vehicle without Differential Gears

Abstract: This paper proposes a sensorless direct torque control (SDTC) neural network traction control approach of an electric vehicle (EV) without differential gears (electrical differential system). The EV is in this case propelled by two induction motor (one for each wheel). Indeed, using two electric in-wheel motors give the possibility to have a torque and speed control in each wheel. This control level improves the EV stability and the safety. The proposed traction control system uses the vehicle speed that is different from wheels speed characterized by slip in the driving mode, as an input. In terms of the analysis and the simulations carried out, the conclusion can be drawn that the proposed system is feasible. Simulation results on a test vehicle propelled by two 37-kW induction motors showed that the proposed SDTC neural network approach operates satisfactorily.

A straight quantum wave guide with mixed Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions in uniform magnetic fields

Abstract: A straight quasi-one-dimensional Dirichlet wave guide with a Neumann window of length L on one or two confining surfaces is considered theoretically with and without perpendicular homogeneous magnetic field . It is shown that for the field-free case, a bound state in the continuum (BIC) for one Neumann window exists for some critical lengths only, while for the two Neumann segments symmetrically located on the opposite walls, due to the restored transverse symmetry of the system, BICs exist for the arbitrary L. Bound states lying below the fundamental propagation threshold of the Dirichlet strip survive any strength of the uniform magnetic field and do not depend on its direction. Moreover, an increasing field induces new bound states regularly arranged with the levels present at B = 0. For two Neumann windows, strong magnetic fields lead to the degeneracy of the adjacent odd and even bound states with their energies almost equal to each other and to their corresponding counterpart for one Neumann segment, which is explained by mapping the problem onto the field-free one or two purely attractive one-dimensional quantum wells with field-dependent depth. Miscellaneous magnetotransport characteristics of the structures are also considered; in particular, it is demonstrated that small fields applied to the channel with two Neumann windows destroy BICs by coupling them to the continuum states. This is manifested in the conductance-Fermi energy dependence by Fano resonances. Currents flowing in the wave guide are investigated too, and it is shown that current density patterns near the resonances form vortices which change their chirality as energy sweeps through the resonant region. Generalizations to any other arbitrary combination of the boundary conditions are provided. Comparison with other structures such as window-coupled Dirichlet wave guides, a bent strip or straight Dirichlet channel with electrostatic impurity inside, is performed.

Orthogonal polarization simultaneous readout for volume holograms with hybrid angle and polarization multiplexing in LiNbO 3

Abstract: The orthogonal polarization simultaneous readout technique in a hybrid-multiplexed memory using angular multiplexing and polarization multiplexing is presented Twenty holograms were hybrid multiplexed in a single LiNbO3 crystal with ten angular positions for angular multiplexing In each angular position of the holographic memory, two images with orthogonal polarization are multiplexed in the same spatial location inside the LiNbO3 via polarization multiplexing These two orthogonally polarized images can be reconstructed simultaneously with a linear polarization reading beam, but they can be separated with a polarization beam splitter, and accordingly each can be viewed independently The exposure schedule for holographic storage using the proposed hybrid-multiplexing technique is derived

Perforation of isolated jejunum after a blunt trauma: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract: Blunt abdominal trauma causing jejunal perforation is rare occurrence and is usually expected after a motor vehicle accident. In this study, we present a case of jejunal perforation caused by impact of a knee to the abdominal area. A 21-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after blunt trauma caused by a knee kick. He described a sudden pain at the whole abdomen after trauma. On his physical examination, there was tenderness on the left abdomen at palpation. All blood tests, pulse rate, temperature, and blood pressure were within normal range. Free air was detected under the diaphragm on upright plain x-ray. Computed tomography revealed free air and fluid in the abdomen. In the laparotomy, approximately 200 cc of intestinal fluid was found leaking from a jejunum perforation on the antimesenteric aspect, 60 cm from the Treitz ligament. Resection was performed and ends of the intestines sutured primarily. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 10th postoperative day without any complication. The diagnosis of jejunal perforation after blunt trauma is a dilemma. The mechanism of injury, history, and serial physical examination play an important role in diagnosis. Therefore, there is a suspicious aspect to this kind of case. For optimal management, repeated physical examination and available radiologic techniques are important cornerstones.

Novel design of printed monopole antenna for WLAN/WiMAX applications

Abstract: In recent years, wireless communications have progressed very rapidly. Wide-band antenna and multi-band antenna designs have become very important for wireless communications. Several promising monopole antennas for WLAN and WiMax applications have been reported recently. According to the WiMax protocol, there is three bands have been allocated for WiMax application: the lower band is 2.5-2.69 GHz, the middle band is 3.3-3.8 GHz, and the higher band covers from 5.25 GHz to 5.85 GHz. In practical use of WiMax applications, the lower band and the middle band are very close to each other, which lead to cause large effects of coupling and interference. To reduce the coupling and interference between the lower and middle bands, filters must be attached to the antenna to suppress the dispensable bands. However, the cost and the overall antenna size are increased due to the attached filters. In this paper, a CPW-fed printed monopole antenna for dual-band operation of 2.3-4.15 GHz and 4.93-5.83 GHz are proposed. Furthermore, by etching a pair of slits on the proposed monopole antenna, band rejection of frequency range from 2.93 GHz to 3.12 GHz can be achieved. Results show that, this novel design of CPW-fed monopole antenna is suitable for both WLAN and WiMax applications.

Deposition Characteristics of AlN Thin Film Prepared by the Dual Ion Beam Sputtering System

Abstract: In this experiment, a radio frequency dual ion beam sputtering (DIBS) system was used to prepare aluminum nitride (AlN) films with a bottom Al electrode on a Si (100) substrate. After systematic testing of the processing variables, a high-quality film with preferred c-axis orientation was grown successfully on the Si (100) substrate with an Al target under 700 eV energy flux, N2/(N2 + Ar) ratio of 55%, and 4 × 10−4 torr in vacuum. The characteristics of the deposited AlN thin films were studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and electronic spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The surface roughness was also measured. It was found that AlN films prepared by DIBS at room temperature are better than those prepared at 300°C, and those prepared with an Al target are better than those prepared with an AlN target. The inferiority of AlN films prepared with AlN targets is due to the AlN bond being broken down by the ion beam source.

Annealing induced oxidation and transformation of Zr thin film prepared by ion beam sputtering deposition

Abstract: Nanocrystalline -Zr condensates deposited by ion beam sputtering on the NaCl (1 0 0) surfaces and then annealed at 100–750 ◦ C in air. The phases present were identified by transmission electron microscopy to be nanometer-size -Zr + ZrO, -Zr + ZrO + c-ZrO2, c-ZrO2, c- + t-ZrO2, t-ZrO2, and t- + m-ZrO2 phase assemblages with increasing annealing temperature. The ZrO2 showed strong { 100 } preferred orientation due to parallel epitaxy with NaCl (1 0 0) when annealed between 150 and 500 ◦ C in air. The c- and t-ZrO2 condensates also showed (1 1 1)-specific coalescence among themselves. The c- and/or t-ZrO2 formation can be accounted for by the small grain size, the presence of low-valence Zr cation and the lateral constraint of the neighboring grains. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Change detection in urban scenes by fusion of SAR and hyperspectral data

Abstract: Urban areas are rapidly changing all over the world and therefore provoke the necessity to update urban maps frequently. Remote sensing has been used for many years to monitor these changes. The urban scene is characterized by a very high complexity, containing objects formed from different types of man-made materials as well as natural vegetation. Hyperspectral sensors provide the capability to map the surface materials present in the scene using their spectra and therefore to identify the main object classes in the scene in a relatively easy manner. However ambiguities persist where different types of objects are constructed of the same material. This is for instance the case for roads and roof covers. Although higher-level image processing (e.g. spatial reasoning) might be able to relief some of these constraints, this task is far from straight forward. In the current paper the authors fused information gathered using a hyperspectral sensor with that of high-resolution polarimetric SAR data. SAR data give information about the type of scattering backscatter from an object in the scene, its geometry and its dielectric properties. Therefore, the information obtained using the SAR processing is complementary to that obtained using hyperspectral data. This research was applied on a dataset consisting of hyperspectral data from the HyMAP sensor (126 channels in VIS-SWIR) and E-SAR data which consists of fullpolarimetric L-band and dual-polarisation (HH and VV) X-band data. Two supervised classifications are used; 'Logistic Regression' (LR) which applied to the SAR and the PolSAR data and a 'Matched Filter' which is applied to the hyperspectral data. The results of the classification are fused in order to improve the mapping of the main classes in the scene and were compared to a ground truth map that was constructed by combining a digital topographic map and a vectorized cadastral map of the research area. An adequate change detection of man-made objects in urban scenes was obtained by the fusion of features derived from SAR, PolSAR and hyperspectral data.

Novel design of printed monopole antenna for WiMAX application

Abstract: In this article, a novel design of printed coplanar waveguide-fed monopole antenna is proposed for triple-band WiMAX applications. At first, we investigate the printed dual-band monopole antenna for dual-band operation with two bands of 2.37–3.64 GHz and 5.2–6 GHz. Since the lower band (2.5–2.7 GHz) is quite near the middle band (3.3–3.8 GHz) band of WiMAX resulted in large coupling effect or interference between these two bands; we need band-rejected function to suppress the undesired frequency-bands. Then, using the two narrow strips etched from printed dual-band monopole antenna, an antenna design of WiMAX is achieved. The low cost, easy manufacture, good impedance match, good radiation patterns of the proposed antenna are also investigated in this article. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 1806–1809, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22589

Ionospheric Support of HF Radiocommunication Using Maps of Total Electron Content

Abstract: The possibility of determining the field of critical frequencies of the ionospheric F2 layer (foF2) using the maps of the total electron content, constructed based on the registration of signals from satellite radio navigation system of the GPS and GLONASS types, is considered. The calculation of foF2 is based on the SPIM (Standard Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Model) model specifying the ionospheric index of solar activity, which is determined at grid points of the map of the total electron content. The proposed method has been verified using the data of the hourly maps of the total electron content in the North American region during September 1–7, 2005. The variations in the critical frequencies for Boulder and Dyess sites, selected from the reconstructed foF2 maps, were compared with the data of the vertical sounding. The average error is ∼10% during the entire period of measurements. The conclusion has been drawn that the proposed method can be used as an ionospheric support of HF radiocommunication in the cases when errors of tenths of MHz in foF2 values are permissible.

Subwavelength optical imaging through a silver nanorod

Abstract: We numerically investigated subwavelength imaging in a silver nanorod of 50-nm height and 20-nm diam buried in dielectric background (SiO2) with a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in the three dimensions. The near-field components of the Gaussian incident beam were plasmonically transferred through the input end of a silver nanorod to reproduce the light distributions of the incident wave at the output end. The field distributions were calculated at the different sectional planes of the rods, and it was found that the spatial resolution was less than 40 nm given by the rod size, which is much beyond the diffraction limit of the conventional imaging system. The field intensity in the image plane was well resolved due to the collection of surface plasmon polaritons. The behaviors of the three components of field distribution at entrance and exit from the nanorod and the influences of the optical field distribution generated by some factors are also discussed in detail. The proposed structure possesses a deep transfer of super-resolution image and can be used with image transfer.

The problems of development of national state

Abstract: The paper analyzes the global economic factors of the development of the national state in the European Union (EU). The place of the national state is shown under globalization in the common EU space where under the conditions of a free market complicated tasks are being formed: development of progress, promotion of democracy in the territory of the state, and activation of the public activity. Problems of the national state and public development as well as ways of their solution are described. Analysis is given of the opportunities for modernization of the organization in the national market and the common EU space, factors related to optimization of human labour are determined and presented, and methods are foreseen for solving the future political, economic and social problems in the EU under the conditions of globalization.

Functions and oxidative stress status of leukocytes in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract: This study was conducted to establish the functions and oxidative stress status in leukocytes of adult patients with nephrotic syndrome. Thirty adult patients with nephrotic syndrome and 32 controls were included. Phagocytosis ability, the killing ability of the micro-organism phagosited of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and monocytes, along with oxidative stress parameters of PMNLs were assessed. There was no statistically significant difference in phagocytosis function of PMNLs and monocytes of patients when compared to those of controls. PMNL burst activities of the patient and control groups also showed no difference; however, the monocyte burst activities of patients were significant (p = 0.012). The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in PMNLs of the patients with nephrotic syndrome were significantly higher (p = 0.026) when compared to those of controls. In comparison with those of the control subjects, the patients had also higher selenium levels in their PMNLs (p < 0.001). Although PMNL malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels of the patients seem to be higher than those of controls, the difference had no statistical significance (p = 0.071). Conclusively, in the patients with nephrotic syndrome, PMNLs appear to be exposed to an oxidative stress as indicated by their increased GSH-Px activities and selenium content. However, PMNLs in nephrotic syndrome patients seem to be coping with the insulting oxidative stress, as suggested by their near-normal MDA productions. Furthermore, these data suggest that nephrotic syndrome appears not to have an influence on phagocytosis and killing abilities of granulocytes and monocytes as long as these cells can overcome the oxidative stress to which they are exposed in this disease.

Characterizations of Disjointness preserving operators on vector-valued function spaces

Abstract: We characterize compact and completely continuous disjointness preserving linear operators on vector-valued continuous functions as follows: a disjointness preserving operator T : C 0 (X, E) → C 0 (Y, F) is compact (resp. completely continuous) if and only if T f = Σδ xn ⊗ h n (f) for all f ∈ C 0 (X, E), n where h n : Y → B(E, F) is continuous and vanishes at infinity in the uniform (resp. strong) operator topology, and h n (y) is compact (resp. h n is uniformly completely continuous).

Counting Balanced Boolean Functions in n Variables with Bounded Degree

Abstract: We consider the problem of obtaining good upper and lower bounds on the number of balanced Boolean functions in n variables with degree less than or equal to k. This is the same as the problem of finding bounds on the number of codewords of weight 2n-1 in the Reed–Muller code of length 2n and order k. We state several conjectures and use them to obtain good bounds. We believe that the conjectures will be highly useful for further research.