[en] Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of using shear wave elastography (SWE) to assess first extensor compartment tendons rigidity and its alterations with tenosynovitis. Materials and methods: We performed B-mode ultrasound and SWE to total number of 80 participants. All participants were evaluated clinically to call the diagnosis of de Quervain tenosynovitis or to rule out the diagnosis. We composed 2 groups. Group 1 included 40 healthy volunteers (33 females and 7 male participants with ages ranging from 24 to 60 years, median age was 37.5 years) and group 2 had 40 de Quervain patients (32 females and 8 male patients with ages ranging from 25 to 51 years, median age was 34 years). SWE measurements were repeated 3 times and arithmetic average was used for the final SWE value. Results: The median SWE value of healthy group (group 1) was 72 kPa and the de Quervain patient group (group 2) was 29 kPa. Two groups demonstrated statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The ROC curve analysis was performed and the SWE value of 40.5kPA was calculated as a cut-off value for the diagnosis of de Quervain tenosynovitis with 95% specificity and 85% sensitivity. Conclusion: SWE modality can provide useful data regarding de Quervain tenosynovitis.

[en] KAERI, ARTI has been doing a pivotal role for research and development in radiation technologies. Strong motivation and RT-based biotechnologies necessary for the future R and D plans can be provided form the results of this research. An advanced analytical method was suggested for the combined action of ionizing radiation with another factor. Using the method, it is possible to predict in advance the maximum value of synergistic interaction and the conditions to achieve the maximum. The results of this study give a clues for establishment of important technology associated with enhancing positive efficacy of radiation applications. By elaborating the present research results, new technologies will be established for analysing the combined effects of radiation with another factor and radiosensitivity of organisms. In the long run, de novo biodosimetry techniques will be developed and it can play an important role for ARTI to be an internationally recognized radiation biology and biodosimetry laboratory

[en] A modified developing solution is proposed suitable for developing X-ray films and method of additional flashing is used to intensity a latent X-ray image. Various types of films made in the USSR affected by a pulse X-ray radiation were studied. The effect of infectional developing and additional flashing resulting in the reduced exposure time is shown. Graphical curves are presented to illustrate the conception

[en] The structure of a modified photo detecting head with a photoresistor and spectral sensitivity V is put to consideration. The characteristics of the spectral sensitivity and the cosine error of the photodetector are shown. An electronic measuring transducer with linear dependence of the output voltage on the illumination was developed for the head. The structure of a 3-channel system for synchronous measurement and recording of the illumination within the range 0-100 klx with maximum relative error of +- 5% is presented

[en] Plasma etching processes have been introduced to overcome some of the difficulties, such as undercutting, encountered in semiconductor fabrication processes based upon wet etching. They also give environmental advantages in that the use, and necessity for safe disposal, of corrosive etching liquids and organic solvents can be reduced or eliminated. Their use should be particularly beneficial when combined with electron, ion and X-ray lithographic techniques, for these are capable of exposing details of sub-micron dimensions, at which wet etching becomes an increasingly unreliable pattern transfer method. Dry etching media can degrade some resists very rapidly. This article reviews some of the improved materials designed specifically for use in dry etching processes. The use of dry etching in multilevel processing to obtain improved resolution in sub-micron pattern transfer, and in dry-developable resist systems is also described. (author)

[en] The present study describes the symptoms in hypersensitivity to electricity on basis of the medical histories of 32 afflicted people. Thirty-One of the 32 subjects (97%) reported vague skin complaints, such as blotchiness, pinkness, reddening, itching etc. twenty subjects (63%) reported symptoms from the nervous system, such as dizziness, fatigue, headache, sweating, depression, heart palpitations, memory lapses etc. There were no symptoms indicative of organic lesions of the nervous system. The symptoms, however, were often pronounced and resulted in sickness registration in 25% of the cases. Twenty-nine of the 32 subjects (91%) cited the VDU as the triggering factor, but other triggering factors were also mentioned: fluorescent lighting, sunlight, electrical device, and wiring, ventilation units etc. Discontinuing VDU work was the most frequent adopted measure and the method achieving the greatest symptom alleviation. (author)

[en] Endothelial cells (EC) in tumor and normal tissue constitute critical radiotherapy targets. MicroRNAs have emerged as master switchers of the cellular transcriptome. Here, we seek to investigate the role of miRNAs in primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) after ionizing radiation. The microRNA status in HDMEC after 2 Gy radiation treatment was measured using oligo-microarrays covering 361 miRNAs. To functionally analyze the role of radiation-induced differentially regulated miRNAs, cells were transfected with miRNA precursor or inhibitor constructs. Clonogenic survival and proliferation assays were performed. Radiation up-regulated miRNA expression levels included let-7g, miR-16, miR-20a, miR-21 and miR-29c, while miR-18a, miR-125a, miR-127, miR-148b, miR-189 and miR-503 were down-regulated. We found that overexpression or inhibition of let-7g, miR-189, and miR-20a markedly influenced clonogenic survival and cell proliferation per se. Notably, the radiosensitivity of HDMEC was significantly influenced by differential expression of miR-125a, -127, -189, and let-7g. While miR-125a and miR-189 had a radioprotective effect, miR-127 and let-7g enhanced radiosensitivity in human endothelial cells. Our data show that ionizing radiation changes microRNA levels in human endothelial cells and, moreover, exerts biological effects on cell growth and clonogenicity as validated in functional assays. The data also suggest that the miRNAs which are differentially expressed after radiation modulate the intrinsic radiosensitivity of endothelial cells in subsequent irradiations. This indicates that miRNAs are part of the innate response mechanism of the endothelium to radiation

[en] Nanobubbles hold potential for expanding utility of ultrasound contrast-based applications to extravascular targets, but their acoustic response and the effects of the surrounding environment remain relatively unexplored. Here we investigate the dynamics of porphyrin-encapsulated nanobubbles (diameter  <0.4 µm; 10⁶ ml⁻¹) at clinically relevant frequencies (2.5 MHz and 8 MHz) as a function of pressure (0.1–1.0 MPa) in vessel- and tissue-mimicking phantoms to gain an understanding of nanobubble behaviour in intra- and extravascular compartments. The results provide the first direct observation that nanobubbles can initiate nonlinear scattering, and that they do so in a pressure-dependent manner. It is further demonstrated that while nanobubbles in confining media require higher pressures for nonlinearities and demonstrate reduced scattering, they can exhibit sustained and non-destructive cavitation. Bubble models are then used to gain mechanistic insights into experimentally observed nanobubble dynamics and confirm sensitivity to nonlinear shell rheology, particularly to radially-dependent surface tension and the characteristic time constant for shear-thinning. (paper)

[en] Highlights: • Established MR neurography criteria for diagnosis of brachial plexopathy had a sensitivity of - 41% to 71% compared to electrodiagnostic studies. • Interobserver variability in diagnosis was good, with kappa value of 0.658. • Interobserver consistency was improved at 3 T compared to 1.5 T. • Administration of gadolinium contrast did not change the diagnosis. - Abstract: Objective: To assess the accuracy of MR neurography (MRN) for the diagnosis for brachial plexopathy. Materials and methods: Forty-three 43 consecutive cases or MRN with electrodiagnostic study correlation were reviewed independently by 2 readers. Established diagnostic criteria were employed: increased signal intensity, enlargement, loss of fascicular pattern, perineural edema and enhancement after administration of gadolinium contrast. An additional 37 cases without electrodiagnostic correlation were included in a second portion of the study, which evaluated interobserver variability. Results: The sensitivity of MRN ranged from 41.2% to 70.6%. Specificity was 97.7% to 100%. There was good interobserver agreement, with kappa value of 0.658. Odds ratio for agreement between observers at 3 T vs. 1.5 T was 1.30. Conclusions: MRN of the brachial plexus showed only moderate sensitivity to brachial neuritis. Interobserver agreement was slightly higher at 3 T than at 1.5 T. MRN can be helpful in confirming an abnormal brachial plexus, but a normal MRN appearance of the plexus should not negate a clinical diagnosis.

[en] Physical characteristics of a new kind of photodetectors, the intra-modulated photo-sensor, is analyzed in detail. The effects of the surface states and distribution of the hole quasi Fermi potential in the passage is taken into account. The coupling coefficient of the passage, the distribution of the hole concentration and quasi Fermi potential of the hole along the passage, and the optoelectronic characteristics are derived. It is in good agreement with the experimental measurement results