[en] A huge mesenteric cyst in a 61-year-old female was treated by percutaneous ablation using ethanol. Marked shrinkage was achieved and regrowth was not seen 16 months after ablation. Resection is the standard therapy for mesenteric cysts, but it may be valuable to discuss the feasibility of percutaneous ablation before resection if the lesion wall is smooth and thin, and if solid nodules are not depicted on imaging.

[en] High speed machining technology can improve the processing efficiency and precision, but also reduce the processing cost. Therefore, the technology is widely regarded in the industry. With the extensive application of high-speed machining technology, high-speed tool system has higher and higher requirements on the tool chuck. At present, in high speed precision machining, several new kinds of clip heads are as long as there are heat shrinkage tool-holder, high-precision spring chuck, hydraulic tool-holder, and the three-rib deformation chuck. Among them, the heat shrinkage tool-holder has the advantages of high precision, high clamping force, high bending rigidity and dynamic balance, etc., which are widely used. Therefore, it is of great significance to research the new requirements of the machining tool system. In order to adapt to the requirement of high speed machining precision machining technology, this paper expounds the common tool holder technology of high precision machining, and proposes how to select correctly tool clamping system in practice. The characteristics and existing problems are analyzed in the tool clamping system. (paper)

[en] Activated sintering of high-refractory non-oxide compounds, under the influence of various physical and chemical factors on the shrinkage kinetics, was described. The sintering process was presented as a chemical reaction, but the degree of activation was determined quantitatively taking into account the change in temperature adequate to the maximum shrinkage rate during heating at a constant rate or the change in the order of reaction during isothermal sintering. It was found out that activation characterized the initial stage and that it was caused either by changes in dispersion of powders, or by the heating rate up to the isothermal temperature, or by additives, or by the influence of the atmosphere or the vacuum. The influence of ultrasonic vibrations on the shrinkage kinetics was examined. In the initial sintering stage ultrasonic vibrations activate the process, but during a long-lasting influence, they disactivate it, causing decay of the structure

[en] Shrinkage is one of the most important defects in polymeric parts. Although there are several studies in order to control and reduce the shrinkage of polymeric parts, there is no systematic investigation on the shrinkage of injection molded polycarbonate (PC) parts. Therefore, the comprehensive investigation of the shrinkage behavior of PC parts was conducted in the present study. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized and PC samples were injection molded in different conditions based on the design of experiments. The shrinkage was studied in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions. The measurements were performed at five points in latitudinal and three points in longitudinal. The shrinkage behavior respect to the distance from the gate was studied. A comparative analysis between the shrinkage across and along the injection direction was performed. Analysis of variance tool of RSM method was utilized in order to recognize most effective parameters on the volumetric shrinkage. A regression model was proposed to estimate the volumetric shrinkage of the PC with high accuracy. The interaction effect of parameters on the volumetric shrinkage was analyzed and different solutions to control the shrinkage were recognized. (paper)

[en] A method of treating a wool textile for imparting shrink-resistant properties is described comprising applying to the textile ionising radiation and a polymer resin selected such that the resin will be bonded onto the wool fibres and form a relatively thin application thereon for imparting shrink-resistant properties, the process being carried out substantially at ambient temperature

[en] Recently, there are many fields have been required for the precision measurements, as an advanced example of which, a precise change of inner structure during the hydration process of mortar was observed by ultrasonic and dielectric measurements. The results show that it is possible to determine the safety of mortar and mixing ratio, and strength growth and shrinkage rate by heat evolution

[en] Insulinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor, most commonly originating from the pancreas, which is either sporadic or familial as a component of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome (MEN1). It is characterized by increased insulin secretion leading to hypoglycemia. Surgical removal is considered the treatment of choice, with limited side effects and relatively low morbidity and mortality, both being improved by the laparoscopic procedure. We present the case of a 30-year-old patient with MEN1 and recurrent insulinoma with severe hypoglycemic episodes who could not be surgically treated due to the adherence of the tumor to large blood vessels and to prior multiple surgical operations. He was treated by repeated embolization using spherical polyvinyl alcohol particles, resulting in shrinkage of the tumor, improvement of the frequency and severity of the hypoglycemic episodes, and better quality of life.

[en] The objectives of this presentation are to understand soil swelling and shrinkage mechanisms, and the development of desiccation cracks, to distinguish between soils having different magnitude of swelling, as well as the consequences on soil structural behaviour, to know methods to characterize soil swell/shrink potential and to construct soil shrinkage curves, and derive shrinkage indices, as well to apply them to assess soil management effects

[en] Highlights: • Shrinkage of concrete is measured with various temperature and humidity conditions. • The fib MC2010 shrinkage model is accurate for low RH and high T conditions. • The fib MC2010 shrinkage model slightly underestimate for other conditions. • The fib MC2010 creep model conservatively predicts creep strains. - Abstract: Creep and shrinkage of concrete is influenced by many factors including relative humidity and temperature. The combined effect of low relative humidity (<20%) and high temperature (38 °C) on creep and shrinkage of concrete is uncertain as limited tests have been conducted in this domain. Also unknown is the ability of the fib MC2010 model code in predicting the shrinkage and creep at the environment. This paper presents the results of experiments conducted in which concrete was cast and exposed to the aforementioned environmental conditions. The shrinkage and creep behaviour of the concrete was observed for 110 days, and experimental results were compared with predicted values using fib MC2010 model code.

[en] Highlights: • PDGFR expression is high in endothelial/smooth muscle cell co-cultures under hypoxia. • PDGF is secreted by vascular endothelial and corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells. • Hypoxia increases connexin (Cx)43 level in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells. • PDGF enhances Cx43 expression under hypoxic conditions. • PDGF regulates Cx43 in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells via PI3K/AKT/β-catenin. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common sexual disorder that men report to healthcare providers. Gap junctions (GJs) are thought to be responsible for synchronous shrinkage of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs), and play thus an important role in the maintenance of an erection. Hypoxia has been suggested as a pathological mechanism underlying ED. Here we demonstrate that hypoxia increased the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and the main GJ component connexin (Cx)43 in CCSMCs. Inhibiting PDGF receptor (PDGFR) activity decreased Cx43 expression. Treatment with different concentrations of PDGF increased the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (AKT), β-catenin, and Cx43, whereas inhibition of PDGFR or activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling altered β-catenin and Cx43 expression. Meanwhile, silencing β-catenin resulted in the downregulation of Cx43. These results demonstrate that PDGF secretion by CCSMCs and vascular endothelial cells is enhanced under hypoxic conditions, leading to increased Cx43 expression through PI3K/AKT/β-catenin signaling and ultimately affecting GJ function in ED. Thus, targeting this pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ED.