On 4-manifolds homotopy equivalent to surface bundles over surfaces

We show that a closed 4-manifold is homotopy equivalent to the total space of a surface bundle over a surface if the obviously necessary conditions on the fundamental group and Euler characteristic hold. When the base is the 2-sphere we need also conditions on the characteristic classes of the manifold. (Our results are incomplete when the base is the projective plane.) In most cases we can show the manifold is s-cobordant to the total space of the bundle.     

利用近红外光谱监测皮肤血氧输运

利用近红外光谱无创监测移植手术的皮瓣成活状况，是近红外组织氧检测技术的最新应用之一，本文介绍子我们设计的利用光纤传导的近外皮肤血氧监测系统。该系统可以灵活调整光谱－探测器间距以适应皮层检测。利用该系统进行的前臂皮皮肤阻断试验中，静脉阻断时皮肤内有显著的血液充盈现现象，全阻断时氧含量明显下降，实验表明，利用近红外光谱法监测瓣血氧输运情况是非常有效的，特别是可以比较好地监测脉回流情况。     

Injectable Polyzwitterionic Lubricant for Complete Prevention of Cardiac Adhesion

After cardiac surgery, tissue damage to the heart may cause adhesion between heart and its surrounding tissues. Post-operative cardiac adhesion may lead to limited normal cardiac function, decreased quality of cardiac surgery, and increased risk of major bleeding during reoperation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective anti-adhesion therapy to overcome cardiac adhesion. An injectable polyzwitterionic lubricant is developed to prevent adhesion between the heart and surrounding tissues and to maintain normal pumping function of the heart. This lubricant is evaluated in a rat heart adhesion model. Poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (i.e., PMPC) polymers are successfully prepared via free radical polymerization of monomer MPC, and the optimal lubricating performance, biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo is demonstrated. Besides, a rat heart adhesion model is conducted to evaluate the bio-functionality of lubricated PMPC. The results prove that PMPC is a promising lubricant for complete adhesion-prevention. The injectable polyzwitterionic lubricant shows excellent lubricating properties and biocompatibility and can effectively prevent cardiac adhesion.     

A SIMPLE LINEARIZATION PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING R0 FROM INVASIVE EPIDEMIC MODELS

Plant diseases often cause yield losses in agriculture worldwide. In mathematical ecology, the concept of the basic (or basal) reproduction number, R₀, has received little attention in the scientific literature related to phytopathogen transmission in plants. The spread and magnitude of outbreaks, the rate of invasion and infectivity of the etiologic agent, the contact complexities occurring among parasite and host, and its susceptibility and period of infectiousness are very important factors for epidemiological models. These mathematical models, when applied in ecology, can help to understand the spread of infections from phytopathogens (or pests) to plant hosts as well as detect potential risks of contamination or outbreaks by using the basic reproduction number in effective control strategies. In this study, the Maclaurin series concepts on the Force of Infection were applied to derive R₀ expressions from generic epidemiological SIR (Susceptible‐Infected‐Removed) models. Consequently, we were able to obtain these relations from three transmission‐infection model examples. Then, once the expression of Force of Infection is known from the “infectious” problem studied, it is possible to apply this technique to formulate the R₀ relation and guide practicable strategies for dispersing invasive phytopathogen controls.     

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation after Total Knee Replacement Surgery Using Sample Entropy and Classical Measures of Body Balance

Exercises in virtual reality (VR) have recently become a popular form of rehabilitation and are reported to be more effective than a standard rehabilitation protocol alone. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of adjunct VR training in improving postural control in patients after total knee replacement surgery (TKR). Forty-two patients within 7–14 days of TKR were enrolled and divided into a VR group and a control group (C). The C group underwent standard postoperative rehabilitation. The VR group additionally attended twelve 30-min exercise sessions using the Virtual Balance Clinic prototype system. Balance was assessed on the AMTI plate in bipedal standing with and without visual feedback before and after the four-week rehabilitation. Linear measures and sample entropy of CoP data were analyzed. After four weeks of rehabilitation, a significant reduction in parameters in the sagittal plane and ellipse area was noted while the eyes remained open. Regression analysis showed that sample entropy depended on sex, body weight, visual feedback and age. Based on the sample entropy results, it was concluded that the complexity of the body reaction had not improved. The standing-with-eyes-closed test activates automatic balance mechanisms and offers better possibilities as a diagnostic tool.     

Testing of Raman spectroscopy as a non‐invasive tool for the investigation of glass‐protected pastels

Five French pastels and a sanguine drawing dating from the 17th to the 20th century were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Different operative conditions were used: the pastels were investigated through their protective glass, and the results obtained were compared with those obtained after removing the glass and after sampling a micrometric particle of pigment. Different parameters (wavelengths, powers of excitation and objectives) were tested in order to assess the optimal procedure of analysis for this fragile work of art. The results obtained for black (carbons), yellow (chrome/cobalt yellow), red (lead oxide, vermillion, orpiment), brown (red lead and chrome yellow), blue (Prussian blue, lapis lazuli/ultramarine), green (mixture of above blue and yellow pigments) and white (calcite, lead white, anatase) pigments are presented and the consistency of the pigments' period of use with the dating proposed for each pastel is evaluated. In one of the pastels, the blackening of the carnation colour made of an unstable mixture of lead white, red lead and vermilion was studied. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Femtosecond lasers in biology: nanoscale surgery with ultrafast optics

Femtosecond lasers are emerging as a powerful tool in basic biological research. The high peak light intensity generated by a tightly focused, ultrashort, pulse of infrared laser light enables versatile submicron ablation deep within biological samples. Recent studies have begun to exploit these capabilities to conduct meticulous laser surgery experiments within single cells, as well as within intact organisms. This review will discuss the basic physical mechanisms behind femtosecond laser ablation in biological samples. It will then examine a series of prominent applications in biology and how they are opening new possibilities in a range of research fields. The interface between physics and biology has been exceptionally fruitful over recent years and femtosecond laser ablation is proving to be another prime example of this.     

Existence of herman rings for meromorphic functions

We apply the Shishikura surgery construction to transcendental maps in order to obtain examples of meromorphic functions with Herman rings, in a variety of possible arrangements. We give a sharp bound on the maximum possible number of such rings that a meromorphic function may have, in terms of the number of poles. Finally we discuss the possibility of having “unbounded” Herman rings (i.e., with an essential singularity in the boundary), and give some examples of maps with this property.     

Real‐time non‐invasive detection of inhalable particulates delivered into live mouse airways

Fine non‐biological particles small enough to be suspended in the air are continually inhaled as we breathe. These particles deposit on airway surfaces where they are either cleared by airway defences or can remain and affect lung health. Pollutant particles from vehicles, building processes and mineral and industrial dusts have the potential to cause both immediate and delayed health problems. Because of their small size, it has not been possible to non‐invasively examine how individual particles deposit on live airways, or to consider how they behave on the airway surface after deposition. In this study, synchrotron phase‐contrast X‐ray imaging (PCXI) has been utilized to detect and monitor individual particle deposition. The in vitro detectability of a range of potentially respirable particulates was first determined. Of the particulates tested, only asbestos, quarry dust, fibreglass and galena (lead sulfate) were visible in vitro. These particulates were then examined after delivery into the nasal airway of live anaesthetized mice; all were detectable in vivo but each exhibited different surface appearances and behaviour along the airway surface. The two fibrous particulates appeared as agglomerations enveloped by fluid, while the non‐fibrous particulates were present as individual particles. Synchrotron PCXI provides the unique ability to non‐invasively detect and track deposition of individual particulates in live mouse airways. With further refinement of particulate sizing and delivery techniques, PCXI should provide a novel approach for live animal monitoring of airway particulates relevant to lung health.     

Modeling the heating of biological tissue based on the hyperbolic heat transfer equation

In modern surgery, a multitude of minimally intrusive operational techniques are used which are based on the point heating of target zones of human tissue via laser or radiofrequency currents. Traditionally, these processes are modeled by the bioheat equation introduced by Pennes, who considers Fourier’s theory of heat conduction. We present an alternative and more realistic model established using the hyperbolic equation of heat transfer. To demonstrate some features and advantages of our proposed method, we apply the results obtained to different types of tissue heating with high energy fluxes, in particular radiofrequency heating and pulsed laser treatment of the cornea to correct refractive errors. We hope that the results from our approach will help with refining surgical interventions in this novel field of medical treatment.