Comparative Study of Radiological Changes in Hands and Feet in Patients Suffering from Early Rheumatoid Arthritis by Power Doppler Ultrasound and Direct Digital Radiography

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown cause. The characteristic feature of RA is persistent inflammatory synovitis. The natural history of disease is such that the early months of the disease are critical period during which reversible joint damage occurs. So early diagnosis of RA and appropriate drug application is the only way to save a patient from this crippling disease. In India, the cost of investigations is a significant factor for most of the patients. Ultrasonography or Power Doppler Ultra Sound (PDUS) has the advantage of being economic in spite of its sensitivity in assessing both inflammatory and destructive changes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of PDUS in early rheumatoid arthritis. The study was performed with the patients attending Rheumatology Clinic. A total number of 106 patients of clinically suspected rheumatoid arthritis were studied as per selection criteria. Radiological examinations of hands were done by digital radiography and PDUS in a group of 53 patients, assessment of foot changes by PDUS and Digital Radiography were done in another similar group of 53 patients. Final diagnosis by ACR EULAR-2010 criteria is done for all the patients. The comparative study reveals that synovial vascularity as demonstrated by PDUS is much more effective in diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis, both in hand and in feet than digital radiograph. PDUS of feet may yield earlier and better findings than hands, which is conventionally used in patients suffering from early rheumatoid arthritis.

DIRECT DIGITAL DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF MESHING IN WORM-GEAR DRIVE

A direct digital design method （DDDM） of worm-gear drive is proposed. It is directly based on the simulation of manufacturing process and completely different from the conventional modeling method. The loaded tooth contact analysis （LTCA） method is analyzed, in which the advanced surface to surface searching technique is included. The influence of misalignment errors and contact deformations on contact zone and transmission error （TE） is discussed. Combined modification approach on worm tooth surface is presented. By means of DDDM and LTCA, it is very conven- ient to verify the effect of worm-gear drive＇s modification approach. The analysis results show that, the modification in profile direction reduces the sensitivity of worm-gear drive to misalignment errors and the modification in longitudinal direction decreases the TE. Thus the optimization design of worm-gear drive can be achieved prior to the actual manufacturing process.

Numerical simulation of direct shear tests on mechanical properties of talus deposits based on self-adaptive PCNN digital image processing

The macro mechanical properties of materials with characteristics of large scale and complicated structural composition can be analyzed through its reconstructed meso-structures.In this work,the meso-structures of talus deposits that widely exist in the hydro-power engineering in the southwest of China were first reconstructed by small particles according to the in-situ photographs based on the self-adaptive PCNN digital image processing,and then numerical direct shear tests were carried out for studying the mechanical properties of talus deposits.Results indicate that the reconstructed meso-structures of talus deposits are more consistent with the actual situation because the self-adaptive PCNN digital image processing has a higher discrimination in the details of soil-rock segmentation.The existence and random distribution of rock blocks make the initial shear stiffness,the peak strength and the residual strength higher than those of the "pure soil" with particle size less than 1.25 cm apparently,but reduce the displacements required for the talus deposits reaching its peak shear strength.The increase of rock proportion causes a significant improvement in the internal friction angle of talus deposit,which to a certain degree leads to the characteristics of shear stress-displacement curves having a changing trend from the plastic strain softening deformation to the nonlinear strain hardening deformation,while an unconspicuous increase in cohesion.The uncertainty and heterogeneity of rock distributions cause the differences of rock proportion within shear zone,leading to a relatively strong fluctuation in peak strengths during the shear process,while movement features of rock blocks,such as translation,rotation and crossing,expand the scope of shear zone,increase the required shear force,and also directly lead to the misjudgment that the lower shear strength is obtained from the samples with high rock proportion.That,however,just explains the reason why the shear strength gained from a small amount of indoor test data is not consistent with engineering practice.

Tensile strength and failure behavior of rock-mortar interfaces: Direct and indirect measurements

The tensile strength at the rock-concrete interface is one of the crucial factors controlling the failure mechanisms of structures,such as concrete gravity dams.Despite the critical importance of the failure mechanism and tensile strength of rock-concrete interfaces,understanding of these factors remains very limited.This study investigated the tensile strength and fracturing processes at rock-mortar interfaces subjected to direct and indirect tensile loadings.Digital image correlation(DIC)and acoustic emission(AE)techniques were used to monitor the failure mechanisms of specimens subjected to direct tension and indirect loading(Brazilian tests).The results indicated that the direct tensile strength of the rock-mortar specimens was lower than their indirect tensile strength,with a direct/indirect tensile strength ratio of 65%.DIC strain field data and moment tensor inversions(MTI)of AE events indicated that a significant number of shear microcracks occurred in the specimens subjected to the Brazilian test.The presence of these shear microcracks,which require more energy to break,resulted in a higher tensile strength during the Brazilian tests.In contrast,microcracks were predominantly tensile in specimens subjected to direct tension,leading to a lower tensile strength.Spatiotemporal monitoring of the cracking processes in the rock-mortar interfaces revealed that they show AE precursors before failure under the Brazilian test,whereas they show a minimal number of AE events before failure under direct tension.Due to different microcracking mechanisms,specimens tested under Brazilian tests showed lower roughness with flatter fracture surfaces than those tested under direct tension with jagged and rough fracture surfaces.The results of this study shed light on better understanding the micromechanics of damage in the rock-concrete interfaces for a safer design of engineering structures.

Controlling the light wavefront through a scattering medium based on direct digital frequency synthesis technology

Phase modulation is a crucial step when the frequency-based wavefront optimization technique is exploited to measure the optical transmission matrix(TM) of a scattering medium. We report a simple but powerful method, direct digital frequency synthesis(DDS) technology to modulate the phase front of the laser and measure the TM. By judiciously modulating the phase front of a He–Ne laser beam, we experimentally generate a high quality focus at any targeted location through a 2 mm thick 120 grit ground glass diffuser, which is commercially used in laser display and laser holographic display for improving brightness uniformity and reducing speckle. The signal to noise ratio(SNR) of the clear round focus is 50 and the size is about 44 μm. Our study will open up new avenues for enhancing light energy delivery to the optical engine in laser TV to lower the power consumption, phase compensation to reduce the speckle noise, and controlling the lasing threshold in random lasers.

A Direct Droplet Digital PCR Method for <i>E. coli</i>Host Residual DNA Quantification

Injectable drugs manufactured in E. coli must be tested for host residual DNA (hr DNA) impurity in ensuring drug purity and safety. Because of low allowable hr DNA as impurity, highly sensitive methods are needed. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a new method where the reaction is partitioned into about 20,000 nanoliter-sized droplets and each droplet acts as individual PCR reaction. After completion of end-point PCR, droplets are analyzed for fluorescence and categorized as positive or negative and DNA quantified using Poisson statistics. Here we describe development of a direct E. coli hr DNA dd PCR method where the drug is directly added to the ddPCR reaction. We show that the ddPCR method has acceptable precision and high accuracy, works with different biologic drugs, and compared to qPCR shows higher tolerance of drug matrices. The method does not require DNA extraction or standard curves for quantification of hr DNA in unknown samples.

Manipulation of superconducting qubit with direct digital synthesis

We investigate the XY control and manipulation of the superconducting qubit state using direct digital synthesis(DDS)for the microwave pulse signal generation.The decoherence time, gate fidelity, and other qubit properties are measured and carefully characterized, and compared with the results obtained by using the traditional mixing technique for the microwave pulse generation.In particular, the qubit performance in the state manipulation with respect to the sampling rate of DDS is studied.Our results demonstrate that the present technique provides a simple and effective method for the XY control and manipulation of the superconducting qubit state.Realistic applications of the technique for the possible future scalable superconducting quantum computation are discussed.

Evaluation of Diagnostic Efficacy of Digital Subtraction Radiography in the Diagnosis of Simulated External Root Resorption: An <i>in Vitro</i>Study

External root resorption can induce the degeneration of dental cementum and dentine and may extend towards the pulp reductive. Digital subtraction radiography can function as a useful tool in diagnosing degenerative carious lesions. This study investigated the diagnostic value of digital subtraction radiography in detecting external root resorption. This was a descriptive study conducted using the lab trial method. Artificially-induced external root resorption was created in different sizes at the coronal and apical aspects of 20 premolar teeth. Digital radiographs were obtained of each tooth under standard conditions and these radiographs were subtracted by imaging devices. The subtracted images and the digital radiographs were observed by three radiologists. Chi-square, Kappa test, and Z-test were used to analyze the data. The mean of general sensitivity of digital subtraction radiography and direct digital radiography was low in diagnosing 0.05 mm lesions (Sen = 35%), yet, the accuracy index was good for all lesions (Acc ≥ 65%). Other diagnostic parameters were also acceptable. Both types of radiography worked better in diagnosing coronal than apical lesions (P > 0.05). The interpreters (observers) showed a better performance in diagnosing external root resorption using digital subtraction radiography compared to digital radiography. Both modalities were exact and accurate in detecting 0.05 mm lesions as well as other lesions. However, the results of digital subtraction radiography were not significantly different from those of direct digital radiography.

Influence of immobilization and sensory re-education on the sensory recovery after reconstruction of digital nerves with direct suture or muscle-in-vein conduits

The influence of duration of immobilization and postoperative sensory re-education on the final outcome after reconstruction of digital nerves with direct suture or muscle-in-vein conduits was investigated. The final sensory outcome of 35 patients with 41 digital nerve injuries, who either underwent a direct suture（DS） or a nerve reconstruction with muscle-in-vein conduits（MVC）, was assessed the earliest 12 months postoperatively using static and moving two-point discrimination as well as Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. There was no significant difference in sensory recovery in cases with an immobilization of 3–7 days versus 10 days in the DS or MVC group. Moreover, no statistically significant difference in sensory recovery was found in cases receiving postoperative sensory re-education versus those not receiving in the DS or MVC group. An early mobilization does not seem to have a negative impact on the final outcome after digital nerve reconstruction. The effect of sensory re-education after digital nerve reconstruction should be reconsidered.

Novel analysis method for the spurious spectrum of direct digitalfrequency synthesizer in the presence of phase truncation

Based on the analysis of the spurious introduced by phase accumulation truncation which was made by Nicholas, a new simplified algorithm for spurious spectrum in the presence of phase truncation is presented by using the mapping mathematics and number theoretic method, it is possible to precisely analyze the spurious location and the spurious amplitude introduced by phase truncation in practical applications by computer.

Evaluation of Positive Predictive Value for Digital Panoramic Radiography in Comparison to Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Calcified Carotid Atheroma

Aim: Detection of calcified carotid atheroma (CCA) has an important role in reducing the incidence of Cerebro Vascular Accident (CVA). The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy of panoramic digital radiography in detecting atherosclerosis. Methods: It is descriptive-analytical diagnostic study. The people (22 to 62 years old) were referred to a radiology clinic to perform panoramic radiography for diagnosis of CCA. Individuals who were suspected were introduced to the radiology department of dental school to undergo ultrasound evaluation to CCA. For the 41 patients (55 sides), ultrasound was performed. For data analysis, the Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used. Results: The prevalence of CCA was 2.43%. The PPV of digital panoramic was 45.5%. There was no significant relationship between age (P = 0.14) and sex (P = 0.539) and PPV of digital panoramic. The PPV of digital panoramic was significantly associated with hypertension (P = 0.032). Conclusion: It seems that panoramic can be used to screen patients with a history of hypertension for atherosclerosis.

Comparison via Digital Radiography of Radiopacity Levels of Composite Materials with Various Shades and Viscosities

Aim of the present in vitro study is to evaluate the radiopacity levels of composite resins with various shades and viscosity.10 mm×2 mm discs were prepared from 7 condensable and 4 flowable composites(n=10).An aluminum step wedge ranging from 2.0 to 10.0 mm in thickness was placed on the occlusal film.Digital radiographs were taken using a dental X-ray device and radiographic densities of each step of the aluminum wedge and the samples were recorded to the computer.Five readings were taken and means were calculated.One-Way Anova and Tamhane post hoc tests were performed.While G-eanial Posterior has the highest radiopacity value followed by Filtek Z550,Aelite Flo has the lowest radiopacity value.Posterior composites show higher radiopacity and flowable composites with higher filler loadings have superior radiopacity levels to condensable composites.Enamel and body shades of the composite brands have also statistically significant differences in radiopacity scores.Eventually,radiopacity level of a composite resin material is not affected by the size of fillers;however,the composition,shape and loading of the fillers can specify the radiodensity.

Evaluation of Entrance Skin Radiation Exposure Dose for Pediatrics Examined by Digital Radiography at Asser Central Hospital-KSA

Assessment of entrance skin doses for patients in Digital radiography examinations should be made as a means for the optimization of the radiation protection of the patients. We measured the entrance skin dose (ESD) received by 50 pediatrics undergoing 12 types of diagnostic X-ray examination at Radiology Department of Asser Central Hospital-KSA. The entrance skin dose ESD was determined via measurements parameters: focus to skin distance (FSD), tube current (mAs) and tube voltage (kV) in arithmetical equation. The mean ± SD for ESDs were found to be 0.16 ± 0.03, 0.21 ± 0.01, 0.63 ± 0.26, 0.55 ± 0.09, 0.15 ± 0.05, 0.27 ± 0.06, 0.41 ± 0.19, 0.46 ± 0.18, 0.46 ± 0.12, 0.20 ± 0.02, 0.39 ± 0.01, 0.29 ± 0.03, for PA chest, foot, AP pelvis, PA skull, PA hand, AP arm, ankle, AP shoulder, abdomen, forearm, AP femur, AP elbow consequently. Our study is considered as an attempt to evaluate the ESDs received by digital radiographic x-ray machine for children aged between 2 - 15 years old, taking in our considerations number of other variables. The mean ESD values obtained are found to be within the standard reference. The data obtained may add to the available information in national records for general use. It may provide guidance on where efforts on dose reduction will need to be directed to fulfill the requirements of the optimization process and serve as a reference for future researches.

EXACT ANALYSIS OF SPURIOUS SIGNALS IN DIRECT DIGITAL FREQUENCY SYNTHESIZERS DUE TO AMPLITUDE QUANTIZATION

Amplitude quantization is one of the main sources of spurious noise frequencies in Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizers (DDFSs), which affect their application to many wireless telecommu- nication systems. In this paper, two different kinds of spurious signals due to amplitude quantization in DDFSs are exactly formulated in the time domain and detailedly compared in the frequency do- main, and the effects of the DDFS parameter variations on the spurious performance are thoroughly studied. Then the spectral properties and power levels of the amplitude-quantization spurs in the absence of phase-accumulator truncation are emphatically analyzed by waveform estimation and computer simulation, and several important conclusions are derived which can provide theoretical support for parameter choice and spurious performance evaluation in the application of DDFSs.

Research on the Modern Music Composition Development Direction under the Digital and Computer Background

In this paper, we conduct research on modem music composition development direction under the digital and computer background. We can hear the music work, at ordinary times is the musician and sound engineer through three different stages of product created by mutual cooperation. The development of computer music has impact to the music every aspect of life, including various music creation process, cause the changes of some design principles. This change may be denied the traditional, also may be denied the traditional that is on the development of traditional principles. We integrate the concepts and principles of the digital perspective to propose our methodology on issues of computer music develooment that holds vital siznificance and meaning.

Direct Digital Frequency Control Based on the Phase Step Change Characteristic between Signals

We present a new digital phase lock technology to achieve the frequency control and transformation through high precision multi-cycle group synchronization between signals without the frequency transformation circuit. In the case of digital sampling, the passing zero point of the phase of the controlled signal has the phase step characteristic, the phase step of the passing zero point is monotonic continuous with high resolution in the phase lock process, and using the border effect of digital fuzzy area, the gate can synchronize with the two signals, the quantization error is reduced. This technique is quite different from the existing methods of frequency transformation and frequency synthesis, the phase change characteristic between the periodic signals with different nominal is used. The phase change has the periodic phenomenon, and it has the high resolution step value. With the application of the physical law, the noise is reduced because of simplifying frequency transformation circuits, and the phase is locked with high precision. The regular phase change between frequency signals is only used for frequency measurement, and the change has evident randomness, but this randomness is greatly reduced in frequency control, and the certainty of the process result is clear. The experiment shows that the short term frequency stability can reach 10-12/s orders of magnitude.

Direct Digital Manufacturing Industry Ascendant

The paper introduces the origin of the word of Direct Digital Manufacturing and other forms of address, and the working principles of Direct Digital Manufacturing technology and major types of the technology, hard- ware and software development, use of materials, applications, market growth and its development prospects. Focused presentations of Direct Digital Manufacturing （additive manufacturing） compared to traditional mechani- cal manufacturing industry in the use of prices, processing speed, reliability and cost advantages and characteris- tics. Particularly the significant challenges and competitiveness of Direct Digital Manufacturing technology in the processing of any complexity created directly the number of objects, internal structure and channel function, as well as the shape of the chassis components and structure of the matching and optimization.

A NEW SYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL HIERARCHICAL BI-DIRECTIONAL RING CAPACITY DESIGN ALGORITHM BASED ON THE SHORTEST-ROUTE TRAFFIC MATRIX

In this paper, the concept of the Shortest-Route Traffic Matrix(SRTM) was first presented, and the generalized formula for computing ring capacity requirement in use of SRTM is given. Then, a new capacity design algorithm which is based on SRTM was presented for Synchronous Digital Hierarchical(SDH) Bi-directional Self-Healing Ring (BSHR). The algorithm simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm is very efficient for SDH BSHR capacity design and can make less project investment and make high utilization of lines and equipment. By means of the algorithm in this paper, capacity optimization assignment for SDH Hierarchical Self-Healing Ring (HSHR) and for ATM Virtual Path (VP)-based Self-Healing Ring (SHR) is also discussed.

飞利浦Digital Diagnost系列DR设备工作原理及故障维修

文章介绍了飞利浦Digital Diagnost系列DR设备工作原理和同步通讯信号传输时序,分析了X射线无法曝光、成像失败等故障的原因,有针对性地提出了处理措施,以期为同行提供相关经验。

Digital biomedical electrical impedance tomography based on FPGA

A digital biomedical electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system is developed with the aid of FPGA. The key elements of EIT system are described specifically in the paper. The functions are realized to generate excitation source, switch electrode channels, deal collected signals, demodulate measured voltages etc. The system is tested by a circular tank with 16 stainless electrodes attached around the boundary. The adjacent incentive adjacent measurement mode is adapted to collect boundary voltages of the interesting field. By testing, the system works with 36 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when 1 mA 100 KHz current is applied into a homogenous tank.