Time delay interferometry with a transfer oscillator.

In this work, we experimentally perform time delay interferometry by using a transfer oscillator, which is capable of reducing the laser frequency noise and the clock noise simultaneously in the post processing. The iodine frequency reference is coherently downconverted to the microwave frequency using a laser frequency comb. The residual noise of the downconversion network is 5 × 10-6Hz/Hz1/2 at 0.7 mHz, and 4 × 10-6Hz/Hz1/2 at 0.1 Hz, indicating high homology between the optical frequency and the microwave frequency. We carry out time delay interferometry with the aid of the electrical delay module, which can introduce large time delays. The results show that the laser frequency noise and the clock noise can be reduced simultaneously by ten and three orders of magnitude, respectively, in the frequency band from 0.1 mHz to 0.1 Hz. The performance of the noise reduction can reach 6 × 10-8Hz/Hz1/2 at 0.1 mHz, and 7 × 10-7Hz/Hz1/2 at 1 mHz, meeting the requirements of the space-borne gravitational wave detection. Our work will be able to offer an alternative method for the frequency comb-based time delay interferometry in the future space-borne gravitational wave detectors.

Variation in the main health-promoting compounds and antioxidant activity of different organs of Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) from two producing areas.

Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum), also known as Japanese horseradish, is a perennial herb widely used in Japanese cuisine for its special flavour. The health-promoting phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of four organs (leaf, petiole, rhizome, and root) of two cultivars (Chuankui-1 and Chuankui-2) of wasabi from two producing areas, Leibo and Guangyuan in Sichuan Province, China, were investigated in this study. The results showed that leaves were rich in pigments, soluble protein, ascorbic acid, and total phenolics and had the highest antioxidant capacity. Soluble sugars were highest in the petioles and were 1.1- to 5-fold higher than those in the other three organs. Glucosinolates and glucosinolate breakdown products (GBPs) were the most abundant in rhizomes, and their maximum values were 271.61 mmol kg-1 DW and 249.78 mmol kg-1 DW, respectively. The rhizomes of Chuankui-1 in Leibo and the leaves of Chuankui-1 in Guangyuan were superior in terms of glucosinolates and GBPs. These findings provide new insights that will aid the use of wasabi cultivars; they also have implications for the environmental characteristics needed to obtain better quality wasabi products. In the future, metabolome and transcriptome can be used to analyze the potential mechanism of differences among typical varieties, origins and parts.

Sucrose treatment delays senescence and maintains the postharvest quality of baby mustard (Brassica juncea var. gemmifera).

The effect of water and sucrose treatments on the sensory quality and content of health-promoting compounds in the lateral buds of baby mustard stored at 20 °C was investigated in this study. Although water treatment maintained the content of various nutrients, the decay of baby mustard was greater under water treatment. Sucrose treatment delayed the weight loss and the decline in sensory parameter scores, chlorophyll and sucrose content; slowed the decline in antioxidant capacity by maintaining the content of carotenoids and ascorbic acid; suppressed the increase in total phenolics; and maintained and even increased the content of several individual glucosinolates in the lateral buds of baby mustard. These findings indicate that sucrose application can maintain the sensory and nutritional qualities of the lateral buds of postharvest baby mustard.

Multi-frequency complex network from time series for uncovering oil-water flow structure.

Uncovering complex oil-water flow structure represents a challenge in diverse scientific disciplines. This challenge stimulates us to develop a new distributed conductance sensor for measuring local flow signals at different positions and then propose a novel approach based on multi-frequency complex network to uncover the flow structures from experimental multivariate measurements. In particular, based on the Fast Fourier transform, we demonstrate how to derive multi-frequency complex network from multivariate time series. We construct complex networks at different frequencies and then detect community structures. Our results indicate that the community structures faithfully represent the structural features of oil-water flow patterns. Furthermore, we investigate the network statistic at different frequencies for each derived network and find that the frequency clustering coefficient enables to uncover the evolution of flow patterns and yield deep insights into the formation of flow structures. Current results present a first step towards a network visualization of complex flow patterns from a community structure perspective.

[A preliminary clinical study on endoscopic measurement of lesion area with the method of digital image processing technology].

It is of great importance to measure the lesion area in scientific research and clinical practice. The present study aims to solve barrel distortion and measure lesion area with the technology of computer visualization. With the ultimate purpose to obtain the precise lesion area, the study, based on the original endoscopy system and digital image processing technology, dealt with the correction of barrel distortion by lens adjustment, calculated the gastric ulcer area with the aid of Qt database and finally developed an image processing software--Endoscope Assistant (EAS). The results showed that the EAS was accurate in vitro. It was employed to measure the gastric ulcer area of 45 patients and the results were compared with the traditional formula method. It could be well concluded that this technology is safe, accurate and economical for measuring gastric ulcer area.

Seizure precipitants in children with intractable epilepsy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the seizure precipitants in children with intractable epilepsy, and to determine any distinctive clinical features contributing to seizures in these patients. METHODS: A questionnaire and seizure diary prepared by the parents of the patients. Demographic and seizure data were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 120 patients with intractable epilepsy, 74 (62%) had one (n=43), two (n=23), or three seizure precipitants (n=8). The three most common precipitants were illness or fever (32%), sleep deprivation (13%), and menstruation (10%). Of these precipitants, inducing factors (endogenous origin) were more common than triggering factors (exogenous origin): 73% versus 27%, respectively. Three distinctive clinical features - neurological abnormalities (P=0.01), status epilepticus (P=0.017), and abnormal neuroimaging (P=0.007) - were significantly more common in patients with than in patients without precipitants. CONCLUSIONS: Prompt recognition and management of seizure precipitants has practical implications for treating patients with refractory epilepsy. Such patients can be counseled to avoid specific precipitants.

Childhood occipital epileptic syndromes in Taiwan: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of three types of occipital epileptic syndromes: early-onset and late-onset childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysm (ECEOP and LCEOP) and symptomatic occipital epilepsy (SOLE). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 54 children (18 ECEOP, 10 LCEOP, and 26 SOLE) and compared the clinical features, EEG findings, treatments, and outcomes among these patients. RESULTS: Nocturnal seizures occurred in 55% of the patients with ECEOP, whereas of those with LCEOP and SOLE, 80% and 61% had diurnal seizures, respectively (P = 0.04). Status epilepticus was more common in the ECEOP group, less in LCEOP. Autonomic auras were more common in the SOLE group than in the other two groups. Secondary generalized seizure was often found in the SOLE group (P = 0.03). EEG findings in 72% of the ECEOP group, 60% of the LCEOP group, and 19.2% in the SOLE group were changeable and became to be normal after 5 years of follow-up. Slow EEG background activity was more evident in the SOLE group than in the other two groups. The prognoses of these groups of patients were different. The ECEOP group had the best, and the SOLE group had the worst. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that some clinical features of these three syndromes differ from each other, which may provide clinicians a basis for determining the appropriate diagnosis in children with one of these childhood occipital epileptic syndromes.

Using the child behavior checklist to evaluate behavioral problems in children with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Childhood epilepsy is commonly associated with behavioral problems. In this study, we used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to determine a behavioral profile for children with chronic epilepsy. METHODS: Fifty-six children with epilepsy and 45 aged-matched healthy controls were evaluated by analyzing the clinical variables of all study participants. Scores of the CBCL were markedly higher in patients than those in healthy controls for both internalizing and externalizing behaviors, which consisted of subscales of aggressive behavior, anxiety/depression, attention problems, thought problems, withdrawal, and somatic complaints. RESULTS: We found behavioral disturbances in 42% (n=24) of the epileptic patients and in 8% (n=4) of the controls. No significant differences were found between patients with and without behavioral problems on the clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral problems deserve special attention in children with epilepsy. CBCL can be used as a screening instrument with these children.

Central core disease with family history of malignant hyperthermia: report of one case.

A 10-month-old boy presented with gross motor delay and muscle weakness, especially in both lower limbs. At age 5, he developed lordosis, talipes, and planovalgus. His grandmother died of malignant hyperthermia during surgery. On neurological examination, he had mild proximal muscle weakness and atrophy, decreased deep tendon reflexes and Gowers' sign, but his intelligence was normal. The electromyogram showed myopathic pattern. Muscle biopsy revealed type 1 fiber atrophy and central core abnormalities. We report this case of central core disease with a family history of malignant hyperthermia during surgery.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of postencephalitic epilepsy in children.

The goal of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of childhood postencephalitic epilepsy. Forty-four patients (20 boys and 24 girls; age range 21 months to 17 years, mean age 8.1 +/- 4.6 years) with postencephalitic epilepsy were selected from the 798 epileptic children treated and followed up at our hospital between 1993 and 2003. The clinical data included clinical features, electroencephalograms (EEGs), and neuroimages, all reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Based on their post-treatment seizure outcomes, the children were divided into favorable (n = 20) and poor outcome groups (n = 24). Between the two groups, the age at encephalitis, cerebrospinal fluid findings, and seizure type were comparable. Factors indicating a poor prognosis for these patients during the acute phase of encephalitis were (1) status epilepticus occurring as the first seizure (P < .005), (2) slow background activity (P < .001) and multifocal spike discharges on EEGs (P < .01), and (3) herpes simplex viral encephalitis (P < .01). Our findings indicated that patients with status epilepticus and multifocal spikes on EEG during acute encephalitis have an increased risk of developing intractable epilepsy. To improve the outcome of postencephalitic epilepsy, intervention must occur earlier in the encephalitis stage.

Sensory evoked potentials in infants with Down syndrome.

AIM: To investigate the sensory functions of the peripheral to central pathways in infants with Down syndrome (DS) by sensory evoked potentials. METHODS: Fifty-five infants, 30 DS infants and 25 controls, were examined by multimodal evoked potentials, including brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), visual evoked potentials (VEP) and short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). RESULTS: No obvious difference was found in the peak latencies between the two groups for BAEP. Nine children with DS showed abnormal BAEP; six had hearing loss and three had prolonged wave I latencies. For VEP, the peak latencies of P(2) and N(2) were significantly longer and the amplitudes were smaller in the DS group than in the control group. Of the 30 infants with DS, five had significantly prolonged P(2) latencies and two had lower amplitudes. In SSEP, the mean latencies of N(20) and the interpeak latencies of N(13)-N(20) of the infants with DS showed apparent prolongation compared to the controls. Seven of 30 (23.3%) DS patients had prolonged N(20) latencies. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that various sensory deficits occur in patients with DS during the first year of life.

Neurophysiological studies in a case of Sjögren-Larsson syndrome.

We describe a 4-year-old boy with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (SLS). Clinical neurophysiological studies, including electroencephalography (EEG) and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), visual evoked potentials (VEP), and short-latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) tests, were performed. The results of multimodality evoked potential tests suggested that SLS may involve dysfunction of various sensory pathways.