Electrospray deposited fibronectin retains the ability to promote cell adhesion.

Scaffolds for tissue engineering require the correct biochemical cues if the seeded cells are to migrate into the scaffold and proliferate. For complex tissues this would require precise patterning of the scaffold structure with the particular biochemical cue required at each location on the scaffold. Electrospray enables the deposition of a wide number of biomolecules onto surfaces and can be used for precise patterning. We assessed the functionality of a key cell-adhesion molecule, fibronectin, after depositing it onto a surface using the electrospray technique. The addition of polypropylene glycol allowed a stable spray to be obtained from solutions with a range of fibronectin concentrations. Immunoassay tests showed that the amount of fibronectin retained on the surface was proportional to that sprayed from the solution. Increasing the surface density of fibronectin deposited onto silicon surfaces enhanced fibroblast attachment. The fibronectin thus appears to have retained its cell attachment functionality after undergoing the electrospray process. Since recent advances allow electrospray to pattern material from solution with micrometre accuracy this may allow materials to be biologically functionalized on a similar scale.

The training of neural classifiers with condensed datasets.

In this paper we apply a k-nearest-neighbor-based data condensing algorithm to the training set of multilayer perceptron neural networks. By removing the overlapping data and retaining only training exemplars adjacent to the decision boundary we are able to significantly speed the network training time while achieving an undegraded misclassification rate compared to a network trained on the unedited training set. We report results on a range of synthetic and real datasets that indicate that a training speed-up of an order of magnitude is typical.

Multiobjective genetic algorithm partitioning for hierarchical learning of high-dimensional pattern spaces: a learning-follows-decomposition strategy.

In this paper, we present a novel approach to partitioning pattern spaces using a multiobjective genetic algorithm for identifying (near-)optimal subspaces for hierarchical learning. Our approach of "learning-follows-decomposition" is a generic solution to complex high-dimensional problems where the input space is partitioned prior to the hierarchical neural domain instead of by competitive learning. In this technique, clusters are generated on the basis of fitness of purpose--that is, they are explicitly optimized for their subsequent mapping onto the hierarchical classifier. Results of partitioning pattern spaces are presented. This strategy of preprocessing the data and explicitly optimizing the partitions for subsequent mapping onto a hierarchical classifier is found both to reduce the learning complexity and the classification time with no degradation in overall classification error rate. The classification performance of various algorithms is compared and it is suggested that the neural modules are superior for learning the localized decision surfaces of such partitions and offer better generalization.

Arthroscopic meniscal suture with the "double-loop technique".

A new personal technique of arthroscopic meniscal suture in which the knots are all inside the knees, fixed only in the meniscus is presented. Using a new tool, a flexible double-loop allows the suture in the posterior horn of the meniscus to pass the suture from the anterior portal to the posterior portal without the necessity of large posterior incision to protect the vascular-nervous plexus. This paper presents the indication and the technique, as well as a variety of possible knots and their advantages.

Prototype high-speed tape target transport for a laser plasma soft-x-ray projection lithography source.

A prototype high-speed tape target transport is constructed for use in a high-repetition-rate laser plasma source. To reduce plasma debris, a 1000-5000-A-thick film of target material is supported by thin Mylar tape backing. Tape is transported to the laser focal volume at a maximum velocity of 356 cm/s, a rate sufficient to accommodate laser repetition rates of 1 kHz. The transport is fully vacuum compatible and can be retracted and then isolated from the laser plasma vacuum enclosure during tape reel replacement. The operating characteristics of the transport are described.

Hallux valgus - analise de uma tecnica de osteotomia distal do primeiro metatarsiano. / Hallux valgus - analysis of a technic for distal osteotomy of the first metatarsal bone

Os autores apresentam uma analise dos resultados pos-operatorios de 50 pes operados de hallux valgus com media de 36 meses de seguimento. Usou-se em todos os casos uma tecnica de osteotomia distal do primeiro metatarsiano segundo Hohmann na modificacao de Henning, que acrescentou a fixacao da osteotomia com fio de Kirschner percutaneo. Compararam-se as variacoes pre e pos-operatorias dos angulos intermetatarsico e de valgismo do hallux, da protrusao relativa do primeiro metatarsiano, bem como o grau de deslocamento da cabeca do primeiro metatarsiano e sua angulacao nos planos frontal e sagital. Conclui-se que, com avalicao criteriosa pre-operatoria de cada pe, com aplicacao precisa da tecnica e tratamento pos-operatorio adequado, chega-se a uma percentagem de bons resultados equivalente a melhor estatistica encontrada na literatura, apesar de os criterios de avaliacao deste trabalho terem sido mais rigidos

Hard x-ray imaging of laser plasmas using medical technology.

Hard x-ray(>20 keV) filtered pinhole images have been obtained in the Los Alamos Helios CO(2) laser facility. The images are recorded on Kodak Ortho-Tri-X film using a rare-earth screen as an intensifier. This technique, borrowed from the medical profession, offers the advantage of high SNR relative to no-screen film but with a loss of spatial resolution.

Ultradense reproducible Z-pinch suitable for CO2 laser-pellet simulation experiments.

The design and operating characteristics of a unique reproducible linear, high-density (> 10(19) e(-)/cm(3)), low-temperature (17