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Background While many surgical techniques can achieve neutral limb alignment and soft tissue balance in severe valgus deformity during total knee arthroplasty (TKA), few published reports concern medial femoral epicondyle up-sliding osteotomy. Methods A prospective investigation was conducted of patients with severe valgus deformities who underwent medial femoral epicondyle up-sliding osteotomy. Clinical measurements, radiological evaluation, and complication data were recorded. Results Using posterior-stabilized prostheses, 26 patients underwent 28 TKAs performed by the same surgeon using medial femoral epicondyle up-sliding osteotomy to balance the soft tissue. On average, the follow-up was 54 ± 18 months, and the patient age was 63 ± 11 years. All knees were type II according to Krackow's classification. Varus-valgus knee motion was prohibited with the protection of long-leg knee brace for 3 months. At the last follow-up, the Knee Society function score, Hospital for Special Surgery knee-rating scale, and range of motion were 94 ± 6, 91 ± 4, and 116° ± 8°, respectively. All knees were stable laterally, whereas 2 knees had mild medial laxity and the others were stable. The hip-knee-ankle angle, femorotibial angle, condylar-hip angle, plateau-ankle angle, and valgus angle were 179.9° ± 3.4°, 172.9° ± 3.6°, 89.8° ± 2.5°, 90.2° ± 1.1°, and 7.3° ± 3.5°, respectively. Conclusion Medial femoral epicondyle up-sliding osteotomy during TKA in patients with severe valgus deformities facilitates the restoration of lower limb alignment, soft tissue balance, and knee stability.

Raw scanned 3D point clouds are usually irregularly distributed due to the essential shortcomings of laser sensors, which therefore poses a great challenge for high-quality 3D surface reconstruction. This paper tackles this problem by proposing a local hierarchical clustering (LHC) method to improve the consistency of point distribution. Specifically, LHC consists of two steps: 1) adaptive octree-based decomposition of 3D space, and 2) hierarchical clustering. The former aims at reducing the computational complexity and the latter transforms the non-uniform point set into uniform one. Experimental results on real-world scanned point clouds validate the effectiveness of our method from both qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Depth images have recently attracted much attention in computer vision and high-quality 3D content for 3DTV and 3D movies. In this paper, we present a new semi self-taught learning application framework for enhancing resolution of depth maps without making use of ancillary color images data at the target resolution, or multiple aligned depth maps. Our framework consists of cascade random forests reaching from coarse to fine results. We learn the surface information and structure transformations both from a small high-quality depth exemplars and the input depth map itself across different scales. Considering that edge plays an important role in depth map quality, we optimize an effective regularized objective that calculates on output image space and input edge space in random forests. Experiments show the effectiveness and superiority of our method against other techniques with or without applying aligned RGB information

Generally, the process of monocular depth map generation consists of two stages: structure from motion and multi-view stereo. The multi-view stereo relies on the accuracy of the estimated camera pose and the photo-consistency assumption. However, the current methods cannot tackle the multi-view matching problem well because of the dependence on the accurate camera pose as well as the matching uncertainty. In this paper, to handle these issues, a new sparse-to-dense diffusion framework is put forward. First, the scene information is reconstructed from SFM (Structure From Motion) and the sparse point cloud is available instead of the camera pose. Secondly, the sparse depth point is re-projected to every frame as the depth label. Finally, the depth label is spread to the remaining pixels through a diffusion process. In addition, the edge detectors are used to make the propagation better-regulated. Experimentally, the results show that the proposed framework can robustly generate the depth map from monocular videos.

A novel strategy, based on surface-initiated grafting polymerization and post-polymerization thiol-yne click chemistry, with Ir(ppy)3 as a sole photoredox catalyst, under visible light irradiation is developed. The “livingness” of the grafting polymerization is demonstrated by the linear increase of the graft yield with irradiation time and the block grafting polymerization. Then, acetenyl groups of poly(propargyl methacrylate) (PPMA) grafting chains are reacted with pentaerythritoltetra-(3-mercaptopropionate) via the thiol-yne click reaction. The successful introduction of reactive thiol groups onto the low-density polyethylene-graft-poly(propargyl methacrylate) (LDPE-g-PPMA) films is demonstrated by Fourier transform IR (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) spectroscopy, and the thiol-ene click reaction with N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide.

To improve the spatial resolution of the global aerosol optical depth (AOD) distribution, a new method for AOD retrieval is proposed over land in this paper. A monthly Global Land Surface Reflectance Database (GLSRD) was constructed using the long time serious of MODIS surface reflectance product (MOD09A1) and used for the surface reflectance estimation over land for AOD retrieval. A seasonal Global Land Aerosol Type Database (GLATD) was also built based on the MODIS aerosol product (MOD04) and used for providing the aerosol types over land in AOD retrieval. Thus, the AOD global dataset with 1 km resolution was produced and was validated against with the AERONET ground-based AOD measurements located in the global 172 stations over land. Results showed that the AOD retrievals are highly consistent with AERONET AODs and showed an overall better precision over both dark and bright areas.

Cloud detection is a key processing step before extracting information of earth surface from the earth observation data. Lots of schemes have been developed for cloud detection, static threshold method is the main method that is widely used in cloud detection. However, for the huge difference between different land objects, it is much difficult to find a proper threshold to detect the cloudy pixel from clear sky, especially, when the land covered by the thin or broken cloud. Therefore, a dynamic threshold cloud detection algorithm was proposed in this paper to improve the cloud detection. A priori monthly surface reflectance database was constructed using MODIS surface reflectance products and used to estimate the surface reflectance for dynamic threshold determination. Dynamic thresholds were determined by the simulation relationships between the apparent reflectance and the surface reflectance under clear conditions with 6S model. MODIS and Landsat 8 OLI data were selected to perform the experiments. Results showed that this new algorithm demonstrated better detection results of different cloud types over different land types.

Cu/Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with stable fluorescence and excellent water dispersion were synthesized through a facile aqueous solution method with a similar Kirkendall effect. Ultraweak chemiluminesc...

An ultraweak chemiluminescence (CL) was observed when sodium hydrosulfite (NaHSO(3)) reacts with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and was enhanced 70 times by adding 10 pmol benzo[a]pyrene-7,10-quinone (7,10-BaPQ). The CL reaction is fast, and it reached maximum intensity in 0.1 s, and then decayed to baseline in 3 s. Mechanism of NaHSO(3)-7,10-BaPQ-H(2)O(2) system were investigated by CL spectrum, radical scavengers and electron spin resonance (ESR). Hydroxyl radical ((•)OH), super oxide anion radical ((•)O(2)(-)), and sulfite radical ((•)SO(3)(-)) were generated in the NaHSO(3)-7, 10-BaPQ-H(2)O(2) system. Reduction of 7,10-BaPQ by (•)O(2)(-) radical gave excited semiquinone, which showed strong CL emission when decayed to its ground state. Maximum CL emission wavelength was located at 440 nm, which may belong to the excited semiquinone. This CL system was developed as post column detection of high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of 7,10-BaPQ. Linearity ranged from 50 fmol to 20 pmol (R(2) = 0.9995) with limit of detection of 30 fmol (S/N = 3). The proposed method was used to determine 7,10-BaPQ in airborne particulates. Average atmospheric concentrations of 7,10-BaPQ in Kanazawa in December 2010 and Wajima in October 2007 were 2.0 and 1.6 pg/m(3), respectively.

Chemiluminescence (CL) phenomenon of hydrogen peroxide with potassium permanganate in the presence of sodium hydrogen carbonate was reported. Effects of the surfactant on the CL system were investigated. Nonionic surfactants could effectively increase the CL signal. Radical scavengers and organic reagents such as nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT), cytochrome c, sodium azide, ascorbic acid, thiourea, tert-butanol and dimethyl sulphoxide were used to study the emitting species. CL emission spectrum was recorded and the results showed that the maximal emission wavelengths of NaHCO3-H2O2-KMnO4 system were 440 and 634 nm. The mechanism was discussed based on electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, fluorescence spectra and UV-vis absorption spectra. The addition of rhodamine B or uranine into this CL system enhanced the CL signal. It was due to part of the energy transfer from singlet oxygen and excited triplet dimers of two CO2 molecules to rhodamine B or uranine. The CL could be induced by excited rhodamine B or uranine.

Question: How do seed germination and subsequent seedling survival of O. semicastrata (Hance forma litchiifolia How) vary with respect to distance from parent trees and conspecific density in different types of tropical forest? Are there effects of soil biota on O. semicastrata that systematically depend on distance from parent trees and conspecific density? Do soil pathogens differently affect survival of O. semicastrata in different types of tropical forest?

The plots of logarithms of relative rates of ISCN addition to alkenes versus alkene IPs and versus alkene HOMO energies reveal that the alkene relative reactivity depends upon both electronic and steric effects of the substituents. Steric effects are related not only to the degree of substitution on the C C bond but also to the relative position, size, and branching of alkyl substituents.

Plots of logarithms of relative reaction rates of chromyl chloride oxidation and of chromic acid oxidation of alkenes (log krel values) versus alkene ionization potentials (IPs) and versus their highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels (HOMOs) demonstrate excellent correlations. Each plot has a similar appearance and shows a single line with a positive slope. The results indicate that the rate-determining step of each title reaction involves an electrophilic attack on the alkene π-bond without significant steric effects; this supports a proposed 2 + 3 cycloaddition mechanism and disfavors a proposed stepwise 2 + 2 cycloaddition mechanism. Comparison is made with other d0 transition metal complexes that oxidize alkenes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Investigations of the title reaction, carried out by plotting logs of the relative reaction rates vs IPs, vs HOMOs, and vs LUMOs, reveal multiple nearly parallel lines of correlation with small negative slopes in each. Overall, the natural grouping into monosubstituted and disubstituted alkenes gives better correlations than that obtained by using all alkenes. Comparison with analogous plots for other reactions indicates that the mechanism for this reaction has similarities to that for hydroboration, the major difference being that the lines in the plots for hydroboration have positive slopes, indicating an electrophilic rate-determining step involving the pi electrons, while those for the title reaction have small negative slopes, indicating a nucleophilic rate-determining step. Of the two reaction mechanisms proposed for the title reaction, only one has a nucleophilic attack at the complexed alkene as the rate-determining step, and therefore, this work supports that reaction mechanism.

A set of convenient conditions for the title reaction is used to determine directly relative reactivities of alkenes with widely-varying steric requirements. Previous determinations did not use one set of conditions for all alkenes, but developed parameters in order to compare alkene reaction rates run in different solvents and in different concentrations; such an indirect reactivity comparison can introduce errors. Relative rates established under this common set of reaction conditions are compared to those previously calculated by using correction parameters. Comparison reveals that the approximate method overestimated effects of some groups attached to C C, such as methyl and chloro.

In this work, a chemiluminescence (CL) reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and sodium hydrosulfite (NaHSO(3)) was developed. Hydroxyl radical ((•)OH) and sulfite radical ((•)SO(3)(-)) were the main intermediates generated in the NaHSO(3)-H(2)O(2) CL system. Inhibition effects of radical scavengers such as thiourea, chloride ion, nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT), and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) indicated the existence of these two radicals. Singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and excited sulfur dioxide (SO(2)*) were emitting species involved in NaHSO(3)-H(2)O(2) CL system. (1)O(2) were confirmed by 1,4-diazobicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) and sodium azide (NaN(3)), which were specific (1)O(2) scavengers. In addition, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra clearly show the existence of (1)O(2) and (•)OH. Alcoholic solvent, especially n-butanol, enhanced the ultraweak CL emission more than 40 times. The enhancing effect of alcoholic solvent on NaHSO(3)-H(2)O(2) CL system was ascribed to the formation of solvent cage, which can accelerate the reaction rate and protect the emitting species from quenching by water. The CL emission of the NaHSO(3)-n-butanol-H(2)O(2) system was measured by cutoff filters. The maximum wavelength was located around 490 nm, which belongs to (1)O(2). The wide peak from 400 to 600 nm is the characteristic peak of SO(2)*.

In this research, a highly sensitive chemiluminescence method based on a sodium hydrosulfite (NaHSO3)–hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reaction for the determination of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was developed. The response of this system was linear in the range from 0.5 to 50 pmol (R2 = 0.9983). The limit of detection for 1-OHP was 100 fmol (S/N = 3). 1-OHP in airborne particulates was well separated from interfering compounds using an ODS column with 75% methanol as the mobile phase in isocratic mode. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine the 1-OHP in airborne particulates collected in Kanazawa, Japan. The average concentration of 1-OHP in the atmosphere was 2.0 pg/m3 (9.2 fmol/m3).

In the present work, a strongly chemiluminescence (CL) from the mixing of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydrogen carbonate (HCO(3)(-)) and CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) was observed. The addition of trace amount of L-ascorbic acid into the CL system caused significant quenching luminescence intensity. Based on this phenomenon, a flow injection CL analysis system for the determination of l-ascorbic acid was developed. The CL reaction conditions, such as mixing orders and concentrations of CL reagents, flow rates, pH, and particle size of quantum dots have been optimized. The CL intensity and the concentration of L-ascorbic acid have a good linear relationship in the ranges of 1.0x10(-7)-1.0x10(-4)molL(-1) (R(2)=0.9916). The limit of detection for L-ascorbic acid is 6.7x10(-9)molL(-1) (S/N=3). This method has been successfully applied to determine L-ascorbic acid in human serum. The recoveries for the real samples were from 83% to 111% and the variance coefficient was

Based on JMX technology, this paper presents a new method of remote dynamic component configuration which improves the traditional method of using configuration files, and testifies its feasibility through certification programs. This method greatly improves information system flexibility through realizing dynamic configuration and safe remote component configuration and enhancing distributed management ability and security of information system greatly. Moreover, because it makes component configuration alteration take effect instantly at runtime, information system can be provided with uninterrupted running ability.

Plots of the logarithms of relative rates of homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes (log k(rel) values) by using Wilkinson's catalyst versus their ionization potentials (IPs) and versus their lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels (LUMOs) display good-to-excellent correlations. The correlations indicate that the rate-determining step of this reaction is a nucleophilic addition to the alkene double bond, which is dependent upon both electronic effects and steric effects. This conclusion is in agreement with only two of three previously proposed mechanisms for the reaction, effectively ruling out one in which the rate-determining step involves electrophilic addition to the alkene. Characteristics of the analysis using these correlations are compared and contrasted with other additions to alkenes, such as the Wacker oxidation, to probe patterns in transition state characteristics.

Plots of log k(rel) versus IP or versus HOMO for the title reactions are presented; similarities and differences among the reactions are discussed. The Cl2 and Br2 data each show a single line of correlation with positive slope for all alkenes regardless of the steric requirements; increasing substitution at the double bond increases the reaction rate, indicating an electrophilic reaction. Each plot of the I2 data calculated for adsorption exhibits a natural separation into groups of similarly substituted alkenes, in which increased substitution reduces the rate. Within each group, a good-to-excellent correlation is observed, with a lower IP generally corresponding to a higher relative rate. The results indicate that the relative magnitude of the steric requirements about the double bond is similar to that of the electronic effects in iodination. Plot shapes for iodination are compared to those of other reactions, such as hydroboration, oxymercuration, complexation with Ag+, and complexation with MeHg+.