Estimating the attributes of urban trees using terrestrial photogrammetry.

Today, different methods are used to measure two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) attributes of trees. One of these methods, which is considered in recent years is using point clouds and a 3D model extracted from terrestrial photogrammetry (TP). This study aims to estimate the 2D and 3D attributes of urban trees at three levels of seedlings, single trees and sample plot using TP. Structure-from-Motion with Multi-View Stereo-photogrammetry (SfM-MVS) method was used to derive the point clouds and the 3D model. Comparing estimated values of diameter at the middle of trunk of seedlings and diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees, using TP with measured values showed that the values of RMSE% were < 2% at three levels of seedlings, single trees and sample plot. Furthermore, validation of the estimated values of total height and crown height attributes of seedlings and trees at three levels showed that the RMSE% did not exceed 4% and 5%, respectively. Considering the overlap of tree crowns with each other in the sample plot, the average diameter of the crown attribute was estimated only in seedlings and single tree levels with RMSE% = 6.51% and 9.34%, respectively. The validation of estimated values of stem volume of seedlings and trees at three levels showed that the lowest errors were returned from trees within a sample plot with RMSE% = 14.37%, whereas the highest rates of errors were achieved for seedlings with RMSE% = 20.99%. As an alternative to approaches such as employing laser scanners, this method is quick, inexpensive, non-destructive, and does not need specialized equipment.

On the resolution of subsurface atomic force microscopy and its implications for subsurface feature sizing.

Ultrasound atomic force microscopy (AFM) has received considerable interest due to its subsurface imaging capabilities, particularly for nanostructure imaging. The local contact stiffness variation due to the presence of a subsurface feature is the origin of the imaging contrast. Several research studies have demonstrated subsurface imaging capabilities with promising resolution. However, there is limited literature available about the definition of spatial resolution in subsurface AFM. The changes in contact stiffness and their link to the subsurface resolution are not well understood. We propose a quantitative approach to assess the resolution in subsurface AFM imaging. We have investigated the influences of several parameters of interest on the lateral resolution. The quantification of the subsurface feature size can be based on threshold criteria (full width at half maximum and Rayleigh criteria). Simulations and experimental measurements were compared, revealing that the optimal choice of parameter settings for surface topography AFM is suboptimal for subsurface AFM imaging.

Mapping buried nanostructures using subsurface ultrasonic resonance force microscopy.

Nondestructive subsurface nanoimaging of buried nanostructures is considered to be extremely challenging and is essential for the reliable manufacturing of nanotechnology products such as three-dimensional (3D) transistors, 3D NAND memory, and future quantum electronics. In scanning probe microscopy (SPM), a microcantilever with a sharp tip can measure the properties of a surface with nanometer resolution. SPM combined with ultrasound excitation, known as ultrasound SPM, has shown the capability to image buried nanoscale features. In this paper, the development of a modified type of ultrasound SPM called subsurface ultrasonic resonance force microscopy (SSURFM) is reported. The capability and versatility of this method is demonstrated by the subsurface imaging of various samples including rigid structures buried under a soft matrix (aluminum under a polymer), rigid structures buried under multiple layers (aluminum under a polymer and titanium layer), and rigid structures under a rigid matrix (aluminum under silicon oxide). Furthermore, tuning and optimization of the image contrast are reported. The experimental results provide possible new industrial metrology and inspection solutions for nanostructures buried below the surface.

High-throughput atomic force microscopes operating in parallel.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an essential nanoinstrument technique for several applications such as cell biology and nanoelectronics metrology and inspection. The need for statistically significant sample sizes means that data collection can be an extremely lengthy process in AFM. The use of a single AFM instrument is known for its very low speed and not being suitable for scanning large areas, resulting in a very-low-throughput measurement. We address this challenge by parallelizing AFM instruments. The parallelization is achieved by miniaturizing the AFM instrument and operating many of them simultaneously. This instrument has the advantages that each miniaturized AFM can be operated independently and that the advances in the field of AFM, both in terms of speed and imaging modalities, can be implemented more easily. Moreover, a parallel AFM instrument also allows one to measure several physical parameters simultaneously; while one instrument measures nano-scale topography, another instrument can measure mechanical, electrical, or thermal properties, making it a lab-on-an-instrument. In this paper, a proof of principle of such a parallel AFM instrument has been demonstrated by analyzing the topography of large samples such as semiconductor wafers. This nanoinstrument provides new research opportunities in the nanometrology of wafers and nanolithography masks by enabling real die-to-die and wafer-level measurements and in cell biology by measuring the nano-scale properties of a large number of cells.

Evaluation of T Regulatory Lymphocytes Transcription Factors in HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP) Patients.

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an aggressive neurological disease. The CD4+CD25+ T cell population plays pivotal roles in the maintenance of immunological tolerance and prevention of such autoimmune diseases. In the current study, proviral load (PVL), factor forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR) gene expression and regulatory T cells (Tregs) counts of 21 HAM/TSP patients and 16 HTLV-1 healthy carriers (ACs) were measured using real-time PCR, TaqMan method, and flow cytometry. The demographic, history of disease, and severity of myelopathy were assessed by a checklist and the Osame motor disability score (OMDS). The mean OMDS for HAM/TSP was 4.82 ± 2.37 which had no significant correlation with Treg count or the expression of Foxp3, GITR, and PVL. The CD4+CD25+ cell counts had no significant differences between HAM/TSP and ACs. Findings revealed a higher PVL in HAM/TSPs (313.36 copies/104) compared to ACs (144.93 copies/104, p = 0.035). The Foxp3 and GITR mRNA levels were lower in HAM/TSP patients (11.78 and 13.80, respectively) than those in healthy carriers (18.44 and 21.00, p = 0.041 and 0.03, respectively). There was a significant correlation between Treg frequency and Foxp3 gene expression (R = 0.67, p = 0.006) and GITR and Foxp3 (R = 0.84, p = 0.042) in HAM/TSP patients. Furthermore, the transcription factors have strong correlations with CD4+CD25+ T cell frequencies. These findings suggest that HTLV-1 infection can modify the expression of main functional transcription factors, FOXP3 and GITR, which may lead to immune response deterioration of Tregs and consequently HAM/TSP manifestation.

Combined chlorhexidine-sodiumfluoride mouthrinse for orthodontic patients: Clinical and microbiological study.

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic appliances impede good dental plaque control by brushing. Antimicrobial mouth rinses were suggested to improve this performance. We therefore aimed to investigate the effects of combined mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium fluoride (NaF) on clinical oral hygiene parameters,and plaque bacterial level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this double-blind clinical study, 60 fixed orthodontic patients aged 14-25 years were randomly assigned to one of four mouthrinses groups: 1- combined CHX /NaF 2- CHX 0.06% 3- NaF0.05% 4-placebo. Following baseline examination patients were instructed to use the assigned mouthrinse twice daily for 21 days. Bleeding index (BI), modified gingival index (MGI) and plaque index (PI) were determined at the baselineand after three weeks of rinsing. Samples from supragingival plaque were obtained for the assessment of total bacterial, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli colony counts. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: Clinical parameters; All three active mouth rinses induced significant improvements of BI, MGI, and PI (P<0.05). Results of CHX/NaF were slightly, but not significantly, better than CHX. CHX/NaF and CHX induced significantly more changes than NaF and placebo. Microbiological measurements; Except placebo, other mouthrinses reduced total bacterial, Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacilli counts significantly (P<0.05). CHX/NaF acted against Lactobacilli significantly more than others. CONCLUSIONS: Adding CHX0.06%/NaF0.05% combined mouth rinse to daily oral hygiene regimen of orthodontic patients significantly improved oral hygiene status. Effect of this combined mouth rinse on dental plaque Lactobacilli was remarkable. However, large controlled trials could provide more definitive evidence. KEY WORDS: Mouthrinse, fluoride, chlorhexidine, plaque.

A miniaturized, high frequency mechanical scanner for high speed atomic force microscope using suspension on dynamically determined points.

One of the major limitations in the speed of the atomic force microscope (AFM) is the bandwidth of the mechanical scanning stage, especially in the vertical (z) direction. According to the design principles of "light and stiff" and "static determinacy," the bandwidth of the mechanical scanner is limited by the first eigenfrequency of the AFM head in case of tip scanning and by the sample stage in terms of sample scanning. Due to stringent requirements of the system, simply pushing the first eigenfrequency to an ever higher value has reached its limitation. We have developed a miniaturized, high speed AFM scanner in which the dynamics of the z-scanning stage are made insensitive to its surrounding dynamics via suspension of it on specific dynamically determined points. This resulted in a mechanical bandwidth as high as that of the z-actuator (50 kHz) while remaining insensitive to the dynamics of its base and surroundings. The scanner allows a practical z scan range of 2.1 µm. We have demonstrated the applicability of the scanner to the high speed scanning of nanostructures.

Development of a detachable high speed miniature scanning probe microscope for large area substrates inspection.

We have developed a high speed, miniature scanning probe microscope (MSPM) integrated with a Positioning Unit (PU) for accurately positioning the MSPM on a large substrate. This combination enables simultaneous, parallel operation of many units on a large sample for high throughput measurements. The size of the MSPM is 19 × 45 × 70 mm(3). It contains a one-dimensional flexure stage with counter-balanced actuation for vertical scanning with a bandwidth of 50 kHz and a z-travel range of more than 2 µm. This stage is mechanically decoupled from the rest of the MSPM by suspending it on specific dynamically determined points. The motion of the probe, which is mounted on top of the flexure stage is measured by a very compact optical beam deflection (OBD). Thermal noise spectrum measurements of short cantilevers show a bandwidth of 2 MHz and a noise of less than 15 fm/Hz(1/2). A fast approach and engagement of the probe to the substrate surface have been achieved by integrating a small stepper actuator and direct monitoring of the cantilever response to the approaching surface. The PU has the same width as the MSPM, 45 mm and can position the MSPM to a pre-chosen position within an area of 275×30 mm(2) to within 100 nm accuracy within a few seconds. During scanning, the MSPM is detached from the PU which is essential to eliminate mechanical vibration and drift from the relatively low-resonance frequency and low-stiffness structure of the PU. Although the specific implementation of the MSPM we describe here has been developed as an atomic force microscope, the general architecture is applicable to any form of SPM. This high speed MSPM is now being used in a parallel SPM architecture for inspection and metrology of large samples such as semiconductor wafers and masks.

Effect of healing time on bone-implant contact of orthodontic micro-implants: a histologic study.

Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of immediate and delayed loading of orthodontic micro-implants on bone-implant contact. Materials and Methods. Sixty four micro-implants were implanted in dog's jaw bone. The micro-implants were divided into loaded and unloaded (control) groups. The control group had two subgroups: four and eight weeks being implanted. The loaded group had two subgroups of immediate loading and delayed (after four weeks healing) loading. Loaded samples were subjected to 200g load for four weeks. After sacrificing the animals micro-implants and surrounding tissues were observed histologically. Bone-implant contact ratios (BIC) were calculated and different groups' results were compared by three-way ANOVA. Results. Mean survival rate was 96.7% in general. Survival rates were 96.7%, 94.4% and 100% for control, immediate and delayed loaded groups, respectively. BIC values were not significantly different in loaded and control groups, immediate and delayed loading groups, and pressure and tension sides. Mandibular micro-implants had significantly higher BIC than maxillary ones in immediate loading, 4-weeks control, and 8-weeks control groups (P = 0.021, P = 0.009, P = 0.003, resp.). Conclusion Immediate or delayed loading of micro-implants in dog did not cause significant difference in Bone-implant contact which could be concluded that healing time had not significant effect on micro-implant stability.

Pentalogy of Cantrell: a case report.

Cantrell's pentalogy (CP), a rare congenital malformation, consists of the supraumbilical abdominal wall defect, the sterna lower part defect and agenesis of the anterior portion of the diaphragm, an absence of the diaphragmatic part of the pericardium, and a malformation of cardia. This case report presents a female neonate, who was born at 32 weeks of conception, weighing 1300 g and was admitted one hour after delivery. She had the five anatomical defects known for Cantrell's Pentalogy. Moreover, autopsy revealed a bilateral cleft lip and palate, a patent ductus arteriosus, and an atrial and ventricular septal defect.

Incidence of rotavirus diarrhea in children under 6 years referred to the Pediatric Emergency and Clinic of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.

Rotavirus is the most important pathogen responsible for acute diarrhea in infants and young children. The incidence of rotavirus infection was studied in 156 children less than six years of age who were suffering from acute gastroenteritis, between February 22, 2006 and February 21, 2007 in Mashhad. Rotavirus antigen was detected by latex agglutination test (Rotascreen) in 28.8% of the stool samples examined. The frequency of rotavirus infection was significantly higher among patients under 24 months of age (69%) than among children two years old or more (31%). The peak of incidence was in the winter. This study revealed that rotavirus is an important etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis among children in Mashhad.