Abnormal Leakage Research Articles

Development of a Prototype Data Logger System to Operate under Extreme High Pressure

A subsea oil production system must be safely operated for 20-30 years after being installed. Because of the severe conditions of the subsea environment, such as extreme high pressure, low visibility, the possibility of unexpected impact by any object, and corrosion by seawater, subsea oil production systems should be monitored by subsea data logger systems and remotely operated vehicles to check for abnormal vibration and leakage to prevent a catastrophic accident. Because of the severity of subsea environmental conditions and the dominance of a few companies in the market, many people have thought that it would be difficult to develop a subsea data logger system. The primary objectives of the study described in this paper were to analyze existing subsea data logger systems to establish the requirements for a subsea data logger system, implement a prototype subsea data logger system, and conduct a test of the prototype subsea data logger system.

CO2 Leakage Identification in Geosequestration Based on Real Time Correlation Analysis Between Atmospheric O2 and CO2

The paper describes a method for monitoring CO2 leakage in geological carbon dioxide sequestration. A real time monitoring parameter, apparent leakage flux (ALF), is presented to monitor abnormal CO2 leakage, which can be calculated by atmospheric CO2 and O2 data. The computation shows that all ALF values are close to zero-line without the leakage. With a step change or linear perturbation of concentration to the initial CO2 concentration data with no leakage, ALF will deviate from background line. Perturbation tests prove that ALF method is sensitive to linear perturbation but insensitive to step change of concentration. An improved method is proposed based on real time analysis of surplus CO2 concentration in least square regression process, called apparent leakage flux from surplus analysis (ALFs), which is sensitive to both step perturbation and linear perturbations of concentration. ALF is capable of detecting concentration increase when the leakage occurs while ALFs is useful in all periods of leakage. Both ALF and ALFs are potential approaches to monitor CO2 leakage in geosequestration project.

Reduction of defect formation in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin film transistors by N2O plasma treatment

An abnormal sub-threshold leakage current is observed at high temperature in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs). This phenomenon occurs due to a reduced number of defects in the device's a-IGZO active layer after the device has undergone N2O plasma treatment. Experimental verification shows that the N2O plasma treatment enhances the thin film bonding strength, thereby suppressing the formation of temperature-dependent holes, which are generated above 400 K by oxygen atoms leaving their original sites. The N2O plasma treatment devices have better stability performance than as-fabricated devices. The results suggest that the density of defects for a-IGZO TFTs with N2O plasma treatment is much lower than that in as-fabricated devices. The N2O plasma treatment repairs the defects and suppresses temperature-dependent sub-threshold leakage current.

Suppression of temperature instability in InGaZnO thin-film transistors by in situ nitrogen doping

We have investigated the effect of nitrogen doping on the behavior of hysteresis curve and its suppression of temperature instability in amorphous InGaZnO thin-film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs). The in situ nitrogen doping reduced the temperature induced abnormal sub threshold leakage current and traps generation. Large falling-rate (FR) ∼ 0.26 eV V−1, low activation energy (Ea) ∼ 0.617 eV and a small hysteresis compared to the pure a-IGZO TFTs, shows the best immunity to thermal instability. This is mainly attributed to the reduction of interface trap density and oxygen vacancies due to the passivation of defects and/dangling bonds.

Leakage of decision uncertainty into movement execution in Parkinson’s disease?

The concept of segregated basal ganglia-cortical loops entails that functional disturbances may result from abnormal processing within loops, but also from abnormal communication between loops. Cognitive and motor processes subserved by different basal ganglia-frontal loops may interfere with one another as a result of such abnormal communication, leakage, between loops. In Parkinson's disease, movement execution has been found susceptible to decision uncertainty, attributed to this mechanism. Here, we evaluate whether this mechanism of abnormal coupling or leakage extends to perceptual decision-making with trial-by-trial control of decision uncertainty. We examined 10 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and healthy control subjects in a random-dot motion direction discrimination task with concurrent EEG recording. Random-dot motion was manipulated to make direction discrimination easy or difficult. Reaction times (RT) and movement times (MT) were recorded, and EEG was analysed to extract movement-related potentials. Easy versus difficult direction discrimination produced robust, equally large RT differences in patients and controls (>400 ms), along with a marked difference in error rates, confirming the efficacy of the task. Effects of easy versus difficult discrimination on MT were comparatively small (<50 ms) and did not differ between groups, despite robustly slower MT in patients. Lateralised movement-related EEG potentials reproduced the MT difference between patients and controls. Together, the results do not demonstrate an enhanced effect of decision uncertainty onto movement execution in PD. We surmise that leakage of decision uncertainty into movement execution is probably task-dependent, consistent with the view that the degree to which partial information is allowed to influence the motor system is under strategic control.

N2O Plasma Treatment Suppressed Temperature-dependent Point Defects Formation with Amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide Thin Film Transistors

The abnormal sub-threshold leakage current is observed at high temperature in amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide Thin Film Transistors (a-IGZO TFTs). To confirm this phenomenon dependence of the defects of a-IGZO active layer, the paper proposes the devices with N2O plasma treatment at a-IGZO film. This phenomenon only appears in the as-fabricated device, but not in the device with N2O plasma treatment, which is experimentally verified. N2O plasma treatment at a-IGZO TFTs enhances the thin film bonding strength which could suppress the formation of temperature-dependent point defects. The point defects could be generated from oxygen atoms have left their original sites above 400K. The N2O plasma treatment devices have better stability performance than as-fabricated devices. The results suggested that the density of point states for a-IGZO TFTs with N2O plasma treatment is much lower than that as-fabricated. The N2O plasma repairs the point defect to suppress temperature-dependent sub-threshold leakage current.

Acute Modulations in Stratum Corneum Permeability Barrier Function Affect Claudin Expression and Epidermal Tight Junction Function via Changes of Epidermal Calcium Gradient

Tight junction (TJ) is recognized as a second barrier of the skin. Altered expression of TJ proteins in various skin diseases characterized by the abnormal permeability barrier such as psoriasis suggests that TJ could be affected by stratum corneum (SC) barrier status. However, the physiological relationship between SC and TJ barrier remains to be investigated. Therefore, we examined the effect of SC barrier disruption on the expression of TJ proteins, claudin (Cldn)-1 and Cldn-4, and TJ barrier function in hairless mouse skin. We also investigated whether the alterations in epidermal Ca2+ affected TJ proteins expression in vivo. Repeated tape-stripping induced a sequential change of the expression and function of TJ. As early as 15-30 minutes after tape-stripping, downregulation of Cldn-1 and Cldn-4 immunoreactivity and protein level without change in mRNA level was found. This was accompanied by the abnormal leakage of lanthanum. However, by 1 hour Cldn-1 and Cldn-4 immunolocalization recovered along with normalized lanthanum permeation pattern. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of Cldn-1 and Cldn-4 were increased by 1 to 6 hours after tape-stripping. Inhibition of calcium loss by immersion of barrier-disrupted skin into a high Ca2+ solution prevented the dislocation of Cldn-1 and Cldn-4. Occlusion of barrier-disrupted skin delayed the restoration of Cldn-1 and Cldn-4. Our results suggest that the alteration of epidermal Ca2+ gradient caused by SC barrier perturbation affects the TJ structure and function and the faster recovery of TJ as compared to the SC barrier may imply the protective homeostatic mechanism of skin barrier.

Cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) detection test identified perilymph leakage preoperatively in revision stapes surgery

Perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is defined as an abnormal leakage between perilymph from the labyrinth to the middle ear. Symptoms include hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The standard mode of PLF detection is intraoperative visualization of perilymph leakage and fistula, which ostensibly confirms the existence of PLF. Other possible methods of diagnosis include confirmation of pneumolabyrinth via diagnostic imaging. Recently, a cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) detection test has been developed that allows definitive diagnosis of PLF-related hearing loss. We report the case of a 45-year-old man who presented with right-sided tinnitus, hearing loss, and dizziness 30 years after stapes surgery. Middle ear lavage was performed after myringotomy. A preoperative diagnosis of PLF was reached using the CTP detection test. Intraoperative observations included a necrotic long process of the incus, displaced wire piston, and fibrous tissue in the oval window. Perilymph leakage was not evident. The oval window was closed with fascia, and vertigo disappeared within 2 weeks postoperatively. When PLF is suspected after stapes surgery, the CTP detection test can be a useful, highly sensitive, and less invasive method for preoperative diagnosis.

Interaction of dengue virus nonstructural protein 5 with Daxx modulates RANTES production

Dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection, are important public health problems in the tropical and subtropical regions. Abnormal hemostasis and plasma leakage are the main patho-physiological changes in DHF/DSS. A remarkably increased production of cytokines, the so called ‘cytokine storm’, is observed in the patients with DHF/DSS. A complex interaction between DENV proteins and the host immune response contributes to cytokine production. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which DENV nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) mediates these responses has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, yeast two-hybrid assay was performed to identify host proteins interacting with DENV NS5 and a death-domain-associate protein (Daxx) was identified. The in vivo relevance of this interaction was suggested by co-immunoprecipitation and nuclear co-localization of these two proteins in HEK293 cells expressing DENV NS5. HEK293 cells expressing DENV NS5-K/A, which were mutated at the nuclear localization sequences (NLS), were created to assess its functional roles in nuclear translocation, Daxx interaction, and cytokine production. In the absence of NLS, DENV NS5 could neither translocate into the nucleus nor interact with Daxx to increase the DHF-associated cytokine, RANTES (CCL5) production. This work demonstrates the interaction between DENV NS5 and Daxx and the role of the interaction on the modulation of RANTES production.

Suppress temperature instability of InGaZnO thin film transistors by N2O plasma treatment, including thermal-induced hole trapping phenomenon under gate bias stress

An abnormal subthreshold leakage current is observed at high temperature, which causes a notable stretch-out phenomenon in amorphous InGaZnO thin film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs). This is due to trap-induced thermal-generated holes accumulating at the source region, which leads to barrier lowering on the source side and causes an apparent subthreshold leakage current. In order to obtain superior thermal stability performance of a-IGZO TFTs, conducting N2O plasma treatment on active layer was expected to avert defects generation during SiO2 deposition process. Reducing defects generation not only suppresses subthreshold current stretch-out phenomenon but also significantly improves the bias stress stability in a-IGZO TFTs at high temperature.

N2O Plasma Treatment Suppressed Temperature-Dependent Point Defects Formation with Amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide Thin Film Transistors

The abnormal sub-threshold leakage current is observed at high temperature in amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide Thin Film Transistors (a-IGZO TFTs). To confirm this phenomenon dependence of the defects of a-IGZO active layer, the paper proposes the devices with N2O plasma treatment at a-IGZO film. This phenomenon only appears in the as-fabricated device, but not in the device with N2O plasma treatment, which is experimentally verified. N2O plasma treatment at a-IGZO TFTs enhances the thin film bonding strength which could suppress the formation of temperature-dependent point defects. The point defects could be generated from oxygen atoms have left their original sites above 400K. The N2O plasma treatment devices have better stability performance than as-fabricated devices. The results suggested that the density of point states for a-IGZO TFTs with N2O plasma treatment is much lower than that as-fabricated. The N2O plasma repairs the point defect to suppress temperature-dependent sub-threshold leakage current.

Abnormal Subthreshold Leakage Current at High Temperature in InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors

Abnormal subthreshold leakage current is observed at high temperature in amorphous InGaZnO thin-film transistors. The transfer curve exhibits an apparent subthreshold current stretch-out phenomenon that becomes more serious with increasing temperatures. The negative bias temperature instability experiment has been used to prove high-temperature-induced hole generation. Furthermore, the transfer characteristics with different drain voltages have been also used to confirm the status of hole accumulation. These pieces of evidence clearly defined the stretch-out phenomenon, which is caused by thermal-induced hole generation and accumulation at the source region that leads to source-side barrier lowering.

Esophageal perforation and mediastinitis after suicidal ingestion of 4.5% sodium hydrochlorite bleach

A 16-year-old woman deliberately drank 4.5% sodium hypochlorite bleach. She was transferred to the emergency department after gastric lavage was performed at a local clinic. She experienced chest pain and fever after several vomiting episodes and esophagoscopy. Chest computerized tomography (CT) revealed air bubbles and abnormal soft tissue density at the right lateral aspect of the mid esophagus, a small amount of complicated pleural effusion, and pneumothorax. Barium esophagography revealed abnormal leakage of contrast media at the right wall of the mid esophagus, which indicated acute mediastinitis. The patient received intensive care and underwent delayed esophageal repair and colonic transplant. She was discharged 12 weeks after admission.Sodium hypochlorite is found in household bleaching agents used to disinfect dishes and bleach laundry. Poisoning due to ingestion of sodium hypochlorite bleach usually follows a benign clinical course. Few studies report severe complications such as esophageal stenosis or perforation.

Migration Kinetics of Oxygen Vacancies in Mn-Modified BiFeO3 Thin Films

Migration kinetics of oxygen vacancies in BiFe(0.95)Mn(0.05)O(3) thin film were investigated by the temperature -dependent leakage current as well as the electric field and temperature-dependent impedance spectroscopy. The BiFe(0.95)Mn(0.05)O(3) is of an abnormal leakage behavior, and an Ohmic conduction is observed regardless of varied temperatures and electric fields. The temperature-dependent impedance spectroscopy under different resistance states is used to illuminate different leakage behavior between BiFe(0.95)Mn(0.05)O(3) and pure BiFeO(3). The impedance spectroscopy under a high resistance state shows that the first ionization of oxygen vacancies is responsible for the dielectric relaxation and electrical conduction of BiFe(0.95)Mn(0.05)O(3) in the whole temperature range of 294 to 474 K; the BiFeO(3) exhibits similar dielectric relaxation and electrical conduction behavior in the low-temperature range of 294-374 K, whereas the short-range motion of oxygen vacancies was involved in the high-temperature range of 374-474 K. The impedance spectroscopy under a low resistance state demonstrates that the dielectric relaxation and conduction mechanisms almost keep unchanged for BiFe(0.95)Mn(0.05)O(3), whereas the hopping electrons of Fe(2+)-V(O)(•)-Fe(3+) and Fe(2+)-Fe(3+) are responsible for its dielectric relaxation and conduction mechanism of BiFeO(3). Different impedance spectroscopy under low and high resistance states confirms that an abnormal leakage behavior of BiFe(0.95)Mn(0.05)O(3) is related to different migration kinetics of oxygen vacancies, obviously differing from that of BiFeO(3).

External frontal sinusotomy and endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid fistula in the posterior wall: preliminary report of a new technique

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea is the abnormal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the nasal cavity. The posterior wall of the frontal sinus can be the site of such leakage. Traditionally, these leaks were repaired via external osteoplastic or neurosurgical approaches. Despite advances in instrumentation, it is difficult to manage superiorly or laterally placed defects endoscopically. We present a new technique of endoscopic repair of frontal sinus posterior wall defects, via access holes drilled in the anterior wall of the frontal sinus. Preliminary study involving patients presenting with frontal sinus cerebrospinal fluid leaks, with defects in the frontal sinus posterior wall, between 2006 and 2010. Patients were treated in a tertiary referral centre for nose and sinus diseases. Patient records were reviewed and analysed. Nine patients underwent external frontal sinusotomy under endoscopic vision. Repair was successful in all cases, with no complications. Follow up ranged from three months to three years. External frontal sinusotomy and endoscopic repair is a simple, precise and cosmetically acceptable alternative to osteoplastic and major neurosurgical techniques for management of frontal sinus posterior wall defects. This new, previously undescribed technique enables otolaryngologists to play a role in managing such defects.

Saving money on the PBS: ranibizumab or bevacizumab for neovascular macular degeneration?

The cost differential between these two drugs is no longer defensible.

Bevacizumab versus Ranibizumab for AMD

For 5 years, patients and clinicians have wrestled with the choice between two drugs for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly worldwide. Vision loss results from the abnormal growth and leakage of blood vessels in the macula, a specialized portion of the retina responsible for the best visual acuity. Without this macular vision, patients become legally blind. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the cytokine primarily responsible for blood-vessel growth, is inhibited when anti-VEGF drugs are injected repeatedly into the eye, and blindness is prevented in most patients. The majority . . .

Moderate GSK-3β inhibition improves neovascular architecture, reduces vascular leakage, and reduces retinal hypoxia in a model of ischemic retinopathy

In ischemic retinopathies, unrelieved hypoxia induces the formation of architecturally abnormal, leaky blood vessels that damage retina and ultimately can cause blindness. Because these newly formed blood vessels are functionally defective, they fail to alleviate underlying hypoxia, resulting in more pathological neovascularization and more damage to retina. With an established model of ischemic retinopathy, we investigated inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) as a means for improving the architecture and functionality of pathological blood vessels in retina. In vitro, hypoxia increased GSK-3β activity in retinal endothelial cells, reduced β-catenin, and correspondingly impaired integrity of cell/cell junctions. Conversely, GSK-3β inhibitors restored β-catenin, improved cell/cell junctions, and enhanced the formation of capillary cords in three-dimensional collagen matrix. In vivo, GSK-3β inhibitors, at appropriately moderate doses, strongly reduced abnormal vascular tufts, reduced abnormal vascular leakage, and improved vascular coverage and perfusion during the proliferative phase of ischemia-driven retinal neovascularization. Most importantly, these improvements in neovasculature were accompanied by marked reduction in retinal hypoxia, relative to controls. Thus, GSK-3β inhibitors offer a promising strategy for alleviating retinal hypoxia by correcting key vascular defects typically associated with ischemia-driven neovascularization.

Inhibition of Choroidal Neovascularization by Intravitreal Ketorolac

To determine the inhibitory effect of intravitreal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in an animal model of age-related macular degeneration. Six laser burns of sufficient power to rupture the Bruch membrane were induced in the peripapillary area of each eye of 18 adult Brown Norway rats. Both eyes of each animal received the same 5-microL intravitreal injection of 30 mg/mL of ketorolac tromethamine, 40 mg/mL of triamcinolone acetonide, or balanced salt solution. Fluorescein angiography was performed on days 14 and 21 after injection, animals were euthanized, and retinal pigment epithelium-choroid-sclera (choroidal) flat mounts were prepared. Areas of abnormal vascular leakage on fluorescein angiography and vascular budding on choroidal mounts were measured and quantified using an image analysis program. Intravitreal ketorolac significantly reduced CNV leakage on fluorescein angiography at 2 (P < .001) and 3 (P = .006) weeks compared with eyes injected with balanced salt solution, but intravitreal triamcinolone was a more potent inhibitor of CNV leakage than ketorolac (P < .001). Vascular budding on choroidal mounts was almost entirely suppressed with triamcinolone (P < .001) and significantly inhibited with ketorolac (P = .009). Intravitreal ketorolac significantly reduced laser-induced CNV leakage and vascular budding as determined by fluorescein angiography and choroidal flat mounts, respectively, although this effect was less than that of triamcinolone. Intravitreal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful in the treatment of CNV owing to age-related macular degeneration or other causes and offer distinct clinical advantages over corticosteroids because of their lack of association with cataract formation or glaucoma.

Hypercholesterolemic Mice Exhibit Lymphatic Vessel Dysfunction and Degeneration

Lymphatic vessels are essential for lipid absorption and transport. Despite increasing numbers of observations linking lymphatic vessels and lipids, little research has been devoted to address how dysregulation of lipid balance in the blood, ie, dyslipidemia, may affect the functional biology of lymphatic vessels. Here, we show that hypercholesterolemia occurring in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice is associated with tissue swelling, lymphatic leakiness, and decreased lymphatic transport of fluid and dendritic cells from tissue. Lymphatic dysfunction results in part from profound structural abnormalities in the lymphatic vasculature: namely, initial lymphatic vessels were greatly enlarged, and collecting vessels developed notably decreased smooth muscle cell coverage and changes in the distribution of lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor-1 (LYVE-1). Our results provide evidence that hypercholesterolemia in adult apoE(-/-) mice is associated with a degeneration of lymphatic vessels that leads to decreased lymphatic drainage and provides an explanation for why dendritic cell migration and, thus, immune priming, are compromised in hypercholesterolemic mice.