John L. Volakis¹, Kubilay Sertel¹, Erik Jørgensen², Rick W. Kindt¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 463-476, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.005.463

Abstract In this paper we address several topics relating to the development and implementation of volume integral and hybrid finite element methods for electromagnetic modeling. Comparisons of volume integral equation formulations with the finite element-boundary integral method are given in terms of accuracy and computing resources. We also discuss preconditioning and parallelization of the multilevel fast multipole method, and propose higher-order basis functions for curvilinear quadrilaterals and volumetric basis functions for curvilinear hexahedra. The latter have the desirable property of vanishing divergence within the element but non-zero curl. In addition, a new domain decomposition is introduced More >

Meng Fan¹, Lesong Wang², John Steinhoff³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.5, No.4, pp. 373-382, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.005.373

Abstract A new method is described that has the potential to greatly extend the range of application of current Eulerian time domain electromagnetic or acoustic computational methods for certain problems. More >

H. Okada¹, C. T. Liu², T. Ninomiya¹, Y. Fukui¹, N. Kumazawa¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.6, No.4, pp. 333-348, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.006.333

Abstract Formulations and applications of an element overlay technique for the mesoscopic analyses of composite structures are presented in this paper. As a zooming technique, the element overlay technique has been applied to various engineering problems. A finite element mesh having finer mesh discretization is superposed at the region to zoom the spatial resolution of analysis. Such a numerical technique is known as the s-version FEM (S-FEM). This paper aims at developing an S-FEM technique that is suited for the mesoscopic analysis of particulate composite materials. Local finite element models that contain the second phase material… More >

D. P. Ghosh¹, S. Gopalakrishnan²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.1, No.3, pp. 213-228, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2004.001.213

Abstract Anhysteretic, coupled, linear and nonlinear constitutive relationship for magnetostrictive material is studied in this paper. Constitutive relationships of magnetostrictive material are represented through two equations, one for actuation and other for sensing, both of which are coupled through magneto-mechanical coefficient. Coupled model is studied without assuming any explicit direct relationship with magnetic field. In linear-coupled model, which is assumed to preserve the magnetic flux line continuity, the elastic modulus, the permeability and magneto-elastic constant are assumed as constant. In nonlinear-coupled model, the nonlinearity is decoupled and solved separately for the magnetic domain and mechanical domain More >

M. D. Rodríguez-Arnao, A. Rodríguez-Sánchez, J. Rodríguez-Arnao, E. Dulín-Íñiguez¹, J. M. Bellón Cano², M. A. Muñoz-Fernández²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 63-68, 2003

Abstract Objetive: To analyse the production of TNF-α and NO in euthyroid and hypothyroid newborns.
Patients: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 10 newborns diagnosed with primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH; group A) and 10 euthyroid children (group B).
Results: There were undetectable plasma levels of TNF-α and NO in the hypothyroid children, however plasma levels of TNF-α (5.5 ± 0.5 pg/ml) and NO (5.6 ± 1.7 µM) were detected at normal levels in all euthyroid children. Moreover, expression of iNOS mRNA in PBMC, determined by RT-PCR, was negative in both groups of infants.
Conclusion: TNF-α and NO production More >

Diane Damotte^1,3, Claire Goulvestre², Jeannine Charreire², Claude Carnaud¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 52-59, 2003

Abstract Although adjuvants are essential for the initiation of experimental autoimmune diseases, their precise contribution to the pathological manifestations is still poorly understood. Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is interesting in that respect because it can be initiated with the help of two different adjuvants — Freund’s complete or LPS — which may initiate independent pathogenic pathways. In the present study, we have compared Freund’s-induced versus LPS-induced EAT with respect to their dependence upon CD8⁺ T cells, which are considered as major actors in the pathogenesis of thyroiditis. Our results reveal that whereas CD8+ T cells are mandatory More >

Halina Urbañska-Rys´, Agnieszka Wierzbowska, Tadeusz Robak

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 40-51, 2003

Abstract We investigated the serum concentrations of selected angiogenic cytokines including: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in 162 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 5 patients with Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM), and 31 healthy controls. Among the MM patients there were 2 cases of primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) and one case of extramedullary plasmacytoma. The levels of measured cytokines were correlated with the phase and stage of the disease as well as the most important clinical and laboratory parameters associated with… More >

Trawat Attarbaschi¹, Martin Willheim², Michael Ramharter¹, Andrea Hofmann³, Katharina Wahl², Heidi Winkler¹, Wolfgang Graninger¹, Stefan Winkler^1,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 34-39, 2003

Abstract Cytokine profiles of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell subsets were evaluated in 8 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Intracellular detection of cytokines using flow cytometry revealed an expansion of IFN-γ-expressing CD4⁺ T cells, and particularly CD8⁺ T cells, while IL-2 expressing cells were less frequently encountered when compared to healthy controls. Single TNF-α-expressing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were likewise reduced and shifted towards IFN-γ/TNF-α co-production. The predominant pro-inflammatory type 1-biased immune response during IM was emphasized by low frequencies of IL-10 expression in both T cell subsets, although some patients displayed elevated serum levels. Six months later, a… More >

Mahmoud Huleihel^1,2,4,*, Eitan Lunenfeld^2,4, Anna Blindman¹, Isebrand Prinsloo^3,4, Gad Potashnik^2,4

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 27-33, 2003

Abstract The levels of IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-1Ra were higher in homogenates of testicular tissue from sexually immature than those from mature mice. Immunohistochemical staining of testicular tissues from sexually immature and adult mice show that differentiated germ cells express higher levels of IL-1α compared to Sertoli cells and Leydig cells/interstitial cells. Peritubular cells of sexually immature and adult mice did not express IL-1α. Testicular tissue cells of adult mice showed high levels of expression of IL-1β, mainly in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the spermatogonia and in spermatocytes. Sertoli cells and Leydig/interstitial cells were also… More >

Laura Brandolini¹, Marcello Allegretti¹, Valerio Berdini¹, Maria Neve Cervellera¹, Patrizia Mascagni¹, Matteo Rinaldi¹, Gabriella Melillo¹, Pietro Ghezzi², Manuela Mengozzi², Riccardo Bertini^1,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 20-26, 2003

Abstract Carbocysteine lysine salt monohydrate (SCMC-Lys) is a well-known mucoactive drug whose therapeutic efficacy is commonly related to the ability of SCMC-Lys to replace fucomucins by sialomucins. The aim of this study was to determine if SCMC-Lys could exert an anti-oxidant action by scavenging reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs). Our results show that SCMC-Lys proved effective as a selective scavenger of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hydroxyl radical (OH• ), this effect being related to the reactivity of the SCMC tioether group. The scavenger activity of SCMC-Lys was observed in free cellular system as well as in activated More >