Analysis of a passive microforce sensor based on magnetic spings and upthrust buoyancy.

International audienceThis paper is focused on the design and modeling of a new micro and nano force sensor using magnetic springs. The force sensitive part is a macroscopic horizontal rigid platform used as a oating seismic mass. This platform presents a naturally stable equilibrium state for its six degrees of freedom (dof) thanks to the combination of upthrust buoyancy and magnetic forces. This force sensor allows the measurement of the external horizontal force and the vertical torque applied to the platform. Thanks to the magnetic springs con guration used, the seismic mass presents a 0.02 N/m horizontal mechanical sti ness (similar to the sti ness of a thin AFM micro-cantilever). The measurement range typically varies between 50 N. The resolution depends on the displacement sensors used to measure the seismic mass displacement and on the environmental conditions (ground, liquid and air vibrations). In steady state, this displacement is proportional to the applied force. Resolution of less than 10 nN can be reached with the use of an anti-vibration table

Microforce sensor for microbiological applications based on a floating-magnetic principle.

International audienceIn this paper, we present the design of a new magentic nano and microforce sensor for microbiological applications. The sensing part of the sensor presents a naturally stable six degrees of freedom equilibrium state using the combination of upthrust buoyancy and magnetic force. The sensor allows force measurement without deformation of the sensing element using a feedback control loop and is able to measure the components, in the horizontal plan, of the external force applied. The measurement range varies between around ± 100 µN with a resolution of 20 nN and a linear output. The mechanical stiffness of the passive system is about 0.018 N.m−1(same order of magnitude than an AFM micro-cantilever). A complete static study and experimental validation of the used principle are presented in this paper

Modelling and optimization of a floating triangular platform used for nano and microforces sensing.

International audienceThis paper presents the dynamic behaviour modelling of a horizontal triangular platform, used as the sensing part of a microforce sensor. This sensor is based on a magnetic and a buoyancy principle. A particular configuration used to obtain a linear model is presented. This linear model will be essential for the futur control of the system, in order to achieve force measurement without displacement of the platform. The determination of the platform position and orientation in the horizontal plane is done thanks to three laser range sensors. Sensors configuration provide a linear transformation between the three measured ranges and the position and orientation of the platform. Finally, an open loop result comparison is done between the linear state model and a more complex 3D non linear model

Estimation robuste par synthèse H2 de micro- et nanoforce à l'aide de ressorts magnétiques actifs.

National audienceThis article deals with the problematic of micro- and nanoforce measurement. The force is the unknown excitatory signal of a transducer whose only the output is measurable. This general problematic of an unknown input signal reconstruction from a noisy output signal is developed inside the H2 synthesis framework. The resulting methodology is implemented in a micro- and nanoforce sensor that uses a macroscopic seismic mass controlled by active magnetic springs. This methodology uses only a very basic knowledge on the force dynamic and thanks to H2 synthesis, ensures that the force estimation remains correct despite the transducer dynamic, the noise measurement, the uncertainty on the force dynamic and the sensor modeling errors

Pelatihan Mawas Diri sebagai Sarana Intervensi dalam Menurunkan Tingkat Adiksi Pornografi pada Mahasiswa di Kota Surakarta

Indonesia saat ini telah memasuki darurat pornografi. Anggaran belanja pornografi ditahun 2014 diperkirakan mencapai 50 triliun rupiah. Indonesia juga masuk dalam surga pornografi kedua di dunia. Pornografi yang sejatinya dapat menyebabkan adiksi bagi para penggunanya, sudah tersebar luas di Indonesia dalam berbagai bentuk yang mayoritas berupa gambar dari kegiatan-kegiatan seksual. Konten pornografi tersebar dengan mudah berkat adanya internet, terlebih lagi dengan adanya biaya yang murah. Adiksi pornografi ditunjukan dengan ketidakmampuan untuk mengendalikan atau menunda perasaan, perilaku, dan pikiran seksual akibat mengonsumsinya. Artinya, ketergantungan pornografi merupakan perilaku kompulsif yang dapat menganggu kehidupan normal seseorang. Kecanduan untuk mengkonsumsi konten-konten seksual dari individu tersebut mengarah kepada permasalahan emosional, kognisi, dan perilaku yang dimunculkan oleh individu (Twohig, Crosby, & Cox, 2009). Seseorang yang telah ketagihan biasanya akan secara rutin melakukan ritual masturbasi namun akan berujung pada perasaan bersalah, malu, dan kebingungan. Hingga saat ini sarana atau akses bagi para pecandu pornografi terhadap terapi, pelatihan, dan informasi yang diperlukan untuk sembuh dari adiksinya masih kurang. Ditambah lagi stigma masyarakat yang menganggap para pecandu pornografi adalah manusia yang tidak bermoral semakin membuat pecandu pornografi menutup diri secara sosial. Hal inilah yang membuat munculnya tindakan kekerasan seksual dimasyarakat yang dilakukan oleh individu dengan adiksi ini. Untuk mengatasi permasalahan yang ditimbulkan dari adiksi pornografi diperlukan suatu tindakan agar para pecandu pornografi dapat terlepas dari adiksi mereka. Salah satu cara mengurangi keterpaparan konten dan materi pornografi adalah dengan menggunakan nilai falsafah nusantara yaitu mawas diri. Suryomentaram (2003) menjelaskan bahwa sehat jiwa dapat dicapai jika seseorang telah mampu mawas diri. Konsep mawas diri inilah yang menjadi kunci dari usaha pengurangan adiksi pornografi. Pelatihan mawas diri kami pilih karena latar belakang budaya nusantara yang tidak pernah terlepas dari nilai-nilai pekerti tentang mawas diri. Mawas diri dimanifestasikan dalam perilaku dan pengalaman untuk mengembangkan dan memperdalam pengetahuan tentang perasaan atau “rasa hidup” dalam kehidupan sehari-hari sehingga manusia dapat memilah-milah mana yang benar dan mana yang salah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan pemahaman tentang pelatihan mawas diri yang berbasis falsafah nusantara dan mengetahui pengaruh pelatihan tersebut dalam mengurangi adiksi pornografi, khususnya yang terjadi pada kalangan mahasiswa di Kota Surakarta. Kata kunci: pornografi, adiksi, falsafah nusantara, pelatihan mawas dir

B decays into light scalar particles and glueball

The recent observations of f_0(980) in charmless B-decays motivate further studies of scalar particle and glueball production in these processes. Amplitudes for charmless 2-body B decays involving the members of the scalar nonet are presented based on the symmetries of the dominant penguin contribution. Different scenarios for the lightest scalar nonet are investigated in view of the presently available data. We describe the evidence from B-decays for f_0(1500) with a flavour octet like mixing and the hints towards the members of the q qbar nonet of lowest mass. There is further support for the hypothesis of a broad 0^{++} glueball acting as coherent background especially in B -> K Kbar K. The estimated B decay rates into gluonic mesons represent a sizable fraction of the theoretically derived decay rate for b -> sg.Comment: 34 pages, 5 figures, 8 tables, version to appear in Eur.Phys.J.C., with some clarifications in the text, additional refs. and several overall signs in Tab.2,3 adde

Assessment of Cystatin C–Based GFR Estimating Equations as a Novel Reliable Biomarker for Renal Pathology Diagnosis in Patients with Mild to Severe Tubular Affection

Background and Objective: Creatinine, a commonly used biomarker in determining glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage, is a highly variable biologically and does not rise until > 50% of renal function (RF) impairment, resulting in erroneous CKD grading. Applying a simple and reliable GFR estimate approach aimed at a minute evaluation of RF might be of tremendous therapeutic value. So, our investigation was aimed to assess Cystatin (Cys) -C-based eGFR equations, a novel, more sensitive biomarker in kidney pathology, and less susceptible to biological interference. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 20 CKD cases who attended the Nephrology Department at Ain Shams University, where a renal biopsy was obtained, and individuals were allocated into two categories: cases with mild tubular affection (TA) [category A] and with moderate to severe TA [category B]. All participants were referred for measurement of Cys-C Level using different GFR-estimating equations, which further compared using Multivariate Linear Regression and Bland-Altman analyses. Results: Our results revealed a substantial statistical difference among the two studied categories regarding Hb, kidney function tests. A significant correlation between CKD-EPI CYST and mGFR was measured by Iohexol (Ioh) for category A (R=0.601, P=0.030), where there was a non-substantial relation between any of the used equations and mGFR in category B (p > 0.05). There was no independent association between the eGFR results and Iohexol clearance. Stevens eGFR had the highest-level bias 33.9 compared with CKD_EPI_CYST (28) and Grubb eGFR (22.85), Conclusion: Although cystatin-based equations have demonstrated a high level of correlation with measured Iohexol GFR, they are still deemed imprecise and cannot be established as equal to assessed GFR or as a gold standard for GFR estimate

Seroprevalence of Immunoglobulin G antibodies against pertussis toxin among asymptomatic medical students in the west of Iran: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pertussis is a highly communicable, vaccine-preventable respiratory infection. Immune response against this disease can be induced by infection or vaccination. Protection after childhood vaccination is minimal after ten years. Our aim was to assess pertussis immunity state in a population of healthy young medical students.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this seroepidemiological survey, blood samples were obtained from 163 first-year medical students in Hamedan University, Iran. Serum level of IgG against pertussis toxin (IgG-PT) was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. For qualitative assessment, IgG-PT levels more than 24 unit (U)/ml were considered positive. Data was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively considering gender and age groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 83 males and 80 females, with a mean age of 19.48 years, Prevalence of IgG-PT was 47.6% with mean level of 71.7 u/ml (95% confidence interval: 68.1–75.3). No statistically significant difference was observed with respect to sero-positivity of IgG-PT between males and females (45 cases (54%) vs. 34 cases (42%); P = 0.06). Mean IgG-PT levels in males and females were 84 U/ml and 58.8 U/ml, respectively (P = 0.91).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A considerable proportion of our study population with a positive history of childhood vaccination for pertussis was not serologically immune to pertussis. A booster dose of acellular pertussis vaccine may be indicated in Iranian, medical students regarding their serologic conditions and outstanding role in health care systems.</p

Clinical features of culture-proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective chart review describes the epidemiology and clinical features of 40 patients with culture-proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Patients with positive M. pneumoniae cultures from respiratory specimens from January 1997 through December 1998 were identified through the Microbiology records. Charts of patients were reviewed. RESULTS: 40 patients were identified, 33 (82.5%) of whom required admission. Most infections (92.5%) were community-acquired. The infection affected all age groups but was most common in infants (32.5%) and pre-school children (22.5%). It occurred year-round but was most common in the fall (35%) and spring (30%). More than three-quarters of patients (77.5%) had comorbidities. Twenty-four isolates (60%) were associated with pneumonia, 14 (35%) with upper respiratory tract infections, and 2 (5%) with bronchiolitis. Cough (82.5%), fever (75%), and malaise (58.8%) were the most common symptoms, and crepitations (60%), and wheezes (40%) were the most common signs. Most patients with pneumonia had crepitations (79.2%) but only 25% had bronchial breathing. Immunocompromised patients were more likely than non-immunocompromised patients to present with pneumonia (8/9 versus 16/31, P = 0.05). Of the 24 patients with pneumonia, 14 (58.3%) had uneventful recovery, 4 (16.7%) recovered following some complications, 3 (12.5%) died because of M pneumoniae infection, and 3 (12.5%) died due to underlying comorbidities. The 3 patients who died of M pneumoniae pneumonia had other comorbidities. CONCLUSION: our results were similar to published data except for the finding that infections were more common in infants and preschool children and that the mortality rate of pneumonia in patients with comorbidities was high

Versatility in phospho-dependent molecular recognition of the XRCC1 and XRCC4 DNA-damage scaffolds by aprataxin-family FHA domains

Aprataxin, aprataxin and PNKP-like factor (APLF) and polynucleotide kinase phosphatase (PNKP) are key DNA-repair proteins with diverse functions but which all contain a homologous forkhead-associated (FHA) domain. Their primary binding targets are casein kinase 2-phosphorylated forms of the XRCC1 and XRCC4 scaffold molecules which respectively coordinate single-stranded and double-stranded DNA break repair pathways. Here, we present the high-resolution X-ray structure of a complex of phosphorylated XRCC4 with APLF, the most divergent of the three FHA domain family members. This, combined with NMR and biochemical analysis of aprataxin and APLF binding to singly and multiply-phosphorylated forms of XRCC1 and XRCC4, and comparison with PNKP reveals a pattern of distinct but overlapping binding specificities that are differentially modulated by multi-site phosphorylation. Together, our data illuminate important differences between activities of the three phospho-binding domains, in spite of a close evolutionary relationship between them