Metal Ion and Cluster Beams for Microelectronic Research and Development: A Review

Applications of focused ion and cluster beams emitted by liquid metal ion sources are particularly attractive in microelectronic engineering. We overview this area of research and development adding recent results concerning repair, tuning and characterization obtained either by focusing ions or droplets on a microcircuit controlled by in-situ SEM observation of the process

Improvisation Planning and Jam Session Design Using Concepts of Sequence Variation and Flow Experience

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Archaeological Geophysical Prospection in Peatland Environments: case studies and suggestions for future practice

Peatland environments, in contrast to ‘dry-land’ sites, preserve organic material, including anthropogenic objects, because they are anaerobic, and are therefore of great importance to archaeology. Peat also preserves macro- and micro- paleoenvironmental evidence and is the primary resource for understanding past climates and ecology. Archaeological sites often lie within or at the base of wet, deep, homogenous peat rendering them invisible to surface observers. As a result, they most often c..

Morte e luto: competências dos profissionais

A concepção social de morte é resultado de um longo processo histórico, marcado por diferentes sistemas econômicos e sociais, bem como por costumes que envolvem dimensões existenciais, subjetivas e espirituais. Este artigo tem como objetivo revisar a morte, o luto e as competências profissionais nos diversos contextos. A metodologia adotada consiste na revisão bibliográfica de artigos pesquisados nas bases de dados PubMed, Scielo.org, BVS Psi, EBSCO, LILACS, PePSIC, PsycNET, Science Direct e Web of Knowledge (ISI), no período de 2008 a 2014, por meio de termos como morte, luto e profissionais, incluindo o ciclo da vida (crianças, adolescentes, adultos e idosos). Conclui-se que há deficiência na formação educacional dos profissionais que lidam com a morte e o luto, sobretudo aqueles que trabalham em contextos de saúde. Observou-se a necessidade da criação de programas voltados à educação para a morte nos currículos dos profissionais e na sociedade de maneira geral, incluindo medidas interventivas e protocolos em terapia cognitivo-comportamental para adquirir competências no enfrentamento adequado e saudável dessas experiências

Aspectos patológicos de miopatias em frangos de corte.

As alterações patológicas que ocorrem no músculo das aves são denominadas de miopatias. A primeira miopatia descrita foi a necrose do músculo peitoral profundo em perus e frangos, que podia ser reproduzida com estímulo para batimento de asas (1). Posteriormente foi identificada a alteração conhecida como ?white striping?, caracterizada por estrias brancas de gordura na superfície do músculo peitoral superficial. Mais recentemente foram observados novos quadros como o ?wooden breast - peito madeira? (2). Podem ocorrer também alterações na coloração ou tonalidade da carne de aves devido à queda brusca e acentuada do pH muscular, levando à condição conhecida como carne PSE (pale, soft and exudative) - carne pálida, mole e exudativa - ou quando por depleção de glicogênio no músculo ocorre a carne DFD (dark, firm and dry) - carne dura, firme e seca. O presente trabalho objetiva determinar se as condições observadas nas carcaças têm relação com causas microbianas e/ou infecciosas e avaliar se estas condições apresentam riscos para a saúde do consumidor

Synthesis of localized 2D-layers of silicon nanoparticles embedded in a SiO2 layer by a stencil-masked ultra-low energy ion implantation process

We propose an original approach called “stencil-masked ion implantation process” to perform a spatially localized synthesis of a limited number of Si nanoparticles (nps) within a thin SiO2 layer. This process consists in implanting silicon ions at ultra-low energy through a stencil mask containing a periodic array of opened windows (from 50 nm to 2 um). After the stencil removal, a thermal annealing is used to synthesize small and spherical embedded nps. AFM observations show that the stencil windows are perfectly transferred into the substrate without any clogging or blurring effect. The samples exhibit a 3 nm localized swelling of the regions rich in Si nps. Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy shows that due to the quantum confinement only the implanted regions containing the Si nps are emitting light

The Type and the Position of HNF1A Mutation Modulate Age at Diagnosis of Diabetes in Patients with Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)-3

OBJECTIVE—The clinical expression of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)-3 is highly variable. This may be due to environmental and/or genetic factors, including molecular characteristics of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-α (HNF1A) gene mutation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We analyzed the mutations identified in 356 unrelated MODY3 patients, including 118 novel mutations, and searched for correlations between the genotype and age at diagnosis of diabetes. RESULTS—Missense mutations prevailed in the dimerization and DNA-binding domains (74%), while truncating mutations were predominant in the transactivation domain (62%). The majority (83%) of the mutations were located in exons 1- 6, thus affecting the three HNF1A isoforms. Age at diagnosis of diabetes was lower in patients with truncating mutations than in those with missense mutations (18 vs. 22 years, P = 0.005). Missense mutations affecting the dimerization/DNA-binding domains were associated with a lower age at diagnosis than those affecting the transactivation domain (20 vs. 30 years, P = 10−4). Patients with missense mutations affecting the three isoforms were younger at diagnosis than those with missense mutations involving one or two isoforms (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS—These data show that part of the variability of the clinical expression in MODY3 patients may be explained by the type and the location of HNF1A mutations. These findings should be considered in studies for the search of additional modifier genetic factors

Prevalence and characteristics of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease in a prospective registry

Rationale Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) is characterized by progressive physiologic, symptomatic, and/or radiographic worsening. The real-world prevalence and characteristics of PF-ILD remain uncertain. Methods Patients were enrolled from the Canadian Registry for Pulmonary Fibrosis between 2015-2020. PF-ILD was defined as a relative forced vital capacity (FVC) decline ≥10%, death, lung transplantation, or any 2 of: relative FVC decline ≥5 and <10%, worsening respiratory symptoms, or worsening fibrosis on computed tomography of the chest, all within 24 months of diagnosis. Time-to-event analysis compared progression between key diagnostic subgroups. Characteristics associated with progression were determined by multivariable regression. Results Of 2,746 patients with fibrotic ILD (mean age 65±12 years, 51% female), 1,376 (50%) met PFILD criteria in the first 24 months of follow-up. PF-ILD occurred in 427 (59%) patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 125 (58%) with fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), 281 (51%) with unclassifiable ILD (U-ILD), and 402 (45%) with connective tissue diseaseassociated ILD (CTD-ILD). Compared to IPF, time to progression was similar in patients with HP (hazard ratio [HR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.79-1.17), but was delayed in patients with U-ILD (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.96) and CTD-ILD (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.56-0.74). Background treatment varied across diagnostic subtypes with 66% of IPF patients receiving antifibrotic therapy, while immunomodulatory therapy was utilized in 49%, 61%, and 37% of patients with CHP, CTD-ILD, and U-ILD respectively. Increasing age, male sex, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and lower baseline pulmonary function were independently associated with progression. Interpretation Progression is common in patients with fibrotic ILD, and is similarly prevalent in HP and IPF. Routinely collected variables help identify patients at risk for progression and may guide therapeutic strategie