Multiple Quantum Well AlGaAs Nanowires

This letter reports on the growth, structure and luminescent properties of individual multiple quantum well (MQW) AlGaAs nanowires (NWs). The composition modulations (MQWs) are obtained by alternating the elemental flux of Al and Ga during the molecular beam epitaxy growth of the AlGaAs wire on GaAs (111)B substrates. Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy performed on individual NWs are consistent with a configuration composed of conical segments stacked along the NW axis. Micro-photoluminescence measurements and confocal microscopy showed enhanced light emission from the MQW NWs as compared to non-segmented NWs due to carrier confinement and sidewall passivation

Characterization of sulfur and chlorine behavior during pyrolysis of biomass and waste

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Electromyographic Analysis of Hip Muscle Activity Comparing Maximal Voluntary Contraction to Manual Muscle Test Grades

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle activity during three manual muscle tests (MMT) and muscle activity during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the same muscle. Subjects: Eleven female subjects voluntarily participated in this study. All participants were physical therapy students under the age of 30, nonpregnant, and without recent history of musculoskeletal injury. Methods: Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected by placing surface electrodes over each participant\u27s right tensor fasciae latae (TFL) and gluteus medius (GM) muscle. The EMG data from each muscle was transmitted by Noraxont TeleMy02400 G2 telemetry to a computer equipped with MyoResearch XP 1.07 software. EMG data was collected while each participant performed a MVC and a Normal (5), Fair (3) , and Poor (2) Grade MMT test for each muscle, respectively. Results: EMG data analysis produced an average percentage of MVC for MMT of GM and TFL using Grades 5, 3, and 2 as follows: 91.7%; 32.3%; 20.7%. Conclusion: This study shows the percentage of MVC EMG activity elicited by MMT of Grades 5, 3, and 2 for TFL and GM. These percentages could possibly be used by clinicians as an inferred benchmark of muscle activity elicited by patients achieving these MMT scores; referenced as a percentage of MVC in normal functioning muscle

Management policies to handle multi queuing systems in a service oriented organization : a study of the Henri Bourassa driver licensing office in the City of Montreal

Service operations are often characterized as a seemingly endless series of waiting lines and servers. Almost every interaction between a consumer and the organization providing the service involves waiting in a queue. Capacity management is one response to the cry for a service performance improvement during the past decade. It represents the ability to balance demand and the capability of the service delivery system to satisfy the demand. A review of the literature reveals that an integrated approach of management strategies (demand and resources) is desirable. A feasible set of management policies to handle multi-tandem queuing systems characterized by stochastic demand is presented in this paper. This type of system is common in many high customer contact (HCC) service related organizations. An extensive study of the city of Montreal driver licensing office (Henri Bourrassa Complex) was conducted and explored. A GPSS/H based simulation model was developed and employed to manipulate various policy variables (demand management, labor assignment and job flexibility) in an effort to provide options for increased system efficiency. The use of simulation analysis permits the incorporation of complex system characteristics, therefore providing a realistic representation of the effects of possible management actions. Customer arrival patterns during a three week period in January and July were compared using this model. Using a full-factorial design and given the statistical analysis, it was evident that a deterministic customer arrival rates produce significantly shorter mean system transit times. The results also revealed that job flexibility policy as well as the moving server model have been the most effective in decreasing the customer waiting time in the system and reducing servers idle tim

Blastomycosis outbreak in Escabana, Michigan, United States of America, 2023.

Blastomycosis is a fungal disease, that though endemic to the state of Michigan, has resulted in a large outbreak of potentially unusual scale and transmission. This outbreak is centred on a paper mill, and is reporting 115 cases, 13 hospitalisations, and 1 death. Current identification of how the fungal spore was transmitted is focussed on the ductwork throughout the mill, which would represent an unusual spore-dispersal and transmission method. Additionally, the size of the outbreak is four times larger than annualised data available from Michigan, indicating that this is an outbreak of interest

Effects of Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites on Intracellular NAD+ Synthesis and Cell Death in Human Primary Astrocytes and Neurons

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major route of L-tryptophan catabolism resulting in the production of the essential pyridine nucleotide nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, (NAD+). Up-regulation of the KP during inflammation leads to the release of a number of biologically active metabolites into the brain. We hypothesised that while some of the extracellular KP metabolites may be beneficial for intracellular NAD+ synthesis and cell survival at physiological concentrations, they may contribute to neuronal and astroglial dysfunction and cell death at pathophysiological concentrations. In this study, we found that treatment of human primary neurons and astrocytes with 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), quinolinic acid (QUIN), and picolinic acid (PIC) at concentrations below 100 nM significantly increased intracellular NAD+ levels compared to non-treated cells. However, a dose dependent decrease in intracellular NAD+ levels and increased extracellular LDH activity was observed in human astrocytes and neurons treated with 3-HAA, 3-HK, QUIN and PIC at concentrations >100 nM and kynurenine (KYN), at concentrations above 1 μM. Intracellular NAD+ levels were unchanged in the presence of the neuroprotectant, kynurenic acid (KYNA), and a dose dependent increase in intracellular NAD+ levels was observed for TRP up to 1 mM. While anthranilic acid (AA) increased intracellular NAD+ levels at concentration below 10 μM in astrocytes. NAD+ depletion and cell death was observed in AA treated neurons at concentrations above 500 nM. Therefore, the differing responses of astrocytes and neurons to an increase in KP metabolites should be considered when assessing KP toxicity during neuroinflammation

A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD+

Accumulating evidence suggests that active maintenance of optimal levels of the essential pyridine nucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is beneficial in conditions of either increased NAD+ turnover or inadequate synthesis, including Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders and the aging process. While studies have documented the efficacy of some NAD+ precursors such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) in raising plasma NAD+, no data are currently available on the fate of directly infused NAD+ in a human cohort. This study, therefore, documented changes in plasma and urine levels of NAD+ and its metabolites during and after a 6 h 3 μmol/min NAD+ intravenous (IV) infusion. Surprisingly, no change in plasma (NAD+) or metabolites [nicotinamide, methylnicotinamide, adenosine phosphoribose ribose (ADPR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)] were observed until after 2 h. Increased urinary excretion of methylnicotinamide and NAD+ were detected at 6 h, however, no significant rise in urinary nicotinamide was observed. This study revealed for the first time that: (i) at an infusion rate of 3 μmol/min NAD+ is rapidly and completely removed from the plasma for at least the first 2 h; (ii) the profile of metabolites is consistent with NAD+ glycohydrolase and NAD+ pyrophosphatase activity; and (iii) urinary excretion products arising from an NAD+ infusion include NAD+ itself and methyl nicotinamide (meNAM) but not NAM

Graft-Specific Surgical and Rehabilitation Considerations for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with the Quadriceps Tendon Autograft

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) or hamstring tendon (HT) autograft has traditionally been the preferred surgical treatment for patients returning to Level 1 sports. More recently, international utilization of the quadriceps tendon (QT) autograft for primary and revision ACLR has increased in popularity. Recent literature suggests that ACLR with the QT may yield less donor site morbidity than the BPTB and better patient-reported outcomes than the HT. Additionally, anatomic and biomechanical studies have highlighted the robust properties of the QT itself, with superior levels of collagen density, length, size, and load-to-failure strength compared to the BPTB. Although previous literature has described rehabilitation considerations for the BPTB and HT autografts, there is less published with respect to the QT. Given the known impact of the various ACLR surgical techniques on postoperative rehabilitation, the purpose of this clinical commentary is to present the procedure-specific surgical and rehabilitation considerations for ACLR with the QT, as well as further highlight the need for procedure-specific rehabilitation strategies after ACLR by comparing the QT to the BPTB and HT autografts. # Level of Evidence Level

Développer les compétences transversales pour engager les étudiants dans un APP de spécialité : retour d’expérience

À l’IUT 1 de Grenoble, les enseignantes de thermodynamique et d’expression-communication ont introduit une dimension interdisciplinaire à un enseignement organisé sous forme d’apprentissage par problèmes (APP) pour répondre aux difficultés d’engagement des étudiants. Le point central a été d’accompagner la montée en compétences des étudiants sur le travail de groupe. Parallèlement, une réflexion a été menée sur les ressources et leur mise à disposition ainsi que sur l’organisation de l’environnement de travail. Ces actions ont permis de tirer un premier bilan ouvrant des perspectives dans un contexte de développement de l’approche par compétences dans les Instituts Universitaires de Technologie (IUT) et à l’Université en général