Enhancing immunity by engineering DAMPs

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Flexible and stretchable circuit technologies for space applications

Flexible and stretchable circuit technologies offer reduced volume and weight, increased electrical performance, larger design freedom and improved interconnect reliability. All of these advantages are appealing for space applications. In this paper, two example technologies, the ultra-thin chip package (UTCP) and stretchable moulded interconnect (SMI), are described. The UTCP technology results in a 60 µm thick chip package, including the embedding of a 20 µm thick chip, laser or protolithic via definition to the chip contacts and application of fan out metallization. Imec’s stretchable interconnect technology is inspired by conventional rigid and flexible printed circuit board (PCB) technology. Stretchable interconnects are realized by copper meanders supported by a flexible material e.g. polyimide. Elastic materials, predominantly silicone rubbers, are used to embed the conductors and the components, thus serving as circuit carrier. The possible advantages of these technologies with respect to space applications are discussed

Faecal microbiota transplantation : a regulatory hurdle?

During faecal microbiota transplantation, stool from a healthy donor is transplanted to treat a variety of dysbiosis-associated gut diseases. Competent authorities are faced with the challenge to provide adequate regulation. Currently, regulatory harmonization is completely lacking and authorities apply non-existing to most stringent requirements. A regulatory approach for faecal microbiota transplantation could be inserting faecal microbiota transplantation in the gene-, cell-and tissue regulations, including the hospital exemption system in the European Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products regulation, providing a pragmatic and efficacy-risk balanced approach and granting all patients as a matter of principle access to this therapy

Initial foot contact patterns during steady state shod running

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Long term stability of slopes in over-consolidated clays

Imperial Users onl

Ear- and hearing-related impact on quality of life in children with cleft palate : development and pretest of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument

Objectives: To investigate to what extent middle ear problems and associated hearing loss affect quality of life (QoL) of children born with a cleft palate. Methods: Fifty-five children aged between 6 and 18 years, born with non-syndromic cleft palate +/- cleft lip (CP/L) were included. A new health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire was generated with consideration of the following domains of QoL: communication, hearing loss, physical symptoms, limitation of activities and socio-emotional impact. Results: Major psychosocial problems were not reported in the majority of children as a result of their ear and hearing problems. However, according to their parents, 2 out of 3 children, had difficulty speaking clearly and understandably. These communication problems led to behavioural problems and social isolation in 1 out of 5 children. Scholastic achievement was negatively influenced by two factors: hearing loss and sleep disturbance due to ear problems. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first study to quantitatively measure the ear- and hearing-related impact on QoL in children born with CP/L. Large-scale, multicentre studies are needed to further research and expand on the findings of this pilot study

Electromagnetic compatibility aware design and testing of intermodulation distortion under multiple co-located sources illumination

Current electromagnetic immunity tests mainly rely on single-frequency sources. However, the evolution of electronic systems leads to miniaturisation and low-cost solutions, in which filters are omitted in front of active non-linear components, also for efficiency reasons. As a result, intermodulation products may leak into the band of operation. The authors propose a comprehensive strategy consisting of design and test methodologies to evaluate in-the-band leakage of out-of-band undesired components, using multiple-tone excitation and relying on an anechoic chamber as test facility. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that an anechoic chamber together with a dual-source network analyser represents an optimal facility to investigate signal integrity issues owing to leakage of intermodulation products