A Tunable 240–290 GHz Waveguide Enclosed 2-D Grid HBV Frequency Tripler

This paper presents a high-power 240–290 GHz waveguide enclosed two-dimensional (2-D) grid heterostructure barrier varactor (HBV) frequency multiplier. A 35 mW of output power is produced at 247 GHz with an input power of 900 mW. The operational bandwidth is tunable within a 50 GHz span by the use of an input tuner able to adjust the input matching of the 2-D grid HBV frequency multiplier. Tuning is achieved by moving a suspended dielectric slab in the input waveguide

A waveguide embedded 250 GHz quasi-optical frequency-tripler array

A waveguide embedded 250 GHz HBV-varactor quasi-optical multiplier array is presented. The module utilizes a mechanically compact and simple shim system, combining the large array power handling capability with the convenience of waveguide interfaced circuits. At the same time this approach offers excellent power and frequency scalability. The current tripler prototype produces a non saturated output power of 8 mW at 248 GHz during initial measurements at medium pump power

Microstructure and texture evolution during thermomechanical processing of β-quenched Zr

The microstructure and texture evolution of an α-Zr alloy during thermomechanical processing was investigated, starting from the β-quenched microstructure. The material was rolled at 550 °C to reductions of 10, 20, 40 and 60%, and held at 550 °C for 24 h. EBSD was used to measure the texture at the different reductions and characterize the microstructural evolution, and crystal plasticity finite element modelling was used as a theoretical framework to help understand the changes in texture observed. Our results show that slip, twinning and recrystallization all play a role in the microstructure development during hot rolling. Their contribution to texture development, lamellae break-up and the ultimate development of a bimodal microstructure are discussed

Tissue Vitronectin in Normal Adult Human Dermis Is Non-Covalently Bound to Elastic Tissue

Vitronectin is a multifunctional human plasma glycoprotein at is also found in constant association with elastic tissue fibers in normal adults. We have investigated the nature of the association of vitronectin with elastic tissue, and compared it to that of other elastic fiber-associated proteins, namely fibrillin and amyloid P component. Samples of normal human dermis were incubated with a variety of extraction agents, including high molar salt solution, non-ionic detergent (Nonidet P-40), the reducing agents dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol, and the chaotropic agents sodium dodecyl sulfate or guanidine hydrochloride. Vitronectin purified from serum typically migrates as two bands of 75 and 65 kD. By contrast, immunoblotting studies of residual dermal material after extraction with the various agents revealed only lower molecular weight (58, 50, 42, 35, and 27 kD) anti-vitronectin reactive bands. Although these bands may represent degradation products of vitronectin generated as a result of the extraction procedure, we cannot exclude the possibility that tissue vitronectin is distinct from plasma vitronectin. Anti-vitronectin reactive polypeptides co-migrating with the 58-, 50-, and 42-kD bands were solubilized following extraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate or guanidine hydrochloride, but not with the other extraction agents. Immunofluorescence studies using residual dermal material after extraction with guanidine hydrochloride demonstrated a marked reduction in elastic fiber staining intensity with anti-vitronectin and anti-amyloid P component, but not with anti-fibrillin. Thus the majority, if not all of dermal vitronectin, is, like amyloid P component, non-covalently associated with, and not an integral constituent of, elastic fibers

Biocompatibility of mannan nanogel : safe interaction with plasma proteins

BACKGROUND: Self-assembled mannan nanogels are designed to provide a therapeutic or vaccine delivery platform based on the bioactive properties of mannan to target mannose receptor expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, combined with the performance of nanogels as carriers of biologically active agents. METHODS: Proteins in the corona around mannan nanogel formed in human plasma were identified by mass spectrometry after size exclusion chromatography or centrifugation followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Structural changes and time dependent binding of human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and human serum albumin (HSA) to mannan nanogel were studied using intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The mannan nanogel effect on blood coagulation and fibrillation of Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid β peptide and hemodialysis-associated amyloidosis β2 microglobulin was evaluated using thrombin generation assay or thioflavin T fluorescence assay, respectively. RESULTS: The protein corona around mannan nanogel is formed through a slow process, is quite specific comprising apolipoproteins B-100, A-I and E and HSA, evolves over time, and the equilibrium is reached after hours to days. Structural changes and time dependent binding of apoA-I and HSA to mannan nanogel are minor. The mannan nanogel does not affect blood coagulation and retards the fibril formation. CONCLUSIONS: Mannan nanogel has a high biosafety and biocompatibility, which is mandatory for nanomaterials to be used in biomedical applications. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our research provides a molecular approach to evaluate the safety aspects of nanomaterials, which is of general concern in society and science.The authors thank the financial support by International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal), through PTDC, European Science Foundation (ESF) for the activity entitled 'Mapping the detailed composition of Surface-Absorbed Protein Layers on Biomaterials and Nanoparticles', the Crafoord Foundation, and Lund and Nano Vaccine Center, Denmark. The NIPAM coated gold particle is a kind gift from Colloidal Chemistry Group from Vigo University, Spain

Increased risk of venous thrombosis by AB alleles of the ABO blood group and Factor V Leiden in a Brazilian population

Most cases of a predisposition to venous thrombosis are caused by resistance to activated protein C, associated in 95% of cases with the Factor V Leiden allele (FVL or R506Q). Several recent studies report a further increased risk of thrombosis by an association between the AB alleles of the ABO blood group and Factor V Leiden. The present study investigated this association with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in individuals treated at the Hemocentro de Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil. A case-control comparison showed a significant risk of thrombosis in the presence of Factor V Leiden (OR = 10.1), which was approximately doubled when the AB alleles of the ABO blood group were present as well (OR = 22.3). These results confirm that the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis in the combined presence of AB alleles and Factor V Leiden is also applicable to the Brazilian population suggesting that ABO blood group typing should be routinely added to FVL in studies involving thrombosis

A Pilot Study with a Novel Setup for Collaborative Play of the Humanoid Robot KASPAR with children with autism

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.This article describes a pilot study in which a novel experimental setup, involving an autonomous humanoid robot, KASPAR, participating in a collaborative, dyadic video game, was implemented and tested with children with autism, all of whom had impairments in playing socially and communicating with others. The children alternated between playing the collaborative video game with a neurotypical adult and playing the same game with the humanoid robot, being exposed to each condition twice. The equipment and experimental setup were designed to observe whether the children would engage in more collaborative behaviours while playing the video game and interacting with the adult than performing the same activities with the humanoid robot. The article describes the development of the experimental setup and its first evaluation in a small-scale exploratory pilot study. The purpose of the study was to gain experience with the operational limits of the robot as well as the dyadic video game, to determine what changes should be made to the systems, and to gain experience with analyzing the data from this study in order to conduct a more extensive evaluation in the future. Based on our observations of the childrens’ experiences in playing the cooperative game, we determined that while the children enjoyed both playing the game and interacting with the robot, the game should be made simpler to play as well as more explicitly collaborative in its mechanics. Also, the robot should be more explicit in its speech as well as more structured in its interactions. Results show that the children found the activity to be more entertaining, appeared more engaged in playing, and displayed better collaborative behaviours with their partners (For the purposes of this article, ‘partner’ refers to the human/robotic agent which interacts with the children with autism. We are not using the term’s other meanings that refer to specific relationships or emotional involvement between two individuals.) in the second sessions of playing with human adults than during their first sessions. One way of explaining these findings is that the children’s intermediary play session with the humanoid robot impacted their subsequent play session with the human adult. However, another longer and more thorough study would have to be conducted in order to better re-interpret these findings. Furthermore, although the children with autism were more interested in and entertained by the robotic partner, the children showed more examples of collaborative play and cooperation while playing with the human adult.Peer reviewe

Genetic Background Analysis of Protein C Deficiency Demonstrates a Recurrent Mutation Associated with Venous Thrombosis in Chinese Population

Background: Protein C (PC) is one of the most important physiological inhibitors of coagulation proteases. Hereditary PC deficiency causes a predisposition to venous thrombosis (VT). The genetic characteristics of PC deficiency in the Chinese population remain unknown. Methods: Thirty-four unrelated probands diagnosed with hereditary PC deficiency were investigated. PC activity and antigen levels were measured. Mutation analysis was performed by sequencing the PROC gene. In silico analyses, including PolyPhen-2, SIFT, multiple sequence alignment, splicing prediction, and protein molecular modeling were performed to predict the consequences of each variant identified. One recurrent mutation and its relative risk for thrombosis in relatives were analyzed in 11 families. The recurrent mutation was subsequently detected in a case (VT patients)-control study, and the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for VT risk was calculated by logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 18 different mutations, including 12 novel variants, were identified. One common mutation, PROC c.565C.T (rs146922325:C.T), was found in 17 of the 34 probands. The family study showed that first-degree relatives bearing this variant had an 8.8-fold (95%CI = 1.1–71.6) increased risk of venous thrombosis. The case-control (1003 vs. 1031) study identified this mutation in 5.88 % patients and in 0.87 % controls, respectively. The mutant allele conferred a high predisposition to venous thrombosis (adjusted OR = 7.34, 95%CI = 3.61–14.94). The plasma PC activity and antigen levels i

Futures in the making: Practices to anticipate 'ubiquitous computing'

This paper addresses the discourse for a proactive thinking of futurity, intimately concerned with technology, which comes to an influential fruition in the discussion and representation of 'ubiquitous computing'. The imagination, proposal, or playing out of ubiquitous computing environments are bound up with particular ways of constructing futurity. This paper charts the techniques used in ubiquitous computing development to negotiate that futurity. In so doing, it engages with recent geographical debates around anticipation and futurity. The discussion accordingly proceeds in four parts. First, the spatial imagination engendered by the development of ubiquitous computing is explored. Second, particular techniques in ubiquitous computing research and development for anticipating future technology use, and their limits, are discussed through empirical findings. Third, anticipatory knowledge is explored as the basis for stable means of future orientation, which both generates and derives from the techniques for anticipating futures. Fourth, the importance of studying future orientation is situated in relation to the somewhat contradictory nature of anticipatory knowledges of ubicomp and related forms of spatial imagination. © 2012 Pion and its Licensors