125 research outputs found
A Broadband UHF Tag Antenna For Near-Field and Far-Field RFID Communications
The paper deals with the design of passive broadband tag antenna for Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) band. The antenna is intended for both near and far fields Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) applications. The meander dipole tag antenna geometry modification is designed for frequency bandwidth increasing. The measured bandwidth of the proposed broadband Tag antenna is more than 140 MHz (820â960 MHz), which can cover the entire UHF RFID band. A comparison between chip impedance of datasheet and the measured chip impedance has been used in our simulations. The proposed progressive meandered antenna structure, with an overall size of 77 mm Ă 14 mm Ă 0.787 mm, produces strong and uniform magnetic field distribution in the near-ïŹeld zone. The antenna impedance is matched to common UHF chips in market simply by tuning its capacitive and inductive values since a perfect matching is required in the antenna design in order to enhance the near and the far field communications. Measurements confirm that the designed antenna exhibits good performance of Tag identiïŹcation for both near-ïŹeld and far-ïŹeld UHF RFID applications
Chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of essential oils from flowers, leaves and aerial parts of Tunisian Dittrichia Viscosa
The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted by hydrodistillation from different organs of the D. viscosa: flowers, leaves and aerial parts. The main compounds identified by GC/MS are oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Among these compounds, (E)-nerolidol (40.7%) is the most abundant constituent of flowersâ essential oil while caryophyllene oxide (9.9%), isolongifolan-7-α-ol (10.3%) and α -eudesmol (9.1%) are the major constituents of the leavesâ essential oil. The presence of these compounds in the aerial partsâ essential oil is solely due to those of the flowers and leaves that constitute these aerial parts. The volatile extracts showed antioxidant effects with IC50 values ranging between 9.25 and 9.75 mg.mLâ1. On the other hand, EOs showed antibacterial effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The highest activity was obtained with flowersâ essential oil against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli
Screening of antioxidant potentials and bioactive properties of the extracts obtained from two Centaurea L. species (C. kroumirensis coss. and C. sicula L. subsp sicula)
Herbal medicines, dietary supplements, or infusions with health promoting effects can note strong consumer demand. Hence, researchers and scientists have been increasingly focusing on the promotion of medicinal plants. In this respect, the present study has the evaluation of the biological properties of different extracts (hexane, chloroform, methanol, ultrasonic, essential oil, and supercritical) obtained from two Centaurea species (C. kroumirensis (Coss.) and C. sicula L. subsp sicula) as purpose. Antioxidative activities were assessed by in vitro assays including total phenolic content, free radical scavenging assay and ferric ion reducing power. Among the fourteen extracts examined, the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant abilities were recorded in ultrasonic ethanol extracts of both Centaurea species. Additionally, these extracts exhibited a noticeable strong protective effect of the human skin fibroblast cell line (HS-68) that was exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. According to our results, the sonication with ethanol might be an ideal, rapid, and eco-friendly extraction method for obtaining a polyphenol-rich extract that exhibited high antioxidant activity. The results presented herein suggest that Centaurea species could be promoted as an antioxidant resource that could be exploited for the development of nutraceuticals or in pharmacology industry
Adsorption of emerging pollutants on lignin-based activated carbon: Analysis of adsorption mechanism via characterization, kinetics and equilibrium studies
Lignin has been employed as a precursor to synthesize activated carbons with the aim of lignin-biomass revalorization. The properties of these activated carbons were compared, and the best adsorbent was employed to
remove two emerging pollutants from water, acetaminophen and acetamiprid. The adsorption mechanisms of
pharmaceutical and pesticide compounds were analyzed, modeled and interpreted via statistical physics models.
In particular, adsorption kinetics and isotherms of acetaminophen and acetamiprid at temperatures between 20
and 60 âŠC were quantified experimentally. Equilibrium data were fitted to different statistical physics-based
isotherm models to establish the corresponding adsorption mechanism. A double layer adsorption model with
one type of functional group was the best to correlate and explain the removal of these organic molecules. Steric
parameters for the adsorption of these organic compounds were also calculated thus determining that their
adsorption was multi-molecular. At tested operating conditions, acetaminophen adsorption was endothermic,
while acetamiprid removal was exothermic. Physical adsorption forces were expected to be responsible for the
removal of both compounds. This study reports new insights on the adsorption mechanisms of relevant emerging
pollutants commonly found in water worldwid
Diagnostic et prise en charge de lâhyperparathyroĂŻdie primaire
Objectif : LâhyperparathyroĂŻdie primaire (hPTP) est dĂ©finie par la production excessive et inappropriĂ©e de parathormone (PTh). Les formes asymptomatiques et modĂ©rĂ©es sont devenues de plus en plus frĂ©quentes. Le but de ce travail est dâĂ©tudier les caractĂ©ristiques cliniques et paracliniques de lâhPTP, de prĂ©ciser les indications thĂ©rapeutiques et de les discuter en comparant nos rĂ©sultats avec ceux de la littĂ©rature.MatĂ©riel et mĂ©thodes: Il sâagit dâune Ă©tude rĂ©trospective Ă propos de 86 patients colligĂ©s entre Janvier 2005 et DĂ©cembre 2010. Tous les patients ont bĂ©nĂ©ficiĂ© dâun examen ORL et dâun bilan biologique comportant une calcĂ©mie et un dosage de la PTh. Le bilan radiologique comportait une Ă©chographie cervicale, une scintigraphie au MIBI et/ou une IRM cervicale.Tous les patients ont Ă©tĂ© opĂ©rĂ©s sous anesthĂ©sie gĂ©nĂ©rale et ont eu une cervicotomie par approche classique. La surveillance a Ă©tĂ© clinique et biologique avec un recul moyen de 16 mois (4-36 mois).RĂ©sultats : La calcĂ©mie Ă©tait Ă©levĂ©e chez 77 patients (89,5%) et la PTh chez tous les patients. Une Ă©chographie cervicale a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e chez 79 patients et a montrĂ© une image en faveur dâun adĂ©nome parathyroĂŻdien chez 37 dâentre eux (46,8%). La scintigraphie au MIBI, pratiquĂ©e chez 46 patients, a montrĂ© une hyperfixation dans 31 cas (67,4%). LâIRM aĂ©tĂ© pratiquĂ©e chez 5 patients et a rĂ©vĂ©lĂ© un adĂ©nome dans 3 cas.Lâexploration chirurgicale avec examen extemporanĂ© a rĂ©vĂ©lĂ© un adĂ©nome unique chez 65 patients deux adĂ©nomes chez 12 patients, et une hypertrophie des 4 PTh chez 9 autres. Une exĂ©rĂšse des adĂ©nomes a Ă©tĂ© ainsi rĂ©alisĂ©e chez 77 patients et une parathyroĂŻdectomie subtotale dans 9 cas. en post-opĂ©ratoire, 12 patients (14%) ont prĂ©sentĂ© une hypocalcĂ©mietransitoire. Aucune hypocalcĂ©mie dĂ©finitive ni paralysie rĂ©currentielle nâont Ă©tĂ© notĂ©es. Lâexamen anatomopathologique dĂ©finitif a rĂ©vĂ©lĂ© un adĂ©nome unique, un adĂ©nome double, une hyperplasie et PTh normale respectivement chez 58, 3, 24 et 1 patients. LâĂ©volution Ă long terme a Ă©tĂ© marquĂ©e par lâamĂ©lioration clinique et biologique chez 81 patients (94,2%). Une non-amĂ©lioration clinique et biologique a Ă©tĂ© notĂ©e chez 5 patients. Ils ont Ă©tĂ© rĂ©opĂ©rĂ©s et ont eu une parathyroĂŻdectomie subtotale. Lâanatomopathologie confirmait lâhyperplasie dans tous les cas.Conclusion : Le traitement de lâhPTP symptomatique est chirurgical. Lâapproche classique a fait preuve de son efficacitĂ©. Les progrĂšs rĂ©cents des explorations prĂ©opĂ©ratoires et le dosage peropĂ©ratoire de la PTh ont rendu possible une approche mini-invasive. Des controverses persistent quant Ă la prise en charge de lâhPTP asymptomatique dont lâindicationthĂ©rapeutique doit ĂȘtre bien Ă©tudiĂ©e.Mots-clĂ©s : hyperparathyroĂŻdie primaire, adĂ©nome, glande parathyroĂŻde, parathormone, scintigraphie, parathyroĂŻdectomi
Extension of the Hamaneh - Taylor model using the macroscopic polarization for the description of chiral smectic liquid crystals
Chiral smectic liquid crystals exhibit a series of phases, including
ferroelectric, antiferroelectric and ferrielectric commensurate structures as
well as an incommensurate SmCalpha phase. We carried out an extension of the
phenomenological model, recently presented by M. B. Hamaneh and P. L. Taylor,
based upon the distorted clock model
Lâectopie des glandes parathyroides dans la chirurgie de lâhyperparathyroidie
Introduction : Lâectopie parathyroĂŻdienne est la cause dâĂ©chec la plus frĂ©quente de la chirurgie de lâhyperparathyroĂŻdie, entrainant le plus souvent des reprises chirurgicales. Son diagnostic topographique prĂ©-opĂ©ratoire reste difficile malgrĂ© le progrĂšs dans les diffĂ©rentes explorations radiologiques. Le diagnostic per-opĂ©ratoire doit ĂȘtre guidĂ© par une stratĂ©gie de dissection de rĂ©fĂ©rence. Le but de travail est dâĂ©tudier la stratĂ©gie de recherche des parathyroides lors de leur chirurgie.MatĂ©riels et mĂ©thodes : Il sâagit dâune Ă©tude rĂ©trospective Ă propos de 137 patients (162 glandes parathyroĂŻdes ectopiques) parmi 572 patients opĂ©rĂ©s dâune hyperparathyroĂŻdie, colligĂ©s sur une pĂ©riode de 11 ans (Janvier 2001-DĂ©cembre 2011). Tous les patients ont bĂ©nĂ©ficiĂ© dâune imagerie prĂ©-opĂ©ratoire et ont Ă©tĂ© opĂ©rĂ©s sous anesthĂ©sie gĂ©nĂ©rale.RĂ©sultats : LâĂąge moyen Ă©tait de 49 ans (11-71 ans) et le sex-ratio de 1,04. Une hyperparathyroĂŻdie primaire Ă©tait prĂ©sente chez 26 patients (18,98%) et une hyperparathyroĂŻdie secondaire Ă une insuffisance rĂ©nale chronique chez 111 patients (81,02%).Une cervicotomie par voie classique avec exploration des 2 loges thyroĂŻdiennes a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e dans 136 cas. Dans les cas oĂč la parathyroĂŻde nâa pas Ă©tĂ© retrouvĂ©e, un geste opĂ©ratoire a Ă©tĂ© associĂ©. Ce geste consistait en un curage mĂ©diastino-rĂ©currentiel (15 cas), une thymectomie (12 cas) et une lobectomie thyroĂŻdienne (9 cas). Un seul patient a eu une thoracotomie en chirurgie thoracique, sans abord cervical classique. Sur les 162 glandes parathyroĂŻdes ectopiques retenues dans lâĂ©tude, 68 Ă©taient des glandes parathyroĂŻdes infĂ©rieures. Les localisations de celles-ci Ă©taient par ordre de frĂ©quence le thymus (26 cas), le ligament thyro-thymique (14 cas), le mĂ©diastin antĂ©ro-supĂ©rieur (5 cas) et la gaine carotidienne (3 cas). Vingt glandes parathyroĂŻdes infĂ©rieures nâont pas Ă©tĂ© retrouvĂ©es sur les 68 (29,41%). Le nombre des glandes parathyroĂŻdes supĂ©rieures ectopiques Ă©tait de 94 sur 162. Leurs localisations Ă©taient par ordre de frĂ©quence le pĂŽle supĂ©rieur (33 cas), le pĂ©dicule supĂ©rieur (20 cas), la rĂ©gion rĂ©tro-oesophagienne (15 cas), la gaine carotidienne (11 cas), intra-thyroĂŻdienne (5 cas) et le mĂ©diastin postĂ©ro-supĂ©rieur (2 cas). Huit glandes parathyroĂŻdes supĂ©rieures nâont pas Ă©tĂ© trouvĂ©es sur les 94 (8,51%). Au total, sur les 162 glandes parathyroĂŻdes ectopiques, 28 nâont pas Ă©tĂ© retrouvĂ©es (17,28%).Conclusion : Lâimagerie est un moyen incontournable Ă la recherche dâune glande parathyroĂŻde ectopique. Lorsquâelle nâest pas retrouvĂ©e dans sa localisation habituelle, la stratĂ©gie de dissection chirurgicale doit ĂȘtre mĂ©thodique.Mots-clĂ©s : glande parathyroĂŻde, ectopie, hyperparathyroĂŻdie, imagerie, parathyroĂŻdectomieIntroduction: The ectopic parathyroid is the most common cause of failure of hyperparathyroidism surgery, resulting often in reoperations. Its preoperative topographic diagnosis remains difficult despite advances in various imaging studies. The intraoperative diagnosis should be guided by a reference strategy of dissection.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 137 patients (162 ectopic parathyroid glands) among 572 patients undergoing hyperparathyroidism surgery, collected over a 11-year period (January 2001-December 2011). All patients underwent preoperative imaging and were operated under general anesthesia.Results: The mean age was 49 years (11-71 years) and the sex-ratio 1.04. Primary hyperparathyroidism was present in 26 patients (18.98%) and hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure in 111 patients (81.02%). Cervicotomy through traditional approach with bilateral exploration was performed in 136 cases. In cases where the parathyroid was not found, a surgical procedure was performed. This act consisted in mediastinal-recurrential lymphadenectomy (15 cases), thymectomy (12 cases) and thyroid lobectomy (9 cases). One patient had a thoracotomy in thoracic surgery department without conventional cervical approach. Among the 162 ectopic parathyroid glands included in the study, 68 were inferior parathyroid glands. The locations of these were in order of frequency the thymus (26 cases), the thyro-thymic ligament (14 cases), the antero-superior mediastinum (5 cases) and the carotid sheath (3 cases). Twenty inferior parathyroid glands were not found among the 68 (29,41%). The number of ectopic superior parathyroid glands was 94 of 162. Their locations were in order of frequency the upper pole (33 cases), the superior pedicle (20 cases), the retro-esophageal region (15 cases), the carotid sheath (11 cases), intra-thyroid (5 cases) and the postero-superior mediastinum (2 cases). Eight superior parathyroid glands were not found among the 94 (8.51%). In total, among 162 ectopic parathyroid glands, 28 were not found (17,28%).Conclusion: Imaging is essential to search an ectopic parathyroid gland. When not found in its usual location, the strategy of surgical dissection should be methodical.Keywords: parathyroid gland, ectopia, hyperparathyroidism, imaging, parathyroidectom
Implementation of a multilayer statistical physics model to interpret the adsorption of food dyes on a chitosan film
This paper reports the application of an advanced multilayer model to study the adsorption of food dyes FD&C blue No. 2, acid red 18, FD&C red No. 2, and FD&C yellow 5 from aqueous solutions with a chitosan film. These dyes' adsorption mechanisms were discussed and analyzed at 298â328 K and pH 4â7 via statistical physics calculations. Physicochemical parameters were utilized to explain the dye adsorption at the molecular scale. Modeling results showed dye aggregation phenomena where each functional group of chitosan film adsorbed several dye molecules simultaneously at different tested temperatures. Aqueous solution temperature reduced the dye adsorption capacities, attributed to the exothermic nature of dye removal. The chitosan film was more effective for the adsorption of dye FD&C yellow 5. The estimated adsorption energies for dye-chitosan film and dye-dye interactions confirmed an exothermic physisorption associated with van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. This study's results contributed to expanding the knowledge on the adsorption mechanisms of dye molecules using biopolymers like chitosan
Comparative Study of Human and Automated Screening for Antinuclear Antibodies by Immunofluorescence on HEp-2 Cells
Background: Several automated systems had been developed in order to reduce inter-observer variability in
indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) interpretation. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a processing system in
antinuclear antibodies (ANA) screening on HEp-2 cells.
Patients and Methods: This study included 64 ANA-positive sera and 107 ANA-negative sera that underwent IIF on two
commercial kits of HEp-2 cells (BioSystemsÂź and EuroimmunÂź). IIF results were compared with a novel automated
interpretation system, the âCyclopusCADImmunoÂźâ (CAD).
Results: All ANA-positive sera images were recognized as positive by CAD (sensitivity = 100%), while 17 (15.9%) of the
ANA-negative sera images were interpreted as positive (specificity = 84.1%), =0.799 (SD=0.045). Comparison of IIF
pattern determination between human and CAD system revealed on HEp-2 (BioSystemsÂź), a complete concordance in
6 (9.37%) sera, a partial concordance (sharing of at least 1 pattern) in 42 (65.6%) cases and in 16 (25%) sera the
pattern interpretation was discordant. Similarly, on HEp-2 (EuroimmunÂź) the concordance in pattern interpretation was
total in 5 (7.8%) sera, partial in 39 (60.9%) and absent in 20 (31.25%). For both tested HEp-2 cells kits agreement was
enhanced for the most common patterns, homogenous, fine speckled and coarse speckled. While there was an issue in
identification of nucleolar, dots and nuclear membranous patterns by CAD.
Conclusion: Assessment of ANA by IIF on HEp-2 cells using the automated interpretation system, the
âCyclopusCADImmunoÂźâ is a reliable method for positive/negative differentiation. Continuous integration of IIF images
would improve the pattern identification by the CAD
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