Innovative Concepts for the Electronic Interface of Massively Parallel MRI Phased Imaging Arrays

In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the concept of parallel imaging shows significant enhancements in boosting the signal-to-noise ratio, reducing the imaging time, and enlarging the imaging field of view. However, this concept necessitates increased size, cost, and complexity of the MR system. This thesis introduces an innovative solution for the electronics of the MRI system that allows parallel imaging with massive number of channels while avoiding, at the same time, the associated drawback

The absence of a functional thymus is associated with alterations in peripheral and central neurotransmitters and neurotrophins

Physiologische Wechselwirkungen zwischen neuronalem, endokrinem und Immunsystem sind inzwischen gut belegt. Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit Auswirkungen des Fehlens von funktionsfähigem Thymus auf Neurotransmitter- und Neurotrophin-Konzentrationen in der Milz sowie bestimmten Hirnregionen unter Verwendung homozygoter Foxn1nu Mäuse als Modell. Diese Spontanmutation führt zu einer fehlerhaften Entwicklung der Thymusanlage mit Ausbleiben der Entwicklung reifer T-Zellen. Der erste Teil der Arbeit zeigt bei Foxn1nu Mäusen 1) eine verstärkte sympathische Innervation der Milz, die auch im Erwachsenalter anhält; 2) Änderungen noradrenerger und serotonerger Neurotransmitter in bestimmten Hirnregionen, vergleichbar denen in der Milz; 3) eine erhöhte Dichte noradrenerger Fasern in Milz und Hypothalamus; 4) eine Erhöhung der Konzentrationen des Wachstumsfaktors „brain-derived nerve growth factor“ (BDNF) und von Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) sowie von BDNF-Signalen in Milz und Hippocampus; 5) ausgeprägte anatomische Änderungen des Hippocampus und 6) erhöhte Kortikosteron-Blutwerte. Diese Änderungen verschwinden nach Rekonstitution der Foxn1nu Mäuse durch Thymustransplantation bei Geburt. Der zweite Teil geht der Frage nach, ob diese Änderungen in athymischen Mäusen grundsätzlicher bedeuten, dass das catecholaminerge System ursächlich mit der Neurotrophinbildung in Verbindung steht. Die Befunde zeigen, dass die Zerstörung noradrenerger Neurone nach Neurotoxinapplikation zu einer dauerhaften oder vorübergehenden Denervierung führt, begleitet von zu- oder abnehmenden Kortikosteron-Blutspiegeln sowie Neurotrophin-Konzentrationen in Milz und Gehirn, abhängig vom Alter der Denervierung. Zusammengenommen weisen die hier vorgelegten Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass die bei Foxn1nu Mäusen gefundenen Änderungen an Neurotransmittern und Neurotrophinen kein Epiphänomen darstellen, das zufällig mit dem Fehlen der Thymusfunktion einhergeht, sondern dass wahrscheinlich reife T-Zellen direkt oder indirekt eine inhibitorische Wirkung auf die Entwicklung der sympathischen Milzinnervation sowie auf catecholaminerge und serotonerge Mechanismen des zentralen Nervensystems entfalten. Die Ergebnisse liefern somit neue Belege, dass das Immunsystem nervale und endokrine Systeme beeinflussen kann

Assessment of the Effect of desalination Brine Waste on Marine Water Quality in Ruwais Area: A Numerical Modeling Application

This thesis aims to investigate the fate and transport of the effluents discharged from The desalination plant as well other facilities located in the Ruwais Industrial Complex (RIC) in the United Arab Emirates. These effluents are discharged in to the Ruwais Coastal marine waters. The effluents from the desalination plant are characterized by warm water with high salinity, whereas one other effluent is characterized by high n Nutrient loads. The characterization of the Ruwais environment and such effluents are Addressed through comprehensive field surveys of the Ruwais costal water over one Full year. In order to investigate the impacts of such effluents on the coastal marine Water quality, a coupled physical- biochemical model is employed to study the hydrodynamics an d the water quality of the Ruwais coastal water. Hydrodynamic simulation for the entire basin of the Arabian Gulf is developed as regional model, an d the mean currents an d the circulation phenomenon in the Gulf is described. Subsequently, a local model for the Ruwais coastal water is nested inside the regional Model area with three open boundaries across the Gulf basin, to investigate the mean Currents of the coastal area in addition to the spatial an d temporal variation of Temperature and salinity. To investigate the quality of the Ruwais coastal waters, the water quality model “EUTROP is used. This model takes into consideration several water quality compartments, i.e., phytoplankton, zooplankton, particulate organic matter, dissolved organic carbon , phosphate, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen , and chemical oxygen demand. The investigation of water quality covers up to 4 future years an d employs two different boundary conditions. The study evaluates the present conditions and the future conditions, where the expansion of existing facilities in the Ruwais area is considered. It is found that the effects of the effluents in the currents conditions is limited an d Restricted to the outfall area. It is characterized by slight increase in the temperature and salinity without major problems related to the water quality. Moreover, the influence of the future expansion in connection with increase in temperature and salinity extends up to 10 Km offshore without major impacts related to water quality beyond that limit

Optimal Parameter Estimation of Solar PV Panel Based on Hybrid Particle Swarm and Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithms

The performance of a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel is examined through determining its internal parameters based on single and double diode models. The environmental conditions such as temperature and the level of radiation also influence the output characteristics of solar panel. In this research work, the parameters of solar PV panel are identified for the first time, as far as the authors know, using hybrid particle swarm optimization (PSO) and grey wolf optimizer (WGO) based on experimental datasets of I-V curves. The main advantage of hybrid PSOGWO is combining the exploitation ability of the PSO with the exploration ability of the GWO. During the optimization process, the main target is minimizing the root mean square error (RMSE) between the original experimental data and the estimated data. Three different solar PV modules are considered to prove the superiority of the proposed strategy. Three different solar PV panels are used during the evaluation of the proposed strategy. A comparison of PSOGWO with other state-of-the-art methods is made. The obtained results confirmed that the least RMSE values are achieved using PSOGWO for all case studies compared with PSO and GWO optimizers. Almost a perfect agreement between the estimated data and experimental data set is achieved by PSOGWO

Le Jeu et l’Accessoire. Mélanges en l’honneur du professeur Michel Rousse

L’ouvrage s’ouvre sur un bel hommage des éditeurs rendu à Michel Rousse. Son recueil d’articles La Scène et les Tréteaux, paru aux éditions Paradigme et préfacé par Jean Dufournet, est un ouvrage de référence – qui a souvent constitué un point de départ pour les articles de ce recueil – pour les chercheurs dans le domaine du théâtre médiéval, notamment celui de la farce. L’éminent chercheur « s’est penché sur l’essence et la nature du jeu ainsi que sur la fonction dialogique » et il a su ains..

Ixodes ricinus Density, and Distribution and Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Infection Along an Altitudinal Gradient

In this study, we measured the phenology of Ixodes ricinus ticks and their infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) simultaneously along an altitudinal gradient to assess the impact of climate on the phenology of ticks and on their infection with B. burgdorferi sl. From 1999 to 2001, free-living I. ricinus ticks were collected monthly by flagging vegetation at three different altitudes (620, 740, and 900 m above sea level) on the slope of a mountain in Chaumont (Neuchâtel, Switzerland). I. ricinus ticks were examined for the presence of B. burgdorferi sl by using direct fluorescent antibody assay and isolation of spirochetes. Borrelia species were characterized by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment-length polymorphism. Tick density and tick phenology varied with altitude. Although the peak tick density decreased and the onset of ticks was delayed with altitude, the phenology was much more stable among years at the highest altitudes than at the lowest. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi infection in nymphs and adults decreased with altitude. The prevalence of infection differed significantly among years, and it was significantly higher in adults (30%) than in nymphs (21%). B. burgdorferi infection in adults was positively related with adult density, but this was not observed for nymphs. Five B. burgdorferi sl genospecies were successfully isolated: B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. valaisiana, and B. lusitaniae. Mixed infections were obtained from five of 140 infected ticks. The greatest diversity in Borrelia species was observed at the lowest altitude where all five Borrelia species were present, whereas at the two highest altitudes, B. lusitaniae was not observe

The Antibacterial Effect of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts and their Synergistic Effect with Antibiotics

The aim of the study was to assess the antibacterial effect of some medicinal plant extracts and their synergistic antibiotics against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extract of medicinal plants were prepared using Soxhlet apparatus for alcoholic extract, and water reflux for aqueous extracts. The antibacterial activities of extracts were evaluated using the disk diffusion method as well as well diffusion method; the inhibitory zones were recorded in millimeters. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were assessed using microdilution method. The synergistic effect between plants and extraction of antibiotics was assessed using disk diffusion method. The results of this study showed that ethanolic extracts used against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were showed antimicrobial and synergistic effect with most antibiotics better than methanolic and aquatic extracts. The results of this study showed that there is a decrease in MIC in case of methanolic extract of E. camaldulensis against E. coli (3.125 mg/ml), and the methanol and aquatic extract of F. sycomorus (leaves) against S. aureus varying from 6.25 to 3.125 mg/ml, and the ethanol extract of E. camaldulensis against P. areuginosa (6.25 mg/ml). Thereby, our results indicate the possibility of using these extracts in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the results of this study was encouraging, despite the need for clinical studies to determine of the real effectiveness and potential toxic effects in vivo. These results was revealed the importance of plant extracts when associated with antibiotic and Non-antibiotic drugs in control of bacteria. Keywords: Plant extracts, Synergistic effects, Antimicrobial, Microdilution metho

Obesity Average and its Relation with Packed Cell Volume (PCV) Value in a Section of Students and Employees of Al-Mustansiriyiah University in Iraq

It is known that the obesity distribution is very huge worldwide. However, obese persons differ in the stores and excess fat regions within the body. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, limitations of respiratory function, reduced physical functioning and quality of life, and increase the mortality rate are the sequelae of the most important of obesity and abdominal fatness (Seidell et al., 2001). Packed cell volume (PCV) and obesity estimates are the essential risk factors that have been traceable for the causes of cardiovascular disease and many other diseases. In addition, it has been reported that there was statistically significant correlation between the packed cell volume and obesity. the present research amid to study: 1) study the obesity rate depend on gander using different ways such as BMI and percentage of total body fat (TBF), 2) study the diseases risk depend on gander using waist/hip (W/H) ratio, and 3) study the correlation between PCV and obesity status in these groups. Included in this study were 97 individuals randomly selected from students and employees of Department of Biology – College of Science - Al-Mustansiriyiah University in Baghdad / Iraq. The age group was in the range of 18-60 years of both genders. 2 ml of venous blood was collected from adult individuals only, which were used directly to determine PCV. While the general frequencies of obesity status according BMI does not exceed (3.1%) from total number of subjects, the general frequencies of obesity status according TBF% increased to (14.7%) from total number of subjects, mostly in female. Interestingly, while no significantly correlation were detected between the PCV and BMI (R2=0.007), there was a significantly negative correlation between PCV and TBF (R2= -0.095). Keywords: Obesity, MBI, TBF, W/H ratio, PCV

Sample-centred shimming enables independent parallel NMR detection

Two major technical challenges facing parallel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, at the onset, include the need to achieve exceptional [Formula: see text] homogeneity, and good inter-detector radiofrequency signal decoupling, and have remained as technical obstacles that limit high throughput compound screening via NMR. In this contribution, we consider a compact detector system, consisting of two NMR ‘unit cell’ resonators that implement parallel [Formula: see text] shimming with parallel radiofrequency detection, as a prototype NMR environment, pointing the way towards achieving accelerated NMR analysis. The utility of our approach is established by achieving local field correction within the bore of a 1.05T permanent magnet MRI. Our forerunner platform suppresses signal cross-coupling in the range of [Formula: see text] dB to [Formula: see text] dB, under a geometrically decoupled scheme, leading to a halving of the necessary inter-coil separation. In this permanent magnet environment, two decoupled parallel NMR detector sites simultaneously achieve narrow spectral linewidth, overcoming the spatial inhomogeneity of the magnet from 400 to 28 Hz

The Antibacterial Effect of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts and their Synergistic Effect with Antibiotic and Non-antibiotic Drugs

The aim of the study was assess the antibacterial effect of some medicinal plant extracts and their synergistic antibiotic and non-antibiotic drugs against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extract of medicinal plants were prepared using Soxhlet apparatus for alcoholic extract, and water reflux for aqueous extracts. The antibacterial activities of extracts were evaluated using the disk diffusion method as well as well diffusion method; the inhibitory zones were recorded in millimeters. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were assessed using microdilution method. The synergistic effect between plants and extraction of antibiotics and / or Non-antibiotic drugs was assessed using disk diffusion method. The results of this study showed that ethanolic extracts used against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were showed antimicrobial and synergistic effect with most antibiotics better than methanolic and aquatic extracts.Water extracts were showed synergistic effect with the Paracetamol and Loperamide Hcl better than methanolic and ethanolic extracts against E. coli and S. aureus. Ethanolic extracts were showed synergistic effect with the Paracetamol and Loperamide Hcl better than methanolic and aquatic extracts against P. aeruginosa. The results of this study showed that there is a decrease in MIC in case of methanolic extract of E. camaldulensis against E. coli (3.125 mg/ml), and the methanol and aquatic extract of F. sycomorus (leaves) against S.aureus varying from 6.25 to 3.125 mg/ml, and the ethanol extract of E. camaldulensis against P. areuginosa (6.25 mg/ml). Thereby, our results indicate the possibility of using these extracts in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the results of this study was encouraging, despite the need for clinical studies to determine of the real effectiveness and potential toxic effects in vivo. These results was revealed the importance of plant extracts when associated with antibiotic and Non-antibiotic drugs in control of bacteria