An Inexpensive Conceptual Training Model for Transvenous Pacemaker Placement

Introduction: Emergent transvenous (TV) pacemaker placement can be life-saving, but it has associated complications. Emergency medicine (EM) educators must be able to teach this infrequent procedure to trainees.Methods: We constructed a conceptually-focused, inexpensive training model made from polyvinyl chloride pipes and connectors, vinyl tubing, and a submersible pump. Cost of the model was $51. We tested the model with a group of 15 EM residents. We then asked participants to complete a survey reporting confidence with the procedure before and after the session. Confidence was compared using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs test.Results: Confidence improved after the session, with a median confidence before the session of 2 (minimally confident; interquartile range [IQR] 1-3) and a median confidence after the session of 4 (very confident; IQR 3-4, p=0.001). All residents agreed that the model helped them to understand the process of placing a TV pacemaker.Conclusion: Our TV pacemaker placement model was inexpensive and allowed for practice of a complex emergency procedure with direct visualization. It improved trainee confidence

Promastigotes of Leishamania b. braziliensis in the gut wall of a natural vector, Psychodopygus wellcomei

Imperial College. Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology. London.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Imperial College. Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology. London.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil

Direct measurement of spin polarization in ferromagnetic-C₆₀ interfaces using point-contact Andreev reflection

An important step has been developed combining the potential of spintronics with organic electronics to reveal the promising field of molecular spintronics, which can offer more flexibility, higher recyclability, and low-production costs compared with inorganic devices. Room temperature magnetoresistance (MR) of 5% has been obtained from C 60 spin valves with the structure Co(20 nm)/Al 2 O 3 (1.2 nm)/C 60 (5-60 nm)/Py(20 nm)/Al(1.5 nm). We observe an asymmetric dependence at low temperatures of the MR with voltage, and surprisingly with the magnetic field as well. This behavior has been attributed to the organic interface formed at the junction, which results in a change of the ferromagnet's spin polarization. The spin polarization at the organic-ferromagnetic interface is extracted by measuring the bias dependence of the conductance of a metallic-superconducting point contact and analyzed the spectra with the modified Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory. Point-contact Andreev reflection measurements reveal that the Co-C 60 possess spin polarization of 30% ± 1%, compared with 40% ± 1% for our Co films without C 60 . This could account for the asymmetry of the MR in spin valves incorporating C 60 and the need for an alumina spacer to maximize the MR

Liquid Silane Routes to Electronic Materials

New chemistries based upon liquid cyclohexasilane (Si{sub 6}H{sub 12} or CHS) have been used as precursors to silicon-containing electronic materials. Spin-coating of CHS-based inks with subsequent UV light and/or thermal treatment yielded amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films. While initial ink chemistries gave a-Si:H with high resistivity (i.e., > 10{sup 6} {Omega}.cm), several doping strategies are under development to address this limitation. In this contribution, the current status of solution processed rectifying diodes and field effect transistors fabricated from CHS-based inks will be presented. Additionally, a new printing approach termed collimated aerosol beam direct write (CAB-DW{sup TM}) was developed that allows the deposition of printed Ag lines 5 {mu}m in width. A status update will be given where CHS-based inks have been used to CAB-DW silicon-based features with linewidths <10 {mu}m. Assuming silicon thin film materials with good electrical properties will be developed, there may be significant cost advantages associated with the ability to controllably deposit the semiconductor in a metered fashion

Are Ethical Banks Different? A Comparative Analysis Using the Radical Affinity Index

This article studies the differences between traditional financial intermediaries (commercial banks, savings banks and cooperative banks) and ethical banks based on property rights, in which the owner decides the ideology, principles, standards and objectives of the organisation. In ethical banking, affinity centres on positive social and ethical values. The article consequently focuses on an index proposed both to differentiate ethical banks from other types of banks, and also to pinpoint the differences between the various ethical banks themselves. This is the Radical Affinity Index (RAI), which groups banks together in terms of their stance on ethical commitment, concentrating on ethical ideology and principles (information transparency, placement of assets, guarantees and participation) and using a sample of 114 European banks. The evidence shows that transparency of information and placement of assets are factors that differentiate ethical banks from other financial intermediaries. Guarantees and participation are characteristics specific to ethical banks; these variables, however, do not offer clear evidence to our analysis