3,041 research outputs found
Beeswax organogels: Influence of gelator concentration and oil type in the gelation process
This work focused on how different types of oil phase, MCT (medium chain triglycerides) and LCT (long chain triglycerides), exert influence on the gelation process of beeswax and thus properties of the organogel produced thereof. Organogels were produced at different temperatures and qualitative phase diagrams were constructed to identify and classify the type of structure formed at various compositions. The microstructure of gelator crystals was studied by polarized light microscopy. Melting and crystallization were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and rheology (flow and small amplitude oscillatory measurements) to understand organogels' behaviour under different mechanical and thermal conditions. FTIR analysis was employed for a further understanding of oil-gelator chemical interactions. Results showed that the increase of beeswax concentration led to higher values of storage and loss moduli (G, G) and complex modulus (G*) of organogels, which is associated to the strong network formed between the crystalline gelator structure and the oil phase. Crystallization occurred in two steps (well evidenced for higher concentrations of gelator) during temperature decreasing. Thermal analysis showed the occurrence of hysteresis between melting and crystallization. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis allowed a better understanding in terms of how crystal conformations were disposed for each type of organogel. The structuring process supported by medium or long-chain triglycerides oils was an important exploit to apprehend the impact of different carbon chain-size on the gelation process and on gels' properties.The authors thank the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS,
Campinas, SP, Brazil) for the opportunity to carry out SAXS measurements.
The author Miguel A. Cerqueira is recipient of a fellowship (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, POPH-QREN and FSE (FCT, Portugal). The financial support
of CAPES/FCT Project “Nanotechnological systems based in biocompatible ingredients: characterization, controlled release and in vitro digestion” (CAPES/FCT no. 348/13) and CNPq (Universal 479459/2012-6)
are gratefully acknowledged. This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462)
A thermalization energy analysis of the threshold voltage shift in amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin film transistors under positive gate bias stress
Thin film transistors (TFTs) employing an amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) channel layer exhibit a positive shift in the threshold voltage under the application of positive gate bias stress (PBS). The time and temperature dependence of the threshold voltage shift was measured and analysed using the thermalization energy concept. The peak energy barrier to defect conversion is extracted to be 0.75 eV and the attempt-to-escape frequency is extracted to be 107 s−1. These values are in remarkable agreement with measurements in a-IGZO TFTs under negative gate bias illumination stress (NBIS) reported recently (Flewitt and Powell, J. Appl. Phys. 115, 134501 (2014)). This suggests that the same physical process is responsible for both PBS and NBIS, and supports the oxygen vacancy defect migration model that the authors have previously proposed.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s 7th Framework Programme under grant agreement NMP3-LA-2010-246334. Financial support of the European Commission is therefore gratefully acknowledged. The work has also received funding from FEDER through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT–Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project No. UID/CTM/50025/2013.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AIP Publishing via http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.494324
A comparison between body weight-supported treadmill training and conventional over-ground training in dogs with incomplete spinal cord injury
Research Areas: Veterinary SciencesIn human medicine there was no evidence registered of a significant difference in
recovery between body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) and conventional
over-ground (COGI). There isn’t any similar study in veterinary medicine. Thus, this
study aimed to compare the locomotor recovery obtained in incomplete SCI (T11–L3
Hansen type I) post-surgical dogs following BWSTT or COGI protocols, describing their
evolution during 7 weeks in regard to OFS classifications. At admission, dogs were blindly
randomized in two groups but all were subjected to the same protocol (underwater
treadmill training) for the first 2 weeks. After, they were divided in the BWSTT group
(n = 10) and the COGI group (n = 10) for the next 2 weeks, where they performed
different training. In both groups locomotor training was accompanied by functional
electrical stimulation (FES) protocols. Results reported statistically significant differences
between all OFS evaluations time-points (p < 0.001) and between the two groups (p
< 0.001). In particular with focus on T1 to T3 a two-way repeated measures ANOVA
was performed and similar results were obtained (p = 0.007). Functional recovery was
achieved in 90% (17/19) of all dogs and 100% recovered bladder function. The BWSTT
group showed 100% (10/10) recovery within a mean time of 4.6 weeks, while the COGI
group had 78% (7/9) within 6.1 weeks. Therefore, BWSTT leads to a faster recovery with
a better outcome in general.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Effect of the dog positioning on X-ray table on hip dysplasia parameter evaluation
Research Areas: Veterinary Sciences; ZoologyABSTRACT - Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic tilting along the long axis and femoral rotation on Norberg angle (NA), subluxation index (SI) and subluxation category (SC) in the standard ventrodorsal hip extended (VDHE) radiographical view on live animals. Study Type This was a retrospective clinical study. Materials and Methods Pairs of VDHE views, one adequately positioned and the other with pelvic tilting or femoral internal or external rotation, were compared for the NA, SI and SC. Results On the malpositioned pelvis set, on the underside the mean +/- SD NA was 98.7 +/- 6.1 degrees, the SI was 0.27 +/- 0.12 and the SC was 2.8 +/- 0.8 versus, on the acceptable set, the NA was 99.2 +/- 6.4 degrees ( p > 0.05), the SI was 0.25 +/- 0.12 ( p 0.05). Conclusions In clinical practice, pelvic tilting along the long axis in VDHE view results in non-favourable hip changes in the NA, SI and SC on the underside and favourable on the upperside, and the internal or external femoral rotation did not affect these variables.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Morphological Changes of the Internal Carotid Artery: Prevalence and Characteristics. A Clinical and Ultrasonographic Study in a Series of 19 804 Patients Over 25 Years Old
Background and purpose: Morphological changes of the internal carotid arteries (McICA) are frequently found during cervical ultrasound studies. However, the etiology of McICA remains controversial. During this study, the prevalence and demographic characteristics of McICA, such as kinking, coiling or looping identified by Doppler ultrasound, were analysed and its relationship with vascular risk factors and stroke was assessed.
Methods: A retrospective study was performed by analysing 19 804 patients who were subjected to cervical ultrasonographic study between January 2000 and June 2012. The data were statistically analysed with SPSS® 20 and a multivariate logistic regression was performed. Statistical significance was accepted for P < 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used.
Results: Morphological changes of the internal carotid arteries were present in 2678 patients (13.5%) and were unilateral in 61.6% of these cases. Carotid kinking was found in 80% of the patients, coiling in 16% and looping in 1%. In multivariate analysis, the presence of McICA was related to older groups (1.04; 95% CI, 1.04-1.05; P < 0.01), female gender (1.78; 95% CI, 1.64-1.94; P < 0.01), patients with hyperlipidemia (1.28; 95% CI, 1.17-1.40; P < 0.01), carotid thickness (1.22; 95% CI, 1.13-1.33; P < 0.01) and cardiac or cardioembolic disease (1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21; P = 0.02). The results of this study indicate that kinking in the carotid artery was associated with ipsilateral cerebral ischemic events (1.43; 95% CI, 1.040-1.958; P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Morphological changes of the internal carotid arteries were associated with aging, female gender and patients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Kinking was associated with ipsilateral cerebral ischemia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Shotgun Mass Spectrometry Workflow Combining IEF and LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF
We present a high throughput shotgun mass spectrometry workflow using a bidimensional peptide fractionation procedure consisting of isoelectric focusing and RP-HPLC prior to mass spectrometric analysis, with the aim of optimizing peptide separation and protein identification. As part of the workflow we used the ‘Isotope-Coded Protein Labeling’ (ICPL) method for accurate relative quantitation of protein expression. Such workflow was successfully applied to a comparative proteome analysis of schizophrenia versus healthy control brain tissues and can be an alternative to proteome researches
The influence of muscles activation on the dynamical behaviour of the tympano-ossicular system of the middle ear
The human ear is a complex biomechanical system and is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner ear. The middle ear is formed by ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes), ligaments, muscles and tendons, which transfers sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear, linking with mastoid and Eustachian tube. In this work, a finite element modelling of the tympano-ossicular system of the middle ear was developed. A dynamic study based on a structural response to harmonic vibrations, for a sound pressure level (SPL) of 110, 120 and 130 dB SPL applied in the eardrum, is presented. The connection between the ossicles is made using a contact formulation. The model includes the different ligaments considering its hyperelastic behaviour. The activation of the muscles is based on the constitutive model proposed by previous work. The harmonic responses of displacement and pressure obtained on the stapes footplate, for a frequency range between 100 Hz and 10 kHz, are obtained simulating the muscle activation. The results are compared considering the passive and active states. The results are discussed and they are in accordance with audiological data published with reference to the effects of the middle ear muscles contraction
Spinal locomotion in cats following spinal cord injury : a prospective study
Research Areas: Agriculture ; Veterinary SciencesThis article aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intensive neurorehabilitation in
paraplegic cats, with no deep pain perception (grade 0 on the modified Frankel scale), with more than
three months of injury. Nine cats, admitted to the Arrábida Veterinary Hospital/Arrábida Animal
Rehabilitation Center (CRAA), were subjected to a 12-week intensive functional neurorehabilitation
protocol, based on ground and underwater treadmill locomotor training, electrostimulation, and
kinesiotherapy exercises, aiming to obtain a faster recovery to ambulation and a modulated locomotor
pattern of flexion/extension. Of the nine cats that were admitted in this study, 56% (n = 5) recovered
from ambulation, 44% of which (4/9) did so through functional spinal locomotion by reflexes, while
one achieved this through the recovery of deep pain perception. These results suggest that intensive
neurorehabilitation can play an important role in ambulation recovery, allowing for a better quality of
life and well-being, which may lead to a reduction in the number of euthanasia procedures performed
on paraplegic animals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Histological changes and impairment of liver mitochondrial bioenergetics after long-term treatment with alpha-naphthyl-isothiocyanate (ANIT)
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of long-term treatment with alpha-naphthyl-isothiocyanate (ANIT) on liver histology and at the mitochondrial bioenergetic level. Since, ANIT has been used as a cholestatic agent and it has been pointed out that an impairment of mitochondrial function is a cause of hepatocyte dysfunction leading to cholestatic liver injury, serum markers of liver injury were measured and liver sections were analyzed in ANIT-treated rats (i.p. 80 mg/kg/week x 16 weeks). Mitochondrial parameters such as transmembrane potential, respiration, calcium capacity, alterations in permeability transition susceptibility and ATPase activity were monitored. Histologically, the most important features were the marked ductular proliferation, proliferation of mast cells and the presence of iron deposits in ANIT-treated liver. Mitochondria isolated from ANIT-treated rats showed no alterations in state 4 respiration, respiratory control ratio and ADP/O ratio, while state 3 respiration was significantly decreased. No changes were observed on transmembrane potential, but the repolarization rate was decreased in treated rats. Consistently with these data, there was a significant decrease in the ATPase activity of treated mitochondria. Associated with these parameters, mitochondria from treated animals exhibited increased susceptibility to mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening (lower calcium capacity). Since, human cholestatic liver disease progress slowly overtime, these data provide further insight into the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the process
Silicon-based spin and charge quantum computation
Silicon-based quantum-computer architectures have attracted attention because
of their promise for scalability and their potential for synergetically
utilizing the available resources associated with the existing Si technology
infrastructure. Electronic and nuclear spins of shallow donors (e.g.
phosphorus) in Si are ideal candidates for qubits in such proposals due to the
relatively long spin coherence times. For these spin qubits, donor electron
charge manipulation by external gates is a key ingredient for control and
read-out of single-qubit operations, while shallow donor exchange gates are
frequently invoked to perform two-qubit operations. More recently, charge
qubits based on tunnel coupling in P substitutional molecular ions in Si
have also been proposed. We discuss the feasibility of the building blocks
involved in shallow donor quantum computation in silicon, taking into account
the peculiarities of silicon electronic structure, in particular the six
degenerate states at the conduction band edge. We show that quantum
interference among these states does not significantly affect operations
involving a single donor, but leads to fast oscillations in electron exchange
coupling and on tunnel-coupling strength when the donor pair relative position
is changed on a lattice-parameter scale. These studies illustrate the
considerable potential as well as the tremendous challenges posed by donor spin
and charge as candidates for qubits in silicon.Comment: Review paper (invited) - to appear in Annals of the Brazilian Academy
of Science
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