Fast analysis of decabrominated diphenyl ether using low-pressure gas chromatography electron-capture negative ionization mass spectrometry

Peer reviewe

Si/SiGe bound-to-continuum quantum cascade emitters

Si/SiGe bound-to-continuum quantum cascade emitters designed by self-consistent 6-band k.p modeling and grown by low energy plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition are presented demonstrating electroluminescence between 1.5 and 3 THz. The electroluminescence is Stark shifted by an electric field and demonstrates polarized emission consistent with the design. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction are also presented to characterize the thick heterolayer structure

Occurrence and profiles of PCBs and PBDEs in harbour seals and harbour porpoises from the southern North Sea

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoen) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina), two representative top coastal pollution. Concentrations of sum PCBs were 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than concentrations of sum PBDEs (with median values of 23.1 μg.g- lw (lipid weight) and 12.4 μ.g-1 lw for sum PCBs and 0.33 μ.g- lw and 0.76 μ.g-1 lw for sum PBDEs in harbour seals and harbour porpoises respectively) and were highly dependent of age group and gender. For both species, the highest PCB concentrations were observed in adult males as the result of accumulation for years and years, while the highest PBDE concentrations were measured in juveniles probably due to better developed metabolic capacities for these congeners with age in adults. Results for PCBs were higher than observations in harbour seals and porpoises from other areas, while results for PBDEs were comparable indicating that the North Sea is a highly contaminated area. Relative PCB and PBDE profiles were constructed to compare metabolic capacities between harbour seals and porpoises. A higher contribution of lower chlorinated and nonpersistent congeners, such as CB 52, CB 95, CB 101, CB 118 and CB 149 indicated that harbour porpoises are unable to metabolize these compounds. Similar to PCBs, higher contributions of other PBDEs than BDE 47 were observed in harbour porpoises, suggesting that this species has difficulties to metabolize these congeners. In contrast, harbour seals showed a higher ability to metabolize PCBs and PBDEs

Choice of law in international commercial contracts: global perspectives on the Hague Principles

Divulgação dos SUMÁRIOS das obras recentemente incorporadas ao acervo da Biblioteca Ministro Oscar Saraiva do STJ. Em respeito à Lei de Direitos Autorais, não disponibilizamos a obra na íntegra.Localização na estante: 347.74:341 C545

Proximal tibial dimensions in a formalin-fixed neonatal cadaver sample : an intraosseous infusion approach

DATA AVAILABILITY : The quantitative and qualitative data used to support the findings of this study are included within the article, and additional data may be requested from the corresponding author.PURPOSE : Methods to administer intramedullary medication and fluid infusion in both adults and children date to the early twentieth century. Studies have shown that intraosseous access in the proximal tibia is ideal for resuscitation efforts as fewer critical structures are at risk, and neither is the blood flow to the lower limbs compromised. Insertion of a needle in children younger than 5 years does have the risk to damage to the epiphyseal growth plate. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the ideal intraosseous insertion site distal to the epiphyseal growth plate in neonates. METHODS : The samples consisted of both the left and right sides of 15 formalin-fixed neonatal cadavers. The dimensions were measured on the superior surfaces of each section, anteromedial border, cortical thickness, and medullary space. RESULTS : The most desirable location to gain vascular access is at 10 mm inferior to the tibial tuberosity. CONCLUSION : The smallest cortical thickness (1.32 mm), the largest medullary space (4.50 mm), and the largest anteromedial surface (7.72 mm) were observed at 10 mm inferior to the tibial tuberosity. It is imperative that health care professionals are familiar with the osteological sites that could be safely used for an intraosseous infusion procedure.https://link.springer.com/journal/276hj2023AnatomySurger

Si/SiGe quantum cascade superlattice designs for terahertz emission

Quantum cascade lasers are compact sources that have demonstrated high output powers at THz frequencies. To date all THz quantum cascade lasers have been realized in III-V materials. Results are presented from Si1−xGex quantum cascade superlattice designs emitting at around 3 THz which have been grown in two different chemical vapor deposition systems. The key to achieving successful electroluminescence at THz frequencies in a p-type system has been to strain the light-hole states to energies well above the radiative subband states. To accurately model the emission wavelengths, a 6-band k.p tool which includes the effects of non-abrupt heterointerfaces has been used to predict the characteristics of the emitters. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy have been used along with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to fully characterise the samples. A number of methods to improve the gain from the designs are suggested

Osteopontin Is Required for the Early Onset of High Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance in Mice

Insulin resistance is manifested in muscle, adipose tissue, and liver and is associated with adipose tissue inflammation. The cellular components and mechanisms that regulate the onset of diet-induced insulin resistance are not clearly defined.We initially observed osteopontin (OPN) mRNA over-expression in adipose tissue of obese, insulin resistant humans and rats which was normalized by thiazolidinedione (TZD) treatment in both species. OPN regulates inflammation and is implicated in pathogenic maladies resulting from chronic obesity. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that OPN is involved in the early development of insulin resistance using a 2-4 week high fat diet (HFD) model. OPN KO mice fed HFD for 2 weeks were completely protected from the severe skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue insulin resistance that developed in wild type (WT) controls, as determined by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and acute insulin-stimulation studies. Although two-week HFD did not alter body weight or plasma free fatty acids and cytokines in either strain, HFD-induced hyperleptinemia, increased adipose tissue inflammation (macrophages and cytokines), and adipocyte hypertrophy were significant in WT mice and blunted or absent in OPN KO mice. Adipose tissue OPN protein isoform expression was significantly altered in 2- and 4-week HFD-fed WT mice but total OPN protein was unchanged. OPN KO bone marrow stromal cells were more osteogenic and less adipogenic than WT cells in vitro. Interestingly, the two differentiation pathways were inversely affected by HFD in WT cells in vitro.The OPN KO phenotypes we report reflect protection from insulin resistance that is associated with changes in adipocyte biology and adipose tissue inflammatory status. OPN is a key component in the development of HFD-induced insulin resistance

Conductive Hybrid Cu-HHTP-TCNQ Metal–Organic Frameworks for Chemiresistive Sensing

Electrically conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-like coordination polymers are an emerging class of materials that combine good electrical charge transport with unique properties such as nanoporosity. The combination of different metal nodes and organic linkers allows tailoring MOFs to specific properties and applications in electronics, like selective chemiresistive sensing. The intrinsic crystallinity of MOFs, which usually promotes efficient charge transport, makes them also difficult to integrate into flexible systems, as crystalline MOFs are often brittle. The present study reports on a fast and reliable interfacial synthesis of conductive MOF films composed of two different organic ligands, 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), lacking long-range periodic order while preserving good electrical conductivity of 0.033 S cm−1 at room temperature and chemiresistive response toward ambient changes. The hybrid nature of the discontinuous film is investigated multiparametrically by electron and atomic force microscopy as well as by Raman spectroscopy. This study demonstrates that including different types of MOFs is a good compromise between structural order and conductivity, thus making hybrid framework architectures to a promising active material for chemiresistive sensors without the need for high crystallinity