6,597 research outputs found
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Generation of Micro Mechanical Devices Using Stereo Lithography
A high resolution machining setup for creating three-dimensional precision components from a
UV-curable photo-resin has been developed. By using frequency-converted diode-pumped solid
state lasers, functional micro-mechanical devices are directly fabricated in a successive layer-bylayer fashion. Within this paper, the direct generation of micro assemblies having
moving components without further assembly of parts will be presented. The micro system
design is based on user-defined 3D-CAD data and will completively be built up within the
fabrication cycle. By using specially developed ÎŒSL materials with suitable properties for micromechanical parts, the development from Rapid Prototyping towards Rapid Production of small
series is intended.Mechanical Engineerin
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Using Interleukin 6 and 8 in Blood and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid to Predict Survival in Hematological Malignancy Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Mold Infection.
Background: Molds and other pathogens induce elevated levels of several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 and IL-8 as well as fungal biomarkers in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for overall survival in patients with underlying hematological malignancies and suspected mold infection. Methods: This cohort study included 106 prospectively enrolled adult cases undergoing bronchoscopy. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of BAL sampling and, in a subset of 62 patients, serial blood samples were collected up until 4 days after bronchoscopy. IL-6, IL-8, and other cytokines as well as galactomannan (GM) and ÎČ-D-glucan (BDG) were assayed in blood and BAL fluid and associations with overall mortality were assessed at the end of the study using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Both blood IL-8 (AUC 0.731) and blood IL-6 (AUC 0.699) as well as BAL IL-6 (AUC 0.763) and BAL IL-8 (AUC 0.700) levels at the time of bronchoscopy were predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality. Increasing blood IL-6 levels between bronchoscopy and day four after bronchoscopy were significantly associated with higher 90-day mortality, with similar findings for increasing IL-8 levels. In ROC analysis the difference of blood IL-8 levels between 4 days after bronchoscopy and the day of bronchoscopy had an AUC of 0.829 (95%CI 0.71-0.95; p < 0.001) for predicting 90-day mortality. Conclusions: Elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in blood or BAL fluid at the time of bronchoscopy, and rising levels in blood 4 days following bronchoscopy were predictive of mortality in these patients with underlying hematological malignancy who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected mold infection
Alanylation of Teichoic Acids Protects Staphylococcus aureus against Toll-like Receptor 2-Dependent Host Defense in a Mouse Tissue Cage Infection Model
Staphylococcus aureus is inherently resistant to cationic antimicrobial peptides because of alanylation of cell envelope teichoic acids. To test the effect of alanylated teichoic acids on virulence and host defense mediated by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), wild-type (wt) S. aureus ATCC35556 (S.a.113) and its isogenic mutant expressing unalanylated teichoic acids (dltâ) were compared in a tissue cage infection model that used C57BL/6 wt and TLR2-deficient mice. The minimum infective doses (MID) to establish persistent infection with S.a.113 were 103 and 102 colony-forming units (cfu) in wt and TLR2â/â mice, respectively. The corresponding MID for dltâ were 5Ă105 and 103 cfu in wt and TLR2â/â mice, respectively. Both mouse strains showed bacterial-load-dependent inflammation with elevations in tumor necrosis factor, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and leukocytes, with increasing proportions of dead cells. These findings indicate that alanylated teichoic acids contribute to virulence of S. aureus, and TLR2 mediates host defense, which partly targets alanylated teichoic acid
Analyses of multiplicity distributions with \eta_c and Bose-Einstein correlations at LHC by means of generalized Glauber-Lachs formula
Using the negative binomial distribution (NBD) and the generalized
Glauber-Lachs (GGL) formula, we analyze the data on charged multiplicity
distributions with pseudo-rapidity cutoffs \eta_c at 0.9, 2.36, and 7 TeV by
ALICE Collaboration and at 0.2, 0.54, and 0.9 TeV by UA5 Collaboration. We
confirm that the KNO scaling holds among the multiplicity distributions with
\eta_c = 0.5 at \sqrt{s} = 0.2\sim2.36 TeV and estimate the energy dependence
of a parameter 1/k in NBD and parameters 1/k and \gamma (the ratio of the
average value of the coherent hadrons to that of the chaotic hadrons) in the
GGL formula. Using empirical formulae for the parameters 1/k and \gamma in the
GGL formula, we predict the multiplicity distributions with \eta_c = 0.5 at 7
and 14 TeV. Data on the 2nd order Bose-Einstein correlations (BEC) at 0.9 TeV
by ALICE Collaboration and 0.9 and 2.36 TeV by CMS Collaboration are also
analyzed based on the GGL formula. Prediction for the 3rd order BEC at 0.9 and
2.36 TeV are presented. Moreover, the information entropy is discussed
Bounds for Bose-Einstein Correlation Functions
Bounds for the correlation functions of identical bosons are discussed for
the general case of a Gaussian density matrix. In particular, for a purely
chaotic system the two-particle correlation function must always be greater
than one. On the other hand, in the presence of a coherent component the
correlation function may take values below unity. The experimental situation is
briefly discussed.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX, DMR-THEP-93-5/
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Association of the rs2242446 polymorphism in the norepinephrine transporter gene SLC6A2 and anxious arousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
To the Editor: Recently, we found that greater norepinephrine transporter (NET) availability in the locus ceruleus of trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with increased severity of anxious arousal (ie, hypervigilance and exaggerated startle) symptoms, but not any of the other empirically derived symptom clusters that characterize this disorder.1 This finding suggests that greater NET availability in the locus ceruleus may serve a compensatory function of clearing elevated synaptic norepinephrine and maintaining anxious arousal symptoms in persons with PTSD
Association of the rs2242446 polymorphism in the norepinephrine transporter gene SLC6A2 and anxious arousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
To the Editor: Recently, we found that greater norepinephrine transporter (NET) availability in the locus ceruleus of trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with increased severity of anxious arousal (ie, hypervigilance and exaggerated startle) symptoms, but not any of the other empirically derived symptom clusters that characterize this disorder.1 This finding suggests that greater NET availability in the locus ceruleus may serve a compensatory function of clearing elevated synaptic norepinephrine and maintaining anxious arousal symptoms in persons with PTSD
Multi-boson effects and the normalization of the two-pion correlation function
The two-pion correlation function can be defined as a ratio of either the
measured momentum distributions or the normalized momentum space probabilities.
We show that the first alternative avoids certain ambiguities since then the
normalization of the two-pion correlator contains important information on the
multiplicity distribution of the event ensemble which is lost in the second
alternative. We illustrate this explicitly for specific classes of event
ensembles.Comment: 6 pages, three figures,submit to PR
90-yttrium-ibritumomab tiuxetan as first-line treatment for follicular lymphoma: updated efficacy and safety results at an extended median follow-up of 9.6 years
Radioimmunotherapy with 90-yttrium-ibritumomab tiuxetan (90Y-IT) as first-line treatment in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) demonstrated promising results with a complete remission (CR) rate of 56% and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 26 months, when initially analyzed after a median follow-up of 30.6 months. The aim of this long-term follow-up was to investigate whether clinical benefits were maintained and new safety signals appeared. Fifty-nine patients, aged â„ 50 years, with FL grade 1 to 3A in stages II to IV were treated with 90Y-IT as first-line therapy. If CR without evidence of minimal residual disease (MRD), partial response or stable disease was achieved 6 months after treatment, patients were observed without further treatment. Patients with CR but persisting MRD received consolidation therapy with rituximab. The primary endpoint was the clinical response rate. Secondary endpoints were time to progression, safety, and tolerability. After a median follow-up of 9.6 years, median PFS was 3.6 years, and 8-year PFS was 38.3%. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached during the extended follow-up, and 8-year OS amounted to 69.2%. Age 65 years and above or disease progression within 24 months of treatment were significantly associated with shorter OS. An important finding was the lack of new safety signals. In particular, no increase in secondary malignancies or transformation into aggressive lymphoma was observed compared to trials with a similar follow-up. In summary, 90Y-IT as first-line treatment demonstrates a favorable safety profile and long-term clinical activity in a substantial fraction of FL patients in need of therapy
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