CAREER: Acoustic Wave Filters for High Frequency Wireless Communication Applications

Expanding commercial and military applications crowd the wireless communications frequency band, creating a critical need to expand the band to higher frequencies. The application of newly discovered high velocity pseudo surface acoustic waves (HVPSAWs), has the potential of satisfying the high frequency requirements of the next generation of wireless communications. This CAREER proposal involves an integrated research and education plan for high radio frequency (RF) microwave acoustic devices. The research objective is to identify piezoelectric materials and specific orientations in which HVPSAWs exist, and to design, fabricate, and test prototype HVPSAW filters. Specific research tasks are: (i) search for piezoelectric materials and orientations in which HVPSAWs exist; (ii) characterize theoretical mode propagation; (iii) determine HVPSAW phase velocity, propagation loss, temperature behavior, electromechanical coupling, and power flow angle; (iv) experimentally verify the theoretically predicted HVPSAW properties; develop a theoretical model for the HVPSAW interdigital transducer (IDT) structure, and its experimental verification; (v) model and characterize integral HVPSAW filters structures, such as reflectors, multistrip couplers, guiding structures; (vi) integrate HVPSAW structure components into HVPSAW filter design; and (vii) fabricate and test prototype HVPSAW filters. The educational objective is to provide a learning experience in a fast moving state-of-the-art area to students ranging from high school to graduate level. The learning experience will range from team projects at the high school level to theses at the graduate level. In summary this project will not only provide the necessary research to realize the next generation of wireless communications but also educate students in a very relevant high need technology area which has applications ranging from cellular phones to high speed communication and signal processing systems

SENSORS: Detecting Microbial Pathogens with Novel Surface Acoustic Wave Devices in Liquid Environments

This SENSORS proposal integrates research and education to exploit the sensitivity of a new family of LGX crystal devices operated in novel Shear Horizontal Surface Acoustic Wave (SH-SAW) propagation directions by combining them with highly selective molecular padlock probes to detect specific nucleic acid sequences associated with bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhi, and Vibrio cholerae in aqueous solutions. The anticipated fundamental advances in sensor science and engineering will be relevant to numerous applications, including rapid response to bioterrorism, healthcare, epidemiology, agriculture, food safety, and pollution avoidance and mitigation. This SENSORS program builds upon the initial proof-of-concept results provided by an NSF SGER project funded by the divisions of Electrical and Communication Systems, and Bioengineering and Environmental Systems. The intellectual merit of this proposal rests in the creative, integrated research and education activities related to combining the recently identified LGX SH-SAW devices with molecular padlock probe technology to permit the design, fabrication, testing, and optimization of prototype biosensors. The specific research objectives of this SENSORS program are to: (i) Identify the surface density chemistry for increased sensitivity; (ii) Investigate and identify the optimal LGX SH-SAW orientation and device design for operation with the padlock technology; (iii) Study and develop the molecular padlock probe system to operate effectively in conjunction with the LGX SH-SAW device; (iv) Fabricate and test the prototype SH-SAW liquid biosensors; (v) Identify and optimize a procedure for sensor regeneration; and (vi) Characterize and optimize the sensor\u27s dynamic range and cross-effects due to temperature and other physical and chemical factors. The educational objective of this SENSORS program is to provide a multidisciplinary learning experience to students ranging from high school to graduate student level in the area of sensors in general, and biosensors in particular. Broader impacts will be achieved through the following programs and activities to: (i) Train and interact with high school audiences through two major ongoing programs at University of Maine (UMaine), NSF Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) and the GK-12 Sensors; (ii) Involve undergraduates from Maine and other institutions directly into the research project under the umbrella of the ongoing NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the UMaine; (iii) Expand existing undergraduate Sensor Technology and Instrumentation and Biochemical Engineering Engineering courses at the UMaine by adding modules relating to biosensors devices and systems; (iv) Identify appropriate Capstone projects for undergraduates involving cross-disciplinary research and design projects; (v) Enhance existing graduate level courses Microscale Bioengineering and Design and Fabrication of Acoustic Wave Devices by incorporating research results into the course; (vi) Contribute to the new interdisciplinary multi-institutional NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in functional genomics, which involves UMaine, the Jackson Laboratory, and the Maine Medical Center Research Institute; (vi) Provide a experimental and/or theoretical thesis topics for Masters and Ph.D. students; (vii) Disseminate the research and educational material on a project website, and through conferences and printed literature. The SENSORS project proposed here is designed to result in tangible research and educational benefits. It will provide a knowledge base critical to creation of the next generation of biosensors for single unit production and future integration into arrays. It also seeks to establish a model program whereby cross-disciplinary education is integrated with a state-of-the-art research program, providing a rich learning experience for students ranging from high school to graduate student level. Finally, the project will help to strengthen U.S. research and educational capabilities in an area of high technology that currently is in need of highly trained industry and academic professionals

EXP-SA: Explosives Tracking: A Microsystem for Detection of Bacterial Endospores as Self-Replicating Nucleic Acid Taggants

This proposal presents an integrated research and educational plan directed toward the production, detection, and identification of bacterial endospore taggants for explosive tracking. While the most immediate application of the research is related to stemming the activities of bioterrorists, the anticipated fundamental advances in bioengineering and sensor science and engineering will have significant societal relevance to other applications, including first-responder activities, healthcare, food safety, and pollution avoidance and mitigation. Intellectual Merit The investigators propose to combine bioengineering of Bacillus stearothermophilus endospores with microdevices for sample processing and taggant identification. A surface acoustic wave (SAW) microdroplet mixing/transport/incubator system will be coupled with molecular padlock probe technology for sensitive identification of bioengineered endospores. The specific research tasks are to: (i) Generate a number of different Bacillus spores, each with a unique DNA sequence or sequences spliced into its genome; (ii) Investigate and identify the optimal SAW device designs needed to germinate spores, lyse vegetative bacteria, transport, mix, and heat microdroplet samples; (iii) Design subsystems for DNA isolation; (iv) Develop a fluorescence-based molecular padlock probe system for DNA identification that can operate effectively in conjunction with the SAW fabrication microsystem platform; (v) Fabricate and test the proposed prototype identification system. Broader Impacts Broader impacts will be achieved through the following programs and activities to: (i) Train and interact with high school audiences through two major ongoing programs at University of Maine (UMaine), NSF Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) and the GK-12 Sensors; (ii) Involve undergraduates from Maine and other institutions directly into the research project under the umbrella of the ongoing NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the UMaine; (iii) Identify appropriate Capstone projects for undergraduates involving cross-disciplinary research and design projects; (iv) Enhance existing graduate level courses (1) Microscale Bioengineering and (2) Design and Fabrication of Acoustic Wave Devices by incorporating research results into each course; (v) Contribute to the interdisciplinary multi-institutional NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in functional genomics, which involves UMaine, the Jackson Laboratory, and the Maine Medical Center Research Institute; (vi) Provide thesis topics for M.S. and Ph.D. students; (vii) Disseminate the research and educational material on a project website, and through conferences and printed literature. Project Outcomes ReportNew investigative tools are desperately needed to determine the origin and transit routes of contraband explosive materials, and the individuals who transport them. A powerful strategy for tracking and identifying specific lots of explosives is the incorporation or labeling with pre-and post-detonation identification tags, or taggants. This project involves the production, detection, and identification of bacterial endospore taggants for explosive tracking. It combines bioengineering of environmentally resistant Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius endospores with development of microdevices for sample processing and taggant identification. A surface acoustic wave (SAW) bacterial lysis system is coupled with on-chip fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identification of bioengineered endospores.Geobacillus spores with a unique DNA sequence encoded in well-retained plasmids have been generated. Optimal SAW device structures have been designed, fabricated and tested for lysis of the vegetative bacteria. A number of on-chip structures for multiplex PCR analysis have been created and tested. DNA release and fluorescence-based PCR analysis for identification of specific genomic DNA sequences can now be interfaced to the SAW microsystem platform to comprise an important part of the overall detection system. We anticipate that aspects of this technology will be useful for tracking contraband materials such as explosives, environmental monitoring, and potentially medical diagnostic applications. This project has fostered the multidisciplinary training of numerous undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and bioengineering

Psicanálise, história, magia e linguagem: insurgências de modos de existir

This present study tailors its investigative lines in the thresholds between magic, language and psychology. We take fragments of the psychoanalytic theory and the thoughts of Walter Benjamin about the history of how opening slits of a scientific progress speech; this aligned with an immense murmur of biological determinism about the human experience related to psychological suffering, excluding the magical possibilities of language and meeting. We hear on the autistic condition and on the hearing voices condition, as two manifestations of the human experience that in older times were connected to magic and today as an illness, whose unique experiences are dissolved in biomedical discourse. In this way, we unfold psychoanalytical contributions in order to think about the autonomy and emancipation of people and communities in the face of the end of history.El presente estudio teje sus líneas investigativas entre limiares de magia, lenguaje y psicopatologia. Tomamos fragmentos de la teoría psicoanalítica y el pensamiento de Walter Benjamin sobre la história como hendiduras de aberturas de un discurso de progreso científico; este alineado a un inmenso murmullo de determinismo biológico sobre la experiencia humana relacionada al sufrimiento psíquico, excluyendo las possibilidades mágicas de la lenguaje y del encuentro. Escuchemos en la condição autista y en la condição de oir voces, como dos manifestaciones de la experiencia humana que en otro tiempo fueron ligadas a la magia y hoy sobrevive como enfermedad, cuyas experiencias únicas son disueltas en un discurso biomédico. De esta manera desplegamos contribuiciones psicoanalíticas de forma a pensar en la autonomia, emancipación de sujeitos y de comunidades contra el fin de la historia.O presente estudo tece suas linhas investigativas nos limiares entre magia, linguagem e psicopatologia. Tomamos fragmentos da teoria psicanalítica e o pensamento de Walter Benjamin sobre a história como fendas de aberturas de um discurso de progresso científico; este alinhado a um imenso murmúrio do determinismo biológico sobre a experiência humana relacionada ao sofrimento psíquico, excluindo as possibilidades mágicas da linguagem e do encontro. Escutamos na condição autista e na condição de ouvir vozes, como duas manifestações da experiência humana que em outro tempo já foram ligadas ao mágico e hoje sobrevive como doença, cujas experiências únicas são dissolvidas no discurso biomédico. Desta maneira desdobramos contribuições psicanalíticas de forma a pensar na autonomia e emancipação de sujeitos e de comunidades diante do fim da história

ESTUDO IMPROVE-IT: REDUÇÃO DE EVENTOS CARDIOVASCULARES EM PORTADORES DE SÍNDROME CORONARIANA AGUDA (THE IMPROVED REDUCTION OF OUTCOMES: VYTORIN EFFICACY INTERNATIONAL TRIAL)

O uso de estatinas e a consequente diminuição do colesterol LDL resulta em redução de eventos cardiovasculares. Esta redução é ainda maior com o uso intensivo de estatinas. No entanto, mesmo com uso adequado, ainda mantém-se taxa residual de eventos, além de risco de potenciais efeitos adversos. Essas observações direcionam a busca por terapêuticas alternativas para a diminuição da concentração sérica de lipídios.O ezetimibe age na proteína NPC1L1 no intestino, reduzindo a absorção intestinal de colesterol e, associado a estatinas, leva a uma redução 23 a 24% maior do colesterol, em média.Em 2008, a publicação do estudo ENHANCE trouxe dúvidas quanto à eficácia do ezetimibe. O ENHANCE randomizou pacientes com hipercolesterolemia familiar e a associação de ezetimibe com 80 mg de sinvastatina promoveu maior redução de LDL-colesterol do que o uso isolado (mesma dosagem) desta estatina. Porém, este achado não foi acompanhado de maior redução da aterosclerose medida pela espessura médio-intimal de carótidas (um desfecho substituto). O IMPROVE-IT comparou o tratamento com sinvastatina (40mg) e ezetimibe (10mg), com a terapia padrão sinvastatina (40mg) e placebo, no intuito de verificar se o ezetimibe traria benefício clínico. Portanto, foi o primeiro trabalho para testar o impacto clínico de associar ezetimibe à terapia com estatina.O desenho do estudo foi duplo-cego, randomizado, controlado e multicêntrico. O estudo comparou, de forma prospectiva, os dois grupos de pacientes acima citados (figura 1). Foram 18142 pacientes de 39 países acompanhados ao longo de pouco menos de 5 anos.Foram incluídos no estudo homens e mulheres acima de 50 anos, que foram hospitalizados por síndrome coronariana aguda 10 dias antes da randomização. Os pacientes deveriam ter um colesterol LDL igual ou maior que 50mg/dL. O limite superior de LDL colesterol para pacientes que não estavam recebendo tratamento para dislipidemia era 125 mg/dL, e para os que estavam recebendo tratamento o limite era 100mg/dL. O colesterol foi medido nas primeiras 24 horas do evento agudo. Os critérios de exclusão foram: plano de revascularização coronariana, clearance de creatinina menor que 30mL/min, doença hepática ativa e estar em tratamento com estatina com potência equivalente superior a 40mg de sinvastatina.Toda a análise estatística dos resultados foi realizada na população com intenção de tratar. O objetivo primário do estudo era um composto de morte por causas cardiovasculares, evento coronário maior (infarto não-fatal, angina instável com necessidade de internamento ou revascularização coronariana ocorrendo ao menos 30 dias após a randomização) ou AVE não-fatal, partindo da randomização até a ocorrência de algum dos eventos. Os três objetivos secundários foram: um composto de morte por qualquer causa, evento coronário maior ou AVE não-fatal; morte por doença coronariana, infarto miocárdico não fatal ou revascularização coronariana 30 dias após a randomização; morte por causas cardiovasculares, infarto miocárdico não-fatal, hospitalização por angina instável, todas as revascularizações após 30 dias da randomização e AVE não-fatal.O estudo demonstrou que a associação de ezetimibe 10 mg e sinvastatina 40 mg reduziu a incidência de desfechos quando comparada a 40 mg de sinvastatina em pacientes com síndrome coronariana aguda e cujo LDL-colesterol fosse menor que 125 mg/dl (figura 2). Houve redução significativa nos valores de LDL colesterol, redução de risco absoluta de 2 pontos percentuais para o objetivo primário do estudo e redução relativa do risco de apenas 6%. Não houve aumento do risco de eventos adversos em relação à monoterapia. Ao mesmo tempo em que o IMPROVE-IT mostra a existência de eficácia, este estudo mostra que esta eficácia é mínima, quase irrelevante do ponto de vista clínico. O IMPROVE-IT é um estudo positivo em relação à presença do efeito, mas negativo em relação ao tamanho do efeito. Outras limitações do estudo devem ser destacadas. Os pacientes estudados já apresentavam um evento coronariano agudo, impossibilitando a generalização dos dados encontrados para um população sadia, de profilaxia primária; o tratamento com sinvastatina no estudo e o surgimento de estatinas mais potentes atualmente levanta a questão de um potencial benefício com esta estatina em particular; e não menos importante, o número de pacientes que descontinuou o uso das medicações antes do fim do estudo (cerca de 42%), embora o valor tenha sido próximo nos dois grupos.Em conclusão, o IMPROVE-IT demonstrou que a terapia combinada com ezetimibe proporciona redução significativa nos níveis séricos de LDL colesterol e no risco de eventos cardiovasculares, sem aumento de eventos adversos ou toxicidade significativa.O IMPROVE-IT é uma evidência de que a redução adicional do colesterol com uma droga que não é estatina também reduz risco. Novos estudos para avaliar o resultado da terapia em pacientes em fase mais precoce de doença coronariana e estudar a associação do ezetimibe com estatinas mais potentes podem trazer mais informações importantes sobre os benefícios clínicos desta medicação.        

Causes of variation in BCG vaccine efficacy: examining evidence from the BCG REVAC cluster randomized trial to explore the masking and the blocking hypotheses.

BCG protection varies and in some places (nearest the equator) is low or absent. Understanding this variation can inform the efforts to develop new vaccines against tuberculosis. Two main hypotheses are used to explain this variation: under masking, new vaccines are unlikely to increase protection; under blocking new vaccines have a greater potential to be effective when BCG is not. We conducted a cluster randomized trial to explored the masking and blocking hypotheses by studying BCG vaccine efficacy of neonatal vaccination and when administered for the first or a second (revaccination) time at school age in two sites (Manaus close and Salvador further south from the equator). Seven hundred and sixty three state schools were matched on socio economic characteristics of the neighborhood and 239,934 children were randomized to vaccine (BCG vaccination at school age) or control group. Protection by first BCG vaccination at school age was high in Salvador (34%, 95% CI 7-53%, p=0.017) but low in Manaus (8%, 95% CI t0 39-40%, p=0.686). For revaccination at school age, protection was modest in Salvador (19%, 95% CI 3-33%, p=0.022) and absent in Manaus (1%, 95% CI to 27-23%, p=0.932). Vaccine efficacy for neonatal vaccination was similar in Salvador (40%, 95% CI 22-54%, p<0.001) and Manaus (36%, 95% CI 11-53%, p=0.008). Variation in BCG efficacy was marked when vaccine was given at school age but absent at birth, which points towards blocking as the dominant mechanism. New tuberculosis vaccines that overcome or by pass this blocking effect could confer protection in situations where BCG is not protective

AVALIAÇÃO DE APLICATIVO DIGITAL PARA O ENSINO DE SINAIS VITAIS

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo é descrever a avaliação pelo público-alvo de um aplicativo de celular construído para o ensino dos sinais vitais. Seguiramse metodologicamente os passos propostos por Galvis-Panqueva para o processo de construção e validação de tecnologias. E neste estudo está descrita a etapa de avaliação pelo usuário. Participaram 29 acadêmicos do curso de graduação de enfermagem, que responderam a um instrumento de avaliação do aplicativo quanto às características de estilo, motivação e conteúdo. Como resultado, é possível destacar que a maior parte avaliou o aplicativo como excelente para as três características avaliadas: estilo (21-25; 72,6%-86,2%); motivação (20-25; 69,0%-86,2%); e conteúdo (21-25; 72,4%-86,2%). No tocante à adesão ao uso do aplicativo, considera-se que a avaliação demonstrada nos resultados permite sugerir que os estudantes o utilizarão de forma rotineira, conforme suas necessidades, haja vista que ao considerar altos os valores de motivação, estilo e conteúdo, estará implícito um envolvimento emocional em acreditar que o recurso poderá ser útil para auxiliar na tomada de decisões. Assim, conclui-se que o aplicativo foi bem avaliado pelo grupo de estudantes de enfermagem. Desse modo, prevê-se que esse recurso será uma alternativa viável para o fortalecimento do processo de aprendizagem

Magnetômetro de efeito Kerr espectral : primeiros resultados

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Circulation of Chikungunya virus East-Central-South Africa genotype during an outbreak in 2016-17 in Piaui State, Northeast Brazil

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus that emerged in the Americas in 2013. Infection with CHIKV is symptomatic in most of the cases and patients can develop chronic arthralgia that lasts from months to years in over 40% of the cases. The East-Central-South Africa (ECSA) genotype was introduced in Brazil in 2014, in Bahia State. Here we report the circulation of the CHIKV ECSA genotype in Piaui State, Northeast Brazil, during the years 2016-2017. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a single introduction of this lineage probably in 2015 and its maintenance at least until 2017. This analysis has also demonstrated the proximity of this genotype with isolates from neighboring States, and its partial nucleotide sequence of the viral E1 gene revealed a synapomorphy synonyms. This finding highlights the spread of the ECSA genotype in Brazil and supports its circulation in the Brazilian Northeast

Previous BCG vaccination is associated with less severe clinical progression of COVID-19

Background: BCG vaccination, originally used to prevent tuberculosis, is known to “train” the immune system to improve defence against viral respiratory infections. We investigated whether a previous BCG vaccination is associated with less severe clinical progression of COVID-19./ Methods: A case-control study comparing the proportion with a BCG vaccine scar (indicating previous vaccination) in cases and controls presenting with COVID-19 to health units in Brazil. Cases were subjects with severe COVID-19 (O2 saturation < 90%, severe respiratory effort, severe pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock). Controls had COVID-19 not meeting the definition of “severe” above. Unconditional regression was used to estimate vaccine protection against clinical progression to severe disease, with strict control for age, comorbidity, sex, educational level, race/colour, and municipality. Internal matching and conditional regression were used for sensitivity analysis./ Results: BCG was associated with high protection against COVID-19 clinical progression, over 87% (95% CI 74–93%) in subjects aged 60 or less and 35% (95% CI − 44–71%) in older subjects./ Conclusions: This protection may be relevant for public health in settings where COVID-19 vaccine coverage is still low and may have implications for research to identify vaccine candidates for COVID-19 that are broadly protective against mortality from future variants. Further research into the immunomodulatory effects of BCG may inform COVID-19 therapeutic research.