1,421 research outputs found
An Artefact suppressing fast-recovery myoelectric amplifier
An amplifier for recording myoelectric signals using surface electrodes has been developed. The special features are suppression of stimulation artefacts and motion artefacts from electrodes. It is designed for recording of myoelectric signals from a muscle that is being stimulated with short impulses. The artifact suppression is achieved by using fast-recovery instrumentation amplifiers and having a nonlinear feedback loop for automatic compensation of changes in DC-offse
Dynamic Pattern Formation in a Vesicle-Generating Microfluidic Device
Spatiotemporal pattern formation occurs in a variety of nonequilibrium physical and chemical systems. Here we show that a microfluidic device designed to produce reverse micelles can generate complex, ordered patterns as it is continuously operated far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Flow in a microfluidic system is usually simple—viscous effects dominate and the low Reynolds number leads to laminar flow. Self-assembly of the vesicles into patterns depends on channel geometry and relative fluid pressures, enabling the production of motifs ranging from monodisperse droplets to helices and ribbons
Combined conduction, convection and radiation effects in internal flows - participating gases
Combined conduction, convection, and radiation effects on heat transfer of participating gases in internal flo
Sensitive Coverage Saves Lives: Improving media portrayal of suicidal behaviour
The report outlines the results of consultations with journalists, suicide prevention agencies and mental health groups conducted by the journalism ethics charity MediaWise. It makes recommendations for action by media organisations and suicide prevention agencies
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Realization and efficiency evaluation of a micro-photocatalytic cell prototype for real-time blood oxygenation
This paper was presented at the 2nd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2009), which was held at Brunel University, West London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IPEM, the Italian Union of Thermofluid dynamics, the Process Intensification Network, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.A novel approach to blood oxygenation is presented. Microfluidic channels molded out of PDMS (using standard soft lithography techniques) work as photocatalytic cells, where the coupling of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films and platinum electrodes, allow an electrically assisted photocatalytic reaction to produce dissolved oxygen gas from the water content of the flowing blood. The thin films were deposited onto quartz glass substrates at room temperature (300K) using reactive RF sputtering with a Ti metal target. The results of the current study, as a proof of concept, have shown that the device can generate oxygen at a rate of 4.06×10-3 mM O2/(cm2 min) and oxygenate venous blood to the oxygen saturation level of arterial blood
Advances in methods for determining fecundity: application of the new methods to some marine fishes
Estimation of individual egg production (realized fecundity)
is a key step either to understand the stock and recruit relationship or to carry out fisheries-independent
assessment of spawning stock biomass using egg production methods. Many fish are highly fecund and their ovaries may weigh over a kilogram; therefore the work time can be consuming and require large quantities of toxic fixative. Recently it has been shown for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) that image analysis can automate fecundity determination
using a power equation that links follicles per gram ovary to the mean vitellogenic follicular diameter (the autodiametric method).
In this article we demonstrate the precision of the autodiametric method applied to a range of species with different spawning strategies during maturation and spawning. A new method using a solid displacement pipette to remove quantitative fecundity samples (25, 50, 100, and 200 milligram [mg]) is evaluated, as are the underlying assumptions to effectively fix and subsample the ovary. Finally, we demonstrate the interpretation of dispersed formaldehyde-fixed ovarian samples (whole mounts) to assess the presence of atretic and postovulatory follicles to replace labor intensive histology. These results can be used to estimate down regulation (production of atretic follicles) of fecundity during maturation
Effects of Western Cultural Influence on the Growth of the Free Methodist Church Among the Membe People of Eastern Zaire
Gravitational lensing reveals ionizing ultraviolet photons escaping from a distant galaxy
During the epoch of reionisation, neutral gas in the early Universe was
ionized by hard ultraviolet radiation emitted by young stars in the first
galaxies. To do so, ionizing ultraviolet photons must escape from the host
galaxy. We present Hubble Space Telescope observations of the gravitationally
lensed galaxy PSZ1-ARC G311.6602-18.4624, revealing bright, multiply-imaged
ionizing photon escape from a compact star-forming region through a narrow
channel in an optically thick gas. The gravitational lensing magnification
shows how ionizing photons escape this galaxy, contributing to the
re-ionization of the Universe. The multiple sight lines to the source probe
absorption by intergalactic neutral hydrogen on scales of no more than a few
hundred, perhaps even less than ten, parsec.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures. Published in Scienc
The difficulty with responding to policy changes for HIV and infant feeding in Malawi
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When and how to wean breastfed infants exposed to HIV infection has provoked extensive debate, particularly in low-income countries where safe alternatives to breastfeeding are rarely available. Although there is global consensus on optimal infant-feeding practices in the form of guidelines, practices are sub-optimal in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Policy-makers and health workers face many challenges in adapting and implementing these guidelines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This paper is based on in-depth interviews with five policy-makers and 11 providers of interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, participant observations during clinic sessions and site visits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The difficulties with adapting the global infant-feeding guidelines in Malawi have affected the provision of services. There was a lack of consensus on HIV and infant-feeding at all levels and general confusion about the 2006 guidelines, particularly those recommending continued breastfeeding after six months if replacement feeding is not acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe. Health workers found it particularly difficult to advise women to continue breastfeeding after six months. They worried that they would lose the trust of the PMTCT clients and the population at large, and they feared that continued breastfeeding was unsafe. Optimal support for HIV-infected women was noted in programmes where health workers were multi-skilled; coordinated their efforts and had functional, multidisciplinary task forces and engaged communities. The recent 2009 recommendations are the first to support antiretroviral (ARV) use by mothers or children during breastfeeding. Besides promoting maternal health and providing protection against HIV infection in children, the new Rapid Advice has the potential to resolve the difficulties and confusion experienced by health workers in Malawi.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The process of integrating new evidence into institutionalised actions takes time. The challenge of keeping programmes, and especially health workers, up-to-standard is a dynamic process. Effective programmes require more than basic resources. Along with up-to-date information, health workers need contextualized, easy-to-follow guidelines in order to effectively provide services. They also require supportive supervision during the processes of change. Policy-makers should ensure that consensus is carefully considered and that comprehensive perspectives are incorporated when adapting the global guidelines.</p
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