Three-dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Structure Enabled Nanothermite Membrane of Mn2O3/Al

Mn2O3 has been selected to realize nanothermite membrane for the first time in the literature. Mn2O3/Al nanothermite has been synthesized by magnetron sputtering a layer of Al film onto three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Mn2O3 skeleton. The energy release is significantly enhanced owing to the unusual 3DOM structure, which ensures Al and Mn2O3 to integrate compactly in nanoscale and greatly increase effective contact area. The morphology and DSC curve of the nanothermite membrane have been investigated at various aluminizing times. At the optimized aluminizing time of 30 min, energy release reaches a maximum of 2.09 kJ∙g−1, where the Al layer thickness plays a decisive role in the total energy release. This method possesses advantages of high compatibility with MEMS and can be applied to other nanothermite systems easily, which will make great contribution to little-known nanothermite research

The human semicircular canal model of galvanic vestibular stimulation

A vector summation model of the action of galvanic stimuli on the semicircular canals has been shown to explain empirical balance and perceptual responses to binaural-bipolar stimuli. However, published data suggest binaural-monopolar stimuli evoke responses that are in the reverse direction of the model prediction. Here, we confirm this by measuring balance responses to binaural-monopolar stimulation as movements of the upper trunk. One explanation for the discrepancy is that the galvanic stimulus might evoke an oppositely directed balance response from the otolith organs that sums with and overrides the semicircular canal response. We tested this hypothesis by measuring sway responses across the full range of head pitch. The results showed some modulation of sway with pitch such that the maximal response occurred with the head in the primary position. However, the effect fell a long way short of that required to reverse the canal sway response. This indicates that the model is incomplete. Here, we examine alterations to the model that could explain both the bipolar and monopolar-evoked behavioural responses. An explanation was sought by remodelling the canal response with more recent data on the orientation of the individual canals. This improved matters but did not reverse the model prediction. However, the model response could be reversed by either rotating the entire labyrinth in the skull or by altering the gains of the individual canals. The most parsimonious solution was to use the more recent canal orientation data coupled with a small increase in posterior canal gain

Implementing ABC: An Analysis of its Architecture In Terms of Structuration Cycle

International audienceno abstrac

Évaluation d’un outil de mesure avec affichage de la norme en temps réel pour les biométries fœtales

International audienceObjectifs: La plupart des appareils à ultrasons comprennent un outil permettant l’affichage en temps réel de la valeur standard de la mesure biométrique prise. Notre hypothèse était que cet outil influence l’échographiste au fur et à mesure des mesures, en induisant une normalisation, donc une tendance vers le 50e centile. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’impact d’un affichage en temps réel de la valeur standard dans le dépistage par échographie prénatale.Méthode: Nous avons mené une étude observationnelle, prospective, contrôlée et ouverte incluant tous les patients ayant subi une échographie prénatale au 2ème ou 3ème trimestre aux Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg entre décembre 2017 et juin 2018. Les critères d’exclusion étaient la présence d’une anomalie morphologique fœtale ou d’une anomalie caryotypique. L’outil testé était l’affichage en temps réel à l’écran de l’âge gestationnel, dont la mesure correspond au 50e centile. Les mesures ont été rétrospectivement transformées en Z-scores. Le principal point final était de comparer la distribution des scores Z entre les groupes.Résultats: Nous avons inclus 3551 examens échographiques: 696 effectués avec l’outil et 2796 effectués sans. Cinquante-neuf scans ont été exclus en raison d’anomalies morphologiques. Il n’y avait pas de différence statistiquement significative entre les distributions Z-scores des mesures effectuées avec ou sans l’outil, quel que soit le paramètre étudié. Il n’y avait pas non plus de différence dans la détection des mesures pathologiques: en dessous du 10e centile ou au-dessus du 90e centile.Conclusion: L’utilisation d’un tel outil ne semble pas nuire au dépistage biométrique, mais ne semble pas non plus utile

Intertwining threshold settings, biological data and database knowledge to optimize the selection of differentially expressed genes from microarray

Background: Many tools used to analyze microarrays in different conditions have been described. However, the integration of deregulated genes within coherent metabolic pathways is lacking. Currently no objective selection criterion based on biological functions exists to determine a threshold demonstrating that a gene is indeed differentially expressed. Methodology/Principal Findings: To improve transcriptomic analysis of microarrays, we propose a new statistical approach that takes into account biological parameters. We present an iterative method to optimise the selection of differentially expressed genes in two experimental conditions. The stringency level of gene selection was associated simultaneously with the p-value of expression variation and the occurrence rate parameter associated with the percentage of donors whose transcriptomic profile is similar. Our method intertwines stringency level settings, biological data and a knowledge database to highlight molecular interactions using networks and pathways. Analysis performed during iterations helped us to select the optimal threshold required for the most pertinent selection of differentially expressed genes. Conclusions/Significance: We have applied this approach to the well documented mechanism of human macrophage response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. We thus verified that our method was able to determine with the highest degree of accuracy the best threshold for selecting genes that are truly differentially expressed

Intertwining threshold settings, biological data and database knowledge to optimize the selection of differentially expressed genes from microarray

Background: Many tools used to analyze microarrays in different conditions have been described. However, the integration of deregulated genes within coherent metabolic pathways is lacking. Currently no objective selection criterion based on biological functions exists to determine a threshold demonstrating that a gene is indeed differentially expressed. Methodology/Principal Findings: To improve transcriptomic analysis of microarrays, we propose a new statistical approach that takes into account biological parameters. We present an iterative method to optimise the selection of differentially expressed genes in two experimental conditions. The stringency level of gene selection was associated simultaneously with the p-value of expression variation and the occurrence rate parameter associated with the percentage of donors whose transcriptomic profile is similar. Our method intertwines stringency level settings, biological data and a knowledge database to highlight molecular interactions using networks and pathways. Analysis performed during iterations helped us to select the optimal threshold required for the most pertinent selection of differentially expressed genes. Conclusions/Significance: We have applied this approach to the well documented mechanism of human macrophage response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. We thus verified that our method was able to determine with the highest degree of accuracy the best threshold for selecting genes that are truly differentially expressed