AN ANALYTIC MODEL FOR PTH/PWB STRESS DUE TO THREE-DIMENSIONAL FORCES GENERATED BY SYMMETRIC COMPLIANT-PINS

ABSTRACT Analytical models are presented, to address the deformations and stresses caused in PWBs by compliant-pins used for solder-less component-interconnection technologies. These models are proposed for rapid-assessment capabilities when designing such interconnect assemblies for reliability. This model is based on mechanistic understanding of the physics of the pin insertion process. Previous studies in the literature focused on analytic solutions for the in-plane (radial and tangential) forces generated in the PWB & PTH due to the compliant-pin. In this study, the approach is extended to three-dimensional solutions by approximately including the axial forces generated by friction during the compliant-pin insertion process. The solution is linear elastic and is based on Fourier series expansions of the contact forces generated by the compliantpin. This approximate solution therefore is appropriate for rapid-assessment capabilities for parametric trade-off studies and design guidelines. Model parameters include PWB holediameter, PTH plating thickness, and the PTH and PWB material properties. The model can be used with any mirrorsymmetric compliant-pin geometry and stiffness. The numerical predictions allow us to quantify the dependence of the stresses in the PWB on compliant-pin geometry and on the PTH construction

Selective brain response to voices at four months of age

International audienc

Experimental parkinsonism modulates multiple genes involved in the transduction of dopaminergic signals in the striatum

The irreversible loss of the dopamine-mediated control of striatal function is considered the functional substrate of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This pathological event causes a complex rearrangement of neuronal activity which involves specific dopamine-regulated cellular functions and, secondarily, several other cellular properties and transmitter systems. In the present study, we applied recently developed cDNA microarray technology to investigate the genetic correlates of the alterations produced by 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopamine denervation in the nucleus striatum. We found that chronic dopamine denervation caused the modulation of 50 different genes involved in several cellular functions. In particular, products of the genes modulated by this experimental manipulation are involved both in the intracellular transduction of dopamine signal and in the regulation of glutamate transmission in striatal neurons, providing some information on the possible neuronal events which lead to the reorganization of glutamate transmission in the striatum of parkinsonian rats

The acetabulum as an adult age marker and the new IDADE2 (the IDADE2 web page)

Objective: In 2006, an age estimation method was proposed utilizing Bayesian inference to interpret age-progressive changes in the acetabulum. This was accompanied by the IDADE2 software to facilitate calculations. However, the MS-DOS operating system on which the software was based became obsolete. The main goal of this article is to present the new IDADE2, which incorporates web-based facilities. Materials and methods: The original IDADE2 has been re-written in R and presented as a web page. As in the original, this web page uses Bayesian inference to estimate age of unidentified individuals. The materials used to create the reference datasets of this web page include acetabular scores from documented skeletal samples from Spain (n = 24♀ and 52♂), Portugal (n = 317♀ and 294♂), and the US (n = 370♀ and 456♂). Results: The IDADE2 website has eight sections. Six of these are informative to guide the user. The other two (Option 1 and Option 2) are dedicated to estimating age at death. Option 1 allows users to estimate the age of individual(s) in their test sample based on our reference data of acetabular scores. Option 2 allows users to estimate age from the acetabulum with their own reference and test collections or— if the users prefer—another age marker and method of choice. Discussion: The IDADE2 website is applicable both to forensic anthropological casework on single individuals and to bioarchaeological analyses of large skeletal samples. This website is easy to use and freely accessible, responding to previous critiques and incorporating method advancements.Journal ArticlePublishe

Evaluation of HER2-specific peptide ligand for its employment as radiolabeled imaging probe

HER2 transmembrane receptor is an important target in immunotherapy treatment of breast and gastroesophageal cancer. Molecular imaging of HER2 expression may provide essential prognostic and predictive information concerning disseminated cancer and aid in selection of an optimal therapy. Radiolabeled low molecular weight peptide ligands are particularly attractive as probes for molecular imaging, since they reach and bind to the target and clear from non-target organs and blood stream faster than bulky antibodies. In this study, we evaluated a potential HER2-imaging probe, an A9 nonapeptide, derived from the trastuzumab-Fab portion. Its cellular uptake was investigated by mass spectrometry analysis of the cytoplasmic cellular extracts. Moreover, based on in-silico modeling, DTPA chelator was conjugated to N-terminus of A9. 111In-labeled A9 demonstrated nanomolar affinity to HER2-expressing BT474 cells and favorable biodistribution profile in NMRI mice. This study suggests that the peptide A9 represents a good lead candidate for development of molecular probe, to be used for imaging purposes and for the delivery of cytotoxic agents

Long-term treatment with autologous red blood cells loaded with dexamethasone 21-phosphate in pediatric patients affected by steroid-dependent Crohn disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present in childhood in 15% to 25% of cases. The aim of therapy in children is not only to guarantee normal growth but also to prevent relapse and to maintain remission. Steroids are effective to induce remission; however, resistance, dependency, and irreversible side effects can develop. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment with repeated infusions of autologous red blood cells (RBCs) loaded with dexamethasone 21-phosphate (Dex 21-P) is safe and allows maintenance of long-term remission in children with steroid-dependent Crohn disease (CD)

PKC theta mediates pre-TCR signaling and contributes to Notch3-induced T-cell leukemia

Protein kinase (PK)Ctheta is a critical regulator of mature T-cell activation and proliferation, being implicated in TCR-triggered nuclear factor (NF)-kB activation and providing important survival signals to leukemic T cells. We previously showed that overexpression of pTalpha/pre- TCR and constitutive activation of NF-kB characterize the T-cell leukemia/lymphoma developing in Notch3-IC transgenic mice. We report here that PKCtheta is a downstream target of Notch3 signaling and that its activation and membrane translocation require a functional pre-TCR in order to trigger NF-kB activation in thymocytes and lymphoma cells of transgenic mice. Furthermore, deletion of PKCtheta in Notch3-IC transgenic mice reduces the incidence of leukemia, correlating with decreased NF-kB activation. This paper therefore suggests that PKCtheta mediates the activation of NF-kB by pre-TCR in immature thymocytes and contributes to the development of Notch3-dependent T-cell lymphoma