Simple shock isolator synthesis with bilinear stiffness and variable damping

Simple shock isolator synthesis with bilinear stiffness and variable dampin

Manganese bismuth thin film for large capacity digital memories

Material and system research defines accurate memory characteristics in regard to write, read, erase and data operations of manganese bismuth materials

Low level of virological failure and drug resistance among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment under programme conditions in Maputo, Mozambique

Mexico AIDS Conference 200

Silicon-on ceramic process: Silicon sheet growth and device development for the large-area silicon sheet task of the low-cost solar array project

The technical feasibility of producing solar-cell-quality sheet silicon to meet the Department of Energy (DOE) 1986 overall price goal of $0.70/watt was investigated. With the silicon-on-ceramic (SOC) approach, a low-cost ceramic substrate is coated with large-grain polycrystalline silicon by unidirectional solidification of molten silicon. This effort was divided into several areas of investigation in order to most efficiently meet the goals of the program. These areas include: (1) dip-coating; (2) continuous coating designated SCIM-coating, and acronym for Silicon Coating by an Inverted Meniscus (SCIM); (3) material characterization; (4) cell fabrication and evaluation; and (5) theoretical analysis. Both coating approaches were successful in producing thin layers of large grain, solar-cell-quality silicon. The dip-coating approach was initially investigated and considerable effort was given to this technique. The SCIM technique was adopted because of its scale-up potential and its capability to produce more conventiently large areas of SOC

The Relationship between Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Cerebral Oxygenation during Hemodialysis

Significance Statement Patients with ESKD have a high burden of ischemic brain lesions related to decline in cerebral blood flow during hemodialysis. Preliminary studies in patients on hemodialysis noted impairment in cerebrovascular reactivity, a mechanism that regulates cerebral perfusion. We found that lower cerebrovascular reactivity was associated with greater decrease in cerebral oxygen saturation during hemodialysis, particularly when accounting for changes in systemic BP. These results suggest that testing cerebrovascular reactivity could be relevant to characterizing risk of cerebral ischemia during hemodialysis and the potential sequelae of brain injury and cognitive impairment over time. Background Patients with kidney failure treated with hemodialysis (HD) may be at risk for cerebral hypoperfusion due to HD-induced BP decline in the setting of impaired cerebral autoregulation. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), the cerebrovascular response to vasoactive stimuli, may be a useful indicator of cerebral autoregulation in the HD population and identify those at risk for cerebral hypoperfusion. We hypothesize that CVR combined with intradialytic BP changes will be associated with declines in cerebral oxygenation saturation (ScO2) during HD. Methods Participants completed the MRI scans on a non-HD day and cerebral oximetry during HD. We measured CVR with resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) without a gas challenge and ScO2 saturation with near-infrared spectroscopy. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between intradialytic cerebral oxygen desaturation, intradialytic BP, and CVR in different gray matter regions. Results Twenty-six patients on HD had complete data for analysis. Sixteen patients were men, 18 had diabetes, and 20 had hypertension. Mean±SD age was 65.3±7.2 years, and mean±SD duration on HD was 11.5±9.4 months. CVR in the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG; P=0.03, r2=0.19) and insular cortex (IC; P=0.03, r2=0.19) regions negatively correlated with decline in intradialytic ScO2. Model prediction of intradialytic ScO2 improved when including intradialytic BP change and ultrafiltration rate to the ACG rsCVR (Pr2=0.48) and IC rsCVR (P=0.02, r2=0.35) models, respectively. Conclusions We found significant relationships between regional rsCVR measured in the brain and decline in intradialytic ScO2. Our results warrant further exploration of using CVR in determining a patient’s risk of cerebral ischemic injury during HD

Percolation model for nodal domains of chaotic wave functions

Nodal domains are regions where a function has definite sign. In recent paper [nlin.CD/0109029] it is conjectured that the distribution of nodal domains for quantum eigenfunctions of chaotic systems is universal. We propose a percolation-like model for description of these nodal domains which permits to calculate all interesting quantities analytically, agrees well with numerical simulations, and due to the relation to percolation theory opens the way of deeper understanding of the structure of chaotic wave functions.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Late

Two Weeks of Ischemic Conditioning Improves Walking Speed and Reduces Neuromuscular Fatigability in Chronic Stroke Survivors

This pilot study examined whether ischemic conditioning (IC), a noninvasive, cost-effective, and easy-to-administer intervention, could improve gait speed and paretic leg muscle function in stroke survivors. We hypothesized that 2 wk of IC training would increase self-selected walking speed, increase paretic muscle strength, and reduce neuromuscular fatigability in chronic stroke survivors. Twenty-two chronic stroke survivors received either IC or IC Sham on their paretic leg every other day for 2 wk (7 total sessions). IC involved 5-min bouts of ischemia, repeated five times, using a cuff inflated to 225 mmHg on the paretic thigh. For IC Sham, the cuff inflation pressure was 10 mmHg. Self-selected walking speed was assessed using the 10-m walk test, and paretic leg knee extensor strength and fatigability were assessed using a Biodex dynamometer. Self-selected walking speed increased in the IC group (0.86 ± 0.21 m/s pretest vs. 1.04 ± 0.22 m/s posttest, means ± SD; P\u3c 0.001) but not in the IC Sham group (0.92 ± 0.47 m/s pretest vs. 0.96 ± 0.46 m/s posttest; P= 0.25). Paretic leg maximum voluntary contractions were unchanged in both groups (103 ± 57 N·m pre-IC vs. 109 ± 65 N·m post-IC; 103 ± 59 N·m pre-IC Sham vs. 108 ± 67 N·m post-IC Sham; P = 0.81); however, participants in the IC group maintained a submaximal isometric contraction longer than participants in the IC Sham group (278 ± 163 s pre-IC vs. 496 ± 313 s post-IC, P = 0.004; 397 ± 203 s pre-IC Sham vs. 355 ± 195 s post-IC Sham; P = 0.46). The results from this pilot study thus indicate that IC training has the potential to improve walking speed and paretic muscle fatigue resistance poststroke

Silicon-on-ceramic process: Silicon sheet growth and device development for the large-area silicon sheet task of the low-cost solar array project

The technical feasibility of producing solar cell quality sheet silicon to meet the DOE 1986 cost goal of 70 cents/watt was investigated. The silicon on ceramic approach is to coat a low cost ceramic substrate with large grain polycrystalline silicon by unidirectional solidification of molten silicon. Results and accomplishments are summarized

Câncer de boca : expressão imuno-histoquímica de c-erbB-2, Bcl-2 e EGFR : estudo comparativo com leucoplasia e hiperplasia inflamatória

5 p.Anormalidades em genes que regulam a proliferação e morte celular podem provocar inúmeras doenças entre elas o carcinoma epidermóide de boca. Tem sido relatado que alterações genéticas nas células tumorais predizem a agressividade biológica dos tumores. Marcadores genéticos como c-erbB-2, Bcl-2 e EGFR são considerados indicadores promissores de prognósticos para as lesões cancerizáveis e as neoplasias. Objetivo: Avaliar a expressão imunohistoquímica das proteínas c-erbB-2, Bcl-2 e EGFR (oncoproteínas envolvidas na vias de proliferação celular). Material e Métodos: cento e cinco blocos de parafina contendo fragmentos de biopsias incisionais, sendo 54 de carcinomas epidermóides, 25 blocos de leucoplasias e 26 blocos de hiperlasias obtidos do Laboratório de Patologia de Boca da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS). A expressão das proteínas foi verificada através da técnica imunohistoquímica utilizando a estreptoavidina-biotina-peroxidase no Laboratório de Patologia da Universidade de Brasília (UNB). Resultados: Os resultados revelaram diferença estatisticamente significante da proteína EGFR para os carcinomas epidermóides de boca e para as demais proteínas não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as lesões. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que o EGFR pode ser utilizado como marcador em carcinoma de boca podendo contribuir para a progressão da neoplasia, porém, sendo insuficiente na predição da carcinogênese. __________________________________________________________________________________ SUMMARYAbnormalities in genes that regulate the proliferation and cell death can provoke many lesions as oral epidermal carcinoma. It has been related that genetic alterations in tumoral cells predict the biologic agressivity in the tumors. Genetic markers as cerbB-2, Bcl-2 and EGFR are considered indicators of prognostic to the pre-malignant lesions and neoplasias. Objective: to study in the fragments of incisional biopsy the expression of c-erbB-2, Bcl-2 and EGFR proteins. Materials and methods: 54 cases of epidermal carcinoma, 25 cases of neoplasias and 26 cases of hyperplasias obtained from Oral Pathology’s Laboratory of Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS). The used method was streptoavidin-biotinperoxidase in Patthology’s Laboratory of University Brasilia (UNB). Results: The results revealed positivity significant of EGFR proteins to the oral epidermal carcinoma and to the other one protein there was no statistical significant difference. Conclusions: The results suggest that EGFR can be used as a marking in oral epidermal carcinoma and can contribute to the progression of neoplasia, however, being insufficient to predict the carcinogenesis