Surgical resection of a giant peripheral ossifying fibroma in mouth floor managed with fiberscopic intubation

Tracheal intubation for general anesthesia can sometimes be difficult in patients with a large mass in the mouth floor. Preoperative evaluation of the patient's airway is most important when treating large oral disease

Glutamate May Be an Efferent Transmitter That Elicits Inhibition in Mouse Taste Buds

Recent studies suggest that l-glutamate may be an efferent transmitter released from axons innervating taste buds. In this report, we determined the types of ionotropic synaptic glutamate receptors present on taste cells and that underlie this postulated efferent transmission. We also studied what effect glutamate exerts on taste bud function. We isolated mouse taste buds and taste cells, conducted functional imaging using Fura 2, and used cellular biosensors to monitor taste-evoked transmitter release. The findings show that a large fraction of Presynaptic (Type III) taste bud cells (∼50%) respond to 100 µM glutamate, NMDA, or kainic acid (KA) with an increase in intracellular Ca2+. In contrast, Receptor (Type II) taste cells rarely (4%) responded to 100 µM glutamate. At this concentration and with these compounds, these agonists activate glutamatergic synaptic receptors, not glutamate taste (umami) receptors. Moreover, applying glutamate, NMDA, or KA caused taste buds to secrete 5-HT, a Presynaptic taste cell transmitter, but not ATP, a Receptor cell transmitter. Indeed, glutamate-evoked 5-HT release inhibited taste-evoked ATP secretion. The findings are consistent with a role for glutamate in taste buds as an inhibitory efferent transmitter that acts via ionotropic synaptic glutamate receptors

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

Two Step Ni/Cu Metallization for Commercial c-Si Solar Cells: 1 to 10 Suns

A new metallization scheme as an alternative to screen printed metallization for crystalline Si (c-Si) solar cells is studied with an objective to reduce the series resistance. The reduction in series resistance of solar cells results in an improved efficiency at one-sun as well as at low concentration levels (less than 10 suns). Commercially processed c-Si solar cells without front contacts are used as a starting point. A new technique of polymer sheet masking and laser engraving is used to open the Si(x)N(y) antireflective coating (ARC) followed by two step metallization consisting of electrodeposited Ni and Cu for the front contact. The deposited Ni layer on Si substrate is then annealed (to obtain nickel silicide (NiSi)). This is followed by Cu electroplating on the silicide layer. An optimum temperature and time for Ni annealing to obtain NiSi is investigated based on the solar cells parameters such as eta, I(sc), V(oc) and FF at one sun. It is observed that the optimum result of the solar cell is obtained for annealing temperature 420 degrees C with efficiency levels within 13-14%. These solar cells are then used to fabricate a low concentrator c-Si solar cell whose performance is tested between the concentration levels of two to four suns.

A novel two step metallization of Ni/Cu for low concentrator c-Si solar cells

In this work use of Ni/Cu double layers as front contact on commercial c-Si solar cells for low concentration application is proposed. The front contact consists of Ni and Cu layers, which are deposited using electroless deposition and electroplating, respectively. These double layers of metals help in reducing the series resistance of solar cells. Ni is deposited on Si wafers (solar cells processed up to ARC deposition but without front contact), using Ni salt and a reducing agent in an electroless bath. Further the Ni deposited wafers are annealed between temperatures 400 and 430 degrees C, to obtain NiSi (nickel suicide), which lowers the contact resistivity between Ni and Si. Formation of NiSi and reduction in contact resistivity are confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission line model (TLM) analysis. Contact resistivity as low as 9 m Omega cm(2) is achieved for the annealed wafers. The NiSi layer is further electroplated with Cu to reduce metal grid line resistance. A reduction in series resistance of about 50% as compared with commercial Ag screen printed solar cells (series resistance approximately 40 m Omega) is achieved for the Ni/Cu plated front contact solar cells (series resistance approximately 20 m Omega) of area 4 x 4 cm(2).I-V characteristic of these solar cells under 2-4 suns concentration is measured and their performance compared with those of commercial Ag screen printed solar cells.

Silver-coated carbon nanotubes downregulate the expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence genes: a potential mechanism for their antimicrobial effect

Ejovwoke Dosunmu, Atul A Chaudhari, Shree R Singh, Vida A Dennis, Shreekumar R Pillai Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, USA Abstract: The antimicrobial activity of silver-coated carbon nanotubes (AgCNTs) and their potential mode of action against mucoid and nonmucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated in vitro. The results showed that AgCNTs exhibited antimicrobial activity against both strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations of approximately 8 µg/mL, indicating a high sensitivity of P. aeruginosa to AgCNTs. AgCNTs were also bactericidal against both strains at the same minimum inhibitory concentration. Scanning and transmission electron-microscopy studies further revealed that a majority of the cells treated with AgCNTs transformed from smooth rod-shape morphology to disintegrated cells with broken/damaged membranes, resulting in leakage of cytoplasmic contents to produce ghost cells. The molecular effects of AgCNTs on P. aeruginosa genes involved in virulence and pathogenicity, stress response, and efflux pumps were evaluated for changes in their expression. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that after exposure to AgCNTs, the expression levels of the rpoS, rsmZ, and oprD genes were significantly downregulated in both strains of P. aeruginosa compared to the untreated samples. These results suggest that the mechanism of action of AgCNTs may be attributed to their effect on cell-membrane integrity, downregulation of virulence-gene expression, and induction of general and oxidative stress in P. aeruginosa. Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, AgCNT, antimicrobial activity, qRT-PC