Flow configurations in a Y splitting-junction microchannel

In the present work, the flow field in a splitting-junction micro channel with a Y shape, which is the simplest geometry to be employed for heat and mass transfer in micro-devices such as micro-heat-exchangers and micro-mixers, is investigated experimentally using micro Particle Image Velocimetry (microPIV). The angular divergence in the Y splitting is changed, as well as the Reynolds number, in order to investigate the instantaneous and mean flow fields to determine which configurations are more suitable for practical applications. The results show that the flow configuration is strongly dependent on the Y shape angle, especially in the junction part, and that there is also a significant dependence on the Reynolds number

Hybrid inorganic/organic photonic crystal biochips for cancer biomarkers detection

We report on hybrid inorganic/organic one-dimensional photonic crystal biochips sustaining Bloch surface waves. The biochips were used, together with an optical platform operating in a label-free and fluorescence configuration simultaneously, to detect the cancer biomarker Angiopoietin 2 in a protein base buffer. The hybrid photonic crystals embed in their geometry a thin functionalization poly-acrylic acid layer deposited by plasma polymerization, which is used to immobilize a monoclonal antibody for highly specific biological recognition. The fluorescence operation mode is described in detail, putting into evidence the role of field enhancement and localization at the photonic crystal surface in the shaping and intensification of the angular fluorescence pattern. In the fluorescence operation mode, the hybrid biochips can attain the limit of detection 6 ng/ml.We report on hybrid inorganic/organic one-dimensional photonic crystal biochips sustaining Bloch surface waves. The biochips were used, together with an optical platform operating in a label-free and fluorescence configuration simultaneously, to detect the cancer biomarker Angiopoietin 2 in a protein base buffer. The hybrid photonic crystals embed in their geometry a thin functionalization poly-acrylic acid layer deposited by plasma polymerization, which is used to immobilize a monoclonal antibody for highly specific biological recognition. The fluorescence operation mode is described in detail, putting into evidence the role of field enhancement and localization at the photonic crystal surface in the shaping and intensification of the angular fluorescence pattern. In the fluorescence operation mode, the hybrid biochips can attain the limit of detection 6 ng/ml

The Effect of Interviewer Experience, Attitudes, Personality and Skills on Respondent Co-operation with Face-to-Face Surveys

This paper examines the role of interviewers' experience, attitudes, personality traits and inter-personal skills in determining survey co-operation, conditional on contact. We take the perspective that these characteristics influence interviewers' behaviour and hence influence the doorstep interaction between interviewer and sample member. Previous studies of the association between doorstep behaviour and co-operation have not directly addressed the role of personality traits and inter-personal skills and most have been based on small samples of interviewers. We use a large sample of 842 face-to-face interviewers working for a major survey institute and analyse co-operation outcomes for over 100,000 cases contacted by those interviewers over a 13-month period. We find evidence of effects of experience, attitudes, personality traits and inter-personal skills on co-operation rates. Several of the effects of attitudes and inter-personal skills are explained by differences in experience, though some independent effects remain. The role of attitudes, personality and skills seems to be greatest for the least experienced interviewers

Trattamento chirurgico dell'ernia perineale nel cane

RIASSUNTO Parole chiave: cane, maschio, ernia perineale, trattamento chirurgico, complicazioni Obbiettivo: Lo scopo del presente lavoro è stato quello di comparare i risultati ottenuti dalle tre tecniche chirurgiche, trasposizione del muscolo otturatore interno, trasposizione del muscolo otturatore interno più applicazione di una rete in polipropilene e trasposizione del muscolo semitendinoso, dimostrando (in base alla nostra casistica) che in realtà quella con l’otturatore, nonostante sia la tecnica più antica, risulta essere la migliore. Materiali e metodi: sono stati presi in considerazione 20 pazienti con sintomi clinici riferibili all’ernia perineale arrivati presso l’Ospedale Didattico “M. Modenato” di San Piero a Grado (PI) nel periodo di tempo compreso tra Giugno 2009 e Marzo 2014. Inoltre sono stati inclusi nelle considerazioni generali, 6 casi gentilmente concessi dal Professore Paolo Buracco dell’università di Torino e 8 casi riferibili allo studio effettuato da Stephanie Szabo, della North Carolina State University nel 2004. I casi raccolti nella nostra struttura, dopo essere stati sottoposti a trasposizione del muscolo otturatore interno, per risoluzione dell’ernia perineale, sono stati monitorati durante il ricovero, durato 2-3 giorni, per valutare l’insorgenza di eventuali complicazioni a breve termine. Dopo essere stati dimessi, abbiamo contattato telefonicamente i proprietari a distanza di 6 mesi dall’intervento, per valutare l’insorgenza di complicazioni a lungo termine. Tutti i dati ottenuti sono stati raccolti in tabelle. Nel nostro studio inoltre alcuni soggetti sono stati sottoposti ad altri interventi, volti a migliorare la sintomatologia ed evitare l’insorgenza di complicazioni o recidiva dell’ernia: colopessi, cistopessi e orchiectomia. I restanti casi, trattati rispettivamente con trasposizione del muscolo otturatore interno, più rete in polipropilene e trasposizione del muscolo semitendinoso, sono stati analizzati in base ai dati a disposizione, raggruppati in tabelle e comparati con la nostra casistica. Risultati: Su 20 casi raccolti la maggior parte ha mostrato complicazioni a breve termine significative, ad eccezione di 6 casi, in cui abbiamo riscontrato delle lievi alterazioni. Nello specifico tali complicazioni sono riferibili a dolore post- operatorio moderato, nessuna defecazione durante il primo giorno di ricovero, urinazione mediante cateterizzazione e difficoltà nella deambulazione; la maggior parte di queste complicazioni è dovuta non solo all’intervento subito ma soprattutto, sono legate al fatto che tutti i soggetti nella nostra struttura vengono trattati con l’epidurale. Sono invece completamente assenti le complicazioni a lungo termine. Conclusioni: I risultati ottenuti dall’analisi della nostra casistica indicano che la tecnica di erniorrafia con trasposizione del muscolo otturatore interno, nonostante sia la più antica tra le tre tecniche, garantisce l’esito migliore. Nonostante la letteratura indichi che tale approccio chirurgico presenti una percentuale di recidiva del 4,6% e di infezioni del 12% (Sjollema BE, 1993), nel nostro studio, su 20 casi, non è comparsa nessuna recidiva nelle indagini effettuate telefonicamente a distanza dei sei mesi dall’intervento. Inoltre per avere un esito ancora migliore, sarebbe vantaggioso associare colopessi, cistopessi e orchiectomia. Due sono i fattori importanti che andrebbero sempre presi in considerzione: la selezione del paziente e educazione pre e post-operatoria del cliente.   Abstract Key words: dog, male, perineal hernia, surgical treatment, complications Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the results obtained from the three surgical techniques, transposition of the internal obturator muscle, use of polypropylene mesh in addition to internal obturator transposition and transposition of the semitendinosus muscle, showing (according to our survey) that in reality that with the shutter, although it is the oldest technique, appears to be the best. Materials and Methods: Taken into consideration are static 20 patients with clinical symptoms related to perineal hernia arrived at Vet Hospital 'M. Modenato '(PI) in the period from June 2009 to March 2014. Addition are static University included in General, 6 cases kindly provided by Professor Paul Buracco University of Turin and 8 cases related to the Study performed by Stephanie Szabo, North Carolina State University in 2004. Cases collected in our structure, after being subjected to the transposition of the internal obturator muscle, for resolution perineal hernia, were monitored during hospitalization, which lasted 2-3 days to evaluate the occurrence of any complications in the short term. After being discharged, we contacted the owners by telephone at 6 months after surgery to assess the onset of long-term complications. All data were tabulated. In our study, some subjects also underwent other interventions, aimed at improving the symptoms and prevent the onset of complications or recurrence of the hernia: colopessi, cistopessi and orchiectomy. The remaining cases were treated respectively with transposition of the internal obturator muscle, more polypropylene mesh and transposition of the semitendinosus muscle were analyzed based on the data available, grouped in tables and compared with our series. Results: Out of 20 collected cases, most showed significant complications in the short term, with the exception of 6 cases, in which we found some slight alterations. Specifically, these complications are related to moderate post-operative pain, no bowel movements during the first day of hospitalization, catheterization through urination and difficulty in walking; the majority of these complications is due, not only to the intervention immediately, but are primarily related to the fact that all the subjects in our structure are treated with an epidural. Are completely absent long-term complications. Conclusion: The results obtained from the analysis of our study indicate that the technique of herniorrhaphy with transposition of the internal obturator muscle, despite being the oldest of the three techniques, ensures the best outcome. Although the literature indicates that such a surgical approach present a recurrence rate of 4.6% and 12% of infections (Sjollema BE, 1993), in our study, out of 20 cases, there is no recurrence appeared in the investigations conducted by telephone from a distance six months after surgery. Furthermore, to get an even better outcome, it would be advantageous to associate colopessi, cistopessi and orchiectomy. There are two important factors that should always be taken in consideration: patient selection and pre-and post-operative education of the customer

Between censorship and innovation: The translation of American comics during Italian Fascism

This article outlines the main issues surrounding the process of import, translation and cultural adaptation of American comics in Italy from 1908 to 1942. During this time, the first comics were translated from Europe and the United States, leading to a revolution in Italian children’s literature. These were also the years in which comics began to be perceived as a political, as well as pedagogical problem, which prompted the Fascist regime to issue censorship measures aimed at limiting their circulation. The aesthetic and ideological dimension of comics will be investigated alongside the different strategies of translation and adaptation used by Italian editors and cartoonists. The reasons behind the disapproval of comics by Italian pedagogues, and the ambivalent attitude of the Fascist regime, will also be explored. In conclusion, my analysis aims to offer insights into the cultural function of children’s literature during Fascism and the specific role of comics as a site for innovation

Frisson : Thrill

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-ps/2745/thumbnail.jp

Cavitation bubble wall pressure measurement by an electromagnetic surface wave enhanced pump-probe configuration

We report on the measurement of the pressure associated with a shock wave within a very thin layer (100 nm) in proximity of a boundarysurface. In the experiments, the shock wave was emitted by a cavitation bubble generated by a pulsed pump laser in water. We developed apump-probe setup based on the detection of the light scattered at the surface of a one-dimensional photonic crystal, which was purposelydesigned to sustain a surface electromagnetic wave in the visible range and to enhance the optical response. In order to better understand thephenomenon, we implemented numerical simulations to describe the light scattering intensity distributions through a modified Rayleigh’smethod. We report, with a LoD of about 0.1 MPa, the measurements of the pressure at a surface in the presence of a laser-induced cavitationbubble generated at different distances from the surface and for different pulse energies

Design rules for combined label-free and fluorescence Bloch surface wave biosensors

We report on the fabrication and physical characterization of optical biosensors implementing simultaneous label-free and fluorescence detection and taking advantage of the excitation of Bloch surface waves at a photonic crystal’s truncation interface. Two types of purposely-designed one dimensional photonic crystals on molded organic substrates with micro-optics were fabricated. These feature either high or low finesse of the Bloch surface wave resonances and were tested on the same optical readout system. The experimental results show that designing biochips with a large resonance quality factor does not necessarily lead in the real case to an improvement of the biosensor performance. Conditions for optimal biochips’ design and operation of the complete bio-sensing platform are established