Interposers for inter-chip interconnects should perform stably under high-temperature conditions and rapid temperature change due to the heat generated by mounted large-scale integration (LSI) chips. ...Athermal silicon optical interposers integrated with quantum dot lasers and other temperature-insensitive components on a single silicon substrate are demonstrated, and error-free data links at 12.5 Gbit/s operating from 25 to 125°C are achieved without any bias adjustment. Since maximum junction temperatures in most LSIs have been below 125°C now and will be in the future, the interposers are tolerant of heat generated by LSIs, and are suitable for inter-chip interconnects.
Development of a J-T Micro Compressor Champagne, P; Olson, J R; Nast, T ...
IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering,
12/2015, Letnik:
101, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Lockheed Martin has developed and tested a space-quality compressor capable of delivering closed-loop gas flow with a high pressure ratio, suitable for driving a Joule- Thomson cold head. The ...compressor is based on a traditional "Oxford style" dual-opposed piston compressor with linear drive motors and flexure-bearing clearance-seal technology for high reliability and long life. This J-T compressor retains the approximate size, weight, and cost of the ultra-compact, 200 gram Lockheed Martin Pulse Tube Micro Compressor, despite the addition of a flow-rectifying system to convert the AC pressure wave into a steady flow.
1. To clarify the difference in behavioural activities and catecholamine metabolism between layer and broiler-type chicks two experiments were conducted. 2. In experiment 1, 1-d-old male layer and ...broiler chicks were placed in an open-field area and their responses were investigated for 10 min. The responses of the two strains were remarkably different, with broilers being less active than layers. Vocalisations rapidly decreased in broilers whereas those of layers remained elevated during the 10 min. 3. In experiment 2, 1-d-old chicks of both strains were killed and brain catecholamine concentrations were determined in three parts of the brain: telencephalon, optic lobe and brain stem. 4. In the whole brain, dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were significantly higher in broilers. However, the values for norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (HVA) were similar between strains. The ratios of metabolite/precursor were also calculated: HVA/DOPAC was higher in layers, while NE/DA, E/NE and DOPAC/DA were not significantly different between strains. 5. These results suggest that behavioural activities differ greatly, while there are some differences in catecholamine metabolism between the two strains.
Abstract
Background/Introduction
Previous studies demonstrated that high platelet reactivity (HPR) predicts future cardiovascular death and coronary events in patients undergoing percutaneous ...coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few studies have focused on the impact of HPR on left ventricular remodeling (LVR) and each echocardiographic parameter.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of HPR in ACS patients on LVR and changes in echocardiographic volume indexes and LV ejection fraction.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data in a single center that enrolled patients who underwent emergency PCI for ACS including STEMI and NSTEMI with prasugrel loading. The primary outcome of the study was LVR associated with HPR. Secondary endpoints were changes in indexed LVESV, LVEDV, LVEF, E/e' and LAVI between baseline and follow-up. The P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) value in response to prasugrel was assessed by the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. Blood samples were collected once per procedure immediately after PCI. LVR index was calculated as the relative change in LVEDV observed at follow-up compared with baseline. LVR was defined as a relative increase in LVEDV ≥20%, measured at follow-up visit compared with the baseline value before discharge.
Results
A total of 196 ACS patients who underwent emergency PCI between January 2016 and July 2020 were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 69.9 years, and 76.0% were male. On echocardiography at follow up visit of mean duration of 7.0±4.0 months, LVR was found in 38 patients (19.4%). The optimal cutoff for PRU associated with increased LVR assessed by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was 245.5 (AUC: 0.656; 95% CI: 0.564 to 0.749; p=0.003). On the basis of this cutoff, HPR was found in 82 patients (42.1%) and the prevalence of LVR was significantly higher in the HPR group compared to the non-HPR group (30.5% vs. 11.4%; p=0.001). Multiple Cox regression analysis showed that HPR was an independent predictor of LVR (OR 4.22, 95% CI 1.83–9.71, p=0.001). In addition, Δ% EDV and Δ% ESV increased in the HPR group, and decreased in the non-HPR group with significant differences (5.8±32.6% vs. −8.0±26.2% in Δ% EDV; p=0.002, 2.0±37.5% vs. −13.3±33.0% in Δ% ESV; p=0.004, respectively). Δ%EF, Δ%E/e', Δ%LAVI were numerically improved in the non-HPR group compared with the HPR group, but this difference did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion
In patients with ACS, HPR defined as PRU ≥246 immediately after emergency PCI was an independent predictor of LVR in the chronic phase.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: None. Predictors of the presence of LVRChanges (Δ%) of LVEDV and LVESV
Abstract
Introduction
Postprocedural High platelet reactivity (HPR) seems to associate long term adverse cardiovascular events, mainly intrastent thrombosis. However, the relationship between ...hyper-acute postprocedural HPR with prasugrel loading and clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is still unclear. Moreover, factors contributing HPR in ACS with prasugrel loading are also unknown.
Purpose
This study aimed to assess the impact of hyper-acute postprocedural HPR with prasugrel loading on clinical outcomes in ACS during hospitalization, as well as to define appropriate cut-off values and identify contributing factors of HPR.
Methods
We performed a single-centre, retrospective observational study that enrolled 207 patients who underwent emergent PCI for ACS with prasugrel loading. The P2Y12reaction unit (PRU) value was measured immediately after PCI with the VerifyNow System. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE, defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia needing defibrillation).
Results
Mean patient age (standard deviation) was 70.5 (±13.0) years, 78.7% were male, and average time from prasugrel intake to PRU calculation was 98.3 (±49.1) min. During a mean hospital stay of 15.9 (±9.3) days, there were 34 in-hospital MACE (16.4%) and 10 deaths (4.8%). Thrombosis events, didn't stand out and mechanical complications, such as cardiac rupture and cardiac tamponade occupies most of cardiovascular death which occurred before 10 days on admission. PRU was significantly higher in MACE group than Non-MACE group (279±65 vs 227±72, p<0.001 respectively). The ROC curve analysis of PRU for discriminating significant in-hospital MACE showed the cut off value of 293 (sensitivity:52.9%, specificity:83.2% AUC=0.709, p<0.0001). 47patients (29.4%) were thus categorized as HPR (PRU>293) immediately after emergent PCI. Kaplan-Meyer curve showed MACE events occurred in HPR group than non-HPR group (38.2% vs 10.0%, p<0.001). Multiple cox analysis demonstrated that HPR was independent predictors of MACE in patients with ACS underwent PCI (OR 5.416, 95% CI 2.157–13.598, p<0.0001). Multiple logistic regression model showed female sex, low haemoglobin value, and large mean platelet volume were independent predictors of HPR.
Conclusion
PRU was significantly higher in MACE group, and appropriate cut-off value of HPR in this study was 293. HPR was independent predictor of MACE during hospitalization, however thrombosis event was not significant. Evidence of clinical impact with postprocedural HPR within 120 minutes after prasugrel loading is scarce. This study shows post-procedural HPR, even without sufficient time after prasugrel intake, can be a useful predictive marker of adverse events during hospitalization.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: None. PRU between Non-MACE and MACE groupKaplan-Meyer curve
Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is one of the inhibitory factors in feeding regulation of mammals. However, no information is available for avian species. The present study was done to clarify the ...effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of PrRP on feeding in chicks. Firstly, we found that ICV injection of PrRP (94–1500 pmol) significantly increased food intake in chicks. The result was completely different from those obtained in mammals. The orexigenic effect of PrRP was significantly weaker than that of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a potent orexigenic peptide, on an equimolar basis. The orexigenic effect of NPY was further enhanced with coinjection of PrRP. These results suggest the existence of a novel orexigenic mechanism in the chick brain, which might differ from NPY-involved feeding regulatory pathway. In addition, ICV injection of PrRP significantly decreased the rectal temperature, but the effect was weaker than that of NPY, suggesting that PrRP may inhibit energy expenditure in chicks. Taken together, we showed here that PrRP may be involved in the regulation of both feeding behavior and energy metabolism in the chick brain.
Recent epidemiological data suggest a link between the consumption of bovine offal products and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection in Japan. This study thus examined the ...prevalence of STEC in various types of these foods. PCR screened 229 bovine offal products for the presence of Shiga toxin (stx) gene. Thirty-eight (16·6%) samples were stx positive, of which eight were positive for rfbEO157 and three were positive for wzyO26. Four O157 and one O26 STEC isolates were finally obtained from small-intestine and omasum products. Notably, homogenates of bovine intestinal products significantly reduced the extent of growth of O157 in the enrichment process compared to homogenates of beef carcass. As co-incubation of O157 with background microbiota complex from bovine intestinal products in buffered peptone water, in the absence of meat samples, tended to reduce the extent of growth of O157, we reasoned that certain microbiota present in offal products played a role. In support of this, inoculation of generic E. coli from bovine intestinal products into the homogenates significantly reduced the extent of growth of O157 in the homogenates of bovine intestinal and loin-beef products, and this effect was markedly increased when these homogenates were heat-treated prior to inoculation. Together, this report provides first evidence of the prevalence of STEC in a variety of bovine offal products in Japan. The prevalence data herein may be useful for risk assessment of those products as a potential source of human STEC infection beyond the epidemiological background. The growth characteristic of STEC O157 in offal products also indicates the importance of being aware when to test these food products.
Abstract
Background
Patients with diabetes mellitus are at very high risk for obstructive coronary artery disease; however, invasive coronary angiography is not allowed to apply in all patients. ...Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a marker of arterial stiffness has been reported to reflect atherosclerotic burden.
Purpose
To assess the diagnostic performance of CAVI vs. coronary calcium score for detecting obstructive coronary artery disease determined by Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in asymptomatic diabetes patients.
Methods
During May 2015 to December 2019, 816 patients with diabetes mellitus were evaluated. First, intima-media thickness of carotid artery was measured in all subjects. Then, patients with intima-media thickness over 11mm underwent CAVI. Finally, 209 patients who have one or more cardiovascular risk factors other than diabetes mellitus were enrolled (68±11 years, 68% men). Patients were excluded if they had a disorder of the kidney, a prior history of coronary artery revascularization, atrial fibrillation, LV ejection fraction <50%, ABI <0.9 or allergy to contrast. Diagnostic performance of CAVI was evaluated with coronary stenosis >50% by CCTA.
Results
CAVI, Agatston score, and intima-media thickness of carotid artery were 9.2±1.3, 396±621 and 2.0±0.7mm, respectively. CAVI was significantly correlated with age (r=0.530, p<0.001), coronary artery calcification (r=0.182, p=0.008), and intima-media thickness of carotid artery (r=0.195, p=0.005). Among them, 108 patients (48%) had coronary stenosis. CAVI, Agatston score and intima-media thickness of carotid artery in patients with coronary stenosis were higher than that without coronary stenosis, respectively (9.8±1.1 vs 8.5±1.0, p<0.001, 526±676 vs. 255±525, p=0.001, 2.2±0.7 vs. 1.8±0.6, p<0.001). The ROC curve analysis of CAVI for discriminating coronary stenosis showed that the sensitivity 75.0% and specificity 77.2% at the cut off value of 9.23 (AUC=0.812, p<0.001). Contrastingly, diagnostic performance of coronary calcium score and intima-media thickness of carotid artery were less than CAVI (sensitivity: 91.7%, specificity: 56.4%, AUC=0.753, p<0.05 vs. CAVI, sensitivity: 68.5%, specificity: 59.4%, AUC=0.663, p<0.05 vs. CAVI). Multivariate logistic analysis demonstrated that CAVI was significantly associated with coronary stenosis (OR=4.133, p<0.001) after adjustment of conventional risk factors, although coronary calcium score was not correlated with coronary stenosis.
Conclusion
CAVI could be informative to select patients having obstructive coronary artery disease in asymptomatic diabetes patients with thick intima-media thickness.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: None.
This study aimed to obtain and evaluate hydroxyapatites (HAp) as nanoparticles and nanorods for use in self-etching adhesive. The effect of co-inclusion of a multifunctional quaternary ammonium ...methacrylate polymer (QAMP) on their mechanical, cell viability, and morphological properties was also investigated. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HApP24 and HApP36) and nanorod-shaped hydroxyapatite (HApR14) were characterized by XRPD, SEM-FEG, and FTIR spectroscopy. HApP24, HApP36, HApR14, and HApR14 + QAMP were added to Clearfil™ SE Bond. Microtensile bond strength (μTBS), cell viability (MTT method), and cell morphology (SEM) of these adhesives were studied. Characterization data confirmed that hydroxyapatites were successfully synthesized. Significant decrease μTBS was achieved for Clearfil™ SE Bond + HApP24 (p = 0.031) and Clearfil™ SE Bond + HApP36 (p = 0.008) when immediate (IM) and 12 months (12 M) were compared. No statistical difference (p > 0.05) was achieved when six months (6 M) and 12 M results of μTBS were compared for Clearfil™ SE Bond + HApR14. Clearfil™ SE Bond + QAMP, Clearfil™ SE Bond + HApR14 + QAMP, and Clearfil™ SE Bond presented no significant difference comparing storage periods. Lower cell viability was achieved when HApP24 and HApP36 were included to Clearfil™ SE Bond. Co-inclusion of QAMP + HApR14 into Clearfil™ SE Bond improved (p = 0.049) the viability of cells when compared to Clearfil™ SE Bond. SEM micrographs of fibroblast-like cells demonstrated consistent results with cell viability. This is the first report that hydrothermal nanorods of HAp and QAMP are co-included into adhesive system for providing remineralizing and antimicrobial properties at the same time as they kept bond stability.
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