To evaluate the effects of diffuse contamination, biological measurements were applied in a scrap cargo harbour, a marina and an industrial area. Metal accumulation and biomarkers (survival in air, ...digestive gland and gonad histopathology, lysosomal membrane stability, intralysosomal metal accumulation, transcription of vitellogenin and MT20, peroxisome proliferation and micronuclei formation) were measured in transplanted mussels, together with metrics of benthic invertebrates. Benthic species were classified into ecological groups and univariate indexes were calculated. The marina showed high richness (16) and percentage of opportunistic species (55.1%) and low metal accumulation. Mussels in the scrap cargo harbour showed high metal accumulation, up-regulation of MT20 transcription, reduced health status (LP<6min) and increased micronuclei frequencies (up to 11.3‰). At the industrial area, low species richness (4) and badly organised assemblages were detected and chemical analyses indicated significant amounts of bioavailable metals. Overall, selected biological measurements showed potential for the assessment of diffuse contamination.
•Effects of diffuse contamination were assessed on caged mussels and benthic invertebrates.•Low exposure to metals and well structured communities were recorded in the marina harbour.•Metals available at scrap cargo harbour can be related to micronuclei formation and reduced health.•Metal accumulation and poor benthic assemblages were found at the industrial area.•Responses at several organisation levels give information on effects at different time scales.
Design and performance of the CMS pixel detector readout chip Kästli, H.Chr; Barbero, M.; Erdmann, W. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
09/2006, Letnik:
565, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The readout chip for the CMS pixel detector has to deal with an enormous data rate. On-chip zero suppression is inevitable and hit data must be buffered locally during the latency of the first level ...trigger. Dead-time must be kept at a minimum. It is dominated by contributions coming from the readout. To keep it low an analog readout scheme has been adopted where pixel addresses are analog coded.
We present the architecture of the final CMS pixel detector readout chip with special emphasis on the analog readout chain. Measurements of its performance are discussed.
Voices are the most relevant social sounds for humans and therefore have crucial adaptive value in development. Neuroimaging studies in adults have demonstrated the existence of regions in the ...superior temporal sulcus that respond preferentially to voices. Yet, whether voices represent a functionally specific category in the young infant's mind is largely unknown. We developed a highly sensitive paradigm relying on fast periodic auditory stimulation (FPAS) combined with scalp electroencephalography (EEG) to demonstrate that the infant brain implements a reliable preferential response to voices early in life. Twenty-three 4-month-old infants listened to sequences containing non-vocal sounds from different categories presented at 3.33 Hz, with highly heterogeneous vocal sounds appearing every third stimulus (1.11 Hz). We were able to isolate a voice-selective response over temporal regions, and individual voice-selective responses were found in most infants within only a few minutes of stimulation. This selective response was significantly reduced for the same frequency-scrambled sounds, indicating that voice selectivity is not simply driven by the envelope and the spectral content of the sounds. Such a robust selective response to voices as early as 4 months of age suggests that the infant brain is endowed with the ability to rapidly develop a functional selectivity to this socially relevant category of sounds.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Numerous minimally invasive approaches to the skull base have been successively developed. Knowledge of the surgical nuances of a specific approach may facilitate approach ...selection. This study sought to compare the nuances of an extended version of the minipterional craniotomy (EMPT) with those of the transorbital endoscopic approach (TOEA) to the anterior and middle cranial fossae (ACF and MCF, respectively).
OBJECTIVE
To quantitatively analyze and compare the area of exposure and surgical freedom between EMPT and TOEA to the ACF and MCF.
METHODS
EMPT and TOEA were carried out in 5 latex-injected cadaveric heads, bilaterally (10 sides). For each approach, the area of exposure, surgical freedom, and angle of attack were obtained with neuronavigation and statistically compared.
RESULTS
No significant difference was found between the mean area of exposure of EMPT and TOEA at the ACF and MCF (P = .709 and .317, respectively). The mean exposure area at the ACF was of 13.4 ± 2.6 cm2 (mean ± standard deviation) and 13.0 ± 1.9 cm2 for EMPT and TOEA, respectively. Except for the crista galli, EMPT afforded a larger area of surgical freedom at all targets. EMPT also achieved significantly greater attack angles in vertical axis except to the crista galli. The horizontal attack angles to all targets were similar between approaches.
CONCLUSION
EMPT and TOEA offer a comparable area of exposure at the ACF and MCF in the cadaver; however, the instrument maneuverability afforded by EMPT is superior. Further studies are necessary to better define their precise surgical application.
•Synergy between PPF and IGF has been studied in gypsum-based composites.•Energy of fracture and flexural strength are increased with IGF in composites with and without fibers, especially in those ...with fibers achieving an optimization of the fiber.•Thermal conductivities are increased with IGF.•IGF as addition in gypsum-based panels and drywalls reinforced with PPF increases the mechanical strength and the durability of the products which depend on these mixtures.
This paper deals with the enhancement of gypsum composites through the synergic work of polypropylene fibers (PPF) and isostatic graphite filler (IGF) additions. IGF is a waste by-product that has shown a good performance in plain gypsum, and in this research it is demonstrated that it can also be revalorized as gypsum matrix activator in reinforced gypsum-based composites. Hence, several series of gypsum composites with a 0–0.6% volume of PPF and with 0–5–10–15–20–25% of graphite addition by weight substitution of gypsum were developed and the mechanical and physical properties tested. The microstructure of the composite and the contact surface with fiber are also analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The progressive increase of graphite addition modifies the composite properties, increasing mechanical resistances (compressive strength, flexural strength, Young’s modulus, toughness), density and thermal conductivity and on the other hand, reducing their porosity and their water absorption. The mechanical performance obtained with PPF and IGF is similar to the increase of the fiber length or the volume fraction of the fiber added in gypsum-based composites, which can favor the manufacture of reinforced gypsum composites. This improvement is achieved through the activation of the gypsum matrix, through the nucleation of the hydrated calcium sulfate in contact with IGF, and the increase of fiber/matrix bond when IGF is added. Gypsum composites with IGF and PPF addition can be used in boards and renders in the construction industry, obtaining more durable and sustainable materials.
The impact of the complex structure of the stratum corneum on transdermal penetration is not yet fully described by existing models. A quantitative and thorough study of skin permeation is essential ...for chemical exposure assessment and transdermal delivery of drugs. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of heterogeneity, anisotropy, asymmetry, follicular diffusion, and location of the main barrier of diffusion on percutaneous permeation. In the current study, the solution of the transient diffusion through a two-dimensional-anisotropic brick-and-mortar geometry of the stratum corneum is obtained using the commercial finite element program COMSOL Multiphysics. First, analytical solutions of an equivalent multilayer geometry are used to determine whether the lipids or corneocytes constitute the main permeation barrier. Also these analytical solutions are applied for validations of the finite element solutions. Three illustrative compounds are analyzed in these sections: diethyl phthalate, caffeine and nicotine. Then, asymmetry with depth and follicular diffusion are studied using caffeine as an illustrative compound. The following findings are drawn from this study: the main permeation barrier is located in the lipid layers; the flux and lag time of diffusion through a brick-and-mortar geometry are almost identical to the values corresponding to a multilayer geometry; the flux and lag time are affected when the lipid transbilayer diffusivity or the partition coefficients vary with depth, but are not affected by depth-dependent corneocyte diffusivity; and the follicular contribution has significance for low transbilayer lipid diffusivity, especially when flux between the follicle and the surrounding stratum corneum is involved. This study demonstrates that the diffusion is primarily transcellular and the main barrier is located in the lipid layers.
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Minimally invasive trans-sulcal parafascicular port-based approaches can provide safe access to a wide variety of deep brain lesions.1,2 This surgical video illustrates the use of a minimally ...invasive port-based approach for resection of a subcortical right medial occipital lobe lesion in a 63-year-old woman who presented with seizures and bilateral left homonymous hemianopia. MRI showed a 2.5-cm contrast enhancing lesion with a necrotic center and significant T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal consistent with vasogenic edema. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed compromise of the right optic radiations and edema extending through the right corticospinal tract. A minimally invasive trans-sulcal parafascicular port-based approach to the deep occipital lobe and periatrial region was performed under full exoscopic visualization. A gross total tumor resection was achieved, and histopathology revealed an IDH1-mutant, MGMT-methylated-positive glioblastoma. The patient's presentation, rationale, key surgical steps, and outcomes are discussed, and informed consent for surgery was obtained. The participants and any identifiable individuals consented to the publication of their image. Images at 3:50 used with permission from Nico Corporation. All rights reserved.
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