681 research outputs found
Multiple nucleotide sequence alignment of two conserved motifs in the emaravirus RdRp gene where primers EMARA F7/R8 were designed using Primaclade.
No full textThe alignment of EMARA F7 corresponds to the anti-sense strand of the emaraviruses genome, and EMARA R8 corresponds to the sense strand. The underlined sequence in EMARA R8 shows a customized 5’ non-complementary sequence. Stars above the alignment indicate conserved positions. EMARA F7 and EMARA R8 align to the nucleotide regions 4532–4563 and 4830–4803, respectively, in the anti-sense strand genome of the European mountain ash ringspot-associated virus (AY563040). Both primers are in the Bunya_RdRp conserved domain (PFAM: PF04196) in the emaravirus RdRp gene. (TIF)</p
SPICE-Based Circuit Modelling and Validation of an NFC Energy-Harvesting Strain Sensor for Structural Health Monitoring
No full textStructural Health Monitoring (SHM) demands advanced and reliable systems and circuits capable of continuously detecting environmental and mechanical stressors that may impair the integrity, durability, and stability of critical infrastructure. This study introduces an innovative, untethered, and battery-free solution that combines Near Field Communication (NFC)-powered circuits with flexible strain gauge (SG) sensors for non-invasive SHM, specifically targeting surface-level cracks and deformations. The system is based on a specially designed NFC circuit that handles both energy harvesting and wireless data transmission, enabling seamless deployment in structurally sensitive, remote, or hard-to-reach areas without the need for wiring or extensive modifications. Flexible SGs, configured in quarter- and half-Wheatstone-Bridge arrangements, are bonded to critical components to measure strain and detect crack propagation. The complete system was modelled and simulated using SPICE to evaluate the behaviour of both the strain sensing and the NFC-based wireless energy transfer. Hardware implementation closely matched simulation results, demonstrating full system functionality using a 13.56 MHz NFC link, with optimized power delivery at 2.7 V across an operational distance of up to 4 cm. Both simulations and experimental tests were conducted to investigate the transient and steady-state behaviour of the circuit. The NFC energy harvesting circuit delivered up to 12.5 mW under load conditions. A functional hardware prototype, built using off-the-shelf components, demonstrated the feasibility of the system for autonomous and long-term SHM applications
Vacuum-assisted closure for deep infection after spinal instrumentation for scoliosis
No full textOur aim was to review the efficacy of the wound vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system in the treatment of deep infection after extensive instrumentation and fusion for spinal deformity in children and adolescents.A total of 14 patients with early deep spinal infection were treated using this technique. Of these, 12 had neuromuscular or syndromic problems. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed. The mean follow-up was 44 months (24 to 72). All wounds healed. Two patients required plastic surgery to speed up the process. In no patient was the hardware removed and there was no loss of correction or recurrent infection.We believe that the wound VAC system is a useful tool in the armamentarium of the spinal surgeon dealing with patients susceptible to wound infections, especially those with neuromuscular diseases. It allows for the retention of the instrumentation and the maintenance of spinal correction. It is reliable and easy to use
A Wireless Head-Mountable Device with Tapered Optical Fiber-Coupled Laser Diode for Light Delivery in Deep Brain Regions
No full textOptogenetics sets new experimental para-digms that can reveal cell type-specific contributions on the neural basis of behavior. Since most of the available systems for this purpose are based on approaches that tether animals to a set of cables, recent research activities have been focused on minimizing external factors that can alter animal movements. Current wireless optogenetic systems are based on waveguide-coupled light-emitting diodes (LED) and implanted μLEDs. However, each configuration separately suffers from significant limitations, such as low coupling efficiency, penetration depth, and invasiveness of waveguide-coupled LED, and local heat generated by implanted μLEDs. This work presents a novel wireless head-mountable stimulating system for a wide-volume light delivery. The device couples the output of a semiconductor laser diode (LD) to a tapered optical fiber (TF) on a wireless platform. The LD-TF coupling was engineered by setting up far-field analysis, which allows a full exploitation of mode division demultiplexing properties of TFs. The output delivered light along the tapered segment is capable of stimulating structures of depths up to ∼2 mm. TFs are tapered to a gradual taper angle (Ψ ∼ 2° to Ψ ∼ 10°) that ends with a sharp tip (∼500 nm) for smooth insertion and less invasiveness. Thus, the proposed system extends the capabilities of wireless optogenetic by offering a novel solution for wide volume light delivery in deep brain regions. © 1964-2012 IEEE
Essays on the effect of inflation volatility and institutions on growth and development
No full textThe purpose of this dissertation is to analyze empirically and theoretically the impact of the decrease in inflation volatility versus the impact of the improvement in institutions on growth and development. The first chapter of this dissertation estimates the effects of inflation and inflation volatility on economic growth in the presence of different degrees of legal and financial institutions. The main contribution of this chapter is to show that while the level of inflation does not have a significant effect on growth, which is in line with previous studies; inflation volatility does significantly impact growth even for countries with moderately high levels on inflation. In addition, improving either legal or financial institutions has a statistically significant positive impact on growth and helps to reduce the negative impact of inflation volatility on growth.
The second chapter analyzes the channel through which inflation volatility and financial institutions affect a country's ability to borrow on international capital markets; which affects their ability to invest and therefore grow. The findings of this chapter show that reducing inflation volatility or improving financial institutions will significantly improve a country's sovereign debt rating leading to a drop in its cost of borrowing, which is to be quantified. One important contribution of this chapter is to show that it is inflation volatility that is important in determining a country's sovereign debt rating rather than the level of inflation which has been argued in the literature.
The welfare implications of the decrease in inflation volatility versus the improvement in institutions are quantified in chapter three. This chapter analyzes a micro-foundation based small open economy model that is used to help fully understand the dynamics of a decrease in inflation volatility and an improvement in institutions for a developing economy. The study finds that the welfare effect of improving institutions and of reducing inflation volatility is large with the largest effect being caused by an improvement in financial institutions. One policy implication of these results is that developing economies can get larger welfare gains from improving their institutions than from reducing inflation volatility.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-188)by Noha Emar
NEW HPLC METHOD TO DETECT INDIVIDUAL OPIOIDS (HEROIN AND TRAMADOL) AND THEIR METABOLITES IN THE BLOOD OF RATS ON COMBINATION TREATMENT
No full textDrug abuse is both an age old and a constantly evolving problem in society. Trends in illicit drug use are highly fluid with new formulations increasing in popularity. For this reason, methods for illicit drug detection and analysis need to be continually updated so they remain useful and relevant. A recent trend in street heroin production has seen it diluted with large amounts of tramadol in addition to the classical diluents such as acetaminophen and caffeine. This study describes a sensitive, simple and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection for the simultaneous detection of heroin, 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in blood of rats using a liquid-liquid back extraction method. The separation was performed on LichroCART RP-18e with particle size of 5 μm (250x4.6 mm) with mobile phase acetonitrile:50 mM KH2PO4 buffer, pH 7.1, using a gradient mode with a 1.0 mL/min flow rate. The calibration curves were linear in a concentration range 0.25-100 and 0.1-100 μg/mL for morphine and other analytes, respectively. Recovery values for the substances ranged between 59 and 83%. This technique was successfully used in pharmacokinetic studies measuring 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in blood of rats intraperitoneally treated with a blend of 10 mg/kg heroin and 70 mg/kg tramadol. This technique shows promise for analysis of confiscated street heroin
sj-pdf-2-hpi-10.1177_11207000231151235 – Supplemental material for 30-day to 10-year mortality rates following total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of the last decade (2011–2021)
No full textSupplemental material, sj-pdf-2-hpi-10.1177_11207000231151235 for 30-day to 10-year mortality rates following total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of the last decade (2011–2021) by Oguz Turan, Xuankang Pan, Kyle N Kunze, Pedro J Rullan, Ahmed K Emara, Robert M Molloy and Nicolas S Piuzzi in HIP International</p
sj-pdf-1-hpi-10.1177_11207000231151235 – Supplemental material for 30-day to 10-year mortality rates following total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of the last decade (2011–2021)
No full textSupplemental material, sj-pdf-1-hpi-10.1177_11207000231151235 for 30-day to 10-year mortality rates following total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of the last decade (2011–2021) by Oguz Turan, Xuankang Pan, Kyle N Kunze, Pedro J Rullan, Ahmed K Emara, Robert M Molloy and Nicolas S Piuzzi in HIP International</p
sj-pdf-1-hpi-10.1177_11207000221094543 – Supplemental material for Understanding the 30-day mortality burden after revision total hip arthroplasty
No full textSupplemental material, sj-pdf-1-hpi-10.1177_11207000221094543 for Understanding the 30-day mortality burden after revision total hip arthroplasty by Pedro J Rullán, Melissa N Orr, Ahmed K Emara, Alison K Klika, Robert M Molloy and Nicolas S Piuzzi in HIP International</p
Varus derotation osteotomy for the treatment of hip subluxation and dislocation in GMFCS level III to V patients with unilateral hip involvement: Follow up at skeletal maturity
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