124 research outputs found
Light structuring for massively parallel optical trapping
No full textOptical trapping, discovered in the 70's, allows moving and stabilizing small objects which sizes varies from atoms to particles of several microns. This technique, based on momentum conservation, is particularly well suited for manipulating biological matter (cells, organelles, vesicles, functionalized particles, etc.) and offers interesting potentialities for research in biotechnologies and biochemistry. The possibility to individually immobilize large numbers of microscopic objects opens new ways for the downscaling of analysis tools for drug screening, particles sorting or assessing statistical data. The combination of optical trapping with microfluidics greatly increases the prospect of the method. This PhD work takes place in a research aiming at creating large arrays of optical traps compatible with microfluidic devices in order to realize so-called lab-on-a-chip. These miniaturized systems allow recreating at smaller time scale, reduced resources and lower cost, experiments usually performed in a macroscopic environment. This study proposes solutions based on light interference and on landscaping of light intensity. Setups combining several laser beams are proposed to create interference patterns and various configuration of light potential wells. Increasing the number of interfering beams, in particular by using a multiple beams interferometer (Fizeau-Tolansky interferometer) leads to a raise of the light intensity gradient, further increasing the trapping efficiency. The quality of the optical traps is studied and discussed in comparison with conventional laser tweezers. More complex and original solutions using interference of electromagnetic fields are suggested. Namely, the light diffracted by the objects themselves is used to form new potential wells. Diffractive structures are devised to generate three-dimensional arrays of traps. The periodicity of those planar structures creates a self-imaging phenomenon, known as Talbot effect. The modulation of the field in the Fresnel zone, i.e. some tens of micrometers behind the diffractive element, reveals interesting properties for optical trapping, in particular local intensity amplification and gradient enhancement. When several particles are simultaneously immersed in an electromagnetic field, interaction effects arise, that link the particles. This phenomenon of optical binding, is studied and demonstrated here in the case of bidimensional optical crystals.LO
Der Einfluss niedriger Atemhubvolumina in einem Mausmodell der systemischen Inflammation
No full textHintergrund und Ziel der Arbeit: Lungenentzündung, erhöhte Gefäßpermeabilität und Lungenödem treten als Reaktion auf primäre Lungeninfektionen wie Lungenentzündung, aber auch bei Endotoxämie oder Sepsis auf. Mechanische Beatmung verstärkt bereits bestehende Lungenverletzungen und -entzündungen, die durch die Exposition gegenüber mikrobiellen Stoffen entstehen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Hypothese zu prüfen, dass die Beatmung mit niedrigem Volumen das vorbestehende Lungenschadens- und Entzündungsgeschehen in geringerem Maße verstärkt als die Beatmung mit hohem Volumen.
Materialien und Methoden: Um den Einfluss einer Beatmungsstrategie mit niedrigem Beatmungsvolumen auf die Lungenentzündung bei Sepsis zu untersuchen, wurden 10-12 Wochen alte männliche C57BL/6N-Mäuse vorbehandelt mit einer intraperitonealen (i.p.) Injektion von LPS, CpG-ODN (1668-Thioat), einem nicht-CG-haltigen ODN (1612-Thioat) oder PBS. 60 Minuten nach der Vorbehandlung wurden die Mäuse entweder mit niedrigem Tidalvolumen (7±1 ml/kg; Low-Volume-Gruppe) oder hohem Tidalvolumen (25±1 ml/kg; High-Volume-Gruppe) für 90 Minuten beatmet. Hämodynamische und Beatmungsparameter wurden aufgezeichnet und Entzündungsmarker aus der bronchioalveolären Lavage, die am Ende des Experiments gewonnen wurden, analysiert.
Ergebnisse und Diskussion: Die Beatmungsdrücke waren in der HV-Gruppe nach 45 und 90 Minuten signifikant erhöht, unabhängig von der LPS- oder CpG-ODN-Injektion. Der arterielle Blutdruck sank während der mechanischen Beatmung in allen Gruppen ohne Auswirkung auf die Entzündung. Blutgasanalysen zeigten keine pH-Unterschiede. Allerdings war der pO2 nach 45 Minuten Beatmung mit niedrigem Tidalvolumen bei LPS-injizierten Mäusen im Vergleich zur hochvolumigen Gruppe in höherem Maße gesenkt. Darüber hinaus war der CO2-Wert nach 45 Minuten Beatmung mit niedrigem Tidalvolumen bei den mit LPS oder 1612-Thioat vorbehandelten Tieren und nach 90 Minuten bei den mit 1668-Thioat vorinjizierten Tieren signifikant höher als bei der Gruppe mit hohem Volumen. Die BAL-Proteinkonzentrationen waren bei Mäusen 90 Minuten nach der Vorbehandlung mit 1668-Thioat und 1612-Thioat in der Gruppe mit hohem Beatmungsvolumen im Vergleich zu Mäusen, die mit niedrigem Tidalvolumen beatmet wurden, erhöht. Die BAL-TNF-Proteinkonzentrationen waren sowohl bei LPS- als auch bei 1668-Thioat-injizierten Tieren erhöht, und die IL-1-Proteinkonzentrationen stiegen bei LPS-injizierten Mäusen, die mit hohem Volumen beatmet wurden, im Vergleich zu Mäusen, die mit niedrigem Tidalvolumen beatmet wurden, nach ähnlicher Vorbehandlung.
Schlussfolgerung: Zusammenfassend war die Beatmung mit niedrigem Volumen ausreichend, um die Mäuse mit Sauerstoff zu versorgen. Entzündungsmediatoren waren bei den mit LPS oder CpG-ODN vorbehandelten Mäusen nach 90-minütiger Beatmung mit hohem Volumen signifikant erhöht im Vergleich zu Mäusen, die mit niedrigem Tidalvolumen beatmet wurden.Low volume ventilation prevents ventilation induced inflammation in a mice model of sepsis Background and Goal of the study: Pulmonary inflammation, increased vascular permeability and pulmonary edema, occur in response to primary pulmonary infections like pneumonia but are also evident in endotoxemia or sepsis. Mechanical ventilation augments pre-existing lung injury and inflammation resulting from exposure to microbial products. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that low-volume ventilation exacerbates preexisting lung injury and inflammation to a lower extent than high-volume ventilation. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the impact of a low volume ventilation strategy on pulmonary inflammation in sepsis, 10-12-week-old male C57BL/6N-mice were received pre-treatment with an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LPS, CpG-ODN (1668-thioate), a non-CG containing ODN (1612-thioate) or PBS. 60 minutes after pre-treatment mice were either ventilated with low tidal volume (7±1 ml/kg; low-volume group) or high tidal volume (25±1 ml/kg; high-volume group) for 90 minutes. Hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters were recorded and inflammatory markers were analyzed form BAL that was generated at the end of the experiment. Results and Discussion: PIP was significantly increased in the high-volume group at 45 and 90 minutes independent of LPS or CpG-ODN injection. Arterial blood pressure declined during mechanical ventilation in all groups with no effect on inflammation. Blood gas analyses showed no pH differences. However, pO2 was decreased to a higher degree after 45 minutes of low tidal volume ventilation in LPS-injected mice compared to the high-volume group. Furthermore, CO2was significantly higher after 45 minutes of low-volume ventilation in animals pre-treated with LPS or 1612-thioate and after 90 minutes in 1668-thioate pre-injected animals compared to the high-volume group. BAL protein concentrations were increased in mice 90 minutes after pre-treatment with 1668-thioate and 1612-thioate in the high-volume ventilation group compared to mice that were ventilated with low tidal volume. BAL TNF-α protein concentrations were increased in both LPS- and 1668-thioate-injected animals and IL-1β protein concentrations increased in LPS-injected mice that were ventilated with high volume compared to the low-volume ventilation group after similar pre-treatment. Conclusion: In summary, low-volume ventilation was sufficient to oxygenate mice. Inflammatory mediators were significantly increased in mice pre-treated with LPS or CpG-ODN after 90 minutes of high-volume ventilation compared to mice ventilated with low tidal volumes
Mahu- ja kuluarvestus käsitöönduslikus palkehituses / Volume and Cost Accounting in Hand-crafted Log Building
No full textIn this article, an experienced log builder, Meinrad Rohner (Alppisalvos Oy, Finland), presents a volume and cost accounting method for handcrafted log building, which he himself uses in in his own work. The methodology combines procedures arising from the technical peculiarities of the field and contract techniques of the business reality, and form 3-D and spreadsheet analyses. When building a log house, many aspects have to be considered, such as the quantity of wooden material and fastening fixtures, the working time required, a time schedule considering the reasonable sequence of work and delivery demands, a payment schedule and a realistic payroll. Both the builder and the client must know at the starting phase of the project how much time and money is required. During fieldwork, it is difficult to compensate for issues which were not paid attention to at the desk-stage.One of the important planning stages is preparing an expenditure estimate which has to be done before a detailed quotation can be drawn up. Doing this will help to avoid labour-intensive design work and detailed bid preparation, if the contract is not ultimately signed.Nowadays it is appropriate to use CAD drawing and spreadsheets for volume and cost calculations. More advanced drawing programs enable the insertion of additional information into the computer, such as the time volume of joints and grooves, types of additional work, etc., which form the so-called fourth dimension of a 3-D programme. When preparing the bid it is important to explain to the client what they will get, as well as what is not included in the quotation. 3-D models are also a good tool for illustrative explanations to such clients who are not familiar with log structures. Yet it has to be remembered that pictures cannot replace numbers, nor vice versa. A bid should also include delivery terms and costs for additional work and changes. It is important to prepare a written payment schedule. A good solution is to connect partial payments with the completion of certain work stages (for instance, logs debarked and stored for drying, the first six log rows installed, etc.).A precondition for preparing a good volume and cost calculation is the knowledge about what and how will be done, and how much and what material will be used. In addition it must be known how much time and material is required at different stages of the work. The latter requires experience, the gaining of which takes many years. But if one’s own activity is not consciously analysed, the knowledge needed for planning will not be acquired. By analyses the author means that during the building process of a building as much information as possible should be recorded. For instance, how much time and material is needed for hewing the logs, for building a particular structure, for arranging the cargo, etc. This information can be used in subsequent projects. Psychologically it is not easy to perform monitoring and analyses, since this means dealing with documentation after a long working day. Thus it is advisable that appropriate routines and methodology are established before starting the fieldwork. One of the simplest solutions for recording a construction process is to take photos of the building once a week, or to save the work stage in 3-D view
La Fontaine 20 Fables
No full textHere is one of the treasures of this collection! I have yet to establish whether there is any formal tie between this collection of twenty folios and the similar collection done by Andre Gonin in 1950. This edition was done for the French Red Cross, with some connection to its campaign of 1961. There is a publication from that campaign (Bodemann #489.1) that I will be looking for. This collection is the first edition with these illustrations. From the total edition of 440, this is one of 329 on pur fil de Lana. There are twenty fables by Jean de la Fontaine illustrated with twenty in-text half-page color lithographs + twenty full-page color lithographs by twenty modern artists. Thus each fable has a folio of eight pages starting with a half-page colored illustration and including a full-page colored illustration. This ensemble contains an additional suite of the forty color lithographs on pur fil de Lana, each on its own page without text. Contributing artists are: Yves Alix, Calder, A.M. Cassandre, Cavaillès, Clavé, Marianne Clouzot, Paul Colin, Coutaud, Salvador Dali, Hermine David, Dunoyer de Segonzac, Valentine Hugo, Félix Labisse, Jacques Lagrange, André Marchand, Pignon, Dom Robert, Rohner, Marc Saint-Saëns, and Touchagues. My favorites among these are Calder, The Elephant and Jupiter's Monkey; Coutaud's The Battle Between the Rats and the Weasels; Dali's The Scythian Philosopher; Hugo's DW; Labisse's The Fly and the Ant; LaGrange's The Cobbler and the Banker; Pignon's The Charlatan; Rohner's BS; and Touchagues' CW. The selection of fables is slightly surprising, perhaps because the two publications I mention had perhaps already taken better known fables. The twenty eight-page folios are preceded by three-and-a-half such folios with the opening information including justification and this copy number (#182) and followed by one folio including tables and information on the printing of the work. This copy is 185 pages. Overall size 17 x 13 x 3.5. Préface by Jean Cassou. All the contents are in excellent condition; the box shows moderate wear and rubbing. If the box was originally hinged, it has separated into two parts.Language note: French#182 of 440One of 329 sur pur fil de LanaJean de La Fontain
Post-conflict private sector development : promoting durable peace : What are the characteristics and short comings of economic development in post-independent, sub-Saharan Africa : examples from Mozambique?
No full textIncludes abstract.In times of war the private sector adapts, often to function informally, and can serve to either perpetuate conflict or to incentivize peace. Accordingly, the private sector is a powerful tool that can be utilized during post-conflict reconstruction to enable sustain- able peace and economic development. After a conflict, in an effort to establish a means of survival outside of the war economy, there is a pressing need for the population to have a means by which to provide a livelihood and productively contribute to society. Establishing sustainable economic exchange and developing social capital between various members of society is one mechanism by which to achieve restorative justice and disincentivize conflict. ...this paper argues for a hybrid approach to private sector development that includes both the investment climate and interventionist methods to disincentivize a return to conflict
Cross-Cultural Meta-Analyses
No full textIn the enormous collection of cross-cultural data that have been published during the last few decades it is difficult to perceive patterns. There is a clear need for systematizing the vast amount of cross-cultural studies and for developing models that explain cross-cultural differences in psychology. Two methods of cross-cultural meta-analysis can be distinguished. First, the instrument-based method of comparing data for one instrument across countries is suitable for instruments which have been administered in many countries. Second, a domain-based meta-analysis used a thematic domain from which culture-comparative studies are sampled instead of one specific instrument or method
Author Correction: Placental growth factor exerts a dual function for cardiomyogenesis and vasculogenesis during heart development
No full textCorrection to: Nature Communications, published online 05 September 2023 The original version of this Article omitted from the author list the 9th author, Miia L. Lehtinen, who is from the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. The corrected version of the Acknowledgements removes the following from the original version: ‘Miia Lehtinen.’ Additionally, the following was added to the Author Contributions: ‘M.L.L. performed in vivo experiments relating to the primate works.’ This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.</p
Problems of Federalism in the Regulation of Consumer Financial Services Offered by Commercial Banks, Part I
No full textIn this first half of a two-part article, the author reviews the complex structures through which federal and state consumerprotection laws are enacted and enforced with respect to commercial banks. Problems arisefrom the multiolicity of law-making bodies, the dual banking system, unclear preemption standards, and expandingfederal domination of the consumer creditfleld The secondpart of the article, which will appear in the next issue of this Review, analyzes the actual enforcement activities of the federal and state banking agencies. It concludes with a series of recommendationsfor improving the combined federal-state consumer protection programs affecting commercial banks
Adaptación del Child-PARQ/Control: versiones para el padre y la madre en población infantil y adolescente española
No full textThe aim of this paper is to analyze the adaptation of Child-Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Child-PARQ/Control Father/Mother, Rohner, 2005) short version, as the dimensionality of the questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a sample of 469 Spanish children and adolescents. The original version of the questionnaire contains four scales: warmth / affection, hostility / aggression, indifference / neglect and nonspecific rejection. The results confirm the goodness of the psychometric properties (internal consistency and criterion validity) and the original four-factor model proposed by the author.ResumenEl objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la adaptación española del Child-Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Child-PARQ/Control Padre/Madre; Rohner, 2005) en su versión abreviada, así como estudiar la dimensionalidad del cuestionario mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) en una muestra de 469 niños y adolescentes españoles. La versión original del cuestionario consta de cuatro escalas: cariño/afecto, hostilidad/agresión, indiferencia/negligencia y rechazo indiferenciado. Los resultados del análisis confirman la bondad de las características psicométricas del instrumento (consistencia interna y validez de criterio) y el modelo original de cuatro factores propuesto por el autor. AbstractThe aim of this paper is to analyze the adaptation of Child-Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Child-PARQ/Control Father/Mother, Rohner, 2005) short version, as the dimensionality of the questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a sample of 469 Spanish children and adolescents. The original version of the questionnaire contains four scales: warmth / affection, hostility / aggression, indifference / neglect and nonspecific rejection. The results confirm the goodness of the psychometric properties (internal consistency and criterion validity) and the original four-factor model proposed by the author
Intrapartum detection of Group B streptococci colonization by rapid PCR-test on labor ward
No full textOBJECTIVE
Group B streptococci (GBS) may lead to early onset neonatal sepsis with severe morbidity and mortality of newborns. Intrapartum detection of GBS is needed. The objective was to compare a PCR-based test performed in the laboratory versus labor ward.
STUDY DESIGN
300 patients were included prospectively. In phase I, swabs were analyzed by selective culture and rapid PCR in the laboratory. In phase II, swabs were analyzed accordingly, but the PCR test was conducted in labor ward. Test performances were analyzed and compared.
RESULTS
In phase I the rapid PCR test had a sensitivity of 85.71% and a specificity of 95.9%. The GBS colonization rate was 18.67%. Overall 8.5% of the PCR results were invalid. In phase II the PCR test showed a sensitivity of 85.71% and a specificity of 95.65%. The GBS colonization rate was 23.3%. Overall 23.5% of swabs tested with PCR were invalid. Initiation of specific, short 2-hour training for operating personnel in the labor ward reduced the invalid test rate to 13.4%.
CONCLUSION
The rapid PCR-based test yields adequate results to identify GBS colonization when performed in labor ward. In order to reduce the number of invalid tests a short training period is needed
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