Retractor with mobile endoscope

I have designed two retractors with mobile endoscopes that allow an assistant to lift up the flap and the endoscope. By doing this, the assistant maintains the optical cavity open while the surgeon dissects. There are two models, one with 180-degree lateral swing and the other with motion in all directions (vertical and lateral).     

Cerium-based phosphors: blue luminescent properties for applications in optical displays

In this paper, we describe the blue photoluminescence (PL) observed in the multi-component oxosalt phosphor GdVO₄:Ce³⁺. Different doping concentrations (0.25–1 mol%) and heat treatment (900–1100 °C) were used to evaluate which conditions would lead to the most suitable blue phosphor for optimal display performance. The cerium doping concentration influences the profile of the emission spectrum (broad peak at 412 nm under UV excitation at 330 nm), as reflected on the values of chromaticity coordinates. On the basis of luminescent properties, we can conclude that, among the phosphors prepared in this work the most adequate for a blue display is the one obtained via the combustion method using glycine as fuel, a 0.50 mol% cerium doping concentration, and heat treatment at 1000 °C.     

The effect of dexamethasone treatment on the expression of the regulatory genes of ketogenesis in intestine and liver of suckling rats

The influence of the injection of dexamethasone on ketogenesis in 12 day old suckling rats was studied in intestine and liver by determining mRNA levels and enzyme activity of the two genes responsible for regulation of ketogenesis: carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT I) and mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase. Dexamethasone produced a 2 fold increase in mRNA and activity of CPT I in intestine, but led to a decrease in mit. HMG-CoA synthase. In liver the mRNA levels and activity of both CPT I and mit. HMG-CoA synthase decreased. Comparison of these values with the ketogenic rate of both tissues following dexamethasone treatment suggests that mit. HMG-CoA synthase could be the main gene responsible for the regulation of ketogenesis in suckling rats. The changes produced in serum ketone bodies by dexamethasone, with a profile that is more similar to the ketogenic rate in the liver than that in the intestine, indicate that liver contributes more to ketone body synthesis in suckling rats. Two day treatment with dexamethasone produced no change in mRNA or activity levels for CPT I in liver or intestine. While mRNA levels for mit. HMG-CoA synthase changed little, the enzyme activity is decreased in both tissues.     

An ADC histogram test based on small-amplitude waves

This paper deals with a new method improving the static test for analogue-to-digital converters. The method is based on a histogram procedure using as test signals small-amplitude triangular waves superimposed on suitable constant offset values. The histogram is built over the converter fullscale by varying the offset step by step systematically. A small amplitude and a reduced time slope in comparison to the converter range and slew rate, respectively, lead to static test conditions. This procedure allows inexpensive function generators to be used and the test duration to be dramatically reduced. Experimental results of tests aimed at validating, characterizing, and comparing the proposed method on two different converter architectures are presented.     

Error in the estimation of transition voltages with the standard histogram test of ADCs

In this paper we address the use of overdrive in the standard histogram test of analog to digital converters. The error in the estimation of the transition voltages due to the presence of additive noise is calculated and expressions for the minimum amount of overdrive required are presented. A comparison with previously published work is carried out.     

Role of practice tests in the accuracy of test predictions on text material.

Investigated the role of practice tests in predictions about test performance on texts. Generally, Ss predicted their relative performance on tests accurately. However, answering practice-test questions that were drawn from the same pool as criterion-test questions did not improve prediction accuracy. The main reason for this was that practice-test scores for specific texts did not correlate with criterion-test scores. In addition, neither practice tests that were identical to the criterion tests nor practice tests consisting of the question stems improved the accuracy of test predictions relative to no-practice tests. With identical practice and criterion tests, accuracy of self-generated feedback correlated positively with the accuracy of test predictions. For similar practice and criterion tests, however, accurate experimenter-provided feedback reduced test-prediction accuracy, presumably because of the lack of reliability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differentiation of natural and synthetic phenylacetic acids by 2H NMR of the derived benzoic acids

The origin of 11 samples of phenylacetic acid 4, including those microbially produced from L-phenylalanine 1 and obtained by hydrolysis of penicillin G, has been studied by natural abundance deuterium NMR spectroscopy. The analysis performed on 4 failed since the (D/H) values relative to the aromatic ring nuclei and to the methylene moieties of the analysed phenylacetic acid samples resulted as similar. The permanganate oxidation of 4 into benzoic acid 5 allowed a differentiation in the ²H NMR spectrum of the signals of the ortho, meta and para nuclei of the aromatic ring, which instead for phenylacetic acid collapse in a single signal. Considering the deuterium content of the different positions in the aromatic ring, the differentiation between the natural rather than synthetic origin of the skeleton of the examined products was possible. The deuterium content of the aromatic ring for the synthetic materials is near to the statistical distribution, whereas for the products of natural derivation it follows a para>ortho>meta enrichment.     

Stress test in the elderly. Clinical, hemodynamic, metabolic and electrocardiographic variables]

Pentylenetetrazol is a convulsive drug acting on gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA[A]) gated-chloride receptors. In this study we used a subconvulsive dose (30 mg/kg) of pentylenetetrazol to induce a fully kindled state in rats. Glutamate receptors were evaluated using [3H]-[1(2-thienylcyclohexyl)]-piperidin (TCP) and [3H]kainate receptor autoradiography and [3H]muscimol autoradiography was used to study GABA(A) receptors. In fully kindled rats decreased N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor binding was found in parietal cortex, area CA2 of hippocampus and piriform cortex. Decreased kainate receptor binding was observed in all areas of the hippocampus, the medial amygdala and in the piriform cortex in the kindled rats. In contrast, GABA(A) receptor binding increased in the dentate gyrus. It is concluded that modulatory neuronal plasticity events are induced in fully pentylenetetrazol kindled rats, which appears to lead to decreased glutamatergic excitation and increased GABAergic inhibition in brain regions implicated in the development of seizure activity.     

Measurement of residual stress in EFG ribbons using a phase-shifting IR photoelastic method

This paper reports on the measurement of residual stress in EFG silicon ribbons for solar cell applications using the phase-shifting infrared (IR) photoelastic method. The samples analysed were wafers cut from EFG octagons with 100 mm face width and from EFG 125 mm face-width octagon under development. Experimental results show that the distribution of residual stress in both types of samples is similar, within measurement uncertainties. The average residual stress in the samples is about 8 MPa. Maximum stresses of around 30 MPa are associated with twin and grain boundaries. Significant variations of stress along the growth direction, possibly related to buckling, were also measured.