Study on eight-pass dual-frequency laser interferometer with nanometer precision

A new dual-frequency laser displacement measurement interferometer with nanometer precision has been developed. An eight-pass optical subdivision technology is proposed to improve resolution based on commercial interferometers. A static positioning error measuring method has been used to examine the precision and repeatability of the laser interferometer. An optical resolution of 1.24 nm and an accuracy of nanometer scale have been achieved.

Novel dual transient temperature modulation technique for multi-vapour detection

Here we present a novel signal processing technique for a square wave thermally-modulated carbon black/polymer composite chemoresistor. The technique consists of only two mathematical operations: summing the off-transient and on-transient conductance signals; and subtracting the steady-state conductance signal. A single carbon black/polyvinylpyrrolidone composite chemo -resistor was fabricated and used to demonstrate the validity of the technique. Classification of water, methanol and ethanol vapours was successfully performed using only the peak time of the resultant curves. Quantification of the different vapours was also possible using the height of the peaks, because it was linearly proportional to concentration. This technique does not require zero-gas calibration and thus is superior to previously reported methods. ©2009 IEEE.

Isolation, expression and characterization of a novel dual serine protease inhibitor, OH-TCI, from king cobra venom

Snake venom Kunitz/BPTI members are good tools for understanding of structure-functional relationship between serine proteases and their inhibitors. A novel dual Kunitz/BPTI serine proteinase inhibitor named OH-TCI (trypsin- and chymotrypsin-dual inhibito

Rheological, mechanical and membrane penetration properties of novel dual drug systems for percutaneous delivery

In this study it has been demonstrated that mixtures of two solid drugs, ibuprofen and methyl nicotinate, with different but complementary pharmacological activities and which exist as a single liquid phase over a wide composition range at skin temperature, can be formulated as o/w emulsions without the use of an additional hydrophobic carrier. These novel dual drug systems provided significantly enhanced in vitro penetration rates through a model lipophilic barrier membrane compared to conventional individual formulations of each active. Thus, for ibuprofen, drug penetration flux enhancements of three- and 10-fold were observed when compared to an aqueous ibuprofen suspension and a commercial alcohol-based ibuprofen formulation, respectively. Methyl nicotinate penetration rates were shown to be similar for aqueous gels and emulsified systems. Mechanisms explaining these observations are proposed. Novel dual drug formulations of ibuprofen and methyl nicotinate, formulated within the liquid range at skin temperature, were investigated by oscillatory rheology and texture profile analysis. demonstrating the effects of drug and viscosity enhancer concentrations, and disperse phase type upon the rheological, mechanical and drug penetration properties of these systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A novel dual-fluorescence strategy for functionally validating microRNA targets in 3-prime untranslated regions: regulation of the inward rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1 by miR-212.

Gene targeting by microRNAs is important in health and disease. We developed a functional assay for identifying microRNA targets and applied it to the K+ channel Kir2.1 (KCNJ2) which is dysregulated in cardiac and vascular disorders. The 3'UTR was inserted downstream of the mCherry red fluorescent protein coding sequence in a mammalian expression plasmid. MicroRNA sequences were inserted into the pSM30 expression vector which provides enhanced green fluorescent protein as an indicator of microRNA expression. HEK293 cells were co-transfected with the mCherry-3'UTR plasmid and a pSM30-based plasmid with a microRNA insert. The principle of the assay is that functional targeting of the 3'UTR by the microRNA results in a decrease in the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio as determined by automated image analysis. The method was validated with miR-1, a known downregulator of Kir2.1 expression, and was used to investigate targeting of the Kir2.1 3'UTR by miR-212. Red/green ratio was lower in miR-212-expressing cells compared to non-targeting controls, an effect that was attenuated by mutating the predicted target site. MiR-212 also reduced inward rectifier current and Kir2.1 protein in HeLa cells. This novel assay has several advantages over traditional luciferase-based assays including larger sample size, amenability to time course studies and adaptability to high-throughput screening.

A Novel Dual-band Printed Diversity Antenna for Mobile Terminals

A novel dual-band printed diversity antenna is proposed and studied. The antenna, which consists of two back-to- back monopoles with symmetric configuration, is printed on a printed circuit board. The effects of some important parameters of the proposed antenna are deeply studied and the design methodology is given. A prototype of the proposed antenna operating at UMTS (1920-2170 MHz) and 2.4-GHz WLAN (2400-2484 MHz) bands is provided to demonstrate the usability of the methodology in dual-band diversity antenna for mobile terminals. In the above two bands, the isolations of the prototype are larger than 13 dB and 16 dB, respectively. The measured radiation patterns of the two monopoles in general cover complementary space regions. The diversity performance is also evaluated by calculating the envelope correlation coefficient, the mean effective gains of the antenna elements and the diversity gain. It is proved that the proposed antenna can provide spatial and pattern diversity to combat multipath fading.

A demonstration of attentional bias, using a novel dual task paradigm, towards clinically salient material in recovering alcohol abuse patients?

Background. This study examined whether alcohol abuse patients are characterized either by enhanced schematic processing of alcohol related cues or by an attentional bias towards the processing of alcohol cues. Method. Abstinent alcohol abusers (N = 25) and non-clinical control participants (N = 24) performed a dual task paradigm in which they had to make an odd/even decision to a centrally presented number while performing a peripherally presented lexical decision task. Stimuli on the lexical decision task comprised alcohol words, neutral words and non-words. In addition, participants completed an incidental recall task for the words presented in the lexical decision task. Results. It was found that, in the presence of alcohol related words, the performance of patients on the odd/even decision task was poorer than in the presence of other stimului. In addition, patients displayed slower lexical decision times for alcohol related words. Both groups displayed better recall for alcohol words than for other stimuli. Conclusions. These results are interpreted as supporting neither model of drug cravings. Rather, it is proposed that, in the presence of alcohol stimuli, alcohol abuse patients display a breakdown in the ability to focus attention.

A Novel 785-nm Laser Diode-Based System for Standardization of Cell Culture Irradiation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

[Guidance of interventions in subintimal recanalization and fenestration of dissection membranes using a novel dual-lumen intravascular ultrasound catheter]

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of IVUS-guided puncture for gaining controlled target lumen reentry in subintimal recanalization of chronic iliac/femoral artery occlusions and in fenestration of aortic dissections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 5/2004 and 12/2005 12 consecutive patients (7 male, 5 female; mean age 64.6 +/- 12.0 years) with chronic critical limb ischemia and ischemic complications of aortic dissection were treated using the Pioneer catheter. This 6.2-F dual-lumen catheter combines a 20-MHz IVUS transducer with a pre-shaped extendable, hollow 24-gauge nitinol needle. This coaxial needle allows real-time IVUS-guided puncture of the target lumen and after successful reentry a 0.014" guidewire may be advanced through the needle into the target lumen. 7 patients were treated for aortic dissection and 5 patients (with failed previous attempts at subintimal recanalization) for chronic arterial occlusion. Patients with aortic dissection (5 type A dissections, 2 type B dissections) had developed renal ischemia (n = 2), renal and mesenteric ischemia (n = 2), or low extremity ischemia (n = 3). Patients with chronic arterial occlusions (2 common iliac artery occlusions, 3 superficial femoral artery occlusions) experienced ischemic rest pain (n = 4), and a non-healing foot ulcer (n = 1). RESULTS: The technical success rate using the Pioneer catheter was 100%. The recanalization/fenestration time was 37 +/- 12 min. Procedure-related complications did not occur. In 10 cases a significant improvement of clinical symptoms was evident. One patient with aortic dissection and ischemic paraplegia required subsequent surgical intervention. One patient had persistent ischemic rest pain despite successful recanalization of a superficial femoral artery occlusion. CONCLUSION: The Pioneer catheter is a reliable device which may be helpful for achieving target lumen reentry in subintimal recanalization of chronic occlusions and in fenestration of aortic dissections.

Novel dual-band single circular polarization antenna feeding network for satellite communications

In this paper a novel dual-band single circular polarization antenna feeding network for satellite communications is presented. The novel antenna feed chain1 is composed of two elements or subsystems, namely a diplexer and a bi-phase polarizer. In comparison with the classic topology based on an orthomode transducer and a dual-band polarizer, the proposed feed chain presents several advantages, such as compactness, modular design of the different components, broadband operation and versatility in the subsystems interconnection. The design procedure of this new antenna feed configuration is explained. Different examples of antenna feeding networks at 20/30 GHz are presented. It is pointed out the excellent results obtained in terms of isolation and axial ratio.