Contribution of PPD/HBHA Interferon-gamma Release Assay for the Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in HIV Infected Patients

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Regulation of the alpha-fetoprotein promoter: Ku binding and DNA spatial conformation

This work shows that the proximal promoter of the mouse Afp gene contains a Ku binding site and that Ku binding is associated with down-regulation of the transcriptional activity of the Afp promoter. The Ku binding site is located in a segment able to adopt a peculiar structured form, probably a hairpin structure. Interestingly, the structured form eliminates the binding sites of the positive transcription factor HNF1. Furthermore, a DNAse hypersensitive site is detected in footprinting experiments done with extracts of AFP non-expressing hepatoma cells. These observations suggest that the structured form is stabilised by Ku and is associated with extinction of the gene in AFP non-expressing hepatic cells.

Consistent couplings between fields with a gauge freedom and deformations of the master equation

The antibracket in the antifield-BRST formalism is known to define a map Hp × Hq → Hp + q + 1 associating with two equivalence classes of BRST invariant observables of respective ghost number p and q an equivalence class of BRST invariant observables of ghost number p + q + 1. It is shown that this map is trivial in the space of all functionals, i.e. that its image contains only the zeroth class. However, it is generically non-trivial in the space of local functionals. Implications of this result for the problem of consistent interactions among fields with a gauge freedom are then drawn. It is shown that the obstructions to constructing non-trivial such interactions lie precisely in the image of the antibracket map and are accordingly non-existent if one does not insist on locality. However consistent local interactions are severely constrained. The example of the Chern-Simons theory is considered. It is proved that the only consistent, local, Lorentz covariant interactions for the abelian models are exhausted by the non-abelian Chern-Simons extensions. © 1993.

A dose-finding study of lanreotide (a somatostatin analog) in patients with colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND. Laboratory data suggest that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGE-1) may stimulate the growth of different human tumors. At least in acromegalic patients, somatostatin (SMS) analogs, such as lanreotide, suppress the serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and IGE-1. METHODS. To evaluate the tolerability and biologic activity of different doses of lanreotide in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma, consecutive groups of 3 patients each were subcutaneous treated with lanreotide at doses of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 mg three times a day for 2 months. In the event of Grade 3 side effects, 3 additional patients were treated with the same dose before the next dose escalation. Serum samples were obtained on Days 0, 15, 30, and 60 for serum GH, IGF-1, and lanreotide assessment. RESULTS. Twenty-four patients were enrolled and all were evaluable. Except for the 3 and 6 mg doses, for which the observation of a Grade 3 side effect required that an additional three patients be treated, it was sufficient to treat 3 patients at each dose. The overall incidence of side effects was as follows: changes in bowel habits, 83%; abdominal cramps, 79%; diarrhea, 17%; vomiting, 17%; nausea, 21%; steatorrhea, 78%; hyperglycemia, 35%; laboratory hypothyroidism, 39%; gallstones, 13%; and weight loss, 17%. No evidence of an increase in the incidence, intensity, or duration of side effects was observed with dose escalation. Serum IGF-1 levels were as follows: Day 13: 63%, 60%, and 67% of the baseline values for the low (12 mg), intermediate (3-4 mg), and high (5- 6 mg) dose groups, respectively; Day 30: 63%, 59%, and 51%, respectively; and Day 60: 73%, 69%, and 47%, respectively. Serum lanreotide levels declined during treatment in all of the dose groups (90 ng/mL on Day 15, and 35 ng/mL on Day 60 for the 5-6 mg group; 10 ng/mL on Day 15, and 1.5 ng/mL on Day 60 for the 1-2 mg group). No antitumor activity or tumor marker reduction was observed. CONCLUSIONS. No increase in toxicity was observed when subcutaneous lanreotide doses were escalated to 6 mg three times a day for 2 months. The highest doses seemed to maintain reduced serum IGF-1 levels; with the lowest doses, a 'rebound' in serum IGF-1 levels was observed during treatment. Nevertheless, intermittent subcutaneous injections do not ensure constant serum drug concentrations over time.

Will ICSI overthrow IVF in all cases of male infertility ?

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) a safe procedure: What do we learn first trimester data in ICSI pregnancies ?

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Technical improvements possibly linked to higher success rate with intracytoplasmic single sperm injection

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Comparison of ICSI and IVF pregnancies outcome

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Experimental study of modulational instability and vector solitons in optical fibers

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Continuous-wave operation of a modulational instability laser

post-deadline paper

Continuous-wave ultrahigh-repetition-rate pulse train generation through modulational instability in a passive fiber cavity

Thanks to a passive cavity configuration, modulational instability in fibers is successfully observed, for the first time to our knowledge, in the continuous-wave regime. Our technique provides a new means of generating all-optically ultrahigh-repetition-rate pulse trains and opens up new possibilities for the fundamental study of modulational instability and related phenomena. © 2001 Optical Society of America.

Junge Hochschul- und Mediendidaktik. Forschung und Praxis im Dialog

Am 29./30.05.2012 fand in Hamburg die Konferenz “Junges Forum Hochschul- und Mediendidaktik” (JFHM) statt. Ausgerichtet vom Zentrum für Hochschul- und Weiterbildung (ZHW) der Universität Hamburg, kooperierten bei der Konzeption und Durchführung der Tagung Vertreterinnen und Vertreter aus hochschul- und mediendidaktischer Berufspraxis mit Vertreterinnen der wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchsförderung aus der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hochschuldidaktik (DGHD) und der Gesellschaft für Medien in der Wissenschaft (GMW). Das Ziel der Tagung war die Sichtbarmachung und Vernetzung theoretischer und praktischer hochschul- und mediendidaktischer Arbeit. Der vorliegende Sammelband vereint Beiträge der Konferenz und gibt so einen Einblick in aktuelle Themen von Hochschul- und Mediendidaktik - und zwar speziell aus der Perspektive jüngerer Forscherinnen und Forscher sowie Praktikerinnen und Praktiker. Er gibt damit auch Anhaltspunkte dafür, welche Themen diese Arbeitsbereiche in Zukunft (weiter) beschäftigen werden. (DIPF/Autor)

Computational modelling for reliable flip-chip packaging at sub-100 micron pitch using isotropic conductive adhesives

This paper presents the assembly process using next generation electroformed stencils and Isotropic Conductive Adhesives (ICAs) as interconnection material. The utilisation of ICAs in flip-chip assembly process is investigated as an alternative to the lead and lead-free solder alloys and aims to ensure a low temperature (T < 100 °C) assembly process. The paper emphasizes and discusses in details the assembly of a flip-chip package based on copper columns bumped die and substrate with stencil printed ICA deposits at sub-100 μm pitch. A computational modelling approach is undertaken to provide comprehensive results on reliability trends of ICA joints subject to thermal cycling of the flip-chip assembly based on easy to use damage criteria and damage evaluation. Important design parameters in the package are selected and investigated using numerical modelling techniques to provide knowledge and understanding of their impact on the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the flip-chip ICA joints. Sensitivity analysis of the damage in the adhesive material is also carried out. Optimal design rules for enhanced performance and improved thermo-mechanical reliability of ICA assembled flip-chip packages are finally formulated.

Computer modeling of a micro-manufactured one-turn inductor

The results of a finite element computer modelling analysis of a micro-manufactured one-turn magnetic inductor using the software package ANSYS 10.0 are presented. The inductor is designed for a DC-DC converter used in microelectronic devices. It consists of a copper conductor with a rectangular cross-section plated with an insulation layer and a layer of magnetic core. The analysis has focused on the effects of the frequency and the air gaps on the on the inductance values and the Joule losses in the core and conductor. It has been found that an inductor with small multiple air gaps has lower losses than an inductor with a single larger gap

Assessment of microInductors for DC-DC converters

There are increasing demands on the power density and efficiency of DC-DC power converters due to the soaring functionality and operational longevity required for today's electronic products. In addition, DC-DC converters are required to operate at new elevated frequencies in the MHz frequency regime. Typical ferrite cores, whose useable flux density falls drastically at these frequencies, have to be replaced and a method of producing compact component windings developed. In this study, two types of microinductors, pot-core and solenoid, for DC-DC converter applications have been analyzed for their performance in the MHz frequency range. The inductors were manufactured using an adapted UV-LIGA process and included electrodeposited nickel-iron and the commercial alloy Vitrovac 6025 as core materials. Using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and a Hewlett Packard 4192A LF- impedance analyzer, the inductor characteristics such as power density, efficiency, inductance and Q-factor were recorded. Experimental, finite element and analytical results were used to assess the suitability of the magnetic materials and component geometries for low MHz operation.