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One Technique (one + technique)
Selected AbstractsThe Application of Ultraviolet Irradiation to Exogenous Sources of DNA in Plasticware and Water for the Amplification of Low Copy Number DNAJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 4 2006Jeannie Tamariz B.S. ABSTRACT: Using high sensitivity forensic STR polymerase chain reaction (PCR) typing procedures, we have found low concentrations of DNA contamination in plasticware and water assumed to be sterile, which is not detected by standard DNA procedures. One technique commonly used to eliminate the presence of DNA is ultraviolet (UV) irradiation; we optimized such a protocol used in the treatment of water, tubes, plates, and tips for low copy number DNA (LCN) amplification. UV light from a Stratalinker® 2400 was administered to 0.2, 1.5 mL tubes, and PCR plates contaminated with up to 500 pg of DNA. They were subsequently quantified with an ALU-based real-time PCR method using the Rotorgene 3000. Overall, there was a decrease in concentration of DNA recovered as the duration of treatment increased. Nonetheless, following 45 min of irradiating a PCR plate with 500 pg of DNA, nearly 6 pg were still detected. However, when the plate was raised within an inch of the UV source, less than 0.2 pg of DNA was detected. Additionally, lining the area around the samples with aluminum foil further reduced the amount of time necessary for irradiation, as only 30 min eliminated the presence DNA in the raised PCR plate. Similar experiments were conducted using tubes filled with a solution of DNA and water in equivalent concentrations for 50, 15, and 1.5 mL tubes with comparative results. It is plausible that the aluminum foil increased the amount of reflection in the area thereby enhancing penetration of UV rays through the walls of the plasticware. This protocol was tested for the possibility of inhibitors produced from irradiation of plastic tubes. As our protocols require less irradiation time than previous studies, PCR sensitivity was not affected. Moreover, the lifespan of the UV lamps was extended. Our findings demonstrate that this method is useful as an additional precautionary measure to prevent amplification of extraneous DNA from plasticware and water without compromising the sensitivity of LCN DNA amplifications. [source] One technique, two approaches, and results: Thoracic duct cannulation in small laboratory animalsMICROSURGERY, Issue 3 2003Mihai Ionac M.D., Ph.D. Experimental studies in immunology, pharmacology, or hematology require the sampling of the total thoracic duct lymph in awake and unrestrained rats or mice. Several approaches have been described for cannulation of the thoracic duct, but they are characterized by a modest reproducibility and a low lymph flow rate. An improved technique for obtaining thoracic duct lymph is described here, emphasizing the similarities and differences concerning both rats and mice (average weights of 305 and 15 g, respectively). Rats yielded a mean of 55.6 ml/day thoracic duct lymph, while lymph output in mice reached unexpected volumes of 29.3 ml/day. The use of an operating microscope and silicone cannula, and maintenance of mobility of the animals during lymph collection, offer a reliable method for a high and constant output of thoracic duct lymph. Relevant aspects of the murine thoracic duct anatomy are also identified. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 23:239,245 2003 [source] Performance of high-power III-nitride light emitting diodesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008G. Chen Abstract The performance of III-nitride based high-power light emitting diodes (LEDs) is reviewed. Direct color high-power LEDs with 1 × 1 mm2 chip size in commercial LUXEON® Rebel packages are shown to exhibit external quantum efficiencies at a drive current of 350 mA ranging from ,60% at a peak wavelength of ,420 nm to ,27% at ,525 nm. The short wavelength blue LED emits ,615 mW at 350 mA and >2 W at 1.5 A. The green LED emits ,110 lm at 350 mA and ,270 lm at 1.5 A. Phosphor-conversion white LEDs (1 × 1 mm2 chip size) are demonstrated that emit ,126 lm of white light when driven at 350 mA and 381 lm when driven at 1.5 A (Correlated Color Temperature, CCT , 4700 K). In a similar LED that employs a double heterostructure (DH) insign instead of a multi-quantum well (MQW) active region, the luminous flux increases to 435 lm (CCT , 5000 K) at 1.5 A drive current. Also discussed are experimental techniques that enable the separation of internal quantum efficiency and extraction efficiency. One technique derives the internal quantum efficiency from temperature and excitation-dependent photoluminescence measurements. A second technique relies on variable-temperature electroluminescence measurements and enables the estimation of the extraction efficiency. Both techniques are shown to yield consistent results and indicate that the internal quantum efficiency of short wavelength blue (, , 420 nm) high-power LEDs is as high as 71% even at a drive current of 350 mA. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] A comparison of Granger causality and coherency in fMRI-based analysis of the motor systemHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 11 2009Andrew S. Kayser Abstract The ability of functional MRI to acquire data from multiple brain areas has spurred developments not only in voxel-by-voxel analyses, but also in multivariate techniques critical to quantifying the interactions between brain areas. As the number of multivariate techniques multiplies, however, few studies in any modality have directly compared different connectivity measures, and fewer still have done so in the context of well-characterized neural systems. To focus specifically on the temporal dimension of interactions between brain regions, we compared Granger causality and coherency (Sun et al., 2004, 2005: Neuroimage 21:647,658, Neuroimage 28:227,237) in a well-studied motor system (1) to gain further insight into the convergent and divergent results expected from each technique, and (2) to investigate the leading and lagging influences between motor areas as subjects performed a motor task in which they produced different learned series of eight button presses. We found that these analyses gave convergent but not identical results: both techniques, for example, suggested an anterior-to-posterior temporal gradient of activity from supplemental motor area through premotor and motor cortices to the posterior parietal cortex, but the techniques were differentially sensitive to the coupling strength between areas. We also found practical reasons that might argue for the use of one technique over another in different experimental situations. Ultimately, the ideal approach to fMRI data analysis is likely to involve a complementary combination of methods, possibly including both Granger causality and coherency. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Nanoparticles of CdCl2 with closed cage structuresISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2001Reshef Tenne Nanoparticles of various layered compounds having a closed cage or nanotubular structure, designated also inorganic fullerene-like (IF) materials, have been reported in the past. In this work IF -CdCl2 nanoparticles were synthesized by two methods. In one technique, a high temperature evaporation and subsequent condensation of dried cadmium chloride powder was used. In the other method, electron beam irradiation of the source powder led to its recrystallization into closed nanoparticles with a nonhollow core. The two methods are shown to produce nanoparticles of different topologies. While mostly spherical nested structures are obtained from the high temperature process, polyhedra with hexagonal or elongated rectangular characters are obtained by the electron beam induced process. The analysis also shows that, while the source (dried) powder is orthorhombic cadmium chloride monohydrate, the crystallized IF cage consists of the anhydrous 3R polytype which is not stable as bulk material in ambient atmosphere. Consistent with previous observations, this study shows that the seamless structure of the IF materials can stabilize phases, which are otherwise unstable in ambient conditions. [source] Managing the risks of physical intervention: developing a more inclusive approachJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2010L. HOLLINS bsc physiotherapy Accessible summary ,,It is imperative that the use of physical interventions be reduced. However, when they are used the safety of recipients must be maximized. ,,A focus on the ,prone restraint position' has led to a narrowed understanding of the risks associated with the application of force during restraints. ,,The ,transitional stabilizing position' offers a platform upon which to consider the broader risks arising during restraints. ,,Training staff to manage such situational risks, using a variation on the existing ABC safety check could be instrumental in reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes associated with restraints. Abstract Since psychiatry evolved as a professional discipline, mental healthcare professionals have had to, as a last resort, physically intervene to manage physically aggressive patients. In the United Kingdom, physical intervention techniques migrated from the prison service in the mid 1980s where there was extensive use of two particularly controversial practices; ,pain compliance' and the ,prone restraint position'. This paper examines how the classification of the ,prone restraint position' has led to a narrowed focus on one technique and a resultant misunderstanding around the wider risks associated with the applying force and managing restraints. The paper goes on to propose the ,transitional stabilizing position' (TSP) as an alternative concept and puts forward a dynamic risk assessment model. It explores how a shift in staff training away from developing pure competence in the performance of tightly specified techniques to managing the patient in TSPs could conceivably reduce the relatively low risk of death or serious injury associated with the application of restraint techniques to an even lower level. [source] (634) Reliability and Clinical Utility of an Implanted Intraspinal Catheter Used in the Treatment of Spasticity and PainPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2000Article first published online: 25 DEC 200 Authors: Elliot Krames, Pacific Pain Treatment Center; Iva Chapple, Carolina Pain Center Objectives: To examine the performance and reliability of a redesigned implantable intrathecal catheter. Materials: A total of 212 catheters were implanted in 202 patients in this 22-center, prospective study of an implantable catheter/pump system used to deliver intrathecal drugs for the treatment of pain and spasticity. Along with physician assessments of each use, the rates of common catheter complications (dislodgements, disconnections, fractures, and kinks) experienced during the study were analyzed in relation to implant conditions (catheter entry site, tip position, and anchoring method). Results: A cumulative study of 3112.8 months of patient experience (average: 15.4 months; range: 0 to 30.2 months per catheter) revealed an overall catheter-caused complication rate of 0.3% per patient month. Physician assessments were favorable, with 89% rating this catheter as better than previously used intraspinal catheters. A measure of catheter survival estimates (Kaplan-Meier) at 9 months was 89% including all complications. Comparison of data relating to implant techniques demonstrated a variety of catheter implant techniques (entry, positioning, anchoring) with no correlation between any one technique and the common complications. Conclusions: Performance data and physician assessments indicate that this catheter is an improvement over the previously available catheter. [source] | |||||||||||||