Detection of atomic and molecular mega-electron-volt projectiles using an x-ray charged coupled device camera

We show that an x-ray charge coupled device (CCD) may be used as a particle detector for atomic and molecular mega-electron-volt (MeV) projectiles of around a few hundred keV per atomic mass unit. For atomic species, spectroscopic properties in kinetic energy measurements (i.e., linearity and energy resolution) are found to be close to those currently obtained with implanted or surface barrier silicon particle detectors. For molecular species, in order to increase the maximum kinetic energy detection limit, we propose to put a thin foil in front of the CCD. This foil breaks up the molecules into atoms and spreads the charges over many CCD pixels and therefore avoiding saturation effects. This opens new perspectives in high velocity molecular dissociation studies with accelerator facilities.

Synthesis and mechanical properties of interconnected carbon nanofiber network reinforced polydimethylsiloxane composites

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) reinforced elastomer composites with light weight, sustainability of large deformation, chemical stability, corrosion and fatigue resistance, and vibration and noise reduction capability can have positive impact on a wide range of applications. However, this type of composite is still a under studied research area due to the difficulties in material handling and processing. To improve processing control and reproducibility for large scale engineering applications, cost effective carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in form of interconnected porous network structure were used as nanofillers. Processing, microstructure and mechanical properties of carbon nanofibers reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) have been studied. Mechanical measurements on the composites show that the CNF-PDMS interfacial bonding can be until failure, interfacial debonding happens in the CNF-PDMS composites and the resulted permanent deformation stabilizes with increasing load-unload cycles with significant energy dissipation.

Response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in Asian American patients with chronic hepatitis C genotypes 1 vs 2/3 vs 6

Chronic hepatitis C is generally underappreciated in Asian Americans, and most pivotal studies were conducted in western countries and only included a small numbers of Asian patients. Our goal was to examine and compare treatment outcomes in these patients with genotypes 1 vs 2/3 vs 6. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 167 consecutive treatment-naïve Asian American patients treated with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) at two community clinics in Northern California from 12/00 to 1/08. Primary outcome was sustained virological response rate by intention-to-treat analysis. The overall completion rate was 76%, and treatment adherence (completion of ≥ 75-80% PEG IFN + RBV dose for ≥ 75-80% of intended duration) was 74%. Significant depression was noted in only 4% of patients. Sustained virologic response in patients with genotype 6 treated for 48 weeks was similar to that seen in those with genotype 2/3 (74%vs 75%, P = 0.89) and significantly higher than those with genotype 1 (74%vs 49%, P = 0.016). On multivariate analysis inclusive of sex, age, body mass index (≤ 25 vs > 25) and viral load, only treatment adherence and genotype (2/3 and 6 treated for 48 weeks) were found to be significant predictors of sustained virologic response. We conclude that significant depression is rare in Asian American patients (4%). Patients with genotype 6 treated for 48 weeks appear to have a similar treatment response rate as patients with genotype 2/3 and a significantly higher response rate than those with genotype 1.

Immunolabelling and flow cytometry as new tools to explore dysferlinopathies

Dysferlinopathies are autosomal recessive muscular dystrophies caused by DYSF mutations, which lead to a reduced amount or a complete lack of dysferlin. One step in dysferlinopathies diagnosis consists in Western blot analysis of proteins extracted from muscle biopsy, or blood monocytes. We have taken advantage of dysferlin expression in monocytes to develop a whole blood flow cytometry (WBFC), using antibodies directed against dysferlin. Six patients were submitted to WBFC analysis and immunofluorescence analysis on monocytes. Results obtained are correlated to Western blot from monocytes and muscle biopsies. The possible usefulness of this flow cytometry analysis in routine diagnosis is presented.

The concept of web event and a practical model‐driven approach to web information system development

This article proposes the concept of web clientserver event together with its associated taxonomy which yields a formal specification for such an event. The concept, in conjunction with the concept of atomic use case (reviewed in the article), is then used as a key element for a model‐driven approach to web information system development. The outcome is a new method for web information systems development that reduces the complex web‐based hypermedia navigation behaviour to a much simpler event‐driven behaviour. On the strength of that realized simplicity, the method provides (i) a set of platform‐independent models that completely characterizes the application, and (ii) a well‐defined process to map the combined model to any chosen platform‐dependent implementation.