| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
| 11. |
|
|
| 12. |
- Schiava, M., et al.
(author)
-
Genotype-phenotype correlations in valosin-containing protein disease: a retrospective muticentre study
- 2022
-
In: Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. - : BMJ. - 0022-3050 .- 1468-330X. ; 93:10, s. 1099-1111
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Valosin-containing protein (VCP) disease, caused by mutations in the VCP gene, results in myopathy, Paget's disease of bone (PBD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Natural history and genotype-phenotype correlation data are limited. This study characterises patients with mutations in VCP gene and investigates genotype-phenotype correlations. Methods Descriptive retrospective international study collecting clinical and genetic data of patients with mutations in the VCP gene. Results Two hundred and fifty-five patients (70.0% males) were included in the study. Mean age was 56.8 +/- 9.6 years and mean age of onset 45.6 +/- 9.3 years. Mean diagnostic delay was 7.7 +/- 6 years. Symmetric lower limb weakness was reported in 50% at onset progressing to generalised muscle weakness. Other common symptoms were ventilatory insufficiency 40.3%, PDB 28.2%, dysautonomia 21.4% and FTD 14.3%. Fifty-seven genetic variants were identified, 18 of these no previously reported. c.464G>A (p.Arg155His) was the most frequent variant, identified in the 28%. Full time wheelchair users accounted for 19.1% with a median time from disease onset to been wheelchair user of 8.5 years. Variant c.463C>T (p.Arg155Cys) showed an earlier onset (37.8 +/- 7.6 year) and a higher frequency of axial and upper limb weakness, scapular winging and cognitive impairment. Forced vital capacity (FVC) below 50% was as risk factor for being full-time wheelchair user, while FVC Conclusion This study expands the knowledge on the phenotypic presentation, natural history, genotype-phenotype correlations and risk factors for disease progression of VCP disease and is useful to improve the care provided to patient with this complex disease.
|
|
| 13. |
|
|
| 14. |
- Gulick, Sean, P.S., et al.
(author)
-
The first day of the Cenozoic
- 2019
-
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : US National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 116, s. 19342-19351
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Highly expanded Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary section from the Chicxulub peak ring, recovered by International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) –International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364, provides an unprecedented window into the immediate aftermath of the impact. Site M0077 includes ∼130 m of impact melt rock and suevite deposited the first day of the Cenozoic covered by <1 m of micrite-rich carbonate deposite over subsequent weeks to years. We present an interpreted series of events based on analyses of these drill cores. Within minutes of the impact, centrally uplifted basement rock collapsed outward to forma peak ring capped in melt rock. Within tens of minutes, the peak ring was covered in ∼40 m of brecciated impact melt rock and coarsegrained suevite, including clasts possibly generated by melt–water interactions during ocean resurge. Within an hour, resurge crested the peak ring, depositing a 10-m-thick layer of suevite with increased particle roundness and sorting. Within hours, the full resurge deposit formed through settling and seiches, resulting in an 80-m-thick fining-upward, sorted suevite in the flooded crater. Within a day, the reflected rim-wave tsunami reached the crater, depositing a cross-bedded sand-to-fine gravel layer enriched in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons overlain by charcoal fragments. Generation of a deep crater open to the ocean allowed rapid flooding and sediment accumulation rates among the highest known in the geologic record. The high-resolution section provides insight into the impact environmental effects, including charcoal as evidence for impactinduced wildfires and a paucity of sulfur-rich evaporites from the target supporting rapid global cooling and darkness as extinction mechanisms.
|
|
| 15. |
|
|
| 16. |
|
|
| 17. |
- Schulte, Peter, et al.
(author)
-
The Chicxulub Asteroid Impact and Mass Extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary
- 2010
-
In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 327:5970, s. 1214-1218
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary similar to 65.5 million years ago marks one of the three largest mass extinctions in the past 500 million years. The extinction event coincided with a large asteroid impact at Chicxulub, Mexico, and occurred within the time of Deccan flood basalt volcanism in India. Here, we synthesize records of the global stratigraphy across this boundary to assess the proposed causes of the mass extinction. Notably, a single ejecta-rich deposit compositionally linked to the Chicxulub impact is globally distributed at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. The temporal match between the ejecta layer and the onset of the extinctions and the agreement of ecological patterns in the fossil record with modeled environmental perturbations (for example, darkness and cooling) lead us to conclude that the Chicxulub impact triggered the mass extinction.
|
|
| 18. |
- Brilakis, Emmanouil S., et al.
(author)
-
Effect of ticagrelor on the outcomes of patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery : Insights from the PLATelet inhibition and patient outcomes (PLATO) trial
- 2013
-
In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 166:3, s. 474-480
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) who present with an acute coronary syndrome have a high risk for recurrent events. Whether intensive antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor might be beneficial compared with clopidogrel is unknown. In this substudy of the PLATO trial, we studied the effects of randomized treatment dependent on history of CABG. Methods Patients participating in PLATO were classified according to whether they had undergone prior CABG. The trial's primary and secondary end points were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Of the 18,613 study patients, 1,133 (6.1%) had prior CABG. Prior-CABG patients had more high-risk characteristics at study entry and a 2-fold increase in clinical events during follow-up, but less major bleeding. The primary end point (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) was reduced to a similar extent by ticagrelor among patients with (19.6% vs 21.4%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.91 [0.67, 1.24]) and without (9.2% vs 11.0%; adjusted HR, 0.86 [0.77, 0.96]; P-interaction = .73) prior CABG. Major bleeding was similar with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel among patients with (8.1% vs 8.7%; adjusted HR, 0.89 [0.55, 1.47]) and without (11.8% vs 11.4%; HR, 1.08 [0.98, 1.20]; P-interaction =.46) prior CABG. Conclusions Prior-CABG patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome are a high-risk cohort for death and recurrent cardiovascular events but have a lower risk for major bleeding. Similar to the results in no-prior-CABG patients, ticagrelor was associated with a reduction in ischemic events without an increase in major bleeding.
|
|
| 19. |
- Claeys, M. J., et al.
(author)
-
Organization of intensive cardiac care units in Europe : Results of a multinational survey
- 2020
-
In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2048-8726 .- 2048-8734. ; 9:8, s. 993-1001
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The present survey aims to describe the intensive cardiac care unit organization and admission policies in Europe. Methods: A total of 228 hospitals (61% academic) from 27 countries participated in this survey. In addition to the organizational aspects of the intensive cardiac care units, including classification of the intensive cardiac care unit levels, data on the admission diagnoses were gathered from consecutive patients who were admitted during a two-day period. Admission policies were evaluated by comparing illness severity with the intensive cardiac care unit level. Gross national income was used to differentiate high-income countries (n=13) from middle-income countries (n=14). Results: A total of 98% of the hospitals had an intensive cardiac care unit: 70% had a level 1 intensive cardiac care unit, 76% had a level 2 intensive cardiac care unit, 51% had a level 3 intensive cardiac care unit, and 60% of the hospitals had more than one intensive cardiac care unit level. High-income countries tended to have more level 3 intensive cardiac care units than middle-income countries (55% versus 41%, p=0.07). A total of 5159 admissions were scored on illness severity: 63% were low severity, 24% were intermediate severity, and 12% were high severity. Patients with low illness severity were predominantly admitted to level 1 intensive cardiac care units, whereas patients with high illness severity were predominantly admitted to level 2 and 3 intensive cardiac care units. A policy mismatch was observed in 12% of the patients; some patients with high illness severity were admitted to level 1 intensive cardiac care units, which occurred more often in middle-income countries, whereas some patients with low illness severity were admitted to level 3 intensive cardiac care units, which occurred more frequently in high-income countries. Conclusion: More than one-third of the admitted patients were considered intermediate or high risk. Although patients with higher illness severity were mostly admitted to high-level intensive cardiac care units, an admission policy mismatch was observed in 12% of the patients; this mismatch was partly related to insufficient logistic intensive cardiac care unit capacity.
|
|
| 20. |
- Glasius, M., et al.
(author)
-
Composition and sources of carbonaceous aerosols in Northern Europe during winter
- 2018
-
In: Atmospheric Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-2844 .- 1352-2310. ; 173, s. 127-141
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sources of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in atmospheric aerosols (carbonaceous aerosols) were investigated by collection of weekly aerosol filter samples at six background sites in Northern Europe (Birkenes, Norway; Vavihill, Sweden; Risoe, Denmark; Cabauw and Rotterdam in The Netherlands; Melpitz, Germany) during winter 2013. Analysis of 14 C and a set of molecular tracers were used to constrain the sources of EC and OC. During the four-week campaign, most sites (in particular those in Germany and The Netherlands) were affected by an episode during the first two weeks with high concentrations of aerosol, as continental air masses were transported westward. The analysis results showed a clear, increasing north to south gradient for most molecular tracers. Total carbon (TC = OC + EC) at Birkenes showed an average concentration of 0.5 ± 0.3 μg C m −3 , whereas the average concentration at Melpitz was 6.0 ± 4.3 μg C m −3 . One weekly mean TC concentration as high as 11 μg C m −3 was observed at Melpitz. Average levoglucosan concentrations varied by an order of magnitude from 25 ± 13 ng m −3 (Birkenes) to 249 ± 13 ng m −3 (Melpitz), while concentrations of tracers of fungal spores (arabitol and mannitol) and vegetative debris (cellulose) were very low, showing a minor influence of primary biological aerosol particles during the North European winter. The fraction of modern carbon generally varied from 0.57 (Melpitz) to 0.91 (Birkenes), showing an opposite trend compared to the molecular tracers and TC. Total concentrations of 10 biogenic and anthropogenic carboxylic acids, mainly of secondary origin, were 4–53 ng m −3 , with the lowest concentrations observed at Birkenes and the highest at Melpitz. However, the highest relative concentrations of carboxylic acids (normalized to TC) were observed at the most northern sites. Levels of organosulphates and nitrooxy organosulphates varied more than two orders of magnitude, from 2 to 414 ng m −3 , between individual sites and samples. The three sites Melpitz, Rotterdam and Cabauw, located closest to source regions in continental Europe, showed very high levels of organosulphates and nitrooxy organosulphates (up to 414 ng m −3 ) during the first two weeks of the study, while low levels ( < 7 ng m −3 ) were found at all sites except Melpitz during the last week. The large variation in organosulphate levels probably reflects differences in the presence of acidic sulphate aerosols, known from laboratory studies to accelerate the formation of these compounds. On average, the ratio of organic sulphate to inorganic sulphate was 1.5 ± 1.0% (range 0.1–3.4%). Latin-hypercube source apportionment techniques identified biomass burning as the major source of OC for all samples at all sites (typically > 40% of TC), while use and combustion of fossil fuels was the second most important source. Furthermore, EC from biomass burning accounted for 7–16% of TC, whereas EC from fossil sources contributed to < 2–23% of TC, of which the highest percentages were observed for low-concentration aerosol samples. Unresolved non-fossil sources (such as cooking and biogenic secondary organic aerosols) did not account for more than 5–12% of TC. The results confirm that wood combustion is a major source to OC and EC in Northern Europe during winter.
|
|
| 21. |
|
|
| 22. |
- Kotsia, Anna, et al.
(author)
-
Extent of coronary artery disease and outcomes after ticagrelor administration in patients with an acute coronary syndrome : Insights from the PLATelet inhibition and patient Outcomes (PLATO) trial
- 2014
-
In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 168:1, s. 68-75
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Extensive coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with higher risk. In this substudy of the PLATO trial, we examined the effects of randomized treatment on outcome events and safety in relation to the extent of CAD. Methods Patients were classified according to presence of extensive CAD (defined as 3-vessel disease, left main disease, or prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery). The trial's primary and secondary end points were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Among 15,388 study patients for whom the extent of CAD was known, 4,646 (30%) had extensive CAD. Patients with extensive CAD had more high-risk characteristics and experienced more clinical events during follow-up. They were less likely to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (58% vs 79%, P < .001) but more likely to undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (16% vs 2%, P < .001). Ticagrelor, compared with clopidogrel, reduced the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with extensive CAD (14.9% vs 17.6%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.85 [0.73-0.98]) similar to its reduction in those without extensive CAD (6.8% vs 8.0%, HR 0.85 [0.74-0.98], P-interaction = .99). Major bleeding was similar with ticagrelor vs clopidogrel among patients with (25.7% vs 25.5%, HR 1.02 [0.90-1.15]) and without (7.3% vs 6.4%, HR 1.14 [0.98-1.33], P-interaction = .24) extensive CAD. Conclusions Patients with extensive CAD have higher rates of recurrent cardiovascular events and bleeding. Ticagrelor reduced ischemic events to a similar extent both in patients with and without extensive CAD, with bleeding rates similar to clopidogrel.
|
|
| 23. |
- Popescu, A., et al.
(author)
-
Increasing transparency and privacy for online social network users – USEMP value model, scoring framework and legal
- 2016
-
In: Privacy Technologies and Policy. - Cham : Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology/Springer Verlag. - 9783319314556 - 9783319314563 ; , s. 38-59
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we present research results from the multi-disciplinary EU research project USEMP (USEMP is a project funded from EU research framework, additional information about project scope and deliverables are available at project’s public website at: http://www.usemp-project.eu/). In particular, we look at the legal aspects of personal data licensing and profile transparency, the development of a personal data value model in Online Social Networks (OSNs) and the development of disclosure scoring and personal data value frameworks. In the first part of the paper we show how personal data usage licensing and profile transparency for OSN activities provides for Data Protection by Design (DPbD). We also present an overview of the existing personal data monetization ecosystem in OSNs and its possible evolutions for increasing privacy and transparency for consumers about their OSN presence. In the last part of the paper, we describe the USEMP scoring framework for personal information disclosure and data value that can assist users to better perceive how their privacy is affected by their OSN presence and what the value of their OSN activities is.
|
|
| 24. |
|
|
| 25. |
|
|
| 26. |
- Bachert, C., et al.
(author)
-
Important research questions in allergy and related diseases: 3-chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis - a GA(2)LEN study
- 2009
-
In: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 64:4, s. 520-533
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most common health care challenges, with significant direct medical costs and severe impact on lower airway disease and general health outcomes. The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) currently is based on clinical signs, nasal endoscopy and CT scanning, and therapeutic recommendations are focussing on 2 classes of drugs, corticosteroids and antibiotics. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and the factors amplifying mucosal inflammation therefore seems to be crucial for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In an effort to extend knowledge in this area, the WP 2.7.2 of the GA(2)LEN network of excellence currently collects data and samples of 1000 CRS patients and 250 control subjects. The main objective of this project is to characterize patients with upper airway disease on the basis of clinical parameters, infectious agents, inflammatory mechanisms and remodeling processes. This collaborative research will result in better knowledge on patient phenotypes, pathomechanisms, and subtypes in chronic rhinosinusitis. This review summarizes the state of the art on chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis in different aspects of the disease. It defines potential gaps in the current research, and points to future research perspectives and targets.
|
|
| 27. |
|
|
| 28. |
- Franchi, Francesco, et al.
(author)
-
Impact of Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease on Cardiovascular Outcomes and Platelet P2Y12 Receptor Antagonist Effects in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes : Insights From the PLATO Trial
- 2019
-
In: Journal of the American Heart Association. - 2047-9980. ; 8:6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background-There are limited data on how the combination of diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects cardiovascular outcomes as well as response to different P2Y(12) receptor antagonists, which represented the aim of the present investigation. Methods and Results-In this post hoc analysis of the PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) trial, which randomized acute coronary syndrome patients to ticagrelor versus clopidogrel, patients (n=15 108) with available DM and CKD status were classified into 4 groups: DM+/CKD+ (n=1058), DM+/CKD- (n=2748), DM-/CKD+ (n=2160), and DM-/CKD- (n=9142). The primary efficacy end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 12 months. The primary safety end point was PLATO major bleeding. DM+/CKD+ patients had a higher incidence of the primary end point compared with DM-/CKD- patients (23.3% versus 7.1%; adjusted hazard ratio 2.22; 95% CI 1.88-2.63; P<0.001). Patients with DM+/CKD- and DM-/CKD+ had an intermediate risk profile. The same trend was shown for the individual components of the primary end point and for major bleeding. Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor reduced the incidence of the primary end point consistently across subgroups (P-interaction=0.264), but with an increased absolute risk reduction in DM+/CKD+. The effects on major bleeding were also consistent across subgroups (P-interaction=0.288). Conclusions-In acute coronary syndrome patients, a gradient of risk was observed according to the presence or absence of DM and CKD, with patients having both risk factors at the highest risk. Although the ischemic benefit of ticagrelor over clopidogrel was consistent in all subgroups, the absolute risk reduction was greatest in patients with both DM and CKD.
|
|
| 29. |
- Goderis, Steven, et al.
(author)
-
Globally distributed iridium layer preserved within the Chicxulub impact structure
- 2021
-
In: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 7:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction is marked globally by elevated concentrations of iridium, emplaced by a hypervelocity impact event 66 million years ago. Here, we report new data from four independent laboratories that reveal a positive iridium anomaly within the peak-ring sequence of the Chicxulub impact structure, in drill core recovered by IODP-ICDP Expedition 364. The highest concentration of ultrafine meteoritic matter occurs in the post-impact sediments that cover the crater peak ring, just below the lowermost Danian pelagic limestone. Within years to decades after the impact event, this part of the Chicxulub impact basin returned to a relatively low-energy depositional environment, recording in unprecedented detail the recovery of life during the succeeding millennia. The iridium layer provides a key temporal horizon precisely linking Chicxulub to K-Pg boundary sections worldwide.
|
|
| 30. |
- Hallquist, Mattias, 1969, et al.
(author)
-
The formation, properties and impact of secondary organic aerosol: Current and emerging issues
- 2009
-
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 9:14, s. 5155-5236
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) accounts for a significant fraction of ambient tropospheric aerosol and a detailed knowledge of the formation, properties and transformation of SOA is therefore required to evaluate its impact on atmospheric processes, climate and human health. The chemical and physical processes associated with SOA formation are complex and varied, and, despite considerable progress in recent years, a quantitative and predictive understanding of SOA formation does not exist and therefore represents a major research challenge in atmospheric science. This review begins with an update on the current state of knowledge on the global SOA budget and is followed by an overview of the atmospheric degradation mechanisms for SOA precursors, gas-particle partitioning theory and the analytical techniques used to determine the chemical composition of SOA. A survey of recent laboratory, field and modeling studies is also presented. The following topical and emerging issues are highlighted and discussed in detail: molecular characterization of biogenic SOA constituents, condensed phase reactions and oligomerization, the interaction of atmospheric organic components with sulfuric acid, the chemical and photochemical processing of organics in the atmospheric aqueous phase, aerosol formation from real plant emissions, interaction of atmospheric organic components with water, thermodynamics and mixtures in atmospheric models. Finally, the major challenges ahead in laboratory, field and modeling studies of SOA are discussed and recommendations for future research directions are proposed.
|
|
| 31. |
- Neuwirth, Christoph, et al.
(author)
-
Implementing Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX) in a large clinical trial : Real world experience from 27 centres
- 2018
-
In: Clinical Neurophysiology. - : Elsevier. - 1388-2457 .- 1872-8952. ; 129:8, s. 1756-1762
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX) is a quantitative neurophysiological method that reflects loss of motor neurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in longitudinal studies. It has been utilized in one natural history ALS study and one drug trial (Biogen USA) after training and qualification of raters.METHODS: Prior to testing patients, evaluators had to submit test-retest data of 4 healthy volunteers. Twenty-seven centres with 36 raters measured MUNIX in 4 sets of 6 different muscles twice. Coefficient of variation of all measurements had to be <20% to pass the qualification process. MUNIX COV of the first attempt, number of repeated measurements and muscle specific COV were evaluated.RESULTS: COV varied considerably between raters. Mean COV of all raters at the first measurements was 12.9% ± 13.5 (median 8.7%). Need of repetitions ranged from 0 to 43 (mean 10.7 ± 9.1, median 8). Biceps and first dorsal interosseus muscles showed highest repetition rates. MUNIX variability correlated considerably with variability of compound muscle action potential.CONCLUSION: MUNIX revealed generally good reliability, but was rater dependent and ongoing support for raters was needed.SIGNIFICANCE: MUNIX can be implemented in large clinical trials as an outcome measure after training and a qualification process.
|
|
| 32. |
- Olive, M, et al.
(author)
-
Myoglobinopathy is an adult-onset autosomal dominant myopathy with characteristic sarcoplasmic inclusions
- 2019
-
In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1, s. 1396-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Myoglobin, encoded by MB, is a small cytoplasmic globular hemoprotein highly expressed in cardiac myocytes and oxidative skeletal myofibers. Myoglobin binds O2, facilitates its intracellular transport and serves as a controller of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. Here, we identify a recurrent c.292C>T (p.His98Tyr) substitution in MB in fourteen members of six European families suffering from an autosomal dominant progressive myopathy with highly characteristic sarcoplasmic inclusions in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Myoglobinopathy manifests in adulthood with proximal and axial weakness that progresses to involve distal muscles and causes respiratory and cardiac failure. Biochemical characterization reveals that the mutant myoglobin has altered O2 binding, exhibits a faster heme dissociation rate and has a lower reduction potential compared to wild-type myoglobin. Preliminary studies show that mutant myoglobin may result in elevated superoxide levels at the cellular level. These data define a recognizable muscle disease associated with MB mutation.
|
|
| 33. |
- Olsen, S. H., et al.
(author)
-
Strained Si/SiGe MOS technology : Improving gate dielectric integrity
- 2009
-
In: Microelectronic Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-9317 .- 1873-5568. ; 86:3, s. 218-223
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Strained Si is recognised as a necessary technology booster for the nanoelectronics regime. This work shows that high levels of stress attainable from globally strained Si/SiGe platforms can benefit gate leakage and reliability in addition to MOSFET channel mobility. Device self-heating due to the low thermal conductivity of SiGe is shown to be the dominating factor behind compromised performance against short channel strained Si/SiGe MOSFETs. Novel thin virtual substrates aimed at reducing self-heating effects are investigated. In addition to reducing self-heating effects, the thin Virtual substrates provide further improvements to gate oxide integrity, reliability and lifetime compared with conventional thick virtual substrates. This is attributed to tire lower surface roughness of the thin virtual substrates which arises due to the reduced interactions of strain-relieving misfit dislocations during thin Virtual substrate growth. Good agreement between experimental data and physical models is demonstrated, enabling gate leakage mechanisms to be identified. The advantages and challenges of using globally strained Si/SiGe to advance MOS technology are discussed.
|
|
| 34. |
- O'Neill, A., et al.
(author)
-
Reduced self-heating by strained silicon substrate engineering
- 2008
-
In: Applied Surface Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-4332 .- 1873-5584. ; 254:19, s. 6182-6185
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Substrate engineering innovations such as SOI and the use of Si/SiGe virtual substrates become necessary in order to maintain performance leverage of integrated circuits with continued scaling. The relevance of thermal effects in device design increases since the thermal conductivity of these new materials is poor. The electrical performance of devices fabricated on thin virtual substrates grown by two different techniques is presented. It is found that self-heating is reduced and that thermal resistance measurements agree with modelling predictions. The reduction in performance enhancement seen in many strained Si MOSFETs is found here to be largely due to self-heating effects, rather than parasitics or the loss of strain.
|
|
| 35. |
- Sauvage, Justine, et al.
(author)
-
Biodegradable, metal-chelating compounds as alternatives to EDTA for cultivation of marine microalgae
- 2021
-
In: Journal of Applied Phycology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0921-8971 .- 1573-5176. ; 33, s. 3519-3537
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient for microalgal metabolism. The low solubility of Fe in oxic aquatic environments can be a growth-limiting factor for phytoplankton. Synthetic chelating agents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), are used widely to maintain Fe in solution for microalgal cultivation. The non-biodegradable nature of EDTA, combined with sub-optimal bioavailability of Fe-EDTA complexes to microalgae, indicates opportunity to improve microalgal cultivation practices that amplify production efficiency and environmental compatibility. In the present study, the effects of four organic chelating ligands known to form readily bioavailable organic complexes with Fe in natural aquatic environments were investigated in relation to growth and biochemical composition of two marine microalgae grown as live feeds in shellfish hatcheries (Chaetoceros calcitrans and Tisochrysis lutea). Three saccharides, alginic acid (ALG), glucuronic acid (GLU), and dextran (DEX), as well as the siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFB), were compared to EDTA. Organic ligands characterized by weaker binding capacity for cationic metals (i.e., ALG, GLU, DEX) significantly improved microalgal growth and yields in laboratory-scale static batch cultures or bubbled photobioreactors. Maximal microalgal growth enhancement relative to the control (e.g., EDTA) was recorded for GLU, followed by ALG, with 20-35% increase in specific growth rate in the early stages of culture development of C. calcitrans and T. lutea. Substitution of EDTA with GLU resulted in a 27% increase in cellular omega 3-polyunsaturetd fatty acid content of C. calcitrans and doubled final cell yields. Enhanced microalgal culture performance is likely associated with increased intracellular Fe uptake efficiency combined with heterotrophic growth stimulated by the organic ligands. Based upon these results, we propose that replacement of EDTA with one of these organic metal-chelating ligands is an effective and easily implementable strategy to enhance the environmental compatibility of microalgal cultivation practices while also maximizing algal growth and enhancing the nutritional quality of marine microalgal species commonly cultured for live-feed applications in aquaculture.
|
|
| 36. |
- Vergote, K., et al.
(author)
-
On the potential of the wave based method for the efficient optimisation of local vibration control treatments for structural components
- 2012
-
In: International Conference on Noise and Vibration Engineering 2012, ISMA 2012, including USD 2012. - : Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. - 9781622768257 ; , s. 1985-2002
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Local vibration absorbers, such as tuned vibration absorbers or local active control systems, can be used to reduce the response of structural components. The optimisation of the position, the number and the properties of these absorbers, is however a problem of many unknowns. This paper studies the use of an efficient simulation technique, namely the wave based method (WBM), in order to obtain these optimal parameters. In contrast to the finite element method (FEM), where the problem is divided into a large number of small elements in which the field variable is described using simple polynomial shape functions, the WBM divides the problem into a small number of domains in which exact solutions of the governing equation are used as basis functions. This approach not only leads to a numerical efficient technique for the simulation of a system response, it also has inherent advantages over the FEM in an optimisation context. This paper studies the advantages of the WBM in a gradient based optimisation scheme and applies the proposed method for the optimisation of local resonators in order to reduce the vibrational response of a simple plate.
|
|
| 37. |
- Åkerblom, Axel, et al.
(author)
-
Outcome and causes of renal deterioration evaluated by serial cystatin C measurements in acute coronary syndrome patients : Results from the PLATelet inhibition and patient Outcomes (PLATO) study
- 2012
-
In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 164:5, s. 728-734
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: To investigate if ticagrelor treatment and other clinical characteristics were associated with increased cystatin C concentrations and if a deterioration in estimated renal function was associated with worse outcome in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: Plasma cystatin C concentrations were determined within 24 hours of admission (baseline), at discharge, 1 month, and 6 months in the PLATO trial. The changes over time in relation to randomized treatment were analyzed by analysis of covariance. C-statistics and the relative Integrated Discrimination Improvement of the cystatin C concentrations regarding the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction) was evaluated by multivariable analysis including background characteristics and biomarkers: N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and Troponin I. Results: Mean cystatin C concentrations in 2133 ticagrelor- and 2162 clopidogrel-treated patients were at baseline (0.86 mg/L and 0.86 mg/L), discharge (1.01 mg/L and 0.98 mg/L) (P <.0005), 1 month (1.00 mg/L and 0.98 mg/L) (P =.12), and 6 months (1.00 mg/L and 0.99 mg/L) (P =.17), respectively. Age, heart failure, and type of ACS were major determinants of the cystatin C concentration. c Statistics and the relative Integrated Discrimination Improvement of the primary outcome for the baseline cystatin C concentration were 0.687 and 5.2%, compared to 0.684 and 4.5% at discharge (n = 4034) and 0.693 and 5.1% at one month (n = 3096), respectively. Conclusions: Mean cystatin C concentrations increased in ACS patients, most importantly determined by age. The initial greater increase in ticagrelor-treated patients was not sustained over time. Risk prediction did not improve with serial measurements of renal markers.
|
|
