BACKGROUND Stethoscope diaphragms have been shown to harbor potentially pathogenic bacteria. OBJECTIVES To assess bacterial contamination on the diaphragm and under the plastic rim that secures the diaphragm of stethoscopes of physicians, nurses, medical students, and house staff in an intensive care unit and a general medical ward of a large university hospital. Also to compare the effective...

The effects of growth hormone (GH) on diaphragm muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition and mechanical performance were investigated in Fischer 344 male rats aged to senescence (24.5 mo of age). Chronic undernutrition (UN), refeeding (RF), and RF+GH were compared with ad libitum feeding by using a model of UN that produced a 50% decrease in body weight over a 12-mo period. The effect of agi...

The objective of this paper is to study the elastic seismic response simplified building models that include considerations vertical lateral force resisting system (walls) and horizontal (floor diaphragms) through parametric study. assumption rigid diaphragms often used in design buildings; however, research suggests diaphragm may influence fundamental period response. In paper, a model present...

This paper presents the analysis, design, fabrication, and testing of a condenser microphone utilizing a thin low-stress polycrystalline silicon diaphragm suspended above a p+ perforated back plate. The microphone is fabricated using a combination of surface and bulk micromachining techniques in a single wafer process without the need of wafer bonding. The device shows sensitivities of -34 dB (...

We have studied the effects of 25 mM potassium, electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve, and crude black widow spider venom on the ultrastructure, electrophysiology, and acetylcholine (ACh) contents of mouse diaphragms. About 65% of the ACh in diaphragms is contained in a depletable store in the nerve terminals. The rest of the ACh is contained in a nondepletable store that may correspond t...

A biomimetic directional microphone based on structurally coupled diaphragms and a fiber-optic detection system is presented. The microphone design aims to mimic the fly Ormia Ochracea’s ear structure and capture its performance. Experiments show that the designed microphone amplifies the interaural time difference ITD by 4.4 times and has a directional sensitivity of 6.5 s /deg. An important f...