Astringency plays an important role in the sensory experience of many foods and beverages, ranging from wine to nuts. Given the recent trend toward fortifying consumables with astringent compounds and the evidence regarding the health benefits of some astringents, the mechanisms and perceptual characteristics of astringency warrant further discussion and investigation. This paper reviews the cu...

We have used a large pattern test mask and a specific arrangement of structures on a wafer for direct measurement of an average planarization length for copper chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) processes. We propose new minimum, maximum, and average planarization length definitions, based on up and down area measurements as a function of trench width. The average planarization length is usefu...

Today’s wafer fabrication plants must carefully balance the need to increase productivity while simultaneously reducing variable costs. There are a couple of main areas where process control (metrology and inspection) equipment can help minimize variable cost. The first is reducing consumables – minimizing the number of wafers that are processed for non-revenue operations, i.e., test wafers. Se...

A simple mount capable of securely holding a variety of intracranial probes to the skull was constructed from commonly available clinical consumables. Using this device the cerebral cortical blood flow of preterm lambs was measured using a laser Doppler flow probe, and cerebral pH and cortical electrical impedance were measured in newborn piglets using pH electrodes and Ag/AgCl wire electrodes....

We estimated the costs of a molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance to rifampin (Xpert MTB/RIF) and of smear microscopy, within the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS, Unified Health Care System). In SUS laboratories in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, we performed activity-based costing and micro-costing. The mean unit costs for Xpert MTB/RIF and smear microscop...

The utility and sensitivity of enzyme-labeled oligonucleotide probes have been described (1, 2). However, most methods used for their preparation require the use of extensive column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or high-pressure liquid chromatography to yield a pure product (3-5). Commercial kits offer a simple alternative but typically 1) are expensive, 2) utilize freeze ...

Examples are shown of protein crystallization in, and data collection from, solutions sandwiched between thin polymer films using vapour-diffusion and batch methods. The crystallization platform is optimal for both visualization and in situ data collection, with the need for traditional harvesting being eliminated. In wells constructed from the thinnest plastic and with a minimum of aqueous liq...

The increased availability of sophisticated automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) machines has made the choice of APD much more attractive to many patients and nephrologists. However, the cost of APD consumables still generally makes this option more expensive than many existing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) systems. Reusing the tubing and cassette for APD machines (APD with re...

Introduction The use of healthcare delivery systems is very limited. Primarily in India public sector hospitals does not use any system for managing their health records to provide continued care to patient. The central and state governments are responsible for the provision of primary healthcare in the country. A spending of 1% of the GDP (effectively about Rs 1050 per capita) on public health...

This paper reports on the design and development of an electronic classroom and conference room which was opened in the city of Linz, Austria, in late 1996. This room was developed in a multidisciplinary approach and contains several unique features. After an introduction about the background, rationale for merging the concepts of classroom and conference room, and an overview about the four la...