Search results for "ROSCA"

Resistive switching behaviour in ZnO and VO 2 memristors grown by pulsed laser deposition

2014

The resistive switching behaviour observed in microscale memristors based on laser ablated ZnO and VO 2 is reported. A comparison between the two materials is reported against an active device size. The results show that devices up to 300 × 300 μm 2 exhibit a memristive behaviour regardless of the device size, and 100 × 100 μm 2 ZnO-based memristors have the best resistance off/on ratio.

Liver stiffness measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography improves outcome prediction in primary biliary cholangitis

2022

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) has been shown to predict outcomes of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in small-size studies. We aimed to validate the prognostic value of LSM in a large cohort study. METHODS: We performed an international, multicentre, retrospective follow-up study of 3,985 patients with PBC seen at 23 centres in 12 countries. Eligibility criteria included at least 1 reliable LSM by VCTE and a follow-up ≥ 1 year. Independent derivation (n = 2,740) and validation (n = 568) cohorts were built. The primary endpoint was time to poor clinical outcomes defined as liver-related complications,…

Early changes in dynamic biomarkers of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus-infected patients treated with sofosbuvir

2016

Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis C is a major cause of liver-associated mortality caused by decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. With the approval of sofosbuvir, therapeutic efficacy has markedly increased. Early changes in non-invasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis under effective antiviral therapy are widely unknown. Aim To evaluate early changes of fibrosis markers determined by enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) scores and liver stiffness measurement (FibroScan®) in patients treated with sofosbuvir. Methods A total of 32 hepatitis C patients treated prospectively with sofosbuvir were included. The ELF-panel and FibroScan measurements were performed at baseline, week 4, e…

FibroScan Identifies Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Damage

2020

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are closely associated, and liver fibrosis has been related to macrovascular complications. We examined whether liver fibrosis, diagnosed by FibroScan® , correlates with chronic vascular complications in a cohort of T2DM. METHODS: We recruited 394 outpatients with T2DM attending five Italian diabetes centres who underwent liver ultrasonography (US), FibroScan® and extensive evaluation of macrovascular and microvascular diabetic complications. RESULTS: Steatosis by US was present in 89%. Almost all patients (96%) were on hypoglycaemic drugs, 58% had at least one chronic vascular complication,…

The Relevance of Noninvasive Tools To Assess Fibrosis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide, involving about 25% of people. NAFLD incorporates a large spectrum of pathological conditions, from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and its complications include hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This progression occurs, over many years, in an asymptomatic way, until advanced fibrosis appears. Thus, the differentiation of NASH from simple steatosis and identification of advanced hepatic fibrosis are key issues. To date, the histological assessment of fibrosis with liver biopsy is the gold standard, but obviously, invasiveness is the …

Controlled attenuation parameter and alcoholic hepatic steatosis: Diagnostic accuracy and role of alcohol detoxification.

2018

Background & Aims: Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a novel non-invasive measure of hepatic steatosis, but it has not been evaluated in alcoholic liver disease. Therefore, we aimed to validate CAP for the assessment of biopsy-verified alcoholic steatosis and to study the effect of alcohol detoxification on CAP. Methods: This was a cross-sectional biopsy-controlled diagnostic study in four European liver centres. Consecutive alcohol-overusing patients underwent concomitant CAP, regular ultrasound, and liver biopsy. In addition, we measured CAP before and after admission for detoxification in a separate single-centre cohort. Results: A total of 562 patients were included in the s…

Development and reliability of a streetscape observation instrument for international use: MAPS-global

2018

Background: Relationships between several built environment factors and physical activity and walking behavior are well established, but internationally-comparable built environment measures are lacking. The Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS)-Global is an observational measure of detailed streetscape features relevant to physical activity that was developed for international use. This study examined the inter-observer reliability of the instrument in five countries. Methods: MAPS-Global was developed by compiling concepts and items from eight environmental measures relevant to walking and bicycling. Inter-rater reliability data were collected in neighborhoods selected to var…

2019

A probabilistic discrete model for 2D protein crystal growth is presented. This model takesinto account the available space and can describe growing processes of a different nature due to theversatility of its parameters, which gives the model great flexibility. The accuracy of the simulation istested against a real recrystallization experiment, carried out with the bacterial protein SbpA fromLysinibacillus sphaericus CCM2177, showing high agreement between the proposed model and theactual images of the crystal growth. Finally, it is also discussed how the regularity of the interface(i.e., the curve that separates the crystal from the substrate) affects the evolution of the simulation.

Numerical model for the shear rheology of two-dimensional wet foams with deformable bubbles

2014

Shearing of two-dimensional wet foam is simulated using an introduced numerical model, and results are compared to those of experiments. This model features realistically deformable bubbles, which distinguishes it from previously used models for wet foam. The internal bubble dynamics and their contact interactions are also separated in the model, making it possible to investigate the effects of the related microscale properties of the model on the macroscale phenomena. Validity of model assumptions was proved here by agreement between the simulated and measured Herschel-Bulkley rheology, and shear-induced relaxation times. This model also suggests a relationship between the shear stress and…

The use of microcapillary techniques to study the corrosion resistance of AZ91 magnesium alloy at the microscale

2011

Abstract The AZ91 alloy is composed of Mg 17 (Al, Zn) 12 precipitates, an eutectic phase around these precipitates, AlMn intermetallic particles and an α-Mg solid solution (matrix). The corrosion behaviour of AZ91 was investigated at the microscale by means of the electrochemical microcell technique, which uses extremely small capillaries (diameters between 5 and 10 μm). Experiments were conducted in 0.1 M NaClO 4 at 25 °C. The β-Mg 17 (Al, Zn) 12 precipitates were found to have the highest corrosion resistance, whereas the eutectic phase was very active (pitting potential of approximately −1400 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). The α-Mg solid solution displayed better corrosion resistance than the eutectic…