The results show that PEI-PHEG could effectively form positively

The results show that PEI-PHEG could effectively form positively charged nanosized particles with pDNA; the particle size was in a range of 130.2 to 173.0 nm and the zeta potential was in a range of 27.6

to 41.0 mV. PEI-PHEG exhibited much lower cytotoxicity and higher gene transfection efficiency than PEI-25K with different cell lines in vitro. An animal test was also conducted on a Lewis Lung Carcinoma tumor model in C57/BL6 mice by using subcutaneous intratumoral administration. The results show that OSI-906 nmr in vivo transfection efficiency of PEI-PHEG was improved greatly compared with that of commercial PEI-25K. These results demonstrate that PEI-PHEG can be a potential nonviral vector for gene delivery systems both in vitro and in vivo. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 123: 2257-2265, 2012″
“Systematic reviews represent a specific type of medical research in which the units of analysis are the original primary studies. They PCI-32765 manufacturer are essential tools in synthesizing available scientific information, increasing the validity of the conclusions of

primary studies, and identifying areas for future research. They are also indispensable for the practice of evidence-based medicine and the medical decisionmaking process. However, conducting high quality systematic reviews is not easy and they can sometimes be difficult to interpret. This special article presents the rationale for carrying out and interpreting systematic reviews and uses a hypothetical example to draw attention to key-points. (C) 2011 Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S. L. All rights reserved.”
“Assessment for epilepsy surgery may require invasive Nocodazole mouse measures such as implantation of intracranial electrodes or the Wada test. These investigations are commonly well tolerated. However, complications, including visual disturbances of various etiologies, have been reported. Here we describe two patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who displayed loss of vision in the context of presurgical assessment and in whom mutations associated with

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) were detected. Genetic analysis revealed in one patient the frequent mitochondrial G11778A LHON mutation in ND4. In the second patient, the mitochondrial C4640A mutation in ND2 was detected. This rare LHON mutation enhanced the sensitivity of the patient’s muscle and brain tissue to amobarbital, a known blocker of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported in epilepsy. Thus, the presence of LHON mutations can be a rare cause of visual disturbances in patients with epilepsy and may have predisposed to development of epilepsy. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background. Prior to the introduction of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), management of Fabry disease (FD) consisted of symptomatic and palliative measures.

Pathological examination of the placenta and uterus revealed meta

Pathological examination of the placenta and uterus revealed metastases of gastric adenocarcinoma. All the uterine vessels were packed with tumor cells and the myometrium showed extensive coagulative necrosis. Moreover, microscopic findings of the placenta were consistent with massive perivillous fibrin deposition. Our case clearly suggests that massive perivillous fibrin deposition see more in the placenta can be associated with malignancy during pregnancy and that uterine metastasis of maternal malignancy may result in myometrial

dysfunction unresponsive to uterotonics.”
“Background and aims: Thiopurines represent the mainstay of immunosuppressive therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases. Since it is likely that response to therapy and adverse events depends on the genetic background of patients our study aimed to evaluate retrospectively response to therapy and safety in a mixed IBD population in Southern Europe.

Methods: We evaluated demographic and clinical data of our patients treated with thiopurines. after 6 months in responders and non-responders to therapy. Moreover the likelihood to remain in thiopurine monotherapy was evaluated in responders, whereas

adverse events were investigated in all patients.

Results: Among disease- and patient-related parameters a shorter disease duration, female gender and ileal disease in Crohn’s patients were associated with better response. By ROC analysis, the best predictors of response were decreasing PFTα values of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In the long-term more than half of IBD patients who responded at 6 months remained on monotherapy at 42 months. Flu-like syndrome represented the most frequent www.sellecn.cn/products/NVP-AUY922.html adverse event followed by abnormalities of liver function tests and myelotoxicity. Adverse events did occur at any time and were frequently impredictable.

Conclusions: In this retrospective study, thiopurines showed a good clinical efficacy, especially in patients with short duration of disease. Normalization of markers of systemic inflammation represents the most useful tool to assess response. Careful monitoring of patients is required during

the whole duration of treatment although it may not prevent all severe complications. (C) 2011 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“A 23-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 1, was transferred to our hospital with acute lower abdominal pain and vital signs consistent with shock. Her urine concentration of human chorionic gonadotrophin was 8000 mIU/mL. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed an echo-free space with mosaic echo pattern in the right adnexal area and no gestational sac in the uterus. With a preoperative diagnosis of ruptured ectopic pregnancy, emergency laparotomy was performed. The rectouterine pouch was filled with many clots containing small amounts of villous tissue.

The implication of this in a normally grown fetus is unknown

The implication of this in a normally grown fetus is unknown.

CASE: Middle cerebral artery Doppler velocimetry was performed at 28 weeks of gestation in the setting of decreased

fetal movement and a category 2 fetal heart tracing. The middle cerebral artery pulsatility index was elevated, and follow-up studies revealed selleck products reversed flow. The fetus had appropriate growth, with mild polyhydramnios and no signs of cardiomegaly, effusion, or hydrops. Fetal death was diagnosed 4 days later in the setting of extensive intracranial hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION: Regardless of fetal growth, persistent reversed middle cerebral artery Doppler with an elevated pulsatility index may be a feature of impending death.”
“Background and aims: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (which includes Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis), is a chronic condition characterised by substantial morbidity. Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients are considered expensive to manage, hence accurate estimates of care costs are crucial to help healthcare providers plan clinical management. The aim of this study is to estimate the cost of care for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients in the United Kingdom

and Western mainland Europe.

Methods: Decision models were built to simulate the natural disease history VX770 of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, informed by United Kingdom and European clinical pathways. A healthcare provider perspective was adopted, model inputs were informed by published sources and expert opinion, and UK healthcare costs were used Mocetinostat price (2008 prices). Cohorts of 25 year old patients presenting with symptoms of varying severity were modelled over ten years, and annual treatment costs calculated per patient.

Results: The average annual cost of care per Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative

Colitis patient was 631 pound/762 pound (United Kingdom) and 838 pound/796 pound (Europe). Most costs were incurred immediately following diagnosis, particularly in European Crohn’s patients, reflecting the earlier use of more aggressive treatments. Surgery, hospitalisation, and the use of biological therapies and mesalazine (in Ulcerative Colitis) were key cost drivers. The total annual cost to the United Kingdom National Health Service of caring for Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients was estimated to be 31 pound million.

Conclusions: This study confirms that Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients are expensive to manage and illustrates the importance of differentiating between alternative clinical management scenarios. (C) 2011 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: To investigate the feasibility and short-term effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention for colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: CanChange was telephone-delivered to 20 CRC survivors by health coaches over 6 weeks supported by an interactive participant handbook.

The extracts were subjected to assess their potential antioxidant

The extracts were subjected to assess their potential antioxidant activities using various in vitro systems such as DPPH center dot, ABTS(center dot+), FRAP, beta-carotene

linoleic acid bleaching system, phosphomolybdenum reduction and Fe2+ chelation. It is concluded that N. alata may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants capable of offering protection against free-radical mediated damages.”
“Aim The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between chronically impaired spermatogenesis induced by exposing mice to doxorubicin (DXR) and expression of the infertility factor c-kit. Method Eight-week-old selleck chemicals llc male Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice were intraperitoneally treated with DXR (0.15mg/kg, DXR group) or saline (0.15mg/kg, control group) twice weekly for five weeks and were killed 14weeks after initial exposure. The animals were sacrificed and bilateral testes were removed and weighed. The testes were stored for the mRNA assay and were fixed for immunohistochemistry. Some testicular samples were fixed in 10% formalin for histopathological examination. Results Testicular weight (67.6 +/- 9.7mg, P<0.05), sperm motility (18 +/- 6.0%, P<0.05) and the fertilization rate (2-to-16-cell

embryos, 5%; P<0.05) were significantly lower in the DXR group than in the control RAD001 research buy group. In the DXR group there was severe tissue damage from the spermatogonia onward, and the Sertoli cell ratio was Selleck Crenolanib lower in the DXR group than in the control group (38% vs. 9%, P<0.05). In addition, there was a decrease in c-kit protein expression, and the amount of c-kit messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression according to a semiquantitative method was also decreased. Conclusion Expression of c-kit in the mice with chronically impaired spermatogenesis induced by long-term, low-dose administration of DXR

correlated with the decrease in the number of spermatogonia.”
“A spectrophotometric method in the visible region was developed and validated for the quantification of kojic acid (KA) in raw materials and products. According to the validation results, this method yields linearity in the range of 5 and 50 mu g/mL of KA (r = 0.99998), selectivity, suitable sensitivity, precision (RSD 133 % and 1.21 % for intermediate precision and repeatability respectively), accuracy (recovery near 100 %) and robustness (varying pH, temperature and reading time) were measured and led to the validation of this method. These methods were tested and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines and USP.”
“Aim Signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3) plays an important role in the tumor formation, prognosis and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. Our goal was to investigate the effect of silencing STAT3 on ovarian cancer cell apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis and expression of key targets in vitro and in vivo. Methods The ovarian cancer cell lines A2780CP and A2780s were used.

Owing to anisotropic diffusion and electrical transport propertie

Owing to anisotropic diffusion and electrical transport properties, charged lattice defects are preferentially eliminated in the direction parallel to the basal plane of bismuth telluride crystal under electric current stressing. The presented current assisted annealing approach can be an efficient postdeposition treatment that prevents from gross grain growth and evaporation of volatile constituents in Bi-Te based nanocrystalline thin films during

high-temperature annealing process. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3477184]“
“Objective. The growth and differentiation properties of human dental pulp cells (HDPC) were investigated on a variety of natural beta-catenin cancer scaffolds, including 2 types of collagen, gelatin, and chitosan.

Study design. Cell attachment and growth rates of HDPC on collagen (type I and type III), gelatin, and chitosan were observed. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mRNA expression of differentiation-related genes, and mineralization of the HDPC on each scaffold were assessed.

Results. Dental pulp cells attached and proliferated rapidly on collagen and gelatin, but chitosan did not properly support cell growth. The cells plated on gelatin exhibited high ALP activity,

but not as high as cells plated on collagen. BI-D1870 solubility dmso The expression peak of osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA from cells grown on collagen was found earlier and followed by dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) mRNA expression. In cells grown on gelatin, however, OCN mRNA transcripts appeared at a later period of culture with no increase in DSPP or DMP-1 mRNA. Intensely mineralized extracellular

matrix was seen in cells grown on collagen, but gelatin did not allow enough mineralization of cells in differentiation-inducing media.

Conclusion. Collagen supported proliferation and differentiation of HDPC, and the expression of DSPP and DMP-1 mRNA was reduced on gelatin. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral HSP inhibitor Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009;108:e94-e100)”
“Background: The anti-CD11a mAb efalizumab has been successfully used in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Although peripheral blood leukocytes ubiquitously express LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), it is assumed that efalizumab exerts its effects primarily on T lymphocytes by blocking migration and by interfering with the immunological synapse.

Objective: To test the latter assumption, we asked whether efalizumab interferes with T cell proliferation induced by qualitatively and quantitatively different stimuli.

Methods: We exposed PBMC isolated either from healthy or psoriatic individuals to titrated doses of plate-bound anti-CD3, PHA or allogeneic PBMC. Furthermore we stimulated normal PMBC (i) in the presence of efalizumab and (ii) after preincubation and removal of efalizumab.

However, wake-promoting compounds do not improve cataplexy and di

However, wake-promoting compounds do not improve cataplexy and dissociated manifestation of REM sleep, and so antidepressants (monoamine uptake inhibitors) are additionally used for the treatment of cataplexy and REM sleep abnormalities. Tricyclic antidepressants potently reduce

REM sleep and thus have been used for the treatment of cataplexy and REM sleep abnormalities, but these Sepantronium have recently been replaced by more selective serotonin and/or noradrenaline uptake inhibitors with better side-effect profiles. As sodium oxybate (the approved formula of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in the United States), given at night, improves both EDS and cataplexy, the number of US patients treated with sodium oxybate is increasing, while much progress has been made in understanding the modes

of action of amphetamine-like CNS stimulants.”
“Some drugs are intended for sequential storage under two different storage conditions. If the data for each condition are analyzed separately, predicting assay and other responses after T1 months at one condition followed by T2 months at the other condition is non-trivial for several reasons. First, the two analyses www.selleckchem.com/products/verubecestat.html will give different intercept terms. What should one do about that? Second, how would one calculate the confidence limits for combined storage? Third, what if prior storage at one condition affects the slope at the other condition? This paper proposes a simple ANCOVA model containing two slope terms, one for each storage

condition. When multiple batches and/or packages are involved, it is easily generalized to two sets of slope terms. Confidence limits are straightforward and can be calculated using existing commercial software. With properly designed data, one can test whether prior storage at one condition affects the slope at the other condition. If no such effect is significant, very useful extrapolations can be made. Temperature www.sellecn.cn/products/repsox.html excursions, model reduction and curvilinear dependencies are discussed.”
“Dynamic vulcanization was successfully applied to epoxy resin reinforced polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) blends, and the effects of different compatibilizers on the morphology and properties of dynamically cured PP/POE/epoxy blends were studied. The results show that dynamically cured PP/POE/epoxy blends compatibilized with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) have a three-phase structure consisting of POE and epoxy particles dispersed in the PP continuous phase, and these blends had improved tensile strength and flexural modulus. While using maleic anhydride-grafted POE (MAH-g-POE) as a compatibilizer, the structure of the core-shell complex phase and the PP continuous phase showed that epoxy particles could be embedded in MAH-g-POE in the blends, and gave rise to an increase in impact strength, while retaining a certain strength and modulus.

Copyright (C) 2012 S Karger AG, Basel”
“Enhancement factor

Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Enhancement factor and spatial resolution

are two CP-690550 clinical trial of the most important metrological parameters defining the quality of a tip-enhanced Raman spectrometer. A high degree of variability in the reported values of enhancement factor is highlighted in this work, and the possible reasons for the discrepancies are discussed. A methodology for estimating enhancement factor in tip-enhanced Raman imaging using a one-dimensional nanostructure such as single wall carbon nanotube is suggested. This methodology is verified using tip-enhanced Raman images from our laboratory, and an image from another group published previously. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3056155]“
“Objective. Comprehensive sequencing of the coding exons of the calcium-sensing receptor gene (CASR) was performed in a group of Iranian recurrent calcium kidney stone-formers and the results were compared with a control group. Material and methods. Serum and urine parameters were evaluated in 99 males aged selleck between 30 and 55 years

old with idiopathic recurrent calcium urolithiasis and in 107 men as a control group. Products of polymerase chain reaction were sequenced using forward primer until a mutation was found in that exon. Then, other cases were analysed by single-strand conformation polymorphism. Results. Four polymorphisms were detected in CASR exons, all in the coding region of exon 7. These polymorphisms and their minor allele frequency were P748P (100%), A986S (1%), R990G (3%) and E1011Q (98%). There was a significantly higher count of 986S (p = 0.006), 990G (p = 0.006) and E1011 (p = 0.02) alleles in patients. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 2.55 (1.31-4.96) in those at risk of stone disease for the 986S allele and 8.06 (1.80-35.9) for the 990G allele. Men with the RR genotype at R990G showed a significantly higher serum ionized calcium than the RG or GG group (p = 0.03). A significantly lower serum

total calcium was found in subjects with the QQ than the EQ genotype with respect to the 1011 locus (p = 0.005). Furthermore, the 1011Q allele was marginally associated with hypercalciuria (p = 0.05). Conclusion. The 986S, 990G and 1011Q alleles were associated with a recurrent calcium kidney stone-forming state. JAK inhibitor 986S and 1011Q alleles, but not 986S, were associated with hypercalcaemia.”
“Rationale: Talc is very effective for pleurodesis, but there is concern about complications, especially acute respiratory distress syndrome. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate if talc with a high concentration of small particles induces greater production of cytokines, and if pleural tumor burden has any influence on the local production and spillover of cytokines to the systemic circulation and eventual complications. Methods: We investigated 227 consecutive patients with malignant effusion submitted to talc pleurodesis.

The complete surgical excision should be the choice of treatment

The complete surgical excision should be the choice of treatment.”
“Mn-doped Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)-PbTiO3 disordered ferroelectric ceramics

were studied under ac electric fields and a crossover from a nearly constant loss to a superlinear power-law behavior was observed. Our results confirmed that the nearly constant www.selleckchem.com/products/kpt-8602.html loss behavior also exists in disordered ferroelectrics. The exponent of the superlinear power-law was found to be temperature dependent. Such a behavior was related to the local movements of oxygen vacancies. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3386511]“
“Health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) after a radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) has not been studied

in conjunction with oncological outcomes in relation to disease selleck chemical risk stratification. Moreover, the long-term outcomes of these treatment approaches have not been studied. We retrospectively analyzed oncological outcomes between consecutive patients receiving RP (n = 86) and EBRT (n = 76) for localized prostate cancer. HRQOL and functional outcomes could be assessed in 62 RP (79%) and 54 EBRT (79%) patients over a 3-year follow-up period (median: 41 months) using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA PCI). The 5-year biochemical progression-free survival did not differ between the RP and EBRT groups for low-risk (74.6% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.931) and intermediate-risk (61.3% vs. 71.1%, P = 0.691) patients. For high-risk patients, progression-free survival was lower in the RP group (45.1%) than in the EBRT group (79.7%) (P = 0.002). The general HRQOL was comparable between the two groups. Regarding functional outcomes, the RP group reported lower scores on urinary function and less urinary bother and sexual bother than the

EBRT group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). With risk stratification, the low-and intermediate-risk patients in the RP group reported poorer urinary function than patients selleck in the EBRT group (P < 0.001 for each). The sexual function of the high-risk patients in the EBRT group was better than that of the same risk RP patients (P < 0.001). Biochemical recurrence was not associated with the UCLA PCI score in either group. In conclusion, low-to intermediate-risk patients treated with an RP may report relatively decreased urinary function during long-term follow-up. The patient’s HRQOL after treatment did not depend on biochemical recurrence.”
“Management of vaginal mesh erosion can be conservative, but in a large proportion of patients, excision/trimming of the mesh is needed. This paper describes a technique using an intervening vulval pad of fat graft between the vaginal epithelium and the mesh as an alternative to excision.


“Background: Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) has recent


“Background: Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) has recently been implicated as a common cause of croup in children. www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2835219.html This study was performed to evaluate viruses associated with croup in children, with an emphasis on HCoV-NL63.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were prospectively collected from 182 children hospitalized with croup at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005 to June 2009. Multiplex reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was conducted for detection of 11 respiratory viruses, and medical records were reviewed.

Results: Viruses were identified in 147 (80.8%) of the 182 croup patients. The 3 most commonly detected viruses were parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV1)

in 44 (24.2%) patients, HCoV-NL63 in 30 (16.5%) patients, and influenza A virus in 25 (13.7%) patients. Other detected viruses were rhinovirus Saracatinib in 22 (12.1%) patients, PIV type 3 and respiratory syncytial virus in 15 (8.2%) patients, human bocavirus in 8 (4.4%) patients, and several others in a few patients. Coinfections with >2 viruses were found in 20 (11%) patients. HCoV-NL63 was identified primarily in winter, which coincides with the peak occurrence of croup. Patients with HCoV-NL63 infection were younger than those who were positive for PIV1 (median age 13 months versus 21 months, P = 0.006) and had shorter fever duration than influenza A virus infection (median

1.5 days versus 4 days, P = 0.000).

Conclusions: PIV1 and HCoV-NL63 were most commonly associated with patients who were hospitalized with croup. HCoV-NL63 is prevalent in winter and is associated with younger age and with shorter fever duration.”
“Introduction and hypothesis This study was conducted to assess national rates in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery in the USA from 1998 to 2007. Methods We utilized the 1998-2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample and assessed women aged 20 years and older who underwent YM155 SUI surgery based on the International

Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) procedure and diagnosis codes.

Results The total number of SUI surgeries performed during this 10-year period was 759,821. The annual number of procedures increased from 37,953 in 1998 to 94,910 in 2007. The type of SUI surgery performed also changed (p<0.001). In 1998, retropubic suspensions represented 52.3%, decreasing to 13.8% in 2007. “”Other repair of SUI”" (ICD-9 59.79) comprised 22.4% in 1998, increasing to 75.2% in 2007, likely representing midurethral slings.

Conclusions The total number and incidence rates of SUI surgeries have increased from 1998 to 2007. The type of SUI surgery performed has also changed significantly, likely secondary to adoption of midurethral slings.”
“Introduction: Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) derived from umbilical cord blood are an attractive alternative to human embryonic stem cells (hESC) for cellular therapy.

This demonstrated that PCV2 infection induced the activation of N

This demonstrated that PCV2 infection induced the activation of NF-kappa B. Both SAA and Pig-MAP concentrations correlated significantly with expression levels of NF-kappa B p65, indicating that activation of NF-kappa B contributes to the production of SAA and Pig-MAP. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Women with diabetes have a high risk selleck chemicals of cardiovascular disease that, almost completely eliminates the gender difference in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality between non-diabetic men and women. In this chapter we have reviewed data showing that

cardiovascular risk factors are more common, more likely to cluster, or more severe in diabetic women than men; this may be due to biological or behavioural factors. Disparities in accessibility, quality

and, possibly, effectiveness of care further disadvantage diabetic women. Based on available data it can be concluded that a large number of CVD deaths are preventable in diabetic women; therefore special attention should be paid to risk factors detection and correction, as well as timely CHD diagnosis selleck compound and treatment in diabetic women. To meet these needs gender specific guidelines and implementation measures may be in order. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Traditionally, Paschen’s curve has been used to describe the breakdown voltage for gaseous ionization between two INCB024360 molecular weight electrodes. However, experiments have shown that Paschen’s curve, which is based on Townsend effects, is not necessarily accurate in describing breakdown between electrodes spaced less than 15 mu m apart. In this regime, electron field emission plays a significant role in the breakdown phenomenon, and recently an alternative mathematical description that

accounts for ion-enhanced field emission was proposed to describe the breakdown voltage in small gaps. However, both Paschen’s curve and the small gap equation only work in certain regimes, and neither predicts the transition that occurs between Townsend and field emission effects-the so-called modified Paschen’s curve. In this work, a single, consistent mathematical description of the breakdown voltage is proposed that accounts for both Townsend ionization and ion-enhanced field emission mechanisms. Additionally, microscale breakdown experiments have been conducted in atmospheric air. The proposed formulation is compared to the present experiments and other atmospheric air experiments in the literature and describes the transition region in the breakdown curve. The proposed formulation represents a mathematical model for the modified Paschen’s curve. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3380855]“
“Background: Iron excretion measured by isotope dilution has been a primary basis for the factorial derivation of recommendations for iron intake, but the results have been available for men only.