A novel microfluidic reactor for biofilm growth and in situ characterization using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was constructed to enable two-dimensional chemical imaging of hydrated biofilms. We demonstrate the detection of characteristic fatty acid fragments from microfluidic reactor-grown biofilms and illustrate advantages of hydrated-state ToF-SIMS imaging.

Advanced data analysis tools are crucial for the application of ToF-SIMS analysis to biological samples. Here, we demonstrate that by using a training set approach principal components analysis (PCA) can be performed on large 3D ToF-SIMS images of neuronal cell cultures. The method readily provides access to sample component information and significantly improves the images' signal-to-noise rat...

CONTEXT An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing single-incision mini-slings (SIMS) versus standard midurethral slings (SMUS) in the surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of SIMS compared with SMUS in the treatment of female SUI. EVIDE...

BACKGROUND The dichotomous nature of the current definition of metabolic syndrome (MS) in youth results in loss of information. On the other hand, the calculation of continuous MS scores using standardized residuals in linear regression (Z scores) or factor scores of principal component analysis (PCA) is highly impractical for clinical use. Recently, a novel, easily calculated continuous MS sco...

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.03.052 0378-1127/ 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ⇑ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (F. Vodde), [email protected] (K. Jõgiste), [email protected] (J. Engelhart), [email protected] (L.E. Frelich), [email protected] (W.K. Moser), [email protected] (A. Sims), [email protected] (M. Metslaid). Floor Vodde a,⇑,...

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) data from diamond like carbon (DLC) often give inaccurate, imprecise results when methods tailored for silicon are applied. This work is a guide to accurate and precise future SIMS analyses of DLC.

Surface analysis plays a key role in understanding the function of materials, particularly in biological environments. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) provides highly surface sensitive chemical information that can readily be acquired over large areas and has, thus, become an important surface analysis tool. However, the information-rich nature of ToF-SIMS complicates ...

this paper examines the political-economy and cultural dynamics and discourses underlying the emergence of the Palestinian Hamas and the Algerian Islamic Salvation Front. Both movements emerged in the late 1980s as responses to continuing (neo) colonial conditions in their countries. I explore to what extent the various processes commonly referred to as “globalization,” both the world-wide econ...

Integrating new technologies into the curriculum has always been difficult. Despite the recent technological advances in computer games, the rapid growth of the industry and the number of hours spent playing games, computer games have not been integrated into our education system. We examine different ways games can be used in teaching, describe the barriers and propose solutions.