Vacuum levitation and motion control on chip.

By isolating from the environment and precisely controlling mesoscopic objects, levitation in vacuum has evolved into a versatile technique that has already benefited diverse scientific directions, from force sensing and thermodynamics to materials science and chemistry. It also holds great promise for advancing the study of quantum mechanics in the unexplored macroscopic regime. However, most current levitation platforms are complex and bulky.

The Michelangelo step: removing scalloping and tapering effects in high aspect ratio through silicon vias.

We present here, for the first time, a fabrication technique that allows manufacturing scallop free,non-tapered, high aspect ratio in through-silicon vias (TSVs) on silicon wafers. TSVs are among major technology players in modern high-volume manufacturing as they enable 3D chip integration. However, the usual standardized TSV fabrication process has to deal with scalloping, an imperfection in the sidewalls caused by the deep reactive ion etching.

Effects of early whole-body vibration treatment on knee neuromuscular function and postural control after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effects of adding a whole-body vibration protocol at optimal frequency (WBV-OF) to a traditional rehabilitation programme (TRP) early after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, on maximal strength and balance, in comparison with a traditional rehabilitation programme.

Design: A total of 34 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients with hamstring-tendon graft underwent either 4 weeks of WBV-OF training in addition to a traditional rehabilitation programme, or a traditional rehabilitation programme only, starting from the first month after surgery. Patients were assessed for maximal voluntary isometric strength during both knee extension and flexion and for balance on a force platform before, 1 month after treatment and at 3-month follow-up.

Induction of apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells by docosahexaenoic acid.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been indicated to induce anti-proliferative and/or apoptotic effects in various tumor cells. We showed that, at a 200- micro M concentration, both alpha-linoleic (18:2 n-6; LA) or docosahexaenoic (22:6 n-3; DHA) acid inhibited cell growth, while only DHA induced apoptosis in the human Paca-44 pancreatic cancer cell line. Investigating the mechanism underlying DHA-induced apoptosis, we showed that DHA induced a rapid and dramatic (>60%) intracellular depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH), without affecting oxidized glutathione (GSSG).

Aluminium levels in Italian diets and in selected foods from aluminium utensils.

In Italy, data on aluminium concentration in food items are scarce although aluminium containers are widely used to cook, to freeze or to wrap foods (foil) and it is known that aluminium can migrate from containers to foods. Therefore, an experimental study was carried out to quantify aluminium exposure from ingestion of actual total diets and from migration from containers to foods in conditions representative of the actual use. Samples of 24 h diets were collected, homogenized, lyophilized and the amount of aluminium was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.