Evaluation of solder joints on aluminum surfaces for the interconnection of silicon solar cells

In this thesis, direct soldering of aluminum is investigated, with a special focus on appplication in the photovoltaic industry. The native Al2O3 layer impedes the solderability of Al components. However, strong solder joints can be formed when suitable surface coatings are used. The formation of solder joints and the relevant fundamental properties of these joints and coatings are evaluated.Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wird die direkte Lötbarkeit von Aluminium, mit dem Ziel der Anwendung in der Photovoltaik Industrie, untersucht. Die natürliche Al2O3 Oxidschicht erschwert das Weichlöten von Aluminiumbauteilen. Dennoch ist es möglich, unter der Verwendung einer geeigneten Oberflächenbeschichtung, starke Lötverbindungen auszubilden. Die Lötstellen, deren relevante Eigenschaften, sowie die der Beschichtungen, werden in der vorliegenden Arbeit evaluiert

AVALIAÇÃO FITOQUÍMICA E DETERMINAÇÃO DE MINERAIS EM AMOSTRAS de Hibiscus sabdariffa L (vinagreira)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar por espectroscopia de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES) o teor dos minerais cobalto, cobre, ferro, fósforo, cálcio, magnésio,manganês, níquel, potássio e zinco, presentes nas folhas e no caule do Hibiscus sabdariffa L (vinagreira).Fez-se a triagem fitoquímica para verificar os compostos fitoquímicos como saponinas, taninos, fenóis, terpenos, esteróides, alcalóides, resinas, e flavonóides) da vinagreira coletada do município de São José de Ribamar-MA, onde os agricultores plantam o H. sabdariffa L) e comercializam para a maioria das feiras dessa região. Para os testes fitoquímicos realizados no caule e nas folhas da planta observaram-se saponinase esteróides moderamente positivo, taninos tanto condensado como hidrolisado fraco positivamente. As resinas foram encontradas moderadamente no caule e ausente na folha do H. sabdariffa L. Para os teste de flavonóides obteve reação forte para o caule e moderada para a folha. Observou-se a ausência de fenóis, terpenos e alcalóides. Em relação ao teor de metais presente no caule e na folha do H. sabdariffa L (vinagreira) verificaram-se respectivamente, uma quantidade significativa de ferro (11,91 e 30,04 mg/l) e cálcio (6,08 e 7,09 mg/l); para os demais minerais, o teor foi menor: magnésio (0,31 mg/l), potássio (0,36 e 0,72 mg/l) manganês (0,14 e 0,02 mg/l) e fósforo somente nas folhas (0,62 mg/l).Palavras-chave: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Minerais. Espectroscopia. PHYTOCHEMISTRY EVALUATION AND DETERMINATION OF MINERAL SIN SAMPLES Hibiscus Sabdariffa L (vinegar)Abstract: This study aimed to determine by optical emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES), the mineral content of cobalt, copper, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, nickel,potassium and zinc, present in the leaves and the stem of Hibiscus sabdariffa L (vinagreira). Became the phytochemical screening to check phytochemicals like saponins, tannins, phenols, terpenes, steroids, alkaloids, resins, and flavonoids) of vinegar collected in São José de Ribamar-MA, where farmers plant H. sabdariffa L ), and trade fairs for most of this region. For the tests performed phytochemicals in stems and leaves of the plant was observed saponins and steroids moderately positive, both condensed tannins hydrolyzateas weak positive. The resins were found moderately in stems and absent in leaf H. sabdariffa L. For the test flavonoids obtained strong reaction to stem and leaf to moderate. We observed the absence of phenols, terpenes and alkaloids. WRegarding the metal content present in the stem and leaf H. sabdariffa L (vinegar) respectively, a significant amount of iron (11,91 and 30,04 mg /l), calcium (6,08 and 7,09 mg/l) for the remaining minerals content was lower: Magnesium (0,31 mg/l), potassium (0,36 and 0,72 mg /l) Mn (0,14 and 0,02 mg/ l) and only on phosphor sheets (0,62 mg/l).Keywords: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Mmineral. Spectroscopy. EVALUACIÓN FITOQUÍMICA Y DETERMINACIÓN DE MINERALES EN MUESTRA SEN MUESTRAS Hibiscus SabdariffaL (vinagre)Resumen: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar por espectroscopia de emisión óptica con plasma acoplado inductivamente (ICP OES), la concentración de minerales de cobalto, cobre, hierro, fósforo, calcio,magnesio, manganeso, níquel, potasio y zinc, presentes en las hojas y el tallo de Hibiscus sabdariffa L (vinagrera). Se realizaron los ensayos generales para comprobar la presencia de fitoquímicos como saponinas,taninos, fenoles, terpenos, esteroides, alcaloides, resinas y flavonoides) en la vinagrera recogida en São José de Ribamar-MA, donde los agricultores siembran H. sabdariffa L, y la comercializan en las ferias de la mayor parte de esta región. En las pruebas realizadas para la detección de fitoquímicos en los tallos y hojas de la planta se observó saponinas y esteroides moderadamente positivos, taninos tanto condensados como hidrolizados dando positivo débil. Las resinas se encuentran moderadamente en los tallos y ausentes en las hojas de H. sabdariffa L. En los ensayos para flavonoides se obtuvo fuerte reacción en los tallos y moderada en las hojas. Se observó la ausencia de fenoles, terpenos y alcaloides. En cuanto al contenido de metales presentes en el tallo y en las hojas de H. sabdariffa L (vinagrera), respectivamente había una cantidad significativa de hierro (11,91 y 30,04 mg / l), y calcio (6,08 y 7 09 mg / l) para el restante de los minerales el contenido fue menor: de magnesio (0,31 mg / l), potasio (0,36 y 0,72 mg / l) Mn (0,14 y 0,02 mg / l ) y fósforo sólo en las hojas (0,62 mg/l).Palabras clave: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Minerals. Espectroscopia

Arts-Based Methods for Transformative Engagement. A Toolkit

This open access toolkit offers a collection of almost 30 methods, practical examples, workshop outlines and tips for creative facilitation, as well as resources and relevant academic references. The ideas and methods collected in this toolkit are intended to support new ways of thinking and doing in our work as change agents towards regenerative societies. Compiled by a research team collaborating through the SUSPLACE Innovative Training Network, it is the result of our collective research and experimentation with creative and arts-based methods of engagement. To break free of habituated ways of thinking and perceiving, a field of research addressing the ‘inner-dimensions of sustainability’ argues that deep transformation requires ‘change from the inside out.’ This entails engaging with emotions, changing cultural narratives and worldviews, and stimulating specific mindset shifts conducive to socio-ecological innovation. This toolkit invites participants to disrupt default anthropocentric worldviews and draw more deeply from their own values, intentions, and an expanded sense of ecological self. Theoretically, it draws from a variety of approaches, including Metaphorical Thinking, Aesthetic Practices, Arts Based Environmental Education, Care for Place, and Appreciative Inquiry. Theory U is used as an organizing framework. These methods are just a starting point and can inform the design of workshops, events, co-production strategies, and the development of sustainability initiatives. Used alone or in concert, they invite improvisation and can be used by facilitators of all experience levels, across various fields

Portfolio performance analysis in the ASEAN-5: Assessing bitcoin as a safe-haven investment and its effect on the performance of a diversified portfolio during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Market turmoils have been a phenomenon wherein investors dread for their investments because financial stress creates uncertainties about future economic outlooks. To mitigate their exposure to uncertainties, investors look for safe-haven assets that can hold on their own during financial market stress. Given Bitcoin’s high returns and independence from government and financial institution policies, it is a good alternative for investors to invest in. With the emergence of cryptocurrency, countries in the ASEAN region are rapidly adopting it because of the high returns that it can offer. The purpose of this thesis is to assess Bitcoin’s safe-haven ability and performance-enhancing portfolio during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic within the ASEAN-5 countries. To assess the investment characteristics of Bitcoin, this research conducted three analyses using the data gathered from March 2020 to October 2022. The first analysis tested the correlation between the Bitcoin indices and several asset indices within the ASEAN-5 countries. The second analysis tested the liquidity of Bitcoin against other safe-haven assets. The third analysis assessed the performance of a diversified portfolio which included Bitcoin. Results showed that Bitcoin did not possess any safe-haven properties against the ASEAN-5 asset indices, however, evidence shows that Bitcoin holds diversification benefits against these said assets. The findings also showed that there was a significant difference between Bitcoin\u27s liquidity versus gold, a volatile stock, and a less volatile stock. Lastly, results in the portfolio performance show that Bitcoin can provide significant benefits as a diversifier in an optimized portfolio

Gastro-enteritis outbreak among Nordic patients with psoriasis in a health centre in Gran Canaria, Spain: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: Between November 2 and 10, 2002 several patients with psoriasis and personnel staying in the health centre in Gran Canaria, Spain fell ill with diarrhoea, vomiting or both. Patient original came from Norway, Sweden and Finland. The patient group was scheduled to stay until 8 November. A new group of patients were due to arrive from 7 November. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the extent of the outbreak, to identify the source and mode of transmission and to prevent similar problems in the following group. RESULTS: Altogether 41% (48/116) of persons staying at the centre fell ill. Norovirus infection was suspected based on clinical presentations and the fact that no bacteria were identified. Kaplan criteria were met. Five persons in this outbreak were hospitalised and the mean duration of diarrhoea was 3 days. The consequences of the illness were more severe compared to many other norovirus outbreaks, possibly because many of the cases suffered from chronic diseases and were treated with drugs reported to affect the immunity (methotrexate or steroids). During the two first days of the outbreak, the attack rate was higher in residents who had consumed dried fruit (adjusted RR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.4–7.1) and strawberry jam (adjusted RR = 1.9; 95% CI: 0.9–4.1) than those who did not. In the following days, no association was found. The investigation suggests two modes of transmission: a common source for those who fell ill during the two first days of the outbreak and thereafter mainly person to person transmission. This is supported by a lower risk associated with the two food items at the end of the outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the food items were contaminated by foodhandlers who reported sick before the outbreak started. Control measures were successfully implemented; food buffets were banned, strict hygiene measures were implemented and sick personnel stayed at home >48 hours after last symptoms

Therapeutic DNA vaccine induces broad T cell responses in the gut and sustained protection from viral rebound and AIDS in SIV-infected rhesus macaques.

Immunotherapies that induce durable immune control of chronic HIV infection may eliminate the need for life-long dependence on drugs. We investigated a DNA vaccine formulated with a novel genetic adjuvant that stimulates immune responses in the blood and gut for the ability to improve therapy in rhesus macaques chronically infected with SIV. Using the SIV-macaque model for AIDS, we show that epidermal co-delivery of plasmids expressing SIV Gag, RT, Nef and Env, and the mucosal adjuvant, heat-labile E. coli enterotoxin (LT), during antiretroviral therapy (ART) induced a substantial 2-4-log fold reduction in mean virus burden in both the gut and blood when compared to unvaccinated controls and provided durable protection from viral rebound and disease progression after the drug was discontinued. This effect was associated with significant increases in IFN-γ T cell responses in both the blood and gut and SIV-specific CD8+ T cells with dual TNF-α and cytolytic effector functions in the blood. Importantly, a broader specificity in the T cell response seen in the gut, but not the blood, significantly correlated with a reduction in virus production in mucosal tissues and a lower virus burden in plasma. We conclude that immunizing with vaccines that induce immune responses in mucosal gut tissue could reduce residual viral reservoirs during drug therapy and improve long-term treatment of HIV infection in humans

Avaliação da estrutura organizacional da assistência ambulatorial em HIV/Aids no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: In the context of universal access to antiretroviral treatment, the results of the Brazilian AIDS Program will depend on the quality of the care provided. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the healthcare provided by outpatient services for the treatment of AIDS patients. METHODS: The present study was carried out in seven Brazilian States between 2001 and 2002. We evaluated the quality of the care provided to AIDS patients from the standpoint of resource availability and care process organization. A questionnaire comprising 112 structured questions addressing these aspects was sent to 336 services. RESULTS: Response rate was 95.8% (322). Greater adequacy is seen for indicators of resource availability than for those of work organization. The supply of antiretroviral medication is sufficient in 95.5% of services. CD4 and viral load tests are available at adequate amounts in 59 and 41% of services, respectively. In 90.4% of services there is at least one non-medical professional (psychologist, nurse, or social worker). As to work organization, 80% scheduled the date but not the time of medical appointments; 40.4% scheduled more than 10 appointments per period; 17% did not have exclusive managers; and 68.6% did not hold systematic staff meetings. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that, in addition to ensuring the more homogeneous distribution of resources, the program must invest in the training and dissemination of care management skills, as confirmed by the results of care process organization.OBJETIVO: No contexto de acesso universal à terapia antiretroviral, os resultados do Programa de Aids dependem da qualidade do cuidado prestado. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a qualidade do cuidado dos serviços ambulatoriais que assistem pacientes de Aids. MÉTODOS: Estudo realizado em sete Estados brasileiros, em 2001 e 2002. Foi avaliada a qualidade do atendimento a pacientes com Aids quanto à disponibilidade de recursos e a organização do trabalho de assistência. Um questionário com 112 questões estruturadas abordando esses aspectos, foi enviado a 336 serviços. RESULTADOS: A taxa de resposta foi de 95,8% (322). Os indicadores de disponibilidade de recursos mostram uma adequação maior do que os indicadores de organização do trabalho. Não faltam antiretrovirais em 95,5% dos serviços, os exames de CD4 e Carga Viral estão disponíveis em quantidade adequada em 59 e 41% dos serviços, respectivamente. Em 90,4% dos serviços há pelo menos um profissional não médico (psicólogo, enfermeiro ou assistente social). Quanto à organização, 80% não agendavam consulta médica com hora marcada; 40,4% agendavam mais que 10 consultas médicas por período; 17% não possuíam gerentes exclusivos na assistência e 68,6% não realizavam reuniões sistemáticas de trabalho com a equipe. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados apontam que além de garantir a distribuição mais homogênea de recursos, o programa precisa investir no treinamento e disseminação do manejo do cuidado, conforme evidenciado nos resultados da organização de trabalho

Precision health: A nursing perspective

Precision health refers to personalized healthcare based on a person's unique genetic, genomic, or omic composition within the context of lifestyle, social, economic, cultural and environmental influences to help individuals achieve well-being and optimal health. Precision health utilizes big data sets that combine omics (i.e. genomic sequence, protein, metabolite, and microbiome information) with clinical information and health outcomes to optimize disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention specific to each patient. Successful implementation of precision health requires interprofessional collaboration, community outreach efforts, and coordination of care, a mission that nurses are well-positioned to lead. Despite the surge of interest and attention to precision health, most nurses are not well-versed in precision health or its implications for the nursing profession. Based on a critical analysis of literature and expert opinions, this paper provides an overview of precision health and the importance of engaging the nursing profession for its implementation. Other topics reviewed in this paper include big data and omics, information science, integration of family health history in precision health, and nursing omics research in symptom science. The paper concludes with recommendations for nurse leaders in research, education, clinical practice, nursing administration and policy settings for which to develop strategic plans to implement precision health

Sex and the city: Differences in disease- and disability-free life years, and active community participation of elderly men and women in 7 cities in Latin America and the Caribbean

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The world's population is ageing, and four of the top 10 most rapidly ageing developing nations are from the region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).</p> <p>Although an ageing population heralds likely increases in chronic disease, disability-related dependence, and economic burden, the societal contribution of the chronically ill or those with disability is not often measured.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We calculated country-specific prevalences of 'disability' (difficulty with at least one activity of daily living), 'disease' and 'co-morbidity' (presence of at least one, and at least two, of seven chronic diseases/conditions, respectively), and 'active community engagement' (using five levels of community participation, from less than weekly community contact to voluntary or paid work) in seven LAC cities. We estimated remaining life expectancy (LE) with and without disability, disease and co-morbidity, and investigated age, sex, and regional variations in disability-free LE. Finally, we modeled the association of disease, co-morbidity and disability with active community participation using an ordinal regression model, adjusted for depression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 77% of the LAC elderly had at least one chronic disease/condition, 44% had co-morbidity and 19% had a disability. The proportion of disability-free LE declined between the youngest (60–64 years) and the eldest (90 years and over) age-groups for both men (from 85% to 55%) and women (from 75% to 45%). Disease-free and co-morbidity-free LE, however, remained at approximately 30% and 62%, respectively, for men (20% and 48% for women), until 80–84 years of age, then increased. Only Bridgetown's participants had statistically significantly longer disability-free LE than the regional average (IRR = 1.08; 95%CI 1.05–1.10; p < 0.001). Only Santiago's participants had disability-free LE which was shorter than the regional average (IRR = 0.94; 95%CI 0.92–0.97; p < 0.001). There was 75% active community participation overall, with more women than men involved in active help (49% vs 32%, respectively) and more men involved in voluntary/paid work (46% vs 25%, respectively). There was either no, or borderline significance in the association between having one or more diseases/conditions and active community engagement for both sexes. These associations were limited by depression (odds ratio [OR] reduced by 15–17% for men, and by 8–11% for women), and only remained statistically significant in men. However, disability remained statistically significantly associated with less community engagement after adjusting for depression (OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.49–0.69, p < 0.001 for women and OR = 0.50, 95%CI 0.47–0.65, p < 0.001 for men).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There is an increasing burden of disease and disability with older age across the LAC region. As these nations cope with resulting social and economic demands, governments and civic societies must continue to develop and maintain opportunities for community participation by this increasingly frail, but actively engaged group.</p

Parent-of-origin-specific allelic associations among 106 genomic loci for age at menarche.

Age at menarche is a marker of timing of puberty in females. It varies widely between individuals, is a heritable trait and is associated with risks for obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and all-cause mortality. Studies of rare human disorders of puberty and animal models point to a complex hypothalamic-pituitary-hormonal regulation, but the mechanisms that determine pubertal timing and underlie its links to disease risk remain unclear. Here, using genome-wide and custom-genotyping arrays in up to 182,416 women of European descent from 57 studies, we found robust evidence (P < 5 × 10(-8)) for 123 signals at 106 genomic loci associated with age at menarche. Many loci were associated with other pubertal traits in both sexes, and there was substantial overlap with genes implicated in body mass index and various diseases, including rare disorders of puberty. Menarche signals were enriched in imprinted regions, with three loci (DLK1-WDR25, MKRN3-MAGEL2 and KCNK9) demonstrating parent-of-origin-specific associations concordant with known parental expression patterns. Pathway analyses implicated nuclear hormone receptors, particularly retinoic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid-B2 receptor signalling, among novel mechanisms that regulate pubertal timing in humans. Our findings suggest a genetic architecture involving at least hundreds of common variants in the coordinated timing of the pubertal transition