Fabrication of transparent conducting amorphous Zn–Sn–In–O thin films by direct current magnetron sputtering

Amorphous ZnO–SnO2–In2O3 films were grown by direct current magnetron sputtering from vacuum hot pressed ceramic oxide targets of Zn:In:Sn cation ratios 1:2:1 and 1:2:1.5 onto glass substrates. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the microstructure remained amorphous during annealing at 200 °C for up to 5 hours. By monitoring the electrical resistivity, oxygen content and substrate temperature were optimized during deposition. The optimal films were characterized by Hall Effect, work function and optical spectroscopy measurements. Films of 1:2:1 composition showed the lowest resistivity (7.6×10−4 Ω-cm), when deposited onto substrates preheated to 300 °C. Transmissivity of all films exceeded 80% in the visible spectral region. The energy gap was 3.52–3.74 eV, and the work function ranged 5.08–5.22 eV, suitable for cathode applications in organic light emitting diodes. Overall, the film characteristics were comparable or superior to those of amorphous tin-doped indium oxide and zinc-doped indium oxide films and may serve as viable, lower-cost alternatives

State Regulation of Federally Chartered Financial Institutions: Washington\u27s Anti-Redlining Act

The purpose of this comment is to analyze the law on state regulation of federal financial institutions and then to apply that analysis to the Washington act in order to determine whether the act can validly be applied to national banks and federal savings and loan associations. Part II critically describes the Washington act and compares it with federal law on the same subject. Part III surveys the judicially developed limits on state regulation of federal financial institutions. Part IV then considers the validity of the Washington act as applied to federal financial institutions in light of the judicial limits discussed in Part 111. The comment concludes that the state prohibition of discrimination based on location is constitutionally applicable to national banks but is inapplicable to federal savings and loan associations. The comment further concludes that no federally chartered financial institution can be compelled to comply with the mortgage disclosure provision of the state act. Finally, a more limited version of the mortgage disclosure provision which may avoid constitutional infirmities is proposed

A functional tool for fuzzy first order logic evaluation

In this paper we present an automatic evaluation tool for fuzzy first order logic formulae. Since different logics can be considered, we allow for such formulae the appearance of syntactic modifiers, in such a way that our tool is designed not only to evaluate formulae in existing logic, but also to evaluate properties in any other logic framework given by the user. Such generalization is performed using Haskell, a functional programming language

A novel distributed architecture for IoT image processing using low-cost devices and open internet standards

Industry 4.0 can be defined as the integration of computers and automation to current industrial processes, with addition of smart and autonomous systems leveraged by machine learning techniques. In this scenario, a compact, dependable and fast controller is desired, featuring low energy consumption, easily programming and maintenance, with no mobile parts. Nowadays, computing power in single board computers, e.g. the Raspberry Pi among others, has been increased at a very important rate. In just three generations, Pi computers offer almost a two-fold speed gain, when compared to first models. Its design, an underlying video driver with general capabilities of regular OSes, makes them quite suitable to build image processing systems at very low cost, with no mobile parts and low energy consumption. However, designing such a system for industrial image processing is a tough challenge, since it implies to integrate cameras, image processing libraries, database servers and application software with graphical user interface, in an already resource constrained device. This work presents a new architecture for this kind of systems, by means of open internet standards, using a self-contained, high performance web server to publish a RESTful API and a set of web pages that use latest HTML5 capabilities to manage USB webcams and system data. This proposal also integrates OpenCV as a compiled script on client-side using the new WASM paradigm, with an optimized storage for images using -industry-standard RDBMS and a modular design that can target Windows and Linux as well.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Free Radicals and Neuronal Recovery from an Ischaemic Penumbra: A Review

Stroke remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. The major problem is that the therapeutic window is short and no accepted treatment is completely efficient. Even though there is evidence of free radical participation in the pathophysiology of stroke, no beneficial effects of antioxidants have been demonstrated in clinical assays. Moreover, some reports paradoxically indicate that antioxidants could be harmful and that oxidative stress preconditioning could reduce the long-term effects of stroke. There are two major areas within the ischaemic zone: (1) the core, where neuronal necrosis develops in minutes, and (2) the penumbra surrounding the core, where some neurons could eventually be recovered over an extended time. The present review specifically focuses on the role of free radicals in the life or death of brain cells (mainly neurons) within the ischaemic penumbra. It also analyses the effects of oxidative stress on blood-brain barrier disruption. In conclusion, we postulate a cascade of events that follow cerebral ischaemia and what type of therapeutic approach could eventually change the effect of free radicals on neuronal recovery from an ischaemic penumbra

Efficient white LEDs using liquid-state magic-sized CdSe quantum dots

Magic clusters have attracted significant interest to explore the dynamics of quantum dot (QD) nucleation and growth. At the same time, CdSe magic-sized QDs reveal broadband emission in the visible wavelength region, which advantageously offer simple integration of a single-type of nanomaterial and high color rendering ability for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Here, we optimized the quantum yield of magic-sized CdSe QDs up to 22% via controlling the synthesis parameters without any shelling or post-treatment process and integrated them in liquid-state on blue LED to prevent the efficiency drop due to host-material effect. The fabricated white LEDs showed colorrendering index and luminous efficiency up to 89 and 11.7 lm/W, respectively

Complicações do cateter de artéria pulmonar: relato de caso de formação de nó verdadeiro revisão da literatura

A particular event concerning a Swan-Ganz catheter complication is reported. A 41-year-old woman was admitted at the emergency room of our hospital with massive gastrointestinal bleeding. A total gastrectomy was performed. During the postoperative period in the intensive care unit , the patient maintained hemodynamic instability. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter was then indicated. During the maneuvers to insert the catheter, a true knot formation was identified at the level of the superior vena cava. Several maneuvers by radiological endovascular invasive techniques allowed removal of the catheter. The authors describe the details of this procedure and provide comments regarding the various techniques that were employed in overcoming this event. A comprehensive review of evidence regarding the benefits and risks of pulmonary artery catheterization was performed. The consensus statement regarding the indications, utilization, and management of the pulmonary artery catheterization that were issued by a consensus conference held in 1996 are also discussed in detail.É relatada uma complicação infreqüente , associada ao uso do Cateter de Artéria Pulmonar. Uma paciente de 41 anos foi admitida no Pronto Socorro do nosso hospital com hemorragia digestiva alta grave. A doente foi submetida à gastrectomia total. Na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, evoluiu com instabilidade hemodinâmica, sendo indicada a monitorização hemodinâmica invasiva com cateter de artéria pulmonar. Durante as manobras para o correto posicionamento do cateter na artéria pulmonar, foi diagnosticado formação de nó verdadeiro, ao nível da veia cava superior. Os autores discutem as várias opções técnicas empregadas para a resolução desta complicação, através do emprego da radiologia intervencionista endovascular. Extensa revisão da literatura procurando discutir os benefícios e riscos envolvidos na monitorização hemodinâmica invasiva com o cateter de artéria pulmonar, no período peroperatório, foi realizada. Assim como as orientações práticas emitidas pela Conferência de Consenso sobre o cateter de artéria pulmonar, realizada nos EUA em 1996, são discutidas com profundidade

Beam Coupling Impedance Contribution of Flange Aperture Gaps: A Numerical Study for Elettra 2.0

The accurate analysis of any possible source of beam instability is mandatory for the design of a new particle accelerator, especially for high-current and ultra-low emittance synchrotrons. In the specific case of instabilities driven by the coupling between the charged particle beam and the electromagnetic field excited by the beam itself, the corresponding effect is estimated through the beam coupling impedance. The modeling of this effect is essential to perform a rigorous evaluation of the coupling impedance budget able to account for all devices present in the entire machine. To deal with this problem, this paper focuses on the estimation of the contribution of the joints lying between the different vacuum chamber sections, by performing a comparative numerical analysis that takes into account different aperture gaps between the flanges. The results point out the criticality of many small-impedance contributions that, added together, must be lower than a predefined impedance threshold

Differential Modulation of Thresholds for Intracranial Self-Stimulation by mGlu5 Positive and Negative Allosteric Modulators: Implications for Effects on Drug Self-Administration

Pharmacological manipulation of the type 5 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu5) receptor alters various addiction related behaviors such as drug self-administration and the extinction and reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. However, the effects of pharmacological modulation of mGlu5 receptors on brain reward function have not been widely investigated. We examined the effects of acute administration of positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs and NAMs, respectively) on brain reward function by assessing thresholds for intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS). In addition, when acute effects were observed, we examined changes in ICSS thresholds following repeated administration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with bipolar electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle and trained to respond for ICSS, followed by assessment of effects of mGlu5 ligands on ICSS thresholds using a discrete trials current–intensity threshold determination procedure. Acute administration of the selective mGlu5 NAMs MTEP (0, 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg) and fenobam (0, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg) dose-dependently increased ICSS thresholds (∼70% at the highest dose tested), suggesting a deficit in brain reward function. Acute administration of the mGlu5 PAMs CDPPB (0, 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) or ADX47273 (0, 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) was without effect at any dose tested. When administered once daily for five consecutive days, the development of tolerance to the ability of threshold-elevating doses of MTEP and fenobam to increase ICSS thresholds was observed. We conclude that mGlu5 PAMs and NAMs differentially affect brain reward function, and that tolerance to the ability of mGlu5 NAMs to reduce brain reward function develops with repeated administration. These brain reward deficits should be taken into consideration when interpreting acute effects of mGlu5 NAMs on drug self-administration, and repeated administration of these ligands may be an effective method to reduce these deficits