Electronic structure of C60 / graphite

We report temperature-dependent photoelectron spectra for a monolayer of C_60 adsorbed on HOPG, as well as C 1s x-ray absorption. This extends a previous report which showed the close similarity between the spectrum of the HOMO for the two-dimensional overlayer and that of C_60 in the gas phase. The present work shows that intermolecular and molecule-substrate vibrations contribute strongly to the spectral lineshape at room temperature. Thus, vibrational effects are shown to be crucial for the proper understanding of photoelectron spectra, and thus the charge transport properties, for C_60 in contact with graphite and graphite-like materials.Comment: Proc. of the XV. Int. Winterschool on Electronic Properties of Novel Materials, Kirchberg/Tirol, Austria, 200

GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION IN THE ALEXANDRIA AREA, THESSALONIKI BASIN (MACEDONIA, NORTHERN GREECE)

Η περιοχή της Αλεξάνδρειας βρίσκεται στη Λεκάνη Θεσσαλονίκης, η οποία έχει πληρωθεί με ιζήματα πάχους άνω των 4 km. To 1980, κατασκευάσθηκε βόρεια της πόλης της Αλεξάνδρειας η γεώτρηση έρευνας υδρογονανθράκων AL-1, βάθους 1705 m, στην οποία καταγράφηκαν οι θερμοκρασίες των 39 και 65oC σε βάθη 700 και 1705 m αντίστοιχα. Μεταξύ 1996 και 2000, ανορύχθηκαν δύο γεωθερμικές ερευνητικές γεωτρήσεις, βάθους 532 και 620 m, οι οποίες διέτρησαν Τεταρτογενή και Πλειοκαινικά ιζήματα και στις οποίες μετρήθηκαν θερμοκρασίες 30.1 και 33.4oC σε βάθη 500 και 611 m αντίστοιχα. Η προκαταρκτική γεωθερμική έρευνα οδήγησε την κατασκευή της πρώτης παραγωγικής γεώτρησης (ΓΝ-1Π). Ανορύχθηκε μέχρι βάθος 805 m διατρύοντας αργίλους, άμμους, τόφφους, μάργες, αργιλο-μάργες, μαργαϊκούς ασβεστόλιθους, χάλικες, ψαμμίτες και κροκαλοπαγή. Η γεώτρηση σωληνώθηκε μέχρι τα 805 m και φίλτρα τοποθετήθηκαν σε διάφορα βάθη κάτω από τα 607 m. Τιμές θερμοκρασίας και ηλεκτρικής αγωγιμότητας 35.1-37.2oC και 5100-8200 μS/cmαντίστοιχα καταγράφηκαν σε βάθη 607-800 m. Η γεώτρηση παρουσιάζει αρτεσιανή ροή με 30-40 m3/h νερών των 34.1oC και παρέχει με άντληση 130 m3/h νερών θερμοκρασίας 35.5oC. Το παραγόμενο γεωθερμικό νερό με ΣΔΑ 2.18 g/l είναι του τύπου Na-Cl και διαφοροποιείται από τα ρηχά νερά. Η θερμική ισχύς της γεώτρησης ΓΝ-1Π υπολογίζεται σε 1.65 MWt.The area of Alexandria is located in the Thessaloniki basin that has been filled with more than 4 km of sediments. In 1980, oil exploration borehole AL-1, 1,705 m deep, was drilled north of the town of Alexandria and the temperatures of 39 and 65oC were recorded at depths of 700 and 1,705 m respectively. During 1996-2000, two geothermal exploration boreholes were drilled at depths of 532 and 620 m penetrating Quaternary and Pliocene sediments and the temperatures of 30.1 and 33.4oC were measured at 500 and 611 m respectively. The preliminary geothermal investigation resulted in the construction of the first production well (GN-1P). It was drilled to a depth of 805 m penetrating clays, sands, tuffs, marls, clayey marls, marly limestones, gravels, sandstones and conglomerates. The borehole was cased down to 805 m and screens were placed at various depths below 607 m. Temperature and electrical conductivity values of 35.1-37.2oC and 5,100-8,200 μS/cm respectively were recorded at depths of 607-800 m. This well discharges 30-40 m3/h waters at 34.1oC with artesian flow and provides 130 m3/h waters at 35.5oC with pumping. The produced geothermal water with TDS of 2.18 g/l belongs to the Na-Cl type differentiated from the shallow waters. The thermal capacity of well GN-1P is calculated to be 1.65 MWt

Dynamic range and mass accuracy of wide-scan direct infusion nanoelectrospray fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry-based metabolomics increased by the spectral stitching method

Direct infusion nanoelectrospray Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (DI nESI FT-ICR MS)offers high mass accuracy and resolution for analyzing complex metabolite mixtures. High dynamic range across a wide mass range, however, can only be achieved at the expense of mass accuracy, since the large numbers of ions entering the ICR detector induce adverse spacecharge effects. Here we report an optimized strategy for wide-scan DI nESI FT-ICR MS that increases dynamic range but maintains high mass accuracy. It comprises the collection if multiple adjacent selected ion monitoring (SIM) windows that are stitched together using novel algorithms. The final SIM-stitching method, derived from several optimization experiments, comprises 21 adjoining SIM windows each of width m/z 30 (from m/z 70 to 500; adjacent windows overlap by m/z 10) with an automated gain control (AGC) target of 1 105 charges. SIMstitching and wide-scan range (WSR; Thermo Electron)were compared using a defined standard to assess mass accuracy and a liver extract to assess peak count and dynamic range. SIM-stitching decreased the maximum mass error by 1.3- and 4.3-fold, and increased the peak count by 5.3- and 1.8-fold, versus WSR (AGC targets of 1 x 105 and 5 x 105, respectively). SIM-stitching achieved an rms mass error of 0.18 ppm and detected over 3000 peaks in liver extract. This novel approach increases metabolome coverage, has very high mass accuracy, and at 5.5 min/sample is conducive for high- throughput metabolomics

West Midlands health informatics network : a perspective on education and training needs

The growth of health informatics as a discipline has led to an increase in networks of people with similar interests for discussion, learning and sharing. Alongside these community networks, education and training are gaining interest, with more career opportunities and general public seeking information. This paper highlights the experience of the West Midlands Health Informatics Network and efforts in better understanding the educational and training needs of its members. The findings from the survey conducted reveal that while the interest in this field is high among network members, the awareness of opportunities for training and learning professionally as well as personally, remains low. The areas and levels of interest in the region should help support the creation and availability of resources

The role of informatics in prehospital emergency resuscitation and defibrillation

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests account for a large number of deaths as the time window for successful resuscitation is very short. Timely call for help, resuscitation and defibrillation by laypersons are crucial for the survival and outcome of cardiac arrest victims. Good quality data and informatics play an important role in the effectiveness of the chain of survival. Information about defibrillator location is vital for emergency services to direct bystanders; informatics also helps to strategically place defibrillators for optimal use. Technologies, such as location-based systems are being used to keep track of defibrillators and also alert volunteer responders to emergencies. Informatics also plays a role in post resuscitation care and research by facilitating the linkage and interoperability of health data between different systems, such as ambulance service, hospital, and other health data such as cardiac arrest registries

Perspectives of UK community first responders on a national public access defibrillator database

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival to hospital discharge in the United Kingdom is lower than in many other developed regions, with England 9% [1] and Scotland 5% [2], compared to North Holland Province, the Netherlands 21% [3] and Norway 25% [4]. In 2015, the British Heart Foundation commissioned a feasibility study into the establishment of a national Public Accessible Defibrillator (PAD) database for the UK and how it could improve OHCA survival. As part of this feasibility study, the views of a range of stakeholders were sought, including those of community first responders (CFRs). CFRs are volunteers from local communities who attend to emergency calls received by the ambulance service and provide care until an ambulance arrives. There were over 12,000 CFRs operating across the UK in 2014 [5]. Most of the PADs are static AEDs made available in public places. The alternative is the use of mobile defibrillators that are carried to the scene of an emergency by CFRs [6]. Methods: A survey was designed with 12 questions. It covered the areas of CFR demographics, experience with PADs, and their views on a national PAD database and the technologies and apps available for locating defibrillators and for alerting lay responders of an emergency. The survey questionnaire was made available via an online survey tool (SurveyMonkey). Between November and December 2015, links to the survey were sent via email to CFRs via the National Ambulance Services Responder Managers Forum [7]. Results: 760 responses were received (6.3% response rate) with 12 out 14 ambulance service regions represented. The experience of CFRs ranges from none (just finished training) to 16 years, with the largest proportion having under 2 years experience (47.28%, 322 of 681). Awareness of apps and their use was variable with a reasonable knowledge of GoodSAM, AED Locator and the South Central Ambulance Service app but 75% did not know if apps are routinely used in their area. 35.47% of respondents (255 of 719) felt a national database of AED locations would have a significant impact on awareness and use of defibrillators with a further 42.84% (308 of 719) thinking it would have some impact. Additionally, the use of apps linked to a national database was supported by over 85% of respondents. Conclusion: In the survey, CFRs expressed generally positive opinions about a national PAD database and linked apps. The need for it arises naturally from having defibrillators in the community and is an additional tool to help save lives. Issues that need to be considered however include information accuracy and maintenance; the need for training combined with first aid and CPR. CFRs identified the main barriers to defibrillator use as (1) not knowing how to use one, (2) not knowing where to find one and (3) fear of injury to the victim. Lack of awareness amongst the public about the availability and use of defibrillators was highlighted as a major challenge and the absolute need for a high profile and awareness raising campaign was flagged

Life saving apps : linking cardiac arrest victims to emergency services and volunteer responders

In cases of emergency, such as out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, the first few minutes are crucial for victims to receive care and have a positive outcome. However, emergency services often arrive on scene after those first few minutes, making any bridging solutions key. Finding a defibrillator or accessing a trained volunteer responder are some of the technologicalsolutions that are being developed to support the chain of survival. This paper looks at technologies, in particular those linked to mobile apps that have been used to locate defibrillators and responder apps that enable responders to attend to nearby emergencies. We review a selection of apps and also assess the challenges and considerations for such apps

Classification of paediatric brain tumours by diffusion weighted imaging and machine learning

To determine if apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) can discriminate between posterior fossa brain tumours on a multicentre basis. A total of 124 paediatric patients with posterior fossa tumours (including 55 Medulloblastomas, 36 Pilocytic Astrocytomas and 26 Ependymomas) were scanned using diffusion weighted imaging across 12 different hospitals using a total of 18 different scanners. Apparent diffusion coefficient maps were produced and histogram data was extracted from tumour regions of interest. Total histograms and histogram metrics (mean, variance, skew, kurtosis and 10th, 20th and 50th quantiles) were used as data input for classifiers with accuracy determined by tenfold cross validation. Mean ADC values from the tumour regions of interest differed between tumour types, (ANOVA P < 0.001). A cut off value for mean ADC between Ependymomas and Medulloblastomas was found to be of 0.984 × 10-3 mm2 s-1 with sensitivity 80.8% and specificity 80.0%. Overall classification for the ADC histogram metrics were 85% using Naïve Bayes and 84% for Random Forest classifiers. The most commonly occurring posterior fossa paediatric brain tumours can be classified using Apparent Diffusion Coefficient histogram values to a high accuracy on a multicentre basis

Variational Quark Mass Expansion and the Order Parameters of Chiral Symmetry Breaking

We investigate in some detail a "variational mass" expansion approach, generalized from a similar construction developed in the Gross-Neveu model, to evaluate the basic order parameters of the dynamical breaking of the $SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ and $SU(3)_L \times SU(3)_R$ chiral symmetries in QCD. The method starts with a reorganization of the ordinary perturbation theory with the addition of an arbitrary quark mass $m$. The new perturbative series can be summed to all orders thanks to renormalization group properties, with specific boundary conditions, and advocated analytic continuation in $m$ properties. In the approximation where the explicit breakdown of the chiral symmetries due to small current quark masses is neglected, we derive ansatzes for the dynamical contribution to the "constituent" masses $M_q$ of the $u,d,s$ quarks; the pion decay constant $F_\pi$; and the quark condensate $$ in terms of the basic QCD scale $\Lambda_{\bar{MS}}$. Those ansatzes are then optimized, in a sense to be specified, and also explicit symmetry breaking mass terms can be consistently introduced in the framework. The obtained values of $F_\pi$ and $M_q$ are roughly in agreement with what is expected from other non-perturbative methods. In contrast we obtain quite a small value of $|< \bar q q >|$ within our approach. The possible interpretation of the latter results is briefly discussed.Comment: 40 pages, LaTex, 2 PS figures. Additions in section 2.2 to better explain the relation between the current mass and the dynamical mass ansatz. Minor misprints corrected. Version to appear in Phys. Rev.