Anisotropic Vapor HF etching of silicon dioxide for Si microstructure release

Damages are created in a sacrificial layer of silicon dioxide by ion implantation to enhance the etch rate of silicon-dioxide in liquid and vapor phase hydrofluoric acid. The etch rate ratio between implanted and unimplanted silicon dioxide is more than 150 in vapor hydrofluoric acid (VHF). This feature is of interest to greatly reduce the underetch of microelectromechanical systems anchors. Based on the experimentally extracted etch rate of unimplanted and implanted silicon dioxide, the patterning of the sacrificial layer can be predicted by simulation

Influence de l'arrangement granulaire d'un sédiment polydisperses sur le seuil de mise en mouvement

La prédiction du transport d'un mélange de particules de plusieurs tailles est un point sensible d'une représentation de la dynamique sédimentaire sur de nombreux faciès en rivière ou en mer. Afin de déterminer les processus critiques qui régissent la mise en mouvement de tels mélanges et de quantifier leur contributions, des essais ont été réalisés dans un petit canal à courant. Ils ont porté sur des échantillons reconstitués, formés de sables naturels lithoclastiques bien triés ou de mélanges sableux bimodaux. L'objectif est d'observer et de quantifier les différences de comportement à l'entrainement entre un sédiment unimodal et un sédiment mélangé. Les résultats obtenus sont comparés à une sélection de formulations issues de la littérature. La série de tests a permis de mettre en évidence quelques processus particuliers du début du transport sédimentaire multiclasse dans un écoulement stationnaire. La granulométrie utilisée s'étend des sables fins aux sables très grossiers. Des paramètres du mélange tels que le rapport de taille des particules, le taux de saturation des échantillons par les grains dont la taille est la plus fine ou la porosité influent sur la modulation de la contrainte de frottement critique. Les comparaisons mesures / formules ont mis en évidence la difficulté de prédire le seuil de mise en mouvement des particules d'un mélange hétérométrique. Par conséquent, l'incertitude sur la granulométrie transportée s'accroît lorsque le frottement est proche du frottement critique d'une certaine classe de taille

Modelling and simulation of a stationary high-rise elevator system to predict the dynamic interactions between its components

In a high-rise elevator system lateral vibrations of the suspension and compensating ropes, coupled with vertical motions of the car and counterweight are induced by the building structure motions. When the frequency of the building coincides with the fundamental natural frequency of the ropes, large resonance whirling motions of the ropes result. This phenomenon leads to impacts of the ropes on the elevator walls, large displacements of the car and counterweight making the building and elevator system unsafe. This paper presents a comprehensive mathematical model of a high-rise elevator system taking into account the combined lateral stiffness of the roller guides and guide rails. The results and analysis presented in the paper demonstrate frequency curve veering phenomena and a wide range of resonances that occur in the system. A case study is presented when the car is parked at a landing level where the fundamental natural frequencies of the car, suspension and compensating rope system coincide with one of the natural frequencies of the high-rise building. The results show a range of nonlinear dynamic interactions between the components of the elevator system that play a significant role in the operation of the entire installation

Autosomal and mitochondrial adaptation following admixture: a case study on the honeybees of Reunion Island.

The honeybee population of the tropical Reunion Island is a genetic admixture of the Apis mellifera unicolor subspecies, originally described in Madagascar, and of European subspecies, mainly A.m. carnica and A. m. ligustica, regularly imported to the island since the late 19th century. We took advantage of this population to study genetic admixing of the tropical-adapted indigenous and temperate-adapted European genetic backgrounds. Whole genome sequencing of 30 workers and 6 males from Reunion, compared to samples from Europe, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rodrigues and the Seychelles, revealed the Reunion honeybee population to be composed on average of 53.2 ± 5.9% A. m. unicolor nuclear genomic background, the rest being mainly composed of A. m. carnica and to a lesser extent A. m. ligustica. In striking contrast to this, only one out of the 36 honeybees from Reunion had a mitochondrial genome of European origin, suggesting selection has favoured the A. m. unicolor mitotype, which is possibly better adapted to the island's bioclimate. Local ancestry was determined along the chromosomes for all Reunion samples, and a test for preferential selection for the A. m. unicolor or European background revealed 15 regions significantly associated with the A. m. unicolor lineage and 9 regions with the European lineage. Our results provide insights into the long-term consequences of introducing exotic specimen on the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of locally-adapted populations. (Résumé d'auteur

Goodbye Hartmann trial: a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study on the current use of a surgical procedure developed a century ago

Background: Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann's procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P < 0.001). 30-day mortality was higher in HP patients (13.7%), especially in case of bowel perforation and diffused peritonitis. 1-year follow-up showed no differences on ostomy reversal rate between HP and RPA. (P = 0.127). A backward likelihood logistic regression model showed that RPA was preferred in younger patients, having low ASA score (≤ 3), in case of large bowel obstruction, absence of colonic ischemia, longer time from admission to surgery, operating early at the day working hours, by a surgeon who performed more than 50 colorectal resections. Conclusions: After 100 years since the first Hartmann's procedure, HP remains the most common treatment for left-sided colorectal emergencies. Treatment's choice depends on patient characteristics, the time of surgery and the experience of the surgeon. RPA should be considered as the gold standard for surgery, with HP being an exception