Metal Semiconductor Contact between Gold and Boron Carbide

We have investigated the interaction of gold (Au) with the semiconductor boron carbide through X-ray photoemission and heterojunction diode fabrication. The plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) hydrogenated semiconducting boron carbide films, deposited from closo-1,7-dicarbadodecaborane (metacarborane, m-B10C2H12), shows a shift in the binding energies of the core level photoemission features when gold is deposited on the surface. The shifting of the B 1s level is smaller than for the C 1s level and the non-uniform nature of the shifts indicates a strong, complex and reversible gold chemical interaction with the surface, particularly with the C sites. The capacitance-voltage, C(V), and current versus voltage, I(V), results for the metacarborane film deposited on p-type Si(100) yield a carrier scattering time of 50 ns which is significantly smaller than the 35 ms for the PECVD orthocarborane boron carbide films

Filling pressures and collagen metabolism in hypertensive patients with heart failure and normal ejection fraction

This study was designed to evaluate the association between circulating biomarkers of collagen metabolism and elevated left-sided filling pressures (FPs), as assessed from elevated estimated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (ePCWP), in hypertensive patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction. Echocardiography was performed and ePCWP was calculated from the formula ePCWP=1.90+1.24(maximum early transmitral flow velocity in diastole:tissue Doppler early mitral annulus velocity). The biomarkers of collagen synthesis (carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I) and degradation (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP] 1 and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 [TIMP-1]) were analyzed by ELISA methods. Seventy-eight patients with normal FPs (ePCWP 15 mm Hg) were included. Compared with controls, the levels of the 3 biomarkers were increased in the 2 groups of patients. The MMP-1:TIMP-1 ratio, an index of MMP-1 activity, was increased in patients with normal FPs and unchanged in patients with elevated FPs. Patients with elevated FPs exhibited higher TIMP-1 levels and a lower MMP-1:TIMP-1 ratio than patients with normal FPs. ePCWP was independently associated with TIMP-1 (r=0.349; P<0.001) and the MMP-1:TIMP-1 ratio (r=-0.240; P<0.01) in all of the patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that a cutoff value of TIMP-1 of 1557 ng/mL provided 64% sensitivity and 67% specificity for predicting elevated FPs with a relative risk of 3.71 (95% CI: 1.91 to 7.22). These findings suggest that, in hypertensive patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction and elevated FPs, collagen synthesis predominates over degradation because of a relative excess of TIMP-1. This imbalance can facilitate myocardial fibrosis, which, in turn, may contribute to the elevation of FPs in these patients

Las mujeres y la producción agrícola mecanizada en el cantón Quinindé - Ecuador

Women and mechanized agricultural production in the Quinindé - Ecuador Resumen Se realizó un estudio a las mujeres campesinas del cantón Quinindé - provincia de Esmeraldas – Ecuador, ubicado en las coordenadas geográficas 0°20′N 79°29′O, considerado con aptitud agrícola y primer palmicultor del país, existen mujeres profesionales agropecuarias, pero a nivel rural es notoria la ausencia de la ellas en las actividades agrícolas, especialmente en la operación de medios mecanizados. Se estudiaron 115 unidades de producción agropecuaria, seleccionadas de un muestreo no probabilístico (muestreo intencional u opinático) por distribución proporcional de la superficie de cinco parroquias rurales (La Unión, Cube, Malimpia, Chura y Rosa Zárate), donde se aplicaron encuestas y entrevistas a grupos focales. Se determinó que las UPAs medianas tienen de 10 a 50 hectáreas; en algunas predomina el cultivo de palma aceitera (Elaeis guineensis) alcanzando hasta un 81% del área cultivada, en otras el cacao (Theobroma cacao) y plátano (Musa paradisiaca) representa el 36.5%, entre los cultivos de ciclo corto destaca el cultivo de maíz (Zea mays, L.). El manejo de tecnología agrícola por las mujeres es limitado, solo un 3% operan tractores agrícolas, 10% motocultores y 23% motoguadañas; lo cual se acredita a la falta de capacitación en la operación de maquinarias; mientras que en el campo de la comercialización de productos agrícolas el 45% de ellas tienen participación eficiente. Se concluyó que el uso de la maquinaria agrícola está íntimamente ligada a los patrones culturales y nivel de formación profesional de la mujer, también depende del tipo de cultivo, tamaño y rentabilidad de las unidades de producción. Palabras clave: Tecnología agrícola con mujeres; género y producción rural; unidades de producción agropecuaria (UPAs). Abstract A study was carried out on the rural women of the Quinindé canton - Esmeraldas province - Ecuador, located in the geographical coordinates 0 ° 20′N 79 ° 29′O, considered to be an agricultural aptitude and the first palm grower in the country, there are women agricultural professionals, but At rural level, the absence of them in agricultural activities is notable, especially in the operation of mechanized means. 115 agricultural production units were studied, selected from a non-probability sample (intentional or opinion-based sampling) by proportional distribution of the surface of five rural parishes (La Unión, Cube, Malimpia, Chura and Rosa Zarate), where surveys and interviews were applied to focus groups. The medium UPAs were determined to have from 10 to 50 hectares; In some the cultivation of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) predominates, reaching up to 81% of the cultivated area, in others cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and plantain (Musa paradisiaca) represents 36.5%, among the short cycle crops the cultivation of corn (Zea mays, L.). The management of agricultural technology by women is limited, only 3% operate agricultural tractors, 10% motor-cultivators and 23% motor-cutters; which is credited to the lack of training in the operation of machinery; while in the field of marketing of agricultural products 45% of them have efficient participation. It was concluded that the use of agricultural machinery is closely linked to the cultural patterns and level of professional training of women, it also depends on the type of crop, size and profitability of the production units. Keywords: &nbsp;Agricultural technology with women; gender and rural production; agricultural production units (UPAs)

Possible Detection of Low Energy Solar Neutrons Using Boron Based Materials

Solar neutrons have been detected aboard the International Space Station (ISS), using lithium tetraborate and boron carbide detector elements. We find that evidence of a solar neutron flux, as detected in a neutron calorimeter following subtraction of the proton background, with an energy of about 2 to 4 MeV. This solar neutron flux is likely no more than 250 to 375 neutrons cm−2sec−1, with a lower bound of 50–75 neutrons cm−2sec−1 at one au

Lithium Tetraborate as a Neutron Scintillation Detector: A Review

The electronic structure and translucent nature of lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) render it promising as a scintillator medium for neutron detection applications. The inherently large neutron capture cross-section due to 10B and 6Li isotopes and the ease with which Li2B4O7 can be enriched with these isotopes, combined with the facile inclusion of rare earth dopants (occupying the Li+ sites), are expected to improve the luminescent properties, as well as the neutron detection efficiency, of Li2B4O7. The electronic structure of both doped and undoped Li2B4O7 were explored, using photoemission and inverse photoemission spectroscopies, optical measurements, and theoretical computational studies such as density functional theory. The scintillation properties are further enhanced because of the wide bandgap, makingLi2B4O7 extremely translucent, so that capturing the neutron scintillation output is neither hindered nor diminished. Therefore, in this review, demonstrations of the possible amplification of neutron capture efficiencies, courtesy of rare-earth dopants, along with insights into a significantly large charge production (associated with neutron capture), are presented

Palaeoenvironmental changes in the Iberian central system during the Late-glacial and Holocene as inferred from geochemical data: A case study of the Navamuño depression in western Spain

The Iberian Central System (ICS) is a clue region to reveal Mediterranean/Atlantic inferences over Iberia. We present a multidisciplinary study from western Spain conducted in the Navamuno ˜ depression (ND), covering the last 16.8 ka (cal BP). A reconstruction of the palaeotemperature from the resulting geochemical data highlights four cold and dry intervals, namely, the Oldest Dryas, Older Dryas, Intra-Allerød Cold Period (IACP), and the Younger Dryas, along with warmer intervals: the Bølling (14.7–14 ka) and the Allerød (12.9–12.6 ka); however, the Greenland Interstadial GI-1c (13.4–13.1 ka) is barely distinguishable in the ND. Despite the shortage of biomass to sustain fire, the earliest charcoals are from ~14.4–13.8 ka. Evidence of ash/dust events overprinting the geochemical background starts at ~13.8–12.8 ka. Significant fire activity in the Early Holocene at ~11.7–10.6 ka affected the ND, matching the westernmost ICS data. This period includes short oceanic spells inferred from Cl peaks at ~10.9–10.2 ka and three cold intervals at 11.4, 9.3, and 8.2 ka disrupted the progressive temperature increase. The Mid-Holocene showed a continuously increasing trend towards an arid climate, peaking at 4.2 ka under a pervasive dust influx from North Africa, which has prevailed since almost ~7.9 ka. A prominent volcanic event at ~6.8–5.8 ka is in Navamuno ˜ and Ronanzas ˜ (Asturias, N Spain; Gallego et al., 2013) identified from heavy metal-rich layer, synchronous with the last known eruption of the Calatrava volcanic field (South-Central Spain; Poblete-Piedrabuena et al., 2019). This volcanic eruption could affect many other regions half north of Iberia. The pervasive presence of oceanic aerosols in the last three millennia (2.8 ka ~ ) allowed the formation of a Cl-rich peat layer during the Ibero-Roman humid period ~2.1 ka, before a changing around ~0.4 ka toward colder and drier conditions at the Little Ice Age (LIA) periodThis study was funded by the LATESICE-CGL2016-78380-P, FINICES- PID2020-117685 GB-I00 and MED-REFUGIA-RTI2018-101714-BI00 (Plan Nacional I + D + I, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities) projects

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&nbsp;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 &lt; 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&nbsp;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

Proceedings of the 13th annual conference of INEBRIA

CITATION: Watson, R., et al. 2016. Proceedings of the 13th annual conference of INEBRIA. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 11:13, doi:10.1186/s13722-016-0062-9.The original publication is available at https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.comENGLISH SUMMARY : Meeting abstracts.https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13722-016-0062-9Publisher's versio