Pulsed laser deposition for growth of high quality epitaxial garnet films for low threshold waveguide lasers

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a mature technique capable of producing extremely high quality epitaxial single crystalline films. We have grown Nd:doped garnet films of GGG (Gd The talk will summarise our progress using conventional (single beam) PLD in thin-film and waveguide growth, using both nanosecond and femtosecond lasers, and also introduce our new directions in tri-beam PLD (three targets, three lasers) for growth of some interesting, complex and perhaps impossible structures, such as Gaussian doping, internal voids and even helically doped structures

A Tactile Sensor Device Exploiting the Tunable Sensitivity of Copper-PDMS Piezoresistive Composite

Abstract A low cost and highly mechanically flexible 8x8 pressure matrix sensor with dedicated electronics has been fabricated with an innovative metal-elastomer composite material. Under the action of a compressive stress the material exhibits a giant piezoresistive effect varying its electrical resistance of several orders of magnitude. This phenomenon can be tuned by changing the material composition parameters, directly modifying the sensitivity of the sensor. The micro casting fabrication technique, used for the preparation of self standing sheet of functional material, gives the possibility of easily fabricating complex-shaped structure suitable for integration on robot surface for tactile sensing. The sensor has been tested with a customized electronic circuit after an exhaustive characterization of the functional properties of the material

Evaluation of efficacy of some serological tests used for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle in Egypt using latent class analysis

In this study serum samples were collected from 4 different groups of cattle, Group I (non-vaccinated Brucella infected group), Group II (Vaccinated Brucella infected group), Group III (Non-vaccinated Brucella free group) and Group IV (vaccinated Brucella free group). These samples were subjected to the different serological tests including Rose Bengal plate antigen test, Tube Agglutination test, Rivanol test, Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Statistical analysis of the obtained results in different cattle groups was carried out using Latent Class Analysis (Lem model). The prevalence of brucellosis was 6.4%, the sensitivity of RBPT was 96.1% while its specificity was 99.3%, the sensitivity of Rivanol test was 85% while its specificity was 100%, the sensitivity of Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay was 100% while its specificity was 98.3 % and the sensitivity of Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay was 97.1% while its specificity was 100%. The results proved that, the most sensitive test was Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay while the most specific test was Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay. This study therefore, recommends the use of Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay as a screening test and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay as a confirmatory test. Bacteriological examination was carried out on supramammary lymph nodes and spleen of some slaughtered seropositive cattle, the rate of isolation was 25% from non-vaccinated infected group and 10% from vaccinated infected group. Brucella melitensis biovar3 was recovered only from supramammary lymph nodes.Keywords: Brucellosis, Cattle, Sensitivity, Serology, Specificity, Latent Class Analysi

The effect of relative plasma plume delay on the properties of complex oxide films grown by multi-laser multi-target combinatorial pulsed laser deposition

We report the effects of relative time delay of plasma plumes on thin garnet crystal films fabricated by dual-beam, combinatorial pulsed laser deposition. Relative plume delay was found to affect both the lattice constant and elemental composition of mixed Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) and Gd3Sc2Ga5O12 (GSGG) films. Further analysis of the plasmas was undertaken using a Langmuir probe, which revealed that for relative plume delays shorter than ~200 µs, the second plume travels through a partial vacuum created by the first plume, leading to higher energy ion bombardment of the growing film. The resulting in-plane stresses are consistent with the transition to a higher value of lattice constant normal to the film plane that was observed around this delay value. At delays shorter than ~10 µs, plume propagation was found to overlap, leading to scattering of lighter ions from the plume and a change in stoichiometry of the resultant films

How do synchronous lung metastases influence the surgical management of children with hepatoblastoma? An update and systematic review of the literature

Approximately 20% of children with hepatoblastoma (HB) have metastatic disease at diagnosis, most frequently in the lungs. In children with HB, lung metastatic disease is associated with poorer prognosis. Its treatment has been approached with a variety of methods that integrate chemotherapy and surgical resection. The timing and feasibility of complete extirpation of lung metastases, by chemotherapy and/or metastasectomy, is crucial for the surgical treatment of the primary liver tumor, which can vary from major hepatic resections to liver transplantation (LT). In children with unresectable HB, which can be surgically treated only by LT, the persistence of unresectable metastases after neoadjuvant chemotherapy excludes the possibility of recurring to LT with consequent negative impact on patients' outcomes. Due to limited evidence and experience, there is no consensus amongst oncologists and surgeons across institutions regarding the surgical treatment for HB with synchronous metastatic lung disease. This narrative review aimed to update the current management of pulmonary metastasis in children with HB and to define its role in the decision-making strategy for the surgical approach to primary liver tumours

Análisis estratégico: elaboración de alimento balanceado

El análisis estratégico es una herramienta de suma importancia dentro de cualquier empresa. Sin embargo, no es muy difundido ni utilizado en el primer eslabón de la cadena comercial agropecuaria. En este contexto, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo general realizar un análisis estratégico que permita posicionar a la empresa. Para ello la metodología se basó en el estudio de caso y análisis estratégico de una empresa localizada en el partido de Olavarría. Entre los principales resultados se destaca la posibilidad de realizar productos balanceados, estrategia que permite cumplir con los objetivos empresariales, vinculados a la integración vertical, dominio de precios, expansión, entre otros puntos de interés de la empresa analizada

Multidisciplinary approach in the removal of post-trauma foreign bodies in the head and neck district: Cases report and review of literature

Introduction: The management of foreign bodies (FBs) penetrating the head and neck district is a condition rare but at risk for the patient’s life because this district is particularly rich in vital structures. Therefore, their management requires a multidisciplinary approach. Materials and methods: In this study we retrospectively examine two emblematic cases among 183 that occurred in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2017. Results: There were 183 cases of FBs of the head and neck district submitted to extraction with a range of age of between 18 months old and 79 years old. Of 183 patients, 112 were children, 60 were adults. The incidence was prevalent among children, with 112 cases against 60 cases in adults (including 11 post-dental care cases). Only 2 remaining cases described are characterized by the involvement of several districts Conclusion: Both cases evidenced like as a multidisciplinary approach is important to minimize potential complications and sequelae

Pre‑ and intra‑operative prognostic factors of facial nerve function in cerebellopontine angle surgery

Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICPurpose: The study assesses whether pre- and intraoperative factors linked to electromyography and direct electrical stimulation (DES) of facial nerve can predict facial nerve function in the short- (12 days) and long-term (1 year) after cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor resection. Methods: 157 patients who underwent surgical resection of CPA tumors with facial nerve monitoring. Pre-operative factors (age, tumor size, pure tone average), surgical time and intra-operative parameters regarding facial function, minimum stimulation threshold (MST), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and the diference between proximal and distal CMAP (DPDC) were evaluated. Results: A correlation between tumor size, MST, CMAP and facial function in both short and long term was found. A higher grade of immediate facial paralysis corresponded to a higher risk of poor outcome after one year. A postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) score of V or VI was correlated with poor outcome in 88.8% and 93.8% of cases. A risk of HB 3 or more, in the long term, was correlated with a tumor size of 20.2 mm. Using an MST of 0.1 mA, for long-term predictions, sensitivity and specifcity were 0.62 (95% CI 0.46-0.75) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.61-0.82), respectively. With a CMAP cut-of<200 µV, for long-term prediction, sensitivity was 0.73 (95% CI 0.53-0.87) and specifcity 0.73 (95% CI 0.55-0.85). Conclusion: The assessment based on the cut-ofs described increases the ability to predict facial function. Improving predictive accuracy enables surgeons to address patients' expectations and to establish an intervention timeline for planning facial reanimation