Atomic Structure of Pyramidal Defects in GaN:Mg; Influence ofAnnealing

The atomic structure of the characteristic defects (Mg-rich hexagonal pyramids) in p-doped bulk and MOCVD GaN:Mg thin films grown with Ga polarity was determined at atomic resolution by direct reconstruction of the scattered electron wave in a transmission electron microscope. Small cavities were present inside the defects, confirmed also with positron annihilation. The inside walls of the cavities were covered by GaN of reverse polarity compared to the matrix. Defects in bulk GaN:Mg were almost one order of magnitude larger than in thin films. An exchange of Ga and N sublattices within the defect compared to the matrix lead to a 0.6 {+-} 0.2 {angstrom} displacement between the Ga sublattices of these two areas. A [1100]/3 shift with change from AB stacking in the matrix to BC within the entire pyramid was observed. Annealing of the MOCVD layers lead to slight increase of the defect size and an increase of the photoluminescence intensity. Positron annihilation confirms presence of vacancies of different sizes triggered by the Mg doping in as-grown samples and decrease of their concentration upon annealing at 900 and 1000 C

Validation of a high resolution NGS method for detecting spinal muscular atrophy carriers among phase 3 participants in the 1000 Genomes Project

BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common pan-ethnic cause of early childhood death due to mutations in a single gene, SMN1. Most chromosome 5 homologs have a functional gene and dysfunctional copy, SMN2, with a single synonymous base substitution that results in faulty RNA splicing. However, the copy number of SMN1 and SMN2 is highly variable, and one in 60 adults worldwide are SMA carriers. Although population-wide screening is recommended, current SMA carrier tests have not been incorporated into targeted gene panels. METHODS: Here we describe a novel computational protocol for determining SMA carrier status based solely on individual exome data. Our method utilizes a Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify an individual’s carrier probability given only his or her SMN1 and SMN2 reads at six loci of interest. RESULTS: We find complete concordance with results obtained with the current qPCR-based testing standard in known SMA carriers and affecteds. We applied our protocol to the phase 3 cohort of the 1,000 Genomes Project and found carrier frequencies in multiple populations consistent with the present literature. CONCLUSION: Our process is a convenient, robust alternative to qPCR, which can easily be integrated into the analysis of large multi-gene NGS carrier screens. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12881-015-0246-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Whirlpool SoPC Implementation : Hardware/Software Co-Design Example

The aim of this work was to design a System on Programmable Chip (SoPC), that implements the Whirlpool Hash Function (WHF) algorithm. An assumption of the project was to use an embedded soft-processor NIOS II controlling the whole system, which functionality was extended by a custom logic in order to improve the used algorithm efficiency. This paper presents the Whirlpool Hash Function realized in several SoPC configurations, which differ in implementation complexity and performance

Analytical modelling of a three-layer wall system of strengthening for large-panel slab buildings by means of bonded anchors

The goal of the article is to elaboration analytical models describing a new system of reinforcing three-layer walls of large-panel buildings with bonded anchors. The use of this type of fasteners that bond the façade texture layer to the structural slab is necessary due to the low durability of previously used suspension elements. Various bonded anchorage systems were considered. The new anchorage systems were designed as two-anchors systems (horizontal anchor and diagonal anchors) and three-anchors systems (horizontal anchor and two diagonal anchors). The inclinations of these anchors are in the range of 30°-60° in relation to the surface of the element. For the above types of reinforcements, analytical models have been developed that take into account the change of strength parameters of the resin and steel from which the anchors were made, the interaction of materials resin-steel and resin-concrete and the effect of the simultaneous action of pull-out and shearing forces. Moreover, was assumed the simultaneous destruction of fasteners two- and three-anchors. The elaborated analytical models will be used to determine the load-bearing capacity of the new connector system, which will allow the elaboration of guidelines for strengthening three-layer walls of largepanel slab buildings

Assessment of the load capacity of the anchorage system connecting the textured layer with the structural wall of large slab buildings in the lights of experimental research and FEM analysis

The goal of the article is to compare the results obtained from experimental tests of a new type of anchoring, connecting the texture layer with the structural layer in external wall elements, used in large-panel construction with the results from FEM analysis. Two types of samples were subjected to experimental tests: single-layer uniform concrete and three-layer concrete with embedded point anchors and analogous samples with glued anchors. The test elements used C 12/15 and C 30/37 concrete, 12 mm diameter anchors, made of steel corresponding to the grade of stainless steel screws class 5.8, Sika Anchorfix-1 resin and XPS polystyrene. As for the three-layer samples, when testing, two forces were applied: tearing and shearing due to the detachment of the textured layer. The ANSYS program was used for numerical modelling of the analyzed samples. 3D models were built in which solid elements were used. For steel anchors, the material characteristics were taken as a two-line elasticplastic reinforcement. The Drucker-Prager model was used in the concrete elements, the linear-elastic model was adopted for the resin, and the brittle model according to the linear-elastic fracture mechanics for the polystyrene