Performance of RF MEMS switches at low temperatures

The actuation voltage of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) \ud metal switches was investigated at temperatures ranging from 10 to 290 K. The investigation shows a 50% increase in the actuation voltage at low temperature. A comparison has been made using a published model and showed similar increment of actuation voltage at low temperature

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Review of the literature

Obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome is characterized by repeated airway collapse during sleep. The literature describes multiple causes of the disease. The main cause is a reduction of the expansion forces of the pharyngeal dilator muscles, as in situations of genioglossal muscle dysfunction, and discoordination between the inspiratory activity of the muscle and respiratory effort, which play an important role in progression of the disease. Other described causes are soft tissue disorders, such as macroglossia or tonsillar hypertrophy, and skeletal structural alterations such as micrognathia and retrognathia. The syndrome is also more frequent in obese people, where the accumulation of fat in the neck region produces narrowing of th pharyngeal airway, thereby diminishing the passage of air. This review focuses on the pathogenesis, epidemiology, main features and diagnosis of the disease, and on its main forms of treatment

Overexploitation and water quality in the Crevillente aquifer (Alicante, SE Spain)

The Crevillente aquifer is a karstic aquifer, situated in Alicante province in the SE of Spain. The aquifer basically comprises a series of Jurassic limestones and dolomites, belonging to the Betic Cordillera. Intense exploitation of the aquifer started in the early 1960s. Exploitation was initially concentrated in two sectors of the Sierra de Crevillente and, years later, extended to a third sector. As a consequence of abstractions that were much greater than recharge into the system, a continual drop in the water level persisted for several decades. These abstractions have occasionally caused local dewatering over depths of more than 300 m. From a hydrogeological point of view, the aquifer dewatering in one of the sectors was accompanied by increased mineralization and a fall in quality of the groundwater, and several boreholes had to be abandoned. In recent years, the degree to which the aquifer is overexploited has fallen considerably, and it appears to have entered a new hydrodynamic stage. New hydrogeochemical characterisations have been carried out, which indicate that the aquifer water is relatively strongly mineralised due, fundamentally, to the dissolution of evaporite rocks. On the other hand, deterioration in water quality as a consequence of the degree of overabstraction can also be confirmedDepto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEGeneralitat ValencianaUNESCOpu

Lower incisor position in different malocclusions and facial patter

Introduction: The position of lower incisor has been of considerable concern when planning an orthodontic treatment, having been recognized as one of diagnostic keys, Very important in the development of malocclusion and facial pattern. Objectives: In this study we claim to determine the importance of the position and inclination of lower incisor in the different malocclusions and facial patterns, and to base which of the cephalometric measurement parameters are the mostreliable. Material and Methods: Ninety lateral radiographies were taken, and they were classified by skeletal malocclusion and facial pattern.These teleradiographies have been performed cephalometric analysis, which includelower incisor position belong the following analysis: Ricketts, Riolo, Tweed, McHorris, Jarabak-MSE and Holdaway. Study Design: Cross-sectional study where we perform statistical analysis Anova test, Pearson correlations and Bonferroni analysis. Results: The analyzed measurements present a statistically significant differentiation in lower incisor inclination respect to the anterior cranial base, McHorris angle, angulation of lower incisor respect to occlusal plane and mandibular plane. Conclusions: There are statistically significant differentiation in lower incisor position and inclination respect the malocclusion and individual facial pattern

Re-use of construction and demolition residues and industrial wastes for the elaboration or recycled eco-efficient concretes

[EN] Production of residues from industries and construction and demolition sectors has increased during last years. The total amount of debris produced according to different estimations reaches values close to 42 million tonnes yr –1 . Much of this waste has been thrown to landfill, without considering its potential for reuse, recycling or valuation. The aim of this research is to describe some of the physical and mechanical properties of different laboratory-mixed concretes, using various proportions of additional materials recovered from industrial waste and demolition rubble. The added materials are included either as admixtures (forestry residues, cork dust, steel fibre) or in partial substitution of natural aggregates (wire from electrical residues, tyre rubber, white ceramic, sanitary porcelain or shale). The laboratory tests have followed the standard EN protocols. Assay results were variable according to the nature of the material added to the mix: organic materials and shale, despite the steel fibre reinforcement, reduce the compression strength, but are suitable for the manufacture of lightweight concrete for agricultural pavements, with certain flexion resistance and a relatively good behaviour to impact. The substitution of natural aggregates with ceramic and porcelain wastes produces a significant increase in compression resistance, making them suitable for the manufacture of concrete with characteristic resistances above 40 MPa, which can be used both for structures or other agricultural elements: separators, feeders, slat floors. As a conclusion can be stated the possibility of reuse these wastes for the production of structural or non-structural concrete, with different applications in agricultural engineerin

Wide band-gap tuning Cu2ZnSn1-xGexS4 single crystals: Optical and vibrational properties

The linear optical properties of Cu2ZnSn1-xGe x S4 high quality single crystals with a wide range of Ge contents (x=0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1) have been investigated in the ultraviolet and near infrared range using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. From the analysis of the complex dielectric function spectra it has been found that the bandgap E 0 increases continuously from 1.49eV to 2.25eV with the Ge content. Furthermore, the evolution of the interband transitions E 1A and E 1B has been also determined. Raman scattering using three different excitation wavelengths and its analysis have been performed to confirm the absence of secondary phases in the samples, and to distinguish between stannite, wurtzite, wurzstannite and kesterite structures. Additionally, the analysis of the high resolution Raman spectra obtained in samples with different [Ge]/([Ge]+[Sn]) ratios allows describing a bimodal behavior of the dominant A modes. The understanding of the incorporation of Ge into the Cu2ZnSnS4 lattice is fundamental in order to develop efficient bandgap engineering of these compounds towards the fabrication of kesterite based solar cells with enhanced performanceThis work was supported by the Marie Curie-ITN project (KESTCELL, GA: 316488), Marie Curie-IRSES project (PVICOKEST, GA: 269167), AMALIE (TEC2012-38901-C02-01) and SUNBEAM (ENE2013-49136-C4-3-R) project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. RC acknowledges financial support from Spanish MINECO within the Ramón y Cajal program (RYC-2011-08521

Distribution of brown adipose tissue radiodensity in young adults: implications for cold [F-18]FDG-PET/CT analyses

Purpose Nowadays, 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose ([F-18]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) is considered the best available technique to in vivo determination of human BAT volume. The most used Hounsfield unit (HU) threshold for BAT quantification is from - 250 to - 50 HU. Therefore, the main objective of the present study is (i) to examine the influence of SUV and HU thresholds on BAT quantification by [F-18]FDG-PET/CT scan, (ii) to identify the proportion of BAT which is not detected by [F-18]FDG-PET/CT scan when limiting the range between - 10 and - 50 HU, and (iii) to describe the distribution of BAT radiodensity by weight status and sex in young healthy individuals. Procedures We measured 125 individuals after a personalized cooling protocol with a static [F-18]FDG-PET/CT scan. We quantified BAT using different combination of threshold in every single HU for all participants. Results We observed that the SUV threshold influences BAT quantification by [F-18]FDG-PET/CT scans more than the HU range. We found that the range from - 50 to - 10 HU had the highest proportion of total BAT volume (43.2 %), which represents 41.4 % of the total BAT metabolic activity in our cohort. We also observed that BAT volume was not different between categories of body mass index, as well as BAT activity (SUVmean). In addition, BAT was less dense in women than in men, although the BAT activity (SUVmean) was higher in all ranges of HU. We also observed that the radiodensity of BAT located in the cervical area was mainly in the range from - 50 to - 10 HU. Conclusion Therefore, all future human studies using static [F-18]FDG-PET/CT scans should include BAT in the radiodensity range from - 50 to - 10 HU.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Diurnal variations of cold-induced thermogenesis in young, healthy adults: a randomized crossover trial

Background: Harnessing cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity has been proposed as a means of counteracting a positive energy balance, and thus of combating obesity and its related comorbidities. However, it has remained unclear whether CIT and BAT activity show diurnal variation in humans -knowledge that might allow treatments based on these factors to be time-optimized.Methods: A randomized crossover experiment was designed to examine whether CIT shows morning/evening variation in young, healthy adults (n = 14, 5 women). On the first experimental day, subjects' shivering thresholds were determined following a cooling protocol. After z96 h had elapsed, the sub-jects then returned on two further days (approx. 48 h apart) at 08:00 h or 18:00 in random order. On both the latter days, the resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured before the subjects underwent personalized cold exposure (i.e., according to their shivering threshold). CIT was then assessed for 60 min by indirect calorimetry. In an independent cross-sectional study (n = 133, 88 women), subjects came to the laboratory between 8:00 and 18:00 h and their BAT F-18-fluordeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) uptake was assessed after personalized cold stimulation.Results: Both the REE and CIT were similar in the morning and evening (all P > 0.05). Indeed, 60 min of personalized-mild cold exposure in the morning or evening elicited a similar change in energy expen-diture (16.8 +/- 12.8 vs. 15.7 +/- 15.1% increase above REE, P = 0.72). BAT F-18-FDG uptake was also similar in the morning, evening and afternoon (all P > 0.05).Conclusion: CIT does not appear to show morning/evening variation in young healthy adults, with the current study design and methodology. BAT F-18-FDG uptake appears not to change across the day either, although experiments with a within-subject study design are needed to confirm these findings. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Effect of a 24-week concurrent exercise intervention on neck adiposity and its distribution in young adults: the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial

Neck adipose tissue (NAT) accumulation and neck circumference are independent predictors of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) and low-grade chronic inflammation in young adults. The present study examines whether a 24-week concurrent exercise intervention can reduce NAT volume and neck circumference in young adults, and whether any changes in these variables are related to changes in body composition, CMR, and the inflammatory profile. Seventy-four participants (51 women, age 22 & PLUSMN; 2 years) were included in the main analyses, after being randomly assigned to either a (a) control (n = 34), (b) moderate-intensity exercise (n = 19), or (c) vigorous-intensity exercise (n = 21) group. Participants in the exercise groups trained 3-4 days/ week (endurance + resistance exercise training). NAT volume and NAT distribution across different depots were estimated using computed tomography before and after the intervention. Anthropometric variables, body composition (determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and CMR/inflammatory markers were also recorded. The exercise intervention did not reduce the total NAT volume, nor was NAT distribution affected (p > .05). However, it did reduce neck circumference in the vigorous-intensity exercise group compared with the moderate-intensity exercise and control groups (by 0.8 and 1 cm, respectively, p <_ .05). Changes in total NAT and neck circumference were positively, albeit weakly, related (adj. R2: .05-.21, all p <_ .05) to changes in body weight and adiposity, leptin (only total NAT), and CMR (only neck circumference). Altogether 24 weeks of concurrent exercise does not appear to reduce NAT accumulation in young adults, but may slightly reduce neck circumference in those who in exercise.Metabolic health: pathophysiological trajectories and therap

Towards the growth of Cu2ZnSn1-xGexS4 thin films by a single-stage process : effect of substrate temperatura and composition

Cu2ZnSn1-xGexS4 (CZTGS) thin films prepared by flash evaporation of a Zn-rich Cu2ZnSn0.5Ge0.5S4 bulk compound in powder form, and a subsequent thermal annealing in S containing Ar atmosphere are studied. The effect of the substrate temperature during evaporation and the initial composition of the precursor powder on the growth mechanism and properties of the final CZTGS thin film are investigated. The microstructure of the films and elemental depth profiles depend strongly on the growth conditions used. Incorporation of Ge into the Cu2ZnSnS4 lattice is demonstrated by the shift of the relevant X-ray diffraction peaks and Raman vibrational modes towards higher diffraction angles and frequencies respectively. A Raman mode at around 348-351 cm-1 is identified as characteristic of CZTGS alloys for x = [Ge]/([Sn]+[Ge]) = 0.14-0.30. The supply of Ge enables the reduction of the Sn loss via a saccrifical Ge loss. This fact allows increasing the substrate temperature up to 350º C during the evaporation, forming a high quality kesterite material and therefore, reducing the deposition process to one single stag