The properties of sputtered copper oxide thin film for sensing application

Gas sensor is an important functional device that will guarantee the safety of human from being exposed to hazardous gases. The important features of a gas sensor are the ability to response towards the gas at the shortest time, the sensitivity towards the specific gas and the portability of gas sensor device. In this thesis, the optimum parameters required to deposit CuO thin film for gas sensing application using RF magnetron sputtering was investigated by correlating the copper oxide plasma and thin film. The optimum oxygen flow rate for the deposition of CuO thin film was observed to be 8sccm base on the ratio of copper and oxygen emission obtained from the OES analysis. Moreover, through the XRD analysis it was confirmed that pure CuO compound was formed at above 8sccm oxygen flow rate. As for the substrate bias voltage, the ideal value was -40V base on the ion flux value obtained through Langmuir probe analysis. In addition, comparison on the topography, morphology, roughness and sheet resistance at various substrate bias voltages through FE-SEM, AFM and two-point-probe analysis help confirmed the structure that were suitable for gas sensing application. Besides, the sheet resistance of the CuO thin film that were deposited at -40V substrate bias voltage and 8sccm oxygen flow rate was near to 106Ω which is close to fully oxidized copper oxide thin film. Lastly, a simple experimental setup was constructed to test the functionality of the CuO thin film as a gas sensor

Effect of bleaching using sodium hydroxide on pulp derived from Sesbania grandiflora

World demand for paper is increasing. Short rotation pulpwood is needed. Sesbania grandiflora also known as Turi, is a fast growing and straight log species. The scholarly information of Turi as pulpwood are still limited. This paper aims to provide information of sodium hydroxide effect on the paper made from pulp derived from Turi. Sodium hydroxide is a common chemical using as part of full stage chemical bleaching in pulp industrial. Kraft pulp that produced using Turi, was bleached with sodium hydroxide at 3%, 6% and 9% based on pulp weight, respectively. Unbleached pulp was served as blank test. The optical and mechanical properties of handsheet paper made from bleached kraft pulp were evaluated according to TAPPI standard. The brightness and opacity of handsheet made from bleached pulp were improved with increasing the concentration of sodium hydroxide. The mechanical properties of handsheet were improved with using 3% sodium hydroxide and gradually decreased after 3% sodium hydroxide. In conclusion, sodium hydroxide is potential to improve optical properties of Turi pulp and improve the mechanical properties of paper made from Turi pulp at certain level. Excessive usage of sodium hydroxide brings adverse effect to mechanical properties of paper made from Turi pulp

Predicting response in mobile advertising with Hierarchical Importance-Aware Factorization Machine

Mobile advertising has recently seen dramatic growth, fu-eled by the global proliferation of mobile phones and devices. The task of predicting ad response is thus crucial for maxi-mizing business revenue. However, ad response data change dynamically over time, and are subject to cold-start situ-ations in which limited history hinders reliable prediction

Investment Case for a Comprehensive Package of Interventions Against Hepatitis B in China: Applied Modeling to Help National Strategy Planning.

BACKGROUND content: In 2016, the first global viral hepatitis elimination targets were endorsed. An estimated one-third of the world's population of individuals with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection live in China and liver cancer is the sixth leading cause of mortality, but coverage of first-line antiviral treatment was low. In 2015, China was one of the first countries to initiate a consultative process for a renewed approach to viral hepatitis. We present the investment case for the scale-up of a comprehensive package of HBV interventions. METHODS content: A dynamic simulation model of HBV was developed and used to simulate the Chinese HBV epidemic. We evaluated the impact, costs, and return on investment of a comprehensive package of prevention and treatment interventions from a societal perspective, incorporating costs of management of end-stage liver disease and lost productivity costs. RESULTS content: Despite the successes of historical vaccination scale-up since 1992, there will be a projected 60 million people still living with HBV in 2030 and 10 million HBV-related deaths, including 5.7 million HBV-related cancer deaths between 2015 and 2030. This could be reduced by 2.1 million by highly active case-finding and optimal antiviral treatment regimens. The package of interventions is likely to have a positive return on investment to society of US$1.57 per US dollar invested. CONCLUSIONS content: Increases in HBV-related deaths for the next few decades pose a major public health threat in China. Active case-finding and access to optimal antiviral treatment are required to mitigate this risk. This investment case approach provides a real-world example of how applied modeling can support national dialog and inform policy planning

The littlest Higgs model with T-parity and single top production at epep collision

Based on calculating the contributions of the littlest Higgs model with T-parity (called $LHT$ model) to the anomalous top coupling $tq\gamma$ ($q=u$ or $c$), we consider single top production via the t-channel partonic process $eq\to et$ at $ep$ collision. Our numerical results show that the production cross section in the $LHT$ model can be significantly enhanced relative to that in the standard model.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Immunological corollary of the pulmonary mycobiome in bronchiectasis:The Cameb study

Understanding the composition and clinical importance of the fungal mycobiome was recently identified as a key topic in a “research priorities” consensus statement for bronchiectasis. Patients were recruited as part of the CAMEB study: an international multicentre cross-sectional Cohort of Asian and Matched European Bronchiectasis patients. The mycobiome was determined in 238 patients by targeted amplicon shotgun sequencing of the 18S–28S rRNA internally transcribed spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2. Specific quantitative PCR for detection of and conidial quantification for a range of airway Aspergillus species was performed. Sputum galactomannan, Aspergillus specific IgE, IgG and TARC (thymus and activation regulated chemokine) levels were measured systemically and associated to clinical outcomes. The bronchiectasis mycobiome is distinct and characterised by specific fungal genera, including Aspergillus, Cryptococcus and Clavispora. Aspergillus fumigatus (in Singapore/Kuala Lumpur) and Aspergillus terreus (in Dundee) dominated profiles, the latter associating with exacerbations. High frequencies of Aspergillus-associated disease including sensitisation and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were detected. Each revealed distinct mycobiome profiles, and associated with more severe disease, poorer pulmonary function and increased exacerbations. The pulmonary mycobiome is of clinical relevance in bronchiectasis. Screening for Aspergillus-associated disease should be considered even in apparently stable patients.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)NMRC (Natl Medical Research Council, S’pore)Published versio

Explicit hypoxia targeting with tumor suppression by creating an “obligate” anaerobic Salmonella Typhimurium strain

Using bacteria as therapeutic agents against solid tumors is emerging as an area of great potential in the treatment of cancer. Obligate and facultative anaerobic bacteria have been shown to infiltrate the hypoxic regions of solid tumors, thereby reducing their growth rate or causing regression. However, a major challenge for bacterial therapy of cancer with facultative anaerobes is avoiding damage to normal tissues. Consequently the virulence of bacteria must be adequately attenuated for therapeutic use. By placing an essential gene under a hypoxia conditioned promoter, Salmonella Typhimurium strain SL7207 was engineered to survive only in anaerobic conditions (strain YB1) without otherwise affecting its functions. In breast tumor bearing nude mice, YB1 grew within the tumor, retarding its growth, while being rapidly eliminated from normal tissues. YB1 provides a safe bacterial vector for anti-tumor therapies without compromising the other functions or tumor fitness of the bacterium as attenuation methods normally do

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London