Вивчення процесу синтезу нанокристалічних плівок двооксиду титану в розряді магнетронного типу за його оптичними та плазмодинамічними характеристиками

Наведено результати експериментального дослiдження плазмодинамiчних i оптичних характеристик цилiндричного газового розряду магнетронного типу в умовах безперервного контролю спектра, випромiнюваного плазмою в дiапазонi 350–820 нм. Визначено умови для синтезу бiнарної сполуки TiО₂, якi забезпечуються пiдтримкою величини iнтенсивностi спектральних лiнiй реагуючих компонентiв i плазмоутворюючого газу. Розглянуто можливiсть контролю умов одержання плiвок TiО₂ як по спектральних характеристиках плазми розряду, так i по змiнi розрядної напруги. Елiпсометричнi дослiдження нанокристалiчних плiвок двооксиду титану показали наявнiсть залежностi показника переломлення вiд товщини плiвки.We present the results of experimental researches of plasmodynamic and optical characteristics of a magnetron-type cylindrical gas discharge. The study was carried out provided a permanent monitoring of the spectrum emitted by plasma in the range 350–820 nm. For the synthesis of binary compound TiO₂, we have determined conditions which can be ensured by a support of the intensity of spectral lines emitted by reacting components and plasma-forming gas. A possibility to control the conditions of the fabrication of a TiO₂ film with the use of both the spectral characteristics of a discharge plasma and a variation of the discharge voltage has been analyzed. Ellipsometric and spectral studies of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide films revealed the dependence of the refractive index of a film on the film thickness.Приведены результаты экспериментального исследования плазмодинамических и оптических характеристик цилиндрического газового разряда магнетронного типа в условиях непрерывного контроля спектра, излучаемого плазмой в диапазоне 350–820 нм. Определены условия для синтеза бинарного соединения TiО₂, которые обеспечиваются поддержанием величины интенсивности спектральных линий реагирующих компонент и плазмообразующего газа. Рассмотрена возможность контроля условий получения пленок TiO₂ как по спектральным характеристикам плазмы разряда, так и по изменению разрядного напряжения. Эллипсометрические и спектральные исследования нанокристаллических пленок диоксида титана показали наличие зависимости показателя преломления от толщины пленки

Impact of measured versus estimated glomerular filtration rate-based screening on living kidney donor characteristics:A study of multiple cohorts

Background Most transplant centers in the Netherlands use estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for evaluation of potential living kidney donors. Whereas eGFR often underestimates GFR, especially in healthy donors, measured GFR (mGFR) allows more precise kidney function assessment, and therefore holds potential to increase the living donor pool. We hypothesized that mGFR-based donor screening leads to acceptance of donors with lower predonation eGFR than eGFR-based screening. Methods In this longitudinal cohort study, we compared eGFR (CKD-EPI) before donation in one center using mGFR-based screening (mGFR-cohort, n = 250) with two centers using eGFR-based screening (eGFR-cohort1, n = 466 and eGFR-cohort2, n = 160). We also compared differences in eGFR at five years after donation. Results Donor age was similar among the cohorts (mean±standard deviation (SD) mGFR-cohort 53 ±10 years, eGFR-cohort1 52±13 years, P = 0.16 vs. mGFR-cohort, and eGFR-cohort2 53±9 years, P = 0.61 vs. mGFR-cohort). Estimated GFR underestimated mGFR by 10±12 mL/ min/1.73m2 (mean±SD), with more underestimation in younger donors. In the overall cohorts, mean±SD pre-donation eGFR was lower in the mGFR-cohort (91±13 mL/min/ 1.73m2) than in eGFR-cohort1 (93±15 mL/min/1.73m2, P<0.05) and eGFR-cohort2 (94±12 mL/min/1.73m2, P<0.05). However, these differences disappeared when focusing on more recent years, which can be explained by acceptance of more older donors with lower predonation eGFR over time in both eGFR-cohorts. Five years post-donation, mean±SD eGFR was similar among the centers (mGFR-cohort 62±12 mL/min/1.73m2, eGFR-cohort1 61±14 mL/min/1.73m2, eGFR-cohort2 62±11 mL/min/1.73m2, P = 0.76 and 0.95 vs. mGFR-cohort respectively). In the mGFR-cohort, 38 (22%) donors were excluded from donation due to insufficient mGFR with mean±SD mGFR of 71±9 mL/min/1.73m2. Conclusions Despite the known underestimation of mGFR by eGFR, we did not show that the routine use of mGFR in donor screening leads to inclusion of donors with a lower pre-donation eGFR. Therefore eGFR-based screening will be sufficient for the majority of the donors. Future studies should investigate whether there is a group (e.g. young donors with insufficient eGFR) that might benefit from confirmatory mGFR testing

Ischemic brain lesions after carotid artery stenting increase future cerebrovascular risk

Background Brain lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are frequently found after carotid artery stenting (CAS), but their clinical relevance remains unclear. Objectives This study sought to investigate whether periprocedural ischemic DWI lesions after CAS or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are associated with an increased risk of recurrent cerebrovascular events. Methods In the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) substudy of ICSS (International Carotid Stenting Study), 231 patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis were randomized to undergo CAS (n = 124) or CEA (n = 107). MRIs were performed 1 to 7 days before and 1 to 3 days after treatment. The primary outcome event was stroke or transient ischemic attack in any territory occurring between the post-treatment MRI and the end of follow-up. Time to occurrence of the primary outcome event was compared between patients with (DWI+) and without (DWI-) new DWI lesions on the post-treatment scan in the CAS and CEA groups separately. Results Median time of follow-up was 4.1 years (interquartile range: 3.0 to 5.2). In the CAS group, recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack occurred more often among DWI+ patients (12 of 62) than among DWI- patients (6 of 62), with a cumulative 5-year incidence of 22.8% (standard error [SE]: 7.1%) and 8.8% (SE: 3.8%), respectively (unadjusted hazard ratio: 2.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 7.72; p = 0.04). In DWI+ and DWI- patients, 8 and 2 events, respectively, occurred within 6 months after treatment. In the CEA group, there was no difference in recurrent cerebrovascular events between DWI+ and DWI- patients. Conclusions Ischemic brain lesions discovered on DWI after CAS seem to be a marker of increased risk for recurrent cerebrovascular events. Patients with periprocedural DWI lesions might benefit from more aggressive and prolonged antiplatelet therapy after CAS. (A Randomised Comparison of the Risks, Benefits and Cost Effectiveness of Primary Carotid Stenting With Carotid Endarterectomy: International Carotid Stenting Study; ISRCTN25337470

Roadmap Consensus on Carotid Artery Plaque Imaging and Impact on Therapy Strategies and Guidelines: An International, Multispecialty, Expert Review and Position Statement

Current guidelines for primary and secondary prevention of stroke in patients with carotid atherosclerosis are based on the quantification of the degree of stenosis and symptom status. Recent publications have demonstrated that plaque morphology and composition, independent of the degree of stenosis, are important in the risk stratification of carotid atherosclerotic disease. This finding raises the question as to whether current guidelines are adequate or if they should be updated with new evidence, including imaging for plaque phenotyping, risk stratification, and clinical decision-making in addition to the degree of stenosis. To further this discussion, this roadmap consensus article defines the limits of luminal imaging and highlights the current evidence supporting the role of plaque imaging. Furthermore, we identify gaps in current knowledge and suggest steps to generate high-quality evidence, to add relevant information to guidelines currently based on the quantification of stenosis.</p

Associations of autozygosity with a broad range of human phenotypes

In many species, the offspring of related parents suffer reduced reproductive success, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. In humans, the importance of this effect has remained unclear, partly because reproduction between close relatives is both rare and frequently associated with confounding social factors. Here, using genomic inbreeding coefficients (FROH) for >1.4 million individuals, we show that FROH is significantly associated (p < 0.0005) with apparently deleterious changes in 32 out of 100 traits analysed. These changes are associated with runs of homozygosity (ROH), but not with common variant homozygosity, suggesting that genetic variants associated with inbreeding depression are predominantly rare. The effect on fertility is striking: FROH equivalent to the offspring of first cousins is associated with a 55% decrease [95% CI 44–66%] in the odds of having children. Finally, the effects of FROH are confirmed within full-sibling pairs, where the variation in FROH is independent of all environmental confounding

An Ecological Approach to Pilot Terrain Awareness

Supporting pilot situation awareness is considered essential in safeguarding safety. There is much disagreement, however, regarding a formal definition of situation awareness. On the one hand, the most commonly cited definition, from a cognitive perspective, describes it in terms of human information processing stages involving the three levels of perception, comprehension and projection. On the other hand, an ecological approach exists that focuses on defining the ‘situation’ instead of the ‘awareness’, using Rasmussen’s abstraction hierarchy. This paper investigates the usefulness of the ecological approach in defining pilot terrain awareness. An abstraction hierarchy is defined that captures the characteristics of situations involving terrain awareness. It is used to explore the informational content in existing terrain awareness enhancing avionics. Suggestions will be made on how to enhance them to better support pilot terrain awareness from an ecological perspective

Ecological Synthetic Vision Display to Support Pilot Terrain Awareness

A Synthetic Vision Display is generally believed to support pilot terrain awareness. Many studies have shown, however, that perspective views are biased, which can cause pilots to make judgment errors regarding the relative location, height, and ultimately the avoidance of terrain obstacles. Therefore, this system is usually backed by terrain avoidance systems that provide explicit resolutions to circumvent conflicts. They are, however, far from optimal regarding terrain awareness as they fail to present the rationale of the automation. This paper presents an extension to a Synthetic Vision Display that promotes pilot terrain awareness by means of overlays that reveal the functional meaning of the terrain. It is designed to effectively deal with terrain conflict situations while preserving the freedom of maneuvering as much as possible. An experiment showed that the overlays improved pilot situation awareness and decision-making (in unanticipated events) as compared to a command-based interface counterpart