Functional Metal Oxide Thin Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

The aim of this work is to show that material processing by laser-based technologies can lead to the growth of multifunctional thin films with potential in a large area of applications. The synthesis of Hf, Ta, Si, and Al metal oxides described here relies on the use of pulsed laser deposition (PLD), or radiofrequency (RF) assisted PLD. The morphology and structure of the as-grown thin films are investigated by atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy, whilst the optical properties are determined by spectroellipsometry. The dielectric behaviour of the deposited layers is investigated by electrical measurements

Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation of Organic Thin Films: Applications in Biology and Chemical Sensors

Polymer and biomolecule processing for medical and electronics applications, i.e. the fabrication of sensors and biosensors, microarrays, or lab on chip devices is a cornerstone field which shows great promise. Laser based thin film deposition techniques such as pulsed laser deposition or matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) are competing with conventional methods for integrating new materials with tailored properties for novel technological developments. Successful polymer and protein thin film deposition requires several key elements for depositing viable and functional thin films, i.e. the characteristics of the laser depositing system, the choice of targets and receiver substrates, etc. This chapter reviews the following topics: brief presentation of the MAPLE process including several examples of polymer materials deposited by MAPLE, thus illustrating the potential of the technique as a gentle laser-assisted deposition method. In particular, the “synthesis” of new materials, their analysis and correlation of the bulk and interface properties to its bio-environment shall be discussed as a method to tackle some bioengineering issues. We will also focus on recent breakthroughs of the MAPLE technique for the fabrication of functional devices, i.e. sensor devices based either on chemoresponsive polymers or on proteins

Computer Aided Model for an Off-grid Photovoltaic System Using Batteries Only

This article will present an off-grid photovoltaic energy system based on a photovoltaic element (PV), or a group of PVs, integrated in a solar battery (SB), directly connected to an electrical battery (EB) having no DC-DC adapter (use of adapters is the most common solution existing now on in this domain). This SB must be properly adjusted to the EB, not only as voltage, but it must provide also the same amount of energy as the system when operating at its classically detected maximum power operating point. This proposed technical solution is more economically justified, compared to the classic one: SB+DC-DC+EB, due to the simple fact that the DC-DC converter is no longer required at all. A simple mathematical model for the current-voltage characteristics is also presented, followed by a comparison between the classic DC-DC converter-based solution and the newly proposed one, without DC-DC converter

Computer Aided Model for a Low Voltage Varistor with Increased Thermal Stability

Metal Oxide Varistors are a very common power electronic device, applied for efficient overvoltage protection at any voltage level. This piece of equipment has a high non-linear current response function of the applied voltage, and, it provides a relatively high heat absorption capacity in case of accidental overvoltage pulse (shock)s. The crossing response current is clearly activated by temperature of that device, and, by consequent, overheating could be disastrous. Actual researches must be carried out both for a new more performant material as well as for new technical solutions for the design of all equipment integrating them, by studying heat extraction and heat transfer inside a new complex varistor device. Our article proposes a totally new device, used basically for low voltage applications, having a supplementary metal mass added to the body of that varistor, shaped as small disk. It actions like a heat pump immediately after the voltage pulse (shock) and as additional radiators at the end of the heating process caused by a transitory overvoltage. A CAD solution combined with a finite element model, followed by some experimental results are also presented, for confirming the performance of that newly design. By placing additional metal alloy masses inside a new varistor structure it will have a higher heat pumping and dissipation capability, in order to reduce temperature stress and all aging effects

Evolution of the Complexity of Patient Care Activity in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Background and Aim: The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) is characterized by a high level of complexity of patient care activity, which implies particular responsibilities, skills and demands for professionals in these wards. To face these challenges, effective communication is needed within the multiprofessional medical team. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective study for a period of 8 years (2015-2022), and we evaluated the number of patients cared for, the reason and type of admission, the presence of complex monitoring and life support devices, the activity score for the ICU (OMEGA-RO), and the length of stay in CICU. Results: The evolution of patients from 2015-2019 showed a constant upward trend: patients cared for - from 750 to 960; surgical patients - from 346 to 595; emergencies - from 300 to 508. Also, the number of patients with complex monitoring and assistance increased constantly, from 263 to 485. A constant increase was also observed for OMEGA-RO - from 149 to 170.2 and the average length of stay - from 2.8 to 4.5 days. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in patients' access to medical services, as evidenced by the decrease in the number of patients during 2020-2021. However, the data analyzed for 2022 prove the return to the trend of increasing the number of patients and the complexity of their care. Conclusions: The high complexity of the patient care process in CICU argues for the need to ensure an optimal level of human and material resources to facilitate the provision of safe and quality care. There is also a need for the periodic participation of the staff in training programs and continuous medical education, which ensures the maintenance and development of the specific skills of the professionals in these departments

Nanostructured PbS-doped inorganic film synthesized by sol-gel route

IV-VI semiconductor quantum dots embedded into an inorganic matrix represent nanostructured composite materials with potential application in temperature sensor systems. This study explores the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a novel PbS quantum dots (QDs)- doped inorganic thin film belonging to the Al2O3 -SiO2 -P2O5 system. The film was synthesized by the sol-gel method, spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution deposited on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by drying of each deposited layer. Crystalline PbS QDs embedded in the inorganic vitreous host matrix formed a nanocomposite material. Specific investigations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible (Vis)-near infrared (NIR) domain, NIR luminescence, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy– energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain a comprehensive characterization of the deposited film. The dimensions of the PbS nanocrystallite phase were corroborated by XRD, SEM-EDX, and AFM results. The luminescence band from 1400 nm follows the luminescence peak of the precursor solution and that of the dopant solution. The emission of the PbS-doped film in the NIR domain is a premise for potential application in temperature sensing systems.This study was funded by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CCCDI–UEFISCDI, project ERANET-MANUNET-TEMSENSOPT, MNET20/ NMCS3732, within PNCDI III, contract 213/02.12.2020; Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization (MRID), Core Program, contracts no. 16N/2019, 18N/2019 and 21N/2019; MRID through Program I—Development of the National R & D System, Subprogram 1.2–Institutional Performance– Projects for Excellence Financing in RDI, contracts no. 13PFE/2021, 18PFE/2021 and 35PFE/2021; CCCDI-UEFISCDI project PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-2541. Support from the Public University of Navarre for Research Groups is also acknowledged

Proceedings of the 24th Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part three

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router.Publication status: PublishedHistory: collection 2017-09, epub 2017-09-0

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries