428 research outputs found
Near-field terahertz imaging using sub-wavelength apertures without cutoff
We demonstrate near-field imaging capabilities of a conical waveguide without cutoff using broadband terahertz (THz) radiation. In contrast to conventional conically tapered waveguides, which are characterized by strong suppression of transmission below the cutoff frequency, the proposed structure consists of two pieces, such that there is an adjustable gap along the length of the waveguide. We also ensure that the sidewalls are thin in the vicinity of the gap. The combination of these geometrical features allow for significantly enhanced transmission at frequencies below the cutoff frequency, without compromising the mode confinement and, consequently, the spatial resolution when used for imaging applications. We demonstrate near-field imaging with this probe simultaneously at several frequencies, corresponding to three regimes: above, near and below the cutoff frequency. We observe only mild degradation in the image quality as the frequency is reduced below the cutoff frequency. These results suggest that further refinements in the probe structure will allow for improved imaging capabilities at frequencies well below the cutoff frequency
Distributed Cyber-Attack Detection in the Secondary Control of DC Microgrids
The paper considers the problem of detecting
cyber-attacks occurring in communication networks typically
used in the secondary control layer of DC microgrids. The proposed
distributed methodology allows for scalable monitoring of
a microgrid and is able to detect the presence of data injection
attacks in the communications among Distributed Generation
Units (DGUs) - governed by consensus-based control - and
isolate the communication link over which the attack is injected.
Each local attack detector requires limited knowledge regarding
the dynamics of its neighbors. Detectability properties of the
method are analyzed, as well as a class of undetectable attacks.
Some results from numerical simulation are presented to
demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach
SPREAD 4:Online visualisation of pathogen phylogeographic reconstructions
Phylogeographic analyses aim to extract information about pathogen spread from genomic data, and visualising spatio-temporal reconstructions is a key aspect of this process. Here we present SPREAD 4, a feature-rich web-based application that visualises estimates of pathogen dispersal resulting from Bayesian phylogeographic inference using BEAST on a geographic map, offering zoom-and-filter functionality and smooth animation over time. SPREAD 4 takes as input phylogenies with both discrete and continuous location annotation and offers customised visualisation as well as generation of publication-ready figures. SPREAD 4 now features account-based storage and easy sharing of visualisations by means of unique web addresses. SPREAD 4 is intuitive to use and is available online at https://spreadviz.org, with an accompanying web page containing answers to frequently asked questions at https://beast.community/spread4
Terahertz imaging and spectroscopy of large-area single-layer graphene
We demonstrate terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy of a 15x15-mm^2
single-layer graphene film on Si using broadband THz pulses. The THz images
clearly map out the THz carrier dynamics of the graphene-on-Si sample, allowing
us to measure sheet conductivity with sub-mm resolution without fabricating
electrodes. The THz carrier dynamics are dominated by intraband transitions and
the THz-induced electron motion is characterized by a flat spectral response. A
theoretical analysis based on the Fresnel coefficients for a metallic thin film
shows that the local sheet conductivity varies across the sample from {\sigma}s
= 1.7x10^-3 to 2.4x10^-3 {\Omega}^-1 (sheet resistance, {\rho}s = 420 - 590
{\Omega}/sq).Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Manipulation of drugs to achieve the required dose is intrinsic to paediatric practice but is not supported by guidelines or evidence
Background: A lack of age-appropriate formulations can make it difficult to administer medicines to children. A manipulation of the dosage form may be required to achieve the required dose. This study aimed to describe medicines that are manipulated to achieve the required dose in paediatric practice.Method: A structured, undisguised observational study and postal survey. The observational study investigated drug manipulations occurring in clinical practice across three sites. The questionnaire, administered to a sample of paediatric nurses throughout the UK, surveyed manipulations conducted and nurses' experiences and views.Results: The observational study identified 310 manipulations, of which 62% involved tablets, 21% were intravenous drugs and 10% were sachets. Of the 54 observed manipulations 40 involved tablets with 65% of the tablets being cut and 30% dispersed to obtain a smaller dose. 188 manipulations were reported by questionnaire respondents, of these 46% involved tablets, 12% were intravenous drugs, and 12% were nebuliser solutions. Manipulations were predominantly, but not exclusively, identified in specialist clinical areas with more highly dependent patients. Questionnaire respondents were concerned about the accuracy of the dose achieved following manipulations and the lack of practice guidance.Conclusion: Manipulations to achieve the required dose occur throughout paediatric in-patient settings. The impact of manipulations on the efficacy of the drugs, the accuracy of the dose and any adverse effects on patients is not known. There is a need to develop evidence-based guidance for manipulations of medicines in children
DC-electric-field-induced and low-frequency electromodulation second-harmonic generation spectroscopy of Si(001)-SiO interfaces
The mechanism of DC-Electric-Field-Induced Second-Harmonic (EFISH) generation
at weakly nonlinear buried Si(001)-SiO interfaces is studied experimentally
in planar Si(001)-SiO-Cr MOS structures by optical second-harmonic
generation (SHG) spectroscopy with a tunable Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser. The
spectral dependence of the EFISH contribution near the direct two-photon
transition of silicon is extracted. A systematic phenomenological model of the
EFISH phenomenon, including a detailed description of the space charge region
(SCR) at the semiconductor-dielectric interface in accumulation, depletion, and
inversion regimes, has been developed. The influence of surface quantization
effects, interface states, charge traps in the oxide layer, doping
concentration and oxide thickness on nonlocal screening of the DC-electric
field and on breaking of inversion symmetry in the SCR is considered. The model
describes EFISH generation in the SCR using a Green function formalism which
takes into account all retardation and absorption effects of the fundamental
and second harmonic (SH) waves, optical interference between field-dependent
and field-independent contributions to the SH field and multiple reflection
interference in the SiO layer. Good agreement between the phenomenological
model and our recent and new EFISH spectroscopic results is demonstrated.
Finally, low-frequency electromodulated EFISH is demonstrated as a useful
differential spectroscopic technique for studies of the Si-SiO interface in
silicon-based MOS structures.Comment: 31 pages, 14 figures, 1 table, figures are also available at
http://kali.ilc.msu.su/articles/50/efish.ht
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Mitigation of Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection in Venture Capital Financing: The Influence of the Country’s Institutional Setting
A venture capitalist (VC) needs to trade off benefits and costs when attempting to mitigate agency problems in their investor-investee relationship. We argue that signals of ventures complement the VC’s capacity to screen and conduct a due diligence during the pre-investment phase, but its attractiveness may diminish in institutional settings supporting greater transparency. Similarly, whereas a VC may opt for contractual covenants to curb potential opportunism by ventures in the post-investment phase, this may only be effective in settings supportive of shareholder rights enforcement. Using an international sample of VC contracts, our study finds broad support for these conjectures. It delineates theoretical and practical implications for how investors can best deploy their capital in different institutional settings whilst nurturing their relationships with entrepreneurs
Analysis of extemporaneous oral liquid from commercially available drugs in hospital
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify drugs that received dose adjustments (DA) and pharmaceutical alternatives (PA) that avoid DA, and calculate the economic percentage of this replacement. A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study was performed in a second level hospital. The pharmacy and nursing services was accompanied to identify the drugs that received DA and the compounding techniques. After identifying all the drugs that received DA, was identified in the Brazilian market the corresponding pharmaceutical alternative, with the Drugs Price List of Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency. For those drugs that was not available any PA, was performed a research of studies that describe compounding techniques in international scientific databases. Was identify 88 drugs that received DA, and these, 50 do not have any PA. Were identified compounding techniques to 40 drugs. Although any drug has your own particularity of compounding, the compounding techniques can be grouped in five categories. The standardization of 29 drugs can reduce in 28% the DA procedure and cost saving of 34,85%/month. We can conclude that every three drugs prescribed, one received DA and every three DA, one can be avoided by the selection of 29 PA, saving cost as well. The use and standardization of five techniques would attend the pharmaceutics recommendations for better dissolution, bioavailability and patient safety
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