3,245 research outputs found
On the formation of blisters in annealed hydrogenated a-Si layers
Differently hydrogenated radio frequency-sputtered a-Si layers have been studied by infrared (IR) spectroscopy as a
function of the annealing time at 350 Celsius with the aim to get a deeper understanding of the origin of blisters previously
observed by us in a-Si/a-Ge multilayers prepared under the same conditions as the ones applied to the present a-Si
layers. The H content varied between 10.8 and 17.6 at.% as measured by elastic recoil detection analysis. IR
spectroscopy showed that the concentration of the clustered (Si-H)n groups and of the (Si-H2)n (n ≥ 1) polymers
increased at the expense of the Si-H mono-hydrides with increasing annealing time, suggesting that there is a
corresponding increase of the volume of micro-voids whose walls are assumed from literature to be decorated by the
clustered mono-hydride groups and polymers. At the same time, an increase in the size of surface blisters was
observed. Also, with increasing annealing time, the total concentration of bonded H of any type decreases, indicating
that H is partially released from its bonds to Si. It is argued that the H released from the (Si-H)n complexes and
polymers at the microvoid surfaces form molecular H2 inside the voids, whose size increases upon annealing because
of the thermal expansion of the H2 gas, eventually producing plastic surface deformation in the shape of blisters
Common zeros of irreducible characters
We study the zero-sharing behavior among irreducible characters of a finite
group. For symmetric groups , it is proved that, with one exception, any
two irreducible characters have at least one common zero. To further explore
this phenomenon, we introduce the common-zero graph of a finite group , with
non-linear irreducible characters of as vertices, and edges connecting
characters that vanish on some common group element. We show that for solvable
and simple groups, the number of connected components of this graph is bounded
above by 3. Lastly, the result for is applied to prove the
non-equivalence of the metrics on permutations induced from faithful
irreducible characters of the group
Wind-induced shear and torsion in low-rise and medium-rise buildings: Provisions of National Building Code of Canada 2015
This paper discusses the shear and torsion induced in low-rise and medium-rise buildings, according to wind load specifications provided in NBCC 2015. Results from experimental studies, carried out in wind tunnels were compared with corresponding NBCC 2015 provisions under different upstream roughness conditions. These comparisons demonstrated notable discrepancies for the case of torsion in low-rise buildings. Further, comparisons between the wind load specifications given in NBCC 2015 and ASCE/SEI 7-10 standard were carried out. Following both sets of provisions, wind-induced shear and torsion were computed and compared for five low-rise and medium-rise buildings with the same horizontal dimensions but different heights. Emphasis was directed towards the cases that create maximum shear forces and (or) maximum torsions to reflect critical design conditions. For low-rise buildings, the ASCE/SEI-7-10 and NBCC-2015 yield similar shear coefficients but quite different torsional coefficients; while for medium-rise buildings, clear agreement was found, for both shear and torsion. The diversity of the results is discussed and some suggestions for improvement of code provisions are made. A definition for medium-rise buildings was provided
Systems biology integration of proteomic data in rodent models of depression reveals involvement of the immune response and glutamatergic signalling
Purpose
The pathophysiological basis of major depression is incompletely understood. Recently, numerous proteomic studies have been performed in rodent models of depression to investigate the molecular underpinnings of depressive-like behaviours with an unbiased approach. The objective of the study was to integrate the results of these proteomic studies in depression models to shed light on the most relevant molecular pathways involved in the disease.
Experimental design
Network analysis was performed integrating pre-existing proteomic data from rodent models of depression. The IntAct mouse and the HRPD were used as reference protein-protein interaction databases. The functionality analyses of the networks were then performed by testing over-represented GO biological process terms and pathways.
Results
Functional enrichment analyses of the networks revealed an association with molecular processes related to depression in humans, such as those involved in the immune response. Pathways impacted by clinically effective antidepressants were modulated, including glutamatergic signalling and neurotrophic responses. Moreover, dysregulations of proteins regulating energy metabolism and circadian rhythms were implicated. The comparison with protein pathways modulated in depressive patients revealed significant overlapping.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
This systems biology study supports the notion that animal models could contribute to the research into the biology and therapeutics of depression
51 Paediatric emergency clinicians are rarely exposed to non-airway critical procedures: a predict/PERN study
© 2017, Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions. BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that approximately one per thousand paediatric ED attendances may require some sort of critical procedure, with intubation being by far the most common. It is unknown how often critical non-airway procedures such as chest decompression, CPR, ED thoracotomy, defibrillation, pacing, and advanced vascular access techniques are performed by paediatric emergency clinicians.OBJECTIVE: To determine the recent performance or supervision, and confidence for various paediatric critical non-airway procedures by senior paediatric emergency clinicians.DESIGN/METHODS: Web based survey of senior paediatric emergency clinicians regarding performance, supervision, and confidence relating to critical non-airway procedures in children aged 0-18 years. The survey was distributed through Paediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN) in the UK and Ireland, USA, Canada, Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand.RESULTS: 1602 clinicians responded to the survey, with an overall response rate of 65%. 1508 (94%) respondents reported their most recent non-airway procedural experience. In the last 12 months, 979 (64%) had personally inserted an intraosseous line, 283 (19%) a central venous line, and 265 (18%) an arterial line. In the same time period, 962 (64%) had performed CPR, 190 (13%) had performed needle thoracostomy, 245 (16%) had performed tube thoracostomy, 380 (25%) had performed DC cardioversion or defibrillation, and 57 (4%) had performed transcutaneous pacing. 18 (1%) had performed pericardiocentesis, 19 (1%) a venous cutdown, and 21 (1%) ED thoracotomy. More than 70% of respondents had never supervised or performed pacing, pericardiocentesis, venous cutdown or ED thoracotomy. 332 (22%) and 348 (23%) had never performed or supervised insertion of a central venous line or arterial line respectively.Procedural confidence for intraosseous lines and CPR was high, while confidence increased with increasing patient age for central venous access and arterial lines. ED thoracotomy, pericardiocentesis and venous cutdown had the lowest frequency of respondents reporting confidence in performing the procedure.CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the paediatric emergency clinicians surveyed had performed CPR and inserted an intraosseous needle within the last 12 months. Performance of other non-airway critical procedures was less common, and associated with less procedural confidence
Mandibular and glenoid fossa changes after bone-anchored maxillary protraction therapy in patients with UCLP: A 3-D preliminary assessment
To assess mandibular and glenoid fossa (GF) changes after bone-anchored maxillary protraction (BAMP) therapy in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP)
Relationship between structural changes, hydrogen content and annealing in stacks of ultrathin Si/Ge amorphous layers
Hydrogenated multilayers (MLs) of a-Si/a-Ge have been analysed to establish the reasons of H release during annealing that has been seen to bring about structural modifications even up to well-detectable surface degradation. Analyses carried out on single layers of a-Si and a-Ge show that H is released from its bond to the host lattice atom and that it escapes from the layer much more efficiently in a-Ge than in a-Si because of the smaller binding energy of the H-Ge bond and probably of a greater weakness of the Ge lattice. This should support the previous hypothesis that the structural degradation of a-Si/a-Ge MLs primary starts with the formation of H bubbles in the Ge layers
A Recommendation and Risk Classification System for Connecting Rough Sleepers to Essential Outreach Services
Rough sleeping is a chronic problem faced by some of the most disadvantaged
people in modern society. This paper describes work carried out in partnership
with Homeless Link, a UK-based charity, in developing a data-driven approach to
assess the quality of incoming alerts from members of the public aimed at
connecting people sleeping rough on the streets with outreach service
providers. Alerts are prioritised based on the predicted likelihood of
successfully connecting with the rough sleeper, helping to address capacity
limitations and to quickly, effectively, and equitably process all of the
alerts that they receive. Initial evaluation concludes that our approach
increases the rate at which rough sleepers are found following a referral by at
least 15\% based on labelled data, implying a greater overall increase when the
alerts with unknown outcomes are considered, and suggesting the benefit in a
trial taking place over a longer period to assess the models in practice. The
discussion and modelling process is done with careful considerations of ethics,
transparency and explainability due to the sensitive nature of the data in this
context and the vulnerability of the people that are affected.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 5 table
Three-dimensional assessment of mandibular and glenoid fossa changes after bone-anchored Class III intermaxillary traction
Conventional treatment for young Class III patients involves extraoral devices designed to either protract the maxilla or restrain mandibular growth. The use of skeletal anchorage offers a promising alternative to obtain orthopedic results with fewer dental compensations. Our aim was to evaluate 3-dimensional changes in the mandibles and the glenoid fossae of Class III patients treated with bone-anchored maxillary protraction
Bone-anchored maxillary protraction therapy in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate: 3-dimensional assessment of maxillary effects
The aim of this study was to 3-dimensionally assess the treatment outcomes of bone-anchored maxillary protraction (BAMP) in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate
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