Influence of dielectric thickness and electrode structure on the ion wind generation by micro fabricated plasma actuators

Surface dielectric barrier discharges are investigated in order to explore the combined effects of barrier thickness and microstructure of the exposed electrode on the ion wind generation. Actuators with straight and structured high voltage electrodes with characteristic sizes of 200 and 250 µm and dielectric thicknesses of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm are compared. It is observed that: i) actuator efficiency of ion wind generation strongly depends on the applied voltage amplitude; ii) operation voltage depends on the dielectric thickness logarithmically; iii) electrode microstructure slightly increases the dynamic pressure (few percent in maximum), however the effect decreases with thicker dielectrics and smaller electrode structures; iv) the pattern of the most intensive discharge parts as well as the dielectric erosion repeats the regular structure of the electrodes down to 200 µm. Several identical samples are tested during different days to estimate the impact of the air humidity and the degradation of the dielectric. The microscale precision of the sample manufacture was accomplished by a commercial facility for printed circuit boards. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd

Вплив природних та штучних радіонуклідів на стан здоров'я людини (огляд)

Здійснено огляд основних етапів досліджень з впливу природних та штучних радіонуклідів на стан здоров'я людини. Розглянуто методи профілактики захворювань спровокованих радіоактивним випромінюванням. На основі узагальнення наукової літератури про вплив радіонуклідів на людину запропоновано можливі шляхи розширення лікувальних процедур з використанням водних розчинів, які містять іони калію і мають радіоактивність в діапазоні 20-400 Бк/л, що спричинено радіонуклідом 40К і залежить від концентрації іонів калію

Mental health mobile app use: Considerations for serving underserved patients in integrated primary care settings

Depression, the most commonly experienced mental illness, affects more than 264 million people and is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide [1]. Depression, or major depressive disorder, is characterized by depressed mood and often accompanies other symptoms such as lack of interest, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, impaired thinking, psychomotor agitation or slowing, thoughts of being better off dead and/or of suicide [2]. According to the 2018 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 17.7 million or 7.7% of U.S. adults met the criteria for having a major depressive episode in the past year [3]. The prevalence of depression is closely related to socioeconomic factors and prevalence increases as family income level decreases. For example, 19.8% of women aged 20 years and older living below the federal poverty level (FPL) experience depression compared to only 4.8% of those living at or above 400% of the FPL [4]. Despite the availability of safe and effective treatments, many adults diagnosed with depressive disorders do not receive treatment [5]. Of the 17.7 million adults (≥ 18 years) meeting criteria for a major depressive disorder in the past year, only 64.8% reported having received treatment for depression [3]. There are disparities in receipt of treatment for mental health care, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups. Only about 30% of African American and Hispanic adults (≤18 years) with any mental illness receive treatment, compared to 43.3% of the overall U.S. population [3]. Further, for those with lower education, the odds of receiving treatment declined (women) or remained stable (men) between 2005 and 2014 [6]

A qualitative exploration of the feasibility of incorporating depression apps into integrated primary care clinics

Background: The use of mobile applications or “apps” is beginning to be identified as a potential cost-effective tool for treating depression. While the use of mobile apps for health management appears promising, little is known on how to incorporate these tools into integrated primary care settings – especially from the viewpoints of patients and the clinic personnel. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore patient- and clinic-level perceptions of the use of depression self-management apps within an integrated primary care setting. Methods: Patients (n=17), healthcare providers, and staff (n=15) completed focus groups or semi-structured interviews in-person or via Zoom between January and July 2020. Participants were asked about barriers and facilitators to app use, how to best integrate it into care, and reviewed pre-selected mental health apps. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Results: From a patient perspective, features within the app such as notifications, the provision of information, easy navigation, and a chat/support function as well as an ability to share data with their doctor were desirable. Providers and staff identified integration of app data into electronic health records to be able to share data with patients and the healthcare team as well as clear evidence of effectiveness as factors that could facilitate implementation. All participants who reviewed apps identified at least one of them they would be interested in continuing to use. Conclusions: Overall, patients, healthcare providers, and staff believed depression apps could be beneficial for both patients and the clinic

4D Biofabrication of fibrous artificial nerve graft for neuron regeneration

In this paper, we describe the application of the 4D biofabrication approach for the fabrication of artificial nerve graft. Bilayer scaffolds consisting of uniaxially aligned polycaprolactone-poly(glycerol sebacate) (PCL-PGS) and randomly aligned methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA-MA) fibers were fabricated using electrospinning and further used for the culture of PC-12 neuron cells. Tubular structures form instantly after immersion of fibrous bilayer in an aqueous buffer and the diameter of obtained tubes can be controlled by changing bilayer parameters such as the thickness of each layer, overall bilayer thickness, and medium counterion concentration. Designed scaffolds showed a self-folded scroll-like structure with high stability after four weeks of real-time degradation. The significance of this research is in the fabrication of tuneable tubular nerve guide conduits that can simplify the current existing clinical treatment of neural injuries. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd

Feasibility of time-lapse seismic methodology for monitoring the injection of small quantities of CO2 into a saline formation, CO2CRC Otway Project

A key objective of Stage 2 of the CO2CRC Otway Project is to explore the ability of geophysical methods to detect and monitor injection of greenhouse gas into a saline formation. For this purpose, injection of some 10,000 30,000 tonnes of CO2-rich mixture into the Paaratte formation, a saline aquifer located at a depth of about 1,400 m, is planned. Before such an injection experiment is undertaken, we assess the feasibility of geophysical monitoring using computer modelling. To examine the detectability of the plume we need to estimate the time-lapse signal and time- lapse noise. The time lapse signal is modelled using flow simulations, fluid substitution and seismic forward modelling. In order to assess the applicability of time-lapse seismic to monitor the injection, the predicted signal is compared to the time-lapse noise level from the recent 4D seismic survey acquired at the Otway site in 2009-2010. The methodology is applied to two alternative reservoir intervals located at a depth of 1392-1399 m and 1445-1465 m below the sea level, respectively. These intervals are considered to be the two possible options for the injection. The results show that injection into the lower interval will produce a plume of a larger thickness and smaller lateral extent, and a seismic response that is more likely to be detectable. The developed feasibility assessment workflow, and the results of its application to the Otway site, can be used to assess the ability of seismic methods to detect and monitor greenhouse gas leakage in other CCS projects

Influence of dielectric thickness and electrode structure on the ion wind generation by micro fabricated plasma actuators

Abstract Surface dielectric barrier discharges are investigated in order to explore the combined effects of barrier thickness and microstructure of the exposed electrode on the ion wind generation. Actuators with straight and structured high voltage electrodes with characteristic sizes of 200 and 250 µm and dielectric thicknesses of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm are compared. It is observed that: i) actuator efficiency of ion wind generation strongly depends on the applied voltage amplitude; ii) operation voltage depends on the dielectric thickness logarithmically; iii) electrode microstructure slightly increases the dynamic pressure (few percent in maximum), however the effect decreases with thicker dielectrics and smaller electrode structures; iv) the pattern of the most intensive discharge parts as well as the dielectric erosion repeats the regular structure of the electrodes down to 200 µm. Several identical samples are tested during different days to estimate the impact of the air humidity and the degradation of the dielectric. The microscale precision of the sample manufacture was accomplished by a commercial facility for printed circuit boards

Structured and unstructured continuous models for Wolbachia infections

We introduce and investigate a series of models for an infection of a diplodiploid host species by the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. The continuous models are characterized by partial vertical transmission, cytoplasmic incompatibility and fitness costs associated with the infection. A particular aspect of interest is competitions between mutually incompatible strains. We further introduce an age-structured model that takes into account different fertility and mortality rates at different stages of the life cycle of the individuals. With only a few parameters, the ordinary differential equation models exhibit already interesting dynamics and can be used to predict criteria under which a strain of bacteria is able to invade a population. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the age-structured model shows significant differences concerning the existence and stability of equilibrium solutions compared to the unstructured model