Oxygen content variation and cation doping dependence of (La)1.4(Sr1-yCay)1.6Mn2O7 (y = 0, 0.25, 0.5) bilayered manganites properties

The results of the synthesis and characterization of the optimally doped (La)1.4(Sr1-yCay)1.6Mn2O7 solid solution with y=0, 0.25 and 0.5 are reported. By progressively replacing the Sr with the smaller Ca, while keeping fixed the hole-concentration due to the divalent dopant, the 'size effect' of the cation itself on the structural, transport and magnetic properties of the bilayered manganite has been analysed. Two different annealing treatments of the solid solution, in pure oxygen and in pure argon, allowed also to study the effect of the oxygen content variation. Structure and electronic properties of the samples have been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. Magnetoresistivity and static magnetization measurements have been carried out to complete the samples characterization. Oxygen annealing of the solid solution, that showed a limit for about y=0.5, induces an increase of the Mn average valence state and a transition of the crystal structure from tetragonal to orthorhombic while the argon annealing induces an oxygen under-stoichiometry and, in turn, a reduction of the Mn average valence state. Along with the Ca substitution, the Jahn-Teller distortion of the MnO6 octahedra is reduced. This has been directly connected to a general enhancement of the transport properties induced by the Ca-doping. For the same cation composition, oxygen over-stoichiometry leads to higher metal-insulator transition temperatures and lower resistivity values. Curie temperatures (TC) reduce by increasing the Ca-doping. The lower TC for all the annealed samples with respect to the 'as prepared' ones are connected to the strong influence on the magnetic interaction of the point defects due to the oxygen content variation.Comment: 49 pages, 13 figure

[Rezension zu:] Gerd Fritz & Thomas Gloning (Hgg.). Untersuchungen zur semantischen Entwicklungsgeschichte der Modalverben im Deutschen. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag 1997 (Reihe Germanistische Linguistik 187, x + 455 S., DM 178,00, ISBN 3-484-31187-8)

Rezension zu Gerd Fritz & Thomas Glonig (Hgg,), Untersuchungen zur semantischen Entwicklungsgeschichte der Modalverben im Deutschen. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag 1997 (Reihe Germanistische Linguistik 187, x + 455 S., 178,00 DM, ISBN 3-484-31187-8

The current treatment of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is the most frequent sexual dysfunction in elderly men and its prevalence increases with age. Ever since ED was recognized as a real health problem, several treatment options became available and some of them proved to be very efficient. PDE5 inhibitors are the mainstay treatment of ED. However, other treatment options such as intracorporal injections, surgery, vacuum devices and prosthesis are also available for patients who are unresponsive to PDE5 inhibitors. Since none of the treatment options available so far has proven ideal, research in the field of sexual medicine continues. The aim of this paper is to review the most advances in the treatment of ED

Therapeutic challenges in a case of psoriasis with nail onset

Nail psoriasis affects a large number of patients with psoriasis and has a major psychosocial impact. Furthermore, it may be regarded as a predictor of more severe forms of psoriasis and early sign of psoriatic arthritis. The clinical presentations vary depending on the structure affected (nail matrix or nail bed), the nail lesions may range from minor to severe, but they are not specific. Treatment is a challenge, in most cases the lesions being resistant to therapy. We present a rare case of psoriasis with nail onset in a 59-year-old woman. The nail involvement confined to the fingernails was severe, with significant impairment of the patient’s quality of life. Conventional therapies failed to improve the nail lesions, but a marked improvement was achieved under etanercept therapy

Diagnostic challenges and treatment difficulties in a patient with excoriated acne conglobata

Acne conglobata is a rare and severe form of acne vulgaris, characterized by the presence of comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and sometimes hematic or meliceric crusts. Acne excoriée is a form of self-inflicted skin condition in which the patient picks on imaginary or real acne lesions. We report the case of a 16 year old Caucasian female patient from the urban area who addressed our dermatology department for erythematous, edematous plaques covered by pustules and crusts, located on the face. The anamnesis revealed that during the last weeks she had had a depressive mood after ending a relationship with her boyfriend and started scratching and picking on the lesions. The patient\u27s depressive mood prior to the worsening of the disease was probably aggravated by the condition. This might have determined the picking of the skin which could have impeded the response to standard treatment. The self-excoriative behavior could also be regarded as an appeal for help

Adverse reactions of biological therapies in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by well demarcated, erythematous plaques covered by thick, silvery-white scales, most often located on the knees, elbows, sacral area and scalp. It has a significant impact on the patient\u27s quality of life. Biological therapies revolutionized the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris but there has been concern regarding the use of those agents due to severe adverse reactions reported in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors for various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this paper is to review the most important adverse reactions reported in patients receiving biological treatments. The most common and severe side effects associated with biologicals are infections, cardiac adverse reactions, neurologic adverse reactions, lymphomas, non-melanoma skin cancers and hepatobiliary disease

Online Teaching Readiness of the Faculty of Aurora State College of Technology, Baler, Aurora, Philippines

The online teaching readiness of the faculty of Aurora State College of Technology in Baler, Aurora, Philippines was surveyed from April to May 2020. A survey research design using a questionnaire was employed where quantitative data were obtained. The respondents were all ASCOT faculty except those who were on study leave. The sociodemographic profile of the respondents revealed that most of respondents were male (55.1%) from the age range of 20-29 (34.6%).  Mostly from the Department of Arts and Sciences (32.1%) living within Baler, Aurora (53.8%), and had 0-9 years of teaching experience (47.4%). Perceived readiness of faculty in online teaching revealed that faculty are ready but needs improvement for online teaching based on technological readiness (3.871) and cultural readiness (3. 788). Using ANOVA at 5% level of significance and Independent sample t-test, it was found out that faculty readiness in online teaching is significantly different when grouped according to their academic department, age group and sex. On the other hand, the result revealed that there is no significant difference among faculty when grouped according to place of residence and years of teaching. Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test showed that faculty from the Information Technology Department has higher level of readiness for online teaching with a mean score of 4.414 compared to 3.470 and 3.579 scores of Education Department and Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences, respectively

Assistive mobility devices focusing on smart walkers : classification and review

In an aging society it is extremely important to develop devices, which can support and aid the elderly in their daily life. This demands means and tools that extend independent living and promote improved health. Thus, the goal of this article is to review the state of the art in the robotic technology for mobility assistive devices for people with mobility disabilities. The important role that robotics can play in mobility assistive devices is presented, as well as the identification and survey of mobility assistive devices subsystems with a particular focus on the walkers technology. The advances in the walkers’ field have been enormous and have shown a great potential on helping people with mobility disabilities. Thus it is presented a review of the available literature of walkers and are discussed major advances that have been made and limitations to be overcome

Review and classification of human gait training and rehabilitation devices

The number of people with reduced mobility capabilities increases every year. This reduction arises mainly due to spinal cord injuries; strokes which caused hemiparesis; or due to an advanced age. This decrease in mobility is a factor that influences both their quality of life and their dependence of others in daily life. Thus, it becomes necessary to find means and tools to prevent, compensate, improve or help to restore and increase the mobility of the affected people. The main expectation is that such means help to recover or ameliorate their independence in their daily life. Traditional training employs a treadmill with a support-weight system. This training is based on the principle of repetition of all the physical movements of a gait and has shown to produce good results in terms of rehabilitation of patients. However, this therapy requires two or more therapists in assisting patients during walking, to hold and adjust the patient’s lower limbs to correctly produce the desired gait. Thus, it requires a substantial commitment and effort of the therapists [1], and it is very expensive in terms of human resources. This leads to a boost on the population healthcare and assistive services demand and, thus an increase in the need for care givers. Assistive mobility robotic devices for gait training of disabled patients in treadmills and in the ground are one successful alternative. Other alternatives include devices that allow a broader training of patients, in different ground types, and the repetition of gait movements in uphill, downhill and trip. This paper reviews state of the art training gait devices focusing on passive and active devices. Passive devices rely on the principle of Gravity-Balancing in that they try to reduce or eliminate the effects of gravity during walking. Active devices are usually classified according to three different approaches: (i) treadmillexoskeleton based devices, (ii) robotic manipulators generating different types of gait patterns, and (iii) mobilite devices. In this review, several examples of current devices are presented