Thermal rectification and thermal logic gates in graded alloy semiconductors

Classical thermal rectification arises from the contact between two dissimilar bulk materials, each with a thermal conductivity (k) with a different temperature dependence. Here, we study thermal rectification in a SiGe alloy with a spatial dependence on the atomic composition. Rectification factors (R = k/k) of up to 3.41 were found. We also demonstrate the suitability of such an alloy for logic gates using a thermal AND gate as an example by controlling the thermal conductivity profile via the alloy composition. This system is readily extendable to other alloys, since it only depends on the effective thermal conductivity. These thermal devices are inherently advantageous alternatives to their electric counterparts, as they may be able to take advantage of otherwise undesired waste heat in the surroundings. Furthermore, the demonstration of logic operations is a step towards thermal computation

The effect of infrastructures on total factor productivity and its determinants: a study on Mexico

The objective of this research is to identify the effect which infrastructures have on Total Factor Productivity, TFP, and on its components: technical change and efficiency change, of the Mexican states. The methodologies employed are Data Envelopment Analysis to obtain TFP and their components, and panel data econometrics, particularly through the estimation of a model of fixed effects, to determine the effect of the infrastructures. The results show in the first place that technical efficiency is of greater importance to the composition of TFP. Likewise, the existence of a favorable effect of the infrastructures on TFP and its factors is verified.total factor productivity, infrastructures, regional analysis and productivity and growth

Performance of global retention models in the optimisation of the chromatographic separation (I): Simple multi-analyte samples

Conventional retention models lead to accurate descriptions of the elution behaviour from the fitting of data for single solutes or from a set of solutes, one by one. However, the simultaneous fitting of several solutes through a regression process that separates the contributions of column and solvent from those of each solute is also possible. The result is a global retention model constituted by a set of equations with some common parameters (those associated with column and solvent), whereas others, specific to each solute, differ for each equation. This work explores the possibilities, advantages, and limitations of global models when they are applied to the optimisation of chromatographic resolution. A set constituted by 13 drugs (diuretics and β-blockers) and a training experimental design of seven multi-linear gradients are considered. Since standards for all compounds were available, the optimisation based on global models could be compared with the conventional optimisation, which is based on individual models. In their current state, global models do not predict changes in elution order, but they do allow for incorporating additional solutes (e.g., new analytes or matrix peaks) with only one new experiment. This possibility is explored by extending the model for the 13 analytes to include 26 peaks associated with a contamination in the injector. The combination of individual and global models allows an optimisation where the effects of matrix peaks on the separation of analytes can be integrated.Fil: Peiró Vila, P.. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Villamonte, María Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Luján Roca, I.. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Torres Lapasió, J.R.. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: García Alvarez Coque, M. C.. Universidad de Valencia; Españ

Hydrothermal extraction and thorough characterization of carrageenans and proteins from Gigartina pistillata

Carrageenan, an interesting biopolymer from red seaweed, possesses a myriad of applications in food, nutraceutical, or pharmaceutical industries. Although its conventional extraction used to be performed with alkaline solvents, water extraction under subcritical conditions is an alternative eco-friendly technique that has gained popularity in recent years. This work evaluates the recovery and characterization of carrageenan and proteins from Gigartina pistillata. The highest number of proteins was identified at the lowest processing tempeartures. Extracted carrageenan exhibits molecular weights greater than 500 kDa and good rheological behaviour, with interest for food applications and for the formulation of hydrogels when mixed with KCl. The carrageenans and carrageenan hydrogels presented interesting properties such as good thermal stability until 170 °C (TGA-DTG) and show characteristic bands of kappa/iota carrageenans in FTIR studies. Greater cell viability than 70% were achieved on NIH/3T3 fibroblast at carrageenan concentrations of 0.05 and 0.025%, whereas carrageenan extracted at 160 °C (concentration of 0.025%) displays a lower inflammatory action than other samples. In this sense, in this work the eco-friendlier extracted carrageenan was thoroughly characterized and its potentiality to be used in the biomedical field was evaluated

Integrating pressure sensor control into semi-solid extrusion 3D printing to optimize medicine manufacturing

Semi-solid extrusion (SSE) is a three-dimensional printing (3DP) process that involves the extrusion of a gel or paste-like material via a syringe-based printhead to create the desired object. In pharmaceuticals, SSE 3DP has already been used to manufacture formulations for human clinical studies. To further support its clinical adoption, the use of a pressure sensor may provide information on the printability of the feedstock material in situ and under the exact printing conditions for quality control purposes. This study aimed to integrate a pressure sensor in an SSE pharmaceutical 3D printer for both material characterization and as a process analytical technology (PAT) to monitor the printing process. In this study, three materials of different consistency were tested (soft vaseline, gel-like mass and paste-like mass) under 12 different conditions, by changing flow rate, temperature, or nozzle diameter. The use of a pressure sensor allowed, for the first time, the characterization of rheological properties of the inks, which exhibited temperature-dependent, plastic and viscoelastic behaviours. Controlling critical material attributes and 3D printing process parameters may allow a quality by design (QbD) approach to facilitate a high-fidelity 3D printing process critical for the future of personalized medicine

Starspots on the fastest rotators in the Beta Pic moving group

Aims: We carried out high-resolution spectroscopy and BV(I)_C photometric monitoring of the two fastest late-type rotators in the nearby Beta Pictoris moving group, HD199143 (F7V) and CD-641208 (K7V). The motivation for this work is to investigate the rotation periods and photospheric spot patterns of these very young stars, with a longer term view to probing the evolution of rotation and magnetic activity during the early phases of main-sequence evolution. We also aim to derive information on key physical parameters, such as rotational velocity and rotation period. Methods: We applied maximum entropy (ME) and Tikhonov regularizing (TR) criteria to derive the surface spot map distributions of the optical modulation observed in HD199143 (F7 V) and CD-641208 (K7V). We also used cross-correlation techniques to determine stellar parameters such as radial velocities and rotational velocities. Lomb-Scargle periodograms were used to obtain the rotational periods from differential magnitude time series. Results: We find periods and inclinations of 0.356 days and 21.5deg for HD199143, and 0.355 days and 50.1deg for CD-641208. The spot maps of HD199143 obtained from the ME and TR methods are very similar, although the latter gives a smoother distribution of the filling factor. Maps obtained at two different epochs three weeks apart show a remarkable increase in spot coverage amounting to ~7% of the surface of the photosphere over a time period of only ~20 days. The spot maps of CD-641208 from the two methods show good longitudinal agreement, whereas the latitude range of the spots is extended to cover the whole visible hemisphere in the TR map. The distributions obtained from the first light curve of HD199143 show the presence of an extended and asymmetric active longitude with the maximum filling factor at longitude ~325degree.Comment: Accepted by A&A. 13 pages, 13 figures (4 online included), 5 Table

Anaemia and quality of life in chronic kidney disease: A consensus document from the European Anaemia of CKD Alliance

Anaemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL), work productivity and outcomes. Current management includes oral or intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), to which hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) have been recently added, increasing the available therapeutic options. In randomised controlled trials, only intravenous iron improved cardiovascular outcome, while some ESAs were associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events. Despite therapeutic advances, several challenges and unmet needs remain in the current management of anaemia of CKD. In particular, clinical practice does not include an assessment of QoL, which prompted a group of European nephrologists and representatives of patient advocacy groups to revisit the current approach. In this consensus document, the authors propose a move towards a more holistic, personalised and long-term approach, based on existing evidence. The focus of treatment should be on improving QoL without increasing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, and tailoring management strategies to the needs of the individual. In addition, the authors discuss the suitability of a currently available anaemia of CKD-specific health-related QoL measure for inclusion in the routine clinical management of anaemia of CKD. The authors also outline the logistics and challenges of incorporating such a measure into electronic health records and how it may be used to improve QoL for people with anaemia of CKD

Reticulocyte Maturation Parameters Are Reliable Early Predictors of Hematopoietic Engraftment after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

AbstractEarly detection of donor-derived hematopoietic restoration after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a crucial issue in the management of heavily immunocompromised patients. The aim of this prospective study was to validate our previously defined cutoff values for reticulocyte maturation parameters as early predictors of hematopoietic engraftment. Importantly, the effect of clinical variables in reticulocyte engraftment was also sought. For this purpose, we prospectively studied 136 consecutive patients undergoing allo-SCT from related (n = 89) or unrelated (n = 47) donors. High fluorescence reticulocytes (RETH), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), mean fluorescence index (MFI), and mean reticulocyte volume (MRV) were automatically measured in peripheral blood samples drawn on a daily basis. We previously defined reticulocyte engraftment when MFI ≥10, RETH ≥3%, IRF ≥10%, and MRV ≥110 fL. Median neutrophil engraftment was 18 days (range, 10-35 days); for reticulocyte parameters, the values were 14 days for IRF (range, 7-45 days), 14 days for MFI (range, 7-43 days), 15 days for RETH (range, 7-43 days), and 21 days for MRV (range, 9-74 days). These differences reached statistical significance for MFI and IRF when compared with standard neutrophil recovery, even when analyzing siblings or unrelated donors separately. In univariate analysis, donor-recipient ABO disparity adversely influenced erythroid engraftment (P = .04 for IRF, P = .03 for MFI), but the infusion of >2.9 × 106/kg of CD34+ cells was associated with a shorter time to reach erythroid engraftment (P = .02 for IRF and MFI). In Cox regression analysis, ≥100/μL neutrophils and IRF ≥10% were predictive parameters for standard neutrophil engraftment. Based on these findings, we suggest that serial measurement of IRF or MFI should be routinely used to trace hematopoietic restoration after allo-SCT because these preceded standard neutrophil recovery by a median of 4 days and are therefore very useful to make clinical decisions