Electrical properties of BaTiO3 based ferroelectric capacitors grown on oxide sacrificial layers for micro-cantilevers applications

An investigation of all oxides ferroelectric capacitors based on $SrRuO_3/BaTiO_3/SrRuO_3$ multi-layers grown on sacrificial oxide layers of $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$\ud and MgO for Micro-Electo-Mechanical systems applications is reported. By insertion of additional MgO or $SrTiO_3$ buffer layers the orientation of the $BaTiO_3$ film can be controlled allowing the fabrication of suspended cantilevers using the 31 and the 33 piezoelectric modes. The electrical properties of $SrRuO_3/BaTiO_3/SrRuO_3$ capacitors are changed compared with those grown directly on a single crystal substrate by the introduction of sacrificial layers. Circuit modeling of the electrical characteristics of these devices shows that a reduction of the deposition pressure for $BaTiO_3$ produces a decrease of the parasitic shunting conductance (modeled with a resistor in parallel to the capacitance of the device) which reduces the resistive loss present in the $BaTiO_3$ film. However for extremely low deposition pressure the quality of the polarization hysteresis loops is compromised.\ud Particulates present on the surface of the $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$increases the parasitic conductance at low frequency in the capacitive structure grown on this sacrificial layer. Good electrical properties are obtained for the capacitive structures grown on top of the MgO sacrificial layers at pressures equal or lower than 8 Pa.\u

Turbofan forced mixer-nozzle internal flowfield. Volume 2: Computational fluid dynamic predictions

A general program was conducted to develop and assess a computational method for predicting the flow properties in a turbofan forced mixed duct. The detail assessment of the resulting computer code is presented. It was found that the code provided excellent predictions of the kinematics of the mixing process throughout the entire length of the mixer nozzle. The thermal mixing process between the hot core and cold fan flows was found to be well represented in the low speed portion of the flowfield

Testing PDR models against ISO fine structure line data for extragalactic sources

Far-infrared [C ii] 158-μm, [O i] 145-μm and [O i] 63-μm fine structure emission-line fluxes were measured from archival Infrared Space Observatory Long Wavelength Spectrometer spectra of 46 extragalactic sources, with 28 sources providing detections in all three lines. For 12 of the sources, the contribution to the [C ii] 158-μm line flux from H ii regions could be estimated from their detected [N ii] 122-μm line fluxes. The measured [C ii]/[O i] and [O i] 63/145-μm line flux ratios were compared with those from a grid of photodissociation region (PDR) models previously computed using the ucl_pdr code. Persistent offsets between the observed and modelled line ratios could be partly attributed to the effects of [O i] 63-μm self-absorption. Using the Spherical Multi-Mol (smmol) code, we calculated model [O i] line profiles and found that the strength of the [O i] 63-μm line was reduced by 20–80 per cent, depending on the PDR parameters. We conclude that high PDR densities and radiation field strengths, coupled with the effects of [O i] 63-μm self-absorption, are likely to provide the best match to the observed line flux ratios

Ariel - Volume 4 Number 2

Editors David A. Jacoby Eugenia Miller Tom Williams Associate Editors Paul Bialas Terry Burt Michael Leo Gail Tenikat Editor Emeritus and Business Manager Richard J. Bonnano Movie Editor Robert Breckenridge Staff Richard Blutstein Mary F. Buechler Steve Glinks Len Grasman Alice M. Johnson J. D. Kanofsky Tom Lehman Dave Mayer Bernie Odd

A photodissociation region study of NGC 4038

We present a model of the photodissociation regions of NGC 4038, which is part of the Antennae galaxies. We have considered one-dimensional slabs of uniform density, all having a maximum AV = 10 mag, interacting with plane-parallel radiation. The density range in our simulations spans four orders of magnitude (100 ≤ n ≤ 106 cm−3) and the UV field strength spans more than three orders of magnitude (10 ≤ χ ≤ 104.5 multiples of the Draine field), from which we generated a grid of about 1400 simulations. We compare our results with Herschel SPIRE-FTS, CSO and ISO-LWS observations of eight CO transition lines (J = 1-0 to 8-7) and the [C I] 609 μm and [O I] 146 μm fine-structure lines. We find that the molecular and atomic emission lines trace different gas components of NGC 4038; thus, single emission models are insufficient to reproduce the observed values. In general, low-J CO transition lines correspond to either low-density regions interacting with low UV field strengths, or high-density regions interacting with high UV field strengths. Higher J CO transition lines are less dependent on the UV field strength and are fitted by gas with density n ∼ 104.5-105.2 cm− 3. We find that the observed fine-structure line ratio of [C I] 609 μm/[O I] 146 μm is reproduced by clouds subject to weaker UV fields compared to the CO lines. We make estimates of the XCO factor which relates the CO emission with the column density of molecular hydrogen, and find that it is less than the canonical Milky Way value

Predictors for readmission following primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Readmission following total joint arthroplasty has become a closely watched metric for many hospitals in the United States due to financial penalties imposed by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The purpose of this study was to identify both preoperative and postoperative reasons for readmission within 30 days following primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Retrospective data were collected for patients who underwent elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA; CPT code 27130) and TKA (27447) from 2008 to 2013 at our institution. The sample was separated into readmitted and nonreadmitted cohorts. Demography, comorbidities, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), operative parameters, readmission rates, and causes of readmission were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results: There were 42 (3.4%) and 28 (2.2%) readmissions within 30 days for THA and TKA, respectively. The most common cause of readmission within 30 days following total joint arthroplasty was infection. Trauma was the second most common reason for readmission of a THA while wound dehiscence was the second most common cause for readmission following TKA. With univariate regression, there were multiple associated factors for readmission among THA and TKA patients, including body mass index, metabolic equivalent (MET), and CCI. Multivariate regression revealed that hospital length of stay was significantly associated with 30-day readmission after THA and TKA. Conclusion: Patient comorbidities and preoperative functional capacity significantly affect 30-day readmission rate following total joint arthroplasty. Adjustments for these parameters should be considered and we recommend the use of CCI and METs in risk adjustment models that use 30-day readmission as a marker for quality of patient care. Level of Evidence: Level III/Retrospective cohort stud

Prevalence of articular cartilage lesions and surgical clinical outcomes in football (soccer) players' knees: a systematic review

"Article in Press" ; "Published Online: April 16, 2016"Purpose: To systematize the available scientific literature on the prevalence of articular cartilage and/or osteo- chondral lesions in football (soccer) playersâ knees, and overview the surgical procedures and functional outcomes and return to sports. Methods: A comprehensive search using Pubmed, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL databases was carried out until September 30, 2015. All English language studies that assessed the outcomes of a surgical technique for the treatment of articular cartilage lesions in football playersâ knees, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, were included. The reference list of the most relevant papers was screened. The main outcomes of interest were the clinical, arthroscopy or imaging primary outcomes and the return to sports rate. The methodological and reporting qualities were assessed according to Coleman methodology score. Results: The search provided 485 titles and abstracts. Five studies were eligible for inclusion (mean Coleman score of 37.2 points), comprising a total of 183 football players with a mean age of 25.7 years. A total of 217 articular cartilage and/or osteochondral lesions were reported, where the medial and lateral femoral condyles were the most common sites of lesion. The surgical procedures investigated were mosaicplasty, microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation, and chondral debridement. Conclusions: No definitive conclusion could be made in respect to the best current surgical technique for articular cartilage and osteochondral lesions. Microfracture and mosaicplasty can provide a faster return to competition and faster clinical and functional results, whereas autologous chondrocyte implantation and/or matrix-induced autologous chondrocytes implantation procedures can enhance longstanding clinical and functional results. Level of Evidence: Level IV, systematic review of Level III and IV studies

Lamb meat colour stability as affected by dietary tannins

Twenty-one male Comisana lambs were divided into three groups at 45 days of age and were individually penned for 60 days. Seven lambs were fed a concentrate-based diet (C), seven lambs received the same concentrate with the addiction of tannins from quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii; T), whereas the remaining animals were fed exclusively fresh vetch (Vicia sativa; H). Colour descriptors (a*, b* and H*) and metmyoglobin (MMb) percentages were measured on minced semimembranosus muscle over 14 days of refrigerated storage in a high oxygen atmosphere. Regardless of dietary treatment, meat redness decreased, while yellowness and hue angle increased (P < 0.001) over storage duration. However, higher a* values, lower b* values and lower H* values were observed in meat from both H- and T-fed animals as compared to meat from C-fed lambs (P = 0.012; P = 0.02; P = 0.003, respectively). Metmyoglobin formation increased over time (P < 0.001), but H diet resulted in lower metmyoglobin percentages than C diet (P = 0.007). We conclude that the inclusion of tannins into the concentrate improved meat colour stability compared to a tannin-free concentrate. Moreover, the protective effect of tannins against meat discolouration was comparable to that obtained by feeding lambs fresh herbage

The Alveolate Perkinsus marinus: Biological Insights from EST Gene Discovery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Perkinsus marinus</it>, a protozoan parasite of the eastern oyster <it>Crassostrea virginica</it>, has devastated natural and farmed oyster populations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. It is classified as a member of the Perkinsozoa, a recently established phylum considered close to the ancestor of ciliates, dinoflagellates, and apicomplexans, and a key taxon for understanding unique adaptations (<it>e.g</it>. parasitism) within the Alveolata. Despite intense parasite pressure, no disease-resistant oysters have been identified and no effective therapies have been developed to date.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To gain insight into the biological basis of the parasite's virulence and pathogenesis mechanisms, and to identify genes encoding potential targets for intervention, we generated >31,000 5' expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from four trophozoite libraries generated from two <it>P. marinus </it>strains. Trimming and clustering of the sequence tags yielded 7,863 unique sequences, some of which carry a spliced leader. Similarity searches revealed that 55% of these had hits in protein sequence databases, of which 1,729 had their best hit with proteins from the chromalveolates (E-value ≤ 1e-5). Some sequences are similar to those proven to be targets for effective intervention in other protozoan parasites, and include not only proteases, antioxidant enzymes, and heat shock proteins, but also those associated with relict plastids, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase and methyl erythrithol phosphate pathway components, and those involved in glycan assembly, protein folding/secretion, and parasite-host interactions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our transcriptome analysis of <it>P. marinus</it>, the first for any member of the Perkinsozoa, contributes new insight into its biology and taxonomic position. It provides a very informative, albeit preliminary, glimpse into the expression of genes encoding functionally relevant proteins as potential targets for chemotherapy, and evidence for the presence of a relict plastid. Further, although <it>P. marinus </it>sequences display significant similarity to those from both apicomplexans and dinoflagellates, the presence of trans-spliced transcripts confirms the previously established affinities with the latter. The EST analysis reported herein, together with the recently completed sequence of the <it>P. marinus </it>genome and the development of transfection methodology, should result in improved intervention strategies against dermo disease.</p

Symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology

Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) are common in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). We compared symptom characteristics and objective assessment of digital microvascular function using infrared thermography (and nailfold capillaroscopy where available) in patients with FMS (reporting RP symptoms) and primary RP. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of microvascular imaging studies and RP symptom characteristics (captured using patient-completed questionnaire at the time of assessment) for patients with FMS (reporting RP symptoms) and patients with primary RP referred for thermographic assessment of RP symptoms over a 2-year period. Of 257 patients referred for thermographic assessment of RP symptoms between 2010 and 2012, we identified 85 patients with primary RP and 43 patients with FMS. There were no differences in RP symptom characteristics between FMS and primary RP (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). In contrast, patients with FMS had higher baseline temperature of the digits (32.1 vs. 29.0 °C, p = 0.004), dorsum (31.9 vs. 30.2 °C, p = 0.005) and thermal gradient (temperature of digits minus temperature of dorsum; +0.0 vs. −0.9 °C, p = 0.03) compared with primary RP. Significant differences between groups persisted following local cold challenge. In primary RP, patient reporting “blue” digits, bi-phasic and tri-phasic RP was associated with lower digital perfusion. In contrast, no associations between skin temperature and RP digital colour changes/phases were identified in FMS. Our findings suggest that symptoms of RP in FMS may have a different aetiology to those seen in primary RP. These findings have potential implications for both the classification of RP symptoms and the management of RP symptoms in the context of FMS. Digital colour changes reported by patients might reflect the degree of digital microvascular compromise in primary RP