Effects of the Focused Ion Beam Parameters on Nanopore Milling in Solid State Membranes

AbstractThis work describes a reliable nanofabrication technology of solid state nanopore arrays. The geometric parameters of pores are achieved and optimized according to the requirements of bioanalytical applications regarding conformation and size of the characteristic proteins in clinical diagnostics. Different structural configurations and material compositions of the nanopore structures were developed and characterised according to the variable biofunctionalisation strategies. The geometry of the fabricated pores were analysed as the statistical function of the focused ion beam milling parameters

Determination of quality in stored pear fruits by chemical analysis and sensorial judgement

Aim of this research/project to determine the external and internal preferences of pear using descriptive sensory analysis, consumer preference. The research was performed on local consumers. Destructive measurements included fi rmness by puncture tests, soluble solids content (SSC), titrated acidity (TA). While there is a general positive trend for increasing preference with fi rmness, some consumers will prefer softer apples, and some will dislike the fi rmest pear. Sensorial judgement is able to classify the attractiveness, preference of properties specifi c for pear. Tests were performed by 13 persons on 4 pear varieties (Bosc kobak, Conference, Packham’s Triumph, Dessertnaia) checking 11 sensorial properties on a scale of 1 to 100 points. Relations of measurements and judgements were processed by correlation analysis. For analysis, the objects were furnished in 2011 from different growing sites (Csenger, Mérk and Nagykanizsa), taking from the store (in January) immediately. Among those the best notes were given to Bosc kobak and Conference coming from Mérk and to Packham’s Triumph grown at Nagykanizsa. It was stated that the success of sensorial judgement depends on the state of maturity, which is diffi cult to guarantee to be synchronous among samples of different varieties. Mature fruits are more praised as a sample of Bosc kobak taken from a chain of department store proved to be of balanced composition regarding its sugar/acid ratio (0.12) and the optimal fi rmness (5.75 N/cm2). Results of the correlation analysis suggest that the thickness of the skin is a decisive component of preference (r= 0.857), the typical pear flavour (r= 0.948), the taste as sweetness and acidity (r= 0.930 and r= 0.813). At the same time, no valuable relation could be detected between the data raised in the laboratory and the preference expressed by the sensorial tests, which should signalise that the opinion of consumers does not depend on any individual parameter obtained in the laboratory (sugar- or acid content, fi rmness) but rather on the complexity of several decisive components together (sweetness, acidity, fl avour, skin, etc.). The consumers’ preference cannot be measured objectively without the aid of adequate expertise and a prosperous surrounding, samples of optimal maturity and a thoughtfully edited judging form

Determination of quality in stored pear fruits by chemical analysis and sensorial judgement

Aim of this research/project to determine the external and internal preferences of pear using descriptive sensory analysis, consumerpreference. The research was performed on local consumers. Destructive measurements included fi rmness by puncture tests, soluble solidscontent (SSC), titrated acidity (TA). While there is a general positive trend for increasing preference with fi rmness, some consumers willprefer softer apples, and some will dislike the fi rmest pear.Sensorial judgement is able to classify the attractiveness, preference of properties specifi c for pear. Tests were performed by 13 persons on4 pear varieties (Bosc kobak, Conference, Packham’s Triumph, Dessertnaia) checking 11 sensorial properties on a scale of 1 to 100 points.Relations of measurements and judgements were processed by correlation analysis. For analysis, the objects were furnished in 2011 fromdifferent growing sites (Csenger, Mérk and Nagykanizsa), taking from the store (in January) immediately. Among those the best notes weregiven to Bosc kobak and Conference coming from Mérk and to Packham’s Triumph grown at Nagykanizsa.It was stated that the success of sensorial judgement depends on the state of maturity, which is diffi cult to guarantee to be synchronous amongsamples of different varieties. Mature fruits are more praised as a sample of Bosc kobak taken from a chain of department store proved to beof balanced composition regarding its sugar/acid ratio (0.12) and the optimal fi rmness (5.75 N/cm2).Results of the correlation analysis suggest that the thickness of the skin is a decisive component of preference (r= 0.857), the typical pearflavour (r= 0.948), the taste as sweetness and acidity (r= 0.930 and r= 0.813). At the same time, no valuable relation could be detected betweenthe data raised in the laboratory and the preference expressed by the sensorial tests, which should signalise that the opinion of consumers doesnot depend on any individual parameter obtained in the laboratory (sugar- or acid content, fi rmness) but rather on the complexity of severaldecisive components together (sweetness, acidity, fl avour, skin, etc.).The consumers’ preference cannot be measured objectively without the aid of adequate expertise and a prosperous surrounding, samples ofoptimal maturity and a thoughtfully edited judging form

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to Mitigate Tin Whisker Growth and Corrosion Issues on Printed Circuit Board Assemblies

This paper presents the results of a research program set up to evaluate atomic layer deposition (ALD) conformal coatings as a method of mitigating the growth of tin whiskers from printed circuit board assemblies. The effect of ALD coating process variables on the ability of the coating to mitigate whisker growth were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy were used to evaluate both the size and distribution of tin whiskers and the coating/whisker interactions. Results show that the ALD process can achieve significant reductions in whisker growth and thus offers considerable potential as a reworkable whisker mitigation strategy. The effect of ALD layer thickness on whisker formation was also investigated. Studies indicate that thermal exposure during ALD processing may contribute significantly to the observed whisker mitigation

Statistical mechanics of topological phase transitions in networks

We provide a phenomenological theory for topological transitions in restructuring networks. In this statistical mechanical approach energy is assigned to the different network topologies and temperature is used as a quantity referring to the level of noise during the rewiring of the edges. The associated microscopic dynamics satisfies the detailed balance condition and is equivalent to a lattice gas model on the edge-dual graph of a fully connected network. In our studies -- based on an exact enumeration method, Monte-Carlo simulations, and theoretical considerations -- we find a rich variety of topological phase transitions when the temperature is varied. These transitions signal singular changes in the essential features of the global structure of the network. Depending on the energy function chosen, the observed transitions can be best monitored using the order parameters Phi_s=s_{max}/M, i.e., the size of the largest connected component divided by the number of edges, or Phi_k=k_{max}/M, the largest degree in the network divided by the number of edges. If, for example the energy is chosen to be E=-s_{max}, the observed transition is analogous to the percolation phase transition of random graphs. For this choice of the energy, the phase-diagram in the [,T] plane is constructed. Single vertex energies of the form E=sum_i f(k_i), where k_i is the degree of vertex i, are also studied. Depending on the form of f(k_i), first order and continuous phase transitions can be observed. In case of f(k_i)=-(k_i+c)ln(k_i), the transition is continuous, and at the critical temperature scale-free graphs can be recovered.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, minor changes, added a new refernce, to appear in PR

Improvement of the MSIS 86 and DTM thermospheric models by investigating the geomagnetic effect

Based on measurements of the CACTUS accelerometer it has been found that during the recovery phase of geomagnetic disturbances the models are unable to describe properly the total density changes in the equatorial thermosphere. Introducing the geomagnetic activity index Dst instead of Kp as a model input parameter gives a much better description of the measurements. The residuals show a diurnal dependence, hinting partly at model errors in the diurnal effect (though MSIS 86 is much better than DTM in this respect), partly at a diurnal term in the geomagnetic effect

The effect of tear supplementation with 0.15% preservative-free zinc-hyaluronate on ocular surface sensations in patients with dry eye

[Purpose]: To evaluate the effect of tear supplementation with preservative free 0.15% zinc-hyaluronate on ocular surface sensations and corneal sensitivity in dry eye patients.[Methods]: Ocular surface sensations were assessed using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire and by recording ocular sensations during forced blinking in parallel with noninvasive tear film breakup time measurement in 20 eyes of 20 dry eye patients. Corneal sensitivity thresholds to selective stimulation of corneal mechano-, thermal- and chemical receptors were measured using the Belmonte gas esthesiometer. All baseline measurements were repeated after 1 month of treatment with 0.15% zinc-hyaluronate.[Results]: After 1 month, a significant decrease in mean OSDI score (from 35.66 ± 12.36 to 15.03 ± 11.22; P 0.05).[Conclusion]: Prolonged use of 0.15% zinc-hyaluronate results in an improvement of tear film stability and a decrease of dry eye complaints. The decrease in corneal mechano-and polymodal receptor excitability suggests that zinc-hyaluronate helps to recover normal corneal sensitivity, and thus might have a beneficial additional effect on reducing ocular surface complaints in dry eye patients.Peer reviewe

Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition Compared With Enalapril on the Risk of Clinical Progression in Surviving Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: -Clinical trials in heart failure have focused on the improvement in symptoms or decreases in the risk of death and other cardiovascular events. Little is known about the effect of drugs on the risk of clinical deterioration in surviving patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: -We compared the angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 (400 mg daily) with the angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (20 mg daily) in 8399 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in a double-blind trial. The analyses focused on prespecified measures of nonfatal clinical deterioration. In comparison with the enalapril group, fewer LCZ696-treated patients required intensification of medical treatment for heart failure (520 versus 604; hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.94; P=0.003) or an emergency department visit for worsening heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.85; P=0.001). The patients in the LCZ696 group had 23% fewer hospitalizations for worsening heart failure (851 versus 1079; P<0.001) and were less likely to require intensive care (768 versus 879; 18% rate reduction, P=0.005), to receive intravenous positive inotropic agents (31% risk reduction, P<0.001), and to have implantation of a heart failure device or cardiac transplantation (22% risk reduction, P=0.07). The reduction in heart failure hospitalization with LCZ696 was evident within the first 30 days after randomization. Worsening of symptom scores in surviving patients was consistently more common in the enalapril group. LCZ696 led to an early and sustained reduction in biomarkers of myocardial wall stress and injury (N-terminal pro-Btype natriuretic peptide and troponin) versus enalapril. CONCLUSIONS: -Angiotensin-neprilysin inhibition prevents the clinical progression of surviving patients with heart failure more effectively than angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01035255

Risk Related to Pre-Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Mellitus in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights From Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure Trial

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of pre-diabetes mellitus and its consequences in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction are not known. We investigated these in the Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (PARADIGM-HF) trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined clinical outcomes in 8399 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction according to history of diabetes mellitus and glycemic status (baseline hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]: /=6.5% [>/=48 mmol/mol; diabetes mellitus]), in Cox regression models adjusted for known predictors of poor outcome. Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus (n=2907 [35%]) had a higher risk of the primary composite outcome of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular mortality compared with those without a history of diabetes mellitus: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.25 to 1.52; P6.5%) and known diabetes mellitus compared with those with HbA1c<6.0% was 1.39 (1.17-1.64); P<0.001 and 1.64 (1.43-1.87); P<0.001, respectively. Patients with pre-diabetes mellitus were also at higher risk (hazard ratio, 1.27 [1.10-1.47]; P<0.001) compared with those with HbA1c<6.0%. The benefit of LCZ696 (sacubitril/valsartan) compared with enalapril was consistent across the range of HbA1c in the trial. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, dysglycemia is common and pre-diabetes mellitus is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes (compared with patients with no diabetes mellitus and HbA1c <6.0%). LCZ696 was beneficial compared with enalapril, irrespective of glycemic status. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01035255