Electrical properties of ZnO:Al thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition method

The possibility of the high quality AZO thin films fabrication by the PLD method using the second harmonic of the Q-switched YAG:Nd3+ laser is demonstrated. The investigations of dependence of the AZO thin films properties on the PLD conditions (concentration of Al in the target, buffer gas pressure) have been conducted. The optimum conditions of the ZnO:Al thin films deposition have been defined

Application of laser texturing method for mc-Si solar cells fabrication

The results of the experiments on the “black” mc-Si surface fabrication by the nanosecond pulses of the YAG laser second harmonic and on application of the introduced laser texturing method for the mc-Si solar cells efficiency improvement are represented. The developed version of laser texturing permits producing a low-reflection mc-Si surface with the reflectance of ~3% in the spectral range of 0.3-1.1 μm. The application of the introduced laser texturing method in mc-Si solar cells fabrication makes it possible to increase the short circuit current density and quantum efficiency

Хирургическая коррекция опущения передней стенки влагалища и шейки матки при помощи сетчатых титановых имплантатов

Background: Regardless of a variety of surgical techniques and hi-tech materials for pelvic prolapse treatment, there is no decrease in the disease recurrences. Aims: Evaluation of the efficacy of the developed method of surgical correction of IIIV degree colpoptosis anterior combined with IIIII degree C-prolapse with the use of titanium mesh implants in reproductive, pre- and postmenopausal female patients. Methods: Female patients (group I, n = 25) with colpoptosis anterior and cervical prolapse were examined and operated on according to the developed know-how technique with the use of titanium mesh implants. Evaluation of the efficacy of surgical correction of the disease was performed using questioning, pelvic exam with Valsalva manoeuvre, transvaginal and transperineal ultrasound, pelvis MRI. The findings were compared with the result of surgical treatment of 46 (group II) and 32 (group III) female patients operated on without the use of titanium implants. After surgical treatment according to the three-stage surgical program that provides for multifocal fixation of anatomical formations with the use of titanium implants, the case follow-up was performed in 321 months. Results: Questioning the patients in group I demonstrated their satisfaction with the surgical treatment results that positively affected the quality of life, mood, and contributed to an increase in sexual activity and community commitment. Check-up showed that the surgical correction of prolapse was completely preserved in the patients of group I during 1821 months. Pelvic exam at rest and with Valsalva manoeuvre, transvaginal and transperineal ultrasound, pelvis MRI did not reveal any significant extrusion of the pelvic organs or titanium implants. No mesh-associated complications were observed during the follow-up. Recurrence of genital prolapse was diagnosed in 12 (26%) patients of group II, mesh-associated complications were detected in 6 (18.8%) women of group III. Conclusions: The preserving three-stage surgical program, developed by us, contributed to optimize the results of surgical treatment, decrease the rate of the disease recurrence, and reduce the risk of the development of mesh-associated complications.Обоснование. Несмотря на наличие разнообразных хирургических методик и высокотехнологичных материалов для лечения пролапса тазовых органов, количество рецидивов заболевания не снижается. Цель исследования ― оценка эффективности разработанного способа хирургической коррекции опущения передней стенки влагалища IIIV степени в сочетании с С-пролапсом IIIII степени при помощи титановых сетчатых имплантатов у пациенток репродуктивного, пре- и постменопаузального возраста. Методы. Обследованы и прооперированы по разработанной оригинальной методике с применением сетчатых титановых имплантатов пациентки (I группа, n = 25) с опущением передней стенки влагалища и шейки матки. Эффективность хирургической коррекции заболевания оценивали путем анкетирования с помощью валидированных опросников, гинекологического исследования с пробой Вальсальвы, трансвагинальной и трансперинеальной эхографии, магнитно-резонансной томографии (МРТ) малого таза. Полученные данные сравнивали с результатами оперативного лечения 46 (II группа) и 32 (III группа) пациенток, прооперированных без применения титановых имплантатов. Объем хирургического вмешательства у пациенток II группы ― передняя кольпорафия, III группы ― передний Prolift полипропиленовыми имплантатами. После оперативного лечения по разработанной трехэтапной хирургической программе, предусматривающей мультифокальную фиксацию анатомических структур при помощи титановых имплантатов, проводили динамическое наблюдение через 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 и 21 мес. Результаты. Анкетирование пациенток I группы показало удовлетворенность результатами оперативного лечения, что положительно отразилось на качестве жизни и настроении, способствовало повышению сексуальной и социальной активности. Комплексное клиническое обследование показало сохранение полной хирургической коррекции пролапса у пациенток I группы на протяжении 1821 мес наблюдения. При гинекологическом исследовании в покое и при пробе Вальсальвы, по данным трансвагинальной и трансперинеальной эхографии, МРТ, значимого смещения тазовых органов и титановых имплантатов не выявлено. Mesh-ассоциированные осложнения за время наблюдения отсутствовали. У 12 (26%) пациенток II группы диагностирован рецидив генитального пролапса, у 6 (18,8%) женщин III группы выявлены mesh-ассоциированные осложнения. Заключение. Разработанная нами органосберегающая трехэтапная хирургическая программа способствовала оптимизации результатов оперативного лечения, уменьшению частоты рецидивов заболевания, снижению риска развития mesh-ассоциированных осложнений

First-principles quantum transport modeling of thermoelectricity in single-molecule nanojunctions with graphene nanoribbon electrodes

We overview nonequilibrium Green function combined with density functional theory (NEGF-DFT) modeling of independent electron and phonon transport in nanojunctions with applications focused on a new class of thermoelectric devices where a single molecule is attached to two metallic zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) via highly transparent contacts. Such contacts make possible injection of evanescent wavefunctions from ZGNRs, so that their overlap within the molecular region generates a peak in the electronic transmission. Additionally, the spatial symmetry properties of the transverse propagating states in the ZGNR electrodes suppress hole-like contributions to the thermopower. Thus optimized thermopower, together with diminished phonon conductance through a ZGNR/molecule/ZGNR inhomogeneous structure, yields the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT~0.5 at room temperature and 0.5<ZT<2.5 below liquid nitrogen temperature. The reliance on evanescent mode transport and symmetry of propagating states in the electrodes makes the electronic-transport-determined power factor in this class of devices largely insensitive to the type of sufficiently short conjugated organic molecule, which we demonstrate by showing that both 18-annulene and C10 molecule sandwiched by the two ZGNR electrodes yield similar thermopower. Thus, one can search for molecules that will further reduce the phonon thermal conductance (in the denominator of ZT) while keeping the electronic power factor (in the nominator of ZT) optimized. We also show how often employed Brenner empirical interatomic potential for hydrocarbon systems fails to describe phonon transport in our single-molecule nanojunctions when contrasted with first-principles results obtained via NEGF-DFT methodology.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures; mini-review article prepared for the special issue of the Journal of Computational Electronics on "Simulation of Thermal, Thermoelectric, and Electrothermal Phenomena in Nanostructures", edited by I. Knezevic and Z. Aksamij

SUPPLEMENTARY MOTOR AREA AND CLINICAL PICTURE OF ITS LESION

Methods: The supplementary motor area (SMA) is a cortical region, that is located on the medial surface of the frontal lobe entirely within the interhemispheric fissure between the primary motor cortex (PMC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). This area is a heterogeneous region in its structure, as well as in its connections with other parts of the brain; on the basis of these differences, the pre-SMA and SMA-proper regions are distinguished in it. Numerous neural connections with other parts of the central nervous system (CNS) suggest the involvement of the SMA in many cognitive functions, and not only in higher motor ones, as previously was thought. In particular, in the dominant hemisphere, the SMA performs the speech function through the frontal oblique fascicle (FOF), a bundle of association fibers that connects the SMA with Broca's area. In the event of various pathologies affecting the SMA and after neurosurgical manipulations in this area, a variety of neurological disorders can occur both motor and verbal. With the damage of this cortical region in the dominant hemisphere, SMA syndrome (akinetic mutism) can occur. This paper provides a review of the anatomical, cytoarchitectonic, and functional features of the SMA, as well as a detailed description of the clinical picture of the lesion of this cortical region

The project of W-band gyrotron at third cyclotron harmonic with an annular diaphragm

One of the most popular microwave bands now is the W-band. It is attractive by the atmospheric transparency window, which makes it promising for a number of scientific and technical applications including radiolocation, communication, detection of hidden objects and the creation of medical devices. The output power level in both continuous and pulsed regimes for the aforementioned applications should be in the order of several kilowatts and above. This makes the gyrotron one of the most high-potential sources of electromagnetic radiation in this range.The alternate design of an electrodynamic system based on the use of a diaphragm in a wave transition is proposed. This system has been theoretically and numerically analyzed for a W-band gyrotron at the third harmonic of the cyclotron frequency. The optimal parameters of the diaphragm and its position have been selected. With that parameters, the highest value of the starting current of the competing mode is reached while maintaining the starting current of the operating mode. It allows to increase the output radiation power by more than 7 times. An estimate of the accuracy of the manufacturing of the diaphragm has been made. It holds out a hope of scaling this selection method into higher frequency ranges. Further development of this system is primarily tied with a more complex optimization of the system particularly the variation of the length of the cylindrical part of the cavity, which will allow reducing the share of ohmic losses while maintaining high efficiency.The paper is based on the research results, which was conducted in the framework of projects of the Russian Science Foundation No. 17-79-10422. Keywords: Gyrotron, W-band, Mode selectio

Rapid determination of the chemical oxygen demand in water with the use of high-temperature solid-electrolyte cells

A new procedure is proposed for the determination of the oxidazibility of organic and inorganic matter in water (an analogue of the chemical oxygen demand (COD)). The procedure is based on high-temperature oxidation in a controlled binary oxygen-inert gas mixture and the determination of the amount of oxygen consumed for oxidation in a solid-electrolyte cell. A new design for the setup is presented as a monoblock with a vertical sample introduction into the reactor. A sampler of the immersion type is proposed. It has been found that the detection limit obtained with the use of this setup is 5 mg O2/L