Use of physician‐recommended non‐pharmacological strategies for hypertension control among hypertensive patients

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142948/1/jch13203_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142948/2/jch13203.pd

A Clinical Masquerader: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Eyelid Previously Diagnosed as an Eye Bump

Malignant eyelid tumors are often difficult to diagnose at early stage growth, and can be clinically challenging. Due to the high prevalence of periocular skin cancers, clinicians must be very attentive in their assessment of skin lesions amongst their patients. This case report highlights an early non-healing eyelid lesion transforming into squamous cell carcinoma. An 83-year-old male with no history of malignancy presented with a non-healing and rapidly growing lesion of the left lower eyelid. He first noticed this lesion one-month prior and was treated with oral antibiotics without improvement by his primary care provider. Our slit lamp examination of the left eyelid revealed a large ulcerated mass with white mucoid discharge draining from the center of the lesion. After an oculoplastics referral, the patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by biopsy. Computed tomography(CT) showed no metastasis or invasion to deep layer tissue. The management decision in this case required exenteration of the left eye socket followed by radiation therapy. This case illustrates the clinical course and invasive nature of periocular squamous cell carcinoma. It can present in a variety of different appearances, but are mostly painless, hyperkeratotic lesions that progressively change and ulcerate. An extensive history and careful clinical examination are vital in order to detect malignancy in a timely manner

Laser microraman study of reduced synthesized spinel powders

The Raman effect is the excitation or de-excitation of vibrational modes resulting from the inelastic scattering of light from a gas, liquid, or solid with a shift in energy from that of the usually incident radiation. Raman microscopy was performed on synthesized spinel powders of solid solution FexCr3-xO4 to determine the dependence of the vibrational modes upon the metal cations. The powders were synthesized in a combustion reaction using metal nitrates and urea. The oxide powders were reduced in a hydrogen/argon gas flow at high temperature

Nanoscale polarization manipulation and imaging in ferroelectric Langmuir-Blodgett polymer films

The behavior of ferroelectricity at the nanoscale is the focus of increasing research activity because of intense interest in the fundamental nature of spontaneous order in condensed-matter systems and because of the many practical applications of ferroelectric thin films to, for example, electromechanical transducers, infrared imaging sensors, and nonvolatile random-access memories. Ferroelectricity, in analogy with its namesake ferromagnetism, is the property of some crystalline systems to maintain a permanent, but reversible, electrical polarization in the absence of an external electric field. The imaging and dynamics of the piezoelectric response at the nanoscale is perhaps the most direct means of probing polarization, as has been demonstrated in a number of thin films and nanostructures . Here we report the use of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) and switching spectroscopy PFM (SSPFM) to image the ferroelectric properties, domain structure, and polarization switching of ultrathin ferroelectric Langmuir-Blodgett films of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) copolymers. PFM imaging of P(VDF-TrFE) thin films reveals ferroelectric domain sizes on the order of 25-50 nm and an imaging resolution below 5 nm. The feature sizes in topography and PFM images are comparable and the boundaries of uniformly polarized regions coincide with topographic features. Arbitrary polarization patterns could be repeatedly written and erased, with writing resolution limited by the grain size. Hysteresis loops from individual domains show clear coercive voltage, but are not well saturated at +/-10 V amplitude.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Characterization and Failure Analysis of Solid-State Diffusion Bonded Ceramic-to-Metal Transitions

Reliable, high-temperature, high-pressure transitions between ceramic heat exchangers and metal components enable higher efficiency in advanced power generation systems. Recent development of a novel cermet-filled seal ring design has shown potential to maintain a gas-tight seal through multiple thermal cycles up to 800­ ºC. Materials characterization and computational modeling provided insight to chemical behavior (i.e., solid-state diffusion) and mechanical integrity (i.e., stress) in the seal components. Results demonstrate a correlation between machining tolerance, assembly process, and diffusion behavior on the seal’s performance in ceramic-to-metal systems and helped guide the design efficacy of future seals

Direct processing of PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 films on glass and polymeric substrates

This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under grant No. CMMI-1537262, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme Grant Number SFI/14/US/I3113, the China Scholarship Council, and the Department of Education and Learning NI through grant USI-082.This work reports on direct crystallization of PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT) thin films on glass and polymeric substrates, using pulsed thermal processing (PTP). Specifically, xenon flash lamps deliver pulses of high intensity, short duration, broadband light to the surface of a chemical solution deposited thin film, resulting in the crystallization of the film. Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy show the existence of perovskite structure in nano-sized grains (≤5 nm). Local functional analysis by band excitation piezoelectric spectroscopy and electrostatic force microscopy confirm the presence of a ferroelectric phase and retention of voltage-written polarization for multiple days. Based on structural and functional analyses, strategies are discussed for optimization of pulse voltage and duration for the realization of crystalline ferroelectric thin films. For ∼200 nm-thick PZT films on glass substrates, 500 μs-long pulses were required for crystallization, starting with 100 pulses at 350 V, 10 or 25 pulses at 400 V and in general lower number of pulses at higher voltages (resulting in higher radiant energy). Overall power densities of >6.4 kW/cm2 were needed for appearance of peaks corresponding to the perovskite phase in the XRD. Films on glass processed at 350–400 V had a higher degree of 111-oriented perovskite grains. Higher applied radiant energy (through increased pulse voltage or count) resulted in more random and/or partially 001-oriented films. For ∼1 μm-thick PZT films on polymeric substrates, 10 to 25 250 μs-long pulses at voltages ranging between 200 to 250 V, corresponding to power densities of ∼2.8 kW/cm2, were optimal for maximized perovskite phase crystallization, while avoiding substrate damage.PostprintPeer reviewe