Visible luminescence from hydrogenated amorphous silicon modified by femtosecond laser radiation

Visible luminescence is observed from the composite of SiO2 with embedded silicon nanocrystallites produced by femtosecond laser irradiation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) film in air. The photoluminescence originates from the defect states at the interface between silicon crystallites and SiO2 matrix. The method could be used for fabrication of luminescent layers to increase energy conversion of a-Si:H solar cells

The boundary value problem of determining hydrogen concentration and the stress state in a titanium shell

Decreasing physical and mechanical properties of materials in contact with an aggressive environment is one of the factors determining the strength and service life of various structures. In this paper, the effect of a hydrogen-containing medium on the mechanical properties and stress state of a titanium alloy shell is shown. For this purpose, the diffusion boundary-value problem is solved and the distribution of hydrogen concentration over the shell wall thickness is determined. Then the boundary-value problem of statics is solved, and the stress state of the shell structure is determined before and after hydrogenation. The object of study is presented in the form of a shell of revolution loaded with internal pressure and working in a hydrogen-containing medium. © 2019 Author(s)

Surface-enhanced optical third-harmonic generation in Ag island films

Surface-enhanced optical third-harmonic generation (THG) is observed in silver island films. The THG intensity from Ag nanoparticles is enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude with respect to the THG intensity from a smooth and homogeneous silver surface. This enhancement is attributed to local plasmon excitation and resonance of the local field at the third-harmonic wavelength. The diffuse and depolarized component of the enhanced THG is associated with the third-order hyper-Rayleigh scattering in a 2-D random array of silver nanoparticles.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

ANKLE JOINT REPLACEMENT (REVIEW)

Ankle joint replacement remains the most promising but at the same time one of the most challenging fields of orthopedics. In this article the authors analyzed the history of ankle joint replacement development with meticulous details of the prosthesis structure as well as complications occurring with different generations of the prosthesis. Major tendencies of development and improvements of the prosthesis are described while taking into account the complicated biomechanics of the ankle joint. Based on the completed analysis the conclusion was made that using new materials in combination with improved structure allows for major improvements in the ankle joint replacement

Revisiting the 'LSND anomaly' II: critique of the data analysis

This paper, together with a preceding paper, questions the so-called 'LSND anomaly': a 3.8 sigma excess of antielectronneutrino interactions over standard backgrounds, observed by the LSND Collaboration in a beam dump experiment with 800 MeV protons. That excess has been interpreted as evidence for the antimuonneutrino to antielectronneutrino oscillation in the \Deltam2 range from 0.2 eV2 to 2 eV2. Such a \Deltam2 range is incompatible with the widely accepted model of oscillations between three light neutrino species and would require the existence of at least one light 'sterile' neutrino. In a preceding paper, it was concluded that the estimates of standard backgrounds must be significantly increased. In this paper, the LSND Collaboration's estimate of the number of antielectronneutrino interactions followed by neutron capture, and of its error, is questioned. The overall conclusion is that the significance of the 'LSND anomaly' is not larger than 2.3 sigma.Comment: 30 pages, 16 figures, 6 table

ADULT ACGUIRED FLATFOOT DEFORMITY (REVIEW)

Flatfoot deformity represents a complex pathology often observed in active adult population. Conservative treatment does not  always yield the intended outcome.  Various  surgical  methods  addressing  mentioned pathology  were actively developing  during  past decades. However,  despite  diversity  of procedures there  are many contradictions in respect  of necessity  and efficiency of a certain  procedure especially in grades II and IV of the disease. The paper presents  clinical, roentgenological and biomechanical  features of acquired flatfoot deformity. The authors  analyzed literature publications dedicated to different correction methods  adopted  in world orthopaedics

Reply to 'Corrections to the HARP-CDP Analysis of the LSND Neutrino Oscillation Backgrounds'

The alleged mistakes in recent papers that reanalyze the backgrounds to the 'LSND anomaly' do not exist. We maintain our conclusion that the significance of the 'LSND anomaly' is not 3.8 sigma but not larger than 2.3 sigma.Comment: 3 page

COMPARATIVE RESEARCH OF ENALAPRIL AND ATENOLOL ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFICACY IN HIGH RISK PATIENTS

Aim. To evaluate the effecacy of enalapril (Enam, Dr.Reddy’s, India) and atenolol (Tenormin, AstraZeneca, UK) and their influence on processes of cardiovascular system remodeling in comparative research in patients with arterial hypertension. Material and methods. 38 patients with arterial hypertension stage II were examined. 21 patients were treated with enalapril (10-40 mg\d) and 17 – with atenolol (50-100 mg\d). Duration of therapy was 24 weeks.  A daily monitoring of blood pressure and echocardiography were made before and after the treatment. Spontaneous erythrocyte aggregation and deformability, spontaneous platelet aggregation and adhesive property of neutrophils were also estimated. A number of leucocytes carrying activation markers and expressing adhesive molecules was calculated. The plasma concentration of adhesive molecules (ICAM-1) and von Willebrand protein as well as serum concentration of N-terminal peptide of procollagen type III was also estimated. Results. Enalapril versus atenolol improved blood rheology, reduced functional leucocytes activity, plasma concentration of von Willebrand protein and intercellular adhesive molecules. The reduction in collagen III synthesis activity in enalapril therapy was proved. A significant regress of left ventricle hypertrophy due to enalapril treatment was related with favorable non-hemodynamic effects. Conclusion. The research revealed that the blockage of tissue rennin-angiotensin system is very important in prevention of cardiovascular complications especially in high risk patients

Nontrivial dependence of dielectric stiffness and SHG on dc bias in relaxors and dipole glasses

Dielectric permittivity and Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) studies in the field-cooled mode show a linear dependence of dielectric stiffness (inverse dielectric permittivity) on dc bias in PMN-PT crystals and SHG intensity in KTaO$_{3}$:Li at small Li concentrations. We explain this unusual result in the framework of a theory of transverse, hydrodynamic-type, instability of local polarization.Comment: 5 figure

Cross-sections of large-angle hadron production in proton- and pion-nucleus interactions VII: tin nuclei and beam momenta from \pm3 GeV/c to \pm15 GeV/c

We report on double-differential inclusive cross-sections of the production of secondary protons, charged pions, and deuterons, in the interactions with a 5% nuclear interaction length thick stationary tin target, of proton and pion beams with momentum from \pm3 GeV/c to \pm15 GeV/c. Results are given for secondary particles with production angles between 20 and 125 degrees. Cross-sections on tin nuclei are compared with cross-sections on beryllium, carbon, copper, tantalum and lead nuclei.Comment: 68 pages, 13 figure