Study of the injection molding of a polarizing beam splitter

We describe the replication of a relief grating that behaves like a polarizing beam splitter by injection molding. Measurements of the grating master, nickel shim, and replica, performed by atomic force microscopy, allow establishing a limit for the injection molding technique (currently used in CD fabrication) to aspect ratios of approximately 0.15. Although this limit strongly reduces the diffraction efficiency of the elements as well as their polarizing properties, extinction ratios of approximately 10:1 were measured for the replicas in a large range of wavelengths.     

SiO2 single layer for reduction of the standing wave effects in the interference lithography of deep photoresist structures on Si

We demonstrate that the use of a single SiO₂ film, with thickness corresponding to one standing wave (SW) period allows the recording of deep photoresist structures on silicon substrates by laser interference, without use of any additional antireflecting coating. This condition corresponds just to the opposite thickness (half SW period) previously proposed for using the SiO₂ films for phase-shifting the SW pattern. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrated that for the lithography of deep structures, the contrast of the SW pattern, the minimum light intensity of the SW pattern and the photoresist adhesion are the most important parameters of the process.     

Exploring and Analyzing the Systemic Delivery Barriers for Nanoparticles

Most nanomedicines require efficient in vivo delivery to elicit meaningful diagnostic and therapeutic effects. However, en route to their intended tissues, systemically administered nanoparticles often encounter delivery barriers. To describe these barriers, the term “nanoparticle blood removal pathways” (NBRP) is proposed, which summarizes the interactions between nanoparticles and the body's various cell-dependent and cell-independent blood clearance mechanisms. Nanoparticle design and biological modulation strategies are reviewed to mitigate nanoparticle-NBRP interactions. As these interactions affect nanoparticle delivery, the preclinical literature from 2011–2021 is studied, and the nanoparticle blood circulation and organ biodistribution data are analyzed. The findings reveal that nanoparticle surface chemistry affects the in vivo behavior more than other nanoparticle design parameters. Combinatory biological-PEG surface modification improves the blood area under the curve by ≈418%, with a decrease in liver accumulation of up to 47%. A greater understanding of nanoparticle-NBRP interactions and associated delivery trends will provide new nanoparticle design and biological modulation strategies for safer, more effective, and more efficient nanomedicines.     

Simultaneous Determination of Multiclass Pesticides and Antibiotics in Honey Samples Based on Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A simple, fast, and efficient method was developed for simultaneous determination of 79 pesticides and 13 antibiotics compounds of different chemical classes of pesticides and antibiotics in honey samples by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The sample preparation procedure includes homogenization with McIlvaine buffer 0.1 mol L^?1 (pH 4), followed by extraction with acetonitrile and cleanup with florisil, using dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE). The proposed method was validated with good results, such as linearity (r ²?>?0.9901), normality, and independence of the evaluated data, as well as recoveries between 70 and 120 % with relative standard deviation (RSD) <20 % for most of the compounds spiked from 0.1 to 200 μg kg^?1. The experimental method limits of detection and quantification were from 0.03 to 1.51 μg kg^?1 and from 0.1 to 5 μg kg^?1, respectively, for the pesticides. For the antibiotics, the decision limits (0.1 to 2 μg g^?1) and the detection capacity (0.12 to 2.81 μg g^?1) were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for honey by the Brazilian and European legislation. The method was successfully applied to real samples from different botanical and geographic origins. From them, 44 % presented residues from 0.12 to 10 μg kg^?1 of one or more analytes. The proposed method combines the advantages of a quick sample preparation step with the selectivity and sensitivity of the UHPLC-MS/MS and proved to be suitable for routine analyses.     

Determination of selenium in selected food samples from Argentina and estimation of their contribution to the Se dietary intake

An optimised FI-HGAAS method was applied to determine the total selenium concentrations in selected high consumption food (fish, beef, chicken, milk, rice, wheat flour, egg) and to estimate their contribution to the Argentinean dietary intake, whose information is scarce nowadays. Through several optimisation steps a suitable method was achieved showing satisfactory figures of merit for all matrices. Average recovery was 96%, RSD < 5%, LODs ranged 2.0–7.0 μg kg⁻¹ and the accuracy was assessed using DOLT-3 NRC certified reference material. Meat and eggs showed the highest values (in μg kg⁻¹, beef: 42–153; chicken: 62–205; fish: 94–314; canned tuna: 272–282; eggs: 134–217), minor values were found for wheat flour (22–42), rice: (<22), pasta (47–64) and milk (<7–9). An estimated intake of 32 and 24 μg day⁻¹ for adult men and women, respectively, suggested a deficient Se intake, leading to further comprehensive surveys of Se occurrence in Argentina.     

Image source acquisition identification of mobile devices based on the use of features

Nowadays, forensic analysis of digital images is especially important, given the frequent use of digital cameras in mobile devices. The identification of the device type or the make and model of image source are two important branches of forensic analysis of digital images. In this paper we have addressed both of these, with an approach based on different types of image features and the classification using support vector machines. The study has mainly focused on images created with mobile devices and as a result, the techniques and features have been adapted or created for this purpose. There have been a total of 36 experiments classified into 5 sets, in order to test different configurations of the techniques. In the configuration of the experiments, the future use of the technique by the forensic analyst in real situations to create experiments with high technical requirements was taken into account, amongst other things.     

Modular Neural Networks for Medical Prognosis: Quantifying the Benefits of Combining Neural Networks for Survival Prediction

This paper describes a medical application of modular neural networks (NNs) for temporal pattern recognition. In order to increase the reliability of prognostic indices for patients living with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), survival prediction was performed in a system composed of modular NNS that classified cases according to death in a certain year of follow-up. The output of each NN module corresponded to the probability of survival in a given year. Inputs were the values of demographic, clinical and laboratory variables. The results of the modules were combined to produce survival curves for individuals. The NNs were trained by backpropagation and the results were evaluated in test sets of previously unseen cases. We showed that, for certain combinations of NN modules, the performance of the prognostic index, measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was significantly improved (p 0.05). We also used calibration measurements to quantify the benefits of combining NN modules, and show why, when and how NNs should be combined for building prognostic models.     

A CDMA‐based radio interface for third generation mobile systems

This paper deals with the use of a CDMA-based radio interface in third generation mobile systems (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System – UMTS, and Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications System – FPLMTS). The paper is not intended as a detailed analysis of the radio interface performance, but as an overview of the main issues arising in a typical CDMA-based mobile system, discussing the different available technical solutions. First of all, the basic requirements of the radio interface in a third generation mobile system are outlined. In particular, the support of variable bit rate transmission, the adaptability to the different propagation and service environments and the flexibility are felt to be important topics to be discussed. Then, the main characteristics of the CDMA access technique are depicted, in relation with the above mentioned requirements, focusing in particular on the DS-CDMA radio interface designed within the RACE II – CODIT Project. In that context the paper describes some of the technical solutions proposed for the provision of advanced features such as macrodiversity, multibearer transmission and variable bit rate services. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Natural Ventilation by Air Captors and Extractors Sheds in Hospitals in Brazil： Wind Tunnel Measurements

Natural ventilation is an efficient design strategy for the passive cooling of buildings, especially in tropical countries such as Brazil. Among the ventilation strategies, sheds can be highlighted. These structures consist of roof openings that work as air captors or extractors depending on their location in relation to the prevailing wind directions. The hospitals of the Sarah Network, designed by the Brazilian architect Joao Filgueiras Lima, Lele, are worldwide known for using these elements to improve natural ventilation. This paper analyses the natural ventilation performance of sheds for air collecting and extracting in two Sarah hospitals located in the cities of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. In each building, the sheds were analyzed for air extracting and collecting. The analyses were carried out by reduced physical models in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. The wind velocity was measured at external and internal points of the buildings, using hot-wire anemometers. The results show that the wards in Rio de Janeiro hospital are 17% more ventilated than the ones in the Salvador hospital. However, this difference occurs not only because of the collecting sheds but also because of set of openings and the configuration of the covering in hospitals in Rio de Janeiro.