Investigations on doping of amorphous and nano-crystalline silicon films deposited by catalytic chemical vapour deposition

Hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon, deposited by catalytic chemical vapour deposition, have been doped during deposition by the addition of diborane and phosphine in the feed gas, with concentrations in the region of 1%. The crystalline fraction, dopant concentration and electrical properties of the films are studied. The nanocrystalline films exhibited a high doping efficiency, both for n and p doping, and electrical characteristics similar to those of plasma-deposited films. The doping efficiency of n-type amorphous silicon is similar to that obtained for plasma-deposited electronic-grade amorphous silicon, whereas p-type layers show a doping efficiency of one order of magnitude lower. A higher deposition temperature of 450°C was required to achieve p-type films with electrical characteristics similar to those of plasma-deposited films.

Hyperthermia and postmortem biochemical investigations.

The postmortem diagnosis of heat-related deaths presents certain difficulties. Firstly, preterminal or terminal body temperatures are often not available. Additionally, macroscopic and microscopic findings are nonspecific or inconclusive and depend on survival duration after exposure. The diagnosis of hyperthermia is therefore essentially based on scene investigation, the circumstances of death, and the reasonable exclusion of other causes of death. Immunohistochemistry and postmortem biochemical investigations have been performed by several authors in order to better circumstantiate the physiopathology of hyperthermia and provide further information to confirm or exclude a heat-related cause of death. Biochemical markers, such as electrolytes, hormones, blood proteins, enzymes, and neurotransmitters, have been analyzed in blood and other biological fluids to improve the diagnostic potential of autopsy, histology, and immunohistochemistry. The aim of this article is to present a review of the medicolegal literature pertaining to the postmortem biochemical investigations that are associated with heat-related deaths.

Postmortem biochemical investigations in hypothermia fatalities.

Despite the progress made during the past several decades in forensic pathology, the possibilities for the postmortem diagnosis of hypothermia remains relatively limited. Aside from histology and immunohistochemistry, numerous authors have investigated the postmortem biochemistry of hypothermia fatalities. Several biochemical markers (e.g., glucose, electrolytes, hormones, ketone bodies, and neurotransmitters) and various biological samples (e.g., blood, urine, heart, liver, skeletal muscle as well as pericardial and cerebrospinal fluids) have been proposed as potentially useful markers to improve the insufficient diagnostic efficacy of macroscopic and microscopic findings. The aim of this article is to review the medicolegal literature covering the postmortem biochemical investigations that are associated with hypothermia cases as well as report our own research results on this topic where possible.

Radionuclide investigations of the urinary tract in the era of multimodality imaging.

This article presents the role of nuclear medicine procedures in investigating renal and parenchymal disease, as well as upper urinary tract abnormalities. More specifically, the use of scintigraphy is described in the exploration of urinary tract dilatation and UTIs, vesicoureteric reflux, renovascular hypertension, and renal transplants. With a low radiation burden and the absence of sedation, these nuclear medicine procedures are easy to perform and can provide clinicians with valuable data on renal perfusion and the function of individual kidneys, as well as on urinary tract dynamics. However, knowledge of limitations and technical pitfalls is essential in understanding the role of scintigraphy among contemporary imaging methods and the unique information it supplies in nephrourology.

Thermodynamic investigations in the Si-Ge-rich part of the ruthenium-silicon-germanium system

This paper reports molar heat capacities of Ru50SixGe(50-x) and Ru40SiyGe(60-y) ternary solid solutions determined by differential scanning calorimetry. A second order transition has been characterised for alloys ranging from Ru40Ge60 to Ru40Si10Ge50 at temperatures ranging from 850 to 1040 K, respectively. Tie lines have been established at 1000-900-800-700-600 degrees C by electron microprobe measurements on annealed alloys of the two phase domains: Ru50SixGe(50-x)-Ru40SiyGe(60-y) and Ru40SiyGe(60-y)-SizGe(100-z).

La coordination scientifique dans les investigations criminelles: Proposition d'organisation, aspects éthiques ou de la nécessité d'un nouveau métier.

La criminalistique prend une place de plus en plus grande dans l'enquête judiciaire. Les enjeux scientifiques depuis la scène d'investigation jusqu'au procès pénal sont multiples. De nombreux intervenants sont amenés à se côtoyer : techniciens, scientifiques, médecins légistes, enquêteurs et magistrats. Des tensions sont perceptibles entre ceux-ci mais également quant à la place de la science dans le processus pénal. La raison principale de cette situation est que la prise en compte de l'indice matériel, dans l'enquête judiciaire et le procès pénal, n'est pas clairement établie. La formation des juristes et des enquêteurs ne leur permet pas de superviser les enquêtes scientifiques. Le rôle et la place des scientifiques dans l'enquête criminelle doivent être réexaminés. Par ailleurs, les méthodes de raisonnement en matière d'investigations scientifiques dans une affaire judiciaires sont complexes. Leur mauvaise appréhension participe aux tensions qui sont relevées. Ces méthodes doivent être approfondies. Le raisonnement médical constitue un modèle possible. Il s'enrichit de travaux menés en sémiotique. La résolution des tensions passe par la mise en place d'un nouveau personnage, le coordinateur criminalistique. Cela constitue un changement paradigmatique et une nouvelle activité scientifique complexe. Ce scientifique s'associe à l'enquêteur et au magistrat tout au long du processus judiciaire, depuis la scène d'investigation jusqu'au procès pénal. Ce paradigme s'impose quel que soit le modèle judiciaire, accusatoire ou inquisitoire et les structures institutionnelles. Cette thèse propose que ce coordinateur criminalistique soit un scientifique de haut niveau qui bénéficie d'une solide formation théorique et pratique. Cette approche est fondamentalement éthique car elle se focalise sur un témoin matériel, garantit la préservation des droits humains et définit un processus transparent et équilibré dans l'élaboration de la preuve.

Role of prohormone convertases in pro-neuropeptide Y processing: coexpression and in vitro kinetic investigations.

Proneuropeptide Y (ProNPY) undergoes cleavage at a single dibasic site Lys38-Arg39 resulting in the formation of 1-39 amino acid NPY which is further processed successively by carboxypeptidase-like and peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase enzymes. To investigate whether prohormone convertases are involved in ProNPY processing, a vaccinia virus derived expression system was used to coexpress recombinant ProNPY with each of the prohormone convertases PC1/3, PC2, furin, and PACE4 in Neuro2A and NIH 3T3 cell lines as regulated neuroendocrine and constitutive prototype cell lines, respectively. The analysis of processed products shows that only PC1/3 generates NPY in NIH 3T3 cells while both PC1/3 and PC2 are able to generate NPY in Neuro2A cells. The convertases furin and PACE4 are unable to process ProNPY in either cell line. Moreover, comparative in vitro cleavage of recombinant NPY precursor by the enzymes PC1/3, PC2 and furin shows that only PC1/3 and PC2 are involved in specific cleavage of the dibasic site. Kinetic studies demonstrate that PC1/3 cleaves ProNPY more efficiently than PC2. The main difference between the cleavage efficiency is observed in the Vmax values whereas no major difference is observed in Km values. In addition the cleavage by PC1/3 and PC2 of two peptides reproducing the dibasic cleavage site with different amino acid sequence lengths namely (20-49)-ProNPY and (28-43)-ProNPY was studied. These shortened ProNPY substrates, when recognized by the enzymes, are more efficiently cleaved than ProNPY itself. The shortest peptide is not cleaved by PC2 while it is by PC1/3. On the basis of these observations it is proposed, first, that the constitutive secreted NPY does not result from the cleavage carried out by ubiquitously expressed enzymes furin and PACE4; second, that PC1/3 and PC2 are not equipotent in the cleavage of ProNPY; and third, substrate peptide length might discriminate PC1/3 and PC2 processing activity.

Potential of kite aerial photography for peatland investigations with examples from Estonia

Tiivistelmä: Leijailmakuvausmenetelmän käyttömahdollisuudet soiden kartoituksessa - esimerkkejä Viron soilta

Structural investigations into the interaction of hemoglobin and part structures with bacterial endotoxins.

An understanding of details of the interaction mechanisms of bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) with the oxygen transport protein hemoglobin is still lacking, despite its high biological relevance. Here, a biophysical investigation into the endotoxin:hemoglobin interaction is presented which comprises the use of various rough mutant LPS as well as free lipid A; in addition to the complete hemoglobin molecule from fetal sheep extract, also the partial structure alpha-chain and the heme-free sample are studied. The investigations comprise the determination of the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase behaviour of the acyl chains of LPS, the ultrastructure (type of aggregate structure and morphology) of the endotoxins, and the incorporation of the hemoglobins into artificial immune cell membranes and into LPS. Our data suggest a model for the interaction between Hb and LPS in which hemoglobins do not react strongly with the hydrophilic or with the hydrophobic moiety of LPS, but with the complete endotoxin aggregate. Hb is able to incorporate into LPS with the longitudinal direction parallel to the lipid A double-layer. Although this does not lead to a strong disturbance of the LPS acyl chain packing, the change of the curvature leads to a slightly conical molecular shape with a change of the three-dimensional arrangement from unilamellar into cubic LPS aggregates. Our previous results show that cubic LPS structures exhibit strong endotoxic activity. The property of Hb on the physical state of LPS described here may explain the observation of an increase in LPS-mediating endotoxicity due to the action of Hb.

DCI Voter Fraud Investigations Report, May 8, 2014.

In March of 2012, the Iowa Secretary of State’s office compared Iowa’s voter registration records with the driver’s license record s of individuals that identified themselves as non-citizens with the Iowa Department of Transportation. After comparing those records, the Iowa Secretary of State’s office found that more than 3,000 individuals registered to vote that had previously identified themselves as non-citizens. More than 1,000 of these individuals had also cast a ballot. The Iowa Secretary of State’s office was not given timely access to the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)database, and therefore was unable to determine if any of these individuals had become citizens before they registered to vote or cast a ballot. On June 21, 2012, the Iowa Secretary of State’s office entered into an agreement with the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to review potential election misconduct crimes and improve the administration of federal elections. Over the last two years,DCI agents have reviewed thousands of instances of possible election misconduct. DCI’s review included cases referred by the Iowa Secretary of State’s office as well as by other state and local government agencies.

The cave (La caverna -1952-1969) by Josep Palau i Fabre: theatre versus philosophical allegory in order both to perform and stop the tragic and dark end of the bright art of thinking

What is the use of representing in performance the image of the cave from book VII of Plato’s Republic? Josep Palau i Fabre considers that in Plato’s dialogues the speakers are mere instruments at the service of his dialectical purpose. The aim of this article is to show how, by turning the myth into a tragedy and relying on Heraclitus’s conflict or war of opposites, the playwright succeeds in favouring a sort of thought which is not one-sided or univocal. On the contrary, in Palau i Fabre’s La Caverna, the tragic hero, the released prisoner transformed by the light of Reality and finally killed by his “cavemates” –after having been imprisoned again and having tried to rescue them from their ignorance or shadows– still leaves them his powerful experience of the agonistikós thought, which might bear fruit in their life to come.