Evaluation of inflow cannulation site for implantation of right-sided rotary ventricular assist device

Right heart dysfunction is one of the most serious complications following implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), often leading to the requirement for short or long term right ventricular support (RVAD). The inflow cannulation site induces major haemodynamic changes and so there is a need to optimize the site used depending on the patient's condition. Therefore, this study evaluated and compared the haemodynamic influence of right atrial (RAC) and right ventricular (RVC) inflow cannulation sites. An in-vitro, variable heart failure, mock circulation loop was used to compare RAC and RVC in mild and severe biventricular heart failure (BHF) conditions. In the severe BHF condition, higher ventricular ejection fraction (RAC: 13.6%, RVC: 32.7%) and thus improved heart chamber and RVAD washout was observed with RVC, which suggested this strategy might be preferable for long term support (ie. bridge to transplant or destination therapy) to reduce the risk of thrombus formation. In the mild BHF condition, higher pulmonary valve flow (RAC: 3.33 L/min, RVC: 1.97 L/min) and lower right ventricular stroke work (RAC: 0.10 W, RVC: 0.13 W) and volumes were recorded with RAC. These results indicate an improved potential for myocardial recovery, thus RAC should be chosen in this condition. This in-vitro study suggests that RVAD inflow cannulation site should be chosen on a patient-specific basis with a view to the support strategy to promote myocardial recovery or reduce the risk of long-term complications.

Efficacy of a children's procedural preparation and distraction device on healing in acute burn wound care procedures : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The intense pain and anxiety triggered by burns and their associated wound care procedures are well established in the literature. Non-pharmacological intervention is a critical component of total pain management protocols and is used as an adjunct to pharmacological analgesia. An example is virtual reality, which has been used effectively to dampen pain intensity and unpleasantness. Possible links or causal relationships between pain/anxiety/stress and burn wound healing have previously not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate these relationships, specifically by determining if a newly developed multi-modal procedural preparation and distraction device (Ditto) used during acute burn wound care procedures will reduce the pain and anxiety of a child and increase the rate of re-epithelialization. METHODS/DESIGN: Children (4 to 12 years) with acute burn injuries presenting for their first dressing change will be randomly assigned to either the (1) Control group (standard distraction) or (2) Ditto intervention group (receiving Ditto, procedural preparation and Ditto distraction). It is intended that a minimum of 29 participants will be recruited for each treatment group. Repeated measures of pain intensity, anxiety, stress and healing will be taken at every dressing change until complete wound re-epithelialization. Further data collection will aid in determining patient satisfaction and cost effectiveness of the Ditto intervention, as well as its effect on speed of wound re-epithelialization. DISCUSSION: Results of this study will provide data on whether the disease process can be altered by reducing stress, pain and anxiety in the context of acute burn wounds. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12611000913976.

On-line scale monitoring device

Developments in evaporator cleaning have accelerated in the past 10 years as a result of an extended period of research into scale formation and scale composition. Chemical cleaning still provides the most cost effective method of cleaning the evaporators. The paper describes a system that was designed to obtain on-line samples of evaporator scale negating the need to open up hot evaporator vessels for scale collection. This system was successfully implemented in a number of evaporators at a sugar mill. This paper also describes a recent experience in a sugar factory in which the cleaning procedure was slightly modified, resulting in effective removal of intractable scale.

On-line scale monitoring device

Developments in evaporator cleaning have accelerated in the past 10 years as a result of an extended period of research into scale formation and scale composition. Chemical cleaning still provides the most cost effective method of cleaning the evaporators. The paper describes a system that was designed to obtain on-line samples of evaporator scale negating the need to open up hot evaporator vessels for scale collection. This system was successfully implemented in a number of evaporators at a sugar mill. This paper also describes a recent experience in a sugar factory in which the cleaning procedure was slightly modified resulting in effective removal of intractable scale.

Free for all : a case study examining implementation factors of one-to-one device programs

Despite significant investment in school one-to-one device programs, little is known about which aspects of program implementation work and why. Through a comparison of two implementation models, adopter-diffusion and saturation, and using existing data from the One Laptop per Child Australia laptop program, we explored how factors of implementation may affect device diffusion, learning and educational outcomes, and program sustainability in schools. In this article we argue that more focused research into implementation of one-to-one device programs, moving beyond comparisons of “devices versus without devices,” is needed to provide reliable data to inform future program funding and advance this area of research.

Lanthanum oxide nanostructured films synthesized using hot dense and extremely non-equilibrium plasma for nanoelectronic device applications

Lanthanum oxide (La2O3) nanostructured films are synthesized on a p-type silicon wafer by ablation of La2O3 pellet due to interaction with hot dense argon plasmas in a modified dense plasma focus (DPF) device. The nanostructured films are investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. SEM study shows the formation of nano-films having nano-size structures with the average nanostructures size ~25, ~53, and ~45 nm for one, two, and three DPF shots, respectively. The nanostructures sizes and morphology of nano-films are consistent between the AFM and SEM analyses. XRD spectra confirms nano-sized La2O3 with an average grain size ~34, ~51, and ~42 nm for one, two, and three DPF shots, respectively. The electrical properties such as current-voltage and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of the Al-La2O3-Si metal-oxide- semiconductor (MOS) capacitor structure are measured. The current conduction mechanism of the MOS capacitors is also demonstrated. The C-V characteristics are further used to obtain the electrical parameters such as the dielectric constant, oxide thickness, flat-band capacitance, and flat-band voltage of the MOS capacitors. These measurements demonstrate significantly lower leakage currents without any commonly used annealing or doping, thereby revealing a significant improvement of the MOS nanoelectronic device performance due to the incorporation of the DPF-produced La2O3 nano-films.

Extremely non-equilibrium synthesis of luminescent zinc oxide nanoparticles through energetic ion condensation in a dense plasma focus device

Luminescent ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized on silicon and quartz substrates under extremely non-equilibrium conditions of energetic ion condensation during the post-focus phase in a dense plasma focus (DPF) device. Ar+, O+, Zn+ and ZnO+ ions are generated as a result of interaction of hot and dense argon plasma focus with the surfaces of ZnO pellets placed at the anode. It is found that the sizes, structural and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the ZnO nanoparticles appear to be quite different on Si(1 0 0) and quartz substrates. The results of x-ray diffractometry and atomic force microscopy show that the ZnO nanoparticles are crystalline and range in size from 5-7 nm on Si(1 0 0) substrates to 10-38 nm on quartz substrates. Room-temperature PL studies reveal strong peaks related to excitonic bands and defects for the ZnO nanoparticles deposited on Si (1 0 0), whereas the excitonic bands are not excited in the quartz substrate case. Raman studies indicate the presence of E2 (high) mode for ZnO nanoparticles deposited on Si(1 0 0).

Oscillating magnetic field current drive in a spherical plasma device

The continuous steady-state current drive in a spherical argon plasma by transverse oscillating magnetic field (OMF) is investigated. The experimental results reveal that a rotating magnetic field is generated, and its amplitude depends linearly on the external steady vertical magnetic field. It has been shown that steady toroidal currents of up to about 400 A can be driven by a 490 kHz OMF with an input power of 1.4 kW. The generation of steady toroidal magnetic fields directed oppositely in the upper and lower hemispheres have been recorded. The measurements of time-varying magnetic fields unveil a strong nonlinear effect of the frequency-doubled field harmonics generation. The electron number density and temperature of up to 6.2×1018 m-3 and 12 eV have been obtained. The observed effects validate the existing theory of the OMF current drive in spherical plasmas.

A study of the effects metal residues in poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) have on field-effect transistor device characteristics

The amount of metal residues from organometallic reagents used in preparation of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) by palladium catalysed Suzuki and nickel-induced Yamamoto polycondensations have been determined, and their effect upon the behaviour of the polymer in field-effect transistors (FETs) has been measured. The metal levels from material polymerised by Suzuki method were found to be much higher than from that made by the Yamamoto procedure. Simple treatment of the polymers with suitable metal trapping reagents lowered the metal levels significantly, with EDTA giving best results for nickel and triphenylphosphine for palladium. Comparison of the behaviour of FETs using polyfluorenes with varying levels of metal contamination, showed that the metal residues have little effect upon the mobility values, but often affect the degree of hysteresis, possibly acting as charge traps. Satisfactory device performances were obtained from polymer with palladium levels of 2000 μg/g suggesting that complete removal of metal residues may not be necessary for satisfactory device performance.

Nanoscale phase domain structure and associated device performance of organic solar cells based on a diketopyrrolopyrrole polymer

We investigate the blend morphology and performance of bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices comprising the donor polymer, pDPP-TNT (poly{3,6-dithiophene-2-yl-2,5-di(2-octyldodecyl)-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1, 4-dione-alt-naphthalene}) and the fullerene acceptor, [70]PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester). The blend morphology is heavily dependent upon the solvent system used in the fabrication of thin films. Thin films spin-coated from chloroform possess a cobblestone-like morphology, consisting of thick, round-shaped [70]PCBM-rich mounds separated by thin polymer-rich valleys. The size of the [70]PCBM domains is found to depend on the overall film thickness. Thin films spin-coated from a chloroform:dichlorobenzene mixed solvent system are smooth and consist of a network of pDPP-TNT nanofibers embedded in a [70]PCBM-rich matrix. Rinsing the films in hexane selectively removes [70]PCBM and allows for analysis of domain size and purity. It also provides a means for investigating exciton dissociation efficiency through relative photoluminescence yield measurements. Devices fabricated from chloroform solutions show much poorer performance than the devices fabricated from the mixed solvent system; this disparity in performance is seen to be more pronounced with increasing film thickness. The primary cause for the improved performance of devices fabricated from mixed solvents is attributed to the greater donor-acceptor interfacial area and resulting greater capacity for charge carrier generation.

Nonvolatile multilevel data storage memory device from controlled ambipolar charge trapping mechanism

The capability of storing multi-bit information is one of the most important challenges in memory technologies. An ambipolar polymer which intrinsically has the ability to transport electrons and holes as a semiconducting layer provides an opportunity for the charge trapping layer to trap both electrons and holes efficiently. Here, we achieved large memory window and distinct multilevel data storage by utilizing the phenomena of ambipolar charge trapping mechanism. As fabricated flexible memory devices display five well-defined data levels with good endurance and retention properties showing potential application in printed electronics.

High efficiency quantum dot-sensitised solar cells by material science and device architecture

This thesis studied cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide quantum dots and their performance as light absorbers in quantum dot-sensitised solar cells. This research has made contributions to the understanding of size dependent photodegradation, passivation and particle growth mechanism of cadmium sulfide quantum dots using SILAR method and the role of ZnSe shell coatings on solar cell performance improvement.

One step closer into the design of fall protective device for individuals fitted with a bone-anchored prosthesis

The consequences of falls are often dreadful for individuals with lower limb amputation using bone-anchored prosthesis.[1-5] Typically, the impact on the fixation is responsible for bending the intercutaneous piece that could lead to a complete breakage over time. .[3, 5-8] The surgical replacement of this piece is possible but complex and expensive. Clearly, there is a need for solid data enabling an evidence-based design of protective devices limiting impact forces and torsion applied during a fall. The impact on the fixation during an actual fall is obviously difficult to record during a scientific experiment.[6, 8-13] Consequently, Schwartze and colleagues opted for one of the next best options science has to offer: simulation with an able-bodied participant. They recorded body movements and knee impacts on the floor while mimicking several plausible falling scenarios. Then, they calculated the forces and moments that would be applied at four levels along the femur corresponding to amputation heights.[6, 8-11, 14-25] The overall forces applied during the falls were similar regardless of the amputation height indicating that the impact forces were simply translated along the femur. As expected, they showed that overall moments generally increased with amputation height due to changes in lever arm. This work demonstrates that devices preventing only against force overload do not require considering amputation height while those protecting against bending moments should. Another significant contribution is to provide, for the time, the magnitude of the impact load during different falls. This loading range is crucial to the overall design and, more precisely, the triggering threshold of protective devices. Unfortunately, the analysis of only a single able-bodied participant replicating falls limits greatly the generalisation of the findings. Nonetheless, this case study is an important milestone contributing to a better understanding of load impact during a fall. This new knowledge will improve the treatment, the safe ambulation and, ultimately, the quality of life of individuals fitted with bone-anchored prosthesis.