Electrical and Physical Characteristics of WO3/Ag/WO3 Sandwich Structure Fabricated with Magnetic-Control Sputtering Metrology †.

In this work, three layers of transparent conductive films of WO3/Ag/WO3 (WAW) were deposited on a glass substrate by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The thicknesses of WO3 (around 50~60 nm) and Ag (10~20 nm) films were mainly the changeable factors to achieve the optimal transparent conductivity attempting to replace the indium tin oxide (ITO) in cost consideration. The prepared films were cardinally subjected to physical and electrical characteristic analyses by means of X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and Keithley 4200 semiconductor parameter analyzer. The experimental results show as the thickness of the Ag layer increases from 10 nm to 20 nm, the resistance becomes smaller. While the thickness of the WO3 layer increases from 50 nm to 60 nm, its electrical resistance becomes larger.

Elasticity and structure of the compounds in the wollastonite (CaSiO3)-Na 2SiO 3 system: from amorphous to crystalline state.

The elastic properties and structure of four potential bioactive compounds in the CaSiO3-Na2SiO3 system were characterized by Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy at ambient conditions. The increase of Na2O content in the Na2O-CaO-SiO2 glass with the same silica content and hence polymerization was found to lower the elastic moduli with accompanied decrease of Q(0) and Q(2) species, increase of Q(1) species and negligible change of Q(3) species, corresponding to a lower and higher equilibrium constant for the disproportional reactions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (without balance), respectively. The composition-dependent variation in the shear modulus (G) of the Na2O-CaO-SiO2 glass can be attributed to the concentration change of Q(2) and probably Q(4) species; while bulk modulus (K) ascribed to the cohesion factor. The elastic moduli of the corresponding crystalline phases in this system also lower with the increase of Na2O content following two general criteria as a function of Na2O/CaO molar ratio: (1) K decreases faster than G for both the amorphous and crystalline phases and (2) both K and G decreases faster for the crystals than the glasses.

Effects of CaO/P2O5 ratio on the structure and elastic properties of SiO2-CaO-Na2O-P2O5 bioglasses.

The evolution of elastic properties and structure upon the change of CaO/P(2)O(5) ratio in SiO(2)-CaO-Na(2)O-P(2)O(5) glasses (45S5-derived and 55S4-derived) at ambient conditions has been studied by using both Brillouin and Raman spectroscopy coupled with X-ray diffraction. Under the same SiO(2)/Na(2)O ratio, it is found that a decrease in CaO/P(2)O(5) molar ratio has caused a more-polymerized silicate network via a net consumption of Q(0), Q(1), and Q(2) species yet enriching in Q(3) and Q(4) species. Brillouin experiments revealed that all the bulk, shear and Young's moduli of the glasses studied increases with the increase of CaO/P(2)O(5) molar ratio. The unexpected variation trend in shear modulus can be correlated to the contribution from cohesion, the less-polymerized phosphate Q species, and density. Compared to the 45S5-derived, the more-polymerized 55S4-deived glass has a lower bulk but slightly higher shear modulus at the given CaO/P(2)O(5) ratio.

Self-reports of Pap smear screening in women with physical disabilities.

We collected self reported rate of cervical smear testing and to examine the affecting factors in women with physical disabilities in the study, to define the reproductive health care for this group of people. The study population recruited 521 women with physical disabilities aged more than 15 years who were officially registered as having physical disabilities in Taipei County, Taiwan. Those people with physical disabilities include following: upper and low limb, spinal cord injury and other nervous system impairments. Results found that there were 71.5% participants had ever used the Pap smear tests in their life time and mean age of the first screening was 39.21±10.16 years (range=20-85 years). Nearly 41% of participants expressed that they had accepted the screening within 1 year and 28.1% reported they used the Pap smear screening regularly. Our study also found women with physical disabilities have higher use of Pap smear tests than does the general population in Taiwan (74% vs. 64% in aged≥30 years). Logistic regression model for the use of Pap smear test indicated that those married women (OR=12.06, 95% CI=6.85-21.22), with mild level of disability (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.05-4.21) and high cognitive level toward Pap smear information were factors to affect the use of Pap smear in the study participants. We suggest the further study should conduct to examine the quality perception and follow-up service of Pap smear test for women with physical disabilities, to ensure the health care right for this group of women.

Use of drug-eluting versus bare-metal stents in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

The development of drug-eluting stents (DES) is one of the critical milestones in the advances of interventional cardiology. However, clinical stent thrombosis still poses a serious potential complication. In acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), acute total vessel occlusion has a larger thrombus burden, and the use of DES in this particular setting raises safety concerns. Published data from randomized, controlled studies, observational studies and recently published meta-analyses mostly support the safety of DES use in acute STEMI. However, these studies have limited study populations and follow-up periods, so the long-term safety of DES in the setting of STEMI is still unclear, and careful consideration should be given in clinical decision-making. In this article we reviewed the findings of randomized and nonrandomized trials on the use of drugeluting versus bare-metal stents in the setting of acute STEMI.