MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF RF PLASMA AT LOW PRESSURES FOR CYLINDRIC VACUUM CHAMBER WITH CHARGED SPECIMAN

Для моделирования процессов в ВЧ-плазме пониженного давления с продувом газа разработана гибридная математическая модель при числах Кнудсена - для несущего газа. Модель включает начально-краевую задачу для кинетического уравнения Больцмана, описывающего функцию распределения несущего нейтрального газа, краевые задачи для уравнения неразрывности электронной, ионной и метастабильной компонент, уравнения сохранения энергии электронов, для ВЧ-уравнений Максвелла в форме телеграфных уравнений и уравнения Пуассона для потенциальной составляющей поля. Приводятся результаты расчета электрической напряженности, концентрации электронов, ионов и метастабилей, потенциальной составляющей электромагнитного поля в цилиндрической вакуумной камере. A hybrid mathematical model for the Knudsen numbers - for the carrier gas has been developed to simulate processes in a low pressure RF plasma with gas flow. The model includes an initial boundary value problem for the kinetic Boltzmann equation describing the distribution function of the carrier neutral gas, boundary value problems for the continuity equation of the electronic, ionic and metastable components, the electron energy conservation equations, for Maxwell’s RF equations in the form of telegraphic equations and the Poisson equation for the potential part of field. The results of the calculation of the electric intensity, the concentration of electrons, iones and metastables, the potential component of the electromagnetic field in a cylindrical vacuum chamber are presented.

The interplay of childhood maltreatment and maternal depression in relation to the reward positivity in youth

Guided by developmental psychopathology and dual-risk frameworks, the present study examined the interplay between childhood maltreatment and maternal major depression history in relation to neural reward responsiveness in youth. The sample consisted of 96 youth (ages 9–16; M = 12.29 years, SD = 2.20; 68.8% female) drawn from a large metropolitan city. Youth were recruited based on whether their mothers had a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and were categorized into two groups: youth with mothers with a history of MDD (high risk; HR; n = 56) and youth with mothers with no history of psychiatric disorders (low risk; LR; n = 40). The reward positivity (RewP), an event-related potential component, was utilized to measure reward responsiveness and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire measured childhood maltreatment. We found a significant two-way interaction between childhood maltreatment and risk group in relation to RewP. Simple slope analysis revealed that in the HR group, greater childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with reduced RewP. The relationship between childhood maltreatment and RewP was not significant among the LR youth. The present findings demonstrate that the association between childhood maltreatment and blunted reward responsiveness is dependent on whether offspring have mothers with histories of MDD.

Analysis of the Possibility of Using Slags from the Thermal Treatment of Municipal Waste as Potential Component of Cement—Case Study

In Europe there are nearly 500 incinerators. There are over 2000 of them in the world. It is estimated that the combustion of 1 ton (Mg) of waste produces about 250–300 kg of slag. Due to the large amounts of this waste, the construction industry’s demand for raw materials and the reduction of CO2 emissions, research was undertaken to use slags as a cement component. The problem was complex because slags generated in the thermal treatment of municipal waste have different chemical compositions and physical properties and contain variable amounts of impurities. The choice of chemical analyses of slag was dictated by the potential influence on the properties of cement mortars. The total moisture of raw slag (4–10%), the bulk density (600–1267 kg/m3) and the specific surface after grinding (over 3000 cm2/g) were determined. The pH (11.9) and the content of sulphates (3.5% by weight), chlorides (0.3% by weight) and selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb) were measured in the aqueous extract. The obtained results of the washing test were compared with the values resulting from the currently binding legal regulations. In the next step, cement mortars with 30% addition of tested slags were designed and made. The article presents the results of compressive strength tests, which were compared with the results of samples without the addition of slag. The addition of slag to the cement mortar decreased S_MSWI 1 by 64% and S_MSWI 2 by 31%. The high loss of strength and the swelling of the S_MSWI 1 test led to the activation of the NaOH slag. In the endurance test, an increase from 16 to 32 MPa was recorded. Preliminary studies show that the addition of slag in the cement mortar allows obtaining the strength at the level of 30–32 MPa.

No effect of different styles of mindfulness-based meditation on EEG auditory mismatch negativity in expert and novice practitioners

The auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) is a well characterized event-related potential component which has gained recent attention in theoretical models describing the impact of various styles of mindfulness meditation on attentional processes and perceptual inference. Previous findings highlighted a differential modulation of the MMN amplitude by meditation states and degrees of expertise. In the present study, we attempted to replicate results from the recent literature with a data sample that allowed for increased statistical power compared to previous experiments. Relying on traditional frequentist analysis, we found no effects of meditation states and expertise on the auditory MMN amplitude, non-replicating our previous work (Fucci et al., 2018). Using a Bayesian approach, we found strong evidence against an interaction effect on the MMN amplitude between expertise groups and meditation states and only moderate evidence in favour of a weak effect of expertise during focused attention practice. On the other hand, we replicated previous evidence of increased alpha oscillatory power during meditation practices compared to a control state. We discuss our null findings in relation to factors that could undermine the replicability of previous research on this subject, namely low statistical power, use of flexible analysis methods and a possible publication bias leading to a misrepresentation of the available evidence.

Use of a Move-on Component to Increase Consumption for a Clinical Paediatric Feeding Case In-Home

Research from specialised hospital feeding programmes in the United States has shown effectiveness of a variety of treatments for packing (not swallowing food or liquid in the mouth) to increase swallowing and consumption. One potential component used in clinical practice has not been evaluated in the literature to our knowledge. This component is move-on and involves moving on to the next bite presentation rather than waiting for swallowing (i.e., clean mouth). A 5-year-old female with autism spectrum disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder participated in a home setting in Australia. We used a withdrawal/reversal single-case experimental design for a move-on component added to a treatment package. With move-on added, latency to clean mouth decreased and consumption increased to 100%. After the treatment evaluation, additional procedures (interspersal, redistribution) were needed in full plate and portion meals. Food variety was increased to 116 regular texture foods across all food groups. All (100%) of admission goals were met. Parents were trained to high procedural integrity, and the protocol was generalised to the community. Gains maintained to 1-month follow-up.

Evaluation of Calcium Alginate-Based Biopolymers as Potential Component of Membranes for Recovering Biosurfactants from Corn Steep Water

Corn steep water (CSW) is a complex agro-food stream that is used as a source of cost-competitive biosurfactants, since they are produced spontaneously in the steeping process of corn, avoiding production costs. Nevertheless, the extraction of biosurfactants from CSW using sustainable processes is still a challenge. Consequently, the use of calcium alginate membranes could present a novel and sustainable technology for recovering biosurfactants from aqueous streams. Therefore, the aim of this work is to evaluate calcium alginate-based biopolymers, without and with the presence of grape marc as an additive, as a key component of membranes for the recovery of biosurfactants in corn steep water. Biosurfactants are present in CSW, together with other inorganic solutes and biomolecules, such as organic acids, sugars, cations, anions as well as metals. Hence, the competition of these mentioned compounds for the active sites of the calcium alginate-based biopolymers was high. However, they showed a good adsorption capacity for biosurfactants, recovering around 55 ± 2% and 47 ± 1%, of biosurfactants from CSW using both calcium alginate-based biopolymers, with and without biodegraded grape marc. Regarding adsorption capacity, it was 54.8 ± 0.6 mg biosurfactant/g bioadsorbent for the biopolymer containing grape marc, and 46.8 ± 0.4 mg biosurfactant/g bioadsorbent for the calcium alginate-based biopolymer alone. Based on these results, it could be postulated that the formulation of green membranes, based on calcium alginate-based polymers, could be an interesting alternative for the recovery of biosurfactants from aqueous streams including CSW.

Antiprotozoal and anthelmintic activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles

: Nanomaterials represent a wide alternative for the treatment of several diseases that affect both human and animal health. The use of these materials mainly involves trying to solve the problem of resistance that pathogenic organisms acquire to conventional drugs. A well-studied example that represents a potential component for biomedical applications is the use of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). Its antimicrobial function is related, especially the ability to generate/induce ROS that affects the homeostasis of the pathogen in question. Protozoa and helminths that harm human health and the economic performance of animals have already been exposed to this type of nanoparticle. Thus, through this review, our goal is to discuss the state-of-the-art effect of ZnO NPs on these parasites.

Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans (SLRPs) in the Retina

Retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are the leading causes of visual impairment worldwide. There is a critical need to understand the structural and cellular components that play a vital role in the pathophysiology of retinal diseases. One potential component is the family of structural proteins called small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs). SLRPs are crucial in many fundamental biological processes involved in the maintenance of retinal homeostasis. They are present within the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective and vascular tissues and contribute to tissue organization and modulation of cell growth. They play a vital role in cell–matrix interactions in many upstream signaling pathways involved in fibrillogenesis and angiogenesis. In this comprehensive review, we describe the expression patterns and function of SLRPs in the retina, including Biglycan and Decorin from class I; Fibromodulin, Lumican, and a Proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein (PRELP) from class II; Opticin and Osteoglycin/Mimecan from class III; and Chondroadherin (CHAD), Tsukushi and Nyctalopin from class IV.