Preliminary study on the correlation of plasma hemolysis index and potassium measurement of inpatient in the Biochemistry Laboratory of General Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Background: Potassium (K+) is the essential micronutrient and major intracellular fluid cation which involves in various cellular metabolism activities, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance. Measurement of blood concentration in a medical laboratory has often encountered disturbances such as hemolysis, which may lead to the elevation in measurement and affects the medical diagnosis and treatment of the patient, conceivably fatal. Hemolysis can be decided using hemolysis index (H-index) through automation. Methods: In this study, H-index and concentration of fifty hospitalized patients (n=50) hemolysed blood samples were measured and correlated. Freezing-and-thaw method was used to hemolyse the blood samples. Different concentrations were diluted and analyzed using COBAS 8000 biochemistry analyser. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: Our findings showed significant mean differences, 0.001 (p ≤ 0.05) and strong positive linear relationship between two variables (H-index and ) (r=0.764, p ≤ 0.05). By applying calculated linear equation [y = 0.0048x + 5.146, = 0.5838], critical value of 6.0 mmol/l gives H-index of 178, H-index above 178 is suggested to be critical. Discussion and Conclusion: concentration increases in proportion to H-index. A greater degree of hemolysis causes more ions to be released into extracellular fluid, respectively. In conclusion, when H-index less than 178 in measurement and there is no analytical significance bias generated, the result is acceptable, whilst H-index with analyte variation between clinically significant bias range can be released with a comment regarding the potential of data alteration. Meanwhile, result with H-index exceeding the cut-offs should be suppressed and recollection of sample is required.

Исследование вольт-амперных характеристик новых гетероструктур MnO-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-/GaAs(100) и V-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-5-=/SUB=-/GaAs(100), прошедших термическую обработку

Complex oxide films with a thickness of about 200 nm are formed during the thermal oxidation of GaAs with magnetron-deposited V_2O_5 and MnO_2 nanolayers. The electrical parameters of the films (reverse-bias breakdown voltage and current density) are determined by the method of current–voltage ( I – V ) characteristics at room temperature in the bias range from –5 to +5 V, and their composition and surface morphology are investigated. It is shown that V_2O_5 facilitates the more intense (in comparison with MnO_2) chemical bonding of arsenic at the internal interface with the formation of As_2O_5. As a result, thermally oxidized V_2O_5/GaAs heterostructures exhibit higher breakdown voltages.

Empirical and Theoretical Modeling of Low-Frequency Noise Behavior of Ultrathin Silicon-on-Insulator MOSFETs Aiming at Low-Voltage and Low-Energy Regime

This paper theoretically revisits the low-frequency noise behavior of the inversion-channel silicon-on-insulator metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (SOI MOSFET) and the buried-channel SOI MOSFET because the quality of both Si/SiO2 interfaces (top and bottom) should modulate the low-frequency fluctuation characteristics of both devices. It also addresses the low-frequency noise behavior of sub-100-nm channel SOI MOSFETs. We deepen the discussion of the low-frequency noise behavior in the subthreshold bias range in order to elucidate the device’s potential for future low-voltage and low-power applications. As expected, analyses suggest that the weak inversion channel near the top surface of the SOI MOSFET is strongly influenced by interface traps near the top surface of the SOI layer because the traps are not well shielded by low-density surface inversion carriers in the subthreshold bias range. Unexpectedly, we find that the buried channel is primarily influenced by interface traps near the top surface of the SOI layer, not by traps near the bottom surface of the SOI layer. This is not due to the simplified capacitance coupling effect. These interesting characteristics of current fluctuation spectral intensity are explained well by the theoretical models proposed here.

Negative differential resistance and magnetoresistance in zigzag borophene nanoribbons

Since borophene has been grown experimentally, its extraordinary characteristics have attracted more and more attentions. In this paper, we construct pristine zigzag-edged borophene nanoribbons (ZBNRs) of different widths to study the transport properties, using the first-principles calculations. The differences of the quantum transport properties are discussed, where even-N ZBNRs and odd-N ZBNRs have different current–voltage relationships. Especially, the negative differential resistance (NDR) can be observed within certain bias range in 5-ZBNR and 7-ZBNR, while 6-ZBNR behaves like a metal whose current rises with the increase of the voltage. Moreover, borophene nanoribbon shows interesting magnetic transport properties. The spin-filtering effect can be revealed when the two electrodes have opposite magnetization directions. Besides, the magnetoresistance effect appears to exist in even-N ZBNRs and the maximum value can reach 70%. The mechanisms of these phenomena are proposed in detail.

How Uncertainty in Field Measurements of Ice Nucleating Particles Influences Modeled Cloud Forcing

Field and laboratory measurements using continuous flow diffusion chambers (CFDCs) have been used to construct parameterizations of the number of ice nucleating particles (INPs) in mixed-phase and completely glaciated clouds in weather and climate models. Because of flow nonidealities, CFDC measurements are subject to systematic low biases. Here, the authors investigate the effects of this undercounting bias on simulated cloud forcing in a global climate model. The authors assess the influence of measurement variability by constructing a stochastic parameterization framework to endogenize measurement uncertainty. The authors find that simulated anthropogenic longwave ice-bearing cloud forcing in a global climate model can vary up to 0.8 W m−2 and can change sign from positive to negative within the experimentally constrained bias range. Considering the variability in the undercounting bias, in a range consistent with recent experiments, leads to a larger negative cloud forcing than that when the variability is ignored and only a constant bias is assumed.

Validity and Reliability of Two Field-Based Leg Stiffness Devices: Implications for Practical Use

Leg stiffness is an important performance determinant in several sporting activities. This study evaluated the criterion-related validity and reliability of 2 field-based leg stiffness devices, Optojump Next® (Optojump) and Myotest Pro® (Myotest) in different testing approaches. Thirty-four males performed, on 2 separate sessions, 3 trials of 7 maximal hops, synchronously recorded from a force platform (FP), Optojump and Myotest. Validity (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r; relative mean bias; 95% limits of agreement, 95%LoA) and reliability (coefficient of variation, CV; intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC; standard error of measurement, SEM) were calculated for first attempt, maximal attempt, and average across 3 trials. For all 3 methods, Optojump correlated highly to the FP (range r = .98–.99) with small bias (range 0.91–0.92, 95%LoA 0.86–0.98). Myotest demonstrated high correlation to FP (range r = .81–.86) with larger bias (range 1.92–1.93, 95%LoA 1.63–2.23). Optojump yielded a low CV (range 5.9% to 6.8%), high ICC (range 0.82–0.86), and SEM ranging 1.8–2.1 kN/m. Myotest had a larger CV (range 8.9% to 13.0%), moderate ICC (range 0.64–0.79), and SEM ranging from 6.3 to 8.9 kN/m. The findings present important information for these devices and support the use of a time-efficient single trial to assess leg stiffness in the field.

Modeling the degradation and recovery of perovskite solar cells

Degradation and recovery can be modelled differently for every bias range.

Improving the bias range for spin-filtering by selecting proper electrode materials

Using the non-equilibrium Green’s function method combined with density function theory, we investigate the spin transport for carbon chains connected to electrodes of different materials.