•Renders have a significant influence on the thermal performance of the buildings.•A reduction of 12–35% of thermal conductivity can be achieved by the use of diatoms.•And up to 23% compared to ...hardened lime pastes.•Thermal conductivity depends on the compaction time.•The importance of the application in the thermal performance of mortars is clear.
The adaptation of building constructions to energy saving requirements entails the study of the performance of constructive systems making up the building envelope. Since the façade is the envelope constructive system of greater impact, in terms of energy demand, the thermal characterisation of its components is of great interest. In this article, hardened lime pastes and different lime mortars with dolomite aggregate and calcined diatom additions at different temperatures are compared, firstly, in terms of thermal conductivity. Parameters such as aggregate type, binder, aggregate proportion, water content, bulk density of the mixture in hardened state and compaction time are studied as well. The wide application of lime and diatom mortars, in relation to traditional lime and mortars containing crushed marble, with reductions of their thermal conductivity up to 41.5% is proven, from the results of this research.
Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (DMAPS) are monolithic pixel detectors with high-resistivity substrates designed for use in high-rate and high-radiation environments. They are produced in ...commercial CMOS processes, resulting in relatively low production costs and short turnaround times, and offer a low material budget. LF-Monopix1 and TJ-Monopix1 are large DMAPS prototypes produced in 150 nm LFoundry and 180 nm TowerJazz technology, respectively, that follow two different design concepts regarding the charge collection electrode. Prototypes of both development lines have been extensively tested and characterized over the last years. The second-generation Monopix prototypes, Monopix2, were recently produced. They were designed to address the shortcomings of their predecessors, in particular related to radiation hardness and cross talk, and further improve upon their performance. The latest measurements with LF-Monopix1 and TJ-Monopix1 concerning hit efficiency, depletion, and radiation hardness as well as the initial test results of the new Monopix2 prototypes are presented.
As no globally accepted dengue vaccines or specific antiviral therapies are currently available, controlling breeding sites of Aedes aegypti is a target to prevent dengue outbreaks. The present study ...aimed to characterize outdoor artificial breeding sites in urban households using an exhaustive classification system.
A cross-sectional entomological survey was carried out in Colón city, Entre Ríos, Argentina, using a two-stage stratified sampling design during March and April 2014. The city was stratified given the degree of urbanization of each block, and blocks and households were randomly selected. All outdoor containers with water were inspected, and the presence of immature mosquitoes was recorded. Containers were classified according to physical, functional, and location attributes. Generalized linear mixed models were applied to take into account the aggregated nature of the data (containers in houses and houses in blocks).
Overall, 207 houses were inspected. Out of 522 containers with water, 25% had immatures of Ae. aegypti (7336). In adjusted models, the abundance of immatures was higher in containers with increasing opening surface and volume, without roof cover, exposed to shadow, out of use or with functions related to gardening activities, household chores, water storage, or construction. At block level, immatures abundance was positively associated with the degree of urbanization.
We detected high immatures abundance in containers associated with water utilization. This suggests that containers involved in these activities, whether directly (e.g., water storage) or indirectly (e.g., incomplete water drainage in the last use), are susceptible to present a high immature abundance. Although our results indicate the importance of the type of use over the type of container, we encourage the use of both classification criteria for artificial breeding sites of mosquitoes, mainly because these are complementary. Additionally, generalized linear mixed models allowed us to analyse predictor variables at different scales (container/house/block) and consider the lack of independence between observations. An exhaustive analysis of artificial breeding sites that use this analytical methodology can lead to new information that could help designing more appropriate tools for dengue surveillance and control.
A shunt regulator was designed to meet the specifications for the serial powering of the CMOS pixel detector modules in compatibility with the next upgrade of the ATLAS detector. Serial powering ...greatly increases the system's power efficiency when compared to a parallel powering scheme and allows for significant material budget savings in the power cabling. In such a scheme, each pixel detector chip is powered by a shunt regulator that takes in a constant current and produces a regulated output voltage relative to the module's potential ground. The proposed regulator has a modular structure. Each regulator module consists of a shunt regulation submodule followed by a low-dropout voltage regulation submodule and is designed to deliver a nominal output current of 10 mA. The regulator module's schematic is presented along with a theoretical study and stability analysis. A test chip was designed in the 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\mu \text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula> CMOS technology containing one main shunt regulator composed of 126 modules, as well as two separate regulators each composed of one single module. The characterization measurements show a correct dc startup for various load conditions, as expected by simulations. The output voltage of a single module is regulated with a precision <1%. Moreover, the regulator module works with a low voltage dropout of 200 mV for a large range of input current from 3 to 18 mA. The equivalent series resistance of a 40-module regulator is measured to be 15 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{m}\Omega </tex-math></inline-formula>, including the wire bonding and test bench parasitics. The test chip is successfully tested in the serial mode and in the parallel mode. In the latter mode, the current mismatch between the parallel chips is measured to be less than 3.4% for an input current of 1 A. Moreover, transient measurements performed with an active load show proper functioning with no undershoots or overshoots. Finally, the test chip was irradiated with an X-ray source up to 125 Mrad. Measurements show a stable response of the regulator with an intrinsic output voltage variation of less than 1%.
Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (DMAPS) constitute a promising low cost alternative for the outer layers of the ATLAS experiment Inner Tracker (ITk). Realizations in modern, high resistivity ...CMOS technologies enhance their radiation tolerance by achieving substantial depletion of the sensing volume. Two DMAPS prototypes that use the same “column-drain” readout architecture and are based on different sensor implementation concepts named LF-Monopix and TJ-Monopix have been developed for the High Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC).
LF-Monopix was fabricated in the LFoundry 150 nm technology and features pixel size of 50×250μm2 and large collection electrode opted for high radiation tolerance. Detection efficiency up to 99% has been measured after irradiation to 1⋅1015neq∕cm2. TJ-Monopix is a large scale (1×2cm2) prototype featuring pixels of 36×40μm2 size. It was fabricated in a novel TowerJazz 180 nm modified process that enables full depletion of the sensitive layer, while employing a small collection electrode that is less sensitive to crosstalk. The resulting small sensor capacitance (≤3 fF) is exploited by a compact, low power front end optimized to meet the 25 ns timing requirement. Measurement results demonstrate the sensor performance in terms of Equivalent Noise Charge (ENC) ≈11e−, threshold ≈300e−, threshold dispersion ≈30e− and total power consumption lower than 120 mW/cm2.
•Depleted monolithic pixel sensors developed for the ATLAS ITk.•Different implemenation concepts featuring large and small collection electrodes.•Process modification to combine small capacitance with enhanced radiation tolerance.•Full functionality after irradiation.•High efficiency (LF-Monopix), High analog performance (TJ-Monopix).
Accessing Meckel’s cave (MC) is surgically challenging. Open approaches are complex and often correlated with high morbidity. Endoscopic approaches emerged in the last decade as feasible alternatives ...to open approaches, especially for sampling indeterminate lesions. This article first analyses available routes to approach Meckel’s cave and presents furthermore an illustrative case. We conducted a systematic review and reported according to the guidelines for preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Various surgical approaches identified through the search are evaluated and discussed in detail. Additionally, we report on a case of woman with a lesion in MC, which was accessed through an endoscopic transpterygoid approach subsequently diagnosed as a diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Our search delivered 75 articles that included case reports (
n
= 21), cadaveric studies (
n
= 32), clinical articles (
n
= 16), review of the literatures (
n
= 3), as well as technical notes (
n
= 2) and a radiological manuscript (
n
= 1). Open routes included lateral approaches with many variations, mainly intra- and extradural pterional approaches and anterior petrosal, as well as a retrosigmoid intradural suprameatal and a lateral transorbital approach. Endoscopically, MC was reached via approaches that included transpterygoid, transorbital or infraorbital fissure routes. Percutaneous approaches, e.g. through the foramen ovale, were also described. Multiple surgical approaches to MC are currently available. Their different characteristics as well as individual patient factors, such as clinical history and the localization of the disease, have to be considered when choosing a surgical corridor. Studies included in this review highlight the endonasal endoscopic transpterygoidal technique as an excellent corridor for biopsies in the ventral MC.
The improvement of energy efficiency in buildings is pivotal for mitigating climate change and its repercussions on weather patterns, such as raised average temperatures and extreme weather events, ...which are expected to become an increasingly frequent occurrence. In addition, it is continuously impacting ecosystems and causing biodiversity loss through the proliferation of non-native invasive species, such as
Typha domingensis
, which can entail significant direct human health impacts. This research puts forth the use of this aquatic plant as thermal insulation material, which would consequently aid in controlling its spreading. Along with a context-tailored manufacturing method, five types of thermal insulation boards were developed, each with a different dosage of cement, ranging from 0 to 80%. Out of these, the boards with 60% of fibre content were found to be optimal due to their low thermal conductivity and their balanced mechanical strength, swelling and hydric performance. Furthermore, transient simulations developed for the Nigerian context and sub-Saharan Africa area showed that the optimal thickness for the boards would be 80 mm. With the implementation of Typha boards, indoor temperatures no longer exceeded 35 °C and the number of comfortable occupied hours increased by 70% compared to the baseline situation.
Graphic Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Proper skull base reconstruction after endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery is of great importance to decrease the rate of complications.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and ...efficacy of reconstruction with materials other than fat graft and naso-septal flaps (NSF) to avoid their associated morbidities.
METHODS
The authors’ institutional database for patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal approach for pituitary adenoma was reviewed. Exclusion criteria included recurrence, postradiation therapy, and reconstruction by fat graft or NSF. They were divided into group A, where collagen matrix (CM) (DuraGen® Plus Matrix, Integra LifeSciences Corporation, Plainsboro, New Jersey) alone was used; group B, where CM and simple mucoperiosteum graft were used and group C, which included cases without CM utilization.
RESULTS
The study included 252 patients. No age, gender, or body mass index statistically significant difference between groups. Group B included the largest tumor size (23.0 mm) in comparison to groups A (18.0 mm) and C (13.0 mm). Suprasellar extension was more frequently present (49.4%) in comparison to groups A (29.8%, P = .001) and C (21.2%, P < .001). Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak rate was 0%, 2.9%, and 6% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. In group B, the CSF leak rate decreased from 45.9% intraoperatively to 2.9% postoperatively (P < .001). In group A, the CSF leak reduction rate was almost statistically significant (P = .06).
CONCLUSION
Utilization of CM and simple mucosperiosteal graft in skull base reconstruction following pituitary adenoma surgery is an effective method to avoid the morbidities associated with NSF or fat graft.
DMAPS Monopix developments in large and small electrode designs Bespin, C.; Barbero, M.; Barrillon, P. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
10/2020, Letnik:
978
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
LF-Monopix1 and TJ-Monopix1 are depleted monolithic active pixel sensors (DMAPS) in 150nm LFoundry and 180nm TowerJazz CMOS technologies respectively. They are designed for usage in high-rate and ...high-radiation environments such as the ATLAS Inner Tracker at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). Both chips are read out using a column-drain readout architecture. LF-Monopix1 follows a design with large charge collection electrode where readout electronics are placed inside. Generally, this offers a homogeneous electrical field in the sensor and short drift distances. TJ-Monopix1 employs a small charge collection electrode with readout electronics separated from the electrode and an additional n-type implant to achieve full depletion of the sensitive volume. This approach offers a low sensor capacitance and therefore low noise and is typically implemented with small pixel size. Both detectors have been characterized before and after irradiation using lab tests and particle beams.
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