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Characterizing interface trap states in commercial wide bandgap devices using frequency-based measurements requires unconventionally high probing frequencies to account for both fast and slow traps associated with wide bandgap materials. The C − ψ S technique has been suggested as a viable quasi-static method for determining the interface trap state densities in wide bandgap systems, but the results are shown to be susceptible to errors in the analysis procedure. This work explores the primary sources of errors present in the C − ψ S technique using an analytical model that describes the apparent response for wide bandgap MOS capacitor devices. Measurement noise is shown to greatly impact the linear fitting routine of the 1 / C S ∗ 2 vs ψ S plot to calibrate the additive constant in the surface potential/gate voltage relationship, and an inexact knowledge of the oxide capacitance is also shown to impede interface trap state analysis near the band edge. In addition, a slight nonlinearity that is typically present throughout the 1 / C S ∗ 2 vs ψ S plot hinders the accurate estimation of interface trap densities, which is demonstrated for a fabricated n-SiC MOS capacitor device. Methods are suggested to improve quasi-static analysis, including a novel method to determine an approximate integration constant without relying on a linear fitting routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prognosis of sarcoma patients is improving, with a better understanding of sarcomagenesis revealing novel therapeutic targets. However, aggressive chemotherapy remains an essential part of treatment, bearing the risk of severe side effects that require intensive medical treatment. Available data on the characteristics and clinical outcome of sarcoma patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) are sparse. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of sarcoma patients admitted to the ICU from 2005 to 2022. Patients ≥ 18 years with histologically proven sarcoma were included in our study. Results: Sixty-six patients were eligible for analysis. The following characteristics had significant impact on overall survival: sex (p=0.046), tumour localization (p=0.02), therapeutic intention (p=0.02), line of chemotherapy (p< 0.001), SAPS II score (p=0.03) and SOFA score (p=0.02). Conclusion: Our study confirms the predictive relevance of established sepsis and performance scores in sarcoma patients. For overall survival, common clinical characteristics are also of significant value. Further investigation is needed to optimize ICU treatment of sarcoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a dual-polarized frequency-scaled ultra-wide spectrum element (FUSE) array on a triangular lattice, precision-machined from an Aluminum block as a self-supporting structure, similar to all-metal Vivaldi arrays reported by the authors in past work. Whereas dual-polarized FUSE arrays normally consist of offset radiator pairs conforming to the ubiquitous square-lattice egg-crate configuration and capacitively coupled at the ends to achieve ultra-wideband operational frequency ranges, this work is novel in that it uses conventional manufacturing to directly machine the dual-polarized FUSE array on a triangular lattice instead. Triangular lattices for dual-polarized wideband arrays are uncommon in the literature and have the benefit of 15.5% reduction in element counts over a square lattice aperture of the same footprint and upper frequency of operation, making this a useful development for applications requiring minimum element counts, i.e., reduced cost/weight. In this article, embedded element performance predictions for the dual-polarized triangular-lattice FUSE array are presented and validated with measurements of a hardware prototype. Results show similar overall grating-lobe-free performance to a square lattice FUSE array of the same footprint and operational frequencies reported in earlier work. The asymmetries of the triangular lattice result in relative performance degradation versus square lattice FUSE arrays as a trade-off to the benefit of reduced element counts for apertures of similar size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Families play a key role in managing chronic illness. Among chronically ill children, we describe the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Family Relationships measure over time and its associations with sociodemographics, environmental deprivation, and health. Methods: Parents of children aged 8–18 years with asthma (n = 171), type 1 diabetes (n = 199), or sickle cell disease (n = 135), recruited in pediatric clinics and emergency departments (ED), completed demographic surveys. Every six months for up to three years, children completed PROMIS Family Relationships, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms short forms (T-scores; mean 50, SD = 10), and a 5-level health status item. Linear mixed models were fit to estimate associations. Results: Older baseline age was associated with weaker family relationships. For example, for each 3-year higher baseline age, relationships were 3 points weaker for males (− 3.0; 95%CI − 5.7 to −.0.2) and females (− 3.1; 95%CI − 6.0 to − 0.3) with asthma recruited in the ED. For each 1-unit higher mean overall health, relationships were 4.6 points (95%CI 3.2–6.1) stronger for children with diabetes and about 2 points stronger for children with asthma (2.3; 0.7–3.9) and sickle cell disease (2.1; 0.3–3.9). Family relationships were 0.3–0.5 points weaker for each 1-unit increment in mean anxiety or depressive symptoms across all three diseases. Relationships were not significantly associated with environmental deprivation and generally stable over time. Conclusions: Family relationships were weaker among older children and generally stable over time, yet fluctuated with physical and mental health. Monitoring PROMIS Family Relationships scores may facilitate referrals for chronically ill children who need support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a dual-polarized Vivaldi array on a triangular lattice. The all-metal ultrawideband Vivaldi features offset radiator pairs that are precision-machined from aluminum stock as a modular tile, similar to earlier reports on more typical all-metal square-lattice Vivaldi arrays. The intent of this work is to validate the embedded element performance of the dual-polarized triangular-lattice Vivaldi, comparing one-to-one with results for a similarly sized dual-polarized all-metal Vivaldi array on a square (egg-crate) lattice, reported previously. The triangular-lattice Vivaldi array is optimally sampled for grating-lobe-free scans with a potential 15.5% reduction in element count compared to a corresponding optimally sampled square-lattice array of similar size. As such, the footprint of the manufactured triangular-lattice Vivaldi array is roughly 8% larger than the square-lattice array, yet has 7% fewer elements. Infinite array predictions are presented and shown to compare favorably with previous findings for the square-lattice Vivaldi array, noting minor performance compromises. Wideband and wide-scan simulations are validated with measurements of prototype hardware, demonstrating that embedded element performance of the triangular-lattice array correlates well with modeling predictions. All told, the triangular-lattice array has similar capability to the square-lattice Vivaldi array in a more efficiently sampled aperture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a dual-polarized planar-printed ultrawideband antenna array on an optimally sampled triangular (hexagonal) lattice. The design is based on the dual-polarized planar ultrawideband modular antenna (PUMA). In this article, the dual-polarized square lattice PUMA array is adapted to an equilateral triangular lattice for grating-lobe-free scanning at a 15.5% reduced element count. A prototype triangular lattice PUMA array is built and compared with a square lattice PUMA aperture of similar size. As configured, the triangular lattice array demonstrates an 8% larger aperture area with 7% fewer elements than the square lattice array. Modeling predictions are validated with measured results for embedded element performance. The triangular lattice PUMA is shown to compare favorably to the square lattice PUMA with modest performance compromises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The on‐road monitoring of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in automotive systems optimizes their efficiency and fuel consumption in addition to increasing their lifetime. In this work, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements and special EIS data analysis algorithms were used to quickly identify fuel cell operational modes and failures during cell operation. The approach developed enables the measurement and analysis time of only a few seconds and allows the accurate extraction of information about the membrane and charge transfer resistance. The data analysis procedures show similar accuracy to that of the complex non‐linear least square fitting algorithms. As a result, typical operational failures like air and hydrogen starvation were able to be easily distinguished, and different operational states (membrane humidification, air stoichiometry) of the PEMFCs could be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]