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The aim of this study was to conduct a clinical and statistical analysis of ophthalmological manifestations in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) using biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) as a basic therapy. The study included 58 patients (19[32.7%] women and 39[67.3%] men) with AS receiving bDMARDs. The median age of patients was 41.81(25;60) years. The average age of the disease onset was 25.23(9;47) years. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 included 24 patients with ophthalmic manifestations; Group 2 included 34 patients without ophthalmic manifestations. All patients in Group 1 took TNF-α inhibitors, (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, etarnacept, and cetrolizumab-pegol). In Group 2, TNF-α inhibitors (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, etarnacept) were received by 32(92.4%) patients and interleukin-17 inhibitor (secukinumab) by 2(5.8%) patients. Group 1 was characterized by a greater age and average duration of the disease, as well as the presence of metabolic instability (blood glucose and creatinine levels in the borderline range). The effectiveness of bDMARD in AS is characterized by the normalization and stabilization of clinical and biochemical parameters, including blood cholesterol and creatinine levels, which prevents the occurrence of vascular lesions, including uveitis.

Obesity, ethanol, and contaminants are known risk factors of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (CMD). However, their interplay on clinical profiles of these diseases remains unclear, and thus were investigated in this study. Male lean or obese JCR rats were given water or 10% ethanol and orally treated with or without a contaminant mixture (CM) dissolved in corn oil and loaded on two cookies at 0, 1.6, or 16 mg/kg BW/day dose levels for 4 weeks. The CM consisted 22 environmental contaminants found in human blood or serum of Northern populations. Over 60 parameters related to CMD were examined. The results revealed that obesity in JCR rats resembles the clinical profiles of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in humans. Obesity was also associated with increased serum and organ retention of mercury, one of the chemical components of CM. Exposure to ethanol lightened hyperlipidemia, increased liver retention of mercury, and increased risk for hypertension in the obese rats. CM lessened hyperlipidemia and hyperenzymemia, worsened systemic inflammation and increased the risk for hypertension in the obese rats. CM markedly increased serum ethanol levels with or without ethanol exposure. Tissue total mercury contents significantly correlated with clinical parameters with altered profiles by both ethanol and obesity. These results suggest that obese individuals may be more prone to contaminant accumulation. Ethanol and CM exposure can alter clinical profiles associated with obesity, which may lead to misdiagnosis of CMD associated with obesity. CM can alter endogenous production and/or metabolism of ethanol, further complicating disease progression, diagnosis, and treatment.

Introduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was quarantine, limited contacts, and an increased burden on the healthcare system in the last two years. These problems have led to a rethinking and transformation of patients’ readiness for the digitalisation of healthcare. Purpose. to form a patient profile, ready to use digital technologies and artificial intelligence methods in medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on technological competence and digital literacy skills analysis. Material and methods. The sociological survey of patients was used through the remote distribution of links to the Google form on the Internet. The survey consists of 11 blocks, including an assessment of attitudes towards digital technologies and artificial intelligence in healthcare. Results. The average age of respondents was 41.8 ± 0.7 years, mostly female 225 (74%) in the group of patients ready to use electronic wearable devices to monitor and control their health. One hundred thirty-one people (43.1 %) regularly monitor their blood pressure levels. One hundred thirty-seven people (45%) assess their health as good and 133 (43.7%) satisfactory. 256 (84.2%) respondents mostly work full-time. Ones do physical exercises regularly in 34.2% (n = 104) cases and rarely in 48,7% (n = 148). Only 164 respondents (29.4%) consider it possible to use artificial intelligence methods in providing medical care, preventing the development of diseases and promoting a healthy lifestyle, against 256 people (45.9%), the remaining 137 people (24.6%) found it difficult to answer. Women (49.7%) were more often against artificial intelligence methods than men (33.6%). Conclusion. It is necessary to consider the patient’s profile characteristics, who is ready to use digital technologies and artificial intelligence methods in medical care when developing effective programs to increase the level and pace of healthcare’s digitalisation in the region.

Background: Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) remains one of the effective methods of treatment in pre- and proliferative forms of retinopathy with high efficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of PRP depending on the somatic status, laboratory parameters, and the severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and a history of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods and Results: The study included 76 patients (50 women and 26 men) with T2D who underwent PRP for DR (152 eyes) using a VISULAS® 532s solid-state laser (ZEISS). The patients were divided into two groups depending on the severity of CKD. Group 1 (n=32, 64 eyes) included patients with CKD Stage 1, Group 2 (n=44, 88 eyes) included patients with CKD Stage 2. All patients underwent standard ophthalmological examination: visometry, tonometry, perimetry, biomicroscopy of the anterior segment of the eye and vitreous body, and fundus ophthalmoscopy. Thickness map of the retina was obtained using the RTVue-100 OCT (Optovue, Fremont, CA) EMM5 scan protocol and the Stratus OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, USA) radial scan protocol. Laboratory methods included a general blood test, PPG, FG, HbA1c, general urine analysis, and the assessment of blood levels of creatinine, ALT, and AST. PRP was carried out according to the standard method, gradually, in three stages; the interval between the stages of laser treatment was 1 month. After laser treatment, all patients, regardless of the treatment stage, were prescribed topical Broxinac® (Bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09%). The dynamics of corrected visual acuity (CVA) parameters and the retinal thickness of the macular region were assessed before PRP and 3 months after the complex treatment. Multivariate analysis revealed a linear and nonlinear effect of lipid spectrum indicators (TC and LDL) on the formation of CL (crystalline lens) pathology. After treatment, a significant increase in CVA was noted in both study groups. The effectiveness of PRP coagulation depended on the severity of the CKD stage in T2D patients with DR. Normalization of morphometric parameters of the macular region of the retina was noted in 93.8% of cases in Group 1 and in 86.4% of cases in Group 2. The decrease in the effectiveness of treatment was associated with the presence of macroangiopathy (CAD), concomitant diseases (CHF, AH and dyslipidemia), and CKD stage. Conclusion: Prolonged administration of the non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug Bromfenacum® for a month after each stage of PRP is effective.

In the past, different bacterial species have been tested for cancer therapy in preclinical and clinical studies. The success of bacterial cancer therapy is mainly dependent on the ability of the utilized bacteria to overcome the host immune defense system to colonize the tumors and to initiate tumor-specific immunity. In recent years, several groups have demonstrated that the gut microbiome plays an important role of modulation of the host immune response and has an impact on therapeutic responses in murine models and in cohorts of human cancer patients. Here we analyzed the impact of the gut microbiome on tumor colonization and tumor therapy by the Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) strain. This EcN strain is a promising cancer therapy candidate with probiotic properties. In our study, we observed significantly better tumor colonization by EcN after antibiotic-induced temporal depletion of the gut microbiome and after two intranasal applications of the EcN derivate (EcN/pMUT-gfp Knr) in 4T1 tumor-bearing syngeneic BALB/c mice. In addition, we demonstrated significant reduction in tumor growth and extended survival of the EcN-treated mice in contrast to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated tumor-bearing control animals. Multispectral imaging of immune cells revealed that depletion of the gut microbiome led to significantly lower infiltration of cytotoxic and helper T cells (CD4 and CD8 cells) in PBS tumors of mice pretreated with antibiotics in comparison with antibiotic untreated PBS—or EcN treated mice. These findings may help in the future advancement of cancer treatment strategies using E. coli Nissle 1917.

The development of the telecommunication networks observed in present and future time is impressive. Today we witness rapid implementation of 5G networks. We can say that this actually is the moment when (artificial intelligence) AI enters at small door but in the beyond 5G world it is expected to have the prime role in smart operation, management and maintenance of non-software defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV) and especially at SDN and NFV aware networks. Number of standardization body’s and work groups are focused in a way to create a framework that will define the future use of AI and security standards necessary to exist in order to create health environment for the next generation telecommunication infrastructure. In the wireless world AI/Machine learning (ML) has great potential to shake the way we operate and to become foundation of the transformation that leads to the next industrial revolution. Network virtualization gives flexibility and freedom of the telco operators to choose the hardware and network topology they need for AI/ML platforms and big data sets. 5G and IoT create positive environment for AI and ML development and usage. As the network requirements are developed and the number of the users raises, gains are expected to grow with the number of variables and the interactions among them so it becomes impossible to relay on humans to control the network for increased number of variables and this is why AI with ML and automation become beneficial and necessity to run the future networks. AI generally is defined as capacity of mind or ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills while ML is defined as learning that does not require explicit programming. Combined usage of AI and ML can optimize almost any component of the wireless network, this does not mean that it should be used everywhere mainly because at the end of the day the cost benefit analysis of its usage must be positive. Smart operation, management and infrastructure maintenance (SOMM) networks are defined as: Intelligent, data driven, integrated and agile. Today AI is introduced but in future it will represent the network engine. It is interesting to mention that network security must be upgraded because the network will provide services for massive number of IoT devices that will have variety of functions and requests. AI/ML can improve the security services and to be used in order to elevate them at advanced level. In this text we focus our attention at AI/ML and security scenarios defined for IoT in 5G environment.

Design of each successor mobile technology assures improved and advanced functionality features compared to its predecessor. Machine Learning and generally Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming necessity for further expansion of the beyond 5G mobile world. AI-assisted IoT services, data collection, analytics and storage should become native in the beyond 5G era. 5G introduces New Radio (NR) in sub-6 GHz bands and also in mmWave bands above 24 GHz, network virtualization and softwarization, which means that Next Generation Core and 5G NR access network are built by using different functions in split user and control planes that introduces the network slicing approach. Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC), that are provided via separate network slices as logically separated network partitions are the key 5G services that constantly will increase the traffic volume and the number of connected devices. Terahertz and visible light communication and fundamental technologies like compressed sensing theory, new channel coding, large-scale antenna, flexible spectrum usage, AI-based wireless communication, special technical features as Space-Air-Ground-Sea integrated communication and wireless tactile network are few of the novelties that are expected to become a common network standard available beyond 2030.

High hardness and toughness are generally considered mutually exclusive properties for single-crystal ceramics. Combining experiments and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) atomistic simulations at room temperature, we demonstrate that both the hardness and toughness of single-crystal NaCl-structure VNx/MgO(001) thin films are simultaneously enhanced through the incorporation of anion vacancies. Nanoindentation results show that VN0.8, here considered as representative understoichiometric VNx system, is approximate to 20% harder, as well as more resistant to fracture than stoichiometric VN samples. AIMD modeling of VN and VN0.8 supercells subjected to [001] and [110] elongation reveal that the tensile strengths of the two materials are similar. Nevertheless, while the stoichiometric VN phase cleaves in a brittle manner at tensile yield points, the understoichiometric compound activates transformation-toughening mechanisms that dissipate accumulated stresses. AIMD simulations also show that VN0.8 exhibits an initially greater resistance to both {110} < 1 (1) over bar0 > and {111} < 1 (1) over bar0 > shear deformation than VN. However, for progressively increasing shear strains, the VN0.8 mechanical behavior gradually evolves from harder to more ductile than VN. The transition is mediated by anion vacancies, which facilitate {110} < 1 (1) over bar0 > and {111} < 1 (1) over bar0 > lattice slip by reducing activation shear stresses by as much as 35%. Electronic-structure analyses show that the two-regime hard/tough mechanical response of VN0.8 primarily stems from its intrinsic ability to transfer d electrons between 2nd-neighbor and 4th-neighbor (i.e., across vacancy sites) V-V metallic states. Our work offers a route for electronic-structure design of hard materials in which a plastic mechanical response is triggered with loading. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Funding Agencies|Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [201607213]; VINN Excellence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-2) Grant [2016-05156]; Olle Engkvist Foundation; Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW-2016-0358]; Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]

The ability to reverse the inherent tendency of noble metals to grow in an uncontrolled three-dimensional (3D) fashion on weakly interacting substrates, including two-dimensional (2D) materials and oxides, is essential for the fabrication of high-quality multifunctional metal contacts in key enabling devices. In this study, we show that this can be effectively achieved by deploying nitrogen (N-2) gas with high temporal precision during magnetron sputtering of nanoscale silver (Ag) islands and layers on silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrates. We employ real-time in situ film growth monitoring using spectroscopic ellipsometry, along with optical modeling in the framework of the finite-difference time-domain method, and establish that localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) from nanoscale Ag islands can be used to gauge the evolution of surface morphology of discontinuous layers up to a SiO2 substrate area coverage of similar to 70%. Such analysis, in combination with data on the evolution of room-temperature resistivity of electrically conductive layers, reveals that presence of N-2 in the sputtering gas atmosphere throughout all film-formation stages: (i) promotes 2D growth and smooth film surfaces and (ii) leads to an increase of the continuous-layer electrical resistivity by similar to 30% compared to Ag films grown in a pure argon (Ar) ambient atmosphere. Detailed ex situ nanoscale structural analyses suggest that N-2 favors 2D morphology by suppressing island coalescence rates during initial growth stages, while it causes interruption of local epitaxial growth on Ag crystals. Using these insights, we deposit Ag layers by deploying N-2 selectively, either during the early precoalescence growth stages or after coalescence completion. We show that early N-2 deployment leads to 2D morphology without affecting the Ag-layer resistivity, while postcoalescence introduction of N-2 in the gas atmosphere further promotes formation of three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures and roughness at the film growth front. In a broader context this study generates knowledge that is relevant for the development of (i) single-step growth manipulation strategies based on selective deployment of surfactant species and (ii) real-time methodologies for tracking film and nanostructure morphological evolution using LSPR. Funding Agencies|French Government program "Investissements dAvenir" (LABEX INTERACTIFS)French National Research Agency (ANR) [ANR-11-LABX-0017-01]; Linkoping University [Dnr-LiU-2015-01510]; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [VR-2015-04630]; AForsk foundation [AF 19-137, AF 19-746]; Olle Engkvist Foundation [SOEB 190-312]; Wenner-Gren Foundation [UPD2018-0071, UPD2019-0007]; Slovenian Research AgencySlovenian Research Agency - Slovenia [BI-US/18-20-08]; project "INNOVATION-EL" - Operational Program "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation" (NSRF 2014-2020) [MIS 5002772]; European Union (European Regional Development Fund)European Union (EU)

The paper presents a comparative analysis of different modulation techniques for BLDC motor control in terms of several types of losses in the system inverter – BLDC motor in motor mode. The experimental investigated modulation strategies are: unipolar modulation of upper (PWM-TOP or UT) transistors, a bipolar PWM-ON modulation (PWM-ON-BIP), a symmetrical modulation (PWM-PWM), a vector control and non-modulation mode. A simple equivalent circuit for the BLDC motor is used to calculate different losses and the system efficiency. On the basis of the equivalent circuit for the different modulation techniques, simple design procedures are discussed for the determination the eddy current and mechanical viscous loss, the copper loss, the hysteresis and mechanical friction loss, the voltage-drop loss of the inverter transistor and diode. Loss distribution experimental data for the brushless DT4260 motor when operating with different modulations and load torque are presented. On the basis of the obtained values for the efficiency of the studied modulations, references for use in battery powered devices such as electric vehicles, electric scooters and more are made.

Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) films have been deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) from a ZrB2 compound target on Al2O3 (0001) substrates held at 600, 700, 800, and 900 degrees C, and with two different axial magnetic field strengths, 34 and 104 G, generated using a coil surrounding the substrate. Plasma probe measurements show an increase of the ion fluxes on floating-potential substrates of the two different configurations by a factor of 2.8 for 104 G compared to 34 G, while the ion energy remained relatively constant at approximate to 12 eV. Time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis (ToF-ERDA) show that films deposited with a magnetic field of 34 G are highly overstoichiometric with B/Zr ratios approximate to 2.4, while films deposited with 104 G exhibit a B/Zr ratios approximate to 2.1. The levels of oxygen and carbon in the films are below 1 at. % irrespective of growth conditions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) 0/20 scans, complemented by pole figure measurements, reveal that all deposited films are 0001-oriented. XRD 0/20 scans of the 000t peak intensities and co (rocking-curve) widths show increased ZrB2 crystal quality with increasing temperature for both magnetic field strengths. Minimum electrical resistivity of approximate to 100 p omega cm is achieved for an axial magnetic field of 104 G, independent of temperature. Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Project Grant (The Boride Frontier) [KAW 2015.0043]; electron microscopy laboratory in Linkoping; Aforsk Foundation [16-430]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]; Swedish research council VR-RFISwedish Research Council [2017-00646_9]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic ResearchSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RIF14-0053]

Planar defect structures appearing in transition metal diboride (TMB2) thin films, grown by different magnetron sputtering-deposition approaches over a wide compositional and elemental range, were systematically investi-gated. Atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging, electron energy loss spec-troscopy (EELS) elemental mapping, and first principles calculations have been applied to elucidate the atomic structures of the observed defects. Two distinct types of antiphase boundary (APB) defects reside on the {1(1) over bar 00} planes. These defects are without (named APB-1) or with (APB-2) local deviation from stoichiometry. APB-2 de-fects, in turn, appear in different variants. It is found that APB-2 defects are governed by the films composition, while APB-1 defects are endemic. The characteristic structures, interconnections, and circumstances leading to the formation of these APB-defects, together with their formation energies, are presented. Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [2016-04412, 2021-03652, CTS 21:1272]; Swedish National Infrastructure in Advanced Electron Microscopy [2018-05973]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Fellowship/Scholar grant [2021-00171]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) through the Research Infrastructure Fellow program [KAW 2015.0043, RIF 14-0074]; Carl Trygger foundation [EM16-0004]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009 00971]

We study microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion properties of Zr1-xCrxBy coatings deposited by hybrid high power impulse/DC magnetron co-sputtering (CrB2-HiPIMS/ZrB2-DCMS). Cr/(Zr + Cr) ratio, x, increases from 0.13 to 0.9, while B/(Zr + Cr) ratio, y, decreases from 2.92 to 1.81. As reference, ZrB2.18 and CrB1.81 layers are grown at 4000 W DCMS. ZrB2.18 and CrB1.81 columns are continual from near substrate toward the surface with open column boundaries. We find that the critical growth parameter to achieve dense films is the ratio of Cr+- dominated ion flux and the (Zr + B) neutral flux from the ZrB2 target. Thus, the alloys are categorized in two groups: films with x < 0.32 (low Cr+/(Zr + B) ratios) that have continuous columnar growth, rough surfaces, and open column boundaries, and films with x >= 0.32 (high Cr+/(Zr + B) ratios) that Cr+-dominated ion fluxes are sufficient to interrupt continuous columns, resulting in smooth surface and dense fine-grain microstructure. The pulsed metal-ion irradiation is more effective in film densification than continuous Ar+ bombardment. Dense Zr0.46Cr0.54B2.40 and Zr0.10Cr0.90B1.81 alloys are hard (> 30 GPa) and almost stress-free with relative nano indentation toughness of 1.3 MPa root m and 2.3 MPa root m, respectively, and remarkedly low corrosion rates (~& nbsp;1.0 x 10(-6) mA/cm(2) for Zr0.46Cr0.54B2.40 and~& nbsp; 2.1 x 10(-6) mA/cm(2) for Zr0.10Cr0.90B1.81). Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council VR [2018-03957, 2019-00191, 2021-00357]; Swedish Energy Agency [51201-1]; Swedish for Strategic Research (SSF); Swedish National Graduate School in Neutron Scattering (SwedNess); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO Mat LiU)

Hybrid high-power impulse and dc magnetron co-sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) with substrate bias synchronized to the high mass metal-ion fluxes was previously proposed as a solution to reduce energy consumption during physical vapor deposition processing and enable coatings on temperature-sensitive substrates. In this approach, no substrate heating is used (substrate temperature is lower than 150 C-o) and the thermally activated adatom mobility, necessary to grow dense films, is substituted by overlapping collision cascades induced by heavy ion bombardment and consisting predominantly of low-energy recoils. Here, we present direct evidence for the crucial role of W+ ion irradiation in the densification of Ti0.31Al0.60W0.09N films grown by the hybrid W-HiPIMS/TiAl-DCMS co-sputtering. The peak target current density J(max) on the W target is varied from 0.06 to 0.78 A/cm(2) resulting in more than fivefold increase in the number of W+ ions per deposited metal atom, eta = W+/(W + Al + Ti) determined by time-resolved ion mass spectrometry analyses performed at the substrate plane under conditions identical to those during film growth. The DCMS is adjusted appropriately to maintain the W content in the films constant at Ti0.31Al0.60W0.09N. The degree of porosity, assessed qualitatively from cross-sectional SEM images and quantitatively from oxygen concentration profiles as well as nanoindentation hardness, is a strong function of eta ( J m a x ). Layers grown with low eta values are porous and soft, while those deposited under conditions of high eta are dense and hard. Nanoindentation hardness of Ti0.31Al0.60W0.09N films with the highest density is & SIM;33 GPa, which is very similar to values reported for layers deposited at much higher temperatures (420-500 C-o) by conventional metal-ion-based techniques. These results prove that the hybrid HiPIMS/DCMS co-sputtering with bias pulses synchronized to high mass metal ion irradiation can be successfully used to replace conventional solutions. The large energy losses associated with heating of the entire vacuum chamber are avoided, by focusing the energy input to where it is in fact needed, i.e., the workpiece to be coated. Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council VR [2018-03957]; Swedish Energy Agency [51201-1]; Aforsk Foundation Grant [22-4]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW2016.0358, KAW2019.0290]; Carl Tryggers Stiftelse [CTS 20:150]; Competence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-II) VINNOVA Grant [2016-05156]; Swedish Research Council VR-RFI [2017-00646_9]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RIF14-0053]

The following paper investigates and analyses the electromagnetic processes in an electrical drive system composed of a power source, a power inverter and a brushless dc (BLDC) motor using known pulse-width modulation (PWM) methods. Investigated modulation techniques are: unipolar modulation of the upper transistors (PWM-TOP) and bottom transistors (PWM-BOT), symmetrical PWM-PWM, modulation type PWM-ON and ON-PWM, and bipolar PWM-ON modulation indicated with PWM-ON-BIP. The voltage source inverter is considered as DC-DC buck power converter, when BLDC is operated in motor mode. On the basis of summarized equivalent circuits, the analytical expressions are received for the electromagnetic processes in the system by the different modulation techniques. The efficiency of the system battery-inverter-machine for each discussed modulation is experimentally investigated and compared. These results are also compared with the efficiency of the BLDC driven with vector control. A MATLAB/SIMULINK model is proposed to implement these modulations and to analyze the obtained results. From this model, the harmonic composition of the phase currents for each modulation is investigated.

This paper covers technological and business aspects of 5G mobile networks at their initial targeted year for acceptance, 2020. It gives a high level view beyond 5G, toward the next generation which is referred to here as 6G. The 5G introduces New Radio (NR) in sub-6 GHz bands and also in mm Wave bands above 24 GHz. The paper analyzes 5G novelties such as network function virtualization and network softwarization, which means that 5G Next Generation Core and 5G NR access network are built by using different functions in split user and control planes. That provides the basis for the network slicing approach, with three main service types defined for the 5G era: enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communica­tion (URLLC), which may be provided via separate network slices as logically separated network partitions. Consid­ering the 5G business aspects, the paper states that the initial 5G driver is eMBB, then follows mMTC, and last to be deployed is the most demanding one, the URLLC. Finally, with many 5G network functions, also exposed to the third parties such as Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers, with constantly increasing volume of traffic and number of connected devices, this paper also includes future use of Machine Learning and generally Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming necessity for further expansion of the mobile world beyond 5G, toward the 6G in 2030s.

Methodology. 48 somatically healthy patients of both gender in age from 25 up to 45 was examined, that included questioning, examination, index estimation of the state of fabrics of paradontium, doppler ultrasound of vessels of paradontium with the use of device of "Minimax-Doppler-K" NB model with the sensor 20 Mhz. Linear speed of blood stream, volume speed of blood stream were defined. Patients were divided into 3 groups: 1 - basic group (n=22) are patients with chronic catarrhal gingivitis where the standard treatment was complemented by application of injections of gel, containing 1 % of hyaluronic acid and 0,015 % of hydrophilic polysaccharide of AGEG, under a mucous membrane on a mucogingival fold; 2 is a control group (n=16) patients with chronic catarrhal gingivitis and the standard treatment (in accordance with clinical recommendations) was complemented; 3 group are people with a clinically healthy paradontium (n=10). Dynamic estimation of efficiency of treatment was conducted on the 2 day and 7th day, 14th day, in 1 month, 3 months.Results. There was a stable reduction of PMA index in a basic group, that shows the efficiency of treatment and remission in the period of 3 months observation. More low level of PBI and PI (p

Inter-criteria analysis was employed in VGO samples having a saturate content between 0.8 and 93.1 wt.% to define the statistically significant relations between physicochemical properties, empirical structural models and vacuum gas oil compositional information. The use of a logistic function and employment of a non-linear least squares method along with the aromatic ring index allowed for our newly developed correlation to accurately predict the saturate content of VGOs. The empirical models developed in this study can be used not only for obtaining the valuable structural information necessary to predict the behavior of VGOs in the conversion processes but can also be utilized to detect incorrectly performed SARA analyses. This work confirms the possibility of predicting the contents of VGO compounds from physicochemical properties and empirical models.

We systematically study the oxidation properties of sputter-deposited TiB2.5 coatings up to 700 °C. Oxide-scale thickness dox increases linearly with time ta for 300, 400, 500, and 700 °C, while an oxidation-protective behavior occurs with dox=250∙ta0.2 at 600 °C. Oxide-layer’s structure changes from amorphous to rutile/anatase-TiO2 at temperatures ≥ 500 °C. Abnormally low oxidation rate at 600 °C is attributed to a highly dense columnar TiO2-sublayer growing near oxide/film interface with a top-amorphous thin layer, suppressing oxygen diffusion. A model is proposed to explain the oxide-scale evolution at 600 °C. Decreasing heating rate to 1.0 °C/min plays a noticeable role in the TiB2.5 oxidation. Funding: Swedish Research Council VR [2018-03957, 2019-00191, 2021-00357]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) at Link o ?; ping University (Faculty Grant SFO Mat LiU) [2009 00971]; Swedish National Graduate School in Neutron Scattering (SwedNess); Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2015.0043]

Direct-current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) were used to deposit understoichiometric Ti(1-x)Al(x)B(2-y )diboride coatings by sputtering from a segmented TiB2-AlB2 target using Ar and Kr as sputtering gas. For films with a fixed Al/(Ti + Al) ratio of x = 0.1 (Ti0.9Al0.1B2-y), the B content was varied with y & ISIN; (0.1, 0.6 and 0.7). For films with a fixed y = 0.7 (Ti1-xAlxB1.3), the Al content was varied with x & ISIN; (0.1, 0.4 and 0.7). Evaluation of the mechanical properties of the Ti1-xAlxB1.3 samples showed a reduction in both hardness and elastic modulus with increasing Al concentration, while the Ti0.9Al0.1B2-y samples showed a hardness increase with decreasing B content. Thus, Ti0.9Al0.1B1.3 films exhibited a superior hardness of 46.2 +/- 1.1 GPa and an elastic modulus of 523 & PLUSMN; 7 GPa, compared to the values for Ti0.9Al0.1B1.4 and Ti0.9Al0.1B1.9, showing a hardness of 44 +/- 1 GPa and 36 +/- 1 GPa, and an elastic modulus of 569 +/- 7 GPa and 493 +/- 6 GPa, respectively. The oxidation behavior of the mechanically most promising Ti0.9Al0.1B2-y sample series was investigated through air-annealing at 600 C for durations from 1 h to 10 h. All films formed a mixed non-conformal Al2O3-TiO2 oxide scale which acts as an inward and outward diffusion barrier, significantly reducing the oxidation rate compared to TiBz films, which form an oxide scale consisting of porous TiO2. The thinnest oxide scale after 10 h was found in the B-deficient samples, Ti0.9Al0.1B1.3 and Ti0.9Al0.1B1.4, at ~200 nm, which is significantly below that for Ti0.9Al0.1B1.9 at 320 nm. The enhanced oxidation resistance of highly understoichiometric films is due to the elimination of the B-rich tissue phase that is present at the grain boundaries for higher B content, where the latter has been shown to enhance the rate of oxidation in borides. Funding Agencies|Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [EM16-0004, RIF 14-0074]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [EM16-0004]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation for a Fellowship/Scholar Grant [EM16-0004, RIF 14-0074]; KAW; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFOM at-LiU) [RIF 14-0074]; Swedish Research council [EM16-0004]; German Research Foundation (DFG) [RIF 14-0074]; [KAW 2015.0043]; [2009 00971]; [2016-04412]; [SCHN 735/42-1]

We recently showed that sputter-deposited Zr1-xTaxBy thin films have hexagonal AlB2-type columnar nanostructure in which column boundaries are B-rich for x < 0.2, while Ta-rich for x ≥ 0.2. As-deposited layers with x ≥ 0.2 exhibit higher hardness and, simultaneously, enhanced toughness. Here, we study the mechanical properties of ZrB2.4, Zr0.8Ta0.2B1.8, and Zr0.7Ta0.3B1.5 films annealed in Ar atmosphere as a function of annealing temperature Ta up to 1200 °C. In-situ and ex-situ nanoindentation analyses reveal that all films undergo age hardening up to Ta = 800 °C, with the highest hardness achieved for Zr0.8Ta0.2B1.8 (45.5±1.0 GPa). The age hardening, which occurs without any phase separation or decomposition, can be explained by point-defect recovery that enhances chemical bond density. Although hardness decreases at Ta > 800 °C due mainly to recrystallization, column coarsening, and planar defect annihilation, all layers show hardness values above 34 GPa over the entire Ta range.

Vacuum : surface engineering, surface instrumentation & vacuum technology 186, 110057 (2021). doi:10.1016/j.vacuum.2021.110057, Published by Elsevier Science, Amsterdam [u.a.]

In view of the increasing demand for achieving sustainable development, the quest for lowering energy consumption during thin film growth by magnetron sputtering becomes of particular importance. In addition, there is a demand for low-temperature growth of dense, hard coatings for protecting temperature-sensitive substrates. Here, we explore a method, in which thermally-driven adatom mobility, necessary to obtain high-quality fully-dense films, is replaced with that supplied by effective low-energy recoil creation resulting from high-mass metal ion irradiation of the growing film surface. This approach allows the growth of dense and hard films with no external heating at substrate temperatures T-s not exceeding 130 degrees C in a hybrid high-power impulse and de magnetron co-sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) setup involving a high mass (m > 180 amu) HiPIMS target and metal- ion-synchronized bias pulses. We specifically investigate the effect of the metal ion mass on the extent of densification, phase content, nanostructure, and mechanical properties of metastable cubic Ti0.50Al0.50N based thin films, which present outstanding challenges for phase stability control. Ti0.50Al0.50N based thin films are irradiated by group VIB transition metal (TM) target ions generated by Me-HiPIMS discharge, in which Me = Cr (m(Cr)= 52.0 amu), Mo (m(Mo) = 96.0 amu), and W (m(W) = 183.8 amu). Three series of (Ti1-yAly)(1-x)MexN films are grown with x = Me/(Me+Al+Ti) varied intentionally by adjusting the DCMS powers, while y = Al/(Al+Ti) also varies as a result of Me+ ion irradiation. Results reveal a strong dependence of film properties on the mass of the HiPIMS-generated metal ions. All layers deposited with Cr+ irradiation exhibit porous nanostructure, high ox- ygen content, and poor mechanical properties. In contrast, (Ti1-yAly)(1-x)WxN films are fully-dense even with the lowest W concentration, x = 0.09, show no evidence of hexagonal AlN precipitation, and exhibit state-of the-art mechanical properties typical of Ti0.50Al0.50N grown at 500 degrees C. The process energy consumption is lowered by 64% with no negative impact on the coating quality. TRIM simulations provide an insight into the densification mechanisms. Funding Agencies|Swedish Energy AgencySwedish Energy Agency [51201-1]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation Scholar Grant [KAW2016.0358]; Competence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-II) VINNOVA grantVinnova [201605156]; Swedish Research Council VR Grant [2018-03957]; VINNOVA grantVinnova [2019-04882]; Carl Tryggers Stiftelse for Vetenskaplig Forskning [CTS 17:166, CTS 15:219, CTS 14:431]; Swedish Research Council VR-RFISwedish Research Council [2017-00646_9]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic ResearchSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RIF14-0053]

Refractory transition-metal (TM) diborides have high melting points, excellent hardness, and good chemical stability. However, these properties are not sufficient for applications involving extreme environments that require high mechanical strength as well as oxidation and corrosion resistance. Here, we study the effect of Cr addition on the properties of ZrB2-rich Zr1-xCrxBy thin films grown by hybrid high-power impulse and dc magnetron co-sputtering (Cr-HiPIMS/ZrB2-DCMS) with a 100-V Cr-metal-ion synchronized potential. Cr metal fraction, x = Cr/(Zr+Cr), is increased from 0.23 to 0.44 by decreasing the power Pzrb2 applied to the DCMS ZrB2 target from 4000 to 2000 W, while the average power, pulse width, and frequency applied to the HiPIMS Cr target are maintained constant. In addition, y decreases from 2.18 to 1.11 as a function of Pzrb2, as a result of supplying Cr to the growing film and preferential B resputtering caused by the pulsed Cr-ion flux. ZrB2.18, Zr0.77Cr0.23B1.52, Zr0.71Cr0.29B1.42, and Zr0.68Cr0.32B1.38 2 films have hexagonal AlB2 crystal structure with a columnar nanostructure, while Zr0.64Cr0.36B1.30 and Zr0.56Cr0.44B1.11 are amorphous. All films show hardness above 30 GPa. Zr0.56Cr0.44B1.11 alloys exhibit much better toughness, wear, oxidation, and corrosion resistance than ZrB2.18. This combination of properties makes Zr0.56Cr0.44B1.11 ideal candidates for numerous strategic applications. Funding agencies: We acknowledge support from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation for Project funding (KAW 2015.0043). Financial support from the Swedish Research Council VR Grant 2018–03957 and 642-2013-8020, the VINNOVA Grant 2019–04882, and Carl Tryggers Stiftelse contracts CTS 15:219, CTS 17:166, and CTS 14:431 are also gratefully acknowledged. Furthermore, the authors acknowledge financial support from the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linköping University (Faculty Grant SFO Mat LiU No. 2009 00971). Supports from the Swedish research council VR-RFI (#2017–00646_9) for the Accelerator based ion-technological center and from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (contract RIF14-0053; for the tandem accelerator laboratory in Uppsala University, and contract RIF14-0074; for the electron microscopy laboratory) are acknowledged.

Transition-metal diboride thin films, which have high melting points, excellent hardness, and good chemical and thermal conductivity, severely suffer from rapid oxidation in air. Here, we explore the influence of varying B content and resulting nanostructure change on the oxidation properties of TiBx thin films, with x = 1.43, 2.20, and 2.70. Results show that all as-deposited layers have columnar structure. The column boundaries of asdeposited TiB2.20 and TiB2.20 films grown by direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) are B-rich, while the as-deposited TiB1.43 films grown by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) show no apparent grain boundary phases and contain Ti-rich planar defects. The oxidation rate of TiBL43 air-annealed at 400 degrees C up to 48 h is significantly lower than that of TiB2.20 and TiB2.20 films. The oxidation rate of TiB1.43, TiB2.20, and TiB2.20 films was measured at 2.9 +/- 1.5, 7.1 +/- 1.0, and 20.0 +/- 5.0 nm/h, respectively, with no spallation of even as thick oxide scales as 0.5 mu m in any of the films. The improved oxidation resistance can be explained by the absence of B-rich tissue phase at the column boundaries of understoichiometric TiBx films, a phase that interlaces the nanocolumnar TiB2 structures in the corresponding overstoichiometric films. An easy oxidation pathway is thus eliminated. Funding Agencies|Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [EM16-0004]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW)Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2015.0043, RIF 14-0074]; KAW; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission [642-2013-8020, 2016-04412]

The present paper proposes a mathematical model for the examination of dynamic processes of a motorvehicle during operation in different regimes. A non-linear mathematical model based on the equations for joint movement of an engine and an operating machine is created in this respect. The behaviour of the system is examined at operating regimes of an internal combustion engine (ICE) during idle running, motor-vehicle starting with clutch engagement, motor-vehicle accelerating at engaged gear. The transitional performance includes the transition of the engine operation from idle running to external frequency characteristics. Developed, accordingly, is a computing programme for analysis of the transitional performance of an ICE during starting at initial state without motion and consecutive acceleration. The changes of the kinematic and ecological parameters of an ICE during its operation in transitional performance are determined and graphically presented.

Hybrid high power impulse/direct current magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS/DCMS) film growth technique with metal-ion-synchronized substrate bias allows for significant energy savings as compared to conventional PVD methods. For carefully selected type of metal ion irradiation, taking into account ion mass, ionization potential, and reactivity towards working gas, fully dense and hard films can be obtained with no intentional substrate heating. The thermally-driven adatom mobility, which is an essential densification mechanism in conventional film growth that takes place at elevated temperatures, is replaced with that supplied by effective low-energy recoil creation. In this contribution we explore effects of the high-mass W+ irradiation, which has proven to be the most efficient in densifying Ti0.50Al0.50N layers, serving here as a model system, grown with no substrate heating. We study the effects of two essential parameters: W+ energy EW+ and W concentration x, on film porosity, phase content, nanostructure, and mechanical properties. EW+ varies from similar to 90 to similar to 630 eV (controlled by substrate bias voltage amplitude V-s) and x from 0.02 to 0.12 (controlled by the HiPIMS pulse length), while the HiPIMS peak target current is kept constant. Results reveal that a strong coupling exists between the W+ incident energy and the minimum W concentration required to grow dense layers. Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council VRSwedish Research Council [2018-03957]; Swedish Energy AgencySwedish Energy Agency [51201-1]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW2016.0358]; Competence Center Functional Nanoscale Materials (FunMat-II) VINNOVA grantVinnova [2016-05156]; Carl Tryggers Stiftelse for Vetenskaplig Forskning [CTS 20:150, CTS 15:219, CTS 14:431]; Swedish research council VR-RFISwedish Research Council [2017-00646_9]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic ResearchSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research [RIF14-0053]

The atomic structure and local composition of high quality epitaxial substoichiometric titanium diboride (TiB1.9) thin film, deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering, were studied using analytical high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, density functional theory, and image simulations. The unpaired Ti is pinpointed to inclusion of Ti-based stacking faults within a few atomic layers, which terminates the {1 (1) over bar 00} prismatic planes of the crystal structure and attributed to the absence of B between Ti planes that locally relaxes the structure. This mechanism allows the line compound to accommodate off-stoichiometry and remain a line compound between defects. The planar defects are embedded in otherwise stoichiometric TiB2 and are delineated by insertion of dislocations. An accompanied decrease in Ti-Ti bond lengths along and across the faults is observed. (c) 2020ActaMaterialiaInc. PublishedbyElsevierLtd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Funding Agencies|Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [2016-04412, 642-2013-8020, 2016-07213]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2015.0043]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [EM16-00 04, RIF 14-0074]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009 00971]

TiBx thin films with a B content of 1.43 ≤ x ≤ 2.70 were synthesized using high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and direct-current magnetron sputtering (DCMS). HiPIMS allows compositions ranging from understoichiometric to overstoichiometric dense TiBx thin films with a B/Ti ratio between 1.43 and 2.06, while DCMS yields overstoichiometric TiBx films with a B/Ti ratio ranging from 2.20 to 2.70. Excess B in overstoichiometric TiBx thin films from DCMS results in a hardness up to 37.7 ± 0.8 GPa, attributed to the formation of an amorphous B-rich tissue phase interlacing stoichiometric TiB2 columnar structures. We furthermore show that understoichiometric TiB1.43 thin films synthesized by HiPIMS, where the deficiency of B is found to be accommodated by Ti-rich planar defects, exhibit a superior hardness of 43.9 ± 0.9 GPa. The apparent fracture toughness and thermal conductivity of understoichiometric TiB1.43 HiPIMS films are 4.2 ± 0.1 MPa√m and 2.46 ± 0.22 W/(m·K), respectively, as compared to corresponding values for overstoichiometric TiB2.70 DCMS film samples of 3.1 ± 0.1 MPa√m and 4.52 ± 0.45 W/(m·K). This work increases the fundamental understanding of understoichiometric TiBx thin films and their materials properties, and shows that understoichiometric films have properties matching or going beyond those with excess B. Fulltext published under Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Funding agencies: Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [EM16-0004]; Research Infrastructure Fellow program from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation [RIF 14-0074]; KAW; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area

The atomic structure and local composition of high quality epitaxial substoichiometric titaniumdiboride (TiB1.9) thin film, deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering, were studied usinganalytical high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, density functional theoryand image simulations. The unmatched Ti is pinpointed to planar defects on {1-100} prismaticplanes and attributed to the absence of B between Ti planes that locally relaxes the structure.This mechanism allows the line compound to accommodate the off-stoichiometry and remaina line compound between defects. The planar defects are embedded in otherwise stoichiometricTiB2 and are delineated by insertion of dislocations. An accompanied decrease in Ti-Ti bondlengths along and across the faults is observed.Introduction

We describe in detail three braincases of the ankylosaur Bissektipelta archibaldi from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Uzbekistan with the aid of computed tomography, segmentation, and 3D modeling. Bissektipelta archibaldi is confirmed as a valid taxon and attributed to Ankylosaurinae based on the results of a phylogenetic analysis. The topographic relationships between the elements forming the braincase are determined using a newly referred specimen with preserved sutures, which is an exceedingly rare condition for ankylosaurs. The mesethmoid appears to be a separate ossification in the newly referred specimen ZIN PH 281/16. We revise and discuss features of the neurocranial osteology in Ankylosauria and propose new diagnostic characters for a number of its subclades. We present a 3D model of the braincase vasculature of Bissektipelta and comment on vascular patterns of armored dinosaurs. A complex vascular network piercing the skull roof and the wall of the braincase is reported for ankylosaurs for the first time. We imply the presence of a lepidosaur-like dorsal head vein and the venous parietal sinus in the adductor cavity of Bissektipelta. We suggest that the presence of the dorsal head vein in dinosaurs is a plesiomorphic diapsid trait, and extant archosaur groups independently lost the vessel. A study of two complete endocranial casts of Bissektipelta allowed us to compare endocranial anatomy within Ankylosauria and infer an extremely developed sense of smell, a keen sense of hearing at lower frequencies (100–3000 Hz), and the presence of physiological mechanisms for precise temperature control of neurosensory tissues at least in derived ankylosaurids.