Search

In the 1990th, sonographic imaging of the equine eye had developed to a useful diagnostic method. In cases with opacification of the normally translucent media, b-mode-sonography has been the main diagnostic instrument for a long time. Before availability of three-dimensional ultrasound systems, the diagnostician tried to build a three-dimensional picture in his mind out of several two-dimensional images. Improvements in ultrasound technology have enabled the three-dimensional visualisation of many anatomical structures, including the eye structures of the horse The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of three-dimensional ultrasonography on the equine eye. For this purpose, this technique was performed on totally 94 horses. The device for this application was a Siemens SONOLINE® Elegra ultrasonic system with the 5.0 and 6.0 software and a 9 MHz linear-transducer. Data acquisition resulted out of manually linear parallel scans on the upper eyelid. Extirpated eyes had been examined in a water bath. Several pathological situations of the equine eye and partially of the retrobulbar space have been evaluated in this study. This technique offered an excellent imaging method for examination of the complex anatomical ocular structures when ophthalmoscopy and two-dimensional ultrasonography were insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important finds from the richest of the Thracian hoards, the Rogozen Treasure, is the so-called Auge Phiale. Its chronological position is crucial for the dating of the Hoard and had already been a point of debates. Its decoration, which consists of a mythological scene in high relief occupying the interior of the flat bottom and a relief pattern of alternating palmettes and lotus flowers grouped around the central rosette on the outside is discussed, thus allow us not only to determine the position of the vessel among the masterpieces of the Late Classical/Early Hellenistic metalware, but also to dwell on the genesis of the main subject of the composition. Clarifying the chronological position of the phiale is also extremely important for the establishment of the date, when the Treasure was hidden. Both the analysis of the general shape, the construction and composition of the elements of the vessel, the ornamental patterns decorating its bottom and the parallels of the figural composition on the inner medallion do not allow dating earlier than 350/340 BCE. Moreover, there is strong evidence that the phiale should be dated in the chronological frames of the last quarter of the 4th — first decades of the 3rd century BCE. The shape of the vessel and the decoration of its bottom may suggest a somewhat earlier dating, whereas that of the medallion — somewhat later, within the frames of the chronological period mentioned above. Thus, it may be a further confirmation of the history of the vessel, reconstructed on the grounds of its technological examination. This is not the only vessel from the Rogozen Treasure for which a dating after 340 BCE and as late as the last quarter of the 4th/early 3rd century BCE, first decades or even the second quarter of the 3rd century BCE has been already proposed. Consequently, it provides another argument that the Treasure was buried much later than it was usually suggested before (330s BCE).

Copyright of Spektrum der Augenheilkunde is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The motion of liquid droplets is studied across many physics subfields and manipulation of nanoscale droplets on demand holds great promise in, e.g., nanotechnology. In this study, AuGe droplets on a germanium substrate are manipulated by an electron beam in a scanning electron microscope. The electron beam exposure creates a local temperature gradient in a substrate and induces a directional thermomigration of droplets nearby. To quantitatively analyse this phenomenon and to reveal the mechanism behind it, experimental observations under different conditions (beam current, sample temperature, scanning strategy) and simulations are combined. The obtained insights suggest that the droplet motion is limited by the dissolution of the substrate below the droplet. In addition, it is shown that the electron tractor beam is not only able to control the droplet motion but can also be used to split the droplets, thus opening new possibilities for droplet manipulation inside an SEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Die Ophthalmologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Gram-negative bacteria can be isolated from both healthy and diseased equine eyes. Bacteria in the families Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae in particular have been associated with corneal infections in the literature. In a previous study, we were able to show that 61% of all swabs submitted to the laboratory for routine diagnostics contained Gram-negative bacteria, 25% contained only Gram-negative while 36% contained both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The aim of the present study was therefore to take a closer look at the Gram-negative genera most frequently detected in horses with infectious eye diseases with regard to a possible involvement in the infection process, as well as to investigate factors that might lead to an increased occurence of Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the resistance levels of Gram-negative bacteria without and after local antibiotic pretreatment were compared. Bacteriological examinations were performed on 844 swabs from equine eyes that were received as part of routine diagnostics in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in the year 2018. Assessment of culture morphology, biochemical methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight analysis mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), were used to identify Gram-negative bacteria. Resistance determination was performed by microdilution method using the breakpoint method. Furthermore, information from questionnaires was included in the evaluation. The Gram-negative bacterial spectrum was predominantly composed of bacteria from three families: Enterobacteriaceae (53% n=359), Moraxellaceae (21% n=141) and Pseudomonadaceae (20% n=137). Significantly fewer isolates (2% n=16) were identified as belonging to the fourth most common familiy, the Pasteurellaceae. Additional isolates were indentified from the following families: Alcaligenaceae, Xenomonadaceae, Myroidaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Neisseriaceae, Aeromonadaceae and Sphingobacteriaceae. However these accounted for only 3% (n=22) of the isolates obtained. Species of the following genera were isolated most frequently: Pantoea (n=267), Pseudomonas (n=137), Acinetobacter (n=101), Escherichia (n=42) and Moraxella (n=39). Most common species were, in descending order: Pantoea agglomerans, Pseudomonas koreensis, Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter sp., Moraxella bovoculi, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter johnsonii. The other species were detected in less than 10 of the samples. The age of the sampled horses and local antibiotic pretreatment had no significant influence on the frequency of of detection of Gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, there was no increased incidence of Gram-negative bacteria when the cornea was affected by the disease process. However, in animals with pre-reported corneal involvement, absence of bacterial growth was significantly more common and mixed cultures of Gram-positive und Gram-negative bacteria were significantly less frequent. Moraxella bovoculi was most frequently detected in the autumn. The resistance status of the Gram-negative bacteria isolated from swabs of equine eyes that had been previously treated with local antibiotics differed only slightly from the isolates from untreated eyes. Increases in resistance to the antibiotics used were not observed. In conclusion age, corneal involvement and local antibiotic pretreatment did not influence the detection rate of Gram-negative germs. The clinical significance of the Gram-negative bacteria detected in the aerobic bacteriological examination must be assessed individually for each patient. Differences were found in the in vitro efficacy of the antibiotic agents tested. The resistance situation of the Gram-negative bacteria does not seem to be significantly influenced by previous topical antibiotic therapy. Further studies are needed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular parasites are not a common cause of disease of the equine eye in Germany. Most reports to be found in literature describe a seasonal infection with Habronema (summer sores) or an asymptomatic infestation with Thelazia. In other parts of the world (particularly Asia), parasites can be responsible for more than 50 percent of ocular diseases in horses. This report describes the clinical findings and surgical management of ocular filariasis in a Warmblood mare. The horse was presented with a history of successfully removed granulomatous tissue from the nictitating membrane some weeks previously. Clinical examination revealed a motile thread like worm floating in the anterior chamber. The affected eye displayed severe signs of inflammation with lacrimation, photophobia, blepharospasm and corneal opacity. During presurgical preparation for removal of the worm, it disappeared from the anterior chamber and was found dead in the vitreous body two days later. It was dissected and extracted per trans pars plana vitrectomy under general anesthesia. Recovery was uneventful. Due to the macroscopic appearance of the worm and the clinical development, an infection caused by Setaria seemed to be likely. Visible nematodes in the eye should, in general, be surgically removed in order to prevent severe and irreversible damage. The method applied would depend on the exact position of the adult worm on or in the eye (conjunctiva, anterior chamber, vitreous body). Immature worms (larvae, microfilariae) can be successfully treated with antiparasitic medication (e.g. ivermectin). It is assumed that vector-borne diseases, those transmitted by the bite of infected arthropods, such as ocular filariasis, will become increasingly widespread in Europe due to increasing vector distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The motion of liquid droplets is studied across many physics subfields and manipulation of nanoscale droplets on demand holds great promise in, e.g., nanotechnology. In this study, AuGe droplets on a germanium substrate are manipulated by an electron beam in a scanning electron microscope. The electron beam exposure creates a local temperature gradient in a substrate and induces a directional thermomigration of droplets nearby. To quantitatively analyse this phenomenon and to reveal the mechanism behind it, experimental observations under different conditions (beam current, sample temperature, scanning strategy) and simulations are combined. The obtained insights suggest that the droplet motion is limited by the dissolution of the substrate below the droplet. In addition, it is shown that the electron tractor beam is not only able to control the droplet motion but can also be used to split the droplets, thus opening new possibilities for droplet manipulation inside an SEM.

Copyright of Die Ophthalmologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Sociology & Technoscience / Sociología y Tecnociencia is the property of Universidad de Valladolid, Escuela Universitaria de Educacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The anterior displacement of the globe – exophthalmos – is the most obvious sign of an enlarged retrobulbar mass. Several differing neoplasms have been identified within the equine orbit presenting with exophthalmos. Other conditions are inflammatory diseases of the frontal or maxillary sinuses and the guttural pouches, orbital cellulitis or abscessation, haemorrhage within the retrobulbar space and cystic, fluidfilled masses. A complete ophthalmic and neurologic examination may not bring sufficient diagnostic and prognostic information. It should be proceeded by advanced imaging of the patient’s skull and orbit. Ultrasonography and radiography are safe, practical and inexpensive methods for imaging. More advanced techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are more precise. CT and MRI allow for the identification of disease processes that are not apparent with other methods, help to planning surgical procedures or help to deciding whether cure or palliation is still possible. Retrospective medical record review identified 11 horses diagnosed with exophthalmos caused by a retrobulbar disease. Mean age at presentation was 16.6 years, ranging from 2 to 24 years. Geldings (7/11) were over-represented, 10 out of 11 horses were Warmbloods. In total, 8 horses were euthanized immediately following diagnosis. One horse was euthanized six months after surgery because of a severe deterioration of the clinical status. The prognosis for survival in the cases in this series is poor, only two horses out of 11 were alive 12 months post-diagnosis. The underlying disease in both cases was non-neoplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Los movimientos de educación alternativa se han convertido en los últimos años en tendencia y ha crecido el número de propuestas educativas que se enmarcan dentro de este movimiento a nivel del Estado Español y mundial. Aquí presentamos la revisión de la literatura realizada en torno al concepto de educación alternativa aportando una definición propia de esta e identificando las características generales comunes a este movimiento. Para realizar este análisis, ha sido necesario revisar los antecedentes clave de este movimiento de educación alternativa dado que, aunque sus proyectos se presenten en ocasiones como alternativas innovadoras, son pedagogías y metodologías basadas en propuestas de hace más de un siglo como son las de Alexander Sutherland Neill o Rebeca y Mauricio Wild. Para ello, se han analizado además de las pedagogías antecesoras, las experiencias educativas de Summerhill (Reino Unido), El León Dormido (Ecuador) y Paideia (España). Los resultados de la revisión realizada muestran que la educación alternativa es un concepto donde se integran diferentes teorías, cosmovisiones y realidades, pero del cual también se recogen características comunes de estos proyectos que ayudan a entender las razones por las cuáles en pleno siglo XXI estas propuestas han alcanzado el auge e importancia del que hablamos.

Night-migratory birds use the Earth's magnetic field to determine the direction in which they want to migrate. Many studies suggest that this "magnetic compass sense" is light dependent and mediated by blue light sensors, called cryptochromes, which are expressed in the retina of night-migratory birds. In this review, we summarize the evidence that the avian retina processes not only visual information but also magnetic compass information. We also review the current knowledge on cryptochrome expression in the bird retina and highlight open questions which we aim to address within the framework of SFB 1372 Magnetoreception and Navigation in Vertebrates. Zusammenfassung: Nachtziehende Vögel nutzen das Magnetfeld der Erde, um die Richtung zu bestimmen, in die sie ziehen möchten. Viele Studien legen nahe, dass dieser Magnet-Kompasssinn lichtabhängig ist und durch Blaulicht-Sensoren, sogenannte Cryptochrom-Moleküle, vermittelt wird, die in der Retina von nachtziehenden Vögeln gefunden wurden. In diesem Übersichtsartikel fassen wir das aktuelle Wissen über die Cryptochrom-Expression in der Netzhaut von Vögeln zusammen und heben offene Fragen hervor, die wir im Rahmen des SFB 1372 Magnetoreception and Navigation in Vertebrates beantworten möchten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common tumor of the eye and adnexa in the horse and more frequently found in these days. Ultraviolet light exposure has increased during the last years, which is believed to be the reason for the high prevalence of ocular SCC. An older age, a lack of periocular pigment and a genetic predisposition are further factors for tumor growth. The appearance of SCC varies with its location. Limbal SCC is raised, cauliflower-like and light pink. When the tumor invades the corneal stroma, it may be mistaken for keratitis. A typical limbal or third eylid SCC is easily diagnosed with a usual eye exam. However, a histopathology is strongly recommended. The standard for tumor treatment is complete surgical removal of the abnormal tissue. Generally, excision alone is not sufficient and ancillary therapy is inevitable to avoid tumor recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate the potentials of mitomycin C (MMC), a antineoplastic antibiotic, in the management of ocular surface neoplasia. The records of 110 horses presented to our hospital with periocular SCC were analysed. 22 horses were excluded from the study because of advanced tumors, which required enucleation or euthanasia. 48 of the remaining 88 horses were treated with topical MMC (0,04%, eye drops, eight times daily for one week), starting immediately after surgery. The second group included 40 horses, which had no further antineoplastic treatment after surgery. In this group (no MMC) eight horses showed tumor recurrence and needed removal of the globe as well as some of the adjacent tissues (20%). Only two horses (5%) needed enucleation in the first group (with MMC). Four more horses showed new tumor growth, but were successfully treated with the same protocol. Complications after surgery were rare, five horses developped some hypergranulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement in veterinary medicine is driven by the specialisation of veterinarians. In the field of equine ophthalmology, this leads to a high number of patients referred to specialised veterinarians. The high number of patients, in turn, gives the opportunity to closely monitor certain diseases and develop targeted therapies. In the present work, based on human ophthalmology, a new eye disease in horses, vernal keratoconjunctivitis (keratoconjunctivitis vernalis-KCV), is described. The aim of the study is to define the disease which makes definitive diagnosis possible in the future, and to describe optimal therapy. The clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, histological findings, and the applied therapy are described on the basis of clinical data obtained from 22 patients (28 eyes). KCV is a chronic, immune-mediated conjunctival and corneal disease in horses. Affected patients show hyperaemia of the conjunctiva, signs of extreme ocular pain, blepharospasm and a thick, mucous epiphora. A varying degree of reflexive miosis is also visible in the eyes, depending on the severity of the disease. The clinical appearance is classified into a gigantopapillary type, a limbal type, and a mixed type. In the gigantopapillary type, typical changes are visible in the ventral conjunctiva. This appears through the pathognomonic, paving stone-like giant papillae. In the limbal type, in addition to the giant papillae, which look like a rosary in the limbus, cloudy, yellowish, round corneal changes, the so-called „Horner-Trantas dots" also appear. The changes can be further differentiated histologically. In one form, accumulated eosinophil cells are present. The other form is predominantly characterised by lymphocytes. Typical white, granular deposits are visible in cases with the eosinophilic type. In contrast, the surfaces appear smoother in the lymphocytic type. The disease can be diagnosed on the basis of the clinical appearance, with a supporting histological examination if necessary. In the differential diagnosis, neoplasms of the conjunctiva and cornea as well as inflammatory changes should be ruled out. The patients were examined and treated as inpatients between 2018 and 2020. The therapeutic plan included a combination of laser treatment with a diode laser, subconjunctival injections, local ointment therapy and systemic analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment. Due to its immunological genesis, local treatment was based on cortisone. Dexamethasone was used for both subconjunctival injection, and eye ointment. All horses showed a clear improvement within 24 hours after the initiation of the therapy. Complete healing occurred between 7 and 14 days (on average, 9 days). Eight horses (9 eyes, 41%) exhibited corneal involvement as a complication, ranging from punctiform erosions to ulcerations of about 8mm in size. There was a relapse in two cases, and the therapy had to be repeated. In one horse, surgical excision of the altered tissue was also done. A regular check-up was carried out over a period of 10-36 months. No age dependency, breed or genetic predisposition was evident in the patients. This study has shown that it is necessary to observe, name and define new clinical entities in the eye to be able to carry out an adequate therapy. The multimodal therapy described appears to be very suitable for the treatment of KCV in horses. A critical examination of other patients is necessary to achieve better statistical evaluability due to a larger group and, if necessary, to obtain additional information on the aetiology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steadily increasing number of patients with immune-mediated eye diseases in ophthalmological horse practice requires further development in the definition and therapy of these diseases. The aim of the present work is to describe an immune-mediated conjunctivitis with corneal involvement, which was observed in 28 horses with almost identical symptoms, and to define it as superior limbal keratoconjunctivitis (KCLS) based on human ophthalmology. Subsequently, a therapy method for this disease, which was initially declared therapy-resistant, should be developed. This was used as multimodal therapy, also with knowledge of established methods in human medicine. KCLS is an immune-mediated conjunctivitis that is manifested in the dorsal, limbal area and also affects the cornea in this area. In the patient’s history, therapy-resistant conjunctivitis is always described, which shows no or only short-term improvement despite different medications. The clinical picture is characterized by a very painful eye with pronounced blepharospasm, edematous swelling of the eyelids and sero-mucous epiphora. In the ophthalmological examination, the first thing that stands out is the intensely reddened and swollen bulbar conjunctiva. The conjunctival and superficial scleral vessels are dilated. When examined with a slit lamp, filigree vessels of different lengths are visible in the cornea, starting from the dorsal limbus, which can be surrounded by wafer-thin or punctiform opacity. Angiogenesis in the entire dorsal limbus area (2–10 o’clock) is characteristic of this disease. In some cases, a narrowing of the pupil is also visible. After thorough ophthalmological examination, 28 horses (36 eyes) were diagnosed with KCLS. Multimodal therapy was performed on all eyes. The bulbar conjunctival vessels were initially closed using thermocoagulation. This was followed by laser treatment of the affected limbal areas at the transition from the sclera to the cornea. The filigree vessels in the cornea were closed in a semicircle using a neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser through an indirect ophthalmoscope and a 20 D aspherical lens. In addition, the local therapy with the application of cortisone and antibiotic eye ointment with a 3 times daily frequency and the oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was continued. The clinical symptoms of the patients improved considerably 24 hours after the described therapy. The ophthalmological assessment of the affected eyes showed a significant improvement 5 days after treatment in combination with the described local and systemic therapy. The clinical symptoms were no longer visible and the vessels in the conjunctiva showed a physiological appearance. The neovascularization of the cornea could only be guessed at by bloodless vessel walls. 24 eyes (95%) showed no further inflammation 12–34 months after multimodal treatment. Two eyes (5%) again showed KCLS and have been treated repeatedly. In one of the two patients, the inflammation occurred 3 times week by week after treatment. After the third treatment, the eye has been free of inflammation for 12 months. The other horse developed new inflammation after 8 months. After repeated treatment, the eye is currently free of irritation and inflammation for 15 months. In our experience, the described multimodal therapy is an effective and minimally invasive procedure that is well suited for the treatment of KCLS in horses. This innovative combined treatment approach gives hope for improved therapeutic options for the long-term treatment of superior keratoconjunctivitis limbalis, from which particularly patients affected with long-term and „therapy-resistant” inflammation may benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El presente Aatículo analiza cualitativamente y cuantitativamente los efectos del control de la tasa de interés de referencia y de los agregados monetarios (por parte del Banco Central de Reserva) sobre la estructura productiva y los procesos de coordinación e interacción económica de la sociedad. Se verifica cuantitativamente que la relación baja tasa de interés de referencia-alto nivel de los agregados monetarios y Comportamiento Cíclico del Producto Bruto Interno define las fases de recuperación y auge de los sectores productivos más intensivo en tiempo y capital; y las fases de ralentización y recesión de esos sectores productivos.

Copyright of Rechtsmedizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revue Archéologique de Picardie is the property of Revue Archeologique de Picardie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The difficulty in patterning the structures at sub-wavelength range leads to employ the bottom-up approach to form nanostructures of metals as well as dielectric components that disperse them in host media. The optical properties of nanoparticles are studied with UV-Vis 750 (lambda) NIR spectroscopy and fit with empirical relations. The refractive index is about the volume fraction of particles. The AuGe nanoparticles demonstrate improved absorbance, lower refractive index, and higher extinction than Au nanoparticles formed with similar thermal process. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena are highly sensitive to the bonding between atoms, atomic structure, and the electronic configuration in atoms of the given material. If one takes into account the structure of materials, then the literature on eutectic alloys predicts that alloying gold with germanium (AuGe) with varying compositions will also change the x-ray diffraction peak positions of gold itself. The peak shift can be interpreted as the change in grain size or shift in grain boundaries implying a corresponding change in material's atomic arrangement within lattice structure. As a result, there will be a change in the charge distribution of free electron cloud in original gold ultimately affecting a change in the plasmon resonance frequency and thereby modulating the various optical phenomena such as absorbance, reflectance, and refractive index. This alloying also brings a change in the dielectric constant of the material such that the plasmonic behavior may shift among different regions (UV, visible, NIR, MWIR, and LWIR). Metal semiconductor eutectic alloy which is widely popular as a soldering material would have scope in futuristic photonic applications due to its tuneable optical properties. In this work, we study the effects of Au and AuGe nanoparticle deposition on GaAs films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Au and AuGe thin films (12-nm thick) were annealed in the temperature ranges of 400-800 and 300-700 °C, respectively, to form Au and AuGe nanoparticles. The formation of these nanoparticles was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. Optical absorption spectroscopy measurements showed plasmon resonance peaks at around 670 and 535 nm for the AuGe-deposited 300 °C-annealed sample and Au-deposited 600 °C-annealed sample on sapphire, respectively, thereby confirming the plasmonic effect. Correlation of Raman spectroscopy measurement results with X-ray diffraction measurement results reveal that the transverse optical mode intensity and full width at half maximum of the GaAs (400) peak increased with an increase in annealing temperature, indicating degradation of the crystalline properties of GaAs film at higher annealing temperatures. The highest increments of the photoluminescence (PL) intensities in comparison to that of the bare GaAs film were observed to be 37 and 77% for the Au-deposited 600 °C-annealed and AuGe-deposited 300 °C-annealed samples, respectively. These enhancements of PL spectra are an indication of the significant scattering of photons by Au and AuGe nanoparticles, and they are attributed mainly to the contribution of the local surface plasmon resonance of these nanoparticles. A comparative analysis of PL enhancements revealed that AuGe nanoparticles induced a greater enhancement than Au nanoparticles. The calculated activation energies of the Au-deposited 600 °C-annealed sample, AuGe-deposited 300 °C-annealed sample, and bare GaAs sample were around 18, 24, and 33 meV, respectively. We found one-order increment in peak responsivity of AuGe plasmonic-based trilayer InAs quantum dot detector in comparison to as-grown detector at 80 K. Therefore, this study is expected to be very useful in the realization of high-performance plasmonic-based optoelectronic and sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Diabetologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s films evoke landscapes, characters and themes of undisclosed longing; with provocative situations of desperation and stranded existences, Ceylanian trysts, landscapes and human encounters also tend to be tinged with the fleeting hue of nostalgic daydream, and the lustre of unspoken aches. So often in Ceylan’s films what is most important goes unsaid, and remains unsayable; with the open ciphers of lonely wanderers, something from beyond the images and dialogue of the films stirs. Three Monkeys (Üç Maymun) starts with a night sequence in which a lone man drives along an unlit and isolated road; he hits something - a human being. With this, Servet, an ambitious politician, takes the decision to drive away and leave the body. This self-interested decision kick-starts a sequence of events which soon implicates the lives and familial relationships of Servet’s driver Eyüp. This paper explores, analyses and discusses the characters and narrative of Ceylan’s Three Monkeys, using the philosophical frameworks of Ernst Bloch, Marc Augé and Friedrich Nietzsche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The Chilean health system has undergone profound reforms since 1990, while going through political upheaval and facing demographic, health, and economic transformations. The full information requirements to develop an evidence-informed process implied the best possible use of the available data, as well as efforts to improve information systems. Objective: To examine, from a historical perspective, the use of evidence during the health sector reforms undertaken in Chile from 1990 to date, and to identify the factors that have both determined improvements in the data and facilitated their use. Methods: A qualitative methodological approach was followed to review the Chilean experience with data on decision-making. We use as the primary source our first-hand experience as officials of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Finance before and during the reform period considered. A literature review was also conducted, using documents from official sources, historical accounts, books, policy reports, and articles published in indexed journals reviewing and discussing the reform process, looking for the use of data. Results: The Chilean health-care reform process was intensive in its use and production of information. The MOH conducted several studies on the burden of disease, efficacy of interventions, cost-effectiveness, out-of-pocket payments, fiscal impact, social preferences, and other factors. Policy and prioritization frameworks developed by international agencies strongly influenced the use of data and the study’s agenda. Conclusions: The Chilean example provides evidence that tradition, receptiveness to foreign ideas, and benchmarking with international data determined the use of data, facilitated by the political influence of physicians and, later, other technocrats. Internationally comparable statistics are also shown to play a significant role in the policy debate.

Plated Ni is a commonly used barrier layer for direct bond copper (DBC) substrates used in high-temperature and high-power applications. The Ni plating method can be electrolytic or electroless, and the composition may be pure Ni, Ni:P, or Ni:B. With a melting point of 356 °C, eutectic Au88Ge12 (wt.%) solder preforms can be used for die attach in high-temperature applications up to 325 °C. The reactivity of these different Ni layers with the Ge in the AuGe solder preform has been compared. With Ni and Ni:B, the reaction was rapid during the reflow process, and initial shear strengths were low. With electroless and electrolytic Ni:P, the initial shear strengths were high and decreased ~30% after 3000 h aging at 300 °C and 325 °C. The formation of Ni–Ge intermetallic compounds (IMCs) during high-temperature storage was studied, and the growth kinetics of the Ni–Ge IMCs were calculated. A −55 °C to +300 °C thermal cycling test was conducted, in which the Cu-to-alumina DBC substrate interface failed before the die attach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Chilean health system has experienced important transformations in the last decades with a neoliberal turn to privatization of the health insurance and healthcare market since the Pinochet reforms of the 1980s. During 20 years of center-left political coalition governments several reforms were attempted to regulate and reform such markets. This paper analyzes regulatory policies for the private health insurance and health care delivery market, adopted during the 1990–2010 period. A framework of variation in market types developed by Gingrich is adopted as analytical perspective. The set of policies advanced in this period could be expected to shift the responsibility of access to care from individuals to the collective and give control to the State or the consumers vis a vis producers. Nevertheless, the effect of the implemented reforms has been mixed. Regulations on private health insurers were ineffective in terms of shifting power to the consumer or the state. In contrast, the healthcare delivery market showed a trend of increasing payers' and consumers’ control and the set of implemented reforms partially steered the market toward collective responsibility of access by creating a submarket of guaranteed services (AUGE) with lower copayments and fully funded services. Emerging unintended consequences of the adopted policies and potential explanations are discussed. In sum, attempts to use regulation to improve the collective dimension of the Chilean health system has enabled some progress, but several challenges had persisted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Radiologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Muchas aproximaciones recientes a la literatura contemporánea se refieren a la teoría de los no-lugares del antropólogo francés Marc Augé, expuesta en su libro Non-lieux: Introduction à une anthropologie de la surmodernité (1992). Sin embargo, el concepto de ‘no-lugar’, por lo general, pierde parte de su potencial teórico al aplicarse de manera vaga y poco específica. Este artículo procura demostrar la productividad de un uso más consciente de la teoría de Augé y de la combinación del concepto de no-lugar con el de la heterotopía de Michel Foucault. Como piedra de toque propone analizar en Los autonautas de la cosmopista de Julio Cortázar (1983) la construcción de la imagen de la carretera como no-lugar heterotópico, así como en su progresiva desconstrucción. En su conjunto, el artículo ilustra la posibilidad de efectuar una lectura innovadora de los escritos del autor argentino mediante teorías actuales acerca del espacio y del lugar.

Traduzido para a língua portuguesa por Maria Lúcia Pereira e editado pela Editora Papirus/Campinas (SP), em 2012, a obra de Marc Augé, professor na École des Hautes Études en Science Sociales, traz ao público brasileiro uma intrigante reflexão sobre o papel daqueles lugares nos quais permanecemos em trânsito, em espera ou apenas de passagem. Não lugares se consolidam na contemporaneidade supermoderna e tendem a exercer uma espécie de efeito dissolvente sobre a maneira pela qual nós nos relacionamos ou pensamos nossa identidade e a representamos.

Copyright of Societes is the property of De Boeck Universite and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Medizinische Physik is the property of Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)