A fully integrated single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) using a high-voltage quenching circuit fabricated in a 0.35-μm CMOS process is proposed. The quenching circuit features a quenching voltage of 9.9 V, which is three times the nominal supply voltage to increase the photon detection probability (PDP). To prove the quenching performance, the circuit has been integrated together with a large-area SPAD having an active diameter of 90  μm. Experimental verification shows a maximum PDP of 67.8% at 9.9 V excess bias at a wavelength of 642 nm.

Objetivo: Descrever os cuidados de enfermagem para manutenção da temperatura corporal durante o intraoperatório. Método: Estudo descritivo,transversal, realizado em junho de 2015 no centro cirúrgico de um hospital no interior de São Paulo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de instrumentodesenvolvido para este estudo, o qual continha dados de caracterização sociodemográfica, clínica, cirúrgica e cuidados de enfermagem. Para todas as variáveis,foram realizadas análises descritivas. Resultados® Foram analisados os cuidados de enfermagem em 19 cirurgias, sendo a de maior incidência a colecistectomiavideolaparoscópica (26,3%), sob anestesia geral (52,6%). O tempo médio de duração da anestesia foi de 113 minutos. A hipotermia foi identificada em 84,2%dos pacientes no período pós-operatório. O método de aquecimento utilizado em todos os pacientes no intraoperatório foi do tipo cutâneo ativo, com infusãode solução aquecida por via endovenosa. Conclusão® A hipotermia não intencional é uma condição real no centro cirúrgico, causando prejuízos à recuperaçãodos pacientes. Sua prevenção está relacionada à realização de cuidados de enfermagem mais seguros e à redução de complicações pós-operatórias.

Fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are, despite their good thermodynamic properties, stability and non-toxicity, eliminated from use. Due to the content of one chlorine atom in the molecule, the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) has been reduced in many European countries. The use of partially halogenated hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in which the molecules have no chlorine atoms, due to increased inflammability, is also to a large extent limited. This paper presents a methodology for selecting working fluids or mixtures for use in cogeneration ORCs on biomass, which will, in addition to thermodynamics, also take into account the safety and environmental requirements of working fluid acceptability. The effects of thermodynamic properties of preselected working fluids on the performance of the cogeneration ORC plant have been analyzed and the thermodynamic properties of the working fluid are optimized by the exergy efficiency of the ORC as a function of the target, using a genetic algorithm. Optimal values of the exergy efficiency, component size and exergy losses of the cogeneration ORC for the use of biomass energy are compared and analyzed under the same heat source conditions and pre-defined boundary conditions. The experimental analysis of the cogeneration ORC shows that the most preferred working fluid is p-xylene because in comparison to undekan, MDM (OMTS) and D4 (OMCTS) it has the highest value of exergy efficiency but also requires the least dimension of ORC components (turbines and capacitors).

Introduction: Although the skin prick test (SPT) is a reliable diagnostic tool in perennial allergic rhinitis (PER) for patients allergic to cats, the minimum necessary SPT wheal size required to distinguish cat sensitization from true allergy remains controversial. The cat nasal challenge test (cNCT) could be considered the gold standard for detecting true cat allergy. Aims: To assess the difference in the frequency of cNCT positivity between cat owners and non-owners and to determine an appropriate cut-off level for SPT wheal size in detecting positive cNCT in PER patients who are candidates for allergen immunotherapy (AIT) with cat allergen extracts. Subjects and Methods: cNCT in the form of a nasal spray was administered to 60 adult patients with PER, i.e., cat owners (n = 19) and cat non-owners (n = 41) with positive SPT to cat fur allergen (Diater, Spain). Subjective (total nasal symptom score [TNSS]) and objective measurements (peak nasal inspiratory flow [PNIF]) for assessment of nasal patency and nasal eosinophil count [NEo]) were used to assess the nasal response. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was used as a safety parameter during cNCT. Results: No differences were obtained in SPT wheal size and cNCT positivity between cat owners and non-owners. Positive cNCT detecting true cat allergy could be predicted by a cat SPT wheal size > 6.5 mm with 71.11% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusions: In adult patients with PER, the frequency of cat allergy was similar among cat owners and non-owners. A cat SPT wheal size ≥6.5 mm could be helpful in detecting true cat allergy by avoiding the demanding, time-consuming, and often unavailable cNCT when cat AIT is needed.

The aim of this paper is to explain microclimatic indicators in the winter inside buildings for of goat housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data processed in this paper were collected from ten goat farms which are deployed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the housing facilities for goats for whose were determined the microclimate status, the average temperature was in the range of optimal values. Average airflow in facilities for goats in Bosnia and Herzegovina was below the 0.2 m/s during the winter period. The average relative humidity in the goat barns in Bosnia and Herzegovina ranged permitted values. The average determined concentration of ammonia in the air barn goat farm is located above the allowable limit. On based of established levels of CO 2 in goat barns in Kozara region of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be concluded that there is above the allowable limit. Reducing the levels of harmful gases in the facilities may be required in increasing the air change in buildings either natural or artificial ventilation.

Analysis of vertex-varying spectral content of signals on graphs challenges the assumption of vertex invariance and requires the introduction of vertex-frequency representations as a new tool for graph signal analysis. Local smoothness, an important parameter of vertex-varying graph signals, is introduced and defined in this paper. Basic properties of this parameter are given. By using the local smoothness, an ideal vertex-frequency distribution is introduced. The local smoothness estimation is performed based on several forms of the vertex-frequency distributions, including the graph spectrogram, the graph Rihaczek distribution, and a vertex-frequency distribution with reduced interferences. The presented theory is illustrated through numerical examples.

Synthesis, characterization and interaction with BSA and apo-transferrin of novel water-soluble ruthenium complexes having differently coordinated alliin (S-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide).

We address the problem of state estimation, attack isolation, and control of discrete-time linear time-invariant systems under (potentially unbounded) actuator and sensor false data injection attacks. Using a bank of unknown input observers, each observer leading to an exponentially stable estimation error (in the attack-free case), we propose an observer-based estimator that provides exponential estimates of the system state despite actuator and sensor attacks. Exploiting sensor and actuator redundancy, the estimation scheme is guaranteed to work if a sufficiently small subset of sensors and actuators is under attack. Using the proposed estimator, we provide tools for reconstructing and isolating actuator and sensor attacks, and a control scheme capable of stabilizing the closed-loop dynamics by switching off isolated actuators. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance of our tools.

Banija spotted pig breed was created at the end of 19th century by crossing domestic white sows with drooping ears and/or Turopolje pig sows with black Berkshire. After a period of stagnation in breeding, the population is newly recognized only few years ago and is currently in the process of breed valorisation. The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity and structure of Banija spotted pig (BS) in comparison with geographically close populations, and to assess the differentiation level of Banija spotted pig. Based on the genotypes obtained for 24 ISAG-FAO recommended pig microsatellite markers, basic genetic diversity indicators were determined for 30 samples of BS, 20 samples of Turopolje and Crna Slavonska pig each, and 17 samples of Landrace population. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.36 to 0.6 and was high in BS population (0.58). Average allelic richness (range 2 – 5.2) and the rarefacted number of private alleles (range 9 to 27) were the highest in BS. Inbreeding coefficient in BS was estimated 0.06 (bootstrapping confidence interval 0.022 to 0.123). Structure analysis showed that there are five clusters in the four analysed populations, where BS are clearly distinguished from other populations and substructured. Wright’s fixation index estimates are in accordance with the clustering results. In conclusion, the population of Banija spotted pig shows great genetic diversity and is genetically different from neighbouring (geographically close) pig populations.