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Here we report the evolution of Ni stress in electroplated Ni films and investigate its origins as a function of electroplating time. First, low stress 200-nm-thick Ti / 200-nm thick Ni seed layers are deposited onto Si (100) wafers via electron-beam evaporator.Then, Ni films are electroplated onto the seeded Si (100) wafers in an All-Chloride bath. We observe that Ni grains nucleate prominently in the [111] direction aligning with Si[100]. Using optical curvature measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, we quantify the electroplated Ni stress and investigate its evolution as a function of electroplated Ni thickness, grain size, crystal orientation, crystallite size, lattice spacing, and dislocation density. Particularly, when averaged electroplated Ni thickness was increased from 2.1 um to 5.9 um, Ni tensile stress reduced from 604.8+-137.9 MPa to 339.8+-74.7 MPa as (1) average Ni grain size increased by 40.9+-1.3 % (Ni lattice constant expanded by 0.19+-0.03 % in the [220] in-plane direction and shrunk by 0.22+-0.04 % along normal [111] direction), (2) Ni grain growth along Ni [110] was inhibited and that along Ni [100], [111], and [311] were promoted, (3) Ni crystallite size improved by 26.3+-6.2%, and (4) Ni dislocation density reduced by 42.7+-10.0%. Overall, Ni stress is shown to be strongly correlated with the Ni structure, which is a function of electroplating time, and both can be quantified through optical and structural characterization techniques., Comment: Conclusions incorrect, data unreliable. Prof. Bayram did not consent to submission to arXiv as Prof. Bayram - upon further review - noticed that many of the presented results are unfounded

Background Chronic heart failure is a common clinical syndrome associated with high healthcare system use. Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the management of chronic heart failure in Australian general practice. Methods Data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program were used to determine the prevalence of chronic heart failure, use of natriuretic peptide testing, prescribing patterns, hospitalisation rates and referrals to community-based heart failure management programs in three study periods between 2010 and 2015. Results Data on 8989 patients from 308 general practitioners were analysed. Of these patients, 324 had chronic heart failure (prevalence 3.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1–4.2), 44% (95% CI: 34.5–53.6) of whom had been hospitalised for the condition. The mean number of prescribed heart failure medication agents was 2.26 (95% CI: 2.13–2.39) per patient. Discharge under community heart failure programs was not routine. Discussion Chronic heart failure is a significant burden in general practice. Strategies to optimise management and avoid hospitalisation, where possible, are needed.

Before a half century, regeneration of neurons has been admitted as an impossible event. Thus, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis), vascular events (e.g. stroke) and traumatic diseases (e.g. spinal cord injury) have been admitted as incurable diseases. Afterward, tissue reparative and regenerative potential of stem cell researches for these disorders drew attention of the scientist to replacement therapy. Now, there are hundreds of current experimental and clinical regenerative treatment studies. One of the most popular treatment methods is cell transplantation. For this purpose many types of stem cells such as mononuclear stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and olfactory ensheathing cells can be used. As a result, cell transplantation has become a promising therapeutic option for these neurologic disorders. In this article, we reviewed stem cell treatment modalities for neurological disorders in the light of current literature.

Introduction: Medical workforce shortages in Australia have led to increasing reliance on overseas- trained doctors (OTDs) to work in general practice in areas of need, particularly in rural areas. These OTDs do not have Australian postgraduate training in general practice, and we know little about how they practise. Objective: To determine differences in practice style between a self-selected group of overseastrained general practitioners undertaking the Alternative Pathways Program and GPs who are Fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), and whether such differences can be explained by other practitioner, practice and patient characteristics. Method: A self-selected sample of 89 OTDs from the Alternative Pathways Program were compared with FRACGPs in a continuous national study of GP activity (n = 1032). Each GP provided details about themselves and their practice and recorded data about patients, morbidity and treatments for 100 encounters. Results: OTDs were younger, less experienced, worked more sessions per week, in smaller practices.

PubMedID: 30706992 Aim: Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, more than 3.5 million Syrians have been under temporary protection status in Turkey. Because beta-thalassemia (BT) is a prevalent disorder in the Mediterranean countries, we decided to estimate the prevalence of and make an overview of the demographic, socioeconomic, medical characteristics, and healthcare problems of refugee children with BT. Patients: Eighteen Turkish Pediatric Hematology Oncology Centers (PHOC) with 318 refugee children from 235 families participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 8.1 ± 4.8 years (0.5–21 years). The mean time after immigration to Turkey was 2.5 ± 1.5 years (range, 0.1–7 years). Seventy-two (22.6%) of them were born and diagnosed with BT in Turkey. On physical examination, 82 patients (26%) were underweight and 121 patients (38%) were stunted. The appearance of a thalassemic face was reported for 207 patients (65.1%). Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were reported in 217 (68.2%) and 168 (52.8%) patients, respectively. The median ferritin level was 2508 ng/mL (range, 17–21 000 ng/mL) at the first admission, and 2841 ng/mL (range, 26–12 981 ng/mL) at the last visit after two years of follow-up in a PHOC (P > 0.05). The most frequently encountered mutation was IVSI-110 (G>A) (31%). Before immigration, only 177 patients (55.6%) reported the use of chelators; after immigration it increased to 268 (84.3%). Conclusion: Difficulties in communication, finding a competent translator capable in medical terminology, nonregular use of medications, and insensitivity to prenatal diagnosis were preliminary problems. The current extent of migration poses emerging socioeconomic and humanitarian challenges for refugee patients with BT. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Radial deformation phenomena of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attracting increased attention because even minimal changes of the CNT's cross section can result in significant changes of their electronic and optical properties. It is therefore important to have the ability to sensitively probe and characterize this radial deformation. High pressure Raman spectroscopy offers a general and powerful method to study such effects in SWNTs. In this experimental work, we focus in particular on one theoretically predicted Raman vibrational mode, the so-called "Squash Mode" (SM), named after its vibrational mode pattern, which has an E2g symmetry representation and exists at shifts below the radial breathing mode (RBM) region. The Squash mode was predicted to be more sensitive to environmental changes than the RBM. Here we report on a detailed, experimental detection of SMs of aligned SWNT arrays with peaks as close as 18 cm-1 to the laser excitation energy. Furthermore, we investigate how the SM of aligned CNT arrays reacts when exposed to a high pressure environment of up to 9 GPa. The results confirm the theoretical predictions regarding the angular and polarization dependent variations of the SM's intensity with respect to their excitation. Furthermore, clear Raman upshifts of SM under pressures of up to 9 GPa are presented. The relative changes of these upshifts, and hence the sensitivity, are much higher than that of RBMs because of larger radial displacement of some of the participating carbon atoms during the SM vibration. These novel ultra-sensitive Raman SM shifts of SWNTs provide enhanced sensitivity and demonstrate new opportunities for nano-optical sensors applications.