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BACKGROUND The mechanisms underlying speech abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain poorly understood, with most of the available evidence based on male patients. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence and characteristics of speech disorder in early, drug-naive PD patients with relation to gender and dopamine transporter imaging. METHODS Speech samples from 60 male and 40 female de novo PD patients as well as 60 male and 40 female age-matched healthy controls were analyzed. Quantitative acoustic vocal assessment of 10 distinct speech dimensions related to phonation, articulation, prosody, and speech timing was performed. All patients were evaluated using [123]I-2b-carbomethoxy-3b-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane single-photon emission computed tomography and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. RESULTS The prevalence of speech abnormalities in the de novo PD cohort was 56% for male and 65% for female patients, mainly manifested with monopitch, monoloudness, and articulatory decay. Automated speech analysis enabled discrimination between PD and controls with an area under the curve of 0.86 in men and 0.93 in women. No gender-specific speech dysfunction in de novo PD was found. Regardless of disease status, females generally showed better performance in voice quality, consonant articulation, and pauses production than males, who were better only in loudness variability. The extent of monopitch was correlated to nigro-putaminal dopaminergic loss in men (r = 0.39, p = 0.003) and the severity of imprecise consonants was related to cognitive deficits in women (r = -0.44, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Speech abnormalities represent a frequent and early marker of motor abnormalities in PD. Despite some gender differences, our findings demonstrate that speech difficulties are associated with nigro-putaminal dopaminergic deficits.

ZnO:Eu thin film fabricated by pulsed laser deposition was treated by pulsed UV laser. The effect of laser fluence from 70 to 125 mJ cm−2 on film properties was investigated. The results showed that the surface morphology was clearly modified and the film treated at laser fluence of 70 mJ cm−2 was more densified compared to the other annealed films. Laser treatment led to a reduction of carbon content and to a stoichiometric ZnO:Eu composition on the surface. Refractive index significantly decreased and extinction coefficient was blue shifted for higher laser fluences. Strong characteristic Eu3+ transitions were obtained using excitation at 266 nm. The highest photoluminescence intensity was observed for the annealed film at a laser fluence of 70 mJ cm−2. The influence of ambient composition (N2 and O2) and temperature (room temperature and 150 °C) to photoluminescence response was examined for optical gas sensor application. The laser-untreated film showed higher sensitivity to the presence of oxygen at both temperatures compared to the treated film. The stability of photoluminescence intensity at elevated temperature was improved for laser-treated areas.

While the role of physiotherapy as part of a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation is indisputable, clear evidence concerning the effectiveness of different rehabilitation managements [interdisciplinary implementing the International Classification of Functioning, disability and health (ICF) vs. multidisciplinary model] and physiotherapy categories (neuroproprioceptive "facilitation, inhibition" vs. motor/skill acquisitions using technologies) are still lacking. In this study, four kinds of comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation with different management and content of physical therapy will be compared. Moreover, focus will be placed on the identification of novel biological molecules reflective of effective rehabilitation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts (200 bps) of limited coding potential, which have recently been recognized as key factors in neuronal signaling pathways in ischemic stroke and as such, may provide a valuable readout of patient recovery and neuroprotection during therapeutic progression.Adults after the first ischemic stroke in an early sub-acute phase with motor disability will be randomly assigned to one of four groups and undergo a 3 weeks comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation of different types: interdisciplinary team work using ICF model as a guide; multidisciplinary teamwork implementing neuroproprioceptive "facilitation and inhibition" physiotherapy; multidisciplinary teamwork implementing technology-based physiotherapy; and standard multidisciplinary teamwork. Primary (the Goal Attainment Scale, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule) and secondary (motor, cognitive, psychological, speech and swallowing functions, functional independence) outcomes will be measured. A blood sample will be obtained upon consent (20 mls; representing pre-rehabilitation molecular) before and after the inpatient program. Primary outcomes will be followed up again 3 and 12 months after the end of the program. The overarching aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of various rehabilitation managements and physiotherapeutic categories implemented by patients post ischemic strokeNCT05323916, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05323916.

ImportanceMultiple sclerosis can also affect children. Approximately 3–10% of patients develop multiple sclerosis before the age of 16.ObjectiveThe aim of this analysis is to describe the characteristics of pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis who started their treatment with disease-modifying drugs in 2013–2020, with data obtained from the Czech National Registry of patients with multiple sclerosis.Design and SettingA method of retrospective analysis conducted with 134 pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis was used.ResultsThe findings reveal that the mean age at the date of the introduction of the first disease-modifying drugs treatment is 15.89 years, and gender does not play any role. In addition, moderate (51.6%) and mild (45.2%) relapses are predominant in these young patients. Seventy five percent of patients will not experience a confirmed progression of the expanded disability status scale within 54.7 months from starting the treatment. Furthermore, the results confirm that the first-choice treatment is interferon beta-a and glatiramer acetate, which is common for adult patients. However, some factors, such as a low efficacy or a lack of tolerance may impact on treatment discontinuation in children.ConclusionMore research should be performed on novel disease-modifying drugs for this target group.

This paper compares the stress and strain behaviour of mechanical fasteners and elastic adhesive connections in timber façade applications. Two common designs with timber cladding are introduced. The traditional façade planks and multilayer large-format solid wood panels were selected. The resistance of a reference façade section with mechanical fasteners or adhesive bond to wind suction is determined according to the recommendations of European guideline ETAG 034. The pressure/suction chamber allowing hermetic closure was used. The sample deformation was measured at 15 locations, this also allowed to determine the elongation of the adhesive layer at break. The failure loads reached with the adhesive joint exceeded 20 kN/m2in both combinations of façade cladding. On the other hand, the sample with a large-format panel and mechanical fasteners showed the lowest failure load at 12 kN/m2. The results confirmed that bonded joints are a suitable solution for large-format cladding, whereas an increase in the number of mechanical fasteners will be a more convenient solution for façade plank applications.

Single-layered and multi-layered 20–60 nm thick silicon nitride (Si3N4) dielectric nanofilms were fabricated using a low-pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) method. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed less oxygen content in the multi-layered nanofilms. The capacitors with Si3N4 multilayer demonstrated a tendency to a higher breakdown voltage compared to the capacitors with Si3N4 single layer. Si3N4 nanofilms and capacitors with Si3N4 dielectric were exposed to 1 kGy dose of gamma photons. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed that no modifications of the chemical bonds of Si3N4 were present after irradiation. Also, gamma irradiation did not influence the breakdown voltage of the capacitors but decreased their capacitance measured at 1 MHz frequency. However, the multi-layered capacitors were not affected by radiation more than the single-layered capacitors. These findings suggest a promising process to fabricate nano-scaled multi-layered Si3N4 capacitors with improved breakdown voltage characteristics and resistance to ionizing radiation.

Evaluation of precision of consonant articulation is commonly used metric in assessment of pathological speech. However, up to date most of the research on consonant characteristics was performed on English while there are obvious language-specific differences. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the patterns of consonant articulation in Czech across 6 stop consonants with respect to age and gender. The database used consisted of 30 female and 30 male healthy participants. Four acoustic variables including voice onset time (VOT), VOT ratio and two spectral moments were analyzed. The Czech plosives /p/, /t/ and /k/ were found to be characterized by short voicing lag (average VOT ranged from 14 to 32 ms) while voiced plosives /b/, /d/ and /g/ by long voicing lead (average VOT ranged from -79 to -91 ms). Furthermore, we observed significantly longer duration of both VOT (p < 0.05) and VOT ratio (p < 0.01) of voiceless plosives in female compared to male gender. Finally, we revealed a significant negative correlation between age and duration of voiceless (r = -0.36, p < 0.05) as well as voiced VOT (r = -0.45, p = 0.01) in female but not in male participants.

Současným trendem při odvodnění vozovek pozemních komunikací je soustředění dešťové vody do podloží vozovek tak, aby se neztrácela v kanalizačních systémech, ale volně se saturovala do podloží. Cílem tohoto výzkumu je optimalizovat konstrukční vrstvy zelených parkovišť při použití zasakovacích roštů AS-TTE. Během návrhu konstrukčních vrstev budou jednotlivé nové typy materiálů včetně podkladních vrstev optimalizovány tak, aby umožnily maximální vsakování vody do podloží a zároveň byly dodrženy požadavky na únosnost konstrukčních vrstev dle ČSN 72 1006. Budou provedeny laboratorní zkoušky zaměřené na základní fyzikálně-mechanické vlastnosti, propustnost vody a adsorpci ropných látek. The current way in drainage of roads is the concentration of rainwater in the subsoil of roads, so that rainwater does not drain into the sewer system, but freely infiltrates into the subsoil. The aim of this research is to optimize the structural layers of green parking lots with AS-TTE grassing blocks. During the design of structural layers and new types of materials, will be optimized to allow maximum water infiltration into the subsoil and at the same time keep the requirements for load-bearing capacity of structural layers according to ČSN 72 1006. Laboratory tests will be performed focusing on basic physical and mechanical properties, water permeability and adsorption of oil drips.

Background Impairments of olfactory and speech function are likely early prodromal symptoms of α-synucleinopathy. Objective The aim of this study is to assess whether dysprosody is present in isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) with hyposmia/anosmia and a normal nigrostriatal system. Methods Pitch variability during speech was investigated in 17 iRBD subjects with normal olfactory function (iRBD-NOF), 30 iRBD subjects with abnormal olfactory function (iRBD-AOF), and 50 healthy controls. iRBD subjects were evaluated using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and [123I]-2s-carbomethoxy-3s-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-nortropane dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT). All iRBD subjects completed the 24-month follow-up with DAT-SPECT, speech, and olfactory testing. Results At baseline, only iRBD-AOF showed monopitch when compared to iRBD-NOF (P = 0.04) and controls (P = 0.03), with no difference between iRBD-NOF and controls (P = 1). At follow-up, dysprosody progressed only in iRBD-AOF with abnormal DAT-SPECT (P = 0.03). Conclusion Prosody is impaired in hyposmic but not in normosmic iRBD subjects before the nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission is affected (Braak stage 2). © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

International audience; The resolution of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is particularly crucial for gas sensor applications where low concentrations are detected. This resolution can be improved by increasing the effective surface of QCM electrodes and, thereby, enhancing their sensitivity. For this purpose, various researchers have investigated the use of micro-structured materials with promising results. Herein, we propose the use of easy-to-manufacture metal blacks that are highly structured even on a nanoscale level and thus provide more bonding sites for gas analytes. Two different black metals with thicknesses of 280 nm, black aluminum (B-Al) and black gold (B-Au), were deposited onto the sensor surface to improve the sensitivity following the Sauerbrey equation. Both layers present a high surface roughness due to their cauliflower morphology structure. A high response (i.e., resonant frequency shift) of these QCM sensors coated with a black metal layer was obtained. Two gaseous analytes, H2O vapor and EtOH vapor, at different concentrations, are tested, and a distinct improvement of sensitivity is observed for the QCM sensors coated with a black metal layer compared to the blank ones, without strong side effects on resonance frequency stability or mechanical quality factor. An approximately 10 times higher sensitivity to EtOH gas is reported for the QCM coated with a black gold layer compared to the blank QCM sensor.

The control and arguably the tailoring aspect of technologies like pulsed laser deposition (PLD) rises from understanding the chemistry hidden by the laser generated plasma. With the continuous transition towards thin films with complex structures and geometries, the comprehension of the fundamental processes during the film deposition becomes critical. During the PLD of Mo and Eu-doped Lu2O3, optical emission spectroscopy was implemented for in-situ plasma monitoring. The spatial distribution of individual elements revealed the structuring of a stoichiometric plasma while the formation of LuO molecule within the plasma plume is seen as being induced by the addition of a minimum 1 Pa of O2. The energy of the ejected particles was controlled through doping and O2 pressure. The effect of O2 pressure over the plasma energy revealed a transition from an atomic dominated region towards a molecular dominated one. The properties of the resulted films were analyzed by XRD, AFM, and photoluminescence techniques and show a strong correlation between the dynamical regime of the plasma and their structural properties.

This article presents an investigation of the sensing properties of chemiresistors based on Cu2O/CuO core–shell nanowires containing p–p′ heterojunctions. The nanowires were synthesized by a conven...

Currently, there is an increase in the number of the world's aging population. This aging process is often connected with cognitive decline of some functions such as memory or speed processing loss. Since Alzheimer's disease cannot be cured yet, considerable efforts are being made to at least delay this cognitive decline among elderly in order to maintain and prolong the quality of their life. This can also be achieved by non-pharmacological approaches such as performing physical activities, cognitive training, or adhering to a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). One of the components of MedDiet - extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) - has considerable health benefits. The purpose of this review is to examine the effect of EVOO intake on the delay of cognitive decline among the elderly. The methodology is based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in three acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the regular intake of EVOO is associated with enhanced cognitive functions, which means that this oil may have a neuroprotective effect and could positively prevent the development of dementia, especially Alzheimer's dementia. It is believed that secoiridoid oleuropein is responsible for this effectiveness. Furthermore, there is also a need of more randomized controlled studies or longitudinal observational studies to be performed to confirm the efficacy of the beneficial health effect of EVOO on the delay of cognitive decline.

Stacking mismatches in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanostructures affect their photonic, mechanical, and thermal properties. To access information about the stacked configuration of layered ensembles, highly sophisticated techniques like X-ray photoemission spectroscopy or electron microscopy are necessary. Here, instead, by taking advantage of the geometrical and chemical nature of h-BN, we show how simple structural models, based on shortened interplanar distances, can produce effective charge densities. Accounting these in the non-analytical part of the lattice dynamical description makes it possible to access information about the composition of differently stacked variants in experimental samples characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The results are obtained by density functional theory and confirmed by various functionals and pseudopotential approximations. Even though the method is shown on h-BN, the conclusions are more general and show how effective dielectric models can be considered as valuable theoretical pathways for the vibrational structure of any layered material., Comment: 14 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables. Supplemental Material: 17 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables

The aim of this article is to provide unique and detailed data on how patients rate the RebiSmart 2.0 in the specific User Study Questionnaire (USQ) domains, and the relationship between their rating and individual level of disability, baseline demographic/socioeconomic factors, and adherence. Twelve-month, phase IV, observational, multicenter study (no placebo or comparator) to evaluate the ease of use of the RebiSmart autoinjector for self-injection during treatment of CIS/RRMS subjects with Rebif 44 mcg sc three times a week by USQ. A total of 290 subjects participated in the study, with 249 (85.86%) completing the entire study period. The endpoint results demonstrated a very high proportion (>95%) of patients with a positive evaluation of the overall convenience of RebiSmart at each study visit. At the end of the study, all patients would recommend the device to others who need Rebif therapy. The proportion of patients rating the RebiSmart ease of use by individual domains (self-injection steps, changing the cartridge, using the device away from home) as “very easy to use” or “easy to use” and the proportion of patients rating the RebiSmart functions as “helpful” or “very helpful” were more than 80% for each domain at each study visit. These findings are in line with the potential benefits of RebiSmart to treatment adherence. They demonstrate an overall, very good perception of the device by patients and its individual functions.

The recent advancements in pulsed laser deposition (PLD) control via plasma diagnostics techniques have been positive and raised questions on the limitation of some techniques, such as the Langmuir probe (LP). The particularities of laser-produced plasma can lead to incorrect interpretation of collected electrical signal. In this paper, we explored the limitations of LP as a technique for in situ PLD control by performing investigations on several metallic plasmas, expanding in various Ar atmosphere conditions. Sub-microsecond modulation was seen in the reconstructed IV characteristics attributed to non-equilibrium dynamics of the ejected charges. A perturbative regime was recorded for Ar pressures higher than 2 Pa, where ionic bursts were observed in the electron saturation region. This perturbation was identified as a plasma fireball. A non-linear multifractal model was developed here to explore these new regimes of the LP. The strange attractors characterizing each fireball were reconstructed, and their evolution with the Ar pressure is discussed. Both short- and long-time non-linear behavior were correlated via probe bias, and the pressure effect on the strange attractor’s defining the fireball-like behavior was investigated. A good correlation was noticed between the simulated data and experimental findings.

The continuous effort for transitioning pulsed laser deposition technique from an experimental tool into an industrial one is sustained by the use of complex technologies for in situ real-time monitoring of the deposition process. Floating Langmuir Probe (LP) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements were used for plasma monitoring during the pulsed laser deposition of Ag films under various Ar pressure conditions. The electrical measurements revealed a complex multi-structured distribution of the ions, which was strongly influenced by the increase of Ar pressure. The generation of highly energetic ions with the addition of Ar and the degree of Ar gas ionization was also explored. OES measurements confirmed the presence of highly ionized Ar species in the plasma. A peculiar effect was seen under pressures higher than 10 Pa, where the presence of high electronic charges lead to a perturbative behavior of plasma in the vicinity of the LP. The effect of these complex dynamics on the structure and quality of the deposited thin film was also investigated revealing a strong correlation between the electronic distribution in plasma and thin film thickness profile.

The aim of this mini-review is to discuss the main antiplatelet agents that have been successfully used in the secondary prevention of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). The methodology is based on a literature review of available peer-reviewed English studies listed in PubMed. The findings reveal that aspirin remains a reliable antiplatelet agent in the secondary prevention of acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke and TIA. Nevertheless, currently, there are also other agents, i.e., ticagrelor, clopidogrel, and cilostazol, that can be applied. In addition, the results indicate that time is significant not only in severe stroke but also in non-severe stroke and TIA, which suggests that antiplatelet therapy should be applied within 24 h after the first symptoms because early treatment can lead to an improvement in neurological outcomes and reduce the chance of an early subsequent stroke.

Building structures have been designed such that they are able to withstand the adverse effects of the environment for a certain time. The terms "for a certain time" and "the surrounding environment" are used for a purpose here, and that is because the phenomenon of ageing buildings is currently an increasingly discussed problem that is faced by every larger city. The materials used in the buildings, such as façade cladding, age just as the buildings themselves do. An immense pressure has been currently put on designers to use environmentally friendly materials not only for new buildings but also for the retrofitting of existing ones. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that wood or wood composite materials are convenient solution for restoration of façades of administrative or commercial buildings, however, since the new cladding have to be connected with an old load-bearing structure, the designers have to overcome many limitations. One of the main difficulties is high thermal and moisture expansion of these materials which has a direct impact on the appearance of the façade. The obtained results showed that expansion properties should be studied closely when using wooden elements in the design and that a neglection can lead to a premature failure of the system.

Gadolinium bisphthalocyanine (GdPc2) has been placed among the highest ranked molecular materials considered namely for modern optoelectronic applications including organic solar cells. To improve understanding of the correlation between GdPc2 magnetic properties and its electronic functionality, we experimentally and theoretically studied charge carrier concentration, charge mobility, and influence of local magnetic field on charge carrier transport. For better clearance, all the main studied properties of GdPc2 bisphthalocyanine were compared with Zn phthalocyanine (ZnPc) as a reference material. Conductivity and charge carrier mobility were measured in materials incorporated in FET active channels. UV Vis spectroscopy, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy were also applied. The narrow band gap together with small ionization potential of GdPc2 lead to high free charge carrier concentration. Among parameters affecting charge carrier mobility, molecular arrangement and intermolecular and intramolecular charge carrier pathways were highlighted. The possibility that the interaction of the mobile charge carriers with the local magnetic field of GdPc2 molecules reduces charge carrier mobility is also discussed.

The continuous effort for transitioning pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique from an experimental tool into an industrial one can be sustained by the use of complex tools for in situ real-time monitoring of the deposition process. Langmuir Probe (LP) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements were used for plasma monitoring during PLD of silver films under various Ar pressure conditions. The LP measurements revealed a multi-structured distribution of the ions, which was strongly influenced by the increase of Ar pressure. The generation of highly energetic ions with the addition of Ar and the degree of Ar gas ionization was confirmed by OES measurements. A perturbative effect was seen under pressures higher than 10 Pa, where the presence of high electronic charges leads to an unstable behavior of plasma in the vicinity of the LP. The effect of these complex dynamics on the structure and quality of the deposited thin film was investigated revealing a strong correlation between the electronic distribution in plasma and thin film thickness profile.

Ultra-thin silver films of thicknesses of the order of 10 nm and less were prepared in different ambient conditions (vacuum, Ar, and N2) by pulsed laser deposition on glass and fused silica substrates. The in situ monitoring of electrical resistance of deposited films and optical emission spectroscopy of plasma were implemented as real-time analysis techniques. Change in the growth mechanism of the Ag layer in N2 ambient is expressed by an acceleration of the coalescence process, which shifts the percolation point toward lower mass thicknesses. The films prepared in vacuum and Ar ambient were found to be unstable for a final resistance in the range from 1 to 100 MΩ while the films deposited in N2 revealed stable electrical resistance. The percolation point was further lowered by introducing a sublayer of AgxOy for the film deposited in N2 gas. Based on data provided by AFM, SEM, and spectroscopic ellipsometry, different film formation mechanisms are discussed in relation to surface morphology and optical properties. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to monitor the deposition process and identify the species presented during the deposition process. The energy of the ejected particle is affected by the addition of ambient gas and depends on the properties of the working gas.

In this work, we deal with a study of the electron-transport behavior of zirconium nitride RF magnetron sputtered films using Zr target in reactive nitrogen ambient. The films were grown on silica-coated silicon substrates at a substrate temperature of 300°C. The growth process was monitored using an in-situ spectral ellipsometer in a spectral range from 245 to 1690 nm. The ellipsometric data were analyzed using a dispersion model based on Drude-Lorentz oscillators. We estimated electron-transport properties at each stage of the deposition process by analysis of the model parameters. The mechanism of the thickness-dependent electron-transport phenomenon of the ZrN films is discussed in this work.

In this work, a comparison of the microstructure of black and classic reflective aluminum films is provided. The N2 concentration during the magnetron sputtering deposition has a key impact on the growth process and final moth-eye-like morphology of black Al films. The study of films with thickness ~1.5 µm and ~8 µm and fully developed microstructure enabled us to clarify the origin of different optical properties of black and reflective Al. Atomic force microscopy measurements showed high roughnesses for both types of films leading to light scattering from their surface. In the case of black Al, the incident light is absorbed in a fractal-like nanoporous surface. Less than 3% of the intensity in the wavelength range from 190 nm to 1200 nm is reflected. Positronium formation in columnar nanopores with a diameter of 4 – 5 A was observed by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The nanoporosity rather than the roughness is the key feature of black films compared to reflective ones.

ZnO:Mo powders of nano- and microrods were fabricated by the hydrothermal growth method. ZnO:Mo thin films deposited on a fused silica glass substrate were synthesized for comparison as well. X-ray diffraction and fluorescence (XRD, XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), photo- and radioluminescence (PL, RL) were applied to characterize these materials. The samples were also annealed in air at elevated temperatures to study the defects and luminescence modification. In particular, EPR spectra in the powder and thin film samples were composed of the signals originating from shallow donors before any treatment. The Mo5+ signal appeared after the annealing at 350 °C in the powder spectra. It existed prior to the treatment in the thin film samples. New EPR signal appears after X-ray irradiation in the powder samples. Red luminescence occurs in all powder samples. The intensity of this band demonstrated different dependences on the annealing temperatures in the samples with different Mo content. The exciton-related band at 380 nm never observed in the powder samples before the annealing, appears after the annealing at 350 °C. The strongest it was in the ZnO:Mo powder with low Mo content.

This paper deals with the mass spectrometric characterization of atoms, radicals and ions generated in the RF magnetron discharges sputtering metal targets in Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe gases. In magnetron discharges different kinds of species such as atoms, radicals and positive and negative ions according to the target material and sputtering gas pressure can be generated. The mass spectrometry of the magnetron discharge, which gives the detailed information on these species, is of key importance for the development of new advanced thin films. The amount of individual atoms, radicals and ions and the ion energy distribution as a function of flow and pressure of the sputtering gas, and the magnetron power is discussed in detail. This article shows (1) the ion distribution functions of gas and sputtered target material ions as a function of sputtering gas pressure, (2) the evolution of the amount of single-ionized and double-ionized atoms of gases and metals generated in the RF discharge during sputtering of Ag films in various inert gases as a function of gas pressure, and (3) the contamination of the sputtered metallic films by the oxygen from a residual gas atmosphere in the deposition chamber at low film deposition rates.

In this work we present a quantum-classical molecular dynamics study of hydrogen irradiation of a single corrugated boron sheet in the incident energy range of 0.25–100 eV and report the resulting reflection, adsorption, and transmission probability. For this we use self-consistent charge tight binding density functional theory. A comparison of the irradiation results with our previous study on hydrogen detection using graphene shows a significant increase in the adsorption probability and a lower reflection rate for borophene. We benchmark our method of finding the interaction potentials of hydrogen and the boron sheet with plane wave density functional theory for validating our approach. We utilized the open boundary non-equilibrium Green’s function method to obtain conductivity of borophene as a function of hydrogen coverage. For voltages of up to 300 mV the systems have a linear volt–ampere characteristic and the resulting conductance decreases exponentially as a function of the hydrogen coverage. Our results suggest that borophene has favorable properties for its use as a hydrogen detector.

The aim of this review is to summarize the effect of human intestinal microbiome on cognitive impairments and to focus primarily on the impact of diet and eating habits on learning processes. Better understanding of the microbiome could revolutionize the possibilities of therapy for many diseases. The authors performed a literature review of available studies on the research topic describing the influence of human microbiome and diet on cognitive impairment or learning processes found in the world’s acknowledged databases Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, and Scopus. The digestive tube is populated by billions of living microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and microscopic fungi. In adulthood, under physiological conditions, the intestinal microbiome appears to be relatively steady. However, it is not true that it would not be influenced, both in the positive sense of the word and in the negative one. The basic pillars that maintain a steady microbiome are genetics, lifestyle, diet and eating habits, geography, and age. It is reported that the gastrointestinal tract and the brain communicate with each other through several pathways and one can speak about gut-brain axis. New evidence is published every year about the association of intestinal dysbiosis and neurological/psychiatric diseases. On the other hand, specific diets and eating habits can have a positive effect on a balanced microbiota composition and thus contribute to the enhancement of cognitive functions, which are important for any learning process.

Phthalocyanine and perylene are aromatic organic compounds. Metal complexes can be derived from phthalocyanine by substituting H2 in the central ring of the molecule by a metal ion. In the present work, positron annihilation spectroscopy was employed for characterization of the size distribution and local chemical environment of free volumes in perylene, phthalocyanine and its complexes with metals. The size distribution of free volumes was determined from the pick-off annihilation lifetimes of ortho-positronium. The local chemical environment of positron annihilation sites was characterized by the coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy.

In this work, we focus on study of the formation and behavior of molecules, radicals, and ions in ECR discharge in a mixture of argon and methane. Discharge properties are studied at various conditions; total gas flow (0–50 sccm), absorbed microwave power (0–900 W) and the partial pressure of methane (0–1.2 Pa). Neutral mass spectrometry does not reveal the presence of radical CH5 commonly described in literature. Spectra show the presence of atomic hydrogen H and especially H2 molecules. The number of CH4+ and CH3+ species shows that the amount of CH4+ in areas power up to 350 W is high, but with further increase of the power their amount decreases. With the increasing power the CH3+ ions are more intensively generated. The obtained data helps optimize process conditions for the fabrication of diamond and DLC thin films.

The contact thermal insulation system is a major trend in building construction in the Czech Republic. In this way both for new buildings and for renovations to improve thermal and technical parameters of buildings. Effort of an extension of the construction season, however, causes frequent visits of the application of this system in unsuitable weather conditions. One of the important layers in the systems ETICS (which is the contact thermal insulation of the building) is the basic layer with glass-fibre reinforcing mesh. Such a cover layer of thermal insulation and at the same time a basis for the final outer layer - plaster. Climatic conditions during application are given by the manufacturer. Normal temperature is indicated by + 5°C to +30°C. The lower boundary is not often observed. That's why I have my research and thesis focused on testing the parameters of the base layer made outside the ideal conditions. I thus produced samples underwent laboratory tests and watching the resulting parameters. This article provides a brief description of the testing methods and their advantages and disadvantages. The methods used were, for example, tests in flexural strength, pressure, water absorption test or tests of beginning and end of solidification. The most important findings of my research were the facts that significantly limit the applicability of standardized tests to determine the beginning and end of solidification. For the base layer samples of 4mm even these methods give very distorted information. Another effort of my research will be to verify these results and determine how it will be necessary to modify the methodology of testing, we received the relevant data. Preliminary hypothesis is at least the size of a substitute specimens - especially reducing the sample thickness from 40 mm to 4-6 mm, which corresponds to the reality of practical implementation. The data obtained would subsequently be used to adjust the rules for testing insulation systems. Data were obtained primarily from my research within VUT FAST brand FAST‑J‑10‑50

Thermostimulated luminescence properties (TSL) of sintered alumina were investigated. The main properties of ceramics of the type "Lucalox-CS", based on anion-defective alumina, have been investigated in detail. TSL, as a function of irradiated doses, shows maximum values with centered peaks at T = 63, 148, 291 and 347 °C. The respective absorption band of the manganese admixture was determined and the corresponding maximum TSL, the activation energies, and the frequency factors were calculated too. The TSL bleaching mechanism in alumina is associated with the temperature dependence of the probability of trapping in deep traps. This may be due to thermal ionization of excited states. The obtained results confirm the dependence on irradiated doses, temperature and structure of the material. This material could be used either as a substrate for the preparation of thin layers because of its strength, high thermal and chemical stability, high electrical resistance and transparency or as a dosimeter.

As dysphonia is assumed to be the most prevalent feature of hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson’s disease (PD), several acoustic approaches have been introduced for its assessment. However, the sensitivity of different acoustic measures to the occurrence of dysphonia in drug-naive de-novo patients with PD has not yet been explored. The goal of this study is to examine the performance of glottal source parametrization and compare it with traditional perturbation and cepstral measures. Sustained phonations of 40 de-novo drug-naive PD participants and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recorded. Each utterance was ranked by a set of glottal source parameters obtained by inverse adaptive filtering, the perturbation parameters, and cepstral peak prominence measures. Our results revealed the significant differences in the glottal source parameter Harmonic Richness Factor (HRF: p

Black and smooth Al films were characterized by the variable energy positron annihilation spectroscopy (VEPAS). It was found that in smooth films positronium (Ps) is formed on the surface only while in black metal films, it is formed also in nanoscopic pores inside the film. The mean pore size increases from the substrate to the surface due to increasing film roughness.

The article is focused on renovation, rehabilitation and reinforcement of high ferroconcrete walls. It tries to point out the experience of experts in solving problems with high ferroconcrete walls. During a revitalization of buildings of a military accommodation facility in Brno with basement and connecting corridors of an average height of 25 m, degradation of concrete, locally missing reinforcement and poor-quality concrete mixtures, the strength class of which varied between C8/10–C10/12, were found in these corridors. Along the height of the pilasters, the structure also showed the signs of torsion and it was assessed the structure also needs to be strengthened/reinforced besides the rehabilitation. The reinforcement structure had to be built from the very foundation of the building, it is linked to the existing wall and has three cascade levels. For the first two parts, a construction pit has been created with a Berliner wall, and these parts reach below the modified terrain, are reinforced with concrete reinforcement according to the structural project, concreted with cast concrete, and the foundation is reinforced with deep-based construction. The second and the third parts of the cascade stretch from the modified terrain between the pilasters to the top and they are made with a two-stage shotcrete technique, the first one has inbuilt concrete reinforcement with welded wire mesh and the second one composite mesh anchored by helical reinforcement without static effect. In terms of the damage of the structure, carbon fibre wrapping technique or grouting of the existing ferroconcrete structure was also used in the affected areas. The article also includes photo documentation of the repairs and structural damage prior to them.

In the present work, defects created by implantation of hydrothermally grown ZnO single crystals of high quality with H+ions were investigated by positron annihilation lifetime (LT) spectroscopy combined with measurements of optical transmittance (OT) and photoluminescence (PL). First, zinc vacancies attached with one hydrogen impurity (VZn– 1H) atom were identified in the virgin ZnO single crystal. The ZnO single crystals were then bombarded by H+ions with the energy of 2.5 MeV to the fluence of 1016cm-2. It was found that VZn– VOdivacancies were introduced into ZnO by H+-implantation. Effects of H+-implantation on the optical activity of defects in ZnO lattice are characterised in the light of the present OT and PL data.