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Background Pregnancy represents a physiological state associated with increased vulnerability to severe outcomes from infectious diseases, both for the pregnant person and developing infant. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic may have important health consequences for pregnant individuals, who may also be more reluctant than nonpregnant people to accept vaccination. Methods We sought to estimate the degree to which increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 outcomes can be attributed to pregnancy using a population-based SARS-CoV-2 case file from Ontario, Canada. Because of varying propensity to receive vaccination, and changes in dominant circulating viral strains over time, a time-matched cohort study was performed to evaluate the relative risk of severe illness in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 compared to other SARS-CoV-2 infected women of childbearing age (10–49 years old). Risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes was evaluated in pregnant women and time-matched nonpregnant controls using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Results Compared with the rest of the population, nonpregnant women of childbearing age had an elevated risk of infection (standardized morbidity ratio, 1.28), whereas risk of infection was reduced among pregnant women (standardized morbidity ratio, 0.43). After adjustment for confounding, pregnant women had a markedly elevated risk of hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio, 4.96; 95% confidence interval, 3.86–6.37) and intensive care unit admission (adjusted odds ratio, 6.58; 95% confidence interval, 3.29–13.18). The relative increase in hospitalization risk associated with pregnancy was greater in women without comorbidities than in those with comorbidities (P for heterogeneity, .004). Conclusions Given the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in pregnancy, risk-benefit calculus strongly favors SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnant women.

Background The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a singular scientific achievement. Confounding due to health-seeking behaviors, circulating variants, and differential testing by vaccination status may bias analyses toward an apparent increase in infection severity following vaccination. Methods We used data from the Ontario, Canada, Case and Contact Management Database and a provincial vaccination dataset (COVaxON) to create a time-matched cohort of individuals who were hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccinated individuals were matched to up to 5 unvaccinated individuals based on test date. Risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death were evaluated using conditional logistic regression. Results In 20 064 individuals (3353 vaccinated and 16 711 unvaccinated) hospitalized with infection due to SARS-CoV-2 between 1 January 2021 and 5 January 2022, vaccination with 1, 2, or 3 doses significantly reduced the risk of ICU admission and death. An inverse dose–response relationship was observed between vaccine doses received and both outcomes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per additional dose for ICU admission, 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], .62 to .71; aOR for death, 0.78; 95% CI, .72 to .84). Conclusions We identified decreased virulence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in vaccinated individuals, even when vaccines failed to prevent infection sufficiently severe to cause hospitalization. Even with diminished efficacy of vaccines against infection with novel variants of concern, vaccines remain an important tool for reduction of ICU admission and mortality.

Pregnancy represents a physiological state associated with increased vulnerability to severe outcomes from infectious diseases, both for the pregnant person and developing infant. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may have important health consequences for pregnant individuals, who may also be more reluctant than non-pregnant people to accept vaccination.We sought to estimate the degree to which increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 outcomes can be attributed to pregnancy using a population-based SARS-CoV-2 case file from Ontario, Canada. Due to varying propensity to receive vaccination, and changes in dominant circulating viral strains over time, a time-matched cohort study was performed to evaluate the relative risk of severe illness in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 compared to other SARS-CoV-2 infected women of childbearing age (10 to 49 years old). Risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes was evaluated in pregnant women and time-matched non-pregnant controls using multivariable conditional logistic regression.Compared to the rest of the population, non-pregnant women of childbearing age had an elevated risk of infection (standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) 1.28), while risk of infection was reduced among pregnant women (SMR 0.43). After adjustment for confounding pregnant women had a markedly elevated risk of hospitalization (adjusted OR 4.96, 95% CI 3.86 to 6.37) and ICU admission (adjusted OR 6.58, 95% CI 3.29 to 13.18). The relative increase in hospitalization risk associated with pregnancy was greater in women without comorbidities than in those with comorbidities (P for heterogeneity 0.004).Given the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in pregnancy, risk-benefit calculus strongly favours SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnant women.

BackgroundPregnancy represents a physiological state associated with increased vulnerability to severe outcomes from infectious diseases, both for the pregnant person and developing infant. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may have important health consequences for pregnant individuals, who may also be more reluctant than non-pregnant people to accept vaccination. We sought to estimate the degree to which increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 outcomes can be attributed to pregnancy.MethodsOur study made use of a population-based SARS-CoV-2 case file from Ontario, Canada. Due to both varying propensity to receive vaccination, and changes in dominant circulating viral strains over time, a time-matched cohort study was performed to evaluate the relative risk of severe illness in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 compared to other SARS-CoV-2 infected women of childbearing age (10 to 49 years old). Risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes (hospitalization or intensive care unit (ICU) admission) was evaluated in pregnant women and time-matched non-pregnant controls using multivariable conditional logistic regression.ResultsCompared to the rest of the population, non-pregnant women of childbearing age had an elevated risk of infection (standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) 1.28), while risk of infection was reduced among pregnant women (SMR 0.43). After adjustment for age, comorbidity, healthcare worker status, vaccination, and infecting viral variant, pregnant women had a markedly elevated risk of hospitalization (adjusted OR 4.96, 95% CI 3.86 to 6.37) and ICU admission (adjusted OR 6.58, 95% CI 3.29 to 13.18). The relative increase in hospitalization risk associated with pregnancy was greater in women without comorbidities than in those with comorbidities (P for heterogeneity 0.004).InterpretationA time-matched cohort study suggests that while pregnant women may be at a decreased risk of infection relative to the rest of the population, their risk of severe illness is markedly elevated if infection occurs. Given the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in pregnancy, risk-benefit calculus strongly favours SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnant women.

The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a singular scientific achievement. Confounding due to health seeking behaviours, circulating variants, and differential testing by vaccination status may bias analyses towards an apparent increase in infection severity following vaccination.We used data from Ontario, Canada's Case and Contact Management database, merged to a provincial vaccination dataset (COVaxON) to create a time-matched cohort of individuals who were hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccinated individuals were matched to up to five unvaccinated individuals based on test date. Risk of ICU admission and death were evaluated using conditional logistic regression. Unmatched exploratory analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity in vaccine effects.In 20,064 individuals (3,353 vaccinated and 16,711 unvaccinated) hospitalized with infection due to SARS-CoV-2 between January 1st, 2021 and January 5th, 2022, vaccination with 1, 2, or 3 doses significantly reduced the risk of ICU admission and death. An inverse dose-response relationship was observed between vaccine doses received and both outcomes (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) per additional dose for ICU admission: 0.66, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.71; aOR for death: 0.78, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.84). Reduction in risk was greater for ICU admission than for death (P for heterogeneity0.05).We identified decreased virulence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in vaccinated individuals, even when vaccines failed to prevent infection sufficiently severe to cause hospitalization. Even with diminished efficacy of vaccines against infection with novel VOCs, vaccines remain an important tool for reduction of ICU admission and mortality.

BackgroundThe rapid development of safe and effective vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a singular scientific achievement. Confounding due to health seeking behaviours and differential testing by vaccination status may bias analyses towards an apparent increase in infection severity following vaccination. We sought to determine whether risks of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death were diminished significantly by vaccination, even in individuals for whom vaccination failed to prevent hospitalization.MethodsWe used data from Ontario, Canada’s Case and Contact Management database, merged to a provincial vaccination dataset (COVaxON) to create a time-matched cohort of individuals who were hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Each vaccinated individual was matched to up to five unvaccinated individuals based on test date of positive SARS-CoV-2 infection. Risk of ICU admission and death were evaluated using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Unmatched exploratory analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity in vaccine effects.ResultsIn 20,064 individuals (3,353 vaccinated and 16,711 unvaccinated) hospitalized with infection due to SARS-CoV-2 between January 1st, 2021 and January 5th, 2022, vaccination with 1, 2, or 3 doses significantly reduced the risk of ICU admission and death. An inverse dose-response relationship was observed between vaccine doses received and both outcomes (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for ICU admission per additional dose: 0.66, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.71; aOR for death per additional dose: 0.78, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.84). The reduction in risk was greater for ICU admission than for death (P for heterogeneity InterpretationWe identified a decrease in the risk of ICU admission and death in vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated, time-matched controls, even when vaccines failed to prevent infection sufficiently severe to cause hospitalization. Even with diminished efficacy of vaccines against infection with novel VOCs, vaccines remain an important tool for reduction of ICU admission and mortality.

Exercise training appears to improve peak oxygen consumption (VO(2) ) and quality of life (QOL) in heart failure patients, although disease etiology, patient demographics and medication may alter the rate of adaptation. The authors sought to identify rate of change from baseline in fitness, QOL, and depression following exercise training in a cohort of patients with congestive heart failure. Thirty male systolic heart failure patients (aged 63.8±8.3 years, baseline peak VO(2) 12.2±4.8 mL/kg/min, left ventricular ejection fraction 28.2±9.4%, New York Heart Association class II/II 22/8) undertook 52 weeks of exercise training, 16 weeks as an outpatient and a further 36 weeks of home exercise. Peak VO(2) and QOL was measured using the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure (MLWHF) questionnaire and depression using the Hare-Davis scale. The authors analyzed the rate of change in peak VO(2) and MLWHF after grouping patients according to clinical, demographic, and pharmacologic characteristics. Peak VO(2) measurements varied over time, with no effect of disease pathology or β-blocker on peak VO(2) . The rate of change in physical MLWHF score was significantly greater (improved) during 0 to 16 weeks in patients with dilated pathology, but was not significantly affected by β-blocker use or age. The exercise training venue and supervision, or lack thereof, is the major determinant of adaptation to the intervention in heart failure patients, although age, β-adrenergic medication, and heart failure etiology also explain some of the variation in adaptive responses observed.

Analysis of published experimental data on monomeric radical diffusion in the emulsion polymerisation of styrene shows that it can be quantitatively described equally well by non-equilibrium diffusion from particles, where all parameters are derived from properties of the discrete phase, or by steady-state diffusion where all parameters are derived from properties of the continuous phase. The non-equilibrium model better describes an observed experimental trend to a reduced desorption rate coefficient at higher weight fraction of polymer in the particles. The theoretical upper bound of the non-equilibrium model is also higher than the theoretical upper bound of the steady-state model allowing fits to experimental data which must be discarded as anomalous in the continuous phase model.

The purpose of the study was the measurement of the anal cushion area using static transperineal ultrasound in a group of patients with symptomatic grade III and IV haemorrhoids about to undergo haemorrhoidectomy and compare them with a group of age-matched normals and the measured area following haemorrhoidectomy. Transperineal sonography was performed using a linear transducer measuring the anal cushion area by subtracting the measured luminal diameter of the undisturbed anal canal from the inner border of the internal anal sphincter. Measures were made 6 weeks following haemorrhoidectomy. Comparisons were made between 22 normals and 36 patients with haemorrhoids (31 evaluable post-operatively). The median area of normals was 0.78 cm2, that of pre-operative patients 2.25 cm2 and that of post-operative cases 1.20 cm2. There was a significant difference between pre- and post-operative cases with cushion areas of normal patients being significantly lower than post-operative cases. Variance of measurement in all 3 groups was negligible. Static transperineal sonography measuring the anal cushion area is reproducible and shows marked differences between normals and patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids. There is a marked effect on measured area resultant from haemorrhoidectomy.

Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) patterns of benign and malignant brain tumour tissue were examined. Independent component analysis was used to find a feature set representing the images collected. A set of coefficients was then used to describe each image, which allowed the use of the statistical technique of flexible discriminant analysis to discover a hidden order in the data set. The key difference was found to be in the intensity and spectral content of the second and fourth order myelin scattering peaks. This has clearly demonstrated that significant differences in the structure of myelin exist in the highly malignant glioblastoma multiforme as opposed to the benign: meningioma and schwannoma.

This paper reports on the application of wavelet decomposition to small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) patterns from human breast tissue produced by a synchrotron source. The pixel intensities of SAXS patterns of normal, benign and malignant tissue types were transformed into wavelet coefficients. Statistical analysis found significant differences between the wavelet coefficients describing the patterns produced by different tissue types. These differences were then correlated with position in the image and have been linked to the supra-molecular structural changes that occur in breast tissue in the presence of disease. Specifically, results indicate that there are significant differences between healthy and diseased tissues in the wavelet coefficients that describe the peaks produced by the axial d-spacing of collagen. These differences suggest that a useful classification tool could be based upon the spectral information within the axial peaks.

Background: A greater awareness of the social consequences of impairments and a growing need for patient-centred outcomes in contemporary health care has made it increasingly important for clinicians to gather information on clients' quality of life (QoL). As QoL measures typically require respondents to perform a number of complex language and cognitive processes, there is a valid concern as to whether clients with aphasia can reliably self-report. In this situation, significant others and healthcare providers are called upon to make judgements as proxy respondents. Evidence from medical and chronic disability and health literature suggests that the responses of proxies may be interchangeable with those of patients, however it is not known whether the same is true for language-impaired respondents. Aims: The current research compared scores from aphasic and proxy respondents to investigate whether proxy respondents could be used to obtain reliable information on aphasic people's QoL. Reliable information...

An enclosed portable chamber was constructed and calibrated to measure actual evapotranspiration (ET) from crop and pasture and then evaluated against established methods that are used to determine evapotranspiration. The chamber was equipped with variable speed electric fans to mix the air within the chamber during each ET measurement. The most appropriate fan speed was investigated. Pasture ET measured using the enclosed portable chamber compared well with predicted water loss using the water balance method for a 6-day period during winter 1997 in Armidale (NSW, Australia). Mean cumulative pasture ET for the 6-day period was 5.8 and 5.9 mm measured with the enclosed portable chamber and water balance method, respectively. Wheat crop ET measured using the enclosed portable chamber was compared with that estimated by the Bowen ratio (BR) method for a 2-day period in the early growth stages of the crop. Mean ET using the enclosed portable chamber was 2.4 mm per day compared with 2.3 mm per day using the BR method. Results from the enclosed portable chamber method showed sensitivity to the choice of fan speed. A slow fan speed that produced an air velocity of 2.7 km/h, gave the closest agreement with the Bowen ratio method (2.3 mm per day versus 2.2 mm per day) for the wheat crop. The main attractions of the enclosed portable chamber method include: (1) its suitability for ET measurement within small areas ( 2 ), which enables ET measurement from individual plant communities within small areas; (2) its main principles of measuring the actual water flux from transpiring vegetation rather than inferring it from climatic parameters; (3) the speed by which an instantaneous ET rate is obtained (less than 1 min); (4) instantaneous ET measurement can be repeated throughout the day from the same plant communities; and (5) the portability of the enclosed portable chamber. ET measurement using the enclosed portable chamber method may be combined with the existing soil water balance models for comparing alternative crop and pasture systems in terms of their water balance.

The circulating concentrations of progesterone, FSH, and follistatin across the estrous cycle and gestation were compared in Australian merino sheep that were homozygous for the Booroola gene, FecB, or were noncarriers. The Booroola phenotype is due to a point mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B. Progesterone concentrations began to rise earlier and were higher in the Booroola ewes than in the noncarriers on most days of the luteal phase but not during the follicular phase of the cycle. Follistatin concentrations remained unchanged across the estrous cycle in both groups of ewes, with no differences between genotypes. FSH concentrations were higher in Booroola ewes than in noncarrier ewes on most days of the estrous cycle, with a significantly higher and broader peak of FSH around the time of estrus. Progesterone concentrations were significantly higher in early and midgestation in Booroola ewes but were lower toward the end of gestation than those in noncarriers. FSH declined in both groups across gestation, with lower concentrations of FSH in Booroola ewes during midgestation. Follistatin remained unchanged across gestation in Booroola ewes and noncarrier ewes with a twin pregnancy but declined across gestation in noncarrier ewes with a singleton pregnancy. These results suggest that follistatin concentration is not regulated by the FecB gene during the estrous cycle and pregnancy but is influenced by the number of fetuses. However, the FecB gene appears to positively affect both progesterone and FSH during the estrous cycle and across pregnancy, which suggests that bone morphogenetic proteins play an important role in the regulation of both hormones.

Background: Speech pathologists infrequently address the quality of aphasic people's lives in a direct manner in rehabilitation, most likely due to the difficulty in grasping the role of communication in quality of life (QOL). Despite considerable research into aphasic language impairments and communication disabilities, there is no clear evidence how aphasia impacts on clients' QOL. This paper reports on a comprehensive evaluation of 30 people with mild to moderate aphasia to determine which aspects of communication predict their QOL. A conceptual model of the relationship between communication and QOL was devised, using the disablement framework of the International Classification of Impairment, Activity and Participation Beta-2 Draft (ICIDH-2) (World Health Organisation, 1998). Communication was conceptualised as language impairment, functional communication ability and activity, and social participation. QOL included both health-related QOL (HRQOL) and psychological well-being concepts. Aims: The aim ...

Case-based reasoning (CBR) has been widely used in many real-world applications. In general, CBR systems propose their answers based on solutions attached with the most similar cases retrieved from their case bases. However, in our vehicle insurance domain where the dataset contains a large amount of inconsistencies, proposing solutions based only on the most similar cases results in unacceptable answers. In this article, we propose a hybrid-reasoning algorithm which employs a number of statistical models derived from analysis of the entire dataset as an alternative reasoning method. Results of our experiments have shown that the use of these models enable our experimental system to propose better solutions than answers proposed based only on the closest matched cases.

A study was made of the positions of juvenile stages of Culicoides brevitarsis and of four other species of flies (Diptera) breeding in bovine dung. The objective was to provide information on sampling cores of dung for laboratory experiments and to study fly behaviour associated with the breeding habitat. Oviposition and field exposure of dung were restricted to 2 d and this enabled relatively discrete populations of flies to be investigated. All species were reasonably abundant after 2 d of oviposition. Distributions were contrasted by dividing the dung into vertical and horizontal segments. C. brevitarsis, A ustralosepsis niveipennis and Leptocera mirabilis oviposited mainly in the top of the dung, while Sepsis nitens and Psychoda sp. oviposited mainly in the lower half. After hatching, the proportions of flies varied between positions and over time. Except for C. brevitarsis, the adult flies were reared from the half of the pat associated with oviposition. C. brevitarsis and A. niveipennis rearings were evenly distributed in centre and outer positions 4 d after dung deposition and C. brevitarsis showed clear changes in vertical position over time. Moisture content in the dung decreased by 16.1% after 10 d, mainly in the upper half of the pat. Greater numbers of C. brevitarsis were associated with areas of higher moisture. The fly species varied in their times of emergence with C. brevitarsis emerging later in the lower half positions than in the upper half positions 10 d after deposition of the dung. A procedure for sampling cores of dung is proposed.

InGaAs/GaInAsP/GaInP ridge waveguide 980-nm laser diodes for pumping light into erbium doped fiber amplifiers are reviewed. These lasers have very good performance characteristics. They exhibit kink-free, single mode emission up to a power of 250 mW with a slope efficiency of 0.7 to 0.95 W/A, a thermally limited maximum power of 450-500 mW, and the threshold current density of about 150 A/cm/sup 2/. They are relatively stable against temperature variations. A 100 mW power from a fiber-pigtail module has been demonstrated. These lasers withstand severe thermal rollover tests without showing degradation effects. Preliminary lifetime tests indicate that their mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) may be very long, from several hundred thousand to one million hours, if not limited by sudden failure.

The Macleay floodplain on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, has surface soil concentrations of up to 40 mg kg − 1 arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), due to historical mining practices in the upper catchment. The floodplain also contains areas of active and potential acid sulfate soils (ASS). Some of these areas are purposely re-flooded to halt oxidation processes, but the effect of this management on the metalloid mobility and phytoavailability of the metalloids present is unknown. This study investigated the changes to soil solution As and Sb, associations of metalloids with soil solid phases, and uptake into two common pasture species following 20 weeks of flooding in a controlled environment. The effect of an ASS subsoil was also investigated. The soil solution concentration and availability of the metalloids was in some instances higher in the floodplain soils than would generally be expected in soils with comparable contamination. There appeared to be few changes to soil solution concentrations or phase associations with flooding in this short term study, due to the high acid buffering and poise of the investigated soils. A strong relationship was found between the relative uptake of Sb into pastures and the oxalate extractable Fe in the soil, which was taken as a proxy for non-crystalline iron (Fe) hydroxides. This relationship was dependent on flooding and was absent for As. Further targeted investigations into metalloid speciation kinetics and the stability of soil solid phases with flooding management are recommended.

We employed current-voltage (I-V), quantum efficiency (QE), photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL), lock-in thermography (LIT), and (electrochemical) impedance spectroscopy (ECIS) to complementarily characterize the performance and remedy for two pairs of experimental CuInGaSe 2 (CIGS) mini-modules. One pair had the three scribe-lines (P1/P2/P3) done by a single pulse-programmable laser, and the other had the P2/P3 lines by mechanical scribe. Localized QE measurements for each cell strip on all four mini-modules showed non-uniform distributions that correlated well with the presence of performance-degrading strips or spots revealed by PL, EL, and LIT imaging. Performance of the all-laser-scribed mini-modules improved significantly by adding a thicker Al-doped ZnO layer and reworking the P3 line. The efficiency on one of the all-laser-scribed mini-modules increased notably from 7.80% to 8.56% after the performance-degrading spots on the side regions along the cell array were isolated by manual scribes.

Novel laser micromachining processes are finding their way into more and more industrial applications.New wavelengths, shorter pulse durations, increasing reliability and decreasing costs are just a few of theparameters driving this growth. Traditionally, finding the optimal laser process parameters for new applications has been problematic and has often required the development of new lasers. Furthermore very little attention was given to the subtleties of the temporal distribution of energy within a single laser pulse because it was not an adjustable parameter. However, a new Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) fiber laser architecture has emerged recently that overcomes these limitations. Now a single laser platform can not only address a huge range of applications but also provides precise control over the temporal distribution of laser energy within a given pulse. In this paper we discuss three applications where very specific temporal laser pulse shapes have markedly improved or enabled a process. First of all, we demonstrate the importance of energy distribution within the laser pulse to successful thin film scribing in the CIGS P2 and P3 processes. Secondly, we tailor the laser pulse shape to initiate and drive a chemical decomposition process to completion in a thin film while not overheating and damaging the substrate or other underlying film layers for the CdTe P1 scribing process. Finally, we study the impact of generating a pre-pulse to modify the absorption properties of silicon in advance of a higher energy machining pulse. In all three applications we find that tailoring the laser pulse shape to the process provides a significant benefit over processing with conventional laser pulse shapes., 30th International Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics, ICALEO 2011, 23 October 2011 through 27 October 2011, Orlando, FL

Laser scribing has been used with great success for the CdTe P1 scribe step and a standard process sequence is well established in the industry. In particular, the common methodology for the P1 step results in exposure of the soda lime glass substrate. In turn, the Na diffusion from the glass into the film is detrimental to the performance of the CdTe solar cell (1). To mitigate this problem, commercial processes perform the P1 scribe after the CdTe deposition and the resulting groove is then backfilled with a photoresist. This photo-resist application process accounts for a significant fraction of the cost for the capital equipment in a CdTe module production line. In this paper we study the impact of wavelength, pulse duration, temporal pulse shape, and film orientation on the removal dynamics of the SnO 2 film stack on TEC10 glass. We utilize a unique pulse-programmable fiber laser with the aim of developing a process that removes only SnO 2:F conductive layer from the TCO stack, leaving the underlying barrier layers intact. Achieving this result would allow the P1 scribe to be performed before the CdTe deposition and perhaps even at the time of glass manufacture thereby completely eliminating the need for the photo-resist step. We utilize optical microscopy, white light profilometry, and resistance measurements to characterize the resulting process. © 2011 IEEE., 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2011, 19 June 2011 through 24 June 2011, Seattle, WA

This paper describes the results from collaborative efforts in establishing an all-laser scribing technological capability for fabricating monolithically integrated CuInGaSe 2 (CIGS) mini-modules. The scribing parameters required for each of the three scribing steps (P1, P2, P3) were determined and optimized by using three specific samples fabricated at NREL. A fiber laser system using a single wavelength at 1064 nm was employed for the scribing, which allowed fine control of programmable pulse shape and pulse train. In general, the three scribe lines were clean and smooth. For the first time, two mini-modules, with an effective area of ∼7-cm × 7-cm having 10 cell strips in series connection, were fabricated by the “all-laser-scribing” technology. Small-beam localized quantum efficiency (QE) analysis showed large non-uniformity across the cell arrays. Performance-degrading factors were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) analysis. By increasing the ZnO:Al (AZO) thickness and re-scribing with P3, the two reworked mini-modules showed substantial improvements in efficiency (best at 8.3%) with a decrease in series resistance and an increase in shunt resistance and fill factor.

We report for the first time production-quality P2 and P3 scribes in CIGS based solar cells using a nanosecond-domain industrial pulsed laser We also show how the same laser can be used to produce the P1 scribe, and report what we believe to be the first all-laser-scribed monolithically-integrated CIGS solar cells in which all scribes were made using the same laser, at the same 1064nm wavelength. This paper reports the results of a collaborative effort involving two national laboratories and two private companies, and focuses on the laser scribing processes. A paper describing the design and characterization of the solar cells has been published elsewhere in this journal [1]. The new laser-based P2 and P3 processes rely on a “brittle fracture material removal” mechanism whose material removal characteristics are somewhat similar to those of mechanical scribing in that the material is ejected from the surface in fragments. However, unlike mechanical scribing, the laser process produces highly regular and deterministic edges. The first cells produced showed poor conversion efficiency, mostly attributed to high series resistance. These cells then had additional AZO deposited on them, and the results improved dramatically. Finally, we show results obtained using conventional mechanical scribing for the P2 and P3 processes on cells which are in other respects almost identical. Initial results are similar to the laser-scribed results.

Spatial beam shaping has long been utilized to improve laser processes and has often generated spectacular improvements in the end results. Until recently the temporal shape of laser pulses has been limited by the design parameters of the laser cavities and shaping in the temporal domain has remained relatively unexplored. The advent of the MOPA fiber laser has opened the door to creating arbitrary temporal waveforms with shape, energy, and duration being entirely independent from the laser repetition rate and changeable “on the fly.” This new degree of freedom in the laser processing parameter space has not only enabled new and improved laser processes but provided a new tool to study the dynamics of the laser material interaction itself which can greatly speed process development. Furthermore having this flexibility allows a single laser to cover a range of process parameters that heretofore normally required using several separate laser system. In this work we report on the application of temporal pulse shaping to CIGS P2 & P3 processing, CIGS P1 processing (molybdenum on glass), a-Silicon P1 processing (ZnO on glass), c-Silicon via hole drilling for emitter wrap through (EWT) and other processes using the PyroFlex 25 pulse programmable fiber laser. The temporal pulse shaping feature of the laser is demonstrated as a tool to probe the process dynamics and speed up the determination of optimal process parameters. When applicable, results between the pulse shape of a traditional laser and an optimized laser pulse shapes are compared., 9th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics (ICALEO), 26-30 September 2010, Anaheim, CA, USA

Many forestry bridges in Canada are typically single-lane, single span structures with two steel plate girders and a deck comprising of precast reinforced concrete panels. The concept of arching in deck slabs was utilized in the steel-free precast panels used in the Lindquist Bridge in British Columbia, Canada. The panels were completely devoid of tensile reinforcement and transverse confinement to the panels was provided by external steel straps. After the bridge was constructed in 1998, electrical strain gauges were installed on the girders and straps. Static and dynamic load tests were performed. The cracks on the top and bottom of the deck were mapped in 1999 and 2003. In 2006, a load test and crack mapping were performed on the bridge. The strain readings in the straps were compared with the data obtained 8 years prior. After analysis of the strain gauge readings, conclusions were drawn on the performance of the bridge. The cracks were formed to accommodate arching action and it was concluded that the bridge is still performing as it was designed.

Objective To determine the rate of decline of chlorflu-azuron (CFZ) concentration in the fat of cattle. Design A field depletion study. Animals Fifteen steers that had become contaminated with CFZ through eating cotton trash or cotton leaf pellets derived from CFZ-treated cotton crops. Procedure Fat samples were collected from the cattle at about 3 week intervals according to a schedule where each animal was sampled on four occasions up to 340 days after removal from the contaminated feed source. Results When the effects of dilution are removed CFZ concentrations were found to decline slowly for about 200 days. Depletion was minimal between 200 and 340 days. Conclusion According to this trial, CFZ-contaminated, non-lactating cattle which have finished growing will remain contaminated. Field experience has not supported this conclusion.

High-performance strained-layer GaInAs-GaInAsP-GaInP separate-confinement quantum-well lasers emitting at /spl lambda/=980 nm were grown by all solid-source molecular-beam epitaxy. Valved cracker cells were employed to generate group-V beam fluxes. Fabricated ridge-waveguide lasers exhibited stable, kink-free, single-mode operation up to 260 mW. A maximum output power of 550 mW was achieved. Complete thermal roll-over tests were done tens of times without any sign of degradation for p-side up-mounted lasers. Preliminary lifetime tests for over 4500 h at 150-mW power level indicate that these aluminum-free pump lasers are very reliable sources for pumping light into erbium-doped fiber amplifiers.

The first GaInAsP based laser diode grown by all solid source molecular beam epitaxy is reported. A strained-layer GaInAsP/InP separate confinement heterostructure multiquantum well laser emitting at 1.35 mu m was prepared. A low threshold current density of 510 A/cm/sup 2/ was obtained for a broad-area laser having a cavity length of 1300 mu m.

Dizziness and or unsteadiness, associated with episodes of loss of balance, are frequent complaints in those suffering from persistent problems following a whiplash injury. Research has been inconclusive with respect to possible aetiology, discriminative tests and analyses used. The aim of this pilot research was to identify the test conditions and the most appropriate method for the analysis of sway that may differentiate subjects with persistent whiplash associated disorders (WAD) from healthy controls. The six conditions of the Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction in Balance was performed in both comfortable and tandem stance in 20 subjects with persistent WAD compared to 20 control subjects. The analyses were carried out using a traditional method of measurement, total sway distance, to results obtained from the use of wavelet analysis. Subjects with WAD were significantly less able to complete the tandem stance tests on a firm surface than controls. In comfortable stance, using wavelet analysis, significant differences between subjects with WAD and the control group were evident in total energy of the trace for all test conditions apart from eyes open on the firm surface. In contrast, the results of the analysis using total sway distance revealed no significant differences between groups across all six conditions. Wavelet analysis may be more appropriate for detecting disturbances in balance in whiplash subjects because the technique allows separation of the noise from the underlying systematic effect of sway. These findings will be used to direct future studies on the aeitiology of balance disturbances in WAD.

The detection and classification of unexploded ordnance (UXO) is considered a multidimensional pattern recognition problem. Standard techniques in solving multidimensional detection and classification problems involve using large sets of templates or libraries. This paper shows that by using wavelet transformation a single library will allow a particular class of ordnance to be classified over a range of depths.

The circulating concentrations of progesterone, FSH, and follistatin across the estrous cycle and gestation were compared in Australian merino sheep that were homozygous for the Booroola gene, FecB, or were noncarriers. The Booroola phenotype is due to a point mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B. Progesterone concentrations began to rise earlier and were higher in the Booroola ewes than in the noncarriers on most days of the luteal phase but not during the follicular phase of the cycle. Follistatin concentrations remained unchanged across the estrous cycle in both groups of ewes, with no differences between genotypes. FSH concentrations were higher in Booroola ewes than in noncarrier ewes on most days of the estrous cycle, with a significantly higher and broader peak of FSH around the time of estrus. Progesterone concentrations were significantly higher in early and midgestation in Booroola ewes but were lower toward the end of gestation than those in noncarriers. FSH declined in both groups across gestation, with lower concentrations of FSH in Booroola ewes during midgestation. Follistatin remained unchanged across gestation in Booroola ewes and noncarrier ewes with a twin pregnancy but declined across gestation in noncarrier ewes with a singleton pregnancy. These results suggest that follistatin concentration is not regulated by the FecB gene during the estrous cycle and pregnancy but is influenced by the number of fetuses. However, the FecB gene appears to positively affect both progesterone and FSH during the estrous cycle and across pregnancy, which suggests that bone morphogenetic proteins play an important role in the regulation of both hormones.

Summary form only given. We describe a high performance InAlGaAs/GaAs superluminescent diode operating in the 830 nm wavelength window, exhibiting spectral modulation below 1% at powers up to and exceeding 50 mW, with good coupling efficiency into polarisation maintaining (PMF) fiber, and high reliability. A longitudinal spatial hole burning model is used to describe device performance. >

In this paper, we have studied InAsP/InGaP/InP strain-compensated lasers with 10 QWs grown by all solid source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE). High characteristic temperature T/sub 0/ value of about 100 K in the temperature range 20-80/spl deg/C and low threshold current density of 87 A/cm/sup 2/ per well for infinite cavity length are reported. Our results clearly demonstrate the suitability of the InAsP/InGaP strain-compensated system for lasers operating at elevated temperatures. Also, together with our earlier studies the obtained results show that SSMBE is a competitive growth method for optoelectronic devices.

All-solid source molecular beam epitaxy, SS-MBE, has opened the possibility of growing GaInAsP and AlGaInP semiconductors over a wide band-gap range without use of toxic gases as source materials. In particular, the key discovery facilitating a controlled alloying of phosphorus with other elements has been the development of multi-zone P/sub 2/ cells. With these cells one can couple ease of solid material handling with a long source material lifetime and convenient flux control previously only available with gaseous sources. In this paper, we concentrate on phosphorus containing lasers and super-bright resonant-cavity light emitting diodes (RC-LEDs), grown by SS-MBE on InP or GaAs substrates. The lasers discussed cover a spectral region from 630 nm to 1300 nm; the RC-LED's emit at 670 nm and 1300 nm. Their performance characteristics, including reliability data, will be presented.

All solid source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE), where only solid group-V sources are used, eliminates fabrication problems. We present our results on the development of 1.3 /spl mu/m AlGaInAs-AlInAs-InP laser diodes, and show that high-performance laser diodes can be prepared from SSMBE grown material.

Farming systems research conducted under dryland conditions is subject to the vagaries of the climate during the experimental period. Whether such an experiment experiences a representative series of climatic years must be examined in relation to the longer term climatic record. The Cicerone Project’s farmlet experiment was conducted on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, to investigate the profitability and sustainability of three different management systems: one managed under typical, moderate-input conditions (farmlet B); a second which employed a higher level of pasture inputs and soil fertility (farmlet A); and a third which focussed on the use of moderate inputs and intensive rotational grazing (farmlet C). The climate experienced during the 6.5-year experimental period was compared with the 118-year climatic record, using a biophysical simulation model of grazed systems. The model utilised the long-term daily climate data as inputs and provided outputs that allowed comparison of parameters known to affect grazed pastures. Modelled soil-available water, the number of soil moisture stress days (SMSDs) limiting pasture growth, and growth indices over the experimental period (2000–06) were compared with data over the climatic record from 1890 to 2007. SMSDs were defined as when the modelled available soil moisture to a depth of 300 mm was

The present paper explains the statistical inference that can be drawn from an unreplicated field experiment that investigated three different pasture and grazing management strategies. The experiment was intended to assess these three strategies as whole farmlet systems where scale of the experiment precluded replication. The experiment was planned so that farmlets were allocated to matched paddocks on the basis of background variables that were measured across each paddock before the start of the experiment. These conditioning variables were used in the statistical model so that farmlet effects could be discerned from the longitudinal profiles of the responses. The purpose is to explain the principles by which longitudinal data collected from the experiment were interpreted. Two datasets, including (1) botanical composition and (2) hogget liveweights, are used in the present paper as examples. Inferences from the experiment are guarded because we acknowledge that the use of conditioning variables and matched paddocks does not provide the same power as replication. We, nevertheless, conclude that the differences observed are more likely to have been due to treatment effects than to random variation or bias.

As part of the Cicerone Project’s farmlet experiment, conducted on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, between July 2000 and December 2006, this study assessed the effects of varying soil fertility, pasture species and grazing management on the botanical composition of three 53-ha farmlets subjected to different management strategies. Starting with the same initial conditions, the farmlets were managed to reach different target levels of soil phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S); Farmlet A aimed at 60 mg/kg of Colwell P and 10 mg/kg S (KCl40) whereas Farmlets B and C both aimed at 20 and 6.5 mg/kg of P and S, respectively. Pastures were renovated on six out of eight paddocks on Farmlet A, but only one paddock of each of Farmlets B (typical management) and C (intensive rotational grazing) was renovated. Flexible rotational grazing was employed on Farmlets A and B (each of eight paddocks) while Farmlet C used intensive rotational grazing over its 17 major paddocks, which were further subdivided into 37 subpaddocks. This paper focuses on the botanical composition dynamics observed across all three farmlets and the explanatory variables associated with those changes. Eight assessments of botanical composition were carried out at approximately annual intervals across each of the 37 major paddocks distributed across the farmlets and the results for each of 49 species were aggregated into seven functional groups for analysis. The strongest correlation found was a negative curvilinear relationship between sown perennial grasses (SPG) and warm-season grasses (WSG). The most significant factors affecting the functional group changes were soil P, sowing phase, paddock and date. These factors led to significant increases in SPG and correspondingly lower levels of WSG on Farmlet A compared with Farmlet B. Farmlets B and C experienced similar, declining levels of SPG, and increasing levels of WSG suggesting that intensive rotational grazing did not lead to substantial changes in botanical composition, compared with flexible rotational grazing, in spite of the fact that intensive rotational grazing had much longer grazing rests and shorter graze periods than the other two farmlets. Soil P levels were also significantly associated with levels of cool-season annual grasses, legumes and herbs, especially on Farmlet A. In general, the largest differences in botanical composition were between Farmlet A and the other two farmlets; these differences were most closely associated with those plants categorised as sown, introduced, C3 pasture species. The levels of legume were generally low on all farmlets, due largely to the dry seasons experienced over most of the trial. Efforts to increase the legume composition on all farmlets were more successful on Farmlet A than on the other two farmlets due, presumably, to higher soil fertility on Farmlet A. Farmlet C, with its long rest periods and short graze periods, had a small proportion of legumes, due to the competitive effects of the accumulated tall grass herbage between grazings. The ‘typical’ management of Farmlet B also resulted in low levels of legume as well as increased ‘patchiness’ of the pastures and increased numbers of thistles.

Individual rats differ amongst themselves with respect to both behavior and the extent of stress-induced gastric ulceration, even though they have been treated identically, are from the same stock, age, etc. The relationship between behavior and ulcer susceptibility is of interest in its own right, and is reminiscent of the extensive body of literature on personality characteristics and disease risk in humans. In the Sprague-Dawley rat, we have found that animals react differentially to the introduction of new stimuli in a previously learned Lashley-maze, and that the increase in latency is negatively related to attack frequency in a classic intruder test. Furthermore, we have found a negative correlation between attack latency in the intruder test and the amount of gastric ulceration induced by restraint-in-water stress. We have further found highly significant relationships between the responses of otherwise untreated animals to a simple startle test and the extent of gastric ulceration induced by restraint-in water stress. We believe that greater notice should be taken of the individual animal's behavioral profile for three reasons. First, prior behavioral screening may be a useful method for reducing error variance. Second, physiological and neuroendocrinological differences between high susceptible and low susceptible individuals are of interest in understanding the psychobiology of stress ulcerations both in animals and humans. Finally, an understanding of the etiology of these individual differences may cast light on links between behavior patterns and stress pathology.

Rats were stressed with (a) signaled footshocks, (b) unsignaled footshocks, or (c) handled without footshocks as a prepubertal juvenile (28-36 days old), as an adult (96 days old), or both. This yielded nine treatment groups (3 x 3). Two days after the adult treatment, all animals were challenged by restraint and partial immersion in water (19 degrees C) to assess their relative susceptibility to gastric erosions ("ulcers"). We found that any prior exposure to footshock stress increased the amount of ulcers; juvenile and adult experiences each produced equal increases but the combination of the two was less ulcerogenic than either alone. The predictability of the footshocks did not modulate ulcerogenicity. Adult corticosterone responses to (a) adult stress and (b) ulcer induction were not related to the observed ulcer severity; however, juvenile footshock stress appeared to reduce the corticoid response to the ulcerogenic challenge but not to the adult footshock stress.

Cattle (358) from western New South Wales were sampled at abattoirs as part of a survey of mineral status of range cattle. Each animal was described for breed, sex, age, and body condition, and their origin traced back to their range, which was described for forage offered and soil type. Rib bone samples were taken for chemical and mechanical analyses to provide data on percentage phosphorus (% P) and percentage calcium (% Ca) (fat-free bone), percentage ash, ash density, matrix density, ash : matrix, bending moment, and deformation. A tree-based classification model was used to form groups of animals with common background factors (e.g. soil, age, sex, weight). Several of these groups were suspected of being osteodystrophic based on the chemical and physical data. Young cows and cattle in poor body fat condition on poor quality forage were at risk and should have responded to phosphorus supplementation with rain and better pasture conditions. Identification of osteodystrophy in these cattle was most readily diagnosed from ash density data and not from % P, % Ca, or Ca : P. Bone strength interpretation was limited to young cattle. Reference values, as an indication of normal range, are provided for each of the parameters.

Aset of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) populations collected from old pasture sites in northern New South Wales was characterised in situ at the collection sites and under uniform glasshouse conditions, and then evaluated for agronomic merit in the field. The data were examined to determine whether ecotype development through genetic differentiation had occurred in these white clover populations, and to assess their potential value for future breeding. Environmental conditions at the collection sites represented a wide diversity of rainfall, altitude, soil type, companion grass, and grazing intensity conditions. The populations generally were found to be medium-leaf and mid- to late-flowering and derived from early New Zealand introductions to Australia. The populations showed significant (P < 0.05) variation in morphological characteristics (leaf size and stolon characters) and this variation was expressed in all 3 environments. It was concluded that significant genetic differentiation affecting stolon and flowering characteristics had occurred, with implications for agronomic value. A small cluster of the populations was found to possess useful characteristics for white clover breeding where persistence in dryland environments is the primary breeding objective.