Structure of Middleware in RFID Based System： Application to the Infant Protection

This paper introduces a middleware design and implementation for an infant protection system-maternal infant safety and surveillance （MISS）, using radio-frequency identification （RFID） technology. The middleware is located between application level and hardware-device level in the hierarchical software structure, which is in further divided into three levels, i.e. data, logical and service respectively. The rationale for the design is based on the consideration of the performance, organization, maintenance, and upgrade factors.     

Maculopatía fótica: revisión de la literatura (ii)

The human retina, as transducer of light energy, is especially exposed to light toxicity. Solar maculopathy has been the only form of photic maculopathy for millennia, often secondary to the observation of an eclipse. During the last century, technological advances have led to the appearance of new forms of photic maculopathy, related to the exposure to new forms of artificial light, such as welding devices and lasers. In recent years the general use of laser pointers has led to an upturn in interest in this pathology. The aim of this review is to offer an integrated view of the different types of photic maculopathy. Due to the extension of the topic, the review is presented divided into 2 parts. In this second part, atomic bomb maculopathy, laser maculopathy, iatrogenic forms of photic maculopathy, and foveomacular retinitis are presented.     

Folliculotropism in pigmented facial macules: Differential diagnosis with reflectance confocal microscopy

Pigmented facial macules are common on sun damage skin. The diagnosis of early stage lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) is challenging. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been proven to increase diagnostic accuracy of facial lesions. A total of 154 pigmented facial macules, retrospectively collected, were evaluated for the presence of already‐described RCM features and new parameters depicting aspects of the follicle. Melanocytic nests, roundish pagetoid cells, follicular infiltration, bulgings from the follicles and many bright dendrites and infiltration of the hair follicle (ie, folliculotropism) were found to be indicative of LM/LMM compared to non‐melanocytic skin neoplasms (NMSNs), with an overall sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 83%. Concerning NMSNs, solar lentigo and lichen planus‐like keratosis resulted better distinguishable from LM/LMM because usually lacking malignant features and presenting characteristic diagnostic parameters, such as epidermal cobblestone pattern and polycyclic papillary contours. On the other hand, distinction of pigmented actinic keratosis (PAK) resulted more difficult, and needing evaluation of hair follicle infiltration and bulging structures, due to the frequent observation of few bright dendrites in the epidermis, but predominantly not infiltrating the hair follicle (estimated specificity for PAK 53%). A detailed evaluation of the components of the folliculotropism may help to improve the diagnostic accuracy. The classification of the type, distribution and amount of cells, and the presence of bulging around the follicles seem to represent important tools for the differentiation between PAK and LM/LMM at RCM analysis.     

Review of the Potential of the Ni/Cu Plating Technique for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Developing a better method for the metallization of silicon solar cells is integral part of realizing superior efficiency. Currently, contact realization using screen printing is the leading technology in the silicon based photovoltaic industry, as it is simple and fast. However, the problem with metallization of this kind is that it has a lower aspect ratio and higher contact resistance, which limits solar cell efficiency. The mounting cost of silver pastes and decreasing silicon wafer thicknesses encourages silicon solar cell manufacturers to develop fresh metallization techniques involving a lower quantity of silver usage and not relying pressing process of screen printing. In recent times nickel/copper (Ni/Cu) based metal plating has emerged as a metallization method that may solve these issues. This paper offers a detailed review and understanding of a Ni/Cu based plating technique for silicon solar cells. The formation of a Ni seed layer by adopting various deposition techniques and a Cu conducting layer using a light induced plating (LIP) process are appraised. Unlike screen-printed metallization, a step involving patterning is crucial for opening the masking layer. Consequently, experimental procedures involving patterning methods are also explicated. Lastly, the issues of adhesion, back ground plating, process complexity and reliability for industrial applications are also addressed.     

Ratiometric analysis in hyperpolarized NMR (I): test of the two‐site exchange model and the quantification of reaction rate constants

Conventional methods for the analysis of in vivo hyperpolarized ¹³C NMR data from the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reaction usually make assumptions on the stability of rate constants and/or the validity of the two‐site exchange model. In this study, we developed a framework to test the validity of the assumption of stable reaction rate constants and the two‐site exchange model in vivo via ratiometric fitting of the time courses of the signal ratio L(t)/P(t). Our analysis provided evidence that the LDH enzymatic kinetics observed by hyperpolarized NMR are in near‐equilibrium and satisfy the two‐site exchange model for only a specific time window. In addition, we quantified both the forward and reverse exchange rate constants of the LDH reaction for the transgenic and mouse xenograft models of breast cancer using the ratio fitting method developed, which includes only two modeling parameters and is less sensitive to the influence of instrument settings/protocols, such as flip angles, degree of polarization and tracer dosage. We further compared the ratio fitting method with a conventional two‐site exchange modeling method, i.e. the differential equation fitting method, using both the experimental and simulated hyperpolarized NMR data. The ratio fitting method appeared to fit better than the differential equation fitting method for the reverse rate constant on the mouse tumor data, with less relative errors on average, whereas the differential equation fitting method also resulted in a negative reverse rate constant for one tumor. The simulation results indicated that the accuracy of both methods depends on the width of the transport function, noise level and rate constant ratio; one method may be more accurate than the other based on the experimental/biological conditions aforementioned. We were able to categorize our tumor models into specific conditions of the computer simulation and to estimate the errors of rate quantification. We also discussed possible approaches to the development of more accurate rate quantification methods for hyperpolarized NMR. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

People's perceptions of HIV/AIDS as portrayed by their labels of the disease: the case of Botswana

It is typical of societies to come up with their own labels or names to any phenomenon that may befall them in the course of their life time. Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has been no exception to this practice. In Botswana most of these labels are either in Setswana or English whereby an Eglish expression is simply adopted and used to refer to HIV/ AIDS. This study looks at the different labels or names that have been used to refer to HIV/AIDS in Botswana. It is an attempt to provide insights into perceptions of HIV/AIDS by the local communities portrayed through the naming of this disease. The study demonstrates how, through the different labels, the local communities started in denial distancing themselves from this disease and in some cases associating AIDS with ailments already known to them, cultural practices and taboos. Some of these labels further demonstrate the negative attitudes that may have fuelled HIV-related stigma in the country. Based on the informants' responses, the paper further attempts a categorisation of these labels influenced by different attitudes to HIV/AIDS, some of which are self-perpetuating and may continue to be a hindrance to the fight against the disease.     

Efficiency Improvement of HIT Solar Cells on p-Type Si Wafers

Single crystal silicon solar cells are still predominant in the market due to the abundance of silicon on earth and their acceptable efficiency. Different solar-cell structures of single crystalline Si have been investigated to boost efficiency; the heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) structure is currently the leading technology. The record efficiency values of state-of-the art HIT solar cells have always been based on n-type single-crystalline Si wafers. Improving the efficiency of cells based on p-type single-crystalline Si wafers could provide broader options for the development of HIT solar cells. In this study, we varied the thickness of intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous Si layer to improve the efficiency of HIT solar cells on p-type Si wafers.     

Effect of Branched Side Chains on the Physicochemical and Photovoltaic Properties of Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) Isomers

Two P3HT isomers with branched alkyl side chains, P3EBT and P3MPT, are synthesized. The HOMO energy levels of P3EBT and P3MPT are ?5.35 and ?5.24 eV, respectively, which are significantly lower than that of P3HT with a linear side chain. The absorption edges of the two P3HT isomer films, especially those of P3EBT, are blue‐shifted in comparison with that of P3HT. A PSC based on P3EBT:IC₆₀BA (2:1 w/w) shows a high open‐circuit voltage of 0.98 V, which is the highest V_oc reported so far for polythiophene‐based PSCs. A PSC based on P3MPT:IC₇₀BA (2:1 w/w) exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 3.62% with a V_oc of 0.91 V. P3MPT is suitable for the application in tandem PSCs.