Accurate prediction of the natural frequency for the lateral oscillation of a liquid drop pinned on a vertical planar surface is important to many drop applications. The natural oscillation frequency, normalized by the capillary frequency, is mainly a function of the equilibrium contact angle and the Bond number ($Bo$), when the contact lines remain pinned. Parametric numerical and experimental studies have been performed to establish a comprehensive understanding of the oscillation dynamics. An inviscid model has been developed to predict the oscillation frequency for wide ranges of $Bo$ and the contact angle. The model reveals the scaling relation between the normalized frequency and $Bo$, which is validated by the numerical simulation results. For a given equilibrium contact angle, the lateral oscillation frequency decreases with $Bo$, implying that resonance frequencies will be magnified if the drop oscillations occur in a reduced gravity environment.

Stars are tidally disrupted and accreted when they approach massive black holes (MBHs) closely, producing a flare of electromagnetic radiation. The majority of the (approximately two dozen) tidal disruption events (TDEs) identified so far have been discovered by their luminous, transient X-ray emission. Once TDEs are detected in much larger numbers, in future dedicated transient surveys, a wealth of new applications will become possible. Here, we present the proposed Einstein Probe mission, which is a dedicated time-domain soft X-ray all-sky monitor aiming at detecting X-ray transients including TDEs in large numbers. The mission consists of a wide-field micro-pore Lobster-eye imager (60° × 60°), and is designed to carry out an all-sky transient survey at energies of 0.5-4 keV. It will also carry a more sensitive telescope for X-ray follow-ups, and will be capable of issuing public transient alerts rapidly. Einstein Probe is expected to revolutionise the field of TDE research by detecting several tens to hundreds of events per year from the early phase of flares, many with long-term, well sampled lightcurves.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) has been prevalent for some time in China and it was first identified in 2010. However, the seroprevalence of SFTSV in the general population in southeastern China and risk factors associated with the infection are currently unclear. Blood samples were collected from seven counties across Zhejiang province and tested for the presence of SFTSV-specific IgG antibodies by ELISA. A total of 1380 blood samples were collected of which 5·51% were seropositive for SFTSV with seroprevalence varying significantly between sites. Seroprevalence of SFTSV in people who were family members of the patient, lived in the same village as the patient, or lived in a different village than the patient varied significantly. There was significant difference in seroprevalence between participants who bred domestic animals and participants who did not. Domestic animals are probably potential reservoir hosts and contact with domestic animals may be a transmission route of SFTSV.

Background: This study examined the use of low doses of antipsychotic medications (300 mg/day CPZeq or less) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and its demographic and clinical correlates.

Methods: Information on hospitalized patients with schizophrenia, aged 55 years or older, was extracted from the database of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns (REAP) study (2001–2009). Data on 1,452 patients in eight Asian countries and territories including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India, and Malaysia were analyzed. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and antipsychotic prescriptions were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure.

Results: The prescription frequency for low doses of antipsychotic medications was 40.9% in the pooled sample. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample showed that patients on low doses of antipsychotic medications were more likely to be female, have an older age, a shorter length of illness, and less positive symptoms. Of patients in the six countries and territories that participated in all the surveys between 2001 and 2009, those in Japan were less likely to receive low doses of antipsychotics.

Conclusion: Low doses of antipsychotic medications were only applied in less than half of older Asian patients with schizophrenia.

A precise laser positioning system had been preliminarily developed for the girder system of the Taiwan Photon Source. This laser positioning system, a part of a girder auto-alignment scheme, will be installed on the girders located at both sides of each straight section of the storage ring. The system is composed of a laser and four sets of a position sensing device (PSD). The laser, held on one girder, propagates 13 m along the girder and plays the role of a reference line of girders of the straight section. Based on the laser linear characteristics, the other girder can be adjusted and aligned by a cam mover according to PSD data. To achieve superior precision, the whole laser positioning system should be constructed stably. After making some improvements to eliminate the unstable terms, the precision of the laser positioning system can achieve 2 µm at 13 m propagating distance every 4 h.

Summary

Background and objectives: Preoperative evaluation performed by anaesthesiologists primarily aims to estimate the risk of perioperative complications and to create opportunities to optimize the patients' condition before surgery. In this study an inventory was made of the current practice of preoperative evaluation in Dutch hospitals. It was estimated how many hospitals had implemented an outpatient preoperative evaluation clinic in 2004. Subsequently, current practice was compared with the results of a previous inventory (2000). It was also evaluated to what extent the guidelines of the Dutch Health Council and the Netherlands Society of Anaesthesiology were followed. Methods: The study consisted of two phases. First, a literature research was performed and pilot interviews were constructed. The interviews were conducted face-to-face with anaesthesiologists in a sample of Dutch hospitals. Based on the results, written questionnaires were constructed. In the second phase these questionnaires were sent to all general and academic hospitals in the Netherlands. Results: In 2004, 74% of the hospitals had an outpatient preoperative evaluation clinic, compared with 50% in 2000. The percentage of hospitals with an outpatient preoperative evaluation clinic available for all elective patients increased from 20% to 52%. Conclusions: The Dutch guidelines on preoperative evaluation seem to have influenced current practice. An increase in the number of outpatient preoperative evaluation clinics was seen after the guidelines were published. The implementation of an outpatient preoperative clinic seems to warrant that anaesthesiologists are carrying out the activities prescribed by the guidelines. Most hospitals without a clinic aim to implement one in the future.

An approximate numerical method for calculating flow profiles in arteries is developed. The theory takes into account the nonlinear terms of the Navier-Stokes equations as well as the nonlinear behaviour and large deformations of the arterial wall. Through the locally measured values of the pressure, pressure gradient and pressure–radius function the velocity distribution and wall shear at a given location along the artery can be determined. The computed results agree well with the corresponding experimental data.

The sublayer of a turbulent boundary-layer flow with and without polymer additives was measured by a simple optical technique having a high degree of spatial resolution. The reduction of skin friction with polymer additives was found to be due to a decrease in the effective viscosity of water at the interface between the mucus (glycoprotein) or polymer (polyethylene oxide) and the water and a thickening of the laminar sublayer. The rate at which mucus diffuses away from a medium-sized fish is almost constant for all swimming speeds.

We report the synthesis of thin films of B–C–N and C–N deposited by N+ ion-beam-assisted pulsed laser deposition (IBPLD) technique on glass substrates at different temperatures. We compare these films with the thin films of boron carbide synthesized by pulsed laser deposition without the assistance of ion-beam. Electron diffraction experiments in the transmission electron microscope shows that the vapor quenched regions of all films deposited at room temperature are amorphous. In addition, shown for the first time is the evidence of laser melting and subsequent rapid solidification of B4C melt in the form of micrometer- and submicrometer-size round particulates on the respective films. It is possible to amorphize B4C melt droplets of submicrometer sizes. Solidification morphologies of micrometer-size droplets show dispersion of nanocrystallites of B4C in amorphous matrix within the droplets. We were unable to synthesize cubic carbon nitride using the current technique. However, the formation of nanocrystalline turbostratic carbo- and boron carbo-nitrides were possible by IBPLD on substrate at elevated temperature and not at room temperature. Turbostraticity relaxes the lattice spacings locally in the nanometric hexagonal graphite in C–N film deposited at 600 °C leading to large broadening of diffraction rings.

Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) was used to study deep level defects in He-implanted n-type 6H-SiC samples. Low dose He-implantation (fluence ∼2×1011 ions/cm2) has been employed to keep the as-implanted sample conductive so that studying the introduction and the thermal evolution of the defects becomes feasible. A strong broad DLTS peak at 275K-375K (called signal B) and another deep level at EC-0.50eV were observed in the as-implanted sample. The intensity of the peak B was observed to linearly proportional to the logarithm of the filling pulse width, which is a signature for electron capture into a defect related to dislocation. After annealing at 500°C, the intensity of peak was significantly reduced and the remained signal has properties identical to the well known Z1/Z2 deep defects, although it is uncertain whether the Z1/Z2 exist in the as-implanted sample or it is the annealing product of the dislocation-related defect. The E1/E2 defect (EC-0.3/0.4eV) was not presence in the as-implanted sample, but was observed after the 300°C annealing.

Positron lifetime spectroscopy has been used to study the vacancy type defects in undoped gallium antimonide. Temperature dependent positron trapping into the VGa-related defect having a characteristic lifetime of 310ps was observed in the as-grown sample. The lifetime data were well described by a model involving the thermal ionization (0/-) of the VGa-related defect and its ionization energy was found to be E(0/-)=83meV. For the electron irradiated sample, the VGa-related defect with lifetime of 310ps that was found in the non-irradiated samples was also identified. Moreover, another lifetime component (280ps) was only observed in the electron irradiated sample but not in the non-irradiated sample. It was also attributed to the VGa-related defect. The two identified VGa-related defects should have different microstructures because of their difference in characteristic lifetimes. The 280ps component remains thermally stable after the 500°C annealing while the 310ps component anneals at 300°C.

Positron lifetime spectroscopy was employed to study the as-electron-irradiated (10 MeV, 1×1018 cm-2) n-type 6H silicon carbide sample in the measuring temperature range of 15 K to 294 K. Isochronal annealing studies were also performed up to the temperature of 1373 K by carrying out the room temperature positron lifetime measurement. Negatively charged carbon vacancies and VCVSi divacancy were identified as the major vacancy type defects induced by the electron irradiation process. The concentration of the VCVSi divacancy was found to decrease dramatically after the 1973 K annealing.