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In this work, we use mass quadrupole spectroscopy to analyze the ion energy distribution function for C + ions from different gas composition discharges (20, 40, 60, 80, and 90% Ne) + Ar in a plasma sputtering process. Carbon films were obtained for each gas composition discharge. The carbon bonding structure of films was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy using deconvolution fitting of the G and D Raman peaks. The C-sp 3 content was correlated with the electrical and tribological properties of the carbon films. Our results further corroborate the enhancement of carbon ionization in HiPIMS processes by adding neon in conventional argon gas during the deposition process. Furthermore, we found that excessive levels of carbon ionization were detrimental in the formation of C-sp 3 decreasing the resistivity, and indicating the decrement of the elastic modulus of the samples. In addition, the use of neon in the gas working mixture increased the deposition rate significantly compared to argon-only processes from 1.7 to 3.22 nm/min for the highest deposition rate cases. Tribology showed that an intermediate C-sp 3 content in the carbon films developed desirable tribological behaviors with lower friction coefficients and wear rates, revealing that higher values of C-sp 3 content are not necessarily for robust solid lubricious and wear resistance.

This paper analyzes the impact of reducing output tariffs (i.e., domestic tariffs on import of final goods) and input tariffs (i.e., domestic tariffs on imports of intermediate goods) on total factor productivity growth of Peruvian manufacturing firms. Peru’s annual survey of manufacturing data from 2003–2017 is used to explore the reduction of tariffs during three preferential trade agreements: United States, China, and the European Union. Lower output tari˙s could decrease productivity by reducing firm’s market share or could increase productivity by inducing tougher import competition, while cheaper imported inputs can raise productivity via learning, variety, and quality effects. The results show that a decrease in output tariffs decreases Peruvian firms’ productivity growth for non-exporters (i.e., domestic firms producing goods that are also imported) while increasing productivity growth for exporters (i.e., domestic firms producing export goods). In contrast, a reduction in input tariffs increases firm productivity for all firms.

This work deals with the study of the degradation of films made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by the incorporation of commercial titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 Nps). These nanoparticles were functionalized with three types of dicarboxylic acid, which have different length chain (glutaric, pimelic and azelaic acids), to improve their compatibility with LDPE. Besides, the effect of the functionalized TiO 2 Nps concentration on the photodegradation, roughness, mechanical and thermal stability of the nanocomposites was evaluated. The obtained results show that the organic coating helps to passivate the photodegradation of LDPE; the longer carbon chain of the dicarboxylic acid, the higher active sites on filler/polymer interface, which inhibits photodegradation. Also, it was elucidated that calcium, from the functionalization, increased the thermal stability of the polymer nanocomposites when exposed to UV radiation. The thermal, physical (surface wear) and aesthetic (color) properties of polyethylene, with the functionalized nanoparticles, were less affected when exposed to the weather, where it is attributed to the UV photo-stabilization of the polymer. The resultant materials (LDPE with functionalized TiO2 Nps) can be used in diverse applications such as films for greenhouse and other agricultural applications, outdoor appliances (furniture and decks, for example), among others.

Tin oxide thin films were deposited by the pulsed laser ablation of a metallic Sn target at different oxygen partial pressures, ranging from 10 to 40 mTorr. Langmuir plasma probe diagnostics were performed to evaluate the effect of pressure on mean kinetic energy and density of Sn ions. It was observed that the mean kinetic energy decreased from 34 to 11 eV while the ion density decreased from 10 to 1.5 × 1013 cm−3 with increasing pressure. The films exhibited enhanced optical transmittance, increasing from 10% for the sample grown at 10 mTorr to 70% for the film deposited at 40 mTorr. Furthermore, higher deposition pressures led to wider band gap values, increasing from 1.6 to 3.9 eV for direct transitions and from 2.2 to 3.2 eV for indirect transitions with increasing oxygen pressure. These trends are consistent with progressive oxidation and partial transparency characteristic of semiconducting tin oxides. Structural characterization, based on X-ray diffraction, revealed predominantly metallic Sn diffraction peaks across the entire oxygen pressure range. However, despite this structural signature, the films exhibited optical and electronic properties characteristic of tin oxides. This apparent discrepancy suggests the coexistence of metallic nanoparticles embedded within an amorphous or nanocrystalline SnO2/SnOx matrix. These findings provide insights into the non-equilibrium oxidation dynamics of tin and the formation of metastable SnOx phases during pulsed laser deposition.

Managed care is rebounding as more emphasis is placed on cost containment. These efforts may benefit consumers but challenge providers; however, empirical evidence on how supply-side managed care influences physicians is incomplete. We leverage a quasi-experiment3 in which a commercial insurer imposed a new contract regime on behavioral health providers in response to recent policy shifts. We demonstrate spillovers in the form of negative effects on local physician supply and positive effects on Medicare and Medicaid participation in areas where the insurer has market power. Commercially insured patients are also not obviously harmed but receive less intense services in some settings.

In a decade of low TFP —factorial total productivity— in Latin America, the paper shows evidence of the low level of TFP due to the degree of technical inefficiency of companies in the Peruvian productive sector case. For this, the technical efficiency indices of 116 875 companies (83 271 formal and 33 604 informal) distributed in 25 regions and ten productive sectors (agriculture, livestock, agriculture, mining, fishing, manufacturing, construction, commerce, hotels and restaurants, and the rest are non-governmental services). The estimates yielded a general average efficiency index for the regions and sectors of Peru of 37.94 —in other words, the total product of the companies would multiply by 2.6 without requiring additional productive factors—. This figure suggests that government or company interventions that induce technically efficient behaviors in production can contribute to increasing the TFP of the economy, probably at lower cost and time.

Background:Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive, cost-effective, and well-established examination used to diagnose various systemic autoimmune diseases and support patient follow-up. Although its clinical significance is acknowledged, the challenge of subjectivity remains a notable obstacle, impeding progress in both research and diagnosis. The categorisation of the three scleroderma patterns established by Cutolo et al adds objectivity to the analysis, although the boundaries between different patterns can be unclear. Addressing this, the pending publication of the CAPI-SCORE algorithm, a fully quantitative system with four straightforward steps and validated through Capillary.io software (end-to-end capillaroscopy analysis system), offers an objective classification for any capillaroscopy. This study presents an external validation utilising an independent cohort, further establishing the algorithm’s robustness and potential impact on enhancing capillaroscopic assessments.Objectives:To validate the CAPI-SCORE algorithm for detecting capillaroscopic patterns using a wide patient cohort.Methods:Seven hundred and fifty capillaroscopies were analysed from patients evaluated for Raynaud’s phenomenon (with an average of 27 images and 48 mm analysed per capillaroscopy). The procedure was performed blindly by three expert capillaroscopists to obtain a gold standard. The comprehensive consensus patterns, unanimously agreed upon by all observers, were compared with the CAPI-SCORE algorithm to assess both sensitivity and specificity.Results:Of all cases, 38% of them had scleroderma patterns and 34% had nonspecific pattern and 28% were normal. Within the scleroderma patterns, 40% of cases belonged to the early pattern, 32.5% to the active pattern, and 27.5% to the late pattern.In distinguishing between the scleroderma pattern and the non-scleroderma pattern, the accuracy demonstrated by CAPI-SCORE was 91.25%. The accuracy for differentiating between normal and nonspecific patterns was 90%. Within the scleroderma patterns, the overall accuracy was 86.25%.Conclusion:The CAPI-SCORE algorithm stands out as a straightforward, objective, and easily applicable tool for the accurate identification of capillaroscopic patterns. Its simplicity and effectiveness render it a valuable asset for standardising the interpretation of capillaroscopic images.REFERENCES:[1] Ng SA, Tan WH, Saffari SE, Low AHL. Evaluation of Nailfold Capillaroscopy Online Training Using the Fast Track Algorithm. J Rheumatol 2023;50:368-372.[2] Gracia Tello BC, Ramos Ibañez E, Saez Comet L, Guillén Del Castillo A, Simeón Aznar CP, Selva-O’Callaghan A, et al. External clinical validation of automated software to identify structural abnormalities and microhaemorrhages in nailfold videocapillaroscopy images. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2023;41:1605-1611.[3] Garaiman A, Nooralahzadeh F, Mihai C, et al. Vision transformer assisting rheumatologists in screening for capillaroscopy changes in systemic sclerosis: an artificial intelligence model. Rheumatology 2022;keac541.[4] Smith V, Vanhaecke A, Herrick AL, Distler O, Guerra MG, Denton CP, et al; EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases. Fast track algorithm: How to differentiate a “scleroderma pattern” from a “non-scleroderma pattern”. Autoimmun Rev 2019;18:102394.Acknowledgements:SPANISH SOCIETY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (SEMI), SPANISH MULTIDISCIPLINARY SOCIETY OF SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES (SEMAIS)Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Background:Although the diagnostic and prognostic value of capillaroscopy is indisputable, it is still a technique with great heterogeneity both in its performance and interpretation. With regard to its performance, several studies support the exhaustive analysis of 8 mm as a sufficient subset to obtain a valid diagnosis, but in clinical practice we find very different fields within the same capillaroscopy. New tools, such as artificial intelligence, make it possible to perform a systematic analysis of the entire nail bed very quickly, providing us with more information.Objectives:This study aims to determine the impact of the extent of analysed millimeters on the accuracy of identifying capillaroscopic patterns.Methods:One thousand five hundred and nine new capillaroscopies with 32 images (4 images of different fields per finger) of patients evaluated for Raynaud’s phenomenon with an analysis of the entire nail bed were analysed. An automated quantitative analysis of the images was performed through Capillary.io® and the CAPI-SCORE algorithm was used to obtain a gold standard. Subsequently, the central fields were selected together (2 images per finger) as well as each one separately (1 image per finger) repeating the same system and using the same algorithm to obtain a pattern. Finally, a central area of 8 mm was selected by capillaroscopy by performing the analysis discussed above. The findings obtained between the analysis of the complete nail bed and the rest were compared.Results:Of all cases, 38% were identified as nonspecific pattern, 32% as normal pattern, 16% as early, 9.5% as active and 4.5% as late with an average of 59 mm analysed per capillaroscopy.When analysing 16 images per finger (30.6 average mm) a total agreement of 85% was obtained (1281 capillaroscopies). In 44 (3%) cases the pattern changed from non-scleroderma to scleroderma and in 29 capillaroscopies (2%) the pattern changed in the opposite direction. When analysing 8 images (15.64 average mm), the percentage of agreement dropped to 74.69% with 4.3% (65) changing from non-scleroderma to scleroderma pattern and 3.2% (48) changing the other way around. When 8 mm area was analysed the percentage of agreement decreased to 61% with a change to a scleroderma pattern in 7.6% (117) of cases and to a non-scleroderma pattern in 5% (76).Conclusion:In conclusion, the extent of the analysed millimeters in nailfold capillaroscopy images significantly influences the accuracy of capillaroscopic pattern identification. This suggests a potential reduction in diagnostic accuracy with a decreased field of analysis. Moreover, failing to include important findings in some fields due to a reduced capillaroscopic analysis will often lead to the wrong conclusion of the capillaroscopy belonging to an SSc pattern or not.REFERENCES:[1] Smith V, Herrick AL, Ingegnoli F, Damjanov N, De Angelis R, Denton CP, et al; EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases and the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Group on Capillaroscopy. Standardisation of nailfold capillaroscopy for the assessment of patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and systemic sclerosis. Autoimmun Rev 2020;19:102458.[2] Cutolo M, Melsens K, Herrick AL, Foeldvari I, Deschepper E, De Keyser F, et al; EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases. Reliability of simple capillaroscopic definitions in describing capillary morphology in rheumatic diseases. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2018;57:757-9.[3] Smith V, Ickinger C, Hysa E, Snow M, Frech T, Sulli A, et al. Nailfold capillaroscopy. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2023.5:101849.[4] Gracia Tello BC, Ramos Ibañez E, Saez Comet L, Guillén Del Castillo A, Simeón Aznar CP, Selva-O’Callaghan A, et al. External clinical validation of automated software to identify structural abnormalities and microhaemorrhages in nailfold videocapillaroscopy images. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2023;41:1605-1611.Acknowledgements:Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), Spanish Multidisciplinary Society of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases (SEMAIS)Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Este trabajo evalúa los impactos de las herramientas de gestión de calidad sobre la productividad laboral de las empresas del Perú para el periodo 20142019 basados en técnicas de Machine Learning (ML, en inglés) causal (MLC), las cuales reducen o eliminan tres potenciales problemas: la endogeneidad de las variables de interés, la existencia de variables confusas (confounding) y el sobre ajuste (overfitting) por la introducción de un número grande de variables de control. Usando la Encuesta Nacional de Empresas (INEI-ENE 2023), la evaluación señala que las herramientas de control de calidad inciden en la productividad de las empresas formales, particularmente de las empresas grandes y medianas.