Descriptive statistics are an important part of biomedical research which is used to describe the basic features of the data in the study. They provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures. Measures of the central tendency and dispersion are used to describe the quantitative data. For the continuous data, test of the normality is an important step for deciding the measures of central tendency and statistical methods for data analysis. When our data follow normal distribution, parametric tests otherwise nonparametric methods are used to compare the groups. There are different methods used to test the normality of data, including numerical and visual methods, and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the present study, we have discussed the summary measures and methods used to test the normality of the data.

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International audienceNanostructured silicon-based materials are good candidates for thermoelectric (TE) devices due to their low thermal conductivity, customizable electrical conductivity, and reduced cost. Generally, nanostructured TE bulk materials are obtained through compaction and sintering at high temperature (>1000 °C) of silicon nanoparticles (NPs). In order to introduce TE generators in flexible electronic devices, development of thin film TE is needed. Inkjet-printing of silicon NPs-based ink is an interesting technology for this targeted application due to its low cost and additive process. This paper presents the implementation of inkjet-printing of a silicon NPs-based ink toward the fabrication of TE material on flexible substrate and the development of a characterization method for this material. After printing, recovering of electrical properties through sintering is mandatory. Nevertheless, special care must be taken in order to keep thermal conductivity low and reduce the annealing temperature to allow the use of flexible substrates. The functional properties: electrical and thermal (measured by Raman spectroscopy), are studied as a function of the annealing process. Two types of annealing: rapid thermal annealing and microwave annealing, are investigated as well as two atmospheres: inert (N2) and reducing (N2-H2 5%)

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Background COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has been widely reported but homogenous large cohort studies are needed to gain real‐world insights about the disease. Methods We collected clinical and laboratory data of 1161 patients hospitalised at our Institute from March 2020 to August 2021, defined their CAPA pathology, and analysed the data of CAPA/non‐CAPA and deceased/survived CAPA patients using univariable and multivariable models. Results The overall prevalence and mortality of CAPA in our homogenous cohort of 1161 patients were 6.4% and 47.3%, respectively. The mortality of CAPA was higher than that of non‐CAPA patients (hazard ratio: 1.8 [95% confidence interval: 1.1–2.8]). Diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.92 [1.15–3.21]); persistent fever (2.54 [1.17–5.53]); hemoptysis (7.91 [4.45–14.06]); and lung lesions of cavitation (8.78 [2.27–34.03]), consolidation (9.06 [2.03–40.39]), and nodules (8.26 [2.39–28.58]) were associated with development of CAPA by multivariable analysis. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (2.68 [1.09–6.55]), a high computed tomography score index (OR 1.18 [1.08–1.29]; p < .001), and pulse glucocorticoid treatment (HR 4.0 [1.3–9.2]) were associated with mortality of the disease. Whereas neutrophilic leukocytosis (development: 1.09 [1.03–1.15] and mortality: 1.17 [1.08–1.28]) and lymphopenia (development: 0.68 [0.51–0.91] and mortality: 0.40 [0.20–0.83]) were associated with the development as well as mortality of CAPA. Conclusion We observed a low but likely underestimated prevalence of CAPA in our study. CAPA is a disease with high mortality and diabetes is a significant factor for its development while ARDS and pulse glucocorticoid treatment are significant factors for its mortality. Cellular immune dysregulation may have a central role in CAPA from its development to mortality.

The electronic energy bands of PtSn2 are calculated using composite wave variational version of the APW method. The results show a narrowing of d‐band which indicates a weaker d‐d overlap interaction between Pt atoms. A comparative study of this band structure result with that of PtAl2 and Pt provide interesting information about d‐d interaction as a function of primary interatomic distance. From the band structure results, density of states, joint density of states, ε2(ω) spectra and the Fermi surfaces are calculated and interpreted.