The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic causes a large number of patients to simultaneously be in need of specialized care. In the Netherlands, hospitals scaled up their intensive care unit and clinical admission capacity at an early stage of the pandemic. The importance of coordinating resources during a pandemic has already been emphasized in the literature. Therefore, in order to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 admissions, national and regional task forces were established for the purpose of coordinating patient transfers. This review describes the experience of Regionaal Overleg Acute Zorg (ROAZ) region Noord-Holland Flevoland, in coordinating patient transfers in the Amsterdam region. In total, 130 patient transfers were coordinated by our region, of which 73% patients were transferred to a hospital within the region. Over a 2-month period, similarities regarding days with increased patient transfers were seen between our region and the national task force. In parallel, an increased incidence in hospital admissions in the Netherlands was observed. During a pandemic, an early upscale (an increase in surge spaces) of hospital admission capacity is imperative. Furthermore, it is preferred to establish national and regional task forces, coordinated by physicians experienced and trained in handling crisis situations, adhering full transparency regarding hospital admission capacity.

Atomic-resolution cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy (cryo-STEM) has provided a path to probing the microscopic nature of select low-temperature phases in quantum materials. Expanding cryo-STEM techniques to broadly tunable temperatures will give access to the rich temperature-dependent phase diagrams of these materials. With existing cryo-holders, however, variations in sample temperature significantly disrupt the thermal equilibrium of the system, resulting in large-scale sample drift. The ability to tune the temperature without negative impact on the overall instrument stability is crucial, particularly for high-resolution experiments. Here, we test a new side-entry continuously variable temperature dual-tilt cryo-holder which integrates liquid nitrogen cooling with a 6-pin micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sample heater to overcome some of these experimental challenges. We measure consistently low drift rates of 0.3–0.4 Å/s and demonstrate atomic-resolution cryo-STEM imaging across a continuously variable temperature range from ~100 K to well above room temperature. We conduct additional drift stability measurements across several commercial sample stages and discuss implications for further developments of ultra-stable, flexible cryo-stages.

Photochemical (PEC) etching and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to study the defects in hetero-epitaxial GaN layers. TEM proved that PEC etching reveals not only dislocations but also nanopipes in the form of protruding, whisker-like etch features. It is shown by diffraction contrast techniques that the nanopipes are screw coreless dislocations. An example is shown of the transformation of a normal full-core screw dislocation into a nanopipe. The PEC/TEM experiments indicate the presence of electrically active (recombinative) species in the vicinity of the nanopipes.

The hydrogen storage properties of nanostructured Mg and MgH2 thin films were studied as created by Ar and Ar+H2 plasma sputter deposition. Columnar structures with typical widths of ∼120 nm are observed with their long columnar axis extending throughout the thickness of the films. Applying substrate bias voltages during deposition results in narrower columns. A concomitant reduction in hydrogen desorption temperature from 400 °C to 360 °C is observed. Capping the Mg films with a ∼100 nm thin Pd layer leads to significantly reduced hydrogen desorption temperatures of ∼200 °C induced by the catalytic activity of the Pd cap layer. Also, hydrogen permeation of the films is strongly improved. The rate-determining factor is found to be the dissociation of the hydrogen molecules. Optimum hydrogen loading conditions of the Pd/Mg films were obtained just above ∼200 °C at hydrogen pressures of 0.25–1.0 MPa, resulting in hydrogen storage capacities in the range of 4–7 wt%.

The 1 MHz dielectric properties for mixed-phase polycrystalline ceramics in the system Bi4Ti3O12–Bi(InxSb1x)O3 were reported. In the vicinity of ambient temperature, the dielectric constants for the Sb and In end-members were approximately 430 and 160, respectively, and the temperature coefficients of dielectric constant (TCKs) were approximately -7600 and +430 ppm/deg. At an overall composition of Bi4Ti3O12:Bi(In0.37Sb0.63)O3 a dielectric constant of 144 and a low TCK were found. Powder x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analyses indicated that the optimal composition contained three major phases. Deviation of any of the elements from the above ratio leads to degradation of the properties.

A large-area pulsed laser deposition process for high-quality YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) thin films on both sides of R-plane sapphire substrates with CeO2 buffer layer is used routinely to optimize planar microwave filters for satellite and mobile communication systems. With the experience of more than 700 double-sided 3-inch diam. YBCO:Ag films a high degree of reproducibility of jc values above 3.5 MA/cm2 and of state of the art R5 values is reached. TEM cross sections of the large-area and double-sided PLD-YBCO:Ag thin films on R-plane sapphire with CeO2 buffer layers show typical defects like stress modulation, stacking faults, a-axis oriented grains, precipitates and interdiffusion layers. YBCO films on SrTiO3 / YBCO* / CeO2 film systems on R-plane sapphire wafers have more growth defects compared to bare CeO2 buffers on sapphire but show as microwave resonators encouraging electrical tunability.

A new type of lanthanide transition metal pnictide-oxide, Ln3Cu4P4O2 (for Ln = La, Ce, and Nd), is reported. The crystal structure is made from Ln2O2 layers of the Pb2O2 type stacked with layers of Cu2P2 tetrahedra. The existence of a homologous series of compounds with similar chemistry connecting the BiCuOSe and ThCr2Si2 structure types is indicated. The resistivity of La3Cu4P4O2 is metallic, with no superconductivity observed above 2K. The Ce and Nd compounds have magnetic susceptibilities characteristic of the trivalent Lanthanides. The Ce compound orders magnetically at approximately 0.8 K.

In a randomly oriented polycrystalline ionically conducting material the total conductivity is reduced by the lengthening of the effective conduction pathway which is determined by the microstructure. It is, therefore, desirable to develop a better understanding of the relationship between the conductivity and the microstructure of the ceramic material.

This work focused on the quantification of the various contributions to the overall conductivity. Na-β” alumina ceramics with different microstructures but the same chemical composition were used as samples. Conductivity data were obtained by impedance spectroscopy measurements (IS) carried out in a temperature range from 350 to -30 °C at frequencies from 1 Hz to 500 KHz. An attempt has been made to calculate distinct geometric factors for the specific values of the grain and grain boundary contribution. These were inferred from the sample geometry, Laser Scanning Microscope (LSM) pictures, microstructural observations by image analysis, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) pictures, and considerations of the current pathways in the anisotropically conducting ceramic.

A review is given of defects occurring in the superconducting oxides YBa2Cu3O7, (Bi,Tl)2(Sr,Ba)2CanCul+nO6+2n, and Pb2Sr2(Cal-xYx)nCu2+nO6+2n+∂. A number of these defect structures correspond to other thermodynamically stable phases. The observations of these defects have led in several cases to successful synthesis of new superconducting compounds. Defects can effect the superconducting properties, which they can either deteriorate (weak links) or improve (flux pinning). Both effects are considered.

A number of examples of high resolution electron microscopy on defects and metal particles in zeolites is given: defects in Zeolite Y and Zeolite β, metal particles in ZSM-5, and structural changes due to reactions in Zeolite L and Zeolite Y.

The superconducting performance, in particular the critical current, of polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7 will depend strongly on the structure of grain boundaries and the nature and number of defects in the microstructure. To characterize the atomic structure of defects and grain boundaries in these materials, a high resolution electron microscopy study has been initiated. Emphasis has been placed on the technique of phase contrast imaging with corresponding computer simulation and processing for optimum interpretation of results.

High resolution electron microscopy (HREM) is a powerful tool in materials research. This is especially true in the study of zeolites because most of the questions concerning the properties of zeolites require a detailed characterization of the local structure [1]. The potential of HREM is illustrated with studies on the growth of denser phases on Zeolite Y and Zeolite L.