bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bi-objective production-distribution problem in a supply chain network under grey flexible conditions
Authors: Goodarzian Fariba , Shishebori Davood , Nasseri Hadi , Dadvar Faridreza
Published: September 2020

One of the main topics discussed in a supply chain is the production-distribution problem. Producing and distributing the products plays a key role in reducing the costs of the chain. To design a supply chain, a network of efficient management and production-distribution decisions is essential. Accordingly, providing an appropriate mathematical model for such problems can be helpful in designing and managing supply chain networks. Mathematical formulations must be drawn close to the real world due to the importance of supply chain networks. This makes those formulations more complicated. In this study, a novel multi-objective formulation is devised for the production-distribution problem of a supply chain that consists of several suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and different customers. Also, a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) mathematical model is proposed for designing a multi-objective and multi-period supply chain network. In addition, grey flexible linear programming (GFLP) is done for a multi-objective production-distribution problem in a supply chain network. The network is designed for the first time to cope with the uncertain nature of costs, demands, and capacity parameters. In this regard, due to the NP-hardness and complexity of problems and the necessity of using meta-heuristic algorithms, NSGA-II and Fast PGA algorithm are applied and compared in terms of several criteria that emphasize the quality and diversity of the solutions.
Novel Choices of Cannula for Blood Delivery via Femoral Artery in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Yamamoto Tomohiro , Saito Takeshi , Shiraishi Shuichi , Asfour Boulos , Hraska Victor , Schindler Ehrenfried
Published: September 2020

We previously presented a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) method with blood delivery via femoral artery cannulation for pediatric aortic arch repair operations using the Radifocus Introducer sheath. However, the flow rate with the Radifocus Introducer sheath is limited by accessory parts with the same structure having a smaller inner diameter among different sizes, rather than the sheath body. Therefore, we further devised a combination of the JELCO IV catheter, an extension tube, and a three-way stopcock with a larger opening to obtain more flow rate keeping the CPB circuit pressure significantly lower than when using the Radifocus Introducer sheath successfully.
Transitioning Ambulatory Medicine from Pediatrics to Adult Care for Patients with Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability
Authors: Miller Derryl , Felker Marcia , Ciccarelli Mary
Published: September 2020

Consensus statements and clinical reports exist to guide the transition of youth from pediatric to adult healthcare services. Across the range of youth with no chronic health conditions to those with the most complex disabilities, the standards of practice continue to vary broadly across the country and internationally. Youth and young adults with combined conditions of epilepsy with intellectual disability are a small subset of the total population of young adults who share common needs. These include a system of supports that supplement each person's limitations in autonomy and self-management. Caregivers play significant roles in their lives, whether they are family members or paid direct service providers. Medical decision making and treatment adherence require specific adaptations for patients whose independence due to disability is unlikely. Key issues related to tuberous sclerosis complex, neurofibromatosis, and Rett and Sturge–Weber syndromes will be highlighted.
Technical communication pedagogical model (TCPM) for Malaysian vocational colleges
Authors: Jamaludin K. A. , Alias N. , DeWitt D. , Ibrahim M. M.
Published: September 2020

Poor mastery of technical communication skills has affected the employability of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates. This has arisen from the lack of communication between TVET institutions and the industry when designing a curriculum for technical communication skills development. In Malaysia, little emphasis is given to developing this skill. Therefore, the current study seeks to develop a technical communication pedagogical model (TCPM) by identifying the pertinent objective, content of learning, method of delivery and assessment method of TCPM, and the effect of the perceived importance of English language proficiency on the relationships of the pertinent curriculum components of TCPM. A survey questionnaire was developed and validated for content validation by seven experts from local industry and TVET institutions. A total of 205 English language instructors in Malaysian vocational colleges (MVC) were selected using a stratified random sampling method and responded to the questionnaire. Their responses were analyzed using the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Analysis of reliability, discriminant and convergent validity, significance of relationship, predictive accuracy (R2), predictive relevance (Q2), effect size (f2), and mediation analysis was conducted to test the model. The overall findings indicated that all constructs have a positive and significant effect on perceived importance of TCPM (Objective: p = 0.012, t = 2.249, content of learning: p = 0.032, t = 1.852, assessment method: p = 0.000, t = 4.196), except for method of delivery (p = 0.301, t = 0.522). The coefficient of determination level is moderate (R2 = 0.526). Analysis of effect size (f2) indicates a small effect size for all constructs (objective: f2 = 0.032, content of learning: f2 = 0.027, assessment method: f2 = 0.116), except for method of delivery with an effect size of 0.002. In addition, this model achieved acceptable predictive relevance (Q2 = 0.316). On the other hand, the mediation analysis indicates that the perceived importance of English language proficiency only functions as a complementary partial mediator for content of learning and assessment method construct. In short, the TCPM model includes having the relevant objectives, content of learning, method of delivery and assessment method for implementing technical communication in MVC, components which are less emphasized in the current curriculum. It is hoped that, with its implementation in the MVC, graduate employability can be enhanced.
Experimental research of condensation processes occurring under laser ablation in superfluid helium and vacuum
Authors: Gordon E. B. , Kulish M. I. , Stepanov M. E. , Matyushenko V. I. , Karabulin A. V.
Published: September 2020

The dynamics of thermal radiation accompanying the condensation of tungsten nanoparticles in superfluid helium and vacuum was studied experimentally in the visible range. It was shown that during the first 100 μs the accompanying thermal energy of process in the case of superfluid helium is considerably higher than in vacuum at comparable temperatures after that it levels up. From a standpoint of the process’ kinetics it is demonstrated that the reasons for this are, on one hand, an increased condensation rate in superfluid helium (due to the concentration of nanoparticles in quantized vortices), and on the other hand, higher efficiency of heating of the condensation products in superfluid helium (due to the prevalence of processes involving particles of similar sizes).
Critical current of dc SQUID on Josephson junctions with unconventional current-phase relation
Authors: Askerzade I. N. , Askerbeyli R. T.
Published: September 2020

Here we present calculations of the critical current of dc SQUID based on Josephson junction with un-conventional current-phase relation. We analyzed two cases of current-phase relation of junction: with anhar-monic and Majorana term. It is shown that the changing of the critical current in the case of the small geo-metrical inductance of dc SQUID based on Josephson junctions with unconventional current-phase relation is determined by the amplitude of the second term in current-phase relation, the geometrical inductance of dc SQUID and external magnetic field. In the case of the high inductance of dc SQUID unconventional terms can be ignored.
Strain-induced electronic structures, mechanical anisotropy, and piezoelectricity of transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayer CrS2
Authors: Chen Shao-Bo , Zeng Zhao-Yi , Chen Xiang-Rong , Yao Xing-Xing
Published: September 2020

Recently, Habib et al. [Nanoscale 11, 20123 (2019)] successfully synthesized two-dimensional (2D) CrS2 monolayer using the chemical vapor deposition method for the first time, opening a new avenue for the exploration of Cr-based layered materials with astonishing properties. In the present work, we use a first-principles method based on the density-functional theory to investigate the electronic structures, mechanical anisotropy, and piezoelectricity of transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayer CrS2. It is found that the bandgap is tunable between 1.175 eV and 1.862 eV at the Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof (HSE06) level with applied strain, and a direct-to-indirect bandgap transition occurs at tensile strains larger than 2%. Calculated phonon dispersions suggest that CrS2 is thermodynamically stable under a given strain and optical phonon splitting is discussed. A new elastic anisotropy measurement method is performed, and the results confirm that the application of strain raises the mechanical anisotropy because of the symmetrical structure being destroyed, which may exploit astonishing properties of 2D layered materials. In addition, tensile strain is more beneficial to improving the piezoelectric strain coefficient d11 due to tensile strain results in a more flexible structure, which reached up to 9.74 pm/V (relaxed-ions) and 7.33 pm/V (clamped-ions) when applying 6% tensile strain. Our investigation suggested that strain engineering is an effective approach with which to modify the electronic, mechanical anisotropy, and piezoelectric properties of 2D CrS2, raising the possibility of future optoelectronic, mechanical, and piezoelectric applications.
Measurements of spin–orbit interaction in epitaxially grown InAs nanosheets
Authors: Fan Furong , Chen Yuanjie , Pan Dong , Zhao Jianhua , Xu H. Q.
Published: September 2020

We report a low-temperature transport study of a single-gate, planar field-effect device made from a free-standing, wurtzite-crystalline InAs nanosheet. The nanosheet is grown via molecular beam epitaxy and the field-effect device is characterized by gate transfer characteristic measurements and by magnetic field orientation dependent transport measurements. The measurements show that the device exhibits excellent electrical properties and the electron transport in the nanosheet is of a two-dimensional nature. Low-field magnetoconductance measurements are performed for the device at different gate voltages and temperatures, and the characteristic transport lengths, such as phase coherent length, spin–orbit length, and mean free path, in the nanosheet are extracted. It is found that the spin–orbit length in the nanosheet is short, on the order of 150 nm, demonstrating the presence of strong spin–orbit interaction in the InAs nanosheet. Our results show that epitaxially grown, free-standing, InAs nanosheets can serve as an emerging semiconductor nanostructure platform for applications in spintronics, spin qubits, and planar topological quantum devices.
Network topology and stability of homologous multiblock copolymer physical gels
Authors: Yan Jiaqi , Tuhin Mohammad O. , Sadler J. David , Smith Steven D. , Pasquinelli Melissa A. , Spontak Richard J.
Published: September 2020

The mechanical properties of physical gels generated by selectively swelling a homologous series of linear multiblock copolymers are investigated by quasistatic uniaxial tensile tests. We use the slip-tube network model to extract the contributions arising from network crosslinks and chain entanglements. The composition dependence of these contributions is established and considered in terms of simulations that identify the probabilities associated with chain conformations. Dynamic rheology provides additional insight into the characteristics and thermal stability of the molecular networks.
Welcome to The Lucky Country: the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners deters overseas-trained academic general practitioners
Authors: Wallis Katharine A.
Published: September 2020

In assessing overseas-trained general practitioners (GPs) applying for specialist recognition in Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) sets a minimum requirement of 2 days per week ‘undertaking general practice activities’ over the 3 years prior to application. The RACGP does not consider academic practice (i.e. relevant teaching and research) to be a ‘general practice activity’, thereby blocking overseas-trained full-time academic GPs from specialist recognition in Australia. The actions of the RACGP have implications for access to quality primary health care in Australia.
Content enhancement with augmented reality and machine learning
Authors: Freeman Justin
Published: September 2020

Content enhancement of real-world environments is demonstrated through the combination of machine learning methods with augmented reality displays. Advances in machine learning methods and neural network architectures have facilitated fast and accurate object and image detection, recognition and classification, as well as providing machine translation, natural language processing and neural network approaches for environmental forecasting and prediction. These methods equip computers with a means of interpreting the natural environment. Augmented reality is the embedding of computer-generated assets within the real-world environment. Here I demonstrate, through the development of four sample mobile applications, how machine learning and augmented reality may be combined to create localised, context aware and user-centric environmental information delivery channels. The sample mobile applications demonstrate augmented reality content enhancement of static real-world objects to deliver additional environmental and contextual information, language translation to facilitate accessibility of forecast information and a location aware rain event augmented reality notification application that leverages a nowcasting neural network.
Relationship between the bacterial community structures on human hair and scalp
Authors: Watanabe Kota , Yamada Azusa , Nishi Yuri , Tashiro Yukihiro , Sakai Kenji
Published: September 2020

In this study, we investigated and compared characteristics of the bacterial community structures on hair (scalp hair) and scalp in 18 individuals. Significant differences were found between the sites, in terms of cell density, alpha and beta diversity, and relative abundance of the phyla, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, whereas no difference was found in relative abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria. Bacteria of the genus Cutibacterium showed similar relative abundance at both sites, whereas those of genus Pseudomonas were highly abundant on hair, and those of genus Staphylococcus were significantly lesser in abundance on hair than on scalp. Statistical correlations between the sites were high for the individual relative abundance of five major operational taxonomic units (OTUs). This suggests that the bacterial community structure on hair is composed of hair-specific genus, Pseudomonas, and skin-derived genera, Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus, and is distinguishable from other human skin microbiomes.
Preparation and characterization of a novel MR fluid with MWCNTs/GO composites coated ferromagnetic particles
Authors: Sun Chun-Li , Xu Zhao-Dong , Zhou Chen-Yu
Published: September 2020

Magnetorheological (MR) fluid is a typical intelligent material which is widely adopted in the mitigation of civil engineering structures, and it is normally composed of nano-sized or micro-sized iron particles, carrier fluids and additives. In the study, ferromagnetic particles coated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) composites were prepared with grafting technology and the influence concerning ratio of MWCNTs, GO, grafting agent as well as carbonyl iron (CI) particles was studied to select the composite ferromagnetic particles which have the best effects of coating through surface topography analysis. In addition, the MWCNTs/GO composites coated CI particles and surfactants-modified CI particles were combined together to prepare a series of MR fluids with different ratio of the two compound ferromagnetic particles, volume fraction of total ferromagnetic particles and additives by the control variable method and the influence of the factors on the performances of MR fluids was investigated through sedimentation stability, re-dispersion, zero field viscosity and shear yield stress tests. The test results presented that the introduction of MWCNTs/GO composites coated CI particles was beneficial to the improvement of stability with sedimentation rate lower than 6%.
Coherent splitting of two-dimensional Bose gases in magnetic potentials
Authors: Barker A J , Sunami S , Garrick D , Beregi A , Luksch K , Bentine E , Foot C J
Published: September 2020

Investigating out-of-equilibrium dynamics with two-dimensional (2D) systems is of widespread theoretical interest, as these systems are strongly influenced by fluctuations and there exists a superfluid phase transition at a finite temperature. In this work, we realise matter-wave interference for degenerate Bose gases, including the first demonstration of coherent splitting of 2D Bose gases using magnetic trapping potentials. We improve the fringe contrast by imaging only a thin slice of the expanded atom clouds, which will be necessary for subsequent studies on the relaxation of the gas following a quantum quench.
Rapid multilayer microfabrication for modeling organotropic metastasis in breast cancer
Authors: Kwak Tae Joon , Lee Esak
Published: September 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most insidious forms of breast cancer with high rates of metastasis, resulting in major mortalities in breast cancer patients. To better understand and treat TNBC metastasis, investigation of TNBC interactions with blood vasculatures is crucial. Among multiple metastatic processes, a step of TNBC exit from the blood vessels (‘extravasation’) in the pre-metastatic organs determines the final site of the metastasis. Here, we present a rapid multilayer microfabrication method of transferring a three-dimensional (3D) overhang pattern to a substrate with a sacrificial layer to reconstitute a 3D blood vessel surrounded by the extracellular matrix containing organ-specific parenchymal cells. Bones and lungs are the most common sites of breast cancer metastasis. We modeled organotropic bone and lung metastasis in TNBC by introducing subpopulations of TNBC metastases into a vessel lumen surrounded by osteoblasts, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, and lung fibroblasts. We found that bone-like microenviroment with osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells promoted extravasation of the bone-tropic TNBC cells, whereas the lung-like microenviroment promoted extravasation of the lung-tropic TNBC cells. Given that these organ-specific parenchymal cells do not impact vascular permeability, our results suggest that the parenchymal cells dictate selective extravasation of the bone-tropic or lung-tropic TNBC cells in our system.
Effects of Er3+ concentration on the structure and optical properties of the MgAl2O4/MgO/Sr3Al2O6/SrAl2O4 mixed phases prepared by the citrate sol gel method
Authors: Dlamini C , Mhlongo M R , Koao L F , Motaung T E , Hlatshwayo T T , Dwivedi Y , Motloung S V
Published: September 2020

The mixed phases of the un-doped MgAl2O4/MgO/Sr3Al2O6/SrAl2O4 (MMSS), MgAl2O4/MgO (MM) Sr3Al2O6/SrAl2O4 (SS), and the doped MMSS:x% Er3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.8) nanopowders were synthesized using the citrate sol-gel method. The effect of Er3+ concentration on the structure, morphology and optical properties were investigated. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the cubical MgAl2O4, MgO and Sr3Al2O6; and monoclinic SrAl2O4 phases. The scanning electron microscopic images revealed the transformation of irregular particles to rod-like structure with an increase in Er3+ concentration. Transmission electron microscope indicated the nanosized particles depends on Er3+ concentration. Severals distinct absorption bands located at 444, 546, 653 and 704 nm under UV excitation (285 nm) corresponding to the defects states of the MgAl2O4, MgO, SrAl2O4, and Sr3Al2O6 phases were observed. There were traces of emission peaks at 546 and 653 nm attributed to the 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions of Er3+ ion. An exponential decrease in luminescence was observed with an increase in Er3+ concentration.
Corrosion analysis and studies on prediction model of 16Mn steel by grey system theory
Authors: Xie Zhiping , Quan Bianli
Published: September 2020

The accident caused by the corrosion of steel in the production of alumina has become an important issue. The corrosion behaviour of 16Mn steel was investigated using weightlessness, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry and grey system theory in the sulfur-containing alkaline solutions. This paper proposes three methods to improve prediction accuracy of GM(1, 1) model. Results indicated that corrosion time is the most important influence factor of the corrosion rate of 16Mn steel which satisfies the mathematical relationship of power function in the early stages of corrosion. The corrosion products is mainly composed of elements O, S, Fe, Al, Cr and C, and the particles with better crystallization are mainly oxides (Fe3O4), while the bulk particles are mainly sulfides (FeS). The accuracy of four GM(1, 1) prediction models is better than that of the power function, among which metabolic GM(1, 1) model is the best.
Improvement of alumina-based porous body fabricated by freeze casting route via alpha alumina/colloidal silica sol precursors
Authors: Parsa Saeb Saviz , Najafi Abolhassan , Golestanifard Farhad , Rezaie Hamid Reza
Published: September 2020

In this paper, alumina-based porous bodies were fabricated by the freeze casting method, and the effects of solid content and freezing conditions on mechanical properties, water permeability, and microstructure of samples were thoroughly investigated. Microstructural evaluation revealed highly porous microstructures with unidirectionally aligned porosities in the samples. SEM micrographs exhibited uniform pores with an average size of 5 μm. Additionally, EDS analysis and SEM mapping showed a comprehensive interconnected porous framework among alumina particles fabricated by amorphous colloidal silica during the freezing step. Mullite phase was observed in the XRD patterns of the samples after sintering at 1400 °C for 2 h. Maximum compressive strength reached 145 MPa, and this significant mechanical strength was owing to the particle densification caused by the mullitazation reaction between alumina and silica during sintering. Physical properties measurements illustrated the minimum open porosity of 41 vol.% and the maximum bulk density of 2.1 g cm−3. Permeability assessment as an important factor to evaluate filtration efficiency showed at least 0.22 (g. cm−2. s−1.bar−1) water flow rate, which was approximately twice greater than that of other recent works.
Commissioning and quality assurance of Euromechanics add-on multileaf collimator
Authors: Rohani Seyed Aliasghar , Mahdavi Seied Rabi , Mostaar Ahmad , Rahimi Shaghayegh , Mohammadi Reza , Geraily Ghazale
Published: September 2020

In this study, the beam characteristics of a Euromechanics add-on MLC that has been installed on a Varian CLINAC 2100 C/D linear accelerator are presented. This was the first installation of 60-leaf PMLC from Euromechanics Company worldwide and all mechanical and dosimetric parameters were measured before clinical use of this kind of MLC. Mechanical tests were executed for different gantry and collimator angles. Leaf position accuracy and leaf gap reproducibility were checked with four different tests. The leaf transmissions, collimator (Sc), phantom (Sp), total (Sc,p) scatter factors, output of the machine, beam profiles for off-axis ratios, central axis depth dose, flatness, symmetry and penumbra have been measured for different field sizes pre and post MLC installation in 6 and 18 MV-mode. To evaluate the effect of new data on clinical plans, different beam setup configurations conformed with MLC and custom blocks were planned on CT images of thorax a CIRS phantom model 002LFC in the same treatment planning system. Leaf position in picket fence test found to be in range between 4.89–5.02 cm instead of nominal 5 cm, however the results of this test with EPIDs image and PIPSpro software showed the higher deviation rather than the results reported from the tests with EBT3 films. The measured data showed that on average Sc,p and Sc were increased 0.22% (P = 0.86) and 0.34% (P = 0.86) for 6 MV and 0.37% (P = 0.84) and 0.42% (P = 0.88) for 18 MV beams for different field sizes, respectively. Good agreement was observed between the PDD and profile curves pre and post MLC installation that was expected based on no changes in beam energy and geometry of the collimators. Based on the mechanical and dosimetry results which have been achieved from our different standard tests, it was found no significant differences between pre and post MLC installation values. This indicates, installation and using this system is clinically acceptable.
Long-distance delivery of laser-polarized 129Xe using a capillary tube
Authors: Asanuma Tatsuya , Hiraga Takashi , Hattori Mineyuki
Published: September 2020

A long-distance delivery system for laser-polarized 129Xe that uses a capillary tube is described. To our knowledge, this is a first nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of laser-polarized 129Xe fluid behavior that focuses on the effects of the length and inner diameter of the delivery tube of the system. It is found that the maximum signal intensity of laser-polarized 129Xe in a laminar flow is hardly affected by depolarization, even when a tube with a length of 10 m is used under continuous flow conditions. The sensitivity of Xe to its local magnetic environment was successfully applied to demonstrate the usefulness of fused silica capillary tubes with inner diameters ≤0.53 mm. Extensions of this technique should enable the more efficient delivery of 129Xe gas with the sustainable polarization of laser-polarized 129Xe.
Effects of calcination on structural properties and surface morphology of black volcanic ash
Authors: Alraddadi Shoroog
Published: September 2020

In this study, the effects of calcination on the structural properties and surface morphology of black volcanic ash were investigated. The chemical composition, texture properties, and thermal behavior of raw black volcanic ash were studied using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, micromeritics surface area, porosity analyzer, and thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, respectively. According to the thermogravimetric results, the powder of raw volcanic ash was calcined at 800, 1000, and 1100 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy were employed to study the crystalline phase, mineralogical composition, and morphology of the calcinated volcanic ash. Based on the characterization of the XRD and Raman spectra, we observed that phase transformation started at 800 °C along with a change in color of volcanic ash from black to poor red. Moreover, the degree of crystallinity and peak intensity increased as the calcination temperature increased, without a significant change in the surface morphology. These findings can help in understanding the surface and bulk characteristics of black volcanic ash at high temperatures and serve to enhance their technological and economical applications.
Quantitatively determining the degree of spin fluctuations in actinide metals and compounds
Authors: Liu Yi , Ji Xingyu , Pan Qifa , Zhang Yun , Wang Xiaoying , Lai Xinchun
Published: September 2020

Actinide materials are well-documented for nuclear properties, but their 5f electrons that produce exotic phenomena are not, due to the complexity of a dual localized and itinerant nature that remains a mystery. Particular interest is given to the electronic correlations at the localized and itinerant boundary where strong spin fluctuations are present. We report the identification of an intensity defined by integrating the normalized resistivity that approximately provides a quantitative measure of spin fluctuations. The intensity is very sensitive to the tuning of non-thermal parameters such as pressure and chemical doping, probing the anomalies in the evolution of spin fluctuations close to a valence or magnetic instability. In this way, our results are not only connected with the long-standing controversy on the anomalous low-temperature resistivity behavior of actinide metals, but also highlight an unconventional type of superconducting pairing, mediated by valence and/or spin fluctuations, for a wealth of 4f and 5f-electron systems. In an unified picture proposed, it is helpful to determine the degree of spin fluctuations for understanding the origin of the emergent superconductivity in systems with correlated electrons.
Reviewing quantum dots for single-photon emission at 1.55 μm: a quantitative comparison of materials
Authors: Seravalli L , Sacconi F
Published: September 2020

In this work, we present a review of quantum dot (QD) material systems that allow us to obtain light emission in the telecom C-band at 1.55 µm. These epitaxial semiconductor nanostructures are of great technological interest for the development of devices for the generation of on-demand quanta of light for long-haul communication applications. The material systems considered are InAs QDs grown on InP, metamorphic InAs/InGaAs QDs grown on GaAs, InAs/GaSb QDs grown on Si, and InAsN QDs grown on GaAs.

In order to provide a quantitative comparison of the different material systems, we carried out numerical simulations based on envelope function approximation to calculate the strain-dependant energy band profiles and the associated confined energy levels. We have also derived the eigenfunctions and the optical matrix elements for confined states of the systems.

From the results of the simulations, some general conclusions on the strengths and weaknesses of each QD material system have been drawn, along with useful indications for the optimization of structural engineering aiming at single-photon emission in the telecom C-band.
Ethyl Glucuronide and Ethyl Sulphate in Urine: Caution in their use as markers of recent alcohol use
Authors: Mercurio Isabella , Politi Pamela , Mezzetti Eleonora , Agostinelli Fausto , Troiano Gianmarco , Pellegrino Adriana , Gili Alessio , Melai Paola , Rettagliata George , Mercurio Umberto , Sannicandro Domenico , Lancia Massimo , Bacci Mauro
Published: September 2020

Aim

To clarify the role of the ethanol metabolites, ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS), in monitoring alcohol consumption.

Method

We recruited 7 female and 17 male volunteers who were instructed to consume a quantity of beer (containing 48 gm ethanol) with food in one session. We examined urinary excretion of EtG and EtS over time and looked for correlations between the concentrations of the metabolites EtG and EtS.

Results

EtG concentrations in urine varied between 0.026 and 430.372 μg/ml with average values between 11.85 μg/ml (SD 19.75), 30 min after alcohol intake, and 100.39 μg/ml (SD 101.34), 4.5 h after alcohol intake. EtS urinary concentration ranged from 0.006 to 101.432 μg/ml with average values between 4.77 μg/ml (SD 5.42), 30 min after alcohol intake, and 30.14 μg/ml (SD 27.20), 4.5 h after alcohol intake. Spearman’s test showed that urinary EtG and EtS correlated significantly at several time points.

Conclusion

The great interindividual variability in their excretion suggests caution in the use of urinary measurement of these metabolites in forensic investigations.
Dynamics of paternal contributions to early embryo development in large animals
Authors: Daigneault Bradford W
Published: September 2020

This review focuses on current knowledge of paternal contributions to preimplantation embryonic development with particular emphasis on large animals. Specifically, the included content aims to summarize genomic and epigenomic contributions of paternally expressed genes, their regulation, and chromatin structure that are indispensable for early embryo development. The accumulation of current knowledge will summarize conserved allelic function among species to include functional molecular and genomic studies across large domestic animals in context with reference to founding experimental models.
Donor–recipient predicted heart mass ratio and right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling in heart transplant
Authors: Nazario Raffaela de Almeida , Goldraich Livia Adams , Hastenteufel Laura Carolina Tavares , Santos Angela B S , Carrion Luciana , Clausell Nadine
Published: September 2020

OBJECTIVES

Right ventricular–pulmonary arterial (RV–PA) coupling interactions are largely unexplored in heart transplant patients. The outcome of this study was RV–PA coupling at 7 and 30 days after heart transplant and its association with donor–recipient size matching.

METHODS

Clinical, echocardiographic and haemodynamic data from a retrospective cohort of heart transplant recipients and respective donors were reviewed. Coupling between RV–PA was examined by assessing the RV fractional area change and pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio. Donor–recipient size matching was assessed by the predicted heart mass (PHM) ratio, and groups with a PHM ratio <1 and ≥1 were compared.

RESULTS

Forty-four heart transplant recipients were included in this study (50 years, 57% male sex). Postoperative RV–PA coupling improved from 7 to 30 days (RV fractional area change/pulmonary artery systolic pressure 0.9 ± 0.3 vs 1.2 ± 0.3; P < 0.001). A positive association was found between an adequate PHM ratio and improvement of RV fractional area change/pulmonary artery systolic pressure at 30 days, independent of graft ischaemic time and pre-existent pulmonary hypertension (B coefficient 0.54; 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.97; P = 0.016; adjusted R2 = 0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the role of PHM as a metric to help donor selection and suggest its impact in RV–PA coupling interactions post-heart transplant.
Hayes & Williams' Family Law
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

Gilmore and Glennon’s Hayes and Williams’ Family Law, now in its seventh edition, provides critical engagement with key areas of family law, with detailed, yet accessible, expositions of case law, key legislation, and debates affecting adults and children. The volume includes ‘talking points’ and focused ‘discussion questions’ throughout each chapter which highlight areas of debate or controversy. A section entitled ‘New to this Edition’ provides a detailed account of developments since the last edition.
1. The formation of adult relationships
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

This chapter examines the law surrounding the formation of the formal relationships of marriage and civil partnership, including the law on nullity. It also explores, by way of contrast, non-formal cohabiting relationships. Topics discussed include void and voidable marriages, sham marriages, forced marriages; the development of gay and lesbian rights; the road to same-sex marriage and the extension of civil partnership to opposite-sex couples; and the legal consequences of marriage.
2. The dissolution of adult relationships
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

This chapter addresses the termination of adult relationships, in particular divorce, but also the dissolution of civil partnerships, and the termination of cohabitation. Beginning with a discussion of the history of law on divorce and recent divorce statistics, it goes on to cover the law of divorce under the Matrimonial Causes Act (MCA) 1973, criticisms of the current law and recent reform initiatives. It then considers other decrees under MCA 1973, dissolution of a civil partnership, and termination of unmarried relationships.
3. Protection from domestic abuse and occupation of the family home
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

This chapter considers the civil law remedies which are designed to protect a victim from domestic abuse. The two primary protective orders under Part IV of the Family Law Act (FLA) 1996 are the non-molestation order and the occupation order which can be applied for and obtained in conjunction with each other, or separately. The chapter discusses the fact that the occupation order can also be used to regulate occupation of the family home in non-violent situations when a dispute arises between family members about who is entitled to occupy the home, and on what basis.
5. Property disputes when non-formalised relationships breakdown
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

This chapter explores how the family finances are dealt with following the breakup between cohabitants in non-formal relationships. In particular, it considers property law disputes between cohabitants on relationship breakdown and the application of the law of trusts to determine the resolution of such disputes. As these are principles of general application which have not been designed specifically to deal with the financial consequences of relationship breakdown between cohabitants, the chapter highlights how they are generally regarded as inadequate to resolve family property disputes, producing unfair outcomes in certain situations.
6. Financial support for children
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

This chapter discusses the law governing child support. Child support is regulated by one or more of several statutes depending on the circumstances: the Child Support Act 1991 (CSA 1991), as amended; Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989; the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973; and the Civil Partnership Act 2004. The applicability of the CSA 1991 in a particular case can limit to some extent the use of the other statutes mentioned.
8. Children’s rights
Authors: Gilmore Stephen , Glennon Lisa
Published: September 2020

This chapter introduces some theoretical discussions concerning children’s rights and examines some ‘core’ legal provisions. It also looks at the case law related to which the issue of the legal protection of children’s interests has been explored. The focus is on the child’s right to make his or her own decisions as a possible limitation on parental responsibility, explored principally in the context of children’s medical treatment.
Higher solutions of Hitchin’s self-duality equations
Authors: Heller Lynn , Heller Sebastian
Published: September 2020

Solutions of Hitchin’s self-duality equations correspond to special real sections of the Deligne–Hitchin moduli space—twistor lines. A question posed by Simpson in 1997 asks whether all real sections give rise to global solutions of the self-duality equations. An affirmative answer would in principle allow for complex analytic procedures to obtain all solutions of the self-duality equations. The purpose of this article is to construct counter examples given by certain (branched) Willmore surfaces in three-space (with monodromy) via the generalized Whitham flow. Though these sections do not give rise to global solutions of the self-duality equations on the whole Riemann surface M, they induce solutions on an open and dense subset of it. This suggest a connection between Willmore surfaces, i.e., rank 4 harmonic maps theory, with the rank 2 self-duality theory.
The Influence of the Paris Agreement on Climate Litigation: Causation, Corporate Governance and Catalyst (Part II)
Authors: Preston Brian J
Published: September 2020

The Paris Agreement is the first universal climate change agreement requiring all parties to communicate ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets to achieve a long-term global temperature goal. The Paris Agreement is a game-changer at the international level, but has it been at the national (and sub-national) level? What has been the influence of the Paris Agreement on litigation to improve mitigation of and adaptation to climate change? This question is addressed in two articles. Both articles seek to look at a familiar topic—the Paris Agreement and climate litigation—in new and fresh ways. This second article examines how the Paris Agreement is influencing fact-finding in administrative and judicial decision-making, transforming corporate governance to be better attuned to climate risk and contributing to a ripple effect in climate litigation. The article first considers how the Paris Agreement has altered the factual considerations of climate change by demonstrating global agreement on the causal link between anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Secondly, it illustrates how the Paris Agreement is affecting legal responsibilities by focusing on the influence of the Paris Agreement on corporate directors’ duties. Thirdly, it notes the ripple effect of climate litigation, contributing to the continued development of climate law.
LncRNAPlatr22promotes super-enhancer activity and stem cell pluripotency
Authors: Yan Pixi , Lu J Yuyang , Niu Jing , Gao Juntao , Zhang Michael Q , Yin Yafei , Shen Xiaohua
Published: September 2020

Super-enhancers (SEs) comprise large clusters of enhancers, which are co-occupied by multiple lineage-specific and master transcription factors, and play pivotal roles in regulating gene expression and cell fate determination. However, it is still largely unknown whether and how SEs are regulated by the noncoding portion of the genome. Here, through genome-wide analysis, we found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes preferentially lie next to SEs. In mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), depletion of SE-associated lncRNA transcripts dysregulated the activity of their nearby SEs. Specifically, we revealed a critical regulatory role of the lncRNA gene Platr22 in modulating the activity of a nearby SE and the expression of the nearby pluripotency regulator ZFP281. Through these regulatory events, Platr22 contributes to pluripotency maintenance and proper differentiation of mESCs. Mechanistically, Platr22 transcripts coat chromatin near the SE region and interact with DDX5 and hnRNP-L. DDX5 further recruits p300 and other factors related to active transcription. We propose that these factors assemble into a transcription hub, thus promoting an open and active epigenetic chromatin state. Our study highlights an unanticipated role for a class of lncRNAs in epigenetically controlling the activity and vulnerability to perturbation of nearby SEs for cell fate determination.
Module 7: Time Out and Privilege Removal
Authors: Chronis-Tuscano Andrea , O’Brien Kelly , Danko Christina M.
Published: September 2020

In Module 7, parents learn to use time out from positive reinforcement to help their child improve their ability to follow directions and house rules. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) benefit from parents who consistently following through with a consequence for noncompliance and rule-breaking to reduce misbehavior. Time out is effective when used in the presence of a secure relationship and where opportunities for connection and positive reinforcement are consistently available in the home environment. Inappropriate behaviors are more likely to happen again when directions and rules are not enforced consistently: misbehavior continues to have positive consequences. Children with ADHD benefit from the structure, consistency, and predictability of the time out consequence to reduce problem behaviors. In fact, time out is thought to help children learn to self-regulate. Parents need to be prepared to manage their own emotional experience and their child’s reaction to execute time out correctly and experience the full benefits of time out.
Module 11: Review, Wrap Up, and Planning for the Future
Authors: Chronis-Tuscano Andrea , O’Brien Kelly , Danko Christina M.
Published: September 2020

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a chronic condition, requiring ongoing use of behavioral skills learned in this program. Without the support of a therapist, it may be difficult for parents to use these skills consistently. The more that these skills become automatic, the more benefits parents and children will experience. A goal of this module is help parents to think about and prepare for how to apply the principles and strategies presented in this program to possible future issues they encounter with their child and personally. It is important to anticipate and catch problems early, so that parents can engage these tools before problems escalate. Another goal is to ensure that parents have, by now, realized the value of self-care so they can create a supportive, consistent environment for their children. Ongoing monitoring of their mood, parenting, and child behavior will help parents to recognize signs that it is time to seek additional professional help.
Glial Cells and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines as Shared Neurobiological Bases for Chronic Pain and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Strong Judith A. , Jeon Sang Won , Zhang Jun-Ming , Kim Yong-Ku
Published: September 2020

This chapter reviews the roles of cytokines and glial cells in chronic pain and in psychiatric disorders, especially depression. One important role of cytokines is in communicating between activated glia and neurons, at all levels of the nervous system. This process of neuroinflammation plays important roles in pain and depression. Cytokines may also directly regulate neuronal excitability. Many cytokines have been implicated in both pain and psychiatric disorders, including interleukin-1β‎ (IL-1β‎), tumor necrosis factor-α‎, and IL-6. More generally, an imbalance between type 1, pro-inflammatory cytokines and type 2, anti-inflammatory cytokines has been implicated in both pain and psychiatric disorders. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system can contribute to both pain and psychiatric disorders, in part through its actions on inflammation and the cytokine profile.
Navigating the Pain and Suicide Conundrum
Authors: Cheatle Martin D. , Foster Simmie L. , Tang Nicole K. Y.
Published: September 2020

Individuals who suffer from chronic pain typically experience a number of medical, social, and psychiatric comorbidities that greatly affect their quality of life. Patients with pain often experience depression and anxiety, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behavior is not inconsequential in this patient population. Suicide in patients with chronic pain has been a silent epidemic, but there is an emerging literature in this area. This chapter provides a review of the prevalence of suicide in both patients with pain and those with pain and substance use disorders, risk factors for suicide, possible mediators, assessment of risk for suicide, and risk mitigation and intervention strategies.