pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Spin and charge signatures of topological superconductivity in Rashba nanowires

We consider a Rashba nanowire with a proximity gap which can be brought into the topological phase by tuning external magnetic field or chemical potential. We study spin and charge of the bulk quasiparticle states when passing through the topological transition for open and closed systems. We show, analytically and numerically, that the spin of bulk states around the topological gap reverses its sign when crossing the transition due to band inversion, independent of the presence of Majorana fermions in the system. This spin reversal can be considered as a bulk signature of topological superconductivity that can be accessed experimentally. We find a similar behavior for the charge of the bulk quasiparticle states, also exhibiting a sign reversal at the transition. We show that these signatures are robust against random static disorder
Biomarkers reveal the effects of hydrography on the sources and fate of marine and terrestrial organic matter in the western Irish Sea

A suite of lipid biomarkers were investigated from surface sediments and particulatematter across hydrographically distinct zones associated with the western Irish Sea gyre and the seasonal bloom. The aim was to assess the variation of organic matter (OM) composition, production, distribution and fate associated with coastal and southern mixed regions and also the summer stratified region. Based on the distribution of a suite of diagnostic biomarkers, including phospholipid fatty acids, source-specific sterols, wax esters and C25 highly branched isoprenoids, diatoms, dinoflagellates and green algae were identified as major contributors of marine organic matter (MOM) in this setting. The distribution of cholesterol, wax esters and C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids indicate that copepod grazing represents an important process for mineralising this primary production. Net tow data from 2010 revealed much greater phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass in well-mixed waters compared to stratified waters. This appears to be largely reflected in MOM input to surface sediments. Terrestrial organic matter (TOM), derived from higher plants, was identified as a major source of OM regionally, but was concentrated in proximity to major riverine input at the Boyne Estuary and Dundalk Bay. Near-bottom residual circulation and the seasonal gyre also likely play a role in the fate of TOM in the western Irish Sea
Popliteal artery aneurysm repair in the endovascular era: fourteen-years single center experience

To compare outcomes of popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) repair by endovascular treatment, great saphenous vein (GSV) bypass, and prosthetic bypass.Single center retrospective analysis of patients presenting PAA from 2000 to 2013. Patients were divided into endovascular treatment (group A); GSV bypass (group B); and prosthetic graft bypass (group C). Outcomes were technical success, perioperative mortality, and morbidity. Survival, primary and secondary patency, and freedom from reintervention rate were estimated. Differences in ankle-brachial index (ABI), in-hospital length of stay (InH-Los), red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, and limb loss were reported. Mean follow-up was 49 (median: 35; 1-145; SD 42) months.Sixty-seven patients were included; 25 in group A, 28 in group B, and 14 in group C. PAA was symptomatic in 23 (34%) cases. Technical success was 100%. No perioperative death occurred. Three (4.5%) perioperative complications were reported with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.866). Five-years estimated survival was 78%. Estimated 5-years primary patency for groups A, B, and C was 71%, 81%, and 69%, respectively (P = 0.19). Estimated 5-years secondary patency for groups A, B, and C was 88%, 85%, and 84% (P = 0.85). Estimated 5-years freedom from reintervention for groups A, B, and C was 62%, 84%, and 70%, respectively (P = 0.16). A significant difference between preoperative ABI versus postoperative ABI was observed (P = 0.001). InH-LoS was significantly shorter in group A (P < 0.001). RBC transfusions were required significantly less in group A when compared to group C (P = 0.045). Overall limb salvage was achieved in all but 1 patient.PAA repair has good early and long-term outcomes with different treatment options. Endovascular treatment was not inferior to surgical repair with a reduced InH-LoS and RBC transfusion. It can be successfully employed even in nonelective setting. A randomized controlled trial with long-term follow-up and appropriate patient inclusion criteria is necessary to compare these 3 treatment options
Sivers effect in Drell-Yan processes

The Sivers distributions recently extracted from semi-inclusive deep
inelastic scattering data [1] are used to compute estimates for Sivers
asymmetries in Drell-Yan processes which are being planned at several
facilities (RHIC, COMPASS, J-PARC, PAX, PANDA, NICA (JINR) and SPASCHARM
(IHEP)). Most of these asymmetries turn out to be large and could allow a clear
test of the predicted sign change of the Sivers distributions when active in
SIDIS and Drell-Yan processes. This is regarded as a fundamental test of our
understanding, within QCD and the factorization scheme, of single spin
asymmetries
Transcriptional regulatory functions of nuclear long noncoding RNAs

Several nuclear localised intergenic long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been ascribed regulatory roles in transcriptional control and their number is growing rapidly. Initially, these transcripts were shown to function locally, near their sites of synthesis, by regulating the expression of neighbouring genes. More recently, lncRNAs have been demonstrated to interact with chromatin at several thousand different locations across multiple chromosomes and to modulate large-scale gene expression programs. Although the molecular mechanisms involved in targeting lncRNAs to distal binding sites remain poorly understood, the spatial organisation of the genome may have a role in specifying lncRNA function. Recent advances indicate that intergenic lncRNAs may exert more widespread effects on gene regulation than previously anticipated
Do child soldiers influence UN Peacekeeping?

The use of child soldiers in conflicts has received increasing academic attention\ud
in recent years. This article examines post-conflict periods to see whether the\ud
use of child soldiers mobilizes United Nations peacekeeping operations (UN\ud
PKO) in the aftermath of a conflict. Taking into consideration how child\ud
soldiers affect conflict and how important their reintegration is to\ud
sustainable peace and post-conflict development, we analyse whether the\ud
presence of child soldiers in a civil war increases the likelihood of the\ud
presence of a PKO. We argue that the UN deems a conflict with child\ud
soldiers as a difficult case for conflict resolution, necessitating a response\ud
from the international community. This is in line with our empirical results\ud
confirming that the use of child soldiers significantly increases the likelihood\ud
of peacekeeping
Mechanical fluctuations suppress the threshold of soft-glassy solids : the secular drift scenario

International audienceWe propose a dynamical mechanism leading to the fluidization of soft-glassy amorphous mate-rial driven below the yield-stress by external mechanical fluctuations. The model is based on the combination of memory effect and non-linearity, leading to an accumulation of tiny effects over a long-term. We test this scenario on a granular packing driven mechanically below the Coulomb threshold. We bring evidences for an effective viscous response directly related to small stress modulations in agreement with the theoretical prediction of a generic secular drift
Prediction of the Biomechanical Effects of Compression Therapy on Deep Veins Using Finite Element Modelling

International audienceClinicians generally assume that Medical Compression Stockings (MCS) work by reducing vein luminal diameter and, in this way, help to prevent blood pooling. Conflicting results have been reported however in the case of lower leg deep veins which call into question this hypothesis. The purpose of this contribution is to study the biomechanical response of the main lower leg deep veins to elastic compression and muscle contraction with the objective of improving our current understanding of the mechanism by which MCS convey their benefits. The development of a finite-element model of a slice of the lower leg from MR images is detailed. Analysis of the finite-element model shows that the contribution of the MCS to the deep vein diameter reduction is rather small, and in fact negligible, compared to that of the contracting muscle (3% and 9% decrease in the vein cross-sectional area with a grade II compression stocking in the supine and standing positions respectively, while complete collapse was obtained at the end of muscle activation). A more accurate representation of the muscle activation is eventually proposed to study the effect of muscle contraction on a vein wall. The impact on the venous blood draining is discussed
Estimation of the maximum burial palaeotemperature for Toarcian and Callovo-Oxfordian samples in the central part of the Paris Basin using organic markers.

The thermal history of the central part of the Paris basin is reconstructed using C31 hopane S/R isomerisation ratios and organic matter transformation ratios measured on Lower Toarcian and Callovo-Oxfordian samples. Maximum burial palaeotemperatures range between 90 and 115 °C for the Toarcian shales, and between 75 and 95 °C for the Callovo-Oxfordian samples, from the East to the centre of the basin, respectively. The amount of Late Cretaceous erosion was evaluated to be between ca. 400 to 600 m in the eastern part of the studied area and 100 to 300 m in the centre of the basin
Timescale of open-reservoir evolution beneath the south Cleft segment, Juan de Fuca ridge

International audienceLavas erupted at the southern end of the intermediate Juan de Fuca ridge (Cleft segment) are mostly cogenetic and their chemical diversity results from melt evolution in an open magma system. In the present study, we apply a theoretical model allowing the time evolution of this periodically recharged and tapped magma chamber to be estimated. In our mathematical procedure, the melt quantity supplied to the reservoir varies through time following a sinusoidal function. The rare earth element concentrations in the refilling melt were calculated on the basis of the REE distribution in lavas. This theoretical composition is akin to that previously estimated for a Mg#70 MORB from mineralogical and chemical data. Then, we approached the temporal evolution of the reservoir using a set of suitable parameters deduced from the geometry of the crust and magma system beneath the Cleft segment. Particularly, we considered two end-members scenarios for the melt repartition through the magma reservoir beneath the Cleft segment: the "gabbro glacier" model (crystal nucleation and growth occur within one single melt lens and crystals subside vertically and laterally) and the "sheeted sill" model (crystallization takes place within a network of connected sills located at various depths within the crust). We estimated that the magma chamber is refilled every thousand years and that the melt resides approximately one hundred years within the reservoir
Surface characterization of sol-gel derived scintillating rare-earth doped Lu2SiO5 thin films

International audienceRare earth doped Lu2SiO5 thin films have been prepared by combining sol-gel process and spin coating. Annealing treatment results in the crystallization of the film and efficient incorporation of rare earth doping ions. XPS and RBS spectrocopies showed that the composition of the films is close to the nominal one. Adventitious carbon has been observed and attributed to incomplete pyrolysis of metal-organic precursors. XPS concentrations profiles show a good homogeneity for the films. RBS demonstrated some inter-diffusion between amorphous carbon substrate and silicate films resulting in a gradient of carbon at the interface between the substrate and the film itself
Minimal time for the bilinear control of Schrödinger equations

International audienceWe consider a quantum particle in a potential V (x) (x in R^N) subject to a (spatially homogeneous) time-dependent electric field E(t), which plays the role of the control. Under generic assumptions on V , this system is approximately controllable on the L2(R^N;C)-sphere, in su ffiently large times T, as proved by Boscain, Caponigro, Chambrion and Sigalotti. In the present article, we show that this approximate controllability result is false in small time. As a consequence, the result by Boscain et al. is, in some sense, optimal with respect to the control time T
Ambient vibration testing and structural identification of a cable-stayed bridge

The paper presents the results of an experimental and theoretical investigation on the Pietratagliata cable-stayed bridge (Udine, Italy). Ambient vibration tests were performed in order to estimate the dynamic characteristics of the lower vibration modes of the bridge. Structural identification is carried out by means of a manual tuning procedure based on finite element models of increasingly accuracy. The analysis allows to improve the description of boundary conditions and mechanical interaction between the bridge components. Results from local dynamic testing are used to estimate the traction on the cables and to assess the integrity of the suspending system of the bridge
Defects in affordable housing projects in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Several affordable housing programs have been introduced by the government to achieve the objectives of several Malaysia Plans; however, the success of the housing programs has been reduced due to readily reported quality problems and defects. This research aims to identify the types of defects in affordable housing and determine what is causing the defects, so that solutions may be devised to raise the quality of housing stock in Malaysia. A questionnaire survey was distributed to 310 residents of affordable housing, located in four different regions in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The most commonly occurring defects in affordable housing are leaking pipes, total failure of water supply systems, cracking in concrete walls, faulty door knobs, and dampness to concrete walls. This suggests that improvements in workmanship, the use of superior materials, and changes to more customer-oriented supervision and monitoring may reduce the incidence of defects. Local conditions, such as heavy rainfall, may influence dampness, and may reduce the generalizability of findings to other areas with different weather patterns. The findings have been reported to the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia to improve the quality of affordable housing
Selective growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on nickel oxide nanostructures created by atomic force microscope nano-oxidation

[[abstract]]We report the selective growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on nickel oxide catalytic templates created by atomic force microscope nano-oxidation. Nickel oxide patterns are first produced on a nickel film by applying a negative bias to the tip. After removing unoxidized nickel, oxide patterns or nanodots with a smallest size of around 30 nm are successfully fabricated. Vertically aligned bunched or single CNTs with diameters of 30-80 nm are selectively grown on the oxide nanostructures by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition. It is also shown that the tube diameter can be effectively controlled by the dot size.[[fileno]]2020316010001[[department]]材料科學工程學
Structural impact on the nanoscale optical properties of InGaN core-shell nanorods

III-nitride core-shell nanorods are promising for the development of high efficiency light emitting diodes and novel optical devices. We reveal the nanoscale optical and structural properties of core-shell InGaN nanorods formed by combined top-down etching and regrowth to achieve non-polar sidewalls with a low density of extended defects. While the luminescence is uniform along the non-polar {1–100} sidewalls, nano-cathodoluminescence shows a sharp reduction in the luminescent intensity at the intersection of the non-polar {1–100} facets. The reduction in the luminescent intensity is accompanied by a reduction in the emission energy localised at the apex of the corners. Correlative compositional analysis reveals an increasing indium content towards the corner except at the apex itself. We propose that the observed variations in the structure and chemistry are responsible for the changes in the optical properties at the corners of the nanorods. The insights revealed by nano-cathodoluminescence will aid in the future development of higher efficiency core-shell nanorods
A Study on the Effects of Routing Symbol Design on Process Model Comprehension

Process modeling grammars are used to create models of business processes. In this paper, we discuss how different routing symbol designs affect an individual's ability to comprehend process models. We conduct an experiment with 154 students to ascertain which visual design principles influence process model comprehension. Our findings suggest that design principles related to perceptual discriminability and pop out improve comprehension accuracy. Furthermore, semantic transparency and aesthetic design of symbols lower the perceived difficulty of comprehension. Our results inform important principles about notational design of process modeling grammars and the effective use of process modeling in practice
Introduction to Special Issue on 'Actual Causation'

An actual cause of some token effect is itself a (distinct) token event (or fact, or state of affairs, …) that helped to bring about that effect. The notion of an actual cause is different from that of a potential cause – for example a pre-empted backup – which had the capacity to bring about the effect, but which wasn't in fact operative on the occasion in question. Sometimes actual causes are also distinguished from mere background conditions: as when we judge that the struck match was a cause of the fire, while the presence of oxygen was merely part of the relevant background against which the struck match operated. Actual causation is also to be distinguished from type causation: actual causation holds between token events in a particular, concrete scenario; type causation, by contrast, holds between event kinds in scenario kinds
Comparative analysis of meta-analysis methods: when to use which?

Background: Several meta-analysis methods can be used to quantitatively combine the results of a group of experiments, including the weighted mean difference, statistical vote counting, the parametric response ratio and the non-parametric response ratio. The software engineering community has focused on the weighted mean difference method. However, other meta-analysis methods have distinct strengths, such as being able to be used when variances are not reported. There are as yet no guidelines to indicate which method is best for use in each case. Aim: Compile a set of rules that SE researchers can use to ascertain which aggregation method is best for use in the synthesis phase of a systematic review. Method: Monte Carlo simulation varying the number of experiments in the meta analyses, the number of subjects that they include, their variance and effect size. We empirically calculated the reliability and statistical power in each case Results: WMD is generally reliable if the variance is low, whereas its power depends on the effect size and number of subjects per meta-analysis; the reliability of RR is generally unaffected by changes in variance, but it does require more subjects than WMD to be powerful; NPRR is the most reliable method, but it is not very powerful; SVC behaves well when the effect size is moderate, but is less reliable with other effect sizes. Detailed tables of results are annexed. Conclusions: Before undertaking statistical aggregation in software engineering, it is worthwhile checking whether there is any appreciable difference in the reliability and power of the methods. If there is, software engineers should select the method that optimizes both parameters
Problem-based learning supported by semantic techniques

Problem-based learning has been applied over the last three decades to a diverse range of learning environments. In this educational approach, different problems are posed to the learners so that they can develop different solutions while learning about the problem domain. When applied to conceptual modelling, and particularly to Qualitative Reasoning, the solutions to problems are models that represent the behaviour of a dynamic system. The learner?s task then is to bridge the gap between their initial model, as their first attempt to represent the system, and the target models that provide solutions to that problem. We propose the use of semantic technologies and resources to help in bridging that gap by providing links to terminology and formal definitions, and matching techniques to allow learners to benefit from existing models
Synchronized Activity in The Main  and Accessory Olfactory Bulbs and  Vomeronasal Amygdala Elicited by  Chemical Signals in Freely Behaving  Mice

Chemosensory processing in mammals involves the olfactory and vomeronasal systems, but how the activity of both circuits is integrated is unknown. In our study, we recorded the electrophysiological activity in the olfactory bulbs and the vomeronasal amygdala in freely behaving mice exploring a battery of neutral and conspecific stimuli. The exploration of stimuli, including a neutral stimulus, induced synchronic activity in the olfactory bulbs characterized by a dominant theta rhythmicity, with specific theta-gamma coupling, distinguishing between vomeronasal and olfactory structures. The correlated activation of the bulbs suggests a coupling between the stimuli internalization in the nasal cavity and the vomeronasal pumping. In the amygdala, male stimuli are preferentially processed in the medial nucleus, whereas female cues induced a differential response in the posteromedial cortical amygdala. Thus, particular theta-gamma patterns in the olfactory network modulates the integration of chemosensory information in the amygdala, allowing the selection of an appropriate behaviour
Investigation on the structural and magnetic properties of sputtered TbFe2/Fe3Ga heterostructures

We have analyzed the structural and magnetic properties of as-grown and annealed [TbFe2/Fe3Ga]n heterostructures grown by sputtering. Evidence of the bcc structure in the Fe3Ga layers has been found. The diffraction peak related to this structure shifts to high angles with the annealing temperature. Also, we have observed a change in the microstructure of the Tb-Fe layers when the thickness layer is reduced in the as-grown heterostructures. Moreover, the Tb content is lower than 33% of the TbFe2 Laves phase and it depends on the layer thickness. The thermal treatments promote the increase of the Tb content, but only in the heterostructures with thick layers. The strong lattice mismatch between the Tb-Fe and Fe-Ga layers seems to prevent a complete Tb diffusion upon the annealing process. Thus, the crystallization of the TbFe2 Laves phase is inhibited in the heterostructures with thin layers, although our experimental results indicate the presence of potential magnetostrictive TbFeGa alloy