pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
A Palaeozoic open shelf benthic assemblage in a protected marine environment

International audienceA Late Ordovician benthic assemblage containing trilobites (Colpocoryphe, Onnia) and diploporid echinoderms (Aristocystites) taxa that are usually typical of open shelf environments is preserved in protected marine settings in the lower part of the Kermeur Formation (Armorican Massif, NW France). A facies analysis carried out on the Veryac'h section (Crozon Peninsula) allows identification of four sedimentary facies (SF), ranging from the bay/lagoon domain (SF1 and SF2) to the back-barrier (SF3) and barrier (SF4) domains. A benthic fauna comprising of trilobites, brachiopods and diploporids is found in the SF1 and SF2. In SF1, fossils are randomly scattered in sediments (taphofacies 1, TF1) showing two different preservation stages: TF1a with complete articulated skeletons and TF1b with disarticulated shells. These two preservation stages can be related either to the different modes of life of the taxa (i.e., recumbent, burrowing or nektobenthic) or to a composite assemblage with both autochthonous and allochthonous taxa. In this benthic assemblage, some trilobites and echinoderms taxa are mostly preserved either as complete exoskeletons and exuviae (Colpocoryphe grandis) or complete thecae (Aristocystites sp.), indicating an autochthonous origin. These taxa are usually found in low-energy open shelf settings. Their occurrence in a protected environment results from the combination of both allocyclic factors (i.e., change in sea level) and local conditions (i.e., shelf morphology, environmental conditions). Indeed, the lower part of the Kermeur Formation was deposited during a transgressive phase following a significant sea-level fall (Sandbian-Katian boundary). During the transgressive phase, barrier-lagoon systems were formed on the flat surface inherited from the sandbian shelf. Under non-restricted ecological conditions (i.e., normal oxygenation and salinity) in the protected settings, the new ecological niches were suitable for benthic organisms accustomed to open shelf environments. The settlement of these open shelf benthic species in coastal and protected environments may represent an offshore-onshore expansion, contrary to that described in the onshore-offshore diversification model of Phanerozoic shelf communities (Jablonski et al., 1983; Sepkoski, 1991)
Steady magnetic-field generation via surface-plasma-wave excitation

International audienceThe possibility of inducing a magnetic field via surface plasma-wave excitation is investigated with a simple nonrelativistic hydrodynamic model. A static magnetic field is predicted at the plasma surface, scaling with the square of the surface-wave field amplitude, and the influence of the electron plasma density is studied. In the case of resonant surface-wave excitation by laser this result can be applied to low intensities such that the electron quiver velocity in the field of the surface wave is less than its thermal velocity
Synthesis, Electronic Properties and WOLED Devices of Planar Phosphorus-Containing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

International audienceThe article deals with the synthesis and the physical properties of polyaromatic hydrocarbons containing P-atom at the edge. In particular, the impact of the successive addition of aromatic rings on the electronic properties was investigated by experimental (UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry) and theoretical studies (DFT). The self-assembly in solution and in solid state was studied, leading to the incorporation of these P-containing PAHs as active emitting material in White OLEDs
Revisiting energy release rates in brittle fracture

International audienceWe revisit in a 2d setting the notion of energy release rate, which plays a pivotal role in brittle fracture. Through a blow-up method, we extend that notion to crack patterns which are merely closed sets connected to the crack tip. As an application, we demonstrate that, modulo a simple meta-stability principle, a moving crack cannot generically kink while growing continuously in time. This last result potentially renders obsolete in our opinion a longstanding debate in fracture mechanics on the correct criterion for kinking
Biomass use, production, feed efficiencies, and greenhouse gas emissions from global livestock systems

We present a unique, biologically consistent, spatially disaggregated global livestock dataset containing information on biomass use, production, feed efficiency, excretion, and greenhouse gas emissions for 28 regions, 8 livestock production systems, 4 animal species (cattle, small ruminants, pigs, and poultry), and 3 livestock products (milk, meat, and eggs). The dataset contains over 50 new global maps containing high-resolution information for understanding the multiple roles (biophysical, economic, social) that livestock can play in different parts of the world. The dataset highlights: (i) feed efficiency as a key driver of productivity, resource use, and greenhouse gas emission intensities, with vast differences between production systems and animal products; (ii) the importance of grasslands as a global resource, supplying almost 50% of biomass for animals while continuing to be at the epicentre of land conversion processes; and (iii) the importance of mixed crop-livestock systems, producing the greater part of animal production (over 60%) in both the developed and the developing world. These data provide critical information for developing targeted, sustainable solutions for the livestock sector and its widely ranging contribution to the global food system
Birkhoff normal form for splitting methods applied to semilinear Hamiltonian PDEs. Part I: Finite dimensional discretization.

International audienceWe consider {\em discretized} Hamiltonian PDEs associated with a Hamiltonian function that can be split into a linear unbounded operator and a regular nonlinear part. We consider splitting methods associated with this decomposition. Using a finite dimensional Birkhoff normal form result, we show the almost preservation of the {\em actions} of the numerical solution associated with the splitting method over arbitrary long time, provided the Sobolev norms of the initial data is small enough, and for asymptotically large level of space approximation. This result holds under {\em generic} non resonance conditions on the frequencies of the linear operator and on the step size. We apply this results to nonlinear Schrödinger equations as well as the nonlinear wave equation.
Upconverting Ho–Yb doped titanate nanotubes

The synthesis of Ho3 +–Yb3 + codoped titanate nanotubes was carried out successfully via a hydrothermal treatment method from a precursor powder. These novel nanotubes treated at RT, 100 °C and 280 °C were studied with the aim of determining their structural and optical properties. As the thermal treatment was increased, their upconversion emission becomes stronger. This behavior was related to reduction of hydroxyl groups and the water on the surface, which resulted in changes in the interlayer distances of the nanotubes
Short Time Uniqueness Results for Solutions of Nonlocal and Non-monotone Geometric Equations

International audienceWe describe a method to show short time uniqueness results for viscosity solutions of general nonlocal and non-monotone second-order geometric equations arising in front propagation problems. Our method is based on some lower gradient bounds for the solution. These estimates are crucial to obtain regularity properties of the front, which allow to deal with nonlocal terms in the equations. Applications to short time uniqueness results for the initial value problems for dislocation type equations, asymptotic equations of a FitzHugh-Nagumo type system and equations depending on the Lebesgue measure of the fronts are presented
Ultraviolet anti-Stokes photoluminescence in InxGa1-xN/GaN quantum-well structures

Ultraviolet anti-Stokes photoluminescence (PL) is observed in InxGa1-xN/GaN multiple quantum wells. The observed anti-Stokes PL exhibits a quadratic dependence on the excitation energy density. Anti-Stokes PL excitation spectrum is proportional to the optical absorption spectrum of the InxGa1-xN quantum wells. Time-resolved PL measurement shows that a decay of the anti-Stokes PL is slower than that of the GaN PL under the excitation above the band gap of the GaN barrier, and it is half the time constant of the InxGa1-xN PL decay. A two-step two-photon absorption process is directly observed by means of two-color pump-and-probe experiment. It is considered that the anti-Stokes PL is caused by a two-step two-photon absorption process involving a localized state in the InxGa1-xN quantum wells as the intermediate state, and that the second absorption step is provided by photon recycling of the InxGa1-xN PL
Magnetic properties of the filled skutterudite-type structure compounds GdRu4P12 and TbRu4P12 synthesized under high pressure

We have succeeded in synthesizing filled skutterudite-type structure compounds GdRu4P12 and TbRu4P12 under high pressure. The magnetic properties of GdRu4P12 and TbRu4P12 have been studied by means of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization measurements. Magnetic experiments suggest that the Gd and Tb ions in the compounds have trivalent state. The compound GdRu4P12 displays features that suggest the occurrence of antiferromagnetic ordering below TN=22 K. In TbRu4P12, thermal variation of magnetic susceptibility indicates the existence of two successive magnetic transitions (TN=20 K and T1=10 K). Magnetization up to 18 T exhibits two-step metamagnetic transitions below T1 for TbRu4P12
The political economy of natural disaster damage

Economic damage from natural hazards can sometimes be prevented and always mitigated. However, private individuals tend to underinvest in such measures due to problems of collective action, information asymmetry and myopic behavior. Governments, which can in principle correct these market failures, themselves face incentives to underinvest in costly disaster prevention policies and damage mitigation regulations. Yet, disaster damage varies greatly across countries. We argue that rational actors will invest more in trying to prevent and mitigate damage the larger a country's propensity to experience frequent and strong natural hazards. Accordingly, economic loss from an actually occurring disaster will be smaller the larger a country's disaster propensity – holding everything else equal, such as hazard magnitude, the country's total wealth and per capita income. At the same time, damage is not entirely preventable and smaller losses tend to be random. Disaster propensity will therefore have a larger marginal effect on larger predicted damages than on smaller ones. We employ quantile regression analysis in a global sample to test these predictions, focusing on the three disaster types causing the vast majority of damage worldwide: earthquakes, floods and tropical cyclones
Coarse-grained depletion potentials for anisotropic colloids: application to lock-and-key systems

When a colloid is mixed with a depletant such as a non-adsorbing polymer, one observes attractive effective interactions between the colloidal particles. If these particles are anisotropic, analysis of these effective interactions is challenging in general. We present a method for inference of approximate (coarse-grained) effective interaction potentials between such anisotropic particles. Using the example of indented (lock-and-key) colloids, we show how numerical solutions can be used to integrate out the (hard sphere) depletant, leading to a depletion potential that accurately characterises the effective interactions. The accuracy of the method is based on matching of contributions to the second virial coefficient of the colloids. The simplest version of our method yields a piecewise-constant effective potential; we also show how this scheme can be generalised to other functional forms, where appropriate
Characterization of gas diffusion electrodes for metal-air batteries

Gas diffusion electrodes are commonly used in high energy density metal-air batteries for the supply of oxygen. Hydrophobic binder materials ensure the coexistence of gas and liquid phase in the pore network. The phase distribution has a strong influence on transport processes and electrochemical reactions. In this article we present 2D and 3D Rothman-Keller type multiphase Lattice-Boltzmann models which take into account the heterogeneous wetting behavior of gas diffusion electrodes. The simulations are performed on FIB-SEM 3D reconstructions of an Ag model electrode for predefined saturation of the pore space with the liquid phase. The resulting pressure-saturation characteristics and transport correlations are important input parameters for modeling approaches on the continuum scale and allow for an efficient development of improved gas diffusion electrodes
CO2 -intensive power generation and REDD-based emission offsets with a benefit-sharing mechanism

We propose and explore financial instruments supporting programs for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (FI-REDD). Within a microeconomic framework we model interactions between an electricity producer (EP), electricity consumer (EC), and forest owner (FO). To keep their profit at a maximum, the EP responds to increasing CO2 prices by adjusting electricity quantities generated by different technologies and charging a higher electricity price to the EC. The EP can prepare for future high (uncertain) CO2 prices by employing FI-REDD: they can purchase an amount of offsets under an unknown future CO2 price and later, when the CO2 price is discovered, decide how many of these offsets to use for actually offsetting emissions and sell the rest on the market, sharing the revenue with the FO. FI-REDD allows for optional consumption of emission offsets by the EP (any amount up to the initially contracted volume is allowed), and includes a benefit-sharing mechanism between the EP and FO as it regards unused offsets. The modeling results indicate that FI-REDD might help avoid bankruptcy of CO2-intensive producers at high levels of CO2 prices and therefore serve as a stabilizing mechanism during the transition of energy systems to greener technologies. The analytical results demonstrate the limits for potential market size explained by existing uncertainties. We illustrated that when suppliers and consumers of REDD offsets have asymmetric information on future CO2 prices, benefit-sharing increases the contracted REDD offsets quantity
Micro-vascular shape-memory polymer actuators with complex geometries obtaines by laser stereolithography

In our work we present the complete development process of geometrically complex microvascular shape-memory polymer actuators. The complex geometries and three-dimensional networks are designed by means of computer aided design resources. Manufacture is accomplished, in a single step, by means of laser stereolithography, directly from the computeraided design files with the three dimensional geometries of the different actuators under development. To our knowledge, laser stereolithography is applied here for the first time to the development of shape memory polymer devices with complex geometries and inner microvasculatures for their activation using a thermal fluid. Final testing of the developed actuators helps to validate the approach and to put forward some present challenges
Quantitative determination of luminescent coupling in multijunction solar cells from spectral photovoltage measurements

We present a simple method to quantify the magnitude of luminescent coupling (LC) between stacked subcells in multijunction photovoltaic devices. The effect of luminescence produced at high-band-gap subcells on underlying low-gap units within the same device can be directly accessed as a measurable open-circuit voltage difference by comparing two photovoltage spectra. Additionally, our study unambiguously identifies LC as the modulation mechanism across multijunction solar cells generating a response from buried subcells in photoreflectance measurements
Drug loading, dispersion stability, and therapeutic efficacy in targeted drug delivery with carbon nanotubes

We have designed a drug delivery system for the anti-cancer drugs doxorubicin and mitoxantrone based on carbon nanotubes, which is stable under biological conditions, allows for sustained release, and promotes selectivity through an active targeting scheme. Carbon nanotubes are particularly promising for this area of application due to their high surface area, allowing for high drug loading, and their unique interaction with cellular membranes. We have taken a systematic approach to PEG conjugation in order to create a formulation of stable and therapeutically effective CNTs. The presented drug delivery system may be a means of improving cancer treatment modalities by reducing drug-related side effects
Recognising facial expressions in video sequences

We introduce a system that processes a sequence of images of a front-facing human face and recognises a set of facial expressions. We use an efficient appearance-based face tracker to locate the face in the image sequence and estimate the deformation of its non-rigid components. The tracker works in real-time. It is robust to strong illumination changes and factors out changes in appearance caused by illumination from changes due to face deformation. We adopt a model-based approach for facial expression recognition. In our model, an image of a face is represented by a point in a deformation space. The variability of the classes of images associated to facial expressions are represented by a set of samples which model a low-dimensional manifold in the space of deformations. We introduce a probabilistic procedure based on a nearest-neighbour approach to combine the information provided by the incoming image sequence with the prior information stored in the expression manifold in order to compute a posterior probability associated to a facial expression. In the experiments conducted we show that this system is able to work in an unconstrained environment with strong changes in illumination and face location. It achieves an 89\% recognition rate in a set of 333 sequences from the Cohn-Kanade data base
Carbon dioxide fluxes across the Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain

Understanding the spatial and temporal variation in soil respiration within small geographic areas is essential to accurately assess the carbon budget on a global scale. In this study, we investigated the factors controlling soil respiration in an altitudinal gradient in a southern Mediterranean mixed pine&#8211;oak forest ecosystem in the north face of the Sierra de Guadarrama in Spain. Soil respiration was measured in five Pinus sylvestris L. plots over a period of 1 year by means of a closed dynamic system (LI-COR 6400). Soil temperature and water content were measured at the same time as soil respiration. Other soil physico-chemical and microbiological properties were measured during the study. Measured soil respiration ranged from 6.8 to 1.4 lmol m-2 s-1, showing the highest values at plots situated at higher elevation. Q10 values ranged between 1.30 and 2.04, while R10 values ranged between 2.0 and 3.6. The results indicate that the seasonal variation of soil respiration was mainly controlled by soil temperature and moisture. Among sites, soil carbon and nitrogen stocks regulate soil respiration in addition to soil temperature and moisture. Our results suggest that application of standard models to estimate soil respiration for small geographic areas may not be adequate unless other factors are considered in addition to soil temperature
Low-frequency model of breathing oscillations in Hall discharges

A paradigm for Hall discharge modeling is presented whereby only the time scale of the lowest-frequency mode is explicitly resolved. The ability of such a low-frequency model to reproduce with excellent accuracy the breathing mode is demonstrated through comparisons with a fully time-dependent numerical model. Based on this formalism, an approximate linearized model is derived which essentially constitutes a one-dimensional generalization of the classical zero-dimensional predator-prey model. The model highlights the interaction of standing plasma waves with the transport of neutral species, which involves standing and convective waves of similar magnitude. It predicts a frequency which is in close agreement with the frequency of the small perturbation modes observed in simulations. Finally, it is shown that unstable modes are in general strongly nonlinear and characterized by frequencies obeying a scaling law different from that of linear modes
FIREX project and effects of self-generated electric and magnetic fields on electron-driven fast ignition.

Fast ignition is a new scheme in laser fusion, in which higher energy gain with a smaller laser pulse energy is expected. A cone target has been introduced for realizing higher coupling efficiency. At ILE, Osaka University, a laser with four beams and a total output of 10 kJ ps−1, laser for fast ignition experiment (LFEX), has been constructed and we have carried out an integrated experiment with one beam of the LFEX. Through experiments it was found that the coupling efficiency is degraded when the laser pre-pulse is not sufficiently small. Namely, the main pulse is absorbed in the long-scale pre-plasma produced by the pre-pulse and the hot electron energy is higher than that for a clean pulse. Furthermore, the distance between the hot electron source and the core plasma is large. Hence, we are exploring how to overcome the pre-pulse effects on the cone target.\ud
In this paper it is proposed that a thin foil covers the laser entrance of the cone to mitigate the pre-plasma and a double cone reduces the loss of high-energy electrons from the side wall of the cone. The simulations indicate that a higher coupling efficiency is expected for the double cone target with a thin foil at the laser entrance. Namely, the pre-pulse will be absorbed by the foil and the electromagnetic fields generated on the surface of the inner cone will confine high-energy electrons
Determinants of homeownership in Malaysia

The housing industry is crucial to the sustainable development in Malaysia. The efficiency and effectiveness of the housing delivery system requires housing provision for all. The housing industry, which had grown rapidly in the 1980s encountered property oversupply recently. The majority of these units remain unsold for reasons beyond price factor, ranging from poor location to unattractive houses. The main objective of this paper is to tackle property oversupply in the country by examining a detailed knowledge of home owning determinants. Homeownership should be encouraged as positive externalities of homeownership can be found in many housing surveys. Homeownership is a complex issue that is the result of many determinants, including housing characteristics (house types and property types), employment and income trends, socio-cultural and demographic descriptors. In addition to determinants, efforts needed to reduce regulatory barriers in the housing delivery system that can significantly increase the cost of producing houses. The government should make home financing more available and affordable by providing subsidies to low income families and creating incentives to save for homeownership. Efforts also needed to extend opportunities to enhance the affordability of homeownership by liberalizing rules and regulation of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal.