Bosonization Theory of Excitons in One-dimensional Narrow Gap Semiconductors

Excitons in one-dimensional narrow gap semiconductors of anti-crossing quantum Hall edge states are investigated using a bosonization method. The excitonic states are studied by mapping the problem into a non-integrable sine-Gordon type model. We also find that many-body interactions lead to a strong enhancement of the band gap. We have estimated when an exciton instability may occur.Comment: 4pages, 1 figure, to appear in Phys. Rev. B Brief Report

American Translators Association Conference

This association was founded in 1959 and is now the largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the United States with more than 11,000 members in 90 countries. One of its primary missions is to promote the professional development of translators and interpreters. Annually, the ATA organizes a conference, a four-day international event offering language professionals more than 150 continuing education sessions, seminars, and workshops. This poster presents a selection of the sessions that I attended, including a summary of some of the dilemma’s and questions that translators and interpreters face

Training Family Science Faculty in CORE Communication

As a whole and regardless of major, university graduates with interpersonal competence (also defined as soft skills) are viewed as more employable (Finch, Hamilton, Baldwin, & Zehner, 2013; Robles, 2012), yet interpersonal competence is not often recognized as a part of discipline specific knowledge (Chamorro-Premuzic, Arteche, Bremner, Greven, & Furnham, 2010). While important to employability in general, interpersonal competence is particularly crucial for those students in social science majors who intend to have a career serving individuals and families. The Family Science (FS) program in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences directly addresses the need for interpersonal competence through the implementation of CORE COMMUNICATION (CC) training (Miller, 1971; Miller & Miller, 2011; Miller, Nunnally, & Wackman, 1976) in the FCS 3180 Intimate Relationships course

WAG Shares the DOPE: Tools for Effective Writing of Course Assignments International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference

We facilitated a three-hour workshop the afternoon of June 6, 2018. This workshop was an extension of work we have been doing in the College of Health and Human Services for the last 2 ½ years. This work was originally supported by an Assessment Fellows Grant and focused on addressing assessment at the college level. To do that, we needed to focus on an area of competence that was relevant to all programs in the college. After reviewing the key goals that the college set back in 2005, and listening to colleagues on the college assessment committee, we decided to focus on the assessment of writing in the College of Health and Human Services. From there, we led focus groups with faculty in the college, to discern what exactly they were looking for when it came to writing assignments in their courses. After all, we could not assess something if we did not first describe it

Bridging the Gap Between Real and Artificial Worlds: The Next Generation Classroom

Students today represent a new generation of learner which requires us to look beyond our tradition training methods. Augmented Reality (AR) has already shown great promise of transforming the way interact with students in any technically driven education such as aviation. The operation and maintenance of modern aircraft requires an understanding of several interrelated human and machine components requiring practice and immersion. The immersive experience can be enhanced with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Relevant to the task at hand, they both have the ability to alter our perception of the world, give real-time feedback, improve the efficiency of skills transfer and increased knowledge retention. Where they differ, is the perception of our presence

Supporting International Students In Your University Class

University instructors have many options for supporting international students in classes

ADB–OECD Study on Enhancing Financial Accessibility for SMEs: Lessons from Recent Crises

During the era of global financial uncertainty, stable access to appropriate funding sources has been much harder for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The global financial crisis impacted SMEs and entrepreneurs disproportionately, exacerbating their traditional financing constraints. The financial conditions of many SMEs were weakened by the drop in demand for goods and services and the credit tightening. The sovereign debt crisis that hit several European countries contributed to further deterioration in bank lending activities, which negatively affected private sector development. The global regulatory response to financial crises, such as the Basel Capital Accord, while designed to reduce systemic risks may also constrain bank lending to SMEs. In particular, Basel III requires banks to have tighter risk management as well as greater capital and liquidity. Resulting asset preference and deleveraging of banks, particularly European banks with significant presence in Asia, could limit the availability of funding for SMEs in Asia and the Pacific. Lessons from the recent financial crises have motivated many countries to consider SME access to finance beyond conventional bank credit and to diversify their national financial system. Improving SME access to finance is a policy priority at the country and global level. Poor access to finance is a critical inhibiting factor to the survival and growth potential of SMEs. Financial inclusion is thus key to the development of the SME sector, which is a driver of job creation and social cohesion and takes a pivotal role in scaling up national economies. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have recognized that it is crucial to develop a comprehensive range of policy options on SME finance, including innovative financing models. With this in mind, sharing Asian and OECD experiences on SME financing would result in insightful discussions on improving SME access to finance at a time of global financial uncertainty. Based on intensive discussions in two workshops organized by ADB in Manila on 6–7 March 2013 and by OECD in Paris on 21 October 2013, the two organizations together compiled this study report on enhancing financial accessibility for SMEs, especially focusing on lessons from the past and recent crises in Asia and OECD countries. The report takes a comparative look at ADB and OECD experiences, and aims to identify promising policy solutions for creating an SME base that is resilient to crisis, from a viewpoint of access to finance, and which can help drive growth and development

Antioxidant Capacity and Antimicrobial Activity of Commercial Samples of Guava Leaves (\u3cem\u3ePsidium guajava\u3c/em\u3e)

Psidium guajava is a small tree native to South and Central America. Guava leaves have traditionally been used for treating different illnesses. These benefits can be attributed to phenolics and flavonoids produced by guava. The chemical composition of guava leaf extracts was correlated with biological activity. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, ABTS/DPPH, TZM-bl, plaque reduction, XTT, spectrophotometric and Kirby-Bauer assays were used to test phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant properties, antiviral activity, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial activity, respectively. The median cytotoxicity concentration and half-maximal effective concentration values were obtained in order to determine antiviral selectivity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 1. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were evaluated using a spectrophotometric assay and Kirby-Bauer test. The guava leaf extracts had a high phenol (0.8 to 2.1 GAE mg/mL) and flavonoid (62.7 to 182.1 Rutin Eq mg/g DW) content that correlated with high antioxidant capacity and selective antiviral activity (therapeutic index values above 10). Results of antibacterial tests indicated that the extracts have activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria

Property Taxation in the People\u27s Republic of China

A property tax is a general tax imposed on all property owners based on the value of their properties. Property taxation is common throughout the world due to its numerous advantages. It is regarded as a steady source of local government revenue. The property taxation system in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is still developing and does not include important features that would make it efficient. For instance, residential property is excluded from the tax base. This has contributed to real estate speculation, income disparity, and revenue losses. A well-functioning local property tax system in the PRC would provide an efficient, equitable and sustainable way to finance local development and government spending. By helping to align expenditure responsibilities with revenue allocations at the local level, property taxation could reduce inequality in the provision of public goods and foster local government ability to provide them. Further, it will reduce the incentive for speculative behavior mitigating housing bubbles. To further develop property taxation in the PRC it is recommended to gradually strengthen and expand the existing pilots, supported by clear principles on the delegation of taxation responsibilities, the definition of a nationally standardized tax base, an affordable tax rate, and enhanced local government capacity

Landscape, environment and community impacts of nuclear power

This paper is the third in a series of 8 that make up the evidence base for SDC report 'The role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy'.This document investigates the landscape impacts of all the processes involved in nuclear power from mining the fuel ore to power transmission lines. Water use, community and employment impacts are also covered.Publisher PD