Taming Friedrich-Wintgen interference in resonant metasurface: vortex laser emitting at on-demand tilted-angle

Friedrich-Wintgen (FW) interference is an atypical coupling mechanism that grants loss exchange between leaky resonances in non-Hermitian classical and quantum systems. Intriguingly, such an mechanism makes it possible for destructive interference scenario in which a radiating wave becomes a bound state in the continuum (BIC) by giving away all of its losses. Here we propose and demonstrate experimentally an original concept to tailor FW-BICs as polarization singularity at on-demand wavevectors in optical metasurface. As a proof-of-concept, using hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite as active material, we empower this novel polarization singularity to obtain lasing emission exhibiting both highly directional emission at oblique angles and polarization vortex in momentum space. Our results pave the way to steerable coherent emission with tailored polarization pattern for applications in optical communication/manipulation in free-space, high-resolution imaging /focusing and data storage

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Competitiveness in Central-Europe

Since EU accession, trade flows have exhibited strong dynamics in Central-Eastern Europe (CEE). During the period leading to the current global turmoil, the region has also experienced continuous exchange rate appreciation and rapid FDI inflows, both likely to have affected these countries'' competitiveness. This paper describes how the determinants of exports and imports have evolved in CEE countries over 2002-07 and econometrically derives their contribution to trade, with a view to assessing competitiveness developments. The analysis reveals that the global and domestic upswings, along with rising trade market shares, go a long way toward accounting for trade developments in CEE countries until 2007, pointing to continuous nonprice competitiveness gains. It also finds that exchange rate appreciation did not unduly weigh on export and import growth, suggesting that most of it reflected an upward movement in its equilibrium value. While the region entered the current period of global slowdown from a strong competitiveness position, the crisis also exposed the vulnerability of its heavy reliance on global demand to a trade shock.Trade;Transition economies;Central and Eastern Europe;Economic models;European Union;Exchange rate appreciation;Foreign direct investment;Global competitiveness;domestic demand, export prices, trade flows, trade partners, world demand, export performance, domestic _ demand, exporters, net exports, export equations, reer, export growth, world _ demand, real effective exchange rate, export competitiveness, global trade, domestic exporters, import side, trade barriers, trade determinants, trade performance, export data, export market share, domestic production, import prices, export market, trade shock, income convergence, export production, share of exports, external position, trade routes, exporter, tradable goods, imported goods, total exports, global market, export behavior, exchange rate fluctuations, elasticity of exports, export goods, foreign trade, imported inputs, net export

Inflation in Poland

This paper analyses how globalization has affected inflation in the New EU Members States (NMS), and Poland in particular, since 1995. It finds prices have become less sensitive to domestic economic conditions as trade integration rose, possibly because monetary policy incentives increasingly shifted toward meeting price stability objectives. Quantitatively, globalization appears to have lowered Polish prices by ½ to 1 percentage point annually since 1995, substantially more than in advanced economies. However, future inflation-dampening effects in the NMS are likely to be smaller as the pace of increases in trade openness moderates.Trade policy;inflation, monetary policy, price inflation, price stability, national bank, inflation rates, monetary fund, low inflation, moderate inflation, inflation target, inflation rate, macroeconomic analysis, monetary policy objectives, central bank, lower inflation, percent inflation, average inflation, price level

Jeu de rȏle et approche communicative dans l'enseignement/apprentissage du Français Langue Étrangère

Tesis de maestría presentada a la Facultad de Idiomas de la Universidad Veracruzana. Región Xalapa