A molecular-dynamics approach for studying the non-equilibrium behavior of x-ray-heated solid-density matter

When matter is exposed to a high-intensity x-ray free-electron-laser pulse, the x rays excite inner-shell electrons leading to the ionization of the electrons through various atomic processes and creating high-energy-density plasma, i.e., warm or hot dense matter. The resulting system consists of atoms in various electronic configurations, thermalizing on sub-picosecond to picosecond timescales after photoexcitation. We present a simulation study of x-ray-heated solid-density matter. For this we use XMDYN, a Monte-Carlo molecular-dynamics-based code with periodic boundary conditions, which allows one to investigate non-equilibrium dynamics. XMDYN is capable of treating systems containing light and heavy atomic species with full electronic configuration space and 3D spatial inhomogeneity. For the validation of our approach we compare for a model system the electron temperatures and the ion charge-state distribution from XMDYN to results for the thermalized system based on the average-atom model implemented in XATOM, an ab-initio x-ray atomic physics toolkit extended to include a plasma environment. Further, we also compare the average charge evolution of diamond with the predictions of a Boltzmann continuum approach. We demonstrate that XMDYN results are in good quantitative agreement with the above mentioned approaches, suggesting that the current implementation of XMDYN is a viable approach to simulate the dynamics of x-ray-driven non-equilibrium dynamics in solids. In order to illustrate the potential of XMDYN for treating complex systems we present calculations on the triiodo benzene derivative 5-amino-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid (I3C), a compound of relevance of biomolecular imaging, consisting of heavy and light atomic species

Colliding employer-employee perspectives of employee turnover:evidence from a born-global industry

Set in the context of internationalization of the global division of labor, this article provides a deeper exploration of qualitative themes of conflicting accounts of employees’ reasons to quit and managerial strategies to prevent employee turnover in six business process outsourcing firms operating in India. Such differences in cognition and action between the two constituencies suggest that the decision to quit is not a linear and rational process as highlighted in most extant models of employee turnover. Our findings suggest that employees are attached more to a place or people they work with rather than the organization per se. Intergenerational differences between Generation Y knowledge workers and Generation X managers and the ineffectiveness of espoused human resource practices suggest the presence of “push” human resource management (HRM) systems. Our findings have implications for employee turnover models, intergenerational theory and high-commitment HRM, and practitioners

An analysis of approximate controllability for Hilfer fractional delay differential equations of Sobolev type without uniqueness

This study focused on the approximate controllability results for the Hilfer fractional delay evolution equations of the Sobolev type without uniqueness. Initially, the Lipschitz condition is derived from the hypothesis, which is represented by a measure of noncompactness, in particular, nonlinearity. We also examined the continuity of the solution map of the Sobolev type of Hilfer fractional delay evolution equation and the topological structure of the solution set. Furthermore, we prove the approximate controllability of the fractional evolution equation of the Sobolev type with delay. Finally, we provided an example to illustrate the theoretical results

Possible competition between superconductivity and magnetism in RuSr<SUB>2</SUB>Gd<SUB>1.5</SUB>Ce<SUB>0.5</SUB>Cu<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>10-&#948;</SUB> ruthenocuprate compounds

The RuSr2Gd1.5Ce0.5Cu2O10-&#948; (Ru-1222) compounds, with varying oxygen content, crystallize in a tetragonal crystal structure (space group I4/mmm). Resistance (R) versus temperature (T) measurements show that the air-annealed samples exhibit superconductivity with superconduting transition temperature (Tc) onset at around 32 K and R=0 at 3.5 K. On the other hand, the N2-annealed sample is semiconducting down to 2 K. Magneto-transport measurements on an air-annealed sample in applied magnetic fields of 3 and 6 T (Tesla) show a decrease in both Tc onset and TR=0. Magnetoresistance of up to 20% is observed in the N2-annealed sample at 2 K and 3 T applied field. The dc magnetization data (M vs T) reveal magnetic transitions (Tmag) at 100 K and 106 K, respectively, for both air- and N2-annealed samples. Ferromagnetic components in the magnetization are observed for both samples at 5 K and 20 K. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc) seems to compete with the magnetic transition temperature (Tmag). Our results suggest that the magnetic ordering temperature (Tmag) of Ru moments in RuO6 octahedra may have direct influence/connection with the appearance of superconductivity in Cu-O2 planes of Ru-1222 compounds

Structural and Magnetic Properties of MrSr₂Y₁.₅Ce₀.₅Cu₂Oz (M-1222) Compounds with M = Fe and Co

The MSr2Y1.5Ce0.5Cu2Oz (M-1222) compounds, with M = Fe and Co, have been synthesized through a solid-state reaction route. Both compounds crystallize in a tetragonal structure (space group 14/mmm). A Rietveld structural refinement of the room-temperature neutron diffraction data for Fe-1222 reveals that nearly half the Fe remains at the M site, while the other half goes to the Cu site in the CuO2 planes. Existence of Fe at two different lattice sites is also confirmed by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy from which it is inferred that ~50% of the total Fe occupies the Cu site in the CuO2 planes as Fe3+, whereas the other ~50% is located at the M site with ~40% as Fe4+ and ~10% as Fe3+. For the M[Double Bond]Co compound, nearly 84% of Co remains at its designated M site, while the rest occupies the Cu site in the CuO2 planes

Structural and magnetic properties of MSr2Y1.5Ce0.5Cu2Oz (M-1222) compounds with M = Fe and Co

MSr2Y1.5Ce0.5Cu2Oz (M-1222) compounds, with M = Fe and Co, have been synthesized through a solid-state reaction route. Both compounds crystallize in a tetragonal structure (space group I4/mmm). A Rietveld structural refinement of room-temperature neutron diffraction data for Fe-1222 reveals that nearly half the Fe remains at the M site, while the other half goes to the Cu site in the CuO2 planes. Existence of Fe at two different lattice sites, is also confirmed by 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy from which it is inferred that nearly 50% of the total Fe occupies the Cu site in the CuO2 planes as Fe3+, whereas the other 50 % is located at the M site with nearly 40 % as Fe4+ and around 10% as Fe3+. For the M = Co compound, nearly 84 % of Co remains at its designated M site, while the rest occupies the Cu site in the CuO2 planes. The oxygen content, z, based on oxygen occupancies refined from the neutron diffraction data, comes close to 9.0 for both the samples The ZFC and FC magnetization curves as a function of temperature show a complex behavior for both Fe-1222 and Co-1222 compounds.Comment: MMM Inter mag Proceedings, accepted in J. Appl. Phy

Prediction of daily water level using new hybridized GS-GMDH and ANFIS-FCM models

Accurate prediction of water level (WL) is essential for the optimal management of different water resource projects. The development of a reliable model for WL prediction remains a challenging task in water resources management. In this study, novel hybrid models, namely, Generalized Structure�Group Method of Data Handling (GS-GMDH) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System with Fuzzy C-Means (ANFIS-FCM) were proposed to predict the daily WL at Telom and Bertam stations located in Cameron Highlands of Malaysia. Different percentage ratio for data division i.e. 50%–50% (scenario�1), 60%–40% (scenario-2), and 70%–30% (scenario-3) were adopted for training and testing of these models. To show the efficiency of the proposed hybrid models, their results were compared with the standalone models that include the Gene Expression Programming (GEP) and Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH). The results of the investigation revealed that the hybrid GS-GMDH and ANFIS-FCM models outperformed the standalone GEP and GMDH models for the prediction of daily WL at both study sites. In addition, the results indicate the best performance for WL prediction was obtained in scenario-3 (70%–30%). In summary, the results highlight the better suitability and supremacy of the proposed hybrid GS-GMDH and ANFIS-FCM models in daily WL prediction, and can, serve as robust and reliable predictive tools for the study regio

Case Reports1. A Late Presentation of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Beware of TGFβ Receptor Mutations in Benign Joint Hypermobility

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections are not uncommon causes of sudden death in young adults. Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare, recently described, autosomal dominant, connective tissue disease characterized by aggressive arterial aneurysms, resulting from mutations in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor genes TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. Mean age at death is 26.1 years, most often due to aortic dissection. We report an unusually late presentation of LDS, diagnosed following elective surgery in a female with a long history of joint hypermobility. Methods: A 51-year-old Caucasian lady complained of chest pain and headache following a dural leak from spinal anaesthesia for an elective ankle arthroscopy. CT scan and echocardiography demonstrated a dilated aortic root and significant aortic regurgitation. MRA demonstrated aortic tortuosity, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm and aneurysms in the left renal and right internal mammary arteries. She underwent aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement. She had a background of long-standing joint pains secondary to hypermobility, easy bruising, unusual fracture susceptibility and mild bronchiectasis. She had one healthy child age 32, after which she suffered a uterine prolapse. Examination revealed mild Marfanoid features. Uvula, skin and ophthalmological examination was normal. Results: Fibrillin-1 testing for Marfan syndrome (MFS) was negative. Detection of a c.1270G > C (p.Gly424Arg) TGFBR2 mutation confirmed the diagnosis of LDS. Losartan was started for vascular protection. Conclusions: LDS is a severe inherited vasculopathy that usually presents in childhood. It is characterized by aortic root dilatation and ascending aneurysms. There is a higher risk of aortic dissection compared with MFS. Clinical features overlap with MFS and Ehlers Danlos syndrome Type IV, but differentiating dysmorphogenic features include ocular hypertelorism, bifid uvula and cleft palate. Echocardiography and MRA or CT scanning from head to pelvis is recommended to establish the extent of vascular involvement. Management involves early surgical intervention, including early valve-sparing aortic root replacement, genetic counselling and close monitoring in pregnancy. Despite being caused by loss of function mutations in either TGFβ receptor, paradoxical activation of TGFβ signalling is seen, suggesting that TGFβ antagonism may confer disease modifying effects similar to those observed in MFS. TGFβ antagonism can be achieved with angiotensin antagonists, such as Losartan, which is able to delay aortic aneurysm development in preclinical models and in patients with MFS. Our case emphasizes the importance of timely recognition of vasculopathy syndromes in patients with hypermobility and the need for early surgical intervention. It also highlights their heterogeneity and the potential for late presentation. Disclosures: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) includes a comprehensive assessment of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 354 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Previous GBD studies have shown how the decline of mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 has led to an increase in life expectancy, an ageing global population, and an expansion of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury. These studies have also shown how a substantial portion of the world's population experiences non-fatal health loss with considerable heterogeneity among different causes, locations, ages, and sexes. Ongoing objectives of the GBD study include increasing the level of estimation detail, improving analytical strategies, and increasing the amount of high-quality data. Methods: We estimated incidence and prevalence for 354 diseases and injuries and 3484 sequelae. We used an updated and extensive body of literature studies, survey data, surveillance data, inpatient admission records, outpatient visit records, and health insurance claims, and additionally used results from cause of death models to inform estimates using a total of 68 781 data sources. Newly available clinical data from India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, China, Brazil, Norway, and Italy were incorporated, as well as updated claims data from the USA and new claims data from Taiwan (province of China) and Singapore. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, as the main method of estimation, ensuring consistency between rates of incidence, prevalence, remission, and cause of death for each condition. YLDs were estimated as the product of a prevalence estimate and a disability weight for health states of each mutually exclusive sequela, adjusted for comorbidity. We updated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary development indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Additionally, we calculated differences between male and female YLDs to identify divergent trends across sexes. GBD 2017 complies with the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting. Findings: Globally, for females, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias in both 1990 and 2017. For males, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and tuberculosis including latent tuberculosis infection in both 1990 and 2017. In terms of YLDs, low back pain, headache disorders, and dietary iron deficiency were the leading Level 3 causes of YLD counts in 1990, whereas low back pain, headache disorders, and depressive disorders were the leading causes in 2017 for both sexes combined. All-cause age-standardised YLD rates decreased by 3·9% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·1-4·6) from 1990 to 2017; however, the all-age YLD rate increased by 7·2% (6·0-8·4) while the total sum of global YLDs increased from 562 million (421-723) to 853 million (642-1100). The increases for males and females were similar, with increases in all-age YLD rates of 7·9% (6·6-9·2) for males and 6·5% (5·4-7·7) for females. We found significant differences between males and females in terms of age-standardised prevalence estimates for multiple causes. The causes with the greatest relative differences between sexes in 2017 included substance use disorders (3018 cases [95% UI 2782-3252] per 100 000 in males vs 1400 [1279-1524] per 100 000 in females), transport injuries (3322 [3082-3583] vs 2336 [2154-2535]), and self-harm and interpersonal violence (3265 [2943-3630] vs 5643 [5057-6302]). Interpretation: Global all-cause age-standardised YLD rates have improved only slightly over a period spanning nearly three decades. However, the magnitude of the non-fatal disease burden has expanded globally, with increasing numbers of people who have a wide spectrum of conditions. A subset of conditions has remained globally pervasive since 1990, whereas other conditions have displayed more dynamic trends, with different ages, sexes, and geographies across the globe experiencing varying burdens and trends of health loss. This study emphasises how global improvements in premature mortality for select conditions have led to older populations with complex and potentially expensive diseases, yet also highlights global achievements in certain domains of disease and injury