Defects and strain enhancements of second-harmonic generation in Si/Ge superlattices

International audienceStarting from experimental findings and interface growth problems in Si/Ge superlattices, we have investigated through ab initio methods the concurrent and competitive behavior of strain and defects in the second-harmonic generation process. Interpreting the second-harmonic intensities as a function of the different nature and percentage of defects together with the strain induced at the interface between Si and Ge, we found a way to tune and enhance the second-harmonic generation response of these systems. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC

Concomitant Congenital Diaphagmatic Hernia (CDH) and bilateral bacterial glomerulonephritis in a pet chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Background: The domestic chinchilla has been descended from Chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed Chinchilla) or Chinchilla chinchilla (short-tailed Chinchilla). Both species of chinchilla are currently listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Over the past 20 years, they have spread as pets and overall knowledge about their care is improving. The present case report describes a congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a Chinchilla lanigera. Case presentation: A 1-year-old, 420 g female chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) was presented for clinical examination due to 2 days haematuria episodes and anorexia. A complete haematological analysis was performed, showing a moderate neutrophilia and severe renal involvement. X-rays showed severe intestinal meteorism affecting mostly the cecum, and a soft tissue density mass with translucent areas located in the caudal thorax, making it hard to distinguish the cardiac silhouette. A barium swallow (barium sulfate) was performed and after 20 min, radiograms were performed again, showing part of the stomach dislocated in thorax. Ultrasound was also carried out, confirming the partial stomach herniation into the thoracic cavity and a severe nephropathy. The patient was euthanized according to the owner’s wish and a complete necropsy was performed. The diagnosis was congenital diaphragmatic hernia concomitant to a severe bilateral bacterial glomerulonephritis. Discussion and conclusions: Diaphragmatic hernias can be either congenital or acquired. About CDHs in pet chinchillas, literature is still lacking. In this patient there was no history of previous traumas. No scar tissue or thickening involved margins of the pathological diaphragm window at the necropsy, supporting the hypothesis of a congenital defect. Glomerulonephritis most often results from immune-mediated mechanisms, generally after the deposition of soluble immune complexes within the glomeruli. This mechanism is favoured by a prolonged antigenemia that could occur during specific viral infections, chronic bacterial infections, chronic parasitism, autoimmune diseases and neoplasia. Few cases of nephritis are described in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), mostly related to bacterial sepsis or less commonly involving fungi. The evidence of bacterial aggregates in kidneys at the histopathology, confirmed the infective aetiology. No relationship between the diaphragmatic hernia and glomerulonephritis was found in this report

Coherent Vector Meson Photo-Production from Deuterium at Intermediate Energies

We analyze the cross section for vector meson photo-production off a deuteron for the intermediate range of photon energies starting at a few GeVs above the threshold and higher. We reproduce the steps in the derivation of the conventional non-relativistic Glauber expression based on an effective diagrammatic method while making corrections for Fermi motion and intermediate energy kinematic effects. We show that, for intermediate energy vector meson production, the usual Glauber factorization breaks down and we derive corrections to the usual Glauber method to linear order in longitudinal nucleon momentum. The purpose of our analysis is to establish methods for probing interesting physics in the production mechanism for phi-mesons and heavier vector mesons. We demonstrate how neglecting the breakdown of Glauber factorization can lead to errors in measurements of basic cross sections extracted from nuclear data.Comment: 41 pages, 13 figures, figure 9 is compressed from previous version, typos fixe

Scattering from Singular Potentials in Quantum Mechanics

In non-relativistic quantum mechanics, singular potentials in problems with spherical symmetry lead to a Schrodinger equation for stationary states with non-Fuchsian singularities both as r tends to zero and as r tends to infinity. In the sixties, an analytic approach was developed for the investigation of scattering from such potentials, with emphasis on the polydromy of the wave function in the r variable. The present paper extends those early results to an arbitrary number of spatial dimensions. The Hill-type equation which leads, in principle, to the evaluation of the polydromy parameter, is obtained from the Hill equation for a two-dimensional problem by means of a simple change of variables. The asymptotic forms of the wave function as r tends to zero and as r tends to infinity are also derived. The Darboux technique of intertwining operators is then applied to obtain an algorithm that makes it possible to solve the Schrodinger equation with a singular potential containing many negative powers of r, if the exact solution with even just one term is already known.Comment: 19 pages, plain Tex. In this revised version, the analysis of Eq. (5.29) has been amended, and an appendix has been added for completenes

A tool for the sustainability assessment of farms: Selection, adaptation and use of indicators for an Italian case study

Indicator-based tools are widely used for the assessment of farm sustainability, but analysts still face methodological and conceptual issues, including data availability, the complexity of the concept of sustainability and the heterogeneity of agricultural systems. This study contributes to this debate through the illustration of a procedure for farm sustainability assessment focussed on the case study of the South Milan Agricultural Park, Italy. The application is based on a set of environmental, social and economic indicators retrieved from the literature review. The framework is based on three main steps: (i) Data collection mainly through interviews with farmers and institutions; (ii) data elaboration through an aggregative structure; and (iii) score analysis. The latter step includes a descriptive analysis that allows a comparison among farms or groups of farms and a principal components analysis that helps to confirm the dimensions in which indicators were previously included (components). Results derived from the sampled farms show that the framework can provide easy-to-read results useful at different levels. The study highlighted the procedures for the framework construction that is compatible with the region's context and objectives, using an analytical approach that aims at the use of balanced features of availability and reliability of data

Using Big Data to discover how the maturity of a heritage destination influences the use and attractiveness of urban cultural landscape. A case study of Antwerp, Bolzano and Kraków

Big data analysis, especially of user generated data, is an innovative data collection method in tourism research. This paper attempts to explain how analysis of user generated content helps to map and understand cultural landscapes in a destination. Using data obtained from TripAdvisor a two-step analysis is conducted in order to map spatial behavior of reviewers at the destination and to use review behavior patterns to understand the shaping of the cultural landscape. Three case studies in which the urban cultural landscape is both a primary tourist attraction as well as an important part of local identity are compared, namely Antwerp (Belgium), Bolzano (Italy) and Kraków (Poland) and each of these destinations can be positioned at a different maturity level when applying the tourist area life cycle model by Butler. The results of the hot spot analysis show that there exists a correlation between the maturity of the destination and the review behavior, both in intensity as in perception of quality of services. An intensive use of a relatively small part of the historic center of a heritage destination and in this zone the presence of a cluster of facilities offering low service quality was found to indicate a mature destination and can be distinguished by applying geographical Big Data analysis on review behavior. Finally, this paper explains how user generated content can be used in mapping spatial behavior of tourists in urban cultural landscapes and what the limitations to such studies are. Using Big Data to discover how the maturity of a heritage destination influences the use and attractiveness of urban cultural landscape. A case study of Antwerp, Bolzano and Kraków. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306018578_Using_Big_Data_to_discover_how_the_maturity_of_a_heritage_destination_influences_the_use_and_attractiveness_of_urban_cultural_landscape_A_case_study_of_Antwerp_Bolzano_and_Krakow [accessed May 5, 2017]

National Brands versus Private Labels versus Niche Products: a graphical representation of consumers' perception

The more consumers\u2019 needs evolve, the more food market\u2019s stakeholders require information in order to make rational choices responding to consumption patterns\u2019 changes. In the present research the perception of well-established and niche food products is discussed. Five macro-categories of food have been considered: national brands, private labels, organic products, Protected Denomination of Origin products and local food. After decades of diversification strategies, we analyze similarities and dissimilarities between products on the basis of their perceived quality. The survey was conducted in Milan (Italy) between May and July 2014, collecting information about 360 adult consumers. Perception of products have been evaluated asking to interviewees to pick from a list of attributes, which ones they attach to each products. Data are elaborated through simple correspondence analysis, obtaining a perceptual map, which provides a graphical representation of links between attributes and products. Results suggest that consumer perceive national brands and private labels as similar and organic and local food distinctively differentiated by other products for sale in food market, but do not provide a completely reliable interpretation for PDO products. National brands and private labels remain the most convenient food, organic food are perceived as healthy, environmental-friendly, expensive and respectful of animal welfare, while local food is represented as traditional, fair and flavorful. No differences have been found controlling for gender, while consumer who are used to direct-sale recognize to PDO products the same characteristics of local food