Topological Crystalline Insulator and Quantum Anomalous Hall States in IV-VI based Monolayers and their Quantum Wells

Different from the two-dimensional (2D) topological insulator, the 2D topological crystalline insulator (TCI) phase disappears when the mirror symmetry is broken, e.g., upon placing on a substrate. Here, based on a new family of 2D TCIs - SnTe and PbTe monolayers - we theoretically predict the realization of the quantum anomalous Hall effect with Chern number C = 2 even when the mirror symmetry is broken. Remarkably, we also demonstrate that the considered materials retain their large-gap topological properties in quantum well structures obtained by sandwiching the monolayers between NaCl layers. Our results demonstrate that the TCIs can serve as a seed for observing robust topologically non-trivial phases.Comment: 5 pages, submitted on 27th Feb 201

Internet-based framework to support integration of the customer in the design of customizable products

Integration of customers is a necessary element to design and produce customer centric products. Design tools and methodologies need to be altered to accommodate customers into the process of designing customized products. In the current paper a mass customization framework is presented, that uses computer-aided design (CAD) and finiteelement-based optimization tools to integrate the customer into the design process via the internet. A mass customization template for generating optimized user-customized products is also presented. The capability of the system is demonstrated by a case study on customization of bicycle frames.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

Just-in-Time Retail Distribution:A Systems Perspective on Cross-Docking

Cross-docking is a just-in-time strategy for distribution logistics. It is aimed at reducing inventory levels and distribution lead times by creating a seamless flow of products from suppliers to customers. Prior supply chain literature has argued that creating such a seamless product flows requires a holistic view on cross-docking management, aimed at synchronizing cross-docking operations at the distribution center with its inbound and outbound network logistics. This paper provides an in-depth case study illustrating how cross-docking operations can be managed more holistically in a retail distribution context. A discrete event simulation model has been developed to understand and improve the cross-docking operations of a large grocery retailer in The Netherlands. The model is used to quantitatively evaluate two proposed changes that exploit opportunities in the design and control of the retailer’s distribution network. An extensive real-world data set is used as input to the model. Overall, the case and simulation results show that a holistic cross-docking management approach can indeed improve system-wide performance, which further stresses the importance of making cross-dock operational decisions making and network decisions together

Density of Phonon States in Superconducting FeSe as a Function of Temperature and Pressure

The temperature and pressure dependence of the partial density of phonon states of iron atoms in superconducting Fe1.01Se was studied by 57Fe nuclear inelastic scattering (NIS). The high energy resolution allows for a detailed observation of spectral properties. A sharpening of the optical phonon modes and shift of all spectral features towards higher energies by ~4% with decreasing temperature from 296 K to 10 K was found. However, no detectable change at the tetragonal - orthorhombic phase transition around 100 K was observed. Application of a pressure of 6.7 GPa, connected with an increase of the superconducting temperature from 8 K to 34 K, results in an increase of the optical phonon mode energies at 296 K by ~12%, and an even more pronounced increase for the lowest-lying transversal acoustic mode. Despite these strong pressure-induced modifications of the phonon-DOS we conclude that the pronounced increase of Tc in Fe1.01Se with pressure cannot be described in the framework of classical electron-phonon coupling. This result suggests the importance of spin fluctuations to the observed superconductivity

The redesign of blue- and white-collar work triggered by digitalization:collar matters

The implementation of digital technologies in the context of Industry 4.0 radically changes methods of production and thereby the jobs of blue-collar workers. Although the work design effects of digitalization on the operator 4.0 have been explored in the existing literature, less is known about the simultaneous effects on white-collar work and the underlying (re)design process of human work including the factors that shape this process. To address this gap, we performed an in-depth industrial case study of an organization in the process of digitalization. Our findings confirm the concurrent impact of digitalization on blue- and white-collar work and suggest that its human implications highly depend on the extent to which, and at what moment, human factors are considered during the design and implementation process. Where work design knowledge lacked, the motivation of system designers turned out to be an important individual factor to realize favorable work design outcomes. At the organizational level, results show the importance of early involvement of system users and incorporating social performance indicators in addition to operational performance indicators in the statement of project goals. Our findings provide important empirical input for the further development of human-centric models and theories that integrate the challenges and opportunities for blue- and white-collar workers that are emerging when adopting digital technologies

Localized inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 by NUAK1 promotes spliceosome activity and reveals a MYC-sensitive feedback control of transcription.

Deregulated expression of MYC induces a dependence on the NUAK1 kinase, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this dependence have not been fully clarified. Here, we show that NUAK1 is a predominantly nuclear protein that associates with a network of nuclear protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) interactors and that PNUTS, a nuclear regulatory subunit of PP1, is phosphorylated by NUAK1. Both NUAK1 and PNUTS associate with the splicing machinery. Inhibition of NUAK1 abolishes chromatin association of PNUTS, reduces spliceosome activity, and suppresses nascent RNA synthesis. Activation of MYC does not bypass the requirement for NUAK1 for spliceosome activity but significantly attenuates transcription inhibition. Consequently, NUAK1 inhibition in MYC-transformed cells induces global accumulation of RNAPII both at the pause site and at the first exon-intron boundary but does not increase mRNA synthesis. We suggest that NUAK1 inhibition in the presence of deregulated MYC traps non-productive RNAPII because of the absence of correctly assembled spliceosomes

pH-equilibration of human hair: Kinetics and pH-dependence of the partition ratios for H+ − and OH− -ions based on a Freundlich isotherm

Hair is an insoluble, fibrous, α-keratinous, protein composite material, providing outer coverage, e.g., for mammals. In the context of a wider study on the effects of pH on human hair properties, we investigated the time-dependence of pH-equilibration study across the acid and the basic pH-range, using appropriate pure solutions of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. The results show that pH-equilibration follows essentially equal 1st-order kinetics across the pH-range. The characteristic process time does not change significantly and is in the range of 2.5–5 h. The analysis enables to determine the equilibrium uptakes of H+- and OH− -ions. These follow the expected U-shaped path across the pH-range. For both acidic and alkaline conditions, data are well described by two very similar sorption isotherms of the Freundlich-type. In consequence, partition ratios for both ions are highest near neutrality (pH 7: >6000) and drop off strongly towards low and high pHs (<50). Hair is thus a very strong ‘sink’ for H+ and OH−. This observation fundamentally challenges traditional views of limited ion uptake, namely, in the mid-pH-range due to hindered diffusion. It also does not support considerations on special roles of certain pHs, specific groups of amino acids, or morphological components. Our analysis thus suggests that established views of the interaction of hair and pH need to be reconsidered, The Freundlich isotherm approach appears to provide a versatile tool to refine our understanding of the interactions of hair and possibly other keratinous materials (horn, nail, feathers) with acids and bases

Stable Isotopic Characterization of a Coastal Floodplain Forest Community: A Case Study for Isotopic Reconstruction of Mesozoic Vertebrate Assemblages

Stable isotopes are powerful tools for elucidating ecological trends in extant vertebrate communities, though their application to Mesozoic ecosystems is complicated by a lack of extant isotope data from comparable environments/ecosystems (e.g. coastal floodplain forest environments, lacking significant C4 plant components). We sampled 20 taxa across a broad phylogenetic, body size, and physiological scope from the Atchafalaya River Basin of Louisiana as an environmental analogue to the Late Cretaceous coastal floodplains of North America. Samples were analysed for stable carbon, oxygen and nitrogen isotope compositions from bioapatite and keratin tissues to test the degree of ecological resolution that can be determined in a system with similar environmental conditions, and using similar constraints, as those in many Mesozoic assemblages. Isotopic results suggest a broad overlap in resource use among taxa and considerable terrestrial–aquatic interchange, highlighting the challenges of ecological interpretation in C3 systems, particularly when lacking observational data for comparison. We also propose a modified oxygen isotope-temperature equation that uses mean endotherm and mean ectotherm isotope data to more precisely predict temperature when compared with measured Atchafalaya River water data. These results provide a critical isotopic baseline for coastal floodplain forests, and act as a framework for future studies of Mesozoic palaeoecology