Resonant electron heating and molecular phonon cooling in single C60_{60} junctions

We study heating and heat dissipation of a single \c60 molecule in the junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by measuring the electron current required to thermally decompose the fullerene cage. The power for decomposition varies with electron energy and reflects the molecular resonance structure. When the STM tip contacts the fullerene the molecule can sustain much larger currents. Transport simulations explain these effects by molecular heating due to resonant electron-phonon coupling and molecular cooling by vibrational decay into the tip upon contact formation.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

Perceptions of information literacy competencies among future psychology professionals: a comparative study in Spain and Portugal

Purpose – The aim of the study is to analyze the perceptions of belief-in-importance (BI), self-efficacy (SE), and preferred source of learning (SL) of information literacy (IL) competencies among psychology students in Spain and Portugal. Design/methodology/approach – Unified protocol was based on the questionnaire IL-HUMASS (26 items). Quantitative diagnostic-comparative study was carried out, including factor and variance analysis. Hypothesis compliance was checked. Findings – By country, there are no significant differences in students’ perceptions, although the scores in BI are higher than in SE. By category, there are some significant differences, and the least valued is that of processing. By individual competency, seven of them show differences between countries. Learning preferences are for a mix of classroom and autonomous learning. Students barely realize the value of libraries. Within factor structures, which share the same components in each dimension, some emerging factors do appear. Practical implications – Motivation (BI and SE) with respect to IL competencies is a key asset for future psychologists. Interest should focus on some emerging motivational factors. Students’ appreciation of the library should enhance through the corresponding initiatives for improvement. This method could be complemented by qualitative studies. Originality/value – This is probably the first diagnostic-comparative study on perceptions of IL competencies among future psychology professionals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identification of anthocyanin pigments in strawberry (cv Camarosa) by LC using DAD and ESI-MS detection

New high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) conditions were developed for the separation of strawberry anthocyanins that provided a good resolution of peaks at a low flow rate compatible with the requirements of the mass spectrometry (MS) detector. A strawberry extract was fractionated by column chromatography and simple fractions containing basically anthocyanins were obtained, making their analysis by HPLC possible using on-line photodiode array detection and MS. Information on the identity of the major and some secondary anthocyanins in strawberry was obtained froth their retention characteristics, UV-visible spectra and mass spectra. The presence in strawberry of the previously reported cyanidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-rutinoside and pelargonidin 3-acetylglucoside was confirmed and cyanidin 3-rutinoside was identified in strawberry for the first time. Furthermore, cyanidin 3-malonyldiglucoside, pelargonidin 3-malylglucoside, a pelargonidin bioside and two possible pelargonidin 3-biosides acylated with acetic acid were also tentatively assigned.Comissão Europeia (Fundo Social Europeu) e Governo Português através do Programa PRODEP (III) - ref.ª 5.3/N/199.006/00-Doutoramento

The role of structural evolution on the quantum conductance behavior of gold nanowires during stretching

Gold nanowires generated by mechanical stretching have been shown to adopt only three kinds of configurations where their atomic arrangements adjust such that either the [100], [111] or [110] zone axes lie parallel to the elongation direction. We have analyzed the relationship between structural rearrangements and electronic transport behavior during the elongation of Au nanowires for each of the three possibilities. We have used two independent experiments to tackle this problem, high resolution transmission high resolution electron microscopy to observe the atomic structure and a mechanically controlled break junction to measure the transport properties. We have estimated the conductance of nanowires using a theoretical method based on the extended H\"uckel theory that takes into account the atom species and their positions. Aided by these calculations, we have consistently connected both sets of experimental results and modeled the evolution process of gold nanowires whose conductance lies within the first and third conductance quanta. We have also presented evidence that carbon acts as a contaminant, lowering the conductance of one-atom-thick wires.Comment: 10 page

Usefulness of the Hepatocyte Growth Factor as a Predictor of Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure Regardless of Ejection Fraction

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a role in the improvement of cardiac function and remodeling. Their serum levels are strongly related with mortality in chronic systolic heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to study prognostic value of HGF in acute HF, interaction with ejection fraction, renal function, and natriuretic peptides. We included 373 patients (age 76 ± 10 years, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 46 ± 14%, 48% men) consecutively admitted for acute HF. Blood samples were obtained at admission. All patients were followed up until death or close of study (>1 year, median 371 days). HGF concentrations were determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (human HGF immunoassay). The predictive power of HGF was estimated by Cox regression with calculation of Harrell C-statistic. HGF had a median of 1,942 pg/ml (interquartile rank 1,354). According to HGF quartiles, mortality rates (per 1,000 patients/year) were 98, 183, 375, and 393, respectively (p <0.001). In Cox regression analysis, HGF (hazard ratio1SD = 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.1, p = 0.002) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; hazard ratio1SD = 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.6, p = 0.002) were independent predictors of mortality. Interaction between HGF and LVEF, origin, and renal function was nonsignificant. The addition of HGF improved the predictive ability of the models (C-statistic 0.768 vs 0.741, p = 0.016). HGF showed a complementary value over NT-proBNP (p = 0.001): mortality rate was 490 with both above the median versus 72 with both below. In conclusion, in patients with acute HF, serum HGF concentrations are elevated and identify patients at higher risk of mortality, regardless of LVEF, ischemic origin, or renal function. HGF had independent and additive information over NT-proBNP

Landscape composition and configuration affect the abundance of the olive moth (Prays oleae, Bernard) in olive groves

Landscape and crop management are important concepts for conservation biological control as they can influence the abundance of natural enemies. In this work we accomplished a multi-scale study focused on the effect of landscape structure and crop management on the olive moth, Prays oleae (Bernard), an important pest of the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). The olive moth was collected in different olive groves managed under organic farming and integrated production and surrounded by different landscape structures. Generalized additive mixed models were used to analyze the response of the pest to (i) landscape composition and configuration indices, (ii) the management system and (iii) pesticides applications at different scales. Results indicated that the landscape composition, through the effect of the Simpson’s diversity index, negatively influenced P. oleae abundance and that the effect was evident at larger scales. Also, the landscape configuration negatively affected P. oleae at larger scales. However, neither the crop management system nor the pesticide applications affected P. oleae abundance. This study emphasizes that the preservation or implementation of diverse and complex landscapes can contribute to maintain lower population levels of P. oleae when compared with homogenous landscape areas.The authors are grateful to the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through the projects EXCL/AGR-PRO/0591/2012 “Olive crop protection in sustainable production under global climatic changes: linking ecological infrastructures to ecosystem functions” and PTDC/ASP-PLA/30003/ 2017 – “OLIVESIM - Managing ecosystem services in olive groves using advanced landscape agent-based models” and CIMO (UIDB/00690/ 2020). María Villa also thanks to Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology for the Postdoctoral fellowship SFRH/BPD/119487/2016. The authors would like to thank to the farmers for allowing the access to their olive groves.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of recovery correction or subjecting calibrators to sample preparation on measurement uncertainty: PAH determinations in waters

The decision on the fitness of a measurement for its intended use and the interpretation of an analytical result requires the assessment of the measurement uncertainty. Frequently, the determination of analytes in complex matrices involves demanding sample preparations in which analyte losses are observed. These losses should be considered when reporting the results, which can be corrected for low recovery by taking the mean recovery observed in the analysis of reference items (e.g. spiked samples) or, alternatively, by subjecting calibrators to the same pre-treatment performed on the samples. In these cases, neat (NC) or adjusted (AC) calibrators are used, respectively. The way analyte losses are handled impacts on the measurement uncertainty. The top-down evaluation of the measurement uncertainty involves combining precision, trueness and additional uncertainty components. The trueness component is quantified by pooling various analyte recovery determinations. This work assesses and compares the uncertainty of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measurements in water based on HPLC-FD calibrations with NC or AC. The trueness component is estimated by pooling mean recoveries observed from the analysis of different spiked samples to which mean recovery uncertainty and degrees of freedom are used to estimate a weighted mean recovery and respective uncertainty. The performance of measurements based on NC and AC are associated with equivalent uncertainty except when large analyte losses are observed, namely in the determination of Naphtalene. In this case, the processing of AC reduces the expanded relative uncertainty from 9.9% to 3.5%. The evaluated expanded uncertainty ranged from 3.5% to 12% of the measured value.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadBanco SantanderFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologí

Fire performance of blind-bolted connections to concrete filled tubular columns in tension

This paper describes an advanced numerical model to predict the fire behaviour of blind-bolts in the tension area of endplate connections between I-beams and concrete filled tubular (CFT) columns. It is the continuation of a previous research on the thermal response of connections, considering the tension load of a moment-resisting connection. Due to the absence of experiments and data on blind-bolts fire performance the aim was to provide a model for their study. The effect of two main variables was researched, the concrete infill of the columns and the anchored extension of the blind-bolt. The fire resis- tance rating (FRR), the failure mode and the force–displacement–temperature curve at high temperatures were discussed. Results proved that concrete inside the column enhanced the connections response at elevated temperatures in terms of FRR and stiffness. On the other hand, the use of anchored blind-bolts compared with normal blind-bolts provided stiffer connections, but the FRR improvement depended on the plate thickness and steel bolt properties. Finally, the use of fire resistant steel bolts as a method to enhance the fire response was assessed, observing the benefits to these connections when the shank of the blind-bolt governs the failure

Variability in motor threshold

Funding Information: GC was funded by Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e Tecnologia (FCT; Portugal) through a PhD Scholarship (SFRH/BD/130210/2017). AJO-M was funded by FCT (Portugal) through a Junior Research and Career Development Award from the Harvard Medical School ? Portugal Program (HMSP-ICJ/0020/2011). GC and AJO-M were supported by grant PTDC/MED-NEU/31331/2017, and AJO-M by grant PTDC/MED-NEU/30302/2017, funded by national funds from FCT/MCTES and co-funded by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement Lisboa 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa. The content of this study is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e Tecnologia, Harvard University or its affiliated academic health care centers. Funding Information: GC was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; Portugal) through a PhD Scholarship ( SFRH/BD/130210/2017 ). AJO-M was funded by FCT (Portugal) through a Junior Research and Career Development Award from the Harvard Medical School – Portugal Program ( HMSP-ICJ/0020/2011 ). GC and AJO-M were supported by grant PTDC/MED-NEU/31331/2017, and AJO-M by grant PTDC/MED-NEU/30302/2017, funded by national funds from FCT/MCTES and co-funded by FEDER , under the Partnership Agreement Lisboa 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa. The content of this study is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Harvard University or its affiliated academic health care centers. Funding Information: AJO-M was national coordinator for Portugal of a non-interventional study (EDMS-ERI-143085581, 4.0) to characterize a Treatment-Resistant Depression Cohort in Europe, sponsored by Janssen-Cilag, Ltd (2019–2020), is recipient of a grant from Schuhfried GmBH for norming and validation of cognitive tests, and is national coordinator for Portugal of trials of psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression, sponsored by Compass Pathways, Ltd (EudraCT number 2017-003288-36 and 2020-001348-25), and of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression, sponsored by Janssen-Cilag, Ltd (EudraCT NUMBER: 2019-002992-33). AP-L is a co-founder of Linus Health and TI Solutions AG; serves on the scientific advisory boards for Starlab Neuroscience, Magstim Inc., Radiant Hearts, and MedRhythms; and is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of noninvasive brain stimulation with electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. None of the aforementioned agencies or companies had a role in the design and conduct of the study, in the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript, nor in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The remaining authors have declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest involving this work, including relevant financial activities outside the submitted work and any other relationships or activities that readers could perceive to have influenced, or that give the appearance of potentially influencing what is written.publishersversionpublishe

Clinical implications

Funding: GC was funded by Fundaçao para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; Portugal) through a PhD Scholarship (SFRH/BD/130210/2017). AJOM was funded by FCT (Portugal) through a Junior Research and Career Development Award from the Harvard Medical School e Portugal Program (HMSP-ICJ/0020/2011). GC and AJO-M were supported by grant PTDC/MED-NEU/31331/2017, and AJO-M by grant PTDC/MED-NEU/30302/2017, funded by national funds from FCT/MCTES and co-funded by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement Lisboa 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa. The content of this study is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Fundaçao para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Harvard University or its affiliated academic health care centers. AJO-M was national coordinator for Portugal of a noninterventional study (EDMS-ERI-143085581, 4.0) to characterize a Treatment-Resistant Depression Cohort in Europe, sponsored by Janssen-Cilag, Ltd (2019e2020), is recipient of a grant from Schuhfried GmBH for norming and validation of cognitive tests, and is national coordinator for Portugal of trials of psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression, sponsored by Compass Pathways, Ltd (EudraCT number 2017-003288-36 and 2020-001348- 25), and of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression, sponsored by Janssen-Cilag, Ltd (EudraCT NUMBER: 2019-002992-33). AP-L is a co-founder of Linus Health and TI Solutions AG; serves on the scientific advisory boards for Starlab Neuroscience, Neuroelectrics, Magstim Inc., Nexstim, Cognito, and MedRhythms; and is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of noninvasive brain stimulation with electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. None of the aforementioned agencies had a role in the design and conduct of the study, in the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript, nor in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The remaining authors have declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest involving this work, including relevant financial activities outside the submitted work and any other relationships or activities that readers could perceive to have influenced, or that give the appearance of potentially influencing what is written.Background: When repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used to treat medication refractory depression, the treatment pulse intensity is individualized according to motor threshold (MT). This measure is often acquired only on the first day of treatment, as per the protocol currently approved by Food and Drug Administration. Objective: Here, we aimed to assess daily MT variability across an rTMS treatment course and simulate the effects of different schedules of MT assessment on treatment intensity. Methods: We conducted a naturalistic retrospective study with 374 patients from a therapeutic rTMS program for depression that measures MT daily. Results: For each patient, in almost half the TMS sessions, MT varied on average more than 5% as compared to the baseline MT acquired in the first treatment day. Such variability was only minimally impacted by having different TMS technicians acquiring MT in different days. In a smaller cohort of healthy individuals, we confirmed that the motor hotspot localization method, a critical step for accurate MT assessment, was stable in different days, arguing that daily MT variability reflects physiological variability, rather than an artifact of measurement error. Finally, in simulations of the effect of one-time MT measurement, we found that half of sessions would have been 5% or more above or below target intensity, with almost 5% of sessions 25% above target intensity. The simulated effects of weekly MT measurements were significantly improved. Conclusions: In conclusion, MT varies significantly across days, not fully dependent on methods of MT acquisition. This finding may have important implications for therapeutic rTMS practice regarding safety and suggests that regular MT assessments, daily or at least weekly, would ameliorate the effect.publishersversionpublishe