Raman spectra of GexAsySe1−x−y glasses

Various Ge–As–Se glasses spanning a mean coordination number (MCN) from 2.2 to 2.94 have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature Tg was found to increase with increasing MCN, except for those glasses located within the nanoscale phase-separated region of the phase diagram. The evolution of Raman features at wavenumbers from 150 to 350 cm⁻¹ exhibits two transitionlike features. Merging of the 225 and 250 cm⁻¹ modes at MCN=2.5 is a symbol of the extinction of Se–Se bonds. Additionally, the appearance of two modes at 280–290 and 170 cm⁻¹ at MCN>2.7 come from the defect modes of ethanelike Ge₂Se₆/₂. The increase in the scattering from these defects is an important factor leading to enhanced optical loss in the glasses with high MCN.This research was partly supported by the Australian Research Council through its Centres of Excellence and Federation Fellow Programs

Prognostication of Cost of Services Which Are Given by Sporting -Health Establishment.

У статті докладно розглянута стратегія прогнозування вартості спортивно-оздоровчих послуг, охаракте- ризовані основні фактори, які впливають на прогноз цінової політики спортивних клубів України. In the given article the strategy of prognostication of cost of sporting-health services is thoroughly considered, described basic factors, that affect the prognosis of price policy of sporting clubs of Ukraine

Tau functions as Widom constants

We define a tau function for a generic Riemann-Hilbert problem posed on a union of non-intersecting smooth closed curves with jump matrices analytic in their neighborhood. The tau function depends on parameters of the jumps and is expressed as the Fredholm determinant of an integral operator with block integrable kernel constructed in terms of elementary parametrices. Its logarithmic derivatives with respect to parameters are given by contour integrals involving these parametrices and the solution of the Riemann-Hilbert problem. In the case of one circle, the tau function coincides with Widom's determinant arising in the asymptotics of block Toeplitz matrices. Our construction gives the Jimbo-Miwa-Ueno tau function for Riemann-Hilbert problems of isomonodromic origin (Painlev\'e VI, V, III, Garnier system, etc) and the Sato-Segal-Wilson tau function for integrable hierarchies such as Gelfand-Dickey and Drinfeld-Sokolov.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figure

Investigation of the structure of GexAsySe1−x−y glasses by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

We have measured and analyzed x-ray photoelectron spectra of a series of GexAsySe1−x−yglasses. The valence band spectra show that a number of Se-rich structures exist in the samples. After decomposing Ge, As, and Se3dspectra into several doublets and assigning them to the different local bond structures, it was found that, while GeSe₄/₂ tetrahedral, AsSe₃/₂ pyramidal, and Se trimers decrease in their integrated areas, most defect bonds increase with increasing mean coordination number. Moreover, while the appearance of Se trimers is reasonable in Se-rich samples, they never vanish, even in Se-poor samples. A possible mechanism to form Se trimers in Se-poor samples is discussed.This research was supported by Australian Research Council through its Centres of Excellence and Federation Fellow Programs

Prognostication and Planning as a Function of Management of sport by health activity.

Розглянуто та сформульовано основні цілі спортивно-оздоровчої діяльності й визначено програму дій для їх забезпечення. In the article of were considered the primary purposes of sporting-health activity are formulated and the program of actions is certain for their providing

Effect of low-Raman window position on correlated photon-pair generation in a chalcogenide Ge11.5As24Se64.5 nanowire

We investigated correlated photon-pair generation via spontaneous four-wave mixing in an integrated chalcogenideGe11.5As24Se64.5photonicnanowire. The coincidence to accidental ratio, a key measurement for the quality of correlated photon-pair sources, was measured to be only 0.4 when the photon pairs were generated at 1.9 THz detuning from the pump frequency due to high spontaneous Raman noise in this regime. However, the existence of a characteristic low-Raman window at around 5.1 THz in this material's Raman spectrum and dispersion engineering of the nanowire allowed us to generate photon pairs with a coincidence to accidental ratio of 4.5, more than 10 times higher than the 1.9 THz case. Through comparing the results with those achieved in chalcogenide As2S3waveguides which also exhibit a low Raman-window but at a larger detuning of 7.4 THz, we find that the position of the characteristic low-Raman window plays an important role on reducing spontaneous Raman noise because the phonon population is higher at smaller detuning. Therefore the ultimate solution for Raman noise reduction in Ge11.5As24Se64.5 is to generate photon pairs outside the Raman gain band at more than 10 THz detuning

Identification of presumed pathogenic KRT3 and KRT12 gene mutations associated with Meesmann corneal dystrophy.

PurposeTo report potentially pathogenic mutations in the keratin 3 (KRT3) and keratin 12 (KRT12) genes in two individuals with clinically diagnosed Meesmann corneal dystrophy (MECD).MethodsSlit-lamp examination was performed on the probands and available family members to identify characteristic features of MECD. After informed consent was obtained, saliva samples were obtained as a source of genomic DNA, and screening of KRT3 and KRT12 was performed. Potentially pathogenic variants were screened for in 200 control chromosomes. PolyPhen-2, SIFT, and PANTHER were used to predict the functional impact of identified variants. Short tandem repeat genotyping was performed to confirm paternity.ResultsSlit-lamp examination of the first proband demonstrated bilateral, diffusely distributed, clear epithelial microcysts, consistent with MECD. Screening of KRT3 revealed a heterozygous missense variant in exon 1, c.250C>T (p.(Arg84Trp)), which has a minor allele frequency of 0.0076 and was not identified in 200 control chromosomes. In silico analysis with PolyPhen-2 and PANTHER predicted the variant to be damaging to protein function; however, SIFT analysis predicted tolerance of the variant. The second proband demonstrated bilateral, diffusely distributed epithelial opacities that appeared gray-white on direct illumination and translucent on retroillumination. Neither parent demonstrated corneal opacities. Screening of KRT12 revealed a novel heterozygous insertion/deletion variant in exon 6, c.1288_1293delinsAGCCCT (p.(Arg430_Arg431delinsSerPro)). This variant was not present in either of the proband's parents or in 200 control chromosomes and was predicted to be damaging by PolyPhen-2, PANTHER, and SIFT. Haplotype analysis confirmed paternity of the second proband, indicating that the variant arose de novo.ConclusionsWe present a novel KRT12 mutation, representing the first de novo mutation and the first indel in KRT12 associated with MECD. In addition, we report a variant of uncertain significance in KRT3 in an individual with MECD. Although the potential pathogenicity of this variant is unknown, it is the first variant affecting the head domain of K3 to be reported in an individual with MECD and suggests that disease-causing variants associated with MECD may not be restricted to primary sequence alterations of either the helix-initiation or helix-termination motifs of K3 and K12

High-precision realization of robust quantum anomalous Hall state in a hard ferromagnetic topological insulator

The discovery of the quantum Hall (QH) effect led to the realization of a topological electronic state with dissipationless currents circulating in one direction along the edge of a two dimensional electron layer under a strong magnetic field. The quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect shares a similar physical phenomenon as the QH effect, whereas its physical origin relies on the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling and ferromagnetism.Here we report the experimental observation of the QAH state in V-doped (Bi,Sb)2Te3 films with the zero-field longitudinal resistance down to 0.00013+-0.00007h/e2 (~3.35+-1.76 ohm), Hall conductance reaching 0.9998+-0.0006e2/h and the Hall angle becoming as high as 89.993+-0.004degree at T=25mK. Further advantage of this system comes from the fact that it is a hard ferromagnet with a large coercive field (Hc>1.0T) and a relative high Curie temperature. This realization of robust QAH state in hard FMTIs is a major step towards dissipationless electronic applications without external fields.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, this is the final version, accepted by Nature Materials, forthcomin

Structural and functional conservation of key domains in InsP3 and ryanodine receptors.

Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP(3)Rs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are tetrameric intracellular Ca(2+) channels. In each of these receptor families, the pore, which is formed by carboxy-terminal transmembrane domains, is regulated by signals that are detected by large cytosolic structures. InsP(3)R gating is initiated by InsP(3) binding to the InsP(3)-binding core (IBC, residues 224-604 of InsP(3)R1) and it requires the suppressor domain (SD, residues 1-223 of InsP(3)R1). Here we present structures of the amino-terminal region (NT, residues 1-604) of rat InsP(3)R1 with (3.6 Å) and without (3.0 Å) InsP(3) bound. The arrangement of the three NT domains, SD, IBC-β and IBC-α, identifies two discrete interfaces (α and β) between the IBC and SD. Similar interfaces occur between equivalent domains (A, B and C) in RyR1 (ref. 9). The orientations of the three domains when docked into a tetrameric structure of InsP(3)R and of the ABC domains docked into RyR are remarkably similar. The importance of the α-interface for activation of InsP(3)R and RyR is confirmed by mutagenesis and, for RyR, by disease-causing mutations. Binding of InsP(3) causes partial closure of the clam-like IBC, disrupting the β-interface and pulling the SD towards the IBC. This reorients an exposed SD loop ('hotspot' (HS) loop) that is essential for InsP(3)R activation. The loop is conserved in RyR and includes mutations that are associated with malignant hyperthermia and central core disease. The HS loop interacts with an adjacent NT, suggesting that activation re-arranges inter-subunit interactions. The A domain of RyR functionally replaced the SD in full-length InsP(3)R, and an InsP(3)R in which its C-terminal transmembrane region was replaced by that from RyR1 was gated by InsP(3) and blocked by ryanodine. Activation mechanisms are conserved between InsP(3)R and RyR. Allosteric modulation of two similar domain interfaces within an N-terminal subunit reorients the first domain (SD or A domain), allowing it, through interactions of the second domain of an adjacent subunit (IBC-β or B domain), to gate the pore