The formation of cupper transition nano-layer in polytetrafluoroethylene surface by means of ion beam assisting deposition

The deposition of Cu on polytetrafluoroethylene surface assisted by the Ar ion beam with the temperature of 1 keV is investigated numerically. Ar ions provide the kinematic mixing of Cu atoms and atoms of substrate forming the connecting 10 nm layer of mixed material. This layer can ensure a good adhesion of Cu films deposited on polytetrafluoroethylene.Осаждение медного покрытия на поверхность политетрафторэтилена, стимулированное пучком ионов аргона с температурой 1 кэВ, изучалось методами численного моделирования. Ионы аргона обеспечивали смешивание атомов меди и поверхности, что позволило сформировать переходной слой шириной 10 нм. Такой слой может обеспечить хорошие адгезионные свойства металлической пленки, осажденной на поверхность политетрафторэтилена.Осадження мідного покриття на поверхню політетрафторетилену, стимульоване пучком іонів аргону з температурою 1 кеВ, вивчалось методами чисельного моделювання. Іони аргону забезпечували змішування атомів міді і поверхні, що дозволило сформувати перехідний шар шириною 10 нм. Такий шар може забезпечити гарні адгезійні властивості металевої плівки, обложеної на поверхню політетрафторетилену

Incidence of Interval Colorectal Cancer After Negative Results From First-Round Fecal Immunochemical Screening Tests, by Cutoff Value and Participant Sex and Age

Background & Aims: We evaluated the incidence of interval cancers between the first and second rounds of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with the FOB-Gold fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and the effects of different cutoff values and patient sex and age. Methods: We collected data from participants in a population-based

Improving Genetic Prediction by Leveraging Genetic Correlations Among Human Diseases and Traits

Genomic prediction has the potential to contribute to precision medicine. However, to date, the utility of such predictors is limited due to low accuracy for most traits. Here theory and simulation study are used to demonstrate that widespread pleiotropy among phenotypes can be utilised to improve genomic risk prediction. We show how a genetic predictor can be created as a weighted index that combines published genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics across many different traits. We apply this framework to predict risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the Psychiatric Genomics consortium data, finding substantial heterogeneity in prediction accuracy increases across cohorts. For six additional phenotypes in the UK Biobank data, we find increases in prediction accuracy ranging from 0.7 for height to 47 for type 2 diabetes, when using a multi-trait predictor that combines published summary statistics from multiple traits, as compared to a predictor based only on one trait. © 2018 The Author(s)

Physical Processes in Star Formation

© 2020 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00693-8.Star formation is a complex multi-scale phenomenon that is of significant importance for astrophysics in general. Stars and star formation are key pillars in observational astronomy from local star forming regions in the Milky Way up to high-redshift galaxies. From a theoretical perspective, star formation and feedback processes (radiation, winds, and supernovae) play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the physical processes at work, both individually and of their interactions. In this review we will give an overview of the main processes that are important for the understanding of star formation. We start with an observationally motivated view on star formation from a global perspective and outline the general paradigm of the life-cycle of molecular clouds, in which star formation is the key process to close the cycle. After that we focus on the thermal and chemical aspects in star forming regions, discuss turbulence and magnetic fields as well as gravitational forces. Finally, we review the most important stellar feedback mechanisms.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Comparison of the cost of short flights in a nectarivorous and a non-nectarivorous bird

Although most birds are accustomed to making short flights, particularly during foraging, the flight patterns during these short periods of activity differ between species. Nectarivorous birds, in particular, often spend time hovering, while non-nectarivorous birds do not. The cost of short flights is likely therefore to differ between nectarivorous and non-nectarivorous birds because of the different energetic contributions of different flight types to the behaviour. The 13C-labelled bicarbonate technique was used to measure the energy cost of short flights in the nectarivorous Palestine sunbird Nectarinia osea (mean mass 6.17±0.16 g, N=8) and the non-nectarivorous starling Sturnus vulgaris (mean mass 70.11±1.11 g, N=9). The technique was initially calibrated in five individuals for each species at temperatures ranging from 1 to 35°C, by comparing the isotope elimination rate to the metabolic rate measured simultaneously by indirect calorimetry. The cost for short intermittent flight was then measured by encouraging birds to fly between two perches at either end of a narrow corridor (perch distance for sunbirds, 6 m; for starlings, 5 m), and measuring the amount of isotope eliminated during the flight. The isotope elimination rate was interpolated onto the calibration equation to predict flight cost, as a direct calibration could not be performed during flight. Mean energy expenditure during flight was 1.64±0.32 W in sunbirds, while in starlings the flight costs averaged 20.6±0.78 W. Energy cost of flight relative to basal metabolic rate was substantially greater in the starling than the sunbird. Phylogenetic analysis of different modes of flight in these and additional species suggests that differences in flight behaviour may cause these elevated costs in slow flying non-nectarivores such as starlings, compared to birds that are more prone to short intermittent flights like the sunbirds.

Barrier island management; lessons from the past and directions for the future

The article focuses on the morphological development of the Wadden Sea barrier island system, with emphasis on West and East Frisian islands on several temporal and spatial scales. In addition, it integrates the insights for management purposes. Barrier island management is addressed with respect to morphology, sediment budgets, safety and natural values. We show that each of these issues is determined to some extent to various spatio-temporal scales and that the management of a barrier island has to be considered in terms of interactions on various spatial and temporal scales. Morphology of some of the barrier islands is determined by the pre-existing Pleistocene relief to a fair extent, either directly due to erosion-resistant outcrops on or near the islands, or indirectly by determining the locations where inlet systems or estuaries could develop. Where this is not the case, the larger part of the sediments are locally reworked Pleistocene or Holocene deposits eroded at the North Sea coasts of the barrier chain and deposited in the back-barrier area and on the islands as a response to sea-level rise. Hardly any sand is coming in from outside the area. In order to keep up with sea-level rise sand has thus to be nourished if coastal retreat is not allowed. During the long Holocene evolution islands and ebb-tidal deltas have been lined up during their coastward migration, forming a more or less uninterrupted barrier chain along the Frisian coasts. The present-day approach of mainly focusing on the fixation of the inhabited parts of the chain will most likely result in a de-alignment of the various parts of the chain, resulting in increasing erosion of the promontories. An inlet system is a sediment-sharing system with a tidal inlet, the ebb-tidal delta, adjacent barrier islands and the tidal basin with channels, shoals, tidal flats and salt marshes. The sand balance of a barrier island is thus directly linked to tidal inlet system development. A natural change or an intervention in the sediment-sharing system by man may thus have repercussions for the island's development. Sediment redistribution in the coastal zone may also depend on climate, as is illustrated by the rapid growth of the islands after the demise of the Little Ice Age. On the barrier islands themselves many measures were taken during the past two centuries to ensure coastal safety. The successful attempts to stabilize the coasts and dunes of the barrier islands resulted in a reduction of sand transport from and along the shoreface to the beach and onto the islands. To some extent this has been restored by applying sand nourishments. However, vertical accretion of the islands is still largely impossible due to all the older coastal protection measures still present. On the long run sedimentary dynamics are essential if the island is to accrete vertically with sea-level rise, which forms a robust and sustainable strategy to guarantee safety during the next centuries. Massive stabilization also reduced the opportunities for pioneer vegetation. Dune belts and tidal marshes have experienced a fast succession resulting in a climax vegetation and the loss of the characteristic open landscape. In order to restore nature sufficient space and time should allow natural processes to develop and to create robust ecosystems. Instead of focusing on nature conservation a paradigm shift is needed in barrier island management towards stimulating the development of natural dynamics. To our opinion the best solution is to allow the geo-biological processes to take their natural course as much as possible. Examples are given for the various parts of a prototype barrier island. Only where this is not feasible other management practices should be applied. As a rule of thumb: soft and with respect for morphodynamical integrity where possible, hard where really needed. This concept applies both to the various morpho-ecological units on the islands and to the morphological developments on larger spatio-temporal scales