The Electronic Structure of CdSe/CdS Core/Shell Seeded Nanorods: Type-I or Quasi-Type-II?

The electronic structure of CdSe/CdS core/shell seeded nanorods of experimentally relevant size is studied using a combination of molecular dynamics and semiempirical pseudopotential techniques, with the aim to address the transition from type-I to a quasi-type-II band alignment. The hole is found to be localized in the core region regardless of its size. The overlap of the electron density with the core region depends markedly on the size of the CdSe core: For small cores, we observe little overlap, consistent with type-II behavior. For large cores, significant core-overlap of a number of excitonic states can lead to type-I behavior. When electron-hole interactions are taken into account, the core-overlap is further increased. Our calculations indicate that the observed transition from type-II to type-I is largely due to simple volume effects, and not to band alignment.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figuer

Ab initio quality neural-network potential for sodium

An interatomic potential for high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) crystalline and liquid phases of sodium is created using a neural-network (NN) representation of the ab initio potential energy surface. It is demonstrated that the NN potential provides an ab initio quality description of multiple properties of liquid sodium and bcc, fcc, cI16 crystal phases in the P-T region up to 120 GPa and 1200 K. The unique combination of computational efficiency of the NN potential and its ability to reproduce quantitatively experimental properties of sodium in the wide P-T range enables molecular dynamics simulations of physicochemical processes in HPHT sodium of unprecedented quality.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures, 2 table

How do medium naturalness and personality traits shape academic achievement and perceived learning? An experimental study of face-to-face and synchronous e-learning

This controlled experiment examined how academic achievement and cognitive, emotional and social aspects of perceived learning are affected by the level of medium naturalness (face-to-face, one-way and two-way videoconferencing) and by learners’ personality traits (extroversion–introversion and emotional stability–neuroticism). The Media Naturalness Theory explains the degree of medium naturalness by comparing its characteristics to face-to-face communication, considered to be the most natural form of communication. A total of 76 participants were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: face-to-face, one-way and two-way videoconferencing. E-learning conditions were conducted through Zoom videoconferencing, which enables natural and spontaneous communication. Findings shed light on the trade-off involved in media naturalness: one-way videoconferencing, the less natural learning condition, enhanced the cognitive aspect of perceived learning but compromised the emotional and social aspects. Regarding the impact of personality, neurotic students tended to enjoy and succeed more in face-to-face learning, whereas emotionally stable students enjoyed and succeeded in all of the learning conditions. Extroverts tended to enjoy more natural learning environments but had lower achievements in these conditions. In accordance with the ‘poor get richer’ principle, introverts enjoyed environments with a low level of medium naturalness. However, they remained focused and had higher achievements in the face-to-face learning

Development and Validation of a Digital Literacy Scale for Teenagers

[EN]Research related to digital literacy has grown exponentially in recent years. Its importance is that some scholars suggest that digital skills are a prevention tool against the risks of digital technologies. These risks are especially important because of their psychological consequences on adolescents. Thus, digital literacy could be a health prevention tool. The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a scale to assess digital literacy on teenagers. A self-report questionnaire with 47 items measured in a 5-point Likert scale was developed. After a pilot study, the questionnaire was administered to a sample composed by 715 secondary school students from 13 schools in Spain, aged between 12 and 20 years. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of six factors: technological skill, personal security skill, critical skill, devices security skill, informational skill and communication skill. The scale demonstrated support for internal consistency reliability in most of the factors, with Cronbach’s Alpha levels ranging from .63 to .75, and validity. Further research is needed to confirm the factor structure

Comparing Group Processes Between an Intensive Verbal Personal Development Group and an Intensive Dance Movement Personal Development Group

The study aimed to identify and understand the phenomenon of group processes comparing two Personal Development (PD) group modalities. One group mainly used verbalisation and the other mainly used movement for interaction and self-expression. Group processes were expressed through the analysis of the participant’s non-verbal movements and the verbal expressions of their experience in the group. The thesis of this study was that group processes can be expressed and identified through movement and verbal expressions. This study built on previous studies that have explored group processes in both Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) and in Verbal Group Psychotherapy fields in relation to PD groups. Two theoretical frameworks that underpinned this study were: DMP as group work and Group Psychotherapy with the primary focus on group processes in PD groups. These theories were selected for their pertinence to the understanding of group processes and PD groups. The comparison between the groups intended to answer the study’s question: which group processes as expressed verbally and non-verbally in movement can be identified in a dance movement PD group compared with a verbal PD group? Qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology methodology was employed in this study in order to answer the above question using two collection and analysis methods: movement observation using Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and a thematic analysis of participants’ verbal reflections in semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study have shown which group process developed in each of the PD groups identified through the two collections methods. For instance, they were conflict, rivalry, trust, intimacy and cohesion. The analysis of the DM PD group has shown differences in findings between that which the movement observation identified and that which participants described in the interviews. The study aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding group processes in DMP and group psychotherapy theory and research. Exploring group processes through the use of movement and verbalisation adds to the professional development and training in both fields. The study outcome offers an original contribution to practice, through the development of a group work guide for facilitators, derived from the group processes conceptual model. It represents a new way of understanding group processes and dynamics through the observation of a group’s movements and verbal reflections by participants. This guide is aimed at supporting facilitators of PD groups when considering interventions both when leading groups and when reflecting on the groups’ processes

L’Affaire Kota en Israël

En avril 2021, le Tribunal national du travail israélien a rendu une décision historique dans l’affaire Kota. Dans une décision de 200 pages, le tribunal s’est prononcé sur le mécanisme juridique adapté dans les cas de déclaration rétroactive du statut de salarié, une question épineuse du droit du travail israélien. Ce bref article donne tout d’abord un aperçu du contexte juridique entourant la décision rendue dans l’affaire Kota (I), suivi d’un résumé de l’affaire (II), et de quelques mots s..

Changes in the Growth Hormone-IGF-I Axis in Non-obese Diabetic Mice

We investigated the changes in GH-IGF-I axis in non-obese diabetic (NOD)-mice, a model of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetic female NOD mice and their age- and sex-matched controls were sacrificed at 4, 14, 21 and 30 days (30d DM) after the onset of glycosuria. Serum GH levels increased and serum IGF-I levels decreased in the 30d DM group (182 ± 32% and 45 ± 24% of age-matched controls respectively, p < 0.05). Another group (30d DM + I) was given SC insulin, and its serum IGF-I levels remained decreased. Liver GH receptor (GHR) and GH binding protein (GHBP) mRNA levels, as well as liver membrane GH binding assays were deeply decreased in the 30d DM group in comparison to controls. GHR message and binding capacity remained decreased in the 30d DM + I group. Renal GHR mRNA was decreased at 21d DM but not at 14d DM, whereas GHBP mRNA remained unchanged throughout the experiment. In conclusion, increased serum GH levels are documented in NOD diabetic mice, similarly to the changes described in humans. The decrease in GHR levels and decreased serum IGF-I in spite of increased circulating GH suggest a state of GH resistance

A Reading Preference and Risk Taxonomy for Printed Proprietary Information Compromise in the Aerospace and Defense Industry

The protection of proprietary information that users print from their information systems is a significant concern. Researchers have repeatedly indicated that human behaviors and perception are important factors influencing the information security of organizations and have called for more research. In this study, we focused on the investigation of user reading preference, user perceived risk, and seven demographics in the context of compromising printed proprietary information. A Reading Preference and Risk (RPR) taxonomy was developed to classify users respective to potential risks to printed proprietary information. Results of a Webbased survey show that employees were dispersed across the RPR Taxonomy with 15.1% identified as potentially problematic. Our results also showed an overall reading preference for print materials and a high-perceived risk for compromising printed proprietary information. Significant differences between the constructs and demographics suggest that a user’s likelihood to compromise printed proprietary information is affected by frequency of user exposure, confidentiality level, and previous user experience with the compromise of proprietary information. Additionally, age, gender, and a user’s desire to retain e-training content in memory had a significant effect on user reading preference