Thermodynamic modeling of the NbeB system

In the present work, the Nb–B binary system was thermodynamically optimized. The stable phases in this system are BCC (niobium), Nb3B2, NbB, Nb3B4, Nb5B6, NbB2, B (boron) and liquid L. The borides Nb3B2, NbB, Nb3B4 and Nb5B6 and the B (boron) were modeled as stoichiometric phases and the liquid L, BCC (niobium) and NbB2 as solutions, using the sublattices model, with their excess terms described by the Redlich–Kister polynomials. The Gibbs energy coefficients were optimized based on the experimental values of enthalpy of formation, low temperature specific heat, liquidus temperatures and temperatures of invariant transformations. The calculated Nb–B diagram reproduces well the experimental values from the literature

Magnetoresistance of doped silicon

We have performed longitudinal magnetoresistance measurements on heavily n-doped silicon for donor concentrations exceeding the critical value for the metal-non-metal transition. The results are compared to those from a many-body theory where the donor-electrons are assumed to reside at the bottom of the many-valley conduction band of the host. Good qualitative agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

E-ARK: Harmonising pan-European archival processes to ensure continuous access to e-government records and information

There has been a widespread shift to electronic ways of conducting business that has transformed existing relationships between governments, governments and citizens, and governments and business. This move to electronic interactions is supported by new busi- ness systems that streamline and automate transactions, enable integration of information and service delivery and enhance collaboration between participants. Such changes in the way government business is carried out have significant implications for how public ad- ministrations document their activities and make that information available to both gov- ernment and citizens to aid future decision making and accountability. Because digital rec- ords are particularly vulnerable to technological obsolescence and media decay, ensuring future access to the information created by government is a challenging issue for all juris- dictions. This paper focus on the E-ARK project, a European endeavour to standardise and create tools for consistently transferring digital records between business systems and digi- tal archives. The E-ARK approach has the potential to simplify and make consistent diverse approaches to solving the issue of how to transfer information between the ICT systems in use in government, and the archives charged with the responsibility for ongoing and man- agement of the information considered to be of long-term significance.This work was co-funded by KEEP SOLUTIONS, LDA

Humidity induces changes in the dimensions of hydrogel-coated wool yarns

Polymeric hydrogel based on acrylic acid (AA) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) was prepared by photopolymerization reaction, using nano-alumina as the inorganic crosslinker. Hydrogel-coated wool yarns determine their dimensional changes under humidity conditions. Surface morphology of the hydrogel-coated wool yarns was carried out using SEM microscopy. The hydrogel was further characterized by Fourier transformer infrared spectrum (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG). This contribution showed that UV-initiated polymerization coating wool yarns can change the functional properties of wool fibers.ThisresearchwassupportedbytheFundamentalResearchFundsfortheCentralUniversities (JUSRP115A03) and Chinese Foundation Key Projects of Governmental Cooperation in International Scientific and Technological Innovation (2016YFE0115700). This study was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020—Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heavily n-doped Ge : low-temperature magnetoresistance properties on the metallic side of the metal–nonmetal transition

We report here an experimental and theoretical study on the magnetoresistance properties of heavily phosphorous doped germanium on the metallic side of the metal–nonmetal transition. An anomalous regime, formed by negative values of the magnetoresistance, was observed by performing low-temperature measurements and explained within the generalized Drude model, due to the many-body effects. It reveals a key mechanism behind the magnetoresistance properties at low temperatures and, therefore, constitutes a path to its manipulation in such materials of great interest in fundamental physics and technological applications

The utility of ICD-11 and DSM-5 traits for differentiating patients with personality disorders from other clinical groups

Copyright © 2021 Pires, Henriques-Calado, Sousa Ferreira, Bach, Paulino, Gama Marques, Ribeiro Moreira, Grácio and Gonçalves. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.The ICD-11 Classification of Personality Disorders delineates five trait domain qualifiers (i.e., negative affectivity, detachment, dissociality, disinhibition, and anankastia), whereas the DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorders also delineates a separate domain of psychoticism. These six combined traits not only characterize individual stylistic features, but also the severity of their maladaptive expressions. It was, therefore, the aim of this study to investigate the utility of ICD-11 and DSM-5 trait domains to differentiate patients with personality disorders (PD) from patients with other mental disorders (non-PD). The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form Plus (PID5BF+M) was administered to a sample of patients diagnosed with a personality disorder (N = 124, M age = 42.21, 42.7% females) along with a sample of patients diagnosed with other mental disorders (N = 335, M age = 44.83, 46.6% females). Group differences were explored using the independent sample t test or the Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples, and discriminant factor analysis was used to maximize group differences for each trait domain and facet score. The PD group showed significantly higher scores for the total PID5BF+M composite score, for the trait domains of negative affectivity, antagonism/dissociality, and disinhibition and for the trait facets of emotional lability, manipulativeness, deceitfulness, and impulsivity. The trait domains of disinhibition, negative affectivity, and antagonism/dissociality as well as the trait facets of impulsivity, deceitfulness, emotional lability, and manipulativeness were the best discriminators between PD and non-PD patients. The global PID5BF+M composite score was also one of the best discriminators supporting its potential as a global severity index for detecting personality dysfunction. Finally, high scores in three or more of the 18 PID5BF+M facets suggested the possible presence of a PD diagnosis. Despite some limitations, our findings suggest that the ICD-11 and DSM-5 traits have the potential to specifically describe the stylistic features that characterize individuals with PD, including the severity of their maladaptive expressions.This research was financially supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [Foundation for Science and Technology] through the Research Center for Psychological Science, CICPSI (UIDP/04527/2020) and the Business Research Unit, BRU-IUL (UIDB/00315/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Surface and grain boundary scattering in nanometric Cu thin films: A quantitative analysis including twin boundaries

The relative contributions of various defects to the measured resistivity in nanocrystalline Cu were investigated, including a quantitative account of twin-boundary scattering. It has been difficult to quantitatively assess the impact twin boundary scattering has on the classical size effect of electrical resistivity, due to limitations in characterizing twin boundaries in nanocrystalline Cu. In this study, crystal orientation maps of nanocrystalline Cu films were obtained via precession-assisted electron diffraction in the transmission electron microscope. These orientation images were used to characterize grain boundaries and to measure the average grain size of a microstructure, with and without considering twin boundaries. The results of these studies indicate that the contribution from grain-boundary scattering is the dominant factor (as compared to surface scattering) leading to enhanced resistivity. The resistivity data can be well-described by the combined Fuchs-Sondheimer surface scattering model and Mayadas-Shatzkes grain-boundary scattering model using Matthiessen\u27s rule with a surface specularity coefficient of p = 0.48 and a grain-boundary reflection coefficient of R = 0.26

What is the role of cardiorespiratory fitness and sedentary behavior in relationship between the genetic predisposition to obesity and cardiometabolic risk score?

Background: Genetic factors along with inadequate lifestyle habits are associated with the development of cardiometabolic alterations. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the role of sedentary behavior on the relationship between rs9939609 polymorphism (fat mass and obesity-associated gene-FTO) and cardiometabolic risk score according to cardiorespiratory ftness (CRF) levels in children and adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1215 children and adolescents (692 girls), aged between 6 and 17 years. Screen time as a marker of sedentary behavior was evaluated through a self-reported questionnaire and CRF was estimated using the 6-min walking and running test. The genotyping of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was performed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Clustered cardiometabolic risk score (cMetS) was calculated by summing z-scores of total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, glucose, systolic blood pressure, and waist circumference, and dividing it by fve. Moderation analyses were tested using multiple linear regression models. Results: The coefcient of the interaction term of FTO (rs9939609) and screen time indicated that screen time was a signifcant moderator on the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and cMetS (p=0.047) in children and adolescents classifed with low CRF (β=0.001; 95% CI=0.001; 0.002). It was observed a signifcant association between genotype risk (AA) of FTO polymorphism and cMetS, in participants that spent more than 378 min a day in front of screen-based devices (β=0.203; 95% CI=0.000; 0.405). No interaction term was found for those with high CRF. Conclusions: High sedentary behavior seems to infuence the relationship between genetic predisposition to obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents with low CRF