Mechanical Properties and Fracture Dynamics of Silicene Membranes

As graphene became one of the most important materials today, there is a renewed interest on others similar structures. One example is silicene, the silicon analogue of graphene. It share some the remarkable graphene properties, such as the Dirac cone, but presents some distinct ones, such as a pronounced structural buckling. We have investigated, through density functional based tight-binding (DFTB), as well as reactive molecular dynamics (using ReaxFF), the mechanical properties of suspended single-layer silicene. We calculated the elastic constants, analyzed the fracture patterns and edge reconstructions. We also addressed the stress distributions, unbuckling mechanisms and the fracture dependence on the temperature. We analysed the differences due to distinct edge morphologies, namely zigzag and armchair

ANALYSIS OF THE PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION POLICY FOR THE U.S. NAVY SUPPLY CORPS COMMUNITY

MBA Professional ProjectThe Department of Defense is always examining opportunities to use its budget resources more efficiently while generating the right incentives to recruit, train and retain the best service members. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) funding requirements continue to increase at a rate that is significantly faster than the DoD budget allows. This has resulted in the Navy Personnel Command issuing letters of intent (NAVADMIN 159/17, 2017), allowing service members to start their PCS process before funding is granted and their orders are written. This study examines whether there are potential savings from implementing the option of two consecutive tours in the same CONUS geographical location. The study focuses on the Navy Supply Corps community, O1–O4, and uses a financial cost-benefit analysis (FCBA) to identify the relative strengths and weakness of a two-tour requirement in the same geographical location when compared to the status quo. Our findings show that there are positive net benefits for each individual set of PCS orders when facing a two-tour in the same CONUS geographical location. Our recommendation to Supply Corps Community senior leaders is to consider revising the PCS policy for their community with the goal of cost-saving and talent retention.http://archive.org/details/analysisoftheper1094559566Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States Nav

Who benefits from reducing the cost of formality? quantile regression discontinuity analysis

This chapter studies the effect of increasing formality via tax reduction and simplification schemes on micro-firm performance. We develop a simple theoretical model that yields two intuitive results. First, low- and high-ability entrepreneurs are unlikely to be affected by a tax reduction and therefore, the reduction has an impact only on a segment of the microfirm population. Second, the benefits to such reduction, as measured by profits and revenues, are increasing in the entrepreneur's ability. Then, we estimate the effect of formality on the entire conditional distribution (quantiles) of revenues using the 1996 Brazilian SIMPLES program and a rich survey of formal and informal micro-firms. The econometric approach compares eligible and non-eligible firms, born before and after SIMPLES in a local interval about the introduction of SIMPLES. We develop an estimator that combines both quantile regression and the regression discontinuity design. The econometric results corroborate the positive effect of formality on micro-firms' performance and produce a clear characterization of who benefits from these programs. © 2012 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Who benefits from reducing the cost of formality? Quantile regression discontinuity analysis

This chapter studies the effect of increasing formality via tax reduction and simplification schemes on micro-firm performance. We develop a simple theoretical model that yields two intuitive results. First, low- and high-ability entrepreneurs are unlikely to be affected by a tax reduction and therefore, the reduction has an impact only on a segment of the microfirm population. Second, the benefits to such reduction, as measured by profits and revenues, are increasing in the entrepreneur's ability. Then, we estimate the effect of formality on the entire conditional distribution (quantiles) of revenues using the 1996 Brazilian SIMPLES program and a rich survey of formal and informal micro-firms. The econometric approach compares eligible and non-eligible firms, born before and after SIMPLES in a local interval about the introduction of SIMPLES. We develop an estimator that combines both quantile regression and the regression discontinuity design. The econometric results corroborate the positive effect of formality on micro-firms' performance and produce a clear characterization of who benefits from these programs

A VEL3 histone deacetylase complex establishes a maternal epigenetic state controlling progeny seed dormancy

Mother plants play an important role in the control of dormancy and dispersal characters of their progeny. In Arabidopsis seed dormancy is imposed by the embryo-surrounding tissues of the endosperm and seed coat. Here we show that VERNALIZATION5/VIN3-LIKE 3 (VEL3) maintains maternal control over progeny seed dormancy. Acting early in endosperm development, it establishes an epigenetic state that primes the depth of primary seed dormancy that will be reached later during seed maturation. VEL3 relocates MSI1 to the nucleolus and associates with other components of the histone deacetylase complex (HDAC). Furthermore VEL3 preferentially associates with pericentromeric chromatin and is required for deacetylation and H3K27me3 deposition in the central cell. Interestingly, the epigenetic state established by the maternal VEL3 is retained in mature seeds, and controls seed dormancy in part through the repression of programmed cell death-associated gene ORE1. Our data demonstrates a novel mechanism by which maternal control of progeny seed physiology persists post-shedding, maintaining parental control of seed behaviour

Mechanical suppression of osteolytic bone metastases in advanced breast cancer patients: A randomised controlled study protocol evaluating safety, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of exercise as a targeted medicine

Background: Skeletal metastases present a major challenge for clinicians, representing an advanced and typically incurable stage of cancer. Bone is also the most common location for metastatic breast carcinoma, with skeletal lesions identified in over 80% of patients with advanced breast cancer. Preclinical models have demonstrated the ability of mechanical stimulation to suppress tumour formation and promote skeletal preservation at bone sites with osteolytic lesions, generating modulatory interference of tumour-driven bone remodelling. Preclinical studies have also demonstrated anti-cancer effects through exercise by minimising tumour hypoxia, normalising tumour vasculature and increasing tumoural blood perfusion. This study proposes to explore the promising role of targeted exercise to suppress tumour growth while concomitantly delivering broader health benefits in patients with advanced breast cancer with osteolytic bone metastases. Methods: This single-blinded, two-armed, randomised and controlled pilot study aims to establish the safety, feasibility and efficacy of an individually tailored, modular multi-modal exercise programme incorporating spinal isometric training (targeted muscle contraction) in 40 women with advanced breast cancer and stable osteolytic spinal metastases. Participants will be randomly assigned to exercise or usual medical care. The intervention arm will receive a 3-month clinically supervised exercise programme, which if proven to be safe and efficacious will be offered to the control-arm patients following study completion. Primary endpoints (programme feasibility, safety, tolerance and adherence) and secondary endpoints (tumour morphology, serum tumour biomarkers, bone metabolism, inflammation, anthropometry, body composition, bone pain, physical function and patient-reported outcomes) will be measured at baseline and following the intervention. Discussion: Exercise medicine may positively alter tumour biology through numerous mechanical and nonmechanical mechanisms. This randomised controlled pilot trial will explore the preliminary effects of targeted exercise on tumour morphology and circulating metastatic tumour biomarkers using an osteolytic skeletal metastases model in patients with breast cancer. The study is principally aimed at establishing feasibility and safety. If proven to be safe and feasible, results from this study could have important implications for the delivery of this exercise programme to patients with advanced cancer and sclerotic skeletal metastases or with skeletal lesions present in haematological cancers (such as osteolytic lesions in multiple myeloma), for which future research is recommended. Trial registration: anzctr.org.au, ACTRN-12616001368426. Registered on 4 October 2016

Non-negative Wigner functions in prime dimensions

According to a classical result due to Hudson, the Wigner function of a pure, continuous variable quantum state is non-negative if and only if the state is Gaussian. We have proven an analogous statement for finite-dimensional quantum systems. In this context, the role of Gaussian states is taken on by stabilizer states. The general results have been published in [D. Gross, J. Math. Phys. 47, 122107 (2006)]. For the case of systems of odd prime dimension, a greatly simplified proof can be employed which still exhibits the main ideas. The present paper gives a self-contained account of these methods.Comment: 5 pages. Special case of a result proved in quant-ph/0602001. The proof is greatly simplified, making the general case more accessible. To appear in Appl. Phys. B as part of the proceedings of the 2006 DPG Spring Meeting (Quantum Optics and Photonics section