1,722 research outputs found
An electronic model for self-assembled hybrid organic/perovskite semiconductors: reverse band edge electronic states ordering and spin-orbit coupling
Based on density functional theory, the electronic and optical properties of
hybrid organic/perovskite crystals are thoroughly investigated. We consider the
mono-crystalline 4FPEPI as material model and demonstrate the optical process
is governed by three active Bloch states at the {\Gamma} point of the reduced
Brillouin zone with a reverse ordering compared to tetrahedrally bonded
semiconductors. Giant spin-orbit coupling effects and optical activities are
subsequently inferred from symmetry analysis.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure
Factors affecting the performance of porous structures used as oxygen fuel cell electrodes
Design methods for improving performance of porous structures used as oxygen fuel cell electrode
Trajectory Synthesis for Fisher Information Maximization
Estimation of model parameters in a dynamic system can be significantly
improved with the choice of experimental trajectory. For general, nonlinear
dynamic systems, finding globally "best" trajectories is typically not
feasible; however, given an initial estimate of the model parameters and an
initial trajectory, we present a continuous-time optimization method that
produces a locally optimal trajectory for parameter estimation in the presence
of measurement noise. The optimization algorithm is formulated to find system
trajectories that improve a norm on the Fisher information matrix. A
double-pendulum cart apparatus is used to numerically and experimentally
validate this technique. In simulation, the optimized trajectory increases the
minimum eigenvalue of the Fisher information matrix by three orders of
magnitude compared to the initial trajectory. Experimental results show that
this optimized trajectory translates to an order of magnitude improvement in
the parameter estimate error in practice.Comment: 12 page
Reliable online social network data collection
Large quantities of information are shared through online social networks, making them attractive sources of data for social network research. When studying the usage of online social networks, these data may not describe properly usersβ behaviours. For instance, the data collected often include content shared by the users only, or content accessible to the researchers, hence obfuscating a large amount of data that would help understanding usersβ behaviours and privacy concerns. Moreover, the data collection methods employed in experiments may also have an effect on data reliability when participants self-report inacurrate information or are observed while using a simulated application. Understanding the effects of these collection methods on data reliability is paramount for the study of social networks; for understanding user behaviour; for designing socially-aware applications and services; and for mining data collected from such social networks and applications. This chapter reviews previous research which has looked at social network data collection and user behaviour in these networks. We highlight shortcomings in the methods used in these studies, and introduce our own methodology and user study based on the Experience Sampling Method; we claim our methodology leads to the collection of more reliable data by capturing both those data which are shared and not shared. We conclude with suggestions for collecting and mining data from online social networks.Postprin
Modulated Floquet Topological Insulators
Floquet topological insulators are topological phases of matter generated by
the application of time-periodic perturbations on otherwise conventional
insulators. We demonstrate that spatial variations in the time-periodic
potential lead to localized quasi-stationary states in two-dimensional systems.
These states include one-dimensional interface modes at the nodes of the
external potential, and fractionalized excitations at vortices of the external
potential. We also propose a setup by which light can induce currents in these
systems. We explain these results by showing a close analogy to px+ipy
superconductors
Effect of Animal and Industrial Trans Fatty Acids on HDL and LDL Cholesterol Levels in Humans β A Quantitative Review
Background: Trans fatty acids are produced either by industrial hydrogenation or by biohydrogenation in the rumens of cows and sheep. Industrial trans fatty acids lower HDL cholesterol, raise LDL cholesterol, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The effects of conjugated linoleic acid and trans fatty acids from ruminant animals are less clear. We reviewed the literature, estimated the effects trans fatty acids from ruminant sources and of conjugated trans linoleic acid (CLA) on blood lipoproteins, and compared these with industrial trans fatty acids. Methodology/Principal Findings: We searched Medline and scanned reference lists for intervention trials that reported effects of industrial trans fatty acids, ruminant trans fatty acids or conjugated linoleic acid on LDL and HDL cholesterol in humans. The 39 studies that met our criteria provided results of 29 treatments with industrial trans fatty acids, 6 with ruminant trans fatty acids and 17 with CLA. Control treatments differed between studies; to enable comparison between studies we recalculated for each study what the effect of trans fatty acids on lipoprotein would be if they isocalorically replaced cis mono unsaturated fatty acids. In linear regression analysis the plasma LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio increased by 0.055 (95% CI 0.044-0.066) for each % of dietary energy from industrial trans fatty acids replacing cis monounsaturated fatty acids The increase in the LDL to HDL ratio for each % of energy was 0.038 (95% CI 0.012-0.065) for ruminant trans fatty acids, and 0.043 (95% CI 0.012-0.074) for conjugated linoleic acid (p = 0.99 for difference between CLA and industrial trans fatty acids; p = 0.37 for ruminant versus industrial trans fatty acids). Conclusions/Significance: Published data suggest that all fatty acids with a double bond in the trans configuration raise the ratio of plasma LDL to HDL cholesterol
Effect of a High Intake of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Lipoprotein Levels in Healthy Human Subjects
Background -Trans fatty acids are produced either by industrial hydrogenation or by biohydrogenation in the rumens of cows and sheep. Industrial trans fatty acids lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The effects of trans fatty acids from ruminants are less clear. We investigated the effect on blood lipids of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a trans fatty acid largely restricted to ruminant fats. Methodology/Principal Findings - Sixty-one healthy women and men were sequentially fed each of three diets for three weeks, in random order, for a total of nine weeks. Diets were identical except for 7% of energy (approximately 20 g/day), which was provided either by oleic acid, by industrial trans fatty acids, or by a mixture of 80% cis-9, trans-11 and 20% trans-10, cis-12 CLA. After the oleic acid diet, mean (Β± SD) serum LDL cholesterol was 2.68Β±0.62 mmol/L compared to 3.00Β±0.66 mmol/L after industrial trans fatty acids (
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