Modeling and experimental characterization of stepped and v-shaped {311} defects in silicon

Producción CientíficaWe propose an atomistic model to describe extended {311} defects in silicon. It is based on the combination of interstitial and bond defect chains. The model is able to accurately reproduce not only planar {311} defects but also defect structures that show steps, bends, or both. We use molecular dynamics techniques to show that these interstitial and bond defect chains spontaneously transform into extended {311} defects. Simulations are validated by comparing with precise experimental measurements on actual {311} defects. The excellent agreement between the simulated and experimentally derived structures, regarding individual atomic positions and shape of the distinct structural {311} defect units, provides strong evidence for the robustness of the proposed model.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyect TEC2011-27701

Subwavelength grating metamaterial waveguides and ring resonators on a silicon nitride platform

We propose and demonstrate subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterial waveguides and ring resonators on a silicon nitride platform for the first time. The SWG waveguide is engineered such that a large overlap of 53% of the Bloch mode with the top cladding material is achieved, demonstrating excellent potential for applications in evanescent field sensing and light amplification. The devices, which have critical dimensions greater than 100 nm, are fabricated using a commercial rapid turn-around silicon nitride prototyping foundry process using electron beam lithography. Experimental characterization of the fabricated device reveals excellent ring resonator internal quality factor (2.11x10^5) and low propagation loss (~1.5 dB/cm) in the C-band, a significant improvement of both parameters compared to silicon based SWG ring resonators. These results demonstrate the promising prospects of SWG metamaterial structures for silicon nitride based photonic integrated circuits.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Laser & Photonics Reviews for publicatio

Creative writing in A level English literature

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in New Writing: The International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing, 6(3), 187 - 195, 2009, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14790720903556155.This is a time of change and real development for creative writing at A level. Whilst it has been an important part of English Language and English Language & Literature A level specifications for some time, its presence within English Literature has been marginal, and is an option that has rarely been adopted by teachers of the subject. Recent changes to English Literature specifications, however, mean that creative writing (along with recreative and transformative writing) now exists in a much more formalised way on all A level English Literature specifications. As the largest of the three A level Englishes, this is a significant development. The advent of creative writing in English Literature makes this an important issue in teachers' Continuing Professional Development (Green, 2008) and raises important questions for the teaching body in schools and lecturers in further education. What is the role of creative writing in teaching literature? How do creative and analytical writing relate to each other? What is the relationship between creative writing and reading? This paper offers an initial response to these and other issues, and suggests some of the ways in which creative writing can be used both in its own right and to enhance the study of English Literature at A level

Creative writing in A level English literature

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in New Writing: The International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing, 6(3), 187 - 195, 2009, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14790720903556155.This is a time of change and real development for creative writing at A level. Whilst it has been an important part of English Language and English Language & Literature A level specifications for some time, its presence within English Literature has been marginal, and is an option that has rarely been adopted by teachers of the subject. Recent changes to English Literature specifications, however, mean that creative writing (along with recreative and transformative writing) now exists in a much more formalised way on all A level English Literature specifications. As the largest of the three A level Englishes, this is a significant development. The advent of creative writing in English Literature makes this an important issue in teachers' Continuing Professional Development (Green, 2008) and raises important questions for the teaching body in schools and lecturers in further education. What is the role of creative writing in teaching literature? How do creative and analytical writing relate to each other? What is the relationship between creative writing and reading? This paper offers an initial response to these and other issues, and suggests some of the ways in which creative writing can be used both in its own right and to enhance the study of English Literature at A level

Graphene oxide integrated silicon photonics for detection of vapour phase volatile organic compounds

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2020-01-07, accepted 2020-05-17, registration 2020-05-20, pub-electronic 2020-06-12, online 2020-06-12, collection 2020-12Publication status: PublishedAbstract: The optical response of a graphene oxide integrated silicon micro-ring resonator (GOMRR) to a range of vapour phase Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is reported. The response of the GOMRR to all but one (hexane) of the VOCs tested is significantly higher than that of the uncoated (control) silicon MRR, for the same vapour flow rate. An iterative Finite Difference Eigenmode (FDE) simulation reveals that the sensitivity of the GO integrated device (in terms of RIU/nm) is enhanced by a factor of ~2, which is coupled with a lower limit of detection. Critically, the simulations reveal that the strength of the optical response is determined by molecular specific changes in the local refractive index probed by the evanescent field of the guided optical mode in the device. Analytical modelling of the experimental data, based on Hill-Langmuir adsorption characteristics, suggests that these changes in the local refractive index are determined by the degree of molecular cooperativity, which is enhanced for molecules with a polarity that is high, relative to their kinetic diameter. We believe this reflects a molecular dependent capillary condensation within the graphene oxide interlayers, which, when combined with highly sensitive optical detection, provides a potential route for discriminating between different vapour phase VOCs

Ge-on-Si Based Mid-infrared Plasmonics

In the last decade, silicon photonics has undergone an impressive development driven by an increasing number of technological applications. Plasmonics has not yet made its way to the microelectronic industry, mostly because of the lack of compatibility of typical plasmonic materials with foundry processes. In this framework, we have developed a plasmonic platform based on heavily n-doped Ge grown on silicon substrates. We developed growth protocols to reach n-doping levels exceeding 1020 cm-3, allowing us to tune the plasma wavelength of Ge in the 3-15 μm range. The plasmonic resonances of Ge-on-Si nanoantennas have been predicted by simulations, confirmed by experimental spectra and exploited for molecular sensing. Our work represents a benchmark for group-IV mid-IR plasmonics

Specific niche requirements underpin multidecadal range edge stability, but may introduce barriers for climate change adaptation

Aim: To investigate some of the environmental variables underpinning the past and present distribution of an ecosystem engineer near its poleward range edge. Location: >500 locations spanning >7,400 km around Ireland. Methods: We collated past and present distribution records on a known climate change indicator, the reef-forming worm Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus, 1767) in a biogeographic boundary region over 182 years (1836–2018). This included repeat sampling of 60 locations in the cooler 1950s and again in the warmer 2000s and 2010s. Using species distribution modelling, we identified some of the environmental drivers that likely underpin S. alveolata distribution towards the leading edge of its biogeographical range in Ireland. Results: Through plotting 981 records of presence and absence, we revealed a discontinuous distribution with discretely bounded sub-populations, and edges that coincide with the locations of tidal fronts. Repeat surveys of 60 locations across three time periods showed evidence of population increases, declines, local extirpation and recolonization events within the range, but no evidence of extensions beyond the previously identified distribution limits, despite decades of warming. At a regional scale, populations were relatively stable through time, but local populations in the cold Irish Sea appear highly dynamic and vulnerable to local extirpation risk. Contemporary distribution data (2013–2018) computed with modelled environmental data identified specific niche requirements which can explain the many distribution gaps, namely wave height, tidal amplitude, stratification index, then substrate type. Main conclusions: In the face of climate warming, such specific niche requirements can create environmental barriers that may prevent species from extending beyond their leading edges. These boundaries may limit a species’ capacity to redistribute in response to global environmental change

A map of transcriptional heterogeneity and regulatory variation in human microglia.

Microglia, the tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), play critical roles in immune defense, development and homeostasis. However, isolating microglia from humans in large numbers is challenging. Here, we profiled gene expression variation in primary human microglia isolated from 141 patients undergoing neurosurgery. Using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, we identify how age, sex and clinical pathology influence microglia gene expression and which genetic variants have microglia-specific functions using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping. We follow up one of our findings using a human induced pluripotent stem cell-based macrophage model to fine-map a candidate causal variant for Alzheimer's disease at the BIN1 locus. Our study provides a population-scale transcriptional map of a critically important cell for human CNS development and disease

The role of diet in the aetiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as IBD, are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Although the aetiopathogenesis of IBD is largely unknown, it is widely thought that diet has a crucial role in the development and progression of IBD. Indeed, epidemiological and genetic association studies have identified a number of promising dietary and genetic risk factors for IBD. These preliminary studies have led to major interest in investigating the complex interaction between diet, host genetics, the gut microbiota and immune function in the pathogenesis of IBD. In this Review, we discuss the recent epidemiological, gene–environment interaction, microbiome and animal studies that have explored the relationship between diet and the risk of IBD. In addition, we highlight the limitations of these prior studies, in part by explaining their contradictory findings, and review future directions

Overview of JET results for optimising ITER operation

The JET 2019–2020 scientific and technological programme exploited the results of years of concerted scientific and engineering work, including the ITER-like wall (ILW: Be wall and W divertor) installed in 2010, improved diagnostic capabilities now fully available, a major neutral beam injection upgrade providing record power in 2019–2020, and tested the technical and procedural preparation for safe operation with tritium. Research along three complementary axes yielded a wealth of new results. Firstly, the JET plasma programme delivered scenarios suitable for high fusion power and alpha particle (α) physics in the coming D–T campaign (DTE2), with record sustained neutron rates, as well as plasmas for clarifying the impact of isotope mass on plasma core, edge and plasma-wall interactions, and for ITER pre-fusion power operation. The efficacy of the newly installed shattered pellet injector for mitigating disruption forces and runaway electrons was demonstrated. Secondly, research on the consequences of long-term exposure to JET-ILW plasma was completed, with emphasis on wall damage and fuel retention, and with analyses of wall materials and dust particles that will help validate assumptions and codes for design and operation of ITER and DEMO. Thirdly, the nuclear technology programme aiming to deliver maximum technological return from operations in D, T and D–T benefited from the highest D–D neutron yield in years, securing results for validating radiation transport and activation codes, and nuclear data for ITER