Long-range transfer of electron-phonon coupling in oxide superlattices

The electron-phonon interaction is of central importance for the electrical and thermal properties of solids, and its influence on superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance, and other many-body phenomena in correlated-electron materials is currently the subject of intense research. However, the non-local nature of the interactions between valence electrons and lattice ions, often compounded by a plethora of vibrational modes, present formidable challenges for attempts to experimentally control and theoretically describe the physical properties of complex materials. Here we report a Raman scattering study of the lattice dynamics in superlattices of the high-temperature superconductor $\bf YBa_2 Cu_3 O_7$ and the colossal-magnetoresistance compound $\bf La_{2/3}Ca_{1/3}MnO_{3}$ that suggests a new approach to this problem. We find that a rotational mode of the MnO$_6$ octahedra in $\bf La_{2/3}Ca_{1/3}MnO_{3}$ experiences pronounced superconductivity-induced lineshape anomalies, which scale linearly with the thickness of the $\bf YBa_2 Cu_3 O_7$ layers over a remarkably long range of several tens of nanometers. The transfer of the electron-phonon coupling between superlattice layers can be understood as a consequence of long-range Coulomb forces in conjunction with an orbital reconstruction at the interface. The superlattice geometry thus provides new opportunities for controlled modification of the electron-phonon interaction in complex materials.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. Revised version to be published in Nature Material

Positivity, entanglement entropy, and minimal surfaces

The path integral representation for the Renyi entanglement entropies of integer index n implies these information measures define operator correlation functions in QFT. We analyze whether the limit $n\rightarrow 1$, corresponding to the entanglement entropy, can also be represented in terms of a path integral with insertions on the region's boundary, at first order in $n-1$. This conjecture has been used in the literature in several occasions, and specially in an attempt to prove the Ryu-Takayanagi holographic entanglement entropy formula. We show it leads to conditional positivity of the entropy correlation matrices, which is equivalent to an infinite series of polynomial inequalities for the entropies in QFT or the areas of minimal surfaces representing the entanglement entropy in the AdS-CFT context. We check these inequalities in several examples. No counterexample is found in the few known exact results for the entanglement entropy in QFT. The inequalities are also remarkable satisfied for several classes of minimal surfaces but we find counterexamples corresponding to more complicated geometries. We develop some analytic tools to test the inequalities, and as a byproduct, we show that positivity for the correlation functions is a local property when supplemented with analyticity. We also review general aspects of positivity for large N theories and Wilson loops in AdS-CFT.Comment: 36 pages, 10 figures. Changes in presentation and discussion of Wilson loops. Conclusions regarding entanglement entropy unchange

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund

What's wrong with John? A randomised controlled trial of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training with nursing students

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of mental health problems have been found to be higher among university students compared to their non-student peers. Nursing students in particular face a range of additional stressors which may impact their undergraduate performance and their careers. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) aims to increase mental health literacy and to reduce stigma and may positively impact on the student population. This paper describes a MHFA randomised controlled trial targeting nursing students at a large Australian university. This study aimed to measure the impact of the MHFA course on mental health literacy, mental health first aid intentions, confidence in helping someone with a mental health problem and stigmatising attitudes including social distance. METHODS: Participants were first year nursing students (n = 181) randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 92) or control (n = 89) group. Intervention group participants received the standardised MHFA course for nursing students. Online self-report questionnaires were completed at three time intervals: baseline (one week prior to the intervention: T1) (n = 140), post intervention (T2) (n = 120), and two months post intervention (T3) (n = 109). Measures included demographics, mental health knowledge, recognition of depression, confidence in helping, mental health first aid intentions and stigmatising attitudes including social distance. Repeated measures ANOVA was computed to measure if the impact of time (T1, T2, T3) and group (intervention and control) on the outcome variables. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement among intervention compared to control group participants across the three time periods for knowledge scores (p < 0.001), confidence in helping (p < 0.001), mental health first aid intentions (p < 0.001), total personal stigma (p < 0.05), personal dangerous/unpredictable stigma (p < 0.05) and social distance (p < 0.05) scores. CONCLUSION: MHFA is useful training to embed in university courses and has the potential to enhance mental health literacy and reduce stigmatising attitudes and social distance. While this course has particular salience for nursing and other health science students, there are broader benefits to the general university population that should be considered and opportunities accordingly explored for all students to complete the course. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000861651 . Retrospectively registered 11 August 2014

Clinical and radiographic outcomes of the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with segmental pedicle screws and combined local autograft and allograft bone for spinal fusion: a retrospective case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High morbidity has been reported with iliac crest bone graft harvesting; however, donor bone is typically necessary for posterior spinal fusion. Autograft bone combined with allograft may reduce the morbidity associated with iliac crest bone harvesting and improve the fusion rate. Our aim in this study was to determine the presence of complications, pseudarthrosis, non-union, and infection using combined <it>in situ </it>local autograft bone and freeze-dried cancellous allograft bone in patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A combination of <it>in situ </it>local autograft bone and freeze-dried cancellous allograft blocks were used in 50 consecutive patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated by posterior fusion and Moss Miami pedicle screw instrumentation. Results were assessed clinically and radiographically and quality of life and functional outcome was evaluated by administration of a Chinese version of the SRS-22 survey.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 41 female and 9 male patients included for analysis with an average age of 14.7 years (range, 12-17). All patients had a minimum follow-up of 18 months (range, 18 to 40 months). The average preoperative Cobb angle was 49.8° (range, 40° to 86°). The average number of levels fused was 9.8 (range, 6-15). Patients had a minimum postoperative follow-up of 18 months. At final follow-up, the average Cobb angle correction was 77.8% (range, 43.4 to 92.5%). There was no obvious loss in the correction, and the average loss of correction was 1.1° (range, 0° to 4°). There was no pseudarthrosis and no major complications.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>In situ </it>autograft bone combined with allograft bone may be a promising method enhances spinal fusion in AIS treated with pedicle screw placement. By eliminating the need for iliac crest bone harvesting, significant morbidity may be avoided.</p

A conceptual framework for crop-based agri-food supply chain characterization under uncertainty

[EN] Crop-based Agri-food Supply Chains (AFSCs) are complex systems that face multiple sources of uncertainty that can cause a significant imbalance between supply and demand in terms of product varieties, quantities, qualities, customer requirements, times and prices, all of which greatly complicate their management. Poor management of these sources of uncertainty in these AFSCs can have negative impact on quality, safety, and sustainability by reducing the logistic efficiency and increasing the waste. Therefore, it becomes crucial to develop models in order to deal with the key sources of uncertainty. For this purpose, it is necessary to precisely understand and define the problem under study. Even, the characterisation process of this domains is also a difficult and time-consuming task, especially when the right directions and standards are not in place. In this chapter, a Conceptual Framework is proposed that systematically collects those aspects that are relevant for an adequate crop-based AFSC management under uncertainty.Authors of this publication acknowledge the contribution of the Project 691249, RUC-APS "Enhancing and implementing Knowledge based ICT solutions within high Risk and Uncertain Conditions for Agriculture Production Systems" (www.ruc-aps.eu), funded by the European Union under their funding scheme H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015Alemany Díaz, MDM.; Esteso, A.; Ortiz Bas, Á.; Hernández Hormazabal, JE.; Fernández, A.; Garrido, A.; Martin, J.... (2021). A conceptual framework for crop-based agri-food supply chain characterization under uncertainty. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control. 280:19-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51047-3_2S1933280Taylor, D.H., Fearne, A.: Towards a framework for improvement in the management of demand in agri-food supply chains. Supply Chain Manage. 11, 379–384 (2006)Matopoulos, A., Vlachopoulou, M., Manthou, V., Manos, B.: A conceptual framework for supply chain collaboration: empirical evidence from the agri-food industry. Supply Chain Manage. 12, 177–186 (2007)Ahumada, O., Villalobos, J.R.: Application of planning models in the agri-food supply chain: a review. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 196, 1–20 (2009)Iakovou, E., Vlachos, D., Achillas, C., Anastasiadis, F.: A methodological framework for the design of green supply chains for the agrifood sector. Paper presented at the 2nd international conference on supply chains, Katerini, 5–7 Oct 2012Manzini, R., Accorsi, R.: The new conceptual framework for food supply chain assessment. J. Food Eng. 115, 251–263 (2013)Shukla, M., Jharkharia, S.: Agri-fresh produce supply chain management: a state-of-the-art literature review. Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manage. 33, 114–158 (2013)Lemma, Y., Kitaw, D., Gatew, G.: Loss in perishable food supply chain: an optimization approach literature review. Int. J. Sci. Eng. Res. 5, 302–311 (2014)Tsolakis, N.K., Keramydas, C.A., Toka, A.K., Aidonis, D.A., Iakovou, E.T.: Agrifood supply chain management: a comprehensive hierarchical decision-making framework and a critical taxonomy. Biosyst. Eng. 120, 47–64 (2014)Van der Vorst, J.G., Da Silva, C.A., Trienekens, J.H.: Agro-industrial Supply Chain Management: Concepts and Applications. FAO (2007)Hernandez, J., Mortimer, M., Patelli, E., Liu, S., Drummond, C., Kehr, E., Calabrese, N., Iannacone, R., Kacprzyk, J., Alemany, M.M.E., Gardner, D.: RUC-APS: enhancing and implementing knowledge based ICT solutions within high risk and uncertain conditions for agriculture production systems. In: 11th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Industrial Management, Valencia, Spain (2017)Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M.: Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks (1994)Alemany, M.M.E., Alarcón, F., Lario, F.C., Boj, J.J.: An application to support the temporal and spatial distributed decision-making process in supply chain collaborative planning. Comput. Ind. 62, 519–540 (2011)Teimoury, E., Nedaei, H., Ansari, S., Sabbaghi, M.: A multi-objective analysis for import quota policy making in a perishable fruit and vegetable supply chain: a system dynamics approach. Comput. Electron. Agric. 93, 37–45 (2013)Kusumastuti, R.D., van Donk, D.P., Teunter, R.: Crop-related harvesting and processing planning: a review. Int. J. Prod. Econ. 174, 76–92 (2016)Zhang, W., Wilhelm, W.E.: OR/MS decision support models for the specialty crops industry: a literature review. Ann. Oper. Res. 190, 131–148 (2011)Grillo, H., Alemany, M.M.E., Ortiz, A.: A review of mathematical models for supporting the order promising process under lack of homogeneity in product and other sources of uncertainty. Comput. Ind. Eng. 91, 239–261 (2016)Blanco, A.M., Masini, G., Petracci, N., Bandoni, J.A.: Operations management of a packaging plant in the fruit industry. J. Food Eng. 70, 299–307 (2005)Grillo, H., Alemany, M.M.E., Ortiz, A., Fuertes-Miquel, V.S.: Mathematical modelling of the order-promising process for fruit supply chains considering the perishability and subtypes of products. Appl. Math. Model. 49, 255–278 (2017)Verdouw, C.N., Beulens, A.J.M., Trienekens, J.H., Wolferta, J.: Process modelling in demand-driven supply chains: a reference model for the fruit industry. Comput. Electron. Agric. 73, 174–187 (2010)Amorim, P., Günther, H., Almada-Lobo, B.: Multi-objective integrated production and distribution planning of perishable products. Int. J. Prod. Econ. 138, 89–101 (2012)Nahmias, S.: Perishable inventory theory: a review. Oper. Res. 30, 680–708 (1982)Mowat, A., Collins, R.: Consumer behavior and fruit quality: supply chain management in an emerging industry. Supply Chain Manage. 5, 45–54 (2000)Kazaz, B., Webster, S.: The impact of yield-dependent trading costs on pricing and production planning under supply uncertainty. M&SOM Manuf. Serv. Oper. Manage. 13, 404–417 (2011)Van der Vorst, J.G.: Effective food supply chains: generating, modelling and evaluating supply chain scenarios (2000)Fuertes-Miquel, V.S., Cuenca, L., Boza, A., Guyon, C., Alemany, M.M.E.: Conceptual framework for the characterization of vegetable breton supply chain sustainability in an uncertain context. In: 12th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Industrial Management, XXII Congreso de Ingeniería de Organización, Girona, Spain, 12–13 July 2018Kummu, M., de Moel, H., Porkka, M., Siebert, S., Varis, O., Ward, P.J.: Lost food, wasted resources: global food supply chain losses and their impacts on freshwater, cropland, and fertiliser use. Sci. Total Environ. 438, 477–489 (2012)Hoekstra, S., Romme, J.: Integral Logistic Structures: Developing Customer-Oriented Goods Flow. Industrial Press Inc., New York (1992)Borodin, V., Bourtembourg, J., Hnaien, F., Labadie, N.: Handling uncertainty in agricultural supply chain management: a state of the art. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 254, 348–359 (2016)Handayati, Y., Simatupang, T.M., Perdana, T.: Agri-food supply chain coordination: the state-of-the-art and recent developments. Logist. Res. 8, 1–15 (2015)Mintzberg, H.: The Structuring of Organisations. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River (1979)Keuning, D.: Grondslagen Van Het Management. Stenfert Kroese, Houten (1995) (in Dutch)Esteso, A., Alemany, M.M.E., Ortiz, A.: Conceptual framework for designing agri-food supply chains under uncertainty by mathematical programming models. Int. J. Prod. Res. (2018)Backus, G.B.C., Eidman, V.R., Dijkhuizen, A.A.: Farm decision making under risk and uncertainty. Neth. J. Agr. Sci. 45, 307–328 (1997)Esteso, A., Alemany, M.M.E., Ortiz, A.: Conceptual framework for managing uncertainty in a collaborative agri-food supply chain context. In: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 506, pp. 715–724 (2017)Mundi, I., Alemany, M.M.E., Poler, R., Fuertes-Miquel, V.S.: Review of mathematical models for production planning under uncertainty due to lack of homogeneity: proposal of a conceptual model. Int. J. Prod. Res. (2019)Grillo, H., Alemany, M.M.E., Ortiz, A., De Baets, B.: Possibilistic compositions and state functions: application to the order promising process for perishables. Int. J. Prod. Res. (2019)Soto-Silva, W.E., Nadal-Roig, E., González-Araya, M.C., Pla-Aragones, L.M.: Operational research models applied to the fresh fruit supply chain. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 251, 345–355 (2016)Farahani, R.Z., Rezapour, S., Drezner, T., Fallah, S.: Competitive supply chain network design: an overview of classifications, models, solution techniques and applications. Omega 45, 92–118 (2014)Banasik, A., Bloemhof-Ruwaard, J.M., Kanellopoulos, A., Claassen, G.D.H., van der Vorst, J.G.: Multi-criteria decision making approaches for green supply chains: a review. Flex. Serv. Manuf. J. 1–31 (2016)Paam, P., Berretta, R., Heydar, M., Middleton, R.H., García-Flores, R., Juliano, P.: Planning models to optimize the agri-fresh food supply chain for loss minimization: a review. In: Reference Module in Food Science (2016)Soysal, M., Bloemhof-Ruwaard, J.M., Meuwissen, M.P., van der Vorst, J.G.: A review on quantitative models for sustainable food logistics management. Int. J. Food Syst. Dyn. 3, 136–155 (2012

Interferon-α-Conditioned Human Monocytes Combine a Th1-Orienting Attitude with the Induction of Autologous Th17 Responses: Role of IL-23 and IL-12

IFN-α exerts multiple effects leading to immune protection against pathogens and cancer as well to autoimmune reactions by acting on monocytes and dendritic cells. We analyzed the versatility of human monocytes conditioned by IFN-α towards dendritic cell differentiation (IFN-DC) in shaping the autologous T-helper response. Priming of naïve CD4 T cells with autologous IFN-DC in the presence of either SEA or anti-CD3, resulted, in addition to a prominent expansion of CXCR3+ IFN-γ-producing CD4 Th1 cells, in the emergence of two distinct subsets of IL-17-producing CD4 T cells: i) a predominant Th17 population selectively producing IL-17 and expressing CCR6; ii) a minor Th1/Th17 population, producing both IL-17 and IFN-γ. After phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, IFN-DC induced Th17 cell expansion and IL-17 release. Notably, the use of neutralizing antibodies revealed that IL-23 was an essential cytokine in mediating Th17 cell development by IFN-DC. The demonstration of the IFN-DC-induced expansion of both Th1 and Th17 cell populations reveals the intrinsic plasticity of these DC in orienting the immune response and provides a mechanistic link between IFN-α and the onset of autoimmune phenomena, which have been correlated with both IL-17 production and exposure to IFN-α

Inhibiting mycobacterial tryptophan synthase by targeting the inter-subunit interface

Drug discovery efforts against the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have been advanced through phenotypic screens of extensive compound libraries. Such a screen revealed sulfolane 1 and indoline-5-sulfonamides 2 and 3 as potent inhibitors of mycobacterial growth. Optimization in the sulfolane series led to compound 4, which has proven activity in an in vivo murine model of Mtb infection. Here we identify the target and mode of inhibition of these compounds based on whole genome sequencing of spontaneous resistant mutants, which identified mutations locating to the essential α- and β-subunits of tryptophan synthase. Over-expression studies confirmed tryptophan synthase as the biological target. Biochemical techniques probed the mechanism of inhibition, revealing the mutant enzyme complex incurs a fitness cost but does not prevent inhibitor binding. Mapping of the resistance conferring mutations onto a low-resolution crystal structure of Mtb tryptophan synthase showed they locate to the interface between the α- and β-subunits. The discovery of anti-tubercular agents inhibiting tryptophan synthase highlights the therapeutic potential of this enzyme and draws attention to the prospect of other amino acid biosynthetic pathways as future Mtb drug targets