Growth and formation of inverse GaP and InP opals

Opals consist of an ordered array of SiO2 spheres. This leads to a modulation of the refractive index and hence photonic stop bands behaviour over the visible/IR range of the electro-magnetic spectrum. The exact position of the stop bands depends on the size of the silica spheres. However, the refractive index contrast between the SiO2 spheres and air spaces is not great enough to open up a full photonic band gap (PBG), only the pseudogap. To increase the contrast the air spaces are filled with a material of high refractive index such as InP or GaP. To further increase the contrast the SiO2 is removed leaving a III-V framework as the inverse opal structure. By use of MOCVD we have been able to infill opals with InP and GaP to such a level that has supported the inversion of the composite forming a structure of air holes within a III-V lattice. XRD and Raman confirmed the quality of the III-V infill, while the extent of the infill was studied by SEM and reflectance measurements

Stability-based approaches in chemoproteomics

\ua9 The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press. Target deconvolution can help understand how compounds exert therapeutic effects and can accelerate drug discovery by helping optimise safety and efficacy, revealing mechanisms of action, anticipate off-target effects and identifying opportunities for therapeutic expansion. Chemoproteomics, a combination of chemical biology with mass spectrometry has transformed target deconvolution. This review discusses modification-free chemoproteomic approaches that leverage the change in protein thermodynamics induced by small molecule ligand binding. Unlike modification-based methods relying on enriching specific protein targets, these approaches offer proteome-wide evaluations, driven by advancements in mass spectrometry sensitivity, increasing proteome coverage and quantitation methods. Advances in methods based on denaturation/precipitation by thermal or chemical denaturation, or by protease degradation are evaluated, emphasising the evolving landscape of chemoproteomics and its potential impact on future drug-development strategies

Optimization of Transistor Characteristics and Charge Transport in Solution Processed ZnO Thin Films Grown from Zinc Neodecanoate

Abstract Solution processing of metal oxide-based semiconductors is an attractive route for low-cost fabrication of thin films devices. ZnO thin films were synthesized from one-step spin coating-pyrolysis technique using zinc neodecanoate precursor. X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible optical transmission spectrometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy suggested conversion to polycrystalline ZnO phase for decomposition temperatures higher than 400 °C. A 15 % precursor concentration was found to produce optimal TFT performance on annealing at 500 °C, due to generation of sufficient charge percolation pathways. The device performance was found to improve upon increasing the annealing temperature and the optimal saturation mobility of 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 with ION/IOFF ratio ~ 107 was achieved at 700 °C annealing temperature. The analysis of experimental results based on theoretical models to understand charge transport envisaged that the grain boundary depletion region is major source of deep level traps and their effective removal at increased annealing temperature leads to evolution of transistor performance. Graphic Abstract Single-step spin coating-pyrolysis synthesis of ZnO thin films from non-aqueous precursor zinc neodecanoate has been investigated for transistor applications. </jats:sec

Transvenous right ventricular pacing in a patient with tricuspid mechanical prosthesis

We report a patient in whom permanent endocardial pacing was accomplished by passage of the electrode through a mechanical tricuspid valve. Echocardiography study showed a minimal tricuspid regurgitation

Bloom drivers of the potentially harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller in a south eastern temperate Australian estuary

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Harmful algal blooms are an increasing concern in the estuarine reaches of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, one of the largest coastal rivers systems in south eastern Australia. In the austral spring of 2016, an unprecedented bloom of the harmful mixotrophic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum occurred in Berowra Creek (maximum cell abundance 1.9E+06 cells L−1, 89% of the total phytoplankton community), a major tributary of this river system. In response to this bloom, our study utilises an estuary-wide, thirteen-year time series of phytoplankton abundance and environmental data to examine the spatial and temporal patterns of this harmful alga and its potential bloom drivers in this system. P. minimum cell densities and environmental parameters varied over large spatial scales, with sites located in the main channel of the estuary significantly differing from those in the more urbanized tributary of Berowra Creek. Generalised additive modelling outputs suggested that blooms of P. minimum are complex, but generally corresponded to a spatial gradient of eutrophication and salinity, whereby P. minimum growth and concomitant high chlorophyll-a concentrations were enhanced at sites that were generally less saline and more eutrophic than others. Furthermore, temporal patterns suggested that blooms occurred abruptly and lasted up to three weeks, most often during the austral autumn to spring. While significant correlations were observed between rainfall and nutrients at all other sites, suggesting a pathway for nutrient availability, the association between rainfall and nutrient delivery was generally not observed in Berowra Creek (a 15-m deep site) suggesting that a continual supply of nutrients, coupled with unique bathymetry and water residence time at this site, are the most likely contributing factors to phytoplankton growth. This study presents the most comprehensive examination of P. minimum in any southern hemisphere estuary to date and highlights the importance of continued monitoring of HABs and the important role that anthropogenic inputs have in driving blooms of P. minimum in this oyster-growing river/estuary system

Origin and function of short-latency inputs to the neural substrates underlying the acoustic startle reflex

The acoustic startle reflex (ASR) is a survival mechanism of alarm, which rapidly alerts the organism to a sudden loud auditory stimulus. In rats, the primary ASR circuit encompasses three serially connected structures: cochlear root neurons (CRNs), neurons in the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC), and motoneurons in the medulla and spinal cord. It is well-established that both CRNs and PnC neurons receive short-latency auditory inputs to mediate the ASR. Here, we investigated the anatomical origin and functional role of these inputs using a multidisciplinary approach that combines morphological, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. Anterograde tracer injections into the cochlea suggest that CRNs somata and dendrites receive inputs depending, respectively, on their basal or apical cochlear origin. Confocal colocalization experiments demonstrated that these cochlear inputs are immunopositive for the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1). Using extracellular recordings in vivofollowed by subsequent tracer injections, we investigated the response of PnC neurons after contra-, ipsi-, and bilateral acoustic stimulation and identified the source of their auditory afferents. Our results showed that the binaural firing rate of PnC neurons was higher than the monaural, exhibiting higher spike discharges with contralateral than ipsilateral acoustic stimulations. Our histological analysis confirmed the CRNs as the principal source of short-latency acoustic inputs, and indicated that other areas of the cochlear nucleus complex are not likely to innervate PnC. Behaviorally, we observed a strong reduction of ASR amplitude in monaural earplugged rats that corresponds with the binaural summation process shown in our electrophysiological findings. Our study contributes to understand better the role of neuronal mechanisms in auditory alerting behaviors and provides strong evidence that the CRNs-PnC pathway mediates fast neurotransmission and binaural summation of the ASR. © 2014 Gómez-Nieto, Horta-Júnior, Castellano, Millian-Morell, Rubio and López

Transition to parenthood and quality of parenting among gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples who conceived through assisted reproduction

Little research has focused on the emotions felt during pregnancy and early parenthood as well as the initial quality of parenting displayed by first-time parents who conceived using assisted reproduction technologies (surrogacy, donor insemination, and in vitro fertilization). Research on primary and secondary caregivers in gay, lesbian, and heterosexual families is especially sparse. The current study examined 35 gay-father families, 58 lesbian-mother families and 41 heterosexual-parent families with their infants. Families were assessed at home when their infants were 4 months old (±14 days), and each parent participated in an audio-recorded standardized semi-structured interview in which we explored parental feelings during pregnancy, feelings about the parental role, perceived parental competence, the enjoyment of parenthood, expressed warmth and emotional over-involvement of parents. 13 Heterosexual parents reported less positive feelings in early pregnancy than lesbian parents, while gay parents reported less positive feelings at the end of pregnancy than lesbian mothers and more positive feelings about parenthood during the first post-partum weeks than heterosexual parents. There was no interaction between family type and caregiver role on reported feelings, or on perceived competence, enjoyment, warmth, and involvement. The present findings elucidate the transition to parenthood among first-time parents conceiving through assisted reproductive technologies, and especially contribute to our knowledge about gay fathers who became parents through surrogacy

Steel waste valorisation Steel Slag Waste Effect on Concrete Shrinkage

The concept of sustainability is becoming widespread every day in society, enterprises and institutions. Defining something as sustainable means that the relationship that it establishes with the environment does not represent an aggression or a threat to the latter neither when it is being utilized nor when it stops performing the function for which was designed. To make this happen we need a system in which the main priority is recycling. Everything mentioned above is related to what is called the “Circular Economy”. Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. However, the production of portland cement, an essential constituent of concrete, leads to the release of significant amounts of CO22. The global production of concrete represents more than 5% of the anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide every year, mainly from the production of cement. The replacement of cement by fly ash and other industrial waste, such as steel slags, is a good example of how resource conservation can be improved and contamination can be reduced. On the other hand, future trends are predicted to increase demand for steel worldwide. Mainly due to the expected improvement in the living standards and demands of underdeveloped populations. The steelmaking process produces a by-product called slag ranging from 10 to 15% per tonne of steel, where reuse is still reduced and much of it is deposited in a landfill. This study presents laboratory test results on the total and autogenous shrinkage of medium strength concrete with partial replacement of cement by slags. Two different slags were tested, namely ladle furnaces slags (LFS) and ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBFS). The results show the concrete shrinkage behavior when 25% of substitution are used. These data are important to predict future behavior and show that for the substitution dosages used there are no significant divergences for the shrinkage.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Modelling bloom formation of the toxic dinoflagellates Dinophysis acuminata and Dinophysis caudata in a highly modified estuary, south eastern Australia

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Dinoflagellates belonging to the toxigenic genus Dinophysis are increasing in abundance in the Hawkesbury River, south-eastern Australia. This study investigates a twelve year time series of abundance and physico-chemical data to model these blooms. Four species were reported over the sampling campaign - Dinophysis acuminata, Dinophysis caudata, Dinophysis fortii and Dinophysis tripos-with D. acuminata and D. caudata being most abundant. Highest abundance of D. acuminata occurred in the austral spring (max. abundance 4500 cells l−1), whilst highest D. caudata occurred in the summer to autumn (max. 12,000 cells l−1). Generalised additive models revealed abundance of D. acuminata was significantly linked to season, thermal stratification and nutrients, whilst D. caudata was associated with nutrients, salinity and dissolved oxygen. The models’ predictive capability was up to 60% for D. acuminata and 53% for D. caudata. Altering sampling strategies during blooms accompanied with in situ high resolution monitoring will further improve Dinophysis bloom prediction capability

ABCD Neurocognitive Prediction Challenge 2019: Predicting individual fluid intelligence scores from structural MRI using probabilistic segmentation and kernel ridge regression

We applied several regression and deep learning methods to predict fluid intelligence scores from T1-weighted MRI scans as part of the ABCD Neurocognitive Prediction Challenge (ABCD-NP-Challenge) 2019. We used voxel intensities and probabilistic tissue-type labels derived from these as features to train the models. The best predictive performance (lowest mean-squared error) came from Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR; $\lambda=10$), which produced a mean-squared error of 69.7204 on the validation set and 92.1298 on the test set. This placed our group in the fifth position on the validation leader board and first place on the final (test) leader board.Comment: Winning entry in the ABCD Neurocognitive Prediction Challenge at MICCAI 2019. 7 pages plus references, 3 figures, 1 tabl