Magnetic cylindrical colloids at liquid interfaces exhibit non-volatile switching of their orientation in an external field

We study the orientation of magnetic cylindrical particles adsorbed at a liquid interface in an external field using analytical theory and high resolution finite element simulations. Cylindrical particles are interesting since they possess multiple locally stable orientations at the liquid interface so that the orientational transitions induced by an external field will not disappear when the external field is removed, i.e., the switching effect is \emph{non-volatile}. We show that, in the absence of an external field, as we reduce the aspect ratio $\alpha$ of the cylinders below a critical value ($\alpha_c \approx 2$) the particles undergo spontaneous symmetry breaking from a stable side-on state to one of two equivalent stable tilted states, similar to the spontaneous magnetisation of a ferromagnet going through the Curie point. By tuning both the aspect ratio and contact angle of the cylinders, we show that it is possible to engineer particles that have one, two, three or four locally stable orientations. We also find that the magnetic responses of cylinders with one or two stable states are similar to that of paramagnets and ferromagnets respectively, while the magnetic response of systems with three or four stable states are even more complex and have no analogs in simple magnetic systems. Magnetic cylinders at liquid interfaces therefore provide a facile method for creating switchable functional monolayers where we can use an external field to induce multiple non-volatile changes in particle orientation and self-assembled structure

Renewable build-up pathways for the US: Generation costs are not system costs

The transition to a future electricity system based primarily on wind and solar PV is examined for all regions in the contiguous US. We present optimized pathways for the build-up of wind and solar power for least backup energy needs as well as for least cost obtained with a simplified, lightweight model based on long-term high resolution weather-determined generation data. In the absence of storage, the pathway which achieves the best match of generation and load, thus resulting in the least backup energy requirements, generally favors a combination of both technologies, with a wind/solar PV energy mix of about 80/20 in a fully renewable scenario. The least cost development is seen to start with 100% of the technology with the lowest average generation costs first, but with increasing renewable installations, economically unfavorable excess generation pushes it toward the minimal backup pathway. Surplus generation and the entailed costs can be reduced significantly by combining wind and solar power, and/or absorbing excess generation, for example with storage or transmission, or by coupling the electricity system to other energy sectors.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Google Trends Search Information Related to Breastfeeding in the U.S.

[EN] Given the importance of breastfeeding to maternal and infant health, we employed Google Trends to examine U.S. mothers’ search engine use for information related to breastfeeding. We conducted an analysis of the use of the Google search engine related to the broad topic of ‘breastfeeding”, as well as patterns for more specific terms related to breastfeeding. Given the significant role that breastfeeding pain plays in influencing breastfeeding persistence, we examined patterns in mothers’ use of Google to seek information related to breastfeeding pain and how that compares to other breastfeeding topics. We also examined diurnal patterns in these searches as well as state-level characteristics that predict search intensity. We found that searches related to breastfeeding have increased over time and that searches related to breastfeeding pain were the most common. Mothers’ searches tended to occur late at night and were more likely to occur in relatively unpopulated states and for states with lower income. The findings illustrate how Google Trends can be analyzed to highlight the concerns of new mothers in real-time and how such data can  reveal how mothers use the internet to seek out help, guidance, and support for issues related to breastfeeding.Fabes, R.; Bodman, D.; Van Vleet, B.; Martin, C. (2022). Google Trends Search Information Related to Breastfeeding in the U.S. En 4th International Conference on Advanced Research Methods and Analytics (CARMA 2022). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 41-48. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2022.2022.15030414

Comparison of disease severity caused by four soil-borne pathogens in winter cereal seedlings

In Australia, crown rot of cereals is predominantly caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum and Fusarium culmorum, and common root rot by Bipolaris sorokiniana. Fusarium graminearum is an important pathogen causing Fusarium head blight worldwide and has also been reported to cause crown rot of wheat. The comparative ability of F. pseudograminearum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum and B. sorokiniana to cause crown rot and common root rot across a range of winter cereal species requires investigation. In glasshouse trials, we inoculated one cultivar each of barley, bread wheat, durum wheat, oat and triticale with two strains of each of the four pathogens. At 21 days after inoculation, the sub-crown internode and leaf sheaths of each plant were visually rated for brown discoloration. Shoot length and dry weight of inoculated plants were compared with those of non-inoculated controls. Barley and bread wheat had the highest disease severity ratings on leaf sheaths and sub-crown internode (64.7–99.6%), whereas oat had the lowest disease severity ratings across all pathogens (<5%). The shoot length of all cultivars was significantly reduced (by 12.2–55%, P < 0.05) when exposed to F. pseudograminearum. This study provides a comparison of pathogenicity of crown rot and common root rot pathogens and demonstrates significant variation in visual discoloration and host response across a range of winter cereals

Studies of a Lacustrine-Volcanic Mars Analog Field Site with Mars-2020-like Instruments

On the upcoming Mars‐2020 rover two remote sensing instruments, Mastcam‐Z and SuperCam, and two microscopic proximity science instruments, SHERLOC and PIXL, will collect compositional (mineralogy, chemistry, and organics) data essential for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. The synergies between and limitations of these instruments were evaluated via study of a Mars analog field site in the Mojave Desert, using instruments approximating the data that will be returned by Mars‐2020. A ground truth dataset was generated for comparison to validate the results. The site consists of a succession of clay‐rich mudstones of lacustrine origin, interbedded tuffs, a carbonate‐silica travertine deposit, and gypsiferous mudstone strata. The major geological units were mapped successfully using simulated Mars‐2020 data. Simulated Mastcam‐Z data identified unit boundaries and Fe‐bearing weathering products. Simulated SuperCam passive shortwave infrared and green Raman data were essential in identifying major mineralogical composition and changes in lacustrine facies at distance; this was possible even with spectrally downsampled passive IR data. LIBS and simulated PIXL data discriminated and mapped major element chemistry. Simulated PIXL revealed mm‐scale zones enriched in zirconium, of interest for age dating. SHERLOC‐like data mapped sulfate and carbonate at sub‐mm scale; silicates were identified with increased laser pulses/spot or by averaging of hundreds of spectra. Fluorescence scans detected and mapped varied classes of organics in all samples, characterized further with follow‐on spatially targeted deep‐UV Raman spectra. Development of dedicated organics spectral libraries is needed to aid interpretation. Given these observations, the important units in the outcrop would be sampled and cached for sample return

Correction to: Capillary Interaction and Self-Assembly of Tilted Magnetic Ellipsoidal Particles at Liquid Interfaces ((2018) 3:11 (14962?14972) DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01818)

© 2019 American Chemical Society. We would like to correct the following minor errors in the paper: Figure 3 legend: Blue data points should be ss sims, red data points should be tt sims, blue line should be ss elliptical, and red line should be tt elliptical. Figure 3 caption, lines 4 and 5 should read, ...for the side-to-side configuration (blue) and the tip-to-tip configuration (red). p 14965, column 2, paragraph 2, lines 8-10 should read, ...has a higher energy compared to the 1/r12 2 power law, whereas the tip-to-tip configuration has a lower energy... The above corrections do not change any of the conclusions of the paper

Capillary interaction and self-assembly of tilted magnetic ellipsoidal particles at liquid interfaces

Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society. Magnetic ellipsoidal particles adsorbed at a liquid interface provide exciting opportunities for creating switchable functional materials, where self-assembly can be switched on and off using an external field [Davies et al., Adv. Mater., 2014, 26, 6715]. In order to gain a deeper understanding of this novel system in the presence of an external field, we study the capillary interaction and self-assembly of tilted ellipsoids using analytical theory and finite element simulations. We derive an analytical expression for the dipolar capillary interaction between tilted ellipsoids in elliptical polar coordinates, which exhibits a 1/r2 power law dependence in the far field (i.e., large particle separations r) and correctly captures the orientational dependence of the capillary interactions in the near field. Using this dipole potential and finite element simulations, we further analyze the energy landscape of particle clusters consisting of up to eight tilted ellipsoids in contact. For clusters of two particles, we find that the side-to-side configuration is stable, whereas the tip-to-tip configuration is unstable. However, for clusters of more than three particles, we find that circular loops of side-to-side particles become globally stable, whereas linear chains of side-to-side particles become metastable. Furthermore, the energy barrier for the linear-to-loop transition decreases with increasing particle number. Our results explain both thermodynamically and kinetically why tilted ellipsoids assemble side-to-side locally but have a strong tendency to form loops on larger length scales

Firefighters Versus Law Enforcement Officers: A Comparison Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Firefighters (FF) and law enforcement officers (LEO) have heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk due to the stressful nature of their occupations. Data suggest that 45% of on-duty FF fatalities are related to CVD, while LEO have a 1.7 times higher CVD prevalence compared to the general public. To our knowledge, studies comparing FF to LEO, in terms of CVD risk factors, have not been published. This information is necessary to better understand differences in occupational disease risk, as well as to help bridge the gap between stress and CVD markers. PURPOSE: To compare CVD risk biomarkers, fitness, and body composition between career FF and LEO. METHODS: Ninety-eight career, structural male FF (age = 35.1±9.6 yrs; weight = 94.3±15.4 kg; height = 178.4±13.2 cm) and seventy-three career male and female LEO (age = 41.4±9.0 yrs; weight = 92.3±16.8 kg; height = 179.6±8.1 cm) from local fire and police departments were studied. Participants completed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPXT), where VO2max was estimated from the Foster equation. Fasted blood samples were collected to assess biomarkers of CVD risk: advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and cortisol. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition and waist and hip measures were taken. Shapiro-Wilk Test was used to assess normality. Independent sample T-tests or non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests (if normality was violated) were used to assess differences in CVD risk biomarkers, fitness, and body composition between the FF and LEO. Effect sizes were calculated as Cohen’s d (i.e., small [0.2-0.5], medium [0.5-0.8], large [\u3e0.8]). RESULTS: Firefighters had higher (p\u3c0.05) CPXT exercise times (FF: 10.9±1.6 min; LEO: 10.3±2.0 min; d=0.366) compared to LEO. While not statistically significant (p=0.64), FF had higher VO2max values (FF: 38.2±6.6 ml/kg/min; LEO: 36.2±6.2 ml/kg/min; d=0.306). Firefighters also had higher (p\u3c0.05) AOPP (FF: 134.8±90.1 mM; LEO: 106.8±67.6 mM; d=0.342), blood cortisol (FF: 14.2±5.0 mg/dL; LEO: 12.5±5.6 mg/dL; d=0.325), and waist-to-hip ratios (FF: 0.95±0.06; LEO: 0.89±0.08; d=0.792). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that while FF demonstrated greater CPXT time-to-exhaustion they also expressed greater levels of stress and risk for CVD compared to LEO