Patterning of 2D second harmonic generation active arrays in ferroelectric nematic fluids.

Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals exhibit unique non-linear optical properties, with the potential to become transformative materials for photonic applications. A promising direction relies on the fabrication of tailored polar orientational patterns via photoalignment, thus shaping the non-linear optical susceptibility through thin slabs of the ferroelectric fluid. Here, we explore the fabrication of 2D periodic SHG active arrays in ferroelectric nematic fluids, for different materials, cell thicknesses and motifs. Based on polarizing optical microscopy observations in combination with optical simulations, second harmonic generation microscopy and interferometry, the 3D structure of the motifs is revealed. Two different 2D periodic patterns are explored, showing that the balance between flexoelectric and electrostatic energy can lead to different domain structures, an effect which is rooted in the difference between the flexoelectric properties of the materials. It is shown that by combining the surface-inscribed alignment with different spontaneous degrees of twist, 2D SHG active arrays can be obtained in the micrometre scale, in which adjacent areas exhibit maximum SHG signals at opposite angles

КИНЕТИКА ПРОНИКНОВЕНИЯ РАСПЛАВА ВИСМУТА ПО ГРАНИЦАМ ЗЕРЕН МЕДИ

The method of direct visual study in situ by means of light microscope LEICA-L2 was used for examination of the channel development kinetics for bismuth melt through penetration along grain boundaries and triple joint group of grains in thin (from 120 to 500 μm) polycrystalline copper samples. Copper (99,995 wt.%) and bismuth (99,999 wt.%) were used as initial metal materials for the studies. Copper samples had average grain size of 30–50 μm. In their studying after holding in contact with bismuth melt at temperatures of 490–600 °C, the photographic images showing the Bi penetration through Cu-plates as well as the image of liquid metal channel network on cross-sections of samples have been obtained. Temperature dependence of melt penetration rate through polycrystalline copper plates and the effective activation energy of Bi penetration process along grain boundaries are obtained.Методом непосредственного визуального наблюдения in situ при помощи оптического микроскопа LEICA-L2 исследована кинетика развития каналов сквозного проникновения расплава висмута по границам зерен (ГЗ) и тройным стыкам зерен в тонких (от 120 до 500 мкм) поликристаллических образцах меди. Для опытов в качестве исходных металлических материалов были использованы медь чистотой 99,995 мас.% и висмут (99,999 мас.%). Медные образцы имели средний размер зерна 30–50 мкм. При их изучении после выдержки в контакте с расплавом висмута при температурах от 490 до 600 °С получены микроскопические фотоизображения, свидетельствующие о проникновении Bi сквозь Cu-пластины, а также изображение сетки жидкометаллических каналов на поперечных сечениях образцов. Получены температурнаязависимость скорости проникновения расплава сквозь пластины поликристаллической меди и эффективная энергия активации процесса проникновения Bi по ГЗ

Population genomic screening of all young adults in a health-care system: A cost-effectiveness analysis

Purpose:To consider the impact and cost-effectiveness of offering preventive population genomic screening to all young adults in a single-payer health-care system.Methods:We modeled screening of 2,688,192 individuals, all adults aged 18–25 years in Australia, for pathogenic variants in BRCA1/BRCA2/MLH1/MSH2 genes, and carrier screening for cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and fragile X syndrome (FXS), at 71% testing uptake using per-test costs ranging from AUD$200 to$1200 (~USD$140 to$850). Investment costs included genetic counseling, surveillance, and interventions (reimbursed only) for at-risk individuals/couples. Cost-effectiveness was defined below AUD$50,000/DALY (disability-adjusted life year) prevented, using an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), compared with current targeted testing. Outcomes were cancer incidence/mortality, disease cases, and treatment costs reduced.Results:Population screening would reduce variant-attributable cancers by 28.8$400 per test, investment required would be between 4 and 5 times higher than current expenditure. However, screening would lead to substantial savings in medical costs and DALYs prevented, at a highly cost-effective ICER of AUD$4038/DALY. At AUD$200 per test, screening would approach cost-saving for the health system (ICER = AUD$22/DALY).Conclusion:Preventive genomic screening in early adulthood would be highly cost-effective in a single-payer health-care system, but ethical issues must be considered

Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks

In this chapter, we present a literature survey of an emerging, cutting-edge, and multi-disciplinary field of research at the intersection of Robotics and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) which we refer to as Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks (RWSN). We define a RWSN as an autonomous networked multi-robot system that aims to achieve certain sensing goals while meeting and maintaining certain communication performance requirements, through cooperative control, learning and adaptation. While both of the component areas, i.e., Robotics and WSN, are very well-known and well-explored, there exist a whole set of new opportunities and research directions at the intersection of these two fields which are relatively or even completely unexplored. One such example would be the use of a set of robotic routers to set up a temporary communication path between a sender and a receiver that uses the controlled mobility to the advantage of packet routing. We find that there exist only a limited number of articles to be directly categorized as RWSN related works whereas there exist a range of articles in the robotics and the WSN literature that are also relevant to this new field of research. To connect the dots, we first identify the core problems and research trends related to RWSN such as connectivity, localization, routing, and robust flow of information. Next, we classify the existing research on RWSN as well as the relevant state-of-the-arts from robotics and WSN community according to the problems and trends identified in the first step. Lastly, we analyze what is missing in the existing literature, and identify topics that require more research attention in the future