Inter- and intra-layer excitons in MoS2_2/WS2_2 and MoSe2_2/WSe2_2 heterobilayers

Accurately described excitonic properties of transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers (HBLs) are crucial to comprehend the optical response and the charge carrier dynamics of them. Excitons in multilayer systems posses inter or intralayer character whose spectral positions depend on their binding energy and the band alignment of the constituent single-layers. In this study, we report the electronic structure and the absorption spectra of MoS$_2$/WS$_2$ and MoSe$_2$/WSe$_2$ HBLs from first-principles calculations. We explore the spectral positions, binding energies and the origins of inter and intralayer excitons and compare our results with experimental observations. The absorption spectra of the systems are obtained by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation on top of a G$_0$W$_0$ calculation which corrects the independent particle eigenvalues obtained from density functional theory calculations. Our calculations reveal that the lowest energy exciton in both HBLs possesses interlayer character which is decisive regarding their possible device applications. Due to the spatially separated nature of the charge carriers, the binding energy of inter-layer excitons might be expected to be considerably smaller than that of intra-layer ones. However, according to our calculations the binding energy of lowest energy interlayer excitons is only $\sim$ 20\% lower due to the weaker screening of the Coulomb interaction between layers of the HBLs. Therefore, it can be deduced that the spectral positions of the interlayer excitons with respect to intralayer ones are mostly determined by the band offset of the constituent single-layers. By comparing oscillator strengths and thermal occupation factors, we show that in luminescence at low temperature, the interlayer exciton peak becomes dominant, while in absorption it is almost invisible.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Wood anatomy and tree growth covary in riparian ash forests along climatic and ecological gradients

Riparian ash forests subjected to seasonal drought are among the most endangered ecosystems in Europe. They are threatened by climate warming causing aridification and by land-use changes modifying river flow. To assess the impacts of these two stress factors on riparian forests, we studied radial growth and xylem anatomical traits in five narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) stands across wide climatic and ecological gradients from northern Italy to southern Portugal. Radial growth rates and earlywood hydraulic diameter (Dh) were directly correlated, whilst earlywood vessel density and growth rates were inversely associated. Ash growth positively responded to precipitation. Higher and lower rates of growth increase in response to precipitation were found in dry (annual precipitation 357–750 mm, annual water balance -39 to -48 mm) and wet (annual precipitation 1030 mm, annual water balance 27 mm) sites, respectively. Wet conditions in autumn and winter of the year prior to tree-ring formation lead to larger Dh values, except in the wet site where warmer conditions from prior autumn to current spring were positively associated to wider vessels. Growth was also enhanced by a higher river flow, reflecting higher soil moisture due to elevated groundwater table levels. Peaks in river flow from late winter to early spring increased Dh in dry-continental sites. Growth and potential hydraulic conductivity in drought-prone riparian ash forests are differently impacted by climate variability and river flow depending on site and hydrological conditions. Nevertheless, covariation between radial growth and the earlywood vessel diameter was found, regardless of site specific differences. Wood production and hydraulic conductivity are coordinated through the production of large earlywood vessels which may allow reaching higher growth rates. © 2021 The Author

Osteotomías distales de los metatarsianos menores realizadas por cirugía abierta vs cirugía percutánea en el tratamiento de las metatarsalgias.

Objetivo. Comparar los resultados clínicos y radiológicos de las osteotomías distales de los metatarsianos menores realizadas por cirugía abierta y por cirugía percutánea en el tratamiento de las metatarsalgias Material y método. Revisión retrospectiva de 44 metatarsalgias: 22 en cada grupo. Recogida de datos epidemiológicos, clínicos y medición de parámetros radiográficos. Resultados. Se consiguieron modificaciones en los parámetros radiográficos con ambas técnicas, con mayor corrección con la cirugía abierta. Las fórmulas metatarsales postoperatorias continuaron siendo no armónicas en ambos grupos. Todos los pacientes mejoraron clínicamente. La cirugía abierta tuvo más complicaciones. Conclusiones. Los resultados clínicos y radiológicos de las osteotomías percutáneas son similares a los obtenidos por cirugía abierta, pero con menos complicaciones. La obtención de una fórmula metatarsal armónica no debería ser el objetivo principal de la cirugía de las metatarsalgias, ya que, según nuestro estudio, no es una condición indispensable para lograr un buen resultado clínicoObjectives. To compare the radiographic and functional outcomes in lesser metatarsal distal osteotomies performed by percutaneous and open surgery for the treatment of metatarsalgia. Methods. A retrospective medical record review of 44 cases of discharge diagnosis of metatarsalgia: 22 patients in each group. Epidemiological data, clinical data and radiological measurements were collected. Results . Improvement of radiological parameters were obtained with both techniques, with better correction with open than with percutaneous surgery. Postoperatively metatarsal parabola continues being nonharmonious in both groups. All patients improved in clinical assessment. Open surgery had more complications than percutaneous surgery. Conclusions . Clinical and radiological outcomes of lesser metatarsal distal osteotomies performed percutaneously are similar to those obtained by open surgery, but with fewer complications. To obtain a harmonic metatarsal parabola should not be the main purpose of surgery of metatarsalgia because it is not an essential condition to achieve a good clinical outcome

Trade-off between offspring number and offspring size in the marine copepod Euterpina acutifrons at different food concentrations

collected females of the marine copepod Euterpina acutifrons monthly from November 1994 to January 1996 at a station located in Ria de Vigo (Spain). A trade-off between egg size and egg number was found. As food concentration measured as mean fluorescence in the water column diminished, mean number of eggs per sac carried per female decreased, whereas mean egg size increased. An experiment carried out with adult females cultured at different food concentrations confirmed the field results, and also showed that as egg size increased, there, was an increase in naupliar body length at hatching; nauplii developed faster to first copepodite stage, and net reproductive rate was higher. Therefore, the reproductive strategy of directing more energy toward offspring size rather than offspring number, at low food concentrations, clearly increases reproductive success.Postprin

Enzymatic hydrolysis of esters from 2-carboxy-6- methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran acid

In this work we describe the results of the enzymatic hydrolysis of esters from 2-carboxy-6-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran acid using Candida antarctica lipase supported on acrylic resin, with enantiomeric excesses ranging between 80 to 99%

Estudio de los efectos de algunos psicotropos en el test "Open Field"

Por medio del test "opcn-field" se ha analizado el comportamiento de ratas tratadas con diversos psicotropos ncurolépt icos. antidcpresivos, tranquilizntes, barbitú ricos, psicoana l~pt icos) y asociaciones, entre las que figura la de un IMAO (nialamida) y 5-hidroxitriptofano, precusor de la serotonina cerebral. De los resultados obtenidos se deduce que los neurolépticos dieron lugar a una marcada reducción de la motilidad, en tanto que el clordiacepóxido y el fenobarbilal produjeron el efecto con· trario, probablemente como expresión de un efecto ansiolítico notable. La asociación de nialamida y 5-hidroxitriptofano dió lugar a una reducción muy significativa de la deambulación de las ratas tratadas, sugiriéndose una participación de la serotonina en los circuitos moduladores de la actividad de las ratas. Este descenso de movilidad fue hallado, asimtsmo, con la imipramina, r~lacio nándose también, este fenómeno, con una posible intensificación de sistemas serotoninérgicos. En cuanto a la intervención de los psicotropos sobre las estereotipias y las emisiones de bolos fecales, no se han encontrado resultados capaces de informar con eficacia, sobre la utilidad de estos dos parámetros como medida para la "emotividad"

What drives growth of Scots pine in continental Mediterranean climates: drought, low temperatures or both?

Scots pine forests subjected to continental Mediterranean climates undergo cold winter temperatures and drought stress. Recent climatic trends towards warmer and drier conditions across the Mediterranean Basin might render some of these pine populations more vulnerable to drought-induced growth decline at the Southernmost limit of the species distribution. We investigated how cold winters and dry growing seasons drive the radial growth of Scots pine subject to continental Mediterranean climates by relating growth to climate variables at local (elevational gradient) and regional (latitudinal gradient) scales. Local climate-growth relationships were quantified on different time scales (5-, 10- and 15-days) to evaluate the relative role of elevation and specific site characteristics. A negative water balance driven by high maximum temperatures in June (low-elevation sites) and July (high-elevation sites) was the major constraint on growth, particularly on a 5- to 10-day time scale. Warm nocturnal conditions in January were associated with wider rings at the high-elevation sites. At the regional scale, Scots pine growth mainly responded positively to July precipitation, with a stronger association at lower elevations and higher latitudes. January minimum temperatures showed similar patterns but played a secondary role as a driver of tree growth. The balance between positive and negative effects of summer precipitation and winter temperature on radial growth depends on elevation and latitude, with low-elevation populations being more prone to suffer drought and heat stress; whereas, high-elevation populations may be favoured by warmer winter conditions. This negative impact of summer heat and drought has increased during the past decades. This interaction between climate and site conditions and local adaptations is therefore decisive for the future performance and persistence of Scots pine populations in continental Mediterranean climates. Forecasting changes in the Scots pine range due to climate change should include this site-related information to obtain more realistic predictions, particularly in Mediterranean rear-edge areas

A collimated, ionized bipolar structure and a high density torus in the young planetary nebula IRAS 17347-3139

We present observations of continuum (lambda = 0.7, 1.3, 3.6 and 18 cm) and OH maser (lambda = 18 cm) emission toward the young planetary nebula IRAS 17347-3139, which is one of the three planetary nebulae that are known to harbor water maser emission. From the continuum observations we show that the ionized shell of IRAS 17347-3139 consists of two main structures: one extended (size ~1". 5) with bipolar morphology along PA=-30 degrees, elongated in the same direction as the lobes observed in the near-infrared images, and a central compact structure (size ~0". 25) elongated in the direction perpendicular to the bipolar axis, coinciding with the equatorial dark lane observed in the near-infrared images. Our image at 1.3 cm suggests the presence of dense walls in the ionized bipolar lobes. We estimate for the central compact structure a value of the electron density at least ~5 times higher than in the lobes. A high resolution image of this structure at 0.7 cm shows two peaks separated by about 0". 13 (corresponding to 100-780 AU, using a distance range of 0.8-6 kpc). This emission is interpreted as originating in an ionized equatorial torus-like structure, from whose edges the water maser emission might be arising. We have detected weak OH 1612 MHz maser emission at VLSR ~ -70 km/s associated with IRAS 17347-3139. We derive a 3 sigma upper limit of < 35% for the percentage of circularly polarized emission. Within our primary beam, we detected additional OH 1612 MHz maser emission in the LSR velocity ranges -5 to -24 and -90 to -123 km/s, associated with the sources 2MASS J17380406-3138387 and OH 356.65-0.15, respectively.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap