Electric-Field-Induced Mott Insulating States in Organic Field-Effect Transistors

We consider the possibility that the electrons injected into organic field-effect transistors are strongly correlated. A single layer of acenes can be modelled by a Hubbard Hamiltonian similar to that used for the kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X family of organic superconductors. The injected electrons do not necessarily undergo a transition to a Mott insulator state as they would in bulk crystals when the system is half-filled. We calculate the fillings needed for obtaining insulating states in the framework of the slave-boson theory and in the limit of large Hubbard repulsion, U. We also suggest that these Mott states are unstable above some critical interlayer coupling or long-range Coulomb interaction.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Electrophysiological Brain-Cardiac Coupling in Train Drivers during Monotonous Driving

Electrophysiological research has previously investigated monotony and the cardiac health of drivers independently; however, few studies have explored the association between the two. As such the present study aimed to examine the impact of monotonous train driving (indicated by electroencephalogram (EEG) activity) on an individual's cardiac health as measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Sixty-three train drivers participated in the present study, and were required to complete a monotonous train driver simulator task. During this task, a 32 lead EEG and a three-lead electrocardiogram were recorded from each participant. In the present analysis, the low (LF) and high frequency (HF) HRV parameters were associated with delta (p < 0.05), beta (p = 0.03) and gamma (p < 0.001) frequency EEG variables. Further, total HRV was associated with gamma activity, while sympathovagal balance (i.e., LF:HF ratio) was best associated fronto-temporal delta activity (p = 0.02). HRV and EEG parameters appear to be coupled, with the parameters of the delta and gamma EEG frequency bands potentially being the most important to this coupling. These relationships provide insight into the impact of a monotonous task on the cardiac health of train drivers, and may also be indicative of strategies employed to combat fatigue or engage with the driving task

Psychophysiology of Monotonous Driving, Fatigue and Sleepiness in Train and Non-Professional Drivers: Driver Safety Implications.

Fatigue and sleepiness are complex bodily states associated with monotony as well as physical and cognitive impairment, accidents, injury, and illness. Moreover, these states are often characteristic of professional driving. However, most existing work has focused on motor vehicle drivers, and research examining train drivers remains limited. As such, the present study psychophysiologically examined monotonous driving, fatigue, and sleepiness in a group of passenger train drivers and a group of non-professional drivers. Sixty-three train drivers and thirty non-professional drivers participated in the present study, which captured 32-lead electroencephalogram (EEG) data during a monotonous driving task. Fatigue and sleepiness were self-evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Karolinksa Sleepiness Scale, and the Checklist of Individual Strength. Unexpectedly, fatigue and sleepiness scores did not significantly differ between the groups; however, train drivers generally scored lower than non-professional drivers, which may be indicative of individual and/or industry attempts to reduce fatigue. Across both groups, fatigue and sleepiness scores were negatively correlated with theta, alpha, and beta EEG variables clustered towards the fronto-central and temporal regions. Broadly, these associations may reflect a monotony-associated blunting of neural activity that is associated with a self-reported fatigue state

Molecular Symmetry Properties of Conical Intersections and Nonadiabatic Coupling Terms: Theory and Quantum Chemical Demonstration for Cyclopenta-2,4-dienimine (C5H4NH)

This paper discovers molecular symmetry (MS) properties of conical intersections (CIs) and the related nonadiabatic coupling terms (NACTs) in molecules which allow large amplitude motions such as torsion, in the frame of the relevant molecular symmetry group, focusing on groups with one-dimensional (1-d) irreducible representations (IREPs). If one employs corresponding MS-adapted nuclear coordinates, the NACTs can be classified according to those IREPs. The assignment is supported by theorems which relate the IREPs of different NACTs to each other, and by properties of the NACTs related to the CIs. For example, planar contour integrals of the NACTs evaluated along loops around the individual CIs are equal to +π or -π, depending on the IREP-adapted signs of the NACTs. The + or - signs for the contour integrals may also be used to define the “charges” and IREPs of the CIs. We derive various general molecular symmetry properties of the related NACTs and CIs. These provide useful applications; e.g., the discovery of an individual CI allows one to generate, by means of all molecular symmetry operations, the complete set of CIs at different symmetry-related locations. Also, we show that the seams of CIs with different IREPs may have different topologies in a specific plane of MS-adapted coordinates. Moreover, the IREPs impose symmetrical nodes of the NACTs, and this may support their calculations by quantum chemical ab initio methods, even far away from the CIs. The general approach is demonstrated by application to an example. Specifically, we investigate the CIs and NACTs of cyclopenta-2,4-dienimine (C5H4NH) which has C2V(M) molecular symmetry with 1-d IREPs. The results are confirmed by quantum chemical calculations, starting from the location of a CI based on the Longuet-Higgins phase change theorem, until a proof of self-consistency, i.e., the related symmetryadapted NACTs fulfill quantization rules which have been derived in [Baer, M. Beyond Born-Oppenheimer: Electronic non-Adiabatic Coupling Terms and Conical Intersections; Wiley & Sons Inc.: Hoboken, NJ, 2006].We thank Prof. Lluis Blancafort, Prof. Dietrich Haase, Prof. Yehuda Haas, PD Dr. Dirk Andrae, Mr. Thomas Grohmann, and Ms. Shireen Alfalah for advice and stimulating discussions, and Mr. Dominik Sattler for preparing Figures 1 and 2. This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in the framework of Project No. MA 515/22-2, and by Fonds der Chemischen Industrie

Deportation Stigma and Re-migration

Many, if not most, of those who are forcibly expelled from the country to which they have migrated will not settle in the country to which they have been returned but will leave again. A recent article examined some of the reasons why this should be so. It was argued that in addition to the factors that had caused the original migration, such as fear of persecution, continuing conflict, insecurity, poverty and lack of opportunity, deportation creates at least three additional reasons that make re-migration the most likely outcome. These were debt, family commitments and the shame of failure and or ‘contamination’ leading to stigmatisation. In this article, we explore the stigma of failure and of contamination attached to those deported, and the ways in which they respond to and manage this stigmatisation, including by re-migrating. We use Goffman's concept of stigma and the refinement offered by to further nuance understanding of the impact of deportation

Overcoming barriers in evaluating outbreaks of diarrheal disease in resource poor settings: assessment of recurrent outbreaks in Chobe District, Botswana

BACKGROUND: Diarrheal illness remains a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, with the majority of deaths occurring in children <5 years of age. Lack of resources often prohibits the evaluation of outbreak characteristics and limits progress in managing this important disease syndrome, particularly in Africa. Relying only on existing medical staff and hospital resources, we assess the use of a questionnaire survey tool to identify baseline outbreak characteristics during recurrent diarrheal outbreaks in Chobe, Botswana. METHODS: Using historical surveillance data (2006–2009), the temporal pattern of recurrent diarrheal outbreaks was evaluated among patients <5 years of age presenting to health facilities in Chobe District. Using a questionnaire survey tool, medical staff from selected health facilities assessed patients (all ages) presenting with diarrheal disease during two diarrheal outbreaks (2011–2012). Cluster analysis and classification and regression trees (CART) were used to evaluate patient attributes by outbreak. RESULTS: We identified a bimodal, annual pattern of acute diarrhea in children <5 years of age across years (Wilcox test, W = 456.5, p = 0.052). Historical outbreak periods appeared to coincide with major hydrological phenomena (rainfall/flood recession). Across health facilities, a significant percent of patients in the prospective study were in the ≥5 age class (44%, n = 515 and 35%, n = 333 in the dry and wet season outbreaks, respectively). Cluster analysis of questionnaire data identified two main branches associated with patient age (<5 and ≥5 years of age). Patients did not cluster by outbreak or village. CART examination identified sex and hospitalization as being most predictive of patients <5 years and household diarrhea in patients ≥5 years. Water shortages and water quality deficiencies were identified in both outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: Diarrhea is a persistent, seasonally occurring disease in Chobe District, Botswana. Lack of variation in outbreak variables suggests the possibility of environmental drivers influencing outbreak dynamics and the potential importance of human-environmental linkages in this region. Public health strategy should be directed at securing improved water service and correcting water quality deficiencies. Public health education should include increased emphasis on sanitation practices when providing care to household members with diarrhea. While global diarrheal disease surveillance is directed at the under-5 age group, this may not be appropriate in areas of high HIV prevalence such as that found in our study area where a large immune-compromised population may warrant increased surveillance across age groups. The approach used in this study provided the first detailed characterization of diarrheal disease outbreaks in the area, an important starting point for immediate intervention and development of working hypotheses for future disease investigations. While data derived from this approach are necessarily limited, they identify critical information on outbreak characteristics in resource poor settings where data gaps continue and disease incidence is high

Screening of desert plants for use against bacterial pathogens in fish

The antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts of 104 desert plant species was studied on the fol- lowing fish bacterial pathogens: Aeromonas hydrophila, Photobacterium damselae subspecies piscicida, Streptococcus iniae, and Vibrio alginolyticus. Seventeen plant species had antibacte- rial activity, as identified by disk diffusion assay. The pathogen P. damselae was sensitive to all 17 active extracts except Peganum harmala and a high inhibitory effect (14-19.5 mm) was pro- duced by Anchusa strigosa, Hammada scoparia, Achillea fragrantissima, Pulicaria crispa and Loranthus acaciae. The pathogens A. hydrophila and V. alginolyticus were inhibited by H. sco- paria, L. acaciae, and P. harmala (7-20.5 mm). The pathogen S. iniae was inhibited by Ochradenus baccatus and Reseda stenostachya (10.5 mm). The benefits of using desert plants as an alternative to conventional antibiotics are discussed