Importance of tetrahedral coordination for high-valent transition metal oxides: YCrO4_4 as a model system

We have investigated the electronic structure of the high oxidation state material YCrO$_4$ within the framework of the Zaanen-Sawatzky-Allen phase diagram. While Cr$^{4+}$-based compounds like SrCrO$_3$/CaCrO$_3$ and CrO$_2$ can be classified as small-gap or metallic negative-charge-transfer systems, we find using photoelectron spectroscopy that YCrO$_4$ is a robust insulator despite the fact that its Cr ions have an even higher formal valence state of 5+. We reveal using band structure calculations that the tetrahedral coordination of the Cr$^{5+}$ ions in YCrO$_4$ plays a decisive role, namely to diminish the bonding of the Cr $3d$ states with the top of the O $2p$ valence band. This finding not only explains why the charge-transfer energy remains effectively positive and the material stable, but also opens up a new route to create doped carriers with symmetries different from those of other transition-metal ions.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Identification of two cracks with different severity in beams and rods from minimal frequency data

It has been known for a long time that the problem of identifying two small cracks in a simply supported beam from the first three natural frequencies can be analytically formulated and solved if the two cracks have equal severity. In this paper we extend this result to the case of cracks with different severity. Each crack is simulated by a rotational elastic spring and the inverse problem is solved in terms of the damage-induced changes in the first four natural frequencies. Closed-form expressions of the damage parameters in terms of the measured frequencies are obtained. The results can be extended to the identification of two cracks in a longitudinally vibrating beam based on a suitable set of natural frequency and antiresonant frequency data. Numerical simulations support the theory, and show that if accurate input data are available and the cracks are not too close, then damage identification leads to satisfactory results

A qualitative analysis of immigrant population health practices in the Girona Healthcare Region

The research we present here forms part of a two-phase project - one quantitative and the other qualitative - assessing the use of primary health care services. This paper presents the qualitative phase of said research, which is aimed at ascertaining the needs, beliefs, barriers to access and health practices of the immigrant population in comparison with the native population, as well as the perceptions of healthcare professionals. Moroccan and sub-Saharan were the immigrants to who the qualitative phase was specifically addressed. The aims of this paper are as follows: to analyse any possible implications of family organisation in the health practices of the immigrant population; to ascertain social practices relating to illness; to understand the significances of sexual and reproductive health practices; and to ascertain the ideas and perceptions of immigrants, local people and professionals regarding health and the health system. Methods: qualitative research based on discursive analysis. Data gathering techniques consisted of discussion groups with health system users and semi-structured individual interviews with healthcare professionals. The sample was taken from the Basic Healthcare Areas of Salt and Banyoles (belonging to the Girona Healthcare Region), the discussion groups being comprised of (a) 6 immigrant Moroccan women, (b) 7 immigrant sub-Saharan African women and (c) 6 immigrant and native population men (2 native men, 2 Moroccan men and 2 sub-Saharan men); and the semi-structured interviews being conducted with the following healthcare professionals: (a) 3 gynaecologists, (b) 3 nurses and 1 administrative staff. Results: use of the healthcare system is linked to the perception of not being well, knowledge of the healthcare system, length of time resident in Spain and interiorization of traditional Western medicine as a cure mechanism. The divergences found among the groups of immigrants, local people and healthcare professionals with regard to healthcare education, use of the healthcare service, sexual and reproductive healthcare and reticence with regard to being attended by healthcare personnel of the opposite sex demonstrate a need to work with the immigrant population as a heterogeneous group. Conclusions: the results we have obtained support the idea that feeling unwell is a psycho-social process, as it takes place within a specific socio-cultural situation and spans a range of beliefs, perceptions and ideas regarding symptomology and how to treat i

Intrinsic Optical and Electronic Properties from Quantitative Analysis of Plasmonic Semiconductor Nanocrystal Ensemble Optical Extinction

The optical extinction spectra arising from localized surface plasmon resonance in doped semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have intensities and lineshapes determined by free charge carrier concentrations and the various mechanisms for damping the oscillation of those free carriers. However, these intrinsic properties are convoluted by heterogeneous broadening when measuring spectra of ensembles. We reveal that the traditional Drude approximation is not equipped to fit spectra from a heterogeneous ensemble of doped semiconductor NCs and produces fit results that violate Mie scattering theory. The heterogeneous ensemble Drude approximation (HEDA) model rectifies this issue by accounting for ensemble heterogeneity and near-surface depletion. The HEDA model is applied to tin-doped indium oxide NCs for a range of sizes and doping levels but we expect it can be employed for any isotropic plasmonic particles in the quasistatic regime. It captures individual NC optical properties and their contributions to the ensemble spectra thereby enabling the analysis of intrinsic NC properties from an ensemble measurement. Quality factors for the average NC in each ensemble are quantified and found to be notably higher than those of the ensemble. Carrier mobility and conductivity derived from HEDA fits matches that measured in the bulk thin film literature

Recover : regenerating the strength and value of thermally recycled glass fibres

Results are presented from the ReCoVeR project on the regeneration of the strength of thermally conditioned glass fibres. Thermal recycling of end-of-life glass fibre reinforced composites or composite manufacturing waste delivers fibres with virtually no residual strength or value. Composites produced from such fibres also have extremely poor mechanical performance. Data is presented showing that a short hot sodium hydroxide solution treatment of such recycled fibres can more than triple their strength and restore their ability to act as an effective reinforcement in second life composite materials. The implications of these results for real materials reuse of recycled glass fibres as replacement for pristine reinforcement fibres are discussed

In Vitro Models for Studying Respiratory Host-Pathogen Interactions.

Respiratory diseases and lower respiratory tract infections are among the leading cause of death worldwide and, especially given the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic, are of high and prevalent socio-economic importance. In vitro models, which accurately represent the lung microenvironment, are of increasing significance given the ethical concerns around animal work and the lack of translation to human disease, as well as the lengthy time to market and the attrition rates associated with clinical trials. This review gives an overview of the biological and immunological components involved in regulating the respiratory epithelium system in health, disease, and infection. The evolution from 2D to 3D cell biology and to more advanced technological integrated models for studying respiratory host-pathogen interactions are reviewed and provide a reference point for understanding the in vitro modeling requirements. Finally, the current limitations and future perspectives for advancing this field are presented

GUARDIANS final report part 1 (draft): a robot swarm assisting a human fire fighter

Emergencies in industrial warehouses are a major concern for fire fighters. The large dimensions together with the development of dense smoke that drastically reduces visibility, represent major challenges. The Guardians robot swarm is designed to assist re ghters in searching a large warehouse. In this paper we discuss the technology developed for a swarm of robots assisting re ghters. We explain the swarming algorithms which provide the functionality by which the robots react to and follow humans while no communication is required. Next we discuss the wireless communication system, which is a so-called mobile ad-hoc network. The communication network provides also the means to locate the robots and humans. Thus the robot swarm is able to provide guidance information to the humans. Together with the fire fighters we explored how the robot swarm should feed information back to the human fire fighter. We have designed and experimented with interfaces for presenting swarm based information to human beings

Unique determination of a single crack in a uniform simply supported beam in bending vibration

In this paper we consider one of the basic inverse problems in damage detection based on natural frequency data, namely the identification of a single open crack in a uniform simply supported beam from measurement of the first and the second natural frequency. It is commonly accepted in the literature that the knowledge of this set of spectral data allows for the unique determination of the severity and the position (up to symmetry) of the damage. However, in spite of the fact that many numerical evidences are in support of this property, the result is rigorously proved only when the severity of the crack is small. In this paper we definitely show, by means of an original constructive method, that the above result holds true for any level of crack severity. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

On KLJN-based secure key distribution in vehicular communication networks

In a former paper [Fluct. Noise Lett., 13 (2014) 1450020] we introduced a vehicular communication system with unconditionally secure key exchange based on the Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise (KLJN) key distribution scheme. In this paper, we address the secure KLJN key donation to vehicles. This KLJN key donation solution is performed lane-by-lane by using roadside key provider equipment embedded in the pavement. A method to compute the lifetime of the KLJN key is also given. This key lifetime depends on the car density and gives an upper limit of the lifetime of the KLJN key for vehicular communication networks.Comment: Accepted for publicatio

Fractura Supracondílea de Humero en Niños: (estudio de la Rigidez Postquirúgica del Codo en 100 Casos Intervenidos a través de un Abordaje Posterior)

El tratamiento de las fracturas supracondíleas de húmero desplazadas en niños mediante reducción abierta y fijación interna es un procedimiento poco utilizado y que no goza del favor de la mayoría de los cirujanos ortopédicos, debido principalmente a la pérdida permanente de movilidad en el codo que se atribuye a esta técnica. Según algunos autores ésta pérdida es mayor aún si se utiliza un abordaje posterior. Se presenta una importante casuística (100 casos) de fracturas muy desplazadas que han sido tratadas mediante reducción abierta y fijación por vía posterior y revisadas a largo plazo. La rigidez postquirúrgica encontrada es en general leve, e inferior si se utiliza un abordaje quirúrgico que respete la integridad anatómica del músculo tríceps.Treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children by open reduction and internal fixation is a little-used therapeutic method and ill-advised by many authors owing to permanent stiffness of the elbow using this procedure. An important series of 100 very displaced fractures treated by open reduction and fixation from a posterior approach and is slight and less using a surgical approach which respects the anathomic of triceps muscle