Partially-disordered photonic-crystal thin films for enhanced and robust photovoltaics

We present a general framework for the design of thin-film photovoltaics based on a partially-disordered photonic crystal that has both enhanced absorption for light trapping and reduced sensitivity to the angle and polarization of incident radiation. The absorption characteristics of different lattice structures are investigated as an initial periodic structure is gradually perturbed. We find that an optimal amount of disorder controllably introduced into a multi-lattice photonic crystal causes the characteristic narrow-band, resonant peaks to be broadened resulting in a device with enhanced and robust performance ideal for typical operating conditions of photovoltaic applications.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Safe and minimally invasive laminoplastic laminotomy using an ultrasonic bone curette for spinal surgery: technical note

Background: Ultrasonic surgical aspirators have been used mainly for removing brain tumors. Because of their longitudinal and torsional tip, they are used for cutting the bone structures in spinal surgery installing a scalpel-type tip. The purpose of this report is to describe the effectiveness and surgical pitfalls of an ultrasonic bone curette in laminoplastic laminotomy and hemilaminotomy. Methods: We present 12 patients who underwent laminoplastic laminotomy and hemilaminotomy. We used a SONOPET UST-2001 ultrasonic bone curette with HB-05S handpieces (M and M Co, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). After a tumor was removed, titanium plates were used for the laminoplastic laminotomy and hemilaminotomy. The technical advantage of an ultrasonic bone curette and procedure-related complication were examined. Results: There were no major procedure-related complications such as cord injury. Wound infection and subcutaneous fluid collection caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage did not occur for reconstruction of posterior bony structure. In 1 patient with calcified dura mater associated with tumor, dural tear occurred. The width of the tip was narrow enough for resected laminae to be fused postoperatively, and spinal instability did not occur in all cases. Conclusion: The scalpel-type ultrasonic bone curette is useful for cutting bone and effective for reconstruction of the laminae. Laminotomy with an ultrasonic bone curette is safe and minimally invasive. To prevent dural tear, we recommend drilling laminae to make the bone thin as the first step, followed by cutting the remaining laminae using a bone curette especially in cases with calcified or tense dura mater.ArticleSURGICAL NEUROLOGY. 72(5):470-475 (2009)journal articl

Finite temperature effects on the structural stability of Si-doped HfO2_{2} using first-principles calculations

The structural stabilities of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases of Si-doped HfO$_{2}$ at finite temperatures were analyzed using a computational scheme to assess the effects of impurity doping. The finite temperature effects considered in this work represented lattice vibration and impurity configuration effects. The results show that 6% Si doping stabilizes the tetragonal phase at room temperature, although a higher concentration of Si is required to stabilize the tetragonal phase at zero temperature. These data indicate that lattice vibration and impurity configuration effects are important factors determining structural stability at finite temperatures.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Cognitive changes with psychomotor skill acquisition through blended learning among nursing students : A qualitative study

Aim: This study described nursing students' cognitive changes as they acquire psychomotor skills through blended learning.Background: Deliberate practice, including feedback from teachers, is vital for acquiring psychomotor skills. Blended learning, a program that allows students to deepen their learning and improve their skills even when students and faculty are physically separated has attracted significant attention in recent years. Although blended learning has been used for learning in the cognitive domain, no study has examined its effectiveness in the acquisition of psychomotor skills. Understanding how students' cognition changes as they acquire skills in a blended learning environment could be a valuable resource for effective teaching.Design: An inductive, qualitative description approach was adopted.Methods: The program involved a basic nursing skill: making an occupied bed. Eleven second-year nursing students participated. The participants attended face-to-face lectures and e-learning courses comprising self -study content that was designed for easy and frequent reference. Students practiced for a skill test, which was conducted one month after the first lecture. Two interviews were conducted approximately one month apart. Before each interview, the participants' current practices were videotaped. During the interviews, they explained their thought processes and conscious awareness of their actions as they watched the videos. This study was conducted between April and May 2019.Results: Six categories related to changes in participants' cognitive processes while acquiring the skill of making an occupied bed were identified: feeling that it is easy to acquire, practicing without much thought, real-izing the difficulty in translating thoughts into practice, experiencing a sense of purpose in each technique, gaining a perspective to evaluate one's skills, and developing one's unique approach.Conclusions: In a blended learning environment, where a practice environment and audiovisual materials were provided, students could practice and improve their skills at their own pace even without the instructor's frequent advice. The findings show that metacognitive skills are essential to the development of psychomotor skills in a blended learning program because this program requires practicing while monitoring one's skills. Metacognitive skills affect the development of psychomotor skills and the ability to provide care. Therefore, initiatives that address the development of metacognitive skills, such as the current program, during the early stages of basic education programs can contribute to the development of nursing students' practical skills

Feeding Habits of Pinguipendid and Synodontid Fishes at Kuehierabu-jima

南西諸島口永良部島の磯水域においてトラギス科2種、オグロトラギス Parapercis polyophtalma、ワヌケトラギス Parapercis cephalopunctata、エソ科魚類4種、オキエソ Trachinocephalus myops ミナミアカエソ Synodus variegatus、マダラエソ Saurida gracilis、マエソ Saurida sp. の胃内容物を調査した。トラギス科・エソ科とも岩・死サンゴ岩盤上、転石、小石場、砂地に生息しており、海底に静止し近づいてきた餌に飛びついて捕らえる待ち伏せ型の摂餌方法をとる。双方の魚類とも主な餌生物は底生性の甲殻類、魚類であるが、ワヌケトラギスでは小型個体は底生性魚類も摂餌するが、成長に伴い甲殻類中心へと食性が変化するのに対し、オキエソでは成長に伴い甲殻類から表層性魚類ヘ、ミナミアカエソでは成長に伴い底生性魚類から表層性魚類へと食性が変化した。The guts contents of two species of penguipendid fishes, Parapercis polyophtalma and Parapercis cephalopunctata, and four species of synodontid fishes, Trachinocephalus myops, Synodus variegatus, Saurida gracilis and Saurida sp. in shallow reef water around Kuchierabu-jima Island, southern Japan, were analyzed. Both penguipendid and synodontid fishes commonly inhabit on rocks, dead coral, boulders, gravel, and sand paches in the reef. They are typical ambushers which rest immobile on the sea floor and suddenly attack prey which come within striking distance. They preyed mainly on demersal small crustaceans and small fishes. In penguipendid fish, although smaller fish of P. cephalopunctata preyed on fish and small crustaceans, larger ones preyed mainly on small crustaceans. In synodontid fish, feeding habits of T. myops changed with fish growth, from small crustaceans to pelagic fish, and that of S. variegatus changed with fish growth, from demersal fish to pelagic fish

Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the <i>N</i>-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility