Scale-dependent rigidity of polymer-ornamented membranes

We study the fluctuation spectrum of fluid membranes carrying grafted polymers. Contrary to usual descriptions, we find that the modifications induced by the polymers cannot be reduced to the renormalization of the membrane bending rigidity. Instead we show that the ornamented membrane exhibits a scale-dependent elastic modulus that we evaluate. In ornamented lamellar stacks, we further show that this leads to a modification of the Caille parameter characterizing the power-law singularities of the Bragg peaks.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Low-density silicon allotropes for photovoltaic applications

Silicon materials play a key role in many technologically relevant fields, ranging from the electronic to the photovoltaic industry. A systematic search for silicon allotropes was performed by employing a modified ab initio minima hopping crystal structure prediction method. The algorithm was optimized to specifically investigate the hitherto barely explored low-density regime of the silicon phase diagram by imitating the guest-host concept of clathrate compounds. In total 44 metastable phases are presented, of which 11 exhibit direct or quasi-direct band-gaps in the range of $\approx$1.0-1.8 eV, close to the optimal Shockley-Queisser limit of $\approx$1.4 eV, with a stronger overlap of the absorption spectra with the solar spectrum compared to conventional diamond silicon. Due to the structural resemblance to known clathrate compounds it is expected that the predicted phases can be synthesized

Multipurpose Iron Man Glove & Moveable Platform

The multipurpose glove is a hand-worn device that wirelessly controls the position of a platform and flashes a high power LED at a particular frequency in order to alias the motion of an oscillatory object. The position and motion of the platform is dictated by an accelerometer which is attached to the top of the glove, as shown in Fig. 1. The user can then tilt the hand forward, backward, left, or right, to cause the platform to move towards a desired location. The user can also adjust the flashing frequency of the high power LED that is attached to the bottom of the glove. This frequency adjustment can be done through hand motion and the accelerometer, or by changing the position of a potentiometer that is attached to the overall casing, as depicted by Fig. 1. Figure 1 also displays the battery armature, which is used to fix the battery and secure the system casing around the forearm of the user with VELCRO straps

IPSAS Explained: A Summary of International Public Sector Accounting Standards

A practical guide to international public sector accounting standards. Opening with a thorough description of the structure and organization of the IPSASB, the book goes on to give an overview of the principles of key topics such as the accrual basis and the cash basis of accounting, the history, scope and authority of IPSASs, the strategy of the IPSASB as well as the standard-setting procedures. Additionally the various measurement bases (cost, present value, fair value) are introduced. A special focus of the book is on the implications of the current financial crisis on public sector accounting. In the main sector of the book each IPSAS (including the recently published exposure draft) is presented in brief, focusing on the core content of the relevant standard

Mitigating spatial confounding by explicitly correlating Gaussian random fields

Spatial models are used in a variety of research areas, such as environmental sciences, epidemiology, or physics. A common phenomenon in such spatial regression models is spatial confounding. This phenomenon is observed when spatially indexed covariates modeling the mean of the response are correlated with a spatial random effect included in the model, for example, as a proxy of unobserved spatial confounders. As a result, estimates for regression coefficients of the covariates can be severely biased and interpretation of these is no longer valid. Recent literature has shown that typical solutions for reducing spatial confounding can lead to misleading and counterintuitive results. In this article, we develop a computationally efficient spatial model that explicitly correlates a Gaussian random field for the covariate of interest with the Gaussian random field in the main model equation and integrates novel prior structures to reduce spatial confounding. Starting from the univariate case, we extend our prior structure also to the case of multiple spatially confounded covariates. In simulation studies, we show that our novel model flexibly detects and reduces spatial confounding in spatial datasets, and it performs better than typically used methods such as restricted spatial regression. These results are promising for any applied researcher who wishes to interpret covariate effects in spatial regression models. As a real data illustration, we study the effect of elevation and temperature on the mean of monthly precipitation in Germany.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Peer Reviewe

'HeART of Stroke (HoS)', a community-based Arts for Health group intervention to support self-confidence and psychological well-being following a stroke: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study

Introduction Over 152 000 people in the UK have strokes annually and a third experience residual disability. Low mood also affects a third of stroke survivors; yet psychological support is poor. While Arts for Health interventions have been shown to improve well-being in people with mild-to-moderate depression post-stroke, their role in helping people regain sense of self, well-being and confidence has yet to be evaluated. The main aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of conducting a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an Arts for Health group intervention (‘HeART of Stroke’ (HoS)) for stroke survivors. HoS is a 10-session artist-facilitated group intervention held in the community over 14 weeks. It offers a non-judgemental, supportive environment for people to explore sense of self, potentially enhancing well-being and confidence. Methods and analysis Sixty-four people, up to 2 years post-stroke, recruited via secondary care research staff or community stroke/rehabilitation teams in two UK centres will be randomised to either HoS plus usual care or usual care only. Self-reported outcomes, measured at baseline and approximately 5 months postrandomisation, will include stroke-related, well-being, mood, self-esteem, quality of life and process measures. Analyses will focus on estimating key feasibility parameters (eg, rates of recruitment, retention, intervention attendance). We will develop outcome and resource use data collection methods to inform an effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analysis in the future trial. Interviews, with a sample of participants, will explore the acceptability of the intervention and study processes, as well as experiences of the HoS group. Ethics and dissemination National Health Service (NHS), Research and Development and University ethical approvals have been obtained. Two peer-reviewed journal publications are planned plus one service user led publication. Findings will be disseminated at key national conferences, local stakeholder events and via institutional websites.This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG-0212-27054)

Mind the Gap: Lessons from the UK to Brazil about the Roles of TTOs throughout Collaborative R&D Projects

The literature about collaboration for innovation has reported fundamental activities performed by intermediaries. In this paper, universities' technology transfer offices (TTOs) are placed as intermediaries between academic research and the industry. Our study focuses on collaborative research and development (R&D) projects between universities and industry in order to understand the roles of TTOs throughout the whole duration of the project. The main aim of this paper is to identify the roles of TTOs throughout collaborative R&D projects and suggest some lessons for Brazilian TTOs based on the experience of the United Kingdom. Through qualitative case studies in the United Kingdom and Brazil, the analyses show that both TTOs performed critical activities for collaborative R&D projects. Similar activities at both TTOs were the management of partnerships in terms of negotiating contracts and the protection and licensing of intellectual property. Findings also show that the search for partners in the beginning of the project, the pacifier role of the TTO to help mutual understanding, and the active commercialisation of academic research to external partners happened only in the UK case, which may generate implications for TTOs in Brazil.publishedVersio

Mixture models for distance sampling detection functions

Funding: EPSRC DTGWe present a new class of models for the detection function in distance sampling surveys of wildlife populations, based on finite mixtures of simple parametric key functions such as the half-normal. The models share many of the features of the widely-used “key function plus series adjustment” (K+A) formulation: they are flexible, produce plausible shapes with a small number of parameters, allow incorporation of covariates in addition to distance and can be fitted using maximum likelihood. One important advantage over the K+A approach is that the mixtures are automatically monotonic non-increasing and non-negative, so constrained optimization is not required to ensure distance sampling assumptions are honoured. We compare the mixture formulation to the K+A approach using simulations to evaluate its applicability in a wide set of challenging situations. We also re-analyze four previously problematic real-world case studies. We find mixtures outperform K+A methods in many cases, particularly spiked line transect data (i.e., where detectability drops rapidly at small distances) and larger sample sizes. We recommend that current standard model selection methods for distance sampling detection functions are extended to include mixture models in the candidate set.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Desenvolvimento do Cadastron na Alemanha

The first part of the paper will give an overview on the classification of ALKISwithin the German NSDI initiative. The following two parts describe the ALKISModeland the implementation of the system in the case of North Rhine-Westphalia.The penultimate point focuses upon the discussion of an increasing use and value of(official) geographical data. In a final step, future prospects are presented.A primeira parte do artigo traz uma visão geral do sistema ALKIS - AmtlichesLiegenschaftskataster Informationssystem, que é uma iniciativa do GovernoAlemão dentro do NSDI - National Spatial Data Infrastructure. As duas partesseguintes descrevem o modelo ALKIS e a implantação do sistema em uma regiãopiloto, a de Rhine-Westphalia Norte. No penúltimo item é formulada uma discussãosobre a utilização e o crescente valor dos dados espaciais. Na etapa do final é feitauma apresentação sobre o futuro do sistema