Emergent Phenomena Induced by Spin-Orbit Coupling at Surfaces and Interfaces

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) describes the relativistic interaction between the spin and momentum degrees of freedom of electrons, and is central to the rich phenomena observed in condensed matter systems. In recent years, new phases of matter have emerged from the interplay between SOC and low dimensionality, such as chiral spin textures and spin-polarized surface and interface states. These low-dimensional SOC-based realizations are typically robust and can be exploited at room temperature. Here we discuss SOC as a means of producing such fundamentally new physical phenomena in thin films and heterostructures. We put into context the technological promise of these material classes for developing spin-based device applications at room temperature

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the 21st century

During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include: warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land-use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia's role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large scale water withdrawals, land use and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that Integrated Assessment Models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Development of a New Biosensor by Adsorption of Creatinine Deiminase on Monolayers of Micro- and Nanoscale Zeolites

This work is dedicated to the development of creatinine-sensitive biosensor consisting of pH-sensitive field-effect transistor (pH-FET) and creatinine deiminase (CD) immobilized with various types of zeolites, in particular, silicalite, zeolite beta (BEA) and nanobeta, and BEA zeolites, modified with gold nanoparticles and ions. For comparison, the traditional method of CD immobilization in saturated glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor was used. To modify pH-FET with zeolites, a monolayer method of deposition was applied. All basic analytical characteristics of the developed biosensors were compared: linear range of creatinine determination, time of response and regeneration, minimum limit of detection, and response reproducibility within a single biosensor; the calibration curves were plotted. It is shown that the use of zeolites of different types as adsorbents in the development of creatinine-sensitive biosensors resulted in a decrease of time of response and regeneration, an increase in sensitivity of the bioselective element to creatinine, and improvement in reproducibility of preparation of various biosensors, as compared with the method of covalent cross-linking in GA vapor

Matrix solitons solutions of the modified korteweg–de vries equation

Nonlinear non-Abelian Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) and modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equations and their links via Baecklund transformations are considered. The focus is on the construction of soliton solutions admitted by matrix modified Korteweg-de Vries equations. Matrix equation can be viewed as a specialisation of operator equations in the finite dimensional case when operators are finite dimensional and, hence, admit a matrix representation. Baecklund transformations allow to reveal structural properties [S. Carillo and C. Schiebold, J. Math. Phys. 50 (2009), 073510] enjoyed by non-commutative KdV- type equations, such as the existence of a recursion operator. Operator methods are briefly recalled aiming to show how they can be applied to construct soliton solutions. These methods, combined with Baecklund transformations, allow to obtain solutions of matrix soliton equations. Explicit solution formulae previously constructed [C. Schiebold, Glasgow Math. J. 51, 147-155 (2009)], [S. Carillo and C. Schiebold, J. Math. Phys. 52 (2011), 053507] are used to obtain 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 matrix mKdV solutions. Some of these matrix solutions are visualised to show the solitonic behaviour they exhibit

Formulation for Oral Delivery of Lactoferrin Based on Bovine Serum Albumin and Tannic Acid Multilayer Microcapsules

We thank A*STAR, Singapore and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand, SG-NZ Foods for Health Grant for financial support of this work (Project 1414024010). The work was also supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation as grant No. 14.Z50.31.0004 to support scientific research projects implemented under the supervision of leading scientists at Russian institutions and Russian institutions of higher education. E.K. and M.V.N. acknowledge financial support by the A*STAR Graduate Academy, Singapore. O.A.S. is thankful to Scholarship of President of Russian Federation for training abroad in 2016/17 academic year