Observation of sub-Bragg diffraction of waves in crystals

We investigate the diffraction conditions and associated formation of stopgaps for waves in crystals with different Bravais lattices. We identify a prominent stopgap in high-symmetry directions that occurs at a frequency below the ubiquitous first-order Bragg condition. This sub-Bragg diffraction condition is demonstrated by reflectance spectroscopy on two-dimensional photonic crystals with a centred rectangular lattice, revealing prominent diffraction peaks for both the sub-Bragg and first-order Bragg condition. These results have implications for wave propagation in 2 of the 5 two-dimensional Bravais lattices and 7 out of 14 three-dimensional Bravais lattices, such as centred rectangular, triangular, hexagonal and body-centred cubic

Towards metal-organic framework based field effect chemical sensors: UiO-66-NH2 for nerve agent detection

We present a highly sensitive gas detection approach for the infamous 'nerve agent' group of alkyl phosphonate compounds. Signal transduction is achieved by monitoring the work function shift of metal-organic framework UiO-66-NH2 coated electrodes upon exposure to ppb-level concentrations of a target simulant. Using the Kelvin probe technique, we demonstrate the potential of electrically insulating MOFs for integration in field effect devices such as ChemFETs: a three orders of magnitude improvement over previous work function-based detection of nerve agent simulants. Moreover, the signal is fully reversible both in dry and humid conditions, down to low ppb concentrations. Comprehensive investigation of the interactions that lead towards this high sensitivity points towards a series of confined interactions between the analyte and the pore interior of UiO-66-NH2

A systematic review of the energy and climate impacts of teleworking

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) increasingly enable employees to work from home and other locations (‘teleworking’). This study explores the extent to which teleworking reduces the need to travel to work and the consequent impacts on economy-wide energy consumption. Methods/Design: The paper provides a systematic review of the current state of knowledge of the energy impacts of teleworking. This includes the energy savings from reduced commuter travel and the indirect impacts on energy consumption associated with changes in non-work travel and home energy consumption. The aim is to identify the conditions under which teleworking leads to a net reduction in economy-wide energy consumption, and the circumstances where benefits may be outweighed by unintended impacts. The paper synthesises the results of 39 empirical studies, identified through a comprehensive search of 9,000 published articles. Review results/Synthesis: Twenty six of the 39 studies suggest that teleworking reduces energy use, and only eight studies suggest that teleworking increases, or has a neutral impact on energy use. However, differences in the methodology, scope and assumptions of the different studies make it difficult to estimate ‘average’ energy savings. The main source of savings is the reduced distance travelled for commuting, potentially with an additional contribution from lower office energy consumption. However, the more rigorous studies that include a wider range of impacts (e.g. non-work travel or home energy use) generally find smaller savings. Discussion: Despite the generally positive verdict on teleworking as an energy-saving practice, there are numerous uncertainties and ambiguities about its actual or potential benefits. These relate to the extent to which teleworking may lead to unpredictable increases in non-work travel and home energy use that may outweigh the gains from reduced work travel. The available evidence suggests that economy-wide energy savings are typically modest, and in many circumstances could be negative or non-existent

Synthesis and Optimization of Reversible Circuits - A Survey

Reversible logic circuits have been historically motivated by theoretical research in low-power electronics as well as practical improvement of bit-manipulation transforms in cryptography and computer graphics. Recently, reversible circuits have attracted interest as components of quantum algorithms, as well as in photonic and nano-computing technologies where some switching devices offer no signal gain. Research in generating reversible logic distinguishes between circuit synthesis, post-synthesis optimization, and technology mapping. In this survey, we review algorithmic paradigms --- search-based, cycle-based, transformation-based, and BDD-based --- as well as specific algorithms for reversible synthesis, both exact and heuristic. We conclude the survey by outlining key open challenges in synthesis of reversible and quantum logic, as well as most common misconceptions.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figures, 2 table

Patient‐reported outcomes after 10‐year follow‐up of intensive, multifactorial treatment in individuals with screen‐detected type 2 diabetes: the ADDITION‐Europe trial

AimsTo present the longer‐term impact of multifactorial treatment of type 2 diabetes on self‐reported health status, diabetes‐specific quality of life, and diabetes treatment satisfaction at 10‐year follow up of the ADDITION‐Europe trial.MethodsThe ADDITION‐Europe trial enrolled 3057 individuals with screen‐detected type 2 diabetes from four centres [Denmark, the UK (Cambridge and Leicester) and the Netherlands], between 2001 and 2006. Participants were randomized at general practice level to intensive treatment or to routine care . The trial ended in 2009 and a 10‐year follow‐up was performed at the end of 2014. We measured self‐reported health status (36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey and EQ‐5D), diabetes‐specific quality of life (Audit of Diabetes‐Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire), and diabetes treatment satisfaction (Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire) at different time points during the study period. A mixed‐effects model was applied to estimate the effect of intensive treatment (intention‐to‐treat analyses) on patient‐reported outcome measures for each centre. Centre‐specific estimates were pooled using a fixed effects meta‐analysis.ResultsThere was no difference in patient‐reported outcome measures between the routine care and intensive treatment arms in this 10‐year follow‐up study [EQ‐5D: –0.01 (95% CI –0.03, 0.01); Physical Composite Score (36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey): –0.27 (95% CI –1.11, 0.57), Audit of Diabetes‐Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire: –0.01 (95% CI –0.11, 0.10); and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire: –0.20 (95% CI –0.70, 0.29)].ConclusionsIntensive, multifactorial treatment of individuals with screen‐detected type 2 diabetes did not affect self‐reported health status, diabetes‐specific quality of life, or diabetes treatment satisfaction at 10‐year follow‐up compared to routine care.</div

Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection from breath - a proof-of-concept study

Bioaerosol capture and analysis is emerging as a non-invasive diagnostic method for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this proof-of-concept study conducted in Lesotho, we evaluated the novel and simple AL2 bioaerosol detection device in comparison to conventional nasopharyngeal sampling methods. We demonstrated for the first time that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected using the AL2 bioaerosol capture device. However, studies with a larger sample size are needed to further evaluate this bioaerosol capture device for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

Biopolymer-based structuring of liquid oil into soft solids and oleogels using water-continuous emulsions as templates

Physical trapping of a hydrophobic liquid oil in a matrix of water-soluble biopolymers was achieved using a facile two-step process by first formulating a surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by biopolymers (a protein and a polysaccharide) followed by complete removal of the water phase (by either high- or low-temperature drying of the emulsion) resulting in structured solid systems containing a high concentration of liquid oil (above 97 wt %). The microstructure of these systems was revealed by confocal and cryo-scanning electron microscopy, and the effect of biopolymer concentrations on the consistency of emulsions as well as the dried product was evaluated using a combination of small-amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry and large deformation fracture studies. The oleogel prepared by shearing the dried product showed a high gel strength as well as a certain degree of thixotropic recovery even at high temperatures. Moreover, the reversibility of the process was demonstrated by shearing the dried product in the presence of water to obtain reconstituted emulsions with rheological properties comparable to those of the fresh emulsion

Resolved quadrupolar transition in TiO2

We report an investigation of the direct forbidden absorption edge of TiO2. For the first time we have resolved the weak quadrupolar 1s exciton and measured its binding energy. Taking into account polaron effects, we estimated the bare electron effective mass in the Γ1 minimum of the conduction band and obtained a fairly reasonable value of 3m0

A barrier to homologous recombination between sympatric strains of the cooperative soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus

The bacterium Myxococcus xanthus glides through soil in search of prey microbes, but when food sources run out, cells cooperatively construct and sporulate within multicellular fruiting bodies. M. xanthus strains isolated from a 16 × 16-cm-scale patch of soil were previously shown to have diversified into many distinct compatibility types that are distinguished by the failure of swarming colonies to merge upon encounter. We sequenced the genomes of 22 isolates from this population belonging to the two most frequently occurring multilocus sequence type (MLST) clades to trace patterns of incipient genomic divergence, specifically related to social divergence. Although homologous recombination occurs frequently within the two MLST clades, we find an almost complete absence of recombination events between them. As the two clades are very closely related and live in sympatry, either ecological or genetic barriers must reduce genetic exchange between them. We find that the rate of change in the accessory genome is greater than the rate of amino-acid substitution in the core genome. We identify a large genomic tract that consistently differs between isolates that do not freely merge and therefore is a candidate region for harbouring gene(s) responsible for self/non-self discrimination