Imaging Pulsed Laser Deposition oxide growth by in-situ Atomic Force Microscopy

To visualize the topography of thin oxide films during growth, thereby enabling to study its growth behavior quasi real-time, we have designed and integrated an atomic force microscope (AFM) in a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) vacuum setup. The AFM scanner and PLD target are integrated in a single support frame, combined with a fast sample transfer method, such that in-situ microscopy can be utilized after subsequent deposition pulses. The in-situ microscope can be operated from room temperature (RT) up to 700$^\circ$C and at (process) pressures ranging from the vacuum base pressure of 10$^{-6}$ mbar up to 1 mbar, typical PLD conditions for the growth of oxide films. The performance of this instrument is demonstrated by resolving unit cell height surface steps and surface topography under typical oxide PLD growth conditions.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Inventory Allocation in Robotic Mobile Fulfillment Systems

A Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System is a recently developed automated, parts-to- picker material handling system. Robots can move storage shelves, also known as inventory pods, between the storage area and the workstations and can continually reposition them during operations. This paper shows how to optimize three key decision variables: (1) the number of pods per product (2) the ratio of the number of pick stations to replenishment stations, and (3) the replenishment level per pod. Our results show that throughput performance improves substantially when inventory is spread across multiple pods, when an optimum ratio between the number of pick stations to replenishment stations is achieved and when a pod is replenished before it is completely empty. This paper contributes methodologically by introducing a new type of Semi-Open Queueing Networks (SOQN): cross-class matching multi- class SOQN, by deriving necessary stability conditions, and by introducing a novel interpretation of the classes

A man with hypoxaemia after a femoral fracture

A 25-year-old male presented with fever and dyspnoea after a femoral fracture, which was treated with intramedullary nail fixation. Based on clinical criteria and a CT scan, the diagnosis fat embolism was made. He was treated conservatively and made a full recovery.</p

Symmetry adapted finite-cluster solver for quantum Heisenberg model in two-dimensions: a real-space renormalization approach

We present a quantum cluster solver for spin-$S$ Heisenberg model on a two-dimensional lattice. The formalism is based on the real-space renormalization procedure and uses the lattice point group-theoretical analysis and nonabelian SU(2) spin symmetry technique. The exact diagonalization procedure is used twice at each renormalization group step. The method is applied to the spin-half antiferromagnet on a square lattice and a calculation of local observables is demonstrated. A symmetry based truncation procedure is suggested and verified numerically.Comment: willm appear in J. Phys.

Estimating Performance in a Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System

This paper models Robotic Mobile Fulfillment Systems and analyzes their performance. A Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System is an automated, parts-to-picker storage system where robots bring pods with products to a workstation. It is especially suited for e-commerce distribution centers with large assortments of small products, and with strong demand fluctuations. Its most important feature is the ability to automatically sort inventory and to adapt the warehouse layout in a short period of time. Queueing network models are developed for both single-line and multi-line orders, to analytically estimate maximum order throughput, average order cycle time, and robot utilization. These models can be used to quickly evaluate different warehouse layouts, or robot zoning strategies. Two main contributions are that the models include accurate driving behavior of robots and multi-line orders. The results show that: (1) the analytical models accurately estimate robot utilization, workstation utilization, and order cycle time, (2) maximum order throughput is quite insensitive to the length-to-width ratio of the storage area and (3) maximum order throughput is affected by the location of the workstations around the storage area

Temperature-dependent Raman study of CeFeAsO0.9F0.1 Superconductor: Crystal field excitations, phonons and their coupling

We report temperature-dependent Raman spectra of CeFeAsO0.9F0.1 from 4 K to 300 K in spectral range of 60 to 1800 cm-1 and interpret them using estimates of phonon frequencies obtained from first-principles density functional calculations. We find evidence for a strong coupling between the phonons and crystal field excitations; in particular Ce3+ crystal field excitation at 432 cm-1 couples strongly with Eg oxygen vibration at 389 cm-1 . Below the superconducting transition temperature, the phonon mode near 280 cm-1 shows softening, signaling its coupling with the superconducting gap. The ratio of the superconducting gap to Tc thus estimated to be ~ 10 suggests CeFeAsO0.9F0.1 as a strong coupling superconductor. In addition, two high frequency modes observed at 1342 cm-1 and 1600 cm-

The association of early life socioeconomic conditions with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: results from the Maastricht study

markdownabstractBackground: Using cross-sectional data from The Maastricht Study, we examined the association of socioeconomic conditions in early life with prediabetes and T2DM in adulthood. We also examined potential mediating pathways via both adulthood socioeconomic conditions and adult BMI and health behaviours. Methods: Of the 3263 participants (aged 40-75 years), 493 had prediabetes and 906 were diagnosed with T2DM. By using logistic regression analyses, the associations and possible mediating pathways were examined. Results: Participants with low early life socioeconomic conditions had a 1.56 times higher odds of prediabetes (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.21-2.02) and a 1.61 times higher odds of T2DM (95% CI = 1.31-1.99). The relation between low early life socioeconomic conditions and prediabetes was independent of current socioeconomic conditions (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.05-1.80), whereas the relation with T2DM was not independent of current socioeconomic conditions (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.87-1.37). BMI party mediated the association between early life socioeconomic conditions and prediabetes. Conclusions: Socioeconomic inequalities starting in early life were associated with diabetes-related outcomes in adulthood and suggest the usefulness of early life interventions aimed at tackling these inequalities

On the Fermi Liquid to Polaron Crossover I: General Results

We use analytic techniques and the dynamical mean field method to study the crossover from fermi liquid to polaron behavior in models of electrons interacting with dispersionless classical phonons.Comment: 42 pages, 13 figure

Mechanical response of plectonemic DNA: an analytical solution

We consider an elastic rod model for twisted DNA in the plectonemic regime. The molecule is treated as an impenetrable tube with an effective, adjustable radius. The model is solved analytically and we derive formulas for the contact pressure, twisting moment and geometrical parameters of the supercoiled region. We apply our model to magnetic tweezer experiments of a DNA molecule subjected to a tensile force and a torque, and extract mechanical and geometrical quantities from the linear part of the experimental response curve. These reconstructed values are derived in a self-contained manner, and are found to be consistent with those available in the literature.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure