2-Arc-transitive metacyclic covers of complete graphs

Regular covers of complete graphs whose fibre-preserving automorphism groups act 2-arc-transitively are investigated. Such covers have been classified when the covering transformation groups K are cyclic groups Z(d) for an integer d >= 2, metacyclic abelian groups Z(p)(2), or nonmetacyclic abelian groups Z(p)(3) for a prime p (see S.F. Du et al. (1998) [5] for the first two metacyclic group cases and see S.F. Du et al. (2005) [3] for the third nonmetacyclic group case). In this paper, a complete classification is achieved of all such covers when K is any metacyclic group. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.116Ysciescopu

Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra of strong visible light-emitting SiC nanocrystalline films on Si deposited by electron-cyclotron-resonance chemical-vapor deposition

SiC nanocrystalline films on Si substrates deposited using advanced electron-cyclotron-resonance chemical-vapor deposition exhibit intense visible light emission at room temperature under laser excitation. Continuous-wave and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements for these SiC films were carried out at room temperature. The photon energy of the dominant emission peaks is higher than the band gap of cubic SiC. Room-temperature optical absorption measurements show a clear blueshift of the band gap of the samples with a decrease of the average size of the nanoclusters, indicating an expected quantum-confinement effect. However, the emission spectra are basically independent of the size. Temporal evolution of the dominant emissions exhibits double-exponential decay processes. Two distinct decay times of ∼200 ps and ∼1 ns were identified, which are at least two orders of magnitude faster than that of the bound-exciton transitions in bulk 3C-SiC at low temperature. Strong light emissions and short decay times strongly suggest that the radiative recombinations may be from some direct transitions such as self-trapped excitons on the surface of the nanoclusters. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Inner surface enhanced femtosecond second harmonic generation in thin ZnO crystal tubes

2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Enumeration of distinct mechanically stable disk packings in small systems

We create mechanically stable (MS) packings of bidisperse disks using an algorithm in which we successively grow or shrink soft repulsive disks followed by energy minimization until the overlaps are vanishingly small. We focus on small systems because this enables us to enumerate nearly all distinct MS packings. We measure the probability to obtain a MS packing at packing fraction $\phi$ and find several notable results. First, the probability is highly nonuniform. When averaged over narrow packing fraction intervals, the most probable MS packing occurs at the highest $\phi$ and the probability decays exponentially with decreasing $\phi$. Even more striking, within each packing-fraction interval, the probability can vary by many orders of magnitude. By using two different packing-generation protocols, we show that these results are robust and the packing frequencies do not change qualitatively with different protocols.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Conference Proceedings for X International Workshop on Disordered System

Ethnoveterinary Application of Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Puree on a Commercial Heifer Rearing Facility with Endemic Salmonellosis

We have previously reported that Morinda citrifolia (noni) puree modulates neonatal calves developmental maturation of the innate and adaptive immune system. In this study, the effect of noni puree on respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI), health in preweaned dairy calves on a farm with endemic salmonellosis was examined. Two clinical trials were conducted whereby each trial evaluated one processing technique of noni puree. Trials 1 and 2 tested noni versions A and B, respectively. Puree analysis and trial methods were identical to each other, with the calf as the experimental unit. Calves were designated to 1 of 3 treatment groups in each trial and received either: 0, 15 or 30 mL every 12 hr of noni supplement for the first 3 weeks of life. Health scores, weaning age, weight gain from admission to weaning, and weaned by 6 weeks, were used as clinical endpoints for statistical analysis. In trial 1, calves supplemented with 15 mL noni puree of version A every 12 hr had a higher probability of being weaned by 6 weeks of age than control calves (P = 0.04). In trial 2, calves receiving 30 mL of version B every 12 hr had a 54.5% reduction in total medical treatments by 42 days of age when compared to controls (P = 0.02). There was a trend in reduced respiratory (61%), and GI (52%) medical treatments per calf when compared to controls (P = 0.06 and 0.08, respectively). There were no differences in weight gain or mortality for any treatment group in either trial

Status and Potential of Single-cell Transcriptomics for Understanding Plant Development and Functional Biology

Funding Information University of Western Australia Acknowledgments The authors would like to extend sincere thanks to Robert Salomon for inspiring to write this manuscript. Resources were provided by The University of Western Australia.Peer reviewedPostprin

Cellulose acetate in wound dressings formulations: potentialities and electrospinning capability

Série: IFMBE Proceedings, vol. 76Any open wound is a potential site for microorganisms’ invasion since their presence around us is inevitable. Skin wound healing relies on a series of complex physiochemical processes that remain a big challenge for healthcare professionals, particularly when the wounds are colonized by bacteria. Wound dressings play a major role in wound healing as they manage the wounded site, controlling the moisture balance and protecting the wound from repeated trauma, and by preventing possible infections from developing into more serious complications. Recently, bioactive dressings loaded with drugs and/or antimicrobial agents, allowing for a continuous and sustainable release of these molecules at the wounded site, have appeared in the market. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing health care problem, requiring more effective solutions than antibiotics. As such, nano- and microfibrous mats produced via electrospinning technique and loaded with natural-origin antimicrobial agents have attracted a lot of attention. Various polymers have been applied to engineer nanofibrous electrospun dressings. However, the environment impact of the synthesis and processing methods of synthetic polymers is undesirable. Therefore, the application of cellulose-derived materials (highly abundant polymer of natural-origin) becomes crucial as a green alternative to produce electrospun wound dressings with superior wettability, breathability and high capacity to promote cell proliferation, at relatively low costs. In this paper, different biomolecules loaded onto cellulose acetate (CA)-based polymeric nanofibers were investigated, and their antimicrobial properties were highlighted as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.Authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), FEDER funds by means of Competitive Factors Operational Program (POCI) for funding the projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028074 and UID/CTM/00264/2019

Early intervention for psychotic disorders: Real-life implementation in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is among the first few cities in Asia to have implemented early intervention for psychosis in 2001. Substantial changes in psychosis service have since taken place. We reviewed available outcome data in Hong Kong, with reference to the philosophy of early intervention in psychosis, discussing experience and lessons learned from the implementation process, and future opportunities and challenges. Data accumulated in the past decade provided evidence for the benefits and significance of early intervention programmes: patients under the care of early intervention service showed improved functioning, milder symptoms, and fewer hospitalizations and suicides. Early intervention is more cost-effective compared with standard care. Stigma and misconception remains an issue, and public awareness campaigns are underway. In recent years, a critical mass is being formed, and Hong Kong has witnessed the unfolding of public service extension, new projects and organizations, and increasing interest from the community. Several major platforms are in place for coherent efforts, including the public Early Assessment Service for Young people with psychosis (EASY) programme, the Psychosis Studies and Intervention (PSI) research unit, the independent Hong Kong Early Psychosis Intervention Society (EPISO), the Jockey Club Early Psychosis (JCEP) project, and the postgraduate Psychological Medicine (Psychosis Studies) programme. The first decade of early intervention work has been promising; consolidation and further development is needed on many fronts of research, service and education. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.postprin