For practical electronic device applications of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), it is essential to have abrupt and well-defined contacts between the ribbon and the adjacent metal lead. By analogy with graphene, these contacts can induce electron or hole doping, which may significantly affect the I/V characteristics of the device. Cu is among the most popular metals of choice for contact materials. In

The study aims to generate Building system performance design optimization for 11 nearly zero energy new building (nZEnB) types in the cold climate conditions for decision making. The coupling evolutionary algorithms with a building dynamic simulation engine has been applied to reach the "true" optimal solutions. Life cycle cost and performance modulation was carried out in the multi-objective com

Background: Particle exposure is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a primary target for oxidative stress generated by particle exposure. We aimed to elucidate the effects of occupational exposure to particle-containing welding fumes on different biomarkers of mtDNA function, and in turn, explore if they modify the association between particle exposure and card

This review article considers the purposes and mechanisms of regulation of placental transfer in general terms and then illustrates some key points with reference to the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), a transport protein found in the syncytiotrophoblast. NHE probably has a role in the homeostasis of syncytiotrophoblast intracellular pH and may also be involved in syncytiotrophoblast cell volume regulatio

Red giant stars are perhaps the most important type of stars for Galactic and extra-galactic archaeology: they are luminous, occur in all stellar populations, and their surface temperatures allow precise abundance determinations for many different chemical elements. Yet, the full star formation and enrichment history of a galaxy can be traced directly only if two key observables can be determined

Coprolites from the Early Cretaceous vertebrate bone-bed at Ariño in Teruel, Spain, were analyzed geochemically and palynologically. They contain various inclusions, such as small bone fragments, abundant plant remains, pollen, and spores. We attribute the coprolites to carnivorous dinosaurs based partly on their morphology together with the presence of bone fragments, and a high content of calciu

BACKGROUND: As many as 88% of heart transplant recipients (HTRs) suffer from psychological distress. Both psychosocial factors and physical health are associated with increased psychological distress. However, the causes and impacts of psychological distress are unclear. HTRs strive for a sense of control over their health and daily lives in order to improve their psychological well-being. Perceiv

Dielectric elastomers offer clear advantages over more traditional and conventional materials when soft, lightweight, noiseless actuator applications with large deformations are considered. However, the viscous time-dependent behaviour associated with most elastomers limit the number of possible applications. For this purpose, the possibility of controlling the viscous response by regulating the a

Bellicist theories of comparative development predict increases in taxation as the result of military rivalries. Others claim that this causal relationship is contingent on particular geographical, institutional, and historical conditions. In this paper, we explore the conditional effects of military rivalries on taxation during the 19th and 20th centuries using time-series cross-section models. W

This paper identifies different university spin-off (USO) roles related to resource interaction among business parties. It does so by mapping how USOs become part of business networks in terms of their roles relative to other parties. The theoretical frame of reference focuses on roles and resource interaction based on an industrial network approach to business markets. The empirical research is b

Distributed computing infrastructures have a long history, starting with pools of PCs and clusters three decades ago, briefly passing a stage of HPC Grids, and now converging to fully virtualised facilities. The Nordic Tier-1, prototype of which was launched back in 2003 to serve CERN needs, is a small-scale model of a distributed infrastructure, and thus an interesting case for studying experienc

Background: Smoking is known to have many short- and long-term cardiovascular effects. Cardiac index (CI), which is cardiac output indexed to body surface area, is considered to be a valid measure of cardiac performance. We investigated whether there were any differences in CI or other echocardiographic variables between never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers in a cardiopulmonary healthy p

After mating, spermatophores of signal crayfish are stored on the body of the female for a period before fertilization. This study compared the post-mating protein profile and pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation of the signal crayfish spermatophore to that of the freshly ejaculated spermatophore and found substantial differences. Two major bands of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins of molec

Simulation results for future measurements of electromagnetic proton form factors at P ¯ ANDA (FAIR) within the PandaRoot software framework are reported. The statistical precision with which the proton form factors can be determined is estimated. The signal channel p¯ p→ e+e- is studied on the basis of two different but consistent procedures. The suppression of the main background channel, i.e.p¯

Many of the transport processes across the Syncytiotrophoblast (ST), such as amino acid transport, are Na+-coupled. The maintenance of a low intracellular Na concentration by Na+-K+-ATPase is therefore crucial for placental transport of nutrients and consequently, foetal growth. In pregnancies complicated by diabetes foetal growth is often accelerated despite rigorous glycemic control of the mothe