Electrical performance of efficient quad-crescent-shaped Si nanowire solar cell

The electrical characteristics of quad-crescent-shaped silicon nanowire (NW) solar cells (SCs) are numerically analyzed and as a result their performance optimized. The structure discussed consists of four crescents, forming a cavity that permits multiple light scattering with high trapping between the NWs. Additionally, new modes strongly coupled to the incident light are generated along the NWs. As a result, the optical absorption has been increased over a large portion of light wavelengths and hence the power conversion efficiency (PCE) has been improved. The electron–hole (e–h) generation rate in the design reported has been calculated using the 3D finite difference time domain method. Further, the electrical performance of the SC reported has been investigated through the finite element method, using the Lumerical charge software package. In this investigation, the axial and core–shell junctions were analyzed looking at the reported crescent and, as well, conventional NW designs. Additionally, the doping concentration and NW-junction position were studied in this design proposed, as well as the carrier-recombination-and-lifetime effects. This study has revealed that the high back surface field layer used improves the conversion efficiency by $$\sim$$ ∼ 80%. Moreover, conserving the NW radial shell as a low thickness layer can efficiently reduce the NW sidewall recombination effect. The PCE and short circuit current were determined to be equal to 18.5% and 33.8 mA$$/\hbox {cm}^2$$ / cm 2 for the axial junction proposed. However, the core–shell junction shows figures of 19% and 34.9 mA$$/\hbox {cm}^2$$ / cm 2 . The suggested crescent design offers an enhancement of 23% compared to the conventional NW, for both junctions. For a practical surface recombination velocity of $$10^{2}$$ 10 2 cm/s, the PCE of the proposed design, in the axial junction, has been reduced to 16.6%, with a reduction of 11%. However, the core–shell junction achieves PCE of 18.7%, with a slight reduction of 1.6%. Therefore, the optoelectronic performance of the core–shell junction was marginally affected by the NW surface recombination, compared to the axial junction.

Clinical and radiological assessment of rhinomaxillary syndrome in Hansen’s disease

Background: More than four million people today live with Hansen’s disease, and 200,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. Lifetime effects of Hansen’s disease manifest as changes to bones of the face, hands and feet, resulting in physical impairment, secondary complications and facial changes that can be detrimental to quality of life, particularly among the elderly. Aims: This study aimed to perform a detailed characterization of rhinomaxillary syndrome and its clinical manifestations in older persons treated in the past for Hansen’s disease. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study to characterize rhinomaxillary syndrome among older persons (age 60+ years) resident at Pedro Fontes Hospital, Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Computed tomography images were examined with three-dimensional reconstructions to assess alterations to maxillofacial bones according to criteria for radiological rhinomaxillary syndrome. Participants were examined to assess facial alterations according to criteria for clinical rhinomaxillary syndrome. Results: Rhinomaxillary syndrome was investigated in 16 participants (ten females and six males), median age 70 (range 60–89) years, age at diagnosis 20 (6–43) years and time since diagnosis 46 (26–70) years. Four participants fully met radiological rhinomaxillary syndrome criteria, four partially. All participants with full radiological rhinomaxillary syndrome presented with facial changes which met criteria for clinical rhinomaxillary syndrome, including “saddle nose” (loss of nasal dorsal height and shortened length of nose, due to cartilaginous and/or bone collapse), concave middle third of the face with sunken nose, maxillary retrognathia and inverted upper lip. Limitations: Clinical histories were incomplete for some participants because records were lost at the hospital over time. Conclusion: Until Hansen’s disease is eliminated from endemic countries, persons affected will continue to present with rhinomaxillofacial alterations caused by Mycobacterium leprae infection. Clinical protocols for assessment and long-term care need to include otorhinolaryngological evaluation, mainly to prevent secondary complications. When rhinomaxillofacial bone changes are suspected, this evaluation should be supported by computed tomography imaging, if available.

Electron–plasmon and electron–magnon scattering in ferromagnets from first principles by combining GW and GT self-energies

This work combines two powerful self-energy techniques: the well-known GW method and a self-energy recently developed by us that describes renormalization effects caused by the scattering of electrons with magnons and Stoner excitations. This GT self-energy, which is fully k-dependent and contains infinitely many spin-flip ladder diagrams, was shown to have a profound impact on the electronic band structure of Fe, Co, and Ni. In the present work, we refine the method by combining GT with the GW self-energy. The resulting GWT spectral functions exhibit strong lifetime effects and emergent dispersion anomalies. They are in an overall better agreement with experimental spectra than those obtained with GW or GT alone, even showing partial improvements over local-spin-density approximation dynamical mean-field theory. The performed analysis provides a basis for applying the GWT technique to a wider class of magnetic materials.

Copular clauses in Dene languages: Argument structure and interpretation

A widely accepted assumption in both the syntactic and semantic literature is that copulas lack semantic content. A consequent question is how to explain the existence in certain languages of two copular verbs that give rise to different interpretations. Such is the case in numerous languages of the Dene family (formerly known as Athapaskan). We explain this situation with the hypothesis that the copulas realize an underlying three-copula system differing in argument structure. Differences between the interpretations of copular clauses in these languages originate in the compositional semantics of these structures, not in any lexical semantic differences.This hypothesis successfully predicts the distributional differences between the surface forms of the Dene copulas, such as their compatibility with adjuncts of time and intentionality, interactions with accusative case, and semantic lifetime effects.

Abstract 14849: Lifetime Benefit of Empagliflozin in Extending Survival Free From Insulin Initiation in Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: An Actuarial Analysis of EMPA-REG OUTCOME

Background: Many patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) will, over time, require insulin therapy for glycemic control. Treatment-attendant adverse effects of insulin such as weight gain and hypoglycemia may be especially problematic in those with CVD. Delaying the need for insulin initiation may therefore be an important therapeutic goal, especially in those with CVD. Methods: This actuarial analysis evaluated the 3,633 (52%) of 7,020 EMPA-REG OUTCOME participants who were not using insulin at baseline. Patients were randomized to the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) 10mg, 25mg, or placebo (PBO). After the first 12 weeks, changes in background antihyperglycemic therapy were allowed. We estimated survival time free from insulin initiation (sustained over ≥2 consecutive study visits) over patients’ lifetimes by using baseline age as the time horizon. Age-based Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed for each year of age between 45 and 80 years. Differences in area under the survival curve between treatment arms represented treatment effects on time spent alive and free from insulin initiation. Results: During median follow-up of 3.2 years, insulin was required in 172 patients (7.1%) with EMPA and 196 (16.4%) with PBO. Lifetime benefits on insulin-free survival were inversely related to baseline age, ranging from 1.4 to 11.3 years. For a 45-year-old, estimated insulin-free survival was 20.1 years with EMPA and 10.0 years with PBO (difference: 10.1 years; 95% CI 5.7-14.5 years; P<0.0001). At age 60 years, insulin-free survival was 16.7 vs. 10.5 years (difference: 6.2 [4.6-7.8]; P<0.0001), and at age 75 years, 9.7 vs. 8.1 years (difference: 1.5 [0.0-3.1]; P=0.056). Conclusions: Assuming stable lifetime effects, we estimate that initiation of EMPA prolongs time alive free from need for insulin by 1.4 to over 11 years among adults with T2D and CVD. While benefits were most pronounced among younger patients, EMPA reduced the need for insulin across a broad age range.

The evolution of cloud and aerosol microphysics at the summit of Mt. Tai, China

The influence of aerosols, both natural and anthropogenic, remains a major area of uncertainty when predicting the properties and the behaviours of clouds and their influence on climate. In an attempt to better understand the microphysical properties of cloud droplets, the simultaneous variations in aerosol microphysics and their potential interactions during cloud life cycles in the North China Plain, an intensive observation took place from 17 June to 30 July 2018 at the summit of Mt. Tai. Cloud microphysical parameters were monitored simultaneously with number concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (NCCN) at different supersaturations, PM2.5 mass concentrations, particle size distributions and meteorological parameters. Number concentrations of cloud droplets (NC), liquid water content (LWC) and effective radius of cloud droplets (reff) show large variations among 40 cloud events observed during the campaign. The low values of reff and LWC observed at Mt. Tai are comparable with urban fog. Clouds on clean days are more susceptible to the change in concentrations of particle number (NP), while clouds formed on polluted days might be more sensitive to meteorological parameters, such as updraft velocity and cloud base height. Through studying the size distributions of aerosol particles and cloud droplets, we find that particles larger than 150 nm play important roles in forming cloud droplets with the size of 5–10 µm. In general, LWC consistently varies with reff. As NC increases, reff changes from a trimodal distribution to a unimodal distribution and shifts to smaller size mode. By assuming a constant cloud thickness and ignoring any lifetime effects, increase in NC and decrease in reff would increase cloud albedo, which may induce a cooling effect on the local climate system. Our results contribute valuable information to enhance the understanding of cloud and aerosol properties, along with their potential interactions on the North China plain.

Micromechanical Model and Thermal Properties of Dry-Friction Hybrid Polymer Composite Clutch Facings

Fiber-reinforced hybrid composites are the most commonly used dry-friction materials in the automotive industry. On the other hand, the great variety of components utilized these days in such material systems often requires identification investigations for a complex characterization. The development history of clutch materials was reviewed, highlighting and understanding the milestones and efforts leading to the creation of these materials. Investigations were performed to determine mechanical stiffness matrix parameters and thermal properties of a woven fiber yarn (glass fiber with aromatic polyamide, copper, and poly-acrylic-nitrile (PAN) reinforced friction material, revealing and solving challenges faced during identification efforts. This study grants an effective reference and a novel guidance for material identification methods for similar complex materials, and the results provide input parameters for thermomechanical simulation contact model development, which will cover friction material lifetime effects on dry clutch tribology in a future study.

Adult outcomes after preterm birth

Extremely preterm birth reflects global disruption of the third trimester environment. Young adults born preterm have an adverse cardiovascular and metabolic health profile, together with molecular evidence of accelerated ageing and a reduced life expectancy. The underlying mechanism for these observations is unknown. This review summarises recent evidence of the lifetime effects of preterm birth and highlights the risks survivors face.