THE EFFECT OF CRITICAL ELECTRIC FIELDS ON THE ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION OF BILAYER ARMCHAIR GRAPHENE NANORIBBONS

We employed tight-binding calculations and Green’s function formalism to investigate the effect of applied electric fields on the energy band and electronic properties of bilayer armchair graphene nanoribbons (BL-AGNRs). The results show that the perpendicular electric field has a strong impact on modifying and controlling the bandgap of BL-AGNRs. At the critical values of this electric field, distortions of energy dispersion in subbands and the formation of new electronic excitation channels occur strongly. These originate from low-lying energies near the Fermi level and move away from the zero-point with the increment of the electric field. Phase transitions and structural changes clearly happen in these materials. The influence of the parallel electric field is less important in changing the gap size, resulting in the absence of the critical voltage over a very wide range [–1.5 V; 1.5 V] for the semiconductor-insulator group. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note the powerful role of the parallel electric field in modifying the energy band and electronic distribution at each energy level. These results contribute to an overall picture of the physics model and electronic structure of BL-AGNRs under stimuli, which can be a pathway to real applications in the future, particularly for electronic devices.

The Rethinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) Program. A Canadian-Led Pragmatic Trials Program: Strategies for Integrating Knowledge Users into Trial Design

We reviewed patient and health care provider (HCP) surveys performed through the REaCT program. The REaCT team has performed 15 patient surveys (2298 respondents) and 13 HCP surveys (1033 respondents) that have addressed a broad range of topics in breast cancer management. Over time, the proportion of surveys distributed by paper/regular mail has fallen, with electronic distribution now the norm. For the patient surveys, the median duration of the surveys was 3 months (IQR 2.5–7 months) and the median response rate was 84% (IQR 80–91.7%). For the HCP surveys, the median survey duration was 3 months (IQR 1.75–4 months), and the median response rate, where available, was 28% (IQR 21.2–49%). The survey data have so far led to: 10 systematic reviews, 6 peer-reviewed grant applications and 19 clinical trials. Knowledge users should be an essential component of clinical research. The REaCT program has integrated surveys as a standard step of their trials process. The COVID-19 pandemic and reduced face-to-face interactions with patients in the clinic as well as the continued importance of social media highlight the need for alternative means of distributing and responding to surveys.

Nitroisatin dithiocarbazate: Synthesis, structural characterization, DFT, and docking studies

The reaction between 5-nitroisatin with S-benzyl dithiocarbazate affords a new isatindithio carbazate so-called NO2Isadtc (Benzyl 2-(5-nitro-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)hydrazinecarbodi thioate) which was characterized by means of 1H NMR, FT-IR, UV-visible and single crystal X-ray diffraction - Crystal data for C16H12N4O3S2 (M =372.42 g/mol): triclinic space group P-1, (n°. 02), a = 6.640 Å, b = 8.256 Å, c = 15.908 Å, V = 849.6 Å3, Z = 2, T = 293 K, μ(MoKα) = 0.337 mm-1, Dcalc = 1.456 g/cm3, 27515 reflections measured (2.499° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 26.524°), 3518 unique (Rint = 0.0533, Rsigma =0.0222) which were used in all calculations. The final R1 was 0.0367 (I > 2σ(I)) and wR2 was 0.1045 (all data). Computational methods were applied to NO2Isadtc and its nonsubstituted parent compound Isadtc for structure optimization, electronic distribution, and infrared calculations using B3LYP functional with 6-31G(d,p) basis set in ethanol as a polarizable continuum model. Furthermore, docking studies using human thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR) as enzyme target also were performed using NO2Isadtc and the optimized structure of Isadtc. The results demonstrated that both NO2Isadtc and Isadtc may act as inhibitors of TrxR, having different interactions detected, highlighting the contact between the NO2 group and the S111 at the helix which is found for NO2Isadtc.

Modeling the electron orbital in transition subatomic structure

As part of the well-known task about a motion of charged particle in central forces field, a certain parallelism for electronic distribution between the atomic and subatomic ''orbits'' can be established.In this conjuncture the ground state of muonium atom as in transition electron-nuclear structure is highlighted. Moreover, there is specifically nuclear solution of fine-structure constant which with a hyper-fine structure, like of the Lamb shift of hydrogen atom, is unambiguously associated.Such a special approach, in the terms of electric interaction, may serve as an extension to the existing meson-boson classification.In particular, some idea about a versatility of the Higgs mechanism in nuclear reactions put forward for consideration here.But it would be just spatial abstraction, where subatomic matter expands as into infinity. And what would be beyond the edge of the universe?

Women’s awareness regarding the use of dental imaging during pregnancy

Background There is often anxiety among pregnant women about dental imaging during pregnancy. This may hinder some women from seeking dental treatment during pregnancy and consequently, may negatively affect the oral health of the mother and fetus. This study was conducted to assess women’s awareness regarding the use of dental imaging during pregnancy. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the electronic distribution of structured questionnaires was done via social media. The self-administered questionnaires contained questions related to women’s knowledge regarding the radiation protection measures during dental imaging, the safest period for dental imaging, the type of radiographs that can be acquired during pregnancy, and the possibility of radiation-induced malignancy and fetal malformation as a result of dental imaging. Results In total, 410 completed questionnaires were received and analyzed. More than half of the participants were 30–49 years of age. The majority of the participants (91%) demonstrated poor knowledge concerning dental imaging. Only 4% reported that pregnant women can have dental imaging during any trimester. The majority believed that panoramic images and cone-beam computed tomography should not be acquired during pregnancy. The majority also believed there is a high risk of congenital malformation due to dental imaging and were unsure about the oncogenic risks. Conclusions Our study suggests that there is insufficient knowledge about dental imaging safety during pregnancy. This misconception may have a direct impact on the attitude toward seeking dental care. Therefore, community awareness initiatives aimed at informing our society about radiation exposure, safety, and required protection measures are critical.

Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-based agricultural education teachers in South Carolina

Understanding a complete school-based agricultural education (SBAE) program and the many tasks at hand for the teacher are critical in determining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on SBAE teachers. The human capital theory was used to undergird this study, focusing on the components impacting the effectiveness of SBAE teachers. The purpose of the study was to determine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on SBAE teachers in South Carolina (SC). This non-experimental survey research study reached 46.5% of SBAE teachers in SC through the electronic distribution of a 27-item survey instrument implementing a then-now design. SBAE teachers in SC felt less prepared to deliver relevant classroom instruction, supervise supervised agricultural experiences - projects, advise FFA members, and train Career and Leadership Development Events teams now than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, while they feel more prepared to teach student virtually than ever before. The pandemic impacted the preparedness and self-efficacy of SBAE teachers, impacting both their career and personal life satisfaction. Moving forward SBAE teachers should evaluate their roles and responsibilities associated with their career and determine how to best bring balance into their lives. Additional research on the roles and responsibilities of SBAE teachers post-pandemic should also be considered.