“Realistic Choice of Annual Matrices Contracts the Range of λS Estimates” under Reproductive Uncertainty Too

Our study is devoted to a subject popular in the field of matrix population models, namely, estimating the stochastic growth rate, λS, a quantitative measure of long-term population viability, for a discrete-stage-structured population monitored during many years. “Reproductive uncertainty” refers to a feature inherent in the data and life cycle graph (LCG) when the LCG has more than one reproductive stage, but when the progeny cannot be associated to a parent stage in a unique way. Reproductive uncertainty complicates the procedure of λS estimation following the defining of λS from the limit of a sequence consisting of population projection matrices (PPMs) chosen randomly from a given set of annual PPMs. To construct a Markov chain that governs the choice of PPMs for a local population of Eritrichium caucasicum, an short-lived perennial alpine plant species, we have found a local weather index that is correlated with the variations in the annual PPMs, and we considered its long time series as a realization of the Markov chain that was to be constructed. Reproductive uncertainty has required a proper modification of how to restore the transition matrix from a long realization of the chain, and the restored matrix has been governing random choice in several series of Monte Carlo simulations of long-enough sequences. The resulting ranges of λS estimates turn out to be more narrow than those obtained by the popular i.i.d. methods of random choice (independent and identically distributed matrices); hence, we receive a more accurate and reliable forecast of population viability.

Automatic calculation of the magnetometer zero offset using the interplanetary magnetic field based on the Wang-Pan method

The space-borne fluxgate magnetometer (FGM) needs regular in-flight calibration to obtain its zero offset. Recently, a new method based on the properties of Alfvén waves for the zero offset calibration was developed by Wang and Pan (2021). They found that there exists an optimal offset line (OOL) in the offset cube for a pure Alfvén wave, and the zero offset can be determined by the intersection of at least two non-parallel OOLs. Since no pure Alfvén waves exist in the interplanetary magnetic field, the calculation of the zero offset relies on the selection of the highly Alfvénic fluctuation event. Here, we propose an automatic procedure to find highly Alfvénic fluctuations in the solar wind and calculate the zero offset. This procedure includes three parts: (1) selection of highly Alfvénic fluctuation events, (2) evaluation of the OOL of the selected fluctuation events, and (3) determination of the zero offset. We test our automatic procedure by applying it to the magnetic field data measured by the FGM onboard Venus Express. The tests reveal that our automatic procedure is able to achieve as good results as the Davis-Smith method. One advantage of our procedure is that the selection criteria and process for the highly Alfvénic fluctuation event are simpler. Our automatic procedure might also be applied to find fluctuation events for the Davis-Smith method after proper modification.

Tuning the Surface Properties of Poly(Allylamine Hydrochloride)-Based Multilayer Films

The layer-by-layer (LbL) method of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) fabrication is extremely versatile. It allows using a pair of any oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. Nevertheless, it may be difficult to ascribe a particular physicochemical property of the resulting PEM to a structural or chemical feature of a single component. A solution to this problem is based on the application of a polycation and a polyanion obtained by proper modification of the same parent polymer. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) were prepared using the LbL technique from hydrophilic and amphiphilic derivatives of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). PAH derivatives were obtained by the substitution of amine groups in PAH with sulfonate, ammonium, and hydrophobic groups. The PEMs were stable in 1 M NaCl and showed three different modes of thickness growth: exponential, mixed exponential-linear, and linear. Their surfaces ranged from very hydrophilic to hydrophobic. Root mean square (RMS) roughness was very variable and depended on the PEM composition, sample environment (dry, wet), and the polymer constituting the topmost layer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of the surfaces showed very different morphologies of PEMs, including very smooth, porous, and structured PEMs with micellar aggregates. Thus, by proper choice of PAH derivatives, surfaces with different physicochemical features (growth type, thickness, charge, wettability, roughness, surface morphology) were obtained.

Prins-Friedel-Crafts Cyclization: Synthesis of Diversely Functionalized Six-Membered Oxacycles

: Prins cyclization is a well-established synthetic protocol to generate a wide range of important oxygen heterocycles. It is a cyclization reaction performed by an oxocarbenium ion that undergoes an intramolecular pi-bond attack to construct a new carbon-carbon bond. When this cyclization process is conjugated with Friedel-Crafts reaction, it further expands the synthetic potential by fabricating two different carbon-carbon bonds in one single reaction. Different acid catalysts mediated, the coupled Prins-Friedel-Crafts reaction is conducted both in stepwise as well as in tandem fashion. In the stepwise route, three different reacting components were utilized whereas, the tandem methodology required proper modification of the initial substrate molecule. An array of allylic, propargylic, other related alkenols, and carbonyl reactants were employed to carry out the cyclization process. Several oxygenated heterocycles equipped with diverse functionalities were constructed in a stereoselective manner which again reinforced the significance of this cyclization protocol undoubtedly. The present mini-review highlights (on) the utilization of different one-pot stepwise Prins-Friedel-Crafts reactions and the subsequent development of cascade Prins-Friedel-Crafts cyclization process to furnish intricate molecular architectures of vital six-membered oxacycles.

Controllable modification of helical carbon nanotubes for high-performance microwave absorption

Helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) are a kind of potential microwave absorption (MA) material due to their chiral and dielectric properties. However, the inert surface property makes HCNTs with poor polarization loss ability and impedance matching characteristic, which impedes its ability in attenuating microwaves. Herein, the HCNTs were modified with defects and functional groups on the surface to optimize their electromagnetic response characteristics and achieve an enhanced MA performance. The experimental results show that the modified HCNTs (F-HCNTs) exhibit a significant enhancement in MA performance when compared with HCNTs. The minimum reflection (RLmin) loss of F-HCNTs reaches −45.4 dB at 17.5 GHz at a thickness of 2.4 mm and the bandwidth of RL < −10 dB is 3.6 GHz (from 14.4 to 18.0 GHz). Further analysis demonstrates that proper modification of HCNTs leads to enhanced dielectric loss ability and optimized impedance matching characteristics, both of which are beneficial to the MA performance of HCNTs.

Doping dependence of thermopower in cuprate superconductors

The doping dependence of the thermopower of cuprate superconductors in the normal-state is studied within the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] model. It is shown that with a proper modification of the bare electron dispersion in the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] model, the experimental results of the doping dependence of the normal-state thermopower are qualitatively reproduced. In particular, the theory shows that a pseudogap-generated split of the van Hove peak in the density of states appears in the underdoped and optimally doped regimes, however, this split is absent from the overdoped regime. Concomitantly, the strong asymmetry of the spectral conductivity near the electron Fermi surface emerges, where the peak in the spectral conductivity appears always below the electron Fermi surface in the underdoped and optimally doped regimes, while it appears above the electron Fermi surface in the overdoped regime. This strong asymmetry of the spectral conductivity leads to the unusual behaviors of the normal-state thermopower from the underdoped regime to the overdoped regime.

Modification of Service Content for Evolution of Service Platform Ecosystems

In platform ecosystems, the proper modification of goods provided could promote innovation and fulfill the need for diversity among consumers. However, most platforms in the service industry currently serve merely as intermediaries for existing services. This study aims to clarify how the function of a platform, which brings a modification of the content of services, contributes to the development of the platform ecosystem in service industries. The results of an agent-based simulation that imitates platform-based markets of a service industry reveal that the facilitation of changing the content of services could have negative effects for the platform ecosystem if there are no supportive functions. The authors demonstrate that two supportive platform functions contribute to successful modifications in service content the facilitation of customer involvement improves the sustainability of the ecosystem by increasing profits of platform users, and the support for capturing latent needs extends to the platform-based market.

Ordered assembling of Co tetra phenyl porphyrin on oxygen-passivated Fe(001): from single to multilayer films

Tetra-phenyl prophyrins (TPP) are an interesting class of organic molecules characterized by a ring structure with a metal ion in their centre. An ordered growth of such molecules can be obtained even on metallic substrates by means of a proper modification of the reactive interface, as we demonstrated for ZnTPP molecules coupled to oxygen-passivated Fe(001) [G. Bussetti et al. Appl. Surf. Sci. 390, 856 (2016)]. More recently, we focused on CoTPP molecules, characterized by a not nil magnetic moment and therefore of potential interest for magnetic applications. As in the ZnTPP case, our results for one monolayer coverage report the formation of an ordered assembly of flat-lying molecules. However, some differences between the two molecular species are observed in the packing scheme and in the degree of electronic interaction with the substrate. With the aim of reaching, also for CoTPP, a comprehensive view of molecular organization on Fe, we complement here our previous investigations by following the growth of the CoTPP film for increasing coverage, showing that an ordered stacking of such molecules is indeed realized at least up to four molecular layers.

DESIGN INVESTIGATION ON FOOT DEFORMITIES WORKING FOOTWEAR

Footwear was planned to protect the feet from the environment. Choosing the right footwear based on foot conditions and requirements enabling to reduce the risk of injury, fast fatigue, and foot pains. Good footwear should provide stability to the joints of the foot and a foundation upon which the foot can function. The objective of this study is to provide information that will assist researchers and designers in identifying, designing and offering appropriate and better working footwear designs for those with foot deformities. Two identified workers from the footwear factory with congenital foot deformities participated in this prospective intervention study for over 12 months. An interview and a video on how the participant wears and walk with normal commercial shoes were recorded. The physical examination was also assessed including the footwear, feet, legs, and hips of the subjects. They were examined with a focus on the areas of deformities. Each leg has different shape and concerns. Hence, each footwear designed for those with foot deformities must be customized base on the factors of type of deformities, body size and the remaining skeletal structure and muscular. With proper modification, people who have foot deformities and unable to buy suitable footwear will be able to relieve the pain and at the same time increase the individual motivation in job satisfaction, motivation or enthusiasm to work and reducing levels of stress or emotional upset.

PRIMA FACIE RETRIBUTIVISM: ON THE OBLIGATION TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE

The justification of punishment is a difficult problem. The paper attempts to examine retributivism in the normative perspective and to penetrate the structure of the fundamental premises and theses of retributivism. Retributivism assumes that punishment is just, in the broad understanding of the term, while in reality punishment is not just; the model of retributive punishment is contrafactual, which is evident above all in the problem of punishing the innocent. A proper modification of retributivism's normative premises (i.e. how and why people ought to be punished, etc.) consists in seeing these premises not as unconditionally binding directives but as optimization rules, a kind of prima facie duty. These are mainly the ethical duties of the state considered from the point of view of criminal policy. In effect, it is possible to formulate a non-fundamentalist (non-idealistic) variant of retributivism - better corresponding to social reality. The core of the paper consists in outlining such a concept. The paper has been primarily inspired by the ideas of W.D. Ross and R. Alexy.