Composition Analysis by STEM-EDX of Ternary Semiconductors by Internal References

A practical method to determine the composition within ternary heterostructured semiconductor compounds using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in scanning transmission electron microscopy is presented. The method requires minimal external input factors such as user-determined or calculated sensitivity factors by incorporating a known compositional relationship, here a fixed stoichiometric ratio in III–V compound semiconductors. The method is demonstrated for three different systems; AlGaAs/GaAs, GaAsSb/GaAs, and InGaN/GaN with three different specimen geometries and compared to conventional quantification approaches. The method incorporates absorption effects influencing the composition analysis without the need to know the thickness of the specimen. Large variations in absorption conditions and assumptions regarding the reference area limit the accuracy of the developed method.

Influence of shape-memory stent grafts on local aortic compliance

The effect of repair techniques on the biomechanics of the aorta is poorly understood, resulting in significant levels of postoperative complications for patients worldwide. This study presents a computational analysis of the influence of Nitinol-based devices on the biomechanical performance of a healthy patient-specific human aorta. Simulations reveal that Nitinol stent-grafts stretch the artery wall so that collagen is stretched to a straightened high-stiffness configuration. The high-compliance regime (HCR) associated with low diastolic lumen pressure is eliminated, and the artery operates in a low-compliance regime (LCR) throughout the entire cardiac cycle. The slope of the lumen pressure–area curve for the LCR post-implantation is almost identical to that of the native vessel during systole. This negligible change from the native LCR slope occurs because the stent-graft increases its diameter from the crimped configuration during deployment so that it reaches a low-stiffness unloading plateau. The effective radial stiffness of the implant along this unloading plateau is negligible compared to the stiffness of the artery wall. Provided the Nitinol device unloads sufficiently during deployment to the unloading plateau, the degree of oversizing has a negligible effect on the pressure–area response of the vessel, as each device exerts approximately the same radial force, the slope of which is negligible compared to the LCR slope of the native artery. We show that 10% oversizing based on the observed diastolic diameter in the mid descending thoracic aorta results in a complete loss of contact between the device and the wall during systole, which could lead to an endoleak and stent migration. 20% oversizing reaches the Dacron enforced area limit (DEAL) during the pulse pressure and results in an effective zero-compliance in the later portion of systole.

Facile synthesis of a heterostructured lanthanum-doped SnO2 anchored with rGO for asymmetric supercapacitors and photocatalytic dye degradation

Owing to its good redox properties, excellent electron–hole pair generation, wide band gap and outstanding chemical stability, SnO2 has been considered as a promising bifunctional material for supercapacitors as well as photocatalysts, but its poor conductivity and low surface area limit the specific capacitance and catalytic efficiency.

Chorological data regarding the presence of Corylus colurna species in Romania

The Turkish hazel or Turkish filbert (Corylus colurna) is a less widespread tree species in Romania. Data on the presence of C. colurna species in the Romanian flora are quite rare. The article’s aim is to analyse the scientific information and those of the main herbariums regarding the presence of C. colurna species on the Romanian territory. The presence of the species on the Romanian territory was signalled about 122 years ago in the paper “Conspectus of Romanian Flora”. Subsequent scientific information identifies the species in different locations, especially in the southwest of Romania, in dendrological and natural parks. Scientific importance of the species lies in its rarity, the species has an area limit on Romanian territory and in the value, it gives to natural ecosystems in which it grows. The practical value is given by its edible fruits, valuable from a food or medicinal point of view and by its agronomic characteristics. As a result, the biodiversity conservation strategy should include forest protected areas as important objectives.

Distribution, Ecological and Phytocoenotical Features of Asparagus brachyphyllus Turcz. in Eastern Transbaicalia

Asparagus brachyphyllus Turcz. is a rare species in Russia. It’s a herbaceous perennial plant with short horizontal rhizome which gives 1-6 annual shoots. According to the literature the species grows in saline steppe and around salty lakes. In conditions of Eastern Transbaicalia vegetation lasts a little more than four months from middle May to late September, fruiting from June to September. A. brachyphyllus is listed in Red Book of Russian Federation, it is protected in Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve. In Transbaicalia it is limitated by small area of habitats, narrow environmental tolerance, low numerity of populations, grazing (annual shoots are eagerly eaten by animals, especially in spring). A. brachyphyllus has eastern-asian steppe (in the narrow sense) type of distribution, the main part of area is in North-East of China and in the East of Mongolia. In Russian Federation it occurs only in steppe districts of Zabaikalsky kray where there is the northern distribution limit. During our many years field expeditions new localities of A. brachyphyllus in Zabaikalsky Region were descripted, information on ecological-phytocenotic features and populations condition at the northern area limit was expanded. Localities of the species were identified at South and South-East of Zabaikalsky kray: Argun area, Aga steppe and Torey lake surroundings; most of localities are concentrated near Torey lakes, in other areas localities are sporadic. A. brachyphyllus grows mostly in Achnatherum splendens and Achnatherum splendens – Leymus chinensis saz steppe communities on solonetz soils, also on soil complexes of solonez and solonchack, sometimes it occurs on solonchacks in hyperhalophytic communities with Kalidium foliatum, Limonium aureum, Suaeda corniculata, Puccinellia tenuiflora. In plant communities A. brachyphyllus appears as a species with low abundance and coverage less 1%; due to prostrate form of shoots they place in lower layer up to 10 cm. In few-species communities on solonchacks A. brachyphyllus has low abundance, and a little higher on solonetz. In last case both species number and density of asparagus coenotic population are higher as usual. For estimation coenotic populations vitality we used a complex of criteria: density of coenotic populations, projective cover of species, markers of generativeness. Numerous Torey coenotic populations most often have medium vitality while that of coenotic populations at Aga localities higher. About a half of revealed coenotic populations suffer temperate influence of livestock grazing which lessens vitality by trampling and partial eating. Some localities at Torey lakes area need special protecting measures.

Thermal fluctuations and correlations among hairs of a stable quantum black hole: Some examples

We have already derived the criteria for thermal stability of charged rotating quantum black holes, for horizon areas that are large relative to the Planck area. The derivation is done by using results of loop quantum gravity and equilibrium statistical mechanics of the grand canonical ensemble. We have also showed that in four-dimensional spacetime, quantum AdS Kerr–Newman black hole and asymptotically AdS dyonic black hole with electric and magnetic charge are thermally stable within certain range of its parameters. In this paper, the expectation values of fluctuations and correlations among horizon area, electric charge and angular momentum (magnetic charge) of these black holes are calculated within their range of stability. Interestingly, it is found that leading order fluctuations of electric charge and angular momentum (magnetic charge), in large horizon area limit, are independent of the values of electric charge and angular momentum (magnetic charge) at equilibrium.

Development features of the market of health resort services in Sverdlovsk region

Development of the health resort activities on the territory of Sverdlovsk region - an important and controversial factor, which is reflected in low rates and current problems of development. They are connected with the development peculiarities of the region, natural conditions, and availability of federal and regional programs. Necessity for the organization of health resort activities related to its significant impact on the social and economic situation of the region. Sverdlovsk region is an industrial urban area that, apart from the advantages, creates certain problems for the population. These include health deterioration, increasing of mortality and morbidity, reducing of natural population growth, deterioration of health, which leads to a reduction of the rate of economic development. That is why the region needs to organize health resort activity. Recreational potential of Sverdlovsk region is considered to be healthy, and it is caused by a boundary position of the region in Europe and Asia, political stability, which guarantees the security of any type of tourist activity. In addition, the high cultural and historical heritage of the area determines the long-term development of tourism in general. Nevertheless, the author of the article notes the presence of a significant number of problems, such as the need for recreational activities in urban and industrialized territories, but civil and industrial development area limit the possibility of recreation. Load regulation system on the natural systems of certain recreation areas is absent, and it causes a significant increasing of load and violation of the integrity of ecosystems. Low development of transport infrastructure and insufficient quality of personnel training creates problems for the future development of the market of heath resort services

Black Hole Entropy from Indistinguishable Quantum Geometric Excitations

In loop quantum gravity the quantum geometry of a black hole horizon consists of discrete nonperturbative quantum geometric excitations (or punctures) labeled by spins, which are responsible for the quantum area of the horizon. If these punctures are compared to a gas of particles, then the spins associated with the punctures can be viewed as single puncture area levels analogous to single particle energy levels. Consequently, if we assume these punctures to be indistinguishable, the microstate count for the horizon resembles that of Bose-Einstein counting formula for gas of particles. For the Bekenstein-Hawking area law to follow from the entropy calculation in the large area limit, the Barbero-Immirzi parameter (γ) approximately takes a constant value. As a by-product, we are able to speculate the state counting formula for the SU(2) quantum Chern-Simons theory coupled to indistinguishable sources in the weak coupling limit.

Is the Fiscal Policy of the Czech Republic Pro-cyclical?

The main goal of this paper is to analyse whether the fiscal policy of the Czech Republic is anti-cyclical. This analysis is carried out through decomposing the government’s balance into its cyclical and structural part. The first differences of the structural part are then put in relation to the output gap to determine whether the fiscal policy is pro- or anti-cyclical. Moreover, the correlation of government expenditures and revenues with the business cycle is also subject of our analysis. We also examine whether the fiscal rules which the Czech Republic would have to adhere to once it enters the euro area limit fiscal policy as a stabilizing mechanism.The paper concludes that the fiscal policy in the Czech Republic was for the most part rather of a random character than anti-cyclical during the examined period 1998–2013. This conclusion has two implications. Firstly, there is still room for improvement in fully and consistently utilizing fiscal policy to stabilise the Czech economy throughout economic cycles. Secondly, fiscal rules would not limit the Czech government to practice anti-cyclical fiscal policy if they have been implemented since 1998.

Stakeholder Analysis of EV Spread in China

It is known that a stakeholder analysis is a strong tool to identify and adjust groups with different interests upon the proposed reform. However, it is not a handy approach to conduct a stakeholder analysis of EV spread in China. This is due to that the information about different stakeholders in China is not entirely available. Interviews to the stakeholders in China have not been carried out as a result of short project period and area limit. Therefore, this stakeholder analysis will not be able to fulfill the frame that was described in the method chapter. Some of the judgments will be based on estimation. To mark the level of support from different stakeholders, we will give 5 grades to each in a form of ++, +, 0, -, -- instead of the method of 0-100 as it is rather difficult to achieve that precision.