Quantitative X-ray Maps Analaysis of Composition and Microstructure of Permian High-Temperature Relicts in Acidic Rocks from the Sesia-Lanzo Zone Eclogitic Continental Crust, Western Alps

Three samples of meta-acidic rocks with pre-Alpine metamorphic relicts from the Sesia-Lanzo Zone eclogitic continental crust were investigated using stepwise controlled elemental maps by means of the Quantitative X-ray Maps Analyzer (Q-XRMA). Samples were chosen with the aim of analysing the reacting zones along the boundaries between the pre-Alpine and Alpine mineral phases, which developed in low chemically reactive systems. The quantitative data treatment of the X-ray images was based on a former multivariate statistical analytical stage followed by a sequential phase and sub-phase classification and permitted to isolate and to quantitatively investigate the local paragenetic equilibria. The parageneses thus observed were interpreted as related to the pre-Alpine metamorphic or magmatic stages as well as to local Alpine re-equilibrations. On the basis of electron microprobe analysis, specific compositional ranges were defined in micro-domains of the relict and new paragenetic equilibria. In this way calibrated compositional maps were obtained and used to contour different types of reacting boundaries between adjacent solid solution phases. The pre-Alpine and Alpine mineral parageneses thus obtained allowed to perform geothermobarometry on a statistically meaningful and reliable dataset. In general, metamorphic temperatures cluster at 600–700 ∘C and 450–550 ∘C, with lower temperatures referred to a retrograde metamorphic re-equilibration. In all the cases described, pre-Alpine parageneses were overprinted by an Alpine metamorphic mineral assemblage. Pressure-temperature estimates of the Alpine stage averagely range between 420 to 550 ∘C and 12 to 16.5 kbar. The PT constraints permitted to better define the pre-Alpine metamorphic scenario of the western Austroalpine sectors, as well as to better understand the influence of the pre-Alpine metamorphic inheritance on the forthcoming Alpine tectonic evolution.

Non-volatile multi-level cell storage via sequential phase transition in Sb7Te3/GeSb6Te multilayer thin film

For high-performance data centers, huge data transfer, reliable data storage and emerging in-memory computing require memory technology with the combination of accelerated access, large capacity and persistence. As for phase-change memory, the Sb-rich compounds Sb7Te3 and GeSb6Te have demonstrated fast switching speed and considerable difference of phase transition temperature. A multilayer structure is built up with the two compounds to reach three non-volatile resistance states. Sequential phase transition in a relationship with the temperature is confirmed to contribute to different resistance states with sufficient thermal stability. With the verification of nanoscale confinement for the integration of Sb7Te3/GeSb6Te multilayer thin film, T-shape PCM cells are fabricated and two SET operations are executed with 40 ns-width pulses, exhibiting good potential for the multi-level PCM candidate.

A Compact Wideband Circularly Polarized Microstrip Slot Antenna with Parasitic Elements

A compact wideband circularly polarized (CP) microstrip slot antenna (MSA) with parasitic elements is designed in this letter. The CP MSA comprises a square-loop sequential-phase (SP) feeding configuration, four rotated rectangular patches, and four L-shaped slots embedded in the ground plane. The square-loop SP feeding structure comprises a square loop and an arc-shaped strip, which could provide a 270° phase difference. Four rotated rectangular patches are placed at the edge of the square-loop feeding configuration using a capacitively tightly coupled feeding method to stimulate the CP resonant mode. After selecting these elements and tuning proper dimensions, the broad operating bandwidths of 4.38–5.25 GHz (18%) for |S11| <–10 dB and 4.65–5.31 GHz (13.2%) for AR <3 dB could be realized. Hence, the designed CP MSA has a potential application value in wireless communication.

Phase I dose-escalation oncology trials with sequential multiple schedules

Background Conventional methods for phase I dose-escalation trials in oncology are based on a single treatment schedule only. More recently, however, multiple schedules are more frequently investigated in the same trial. Methods Here, we consider sequential phase I trials, where the trial proceeds with a new schedule (e.g. daily or weekly dosing) once the dose escalation with another schedule has been completed. The aim is to utilize the information from both the completed and the ongoing schedules to inform decisions on the dose level for the next dose cohort. For this purpose, we adapted the time-to-event pharmacokinetics (TITE-PK) model, which were originally developed for simultaneous investigation of multiple schedules. TITE-PK integrates information from multiple schedules using a pharmacokinetics (PK) model. Results In a simulation study, the developed approach is compared to the bridging continual reassessment method and the Bayesian logistic regression model using a meta-analytic-predictive prior. TITE-PK results in better performance than comparators in terms of recommending acceptable dose and avoiding overly toxic doses for sequential phase I trials in most of the scenarios considered. Furthermore, better performance of TITE-PK is achieved while requiring similar number of patients in the simulated trials. For the scenarios involving one schedule, TITE-PK displays similar performance with alternatives in terms of acceptable dose recommendations. The and code for the implementation of an illustrative sequential phase I trial example in oncology is publicly available (https://github.com/gunhanb/TITEPK_sequential). Conclusion In phase I oncology trials with sequential multiple schedules, the use of all relevant information is of great importance. For these trials, the adapted TITE-PK which combines information using PK principles is recommended.