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The article discusses a theoretical and experimental investigation of the reflection of slow electrons from the surfaces of single-crystal and polycrystalline tungsten thermionic cathodes. The findings challenge traditional ideas as they confirm that the effective reflection coefficient, reff, can reach values close to unity contrary to prior belief. The reason for this occurrence has been established, which is the additional reflection of slow electrons from a potential barrier near polycrystalline surfaces. A method has been developed to separately measure electron reflection coefficients at the surfaces of thermionic cathodes and at the potential barrier of electrode spot fields with different work functions. The study reveals that the maximum values of reff are achieved on polycrystalline surfaces. Additionally, the work functions and reflection coefficients rhkl have been determined for the faces of single crystals of (110), (112), (100), (111), and (116) oriented tungsten. The proposed method enables control over cathode emission inhomogeneity and makes it possible to mitigate the negative effects of secondary electron emission by suppressing electric fields near the cathode surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunable self-assembly driven by external electric or magnetic fields is of significant interest in modern soft matter physics. While extensively studied in two-dimensional systems, it remains insufficiently explored in three-dimensional systems. In this study, we investigated the formation of vertical strings from an initial monolayer system of particles deposited on a horizontal substrate under the influence of an external magnetic field using experiments, computer simulations, and theoretical frameworks. We demonstrated that the main mechanism of string self-assembly is merging, driven by the interplay between gravity and induced tunable interparticle interactions. During this process, the system has to overcome a saddle point on the energy landscape, whose height increases with the string height. At a certain point, further self-assembly becomes kinetically blocked in a metastable state, far from equilibrium. This contrasts sharply with the typical scenario for tunable self-assembly in two dimensions, where the resulting structures usually correspond to the equilibrium state. Therefore, this finding opens up opportunities for more detailed control of three-dimensional tunable self-assembly by designing and tuning various potential barriers along the kinetic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative errors of virtual cathodes calculated by using the one-dimensional virtual cathode theory are analyzed and discussed. The studies of the error analysis show that the cathode temperature is the major factor affecting the calculated results of virtual cathodes, especially for calculations of the virtual cathode width. The smaller the virtual cathode produced by a hot cathode, the more significant the relative error of the virtual cathode caused by the uncertainties of electron emission parameters. Using the accurate cathode temperature, the potential barrier and the spatial width of virtual cathodes generated by a tungsten filament are calculated with experimental and theoretical electron emission parameters. The calculated results show that there is a strong linear correlation between the potential barrier of the virtual cathode and the heating current of the tungsten filament, which is independent of the electron collection current. With the increase in the heating current, the variation of the virtual cathode width is very sensitive to the relation between the electron collection current and the heating current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ferroelectric tunneling junctions (FTJs) are widely recognized as one of the non-volatile memories with significant potential. Ferroelectricity usually fades away as materials are thinned down below a critical value, and this problem is particularly acute in the case of shrinking device sizes, thus attracting attention to two-dimensional ferroelectric materials (2DFEMs). In this work, we designed 2D ferroelectric Ga2O3-based FTJs with out-of-plane polarization, and the influence of metal–semiconductor contact in the electrode region on the system is considered. Here, using density functional theory combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function approach to quantum transport calculations, we demonstrate robust ferroelectric polarization-controlled switching behavior between metallic and semiconducting states in Ga2O3/WS2 ferroelectric heterostructures. The potential barrier of the metal–semiconductor contact in the electrode region is lower than that of the intrinsic material, thereby resulting in an increased probability of electron tunneling. Our results reveal the crucial role of 2DFEMs in the construction of FTJs and highlight the significant impact of electrode contact types on performance. This provides a promising approach for developing high-density ferroelectric memories based on 2D ferroelectric semiconductor heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the potential of nanovacuum devices utilizing graphene edges as field emitters, with their work function modulated by a nearby gate on the graphene surface. Unlike metals, the semi-metallic nature of graphene enables modulation of the Fermi level and work function via the surface field. This modulation alters the potential barrier for field emission. Our simulation study reveals that device operation critically depends on two screening factors—horizontal and vertical. Horizontally, work function modulation occurs when the emitter edge is within the critical screening length from the gate edge. Vertically, the effectiveness of work function modulation diminishes beyond the second layer of multi-layer graphene due to surface field screening by the first layer. Our simulations demonstrate that maintaining the vacuum channel on tens of nanometer scale enables transistor-like operation of the device, with remarkably high cut-off frequencies and maximum oscillation frequencies ranging from 0.45 to 0.71 and 32.9 to 40.5 THz, respectively, under source–drain bias from 90 to 100 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PN junctions play important roles in semiconductor devices. Flexoelectricity, an electromechanical coupling between strain gradient and electric polarization, has non-negligible contributions in nano-devices. The thermoflexoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which temperature gradients generate inhomogeneous strains and further induce flexoelectric polarizations. Therefore, temperature gradients can affect carrier transport in PN junctions through the thermoflexoelectric effect. In this paper, a one-dimensional model of the PN junction under a uniform temperature change is established. Exact solutions for the electromechanical fields in the PN junction are obtained for the first time. The effects of the temperature gradient, doping level, and flexoelectric coefficient on the electromechanical behaviors of the PN junction are numerically analyzed. The results indicate that carrier concentrations in the p and n regions are sensitive to temperature gradients because of the screening effect of the mobile charge on the flexoelectric polarization induced by the temperature gradient. Meanwhile, the flexoelectric field and the initial built-in electric field in the depletion region jointly determine the magnitude of the potential barrier, and thus, the temperature-gradient-induced flexoelectric field can tune the switching characteristics of the PN junction. This study provides a theoretical basis for the tuning of the electromechanical behavior of the PN junction by thermally induced flexoelectric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In thermodynamics of supercooled liquids, sub-molecular units, referred to as "beads," are used. It has been reported that all thermodynamic functions as well as the parameters in the empirical distribution functions of the potential energy landscape approach appear to be explicit functions of the number of beads in molecules. This finding opens the possibility of measuring the number of beads from each of these functions and estimating the configuration and vibration components in their formation. An enthalpy factor has been introduced and found that within the temperature domain of the invariable enthalpy factor, the molecules partition to a constant number of beads. A correlation has been observed between temperature dependence of the potential barriers, restricting cooperative rearrangement of beads and heat capacity of liquids. Relations connecting the landscape approach with the number of beads in the molecules have been estimated. The molecular equation for configuration entropy obtained can provide guidance for the development of new materials with a desirable configuration entropy. A method for predicting thermodynamic and statistical quantities of supercooled liquids from kinetics is also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The translocation of polymers through nanopores is a complex process influenced by various factors. In this study, the translocation behavior of a two-dimensional active polymer chain, comprised of a head active Brownian particle (ABP) and a tail passive polymer chain, through a nanopore is studied using Langevin dynamics simulations. Results show that the effect of the self-propulsion force of the ABP on the translocation differs significantly from the driving force inside the pore for traditional polymer translocations. Specifically, the translocation time τ initially increases with increasing the magnitude fs of the self-propulsion force and then decreases with a further increase in fs. A small fs lowers the potential barrier for the translocation and thus promotes slow translocations, whereas a large fs directly pulls the polymer chain through the nanopore following the scaling relation τ ∝ fs−1. Moreover, two asymptotic scaling relations between τ and polymer length N, τ ∝ Nα, are found, with the exponent α of about 2.5 for small fs or long N and the exponent α of about 1.4 for short active polymers with large fs. We discover that the slow rotation of the ABP accelerates the translocation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron emission and transport through and over potential barriers is an essential process requiring modeling and simulation to meet the design needs and characterization of an exceedingly broad range of technologically important devices and processes. The simulation and description of thermal, field, and photoemission, and the related concerns of space–charge affected electron flow, often make use of specialized formulations developed in the early days of quantum mechanics. Advancements in the utilization of electron sources and particularly the simulation of devices and applications using advanced particle-in-cell and trajectory methods for beam optics codes create a strong need for a pedagogical account of the emission models to ensure correct numerical evaluation of their equations. This Tutorial starts from simple phenomenological accounts and progressively builds to comprehensive models emphasizing straightforward and often rapid calculation. It recommends formulations to supplant the canonical Richardson–Laue–Dushman (thermal), Fowler–Nordheim (field), Fowler–DuBridge (photo), and Baroody (secondary) equations and provides a useful formulation of space–charge affected flow commonly described by the Child–Langmuir relation that takes into account cathode dependence on surface field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students are increasingly expected to take up proactive roles in feedback processes. While most feedback research focuses on asking, receiving, and engaging with feedback, some suggest that students must also proactively shape their feedback environment. This study explored graduate life science master's students' first impressions of a dialogue prompt, which aimed to support them in proactively starting a dialogue with their supervisor on several aspects of the feedback environment during their research internship. We used a survey to explore reasons for (not) wanting to use the dialogue prompt and to what extent individual and interpersonal variables could explain these. An exploratory factor analysis uncovered three factors. Aided by qualitative analysis, these were interpreted as underlying reasons for (not) wanting to use the dialogue prompt. 'Barriers of Use' represents potential barriers hindering the prompt's use, 'Practical Use' represents the prompt's usefulness in addressing practical topics, and 'Critical Voicing Use' in addressing critical topics. Multiple regression examining individual and interpersonal variables only showed one significant association, suggesting that students who are positive about the prompt's Practical Use also tend to believe that feedback, in general, is useful for achieving goals. We discuss our findings in relation to students' proactivity and responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep concerns have become increasingly common over the past few decades. This study outlines the perceived needs and gaps in pediatric sleep education, drawing insights from a diverse international cohort of pediatric sleep health professionals. International Pediatric Sleep Association (IPSA) members were invited to complete an online survey examining a variety of topics related to pediatric sleep education developed by the education committee. There were 111 survey respondents, largely comprised of medical healthcare providers, representing 39 countries. The majority of respondents worked with children and adolescents aged 0–18 years and endorsed the importance of both comprehensive and developmentally appropriate screening for sleep issues in clinical practice, ranging from bedtime behaviors and daytime dysfunction to sleep-related breathing and movement disorder symptoms. Respondents also stressed the importance of including diverse topics in pediatric sleep education, including behavioral sleep issues and sleep in neurodevelopmental disorders, thus underscoring the need for comprehensive training programs. Participants advocated for improved access to screening tools and intervention protocols. There was an identified notable gap in formal sleep education during professional training. Potential barriers identified included time constraints and a lack of resources. Preferences for training online and through professional organization websites underscored the importance of accessible learning platforms. Integrating online resources into education programs could enhance accessibility and engagement. The demand for enhanced sleep education underscores the complexity and significance of pediatric sleep health and highlights an urgent need for tailored and accessible sleep education programs to address the multifaceted challenges in pediatric sleep. Addressing educational needs helps cultivate a skilled workforce to manage pediatric sleep disorders and promote healthy sleep practices. Teaching activities and collaboration play crucial roles in advancing the pediatric sleep community. [Display omitted] • Pediatric sleep professionals emphasize the growing need for comprehensive sleep education. • Respondents identified gaps in sleep education during training, particularly on behavioral issues and neurodevelopmental disorders. • Respondents advocated for the availability of sleep screening tools, interventions, and online training via professional platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to student demand for flexibility in the delivery of classes as well as the potential barriers and enabling factors supporting student success, universities have introduced distinctive educational models, including replacing the standard 12-week, sequential delivery of units of study with 4- or 8-week blocks of one or two units at a time (Block Model). Most Block Model delivery and evaluation has been at the undergraduate level. The aim of this study was to investigate, via individual interviews, university staff experiences of teaching the Block Model at the postgraduate level. Staff affirmed that the Block Model resulted in high levels of engagement in teaching and learning; effective learning management systems; and up-to-date, engaging, and problem-based module design. However, staff also recognised the timetabling of units for students who were employed or had family commitments, and the cognitive burden carried by time-poor staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orientation anisotropy is a well-known essential character for polarization characteristics of ferroelectric materials, which has been widely investigated in conventional ferroelectric random access memories. In this work, we study the effects of orientation on the tunneling electroresistance (TER) of ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs). Rhombohedral Pb(Zr 0. 7 ,Ti 0. 3 )O3 (PZT) that has the polar axis along the 〈 1 1 1 〉 orientation is adopted as potential barriers and two kinds of FTJs that are composed of (001)- and (111)-oriented PZT barriers and Nb:SrTiO3 (Nb:STO) electrodes, respectively, are fabricated. The (111)-oriented Pt/PZT/Nb:STO FTJ exhibits a giant ON/OFF ratio of ∼ 1. 9 × 1 0 5 , about 30 times that of the (001)-oriented device, due to the lowered PZT barrier in the ON state and the widen Schottky barrier in the OFF state based on current and capacitance analyses. In addition, compared to the (001)-oriented device, the (111)-oriented FTJ shows a sharper and faster switching between the ON and OFF states according to the nucleation-limited-switching dynamics model, giving rise to good linearity in memristive behaviors for synaptic plasticity and reliable retention and endurance properties for the resistance switching. The improved TER properties are ascribed to larger effective polarizations and 180∘ switching in the (111)-oriented PZT barrier. These results facilitate the design and fabrication of high-performance FTJ devices with the optimization of crystallographic orientation and polarization switching characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane (PU) grouting materials are widely used in underground engineering rehabilitation, particularly in reinforcement and waterproofing engineering in deep-water environments. The long-term effect of complex underground environments can lead to nanochannel formation within PU, weakening its repair remediation effect. However, the permeation behavior and microscopic mechanisms of water molecules within PU nanochannels remain unclear. In this paper, a model combining PU nanochannels and water molecules was constructed, and the molecular dynamics simulations method was used to study the effects of water pressure and channel width on permeation behavior and microstructural changes. The results reveal a multi-stage, layered permeation process, with significant acceleration observed at water pressures above 3.08 MPa. Initially, water molecules accelerate but are then blocked by the energy barrier of PU nanochannels. After about 20 ps, water molecules overcome the potential barrier and enter the nanochannel, displaying a secondary acceleration effect, with the maximum permeation depth rises from 1.8 nm to 11.8 nm. As the channel width increases, the maximum permeation depth increases from 7.5 nm to 11.6 nm, with the rate of increase diminishing at larger widths. Moreover, higher water pressure and wider channels enhance the stratification effect. After permeation, a hydrophobic layer of approximately 0.5 nm thickness forms near the channel wall, with a density lower than that of the external water. The middle layer shows a density slightly higher than the external water, and the formation of hydrogen bonds between water molecules increases toward the channel center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemiology of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in the United States is not well-described. To estimate national ABPA prevalence among patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis, characterize ABPA testing practices, and describe ABPA clinical features, treatment, and 6-month outcomes. We used the 2016–2022 Merative™ MarketScan® Commercial/Medicare and Multi-State Medicaid Databases to identify cohorts of patients with 1) asthma, 2) cystic fibrosis (CF), and 3) ABPA. We calculated ABPA prevalence per 10,000 patients with asthma or CF, assessed diagnostic testing for ABPA among patients with severe asthma, and described features of patients with ABPA using diagnosis and procedure codes. The overall ABPA prevalence among patients with asthma was 2.8/10,000 (Commercial/Medicare) and 1.0/10,000 (Medicaid). ABPA prevalence increased with asthma severity (Commercial/Medicare: mild 1.3, moderate 9.3, severe 70.6, Medicaid: mild 0.3, moderate 2.4, severe 32.4). Among patients with CF, ABPA prevalence was 183.7/10,000 (Commercial/Medicare) and 134.6/10,000 (Medicaid). Among patients with severe asthma, 10.3% (Commercial/Medicare) and 7.4% (Medicaid) received total immunoglobulin E testing, which is recommended for ABPA diagnosis. Among all patients with ABPA (Commercial/Medicare: n = 1,564, Medicaid: n = 410), ABPA treatments included inhaled corticosteroids (>70%), systemic corticosteroids (>62%), and antifungals (>18%). Patients with ABPA and Medicaid were more likely to experience hospitalization (45.1% vs. 22.5% of patients with Commercial/Medicare insurance) and respiratory failure (18.5% vs. 10.9%). This analysis provides initial estimates of national ABPA prevalence. Further studies could identify potential barriers to ABPA testing and investigate potential factors affecting payer-related differences in ABPA burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop low-power, miniature, nonvolatile memory resistor integrated devices for in-memory computing technologies, the exploration of atomic-scale ferroelectric channel semiconductor devices is necessary. We theoretically designed tunnel junction devices based on two-dimensional ferroelectric semiconductors, with two-dimensional metal TaSe2 used as the top electrode and van der Waals bilayer boron arsenide (BAs) as the ferroelectric semiconductor channel, aiming to achieve high-performance, low-power, two-dimensional ferroelectric memory resistors. Our findings demonstrate that the bilayer BAs, upon contact with metal electrodes, can achieve two stable and switchable ferroelectric states. Interlayer relative sliding enables stable and alternating two-dimensional ferroelectric domains, altering the types of triple potential barriers at interfaces from Schottky contacts to Ohmic contacts. Thus, under the modulation of the "triple barrier" mechanism, control over channel carrier switching is achieved, resulting in a tunneling electroresistance of 104%. Additionally, non-equilibrium Green's function results indicate nonlinear changes in the I–V curve when switching between the two stable ferroelectric states, highlighting the multi-resistive state nature of channel resistance. Our research underscores the potential of sliding ferroelectric tunnel junctions in integrating nonvolatile storage and computing units, emphasizing their innovative applications in in-memory computing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates the greybody radiation of a general metric including the significant black hole parameters. The fraction of Hawking radiation (HR) that succeeds in achieving infinity is known as "greybody radiation" or transmission probability. In this study, the focus is on the black hole parameters by which greybody radiation could be affected, such as electric and magnetic charges "e" and "g", respectively, cosmological constant " Λ ", and Taub-Nut "l". In this regard, we use the nonrotating form of the improved Griffiths–Podolsk (NRIGP) metric which contains the factors " Λ , l , e , g ", all in a single metric. This study allows us to observe the behavior of the scalar perturbation and greybody radiation of each indicated parameter in the presence of the other variables. The spacetime around the black hole behaves as a barrier for particles, and the greybody factor strongly depends on the black hole potential barrier. Therefore, we first studied the scalar perturbation and evaluated the actions of the effective potential by the regarded parameters. The depicted figures for variables such as magnetic charge "g" confirm the consistency between the effective potential and the greybody factor. In this area of study, symmetry plays an essential but hidden role. In the current study, we also consider that all the particles around a black hole have the same symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agentic engagement refers to students' proactive and constructive contribution to the flow of instruction. The literature on student agentic engagement is missing the voices and perspectives of teachers. Given that the field knows little about what agentic engagement means to teachers, the goal of this study was to describe agentic engagement from the perspectives of urban high school science teachers. We conducted focus groups with 16 teachers to examine how, why, when, and who questions regarding students' use of agentic engagement in science classes. Results revealed the following themes: (a) Teachers initially struggled with the agentic engagement concept, but also acknowledged that a variety of strategies could be used, though rarely enacted. (b) Teachers emphasized the importance of students' approach for enacting agentic engagement in constructive ways that would increase teacher receptibility. (c) Teachers identified three categories of benefits, including benefits for students, benefits for teachers, and benefits for the class community. (d) Teachers highlighted considerations for effective agentic engagement in their classrooms, including their desire to maintain control. Teachers' deficit-based assumptions of student difficulties in science was identified as a potential barrier to supporting student agentic engagement. Implications for future research and implementation of agentic engagement interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum tunneling is a quantum phenomenon in which a microscopic object crosses through a potential barrier even if its energy cannot overcome the barrier. A general belief is that tunneling occurs only when the barrier width is comparable to, or smaller than the de Broglie's wavelength of the object. Here, we study the tunneling of an ultracold atom among N far-separated trapping potentials in a state-selective optical lattice and present a mechanism to realize long-range tunneling. We find that, mediated by the propagating matter wave emitted from the atom, coherent tunneling of the atom to the remote lattices occurs as long as bound states are present in the energy spectrum of the system formed by the atom and its matter-wave. Going beyond the Markovian approximation, and breaking through the conventional distance constraint, our result opens another avenue to realizing tunneling and gives a guideline for developing tunneling devices. It is generally believed that quantum tunneling cannot occur when the distance is larger than the particle's wavelength. This paper reveals that a long-range quantum tunneling of the atom to the remote trapping potentials mediated by its emitted matter wave occurs as long as bound states are present in the energy spectrum of the total system formed by the atom and its matter-wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with sexual minority (SM) identities are less likely to aspire to be parents than their heterosexual counterparts. This differential may be due to concerns by SM people about their child(ren) encountering prejudice or discrimination. The objective of this study is to empirically examine whether SM respondents' rationales for not having children are due to concerns that their child(ren) will be treated unfairly. We draw on the National Couples' Health and Time Study (NCHAT), a nationally representative study of partnered adults conducted between September 2020 and April 2021. The NCHAT includes oversamples of sexual and gender minority people. We include SM respondents under 50 and are not currently intending to have a child (n = 1,079). About half reported that they were avoiding having a child due to concerns about how their child(ren) would be treated because of their own sexual or gender identity. SM people in same-gender couples had significantly higher odds of being concerned about their potential child's treatment than those in different-gender couples, and these results persisted with the inclusion of sociodemographic indicators. This study is one of the first to quantitatively examine mistreatment as a potential barrier to family building among sexual and gender diverse individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (MA) are accepted modalities for evidence synthesis in evidence-based medicine. However, as MA uses aggregate data that includes averaging patient characteristics and pooled effect estimates, it has limitations when considering personalised medicine. In contrast, individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) includes and segregates individual patient data to study new outcomes, identify outcome predictors, and analyse multiple covariate effects on treatments. IPD-MA requires data from multiple investigators, review board approvals, clear communication with collaborators, and statistical recalculation of cumulative data. IPD-MA can be performed as a single-stage process where data from all included studies is pooled and reanalysed or as a two-stage process where additionally the data from individual studies is re-analysed before being pooled. This review aims to orient clinicians about IPD-MA, including the process of performing it, comparing it with other types of meta-analyses and considering the potential barriers in conducting it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In part I of this two-part article, we present a brief discussion of different aspects of quantum tunnelling through one-dimensional rectangular potential barrier, as well as general continuous potential barrier and a summary of some of its applications in chemistry and biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further results from an earlier computation by density functional theory for the ground state of a capped (5,5) carbon nanotube in the zero applied field show details of (a) self-consistent charge density in the cap and (b) potential in the transition from emitter to vacuum. In this structure, the exchange potential displaces outwards the transition from the Fermi level to the vacuum level and so creates the work function of the emitter, in agreement with Bardeen's 1936 calculation for sodium. Our self-consistent, multistate calculation provides a physical basis for the initial rise in the widely used Schottky–Nordheim potential for field emission. The axial electric field near the start of the potential barrier shows small discontinuities, at potentials that align with those calculated previously for specific molecular orbitals in the emitter. The multistate calculation thus suggests that a small fraction of charge incident on the barrier has an energy between the Fermi level and the vacuum level. These hot electrons seem unlikely to explain the experimental observations agreeing with Fowler–Nordheim tunneling theory but may contribute to the current at the onset of field emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Blockchain technology is one of the major contributors to supply chain sustainability because of its inherent features. However, its adoption rate is relatively low due to reasons such as the diverse barriers impeding blockchain adoption. The purpose of this study is to identify blockchain adoption barriers in sustainable supply chain and uncovers their interrelationships. Design/methodology/approach: A three-phase framework that combines machine learning (ML) classifiers, BORUTA feature selection algorithm, and Grey-DEMATEL method. From the literature review, 26 potential barriers were identified and evaluated through the performance of ML models with accuracy and f-score. Findings: The findings reveal that feature selection algorithm detected 15 prominent barriers, and random forest (RF) classifier performed with the highest accuracy and f-score. Moreover, the performance of the RF increased by 2.38% accuracy and 2.19% f-score after removing irrelevant barriers, confirming the validity of feature selection algorithm. An RF classifier ranked the prominent barriers and according to ranking, financial constraints, immaturity, security, knowledge and expertise, and cultural differences resided at the top of the list. Furthermore, a Grey-DEMATEL method is employed to expose interrelationships between prominent barriers and to provide an overview of the cause-and-effect group. Practical implications: The outcome of this study can help industry practitioners develop new strategies and plans for blockchain adoption in sustainable supply chains. Originality/value: The research on the adoption of blockchain technology in sustainable supply chains is still evolving. This study contributes to the ongoing debate by exploring how practitioners and decision-makers adopt blockchain technology, developing strategies and plans in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Japan, the escalating demand for anesthesia services has resulted in a shortage of anesthesiologists, presenting a societal challenge. Urgent measures involve the imperative task shifting to nurses. The perspectives of anesthesiologists on perianesthesia nurses (PANs) and the PAN system significantly influence the collaboration between anesthesiologists and PANs. Methods: Twenty-four anesthesiologists initially approached in writing among a pool of 304, ultimately agreed to participate in interviews. Verbatim transcripts from these interviews were analyzed using the framework method. In this procedure, data analysis was facilitated by MAXQDA software (version 22.7.0) to construct a case-code matrix, enhancing the reliability of our findings. Results: Five themes and fifteen categories related to PAN and its system emerged. Participants provided insights into the diverse social conditions accompanying the implementation of the PAN system. They highly regarded PANs as colleagues, expecting a spectrum of capabilities. Nevertheless, the analysis revealed considerable variation in role expectations across institutions and individuals, with some perspectives being mutually critical. Conflicting opinions emerged on two crucial aspects: assigning anesthesia management conducted by PANs and substituting PANs for anesthesiologists. Multiple suggestions were put forth for enhancing and evolving the PAN system. Conclusion: This qualitative study is the first to reveal that Japanese anesthesiologists hold diverse perspectives on PANs and the system. The approach was well-suited for exploring diverse perspectives, showing significant differences among institutions and individuals. Our data provided crucial insights, including findings suggesting potential barriers to task shifting of anesthesia duties to PANs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, 2D/3D heterojunction electronic devices have attracted considerable attention. As the size decreases, enhancing the speed of MOSFETs, reducing the subthreshold swing (SS), and lowering the power consumption (P) have become challenging. Therefore, in the post‐Moore era, in response to the continuation of Moore's law, junction field‐effect transistors (JFETs) based on mixed‐dimensional MoS2/GaN heterojunctions are proposed via thickness engineering. Accordingly, flat hetero interface and large potential barrier height of 5 eV across the heterojunction, an ultra‐low SS of 60.9 mV dec−1 (The Boltzmann limit is 60 mV dec−1) is achieved at Vds = 0.1 V when the MoS2 thickness is 10 nm. Additionally, a high Ion/Ioff ratio of 107 and a saturation current density (Jds) of 0.16 µA µm−1 is achieved. As the thickness of MoS2 increased from 6 to 16 nm, the working mode transitioned from enhancement mode to depletion mode. The depletion region across the channel is verified using computer‐aided design technology. Finally, an N‐type load inverter with a maximum voltage gain of 4 and a minimum static P of 25 nW is applied. Overall, the work provides a universal strategy for constructing a series of high‐performance transition metal dichalcogenide/GaN JFETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of the theoretical analysis of remagnetization kinetics and magnetic hyperthermia effect in a single-domain ferromagnetic particle embedded in a soft elastic-viscous medium (gel or biological tissue for example). Unlike previous studies, we consider simultaneous action of both main mechanisms of particle remagnetization in an alternating magnetic field. Namely, (i) its body turn (rotation) with its magnetic moment and (ii) the Neel remagnetization through the potential barrier of the particle magnetic anisotropy. We suppose that the energy of the particle Zeeman interaction with the field is less than the energy of the anisotropy; no other restrictions on the field strength are assumed. In the linear, with respect to this field, approximation, the frequency dependences of the real and imaginary parts of the particle complex susceptibility are calculated in more details. The real part monotonic decreases with the field frequency. If the host medium is rigid enough, the imaginary part of the susceptibility has a maximum, corresponding to the Neel relaxation. In the soft system, it has maximum, reflecting the particle rotation in the field. In the intermediate case, our calculations demonstrate two maximums of the imaginary part. We hope the present results will be useful for the development of scientific basement of magnetic hyperthermia therapy of oncological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bistable energy harvesters (BEHs) have been extensively explored from the perspective of potential energy. However, few studies have investigated other energy dimensions or proposed optimization routes beyond potential barrier modification. This study presents BEH's total energy analysis framework, incorporating both potential and kinetic energy (Ep and Ek, respectively). Theoretically, these two energy dimensions orthogonally compose the three-dimensional phase space for the total energy (Et). This framework provides additional viewing angles when Ep = const to interpret the BEH's power capacity and suggests an alternative optimization route of improving Ek, which demonstrates a better effect than improving Ep due to the presence of attractors. Based on the total energy analysis framework, impetus injected BEH (IIBEH) is proposed to improve Ek and boost output power by reducing the slope of the restoring force outside the potential barrier. This overcomes the limitation that improving Ek must trigger a velocity disturbance, which is often uncontrollable or impractical in field energy harvesting applications. Experimentally, with only an 8.82% difference in restoring force slope, the IIBEH increases root mean square voltage by 47.75% and average power by 118.43% compared to the conventional BEH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In recent years, manufacturing companies have been confronted with an increased incidence of disruptions affecting production processes. Finding approaches to effectively resist the occurrence of disruptions is crucial for enterprises. The development of Industry 4.0 technology enables the use of innovative tools to prepare for the unpredictable situations and ensure business continuity. Design/methodology/approach: The aim of the manuscript is to investigate the possibility of using simulation modeling to study the vulnerability of production processes to disruptions. The research was limited to the study of internal disruptions occurring in a manufacturing enterprise. The manufacturing process performed at a mechanical engineering company was studied. A case study was conducted to investigate the process vulnerability to selected internal disruptions identified at the company. The research was performed in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software. Three simulation experiments were performed for disruptions such as machine failure, decrease in employee efficiency, and delivery delay of materials. Findings: The conducted research proved that simulation modeling can be applied to assess the vulnerability of the production process to selected disruptions. The benefits of the presented approach were indicated, especially in supporting the decision-making process. Research limitations/implications: The research was conducted for selected internal disruptions. The focus of future studies was established by identifying and classifying disruptions suitable for simulation modeling, as well as outlining the application scope of simulation tools. Practical implications: Simulation modeling can be applied by manufacturing enterprises to investigate the vulnerability of implemented processes to disruption. The case study was conducted in the mechanical industry. However, the presented approach can be applied to companies in various industries. A potential barrier is the lack of familiarity with simulation modeling tools. Nevertheless, the advantages of analyzing different event scenarios are substantial enough to justify overcoming this challenge. Originality/value: The literature review found a deficiency of research on process vulnerability using simulation modeling. The research conducted indicates validation and application of the studied approach to manufacturing companies. A significant benefit is conducting analyses without interrupting the actual process, which is especially crucial for manufacturing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been growing interest in the use of machine learning across the pharmacovigilance lifecycle to enhance safety monitoring of drugs and vaccines. Here we describe the scope of industry-based research into the use of machine learning for safety purposes. We conducted an examination of the findings from a previously published systematic review; 393 papers sourced from a literature search from 2000–2021 were analyzed and attributed to either industry, academia, or regulatory authorities. Overall, 33 papers verified to be industry contributions were then assigned to one of six categories representing the most frequent PV functions (data ingestion, disease-specific studies, literature review, real world data, signal detection, and social media). RWD and social media comprised 63% (21/33) of the papers, signal detection and data ingestion comprised 18% (6/33) of the papers, while disease-specific studies and literature reviews represented 12% (4/33) and 6% (2/33) of the papers, respectively. Herein we describe the trends and opportunities observed in industry application of machine learning in pharmacovigilance, along with discussing the potential barriers. We conclude that although progress to date has been uneven, industry is very interested in applying machine learning to the pharmacovigilance lifecycle, which it is hoped may ultimately enhance patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a new Ultra-Violet (UV)-C Light emitting Diode (LED) structure based on orderly aligned Quaternary Nitride alloy based specially-designed quantized quantum barrier. In this article, we theoretically investigate the performance such as internal quantum efficiency (IQE), efficiency droop etc. of proposed structure and also compare it with the reference UV-C LED structure. In this proposed structure, there is no sudden potential barrier as in case of reference structure because of the strain compensation provided by the quantized periodic Superlattice-AlxInyGa(1-x–y)N/ AlaGabN quantum barrier. Active region epilayer crystal orientation balanced by introducing 'In' molar content in alternate sub-layers of quantum barrier (QB). This allows for stronger carrier confinement in the active region, which enhances IQE to 72% from 32% (reference structure) and reduction in efficiency droop from 11% to 0.05% at current density of 200 A-cm−2. The variation in the density of states (DOS) for carrier allocation due to strain balance in the quantum barrier compared to the quantum wells (QW) is responsible for the significant increase in the electro-optical efficiency of the light emitting device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of anthropogenic climate change are rapidly worsening, but current efforts to mitigate this crisis are insufficient. Therefore, it is critically important to understand how to motivate more individuals to take action to protect against future climate change impacts. This study examines the individual‐level factors that predict motivations to act, as well as potential barriers to action in a sample of Canadian adults. Participants completed a questionnaire that assessed a) demographics; b) climate change knowledge, opinions, and scepticism; and c) psychological factors that may impede action. The responses were analyzed to determine the factors that explain whether individuals would change their actions in light of climate change and to what extent climate change considerations impact their actions. Predictors of action included how informed individuals were about climate change, perceived severity of its effects, perceived urgency to act, and climate change scepticism. The strongest predictor was perceived powerlessness; individuals who felt a sense of powerlessness were less likely to change their actions and reported that the threat of climate change had less influence over their behaviours. Powerlessness in turn was associated with age and political affiliation. Implications of these findings, and possible solutions to overcome the barrier of perceived powerlessness, are discussed. Key messages: The strongest predictor of climate change inaction is perceived powerlessness.Climate change action is also predicted by how informed individuals feel about climate change, the perceived severity of its effects, the perceived urgency to act, and climate change scepticism.Targeted interventions may help individuals become more empowered to act on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple model of composite particle tunnelling through a potential barrier in presence of a (pseudo)magnetic field. The exact numerical solution of the problem is provided and the applicability to real physical systems is discussed. When the magnetic field is present some new qualitative features of the transmission spectrum are observed, compared to the previously studied composite particle tunnelling with no magnetic field. Splitting of energy levels in a magnetic field leads to splitting of transmission probability resonances, which are a generic feature of composite particle tunnelling. Magnetic field also induces precession of spin on the Bloch sphere, that can be used as a Larmor clock for measuring tunnelling time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: After cardiac surgery, there may be barriers to being physically active. Patients are encouraged to gradually increase physical activity, but limited knowledge exists regarding postoperative physical activity levels. This study aimed to assess patient-reported physical activity six months after cardiac surgery, determine adherence to WHO's physical activity recommendations, and explore potential relationships between pain, dyspnea, fear of movement, and activity levels. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study at Örebro University Hospital, Sweden. Preoperative and surgical data were retrieved from medical records and questionnaires concerning physical activity (Frändin-Grimby Activity Scale, the Physical activity Likert-scale Haskell, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, and Exercise Self-efficacy Scale) were completed six months after surgery. Data were collected on pain, dyspnea, general health status and kinesiophobia i.e. fear of movement, using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia Heart. Results: In total, 71 patients (68 ± 11 years, males 82%) participated in this study. Most patients (76%) reported a light to moderate activity level (Frändin-Grimby levels 3-4) six months after cardiac surgery. In total, 42% of the patients adhered to the WHO's physical activity recommendations (150 min/week). Pain and dyspnea were low. Patients with lower activity levels exhibited significantly higher levels of fear of movement (p =.025). Conclusions: The majority of patients reported engaging in light to moderate activity levels six months after cardiac surgery. Despite this, less than half of the patients met the WHO's physical activity recommendations. Potential barriers to physical activity such as pain, dyspnea and fear of movement were reported to be low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: High nitrogen and high-density compounds have become popular research objects in the energetic materials in recent years. Among them, compounds composed of triazine and azole skeleton rings have received attention due to their good stability and nitrogen content. The triazine imidazole-based condensed ring energetic derivatives have good properties and lack research on the direction of thermal decomposition. By exploring the thermal decomposition mechanism of energetic materials, their safety and thermal stability can be effectively analyzed. 2-Nitro-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine-5,7-diamine has excellent thermal stability and low mechanical sensitivity, making it a potential candidate for heat-resistant and insensitive energetic materials. So this article chooses 2-nitro-[1,2,4] triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine-5,7-diamine as the research object and uses density functional theory (DFT) to study its thermal decomposition mechanism. The thermal decomposition mechanism is helpful to deepen the understanding of these substances. This work calculated the key information such as the reaction potential barrier of the substance and gradually derived it. The research shows that its decomposition path includes ring cleavage, hydrogen atom rearrangement, and free radical detachment. Methods: Based on the density functional theory (DFT), all substances in this work were subjected to structural optimization and energy calculations using the B3LYP/6–311 + G(d,p) and M06-2X/def2TZVPP methods. After optimizing convergence, perform vibration analysis without imaginary frequencies to obtain a stable structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Olfactory training (OT) is an effective and affordable option in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction. Despite significant progress in the field in recent years, some factors influencing OT participation remain unclear. Methods: Based on an anonymous online survey orchestrated by AbScent.org the present study enrolled 450 participants and divided them into OT (n = 161) and No OT (n = 289) groups based on their OT participation. Participants also provided information on demographics, medical history, quality of life, OT duration for those who engaged in OT, and the reasons for non-participation in OT among those who did not. Results: Patients who had greater loss of quality of life participated more in OT. Similarly, more participation was observed in patients who noticed an improvement in their ability to smell. Notably, most of the sample engaged in OT trained less than four weeks (73%). In the No OT group, the primary barrier to OT participation was the unawareness of OT treatment (37%) and these barriers differed by age, where older people expressed interest but were unaware of OT treatment, while younger individuals exhibited more cautiousness about its effectiveness. Conclusion: Lower quality of life drives active OT participation. Limited training periods and unawareness of OT serve as potential barriers to olfactory recovery. Clinicians should actively promote the background of OT and underscore the significance of adhering to the "prescribed" training regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While girls have better grades than boys in high school, this does not translate into better performance of young women, as compared to young men, in university. Due to the high signalling value of university grades for subsequent income and employment outcomes, this has important consequences for gender inequalities at labour market entry. However, previous studies have not yet examined the potential barriers that might limit women's ability to maintain their previous academic achievement at the university level. Drawing on the nation-wide Student Survey, this study addresses this shortcoming by investigating perceived discrimination against women and perceived competition among students as two potential correlates. Our findings first confirm that while girls have better grades in high school than boys, this has reversed at the university level. Further, high school grades are less strongly correlated with university grades for girls compared to boys. Our results highlight that young women perceive there to be more discrimination against women as well as higher levels of competition within their field of study, than do their male peers. The study further demonstrates that an increased level of perceived discrimination is strongly associated with lower university performance for young women, thereby plausibly hindering their ability to reach their full academic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists a pressing need for polymeric nanocomposites exhibiting enhanced electrical properties when subjected to external electric fields. Via the development of an efficient model based on the physical-analytical relations, the electrical conductivity and percolation threshold of ternary nanocomposites enriched with the synergy of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are investigated. In so doing, the electrical conductivity of carbon nano-additives is first computed using a discretizer scheme, and subsequently, by incorporating the basic electrical conduction mechanisms and employing the average polarization theory, insights into the overall electrical behavior of CNT/GNP/polymer networks are elucidated. The formulation of the extended framework is in the form of case assessments covering effects of volume fraction and geometry of carbonaceous nanofillers, contribution of the interphase region, which serves as an electron hopping duct, tunneling distance, and electrical potential barrier height. In connection with validation, satisfactory alignment between the predicted outcomes and experimental results substantiates the efficacy of the proposed approach for both binary and ternary nanocomposites. Moreover, parametric studies reveal the remarkable sensitivity of electrical properties of nanocomposites to the aforementioned factors. These findings are valuable and enlightening for the design and manufacturing of highly conductive systems, resulting in time and financial savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In standard bosonic Josephson junctions (BJJs), particles tunnel between two single-well potentials linked by a finite barrier. The dynamics of standard BJJs have been extensively studied, both at the many-body and mean-field levels of theory. In the present work, we introduce the concept of a composite BJJ. In a composite BJJ, particles tunnel between two double-well potentials linked by a finite potential barrier between them. We focused on the many-body facets of quantum dynamics and investigate how the complex structure of the junction influences the tunneling. Employing the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method for bosons, highly accurate many-boson wavefunctions were obtained, from which properties were computed. We analyzed the dynamics using the survival probability, the degree of fragmentation of the junction, and the fluctuations of the observables, and discuss how the many-boson tunneling behaved, and how it may be controlled, using the composite nature of the junction. A central result of this work relates to the degree of fragmentation of composite BJJs with different numbers of bosons. We provide strong evidence that a universal degree of fragmentation into multiple time-dependent modes takes place. Further applications are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: A "people-centered" approach is one of the core principles of the Immunization Agenda (IA) 2030 and emphasizes the need for services to be organized around the needs and expectations of individuals and the community. A better understanding of the immunization experience from the client's perspective is key to guiding the design of policies and interventions aimed at improving immunization delivery and coverage. This study provides a synthesis of the immunization experiences of children's caregivers in Cameroon, highlighting potential barriers for timely and complete immunization. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting caregivers of children brought to selected health facilities for immunization in all ten regions of Cameroon. Using structured questionnaires, data were collected from caregivers and analyzed using STATA version 13. Results: In total, 1230 caregivers were interviewed in 265 health facilities. The median age of participants was 27 years and the median number of children per caregiver was two children. Most (87%) of the study participants reported to be satisfied with immunization service delivery. The median waiting time for vaccination was 1 h 48 min, with regional median waiting times ranging from 18 min in the South region to 4 h 6 min in the North region. About a quarter (24%) of surveyed participants reported to have presented to a health facility for immunization services and were turned away without achieving the purpose for which they came at least once. About half (48%) of the caregivers had never heard about planned vaccination activities in their communities. Conclusion: While most caregivers appeared to be satisfied with immunization service delivery in Cameroon, our study highlights some notable caregiver concerns (long waiting times, unproductive immunization visits and inadequate information about outreach activities) which, if addressed, may go a long way to enhance the immunization experience of caregivers in Cameroon, build trust in immunization services and thus improve vaccination uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Josephson and Proximity effects play a pivotal role in the design of superconducting devices for the implementation of quantum technology, ranging from the standard A l based to the more exotic twisted high- T c junctions. Josephson critical currents have been recently investigated also in ultracold atomic systems where a potential barrier acts as a weak link. The unifying feature of the above systems, apart from being superconducting/superfluid, is the presence of spatial inhomogeneity, a feature that has to be properly taken into account in any theoretical approach employed to investigate them. In this work, we review the novel (dubbed LPDA for Local Phase Density Approximation) approach based on a coarse graining of the Bogoliubov–de Gennes (BdG) equations. Non-local and local forms of this coarse graining were utilized when investigating Proximity and Josephson effects. Moreover, the LPDA approach was further developed to include pairing fluctuations at the level of the non-self-consistent t-matrix approximation. The resulting approach, dubbed mLPDA ( m o d i f i e d LPDA), can be used whenever inhomegeneity and fluctuations effects simultaneously play an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the influence of a strong electromagnetic field, Eddy currents are generated in the p-n junction, which affects the generated currents in the sample. When exposed to a strong electromagnetic field, the sensitivity of the p-n junction I-V curve non-ideality coefficient change increases. In this case, a recombination process occurs in the p-n junction under the influence of a strong electromagnetic field, and it strongly affects the coefficient of non-ideality. The current coming out of the diode in the alternating field is only determined by the convection current, and the average value of the displacement current is always zero, which has no effect on the average current coming out of the diode, this causes the currents generated in different diodes in the electromagnetic field. Taking this into account, in this study, when electrons and holes in the p-n junction are heated under the influence of strong and weak very high frequency (VHF) fields, and the height of the potential barrier is disturbed, the increase in the value of the coefficient of non-ideality of the p-n junction I-V curve leads to an increase in the differential resistance, as well as the diffusion capacity and it is shown that it occurs due to the decrease of differential conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-file transport occurs in various scientific fields, including diffusion through nanopores, nanofluidic devices, and cellular processes. We here investigate the impact of polydispersity on particle currents for single-file Brownian motion of hard spheres when they are driven through periodic potentials by a constant drag force. Through theoretical analysis and extensive Brownian dynamics simulations, we unveil the behavior of particle currents for random binary mixtures. The particle currents show a recurring pattern in dependence of the hard-sphere diameters and mixing ratio. We explain this recurrent behavior by showing that a basic unit cell exists in the space of the two hard-sphere diameters. Once the behavior of an observable inside the unit cell is determined, it can be inferred for any diameter. The overall variation of particle currents with the mixing ratio and hard-sphere diameters is reflected by their variation in the limit where the system is fully covered by hard spheres. In this limit, the currents can be predicted analytically. Our analysis explains the occurrence of pronounced maxima and minima of the currents by changes in the effective potential barrier for the center-of-mass motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements have been performed on Mg-doped GaN for Mg concentrations in the low- to mid-1019 cm−3. As-grown and annealed (600–675 °C) samples were studied. In the as-grown samples, the nonradiative carrier lifetime was found to be about 200 ps and nearly independent of the Mg concentration. Upon annealing, the carrier lifetimes shorten to ∼150 ps but, again, show little dependence on the annealing temperature. The analysis of possible Shockley–Read–Hall recombination centers and their behavior during doping and annealing suggests that the main nonradiative recombination center is the Mg–nitrogen vacancy complex. The weak dependence of the PL decay times on temperature indicates that carrier capture into this center has a very low potential barrier, and the nonradiative recombination dominates even at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary electron spectrum (SES) contains complex surface information and is widely used in surface analysis technology. A theoretical model of the SES for metals was proposed to reveal the effect of the surface potential barrier on the SES. In our model, an improved inner secondary electron energy distribution was established according to the free electron gas model. The transmission coefficient of inner secondary electrons was determined by solving the density of electronic states. Finally, the model was verified by our experiments, and the effects of the coverage fraction and potential barrier height, width, and form on the SES were comprehensively analyzed. The results show that H2O adsorption lowers the barrier height and enhances the tunneling effect, resulting in the most probable energy shifting toward the low-energy end and full width at half maximum narrowing. In addition, increasing or broadening the barrier can weaken the secondary electron tunneling effect, reduce the secondary electron number, and increase the most probable energy and the full width at half maximum. The model in this paper provides a reliable analysis method for studying the SES under different surface barriers for metals. Relevant results have significant value for the analysis of scanning electron microscopy images and optimization of secondary electron detection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid ferromagnet–semiconductor systems possess new outstanding properties, which emerge when bringing magnetic and semiconductor materials into contact. In such structures, the long-range magnetic proximity effect couples the spin systems of the ferromagnet and semiconductor on distances exceeding the carrier wave function overlap. The effect is due to the effective p–d exchange interaction of acceptor-bound holes in the quantum well with d-electrons of the ferromagnet. This indirect interaction is established via the phononic Stark effect mediated by the chiral phonons. Here, we demonstrate that the long-range magnetic proximity effect is universal and observed in hybrid structures with diverse magnetic components and potential barriers of various thicknesses and compositions. We study hybrid structures consisting of a semimetal (magnetite Fe3O4) or dielectric (spinel NiFe2O4) ferromagnet and a CdTe quantum well separated by a nonmagnetic (Cd,Mg)Te barrier. The proximity effect is manifested in the circular polarization of the photoluminescence corresponding to the recombination of photoexcited electrons with holes bound to shallow acceptors in the quantum well induced by magnetite or spinel itself, in contrast to interface ferromagnet in case of metal-based hybrid systems. A nontrivial dynamics of the proximity effect is observed in the studied structures due to recombination-induced dynamic polarization of electrons in the quantum well. It enables the determination of the exchange constant Δexch ≈ 70 μeV in a magnetite-based structure. The universal origin of the long-range exchange interaction along with the possibility of its electrical control offers prospects for the development of low-voltage spintronic devices compatible with existing solid-state electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of the transparency coefficient of a five-layer two-barrier structure on the electron energy and the ratio of the widths of two neighboring potential barriers is calculated. It is shown that the extremum of the transparency coefficient significantly depends on the geometric dimensions of the structure layers. In a symmetric five-layer two-barrier semiconductor structure, the condition for the occurrence of "resonant" electron transitions is defined. It is demonstrated that the mechanism of such (resonant) transitions is explained by the interference of de Broglie waves of electrons in the potential well, where the phases of de Broglie waves are determined by the geometric dimensions of the structure, and their amplitudes - by the ratio of the carrier energy to the height of the potential barrier. It has been established that with an increase in the effective mass of charge carriers, the number of intersections of the quantities fR (ξ) and ((1-2ξ))/(√(ξ-ξ2) increases. These intersections determine the dimensionally-quantized levels where electrons are localized.

The potential for private domestic gardens to aid conservation as a form of private land conservation has been recognised. However, it is comparatively under-explored in relation to new-build housing developments and new-build homeowners. This paper investigates motivations, potential barriers, and possible interventions for wildlife gardening in new build homes through a two-stage mixed methods approach. 16 interviews were conducted with people who already undertook wildlife gardening, while a questionnaire survey was completed by people (n = 203) living in new-build housing developments. Analysis identified that motivations for wildlife gardening are common across the sample but that people living in new build houses face some unique barriers which are interconnected and manifest not just at individual or household level but also at the housing development level. Further, first time buyers living in new build houses may face the greatest range of challenges and require greater support to undertake wildlife gardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of nuclear deformation on proton-decay half-lives has been systematically studied in microscopic theoretical frameworks for a wide range of nuclei with Z<82. Correlation between 1p-decay half-lives and the deformed nuclear shapes of both the parent and daughter nuclei is investigated. Since the deformations of proton emitters and their residual nuclei impact the potential barrier and disintegration energy which are crucial for the accurate determination of half-lives, we incorporate these nuclear deformations of both the emitters and residues in a phenomenological manner and propose a new semi-empirical formula to estimate the 1p-decay half-lives. The robustness of this formula is demonstrated by the accurate predictions of the measured values while making it reliable for forecasting the properties of other potential proton emitters. The phenomenon of shape coexistence as observed in several proton emitters and their respective daughter nuclei, is particularly significant in this context due to secondary minima in the potential energy surfaces of both the nuclei. Accounting for these factors significantly affects the estimation of half-lives and branching ratios by introducing additional decay pathways and altering transition probabilities between different nuclear shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]