Understanding how specific atom sites on metal surfaces lower the energy barrier for chemical reactions is vital in catalysis. Studies on simplified model systems have shown that atoms arranged as ...steps on the surface play an important role in catalytic reactions, but a direct comparison of how the light-off temperature is affected by the atom orientation on the step has not yet been possible due to methodological constraints. Here we report in situ spatially resolved measurements of the CO2 production over a cylindrical-shaped Pd catalyst and show that the light-off temperature at different parts of the crystal depends on the step orientation of the two types of steps (named A and B). Our finding is supported by density functional theory calculations, revealing that the steps, in contrast to what has been previously reported in the literature, are not directly involved in the reaction onset but have the role of releasing stress.
Functionalization of epoxy-based networks by the preferential surface enrichment of perfluorinated tails to achieve hydrophobic surface is described. Two series of crosslinked fluorinated epoxy-based ...materials containing variable fluorine contents (from 0 to 5 wt % F) were prepared using formulations based on partially fluorinated diamine, epoxy monomer and a curing agent. The epoxy monomer was based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) while the curing agents were either propyleneoxide diamine (JEFFAMINE) or 4,4′-methylenebis(3-chloro 2,6-diethylaniline) (MCDEA). The selected fluorinated epoxies (FE) were: 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,9,9,9-hexadecafluoro-8-trifluoromethyl nonyloxirane (FED3) and 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,9-heptadecafluoro nonyloxirane (FES3). The influence on surface properties of the architecture of FE, and the molecular structure of the unit building blocks was analyzed and discussed. It was found that both series showed high hydrophobicity and oleophobicity, independently of the crosslink density, bulk composition, and curing conditions. XPS measurements showed a surface composition much richer in fluorinated segments than expected from bulk composition. Fluorine enrichment was also manifested at the polymer/aluminium interface for JEFFAMINE-based networks. This observation is discussed in terms of the molecular weight dependence of surface tension and configurational entropy of the thermosetting matrix. At least for the range of this study, while increasing the amount of fluorine incorporated in both network series, dynamic friction is reduced due to surface migration of fluorine species during polymerization
Display omitted
A 82 year old woman presented with a growing lesion of the right mandibular border. A clinical diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma was made and removal with a suitable border was planned
Abstract The article provides a conceptual framework of the juvenile female sex trafficker. The discussion is extrapolated from a variety of data points and sources including: studies of sex ...trafficking victims and juvenile sexual offenders (males and females), and a large cross-validated normative sample ( N = 1056) of MEGA ♪ , a risk assessment tool for sexually abusive youth (Miccio-Fonseca, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016).
The article provides a conceptual framework of variables likely interconnected to protective factors for sexually abusive youth associated with the Family Lovemap Aggregate of MEGA
♪
, a risk ...assessment tool for sexually abusive youth. Family Lovemap Aggregate is composed of the ingredients family's familial bio-physio-neuro-psycho-sexio-social history and culture including transmissible predispositions related to erotic development. Intimacy deficits are discussed, specifically their association to erotically related protective factors extrapolated from a variety of data points and sources. This includes findings of sizable study samples of the MEGA
♪
validation (N = 1184), cross-validation (N = 1056), a second cross validation study (N = 543), a third cross-validation (N = 1,118 1979-2017 Miccio-Fonseca, 2017c). Also included combined samples of cross validation studies (N = 2,717 1979-2017 Miccio-Fonseca, 2017d); combined samples of validation and cross validation studies N = 3,901 1979-2017 Miccio-Fonseca, 2017e).
Sperm morphology is regarded as a significant prognostic factor for fertilization, as abnormal sperm structure is one of the most common factors in male infertility. Furthermore, obtaining accurate ...morphological information is an important issue with strong implications in zoo-technical industries, for example to perform sorting of species X from species Y. A challenging step forward would be the availability of a fast, high-throughput and label-free system for the measurement of physical parameters and visualization of the 3D shape of such biological specimens. Here we show a quantitative imaging approach to estimate simply and quickly the biovolume of sperm cells, combining the optical tweezers technique with digital holography, in a single and integrated set-up for a biotechnology assay process on the lab-on-a-chip scale. This approach can open the way for fast and high-throughput analysis in label-free microfluidic based "cytofluorimeters" and prognostic examination based on sperm morphology, thus allowing advancements in reproductive science.
The perspective of using live cells as lenses could open new revolutionary and intriguing scenarios in the future of biophotonics and biomedical sciences for endoscopic vision, local laser treatments ...via optical fibres and diagnostics. Here we show that a suspended red blood cell (RBC) behaves as an adaptive liquid-lens at microscale, thus demonstrating its imaging capability and tunable focal length. In fact, thanks to the intrinsic elastic properties, the RBC can swell up from disk volume of 90 fl up to a sphere reaching 150 fl, varying focal length from negative to positive values. These live optofluidic lenses can be fully controlled by triggering the liquid buffer's chemistry. Real-time accurate measurement of tunable focus capability of RBCs is reported through dynamic wavefront characterization, showing agreement with numerical modelling. Moreover, in analogy to adaptive optics testing, blood diagnosis is demonstrated by screening abnormal cells through focal-spot analysis applied to an RBC ensemble as a microlens array.
This article contends that youth who engage in persistent coarse sexual improprieties and/or, sexually abusive behaviors are too often viewed primarily through a criminological lens, regardless of ...their age, gender, judicial status, and/or experiences of past trauma/victimization. Such a posture likely falsifies the clinical perception of the individual referred for "treatment." Assessment and interventions for these youth must be holistic and idiosyncratic, considering numerous multiplex developmental variables (i.e., overall human sexual development, gender identity, sexual identity, sexual orientation, erotic development, intimacy deficits, adverse childhood experiences/trauma), as well as sociological and anthropological fundamentals. The lens for assessing and intervening with youth must also include in its focus the constantly changing Zeitgeist, that is, the spirit or the mood of the times. The proposed lens is applicable to all youth, adjudicated and non-adjudicated. Specific considerations are discussed related to those youth with a history of significant child maltreatment who later engage in persistent coarse sexual improprieties and/or sexually abusive behaviors.
This article renews the call by Chaffin and Bonner in 1998 to cease treating youth who engage in sexually abusive behaviors like adult male convicted sex offenders. The author urges that ...professionals cease imposing an adult-centered convicted sex offender paradigm in assessment and treatment. A new paradigm is advocated that considers sexual developmental and gender issues, along with judicial status in all areas of intervention (i.e., clinical and risk assessment, treatment/service planning, and possible treatment when needed). The paradigm is grounded on the Family Lovemap model, a conceptual framework for assessing the youth's bio-physio-psycho-social-sexual and erotic development. Discussed is the evidence-based, developmentally and gender sensitive risk-level tool, MEGA
♪
as a viable option for assessing risk for persistent coarse sexual improprieties and sexually abusive behaviors in youth ages 4-19 (adjudicated and non-adjudicated). Selected significant empirical findings are presented from 3,901 youths who were participants in samples of the MEGA
♪
validation studies.
PDF