Showing papers by "Sophia University published in 2021"

Universality Classes of the Anderson Transitions Driven by Non-Hermitian Disorder

Abstract: The interplay between non-Hermiticity and disorder plays an important role in condensed matter physics. Here, we report the universal critical behaviors of the Anderson transitions driven by non-Hermitian disorders for a three-dimensional (3D) Anderson model and 3D U(1) model, which belong to 3D class ${\mathrm{AI}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}$ and 3D class A in the classification of non-Hermitian systems, respectively. Based on level statistics and finite-size scaling analysis, the critical exponent for the length scale is estimated as $\ensuremath{ u}=0.99\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ for class ${\mathrm{AI}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}$, and $\ensuremath{ u}=1.09\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ for class A, both of which are clearly distinct from the critical exponents for 3D orthogonal and 3D unitary classes, respectively. In addition, spectral rigidity, level spacing distribution, and level spacing ratio distribution are studied. These critical behaviors strongly support that the non-Hermiticity changes the universality classes of the Anderson transitions.

Quench and self-protecting behaviour of an intra-layer no-insulation (LNI) REBCO coil at 31.4 T

Abstract: This paper presents experimental results on a quench of an intra-layer no-insulation (LNI) (RE: rare earth)Ba2Cu3O7−δ (REBCO) coil in a 31.4 T central magnetic field and simulated results on the quench. We have been designing a persistent-mode 1.3 GHz (30.5 T) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnet with a layer-wound REBCO inner coil. Protection of the REBCO coil from quench is a significant issue and the coil employs the LNI method to obtain self-protecting characteristics. We conducted high-field generation and quench experiments on an LNI-REBCO coil connected to an insulated Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O x (Bi-2223) coil under a background magnetic field of 17.2 T as a model of the 1.3 GHz NMR magnet. The coils successfully generated a central magnetic field of 31.4 T. Although the LNI-REBCO coil quenched at 31.4 T, this quench did not cause any degradation to the coil. A numerical simulation showed the current distribution during the quench was non-uniform and changed rapidly over time due to current bypassing through copper sheets between layers, resulting in faster quench propagation than in an insulated REBCO coil. During the quench propagation, the peak temperature (T peak) and the peak hoop stress BzJR (σθ, peak) were calculated to be 330 K and 718 MPa, respectively. These are below critical values that cause degradation. The simulation also showed that the high electrical contact resistivity (ρ ct) of 10 000 µΩ cm2, between REBCO conductors and copper sheets in the LNI-REBCO coil winding, played an important role in protection. When ρ ct was as low as 70 µΩ cm2, the quench propagation became too fast and large additional currents were induced, resulting in an extremely high σθ, peak of 1398 MPa, while the T peak was as low as 75 K. In short, the high ρ ct in the present coil caused a high T peak, but succeeded in suppressing σθ, peak and protecting the coil from the quench.

Bearing-Based Adaptive Neural Formation Scaling Control for Autonomous Surface Vehicles With Uncertainties and Input Saturation

Abstract: When a group of autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) sail from a wide waterway to a narrow waterway, one difficulty is to keep relative formation with collision avoidance. Scaling the formation sizes with formation shapes invariant is a promising way. This article investigates such a formation scaling control problem of ASVs with uncertainties and input saturation. A novel bearing-based adaptive neural formation scaling control scheme for ASVs is developed. The main idea of this formation scheme is as follows. Choose a small number of leader ASVs based on bearing rigidity theory and program their trajectories according to the kinematics of formation scaling maneuver. Steer remaining ASVs to follow leader ASVs via adaptive neural techniques and the formation sizes can be scaled only by leaders without redesigning control inputs of followers. To deal with the uncertainties of ASVs, weights updating of neural networks is simplified into one-parameter estimation in each control channel. Auxiliary systems are introduced for each ASV to reduce the effect of limited actuator capability. It is shown that desired formation scaling maneuver of ASVs can be achieved with the proposed formation scheme if the augmented formation is infinitesimally bearing rigid. Formation errors are guaranteed to be uniformly ultimately bounded. The main advantage of our scheme over existing results is that directional, computational, and actuator constraints are satisfied simultaneously in the formation scaling control of ASVs. Simulations and comparisons are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of theoretical results.

RADSex: A computational workflow to study sex determination using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data.

Abstract: The study of sex determination and sex chromosome organization in nonmodel species has long been technically challenging, but new sequencing methodologies now enable precise and high-throughput identification of sex-specific genomic sequences. In particular, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq) is being extensively applied to explore sex determination systems in many plant and animal species. However, software specifically designed to search for and visualize sex-biased markers using RAD-Seq data is lacking. Here, we present RADSex, a computational analysis workflow designed to study the genetic basis of sex determination using RAD-Seq data. RADSex is simple to use, requires few computational resources, makes no prior assumptions about the type of sex-determination system or structure of the sex locus, and offers convenient visualization through a dedicated R package. To demonstrate the functionality of RADSex, we re-analysed a published data set of Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes, where we uncovered a previously unknown Y chromosome polymorphism. We then used RADSex to analyse new RAD-Seq data sets from 15 fish species spanning multiple taxonomic orders. We identified the sex determination system and sex-specific markers in six of these species, five of which had no known sex-markers prior to this study. We show that RADSex greatly facilitates the study of sex determination systems in nonmodel species thanks to its speed of analyses, low resource usage, ease of application and visualization options. Furthermore, our analysis of new data sets from 15 species provides new insights on sex determination in fish.

Limits of intolerance: nativism and immigration control in nineteenth-century New York

Abstract: This article examines the development of immigration policy in New York State, analyzing why the state legislature failed to introduce an immigrant deportation law in the nineteenth century and its...

How Does the Digital Economy Affect the Domestic Value-Added Rate of Chinese Exports?

Abstract: The digital economy continuously injects new momentum into the traditional economy and has become an important driving force for national economic development. Against this backdrop and using input-output data from the WIOD from 2002 to 2014, this paper empirically analyzes the impact of the development of the digital economy on the domestic value-added rate of Chinese manufacturing industry exports and the mechanism underlying this relationship. The results show that (1) digital economic input significantly promotes growth in the domestic value-added rate of manufacturing industry exports, (2) digital economic input mainly increases the domestic valueadded rate of intermediate-product exports, (3) digital input has a significant positive impact on the capital-intensive and knowledge-intensive manufacturing industries, and (4) technological progress and cost reduction are important mechanisms through which the digital economy promotes the domestic value-added rate of exports. KEywoRDS Cost Reduction, Digital Economy, Digital Inputs, Domestic Value-Added Rate of Exports, Global Value Chain, Manufacturing Industry, Technological Progress, Trade

Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic on China’s Exports

Abstract: This study empirically analyzes various implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and trading partner countries on China’s exports by constructing an econometric model using COVID-19 pandemic ...

The melatonin metabolite N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine facilitates long-term object memory in young and aging mice.

Abstract: Melatonin (MEL) has been reported to enhance cognitive processes, making it a potential treatment for cognitive decline. However, the role of MEL's metabolites, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK), in these effects are unknown. The current study directly investigated the acute effects of systemic MEL, AFMK, and AMK on novel object recognition. We also analyzed MEL, AFMK, and AMK levels in hippocampus and temporal lobe containing the perirhinal cortex following systemic MEL and AMK treatment. AMK administered post-training had a more potent effect on object memory than MEL and AFMK. AMK was also able to rescue age-associated declines in memory impairments when object memory was tested up to 4 days following training. Results from administering AMK at varying times around the training trial and the metabolism time course in brain tissue suggest that AMK's memory-enhancing effects reflect memory consolidation. Furthermore, inhibiting the MEL-to-AMK metabolic pathway disrupted object memory at 24 hours post-training, suggesting that endogenous AMK might play an important role in long-term memory formation. This is the first study to report that AMK facilitates long-term object memory performance in mice, and that MEL crosses the blood-brain barrier and is immediately converted to AMK in brain tissue. Overall, these results support AMK as a potential therapeutic agent to improve or prevent memory decline.

Maternal Iron Status in Pregnancy and Child Health Outcomes after Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract: In pregnancy, iron deficiency and iron overload increase the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the effects of maternal iron status on long-term child health are poorly understood. The aim of the study was to systematically review and analyze the literature on maternal iron status in pregnancy and long-term outcomes in the offspring after birth. We report a systematic review on maternal iron status during pregnancy in relation to child health outcomes after birth, from database inception until 21 January 2021, with methodological quality rating (Newcastle-Ottawa tool) and random-effect meta-analysis. (PROSPERO, CRD42020162202). The search identified 8139 studies, of which 44 were included, describing 12,7849 mother-child pairs. Heterogeneity amongst the studies was strong. Methodological quality was predominantly moderate to high. Iron status was measured usually late in pregnancy. The majority of studies compared categories based on maternal ferritin, however, definitions of iron deficiency differed across studies. The follow-up period was predominantly limited to infancy. Fifteen studies reported outcomes on child iron status or hemoglobin, 20 on neurodevelopmental outcomes, and the remainder on a variety of other outcomes. In half of the studies, low maternal iron status or iron deficiency was associated with adverse outcomes in children. Meta-analyses showed an association of maternal ferritin with child soluble transferrin receptor concentrations, though child ferritin, transferrin saturation, or hemoglobin values showed no consistent association. Studies on maternal iron status above normal, or iron excess, suggest deleterious effects on infant growth, cognition, and childhood Type 1 diabetes. Maternal iron status in pregnancy was not consistently associated with child iron status after birth. The very heterogeneous set of studies suggests detrimental effects of iron deficiency, and possibly also of overload, on other outcomes including child neurodevelopment. Studies are needed to determine clinically meaningful definitions of iron deficiency and overload in pregnancy.

Decentralized Optimal Merging Control With Optimization of Energy Consumption for Connected Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Abstract: This paper presents a new approach for solving the optimal merging control problem for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) under a connected environment To achieve a reduction in energy consumption and save travel time, this paper focuses on deriving a decentralized feedback control law that provides not only the optimal velocity trajectory for merging but also a torque distribution strategy for the HEV powertrain For this purpose, a distance domain-based optimal control problem is first proposed to avoid a free end-time cost function formulation that usually arises due to considering the minimization of traveling time Then, the vehicle dynamics take into account the constraint of the optimization problem to evaluate the energy consumption at the power device level instead of the acceleration, unlike the common method used for reducing energy consumption in previous studies of merging control with linear models The proposed optimization problem is solved by Pontryagin's maximum principle, and a traffic-in-the-loop powertrain simulation platform with a real-world emulated traffic scenario and high-fidelity HEV powertrain model is constructed to eliminate the randomly generated merging scenario Finally, the simulation results obtained on the platform are demonstrated to validate the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized merging control law

An Integrated Look at Well-Being: Topological Clustering of Combinations and Correlates of Hedonia and Eudaimonia

Abstract: Subjective measures of well-being are increasingly seen by scholars and policy makers as valuable tools to assess quality of life. Hedonic accounts focus on people’s experience of life in positive ways while eudaimonic accounts are concerned with realization of personal potential. However, to what extent do an “enjoyable” and a “flourishing” life overlap? Using an innovative clustering-and-projection technique (Self-Organized Map), the joint distributional patterns of multiple hedonic and eudaimonic well-being indicators were examined in a nationally representative longitudinal study of US adults (MIDUS). Results show that the two accounts largely converged with about 70% of the sample observations registering high/low scores in both well-being dimensions. However, the remaining 30% of respondents experienced divergent well-being levels. Association between these combined profiles and a series of socio-demographic characteristics and social stratification factors were investigated. Findings showed that chances of uniformly high well-being increase with age, while higher income, educational level, marriage, and being a female are linked to lesser probabilities of experiencing joint low well-being patterns. Experiencing a combination of high hedonic/low eudaimonic well-being was more frequent for less educated individuals, and men. Finally, the persistence over time of these combined well-being profiles was more frequent in case of convergent hedonic/eudaimonic levels. For divergent patterns we revealed substantial changes over a 10-year period with respondents registering low hedonic/high eudaimonic well-being at time t having greater chances of upward movement toward improved well-being compared to individuals who experienced high hedonic/low eudaimonic levels in the first time period.

From cooks to chefs: skilled migrants in a globalising culinary field

Abstract: Migrants do not simply move across physical spaces but within institutionalised social fields, including occupational fields. This ethnographic study takes a globalised culinary field – the social ...

A cyber-physical system deployment based on pull strategies for one-of-a-kind production with limited resources

Abstract: In smart manufacturing practices, finding a balance between the size of cyber-physical system (CPS) deployment and the performance of production systems is the preliminary goal pursued by some small or medium-sized one-of-a-kind production enterprises with limited resources in implementing the transformation of smart production systems. To achieve this goal, we first address the pull control strategies in lean production systems as a principle to guide the CPS deployment for shop floors. Specifically, we use the Path-based bottleneck (PBB), Constant work-in-process (CONWIP), and Capacity-slack CONWIP (CSC) as pull CPS deployment schemes, in which the CSC is a modified CONWIP strategy that integrates the order review function of the PBB. We summarize the characteristics of these pull control strategies and analyze important roles in guiding the CPS deployment. Then, we compare the performance of the three pull control strategies by simulation. Our findings show that it is feasible to get the balance between the size of CPS deployment and the system performance through a suitable pull control strategy to guide CPS deployment. Finally, we introduce a case of a strander manufacturer and use the case data to estimate the performance and implementation costs of the CPS deployment schemes which are guided by pull control strategies.

Experimental and numerical study on progressive damage and failure in composite laminates during open-hole compression tests

Abstract: Progressive damages in the open-hole compression (OHC) tests of composite laminates were experimentally and numerically studied. In the experiment, the failure mechanisms were investigated via in situ microscopy observation, digital image correlation, X-ray radiography, and X-ray computed tomography. Three layups were tested to examine the dependence of progressive damages on the layups. Additionally, numerical simulation was conducted to comprehensively examine the failure mechanisms. In the numerical studies, the simulation scheme, considering the plasticity, kink-band failure, multiple intra-laminar cracks, and delamination, was developed. From the experiment and simulation, it is clarified that the kink-band is initiated and propagated by the combined stress states consisting of longitudinal compression and in-plane shear around the intra-laminar cracks. Therefore, for the high-fidelity OHC simulation in various layups, it is necessary to capture the interaction between kink-band and intra-laminar cracks by considering the combined stress state in the kink-band failure criteria and modeling the multiple intra-laminar cracks.

Isotopic constraints on atmospheric sulfate formation pathways in the Mt. Everest region, southern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract: . As an important atmosphere constituent, sulfate aerosols exert profound impacts on climate, the ecological environment, and human health. The Tibetan Plateau (TP), identified as the “Third Pole”, contains the largest land ice masses outside the poles and has attracted widespread attention for its environment and climatic change. However, the mechanisms of sulfate formation in this specific region still remain poorly characterized. An oxygen-17 anomaly ( Δ17O ) has been used as a probe to constrain the relative importance of different pathways leading to sulfate formation. Here, we report the Δ17O values in atmospheric sulfate collected at a remote site in the Mt. Everest region to decipher the possible formation mechanisms of sulfate in such a pristine environment. Throughout the sampling campaign (April–September 2018), the Δ17O in non-dust sulfate show an average of 1.7 ‰±0.5 ‰, which is higher than most existing data on modern atmospheric sulfate. The seasonality of Δ17O in non-dust sulfate exhibits high values in the pre-monsoon and low values in the monsoon, opposite to the seasonality in Δ17O for both sulfate and nitrate (i.e., minima in the warm season and maxima in the cold season) observed from diverse geographic sites. This high Δ17O in non-dust sulfate found in this region clearly indicates the important role of the S(IV)+O3 pathway in atmospheric sulfate formation promoted by conditions of high cloud water pH. Overall, our study provides an observational constraint on atmospheric acidity in altering sulfate formation pathways, particularly in dust-rich environments, and such identification of key processes provides an important basis for a better understanding of the sulfur cycle in the TP.

Transfer matrix study of the Anderson transition in non-Hermitian systems

Abstract: The Anderson transition driven by non-Hermitian (NH) disorder has been extensively studied in recent years. In this paper, we present in-depth transfer matrix analyses of the Anderson transition in three NH systems, NH Anderson, U(1), and Peierls models in three-dimensional systems. The first model belongs to NH class ${\mathrm{AI}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}$, whereas the second and the third ones to NH class A. We first argue a general validity of the transfer matrix analysis in NH systems, and clarify the symmetry properties of the Lyapunov exponents, scattering ($S$) matrix and two-terminal conductance in these NH models. The unitarity of the $S$ matrix is violated in NH systems, where the two-terminal conductance can take arbitrarily large values. Nonetheless, we show that the transposition symmetry of a Hamiltonian leads to the symmetric nature of the $S$ matrix as well as the reciprocal symmetries of the Lyapunov exponents and conductance in certain ways in these NH models. Using the transfer matrix method, we construct a phase diagram of the NH Anderson model for various complex single-particle energy $E$. At $E=0$, the phase diagram as well as critical properties become completely symmetric with respect to an exchange of real and imaginary parts of on-site NH random potentials. We show that the symmetric nature at $E=0$ is a general feature for any NH bipartite-lattice models with the on-site NH random potentials. Finite size scaling data are fitted by polynomial functions, from which we determine the critical exponent $\ensuremath{ u}$ at different single-particle energies and system parameters of the NH models. We conclude that the critical exponents of the NH class ${\mathrm{AI}}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}$ and the NH class A are $\ensuremath{ u}=1.19\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$ and $\ensuremath{ u}=1.00\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$, respectively. In the NH models, a distribution of the two-terminal conductance is not Gaussian. Instead, it contains small fractions of huge conductance values, which come from rare-event states with huge transmissions amplified by on-site NH disorders. Nonetheless, a geometric mean of the conductance enables the finite-size scaling analysis. We show that the critical exponents obtained from the conductance analysis are consistent with those from the localization length in these three NH models.

The Role of Underweight in Active Life Expectancy Among Older Adults in Japan

Abstract: OBJECTIVES It is underweight, rather than overweight or obesity, that has been a pressing public health concern in Japan. This study examines the impact of being underweight on the health of older Japanese men and women, measured by active life expectancy at age 65. Following the Japanese government's guideline, underweight in this study is defined using the body mass index (BMI) value of 20. METHOD Data came from five waves (1999-2009) of the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging (NUJLSOA). We used the Interpolation of Markov Chain approach to estimate the number of years underweight (BMI < 20), normal weight (20 < BMI < 25), and overweight (25 < BMI) individuals were expected to live without difficulty in activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental ADLs. RESULTS We found differences in life and health expectancies across the three weight categories. Underweight people were expected to live the shortest lives and spend the fewest years in an active state compared with normal and overweight individuals. Results remained unchanged even when accounting for educational attainment, smoking history, and a count of existing chronic conditions. DISCUSSION Being underweight is associated with poor quality of life lived among Japanese older adults. This finding suggests the importance of maintaining proper weight and avoids nutritional risks at advanced ages.

Impact of body mass index on growth hormone stimulation tests in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: Peak stimulated growth hormone (GH) levels are known to decrease with increasing body mass index (BMI), possibly leading to overdiagnosis of GH deficiency (GHD) in children with overweight and obes...

‘Nonwhiteness’ in nineteenth-century Hawai‘i: sovereignty, white settlers, and Japanese migrants

Abstract: This paper examines the way considerations of race factored into the colonisation of Hawai‘i and its subsequent governance of immigration and different racial groups. Throughout the nineteenth cent...

Photoluminescent Carbon Quantum Dots: Synthetic Approaches and Photophysical Properties.

Abstract: A number of synthetic methodologies and applications of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been reported since they were first discovered nearly two decades ago. Unlike metal-based or semiconductor-based (e. g., metal chalcogenides) quantum dots (MSQDs), CQDs have the unique feature of being prepared through a variety of synthetic protocols, which are typically understood from considerations of reaction models and photoluminescence mechanisms. Consequently, this brief review article describes quantum dots, in general, and CQDs, in particular, from various viewpoints: (i) their definition, (ii) their photophysical properties, and (iii) the superiority of CQDs over MSQDs. Where possible, comparisons are made between CQDs and MSQDs. First, however, the review begins with a general brief description of quantum dots (QDs) as nanomaterials (sizes≤10 nm), followed by a short description of MSQDs and CQDs. Described subsequently are the various top-down and bottom-up approaches to synthesize CQDs followed by their distinctive photophysical properties (emission spectra; quantum yields, Φs).

Fast and selective colorimetric detection of Fe3+ based on gold nanoparticles capped with ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid

Abstract: A fast and selective colorimetric sensor for detecting Fe3+ was developed using gold nanoparticles capped with ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid (o-HBA AuNPs). This sensor was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, and TEM. The absorbance of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 534 nm increased after the addition of Fe3+. It was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, and TEM data indicating that Fe3+ acted as a bridge among the capping agents of AuNPs. The bridges blocked AuNPs from aggregation and caused an increase in the uniformity distribution of o-HBA AuNPs. Under the optimized condition, this sensor had a good calibration curve linearity at 534 nm. The value of R2 obtained was 0.9994 with LoD of 9.19 μM and LoQ of 30.57 μM. This sensor exhibited good precision and accuracy for Fe3+ detection in rice field, river, and sea waters and has been successfully used to detect Fe3+ in the real water samples collected from various locations of Code River, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Genome-wide association studies of exacerbations in children using long-acting beta2-agonists

Abstract: Background: Some children with asthma experience exacerbations despite long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) treatment. While this variability is partly caused by genetic variation, no genome-wide study until now has investigated which genetic factors associated with risk of exacerbations despite LABA use in children with asthma. We aimed to assess whether genetic variation was associated with exacerbations in children treated with LABA from a global consortium. Methods: A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (meta-GWAS) was performed in 1,425 children and young adults with asthma (age 6-21 years) with reported regular use of LABA from six studies within the PiCA consortium using a random effects model. The primary outcome of each study was defined as any exacerbation within the past 6 or 12 months, including at least one of the following: 1) hospital admissions for asthma, 2) a course of oral corticosteroids or 3) emergency room visits because of asthma. Results: Genome-wide association results for a total of 82 996 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, MAF ≥1%) with high imputation quality were meta-analysed. Eight independent variants were suggestively (P-value threshold ≤5 × 10−6) associated with exacerbations despite LABA use. Conclusion: No strong effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on exacerbations during LABA use were identified. We identified two loci (TBX3 and EPHA7) that were previously implicated in the response to short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA). These loci merit further investigation in response to LABA and SABA use.

Luminescent monodispersed carbon quantum dots by a microwave solvothermal method toward bioimaging applications

Abstract: We report the synthesis of yellow luminescent carbon quantum dots (CDQs; size: 2–9 nm) whose surface was functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) using a novel low-pressure microwave solvothermal method (MWS) that yielded highly emitting CQDs with quantum yields up to 61.1 % at λem =580 nm. The resulting quantum dots were characterized by 500-MHz 1H- and 13C-NMR, by FT-IR, UV–vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies, by XRD and XPS, by TEM microscopy, and by dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. A comparison between the MWS method and the conventional autoclave solvothermal (CAS) method demonstrated significant advantages of the novel MWS methodology, which can find further applications in studies of state-of-the-art syntheses of CQDs, in particular, and potentially other quantum dots, in general.

Presence of water on exomoons orbiting free-floating planets: a case study

Abstract: A free-floating planet (FFP) is a planetary-mass object that orbits around a non-stellar massive object (e.g. a brown dwarf) or around the Galactic Centre. The presence of exomoons orbiting FFPs has been theoretically predicted by several models. Under specific conditions, these moons are able to retain an atmosphere capable of ensuring the long-term thermal stability of liquid water on their surface. We model this environment with a one-dimensional radiative-convective code coupled to a gas-phase chemical network including cosmic rays and ion-neutral reactions. We find that, under specific conditions and assuming stable orbital parameters over time, liquid water can be formed on the surface of the exomoon. The final amount of water for an Earth-mass exomoon is smaller than the amount of water in Earth oceans, but enough to host the potential development of primordial life. The chemical equilibrium time-scale is controlled by cosmic rays, the main ionization driver in our model of the exomoon atmosphere.