Widening Of Gap Research Articles

Effect of cobalt doping on the structural, magnetic, optical, and electronic properties of LiFeCr4O8

Cobalt doping's influence on the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of the double spinel LiFeCr4O8 was systematically investigated. Rietveld refinement revealed a consistent increase in lattice parameter a and unit cell volume with cobalt incorporation. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated three distinct transitions: an increase in the ferrimagnetic transition temperature (TN), a decrease in the magnetostructural transition temperature (TMS), and an increase in the spin gap transition by cobalt doping. Through diffuse reflectance spectroscopy the direct optical band gap (Eog) was obtained with values of 1.169 eV, 1.303 eV, 1.396 eV, and 1.230 eV for x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5, respectively. The observed increase in Eog with cobalt doping suggests a widening of the band gap, which could be beneficial for optoelectronic applications. By means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) the core levels of Li 1s, Co 3p, Fe 3p, Cr 3p, Fe 2p, Cr 2p, and O 1s were identified. XPS valence band (VB) analysis revealed a decreasing intensity at binding energy BE = 0 eV with respect to x = 0.0. Density functional theory calculations with Hubbard U correction (DFT + U) confirmed a ferrimagnetic semiconductor behavior with a direct electronic band gap (Eeg) of 1.085 eV.

Effect of Metaldehyde on Survival, Enzyme Activities, and Histopathology of the Apple Snail Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck 1822).

Pomacea canaliculata, as an invasive exotic species in Asia, can adversely affect crop yields, eco-environment, and human health. Application of molluscicides containing metaldehyde is one effective method for controlling P. canaliculata. In order to investigate the effects of metaldehyde on adult snails, we conducted acute toxicological experiments to investigate the changes in enzyme activities and histopathology after 24 h and 48 h of metaldehyde action. The results showed that the median lethal concentrations (LC) of metaldehyde on P. canaliculata were 3.792, 2.195, 1.833, and 1.706 mg/L at exposure times of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, respectively. Treatment and time significantly affected acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) activity, with sex significantly affecting AChE, GST, and TAC activity and time significantly affecting carboxylesterase (CarE). In addition, the interaction of treatment and time significantly affected the activity of GST, CarE and TAC. In addition, histopathological changes occurred in the digestive glands, gills and gastropods of apple snail exposed to metaldehyde. Histological examination of the digestive glands included atrophy of the digestive cells, widening of the hemolymph gap, and an increase in basophils. In treated snails, the hemolymph gap in the gills was widely dilated, the columnar cells were disorganized or even necrotic, and the columnar muscle cells in the ventral foot were loosely arranged and the muscle fibers reduced. The findings of this study can provide some references for controlling the toxicity mechanism of invasive species.

Effects of Laser Treatment of Terbium-Doped Indium Oxide Thin Films and Transistors.

In this study, a KrF excimer laser with a high-absorption coefficient in metal oxide films and a wavelength of 248 nm was selected for the post-processing of a film and metal oxide thin film transistor (MOTFT). Due to the poor negative bias illumination stress (NBIS) stability of indium gallium zinc oxide thin film transistor (IGZO-TFT) devices, terbium-doped Tb:In2O3 material was selected as the target of this study. The XPS test revealed the presence of both Tb3+ and Tb4+ ions in the Tb:In2O3 film. It was hypothesized that the peak of the laser thermal effect was reduced and the action time was prolonged by the f-f jump of Tb3+ ions and the C-T jump of Tb4+ ions during the laser treatment. Studies related to the treatment of Tb:In2O3 films with different laser energy densities have been carried out. It is shown that as the laser energy density increases, the film density increases, the thickness decreases, the carrier concentration increases, and the optical band gap widens. Terbium has a low electronegativity (1.1 eV) and a high Tb-O dissociation energy (707 kJ/mol), which brings about a large lattice distortion. The Tb:In2O3 films did not show significant crystallization even under laser energy density treatment of up to 250 mJ/cm2. Compared with pure In2O3-TFT, the doping of Tb ions effectively reduces the off-state current (1.16 × 10-11 A vs. 1.66 × 10-12 A), improves the switching current ratio (1.63 × 106 vs. 1.34 × 107) and improves the NBIS stability (ΔVON = -10.4 V vs. 6.4 V) and positive bias illumination stress (PBIS) stability (ΔVON = 8 V vs. 1.6 V).

Building Bridges and Widening Gaps

Abstract By exploiting the opening of the Öresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, we examine the impact of access to larger labor markets on wages and employment. We show that the bridge generated a substantial increase in the cross-country commuting behavior of Swedes and a 13.5% increase in the average wage of workers in the region. We further show that the wage gains are unevenly distributed: the effect is largest for high-educated men and smallest for low-educated women. Thus, the wage gains come at the cost of increased income inequality and a widening of the gender wage gap, both within and across households.

Does reliable electricity mean lesser agricultural labor wages? Evidence from Indian villages

Using a panel of 1,171 villages in rural India that were surveyed in the India Human Development Surveys, I perform a difference-in-differences analysis to find that improvements in electricity reliability have a negative effect on the increase in casual agricultural labor wage rates. Changes in men’s wage rates are found to be affected more adversely than women’s, resulting in a smaller widening of the gender wage gap. I find that better electricity reliability reduces the time spent by women in fuel collection substantially which could potentially increase labor supply. The demand for labor remains unaffected by reliability, which could lead the surplus in labor supply to cause wage rates to stunt. However, I show that electrical appliances such as groundwater pumps considerably increase labor demand indicating that governments could target increasing the adoption of electric pumps along with bettering the quality of electricity to absorb the surplus labor into agriculture.

American Indian Wealth in the Early Twentieth Century

We use data from the Bureau of Indian Affairs annual reports between 1912 and 1927 to examine the wealth of Indigenous nations in the contiguous United States during the early twentieth century. Our estimates reveal considerable heterogeneity in wealth holdings across Indigenous nations. In 1912, the average real per capita wealth of Indigenous nations was high relative to other groups, but it declined systematically throughout the period of our study. Given the available contemporary evidence, our estimates imply a dramatic widening of the wealth gap over the last century.

Dynamic influence of maternal education on height among Chinese children aged 0–18 years

BackgroundMaternal education is one of key factors affecting nurturing environment which significantly impacts children's height levels throughout their developmental stages. However, the influence of maternal education on children’s height is less studied. This study aims to investigate the dynamic influence of maternal education on children's height among Chinese children aged 0-18 years. MethodsChildren undergoing health examinations from January 2021 to September 2023 were included in this study. Clinical information including height, weight, maternal pregnancy history, blood specimens for bone metabolism-related indicators and maternal education level was collected. Children's height was categorized into 14 groups based on age and gender percentiles, following WHO 2006 growth standards. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied for data analysis. ResultsA total of 6269 samples were collected, including 3654 males and 2615 females, with an average age of 8.38 (3.97) for males and 7.89 (3.55) for females. Significant correlations between maternal education level, birth weight, birth order, weight percentile, vitamin D, serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase levels, and children's height were identified. Birth weight's influence on height varied across age groups. Compared with normal birth weight children, low birth weight children exhibited catch-up growth within the first 6 years and a subsequent gradual widening of the height gap from 6 to 18 years old. Remarkably, the impact of maternal education on height became more pronounced among children above 3–6 years old, which can mitigate the effect of low birth weight on height. ConclusionWe found that weight percentile, birth weight, birth order, bone marker levels, and maternal education level have significant effect on height. Maternal education attenuates the impact of low birth weight on height. The findings indicated that maternal education plays a consistent and critical role in promoting robust and healthy growth.

Association Between Gender and Payments Received From Pharmaceutical Companies Among Medical Professors and Associate Professors in Japan.

Introduction While prior research showed gender gaps in industry payments for medical professionals in the United States, there are limited data in Japan. So, this study seeks to investigate the potential gender gap in the receipt of pharmaceutical companies (PFCs) across all medical fields in Japan. Based on the results of previous studies, we developed a hypothesis that male doctors get more PFC than female doctors. Materials and methods Data from 92 pharmaceutical companies in Japan, covering 2016 to 2019, were analyzed. The analysis was conducted on professors and associate professors at all national and public medical universities in Japan, with gender as a factor variable and payments as an outcome variable, and variables that may have influenced the factor or outcome variables in previous studies, such as specialization, university type, region, rank and years since graduation, as control variables.Payments were converted to US dollars using the December 31, 2021, rate of 115 yen to the dollar for comparison purposes. Results Out of 1,825 subjects, 1,755 were males and 70 females. Males consistently received higher median payments from pharmaceutical companies (PFCs) than females across categories. In particular, among physicians specializing in internal medicine, the median PFC for men was $25 compared to $8 for women. For physicians affiliated with former imperial universities (the seven former imperial universities founded before World War II), the median PFC for men was $32compared to $5 for women. Multivariate analysis confirmed significantly higher total benefits for males from 2016 to 2019, with the gender gap widening during this period(incidence rate ratio (IRR) for 2016: 0.51, IRR for 2019: 0.44). Conclusions Japanese male professors and associate professors received significantly higher PFCs than their female counterparts, and this gender gap expanded from 2016 to 2019, highlighting persistent gender inequality in the medical field in Japan, similar to trends observed in the United States.

Enhancing Physical Health in Patients with Severe Mental Disorder: Addressing Physical Multimorbidity

IntroductionOver the last two decades, a growing volume of research has discovered a correlation between severe mental disorders (SMD) and early mortality. This is attributed to the elevated incidence of chronic physical illnesses s and multimorbidity, resulting in a reduction of life expectancy by 10-20 years. Individuals with SMD exhibit lower rates of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for medical comorbidities when contrasted with the general population (GP).ObjectivesThe objective is to assess the prevalence of CPM and its impact on psychiatric treatment outcomes in individuals with SMD, and to propose preventive interventions to enhance physical health.MethodsThis nested cross-sectional study enrolled 343 SSD patients and 620 GEP.ResultsIndividuals diagnosed with SMD encounter CPM earlier in life compared to the GP. Notably, individuals under 35 years old within the schizophrenia spectrum disorder have almost three times higher odds for experiencing CPM compared to their GP counterparts, a difference that is both clinically and theoretically significant. This disparity is especially pronounced among younger women, with the gap widening the younger the patient is in comparison to peers in the general population. CPM has been identified as a factor affecting the outcomes of psychiatric treatment.ConclusionsThe treatment approach for SMD should be tailored to accommodate the diverse physical multimorbidity patterns of patients. It’s imperative for future research to delve into how CPM impacts the outcomes of SMD treatments. There’s a pressing need for detailed treatment guidelines addressing CPM in patients with SMD.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Gender gap in standardized tests: What are we measuring?

Typically, in standardised tests, girls underperform boys in mathematics while boys underperform girls in reading. Can these educational inequalities be driven by specific testing practices? This study addresses this question by innovatively using data from the largest worldwide standardized test and exploiting the random variation in the format of the tests assigned to students. I find that there is a noticeable widening of the gender gap when a larger share of questions is multiple-choice, rather than filling-the-gap questions. A 10 percentage point increase in the share of multiple-choice questions inflates female under-performance in mathematics by 0.025 standard deviations and male under-performance in reading by 0.035 standard deviations. This accounts for nearly one-quarter of the overall gender disparity found in these subjects. I provide suggestive evidence that ruling out alternative options, rather than coming up with an entire answer, may contribute to cognitive information overload among students with lower confidence levels (generally girls in mathematics and boys in reading). These cognitive loads, in turn, have implications for a student's future level of effort and performance.

Microstructures, Optical, magnetic Properties, and photocatalytic activity of magnetically separable and reusable ZnO-Doped Fe3O4/rGO nanocomposite synthesized via green route

We report magnetically-separable, reusable, green-synthesized Fe3O4/rGO/ZnO, as heterogeneous catalyst for photo-Fenton degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous solution under certain treatments. Fe3O4 nanoparticles was green-synthesized using Moringa oleifera leaf extract, while rGO was synthesized utilizing Amaranthus viridis leaf extract. Fe3O4/rGO was composited under sonication treatment. Afterwards, Fe3O4/rGO was doped with ZnO with various concentration of ZnO. X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction showed that Fe3O4 and ZnO had spinel cubic and hexagonal structure, respectively; another phase appeared as Fe2O3 spinel cubic structure. Crystallite size was decreased as the ZnO concentration increased. Morphology image showed almost spherical, non-uniform, and slightly dispersed particle under agglomerated condition, attaching to rGO sheets. The particle size of Fe3O4, Fe3O4/rGO, and Fe3O4/rGO/ZnO is 14.3; 14.1; and 10.4 nm, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed metallic functional groups, such as Fe-O and Zn–O at 562–589 and 462–478 cm−1 also suggests nanocomposite formation. However, blue-shift absorption and band gap widening were observed with ZnO addition. Raman spectroscopy revealed the formation as-synthesized GO and rGO. Vibrating sample magnetometer showed that green-synthesized Fe3O4/rGO/ZnO exhibited superparamagnetic properties. Removal efficiency of photodegradation methylene blue was optimal for green-synthesized Fe3O4/rGO/ZnO under sonication treatment, reached 100 % degradation within 180 min for uptake every 30 min. Photodegradation was also analyzed using Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model, resulting rate constant of 24.7 × 10−3 min−1 and half-life time of 28.1 min at optimum treatment. Reusability of photocatalytic activity after 3 cycles showed only a tiny drop in catalytic efficiency. Meanwhile, it possesses high stability in catalytic activity and structure. The green-synthesized Fe3O4/rGO/ZnO potential as an environmentally friendly reusable photocatalyst for wastewater degradation.

The Relationship between Regional Educational Resource Inequality and Income Inequality: The Case of China

The relationship between intra-regional inequality in educational resources and income inequality has always been the focus of social development and equity issues. Using the education Gini coefficient as the main indicator for portraying educational inequality, this paper selects relevant provincial panel data to study the relationship between inter-regional educational inequality and the widening of the income distribution gap in China, and finds that: 1) China's inter-regional educational inequality is positively correlated with the income distribution gap; 2) Over time, the effects of unequal access to education and widening economic disparities are becoming more pronounced. In order to stop the income gap from expanding due to educational inequality, the government should invest more in education, boost the rate at which educational resources are used, and support the coordinated growth of interregional education. This article fills the research gap on the relationship between educational resources and income in the last decade and contributes to the national education field.

Modern Analyses of Macroeconomic Indices for Medium and Long Term Plans in Georgia

This paper analyzes the economic growth of Georgia through the lens of two key indicators: income/GDP per worker (representing productivity) and income/GDP per capita (representing prosperity). It emphasizes the importance of using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) adjusted data to avoid misleading comparisons between countries with different price levels. The paper highlights three key stylized facts about Georgia's economy: Transformational Shock: Georgia's GDP per capita fell dramatically by 468% in less than ten years due to the collapse of the Soviet economic system. This is a unique event in modern economic history, with no other country experiencing such a sharp decline; Unstable Growth Rates: Unlike the U.S. which shows a relatively stable 2% annual growth rate over 150 years, Georgia's economic growth rates lack a clear trend and fluctuate significantly; Negative Correlation Between Cyclical Unemployment and GDP Gap: The cyclical unemployment rate and the GDP gap in Georgia are inversely correlated. As the unemployment rate falls below the natural rate of unemployment, the GDP gap widens, indicating potential overheating in the economy. The paper argues that existing models of economic growth, often based on developed economies with different macroeconomic realities, may not be suitable for analyzing Georgia's situation. It calls for the development of models that explicitly consider the unique features of Georgia's economy, including the transformational shock, unstable growth rates, and the relationship between unemployment and GDP. Overall, the paper raises important questions about the nature of economic growth in Georgia and the need for tailored models to understand its specific dynamics.

Patterns of Sex Ratio and Child Sex Ratio: Global to National Level Scenario of Last Few Decades

An effort has been made to examine the patterns of sex ratio and child sex ratio from last few decades in the world with special reference to India. This study is based on secondary data which is obtained from United Nations Population Division, Department of Social and Economic Affairs, World Population Prospects: 1992, 2002 and 2015 Divisions and Census of India. The study identifies the driving factors responsible for global to national level variations in terms of sex ratio and child sex ratio. It has been found that the sex ratio and child sex ratio of the Asian continent are skewed as compared to other parts of the world. Moreover, the present study pointed out that these adverse trends of sex ratio and child sex ratio of Asia are attributable to the introduction of sex-determination technologies, their widening supply and highly practiced sex-selective abortions. It has been observed that the strong patriarchal culture of Asia also contributes towards the widening of this gender gap. In India, the study shows that the north-eastern, eastern and southern parts of the country have reported relatively high child sex ratio as compared to northern, north-western and western parts.

Decentralized IoT Data Authentication with Signature Aggregation

The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced significant challenges in data authentication, necessitating a balance between scalability and security. Traditional approaches often rely on third parties, while blockchain-based solutions face computational and storage bottlenecks. Our novel framework employs edge aggregating servers and Ethereum Layer 2 rollups, offering a scalable and secure IoT data authentication solution that reduces the need for continuous, direct interaction between IoT devices and the blockchain. We utilize and compare the Nova and Risc0 proving systems for authenticating batches of IoT data by verifying signatures, ensuring data integrity and privacy. Notably, the Nova prover significantly outperforms Risc0 in proving and verification times; for instance, with 10 signatures, Nova takes 3.62 s compared to Risc0’s 369 s, with this performance gap widening as the number of signatures in a batch increases. Our framework further enhances data verifiability and trust by recording essential information on L2 rollups, creating an immutable and transparent record of authentication. The use of Layer 2 rollups atop a permissionless blockchain like Ethereum effectively reduces on-chain storage costs by approximately 48 to 57 times compared to direct Ethereum use, addressing cost bottlenecks efficiently.

Negative Performance Aspiration Gap and Stock Price Crashes: Based on Behavioral Theory and Agency Theory Perspective*

AbstractThe paper explores how agency behavior of insiders within a company influences the risk of a stock price crash in the context of a continued expansion of the performance expectation gap. A panel data analysis of 10 727 observations of Chinese A‐share listed companies over the period 2003–2020 shows that as the negative performance aspiration gap widens, stock price crashes are more likely to occur. Furthermore, the separated role of top management and chairperson and an increase in the ownership proportion of major shareholders significantly amplifies the positive effect, whereas the increase in managerial shareholding and the equity balance diminish the main relationship.

Physical mechanism of Zn and Te doping process of In0.145Ga0.855As0.108Sb0.892 quaternary alloys

We investigated p- and n-type In0.145Ga0.855As0.108Sb0.892 semiconductor alloys grown on GaSb (100) substrates by the liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique with different Zinc (Zn) and Tellerium (Te) mole fractions, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed a band gap narrowing effect for p-type doping and a band gap widening for n-type doping, attributed to the type of carrier concentration. The carrier concentration was determined from the band-to-band transition of the PL spectra in the range of 1.20 × 1016 to 2.80 × 1017 and 7.75 × 1016 to 1.02 × 1018 cm−3 for electrons and holes, respectively. Raman spectroscopy measurements showed the phonon modes LO (GaSb–InAs)-like and TO (GaSb–InAs)-like for both types of doping. The frequency dispersion of these modes is closely tied to the presence of native defects, such as vacancies of Ga(VGa), antisites of Ga in Sb (GaSb), and VGa–GaSb complexes. Incorporation of Zn- and Te-doping into the lattice led to a notable reduction in the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the LO (GaSb–InAs)-like mode, as these dopants effectively diminished native defects. A detailed model is presented for the incorporation of dopants and their effect on the crystal quality. Phonon–plasmon coupling was observed through the L− mode, which overlaps with the TO (GaSb–InAs)-like mode for the carrier concentrations observed in the doped alloys. A theoretical estimation of the frequencies of the coupled modes L+ and L− was implemented as a function of the carrier concentration, based on the effective dielectric function of the quaternary compound. The L+ coupled mode shifts from the phononic to the plasmonic domain for theoretical electron concentrations ranging from ∼1017 to 5 × 1018 cm−3, while in p-type conductivity, the L+ mode remains in the phononic domain for the same range of hole concentrations. The increase in the frequency of the L+ mode with carrier concentration, such as the plasma frequency, provides another reliable method for determining carrier concentrations. This study reveals the physical mechanism of Zn an Te incorporation into InGaAsSb, which is required for the integration of p- and n-type doped quaternary alloys into optoelectronic applications. In addition, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex interaction mechanisms, including LO phonon–plasmon coupling modes and optical transitions, opening up new lines for exploring the electrical and structural properties of these materials.

Whoever wants better healthcare simply pays more: citizens' perception about voluntary private health insurance in Colombia

ObjectivesTo explore the perceptions that Colombians have about voluntary private health insurance plans (VPHI) in the health system to identify the tensions that exist between the public and private systems.MethodsA qualitative case study approach with 46 semi structured interviews of patients, healthcare workers, healthcare administrators, decision-makers, and citizens. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, anonymized, digitally stored, and analyzed following grounded theory guidelines.ResultsWe developed a paradigmatic matrix that explores how, in a context mediated by both the commodification of health and social stratification, perceptions about the failures in the public health system related to lack of timely care, extensive administrative procedures, and the search for privileged care led to positioning VPHI as a solution to these failures. The interviewees identified three consequences of using VPHI: first, the worsening of problems of timely access to care in the public system; second, higher costs for citizens translated into double payment for technologies and services to which they are entitled; third, the widening of inequity gaps in access to health services between people with similar needs but different payment capacities.ConclusionsThese findings can help decision makers to understand citizens´ perceptions about the implications that VPHI may have in worsening equity gaps in the Colombian health system. It also shows, how VPHI is perceived as a double payment for services covered within social security plans and suggests that the perceived lack of timely access to care in the public systems and the fear that citizens have for themselves or their family members when using suboptimal healthcare are important drivers to purchase these private insurances.

Widening of the fundamental gap in cluster GW for metal-molecular interfaces.

The GW approximation is very promising for an accurate first-principles description of charged excitations in single-molecule-metal interfaces. In the cluster approach for electronic transport across molecules, the infinite metal (with an adsorbed molecule) is replaced by a finite cluster whose volume should be incrementally increased to test the approach to the thermodynamic limit. Here we show that in GW, the approach to the thermodynamic limit will be much slower than in Kohn-Sham density-functional theory (DFT) because of the Coulomb interaction. To demonstrate this statement, we investigate spectral gaps in an ensemble of disordered sodium clusters in Kohn-Sham DFT, quasiparticle eigenvalue-self-consistent GW and Hartree-Fock. The fundamental gaps (i.e. difference between the lowest unoccupied and highest occupied level) in GW scale as N-1/3 on average, where N is the number of atoms. We demonstrate that this slow decrease artificially depletes the density of states at the Fermi level when the cluster is used to simulate a semi-infinite electrode. Therefore, the GW method cannot be taken as an out-of-the-box improvement of the DFT in cluster geometries, unless careful convergence checks are performed.

Inequality in access to Higher Education in India Between the Poor and the Rich

The widening gaps between rich and poor are a growing source of worry for everyone. disparities in education, especially disparities at the university level in particular, are seen as particularly significant and cannot be ignored any more. Available research on higher education inequality in India focuses mostly on issues of gender and social class, with little attention paid to the role of family income. Here, we use NSSO data from 2019–20 and 2021–22 to try to get a better picture of the relationship between income disparity and college enrollment in India. Based on the data, it is clear that, over the last seven years, there has been a dramatic widening of the income gap between households with respect to their ability to pursue higher education. Although gender inequality has decreased generally, it is still relatively high when comparing the wealthy and the poor. There is also a large gap between rural and urban areas in terms of access to higher education. This empirical study aims to facilitate a more informed policy discourse on the topic of income inequality and access to higher education in India, one of the many interesting policy related issues that have arisen in recent debates on higher education in the country.