Emergence of collective changes in travel direction of starling flocks from individual birds' fluctuations

One of the most impressive features of moving animal groups is their ability to perform sudden coherent changes in travel direction. While this collective decision can be a response to an external alarm cue, directional switching can also emerge from the intrinsic fluctuations in individual behaviour. However, the cause and the mechanism by which such collective changes of direction occur are not fully understood yet. Here, we present an experimental study of spontaneous collective turns in natural flocks of starlings. We employ a recently developed tracking algorithm to reconstruct three-dimensional trajectories of each individual bird in the flock for the whole duration of a turning event. Our approach enables us to analyse changes in the individual behaviour of every group member and reveal the emergent dynamics of turning. We show that spontaneous turns start from individuals located at the elongated tips of the flocks, and then propagate through the group. We find that birds on the tips deviate from the mean direction of motion much more frequently than other individuals, indicating that persistent localized fluctuations are the crucial ingredient for triggering a collective directional change. Finally, we quantitatively verify that birds follow equal-radius paths during turning, the effects of which are a change of the flock''s orientation and a redistribution of individual locations in the group.     

Putting yourself in someone else's shoes: The impact of a location-based,collaborative role-playing game on behaviour

The goal of this study was to probe the effectiveness of a mobile game-based learning approach in modifying behavioural outcomes and competence. The experiment was set against the background of low rates of laymen providing CPR during sudden cardiac arrests. A post-test control group design was used to contrast and evaluate the effects of the two different types of learning. Two hundred two students were randomly assigned to two conditions, a game-based variant simulating an emergency situation (experimental group), and an instruction-based approach (control group). After the intervention participants completed a questionnaire assessing self-prediction, self-efficacy, attitude, subjective norm, empathy and competence. The largest arguably significant difference between the two groups showed in self-prediction and capacity beliefs. Results further revealed a positive relationship between self-prediction and the variables attitude and self-efficacy. The type of scenario did not translate into the other concepts we assessed, though, and results were inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of the type of learning scenario and CPR knowledge. We explain the small effect size partly by the experimental procedure and the design of the game intervention, which is discussed in the course of this article.     

Detection of multiple low-energy impact damage in composite plates using Lamb wave techniques

This work assesses the suitability of the two zero-order Lamb wave modes to detect multiple barely-visible impact damage in composite material. Three specimens were subjected to damage at three different low-energy levels and one was left as an undamaged reference sample. Ultrasonic Lamb wave modes were selectively generated by surface-bonded piezoceramic wafer transducers in two tuned configurations. By using an algorithm based on the Akaike Information Criterion the time-of-flight of the Lamb modes was determined, allowing their threshold detection capabilities for the studied application to be successfully benchmarked. The results were consistently validated by digital shearography, ultrasonic C-scan and optical microscopy. A study of the effects on structural integrity was completed with an assessment of the damping ratio and residual bending strength proving to be sensitive parameters to the induced damage.     

Calcium phosphates grown on bacterial cellulose template

Bacterial cellulose membranes were employed as templates for calcium phosphates deposition by successive immersion in solutions of Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O and (NH₄)₂HPO₄, under ultrasonication. During the wet chemical reaction, mineral phases were loaded on bacterial cellulose fibrils, leading to precursor hybrid composites. These were subjected to a lyophilisation procedure in order to preserve the 3D porous aspect and afterwards to a thermal treatment with the aim of removing the polymeric phase and generating well crystallized structures. Different types of morphologies were achieved by varying the heating rate, as well as the calcination temperature and period. The as-prepared samples and the final ones were investigated from compositional and structural point of view through X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and morphologically concerning by scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic properties were also evaluated in order to demonstrate the suitability of the obtained materials for the development of magnetic scaffolds dedicated to hard tissue applications.     

Sintering behaviour and microwave dielectric properties of BaAl2−2x(ZnSi)xSi2O8 ceramics

BaAl_2?2x(ZnSi)_xSi₂O₈ (x = 0.2–1.0) ceramics were prepared using the conventional solid-state reaction method. The sintering behaviour, phase composition and microwave dielectric properties of the prepared compositions were then investigated. All compositions showed a single phase except for x = 0.8. By substituting (Zn_0.5Si_0.5)³⁺ for Al³⁺ ions, the optimal sintering temperatures of the compositions decreased from 1475 °C (x = 0) to 1000 °C (x = 0.8), which then slightly increased to 1100 °C (x = 1.0). Moreover, the phase stability of BaAl₂Si₂O₈ was improved. A novel BaZnSi₃O₈ microwave dielectric ceramic was obtained at the sintering temperature of 1100 °C. This ceramic possesses good microwave dielectric properties with ε_r = 6.60, Q × f = 52401 GHz (at 15.4 GHz) and τ_f = ?24.5 ppm/°C.     

Note of Caution for the Aqueous Behaviour of Metal-Based Drug Candidates

Poor aqueous solubility is one of the recurrent drawbacks of many compounds in medicinal chemistry. To overcome this limitation, the dilution of drug candidates from stock solutions of an organic solvent is common practice. However, the precise characterisation of these compounds in aqueous solutions is often neglected, leading to some uncertainties regarding the nature of the actual active species. In this communication, we demonstrate that two ruthenium complexes previously reported by our group for their chemotherapeutic potential against cancer, namely [Ru(DIP)₂(sq)](PF₆) and [Ru(DIP)₂(3-methoxysq)](PF₆), where DIP is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, sq=semiquinonate and 3-methoxysq=3-methoxysemiquinonate, form colloids in water-DMSO (1 % v/v) mixtures that are invisible to the naked eyes. [Ru(DIP)₂(3-methoxysq)](PF₆) was found to form a highly stable and monodispersed colloid with nanoaggregates of ∼25 nm. In contrast, [Ru(DIP)₂(sq)](PF₆) was found to form large reticulates of mostly spherical aggregates which size was found to increase over time. The difference in size and shape distribution of drug candidates is of tremendous significance as the study of their biological activity might be severely affected. Overall, we strongly believe that these observations should be taken into account by the scientific community working on the development of metal-based drugs with poor water solubility.     

TG-FTIR and Py-GC/MS study of the pyrolysis mechanism and composition of volatiles from flash pyrolysis of PVC

To facilitate the reuse and recycling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to achieve sustainable development and new industrialization, the composition and mechanism of formation of volatiles during the flash pyrolysis of PVC were studied by thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). TG and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) analyses indicated two main degradation stages during flash pyrolysis of PVC, namely dehydrochlorination of PVC and decomposition of dechlorinated-PVC. Simultaneously, the FTIR results revealed that the main functional groups in the pyrolysis process were H–Cl, -C-Cl, C–H, CH, and aromatic groups. The relative content of main volatiles was determined by Py-GC/MS, and decreased in the following order: aromatics > alkenes > hydrogen chloride (HCl) > chlorinated hydrocarbons. Specifically, the relative content of aromatics was as high as 76.790–81.809%, while that of HCl was in the range of 3.016–3.096%. The carbon number distribution and the relative content of main products obtained from the flash pyrolysis of PVC at different final temperatures were also analysed. According to the experimental results, the mechanism of formation of the main volatiles based on free-radical reactions was deduced in detail. Therefore, this study provides further details for deepening the understanding of the PVC pyrolysis process.     

Emergency egress for the elderly in care home fire situations

Practitioners are continuing to develop egress modelling software for the design of the built environment. These models require data about human behaviour and factors for calibration, validation and verification. This study aims to address the specific data and knowledge gap: emergency egress of the elderly. Such data are difficult to collect given privacy and consent concerns, with strong relationships generally being required between residences and researchers. Through the observation of nine fire drills at six Canadian long-term care (LTC) and retirement homes, specific evacuation actions and behaviour were observed for 37 staff members and information about the evacuation of 56 residents was collected. These drills demonstrated that emergency egress in LTC and retirement homes is highly staff dependent with 72% of residents recorded requiring full assistance at all stages of movement in evacuation, and that the type of announced/unannounced drill and level of resident care will affect the type of data collected. The development of travel speed and pre-movement is discussed subject to limitation with qualitative behavioural insights of residents that were observed. This study provides valuable methodological discussion on how to conduct behavioural studies in similar highly restricted research environments. Specific attention is given to understanding the considerations that must be made when using fire drills as data sources, and the impact that these can have on using such data for modelling. This study may inform the initial setup and programming of evacuation models from an actions and behavioural perspectives of staff members and residents.     

Temperature- and frequency-dependent hysteresis scaling behaviour and phase transitions in a [001]c 0.73Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.27PbTiO3 single crystal

The dielectric properties and bipolar polarization-electric field (P-E) and strain-electric field (S-E) dynamic hysteresis of a relaxor [001]_c 0.73Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-0.27PbTiO₃ (PMN-0.27PT) single crystal were investigated to reveal more details of the temperature-induced phase transitions. Different linear scaling relations for ferroelectric hysteresis area <A>, coercive field E_c, saturation polarization P_s and remnant polarization P_r versus temperature τ were measured in different temperature regions. For each measurement frequency f, all hysteresis parameters were found to decrease linearly with temperature in the temperature range of the single rhombohedral (R) phase or tetragonal (T) phase, and the rate of decrease in the T phase was observed to be much larger than the corresponding rate in the R phase. In the temperature range near the R-T phase transition, the exponent α in the power law <A>∝f ^α for the R phase was found to be smaller than that for the T phase, and the magnitude of α depended strongly on temperature when the crystal was in the R-T coexisting phase state. Our experimental and theoretical results indicate that the difference in the activation energy and dipole moment in the R and T phases may lead to the observed discrepancy for the P-E and S-E hysteresis behaviour in different temperature regions.