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An agent’s efforts of will have long been at the centre of Robert Kane’s influential account of libertarian free will. For several decades it has been a crucial part of his theory that there is a symmetry to these efforts. That is, Kane has long maintained that an agent engaged in an undetermined choice makes a simultaneous and sustained effort to choose and to choose otherwise. In a recent paper Kane abandons this symmetry. I outline and evaluate this change in Kane’s theory. I begin by explaining how Kane’s theory has changed from a symmetric to an asymmetric account of undetermined free choices. I then explore the philosophical benefits of adopting an asymmetric account by considering its implications for the explanatory luck objection, the phenomenological objection, and the objection that engaging in dual efforts of will involves an unacceptable form of irrationality. Finally, I argue that despite these benefits, Kane’s asymmetric model opens the door to a more pervasive worry about luck and it gives up something most libertarians want: the unconditional ability to choose otherwise. Given these points, I conclude the cost of abandoning the symmetric account of efforts of will is excessively high.

Abstract Single‐crystalline inorganic semiconductor nanomembranes (NMs) have attracted great attention over the last decade, which poses great advantages to complex device integration. Applications in heterogeneous electronics and flexible electronics have been demonstrated with various semiconductor nanomembranes. Single‐crystalline aluminum nitride (AlN), as an ultrawide‐bandgap semiconductor with great potential in applications such as high‐power electronics has not been demonstrated in its NM forms. This very first report demonstrates the creation, transfer‐printing, and characteristics of the high‐quality single‐crystalline AlN NMs. This work successfully transfers the AlN NMs onto various foreign substrates. The crystalline quality of the NMs has been characterized by a broad range of techniques before and after the transfer‐printing and no degradation in crystal quality has been observed. Interestingly, a partial relaxation of the tensile stress has been observed when comparing the original as‐grown AlN epi and the transferred AlN NMs. In addition, the transferred AlN NMs exhibits the presence of piezoelectricity at the nanoscale, as confirmed by piezoelectric force microscopy. This work also comments on the advantages and the challenges of the approach. Potentially, the novel approach opens a viable path for the development of the AlN‐based heterogeneous integration and future novel electronics and optoelectronics.

The ubiquity of Smartphone applications that aim to identify organisms, including plants, make them potentially useful for increasing people's engagement with the natural world. However, how well such applications actually identify plants has not been compressively investigated nor has an easily repeatable scoring system to compare across plant groups been developed. This study investigated the ability of six common Smartphone applications (Google Lens, iNaturalist, Leaf Snap, Plant Net, Plant Snap, Seek) to identify herbaceous plants and developed a repeatable scoring system to assess their success. Thirty-eight species of plant were photographed in their natural habitats using a standard Smartphone (Samsung Galaxy A50) and assessed in each app without image enhancement. All apps showed considerable variation across plant species and were better able to identify flowers than leaves. Plant Net and Leaf Snap outperformed the other apps. Even the higher preforming apps did not have an accuracy above ~88% and lower scoring apps were considerably below this. Smartphone apps present a clear opportunity to encourage people to engage more with plants. Their accuracy can be good, but should not be considered excellent or assumed to be correct, particularly if the species in question may be toxic or otherwise problematic.

Abstract In situ growth of pyrochlore iridate thin films has been a long-standing challenge due to the low reactivity of Ir at low temperatures and the vaporization of volatile gas species such as IrO3(g) and IrO2(g) at high temperatures and high P O2. To address this challenge, we combine thermodynamic analysis of the Pr-Ir-O2 system with experimental results from the conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique of co-sputtering. Our results indicate that only high growth temperatures yield films with crystallinity sufficient for utilizing and tailoring the desired topological electronic properties and the in situ synthesis of Pr2Ir2O7 thin films is fettered by the inability to grow with P O2 on the order of 10 Torr at high temperatures, a limitation inherent to the PVD process. Thus, we suggest techniques capable of supplying high partial pressure of key species during deposition, in particular chemical vapor deposition (CVD), as a route to synthesis of Pr2Ir2O7.

Atlantic herring in International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Divisions 6.a, 7.b–c comprises at least three populations, distinguished by temporal and spatial differences in spawning, which have until recently been managed as two stocks defined by geographical delineators. Outside of spawning the populations form mixed aggregations, which are the subject of acoustic surveys. The inability to distinguish the populations has prevented the development of separate survey indices and separate stock assessments. A panel of 45 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, derived from whole-genome sequencing, were used to genotype 3480 baseline spawning samples (2014–2021). A temporally stable baseline comprising 2316 herring from populations known to inhabit Division 6.a was used to develop a genetic assignment method, with a self-assignment accuracy greater than 90%. The long-term temporal stability of the assignment model was validated by assigning archive (2003–2004) baseline samples (270 individuals) with a high level of accuracy. Assignment of non-baseline samples (1514 individuals) from Divisions 6.a, 7.b–c indicated previously unrecognized levels of mixing of populations outside of the spawning season. The genetic markers and assignment models presented constitute a ‘toolbox’ that can be used for the assignment of herring caught in mixed survey and commercial catches in Division 6.a into their population of origin with a high level of accuracy.

Abstract The prospect of 2‐dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) possessing high mobility at room temperature in wide‐bandgap perovskite stannates is enticing for oxide electronics, particularly to realize transparent and high‐electron mobility transistors. Nonetheless only a small number of studies to date report 2DEGs in BaSnO3‐based heterostructures. Here, 2DEG formation at the LaScO3/BaSnO3 (LSO/BSO) interface with a room‐temperature mobility of 60 cm2 V−1 s−1 at a carrier concentration of 1.7 × 1013 cm–2 is reported. This is an order of magnitude higher mobility at room temperature than achieved in SrTiO3‐based 2DEGs. This is achieved by combining a thick BSO buffer layer with an ex situ high‐temperature treatment, which not only reduces the dislocation density but also produces a SnO2‐terminated atomically flat surface, followed by the growth of an overlying BSO/LSO interface. Using weak beam dark‐field transmission electron microscopy imaging and in‐line electron holography technique, a reduction of the threading dislocation density is revealed, and direct evidence for the spatial confinement of a 2DEG at the BSO/LSO interface is provided. This work opens a new pathway to explore the exciting physics of stannate‐based 2DEGs at application‐relevant temperatures for oxide nanoelectronics.

Background: Absolute Uterine Factor infertility (AUFI) can be congenital such as Mayer-Rokitansky Küster syndrome (MRKH), or acquired resulting from conditions rendering the uterus non-functional or hysterectomy. Prior to the year 2014, women with AUFI had limited opportunities to have a child with the options being either surrogacy or adoption. In 2014 the first successful uterus transplant (UT) was achieved in Sweden. RPA was the first site in Australia to receive ethical approval for a UT trial. Objectives: To determine if UT is an effective, safe, and operationally viable option for women with AUFI in order to achieve live birth. Methodology: Potential donor/recipient pairs will undertake a comprehensive screening process to assess suitability. The process will then involve: 1.Creation of embryos via IVF; 2.Donor Hysterectomy and Recipient Transplant; 3.Recovery with immunosuppression; 4.Embryo transfer; 5.Pregnancy care and delivery; 6.Post-delivery, potential second pregnancy, and explant with follow-up. Conclusion: UT is a novel and promising procedure for women with AUFI to achieve parenthood. The process involves a comprehensive workup to assess suitability. A multidisciplinary team within a tertiary centre is essential for establishing a successful UT program. Due to the infancy of UT all centres need to be diligent in reporting clinical outcomes to establish the feasibility of UT as a future treatment option for AUFI.

Background: Absolute Uterine Factor infertility (AUFI) can be congenital such as Mayer-Rokitansky Küster syndrome (MRKH), or acquired resulting from conditions rendering the uterus non-functional or following a hysterectomy. In 2014 the first successful uterus transplant (UT) was achieved in Sweden. This sparked widespread interest, and many countries have established UT trials. In 2019 Royal Prince Alfred hospital was the first site in Australia to receive ethical approval for a UT protocol. As part of this trial research outcomes will be collected. Aim: • To determine if UT is an effective, safe, and operationally viable option for women with AUFI in order to achieve live birth. • To collect research outcomes which will contribute to an international bio-bank for future research opportunities. Method: Approved donor/recipient pairs will be invited to participate in the research components of the trial. This will involve completing various questionnaires to assess clinical outcomes before and after the procedure, as well as providing additional blood and cervical tissue samples which will be stored for future research projects. Conclusion: UT is a relatively new procedure, with significant scope for basic research opportunities. Due to the infancy of UT it is pivotal that all centers are diligent in collecting research outcomes and contributing to an international data registry to aid in proving the necessity of UT as a clinical treatment for woman with AUFI.

This work assesses the hygrothermal and ventilation performance of two ‘hard-to-treat’ historic, clay brick, solid wall houses that are internally insulated. Retrofit A is a two bedroom bungalow with the addition of internal plasterboard and air cavity and Retrofit B is a 5 bedroom house with sheep wool, phenolic and plasterboard insulation. To evaluate the long term performance of the retrofit measures, the testing is carried out 7 and 8 years respectively after completion. The first part of the work investigates whole building hygrothermal performance, ventilation and internal conditions. It was found that both retrofits are operating below specification in regards to their ventilation performance. An in-situ performance based specification for mechanical ventilation via CO2 monitoring is proposed. The second part focuses on the hygrothermal behaviour of the clay brick wall assembly. Both presented high relative humidity within critical layers of the wall make up. In Retrofit A the wall thermal transmittance was found to be much higher than designed due to inappropriate construction detailing while Retrofit B showed excellent thermal performance and minimal effects of thermal bridging.

2% of all pregnancies are ectopic. Optimal surgical management is currently salpingectomy over salpingostomy, secondary to the risks of persistent trophoblastic tissue or omental implants (15%). However, rare cases of omental trophoblastic implants following laparoscopic salpingectomy have been noted in the literature. Current practice dictates that serial determinations of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels after salpingectomy are not required, as it is considered a definitive treatment. However, given that these cases are hard to interpret through ultrasound and are almost always detected via sudden-onset abdominal pain and acute haemoperitoneum (33%), an argument can be made for post-operative beta-hCG assessment. Keywords: Ectopic pregnancy, Persistent omental trophoblastic implantation, Salpingostomy

Un workshop su Willy Vlautin a cura di Neil Campbell (Reno, Nevada, 16 ottobre 2015. 50th Annual Conference della Western Literature Association). Traduzione di Stefano Rosso.

La ‘visibilità’ del West in quanto regione è legata, in modo inestricabile, con la sua storia mitica di “nazione di pistoleri”, il racconto epico di una espansione imperiale, il ‘Destino manifesto’, l’eredità della conquista, l’unilateralismo, tutte grandi narrazioni di insediamento e di superiorità. Ne consegue che l’idea di regione, di Occidentalità (Westness), sia distribuita grazie a queste storie: inscritta, ripetuta e costantemente rinnovata, arrivando a costruire un potente regime della rappresentazione o quello che Jacques Rancière chiama “l’organizzazione del sensibile”, riferendosi ai modi in cui sistemi di divisione e i confini definiscono ciò che è visibile e ascoltabile, visto e nascosto, in qualsiasi regime estetico-politico (Rockhill 1). Ma come sostiene Rancière, il ruolo dell’opera d’arte è proprio quello di “riconfigurare la mappa del sensibile interferendo con la funzionalità dei gesti e i ritmi adattati ai cicli naturali della produzione, della riproduzione e sottomissione” (Rancière 39). “La divisione del sensibile” è la lingua ‘principale’ per mezzo della quale possiamo conoscere la regione (il West americano) in quanto parla i suoi miti, fa circolare i suoi discorsi costituiti e approva le sue ideologie. Tuttavia è possibile fare emergere ed entrare in contatto con ciò che Deleuze e Guattari definiscono il “minore” in azione insieme e all’interno del “maggiore”, non in quanto linguaggio subalterno o privo di significato, ma piuttosto come linguaggio che esiste “per fare filare la lingua maggiore…a forza di tendervi tensori” (Deleuze e Guattari 152). (Tradotto da Roberto Cagliero e Stefano Rosso)

This article uses the works of the writer, memoirist, and Lakewood, California public official, D. J. Waldie to deepen our concept of “region” and to re-assess many of the stereotypical discourses associated with the American suburbs. In the fashionable parlance of Mike Davis’ City of Quartz, Los Angeles has become defined by its “suburban badlands”; however, Waldie‘s work takes a different view in which his suburban home in LA is the focus for a more complex, multi-faceted approach to post-war suburbia. Typified by his re-assessment of the suburban grid as a “compass of possibilities,” his writings encourage a more nuanced and layered view of the communities and cultures fostered in such places. His key work Holy Land is an argument about why a disregarded place, an ordinary place like suburbia, can in fact contain qualities of life that are profound and reassuring. Through examining his work in its cultural and theoretical context this article looks below the expected “grid” of suburbia to demonstrate the rich life beyond its apparent anonymity.