Francaviglia L., Tütüncüoglu G., Martí-Sánchez S., Di Russo E., Escobar Steinvall S., Segura Ruiz J., Potts H., Friedl M., Rigutti L., Arbiol J., Fontcuberta I Morral A. Physical Review Materials; 3 (2, 023001) 2019. 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.3.023001.
Quaternary alloys enable the independent optimization of different semiconductor properties, such as the separate tuning of the band gap and the lattice constant. Nanowire core-shell structures should allow a larger range of compositional tuning as strain can be accommodated in a more effective manner than in thin films. Still, the faceted structure of the nanowire may lead to local segregation effects. Here, we explore the incorporation of indium in AlGaAs shells up to 25%. In particular, we show the effect of In incorporation on the energy shift of the AlGaInAs single-photon emitters present in the shell. We observe a redshift up to 300 meV as a function of the group-III site fraction of In. We correlate the shift with segregation at the nanoscale. We find evidence of the segregation of the group-III elements at different positions in the nanowire, not observed before. We propose a model that takes into account the strain distribution in the nanowire shell and the adatom diffusion on the nanowire facets to explain the observations. This work provides novel insights on the segregation phenomena necessary to engineer the composition of multidinary alloys. © 2019 American Physical Society.
Aseev P., Fursina A., Boekhout F., Krizek F., Sestoft J.E., Borsoi F., Heedt S., Wang G., Binci L., Martí-Sánchez S., Swoboda T., Koops R., Uccelli E., Arbiol J., Krogstrup P., Kouwenhoven L.P., Caroff P. Nano Letters; 19 (1): 218 - 227. 2019. 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b03733.
Selective-area growth is a promising technique for enabling of the fabrication of the scalable III-V nanowire networks required to test proposals for Majorana-based quantum computing devices. However, the contours of the growth parameter window resulting in selective growth remain undefined. Herein, we present a set of experimental techniques that unambiguously establish the parameter space window resulting in selective III-V nanowire networks growth by molecular beam epitaxy. Selectivity maps are constructed for both GaAs and InAs compounds based on in situ characterization of growth kinetics on GaAs(001) substrates, where the difference in group III adatom desorption rates between the III-V surface and the amorphous mask area is identified as the primary mechanism governing selectivity. The broad applicability of this method is demonstrated by the successful realization of high-quality InAs and GaAs nanowire networks on GaAs, InP, and InAs substrates of both (001) and (111)B orientations as well as homoepitaxial InSb nanowire networks. Finally, phase coherence in Aharonov-Bohm ring experiments validates the potential of these crystals for nanoelectronics and quantum transport applications. This work should enable faster and better nanoscale crystal engineering over a range of compound semiconductors for improved device performance. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
A facile colloidal synthesis of highly ionic cesium halide nanocrystals is reported. Colloidal nanocrystals of CsI, CsCl and CsBr with unprecedentedly small dimensions are obtained using oleylammonium halides and cesium oleate as precursors. The ease and adaptability of our method enables its universalization for the formation of other highly ionic nanocrystals. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
A facile two-step vapor phase synthetic approach is proposed for the fabrication of Mn3O4 thin films chemically modified with fluorine, and eventually functionalized with silver or titania. The adopted strategy exploits the initial chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Mn3O4 on Si(100) substrates starting from a diamine diketonate Mn(ii) complex, followed by the controlled radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of silver or titania. Complementary analytical techniques were employed to investigate the crystallinity (X-ray diffraction), chemical composition (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), morphology and nano-organization (field emission-scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy) of both pristine and functionalized manganese oxide thin films. Under the adopted operating conditions, the target Mn(ii) complex acted as a single-source precursor for both Mn and F, leading to the formation of phase-pure hausmannite Mn3O4 films characterized by a uniform in-depth fluorine content. In addition, the obtained results gave evidence of the formation of high purity Ag/F:Mn3O4 and TiO2/F:Mn3O4 composites with a close contact between the single constituents. This work outlines an amenable and efficient method for the vapor phase growth of composite Mn3O4-based thin films, which are favorable candidates for diverse technological applications, from photocatalysis to gas sensing. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Bottom-up approaches for producing bulk nanomaterials have traditionally lacked control over the crystallographic alignment of nanograins. This limitation has prevented nanocrystal-based nanomaterials from achieving optimized performances in numerous applications. Here we demonstrate the production of nanostructured BixSb2-xTe3 alloys with controlled stoichiometry and crystallographic texture through proper selection of the starting building blocks and the adjustment of the nanocrystal-to-nanomaterial consolidation process. In particular, we hot pressed disk-shaped BixSb2-xTe3 nanocrystals and tellurium nanowires using multiple pressure and release steps at a temperature above the tellurium melting point. We explain the formation of the textured nanomaterials though a solution-reprecipitation mechanism under a uniaxial pressure. Additionally, we further demonstrate these alloys to reach unprecedented thermoelectric figures of merit, up to ZT = 1.96 at 420 K, with an average value of ZTave = 1.77 for the record material in the temperature range 320-500 K, thus potentially allowing up to 60% higher energy conversion efficiencies than commercial materials. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
Krizek F., Sestoft J.E., Aseev P., Marti-Sanchez S., Vaitiekenas S., Casparis L., Khan S.A., Liu Y., Stankevič T., Whiticar A.M., Fursina A., Boekhout F., Koops R., Uccelli E., Kouwenhoven L.P., Marcus C.M., Arbiol J., Krogstrup P. Physical Review Materials; 2 (9, 093401) 2018. 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.2.093401.
III-V semiconductor nanowires have shown great potential in various quantum transport experiments. However, realizing a scalable high-quality nanowire-based platform that could lead to quantum information applications has been challenging. Here, we study the potential of selective area growth by molecular beam epitaxy of InAs nanowire networks grown on GaAs-based buffer layers, where Sb is used as a surfactant. The buffered geometry allows for substantial elastic strain relaxation and a strong enhancement of field effect mobility. We show that the networks possess strong spin-orbit interaction and long phase-coherence lengths with a temperature dependence indicating ballistic transport. With these findings, and the compatibility of the growth method with hybrid epitaxy, we conclude that the material platform fulfills the requirements for a wide range of quantum experiments and applications. © 2018 American Physical Society.
Colloidal Pd2Sn and Au-Pd2Sn nanorods (NRs) with tuned size were produced by the reduction of Pd and Sn salts in the presence of size- and shape-controlling agents and the posterior growth of Au tips through a galvanic replacement reaction. Pd2Sn and Au-Pd2Sn NRs exhibited high catalytic activity toward quasi-homogeneous hydrogenation of alkenes (styrene and 1-octene) and alkynes (phenylacetylene and 1-octyne) in dichloromethane. Au-Pd2Sn NRs showed higher activity than Pd2Sn for 1-octene, 1-octyne, and phenylacetylene. In Au-Pd2Sn heterostructures, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy evidenced an electron donation from the Pd2Sn NR to the Au tips. Such heterostructures showed distinct catalytic behavior in the hydrogenation of compounds containing a triple bond such as tolan. This can be explained by the aurophilicity of triple bonds. To further study this effect, Pd2Sn and Au-Pd2Sn NRs were also tested in the Sonogashira coupling reaction between iodobenzene and phenylacetylene in N,N-dimethylformamide. At low concentration, this reaction provided the expected product, tolan. However, at high concentration, more reduced products such as stilbene and 1,2-diphenylethane were also obtained, even without the addition of H2. A mechanism for this unexpected reduction is proposed. Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society.
In the present work, we demonstrate crystallographically textured n-type Bi2Te3-xSex nanomaterials with exceptional thermoelectric figures of merit produced by consolidating disk-shaped Bi2Te3-xSex colloidal nanocrystals (NCs). Crystallographic texture was achieved by hot pressing the asymmetric NCs in the presence of an excess of tellurium. During the hot press, tellurium acted both as lubricant to facilitate the rotation of NCs lying close to normal to the pressure axis and as solvent to dissolve the NCs approximately aligned with the pressing direction, which afterward recrystallize with a preferential orientation. NC-based Bi2Te3-xSex nanomaterials showed very high electrical conductivities associated with large charge carrier concentrations, n. We hypothesize that such large n resulted from the presence of an excess of tellurium during processing, which introduced a high density of donor TeBi antisites. Additionally, the presence in between grains of traces of elemental Te, a narrow band gap semiconductor with a work function well below Bi2Te3-xSex, might further contribute to increase n through spillover of electrons, while at the same time blocking phonon propagation and hole transport through the nanomaterial. NC-based Bi2Te3-xSex nanomaterials were characterized by very low thermal conductivities in the pressing direction, which resulted in ZT values up to 1.31 at 438 K in this direction. This corresponds to a ca. 40% ZT enhancement from commercial ingots. Additionally, high ZT values were extended over wider temperature ranges due to reduced bipolar contribution to the Seebeck coefficient and the thermal conductivity. Average ZT values up to 1.15 over a wide temperature range, 320 to 500 K, were measured, which corresponds to a ca. 50% increase over commercial materials in the same temperature range. Contrary to most previous works, highest ZT values were obtained in the pressing direction, corresponding to the c crystallographic axis, due to the predominance of the thermal conductivity reduction over the electrical conductivity difference when comparing the two crystal directions. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
We show that one-dimensional (1d) GaN quantum-wires (QWRs) exhibit intense and spectrally sharp emission lines. These QWRs are realized in an entirely self-assembled growth process by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on the side facets of GaN/AlN nanowire (NW) heterostructures. Time-integrated and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) data in combination with numerical calculations allow the identification and assignment of the manifold emission features to three different spatial recombination centers within the NWs. The recombination processes in the QWRs are driven by efficient charge carrier transfer effects between the different optically active regions, providing high intense QWR luminescence despite their small volume. This is deduced by a fast rise time of the QWR PL, which is similar to the fast decay-time of adjacent carrier reservoirs. Such processes, feeding the ultra-narrow QWRs with carriers from the relatively large NWs, can be the key feature towards the realization of future QWR-based devices. While processing of single quantum structures with diameters in the nm range presents a serious obstacle with respect to their integration into electronic or photonic devices, the QWRs presented here can be analyzed and processed using existing techniques developed for single NWs. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Compound semiconductors exhibit an intrinsic polarity, as a consequence of the ionicity of their bonds. Nanowires grow mostly along the (111) direction for energetic reasons. Arsenide and phosphide nanowires grow along (111)B, implying a group V termination of the (111) bilayers. Polarity engineering provides an additional pathway to modulate the structural and optical properties of semiconductor nanowires. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the growth of Ga-assisted GaAs nanowires with (111)A-polarity, with a yield of up to ∼50%. This goal is achieved by employing highly Ga-rich conditions which enable proper engineering of the energies of A and B-polar surfaces. We also show that A-polarity growth suppresses the stacking disorder along the growth axis. This results in improved optical properties, including the formation of AlGaAs quantum dots with two orders or magnitude higher brightness. Overall, this work provides new grounds for the engineering of nanowire growth directions, crystal quality and optical functionality. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.
An experimental strategy for systematically assessing the influence of surface passivation layers on the photocatalytic properties of nanowire photoanodes by combining photocurrent analysis, photoluminescence spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy with a systematic variation of sample structure and the surrounding electrolyte is demonstrated. Following this approach we can separate the impact on recombination and transport processes of photogenerated carriers. We apply this strategy to analyze the influence of ultra-thin TiO2, CeO2 and Al2O3 coatings deposited by atomic layer deposition on the photoelectrochemical performance of InxGa1-xN/GaN nanowire (NW) photoelectrodes. The passivation of surface states results in an increase of the anodic photocurrent (PC) by a factor of 2.5 for the deposition of 5 nm TiO2. In contrast, the PC is reduced for CeO2- and Al2O3-coated NWs due to enhanced defect recombination in the passivation layer or increased band discontinuities. Furthermore, photoelectrochemical oxidation of the InxGa1-xN/GaN NW photoelectrode is attenuated by the TiO2 layer and completely suppressed for a layer thickness of 7 nm or more. Due to efficient charge transfer from the InxGa1-xN NW core a stable TiO2-covered photoanode with visible light excitation is realized. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
We introduce selective area grown hybrid InAs/Al nanowires based on molecular beam epitaxy, allowing arbitrary semiconductor-superconductor networks containing loops and branches. Transport reveals a hard induced gap and unpoisoned 2e-periodic Coulomb blockade, with temperature dependent 1e features in agreement with theory. Coulomb peak spacing in parallel magnetic field displays overshoot, indicating an oscillating discrete near-zero subgap state consistent with device length. Finally, we investigate a loop network, finding strong spin-orbit coupling and a coherence length of several microns. These results demonstrate the potential of this platform for scalable topological networks among other applications. © 2018 American Physical Society.
Photoreforming promoted by metal oxide nanophotocatalysts is an attractive route for clean and sustainable hydrogen generation. In the present work, we propose for the first time the use of supported Mn3O4 nanosystems, both pure and functionalized with Au nanoparticles (NPs), for hydrogen generation by photoreforming. The target oxide systems, prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and decorated with gold NPs by radio frequency (RF) sputtering, were subjected to a thorough chemico-physical characterization and utilized for a proof-of-concept H2 generation in aqueous ethanolic solutions under simulated solar illumination. Pure Mn3O4 nanosystems yielded a constant hydrogen production rate of 10 mmol h-1 m-2 even for irradiation times up to 20 h. The introduction of Au NPs yielded a significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity, which decreased as a function of irradiation time. The main phenomena causing the Au-containing photocatalyst deactivation have been investigated by morphological and compositional analysis, providing important insights for the design of Mn3O4-based photocatalysts with improved performances. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
Topological qubits based on Majorana Fermions have the potential to revolutionize the emerging field of quantum computing by making information processing significantly more robust to decoherence. Nanowires are a promising medium for hosting these kinds of qubits, though branched nanowires are needed to perform qubit manipulations. Here we report a gold-free templated growth of III-V nanowires by molecular beam epitaxy using an approach that enables patternable and highly regular branched nanowire arrays on a far greater scale than what has been reported thus far. Our approach relies on the lattice-mismatched growth of InAs on top of defect-free GaAs nanomembranes yielding laterally oriented, low-defect InAs and InGaAs nanowires whose shapes are determined by surface and strain energy minimization. By controlling nanomembrane width and growth time, we demonstrate the formation of compositionally graded nanowires with cross-sections less than 50 nm. Scaling the nanowires below 20 nm leads to the formation of homogeneous InGaAs nanowires, which exhibit phase-coherent, quasi-1D quantum transport as shown by magnetoconductance measurements. These results are an important advance toward scalable topological quantum computing. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
Copper-based chalcogenides that comprise abundant, low-cost, and environmental friendly elements are excellent materials for a number of energy conversion applications, including photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and thermoelectrics (TE). In such applications, the use of solution-processed nanocrystals (NCs) to produce thin films or bulk nanomaterials has associated several potential advantages, such as high material yield and throughput, and composition control with unmatched spatial resolution and cost. Here we report on the production of Cu3SbSe4 (CASe) NCs with tuned amounts of Sn and Bi dopants. After proper ligand removal, as monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, these NCs were used to produce dense CASe bulk nanomaterials for solid state TE energy conversion. By adjusting the amount of extrinsic dopants, dimensionless TE figures of merit (ZT) up to 1.26 at 673 K were reached. Such high ZT values are related to an optimized carrier concentration by Sn doping, a minimized lattice thermal conductivity due to efficient phonon scattering at point defects and grain boundaries, and to an increase of the Seebeck coefficient obtained by a modification of the electronic band structure with Bi doping. Nanomaterials were further employed to fabricate ring-shaped TE generators to be coupled to hot pipes, which provided 20 mV and 1 mW per TE element when exposed to a 160 °C temperature gradient. The simple design and good thermal contact associated with the ring geometry and the potential low cost of the material solution processing may allow the fabrication of TE generators with short payback times. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.
The organization of nanowires on surfaces remains a major obstacle toward their large-scale integration into functional devices. Surface-material interactions have been used, with different materials and substrates, to guide horizontal nanowires during their growth into well-organized assemblies, but the only guided nanowire heterostructures reported so far are axial and not radial. Here, we demonstrate the guided growth of horizontal core-shell nanowires, specifically of ZnSe@ZnTe, with control over their crystal phase and crystallographic orientations. We exploit the directional control of the guided growth for the parallel production of multiple radial p-n heterojunctions and probe their optoelectronic properties. The devices exhibit a rectifying behavior with photovoltaic characteristics upon illumination. Guided nanowire heterostructures enable the bottom-up assembly of complex semiconductor structures with controlled electronic and optoelectronic properties. © 2017 American Chemical Society.
The design and engineering of earth-abundant catalysts that are both cost-effective and highly active for water splitting are crucial challenges in a number of energy conversion and storage technologies. In this direction, herein we report the synthesis of Fe3O4@NiFexOy core-shell nanoheterostructures and the characterization of their electrocatalytic performance toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Such nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by a two-step synthesis procedure involving the colloidal synthesis of Fe3O4 nanocubes with a defective shell and the posterior diffusion of nickel cations within this defective shell. Fe3O4@NiFexOy NPs were subsequently spin-coated over ITO-covered glass and their electrocatalytic activity toward water oxidation in carbonate electrolyte was characterized. Fe3O4@NiFexOy catalysts reached current densities above 1 mA/cm2 with a 410 mV overpotential and Tafel slopes of 48 mV/dec, which is among the best electrocatalytic performances reported in carbonate electrolyte. © 2016 American Chemical Society.
In the quest for more efficient thermoelectric material able to convert thermal to electrical energy and vice versa, composites that combine a semiconductor host having a large Seebeck coefficient with metal nanodomains that provide phonon scattering and free charge carriers are particularly appealing. Here, we present our experimental results on the thermal and electrical transport properties of PbS-metal composites produced by a versatile particle blending procedure, and where the metal work function allows injecting electrons to the intrinsic PbS host. We compare the thermoelectric performance of composites with microcrystalline or nanocrystalline structures. The electrical conductivity of the microcrystalline host can be increased several orders of magnitude with the metal inclusion, while relatively high Seebeck coefficient can be simultaneously conserved. On the other hand, in nanostructured materials, the host crystallites are not able to sustain a band bending at its interface with the metal, becoming flooded with electrons. This translates into even higher electrical conductivities than the microcrystalline material, but at the expense of lower Seebeck coefficient values. © 2016 Author(s).


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Instagram Begins Rolling Out Collaborative Group Stories Option
Published Dec. 13, 2019
Instagram is rolling out yet another Stories tool, with some users now seeing a new 'Group Stories' option which enables users and their friends to collaborate on a private Story.
Instagram now lets you create Group Stories pic.twitter.com/ROOGGWbgVa
— Vikki ???? (@cuteek) December 12, 2019
As shown in this tweet from lifestyle blogger @cuteek, the new option is aligned with Instagram group chats, providing another way to engage and interact with group members.
The option was initially spotted in testing by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong back in October.
In many ways, it's similar to Facebook's Group Stories option which is rolled out to all users in October last year.
With the use of both Facebook groups and Stories rising, providing an option for collaborative group stories makes sense - though on Facebook, they'll likely have a larger audience, as most groups have more members than your average Instagram group chat.
Instagram has also seen a rise in private messaging use. Back in October, Instagram launched a separate messaging app called 'Threads' to cater specifically to this purpose.
Instagram will be hoping that by providing more tools on this front, it'll be able to maximize interest in group messaging use, and boost engagement. And definitely, having the capacity to create your own, private stories with friends will have a level of appeal.
It could also hold a level of appeal for brand use - though it is worth noting that Instagram Direct groups are limited to 32 people.
It's not clear if the option is being rolled out to all users as yet, or if it'll be launched in phases, but you can likely expect to see it appear in your Instagram message threads sometime soon.
Filed Under: Social Media Updates
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This 12V 10A power supply is ideal for use in observatory installs where there are multiple 12V components. On the back it features 8 x 12V/2A outputs, ideal for powering all those small accessories. In our observatory rack builds, these might be devices like Dragonfly, Cloudwatcher, Solo and Monitoring Camera. Then on the scope there could be a Dew Controller and Motorised Dew Cap. In addition to the 2A output there is a 12V/4A. This is useful for powering a camera and focuser. In a remote install we might use a single cable then split the feed on the scope to these two devices.
The power supply has independently fused outputs. In the event of a problem the fuse will trip but reset once the problem is cleared. Status of each output is visible on the front of the power supply, as is a visible display of the voltage and current being drawn.
Because of the potentially high load the power supply is fan cooled. This fan is quite loud but necessary.


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Business license renewals, in a state with a growing population of tech workers, drive up the prices of existing vehicles.
The prices of the new Tesla vehicles have risen sharply in recent months, the highest since October 2014, when Tesla started selling them in the state.
The increase is also the largest in the last five years, according to the state's transportation department.
The price of a $45,000 car has more than tripled since last year, according the department.
Its average price has increased an average of 17 percent, the department said.
Drivers have been paying higher tolls to use Interstate 5, which connects the state to Alaska and Canada.
The state has no local toll lanes, so drivers pay tolls on the highway every time they drive.
The tolls add up to more than $5 per mile.
Driving in the middle of the night on I-5 is a bad idea, said Steve Burt, a retired airline pilot who lives in a town called Pemberton.
The extra cost of a license plate increases the chance of someone stopping you for a minor infraction and making a ticket, he said.
The state is trying to address the problem by building a new toll lane at I-80, from Alaska to Pemberts.
The lane will have tolls of $2.50 per mile and no other restrictions.
The new lanes, which are being built at a cost of $1.4 billion, are expected to be operational in 2022, when they will be installed in two locations.
Drivers who do not want to pay the tolls will be able to pay in cash, but the toll booths will not be staffed by the department and there will be no exit gates to help drivers leave the vehicle.
The new toll lanes will be a boon to the business community, said Bill Knepper, a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Business who has studied traffic on Interstate 5.
"There's a lot of revenue generated by people paying for their car to go through the toll booth," he said in an interview.
Drives are more expensive than before, Knecker said, adding that a $1,000 fee for an auto is more than twice as expensive as before.
The new toll booths, he estimated, will generate about $100 million annually in revenue for the state, with the money being used to expand the highway.
Knepper said that while the new lanes will increase the costs of driving, they are unlikely to make the roads more congested.
A study commissioned by the Alaska Department of Transportation and commissioned by Tesla found that the toll system will not affect driving volume or congestion, and it estimated that the revenue generated from the new toll system could pay for a half-billion dollars worth of infrastructure improvements in the next five years.
There is a huge amount of demand for the highway in Pembertons town, Knaer said.
There's been a huge increase in the number of people coming into town, and they're all driving to Alaska, he added.
Tesla's sales of its new electric vehicles in Alaska rose more than 40 percent last year.
(Reporting by Steve Bowers; Editing by Will Dunham)
alaska license plate, business license tn, license renewal
Which license renewal application should you apply for?
When you apply to renew your Idaho drivers license online, you can check out the state's online renewal application.There's no fee, but the state recommends that you use the online form to fill out the information required by the Idaho Secretary of State's Office.The online form is designed to help you get the most out …
Which license plate search companies do you trust?
The Jerusalem Mail ( www.jma.com/ ) published a list of licensed plate search firms and their locations in Israel and the United States on Monday.The Jerusalem post also posted information on the types of queries that are permissible and the maximum fee for each type of search.The companies included: Bancroft Automotive Search, Bancrosoft, Bayside Plate …
【The World is My Business】 – The World is Your Business
The World Is My Business is an upcoming RPG game from Atlus that has been in development for a few years now.The game is set in a fantasy world where the citizens of the land have a lot of freedom and have a sense of ownership.The developers say that the game is "set in a …
Migratory birds may be able to drink up to 40 litres of alcohol per year
Migrating birds are likely to be drinking more alcohol than other domestic animals and some species may be using it to regulate their behaviour, scientists have warned.Key points:Scientists say birds like the golden eagle drink more alcohol because they need to drink to regulate stress in the wild and have developed an alcohol toleranceMigratory and …


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David Allen Column
Claremont approves $9.7 million Foothill Blvd plan
Ontario killings
Cucamonga teachers' impasse
Upland cop arrested
School board member in hot water
By The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin | dailybulletin@dfmdev.com |
CLAREMONT >> A long-range plan for Foothill Boulevard that would make it friendly to pedestrians, bicyclists and businesses has gained approval from the City Council.
The $9.7-million master plan for the city's portion of Route 66 proposes to create bike lanes, improve sidewalks and relandscape portions of the corridor. The plan moves to the design phase now that it has been reviewed and approved by the council Tuesday night.
Staff has been working on the plan since 2012 when Caltrans agreed to relinquish control and management of the city's portion of Foothill Boulevard to Claremont. As part of the agreement, the state gave the city $5.7 million to complete the necessary improvements.
"The Master Plan addresses circulation, safety, parking, sustainability and community aesthetics for the corridor," said Chris Veirs, Claremont's principal planner.
Planning a better Foothill Boulevard means the following improvements:
• Add 5-foot bicycle lanes; some portions will have bicycle lanes protected by narrow planters.
• Replace turf with drought tolerant plants, plant new trees as well as preserving existing trees.
• Implement landscape and irrigation plans for medians and parkways.
• Install sidewalks where missing.
• New entry signs.
Costs of the plan
The plan will be implemented in three phases over a 15-year period. The bulk of the improvements will be done in the first phase. The second phase will include the addition of new parkways and bioswales, while repaving the roadway will the final phase.
The first phase will cost nearly $4.3 million, about half of which will come from the funds provided by Caltrans, another $1 million in grants and $750,000 in college developer reimbursements.
In the second and third phases, the city has about $2 million set aside to pay for about half of the costs. It will be up to city staff to identify the funds for the remainder of the costs.
Discord with the recommendations
Homeowners on Baughman Avenue and 12th Street, whose backyard fronts the south side of the street, were concerned the addition of a sidewalk would infringe on their privacy. Others were concerned it would create security issues.
Several residents were not pleased the plan included the sidewalk option after the issue was raised at previous neighborhood meetings. The residents presented the council with a petition signed by 100 residents.
With the majority of the council's support, the south side of Foothill Boulevard near Baughman Avenue and 12th Street will not include a sidewalk.
"No new additional infill or reconfigured sidewalks are needed, and none should be planned," said resident Douglas Lyon. "There's not now, nor will there be for the foreseeable future, any level of pedestrian traffic on Foothill Boulevard which warrants anything beyond what's currently there."
Mayor Corey Calaycay defended staff's decision to present other options.
"In spite of the fact that some of you may have felt frustrated about seeing it in the plan again, and some of you thinking you had to testify to the council, I hope that in the end you will feel listened to," he said.
City Manager Tony Ramos also clarified the recommendations.
"It was, in due respect to previous directions staff had with the other plans, the general plan and with the sustainability plan … We knew option two would mostly likely be the option to be taken. But we had to respect the integrity of the other plans," he said.
Now that the project has been approved by the council, it will have to go through various approval stages. The first phase will take three years, Veirs said.
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The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
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Inland Valley Daily Bulletin: Share your news


The Criminal Justice pathway is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four year college or university and pursue a career in one of the many areas within criminal justice. Students can prepare for careers in local, state or federal law enforcement, corrections, forensics, or as officers within state or federal agencies or court systems. There is a broad range of opportunities available for persons trained in criminal justice. This program provides a strong academic foundation within the community college environment.
The Associate of Arts/Sciences: Criminal Justice requires 60-62 college level credits. Some courses have prerequisites and co-requisites.


All legs with wire are reinforced.
The piggy has a leather patch, glass eyes, ears are made of leather.
The piggy is filled with some soft synthetics and glass granulated materials.
The piggy is able to stand, lie down and raise legs.
Height is 4 cm, length 7 cm.
Accessories: silk bow, hat with horns, false nose, red bag, card, case in the form of a heart.
All accessories are hand made and all can be simply removed if you want.


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You are here: Home > Things to Do > Apedale Community Country Park
Apedale Community Country Park
Black Bank Road
Knutton
ST5 6AX
Once an Open Cast mining site this park now has 155 hectares of woodland, pools and pastureland. Though a young developing site it is an absolute haven for widlife.
From the M6 take A500 for Stoke on Trent, at first roundabout take A34 Newcastle under Lyme. Continue through Newcastle then take B5367 Kuntton. Once through Kuntton look for car park signage on right.
The nearest railway station is Kidsgrove, which is 7 miles away.
Apedale Valley Light Railway
There is something for everyone at Apedale. Young and old will enjoy a great value trip…
Bateswood Nature Reserve
61 Acres of grassland and pools with impressive views over the Cheshire plain.
Brampton Museum
Brampton Museum consists of a number of galleries featuring collections telling the story…
Winner - Gold Award - Enjoy Staffordshire Experience of the Year 2019. (Historic…
Westport Lake Visitor Centre
Westport Lake, created alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal is a nature reserve…
Highly Commended - Enjoy Staffordshire Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019.
Etruria Industrial Museum
Etruria Industrial Museum and Heritage Centre, the home of Jesse Shirley's Bone and Flint…
Spode Museum Trust Heritage Centre
A fascinating exhibition at Josiah Spode's former pottery, the birthplace of bone china.…
Hanley Park
Hanley Park is close to both the City Centre and the railway station. It is a fantastic…
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Discover the world famous Staffordshire Hoard along with the history of the Potteries,…
Central Forest Park
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text:
Get set to watch the Menlo Park Legends in action
by Colt Rosensweig on May 22, 2010
After just one season of play, the Menlo Park Legends are a hit. Their first practice of the season – open to the public – is today (Saturday 5/22) at Menlo-Atherton High School. Pitchers and catchers report at noon, followed by the rest of the squad to 1:30 pm.
The semipro baseball team founded last summer by M-A alum David Klein (pictured below) sometimes had to scramble for players in its first year. Leading up to the 2010 season, Klein has actually had to turn people away. Four Stanford players will be Legends — and Klein could have had even more, if not for a league rule limiting each team to four players from any one Division I school.
"I'm expecting, hoping, trying to win the league, to be honest," Klein said. "I'd like to give us the opportunity to go to Wichita and play in Kansas for a national championship. This is a big step for a second-year team. The rest of the teams in this league have been around for 30-plus years."
Klein will hold tryouts for the five spots still left. He expects 50 to 60 players to show up. The Legends will even welcome players from out of state who will stay with a host family. (He's still searching for more host families.) Klein plans to try to get newly retired Major Leaguer Eric Byrnes involved — somehow.
Fans of last year's squad will be glad to know a few familiar faces will be returning. Klein will again catch and DH, perhaps becoming an even bigger force now that he has a small army of interns to take care of all the everyday minutiae he had to worry about last year. Pitcher Kyle McCabe is returning, along with Skyline's Jeff Clegg and Adam Costello, a pitcher and outfielder respectively. Columbia pitcher Max Lautmann will complete the quintet.
The Legends will again offer camps for local youngsters. Already, Klein has as many kids signed up as he did all of last summer.
"The whole reason I do this is to have a community-based baseball organization where people of all ages can get involved," Klein said. "It's fun to be out there with these kids taking them through the basics. It feels good, the players like it, it keeps them busy during the day."
The Legends begin play on Sunday, June 6, with a doubleheader against Sacramento. Here's their complete schedule.
Photos courtesy of Menlo Park Legends; used with permission.
Tagged as: David Klein, Eric Byrnes, Menlo Park Legends, semi pro baseball
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So I have added a page to list the logograms of Omyatloko. There are currently 350 logograms, with more being added every week. They will always be sorted alphabetically, but with supplemental lists sorting them by topic being added occasionally.
This entry was posted in art, conlang, linguistics and tagged absurd, alphabet, art, calligraphy, conlang, conscript, Kala, language, linguistics, news, Omniglot, philosophy, pics, script, tloko, translation, type, typography, vocabulary. Bookmark the permalink.


Two men were killed in a horrific crash north of Palmerston, Otago, this morning.
The head-on collision between a car and a truck occured in heavy fog at around 5am at the bridge over Baghdad Creek.
Oamaru police Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said the force of the impact sent the south-bound truck off the bridge and down into the creek, while the north-bound car was thrown into a ditch on the other side of the road.
The truck driver, a Christchurch man in his sixties, died at the scene.
The driver of the car was airlifted to hospital in Dunedin in a critical condition. He died in hospital.
Police have now named him as 23-year-old Scott William Ridley, who was the Waitaki District Council communications and policy support officer.
The truck driver's name cannot be released as formal identification has not yet taken place, say police.
The truck was carrying flour, which mixed with the diesel from the fuel tanks, ruptured on impact and burst into flames.
Another truck driver came upon the scene shortly after the crash and called 111.
When the fire service, police and ambulance staff arrived they found a terrifying inferno engulfing the truck.
Oamaru, Hampden and Palmerston firefighters worked to free the driver of the car and put out the flames.
The fog was so thick the rescue helicopter could not land at the scene and had to touch down in Palmerston. An ambulance raced to the scene and took the driver back to the helicopter.
Mr Woodbridge said SH1 was closed from 5am until around 9.30am. Traffic was backed up to Palmerston in the south and 15-20km to the north. No diversion was possible.
"We'd like to thank drivers for their patience," he said. "Everyone's been really good."
Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder said there was no option other than to close the road.
"I realise the implications of having State Highway 1 closed for any length of time, and particularly when a detour is not available," he said.
"My staff worked extremely hard to get the road open as quickly as possible. The reality is that our work could not be completed until we had some daylight to work by. I would like to thank those who had their travel disrupted and had to wait, some for considerable time."
Officers from the serious crash investigation team and the commercial vehicle inspection unit were at the scene to launch their enquiry.
Removing the truck debris from the creek bed will be "a major job", Mr Woodbridge said.
Heavy lifting equipment will have to be sent up from Dunedin for the task. There is also a substantial diesel slick on the road surface.
Waitaki Civil Defence co-ordinator Chris Raine said the incident saw a "full turn-out of emergency services".
Mr Ryder said the fog this morning was very thick. "Many who regularly travel the road describe these as the worst visibility conditions they have encountered."
He added the truck will be removed from Baghdad Creek tomorrow.


Over half of the program but we definitely still had some very interesting things to do and see!
The main focus of today was on causes of heart diseases, namely congenital heart diseases. Professor dr. Oostra from the University of Amsterdam department of Embryology and Anatomy gave an illustrative lecture on Cardiac Embryology and the segmental sequential analysis. This is a step-by-step method of describing and diagnosing congenital heart diseases. Afterwards, we headed to the Anatomy Lab to put this into practice. We saw a diverse range of malformations in congenital heart remains, such as the Tetralogy of Fallot, Siamese conjoint hearts, and many more. It was a unique experience, considering these hearts have been collected over many years and now that many children are operated on, there aren't many new preparations donated to science.
After lunch Professor Maas, cardiologist of the Radboudumc specialised in gynaecardiology and founder of 'Hart voor Vrouwen', elaborated on the gender differences in heart diseases. We learned a lot about the differences in causes and presentation of acute coronary syndrome in women, so it was very useful for the clinical setting.
Last but not least, dr. Meeson had just arrived from Schiphol airport after her journey from the Newcastle University department of Regenerative Medicine. She told us more about her research in Stem Cells and Cardiac Regeneration. Surely an innovative field within the Cardiology!
We thanked her for coming all the way to the Netherlands with some Dutch souvenirs (stroopwafels and drop).
In the evening we had an optional program. Some met up at the Waal beach (Waalstrand) to watch the sunset while roasting marshmallows on the bonfire. Others went to the Eminem concert or had some drinks in town! Hopefully, everybody will be fresh and crisp for the final presentations!


The award-winning film Between Iraq and a Hard Place will be screened at Algonquin Arts Theatre on January 24, 2011 at 7:30 pm, as part of the Reel History Film Series in collaboration with The Garden State Film Festival and Manasquan High School. In attendance that evening will be Rex J. Pratt, the Director & Producer of the film direct from California.
Mark Wondrack, a native Wall resident and a former Marine who served in Kuwait during the first Gulf War, will be the guest speaker following the film. Mark Wondrack served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve between 1985 and 1991. He was assigned to the 6th Motor Transport Battalion located in Red Bank, New Jersey. In 1990, Mark was deployed with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where he served with Mobile Combat Service Support Detachment 2/6, 6th Marine Regiment.
Additionally, Mark served a two year period of active duty with the United States Marine Corps' 1st Recruiting District, located in Iselin, New Jersey, as a Recruiter's Aid. Mark was awarded the United States Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and the State of New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal for his service in Southwest Asia. Mark is a graduate of Wall High School, Brookdale Community College, and Seton Hall University. He is a twenty-two year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, and is currently assigned to the Division's Office of Professional Standards. Mark is the husband of Amy Wondrack, and the proud father of two children, Lindsay and Daniel.
This documentary film is not about war, but about those who fight and the heroes who return home. After watching this film, people will learn about true brotherhood, courage, commitment, kindness amid chaos and what honor means to US Marines. The trailer can be viewed at http://www.betweeniraq.com/trailer.html. Winner of the Best Documentary in the 2006 SoCal Indie Film Festival, Between Iraq and a Hard Place follows a platoon of Marines during their two tours in Iraq. A mother of a United States Marine said that this is "a film that every American needs to see."
Tickets to the screening are $8 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 732-528-9211. This film is not yet rated and has a running time of sixty-five minutes. Box office hours are Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Algonquin Arts Theatre is located at 173 Main Street in downtown Manasquan, NJ.


text:
Suicide Rates Declines In Nepal
Aug. 7, 2019, 8:02 a.m.
Nepal has witnessed a decline in the number of suicides committed in the country, according to a Nepal Police data which also revealed that an average of three persons take their lives every day in the Himalayan nation reports PTI.
The data attribute the growing number of people suffering from psychological disorder as one of the causes behind committing the crime.
According PTI, three people commit suicide by consuming poison every day, the data said on an average. "Those who commit suicide by consuming poison are mostly youngsters," Nepal Police spokesperson Bishwaraj Pokharel said.
As many as 1,320 people committed suicide by consuming poison in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 alone. However, the number is less than that of the FY 2017-18 when 1,363 people took their lives, the data said.
Altogether 4,481 people committed suicide over the past six years with 1,307 people committing the crime in FY 2013-14; 1,090 in FY 2014-15; 1,186 in FY 2015-16 and 1,215 in FY 2016-17.
Pokharel attribute acute poverty, failed love affairs, unemployment, changing lifestyle and mental health issues as some of the major reasons for people to commit suicide.
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Coca-Cola's Announces New 'Coke And Meals' Campaign In Nepal By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Jan 18, 2021


text:
Farmers' Protest Highlights: Farm leaders reject govt's proposal of suspending farm laws for 1.5 years
Five dead in Serum Institute of India fire in Pune, say fire officials
PM Modi to interact with beneficiaries, vaccinators of COVID-19 inoculation drive in Varanasi
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PM Modi pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary
"A tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary. The ideals of Bapu will continue to inspire us to build a strong, capable and prosperous New India," Modi tweeted.
January 30, 2020 / 11:13 AM IST
Narendra Modi, Prime minister of India | Though almost all of India's Prime Ministers have come from the nearly 80% of the population that is Hindu, only Modi has governed as if no one else matters," writes Karl Vick, Time editor. (Image: Reuters)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, saying the Father of the Nation will continue to inspire people to build a strong, capable and prosperous country.
राष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन। पूज्य बापू के व्यक्तित्व, विचार और आदर्श हमें सशक्त, सक्षम और समृद्ध न्यू इंडिया के निर्माण के लिए प्रेरित करते रहेंगे।
The Mahatma was assassinated here on this day in 1948.
TAGS: #Current Affairs #India #Mahatma Gandhi #Narendra Modi #Politics
first published: Jan 30, 2020 10:59 am
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text:
Transition metal carbonate and bicarbonate complexes are coordination compounds containing carbonate (CO32-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) as ligands.  The inventory of complexes is large, enhanced by the fact that the carbonate ligand can bind metal ions in a variety of bonding modes.

Bonding modes

Carbonate

Carbonate is a pseudohalide ligand.  With a saturated pi-system, it has no pi-acceptor properties. With multiple electronegative elements, it is not strongly basic.  The latter is consistent with the pKa's of carbonic acid: pK1 = 6.77 and pK2 = 9.93.

To a single metal ion, carbonate is observed to bind in both unidentate (κ1-) and bidentate (κ2-) fashions.  In the covalent bond classification method, κ1-carbonate is anX ligand and κ2-carbonate is an X2 ligand. With two metals, the number of bonding modes increases because carbonate often serves as a bridging ligand.  It can span metal-metal bonds as in [Ru2(CO3)4Cl2]5-, where again it functions as an (X)2 ligand.  More commonly all three oxygen centers bind, as illustrated by .  In such cases, carbonate is an LX ligand, providing 3e- to each metal. More complicated motifs have been characterized by X-ray crystallography including {(VO)6(μ-OH)9(CO3)4}5-.

Bicarbonate

The bonding modes of bicarbonate are more limited than those for carbonate, in part because it is less basic and in part because the proton occupies a metal-binding site.  Typical bicarbonate is assumed to bind as a unidentate X ligand. Structural studies on such complexes are, however, rare.

Synthesis
Carbonato complexes are prepared by salt metathesis reactions using alkali metal carbonate salts as precursors.  In some cases, bicarbonate intermediates are implicated since carbonate does not exist in appreciable concentrations near neutral pH. The other chief route to metal carbonato complexes involves addition of CO2 to metal oxides.  Such reactions may be catalyzed by water since the carbonation of metal hydroxides is particularly well established.  Isotope labeling studies show that these reactions can proceed (and perhaps usually proceed) without scission of the M-OH bond (L = generic ligand):

Many esoteric routes have been demonstrated.  For example, the deoxygenation of peroxycarbonate by tertiary phosphines:

Carbon dioxide undergoes disproportionation upon reaction with low-valence metals.

Reactions
Most fundamental reactivity of bicarbonate/carbonato complexes is their interconversion.  This acid-base reaction has been examined mainly for unimolecular complexes. Such reactions are molecular versions of the familiar reaction of acids with carbonate minerals.

Protonation of carbonato complexes gives the corresponding bicarbonate. The structure of bicarbonate complex indicates that protonation occurs at the coordinated oxygen. This process is the microscopic reverse or the first step in the carbonation of metal hydroxides. Protonation of bicarbonate ligands results in loss of carbon dioxide and formation of the metal hydroxide.

Examples
Particularly well studied complexes are  and its ethylenediamine analogue Carbonatobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III).  Their formation and uses as reagents have been extensively examined.

Few homoleptic carbonato complexes have been characterized.  One is [Zr(CO3)4]4-, featuring 8-ccordinate Zr(IV).  Tris(carbonato)cobalt(III) ([Co(CO)3]3-) is another possible example.

Uses
Metal carbonato and bicarbonate complexes are of no direct commercial importance.  They do illustrate the potential fate of low valent complexes when exposed to air.  They also illustrate deleterious products in schemes aimed toward the reduction of carbon dioxide to useful chemicals and fuels.

In the biological sphere, zinc bicarbonate complexes are central intermediates in the action of the carbonic anhydrase.

References

Coordination complexes
Inorganic chemistry
Carbonates

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Discuss the effectiveness of non-executive directors as a good corporate governance mechanism.
Non-executive directors (hereinafter referred to as NEDs) are not established by statute but like other directors of a company, NEDs have to comply with the duties of directors which have been established by common law and case law, such as the duty to exercise care, skill and diligence.  Alternatively, their existence is grounded in recommendations and the introduction of a succession of codes of good corporate governance practice. Corporate governance mechanism was as a result of a series of unexpected corporate collapses and concerns about directors, who pursued their own interest such as pay increases and expensive takeovers to the detriment of shareholders. This necessitated the financial authorities and the government to commission these reports: Cadbury Committee, 1992; Greenbury Committee Report, 1995; Hempel, 1998; Turnbull Report, 1999; Smith Report, 2003; Higgs Report, 2003. The latest Code, the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (first published in 2003),  which has its main provisions harnessed into the listing rules.  This publication was on the importance of a company's non-executive on the board and its main committees,  with emphasis on the independence of NEDs in line with their role as provided for by the code. As of importance the UK has maintained a traditional 'comply or explain' approach to company governance since the introduction of role of NEDs in the early 90's through the Cadbury Report, headed by Sir Adrian Cadbury. Under this viewpoint companies are expected to conform to the provisions of the code in their annual reports by stating how they have complied or otherwise offer an explanation to the shareholders as to why not. This method though no legal consequence involved has re-aligned the management activities of a higher number of companies as they have increasingly come under scrutiny. The Financial Reporting Council has since then received several positive feedbacks on this step.
An assessment of these provisions with due regards to the criticisms of the role of a NED on the board and board committees as an effective corporate governance mechanism is what this paper seeks to do. It will also assess the potential liability of the duty of diligence and skill which comes with this position and areas which could improve their effectiveness.
A NED is a member of the board but without executive responsibilities in the company. While a NED is expected to bring independent judgment and experience to the board, he is not saddled with operational responsibilities of running of the business which executive directors have. His key role is dual in nature i.e. supervisory and managerial. This will be to function actively in the areas of reviewing performance of the board and that of the executive and exhibit independent judgment where conflicts arise between the interest of the company as a whole and that of an executive. A NED does not only exhibits expertise on deliberations of the board in the area of strategy and business development, but also ensures that there is a suitable balance of power on the board where necessary and influences the chairman over board decision making with independent judgment. He should therefore understand the company's business, attend meetings and function actively in the decisive affairs of the company through compliance with legal and corporate governance policies. It is generally agreed that the experience required of a NED could be obtained from working in similar or other industries, however in reality he could be an executive in another public company, have professional qualification, experience in government or hold a chairmanship or non-executive position in other companies.
Notable amongst the many issues that has arisen since the first review of the presentation of the consultation paper (Higgs 2002), was the expectation of the performance probable of NEDs. Firstly, is the fact that they are mostly drawn from a particular camp which could jeopardize independent judgment. The pool network has a higher likely hood of negativity on the experience and expertise which would have ordinarily been an advantage for their appointment. Majority of individuals appointed to NED positions are often chief officers in other companies and are reluctant to criticize a fellow CEO. Therefore their functionality as a non-executive can become biased over time, due to existing informal liaison with one another and the nagging tendency to help each other out in certain times. For example, NEDs have personal interest in the decision of the value of executive remuneration since such information is recycled amongst them to determine their own pay as executive directors of other companies. This kind of support may cause unquantifiable damages to companies and its shareholders. There is also the issue of connivance in a malicious take over. Secondly, as part-timers on the board, there are concerns as to whether they can realistically give objective opinions due to information asymmetry caused by limited involvement with the operational activities of the company, it is argued that they are excluded from internal decision making which 'bedrocks' businesses. In essence they do not necessarily avert disastrous strategic decisions and might just end up just 'sealing' management decisions. This issue is further complicated as most NEDs occupy other full time executive positions or non-executive positions in other companies, thereby dedicating insufficient time to any one company. Other important criticisms include the lack of the law to play a more enforcing role in stimulating NEDs to take appropriate action against executives who are insubordinate or negligent in their duties by imposing liability personally where loss can be attributed to an act or inaction by an executive. The new companies act,  and case law does not differentiate directors in terms of duties as they are still governed by the common law as regards any breach of fiduciary relationships with the company. Though before the developments establishing NEDs, non-executives were silent and just filled the numbers on the board. Today non-executives have increasingly become liable for their actions or inactions due to the requirement duties to exercise independent judgment, skill, diligence and care as encapsulated in the new act.
In Lexi Holdings Plc v Luqman,  the strong approach taken by the Court of Appeal shows that history now accounts for the days when NEDs could be inactive or be willingly or unwillingly ignorant of the affairs of the company. The court took a different view from that of the lower court and found the NEDs to be liable in the amounts claimed by Lexi. The Court of Appeal noted that the NEDs in question both knew of the managing director's prior convictions and should have known that his behaviour needed close supervision. There was a duty on them as directors to ask probing questions in respect of his relevant business dealings, and to be diligent in considering the explanations provided by the managing director as to these dealings. It was emphasized that a board of directors must not permit one individual to dominate and use them. In other words, it may in itself be a breach of duty for directors to allow themselves to be dominated by another director. This not only justifies the provisions of the code but also the provisions specifying directors' duties under the new companies act.  Nevertheless the courts realize that non-executive directors' duties are essentially supervisory. They would thus be required under s.174 of the Companies Act 2006 to monitor the financial dealings of a company and not to prevent fraud or have custody of asset.
It will be unfair of this assessment not to mention the laudable contributions the combined code recognizes in NEDs to bring to the board of a company. The code provides: '…they should satisfy themselves on the integrity of financial information and that financial control and systems of risk management are robust and defensible'.  This is authoritatively backed by the provisions of the new company's act which includes promoting the success of the company, exercising independent judgment and carrying out their required duties with expertise, diligence, care and skill. In terms of legal compliance and corporate governance requirements, NEDs are responsible for financial disclosures in the annual reports which should satisfy all company stakeholders. This they will do by bringing in their wealth of experience and expertise to the board since they must have and or; function in similar roles before their appointment. Incidentally this has been fashioned in such a way that they are independent of the executives and do not contribute to daily operations of the business, instead they channel a wider course of perspective for the overall success of the company. For example Finance experts on the audit committee and on the board may be perceived as promoters of disclosure transparency. The code now prescribes a more rigorous form of assessment, professional development trainings and re-election process.  The balance of power between the board and other stakeholders remain one of the most important functions of NEDs in corporate governance. Their presence on the nomination and exclusivity on the remuneration committees strengthen their position for determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors and in appointing and removing executive directors where necessary. In view of the fact that the underlying principle of code states that: "Every company should be headed by an effective board". It is preconditioned that corporate success will be determined by the effectiveness of its board which through its NEDs must have complied with the codes or served to explain why it has decided not to comply.
Under the comply or explain principle, the larger companies may be able to justify their reason for non-compliance while the smaller companies will care less about any such compliance due to less involvement with institutional investors who will otherwise sometimes force this out of the boards of the large companies. A more obligatory provision such as a set limit of this requirement is therefore in order and will liminate the double standards which may have indirectly hampered some business expansions.
The gap between a director and chairman's remuneration is still quite wide as statistics have shown, though there has been an increase to the remuneration accorded to NEDs,  justifying the increased responsibilities. The pay should equally be sufficient enough to persuade them to devote the necessary time to a company and possibly forgo other appointment invitations.
Appointment of NEDs for a limited fixed term only, renewals through elections after the first appointments may cause NEDs to loose their independence. For example a NED in his retiring years may not have the same competitive advantage as he did in the earlier part of his career; this may cause him to get comfortable with the appointment, satisfy a cabal of executives and stay on the job for the rest of his life without any real drive for the success of the company.
While the recent codification of directors' duties does not differentiate the level of skill required of a NED from an executive director, it is a positive step in reinforcing the importance of the position. The code should also include a proviso to reiterate the importance of this position and possibly include a form of sanction for a breach of duty.
This assignment has explained the central importance of the role and effectiveness of NEDs as a corporate governance mechanism. It has also shown the best practice guidance relating to NEDs and the board through the provisions of the combined code which includes upholding the highest standards of integrity and probity; questioning intelligently; challenging thoroughly and deciding independently; supporting the executives in their business function while limiting their empire-building tendencies by similarly monitoring them; gaining trust and respect of board members and promoting success of the company. It also did not over look the potential areas of liability due to existing structures concerning governance of companies especially legislature. The activities of corporate practice in the last decade has shown wide embrace of the role of non-executives as good corporate mechanism. Pricewaterhousecoopers' reported,  that board effectiveness of all industrial and service industry participants who have currently reviewed their board to be 84%, committee and individual directors' performance of similar figures (83%) reported in financial organizations. Though there is a clear difference between small and large companies, annual performances of review of board committees are 91% and 63% for smaller companies. The constant review through stakeholder consultation also evidences pro-activity and growth in this area.  It is hoped that the areas of improvement mentioned by this paper will be encapsulated in the revised code due in this year.
"Effectiveness of Non Executive Directors ." LawTeacher.net. 11 2013. All Answers Ltd. 04 2019 <https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/business-law/effectiveness-of-non-executive-directors-business-law-essay.php?vref=1>.
"Effectiveness of Non Executive Directors ." LawTeacher. LawTeacher.net, November 2013. Web. 20 April 2019. <https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/business-law/effectiveness-of-non-executive-directors-business-law-essay.php?vref=1>.
LawTeacher. November 2013. Effectiveness of Non Executive Directors . [online]. Available from: https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/business-law/effectiveness-of-non-executive-directors-business-law-essay.php?vref=1 [Accessed 20 April 2019].
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