7,193 research outputs found
Causal Bulk Viscous Dissipative Isotropic Cosmologies with Variable Gravitational and Cosmological Constants
We consider the evolution of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe,
filled with a causal bulk viscous cosmological fluid, in the presence of
variable gravitational and cosmological constants. The basic equation for the
Hubble parameter, generalizing the evolution equation in the case of constant
gravitational coupling and cosmological term, is derived, under the
supplementary assumption that the total energy of the Universe is conserved. By
assuming that the cosmological constant is proportional to the square of the
Hubble parameter and a power law dependence of the bulk viscosity coefficient,
temperature and relaxation time on the energy density of the cosmological
fluid, two classes of exact solutions of the field equations are obtained. In
the first class of solutions the Universe ends in an inflationary era, while in
the second class of solutions the expansion of the Universe is non-inflationary
for all times. In both models the cosmological "constant" is a decreasing
function of time, while the gravitational "constant" increases in the early
period of evolution of the Universe, tending in the large time limit to a
constant value.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figure
Why HITnet kiosks didn\u27t hit the mark for sexual health education of Western Australian Aboriginal youth
Objective: To assess the use, appropriateness of, and staff feedback on specific sexual health modules, which were installed on Heuristic Interactive Technology (HITnet) kiosks at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS). The HITnet kiosks were aimed at Aboriginal youth visiting these sites.
Methods: Modules on the HITnet kiosks were assessed for (1) cultural appropriateness using Yunkaporta’s Aboriginal pedagogy framework and (2) compliance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) advice on key elements for comprehensive sexual health education for young people. Data measuring kiosk use were obtained through HITnet kiosk activity reports. An online survey of ACCHS staff was used to qualitatively assess use of, and staff perceptions of, HITnet kiosks.
Results: Kiosk modules were consistent with seven of the eight elements of Yunkaporta’s framework and all of the WHO recommendations. The most popular module generated 3,066 purposeful sessions and the least popular module generated 724 purposeful sessions across nine sites in 2012. While teenagers were the most frequent of the kiosk user groups (39.5% in 2012), the majority of users (56%) were not in the target group (i.e. elders 4%, adults 25%, children 27%). Key issues reported by ACCHS staff (n=11) included: lack of clarity regarding staff responsibility for overseeing kiosk functionality; kiosks attracting “inappropriate ages”; and “lack of privacy” based on kiosk location, screen visibility, and absence of headphones preventing discreet access.
Conclusions: The modules were tailored to a young Aboriginal audience through technology thought to be appealing to this group. However, barriers to use of the kiosk included kiosk design features, location, and lack of clarity around responsibility for kiosk operation.
Implications: Aboriginal youth need easy access to sexual health messages in a ‘safe’, non-judgmental space. Information and communication that is accessible via personal and mobile devices may be a better vehicle than public kiosks
Human P450 CYP17A1: Control of Substrate Preference by Asparagine 202
CYP17A1 is a key steroidogenic enzyme known to conduct several distinct chemical transformations on multiple substrates. In its hydroxylase activity, this enzyme adds a hydroxyl group at the 17α position of both pregnenolone and progesterone at approximately equal rates. However, the subsequent 17,20 carbon–carbon scission reaction displays variable substrate specificity in the numerous CYP17A1 isozymes operating in vertebrates, manifesting as different Kd and kcat values when presented with 17α-hydroxypregnenlone (OHPREG) versus 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (OHPROG). Here we show that the identity of the residue at position 202 in human CYP17A1, thought to form a hydrogen bond with the A-ring alcohol substituent on the pregnene- nucleus, is a key driver of this enzyme’s native preference for OHPREG. Replacement of asparagine 202 with serine completely reverses the preference of CYP17A1, more than doubling the rate of turnover of the OHPROG to androstenedione reaction and substantially decreasing the rate of formation of dehydroepiandrosterone from OHPREG. In a series of resonance Raman experiments, it was observed that, in contrast with the case for the wild-type protein, in the mutant the 17α alcohol of OHPROG tends to form a H-bond with the proximal rather than terminal oxygen of the oxy–ferrous complex. When OHPREG was a substrate, the mutant enzyme was found to have a H-bonding interaction with the proximal oxygen that is substantially weaker than that of the wild type. These results demonstrate that a single-point mutation in the active site pocket of CYP17A1, even when far from the heme, has profound effects on steroidogenic selectivity in androgen biosynthesis
The Influence of Gamma-rays on the Injury and Chromosomal Aberrations of Long Bean (Vigna sesquipedalis, Fruw.)
The effects of gamma-rays on three varieties of long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis, Fruw), namely
Melaka, Local Black and Local Long were studied using Jive doses ranging from 10 to 50 kR. Both
Chromosomal aberrations and characteristics related to physiological damage were used to study
radiation sensitivity of the varieties. In general, gamma radiation did not affect % seed germination
but caused a significant reduction in characteristics related to survival, growth and fertility. Percentage
chromosomal aberrations also increased with increasing dose. As the measurement of seedling
height is simple, quick and highly correlated with most characteristics studied, it could be a useful
parameter in the study of radiation effects on long bean. Using a critenrion of approximately 30%
reduction in seedling height or 50% lethality, it is suggested that doses ranging from 30 to 50 kR
would be suitable for mutation induction in long bean
Dynamical simulation of transport in one-dimensional quantum wires
Transport of single-channel spinless interacting fermions (Luttinger liquid)
through a barrier has been studied by numerically exact quantum Monte Carlo
methods. A novel stochastic integration over the real-time paths allows for
direct computation of nonequilibrium conductance and noise properties. We have
examined the low-temperature scaling of the conductance in the crossover region
between a very weak and an almost insulating barrier.Comment: REVTex, 4 pages, 2 uuencoded figures (submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.
Slow-light switching in nonlinear Bragg-grating coupler
We study propagation and switching of slow-light pulses in nonlinear couplers
with phase-shifted Bragg gratings. We demonstrate that power-controlled
nonlinear self-action of light can be used to compensate dispersion-induced
broadening of pulses through the formation of gap solitons, to control pulse
switching in the coupler, and to tune the propagation velocity.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure
Strength and conditioning practices and perspectives of volleyball coaches and players
To the authors’ knowledge this is the first study to describe the strength and conditioning (S) practices and perspectives of volleyball coaches and players. In total, 30 volleyball coaches (mean age 34.47 ± 7.83 years and coaching experience 19.57 ± 8.28 years), and 30 volleyball players (mean age 22.03 ± 4.43 years and playing experience 10.43 ± 8.98 years) completed an online survey with six sections: (a) informed consent; (b) background information; (c) education, qualifications, and prescription; (d) views on S&C; (e) exercise selection and preferences; and (f) issues and improvements. Frequency analysis was used to report responses to fixed-response questions and thematic-analysis for open-ended questions. While only one participant possessed an S certification, S was deemed ‘important’ to ‘very important’ for volleyball skills, physical fitness, and injury parameters. However, due to a reported lack of expertise, there appeared to be a theoretical understanding to practice gap. Furthermore, the implementation of S was considerably hindered by a lack of time, facilities, and equipment. National sports associations, coaches, and players can use the information within this study to provide an understanding of the current practices and perspectives of S in volleyball. While also promoting future developments in S research and practice in volleyball
Effect of next-nearest neighbor coupling on the optical spectra in bilayer graphene
We investigate the dependence of the optical conductivity of bilayer graphene
(BLG) on the intra- and inter-layer interactions using the most complete model
to date. We show that the next nearest-neighbor intralayer coupling introduces
new features in the low-energy spectrum that are highly sensitive to sample
doping, changing significantly the ``universal'' conductance. Further, its
interplay with interlayer couplings leads to an anisotropy in conductance in
the ultraviolet range. We propose that experimental measurement of the optical
conductivity of intrinsic and doped BLG will provide a good benchmark for the
relative importance of intra- and inter-layer couplings at different doping
levels.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Slow-light optical bullets in arrays of nonlinear Bragg-grating waveguides
We demonstrate how to control independently both spatial and temporal
dynamics of slow light. We reveal that specially designed nonlinear waveguide
arrays with phase-shifted Bragg gratings demonstrate the frequency-independent
spatial diffraction near the edge of the photonic bandgap, where the group
velocity of light can be strongly reduced. We show in numerical simulations
that such structures allow a great flexibility in designing and controlling
dispersion characteristics, and open a way for efficient spatiotemporal
self-trapping and the formation of slow-light optical bullets.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; available from
http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v97/e23390
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