First-principle density-functional calculation of the Raman spectra of BEDT-TTF

We present a first-principles density-functional calculation for the Raman spectra of a neutral BEDT-TTF molecule. Our results are in excellent agreement with experimental results. We show that a planar structure is not a stable state of a neutral BEDT-TTF molecule. We consider three possible conformations and discuss their relation to disorder in these systems.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the proceedings of ISCOM 200

Development and Evaluation of an Undergraduate Science Communication Module

This paper describes the design and evaluation of an undergraduate final year science communication module for the Science Faculty at the University of East Anglia. The module focuses specifically on science communication and aims to bring an understanding of how science is disseminated to the public. Students on the module are made aware of the models surrounding science communication and investigate how the science culture interfaces with the public. During the module they learn how to adapt science concepts for different audiences and how to talk confidently about science to a lay-audience. Student motivation for module choice centres on the acquisition of transferable skills and students develop these skills through designing, running and evaluating a public outreach event at a school or in a public area. These transferable skills acquired include communication, interaction with different organisations such as museums and science centres, developing understanding of both the needs of different audiences and the importance of time management. They also develop skills relating to self-reflection and how to use this as a tool for future self development. The majority of students completing the module go on to further study, either a PhD, MSc or teacher training. The module can be sustained in its present formed if capped at 40 students, however it is recognised that to increase cohort size, further investment of faculty time and resources would be required

Implications of coping characteristics and social status for welfare and production of paired growing gilts

This paper considers the question whether knowledge on individual coping characteristics of growing pigs may be used to improve welfare and production after mixing. Gilts with either reactive or proactive coping characteristics were identified according to behavioural resistance in a backtest, respectively, being low (LR) and high resistant (HR) in this test. At 7 weeks of age, several pairs of unfamiliar gilts were formed, and pairs and dominance relationships were studied over a 3-week period. The following pairs (combinations) were established: two LR gilts (LR/LR; n = 12), two HR gilts (FIRM; n = 12), one LR and one HR gilt (LR gilt dominant: LR(d)/HR; n = 11), and one LR and one HR gilt (HR gilt dominant: LR/HR(d); n = 12). Results showed that on the day of mixing, aggression subsided less quickly and increases in body temperature were higher in LR/ HR(d) and HR/HR pairs. Also, during the first week post-mixing, feed efficiency was lower and skin damage was higher in LR/HR(d) and HR/HR pairs. Mixing of two HR gilts caused highest levels of stress, indicated by greater catecholamine concentrations in urine following the day of mixing, and higher baseline levels of plasma ACTH at I week post-mixing. The lower tendency of fearfulness. In contrast to gilts within HR/HR pairs to contact a novel object may present higher those of LR/HR(d) pairs, responses of LR(d)/HR pairs revealed much lower levels of stress, which emphasised the importance of dominance relationships, being independent of coping characteristics of individual gilts. We speculate that in LR/HR pairs, dominant LR gilts were able to suppress aggressiveness of HR subordinates. HR or proactive gilts, however, may become aggressive when being dominant. General effects of social status, independent of combination, were also found. Compared to dominants, subordinates showed higher acute cortisol, body temperature and vocal responses to mixing. In the longer term, they showed a higher vocal and parasympathetic responsitivity towards the novel object, and their body growth was impaired. Measures not influenced by combination and social status included those of leucocyte subsets, prolactin, and average heart rates during novelty tests. To conclude, aggressive conditions in newly formed groups. and consequently welfare and production, may largely depend on coping characteristics of individual pigs, but also on dominance relationships. Accordingly, the practical value of the backtest is being discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Oral History Interview: Dr. B. S. Brake

Dr. Brake has practiced medicine for thirty years in Clarksburg, West Virginia. In 1973, he continued to reside in Clarksburg and was active as Director of the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department. This interview includes family history and childhood recollections, but is concerned primarily with Dr. Brake\u27s medical practice. Besides relating personal experiences, Dr. Brake discusses his medical training, the scarcity of doctors in Harrison County, diseases such as diptheria and typhoid, and the changes he has observed in medicine.https://mds.marshall.edu/oral_history/1131/thumbnail.jp

Electron density and collision frequency of microwave‐resonant‐cavity‐produced discharges

A review of perturbation diagnostics applied to microwave resonant cavity discharges is presented. The classical microwave perturbation technique examines the shift in the resonant frequency and cavity quality factor of the resonant cavity caused by low‐electron density discharges. However, the modifications presented allow the analysis to be applied to discharges with electron densities beyond the limit predicted by perturbation theory. An ‘‘exact’’ perturbation analysis is presented which models the discharge as a separate dielectric, thereby removing the restrictions on electron density imposed by the classical technique. The ‘‘exact’’ method also uses measurements of the shifts in the resonant conditions of the cavity. Third, an electromagnetic analysis is presented which uses a characteristic equation, based upon Maxwell’s laws, and predicts the discharge conductivity based upon measurements of a complex axial wave number. By allowing the axial wave number of the electromagnetic fields to be complex, the fields are experimentally and theoretically shown to be spatially attenuated. The diagnostics are applied to continuous‐wave microwave (2.45 GHz) discharges produced in an Asmussen resonant cavity. Double Langmuir probes, placed directly in the discharge at the point where the radial electric field is zero, act as a comparison with the analytic diagnostics. Microwave powers ranging from 30 to 100 W produce helium and nitrogen discharges with pressures ranging from 0.5 to 6 Torr. Analysis of the data predicts electron temperatures from 5 to 20 eV, electron densities from 1011 to 3×1012 cm−3, and collision frequencies from 109 to 1011 s−1.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69731/2/JAPIAU-74-6-3724-1.pd

A combined continuous‐wave and pulsed microwave copper chloride discharge

Pulsed and continuous‐wave microwaves at 2.45 GHz combined in an Asmussen resonant cavity are used to vaporize, dissociate, and excite copper chloride discharges. Steady state microwaves from 50 to 150 W sustain a microwave discharge which heats and dissociates the copper chloride to a sufficient vapor pressure. A variable frequency (2.45 to 2.60 GHz) pulsed microwave source with pulse widths ranging from 0.5 to 2 ms, repetition rates of 500 to 5000 Hz and a peak output power of 4,500 W then excites the copper atomic states. The two microwave signals are superimposed using a hybrid junction before input into the resonant cavity. Microwave frequencies of the pulsed portion of the signal around 2.50 GHz provided maximum absorption by the discharge. This device is being examined as a potential pump source for a copper vapor laser.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70269/2/RSINAK-63-2-1792-1.pd

Identification of Equid herpesvirus 2 in tissue-engineered equine tendon

Background: Incidental findings of virus-like particles were identified following electron microscopy of tissue-engineered tendon constructs (TETC) derived from equine tenocytes. We set out to determine the nature of these particles, as there are few studies which identify virus in tendons per se, and their presence could have implications for tissue-engineering using allogenic grafts. Methods: Virus particles were identified in electron microscopy of TETCs. Virion morphology was used to initially hypothesise the virus identity.  Next generation sequencing was implemented to identify the virus. A pan herpesvirus PCR was used to validate the RNASeq findings using an independent platform. Histological analysis and biochemical analysis was undertaken on the TETCs. Results: Morphological features suggested the virus to be either a retrovirus or herpesvirus. Subsequent next generation sequencing mapped reads to Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV2). Histological examination and biochemical testing for collagen content revealed no significant differences between virally affected TETCs and non-affected TETCs. An independent set of equine superficial digital flexor tendon tissue (n=10) examined using designed primers for specific EHV2 contigs identified at sequencing were negative. These data suggest that EHV is resident in some equine tendon. Conclusions: EHV2 was demonstrated in equine tenocytes for the first time; likely from in vivo infection. The presence of EHV2 could have implications to both tissue-engineering and tendinopathy