2,311 research outputs found
The effect of surface character on flows in microchannels
A technique for quantifying velocity profiles of fluids flowing in circular microchannels is presented. The primary purpose of this technique is to provide a robust method for quantifying the effect Of Surface character on the bulk fluid behaviour. A laser-scanning confocal microscope has been used to obtain fluorescent particle images from a 1 micron thick plane along the centreline of hydrophobic and hydrophilic glass capillaries. The velocities of fluorescent particles being carried in pressure-driven laminar flow of a Newtonian fluid have been evaluated at the centreplane of 57.5 micron capillaries using a variation of particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). This work aims to clarify inconsistencies in previously reported [1-12] slip velocities observed in water over hydrophobically modified surfaces at micron and submicron lengthscales. A change in the velocity profile is observed for water flowing in hydrophobic capillaries, although the behaviour appears to be a result of an optical distortion at the fluid-wall interface. This may point to previous suggestions of a thin layer of air adsorbing to the surface. Notwithstanding, the results do not confidently suggest evidence of slip of water on hydrophobic surfaces in microchannels
A protocol for co-creating research project lay summaries with stakeholders:Guideline development for Canada's AGE-WELL Network
Background
Funding bodies increasingly require researchers to write lay summaries to communicate projects’ real-world relevance to the public in an accessible way. However, research proposals and findings are generally not easily readable or understandable by non-specialist readers. Many researchers find writing lay summaries difficult because they typically write for fellow subject specialists or academics rather than the general public or a non-specialist audience. The primary objective of our project is to develop guidelines for researchers in Canada’s AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence, and ultimately various other disciplines, sectors, and institutions, to co-create lay summaries of research projects with stakeholders. To begin, we produced a protocol for co-creating a lay summary based on workshops we organized and facilitated for an AGE-WELL researcher. This paper presents the lay summary co-creation protocol that AGE-WELL researchers will be invited to use.
Methods
Eligible participants in this project will be 24 AgeTech project researchers who are funded by the AGE-WELL network in its Core Research Program 2020. If they agree to participate in this project, we will invite them to use our protocol to co-produce a lay summary of their respective projects with stakeholders. The protocol comprises six steps: Investigate principles of writing a good lay summary, identify the target readership, identify stakeholders to collaborate with, recruit the identified stakeholders to work on a lay summary, prepare for workshop sessions, and execute the sessions. To help participants through the process, we will provide them with a guide to developing an accessible, readable research lay summary, help them make decisions, and host, and facilitate if needed, their lay summary co-creation workshops.
Discussion
Public-facing research outputs, including lay summaries, are increasingly important knowledge translation strategies to promote the impact of research on real-world issues. To produce lay summaries that include information that will interest a non-specialist readership and that are written in accessible language, stakeholder engagement is key. Furthermore, both researchers and stakeholders benefit by participating in the co-creation process. We hope the protocol helps researchers collaborate with stakeholders effectively to co-produce lay summaries that meet the needs of both the public and project funders
Piecing the Solar Neutrino Puzzle Together at SNO
We perform an oscillation parameter-independent analysis of solar neutrino
flux measurements from which we predict the charged-current rate at SNO
relative to Standard Solar Model to be for oscillations to active (sterile) neutrinos. By
alternately considering the B flux normalization fixed and free, we find
that the flux measured by Super-Kamiokande (SK) not being a result of
oscillations is strongly disfavored for oscillations to active neutrinos. SNO
will determine the best-fit value of the B flux normalization
(equal to the neutral-current rate), without recourse to neutral-current
measurements, from the derived relation . Using a simple parameterization of the fraction of high,
intermediate, and low energy solar neutrinos starting above resonance, we
reproduce the results of global analyses to good accuracy; we find that the LMA
solution with a normal mass hierarchy is clearly favored. With free,
our analysis for oscillations to active neutrinos gives
, which corresponds to .Comment: Version to appear in PL
Magnetic moments of W 5d in Ca2CrWO6 and Sr2CrWO6 double perovskites
We have investigated the magnetic moment of the W ion in the ferrimagnetic
double perovskites Sr2CrWO6 and Ca2CrWO6 by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism
(XMCD) at the W L(2,3) edges. In both compounds a finite negative spin and
positive orbital magnetic moment was detected. The experimental results are in
good agreement with band-structure calculations for (Sr/Ca)2CrWO6 using the
full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method. It is remarkable, that the
magnetic ordering temperature, TC, is correlated with the magnetic moment at
the 'non-magnetic' W atom.Comment: accepted for publicatio
Chaotic flow and efficient mixing in a micro-channel with a polymer solution
Microscopic flows are almost universally linear, laminar and stationary
because Reynolds number, , is usually very small. That impedes mixing in
micro-fluidic devices, which sometimes limits their performance. Here we show
that truly chaotic flow can be generated in a smooth micro-channel of a uniform
width at arbitrarily low , if a small amount of flexible polymers is added
to the working liquid. The chaotic flow regime is characterized by randomly
fluctuating three-dimensional velocity field and significant growth of the flow
resistance. Although the size of the polymer molecules extended in the flow may
become comparable with the micro-channel width, the flow behavior is fully
compatible with that in a table-top channel in the regime of elastic
turbulence. The chaotic flow leads to quite efficient mixing, which is almost
diffusion independent. For macromolecules, mixing time in this microscopic flow
can be three to four orders of magnitude shorter than due to molecular
diffusion.Comment: 8 pages,7 figure
Effects of Neutrino Oscillation on the Supernova Neutrino Spectrum
The effects of three-flavor neutrino oscillation on the supernova neutrino
spectrum are studied. We calculate the expected event rate and energy spectra,
and their time evolution at the Superkamiokande (SK) and the Sudbury Neutrino
Observatory (SNO), by using a realistic neutrino burst model based on numerical
simulations of supernova explosions. We also employ a realistic density profile
based on a presupernova model for the calculation of neutrino conversion
probability in supernova envelopes. These realistic models and numerical
calculations allow us to quantitatively estimate the effects of neutrino
oscillation in a more realistic way than previous studies. We then found that
the degeneracy of the solutions of the solar neutrino problem can be broken by
the combination of the SK and SNO detections of a future Galactic supernova.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figures, corrected versio
Tracing star formation in galaxies with molecular line and continuum observations
We report our recent progress on extragalactic spectroscopic and continuum
observations, including HCN(J=1-0), HCO(J=1-0), and CN(N=1-0) imaging
surveys of local Seyfert and starburst galaxies using the Nobeyama Millimeter
Array, high-J CO observations (J=3-2 observations using the Atacama
Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) and J=2-1 observations with the
Submillimeter Array) of galaxies, and 1.1 mm continuum observations
of high-z violent starburst galaxies using the bolometer camera AzTEC mounted
on ASTE.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, To appear in proceedings of "Far-Infrared and
Submillimeter Emission of the Interstellar Medium", EAS Publication Series,
Bad Honnef, November 2007, Eds. C. Kramer, S. Aalto, R. Simon. See
http://www.nro.nao.ac.jp/~f0212kk/FIR07/kk-ver20.pdf for a version with high
resolution figure
Detection of a Single Identical Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Strain in Recently Seroconverted Young Women
Infection with multiple CMV strains is common in immunocompromised hosts, but its occurrence in normal hosts has not been well-studied.We analyzed CMV strains longitudinally in women who acquired CMV while enrolled in a CMV glycoprotein B (gB) vaccine trial. Sequencing of four variable genes was performed in samples collected from seroconversion and up to 34 months thereafter.199 cultured isolates from 53 women and 65 original fluids from a subset of 19 women were sequenced. 51 women were infected with one strain each without evidence for genetic drift; only two women shed multiple strains. Genetic variability among strains increased with the number of sequenced genetic loci. Nevertheless, 13 of 53 women proved to be infected with an identical CMV strain based on sequencing at all four variable genes. CMV vaccine did not alter the degree of genetic diversity amongst strains.Primary CMV infection in healthy women nearly always involves shedding of one strain that remains stable over time. Immunization with CMVgB-1 vaccine strain is not selective against specific strains. Although 75% of women harbored their unique strain, or a strain shared with only one other woman, 25% shared a single common strain, suggesting that this predominant strain with a particular combination of genetic loci is advantageous in this large urban area
A Technical Roadmap for Autonomy for Marine Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
NPS NRP Executive SummaryThe Marines desire to leverage automation in their next Future Vertical Lift (FVL) platform, meaning they must define the human-FVL teaming interactions. The FVL will operate in a wide spectrum of flight regimes, from remotely piloted, to fully manned, to mostly automatic, and in combinations of the above. This broadened operating approach necessitates that understanding the various human machine teaming interdependent interactions across this diverse operating spectrum be completely delineated. NPS is well positioned to assist. Three approaches are considered: Use Co-active Design, since it is a rigorous engineering process that captures these interactions and interdependencies, develops workflows, and identifies resilient paths for human machine teaming using interdependence analysis (IA); define an FVL 'Living Lab' (LL) that the FVL program management office (PMO) could use to explore technical and concept tradeoffs; establish the cost/benefit relationships of these approaches; and design approaches to developing trust within this operating framework. The topic sponsor desires these techniques so as to create a PMO that decreases the speed at which technical tradeoffs can be identified and made.HQMC Aviation (AVN)This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
A Technical Roadmap for Autonomy for Marine Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
NPS NRP Project PosterThe Marines desire to leverage automation in their next Future Vertical Lift (FVL) platform, meaning they must define the human-FVL teaming interactions. The FVL will operate in a wide spectrum of flight regimes, from remotely piloted, to fully manned, to mostly automatic, and in combinations of the above. This broadened operating approach necessitates that understanding the various human machine teaming interdependent interactions across this diverse operating spectrum be completely delineated. NPS is well positioned to assist. Three approaches are considered: Use Co-active Design, since it is a rigorous engineering process that captures these interactions and interdependencies, develops workflows, and identifies resilient paths for human machine teaming using interdependence analysis (IA); define an FVL 'Living Lab' (LL) that the FVL program management office (PMO) could use to explore technical and concept tradeoffs; establish the cost/benefit relationships of these approaches; and design approaches to developing trust within this operating framework. The topic sponsor desires these techniques so as to create a PMO that decreases the speed at which technical tradeoffs can be identified and made.HQMC Aviation (AVN)This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
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