Generation of Inhomogeneous Acoustic Waves Using an Array of Loudspeakers

In previous studies it has been shown that pressure fields created by inhomogeneous sound waves (waves which decay in a direction perpendicular to their propagation direction) are able to transmit energy into objects more effectively than ones created by conventional sound waves. This behavior may be useful in the detection of hidden explosive threats. To explore this, a device capable of constructing inhomogeneous waves is being developed. The proposed device is an acoustic array consisting of several high-frequency speakers. The speakers are independently driven to construct a desired inhomogeneous pressure field on a target surface. Inhomogeneous pressure fields were reconstructed across a span of decay parameters and standoff distances. Results show low root-mean-square errors at realistic levels of power consumption. These results imply that the device can recreate desired inhomogeneous pressure fields with high enough accuracy and low enough power consumption to test the energy transmission properties of inhomogeneous waves on mock explosives, which may be useful in applications related to improvised explosive device detection and defeat

Two new families (Acari: Alicorhagiidae and Platyhelminthes: Prorhynchidae) reported for the Hungarian fauna from leaf litter in the Bükk Mountains

Two new members of the Hungarian fauna are reported, both of them were collected in beech forest leaf litter in the Bükk Mountains, North-East Hungary: Alicorhagia fragilis Berlese, 1910 (Arthropoda: Arachnida: Acari: Sarcopti- formes: Endeostigmata: Alicorhagiidae) and Geocentrophora baltica (Kennel, 1883) (Platyhelm inthes: Rhabditophora: Trepaxonemata: Amplimatricata: 'Lecithoepitheliata': Prorhynchida: Prorhynchidae). The families Alicorhagiidae and Prorhynchidae both represent new taxa in the fauna of the country

Comparison of negative and positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of oxidized deoxynucleosides

AbstractOxidized deoxynucleosides are widely used as biomarkers for DNA oxidation and oxidative stress assessment. Although gas chromatography mass spectrometry is widely used for the measurement of multiple DNA lesions, this approach requires complex sample preparation contributing to possible artifactual oxidation. To address these issues, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to measure 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyadenosine (8-OH-dA), 2-hydroxy-2′-deoxyadenosine (2-OH-dA), thymidine glycol (TG), and 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxyuridine (HMDU) in DNA samples with fast sample preparation. In order to selectively monitor the product ions of these precursors with optimum sensitivity for use during quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis, unique and abundant fragment ions had to be identified during MS/MS with collision-induced dissociation (CID). Positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectra with CID were compared for the analysis of these five oxidized deoxynucleosides. The most abundant fragment ions were usually formed by cleavage of the glycosidic bond in both positive and negative ion modes. However, in the negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectra of 8-OH-dG, 2-OH-dA, and 8-OH-dA, cleavage of two bonds within the sugar ring produced abundant S1 type ions with loss of a neutral molecule weighing 90 u, [M − H − 90]−. The signal-to-noise ratio was similar for negative and positive ion electrospray MS/MS except in the case of thymidine glycol where the signal-to-noise was 100 times greater in negative ionization mode. Therefore, negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with CID would be preferred to positive ion mode for the analysis of sets of oxidized deoxynucleosides that include thymidine glycol. Investigation of the fragmentation pathways indicated some new general rules for the fragmentation of negatively charged oxidized nucleosides. When purine nucleosides contain a hydroxyl group in the C8 position, an S1 type product ion will dominate the product ions due to a six-membered ring hydrogen transfer process. Finally, a new type of fragment ion formed by elimination of a neutral molecule weighing 48 (CO2H4) from the sugar moiety was observed for all three oxidized purine nucleosides

Performance and Benchmarking of Multisurface UHF RFID Tags for Readability and Reliability

As the price of passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags continues to decrease, more and more companies are considering item-level tagging. Although the use of RFID is simple, its proper application should be studied to achieve maximum efficiency and utilization in the industry. This paper is intended to demonstrate the test results of various multisurface UHF tags from different manufacturers for their readability under varying conditions such as orientation of tags with respect to reader, distance of tag from the reader, and materials used for embedding tags. These conditions could affect the reliability of RFID systems used for varied applications. In this paper, we implement a Design for Six Sigma Research (DFSS-R) methodology that allows for reliability testing of RFID systems. In this paper, we have showcased our results about the benchmarking of UHF RFID tags and have put forward an important observation about the blind spots observed at different distances and orientations along different surfaces, which is primarily due to the polarity of the antenna chosen

Metabolic syndrome among treatment-naïve people living with and without HIV in Zambia and Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional analysis.

INTRODUCTION Chronic viral replication has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in people living with HIV (PLWH), but few studies have evaluated this association in Southern Africa. We explored the determinants of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among treatment-naïve adults living with and without HIV in Southern Africa. METHODS Treatment-naïve PLWH and people living without HIV (PLWOH) ≥30 years were consecutively enrolled from primary care clinics in Zambia and Zimbabwe. PLWOH were seronegative partners or persons presenting for HIV testing. We defined MetS as the presence of central obesity plus any two of the following: raised blood pressure, impaired fasting glucose, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and raised triglycerides, as defined by the International Diabetes Federation. We used logistic regression to determine factors associated with MetS. RESULTS Between August 2019 and March 2022, we screened 1285 adults and enrolled 420 (47%) PLWH and 481 (53%) PLWOH. The median age was similar between PLWH and PLWOH (40 vs. 38 years, p < 0.24). In PLWH, the median CD4+ count was 228 cells/mm3 (IQR 108-412) and the viral load was 24,114 copies/ml (IQR 277-214,271). Central obesity was present in 365/523 (70%) females and 57/378 males (15%). MetS was diagnosed in 172/901 (19%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 17-22%), and prevalence was higher among females than males (27% vs. 9%). In multivariable analyses, HIV status was not associated with MetS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.05, 95% CI 0.74-1.51). Risk factors for MetS included age older than 50 years (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.49-3.59), female sex (aOR 3.47, 95% CI 2.15-5.60), highest income (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.39-3.44) and less than World Health Organization recommended weekly physical activity (aOR 3.35, 95% CI 1.41-7.96). CONCLUSIONS We report a high prevalence of MetS and central obesity among females in urban Zambia and Zimbabwe. Lifestyle factors and older age appear to be the strongest predictors of MetS in our population, with no evident difference in MetS prevalence between treatment-naïve PLWH and PLWOH

Liver steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease among HIV-positive and negative adults in urban Zambia.

INTRODUCTION The growing importance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and high HIV prevalence in urban African settings may increase the burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We assessed liver steatosis among HIV-positive and negative adults in urban Zambia. METHODS Adults 30 years and older who were newly diagnosed with HIV, or tested HIV-negative at two primary care clinics in Lusaka, Zambia, were assessed for liver steatosis. Cardiometabolic data were collected through comprehensive clinical and laboratory assessments. Transient elastography was performed to measure controlled-attenuation parameter (≥248 dB/m). We used multivariable logistic regression models to determine the factors associated with the presence of steatosis. RESULTS We enrolled 381 patients, including 154 (40%) antiretroviral therapy-naïve people living with HIV (PLWH) with a median CD4+ count of 247 cells/mm3 and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 23.8 kg/m2. Liver steatosis was observed in 10% of participants overall and was more common among HIV-negative adults than in PLWH (15% vs 3%). The proportion of patients with steatosis was 25% among obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) participants, 12% among those overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and 7% among those with a BMI 25 kg/m2 and liver steatosis was attenuated after adjustment for potential confounders (aOR 1.96, 95% CI 0.88-4.40). Overall, 21 (9%) participants without HIV and 4 (3%) with HIV met the criteria for MAFLD. Among individuals with liver steatosis, 65% (95% CI 49% to 80%) fulfilled criteria of MAFLD, whereas 15 (39%) of them had elevated transaminases and 3 (8%) F2-F4 fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of liver steatosis in this urban cohort of HIV-positive and negative adults in Zambia was low, despite a large proportion of patients with high BMI and central obesity. Our study is among the first to report data on MAFLD among adults in Africa, demonstrating that metabolic risk factors are key drivers of liver steatosis and supporting the adoption of the criteria for MAFLD in African populations

Implications of the Ammonia Distribution on Jupiter from 1 to 100 Bars as Measured by the Juno Microwave Radiometer

The latitude-altitude map of ammonia mixing ratio shows an ammonia-rich zone at 0-5degN, with mixing ratios of 320-340 ppm, extending from 40-60 bars up to the ammonia cloud base at 0.7 bars. Ammonia-poor air occupies a belt from 5-20degN. We argue that downdrafts as well as updrafts are needed in the 0-5degN zone to balance the upward ammonia flux. Outside the 0-20degN region, the belt-zone signature is weaker. At latitudes out to +/-40deg, there is an ammonia-rich layer from cloud base down to 2 bars which we argue is caused by falling precipitation. Below, there is an ammonia-poor layer with a minimum at 6 bars. Unanswered questions include how the ammonia-poor layer is maintained, why the belt-zone structure is barely evident in the ammonia distribution outside 0-20degN, and how the internal heat is transported through the ammonia-poor layer to the ammonia cloud base

Implications of the ammonia distribution on Jupiter from 1 to 100 bars as measured by the Juno microwave radiometer

The latitude‐altitude map of ammonia mixing ratio shows an ammonia‐rich zone at 0–5°N, with mixing ratios of 320–340 ppm, extending from 40–60 bars up to the ammonia cloud base at 0.7 bars. Ammonia‐poor air occupies a belt from 5–20°N. We argue that downdrafts as well as updrafts are needed in the 0–5°N zone to balance the upward ammonia flux. Outside the 0–20°N region, the belt‐zone signature is weaker. At latitudes out to ±40°, there is an ammonia‐rich layer from cloud base down to 2 bars that we argue is caused by falling precipitation. Below, there is an ammonia‐poor layer with a minimum at 6 bars. Unanswered questions include how the ammonia‐poor layer is maintained, why the belt‐zone structure is barely evident in the ammonia distribution outside 0–20°N, and how the internal heat is transported through the ammonia‐poor layer to the ammonia cloud base.Key PointsThe altitude‐latitude map of Jupiter’s ammonia reveals unexpected evidence of large‐scale circulation down at least to the 50‐bar levelA narrow equatorial band is the only region where ammonia‐rich air from below the 50‐bar level can reach the ammonia cloud at 0.7 barsAt higher latitudes the ammonia‐rich air appears to be blocked by a layer of ammonia‐poor air between 3 and 15 barsPlain Language SummaryJupiter is a fluid planet. It has no solid continents to stabilize the weather. Scientists have wondered what the weather is like below the clouds because it might explain why storms last for decades or hundreds of years on Jupiter. The Juno spacecraft is the first chance we have had to take a look beneath the clouds, and this is the first analysis of the Juno data. The surprise is that, deep down, Jupiter’s weather looks a lot like Earth’s, with ammonia gas taking the place of water vapor. There is a band of high humidity at the equator and bands of low humidity on either side of the equator, like Earth’s tropical and subtropical bands. What is different is that the bands go much deeper than anyone expected and this is all taking place on a planet without an ocean or a solid surface.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138332/1/grl56217_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138332/2/grl56217.pd

First radial velocity results from the MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA)

The MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA) is a dedicated observatory of four 0.7m robotic telescopes fiber-fed to a KiwiSpec spectrograph. The MINERVA mission is to discover super-Earths in the habitable zones of nearby stars. This can be accomplished with MINERVA's unique combination of high precision and high cadence over long time periods. In this work, we detail changes to the MINERVA facility that have occurred since our previous paper. We then describe MINERVA's robotic control software, the process by which we perform 1D spectral extraction, and our forward modeling Doppler pipeline. In the process of improving our forward modeling procedure, we found that our spectrograph's intrinsic instrumental profile is stable for at least nine months. Because of that, we characterized our instrumental profile with a time-independent, cubic spline function based on the profile in the cross dispersion direction, with which we achieved a radial velocity precision similar to using a conventional "sum-of-Gaussians" instrumental profile: 1.8 m s$^{-1}$ over 1.5 months on the RV standard star HD 122064. Therefore, we conclude that the instrumental profile need not be perfectly accurate as long as it is stable. In addition, we observed 51 Peg and our results are consistent with the literature, confirming our spectrograph and Doppler pipeline are producing accurate and precise radial velocities.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PASP, Peer-Reviewed and Accepte