Scattering measurements on natural and model trees

The acoustical back scattering from a simple scale model of a tree has been experimentally measured. The model consisted of a trunk and six limbs, each with 4 branches; no foliage or twigs were included. The data from the anechoic chamber measurements were then mathematically combined to construct the effective back scattering from groups of trees. Also, initial measurements have been conducted out-of-doors on a single tree in an open field in order to characterize its acoustic scattering as a function of azimuth angle. These measurements were performed in the spring, prior to leaf development. The data support a statistical model of forest scattering; the scattered signal spectrum is highly irregular but with a remarkable general resemblance to the incident signal spectrum. Also, the scattered signal's spectra showed little dependence upon scattering angle

Epidemiology and potential preventative measures for viral infections in children with malignancy and those undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation.

In pediatric patients with malignancy and those receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants, bacterial and fungal infections have been the focus of fever and neutropenia episodes for decades. However, improved diagnostic capabilities have revealed viral pathogens as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Because of limited effective antiviral therapies, prevention of viral infections is paramount. Pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis and antiviral suppressive therapeutic approaches are reviewed. Additionally, infection control practices specific to this patient population are discussed. A comprehensive approach utilizing each of these can be effective at reducing the negative impact of viral infections

P1 finite element methods for an elliptic state-constrained distributed optimal control problem with Neumann boundary conditions

We investigate two P finite element methods for an elliptic state-constrained distributed optimal control problem with Neumann boundary conditions on general polygonal domains.

The potential of virtual reality technologies to support people with an autism condition: A case study of acceptance, presence and negative effects

There has been much potential and discussion about the application of virtual reality technologies (VRTs) using head-mounted displays (HMDs) for users with autism However, very few, if any studies, have yet to explore and investigate the acceptance, presence and ecological validity of these platforms. On the other hand, literature is well developed in areas such as virtual environments [18], virtual worlds [9], [19] and virtual reality [20], but few have considered the resurgence in head-mounted displays for autistic users. Many of the affordances associated with VEs and VWs may be applied HMDs and VRTs and so are also seen a potential opportunity for people with autism to tackle challenges faced on a daily basis. We present findings from a study conducted in the United States that worked with a HMD (Oculus Rift) and 29 participants with an autism condition. We ran the experiment in two phases. Phase I considered acceptance of this wearable technology; looking at issues of sensitivity. Phase II consider sense of presence, immersion, ecological validity and negative effects [16]. Concluding with pre- and post- anxiety measurements [17]. The paper will discuss the quantitative findings of the study

U(1)' solution to the mu-problem and the proton decay problem in supersymmetry without R-parity

The Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is plagued by two major fine-tuning problems: the mu-problem and the proton decay problem. We present a simultaneous solution to both problems within the framework of a U(1)'-extended MSSM (UMSSM), without requiring R-parity conservation. We identify several classes of phenomenologically viable models and provide specific examples of U(1)' charge assignments. Our models generically contain either lepton number violating or baryon number violating renormalizable interactions, whose coexistence is nevertheless automatically forbidden by the new U(1)' gauge symmetry. The U(1)' symmetry also prohibits the potentially dangerous and often ignored higher-dimensional proton decay operators such as QQQL and UUDE which are still allowed by R-parity. Thus, under minimal assumptions, we show that once the mu-problem is solved, the proton is sufficiently stable, even in the presence of a minimum set of exotics fields, as required for anomaly cancellation. Our models provide impetus for pursuing the collider phenomenology of R-parity violation within the UMSSM framework.Comment: Version published in Phys. Rev.

Pores in Bilayer Membranes of Amphiphilic Molecules: Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations Compared with Simple Mesoscopic Models

We investigate pores in fluid membranes by molecular dynamics simulations of an amphiphile-solvent mixture, using a molecular coarse-grained model. The amphiphilic membranes self-assemble into a lamellar stack of amphiphilic bilayers separated by solvent layers. We focus on the particular case of tension less membranes, in which pores spontaneously appear because of thermal fluctuations. Their spatial distribution is similar to that of a random set of repulsive hard discs. The size and shape distribution of individual pores can be described satisfactorily by a simple mesoscopic model, which accounts only for a pore independent core energy and a line tension penalty at the pore edges. In particular, the pores are not circular: their shapes are fractal and have the same characteristics as those of two dimensional ring polymers. Finally, we study the size-fluctuation dynamics of the pores, and compare the time evolution of their contour length to a random walk in a linear potential