Processing and Properties of High-Entropy Ultra-High Temperature Carbides

The research was supported by the EPSRC Programme Grant XMAT [EP/K008749/2]. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from projects: APVV-15-0469 & VEGA 2/0163/16

The evolving definition of carcinogenic human papillomavirus

Thirteen human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes have been judged to be carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic, and the cause of virtually all cervical cancer worldwide. Other HPV genotypes could possibly be involved. Although the inclusion of possibly carcinogenic HPV genotypes may hurt test specificity, it may indirectly increase the reassurance following a negative HPV test (i.e. the negative predictive value of an HPV test for cervical precancer and cancer). The future of cervical cancer screening in low-resource setting, however, may include once-in-a-lifetime, low-cost and rapid HPV testing. However, the tradeoff of more false positives for greater reassurance may not be acceptable if the local infrastructure cannot manage the screen positives. Now is the time for the community of scientists, doctors, and public health advocates to use the data presented at the 100th International Agency for Research on Cancer monograph meeting to rationally decide the target HPV genotypes for the next generation of HPV tests for use in high-resource and low-resource settings. The implications of including possibly HPV genotypes on HPV test performance, also for guidance on the use of these tests for cervical cancer prevention programs, are discussed

Modeling the power flow in normal conductor-insulator-superconductor junctions

Normal conductor-insulator-superconductor (NIS) junctions promise to be interesting for x-ray and phonon sensing applications, in particular due to the expected self-cooling of the N electrode by the tunneling current. Such cooling would enable the operation of the active element of the sensor below the cryostat temperature and at a correspondingly higher sensitivity. It would also allow the use of MS junctions as microcoolers. At present, this cooling has not been realized in large area junctions (suitable for a number of detector applications). In this article, we discuss a detailed modeling of the heat flow in such junctions; we show how the heat flow into the normal electrode by quasiparticle back-tunneling and phonon absorption from quasiparticle pair recombination can overcompensate the cooling power. This provides a microscopic explanation of the self-heating effects we observe in our large area NIS junctions. The model suggests a number of possible solutions

In-flight absolute radiometric calibration of the thematic mapper

The TM multispectral scanner system was calibrated in an absolute manner before launch. To determine the temporal changes of the absolute radiometric calibration of the entire system, spectroradiometric measurements of the ground and the atmosphere were made simultaneously with TM collections over White Sands, New Mexico. By entering the measured values in an atmospheric radiative transfer program, the radiance levels of the in four of the spectral bands of the TM were determined. Tables show values for the reflectance of snow at White Sands measured by a modular 8 channel radiometer, and values for exoatmospheric irradiance within the TM passbands, calculated for the Earth-Sun distance using a solar radiometer

In-flight absolute radiometric calibration of the thematic mapper

In order to determine temporal changes of the absolute radiometric calibration of the entire TM system in flight spectroradiometric measurements of the ground and the atmosphere were made simultaneously with TM image collections over the White Sands, New Mexico area. By entering the measured values in an atmospheric radiative transfer program, the radiance levels in four of the spectral bands of the TM were determined, band 1:0.45 to 0.52 micrometers, band 2:0.53 to 0.61 micrometers band 3:0.62 to 0.70 micrometers and 4:0.78 to 0.91 micrometers. These levels were compared to the output digital counts from the detectors that sampled the radiometrically measured ground area, thus providing an absolute radiometric calibration of the entire TM system utilizing those detectors

Acute study of dose-dependent effects of (-)-epicatechin on vascular function in healthy male volunteers: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS There is convincing clinical evidence to suggest that flavanol-containing foods/beverages are capable of inducing improvements in human vascular function. However, whilst (-)-epicatechin has been tested for efficacy, a full dose-dependency has yet to be established, particularly at doses below 1 mg/kg BW. The current study examined the dose-dependent effects of (-)-epicatechin on human vascular function with concurrent measurement of plasma (-)-epicatechin metabolites and levels of circulating nitrite and nitrate species, NOx. METHODS An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention trial was conducted in 20 healthy males with 4 treatment arms: water-based (-)-epicatechin (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg BW) and a water only as control. Vascular function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measured at the brachial artery, laser Doppler imaging with iontophoresis (LDI) at the subcutaneous capillaries of the forearm (response to Ach and SNP) and peripheral blood pressure (BP) at baseline, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h post-intervention. Plasma analysis of epicatechin metabolites was conducted by LC-MS and circulating plasma of nitrite and nitrate species were performed using an HPLC-based system (ENO-30). RESULTS Significant increases in % FMD were found to occur at 1 and 2 h following intake of 1 mg/kg BW, and at 2 h for the 0.5 mg/kg BW intake. There were no significant changes in LDI or BP at any time-points or intake levels. Increases in FMD over the 6 h timeframe were closely paralleled by the appearance of total plasma (-)-epicatechin metabolites. Non-significant changes in circulating NOx was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our data add further evidence that (-)-epicatechin is a causal vasoactive molecule within flavanol-containing foods/beverages. In addition, we show for the first time that intake levels as low as 0.5 mg/kg BW are capable of inducing acute improvements in vascular function (FMD) in healthy volunteers

Prevalence and Predictors of Household Food Insecurity among Adult/Youth Dyads at the Initiation of the iCook 4-H Two-Year Obesity Prevention Study

Objective: Determine food insecurity prevalence and predictors among adult/youth dyads enrolled in a childhood obesity prevention study (iCook 4-H).Methods: The iCook 4-H intervention was designed for youth (9-10 years old) and their adult main meals preparer to cook, eat, and play together. Although not an inclusion criteria, diverse, low income, and/or rural families were the target during recruitment. At baseline, adults completed surveys on food insecurity, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and youth anthropometrics were collected with body mass index (BMI) calculated. Descriptive statistics were computed and chi-square analysis was conducted to test differences between potential predictors and food insecurity. Binomial logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between food insecurity and its predictors.Results: Thirty-four percent of households (n=71 of 206) were food insecure. Youth were primarily white (69.9%) and normal weight (58.3%). Adults were also primarily white (74.8%), overweight or obese (67.9%), married (68.9%), not participating in government assistance programs (57.8%), and held no college degree (55.3%). Based on the logistic regression model, households with a non-white youth (OR=13.53; 95% CI=3.33, 55.05), an adult without a college degree (OR=5.62; 95% CI=2.01, 15.73), and government assistance program participation (OR=5.63; 95% CI=2.63, 12.07) were significantly associated with household food insecurity. However, there was no significant association with BMI found (youth p=0.167; adult p=0.179).Conclusion: Consistent with previous findings, household food insecurity status was associated with youth race, adult education, and government assistance program participation. In contrast, no relationship between BMI and food insecurity status was observed in this study, which warrants further investigation

Topics in Quantum Computers

I provide an introduction to quantum computers, describing how they might be realized using language accessible to a solid state physicist. A listing of the minimal requirements for creating a quantum computer is given. I also discuss several recent developments in the area of quantum error correction, a subject of importance not only to quantum computation, but also to some aspects of the foundations of quantum theory.Comment: 22 pages, Latex, 1 eps figure, Paper to be published in "Mesoscopic Electron Transport", edited by L. Kowenhoven, G. Schoen and L. Sohn, NATO ASI Series E, Kluwer Ac. Publ., Dordrecht. v2: typos in refrences fixe