Noise spectra of stochastic pulse sequences: application to large scale magnetization flips in the finite size 2D Ising model

We provide a general scheme to predict and derive the contribution to the noise spectrum of a stochastic sequence of pulses from the distribution of pulse parameters. An example is the magnetization noise spectra of a 2D Ising system near its phase transition. At $T\le T_c$, the low frequency spectra is dominated by magnetization flips of nearly the entire system. We find that both the predicted and the analytically derived spectra fit those produced from simulations. Subtracting this contribution leaves the high frequency spectra which follow a power law set by the critical exponents.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. We improved text and included a predicted noise curve in Figure 4. 2 examples from Figure 3 are remove

Studying RFID adoption by SMES in the Taiwanese IT industry

With the advent of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), organisations have the opportunity to rethink how their organisation will operate and integrate in the supply chain. Especially for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), that they have limited resources adopting such an innovative technology (i.e. RFID) can be daunting. Literature indicates that SMEs that deal with implementation have so far only a few guidelines regarding specific opportunities and risks. This research is therefore trying to fill the gap by employing Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) techniques and utilising a questionnaire survey with the aim of exploring the factors that affect SMEs’ RFID adoption in the Taiwan Information Technology (IT) manufacturing industry. In doing so, the adoption factors which are classified into 3 different adopters categories named ready adopter (cost and management), initiator adopter (competitiveness and process efficiency) and unprepared adopter (IT management difficulties, IT implementation difficulties and cost of implementation) using EFA technique. A SMEs RFID adoption model is then proposed. It is anticipated that the findings of this research will not only enhance the research in RFID adoption in SMEs, but can also act as a reference for practitioners in the industry and researchers in the academic field

Prebiotic Oligosaccharides Potentiate Host Protective Responses against L. Monocytogenes Infection.

Prebiotic oligosaccharides are used to modulate enteric pathogens and reduce pathogen shedding. The interactions with prebiotics that alter Listeria monocytogenes infection are not yet clearly delineated. L. monocytogenes cellular invasion requires a concerted manipulation of host epithelial cell membrane receptors to initiate internalization and infection often via receptor glycosylation. Bacterial interactions with host glycans are intimately involved in modulating cellular responses through signaling cascades at the membrane and in intracellular compartments. Characterizing the mechanisms underpinning these modulations is essential for predictive use of dietary prebiotics to diminish pathogen association. We demonstrated that human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) pretreatment of colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2) led to a 50% decrease in Listeria association, while Biomos pretreatment increased host association by 150%. L. monocytogenes-induced gene expression changes due to oligosaccharide pretreatment revealed global alterations in host signaling pathways that resulted in differential subcellular localization of L. monocytogenes during early infection. Ultimately, HMO pretreatment led to bacterial clearance in Caco-2 cells via induction of the unfolded protein response and eIF2 signaling, while Biomos pretreatment resulted in the induction of host autophagy and L. monocytogenes vacuolar escape earlier in the infection progression. This study demonstrates the capacity of prebiotic oligosaccharides to minimize infection through induction of host-intrinsic protective responses

Oxygen stabilization induced enhancement in superconducting characteristics of high-Tc oxides

In an attempt to enhance the electrical and mechanical properties of the high temperature superconducting oxides, high T(sub c) composites were prepared composed of the 123 compounds and AgO. The presence of extra oxygen due to the decomposition of AgO at high temperature is found to stabilize the superconducting 123 phase. Ag is found to serve as clean flux for grain growth and precipitates as pinning center. Consequently, almost two orders of magnitude enhancement in critical current densities were also observed in these composites. In addition, these composites also show much improvement in workability and shape formation. On the other hand, proper oxygen treatment of Y5Ba6Cu11Oy was found to possibly stabilize superconducting phase with T(sub c) near 250 K. I-V, ac susceptibility, and electrical resistivity measurements indicate the existence of this ultra high T(sub c) phase in this compound. Detailed structure, microstructure, electrical, magnetic and thermal studies of the superconducting composites and the ultra high T(sub c) compound are presented and discussed