Sensitivity of galaxy cluster dark energy constraints to halo modeling uncertainties

We perform a sensitivity study of dark energy constraints from galaxy cluster surveys to uncertainties in the halo mass function, bias and the mass-observable relation. For a set of idealized surveys, we evaluate cosmological constraints as priors on sixteen nuisance parameters in the halo modeling are varied. We find that surveys with a higher mass limit are more sensitive to mass-observable uncertainties while surveys with low mass limits that probe more of the mass function shape and evolution are more sensitive to mass function errors. We examine the correlations among nuisance and cosmological parameters. Mass function parameters are strongly positively (negatively) correlated with Omega_DE (w). For the mass-observable parameters, Omega_DE is most sensitive to the normalization and its redshift evolution while w is more sensitive to redshift evolution in the variance. While survey performance is limited mainly by mass-observable uncertainties, the current level of mass function error is responsible for up to a factor of two degradation in ideal cosmological constraints. For surveys that probe to low masses (10^13.5 h^-1 M_sun), even percent-level constraints on model nuisance parameters result in a degradation of ~ sqrt{2} (2) on Omega_DE (w) relative to perfect knowledge.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted by PR

Invisible Force: Information Warfare and the Future of Conflict

The year is 2030. Large swaths of the world are destabilized. Famine is rampant due to the aftermath of the long legacy of failed globalization. Citizens from poorer countries are migrating to escape famine, war, climate change, and lack of opportunity created by failed states. Wealthier countries, worried about resource scarcity, close themselves off to the refugees. Amid all of this, quantum computing has been achieved, resulting in infinitely faster processing of more information than ever before. Quantum technology and a fracturing of the global alliances enable global elite to exercise control over information - resulting in a segmented Internet. Nations are now ruled by technocratic elites, some who remain committed to individual liberty and privacy, and others who extract data as a raw material from the lives of individuals, with no restrictions on its use other than profit. By 2030, the nature of information war has changed. Combined with new, ubiquitous technology and levels of individual customization from data extraction, people don’t even realize they’re being manipulated.https://digitalcommons.usmalibrary.org/aci_books/1023/thumbnail.jp

Noncatalytic chemical vapor deposition of graphene on high-temperature substrates for transparent electrodes

A noncatalytic chemical vapor deposition mechanism is proposed, where high precursor concentration, long deposition time, high temperature, and flat substrate are needed to grow large-area nanocrystalline graphene using hydrocarbon pyrolysis. The graphene is scalable, uniform, and with controlled thickness. It can be deposited on virtually any nonmetallic substrate that withstands ∼1000 °C. For typical examples, graphene grown directly on quartz and sapphire shows transmittance and conductivity similar to exfoliated or metal-catalyzed graphene, as evidenced by transmission spectroscopy and transport measurements. Raman spectroscopy confirms the sp 2-C structure. The model and results demonstrate a promising transfer-free technique for transparent electrode production.</p

Growth mechanism of graphene on platinum:Surface catalysis and carbon segregation

A model of the graphene growth mechanism of chemical vapor deposition on platinum is proposed and verified by experiments. Surface catalysis and carbon segregation occur, respectively, at high and low temperatures in the process, representing the so-called balance and segregation regimes. Catalysis leads to self-limiting formation of large area monolayer graphene, whereas segregation results in multilayers, which evidently "grow from below." By controlling kinetic factors, dominantly monolayer graphene whose high quality has been confirmed by quantum Hall measurement can be deposited on platinum with hydrogen-rich environment, quench cooling, tiny but continuous methane flow and about 1000°C growth temperature.</p

Early outcomes of gastrostomy feeding in paediatric allogenic bone marrow transplantation: A retrospective cohort study

Background: Nutrition support is an essential component of care for a child undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Enteral nutrition (EN) is becoming increasingly recognised as having advantages over parenteral nutrition (PN) and recommended as first-line nutrition support. EN has traditionally been provided via nasogastric tube (NGT). Gastrostomies avoid certain complications associated with NGTs and could provide a preferential alternative. Aims: To compare nutritional and post-transplantation outcomes during admission, the primary outcome being PN use, between children who had a gastrostomy placed prophylactically prior to BMT versus those who had not. Methods: Electronic medical records of children transplanted between January 2014 and May 2018 within a single-centre were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes between the gastrostomy group (n = 54) and non-gastrostomy group (n = 91) were compared. Results: Multivariate regression analyses showed children in the gastrostomy group were less likely to require PN (odds ratio (OR) 0.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2–0.9; P = 0.049), initiated PN later if required (hazard ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.8; P = 0.005), more often received EN as first-line nutrition support (P < 0.001) and more frequently required EN post-discharge (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.1–5.4; P = 0.029). No differences were found between groups on length of admission, day 100 overall survival, incidence of graft-versus-host-disease, positive blood cultures and changes in weight or albumin during admission. Conclusions: Providing EN via gastrostomy is feasible in this population and may be more acceptable to older children than NGTs. Weighing up the potential benefits against the potential risks of prophylactic gastrostomy placement in these high-risk children is a challenging decision. Further research investigating safety, longer-term outcomes and family perceptions of gastrostomy feeding is required

Controllable chemical vapor deposition of large area uniform nanocrystalline graphene directly on silicon dioxide

Metal-catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of large area uniform nanocrystalline graphene on oxidized silicon substrates is demonstrated. The material grows slowly, allowing for thickness control down to monolayer graphene. The as-grown thin films are continuous with no observable pinholes, and are smooth and uniform across whole wafers, as inspected by optical-, scanning electron-, and atomic force microscopy. The sp 2 hybridized carbon structure is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Room temperature electrical measurements show ohmic behavior (sheet resistance similar to exfoliated graphene) and up to 13 of electric-field effect. The Hall mobility is ∼40 cm 2/Vs, which is an order of magnitude higher than previously reported values for nanocrystalline graphene. Transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transport measurements indicate a graphene crystalline domain size ∼10 nm. The absence of transfer to another substrate allows avoidance of wrinkles, holes, and etching residues which are usually detrimental to device performance. This work provides a broader perspective of graphene CVD and shows a viable route toward applications involving transparent electrodes. </p

2014-2015 Mostly Music: Bach

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_mostlymusic/1023/thumbnail.jp

Comprehension as social and intellectual practice: Rebuilding curriculum in low socioeconomic and cultural minority schools

This article reframes the concept of comprehension as a social and intellectual practice. It reviews current approaches to reading instruction for linguistically and culturally diverse and low socioeconomic students, noting an emphasis on comprehension as autonomous skills. The Four Resources model (Freebody &amp; Luke, 1990) is used to make the case for the integration of comprehension instruction with an emphasis on student cultural and community knowledge, and substantive intellectual and sociocultural content in elementary school curricula. Illustrations are drawn from research underway on the teaching of literacy in primary schools in low SES communities

The mass function of dark matter haloes

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74906/1/j.1365-8711.2001.04029.x.pd