Constraints on the equation of state of dark energy and the Hubble constant from stellar ages and the CMB

We place tight constraints on the redshift-averaged, effective value of the equation of state of dark energy, w, using only the absolute ages of Galactic stars and the observed position of the first peak in the angular power spectrum of the CMB. We find w<-0.8 at the 68% confidence level. If we further consider that w > -1, this finding suggests that within our uncertainties, dark energy is indistinguishable from a classical vacuum energy term. We detect a correlation between the ages of the oldest galaxies and their redshift. This opens up the possibility of measuring w(z) by computing the relative ages of the oldest galaxies in the universe as a function of redshift, dz/dt. We show that this is a realistic possibility by computing dz/dt at z~0 from SDSS galaxies and obtain an independent estimate for the Hubble constant, H_0 = 69 \pm 12 km s-1 Mpc-1. The small number of galaxies considered at z>0.2 does not yield, currently, a precise determination of w(z), but shows that the age--redshift relation is consistent with a Standard LCDM universe with $w=-1$.Comment: Submitted to Ap

Emerging new practices in technology to support independent community access for people with intellectual and cognitive disabilities

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/NRE-2011-0654.The concept of community access is a multidimensional term, which may involve issues related to physical access, knowledge and information, power and control, relationships and communications, advocacy, participation and quality of life [21]. This paper discusses historical and emerging practices and interventions related to physical access to community and community based information for individuals with cognitive disabilities such as intellectual disability, autism or traumatic brain injury. While much societal attention has been paid to features of independent community access for populations such as individuals with hearing, vision or physical disabilities, less attention has focused on independent community access for people with intellectual and other significant cognitive disabilities. Attitudes and actions by families and professional service communities are often mixed for some individuals in this population. The somewhat limited research base in these areas is explored, including a case study review and results from several promising feasibility studies. The paper concludes with comments concerning future prospects and recommendations for improving independent community access for persons with significant cognitiv

Flexible and stretchable power sources for wearable electronics.

Flexible and stretchable power sources represent a key technology for the realization of wearable electronics. Developing flexible and stretchable batteries with mechanical endurance that is on par with commercial standards and offer compliance while retaining safety remains a significant challenge. We present a unique approach that demonstrates mechanically robust, intrinsically safe silver-zinc batteries. This approach uses current collectors with enhanced mechanical design, such as helical springs and serpentines, as a structural support and backbone for all battery components. We show wire-shaped batteries based on helical band springs that are resilient to fatigue and retain electrochemical performance over 17,000 flexure cycles at a 0.5-cm bending radius. Serpentine-shaped batteries can be stretched with tunable degree and directionality while maintaining their specific capacity. Finally, the batteries are integrated, as a wearable device, with a photovoltaic module that enables recharging of the batteries

Self-directed career preference selection for individuals with intellectual disabilities: Using computer technology to enhance self-determination

This is the published version. Copyright 2003 IOS Press.Objectives: To conduct a preliminary study investigating the application of a self-directed video and audio software program to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities to express their vocational job preferences. A working software prototype, called WorkSight, was developed and field tested. Study design: The effectiveness of theWorkSight approach was assessed by comparing it to currently used career assessment tools via ratings by educators and agency professionals. WorkSight was also tested in terms of its efficacy to match the job preferences that were predicted by the same educators and agency professionals. A total of 25 adults with intellectual disabilities participated in this study. Results: Adults with intellectual disabilities were able to use the computer-based job preference assessment to determine career and job priorities. Conclusions: The use of technology providing multimedia-based work information has promise to enable persons with intellectual disabilities to express preferences and to improve job placement and matching activities

The Progenitors of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

Dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies present an evolutionary puzzle that we explore in 40 early- and late-type dwarfs in the Local Group and nearby field. Although dSphs formed stars over extended periods, today all but one are free of detectable interstellar matter (ISM), even in the Fornax dSph, where stars still formed 100 Myr ago. Combining metallicities for red giants with HI data from the literature, we show that the well-known offset in luminosity-metallicity (L-Z) relations for dSphs and dwarf irregular (dIrr) galaxies exists also when comparing only their old stellar populations: dSphs have higher mean stellar metallicities for a fixed luminosity. Evidently younger dSphs experienced more efficient enrichment than young dIrrs. Dwarf galaxies, whose locus in the L-Z diagram is consistent with that of dSphs even for baryonic luminosities, are the ``transition-type dwarfs'' Phoenix, DDO210, LGS3, Antlia, and KKR25. They have mixed dIrr/dSph morphologies, low stellar masses, low angular momentum, and HI contents of less than a few 10^6 solar masses. Unlike dIrrs, many transition-type dwarfs would closely resemble dSphs if their gas were removed; they are likely dSph progenitors. As gas removal is key, we consider the empirical evidence for various gas removal processes. We suggest that internal gas removal mechanisms are inadequate and favor ram pressure stripping to make dSphs. A combination of initial conditions and environment seems to support the formation of dSphs, which appear to form from small galaxies with active early star formation, whose evolution halts due to externally induced gas loss. Transition-type dwarfs then are dSphs that kept their ISM, and therefore should replace dSphs in isolated locations where stripping is ineffective. (Abridged)Comment: 25 pages in AASTeX two-column preprint style, 1 table, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal (April 2003 issue

Technology use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support employment activities: A single-subject design meta analysis

This is the published version. Copyright 2006 IOS PressObjectives: Technology has the potential to improve employment and rehabilitation related outcomes for persons with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of technology use on employment-related outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Study design: A comprehensive search of the literature pertaining to technology use by people with intellectual disabilities was conducted, and a single-subject design meta analysis was conducted for a subset of those studies, which focused on employment and rehabilitation related outcomes. Results: The use of technology to promote outcomes in this area was shown to be generally effective, in particular when universal design features were addressed. Conclusions: Technology has the potential to enable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve more positive employment and rehabilitation outcomes. It is important to focus on universal design features important to persons with cognitive disabilities, and there is a need for more research in this area

Non-linear operations in quantum information theory

Quantum information theory is used to analize various non-linear operations on quantum states. The universal disentanglement machine is shown to be impossible, and partial (negative) results are obtained in the state-dependent case. The efficiency of the transformation of non-orthogonal states into orthogonal ones is discussed.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, 3 figures on separate page