Transmission of PhC coupled-resonator waveguide (PhCCRW) structure enhanced via mode matching

A method for increasing the coupling efficiency between ridge optical waveguides and PhCCRWs is described. This increase is achieved via W1 channel waveguide sections, formed within a two-dimensional triangular lattice photonic crystal using mode-matching. The mode-matching is achieved by low quality-factor modified cavities added to both the input and output ports of the PhCCRW. A three dimensional finite-difference time-domain method has been used to simulate light propagation through the modified PhCCRW. We have fabricated PhCCRWs working at 1.5µm in silicon-on-insulator material. Measurements and simulations show that the overall transmission is improved by a factor of two

Description of inclusive scattering of 4.045 GeV electrons from D

We exploit a relationship between the Structure Functions of nucleons, the physical deuteron and of a deuteron, composed of point-nucleons to compute angular distributions of inclusive cross sections of 4.05 GeV electrons. We report general agreement with data and interpret the remaining discrepancies. We discuss the potential of the data for information on neutron structure functions $F_k^n(x,Q^2)$ and the static form factor $G_M^n(Q^2)$.Comment: 9 pages,1 Fig., PS fil

Novel Biomarkers and the Future Potential of Biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

There is increasing importance placed upon noninvasive assessment of gut inflammation. These tools are likely to be the key in differentiating intestinal inflammatory disease from functional disorders and in monitoring the response to intervention in individuals with known inflammatory conditions. Although various noninvasive markers are currently available, they have limitations and do not provide ideal utility. This review focuses on emerging markers of gut inflammation, highlighting the potential of specific markers

Thermal reaction norms and the scale of temperature variation: latitudinal vulnerability of intertidal Nacellid limpets to climate change

The thermal reaction norms of 4 closely related intertidal Nacellid limpets, Antarctic (Nacella concinna), New Zealand (Cellana ornata), Australia (C. tramoserica) and Singapore (C. radiata), were compared across environments with different temperature magnitude, variability and predictability, to test their relative vulnerability to different scales of climate warming. Lethal limits were measured alongside a newly developed metric of “duration tenacity”, which was tested at different temperatures to calculate the thermal reaction norm of limpet adductor muscle fatigue. Except in C. tramoserica which had a wide optimum range with two break points, duration tenacity did not follow a typical aerobic capacity curve but was best described by a single break point at an optimum temperature. Thermal reaction norms were shifted to warmer temperatures in warmer environments; the optimum temperature for tenacity (Topt) increased from 1.0°C (N. concinna) to 14.3°C (C. ornata) to 18.0°C (an average for the optimum range of C. tramoserica) to 27.6°C (C. radiata). The temperature limits for duration tenacity of the 4 species were most consistently correlated with both maximum sea surface temperature and summer maximum in situ habitat logger temperature. Tropical C. radiata, which lives in the least variable and most predictable environment, generally had the lowest warming tolerance and thermal safety margin (WT and TSM; respectively the thermal buffer of CTmax and Topt over habitat temperature). However, the two temperate species, C. ornata and C. tramoserica, which live in a variable and seasonally unpredictable microhabitat, had the lowest TSM relative to in situ logger temperature. N. concinna which lives in the most variable, but seasonally predictable microhabitat, generally had the highest TSMs. Intertidal animals live at the highly variable interface between terrestrial and marine biomes and even small changes in the magnitude and predictability of their environment could markedly influence their future distributions

GRS computation of deep inelastic electron scattering on 4He

We compute cross sections for inclusive scattering of high energy electrons on 4He, based on the two lowest orders of the Gersch-Rodriguez-Smith (GRS) series. The required one- and two-particle density matrices are obtained from non-relativistic 4He wave functions using realistic models for the nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon interaction. Predictions for E=3.6 GeV agree well with the NE3 SLAC-Virginia data.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, submitted to PR

Generalized transparency in semi-inclusive processes

It is argued that the transparency of a medium for passage of a nucleon, knocked-out in a semi-inclusive $(e,e'p)$ reaction and subsequently scattered elastically, is not the same as the one measured in purely elastic scattering. Expressions are given for the properly generalized transparency and those are compared with recently proposed, alternative suggestions. Numerical results are presented for selected nuclear targets and kinematic conditions, applying to the Garino et al and the SLAC NE18 experiment.Comment: 24p.; added topdraw file for figures; WIS-93/48/Jun-P

Preparations for field testing for the performance validation of piled wind turbine foundations in expansive clays

Field-testing of piles in an expansive clay is required for the validation of the design criteria for wind turbine foundations in such soil profiles. The test programme includes lateral load tests to investigate the horizontal stiffness of the soil and vertical plug pull-out tests to examine the axial capacity of pile-soil interface. These tests will be conducted in both dry and wet conditions to study the range of expected responses of the pile and evaluate how the changing soil moisture condition affects the pile behaviour. In addition, an instrumented pile socketed into bedrock will be used to determine the strain induced in the pile due to soil heave as the soil saturation levels increase. For the execution of these tests, a large open area with expansive clay of a sufficient depth is required; a stable stratum below the clay is desirable for the socketing of the long piles. An important component of the investigation is the characterisation of the expansive clay profile. A preliminary site investigation has been carried out on the field-testing site which will be supported by further laboratory testing. Details of the soil profile and site characterisation which will be used in the future analyses of the fieldtesting results are presented

Genomic analysis of male puberty timing highlights shared genetic basis with hair colour and lifespan

The timing of puberty is highly variable and is associated with long-term health outcomes. To date, understanding of the genetic control of puberty timing is based largely on studies in women. Here, we report a multi-trait genome-wide association study for male puberty timing with an effective sample size of 205,354 men. We find moderately strong genomic correlation in puberty timing between sexes (rg = 0.68) and identify 76 independent signals for male puberty timing. Implicated mechanisms include an unexpected link between puberty timing and natural hair colour, possibly reflecting common effects of pituitary hormones on puberty and pigmentation. Earlier male puberty timing is genetically correlated with several adverse health outcomes and Mendelian randomization analyses show a genetic association between male puberty timing and shorter lifespan. These findings highlight the relationships between puberty timing and health outcomes, and demonstrate the value of genetic studies of puberty timing in both sexes

Predictions for the 4 GeV TJNAF inclusive electron scattering experiment and for FSI effects in EMC ratios

We express nuclear structure functions $F_i^A$ as generalized convolutions of the structure function of a nucleon and of a nucleus, composed of point-nucleons. In computations of the latter we include Final State Interactions and results for $F_2^A$ are compared with a few directly measured data on C and Fe. The above $F_i^A$ are primarily used for predictions of the TJNAF 89-008 inclusive scattering experiment of 4 GeV electrons on various targets. Those cover a broad angular, and correspondingly wide $x,Q^2$ range, where the nucleon-inelastic part dominates large sections of the covered kinematics. The same model has been applied to the study of hitherto neglected Final State Interaction effects in the nuclear component in EMC ratios in the region $0.85\lesssim x\lesssim 0.25$.Comment: 12 page