Charm Leptonic and Semileptonic Decays

Experimental results for the pseudoscalar decay constants f_{D} and f_{D_s} are reviewed. Semileptonic form factor results from D -> (pseudoscalar) l nu and D -> (vector) l nu decays are also reviewed.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, presented at the 11th International Conference on B-Physics at Hadron Machines (BEAUTY 2006) Sept. 25-29, Oxford, England; corrected typo

Short stack and full system test using a ceramic A-site deficient strontium titanate anode

Funding acknowledgement: SCOTAS FCHJU 256730A lanthanum and calcium co-doped A-site deficient strontium titanate (LSCTA–) was used as alternative anode material in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) with an active area of 100 cm2. Cell performance was tested in both short (5 cell) stack configuration, as well as a full HEXIS Galileo system (nominally 1 kW AC). Impregnation with various electrocatalysts, such as nickel and ceria, yielded promising fuel cell performance at this scale. The system test initially produced 70% of the nominal output power and is to the authors' knowledge the first all-oxide SOFC test on this scale. The strontium titanate backbone provides sufficient electronic conductivity to ensure acceptable ohmic losses. Power densities up to 200 mA cm−2 could be obtained at 900 °C, which compares well with Ni-cermet based anodes. Degradation is however severe at 900 °C, due to impregnate coarsening, but operation at 850 °C minimizes this effect. Short stacks could be stably operated for 1,600 hours with an output power of 100 mA cm−2. Stacks are redox stable, but currently not sulphur tolerant.PostprintPeer reviewe

The power to insure: Reducing insurance claims with new electricity options

The benefits to the insurance industry of distributed generation technologies, especially those that use clean energy generating sources, are reviewed

An evaluation of the impact of obesity related legislation

In attempt to address the adult obesity epidemic in the U.S., several state legislatures have enacted laws to curtail rates of adult obesity (Stein & Colditz, 2004). Recent enacted policies include: menu labeling laws, snack taxes, and Complete Streets policy (Robert Wood Johnson, 2009). The aim of this dissertation was to evaluate the effectiveness of existing legislative efforts to limit rates of growth of adult obesity. I examined if anti-obesity legislation effectively reduces rates of adult obesity and if anti-obesity policies differ in their ability to diminish adult obesity. Several panel data sets were constructed using reported data for each state and the District of Columbia from 1995 to 2011 via the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. Time series regression analysis was completed to assess the impact of these three policies at a state, group and individual level. At the state level, all three policies are associated with a decrease in adult obesity rates although, the magnitude is small and statistical significance varies by empirical model. At the individual level, all three policies are associated with a decrease in BMI, however, the magnitude is small and the only policy with statistical significance is menu labeling. At the group level, the policies vary in their effect on BMI by race, age, income, education and gender. Only menu labeling and snack tax policy are statistically significant at the group level. Although the magnitude of effect seen with these policies is small, any sign of a reversal in the growing obesity trend, a trend that has been unaltered for the past decade, could be seen as a sign of improvement from a public health perspective. The results of this study highlight how a one size fits all approach will not be effective in combating the obesity epidemic, rather an assortment of legislative policies are necessary

Investigation of the Factors Influencing Utilization of Health Services by Women in Turkey

We aimed to determine factors influencing utilization of health services by women in Turkey. Subject group of this descriptive study was 11.058 registered women of the Esentepe Regional Primary Healthcare Center. The sampling method recommended by the World Health Organization for field surveys was used. Survey questionnaires evaluating individuals' socio-demographic characteristics, perceived health status, and utilization of health services were conducted

Characteristics of Smoking Behavior Among Poor Pregnant Women in Izmir, Turkey: A Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVE: Despite the negative aspects of cigarette use on pregnant, the level of smoking is extremely high among low-income women during pregnancy