Augmented paper applications: Initial user tests of a wireless pattern reader

A handheld pattern reader has been developed to read low visibility conductive patterns on paper. The patterns are formed by masking conductive paper with a non-conductive, printed lacquer. The reader was developed as part of an EU-funded project investigating methods of augmenting paper. Data read from the patterns was used to trigger events in the digital domain. Usability tests were undertaken to investigate the performance of the prototype. Results showed that at this stage of development there was significant variation in performance of the prototype from user to user. Further work is being undertaken to determine the causes of this variability

Evolution of transport properties of BaFe2-xRuxAs2 in a wide range of isovalent Ru substitution

The effects of isovalent Ru substitution at the Fe sites of BaFe2-xRuxAs2 are investigated by measuring resistivity and Hall coefficient on high-quality single crystals in a wide range of doping (0 < x < 1.4). Ru substitution weakens the antiferromagnetic (AFM) order, inducing superconductivity for relatively high doping level of 0.4 < x < 0.9. Near the AFM phase boundary, the transport properties show non-Fermi-liquid-like behaviors with a linear-temperature dependence of resistivity and a strong temperature dependence of Hall coefficient with a sign change. Upon higher doping, however, both of them recover conventional Fermi-liquid behaviors. Strong doping dependence of Hall coefficient together with a small magnetoresistance suggest that the anomalous transport properties can be explained in terms of anisotropic charge carrier scattering due to interband AFM fluctuations rather than a conventional multi-band scenario.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Enhancement of plasticity in Ti-based metallic glass matrix composites by controlling characteristic and volume fraction of primary phase

In this study, Ti-based metallic glass matrix composites with high plasticity have been developed by controlling characteristic and volume fraction of primary phase embedded in the glass matrix. By careful alloy design procedure, the compositions of ß/glass phases, which are in metastable equilibrium have been properly selected, therefore the mechanical properties can be tailored by selecting the alloy compositions between the composition of ß and glass phases. The relation between the compressive yield strength and volume fraction of ß phase is well described using the rule of mixtures

Fast Fits for Lattice QCD Correlators

We illustrate a technique for fitting lattice QCD correlators to sums of exponentials that is significantly faster than traditional fitting methods --- 10--40 times faster for the realistic examples we present. Our examples are drawn from a recent analysis of the Upsilon spectrum, and another recent analysis of the D -> pi semileptonic form factor. For single correlators, we show how to simplify traditional effective-mass analyses.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Advancing time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy: The role of ultrafast laser development

In the last decade, there has been a proliferation of laser sources for time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TR-ARPES), building on the proven capability of this technique to tackle important scientific questions. In this review, we aim to identify the key motivations and technologies that spurred the development of various laser sources, from frequency up-conversion in nonlinear crystals to high-harmonic generation in gases. We begin with a historical overview of the field in Sec.1, framed by advancements in light source and electron spectrometer technology. An introduction to the fundamental aspects of the photoemission process and the observables that can be studied is given in Sec.2, along with its dependencies on the pump and probe pulse parameters. The technical aspects of TR-ARPES are discussed in Sec.3. Here, experimental limitations such as space charge and resultant trade-offs in source parameters are discussed. Details of various systems and their approach to these trade-offs are given in Sec.4. Within this discussion, we present a survey of TR-ARPES laser sources; a meta-analysis of these source parameters showcases the advancements and trends in modern systems. Lastly, we conclude with a brief discussion of future directions for TR-ARPES and its capabilities in elucidating equilibrium and non-equilibrium observables, as well as its integration with micro-ARPES and spin-resolved ARPES (Sec.5).Comment: 104 pages, 27 figure

Overexpression of Both Human Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) and BRG1-Bromodomain Synergistically Enhances Radioiodine Sensitivity by Stabilizing p53 through NPM1 Expression.

Improved therapeutic strategies are required to minimize side effects associated with radioiodine gene therapy to avoid unnecessary damage to normal cells and radiation-induced secondary malignancies. We previously reported that codon-optimized sodium iodide symporter (oNIS) enhances absorption of I-131 and that the brahma-associated gene 1 bromodomain (BRG1-BRD) causes inefficient DNA damage repair after high-energy X-ray therapy. To increase the therapeutic effect without applying excessive radiation, we considered the combination of oNIS and BRG1-BRD as gene therapy for the most effective radioiodine treatment. The antitumor effect of I-131 with oNIS or oNIS+BRD expression was examined by tumor xenograft models along with functional assays at the cellular level. The synergistic effect of both BRG1-BRD and oNIS gene overexpression resulted in more DNA double-strand breaks and led to reduced cell proliferation/survival rates after I-131 treatment, which was mediated by the p53/p21 pathway. We found increased p53, p21, and nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) in oNIS- and BRD-expressing cells following I-131 treatment, even though the remaining levels of citrulline and protein arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) were unchanged at the protein level

Strange Particles from NEXUS 3

After discussing conceptual problems with the conventional string model, we present a new approach, based on a theoretically consistent multiple scattering formalism. First results for strange particle production in proton-proton scattering at 158 GeV and at 200 GeV (cms) are discussed.Comment: invited talk, given at the Strange Quark Matter Conference, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, March 12-17, 200

The initial temporal evolution of a feedback dynamo for Mercury

Various possibilities are currently under discussion to explain the observed weakness of the intrinsic magnetic field of planet Mercury. One of the possible dynamo scenarios is a dynamo with feedback from the magnetosphere. Due to its weak magnetic field Mercury exhibits a small magnetosphere whose subsolar magnetopause distance is only about 1.7 Hermean radii. We consider the magnetic field due to magnetopause currents in the dynamo region. Since the external field of magnetospheric origin is antiparallel to the dipole component of the dynamo field, a negative feedback results. For an alpha-omega-dynamo two stationary solutions of such a feedback dynamo emerge, one with a weak and the other with a strong magnetic field. The question, however, is how these solutions can be realized. To address this problem, we discuss various scenarios for a simple dynamo model and the conditions under which a steady weak magnetic field can be reached. We find that the feedback mechanism quenches the overall field to a low value of about 100 to 150 nT if the dynamo is not driven too strongly

3D Arbitrary Channel Fabrication for Lab on a Chip Applications using Chemical Decomposition

This article demonstrate a simple method to use of three-dimensionally (3D) printed molds that are chemically decomposable for rapid fabrication of complex and arbitrary microchannel geometries. These complex microchannel are unachievable through existing soft lithography techniques. The molds are printed directly from hand held 3D printing pen that can print in midair, making rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices possible in hours. PLA based copper filament is used to print the arbitrary channels. The printed channels are then placed inside PDMS and PDMS is cured. The cured sample is then immersed in chemical solution (Acetic Acid + Sodium Chloride+ Hydrogen peroxide), which decomposes the PLA based copper channel thus leaving an empty channel inside the PDMS block. This method enable precise control of various device geometries, such as the profile of the channel cross-section and variable channel diameters in a single device

Small-amplitude collective modes of a finite-size unitary Fermi gas in deformed traps

We have investigated collective breathing modes of a unitary Fermi gas in deformed harmonic traps. The ground state is studied by the superfluid local density approximation (SLDA) and small-amplitude collective modes are studied by the iterative quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA). The results illustrate the evolutions of collective modes of a small system in traps from spherical to elongated or pancake-shaped deformations. For small spherical systems, the influences of different SLDA parameters are significant, and, in particular, a large pairing strength can shift up the oscillation frequency of collective modes. The transition currents from QRPA show that the compressional flow patterns are nontrivial and dependent on the deformation. Finally, the finite-size effects are demonstrated to be reasonable when progressing towards larger systems. The hydrodynamical results of collective frequencies can be reproduced by SLDA-QRPA with reduced pairing strengths. Our studies indicate that experiments on small and medium systems are valuable for understanding effective interactions in systems with varying sizes and trap deformations.Peer reviewe