A NEW BROADBAND CAVITY ENHANCED FREQUENCY COMB SPECTROSCOPY TECHNIQUE USING GHz VERNIER FILTERING.

We present a new approach to Cavity Enhanced - Direct Frequency Comb Spectroscopy where the full emission bandwidth of a Titanium:Sapphire laser is exploited at GHz resolution. The technique is based on a low-resolution Vernier filtering obtained with an appreciable --actively stabilized-- mismatch between the cavity Free Spectral Range and the laser repetition rate, using a diffraction grating and a split-photodiode footnote{Rutkowski it{et al}, Opt. Lett., 39(23)2014}. This particular approach provides an immunity to frequency-amplitude noise conversion, reaching an absorption baseline noise in the 10$^{-9}$,cm$^{-1}$ range with a cavity finesse of only 3000. Spectra covering 1800 cm$^{-1}$ ($sim$ 55 THz) are acquired in recording times of about 1 second, providing an absorption figure of merit of a few 10$^{-11}$,cm$^{-1}$/$sqrt{Hz}$. Initially tested with ambient air, we report progress in using the Vernier frequency comb method with a discharge source of small radicals. vspace{2cm

A scoping review on occupational science research in European contexts

Background A survey showed European occupational scientists cover a broad range in occupational science (OS) research, however, no contemporary overviews of European OS research exists, and current research may provide valuable information for OS and occupational therapy. Aim The aim was to provide an overview of contemporary European OS research. Materials and method A scoping review was performed, including studies conducted in Europe and published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy (BJOT), the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy (SJOT) or the Journal of Occupational Science (JOS) between 2015 and 2020. The journals were systematically searched, and quality assessment and thematic analysis were undertaken. Results Findings from 93 articles identified many studies from the Nordic countries. Most studies applied qualitative research methods. Theoretical concepts from OS were used in data generating and discussions. A wide range of demographics, and living conditions were explored. Recent articles took a reflexive stance on the positionality of the researcher/s. Conclusions This review highlights the diversity of OS research, suggesting a solid theoretical knowledge base within European OS research. Significance The results contribute to further development and maturation of the discipline of OS in Europe and internationally

Search for weakly interacting sub-eV particles with the OSQAR laser-based experiment: results and perspectives

Recent theoretical and experimental studies highlight the possibility of new fundamental particle physics beyond the Standard Model that can be probed by sub-eV energy experiments. The OSQAR photon regeneration experiment looks for "Light Shining through a Wall" (LSW) from the quantum oscillation of optical photons into "Weakly Interacting Sub-eV Particles" (WISPs), like axion or axion-like particles (ALPs), in a 9 T transverse magnetic field over the unprecedented length of $2 \times 14.3$ m. No excess of events has been detected over the background. The di-photon couplings of possible new light scalar and pseudo-scalar particles can be constrained in the massless limit to be less than $8.0\times10^{-8}$ GeV$^{-1}$. These results are very close to the most stringent laboratory constraints obtained for the coupling of ALPs to two photons. Plans for further improving the sensitivity of the OSQAR experiment are presented.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Ergodicity-breaking reveals time optimal decision making in humans

Ergodicity describes an equivalence between the expectation value and the time average of observables. Applied to human behaviour, ergodic theories of decision-making reveal how individuals should tolerate risk in different environments. To optimise wealth over time, agents should adapt their utility function according to the dynamical setting they face. Linear utility is optimal for additive dynamics, whereas logarithmic utility is optimal for multiplicative dynamics. Whether humans approximate time optimal behavior across different dynamics is unknown. Here we compare the effects of additive versus multiplicative gamble dynamics on risky choice. We show that utility functions are modulated by gamble dynamics in ways not explained by prevailing decision theory. Instead, as predicted by time optimality, risk aversion increases under multiplicative dynamics, distributing close to the values that maximise the time average growth of wealth. We suggest that our findings motivate a need for explicitly grounding theories of decision-making on ergodic considerations.Comment: 43 pages including supplementary methods & material

The spectrum of N₂ from 4,500 to 15,700 cm⁻¹ revisited with PGOPHER

International audienceUsing a reference molecular atlas to ensure self-consistency of wavelength calibration is widespread practice. Boesch & Reiners (Astronomy & Astrophysics 582 A43 (2015)) reported a line list from a discharge of molecular nitrogen from 4500 to 11000 cm −1 for this purpose. With a hollow-cathode discharge source, we have extended the experimental spectrum up to 15700 cm −1 , to include the range of Ti:sapphire lasers, since the density of N 2 lines is greater than atomic atlases in common use. Recognizing that experimental conditions can vary, we have also analysed the spectra (comprising several B ³Π g-A ³Σ u + , B' ³Σ u −-B ³Π g , and W ³Δ u-B ³Π g N 2 bands) with standard Hamiltonians, so that any part of the discharge spectrum 4500-15700 cm −1 can be simulated. Parameters are given to do this with the spectral simulation and analysis package PGOPHER. (C. Western, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Rad. Transf., 186, 221 (2016)). The analysis also included high-level ab initio calculations of potential energy curves, transition moments and spin-orbit coupling constants and these were used in preparing the model, extending the potential range of applicability. The results are available in a variety of formats to suit possible applications, including the experimental spectrum in ASCII, a detailed line list with positions and Einstein A coefficients, and a PGOPHER input file to synthesize the spectrum at selectable temperature and resolution.

Latest Results of the OSQAR Photon Regeneration Experiment for Axion-Like Particle Search

The OSQAR photon regeneration experiment searches for pseudoscalar and scalar axion-like particles by the method of "Light Shining Through a Wall", based on the assumption that these weakly interacting sub-eV particles couple to two photons to give rise to quantum oscillations with optical photons in strong magnetic field. No excess of events has been observed, which constrains the di-photon coupling strength of both pseudoscalar and scalar particles down to $5.7 \cdot 10^{-8}$ GeV$^{-1}$ in the massless limit. This result is the most stringent constraint on the di-photon coupling strength ever achieved in laboratory experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. appears in Proceedings of the 10th PATRAS Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs (2014

Patient profiling for success after weight loss surgery (GO Bypass study):An interdisciplinary study protocol

Despite substantial research efforts, the mechanisms proposed to explain weight loss after gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SL) do not explain the large individual variation seen after these treatments. A complex set of factors are involved in the onset and development of obesity and these may also be relevant for the understanding of why success with treatments vary considerably between individuals. This calls for explanatory models that take into account not only biological determinants but also behavioral, affective and contextual factors. In this prospective study, we recruited 47 women and 8 men, aged 25–56 years old, with a BMI of 45.8 ± 7.1 kg/m2 from the waiting list for RYGB and SL at Køge hospital, Denmark. Pre-surgery and 1.5, 6 and 18 months after surgery we assessed various endpoints spanning multiple domains. Endpoints were selected on basis of previous studies and include: physiological measures: anthropometrics, vital signs, biochemical measures and appetite hormones, genetics, gut microbiota, appetite sensation, food and taste preferences, neural sensitivity, sensory perception and movement behaviors; psychological measures: general psychiatric symptom-load, depression, eating disorders, ADHD, personality disorder, impulsivity, emotion regulation, attachment pattern, general self-efficacy, alexithymia, internalization of weight bias, addiction, quality of life and trauma; and sociological and anthropological measures: sociodemographic measures, eating behavior, weight control practices and psycho-social factors.Joining these many endpoints and methodologies from different scientific disciplines and creating a multi-dimensional predictive model has not previously been attempted. Data on the primary endpoint are expected to be published in 2018. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials. gov ID NCT02070081. Keywords: Gastric bypass (RYGB), Sleeve gastrectomy, Weight loss, Interdisciplinary, Study protoco

New games, new rules: big data and the changing context of strategy

Big data and the mechanisms by which it is produced and disseminated introduce important changes in the ways information is generated and made relevant for organizations. Big data often represents miscellaneous records of the whereabouts of large and shifting online crowds. It is frequently agnostic, in the sense of being produced for generic purposes or purposes different from those sought by big data crunching. It is based on varying formats and modes of communication (e.g., texts, image and sound), raising severe problems of semiotic translation and meaning compatibility. Crucially, the usefulness of big data rests on their steady updatability, a condition that reduces the time span within which this data is useful or relevant. Jointly, these attributes challenge established rules of strategy making as these are manifested in the canons of procuring structured information of lasting value that addresses specific and long-term organizational objectives. The developments underlying big data thus seem to carry important implications for strategy making, and the data and information practices with which strategy has been associated. We conclude by placing the understanding of these changes within the wider social and institutional context of longstanding data practices and the significance they carry for management and organizations

Zaštitno djelovanje selenija protiv prekomjerne ekspresije apoptotskih gena povezanih s karcinomom u štakora izloženih o-krezolu

Cresols are monomethyl derivatives of phenol frequently used as solvents and intermediates in the production of disinfectants, fragrances, pesticides, dyes, and explosives, which is probably why they are widely distributed in the environment. General population may be exposed to cresols mainly through inhalation of contaminated air. In this study we evaluated the toxicological effects of o-cresol on differential gene expression profile of rat liver and prostate. Experiments were conducted on 80 male rats, 60 of which were exposed to o-cresol (1.5 g kg-1, 5 g kg-1, or 15 g kg-1) through feed for 8 weeks. Three groups of rats were supplemented with 0.1 mg kg-1 selenium (Se, in the form of, sodium selenite) in addition to o-cresol to evaluate its effectiveness against o-cresol toxicity. Control group received neither o-cresol nor Se, while one group received Se alone. Survival was similar between the exposed and control animals. Rats exposed to 15 g kg-1 of o-cresol showed a 16 % loss in body weight by the end of the study, which may have been related to o-cresol making feed unpalatable at this concentration. Liver and prostate tissue samples were collected at the end of the treatment. mRNA analysis revealed that apoptotic genes (CYP3A, COX-2, PPARγ, BAX, BCL2, AKT-1, and PKCα) related to cancer were up-regulated in liver and prostate tissues isolated from groups exposed to 5 g kg-1 and 15 g kg-1 o-cresol in comparison to control. Changes in gene expression profile were prevented when rats were supplemented with Se. The exact mechanisms underlying its protective effect remain to be clarified by future studies.Krezoli su monometilni derivati fenola koji se često rabe kao otapala te kao posrednici u proizvodnji dezinfekcijskih sredstava, mirisa, pesticida, boja i eksploziva. Otuda i njihova rasprostranjenost u okolišu. Opća je populacija izložena krezolima uglavnom putem zraka. U ovome se toksikološkom istraživanju ocijenilo djelovanje o-krezola, jednoga od tri krezolova izomera, na ekspresiju gena u tkivima jetre i prostate mužjaka štakora. Istraživanje je provedeno na 80 mužjaka, od kojih je 60 tijekom osam tjedana bilo izloženo o-krezolu (1,5 g kg-1, 5 g kg-1, odnosno 15 g kg-1) preko krmiva. Tri skupine štakora primale su uz o-krezol nadomjestak selenija u dozi od 0.1 mg kg-1 (Se, u obliku natrijeva selenita) radi ocjene njegove djelotvornosti protiv toksičnosti o-krezola. Kontrolna skupina nije primala ni o-krezol ni Se, dok je jedna skupina primala samo Se. Preživljenje je bilo podjednako u svih skupina životinja. Štakori izloženi najvišoj dozi o-krezola (15 g kg-1) imali su 16 % manju tjelesnu masu od kontrolne skupine na kraju ispitivanja, što može biti povezano s lošim okusom krmiva zbog primjese visoke doze o-krezola. S istekom osmotjednoga izlaganja o-krezolu životinje su eutanazirane te su prikupljeni uzorci tkiva jetre i prostate. Analiza m-RNA pokazala je značajno povišenu ekspresiju apoptotskih gena CYP3A, COX-2, PPARγ, BAX, BCL2, AKT-1 i PKCα, koji su povezani s nastankom karcinoma u skupinama štakora izloženim o-krezolu (5 g kg-1 i 15 g kg-1 u odnosu na kontrolu. Ova je prekomjerna ekspresija poništena u štakora koji su primali selenij. Još nisu jasni mehanizmi iza ovoga zaštitnog djelovanja, na što će odgovoriti buduća istraživanja