Study of deposition of YBa2Cu3O7-x on cubic zirconia

Films of YBa2Cu3O7-x were grown on (100) cubic zirconia with 8 percent yttria by laser ablation from sintered targets of YBa2Cu3O7-x. The temperature of the zirconia substrate during growth was varied between 700 and 780 C. The atmosphere during growth was 170 mtorr of O2. The films were subsequently slowly cooled in-situ in 1 atm of O2. The best films were c-axis aligned and had a transition temperature of 87.7 K. The superconducting transition temperature and the X-ray diffraction analysis is reported as a function of the substrate temperature and of the angle between the laser beam and the target's normal

Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography to Follow Outer Retinal Structure Changes in a Patient with Recurrent Punctate Inner Choroidopathy

Punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory disorder of the retina and choroid usually affecting healthy, young, myopic females and presenting with photopsia, paracentral scotomata, and blurred vision. It is characterized by yellow-white chorioretinal lesions concentrated in the posterior pole, no vitritis, relapsing inflammatory activity of the retina and choroid, and frequent development of choroidal neovascular membranes. Here we describe a case in which spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging was used to monitor outer retinal structure changes associated with recurrent PIC over time. SD-OCT, which is both quantative and objective, provides an efficient, non-invasive way to follow recurrent inflammatory chorioretinal lesion activity, choroidal neovascular membrane development, and treatment response in patients with recurrent PIC

Measles Rash Identification Using Residual Deep Convolutional Neural Network

Measles is extremely contagious and is one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable illness and death in developing countries, claiming more than 100,000 lives each year. Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 due to decades of successful vaccination for the measles. As a result, an increasing number of US healthcare professionals and the public have never seen the disease. Unfortunately, the Measles resurged in the US in 2019 with 1,282 confirmed cases. To assist in diagnosing measles, we collected more than 1300 images of a variety of skin conditions, with which we employed residual deep convolutional neural network to distinguish measles rash from other skin conditions, in an aim to create a phone application in the future. On our image dataset, our model reaches a classification accuracy of 95.2%, sensitivity of 81.7%, and specificity of 97.1%, indicating the model is effective in facilitating an accurate detection of measles to help contain measles outbreaks

Processing Color in Astronomical Imagery

Every year, hundreds of images from telescopes on the ground and in space are released to the public, making their way into popular culture through everything from computer screens to postage stamps. These images span the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to infrared light to X-rays and gamma rays, a majority of which is undetectable to the human eye without technology. Once these data are collected, one or more specialists must process the data to create an image. Therefore, the creation of astronomical imagery involves a series of choices. How do these choices affect the comprehension of the science behind the images? What is the best way to represent data to a non-expert? Should these choices be based on aesthetics, scientific veracity, or is it possible to satisfy both? This paper reviews just one choice out of the many made by astronomical image processors: color. The choice of color is one of the most fundamental when creating an image taken with modern telescopes. We briefly explore the concept of the image as translation, particularly in the case of astronomical images from invisible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. After placing modern astronomical imagery and photography in general in the context of its historical beginnings, we review the standards (or lack thereof) in making the basic choice of color. We discuss the possible implications for selecting one color palette over another in the context of the appropriateness of using these images as science communication products with a specific focus on how the non-expert perceives these images and how that affects their trust in science. Finally, we share new data sets that begin to look at these issues in scholarly research and discuss the need for a more robust examination of this and other related topics in the future to better understand the implications for science communications.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, published in Studies in Media and Communicatio

Senior Savvy: Mature Diner\u27s Restaurant Service Expectations

This article is a reflection of a study conducted with active mature consumers who enjoy dining out, traveling, and patronizing the service industry in general. The goal was to discover their restaurant service expectations in order to provide restaurateurs, hoteliers, educators, and students of hospitality management programs information about this important customer segment so that future plans for improving service would include considerations of their service needs

Open to Exploitation: American Shoppers Online and Offline

Most Americans who use the Internet have little idea how vulnerable they are to abuse by online and offline marketers and how the information they provide can be used to exploit them. That is one conclusion from this unprecedented national phone survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. The study indicates that many adults who use the internet believe incorrectly that laws prevent online and offline stores from selling their personal information. They also incorrectly believe that stores cannot charge them different prices based on what they know about them. Most other internet-using adults admit that they simply don’t know whether or not laws protect them. The survey further reveals that the majority of adults who use the internet do not know where to turn for help if their personal information is used illegally online or offline. The study\u27s findings suggest a complex mix of ignorance and knowledge, fear and bravado, realism and idealism that leaves most internet-using adult American shoppers open to financial exploitation by retailers