A study of supercooling of the disordered vortex phase via minor hysteresis loops in 2H-NbSe_2

We report on the observation of novel features in the minor hysteresis loops in a clean crystal of NbSe_2 which displays a peak effect. The observed behavior can be explained in terms of a supercooling of the disordered vortex phase while cooling the superconductor in a field. Also, the extent of spatial order in a flux line lattice formed in ascending fields is different from (and larger than) that in the descending fields below the peak position of the peak effect; this is attributed to unequal degree of annealing of the state induced by a change of field in the two cases.Comment: 5 pages of text + 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Bright Opportunities for Atmospheric Characterization of Small Planets: Masses and Radii of K2-3 b, c, and d and GJ3470 b from Radial Velocity Measurements and Spitzer Transits

We report improved masses, radii, and densities for four planets in two bright M-dwarf systems, K2-3 and GJ3470, derived from a combination of new radial velocity and transit observations. Supplementing K2 photometry with follow-up Spitzer transit observations refined the transit ephemerides of K2-3 b, c, and d by over a factor of 10. We analyze ground-based photometry from the Evryscope and Fairborn Observatory to determine the characteristic stellar activity timescales for our Gaussian Process fit, including the stellar rotation period and activity region decay timescale. The stellar rotation signals for both stars are evident in the radial velocity data and is included in our fit using a Gaussian process trained on the photometry. We find the masses of K2-3 b, K2-3 c, and GJ3470 b to be 6.48, 2.14, and 12.58 M ⊕, respectively. K2-3 d was not significantly detected and has a 3σ upper limit of 2.80 M ⊕ . These two systems are training cases for future TESS systems; due to the low planet densities (ρ < 3.7 g cm -3 ) and bright host stars (K < 9 mag), they are among the best candidates for transmission spectroscopy in order to characterize the atmospheric compositions of small planets

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

The Assessment of Straightness and Flatness Errors Using Particle Swarm Optimization

The straightness and flatness errors are generally assessed by using the Least Squares Method (LSM). However, the results obtained from LSM often overestimate the tolerances, and are not consistent with the ISO standards’ definitions. To this end, this paper presents a method to evaluate those errors by using particle swarm optimization (PSO). The realization technique is detailed. The experimental data is utilized to verify this algorithm, together with a comparison with some typical optimization algorithms

Influence of femoral stem surface finish on the apparent static shear strength at the stem–cement interface

The stem–cement interface has long been implicated in failure of cemented total hip replacement. Much research has been performed to study the factors affecting the bond strength between the femoral stem and the bone cement. The present study aims to further investigate the influence of femoral stem surface finish on the apparent static shear strength at the stem–cement interface through a series of pull out tests, where stainless steel rods are employed to represent the femoral stem. The results demonstrated that there was a general tendency for the apparent static shear strength to be increased with the rise of surface roughness. The polished and glass bead-blasted rods illustrated a slip-stick-slip failure whereas the shot-blasted and grit-blasted rods displayed gross interface failure. Following pull out test, cement transfer films were detected on the polished rods, and there was cement debris adhered to the surface of the grit-blasted rods. Micropores, typically 120 μm in diameter, were prevalent in the cement surface interfaced with the polished rods, and the cement surfaces in contact with the shot-blasted and grit-blasted rods were greatly damaged. There was also evidence of metal debris embedding within the cement mantle originating from the tests of the grit-blasted rods, indicating an extremely strong mechanical interlocking at the interface. In summary, this present research demonstrated that the grit-blasted rods with the highest surface roughness were the best in terms of apparent static shear strength. However, it seemed to be most applicable only to the stem designs in which mechanical interlocking of the stem in the initial fixed position was essential

Antimicrobial Dosing in Specific Populations and Novel Clinical Methodologies: Obesity

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167113/1/cpt2181.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167113/2/cpt2181_am.pd