Signatures of strong correlation effects in RIXS on Cuprates

Recently, spin excitations in doped cuprates are measured using the resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). The paramagnon dispersions show the large hardening effect in the electron-doped systems and seemingly doping-independence in the hole-doped systems, with the energy scales comparable to that of the antiferromagnetic magnons. This anomalous hardening effect was partially explained by using the strong coupling t-J model but with a three-site term(Nature communications 5, 3314 (2014)). However we show that hardening effect is a signature of strong coupling physics even without including this extra term. By considering the t-t'-t"-J model and using the Slave-Boson (SB) mean field theory, we obtain, via the spin-spin susceptibility, the spin excitations in qualitative agreement with the experiments. These anomalies is mainly due to the doping-dependent bandwidth. We further discuss the interplay between particle-hole-like and paramagnon-like excitations in the RIXS measurements.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Diagnosing deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremity: correlation of clinical and duplex scan findings.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that predict a positive duplex scan examination result in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Vascular laboratory in a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The results of 345 lower extremity duplex venous scans performed between August 1994 and November 1998 were reviewed. All patients were in-patients referred from different specialties due to clinical suspicion of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. Positive duplex scans were correlated with patients' demographic data (sex, age), medical history (history of malignancy, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism) and clinical features (leg swelling, venous insufficiency, calf pain, and leg ulcer). Univariate analysis was performed using the Chi squared test. RESULTS: A total of 345 scans were performed for 313 patients. The mean age was 55 years (range, 19-92 years). Sixty-three patients (49 male, 14 female) had a positive scan, giving a yield of 18.3%. Four factors had a significant association with a positive scan: male sex (P=0.0102), history of malignancy (P=0.0040), history of deep vein thrombosis (P=0.0001), and history of pulmonary embolism (P=0.0265). CONCLUSIONS: Common presenting clinical features do not predict the result of ultrasonographic investigation for deep vein thrombosis. The chance of having a positive scan is significantly higher in male patients and those with a history of malignancy, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.published_or_final_versio

The Experience of Adopting MES by Taiwan IC Foundry Operators

MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a computer application system that integrates all relevant real-time information along every step in a manufacturing process. MES functions include data collection, WIP (Work in Process) tracking, material management, inventory management, exception management, and quality management etc. IC manufacturing has over 300 fabrication processes, prohibitively expensive equipment, a large variety of products, and short product life cycle. MES, therefore, is essential for IC foundry manufacturers for gathering real-time production line information, supporting manufacturing decision making, and increasing manufacturing efficiency. Taiwan IC manufacturers have invested in MES over the past few years. For this study we interviewed managers from Taiwan’s leading IC manufacturers responsible for implementing MES systems. Their MES adoption experiences and suggestions could benefit other IC manufacturers as well as manufacturers of other industry sectors

THE EFFECTS OF UNSTABLE EXERCISE TRAINING ON DYNAMIC BALANCE AND ABDOMINAL MUSCLE STRENGTH IN YOUNG FEMALE INDIVIDUALS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of unstable exercise training (UET) on dynamic balance (DB) and abdominal muscle strength in young female individuals. 22 healthy collegiate female students underwent a series of UET sessions. DB was evaluated by the 8-direction limits of stability (LOS) test. Abdominal strength was measured using 60s sit-up test. The UET combined the Both Sides Utilized (BOSU) and Swiss ball exercises, undertaken for 90mins, twice per week, for 6 weeks. The LOS performance in overall, forward, right, forward-left, backward-right, and backward-left at level 6 also significantly improved post-training. Further, significant improvements were observed in the 60s sit-up test. It is concluded that regular UET can improve DB and abdominal muscle strength in young female individuals

Electrically Switchable and Permanently Stable Light Scattering Modes by Dynamic Fingerprint Chiral Textures.

Negative dielectric nematic liquid crystals (LCs) doped with two azobenzene materials provide electrically switchable and permanently stable scattering mode light modulators based on dynamic fingerprint chiral textures (DFCT) with inhomogeneously helical axes. These light modulators can be switched between transparent (stable large domains of DFCT) states and scattering (stable small domains of DFCT) states by applying electric fields with different frequencies. The generation of DFCT results from the long flexible side chains of the doped chiral dopant. That is, if the DFCT can be obtained, then the large domains of DFCT reflect an intrinsically stable state. Moreover, the stabilization of the small domains of DFCT are caused by the terminal rigid restricted side chains of the other doped chiral dopant. Experimentally, the required amplitude to switch the light modulator from a scattering (transparent) state to a transparent (scattering) state decreases as the frequency of the applied electric field increases (decreases) within the set limits. This study is the first report on the advantages of the light scattering mode of DFCT, including low operating voltage, permanently stable transmission, wide viewing angle, high contrast, and polarization-independent scattering and transparency.The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan for financially supporting this research under Grant No. MOST 103-2112-M-008-018-MY3. We are also grateful to Prof. Jy-Shan Hsu (Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan) for allowing full equipment usage

Microsatellite markers uncover cryptic species of Odontotermes (Termitoidae: Termitidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Termites from the genus Odontotermes are known to contain numerous species complexes that are difficult to tell apart morphologically or with mitochondrial DNA sequences. We developed markers for one such cryptic species complex, that is, Odontotermes srinakarinensis sp. nov. from Maxwell Hill Forest Reserve (Perak, Malaysia), and characterised them using a sample of 41 termite workers from three voucher samples from the same area. We then genotyped 150 termite individuals from 23 voucher samples/colonies of this species complex from several sites in Peninsular Malaysia. We analysed their population by constructing dendograms from the proportion of shared-alleles between individuals and genetic distances between colonies; additionally, we examined the Bayesian clustering pattern of their genotype data. All methods of analysis indicated that there were two distinct clusters within our data set. After the morphologies of specimens from each cluster were reexamined, we were able to separate the two species morphologically and found that a single diagnostic character found on the mandibles of its soldiers could be used to separate the two species quite accurately. The additional species in the clade was identified as Odontotermes denticulatus after it was matched to type specimens at the NHM London and Cambridge Museum of Zoology