Literature Search Strategy Week: Judy Nordberg and Nancy Harger on Citation Management

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Comparison of the beta-alpha angular correlations in the Li8 and B8 beta decays, and the conserved vector current theory

This paper describes a comparison of the beta-alpha angular correlations of the beta decays of Li8 and B8 to the 2.90-Mev alpha-unstable level of Be8. The data were fitted to an angular correlation in the laboratory system of the form W(θβα)=1+Acosθβα+Bcos2θβα, where A and B were independently determined for the Li8 and B8 beta decays from measurements at θβα=0°, 90°, and 180°. The coefficients A are due to the recoil of Be8* and have the same sign for both beta decays. The coefficients B arise from the interference of forbidden vector matrix elements with the allowed axial vector matrix element and have different signs in the two decays. The correlation for the Li8 decay was measured with average total beta energies, Wβ~5, 8, and 11 Mev. Both A and B were found to be approximately linear in Wβ. The correlation for the B8 decay was measured only with average Wβ~11 Mev. From the data with Wβ~11 Mev, the difference of the coefficients, B(Li8)-B(B8), equals (0.0070±0.0012)Wβ. This result is compared with theoretical predictions based on the older Fermi and the newer conserved vector current theories of beta decay. The experiment agrees with the prediction of the latter theory

Trends in health sciences library and information science research: an analysis of research publications in the \u3cem\u3eBulletin of the Medical Library Association\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eJournal of the Medical Library Association\u3c/em\u3e from 1991 to 2007

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed trends in research activity as represented in the published research in the leading peer-reviewed professional journal for health sciences librarianship. METHODOLOGY: Research articles were identified from the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association and Journal of the Medical Library Association (1991-2007). Using content analysis and bibliometric techniques, data were collected for each article on the (1) subject, (2) research method, (3) analytical technique used, (4) number of authors, (5) number of citations, (6) first author affiliation, and (7) funding source. The results were compared to a previous study, covering the period 1966 to 1990, to identify changes over time. RESULTS: Of the 930 articles examined, 474 (51%) were identified as research articles. Survey (n = 174, 37.1%) was the most common methodology employed, quantitative descriptive statistics (n = 298, 63.5%) the most used analytical technique, and applied topics (n = 332, 70%) the most common type of subject studied. The majority of first authors were associated with an academic health sciences library (n = 264, 55.7%). Only 27.4% (n = 130) of studies identified a funding source. CONCLUSION: This study\u27s findings demonstrate that progress is being made in health sciences librarianship research. There is, however, room for improvement in terms of research methodologies used, proportion of applied versus theoretical research, and elimination of barriers to conducting research for practicing librarians

Double quantum dot with tunable coupling in an enhancement-mode silicon metal-oxide semiconductor device with lateral geometry

We present transport measurements of a tunable silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor double quantum dot device with lateral geometry. Experimentally extracted gate-to-dot capacitances show that the device is largely symmetric under the gate voltages applied. Intriguingly, these gate voltages themselves are not symmetric. Comparison with numerical simulations indicates that the applied gate voltages serve to offset an intrinsic asymmetry in the physical device. We also show a transition from a large single dot to two well isolated coupled dots, where the central gate of the device is used to controllably tune the interdot coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Applied Physics Letter

Beta-alpha angular correlations in B8 and Li8

It has been suggested by Bernstein and Lewis (1) that a comparison of the β-α angular correlations in the isotopic spin triplet of mass 8 (Li8, Be8, B8) might lead to a test of the conserved vector current theory of β decay.(2

Enhancement mode double top gated MOS nanostructures with tunable lateral geometry

We present measurements of silicon (Si) metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) nanostructures that are fabricated using a process that facilitates essentially arbitrary gate geometries. Stable Coulomb blockade behavior free from the effects of parasitic dot formation is exhibited in several MOS quantum dots with an open lateral quantum dot geometry. Decreases in mobility and increases in charge defect densities (i.e. interface traps and fixed oxide charge) are measured for critical process steps, and we correlate low disorder behavior with a quantitative defect density. This work provides quantitative guidance that has not been previously established about defect densities for which Si quantum dots do not exhibit parasitic dot formation. These devices make use of a double-layer gate stack in which many regions, including the critical gate oxide, were fabricated in a fully-qualified CMOS facility.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology in Sri Lanka: is cadmium a likely cause?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and subsequent end stage renal failure necessitating renal replacement therapy has profound consequences for affected individuals and health care resources. This community based study was conducted to identify potential predictors of microalbuminuria in a randomly selected sample of adults from the North Central Province (NCP) of Sri Lanka, where the burden of CKD is pronounced and the underlying cause still unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Exposures to possible risk factors were determined in randomly recruited subjects (425 females and 461 males) from selected areas of the NCP of Sri Lanka using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Sulphosalicylic acid and the Light Dependent Resister microalbumin gel filtration method was used for initial screening for microalbuminuria and reconfirmed by the <it>Micral </it>strip test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Microalbumnuria was detected in 6.1% of the females and 8.5% of the males. Smoking (p < 0.001), alcohol use (p = 0.003), hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.001), urinary tract infection (UTI) (p = 0.034) and consumption of water from wells in the fields (p = 0.025) were associated with microalbuminuria. In the binary logistic regression analysis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, UTI, drinking well water in the fields, smoking and pesticide spraying were found to be significant predictors of microalbuminuria.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, UTI, and smoking are known risk factors for microalbuminuria. The association between microalbuminuria and consumption of well water suggests an environmental aetiology to CKD in NCP. The causative agent is yet to be identified. Investigations for cadmium as a potential causative agent needs to be initiated.</p

Comparison of the β-α Angular Correlations in Li8 and B8

Although the radiations following allowed β decay of unoriented nuclei are uncorrelated in angle with the β rays, forbidden effects may produce correlations of the form 1 + B cos^2 θ, where the small coefficient B depends on on the details of the matrix elements involved. As a possible test of the conserved vector current (C.V.C.) theory, various authors [2,3] have suggested a measurement of the difference, δ, of the B coefficients in the β-α correlations of the two decays: ....