The direct evaluation of attosecond chirp from a streaking measurement

We derive an analytical expression, from classical electron trajectories in a laser field, that relates the breadth of a streaked photoelectron spectrum to the group-delay dispersion of an isolated attosecond pulse. Based on this analytical expression, we introduce a simple, efficient and robust procedure to instantly extract the attosecond pulse's chirp from the streaking measurement.Comment: 4 figure

Experimental phase diagram of moving vortices

In the mixed state of type II superconductors, vortices penetrate the sample and form a correlated system due to the screening of supercurrents around them. Interestingly, we can study this correlated system as a function of density and driving force. The density, for instance, is controlled by the magnetic field, B, whereas a current density j acts as a driving force F=jxB on all vortices. The free motion of vortices is inhibited by the presence of an underlying potential, which tends to pin the vortices. Hence, to minimize the pinning strength we studied a superconducting glass in which the depinning current is 10 to 1000 times smaller than in previous studies, which enables us to map out the complete phase diagram in this new regime. The diagram is obtained as a function of B, driving current and temperature and led a remarkable set of new results, which includes a huge peak effect, an additional reentrant depinning phase and a driving force induced pinning phase.Comment: 4 page

Exclusionary Discipline Highest in New Hampshire’s Urban Schools Suspension and Expulsion Found to Disproportionately Affect Disadvantaged Students

This research brief follows up on a joint Carsey/NH Kids Count publication from 2009. The 2009 study focused on larger disciplinary trends in New Hampshire schools and contextualized them in the policies, laws, and procedures that may have resulted in increased use of exclusionary discipline. The present study reports on rates of exclusionary discipline from 2010 through 2014 by school and student characteristics to better understand how and to what extent exclusionary discipline has been applied across the state in recent years. Authors Douglas Gagnon, Eleanor Jaffee, and Reeve Kennedy report that although rates of out-of-school suspension among secondary school students in New Hampshire are nearly as high as national trends, rates of expulsion are far below the national average. In urban secondary schools, the rate of in-school suspension is twice that of non-urban schools, while out-of-school suspension rates are three times higher. Male students, students of color, students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, students with disabilities, and homeless students are more likely to experience exclusionary school discipline, although racial disparities appear to stem largely from the greater racial diversity at the urban schools that use this type of discipline at higher rates with all students. Statewide, 3.5 percent of New Hampshire’s middle and high school students are suspended out of school for a total of five days or more and/or expelled in a given year. Given the notably higher rates of use of exclusionary discipline in New Hampshire’s urban school districts, the authors recommend that school policies and environments be assessed for opportunities to reverse these trends and provide more students with consistent classroom time and instruction

Results for the response function determination of the Compact Neutron Spectrometer

The Compact Neutron Spectrometer (CNS) is a Joint European Torus (JET) Enhancement Project, designed for fusion diagnostics in different plasma scenarios. The CNS is based on a liquid scintillator (BC501A) which allows good discrimination between neutron and gamma radiation. Neutron spectrometry with a BC501A spectrometer requires the use of a reliable, fully characterized detector. The determination of the response matrix was carried out at the Ion Accelerator Facility (PIAF) of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). This facility provides several monoenergetic beams (2.5, 8, 10, 12 and 14 MeV) and a 'white field'(Emax ~17 MeV), which allows for a full characterization of the spectrometer in the region of interest (from ~1.5 MeV to ~17 MeV. The energy of the incoming neutrons was determined by the time of flight method (TOF), with time resolution in the order of 1 ns. To check the response matrix, the measured pulse height spectra were unfolded with the code MAXED and the resulting energy distributions were compared with those obtained from TOF. The CNS project required modification of the PTB BC501A spectrometer design, to replace an analog data acquisition system (NIM modules) with a digital system developed by the 'Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente' (ENEA). Results for the new digital system were evaluated using new software developed specifically for this project.Comment: Proceedings of FNDA 201

Température minimale au niveau du sol

L'auteur étudie la relation entre les températures minimales relevées sous abri et près du sol, en 1965 et 1966, dans 18 stations du Québec, de mai à novembre.Comme il existe une excellente corrélation (0.96) entre les deux séries de températures mesurées dans un site donné, il suffit de relever un nombre restreint de températures au sol pour avoir des renseignements statistiques valides ; cependant il faut prendre garde a la forte variation des écarts moyens d'un site à l'autre, ainsi que le montre un tableau détaillé des 18 stations employées.The author studies the relationship between the minimum temperatures recorded in a standard meteorological shelter and the corresponding minimum temperature near the ground surface for 18 stations in Québec from May to November, 1965 and 1966.Since there is an excellent correlation (0.96) between the two series of temperatures for a given site, only a limited number of measurements need be taken near the surface, in order to obtain information which is statistically significant ; however, care must be taken, since the mean deviations vary greatly from site to site, as is shown by the table of detailed results for the 18 stations studied

Evaluating elbow osteoarthritis within the prehistoric Tiwanaku state using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

OBJECTIVES:Studies of osteoarthritis (OA) in human skeletal remains can come with scalar problems. If OA measurement is noted as present or absent in one joint, like the elbow, results may not identify specific articular pathology data and the sample size may be insufficient to address research questions. If calculated on a per data point basis (i.e., each articular surface within a joint), results may prove too data heavy to comprehensively understand arthritic changes, or one individual with multiple positive scores may skew results and violate the data independence required for statistical tests. The objective of this article is to show that the statistical methodology Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) can solve scalar issues in bioarchaeological studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Using GEE, a population-averaged statistical model, 1,195 adults from the core and one colony of the prehistoric Tiwanaku state (AD 500-1,100) were evaluated bilaterally for OA on the seven articular surfaces of the elbow joint. RESULTS:GEE linked the articular surfaces within each individual specimen, permitting the largest possible unbiased dataset, and showed significant differences between core and colony Tiwanaku peoples in the overall elbow joint, while also pinpointing specific articular surfaces with OA. Data groupings by sex and age at death also demonstrated significant variation. A pattern of elbow rotation noted for core Tiwanaku people may indicate a specific pattern of movement. DISCUSSION:GEE is effective and should be encouraged in bioarchaeological studies as a way to address scalar issues and to retain all pathology information

Intervention de groupe auprès d’enfants présentant des comportements sexuels problématiques : évolution comportementale, affective et sociale

L’objectif de cette étude exploratoire vise à évaluer la participation et l’évolution de 43 enfants présentant des comportements sexuels problématiques ayant participé à un programme d’intervention de groupe. L’évolution des enfants est évaluée à l’aide d’instruments standardisés, administrés avant et après l’intervention de groupe, mesurant diverses dimensions, notamment les comportements sexuels, les problèmes de comportement intériorisés et extériorisés, les habiletés sociales, etc. Les résultats révèlent que dans l’ensemble, toutes variables confondues, les enfants s’améliorent entre le début et la fin de l’intervention de groupe. Plus spécifiquement, les analyses de variance à mesures répétées montrent des améliorations significatives au niveau des comportements sexuels problématiques, des comportements intériorisés et des habiletés sociales. Cette étude suggère que l’intervention de groupe peut s’avérer une modalité d’intervention pouvant répondre aux besoins spécifiques de ces enfants.The purpose of this research is to examine the evolution of children with problematic sexual behaviour following their participation in a group treatment program. The sample was made up of 43 children (33 boys and 10 girls) with an average age of 9 years, 7 months (SD = 1.85) The evolution of the children is measured administering behavioural rating instruments, both before and after the treatment program, on multiple dimensions of problematic sexual behaviour, externalizing and internalizing problems and social skills. The actual level of the children’s participation is documented. The results indicate improvement for a significant portion of the children treated, particularly for those with problematic sexual behaviour, internalizing problems and social skills. This study highlights that treatment group might be a relevant choice of treatment modality.El objetivo de este estudio exploratorio es evaluar la participación y evolución de 43 niños que presentan comportamientos sexuales problemáticos y que participaron en un programa de intervención de grupo. La evolución de los niños se evalúa con ayuda de instrumentos estandarizados, administrados antes y después de la intervención de grupo, que miden diversas dimensiones, específicamente los comportamientos sexuales, los problemas de comportamientos interiorizados y exteriorizados, las habilidades sociales, etc. Los resultados revelan que en conjunto, todas las variables reunidas, los niños se mejoran entre el principio y el fin de la intervención de grupo. Más específicamente, los análisis de variación de medidas repetidas muestran mejoras significativas a nivel de los comportamientos sexuales problemáticos, los comportamientos interiorizados y las habilidades sociales. Este estudio sugiere que la intervención de grupo puede considerarse como una modalidad de intervención que puede responder a las necesidades específicas de estos niños.O objetivo deste estudo exploratório é avaliar a participação e a evolução de 43 crianças, que apresentam comportamentos sexuais problemáticos, que participaram de um programa de intervenção em grupo. A evolução das crianças é avaliada com a ajuda de instrumentos padronizados, administrados antes e após a intervenção em grupo, medindo várias dimensões, principalmente os comportamentos sexuais, os problemas de comportamento interiorizados e exteriorizados, as habilidades sociais, etc. Os resultados revelam que, no geral, sem especificar as variáveis, as crianças demonstram melhoria entre o início e o fim da intervenção em grupo. Mais especificamente, as análises de variação das medidas repetidas mostram melhorias significativas ao nível dos comportamentos sexuais problemáticos, comportamentos interiorizados e habilidades sociais. Este estudo sugere que a intervenção em grupo pode ser uma modalidade de intervenção capaz de responder às necessidades específicas destas crianças