The Impact of Wrong Assumptions in BAO Reconstruction

The process of density field reconstruction enhances the statistical power of distance scale measurements using baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). During this process a fiducial cosmology is assumed in order to convert sky coordinates and redshifts into distances; fiducial bias and redshift-space-distortion parameters are also assumed in this procedure. We analytically assess the impact of incorrect cosmology and bias assumptions on the post-reconstruction power spectra using low-order Lagrangian perturbation theory, deriving general expressions for the incorrectly reconstructed spectra. We find that the BAO peak location appears to shift only by a negligible amount due to wrong assumptions made during reconstruction. However, the shape of the BAO peak and the quadrupole amplitude can be affected by such errors (at the percent- and five-percent-level respectively), which potentially could cause small biases in parameter inference for future surveys; we outline solutions to such complications.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures; comments welcome. v2 matches JCAP accepted versio

A LINKED ANNUAL AND MONTHLY MODEL FOR FORECASTING ALFALFA HAY PRICES

This article develops a model to forecast monthly alfalfa hay prices before the first harvest. This is done by linking an annual model, which forecasts the initial May price, with a system of monthly equations that track the monthly seasonal price pattern, given the forecasted May price.Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis,

PRICE VERSUS QUOTA REDUCTIONS: U.S. FLUE-CURED TOBACCO POLICY

Declining domestic cigarette consumption, increased global competition, and loss of import restrictions indicate decreased demand for U.S. flue-cured tobacco. The effects of 10% declines in domestic and export demand are evaluated under a policy of reducing quota to maintain price versus a policy of allowing price to fall to maintain quota. Changes in prices, quantities, revenues, and economic rents are simulated. Losses to nonfarming quota owners are minimized under a policy of price maintenance, while losses in revenues to tobacco-producing areas are minimized by a policy of quota maintenance. Aggregate losses to tobacco growers are greater under a policy of quota maintenance.Flue-cured, Policy, Price reduction, Quota, Tobacco, Agricultural and Food Policy,

A METHOD FOR DETERMINING RANCH PROFIT PROBABILITIES WHEN LIVESTOCK YIELDS ARE NORMALLY DISTRIBUTED

Data on net turnoff for small, medium-sized and large cow-calf and small and large size yearling ranches were tested for normality using the Shapiro - Wilk test. The yield data examined were accepted as normally distributed at the alpha = .10 level. The probability of profit for each type of ranch was assessed using normal curve techniques for nine different cost-price alternatives and weather conditions. Yearling cattle ranchers had higher profit probabilities than cow-calf ranchers. Prices received had more influence on profit probabilities than weather conditions.Livestock Production/Industries,

Plasma dynamics at the surface interface in radio frequency discharges

Inductively coupled plasmas play an important role in the manufacture of computer chips through etching and deposition processes. This relies on established system pressures and power values in order to generate and sustain the required reactive species density. Oxygen and hydrogen plasmas are routinely used in this industry and will therefore be at the centre of this study. This research focuses on the development of a diagnostic procedure that resolves the plasma-surface interface by analysing stimulated plasma emission induced by a tailored voltage waveform (Pulse induced Optical Emission Spectroscopy (PiOES)). These measurements are generated in an area of the plasma that doesn't benefit from plasma emission produced via the inductive coil but does have great significance for industrial processes. The aim is to find a pulse regime that has minimal impact on electron and ion properties in the plasma-surface region, while producing enough emission to analyse the reactive chemistry and calculate atomic species densities. PiOES-ERA, HPEM and TALIF techniques have been compared and show good agreement in the measurement and simulation of atomic oxygen density in a low pressure E-mode plasma. This was achieved through the development of a tailored voltage waveform design and novel implementation within the GEC. The final result is a configurable pulse application that allows the operator to analyse different regions of the plasma, that were previously unobtainable. In both hydrogen and oxygen plasmas the E-H mode transition is found to be key in influencing the atomic species densities. In oxygen this is confirmed through the use of PROES measurements and HPEM simulations. The H-mode plasma measurements highlight additional excitation and/or de-excitation processes that are currently not considered in the ERA model, therefore more research into these processes is required to fully resolve them

Compositional engineering of precursor inks for intense pulsed light compatible deposition of perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) technology offers a promising alternative to silicon-based photovoltaics (PVs), but challenges of stability, module efficiency, and scalability hinder commercialization. This study aims to explore potential solutions to overcome scalability and cost limitations of PSCs, addressing technical barriers to commercialization. We adapt the conventional three-stage perovskite deposition process (deposition, translational phase formation, and annealing) for scalable platforms using wide-area depositions, meniscus coating methods, forced laminar airflow drying, and radiative annealing methods, making it more suitable for roll-to-roll fabrication. A technoeconomic analysis shows that large-scale operations can produce solar films at a cost of $0.04-$0.10 per watt, making perovskite solar technology economically viable. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) combined with rapid drying steps reduces processing time for blade-coated perovskite thin films, yielding a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.58% for devices fabricated on flexible ITO-coated PET substrates. This study develops a mixed-cation perovskite ink with a robust coating window, utilizing compositional engineering and intense pulsed light (IPL) annealing. The resulting blade-coated, flexible mixed-cation PSCs on ITO-PET substrates achieved a champion PCE of 16.7% using IPL annealing. This work contributes to the commercialization of perovskite solar technologies by integrating compositional engineering and post-deposition treatments, and challenging conventional approaches to PSC fabrication. Radiative annealing techniques, such as RTA and IPL, offer scalable, rapid, and cost-effective production of PSCs, with potential to outpace silicon PV production and contribute to the global renewable energy landscape. Future research should focus on stability, module development, and durability testing under realistic operating conditions

Stable isotope fractionation during ultraviolet photolysis of N_2O

The biogeochemical cycling of nitrous oxide plays an important role in greenhouse forcing and ozone regulation. Laboratory studies of N_2O:N_2 mixtures irradiated between 193–207 nm reveal a significant enrichment of the residual heavy nitrous oxide isotopomers. The isotopic signatures resulting from photolysis are well modeled by an irreversible Rayleigh distillation process, with large enrichment factors of ε_(15,18)(193 nm) = −18.4,‐14.5 per mil and ε_(15,18)(207 nm) = −48.7,‐46.0 per mil. These results, when combined with diffusive mixing processes, have the potential to explain the stratospheric enrichments previously observed

Characteristics, Outcomes, and Severity Risk Factors Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children in the US National COVID Cohort Collaborative

Importance: Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection in US children has been limited by the lack of large, multicenter studies with granular data. Objective: To examine the characteristics, changes over time, outcomes, and severity risk factors of children with SARS-CoV-2 within the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Design, Setting, and Participants: A prospective cohort study of encounters with end dates before September 24, 2021, was conducted at 56 N3C facilities throughout the US. Participants included children younger than 19 years at initial SARS-CoV-2 testing. Main Outcomes and Measures: Case incidence and severity over time, demographic and comorbidity severity risk factors, vital sign and laboratory trajectories, clinical outcomes, and acute COVID-19 vs multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and Delta vs pre-Delta variant differences for children with SARS-CoV-2. Results: A total of 1068410 children were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 167262 test results (15.6%) were positive (82882 [49.6%] girls; median age, 11.9 [IQR, 6.0-16.1] years). Among the 10245 children (6.1%) who were hospitalized, 1423 (13.9%) met the criteria for severe disease: mechanical ventilation (796 [7.8%]), vasopressor-inotropic support (868 [8.5%]), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (42 [0.4%]), or death (131 [1.3%]). Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.21-1.56), Black/African American race (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.06-1.47), obesity (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01-1.41), and several pediatric complex chronic condition (PCCC) subcategories were associated with higher severity disease. Vital signs and many laboratory test values from the day of admission were predictive of peak disease severity. Variables associated with increased odds for MIS-C vs acute COVID-19 included male sex (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.33-1.90), Black/African American race (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17-1.77), younger than 12 years (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.51-2.18), obesity (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.40-2.22), and not having a pediatric complex chronic condition (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.65-0.80). The children with MIS-C had a more inflammatory laboratory profile and severe clinical phenotype, with higher rates of invasive ventilation (117 of 707 [16.5%] vs 514 of 8241 [6.2%]; P \u3c .001) and need for vasoactive-inotropic support (191 of 707 [27.0%] vs 426 of 8241 [5.2%]; P \u3c .001) compared with those who had acute COVID-19. Comparing children during the Delta vs pre-Delta eras, there was no significant change in hospitalization rate (1738 [6.0%] vs 8507 [6.2%]; P = .18) and lower odds for severe disease (179 [10.3%] vs 1242 [14.6%]) (decreased by a factor of 0.67; 95% CI, 0.57-0.79; P \u3c .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of US children with SARS-CoV-2, there were observed differences in demographic characteristics, preexisting comorbidities, and initial vital sign and laboratory values between severity subgroups. Taken together, these results suggest that early identification of children likely to progress to severe disease could be achieved using readily available data elements from the day of admission. Further work is needed to translate this knowledge into improved outcomes

Elementary Teachers and School Psychologists Actual and Ideal Role Perceptions of the School Psychologist

Survey materials included original questionnaires utilizing categories proposed by Rechsly and Wilson (1997) and a job satisfaction scale utilized by Rechsly and Wilson (1995), and a demographic data sheet. Psychologists in Illinois (n=87) and Illinois K-6 elementary teachers (n=100) were surveyed as to actual and ideal roles and functions of the school psychologist. In addition school psychologists were questioned about job satisfaction. Results indicated a great deal of discrepancy between actual and ideal role from both the viewpoints of psychologists and teachers. Teachers also demonstrated little understanding of the actual role and functions of psychologists in the schools. Job satisfaction results indicated positive attitudes towards colleagues and negative attitudes towards pay and promotion. Further research could help to close the gap between actual and ideal role and function for school psychologists