Keck IR Spectroscopy of WZ Sge: Detection of Molecular Emission from the Accretion Disk

Time-resolved IR spectroscopy of WZ Sge was obtained using NIRSPEC on Keck II. We detect CO and H$_{\rm 2}$ emission from the accretion disk placing WZ Sge into a rarefied class of astronomical objects including YSOs and high luminosity early-type stars. During the eclipse phase, the molecular emission greatly weakens but no firm evidence for the secondary star is seen allowing new limits on its luminosity to be determined. The detection of molecular emission provides physical properties within the outer disk of T=3000K and N$_H$$>10^{10}$ cm$^{-3}$. Such a cool, dense region, not associated with areas of H I and He I emission, provides the first observational confirmation of predictions made by accretion disk models.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Current approaches for modulation of the nanoscale interface in the regulation of cell behavior

Regulation of cell behavior in response to nanoscale features has been the focus of much research in recent years and the successful generation of nanoscale features capable of mimicking the natural nanoscale interface has been of great interest in the field of biomaterials research. In this review, we discuss relevant nanofabrication techniques and how they are combined with bioengineering applications to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and create valuable nanoscale interfaces

Optical frequency tripling with improved suppression and sideband selection

Journal Article, Impact factor:3.749A novel optical dispersion tolerant millimetre-wave radio-over-fibre system using optical frequency tripling technique with enhanced and selectable sideband suppression is demonstrated. The implementation utilises cascaded optical modulators to achieve either an optical single sideband (OSSB) or double sideband-suppressed carrier (DSB-SC) signal with high sideband suppression. Our analysis and simulation results indicate that the achievable suppression ratio of this configuration is only limited by other system factors such as optical noise and drifting of the operational conditions. The OSSB transmission system performance is assessed experimentally by the transport of 4 WiMax channels modulating a 10 GHz optical upconverted RF carrier as well as for optical frequency doubling and tripling. The 10 GHz and tripled carrier at 30 GHz are dispersion tolerant resulting both in an average relative constellation error (RCE) of -28.7 dB after 40 km of fibre. (C)2011 Optical Society of AmericaFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

Standing on Academic Shoulders: Measuring Scientific Influence in Universities

This article measures scientific influence by means of citations to academic papers. The data source is the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI); the scientific institutions included are the top 110 U.S. research universities; the 12 main fields that classify the data cover nearly all of science; and the time period is 1981-1999. Altogether the database includes 2.4 million papers and 18.8 million citations. Thus the evidence underlying our findings accounts for much of the basic research conducted in the United States during the last quarter of the 20th century. This research in turn contributes a significant part of knowledge production in the U.S. during the same period. The citation measure used is the citation probability, which equals actual citations divided by potential citations, and captures average utilization of cited literature by individual citing articles. The mean citation probability within fields is on the order of 10-5. Cross-field citation probabilities are one-tenth to one-hundredth as large, or 10-6 to 10-7. Citations between pairs of citing and cited fields are significant in less than one-fourth of the possible cases. It follows that citations are largely bounded by field, with corresponding implications for the limits of scientific influence. Cross-field citation probabilities appear to be symmetric for mutually citing fields. Scientific influence is asymmetric within fields, and occurs primarily from top institutions to those less highly ranked. Still, there is significant reverse influence on higher-ranked schools. We also find that top institutions are more often cited by peer institutions than lower-ranked institutions are cited by their peers. Overall the results suggest that knowledge spillovers in basic science research are important, but are circumscribed by field and by intrinsic relevance. Perhaps the most important implication of the results are the limits that they seem to impose on the returns to scale in the knowledge production function for basic research, namely the proportion of available knowledge that spills over from one scientist to another.

Gender-Specific Protection from Microvessel Rarefaction in Female Hypertensive Rats

Epidemiologic studies reveal that women have a significantly lower age-adjusted morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease than men, suggesting that gender is a cardiovascular disease risk factor. The mechanism of the “gender protection” is unknown. In this study, we investigated the microvascular remodeling in reduced renal mass plus a high salt (4.0% NaCl) diet model of hypertension (RRM + HS). We hypothesized that women would be protected from the increase in blood pressure and from the microvascular rarefaction associated with RRM + HS hypertension. Studies were designed to determine whether female rats were less susceptible to changes in microvessel density during RRM + HS. Microvessel density was measured in male and female low salt (0.4% LS) sham-operated controls (Sham + LS) and after 3 days or 4 weeks of RRM + HS hypertension. The microcirculation of hind limb (medial and lateral gastrocnemius, plantaris, soleus) muscles was visualized using rhodamine-labeled Griffonia simplicifolia I lectin. Tissue sections were examined by videomicroscopy and microvessel density was determined by quantitative stereology. As shown previously, mean arterial pressure increased to 160 ± 8 mm Hg and microvessel density decreased (\u3e30% decrease in all beds) in male RRM + HS. In contrast, mean arterial pressure of female RRM + HS rats was modestly increased from 101 ± 2 to 118 ± 4 mm Hg. Despite previous results showing a reduction in microvessel density of both normotensive and hypertensive male rats on a high salt diet, microvessel density of female RRM + HS rats was not reduced at either time. These results suggest that gender protection in the RRM rat extends beyond an attenuation of the increase in pressure to an immunity from microvascular rarefaction

Sources of total, non-milk extrinsic, and intrinsic and milk sugars in the diets of older adults living in sheltered accommodation

The WHO recommends limiting non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) consumption to ≤ 10 % energy to reduce the risk of unhealthy weight gain and dental caries, and to restrict frequency of intake to ≤ 4 times/d to reduce risk of dental caries. Older adults, especially those from low-income backgrounds, are at increased risk of dental caries, yet there is little information on sugars intake (frequency of intake and food sources) in this age group. The aim of this report is to present baseline data from a community-based dietary intervention study of older adults from socially deprived areas of North East England, on the quantity and sources of total sugars, NMES, and intrinsic and milk sugars, and on frequency of NMES intake. Dietary intake was assessed using two 3-d estimated food diaries, completed by 201 participants (170 female, thirty-one male) aged 65–85 years (mean 76·7 (sd 5·5) years) recruited from sheltered housing schemes. Total sugars represented 19·6 %, NMES 9·3 %, and intrinsic and milk sugars 10·3 % of daily energy intake. Eighty-one (40·3 %) exceeded the NMES intake recommendation. Mean frequency of NMES intake was 3·4 times/d. The fifty-three participants (26·4 %) who exceeded the frequency recommendation ( ≤ 4 times/d) obtained a significantly greater percentage of energy from NMES compared with those participants who met the recommendation. The food groups ‘biscuits and cakes’ (18·9 %), ‘soft drinks’ (13·1 %) and ‘table sugar’ (11·1 %) made the greatest contributions to intakes of NMES. Interventions to reduce NMES intake should focus on limiting quantity and frequency of intake of these food groups

Hadrons in AdS/QCD models

We discuss applications of gauge/gravity duality to describe the spectrum of light hadrons. We compare two particular 5-dimensional approaches: a model with an infrared deformed Anti-de Sitter metric and another one based on a dynamical AdS/QCD framework with back-reacted geometry in a dilaton/gravity background. The models break softly the scale invariance in the infrared region and allow mass gap for the field excitations in the gravity description, while keeping the conformal property of the metric close to the four-dimensional boundary. The models provide linear Regge trajectories for light mesons, associated with specially designed infrared gravity properties. We also review the results for the decay widths of the f0's into two pions, as overlap integrals between mesonic string amplitudes, which are in qualitative agreement with data

Nurses Alumni Association Bulletin, Fall 2001

2001 - 2002 Meeting Date Calendar 2002 Annual Luncheon & Meeting Notice Bulletin Publication Committee, Officers and Committee Chairs The President\u27s Message Treasurer\u27s Financial Report Auditor\u27s Financial Report Alumni Scholarship Fund Resume of Minutes Alumni Office News Committee Reports Nurses Relief Trust Fund Clara Melville - Adele Lewis Scholarship Fund Nominating Social -Annual May Luncheon Social - Fall Luncheon of 2000 Central PA Satellite Committee Report Bulletin Development Annual Giving Contributors News About Our Graduates Janet C. Hindson Award Janet C. Hindson Award - Qualifications Army Nurse Corps Nursing 101 A Loving Aunt\u27s Thoughts Volunteers In Medicine Happy Birthday - To Be 80 Or More Luncheon Photos Collage Fiftieth Anniversary - Class of 1951 In Memoriam, Names of Deceased Graduates Class News Application for Nurses Scholarship Fund Application for Certification Application for Relief Fund Benefits Miscellaneous: Pins, Transcripts, Class Address List, Change of Address Forms Campus Map List of Hotels Note

Body Composition Measurement in Children with Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Pediatric obesity is a major health concern that has an increased prevalence in children with special needs. In order to categorize a child’s weight, an assessment of body composition is needed. Obtaining an accurate body composition measurement in children with special needs has many challenges associated with it. This perplexing scenario limits the provider’s ability to screen, prevent and treat an abnormal weight status in this vulnerable population. This systematic review summarizes common methods of body composition measurements, their strengths and limitations and reviews the literature when measurements were used in children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and spinal cord injury. Following PRISMA guidelines, 222 studies were identified. The application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded a final sample of nine studies included in this review. Overall, articles reinforced the inconsistencies of body composition measurement and methodology when used with children with special needs. Concerns include small sample sizes, the need to validate prediction equations for this population, and the lack of controlled trials and reporting of measurement methodology. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the complexities associated with measuring body composition in children with special needs and advocate for further testing of these measurements. Additional studies addressing the reliability and validity of these measures are needed to facilitate appropriate health promotion in children