Photon Correlation Spectroscopy for Observing Natural Lasers

Natural laser emission may be produced whenever suitable atomic energy levels become overpopulated. Strong evidence for laser emission exists in astronomical sources such as Eta Carinae, and other luminous stars. However, the evidence is indirect in that the laser lines have not yet been spectrally resolved. The lines are theoretically estimated to be extremely narrow, requiring spectral resolutions very much higher (R approx.= 10**8) than possible with ordinary spectroscopy. Such can be attained with photon-correlation spectroscopy on nanosecond timescales, measuring the autocorrelation function of photon arrival times to obtain the coherence time of light, and thus the spectral linewidth. A particular advantage is the insensitivity to spectral, spatial, and temporal shifts of emission-line components due to local velocities and probable variability of 'hot-spots' in the source. A laboratory experiment has been set up, simulating telescopic observations of cosmic laser emission. Numerically simulated observations estimate how laser emission components within realistic spectral and spatial passbands for various candidate sources carry over to observable statistical functions.Comment: Paper presented at the conference 'High Time Resolution Astrophysics', held in Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2007. To appear in D.Phelan, O.Ryan & A.Shearer, eds.,'The Universe at sub-second timescales', AIP Conf.Proc., in press, 2008 (American Institute of Physics, http://www.aip.org/proceedings). 9 pages, 3 figures, 36 reference

Reducing pain during wound dressings in burn care using virtual reality: a study of perceived impact and usability with patients and nurses.

Burns patients often suffer severe pain during interventions such as dressing changes, even with analgesia. Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to distract patients and reduce pain. However, more evidence is needed from the patients and staff using the technology about its use in clinical practice and the impact of different VR strategies. This small-scale qualitative study explored patient and staff perceptions of the impact and usability of active and passive VR during painful dressing changes. Five patients took part in three observed dressing changes - one with an active VR scenario developed for the study, one with passive VR and one with no VR - following which they were interviewed about their experiences. Three nurses who performed the dressing changes participated in a focus group. Thematic analysis of the resulting data generated four themes: 'Caution replaced by contentment', 'Distraction and implications for pain and wound care', 'Anxiety, control and enjoyment' and 'Preparation and communication concerns'. Results suggested that user-informed active VR was acceptable to burn patients, helped manage their perceived pain, and was both usable and desirable within the clinical environment. Further testing with larger samples is now required

Effects of Varying Doses of Oral Bisphenol A Consumption on Type 2 Diabetes Risk Markers in Healthy Adults

Objective To determine the effects of varying doses of orally administered BPA on indices of glucose metabolism. Methods Eleven college students (21.0 ± 0.8 years; 24.2 ± 3.9 kg/m2) were randomized in a double-blinded, crossover fashion separated by \u3e1 week to placebo (PL), deuterated BPA at 4 µg/kg body weight (BPA-4), and deuterated BPA at 50 µg/kg body weight (BPA-50). Total BPA, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were assessed at baseline, minutes 15, 30, 45, 60, and every 30 minutes for 2 hours in response to a glucose tolerance test. Results There was a significant condition × time interaction for total BPA (P \u3c 0.001) such that BPA increased more rapidly in BPA-50 than BPA-4 and PL (P = 0.003) and increased more rapidly in BPA-4 than PL (P \u3c 0.001). There were no significant condition × time interactions on glucose, insulin, and C-peptide. Significant condition main effects were observed for glucose such that BPA-50 was significantly lower than PL (P = 0.036) and nearly lower for BPA-4 vs PL (P = 0.056). Significant condition main effects were observed such that insulin in BPA-50 was lower than BPA-4 (P = 0.021), and C-peptide in BPA-50 was lower than BPA-4 (t18 = 3.95; Tukey-adjusted P = 0.003). Glucose, insulin, and C-peptide areas under the curve for the 3-hour profile were significantly lower in BPA-50 vs PL (P \u3c 0.05). Conclusion Orally administered BPA protocol appeared feasible and has immediate effects on glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations

TRIATHLON CYCLE-RUN TRANSITION: SEATED VERSUS ALTERNATING SEATED AND STANDING CYCLING

Nine experienced triathletes completed two trials of a cycle to run transition. During the last three minutes of a 30 minute cycling bout (at power output equal to lactate threshold) subjects either remained seated (SEAT), or alternated seated and standing cycling (30 s at a time) (ALT). Minimum and maximum knee angle and stride frequency were obtained at the end of a three minute control run (C) and at minutes 0, 2, & 4, of running after cycling transition. The only difference found by Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA (condition X minute) was that C was significantly different than minute 0 of the transition for stride frequency (

Randomized intervention trial to decrease Bisphenol A urine concentrations in women: Pilot study

In today\u27s uncertain market and continuously evolving technology, managing manufacturing systems are more complex than ever. This paper studies the dynamics of managing variety and volume to enhance value creation in manufacturers implementing system level advanced and automated manufacturing technology (AAM1). The demand is composed of heterogeneous customers who make purchasing decisions depending on the variety levels and lead times of the firm\u27s product offerings. The cost structure adopted calculates profit as the difference between customer value creation rate (VCR) and costs associated with the process of creating this value. Reported results contribute to the variety and volume management literature by offering analytical clarity of factors affecting product platforms and capacity scalability man agement for systems with AAMT. In addition, insightful answers to the trade offs between profit maximising market coverage and investments, smoothing demand policies and system stability for this type of environment are presented. Furthermore, the value of market information in deciding the industrial technology investment and also the impact of product life cycle on the same investment is captured

A mixed-methods investigation into the acceptability, usability and perceived effectiveness of active and passive virtual reality scenarios in managing pain under experimental conditions

Burns patients often suffer excruciating pain during clinical procedures, even with analgesia. Virtual Reality as an adjunct to pharmacological therapy has proved promising in the management of burn pain. More evidence is needed regarding specific forms of Virtual Reality. This mixed-method study examined the impact of active and passive Virtual Reality scenarios in experimental conditions, gathering data relating to user experience, acceptability and effectiveness in managing pain. Four scenarios were developed or selected following a consultative workshop with burns survivors and clinicians. Each was trialled using a cold pressor test with 15 University students. Data were gathered regarding pain threshold and tolerance at baseline and during each exposure. Short interviews were conducted afterwards. The two active scenarios were ranked highest and significantly extended participants pain threshold and tolerance times compared to passive and baseline conditions. Passive scenarios offered little distraction and relief from pain. Active scenarios were perceived to be engaging, challenging, distracting and immersive. They reduced subjective awareness of pain, though suggestions were made for further improvements. Results suggested that active Virtual Reality was acceptable and enjoyable as a means of helping to control experimental pain. Following suggested improvements, scenarios should now be tested in the clinical environment

CP\mathcal{CP}-violation sensitivity of closed-shell radium-containing polyatomic molecular ions

Closed-shell atoms and molecules such as Hg or TlF provide some of the best low-energy tests of hadronic $\mathcal{CP}$-violation which is considered to be a necessary ingredient to explain the observed excess of matter over antimatter in our universe. $\mathcal{CP}$-violation is, however, expected to be strongly enhanced in octupole deformed nuclei such as $^{225}$Ra. Recently, closed-shell radium-containing symmetric-top molecular ions were cooled sympathetically in a Coulomb crystal [M. Fan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 023002 (2021)] and shown to be well-suited for precision spectroscopy in the search for fundamental physics [P. Yu and N. R. Hutzler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 023003 (2021)]. In closed-shell molecules hadronic $\mathcal{CP}$-violation contributes to a net electric dipole moment (EDM) that violates parity and time-reversal symmetry ($\mathcal{P,T}$), which is the target of measurements. To interpret experiments, it is indispensable to know the electronic structure enhancement parameters for the various sources of $\mathcal{P,T}$-violation which contribute to the net $\mathcal{P,T}$-odd EDM. In this paper we employ relativistic Hartree--Fock and density functional theory calculations to determine relevant parameters for interpretation of possible EDM measurements in RaOCH$_3^+$, RaSH$^+$, RaCH$_3^+$, RaCN$^+$, and RaNC$^+$ and perform accurate relativistic coupled cluster calculations of the Schiff moment enhancement in RaSH$^+$ to gauge the quality of the density functional theory approach. Finally, we project to bounds on various fundamental $\mathcal{P,T}$-odd parameters that could be achievable from an experiment with RaOCH$_3^+$ in the near future and asses the complementarity of this experiment to experiments with Hg and TlF.Comment: Updated references, corrected Wm values for RaCH3+, RaCN+ and RaNC+ in Table VII and in the supplemen

Maternal Behaviors during Pregnancy Impact Offspring Obesity Risk

This study investigated the effects of maternal changes during pregnancy in diet, exercise, and psychosocial factors on offspring weight parameters at birth and 6 months. In overweight/obese (OW/OB; n = 132) mothers, greater % kcal from sweets early in pregnancy was the strongest, independent predictor of higher weight for age (WFA) (beta = 0.19; P = 0.004), higher odds of macrosomia (OR = 1.1 (1.0–1.2); P = 0.004) andWFA >90th percentile at birth (OR = 1.2 (1.1–1.3); P = 0.002) and higher WFA at 6 months (beta = 0.30; P = 0.002). In normal weight (n = 153) mothers, higher intake of soft drinks was the strongest predictor of higher offspring WFA at birth (beta = 0.16; P = 0.04) but not at 6 months. Prenatal physical activity, depressive symptoms, and sleep-related variables did not significantly predict offspring weight outcomes. Mothers' eating behaviors during pregnancy, especially intake of sweets in OW/OB mothers, may have a lasting effect on child weight

A practical phase sensitive amplification scheme for two channel phase regeneration

A "black-box" phase sensitive amplifier is presented achieving simultaneous suppression of deterministic phase distortion on two independent 42.66 Gbit/s DPSK modulated signal wavelengths