937 research outputs found
The Ubiquity of Sidon Sets That Are Not
We prove that every infinite, discrete abelian group admits a pair of
sets whose union is not . In particular, this implies that every such
group contains a Sidon set that is not
Collimated, single-pass atom source from a pulsed alkali metal dispenser for laser-cooling experiments
We have developed an improved scheme for loading atoms into a magneto-optical
trap (MOT) from a directed alkali metal dispenser in < 10^-10 torr ultra-high
vacuum conditions. A current-driven dispenser was surrounded with a cold
absorbing "shroud" held at < 0 C, pumping rubidium atoms not directed into the
MOT. This nearly eliminates background alkali atoms and reduces the detrimental
rise in pressure normally associated with these devices. The system can be
well-described as a current-controlled, rapidly-switched, two-temperature
thermal beam, and was used to load a MOT with 3 x 10^8 atoms.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Refugia and connectivity sustain amphibian metapopulations afflicted by disease
Metapopulation persistence in fragmented landscapes depends on habitat patches that can support resilient local populations and sufficient connectivity between patches. Yet epidemiological theory for metapopulations has largely overlooked the capacity of particular patches to act as refuges from disease, and has suggested that connectivity can undermine persistence. Here, we show that relatively warm and saline wetlands are environmental refuges from chytridiomycosis for an endangered Australian frog, and act jointly with connectivity to sustain frog metapopulations. We coupled models of microclimate and infection probability to map chytrid prevalence, and demonstrate a strong negative relationship between chytrid prevalence and the persistence of frog populations. Simulations confirm that frog metapopulations are likely to go extinct when they lack environmental refuges from disease and lose connectivity between patches. This study demonstrates that environmental heterogeneity can mediate host-pathogen interactions in fragmented landscapes, and provides evidence that connectivity principally supports host metapopulations afflicted by facultative pathogens
Dual Use of a Patient Portal and Clinical Video Telehealth by Veterans with Mental Health Diagnoses: Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Analysis
BACKGROUND: Access to mental health care is challenging. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been addressing these challenges through technological innovations including the implementation of Clinical Video Telehealth, two-way interactive and synchronous videoconferencing between a provider and a patient, and an electronic patient portal and personal health record, My HealtheVet.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe early adoption and use of My HealtheVet and Clinical Video Telehealth among VHA users with mental health diagnoses.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of early My HealtheVet adoption and Clinical Video Telehealth engagement among veterans with one or more mental health diagnoses who were VHA users from 2007 to 2012. We categorized veterans into four electronic health (eHealth) technology use groups: My HealtheVet only, Clinical Video Telehealth only, dual users who used both, and nonusers of either. We examined demographic characteristics and mental health diagnoses by group. We explored My HealtheVet feature use among My HealtheVet adopters. We then explored predictors of My HealtheVet adoption, Clinical Video Telehealth engagement, and dual use using multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS: Among 2.17 million veterans with one or more mental health diagnoses, 1.51% (32,723/2,171,325) were dual users, and 71.72% (1,557,218/2,171,325) were nonusers of both My HealtheVet and Clinical Video Telehealth. African American and Latino patients were significantly less likely to engage in Clinical Video Telehealth or use My HealtheVet compared with white patients. Low-income patients who met the criteria for free care were significantly less likely to be My HealtheVet or dual users than those who did not. The odds of Clinical Video Telehealth engagement and dual use decreased with increasing age. Women were more likely than men to be My HealtheVet or dual users but less likely than men to be Clinical Video Telehealth users. Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were significantly less likely to be My HealtheVet or dual users than those with other mental health diagnoses (odds ratio, OR 0.50, CI 0.47-0.53 and OR 0.75, CI 0.69-0.80, respectively). Dual users were younger (53.08 years, SD 13.7, vs 60.11 years, SD 15.83), more likely to be white, and less likely to be low-income than the overall cohort. Although rural patients had 17% lower odds of My HealtheVet adoption compared with urban patients (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80-0.87), they were substantially more likely than their urban counterparts to engage in Clinical Video Telehealth and dual use (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.95-3.09 for Clinical Video Telehealth and OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.81-2.47 for dual use).
CONCLUSIONS: During this study (2007-2012), use of these technologies was low, leaving much potential for growth. There were sociodemographic disparities in access to My HealtheVet and Clinical Video Telehealth and in dual use of these technologies. There was also variation based on types of mental health diagnosis. More research is needed to ensure that these and other patient-facing eHealth technologies are accessible and effectively used by all vulnerable patients
Policy Feedback and the Politics of the Affordable Care Act
There is a large body of literature devoted to how âpolicies create politicsâ and how feedback effects from existing policy legacies shape potential reforms in a particular area. Although much of this literature focuses on selfâreinforcing feedback effects that increase support for existing policies over time, Kent Weaver and his colleagues have recently drawn our attention to selfâundermining effects that can gradually weaken support for such policies. The following contribution explores both selfâreinforcing and selfâundermining policy feedback in relationship to the Affordable Care Act, the most important healthâcare reform enacted in the United States since the midâ1960s. More specifically, the paper draws on the concept of policy feedback to reflect on the political fate of the ACA since its adoption in 2010. We argue that, due in part to its sheer complexity and fragmentation, the ACA generates both selfâreinforcing and selfâundermining feedback effects that, depending of the aspect of the legislation at hand, can either facilitate or impede conservative retrenchment and restructuring. Simultaneously, through a discussion of partisan effects that shape Republican behavior in Congress, we acknowledge the limits of policy feedback in the explanation of policy stability and change
Rotational modulation of the photospheric and chromospheric activity in the young, single K2-dwarf PW And
High resolution echelle spectra of PW And (HD~1405) have been taken during
eight observing runs from 1999 to 2002. The detailed analysis of the spectra
allow us to determine its spectral type (K2V), mean heliocentric radial
velocity (V_hel = -11.15 km/s) rotational velocity (vsin{i} = 22.6 km/s), and
equivalent width of the lithium line 6707.8 AA (EW(LiI) = 273 mAA). The
kinematic (Galactic Velocity (U, V, W)) confirms its membership of the Local
Association moving group, in agreement with the age (30 to 80 Myrs) inferred
from the color magnitude diagram and the lithium equivalent width. Photospheric
activity (presence of cool spots that disturb the profiles of the photospheric
lines) has been detected as changes in the the bisectors of the cross
correlation function (CCF) resulting of cross-correlate the spectra of PW And
with the spectrum of a non active star of similar spectral type. These
variations of the CCF bisectors are related to the variations in the measured
radial velocities and are modulated with a period similar to the photometric
period of the star. At the same time, chromospheric activity has been analyzed,
using the spectral subtraction technique and simultaneous spectroscopic
observations of the H_alpha, H_beta, NaI D_1 and D_2$, HeI D_3, MgI b triplet,
CaII H&K, and CaII infrared triplet lines. A flare was observed during the last
observing run of 2001, showing an enhancement in the observed chromospheric
lines. A less powerful flare was observed on 2002 August 23. The variations of
the chromospheric activity indicators seem to be related to the photospheric
activity. A correlation between radial velocity, changes in the CCF bisectors
and equivalent width of different chromospheric lines is observed with a
different behaviour between epochs 1999, 2001 and 2002.Comment: Latex file with 20 pages, 21 figures tar'ed gzip'ed. Full postscript
(text, figures and tables) available at
http://www.ucm.es/info/Astrof/users/dmg/pub_dmg.html Accepted for publication
in: Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A
Development Status of Adjustable Grazing Incidence Optics for 0.5 Arcsecond X-Ray Imaging
We describe progress in the development of adjustable grazing incidence X-ray optics for 0.5 arcsec resolution cosmic X-ray imaging. To date, no optics technology is available to blend high resolution imaging like the Chandra X-ray Observatory, with square meter collecting area. Our approach to achieve these goals simultaneously is to directly deposit thin film piezoelectric actuators on the back surface of thin, lightweight Wolter-I or Wolter- Schwarschild mirror segments. The actuators are used to correct mirror figure errors due to fabrication, mounting and alignment, using calibration and a one-time figure adjustment on the ground. If necessary, it will also be possible to correct for residual gravity release and thermal effects on-orbit. In this paper we discuss our most recent results measuring influence functions of the piezoelectric actuators using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. We describe accelerated and real-time lifetime testing of the piezoelectric material, and we also discuss changes to, and recent results of, our simulations of mirror correction
- âŠ