1,125 research outputs found
An Experimental Scanning Capacitance Microscope
A fine needle stylus mounted to a three-dimensional piezo system is scanned across the sample in x-and y-direction, while a constant spacing between tip and sample, i.e., constant tip-to-sample capacitance, is maintained in z-direction. This is accomplished by vibrating the tip in z-direction at 1 kHz by typically 0.1 microns and by detecting the capacitance modulation from the shifting of the resonance of a tuned 1 GHz line. The horizontal resolution achieved so far is limited by the tip radius at about 200 nm and the vertical resolution is about 5 nm. The theoretical limits for finer tips are 7 nm and 1 nm for horizontal and vertical resolution, respectively
The International Stroke Trial database
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to make individual patient data from the International Stroke Trial (IST), one of the largest randomised trials ever conducted in acute stroke, available for public use, to facilitate the planning of future trials and to permit additional secondary analyses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For each randomised patient, we have extracted data on the variables assessed at randomisation, at the early outcome point (14-days after randomisation or prior discharge) and at 6-months and provide them as an analysable database.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The IST dataset includes data on 19 435 patients with acute stroke, with 99% complete follow-up. Over 26.4% patients were aged over 80 years at study entry. Background stroke care was limited and none of the patients received thrombolytic therapy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The IST dataset provides a source of primary data which could be used for planning further trials, for sample size calculations and for novel secondary analyses. Given the age distribution and nature of the background treatment given, the data may be of value in planning trials in older patients and in resource-poor settings.</p
Intensity of Brillouin light scattering from spin waves in magnetic multilayers with noncollinear spin configurations: Theory and experiment
The scattering of photons from spin waves (Brillouin light scattering -- BLS)
is a well-established technique for the study of layered magnetic systems. The
information about the magnetic state and properties of the sample is contained
in the frequency position, width, and intensity of the BLS peaks. Previously
[Phys. Rev. B 67, 184404 (2003)], we have shown that spin wave frequencies can
be conveniently calculated within the ultrathin film approach, treating the
intralayer exchange as an effective bilinear interlayer coupling between thin
virtual sheets of the ferromagnetic layers. Here we give the consequent
extension of this approach to the calculation of the Brillouin light scattering
(BLS) peak intensities. Given the very close relation of the BLS cross-section
to the magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE), the depth-resolved longitudinal and
polar MOKE coefficients calculated numerically via the usual magneto-optic
formalism can be employed in combination with the spin wave precessional
amplitudes to calculate full BLS spectra for a given magnetic system. This
approach allows an easy calculation of BLS intensities even for noncollinear
spin configurations including the exchange modes. The formalism is applied to a
Fe/Cr/Fe/Ag/Fe trilayer system with one antiferromagnetically coupling spacer
(Cr). Good agreement with the experimental spectra is found for a wide variety
of spin configurations.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure
Modern Instrumental Limits of Identification of Ignitable Liquids in Forensic Fire Debris Analysis
Forensic fire debris analysis is an important part of fire investigation, and gas chromatography–
mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the accepted standard for detection of ignitable liquids in fire debris.
While GC-MS is the dominant technique, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry (GC GC-MS) is gaining popularity. Despite the broad use of these techniques, their
sensitivities are poorly characterized for petroleum-based ignitable liquids. Accordingly, we explored
the limit of identification (LOI) using the protocols currently applied in accredited forensic labs for
two 75% evaporated gasolines and a 25% evaporated diesel as both neat samples and in the presence
of interfering pyrolysate typical of fire debris. GC-MSD (mass selective detector (MS)), GC-TOF
(time-of-flight (MS)), and GC GC-TOF were evaluated under matched conditions to determine
the volume of ignitable liquid required on-column for correct identification by three experienced
forensic examiners performing chromatographic interpretation in accordance with ASTM E1618-14.
GC-MSD provided LOIs of ~0.6 pL on-column for both neat gasolines, and ~12.5 pL on-column
for neat diesel. In the presence of pyrolysate, the gasoline LOIs increased to ~6.2 pL on-column,
while diesel could not be correctly identified at the concentrations tested. For the neat dilutions,
GC-TOF generally provided 2 better sensitivity over GC-MSD, while GC GC-TOF generally
resulted in 10 better sensitivity over GC-MSD. In the presence of pyrolysate, GC-TOF was generally
equivalent to GC-MSD, while GC GC-TOF continued to show 10 greater sensitivity relative
to GC-MSD. Our findings demonstrate the superior sensitivity of GC GC-TOF and provide an
important approach for interlaboratory benchmarking of modern instrumental performance in fire
debris analysis
Pressure Training for Performance Domains: A Meta-Analysis.
Studies have tested pressure training (PT) interventions in which performers practice physical or technical skills under simulated psychological pressure, but research has not yet synthesized the results of these studies. This meta-analysis assessed the magnitude of PT’s effect on performance in sport and other high-pressure domains (e.g., law enforcement). A secondary purpose was to investigate how domain, dose, experience, and the type of task moderated the effectiveness of interventions. A study was included if it was peer-reviewed, conducted a PT intervention for sport or another high-pressure domain, and quantitatively compared a PT group with a control group on posttests under pressure. In all, 14 studies in sport (k = 10) and law enforcement (k = 4) were included. Participants (n = 394) were novices, semiprofessional athletes, elite athletes, and police officers. After removal of an outlier, the mean effect was medium (g = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [0.43, 1.12]) with low heterogeneity (I2 = 17.1%). Subgroup analysis did not indicate clear moderators of performance but did reinforce that PT can benefit both novice and experienced participants on open and closed tasks across different domains. The results suggest coaches and instructors should create pressurized training environments rather than relying on greater amounts of training to help performers adjust to pressure. Future research should develop practical pressure manipulations, conduct retention tests, and measure performance in competitive or real-life scenarios
Simultaneous existence of two spin-wave modes in ultrathin Fe/GaAs(001) films studied by Brillouin Light Scattering: experiment and theory
A double-peaked structure was observed in the {\it in-situ} Brillouin Light
Scattering (BLS) spectra of a 6 \AA thick epitaxial Fe/GaAs(001) film for
values of an external magnetic field , applied along the hard in plane
direction, lower than a critical value kOe. This experimental
finding is theoretically interpreted in terms of a model which assumes a
non-homogeneous magnetic ground state characterized by the presence of
perperpendicular up/down stripe domains. For such a ground state, two spin-wave
modes, namely an acoustic and an optic mode, can exist. Upon increasing the
field the magnetization tilts in the film plane, and for the
ground state is homogeneous, thus allowing the existence of just a single
spin-wave mode. The frequencies of the two spin-wave modes were calculated and
successfully compared with the experimental data. The field dependence of the
intensities of the corresponding two peaks that are present in the BLS spectra
was also estimated, providing further support to the above-mentioned
interpretation.Comment: Shortened version (7 pages). Accepted for publication in Physical
Review
Recommended from our members
Effects of antiplatelet therapy after stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage (RESTART): a randomised, open-label trial
Antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events for people with occlusive vascular disease, although it might increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. Patients surviving the commonest subtype of intracranial haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, are at risk of both haemorrhagic and occlusive vascular events, but whether antiplatelet therapy can be used safely is unclear. We aimed to estimate the relative and absolute effects of antiplatelet therapy on recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage and whether this risk might exceed any reduction of occlusive vascular events
Effects of alteplase for acute stroke on the distribution of functional outcomes: a pooled analysis of 9 trials
Background—Thrombolytic therapy with intravenous alteplase within 4.5 hours of ischemic stroke onset increases the overall likelihood of an excellent outcome (no, or nondisabling, symptoms). Any improvement in functional outcome distribution has value, and herein we provide an assessment of the effect of alteplase on the distribution of the functional level by treatment delay, age, and stroke severity.
Methods—Prespecified pooled analysis of 6756 patients from 9 randomized trials comparing alteplase versus placebo/open control. Ordinal logistic regression models assessed treatment differences after adjustment for treatment delay, age, stroke severity, and relevant interaction term(s).
Results—Treatment with alteplase was beneficial for a delay in treatment extending to 4.5 hours after stroke onset, with a greater benefit with earlier treatment. Neither age nor stroke severity significantly influenced the slope of the relationship between benefit and time to treatment initiation. For the observed case mix of patients treated within 4.5 hours of stroke onset (mean 3 hours and 20 minutes), the net absolute benefit from alteplase (ie, the difference between those who would do better if given alteplase and those who would do worse) was 55 patients per 1000 treated (95% confidence interval, 13–91; P=0.004).
Conclusions—Treatment with intravenous alteplase initiated within 4.5 hours of stroke onset increases the chance of achieving an improved level of function for all patients across the age spectrum, including the over 80s and across all severities of stroke studied (top versus bottom fifth means: 22 versus 4); the earlier that treatment is initiated, the greater the benefit
Brillouin scattering studies in FeO across the Verwey transition
Brillouin scattering studies have been carried out on high quality single
crystals of FeO with [100] and [110] faces in the temperature range of
300 to 30 K. The room temperature spectrum shows a surface Rayleigh wave (SRW)
mode at 8 GHz and a longitudinal acoustic (LA) mode at 60 GHz. The SRW mode
frequency shows a minimum at the Verwey transition temperature of 123 K.
The softening of the SRW mode frequency from about 250 K to can be
quantitatively understood as a result of a decrease in the shear elastic
constant C, arising from the coupling of shear strain to charge
fluctuations. On the other hand, the LA mode frequency does not show any
significant change around , but shows a large change in its intensity. The
latter shows a maximum at around 120 K in the cooling run and at 165 K in the
heating run, exhibiting a large hysteresis of 45 K. This significant change in
intensity may be related to the presence of stress-induced ordering of
Fe and Fe at the octahedral sites, as well as to stress-induced
domain wall motion.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Physical Review B 200
- …