511 research outputs found
Conveyor belt clock synchronization
A protocol for synchronizing distant clocks is proposed that does not rely on
the arrival times of the signals which are exchanged, and an optical
implementation based on coherent-state pulses is described. This protocol is
not limited by any dispersion that may be present in the propagation medium
through which the light signals are exchanged. Possible improvements deriving
from the use of quantum-mechanical effects are also addressed.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Understanding the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations on patient health and quality of life
Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent a significant clinical problem, and are
associated with decreased lung function, worsening quality of life and decreased physical activity levels, with
even a single exacerbation having detrimental effects. The occurrence of COPD exacerbations can also have a
considerable impact on healthcare costs and mortality rates, with over one-fifth of patients hospitalized for a
COPD exacerbation for the first time dying within one year of discharge. This highlights the need for COPD
exacerbations to be a major focus in clinical practice. Furthermore, the substantial effect that COPD exacerbations can have on patient mental health should not be underestimated. Despite their clinical importance, COPD
exacerbations are poorly recognized and reported by patients, and improving patient understanding and reporting of exacerbations to ensure prompt treatment may minimize their deleterious effects. Renewed focus on
improving current clinical practice with support from evidence-based guidelines is required. This also raises a
challenge to payors, healthcare systems and government policies to do more to tackle the considerable outstanding burden of COPD exacerbations
Shape resonances in nested diffraction gratings
The diffraction problem of a plane wave impinging on a grating formed by
nested cavities is solved by means of the modal method, for and
polarization modes. The cavities are formed by perfectly conducting sheets that
describe rectangular profiles. The electromagnetic response of the grating is
analyzed, paying particular attention to the generation of resonances within
the structure. The dependence of the resonances on the geometrical parameters
of the grating is studied, and results of far and near field are shown. The
results are checked and compared with those available in the literature for
certain limit cases.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure
Digital intervention increases influenza vaccination rates for people with diabetes in a decentralized randomized trial
People with diabetes (PWD) have an increased risk of developing influenza-related complications, including pneumonia, abnormal glycemic events, and hospitalization. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for PWD, but vaccination rates are suboptimal. The study aimed to increase influenza vaccination rate in people with self-reported diabetes. This study was a prospective, 1:1 randomized controlled trial of a 6-month Digital Diabetes Intervention in U.S. adults with diabetes. The intervention group received monthly messages through an online health platform. The control group received no intervention. Difference in self-reported vaccination rates was tested using multivariable logistic regression controlling for demographics and comorbidities. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03870997. A total of 10,429 participants reported influenza vaccination status (5158 intervention, mean age (±SD) = 46.8 (11.1), 78.5% female; 5271 control, Mean age (±SD) = 46.7 (11.2), 79.4% female). After a 6-month intervention, 64.2% of the intervention arm reported influenza vaccination, vers us 61.1% in the control arm (diff = 3.1, RR = 1.05, 95% CI [1.02, 1.08], p = 0.0013, number needed to treat = 33 to obtain 1 additional vaccination). Completion of one or more intervention messages was associated with up to an 8% increase in vaccination rate (OR 1.27, 95% CI [1.17, 1.38], p < 0.0001). The intervention improved influenza vaccination rates in PWD, suggesting that leveraging new technology to deliver knowledge and information can improve influenza vaccination rates in high-risk populations to reduce public health burden of influenza. Rapid cycle innovation could maximize the effects of these digital interventions in the future with other populations and vaccines
Ion acoustic wave experiments in a high school plasma physics laboratory
We describe a successful alliance between a university and several high schools. The alliance is centered on a laboratory experiment constructed by students and faculty. The experiment involves sophisticated concepts and equipment not readily available in high schools. Much of the experiment is directly related to the science and mathematics learned in high school, with opportunities to extend their understanding by applying it to a research experience. The experiment is in plasma physics, but a similar alliance can be implemented in any area of science. Although the number of high school students affected by any one alliance is small, the impact is potentially large in the scientific life of a participating student or teacher
Political Mediation and American Old-Age Security Exceptionalism
Debates over America’s heavy reliance on employer-provided private pensions have understated the profound role organized labor played after World War II. Archival evidence from prominent unions and business associations suggests that the shift in organized labor’s strategy after the New Deal toward electoral activity helps explain critical interventions by Northern Democrats into the system of private pensioning in the postwar period that laid the foundation for America’s old-age security system. Such a strategy was insufficient, however, to expand Social Security. This article offers a political mediation account of electoral activity as a source of labor influence on social policy that draws on political institutionalist and class power theories
Adsorption of mono- and multivalent cat- and anions on DNA molecules
Adsorption of monovalent and multivalent cat- and anions on a deoxyribose
nucleic acid (DNA) molecule from a salt solution is investigated by computer
simulation. The ions are modelled as charged hard spheres, the DNA molecule as
a point charge pattern following the double-helical phosphate strands. The
geometrical shape of the DNA molecules is modelled on different levels ranging
from a simple cylindrical shape to structured models which include the major
and minor grooves between the phosphate strands. The densities of the ions
adsorbed on the phosphate strands, in the major and in the minor grooves are
calculated. First, we find that the adsorption pattern on the DNA surface
depends strongly on its geometrical shape: counterions adsorb preferentially
along the phosphate strands for a cylindrical model shape, but in the minor
groove for a geometrically structured model. Second, we find that an addition
of monovalent salt ions results in an increase of the charge density in the
minor groove while the total charge density of ions adsorbed in the major
groove stays unchanged. The adsorbed ion densities are highly structured along
the minor groove while they are almost smeared along the major groove.
Furthermore, for a fixed amount of added salt, the major groove cationic charge
is independent on the counterion valency. For increasing salt concentration the
major groove is neutralized while the total charge adsorbed in the minor groove
is constant. DNA overcharging is detected for multivalent salt. Simulations for
a larger ion radii, which mimic the effect of the ion hydration, indicate an
increased adsorbtion of cations in the major groove.Comment: 34 pages with 14 figure
Nuclear matter effects on production in asymmetric Cu+Au collisions at = 200 GeV
We report on production from asymmetric Cu+Au heavy-ion collisions
at =200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at both
forward (Cu-going direction) and backward (Au-going direction) rapidities. The
nuclear modification of yields in CuAu collisions in the Au-going
direction is found to be comparable to that in AuAu collisions when plotted
as a function of the number of participating nucleons. In the Cu-going
direction, production shows a stronger suppression. This difference is
comparable in magnitude and has the same sign as the difference expected from
shadowing effects due to stronger low- gluon suppression in the larger Au
nucleus. The relative suppression is opposite to that expected from hot nuclear
matter dissociation, since a higher energy density is expected in the Au-going
direction.Comment: 349 authors, 10 pages, 4 figures, and 4 tables. Submitted to Phys.
Rev. C. For v2, fixed LaTeX error in 3rd-to-last sentence. Plain text data
tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX
publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
- …