Boston Hospitality Review: Spring 2014

Going to School on University Hotels by Matthew Arrants -- The Food Photography Trend: A Discussion of the Popular Trend and Tips on Taking Great Pictures by Laurel Greenfield -- Back to the Front: Improving Guest Experiences at The Langham, Hong Kong by Michael Oshins -- The Healthy Hotel by John D. Murtha -- Southern New England’s Middle-Skill Gap: Dilemma for the Hospitality Industry by Erinn D. Tucke

Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: A retrospective review of patient outcomes over 10 years

Objectives: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) has become a well-established treatment for unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. Over the last 30 years, various techniques have been introduced to advance this procedure. The purpose of this study is to review the outcomes of patients who received medial opening wedge HTO over the last ten years (2002-2012) using a modern, low profile, medially based fixation device. In addition, we sought to determine if obese patients had a less favorable outcome than their non-obese counterparts. Methods: Ninety-three patients were identified from a surgical database as having undergone a HTO for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee with varus mal-alignment. All procedures were performed by one of two fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons from 2002-2012 utilizing a low profile fixation device and identical surgical technique. Minimum follow-up was one year for inclusion in the study. Outcomes were measured using Lysholm and WOMAC scores. Radiographs were evaluated to determine delayed union or non-union at the osteotomy site and surveillance was undertaken to evaluate post operative complications. Results: 93 patients were identified from the database, 63 (70%) were available for follow-up and are included in this analysis. Average follow-up time was 48 months (range 17 to 137). There were 44 males and 19 females. The average age was 45 years old. The average final Lysholm and WOMAC scores were 66.4 (range: 13-100) and 18.6 (range: 0-86) respectively. There was no significant difference in reported Lysholm or WOMAC scores between obese (BMI \u3e30) and non-obese patients (p=.31;p=.69). Complications were as follows: 3 patients required a surgical lysis of adhesions, 2 patients developed an infection, and 1 patient experienced a delayed union. At final follow-up, 18 patients received additional treatment on the affected knee: 11 required removal of symptomatic hardware, 5 received viscosupplementation, 2 underwent a total knee replacement. Conclusion: Low profile, medial based devices used in the setting of HTO is an accepted treatment for unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. At final follow-up, a majority of patients reported positive outcomes and few complications. 18 patients required additional treatment for osteoarthritis. In our analysis, obese patients faired equally as well as their non-obese counterparts, with no significant difference in outcomes scores or complication rate. Survivorship of high tibial osteotomy was excellent in this series, with only 2 patients having undergone total knee replacement at last follow-up. © The Author(s) 2015

Magellan/M2FS Spectroscopy of Galaxy Clusters: Stellar Population Model and Application to Abell 267

We report the results of a pilot program to use the Magellan/M2FS spectrograph to survey the galactic populations and internal kinematics of galaxy clusters. For this initial study, we present spectroscopic measurements for $223$ quiescent galaxies observed along the line of sight to the galaxy cluster Abell 267 ($z\sim0.23$). We develop a Bayesian method for modeling the integrated light from each galaxy as a simple stellar population, with free parameters that specify redshift ($v_\mathrm{los}/c$) and characteristic age, metallicity ($\mathrm{[Fe/H]}$), alpha-abundance ($[\alpha/\mathrm{Fe}]$), and internal velocity dispersion ($\sigma_\mathrm{int}$) for individual galaxies. Parameter estimates derived from our 1.5-hour observation of A267 have median random errors of $\sigma_{v_\mathrm{los}}=20\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$, $\sigma_{\mathrm{Age}}=1.2\ \mathrm{Gyr}$, $\sigma_{\mathrm{[Fe/H]}}=0.11\ \mathrm{dex}$,$\sigma_{[\alpha/\mathrm{Fe}]}=0.07\ \mathrm{dex}$, and$\sigma_{\sigma_\mathrm{int}}=20\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$. In a companion paper, we use these results to model the structure and internal kinematics of A267.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

Investigation of solid base catalysts for biodiesel production from fish oil

The authors would like to acknowledge Innovate UK for funding. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Dr Gavin Peters for the TGA and ICP-OES measurements. Finally, we would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, University of St Andrews, and CRITICAT Centre for Doctoral Training for financial support [Ph.D. studentship to M.D.V.T, S.G, and E. B; Grant code: EP/L016419/1].A series of composite CaO-Ca3Al2O6 mixed oxides were investigated as potential catalysts for biodiesel synthesis from waste fish oil. Different Ca/Al ratios, in the range of 1.5 to 6 were studied, alongside pure CaO. The catalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CO2-Temperature Program Desorption (TPD). The catalytic activity of the materials was studied for the transesterification reaction of cod liver oil with methanol at 65 °C, with 1:12 oil to methanol molar ratio and 10 wt% of catalyst. Over 97% conversion of the triglycerides to methyl esters was achieved for the 6Ca/Al catalyst after 2 h reaction time. This was similar to the performance of CaO. However, 6Ca/Al catalyst was reused successfully for seven consecutive tests, in contrast to CaO that was reused for only five tests, before it deactivated. Therefore, by incorporating the Ca3Al2O6, it was possible to enhance the stability of the catalytically active species and improve the lifetime of the catalyst. Post-test catalyst characterisation showed the formation of an intermediate phase (calcium diglyceroxide) that enhanced the catalyst’s performance and tolerance to air exposure and humidity. Finally, the catalyst deactivation, after seven cycles, took place due to the formation of Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3 species.PostprintPeer reviewe

Manifestations of Overarousal Account For the Association Between Cognitive Anxiety Sensitivity and Suicidal Ideation

Background: Recent evidence suggests an association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation. Cognitive anxiety sensitivity has also been implicated as a precursor to various forms of overarousal. These manifestations of overarousal (i.e., agitation, insomnia, nightmares, and anger) may account for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation. Methods: In Study 1, undergraduate students selectively sampled for recent suicidal ideation completed all measures online. In Study 2, clinical outpatients completed all measures prior to their initial intake appointments at a psychology clinic. Results: Study 1 demonstrated that agitation and insomnia individually and jointly accounted for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation, controlling for general anxiety and demographic variables. Study 2 replicated and extended these findings, such that, controlling for demographics, general anxiety, and physical and social anxiety sensitivity, agitation and anger each independently and together accounted for the association between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation, whereas insomnia and nightmares did not. Limitations: This study utilized a cross-sectional design and self-report measures in both samples as well as a sample of undergraduate students in Study 1. Conclusions: Together, these findings suggest that agitation and anger may explain the previously established relationship between cognitive anxiety sensitivity and suicidal ideation. Targeting cognitive anxiety sensitivity in treatment may in turn reduce these forms of overarousal and thereby suicide risk

A Bright Submillimeter Source in the Bullet Cluster (1E0657--56) Field Detected with BLAST

We present the 250, 350, and 500 micron detection of bright submillimeter emission in the direction of the Bullet Cluster measured by the Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST). The 500 micron centroid is coincident with an AzTEC 1.1 mm point-source detection at a position close to the peak lensing magnification produced by the cluster. However, the 250 micron and 350 micron centroids are elongated and shifted toward the south with a differential shift between bands that cannot be explained by pointing uncertainties. We therefore conclude that the BLAST detection is likely contaminated by emission from foreground galaxies associated with the Bullet Cluster. The submillimeter redshift estimate based on 250-1100 micron photometry at the position of the AzTEC source is z_phot = 2.9 (+0.6 -0.3), consistent with the infrared color redshift estimation of the most likely IRAC counterpart. These flux densities indicate an apparent far-infrared luminosity of L_FIR = 2E13 Lsun. When the amplification due to the gravitational lensing of the cluster is removed, the intrinsic far-infrared luminosity of the source is found to be L_FIR <= 10^12 Lsun, consistent with typical luminous infrared galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Maps are available at http://blastexperiment.info

The upgraded Polaris powder diffractometer at the ISIS neutron source

This paper describes the design and operation of the Polaris time-of-flight powder neutron diffractometer at the ISIS pulsed spallation neutron source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK. Following a major upgrade to the diffractometer in 2010-2011, its detector provision now comprises five large ZnS scintillator-based banks, covering an angular range of 6\ub0 ≤ 2θ ≤ 168\ub0, with only minimal gaps between each bank. These detectors have a substantially increased solid angle coverage (ω ∼5.67 sr) compared to the previous instrument (ω ∼0.82 sr), resulting in increases in count rate of between 2 7 and 10 7, depending on 2θ angle. The benefits arising from the high count rates achieved are illustrated using selected examples of experiments studying small sample volumes and performing rapid, time-resolved investigations. In addition, the enhanced capabilities of the diffractometer in the areas of in situ studies (which are facilitated by the installation of a novel design of radial collimator around the sample position and by a complementary programme of advanced sample environment developments) and in total scattering studies (to probe the nature of short-range atomic correlations within disordered crystalline solids) are demonstrated

Over half of the far-infrared background light comes from galaxies at z >= 1.2

Submillimetre surveys during the past decade have discovered a population of luminous, high-redshift, dusty starburst galaxies. In the redshift range 1 <= z <= 4, these massive submillimetre galaxies go through a phase characterized by optically obscured star formation at rates several hundred times that in the local Universe. Half of the starlight from this highly energetic process is absorbed and thermally re-radiated by clouds of dust at temperatures near 30 K with spectral energy distributions peaking at 100 microns in the rest frame. At 1 <= z <= 4, the peak is redshifted to wavelengths between 200 and 500 microns. The cumulative effect of these galaxies is to yield extragalactic optical and far-infrared backgrounds with approximately equal energy densities. Since the initial detection of the far-infrared background (FIRB), higher-resolution experiments have sought to decompose this integrated radiation into the contributions from individual galaxies. Here we report the results of an extragalactic survey at 250, 350 and 500 microns. Combining our results at 500 microns with those at 24 microns, we determine that all of the FIRB comes from individual galaxies, with galaxies at z >= 1.2 accounting for 70 per cent of it. As expected, at the longest wavelengths the signal is dominated by ultraluminous galaxies at z > 1.Comment: Accepted to Nature. Maps available at http://blastexperiment.info

An Empirical Evaluation of Context-Sensitive Pose Estimators in an Urban Outdoor Environment

When a mobile robot is executing a navigational task in an urban outdoor environment, accurate localization information is often essential. The difficulty of this task is compounded by sensor drop-out and the presence of non-linear error sources over the span of the mission. We have observed that certain motions of the robot and environmental conditions affect pose sensors in different ways. In this paper, we propose a computational method for localization that systematically integrates and evaluates contextual information that affects the quality of sensors, and utilize the information in order to improve the output of sensor fusion. Our method was evaluated in comparison with conventional probabilistic localization methods (namely, the extended Kalman filter and Monte Carlo localization) in a set of outdoor experiments. The results of the experiment are also reported in this paper

Local structure and order-disorder transitions in "empty" ferroelectric tetragonal tungsten bronzes

JAM would like to acknowledge the School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews for the allocation of a PhD studentship through the EPSRC doctoral training grant (EP/K503162/1). AR would like to acknowledge support through the Strategic Grant POSDRU/159/1.5/S/133255, Project ID 133255 (2014), co-financed by the European Social Fund within the Sectorial Operational Program Human Resources Development 2007–2013 and also the University of Craiova and University of Cambridge for the mobility grant “Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. (RUS) characterization of dielectric and ferroelectric tetragonal tungsten bronzes”. The work carried out at the University of St Andrews and University of Cambridge is part of an EPSRC- funded collaboration (EP/P02453X/1 and EP/P024904/1).The ‘empty’ tetragonal tungsten bronze Ba4La0.67 1.33Nb10O30 displays both relaxor-like and normal dielectric anomalies as a function of temperature; the former is associated with loss of ferroelectricity and was proposed to originate from anion disordering [Chem. Mater., 2016, 28 , 4616-4627]. Here we present total neutron scattering and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis which shows an increase in the distribution of oxygen-oxygen distances at the relaxor transition and which supports the proposed anion disordering mechanism. The disordering process can be destabilised by reducing the average A-cation size (i.e. Nd-doping: Ba4(La1-xNdx)0.67Nb10O30); this introduces a more strongly propagating tilt system in line with the previously reported crystal-chemical framework model [Chem. Mater., 2015, 27 , 3250-3261]. Mechanical loss data obtained using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy also indicate destabilisation of the disordering process with increasing Nd-substitution.PostprintPeer reviewe