351 research outputs found
Reversible metallisation of soft UV patterned substrates
Soft UV (365 nm) patterning of ortho-nitrobenzyl functionalized thiol-on-gold self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) using acid catalysis, produces surfaces which can be used for the selective electro-deposition of copper. Exploiting the difference in the reduction peak potential between the photolysed and the masked regions of the SAM allows copper to be deposited selectively on those areas that have been exposed to the light. The copper can be removed by raising the electrode potential. The process is fully reversible so that depositing a pattern of copper, and removing it again is something that can be repeated many times. The copper deposited on the photolysed regions, like copper deposited on bare gold, forms a film of copper oxide, and so it is presumably formed on top of the SAM. Preliminary results for two-photon photocleavage show that it is also possible to implement patterning with sub-wavelength features
Forecasting GOES 15 >2âMeV Electron Fluxes From Solar Wind Data and Geomagnetic Indices
The flux of > 2 MeV electrons at geosynchronous orbit is used by space weather forecasters as a key indicator of enhanced risk of damage to spacecraft in low, medium or geosynchronous Earth orbits. We present a methodology that uses the amount of time a single input dataset (solar wind data or geomagnetic indices) exceeds a given threshold to produce deterministic and probabilistic forecasts of the > 2 MeV flux at GEO exceeding 1000 or 10000 cm â2 s â1 sr â1 within up to 10 days. By comparing our forecasts with measured fluxes from GOES 15 between 2014 and 2016, we determine the optimum forecast thresholds for deterministic and probabilistic forecasts by maximising the ROC and Brier Skill Scores respectively. The training dataset gives peak ROC scores of 0.71 to 0.87 and peak Brier Skill Scores of â0.03 to 0.32. Forecasts from AL give the highest skill scores for forecasts of up to 6âdays. AL, solar wind pressure or SYMâH give the highest skill scores over 7â10 days. Hit rates range over 56â89% with false alarm rates of 11â53%. Applied to 2012, 2013 and 2017, our best forecasts have hit rates of 56â83% and false alarm rates of 10â20%. Further tuning of the forecasts may improve these. Our hit rates are comparable to those from operational fluence forecasts, that incorporate fluence measurements, but our false alarm rates are higher. This proofâofâconcept shows that the geosynchronous electron flux can be forecast with a degree of success without incorporating a persistence element into the forecasts
The Response of Electron Pitch Angle Distributions to the Upper Limit on Stably Trapped Particles
We use Van Allen Probes electron data during 70 geomagnetic storms to examine the response of equatorial pitch angle distributions (PADs) at L*Â =Â 4.0â4.5 to a theoretical upper limit on stably trapped particle fluxes. Of the energies examined, 54 and 108Â keV electron PADs isotropize to a previously assumed level within 6Â hr of reaching the limit, near-identically across all 70 storms, consistent with rapid pitch angle scattering due to chorus wave interactions. In around 30% of events, 54Â keV electrons completely exceed the KP limit, before being quickly subdued. 470 and 749Â keV PADs show clear indications of an upper limit, though less aligned with the calculated limit used here. The consistency of an absolute upper limit shown across all events demonstrates the importance of this phenomena in both the limiting effect on electron flux and consistently influencing electron PAD evolution during geomagnetic storms. These results also highlight the need for further investigation, particularly related to the limiting of higher energy electrons
Effects of air pollution and the introduction of the London Low Emission Zone on the prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms in schoolchildren in East London: a sequential cross-sectional study
The adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution on childrenâs respiratory health have been widely reported, but few studies have evaluated the impact of traffic-control policies designed to reduce urban air pollution. We assessed associations between traffic-related air pollutants and respiratory/allergic symptoms amongst 8â9 year-old schoolchildren living within the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Information on respiratory/allergic symptoms was obtained using a parent-completed questionnaire and linked to modelled annual air pollutant concentrations based on the residential address of each child, using a multivariable mixed effects logistic regression analysis. Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants was associated with current rhinitis: NOx (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00â1.02), NO2 (1.03, 1.00â1.06), PM10 (1.16, 1.04â1.28) and PM2.5 (1.38, 1.08â1.78), all per ÎŒg/m3 of pollutant, but not with other respiratory/allergic symptoms. The LEZ did not reduce ambient air pollution levels, or affect the prevalence of respiratory/allergic symptoms over the period studied. These data confirm the previous association between traffic-related air pollutant exposures and symptoms of current rhinitis. Importantly, the London LEZ has not significantly improved air quality within the city, or the respiratory health of the resident population in its first three years of operation. This highlights the need for more robust measures to reduce traffic emissions
Complete experimental toolbox for alignment-free quantum communication
Quantum communication employs the counter-intuitive features of quantum
physics to perform tasks that are im- possible in the classical world. It is
crucial for testing the foundations of quantum theory and promises to rev-
olutionize our information and communication technolo- gies. However, for two
or more parties to execute even the simplest quantum transmission, they must
establish, and maintain, a shared reference frame. This introduces a
considerable overhead in communication resources, par- ticularly if the parties
are in motion or rotating relative to each other. We experimentally demonstrate
how to circumvent this problem with the efficient transmission of quantum
information encoded in rotationally invariant states of single photons. By
developing a complete toolbox for the efficient encoding and decoding of
quantum infor- mation in such photonic qubits, we demonstrate the fea- sibility
of alignment-free quantum key-distribution, and perform a proof-of-principle
alignment-free entanglement distribution and violation of a Bell inequality.
Our scheme should find applications in fundamental tests of quantum mechanics
and satellite-based quantum communication.Comment: Main manuscript: 7 pages, 3 figures; Supplementary Information: 7
pages, 3 figure
An approach for a negotiation model inspired on social networks
Supporting group decision-making in ubiquitous contexts is a complex
task that needs to deal with a large amount of factors to be successful. Here
we propose an approach for a negotiation model to support the group decisionmaking
process specially designed for ubiquitous contexts. We propose a new
look into this problematic, considering and defining strategies to deal with important
points such as the type of attributes in the multi-criteria problem and
agents' reasoning. Our model uses a social networking logic due to the type of
communication employed by the agents as well as to the type of relationships
they build as the interactions occur. Our approach intends to support the ubiquitous
group decision-making process in a similar way to the real process, which
simultaneously preserves the amount and quality of intelligence generated in
face-to-face meetings and is adapted to be used in a ubiquitous context.This work is part-funded by ERDF - European Regional Development Fund through
the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by
National Funds through the FCT - Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e a Tecnologia (Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology) within project FCOMP-01-0124-
FEDER-028980 (PTDC/EEISII/1386/2012) and SFRH/BD/89697/2012.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Process evaluation of a randomised pilot trial of home-based rehabilitation compared to usual care in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and their caregiverâs
Background: Whilst heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects almost 50 percent of the HF population, evidence-based treatment options remain limited. However, there is growing evidence of the potential value of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation. This study reports the process evaluation of the Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF) intervention for HFpEF patients and their caregivers conducted as part of the REACH-HFpEF pilot trial. Methods: Process evaluation sub-study parallel to a single centre (Tayside, Scotland) randomised controlled pilot trial with qualitative assessment of both intervention fidelity delivery and HFpEF patientsâ and caregiversâ experiences. The REACH-HF intervention consisted of self-help manual for patients and caregivers, facilitated over 12 weeks by trained healthcare professionals. Interviews were conducted following completion of intervention in a purposeful sample of 15 HFpEF patients and 7 caregivers. Results: Qualitative information from the facilitator interactions and interviews identified three key themes for patients and caregivers: (1) understanding their condition, (2) emotional consequences of HF, and (3) patientsâ and caregiversâ responses to the REACH-HF intervention. The differing professional backgrounds demonstrate the possibility of delivering REACH-HF by either existing HF or cardiac rehabilitation services of a combination of the two. Conclusions: The REACH-HF home-based facilitated intervention for HFpEF appears feasible and well accepted model for delivery of a cardiac rehabilitation intervention, with the potential to address key unmet needs of patients and their caregivers who are often excluded from service provision and current CR programmes. Results of this study will inform a recently funded full multicentre randomised clinical trial
Mutation Accumulation May Be a Minor Force in Shaping Life History Traits
Is senescence the adaptive result of tradeoffs between younger and older ages or the nonadaptive burden of deleterious mutations that act at older ages? To shed new light on this unresolved question we combine adaptive and nonadaptive processes in a single model. Our model uses Penna's bit-strings to capture different age-specific mutational patterns. Each pattern represents a genotype and for each genotype we find the life history strategy that maximizes fitness. Genotypes compete with each other and are subject to selection and to new mutations over generations until equilibrium in gene-frequencies is reached. The mutation-selection equilibrium provides information about mutational load and the differential effects of mutations on a life history trait - the optimal age at maturity. We find that mutations accumulate only at ages with negligible impact on fitness and that mutation accumulation has very little effect on the optimal age at maturity. These results suggest that life histories are largely determined by adaptive processes. The non-adaptive process of mutation accumulation seems to be unimportant at evolutionarily relevant ages
In a secondary care setting, differences between neck pain subgroups classified using the Quebec task force classification system were typically small - A longitudinal study
Background: The component of the Quebec Task Force Classification System that subgroups patients based on the extent of their radiating pain and neurological signs has been demonstrated to have prognostic implications for patients with low back pain but has not been tested on patients with neck pain (NP). The main aim of this study was to examine the association between these subgroups, their baseline characteristics and outcome in chronic NP patients referred to an outpatient hospital department. Methods: This was an observational study of longitudinal data extracted from systematically collected, routine clinical data. Patients were classified into Local NP only, NP + arm pain above the elbow, NP + arm pain below the elbow, and NP with signs of nerve root involvement (NP + NRI). Outcome was pain intensity and activity limitation. Associations were tested in longitudinal linear mixed models. Results: A total of 1,852 people were classified into subgroups (64 % females, mean age 49 years). Follow ups after 3, 6 and 12 months were available for 45 %, 32 % and 40 % of those invited to participate at each time point. A small improvement in pain was observed over time in all subgroups. There was a significant interaction between subgroups and time, but effect sizes were small. The local NP subgroup improved slightly less after 3 months as compared with all other groups, but continued to have the lowest level of pain. After 6 and 12 months, those with NP + pain above the elbow had improved the least and patients with NP + NRI had experienced the largest improvements in pain intensity. Similar results were obtained for activity limitation. Conclusions: This study found baseline and outcome differences between neck pain subgroups classified using the Quebec Task Force Classification System. However, differences in outcome were typically small in size and mostly differentiated the local NP subgroup from the other subgroups. A caveat to these results is that they were obtained in a cohort of chronic neck pain patients who only displayed small improvements over time and the results may not apply to other cohorts, such as people at earlier stages of their clinical course and in other clinical settings
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