Perturbed Power-law parameters from WMAP7

We present a perturbative approach for studying inflation models with soft departures from scale free spectra of the power law model. In the perturbed power law (PPL) approach one obtains at the leading order both the scalar and tensor power spectra with the running of their spectral indices, in contrast to the widely used slow roll expansion. The PPL spectrum is confronted data and we show that the PPL parameters are well estimated from WMAP-7 data

My patient who said, I am coming along, right?

My patients who said, I am coming along, right? As nurses, we take care of many different kinds of patients and their conditions and come across difficult and complex situations. Some interactions are short and some are long enough that you remember that patient time to time. Like my nursing colleagues say, nursing is a 24 hour job. We feel happy when we are able to discharge our patient from the ICU, but then its heart breaking when someone passes away. We share good and bad memories with our patient and families. I still remember this one patient I had because of the phrase that he used to say all the time; I am coming along, right

Constructivist Pedagogy For The Business Communication Classroom

Business education and learning has become formidable and challenging over the last few years. A traditional learning environment is bereft of active learning where students only try to memorise terms and concepts and is unable to apply them to the real corporate world.  It was found in the business communication classes that students fail to comprehend basic business terminology and communication practices and concepts related to organizational administration and functioning.  In such a state of nescience, there was a need to enable the students to maximise learning through knowledge construction in authentic environments that employs the context in which learning is relevant. A suitable teaching method which needs to be dependant on variables such as target audience and content (Gulbahar, 2006) was designed for the business communication classroom that undergrids the theory of constructivism (Piaget, 1963). Constructivism lends to learning that is action-based where learners construe or make interpretations of their world through interactions in the real-world. Students were actively engaged in making sense of different concepts and terms through workplace interactions and observations.  This paper therefore describes an example that builds a dichotomy between knowledge and “learning by doing” which was integrated into the business communication curricula in a tertiary educational system of Oman. Qualitative paradigms, such as semi-structured interviews with students, employee feedback, student portfolios were used to evaluate student’s cognitive domain

Is a step in the primordial spectral index favored by CMB data ?

A sudden small change in the second derivative of the inflaton potential can result in a universal local feature in the spectrum of primordial perturbations generated during inflation. The exact solution describing this feature \cite{minu} is characterized by a step in the spectral index modulated by characteristic oscillations and results in a large running of the spectral index localized over a few e-folds of scale. In this paper we confront this step-like feature with the 5 year WMAP results and demonstrate that it provides a better fit to this data than a featureless initial spectrum. If such a feature exists at all, then it should lie at sufficiently large scales $k_0 \lesssim 0.003 {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$ corresponding to $l \lesssim 40$. The sign of the effect is shown to correspond to the negative running of $n_s$ localized near this scale. This feature could arise as a result of a `mini-waterfall'-type fast second order phase transition experienced by an auxiliary heavy field during inflation, in a model similar to hybrid inflation (though for a different choice of parameters). If this is the case, then the auxiliary field should be positively coupled to the inflaton.Comment: Several new results, figures and enhanced discussion. Main conclusions unchanged. Matches the final version to be published in JCA

Dynamic mechanical analysis of particulate dental composites

Typically, dental composites are used in different configurations and situations. When a cavity forms at the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth, a class I and class II filling is used, depending on the extent and nature of the cavity formed. These fillings have to be designed to resist mechanical abrasion and occlusal stress during chewing, bruxing and other tooth functions. Class IV fillings are also designed to resist biting stress. In these applications composites with high filler loading with filler particles of size \u3e0.6μm are used. These composites are typically known as minifill or midifill composites. When more than one particle size range is used, they are also refereed to as hybrid composites. When the restorations are prepared on interior tooth surfaces not subject to direct application of occlusal or biting stresses (e.g., class III and class V fillings), the composites are designed with less emphasis on the abrasion resistance and mechanical properties of the composites. Typically, microfill composites with limited filler loading of colloidal silica (of 0.4p.m size) is used for such applications. It has been reported in recent years that these fillings must be designed to flex with tooth function and hence should possess lower modulus of elasticity. The posterior restorations, on the other hand, must be sufficiently stiff to resist masticatory stresses. For these reasons, dynamic mechanical properties of minifill/midifill and microfill composites need elucidation. The dynamic mechanical response is best studied under flexural mode of dynamic deformation. Among the properties considered important for composite resins are viscoelastic properties such as storage modulus (E\u27), loss modulus (E ) damping, glass transition, etc. In this study dynamic mechanical analysis using flexural mode of deformation in the temperature range of -50 to 180°C has been used to characterize the viscoelastic properties of four composites at 37°C with visible light cure. The results indicate that hybrid composites have higher viscoelastic properties than the microfill system. The resin is characterized by higher storage modulus mode and loss modulus across the entire range of temperature investigated. The results indicate that the filler loading and cross linking effects may be responsible for the variation of viscoelastic properties as a function of different variables (e.g. filler loading, particle size)

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the number one cause of disability at work in the United States. Loss of time at work and worker's compensation expenditure caused by CTS is more than that caused by any other condition. However, workplace surveillance is likely to help in detecting CTS at a stage that is treatable at a significantly lower cost. Vibrotactile threshold (VT) testing can be used for this purpose. The VT is the smallest displacement applied (as a sinusoid) to a finger innervated by the median nerve that can be detected by the patient. Vibrotactile threshold evaluation can be a versatile tool for applications involving haptics interfaces, for evaluating peripheral neuropathies, and for studying the effects of chemotherapy induced neuropathies. This dissertation presents the prototype design of a vibrotactile threshold evaluator for the workplace (VTEW), which is portable, and configurable in terms of the probe diameter (1-6 mm), surround diameter (8-10 mm), applied frequency (1-250 Hz), angle of probe (0-1200), and displacement of probe (1-1500 ?m) and is operated with a customizable LabView interface. The VTEW also incorporates a special mount for the probe stimulus to test the subjects in at least two distinctive postures of the hand. Subjects were tested using an existing validated device, Vibrotactile Threshold Tester (VTT) and VTEW. Subjects were tested at 50 Hz with VTT and VTEW for validation. The effect of flexion on VT was observed by testing the subjects on VTEW at 50 Hz with their dominant hand in neutral posture and again with their dominant hand in provocative flexion. Use of low frequency for testing in VT studies is uncommon due to hardware constraints. However, low frequency studies could be potentially useful for investigating the effects of chemotherapy on the perception of pain. Thus, subjects were also tested at 4 Hz using VTEW to obtain preliminary data. Finally, an age regression model was developed to correct for the changes occurring in VT with age