Article discussing research on correlation function and generalized master equation of arbitrary age.

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To assess the relationship of weekly walking distance to percentiles of adiposity in elders (age {ge} 75 years), seniors (55 {le} age <75 years), middle-age men (35 {le} age <55 years), and younger men (18 {le} age <35 years old). Cross-sectional analyses of baseline questionnaires from 7,082 male participants of the National Walkers Health Study. The walkers BMIs were inversely and significantly associated with walking distance (kg/m{sup 2} per km/wk) in elders (slope {+-} SE: -0.032 {+-} 0.008), seniors (-0.045 {+-} 0.005), and middle-aged men (-0.037 {+-} 0.007), as were their waist circumferences (-0.091 {+-} 0.025, -0.045 {+-} 0.005, and -0.091 {+-} 0.015 cm per km/wk, respectively), and these slopes remained significant when adjusted statistically for reported weekly servings of meat, fish, fruit, and alcohol. The declines in BMI associated with walking distance were greater at the higher than lower percentiles of the BMI distribution. Specifically, compared to the decline at the 10th BMI percentile, the decline in BMI at the 90th percentile was 5.1-fold greater in elders, 5.9-fold greater in seniors, and 6.7-fold greater in middle-age men. The declines in waist circumference associated with walking distance were also greater among men with broader waistlines. Exercise-induced weight loss (or self-selection) …

We propose a simple formula for fitting the electron mean free paths in solids both at high and at low electron energies. The free-electron-gas approximation used for predicting electron mean free paths is no longer valid at low energies (E < 50 eV), as the band structure effects become significant at those energies. Therefore we include the results of the band structure calculations in our fit. Finally, we apply the fit to 9 elements and 2 compounds.

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Metallic orthopaedic implants have been successfully used for decades but they have serious shortcomings related to their osseointegration and the fact that their mechanical properties do not match those of bone. This paper reviews recent advances in the fabrication of novel coatings to improve implant osseointegration and in the development of a new generation of hybrid organic-inorganic implant materials specifically designed for orthopaedic applications.

There is a general paucity of measured equipment load datafor laboratories and other complex buildings and designers often useestimates based on nameplate rated data or design assumptions from priorprojects. Consequently, peak equipment loads are frequentlyoverestimated, and load variation across laboratory spaces within abuilding is typically underestimated. This results in two design flaws.Firstly, the overestimation of peak equipment loads results in over-sizedHVAC systems, increasing initial construction costs as well as energy usedue to inefficiencies at low part-load operation. Secondly, HVAC systemsthat are designed without accurately accounting for equipment loadvariation across zones can significantly increase simultaneous heatingand cooling, particularly for systems that use zone reheat fortemperature control. Thus, when designing a laboratory HVAC system, theuse of measured equipment load data from a comparable laboratory willsupport right-sizing HVAC systems and optimizing their configuration tominimize simultaneous heating and cooling, saving initial constructioncosts as well as life-cycle energy costs.In this paper, we present datafrom recent studies to support the above thesis. We first presentmeasured equipment load data from two sources: time-series measurementsin several laboratory modules in a university research laboratorybuilding; and peak load data for several facilities recorded in anational energy benchmarking database. We then contrast this measureddata with estimated values that are typically used …

High and volatile natural gas prices have increasingly led to calls for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. One line of argument is that deployment of these resources may lead to reductions in the demand for and price of natural gas. Many recent U.S.-based modeling studies have demonstrated that this effect could provide significant consumer savings. In this article we evaluate these studies, and benchmark their findings against economic theory, other modeling results, and a limited empirical literature. We find that many uncertainties remain regarding the absolute magnitude of this effect, and that the reduction in natural gas prices may not represent an increase in aggregate economic wealth. Nonetheless, we conclude that many of the studies of the impact of renewable energy and energy efficiency on natural gas prices appear to have represented this effect within reason, given current knowledge. These studies specifically suggest that a 1% reduction in U.S. natural gas demand could lead to long-term average wellhead price reductions of 0.8% to 2%, and that each megawatt-hour of renewable energy and energy efficiency may benefit natural gas consumers to the tune of at least $7.5 to $20.

The Superconducting Magnet Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has recently fabricated and tested HD1, a Nb3Sn dipole magnet. The magnet reached a 16 T field, and exhibited training quenches in the end regions and in the straight section. After the test, HD1 was disassembled and inspected, and a detailed 3D finite element mechanical analysis was done to investigate for possible quench triggers. The study led to minor modifications to mechanical structure and assembly procedure, which were verified in a second test (HD1b). This paper presents the results of the mechanical analysis, including strain gauge measurements and coil visual inspection. The adjustments implemented in the magnet structure are reported and their effect on magnet training discussed.

The ultrafast dynamics of electronic excitations of the surface dangling bond states of Si(111) 7 x 7 has been investigated by second harmonic generation as a probe of transient spectral hole burning. Spectral holes induced by a 100 fs pump at {approx_equal} 1.5 eV and their decay are interpreted in terms of electronic dephasing times as short as 15 fs. This fast time scale together with the strong excitation-induced dephasing observed is interpreted in terms of carrier-carrier scattering. In addition, strong coupling of the electronic excitation to surface optical phonons is observed and attributed to the localization at adatom sites of a surface electronic excitation and a surface phonon mode.

Members of the protein 4.1 family of adapter proteins are expressed in a broad panel of tissues including various epithelia where they likely play an important role in maintenance of cell architecture and polarity and in control of cell proliferation. We have recently characterized the structure and distribution of three members of the protein 4.1 family, 4.1B, 4.1R and 4.1N, in mouse kidney. We describe here binding partners for renal 4.1 proteins, identified through the screening of a rat kidney yeast two-hybrid system cDNA library. The identification of putative protein 4.1-based complexes enables us to envision potential functions for 4.1 proteins in kidney: organization of signaling complexes, response to osmotic stress, protein trafficking, and control of cell proliferation. We discuss the relevance of these protein 4.1-based interactions in kidney physio-pathology in the context of their previously identified functions in other cells and tissues. Specifically, we will focus on renal 4.1 protein interactions with beta amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP), 14-3-3 proteins, and the cell swelling-activated chloride channel pICln. We also discuss the functional relevance of another member of the protein 4.1 superfamily, ezrin, in kidney physiopathology.

The spectroscopy of neutron-rich {sup 109,110,111,112}Ru nuclei was studied by measuring the prompt {gamma} rays originated from fission fragments, produced by the {sup 238}U({alpha},f) fusion-fission reaction, in coincidence with the detection of both fragments. For {sup 109,111}Ru, both the negative-parity (h{sub 11/2} orbitals) and positive-parity (g{sub 7/2} and/or d{sub 5/2} orbitals) bands were extended to substantially higher spin and excitation energy than known previously. The ground-state and {gamma}-vibrational bands of {sup 110,112}Ru also were extended to higher spin, allowing observation of the second band crossing at the rotational frequency of {approx}450 keV in {sup 112}Ru, which is {approx}50 keV above the first band crossing. At a similar rotational frequency, the first band crossing for the h{sub 11/2} band in {sup 111}Ru was observed, which is absent in {sup 109}Ru. These band crossings most likely are caused by the alignment of the g{sub 9/2} proton pair. This early onset of the band crossing for the aligned {pi}g{sub 9/2} orbitals may be evidence of a triaxial shape transition from prolate to oblate occurring in {sup 111}Ru. The data together with a comparison of cranked shell model predictions are presented.

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will publish its Fourth Assessment Report of the Scientific Basis of Climate Change (AR4). A significant portion of the AR4 will be the analysis of coupled general circulation model (GCM) simulations of the climate of the past century as well as scenarios of future climates under prescribed emission scenarios. Modeling groups worldwide have contributed to AR4, including three from the U.S., the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) project, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Sciences, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). This collection of model results is providing a wealth of new information that will be used to examine the state of climate science, the potential impacts from climate changes, and the policy consequences that they imply. Our focus here is on the CCSM project. Although it is centered at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the CCSM version 3 (CCSM3) was designed, developed, and applied in a uniquely distributed fashion with participation by many institutions. This model has produced some of the most scientifically complete and highest resolution simulations of climate change to date, thanks to the …

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) will be the world's first x-ray free-electron laser (FEL). To ensure the vitality of FEL lasing, a longitudinal feedback system is required together with other diagnostics. In this paper, we study the possibility of using Coherent Synchrotron Radiation (CSR) from the chicane as a diagnostic tool for bunch length feedback. Studies show that CSR is a good candidate, even for a non-Gaussian, double-horn longitudinal charge distribution as in the LCLS. We further check the possibility for detecting possible microbunching.

Dual-continuum models have been widely used in modeling flowand transport in fractured porous rocks. Among many other applications,dual-continuum approaches were utilized in predictive models of thethermal-hydrological conditions near emplacement tunnels (drifts) atYucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed site for a radioactive wasterepository in the U.S. In unsaturated formations such as those at YuccaMountain, the magnitude of mass and heat exchange between the twocontinua fracture network and matrix is largely dependent on the flowcharacteristics in the fractures, because channelized finger-type flowstrongly reduces the interface area between the matrix surfaces and theflowing liquid. This effect may have important implications, for example,during the time period that the fractured rock near the repository driftswould be heated above the boiling point of water. Depending on themagnitude of heat transfer from the matrix, water percolating down thefractures will either boil off in the hot rock region above drifts or maypenetrate all the way to the drift walls and possibly seep into the opencavities. In this paper, we describe a sensitivity analysis using avariety of approaches to treat fracture-matrix interaction in athree-dimensional dual-continuum setting. Our simulation example is alaboratory heater experiment described in the literature that providesevidence of rapid water flow in fractures, leading to drift seepagedespite above-boiling …

The fascinating shapes and hierarchical designs of biomineralized structures have long been an inspiration to materials scientists because of the potential they suggest for biomolecular control over synthesis of crystalline materials. One prevailing view is that mineral-associated macromolecules are responsible for initiating and stabilizing non-equilibrium crystal polymorphs and morphologies through interactions between anionic moieties and cations in solution or at mineral surfaces. Indeed, numerous studies have demonstrated that bio-organic additives can dramatically alter crystal shapes and growth-rates in vitro. However, previous molecular-scale studies revealing mechanisms of growth modification focused on small molecules such as amino acids or peptides and always observed growth inhibition. In contrast, studies using full proteins were non-quantitative and underlying sources of growth modification were ill-defined. Here we investigate interactions between proteins isolated from abalone shell nacre and growing surfaces of calcite. We find that these proteins significantly accelerate the molecular-scale kinetics and, though much larger than atomic steps, alter growth morphology through step-specific interactions that lower their free energies. We propose that these proteins act as surfactants to promote ion attachment at calcite surfaces.

Breakout (wall failure) of boreholes within the earth can take several forms depending upon physical properties of the surrounding rock and the stress and flow conditions. Three distinctive modes of breakout are (I) extensile breakout observed in brittle rocks (e.g., Haimson and Herrick, 1986), (II) shear breakout in soft and clastic rocks (Zoback et al., 1985), and (III) fracture-like, slot-shaped breakout within highly porous granular rocks (Bessinger et al., 1997; Haimson and Song, 1998). During fluid production and injection within weakly cemented high-porosity rocks, the third type of failure could result in sustained and excessive sand production (disintegration of the rock's granular matrix and debris production). An objective of this research is to investigate the physical conditions that result in the formation of slot-shaped borehole breakout, via laboratory experiments. Our laboratory borehole breakout experiment was conducted using synthetic high-porosity sandstone with controlled porosity and strength. Block samples containing a single through-goring borehole were subjected to anisotropic stresses within a specially designed tri-axial loading cell. A series of studies was conducted to examine the impact of (1) stress anisotropy around the borehole, (2) rock strength, and (3) fluid flow rate within the borehole on the formation of slot-shaped borehole breakout. The …

The U.S. LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP), a collaboration between BNL, FNAL, LBNL, and SLAC, has among its major objectives the development of advanced magnet technology for an LHC luminosity upgrade. The LBNL Superconducting Magnet Group supports this program with a broad effort involving design studies, Nb{sub 3}Sn conductor development, mechanical models, and basic prototypes. This paper describes the development of a large aperture Nb{sub 3}Sn racetrack quadrupole magnet using four racetrack coils from the LBNL Subscale Magnet (SM) Program. The magnet provides a gradient of 95 T/m in a 110 mm bore, with a peak field in the conductor of 11.2 T. The coils are pre-stressed by a mechanical structure based on a pre-tensioned aluminum shell, and axially supported with aluminum rods. The mechanical behavior has been monitored with strain gauges and the magnetic field has been measured. Results of the test are reported and analyzed.

This review addresses the issue of surface segregation inbimetallic alloy nanoparticles, which are relevant to heterogeneouscatalysis, in particular for electro-catalysts of fuel cells. We describeand discuss a theoretical approach to predicting surface segregation insuch nanoparticles by using the Modified Embedded Atom Method and MonteCarlo simulations. In this manner it is possible to systematicallyexplore the behavior of such nanoparticles as a function of componentmetals, composition, and particle size, among other variables. We choseto compare Pt75Ni25, Pt75Re25, and Pt80Mo20 alloys as example systems forthis discussion, due to the importance of Pt in catalytic processes andits high-cost. It is assumed that the equilibrium nanoparticles of thesealloys have a cubo-octahedral shape, the face-centered cubic lattice, andsizes ranging from 2.5 nm to 5.0 nm. By investigating the segregation ofPt atoms to the surfaces of the nanoparticles, we draw the followingconclusions from our simulations at T= 600 K. (1) Pt75Ni25 nanoparticlesform a surface-sandwich structure in which the Pt atoms are stronglyenriched in the outermost and third layers while the Ni atoms areenriched in the second layer. In particular, a nearly pure Pt outermostsurface layer can be achieved in those nanoparticles. (2) EquilibriumPt75Re25 nanoparticles adopt a core-shell structure: a nearly pure Ptshell surrounding a more uniform Pt-Re …

Dislocations threading to free surfaces present a challenge for numerical implementation of traction-free boundary conditions. The difficulty arises when canonical (singular) solutions of dislocation mechanics are used in combination with the Finite Element or Boundary Element (Green's function) methods. A new hybrid method is developed here in which the singular part and the non-singular (regular) part of the image stress are dealt with separately. A special analytical solution for a semi-infinite straight dislocation intersecting the surface of a half-space is used to account for the singular part of the image stress, while the remaining regular part of the image stress field is treated using the standard Finite Element Method. The numerical advantages of such regularization are demonstrated with examples.

We use a low transition temperature (T{sub c}) Super-conducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) to perform in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at magnetic fields around 100 microtesla, corresponding to proton Larmor frequencies of about 5 kHz. In such low fields, broadening of the nuclear magnetic resonance lines due to inhomogeneous magnetic fields and susceptibility variations of the sample are minimized, enabling us to obtain high quality images. To reduce environmental noise the signal is detected by a second-order gradiometer, coupled to the SQUID, and the experiment is surrounded by a 3-mm thick Al shield. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), we prepolarize the samples in a field up to 100 mT. Three-dimensional images are acquired in less than 6 minutes with a standard spin-echo phase-encoding sequence. Using encoding gradients of {approx}100 {micro}T/m we obtain three-dimensional images of bell peppers with a resolution of 2 x 2 x 8 mm{sup 3}. Our system is ideally suited to acquiring images of small, peripheral parts of the human body such as hands and arms. In vivo images of an arm, acquired at 132 {micro}T, show 24-mm sections of the forearm with a resolution of 3 x 3 mm{sup 2} and a SNR of …

The azimuthal Zernike coefficients for shells of Zernike functions with shell numbers n<N may be determined by making measurements at N equally spaced rotational positions. However, these measurements do not determine the coefficients of any of the purely radial Zernike functions. Label the circle that the azimuthal Zernikes are measured in as circle A. Suppose that the azimuthal Zernike coefficients for n<N are also measured in a smaller circle B which is inside circle A but offset so that it is tangent to circle A and so that it has the center of circle A just inside its circular boundary. The diameter of circle B is thus only slightly larger than half the diameter of circle A. From these two sets of measurements, all the Zernike coefficients may be determined for n<N. However, there are usually unknown small rigid body motions of the optic between measurements. Then all the Zernike coefficients for n<N except for piston, tilts, and focus may be determined. We describe the exact mathematical algorithm that does this and describe an interferometer which measures the complete wavefront from pinholes in pinhole aligners. These pinhole aligners are self-contained units which include a fiber optic, focusing optics, and a …

The potential use of different iron phosphates as cathodematerials in lithium-ion batteries has recently been investigated.1 Oneof the promising candidates is LiFePO4. This compound has severaladvantages in comparison to the state-of-the-art cathode material incommercial rechargeable lithium batteries. Firstly, it has a hightheoretical capacity (170 mAh/g). Secondly, it occurs as mineraltriphylite in nature and is inexpensive, thermally stable, non-toxic andnon-hygroscopic. However, its low electronic conductivity (~;10-9 S/cm)results in low power capability. There has been intense worldwideresearch activity to find methods to increase the electronic conductivityof LiFePO4, including supervalent ion doping,2 introducingnon-carbonaceous network conduction3 and carbon coating, and theoptimization of the carbon coating on LiFePO4 particle surfaces.4Recently, the Li doped LiFePO4 (Li1+xFe1-xPO4) synthesized at ARL hasyield electronic conductivity increase up to 106.5 We studied electronicstructure of LiFePO4 and Li doped LiFePO4 by synchrotron based soft X-rayemission (XES) and X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopies. XAS probes theunoccupied partial density of states, while XES the occupied partialdensity of states. By combining XAS and XES measurements, we obtainedinformation on band gap and orbital character of both LiFePO4 and Lidoped LiFePO4. The occupied and unoccupied oxygen partial density ofstates (DOS) of LiFePO4 and 5 percent Li doped LiFePO4 are presented inFig. 1. Our experimental results clearly indicate …

We report the density-dependent crossover of a resonantly photoexcited exciton gas from insulating to conducting phases. Broadband terahertz spectroscopy gives direct access to the exciton binding energy via intra-excitonic 1s-2p transitions. A strong shift, broadening, and ultimately the disappearance of this resonance occurs with decreasing inter-particle distance. Densities of excitons and unbound electron-hole pairs are followed quantitatively using a model of the composite free-carrier and exciton terahertz conductivity. Comparison with near-infrared absorption changes illustrates a significantly enhanced energy shift and broadening of the intra-excitonic resonance.