Modelling of photonic bandgap devices by the leaky mode propagation method

Main modelling approaches used for investigating the Photonic bandgap (PBG) devices are reviewed. In particular, the model based on Leaky Mode Propagation (LMP) method is described. A complete analysis of the propagation characteristics, including the determination of modal propagation constants, electromagnetic field harmonics and total field distribution, transmission and reflection coefficients, total forward and backward power flow in the structure, guided and radiated power, and total losses, can be carried out by a computer program based on the LMP approach. The numerical results have been validated by comparisons with those obtained by using other more complex and expensive models. The new model shows some significant advantages in terms of very low computational time, absence of any a priori theoretical assumptions and approximations, capability of simulating the actual physical behaviour of the device and fast determination of the bandgap position.Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical modelling of multilayer structure electronic devices for electrothermal layout optimisation

In this paper, an analytical model for the electrothermal solution to the non‐linear 3‐D heat flow equation for multilayer structure electronic devices is proposed. Compared with previous models presented in literature, it is general and can be easily applied to a large variety of integrated devices, provided that their structure can be represented as an arbitrary number of superimposed layers with a 2‐D embedded thermal source, so as to include the effect of the package. The proposed method is independent of the specific physical properties of the layers, hence GaAs MESFETs and HEMTs as well as silicon and silicon‐on‐insulator MOSFETs and heterostructure LASERs can be analysed. Moreover, it takes into account the dependence of the thermal conductivity of all the layers on the temperature; the heat equation is solved coupled with the device current–voltage relation in order to give physical consistence to the experimental evidence that a temperature increase causes a degradation of the electrical performances and that the electrical power is not uniformly distributed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Does gender moderate the relationship between driver aggression and its risk factors?

Aim

The current study assessed gender as a potential moderator of the relationship between self-reported driver aggression and various demographic variables, general and driving-related risk factors.

Methods

Using data from a general-population telephone survey conducted from July 2002 through June 2005, two approaches to binary logistic regression were adopted. Based on the full dataset (n = 6259), the initial analysis was a hierarchical-entry regression examining self-reported driver aggression in the last 12 months. All demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, income, education, marital status), general risk factors (i.e., psychological distress, binge drinking, cannabis use), and driving-related risk factors (i.e., driving exposure, stressful driving, exposure to busy roads, driving after drinking, driving after cannabis use) were entered in the first block, and all two-way interactions with gender were entered stepwise in the second block. The subsequent analysis involved dividing the sample by gender and conducting logistic regressions with main effects only for males (n = 2921) and females (n = 3338) separately.

Results

Although the prevalence of driver aggression in the current sample was slightly higher among males (38.5%) than females (32.9%), the difference was small, and gender did not enter as a significant predictor of driver aggression in the overall logistic regression. In that analysis, difficulty with social functioning and being older were associated with a reduced risk of driver aggression. Marital status and education were unrelated to aggression, and all other variables were associated with an increased risk of aggression. Gender was found to moderate the relationships between driver aggression and only three variables: income, psychological distress, and driving exposure. Separate analyses on the male and female sub-samples also found differences in the predictive value of income and driving exposure; however, the difference for psychological distress could not be detected using this separate regression approach. The secondary analysis also identified slight differences in the predictive value of four of the risk factors, where the odds ratios for both males and females were in the same direction but only one of the two was statistically significant.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate the importance of conducting the gender analysis using both regression approaches. With few exceptions, factors that were predictive of driver aggression were generally the same for both male and female drivers.     

Immunochromatographic assay on thread

Lateral-flow immunochromatographic assays are low-cost, simple-to-use, rapid tests for point-of-care screening of infectious diseases, drugs of abuse, and pregnancy. However, lateral flow assays are generally not quantitative, give a yes/no answer, and lack multiplexing. Threads have recently been proposed as a support for transporting and mixing liquids in lateral-flow immunochromatographic assays, but their use for quantitative high-sensitivity immunoassays has yet to be demonstrated. Here, we introduce the immunochromatographic assay on thread (ICAT) in a cartridge format that is suitable for multiplexing. The ICAT is a sandwich assay performed on a cotton thread knotted to a nylon fiber bundle, both of which are precoated with recognition antibodies against one target analyte. Upon sample application, the assay results become visible to the eye within a few minutes and are quantified using a flatbed scanner. Assay conditions were optimized, the binding curves for C-reactive protein (CRP) in buffer and diluted serum were established and a limit of detection of 377 pM was obtained. The possibility of multiplexing was demonstrated using three knotted threads coated with antibodies against CRP, osteopontin, and leptin proteins. The performance of the ICAT was compared with that of the paper-based and conventional assays. The results suggest that thread is a suitable support for making low-cost, sensitive, simple-to-use, and multiplexed diagnostic tests.     

Fruit production and consumption: practices,preferences and attitudes of women in rural western Kenya

This study identified practices, preferences, attitudes and decision-making for fruit consumption, fruit production, and use of income generated from these activities and assessed the contribution of fruits to closing nutritional gaps of members of smallholder farming households in Western Kenya during two different seasons. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted, one in July/August 2013 (S1) and the other in February/March 2014 (S2). The same respondents, women responsible for food preparation in the household, were interviewed during S1 and S2 with a total of 272 women participating. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data on practices, preferences and attitudes related to fruit production and consumption including a quantitative 24-h recall. On the day prior to the interview, only 25% of women during S1 and 37% during S2 had consumed fruits. Fruit consumption in grams per day differed significantly (p < 0.001) between the two seasons and was higher in S2 (mean = 106 g/d; SD = 208 g/d) compared to S1 (mean = 49 g/d; SD = 101 g/d). During both seasons, 80% or more respondents did not reach the recommended amount of 200 g of fruits per day and also had low vitamin A and C intakes, especially during S1. Simultaneously, 80% of women indicated that the household grew fruit, yet fruit production and consumption diversity were low. About 20% of respondents identified fruit consumption taboos for different household members and 37% viewed the consumption of wild fruits negatively. Integrated agriculture-nutrition programs should consider local practices, preferences and cultural attitudes in order to promote the consumption of a diversity of nutrient rich fruits and consequently better diets and nutrition.     

Construction of the Asian American Family Conflicts Scale.

This study describes the construction and initial validation of the Asian American Family Conflicts Scale (FCS) with 3 samples of Asian American college students. The scale consists of 10 typical Asian American family conflicts that are rated for likelihood of occurrence (FCS-Likelihood) and seriousness of conflict (FCS-Seriousness). In Study 1, FCS-Likelihood and FCS-Seriousness had sound internal reliability, stability, and construct validity. In Study 2, FCS-Likelihood correlated with socioeconomic and cultural orientation variables. Ethnic, generation, and language differences, as well as the parent–child acculturation gap hypothesis, also were confirmed for FCS-Likelihood. In Study 3, FCS-Likelihood correlated with measures of family cohesion, adaptability, and parent-child communication. Although further validation is necessary, FCS-Likelihood in particular is a potentially useful research and clinical instrument for assessing the quality of Asian American parent–child relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mangrove health in an arid environment encroached by urban development--a case study

Urban development will soon encroach upon several protected and largely unspoiled arid climate mangroves ecosystems located along the lagoon called Ensenada de La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Many of these mangroves are located on a large sandbar that separates the lagoon on the south side from Bahía de La Paz to the north. A general evaluation of the current status of these mangroves was conducted to establish biological and physicochemical indicators of the health of these mangroves to serve as a natural or predevelopment baseline in future management. The following parameters were measured in the feeding channels of the mangroves and at the mouth of the channels: vegetation coverage, species and health, and levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, total nitrogen, ammonium, nitrates and nitrites, phosphorus ions, and organic matter in sediments and seawater. The microbiological elements that were studied included aerobic bacteria, N2-fixing bacteria, inorganic phosphate solubilizers, coliform, and phytoplankton diversity. Bird populations were counted, with special attention to migratory and resident birds and protected and endangered species. A comprehensive analysis of all the elements indicated that the health of the sandbar mangrove populations is good despite the proximity of a modest urban center. It also demonstrated that several biological and physicochemical parameters used in this study, including the birds, can serve as indicators of mangrove health and as a baseline for future management of mangroves in regions with arid climates.