Surface wave modes of printed circuits on ferrite substrates

Surface waves due to a current source on a grounded ferrite slab are investigated. Electromagnetic fields of the structure are in terms of a continuous plane wave spectrum. The spectrum of each field component is obtained numerically through the exponential-matrix method. The surface waves of the structure are extracted from the continuous spectrum by using the residue theorem and the method of steepest descent. Two types of surface waves are found and their properties are described. The surface wave modes found include dynamic surface wave modes which are closely related to the surface waves of a grounded dielectric slab, and magnetostatic surface wave modes which are related to the solution of Laplace's equation for the magnetic potential     

Gaming Social Capital: Exploring Civic Value in Multiplayer Video Games

Recent research suggests that social interactions in video games may lead to the development of community bonding and prosocial attitudes. Building on this line of research, a national survey of U.S. adults finds that gamers who develop ties with a community of fellow gamers possess gaming social capital, a new gaming‐related community construct that is shown to be a positive antecedent in predicting both face‐to‐face social capital and civic participation.     

Use of GafChromic film to diagnose laser generated proton beams

A calibration of three types of GafChromic radiochromic film (HS, MD-55, and HD-810) was carried out on the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory's 76 in. cyclotron at UC Davis over doses ranging from 0.001 to 15 kGy. The film was digitized with a scanning microdensitometer with which it was scanned twice with two different filters to increase the film's effective dynamic range. We demonstrate how this calibrated film can be used to measure the spectrum and total energy of a laser generated proton beam. This technique was applied to an experiment on the 10 J, 100 fs Callisto laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The resulting proton spectrum was compared to that obtained by simultaneous measurement of Ti nuclear activation; the two methods give the same proton beam slope temperature and agree in number of protons to within 27%.     

A mathematical approach to assess research diversity: operationalization and applicability in communication sciences,political science,and beyond

Scientometrics - With today’s research production and global dissemination, there is growing pressure to assess how academic fields foster diversity. Based on a mathematical problem/solve...     

Extending the Similarity‐Attraction Effect: The Effects of When‐Similarity in Computer‐Mediated Communication

The feeling of connectedness experienced in computer‐mediated relationships can be explained by the similarity‐attraction effect (SAE). Though SAE is well established in psychology, the effects of some types of similarity have not yet been explored. In 2 studies, we demonstrate similarity‐attraction based on the timing of activities—“when‐similarity.” We describe a novel experimental paradigm for manifesting when‐similarity while controlling for the activities being performed (what‐similarity). Study 1 (N = 24) shows when‐similarity attraction in the evaluation of connectedness with others. Study 2 (N = 42) identifies an interaction between who‐similarity—similarity in personal backgrounds—and when‐similarity. Both studies show that real‐time computer‐mediated interaction can lead to greater feelings of connectedness between people when there is an opportunity to discover when‐similarity.     

Steel Microstructure Effect on Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of High Strength Low Carbon Steel

Different thermomechanical treatments were applied to a high strength low carbon steel with a novel chemical composition. As a result, three different microstructures were produced with dissimilar mechanical and corrosion properties. Subsequently, a tempering heat treatment was applied to redistribute the phases in the steel. Microstructure A with 56 pct martensite and 32 pct bainite presented high strength but medium ductility; microstructure C with 95 pct ferrite and 3 pct martensite/austenite resulted in low strength and high ductility, and finally microstructure B with 98 pct bainite and 2 pct martensite/austenite resulted in high strength and ductility. Alternatively the corrosion behavior obtained by polarization curves was characterized in 0.1 M H₂SO₄, 3 M H₂SO₄, 3.5 wt pct NaCl, and NS4 solutions resulting in similar magnitudes, while the corrosion behavior acquired by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy had slightly differences in 3 M H₂SO₄.     

Stumbling upon news on the Internet: Effects of incidental news exposure and relative entertainment use on political engagement

Contemporary concerns that the Internet might lead to political apathy are based on suggestions that people would use the Internet for entertainment purposes rather than news consumption. However, what if someone stumbles upon news when surfing the Internet? Would this incidental news exposure online be helpful in promoting citizens’ political engagement? This study tests whether and how incidental news exposure (INE) and relative entertainment use (REU) on the Internet are associated with political participation. Drawing from US national data, results revealed a significant and positive relationship between INE and offline and online political participation while REU was negatively associated with offline and online political participation. More importantly, the role of INE in facilitating citizens’ online political participation was stronger for those who consume less entertainment online, indicating that incidental news exposure may increase existing gaps in political participation between people who prefer news and people who prefer entertainment online.     

Asthmatic exacerbations and environmental pollen concentration in La Comarca Lagunera (Mexico)

In order to determine the correlation between the concentration of environmental pollen and the frequency of asthmatic exacerbations in La Comarca Lagunera (México), a study in a cohort of a 104 diagnosed patients suffering allergic asthma was carried out monitoring monthly from July '93 to July '95 in order to register the existence of asthmatic exacerbations. Environmental samples were taken weekly during the same period of time through a PST high volume collector (Andersen Samplers Inc). The above mentioned samples were processed under acetolysis technics and the pollen grain count under light microscopy. Linear correlation measures were made between the rates of asthmatic exacerbations and the concentration of pollen grain in m3 of air by means of a statistical computer program SAS. There was a 1469 persons/month follow up ('X 15.5) and the correlation between the rates of asthmatic exacerbations and the concentration of environmental pollen was relevant (r = 0.63, r2 = 0.39, p < 0.01). The correlation increased (r = 0.70, r2 = 0.49 and p < 0.01) when the asthmatic exacerbations associated to infectious disease in the upper respiratory system were restricted. The conclusion reached is that the concentration of environment pollen has influence in the development of asthmatic exacerbations in patients with allergic asthma.