Watt-level dysprosium fiber laser at 3.15 {\mu}m with 73% slope efficiency

Rare-earth-doped fiber lasers are emerging as promising high-power mid-infrared sources for the 2.6-3.0 {\mu}m and 3.3-3.8 {\mu}m regions based on erbium and holmium ions. The intermediate wavelength range, however, remains vastly underserved, despite prospects for important manufacturing and defense applications. Here, we demonstrate the potential of dysprosium-doped fiber to solve this problem, with a simple in-band pumped grating-stabilized linear cavity generating up to 1.06 W at 3.15 {\mu}m. A slope efficiency of 73% with respect to launched power (77% relative to absorbed power) is achieved: the highest value for any mid-infrared fiber laser to date, to the best of our knowledge. Opportunities for further power and efficiency scaling are also discussed

Multi-wavelength spectral modelling of the candidate neutrino blazar PKS 0735+178

The BL Lac object PKS 0735+178 was in its historic $\gamma$-ray brightness state during December 2021. This period also coincides with the detection of a neutrino event IC211208A, which was localized close to the vicinity of PKS 0735+178. We carried out detailed $\gamma$-ray timing and spectral analysis of the source in three epochs (a) quiescent state ($E_{1}$), (b) moderate activity state ($E_{2}$) and (c) high activity state ($E_{3}$) coincident with the epoch of neutrino detection. During the epoch of neutrino detection ($E_{3}$), we found the largest variability amplitude of 95%. The $\gamma$-ray spectra corresponding to these three epochs are well fit by the power law model and the source is found to show spectral variations with a softer when brighter trend. In the epoch $E_{3}$, we found the shortest flux doubling/halving time of 5.75 hrs. Even though the spectral energy distribution in the moderate activity state and in the high activity state could be modeled by the one-zone leptonic emission model, the spectral energy distribution in the quiescent state required an additional component of radiation over and above the leptonic component. Here we show that a photo-meson process was needed to explain the excess $\gamma$-ray emission in the hundreds of GeV which could not be accounted for by the synchrotron self-Compton process.Comment: Accepted by MNRA

Adenosine deaminase as marker of insulin resistance

Background:Type-2 diabetes complications contribute to increased morbidity and mortality and hence early diagnosis and control of diabetes is necessary. Adenosine deaminase activity is present in almost all human tissues, but the highest levels are found in lymphoid system. Aim of the study was to identify the correlation between adenosine deaminase levels and insulin resistance in type-2 diabetics and serum adenosine deaminase levels and glycemic control.Methods: In this case control study, patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus, attending out-patient department or admitted in the hospital during the study period, fulfilling the study criteria were taken up.Results: 200 patients were included in the study, with 100 patients in the case and controls group respectively. The mean body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, post prandial blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting serum insulin levels, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index values were found to be significantly elevated (p<0.0001) in case group compared to controls. Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index was significantly reduced (p<0.0001) in study group compared to controls. Adenosine deaminase  levels were significantly high (p<0.0001) in the study group compared to the control group, with a mean value of 22.35 U/L against 4.38 U/L. Adenosine deaminase levels were found to have a linear association with elevated fasting blood sugar and post prandial blood sugar, with a statistical significance (p<0.0001).Conclusions: We identified that the highest Adenosine deaminase levels were detected in poorly controlled type-2 diabetes mellitus. Adenosine deaminase levels were found to have positive correlation with body mass index, fasting blood sugar and post prandial blood sugar levels. Adenosine deaminase levels were also positively correlated with insulin resistance, as calculated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Adenosine deaminase levels were found to have an inversely proportional correlation with quantitative insulin sensitivity check index.

Two-Phase Spray Cooling of Hybrid Vehicle Electronics: Preprint

Spray cooling is a feasible cooling technology for hybrid vehicle electronics; HFE 7100 is a promising coolant

Numerical Simulations of Boiling Jet Impingement Cooling in Power Electronics

This paper explores turbulent boiling jet impingement for cooling power electronic components in hybrid electric vehicles

Airway Obstruction in Children with COVID-19 Presenting with Stridor

We report three cases who presented with symptoms of upper airway obstruction that were secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. These children showed no signs of lung parenchymal involvement initially. Our first patient presented with stridor with significant upper airway obstruction and respiratory failure and required emergency intubation followed by tracheostomy. The second child presenting as croup had only partial response to dexamethasone and adrenaline. The third child, who had presented with airway obstruction turned out to have a retropharyngeal collection, was found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab. Our cases represent the new presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pediatric patients

Assessment of Thermal Control Technologies for Cooling Electric Vehicle Power Electronics

NREL is assessing thermal control technologies to improve the thermal performance of power electronics devices for electric vehicles, while reducing the cost, weight, and volume of the system

Advisor 2.0: A Second-Generation Advanced Vehicle Simulator for Systems Analysis

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has recently publicly released its second-generation advanced vehicle simulator called ADVISOR 2.0. This software program was initially developed four years ago, and after several years of in-house usage and evolution, the tool is now available to the public through a new vehicle systems analysis World Wide Web page. ADVISOR has been applied to many different systems analysis problems, such as helping to develop the SAE J1711 test procedure for hybrid vehicles and helping to evaluate new technologies as part of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) technology selection process. The model has been and will continue to be benchmarked and validated with other models and with real vehicle test data. After two months of being available on the Web, more than 100 users have downloaded ADVISOR. ADVISOR 2.0 has many new features, including an easy-to-use graphical user interface, a detailed exhaust aftertreatment thermal model, and complete browser-based documentation. Future work will include adding to the library of components available in ADVISOR, including optimization functionality, and linking with a more detailed fuel cell model

Indian Peanut Clump Virus Isolates: Host Range, Symptomatology, Serological Relationships, and Some Physical Properties

The symptomatology of Indian peanut clump virus (IPCV) isolates collected from five different geographical locations, Bapatla (B), Chinnaganjam (C), Hyderabad (H), Ludhiana (L), and Talod (T), differed. B-IPCV and C-IPCV were indistinguishable by host range but could be distinguished from the other isolates by symptoms on Canavalia ensiformis, Nicotiana clevelandii × glutinosa, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Vigna unguiculata. B-IPCV, C-IPCV, and T-IPCV were related serologically, but could be distinguished from H-IPCV and L-IPCV isolates in serological tests. The five isolates could not be distinguished on the basis of particle size. Each isolate contained two RNA species of 1.90 × 106 and 1.65 × 106 Mr estimated under nondenaturing conditions and a single polypeptide of 24 × 103 Mr. Significance of these findings for the diagnosis of IPCV and for screening of peanut genotypes for resistance is discussed

A Strawberry KNOX Gene Regulates Leaf, Flower and Meristem Architecture

The KNOTTED-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN (KNOX) genes play a central role in maintenance of the shoot apical meristem. They also contribute to the morphology of simple and compound leaves. In this report we characterize the FaKNOX1 gene from strawberry (Fragaria spp.) and demonstrate its function in trasgenic plants. The FaKNOX1 cDNA was isolated from a cultivated strawberry (F.×ananassa) flower EST library. The sequence is most similar to Class I KNOX genes, and was mapped to linkage group VI of the diploid strawberry genome. Unlike most KNOX genes studied, steady-state transcript levels were highest in flowers and fruits. Transcripts were also detected in emerging leaf primordia and the apical dome. Transgenic strawberry plants suppressing or overexpressing FaKNOX1 exhibited conspicuous changes in plant form. The FaKNOX1 RNAi plants presented a dwarfed phenotype with deeply serrated leaflets and exaggerated petiolules. They also exhibited a high level of cellular disorganization of the shoot apical meristem and leaves. Overexpression of FaKNOX1 caused dwarfed stature with wrinkled leaves. These gain- and loss-of-function assays in strawberry functionally demonstrate the contributions of a KNOX domain protein in a rosaceous species