An improved synthetic signal injection routine for the Haloscope At Yale Sensitive To Axion Cold dark matter (HAYSTAC).

Microwave cavity haloscopes are among the most sensitive direct detection experiments searching for dark matter axions via their coupling to photons. When the power of the expected microwave signal due to axion-photon conversion is on the order of 10-24 W, having the ability to validate the detector response and analysis procedure by injecting realistic synthetic axion signals becomes helpful. Here, we present a method based on frequency hopping spread spectrum for synthesizing axion signals in a microwave cavity haloscope experiment. It allows us to generate a narrow and asymmetric shape in frequency space that mimics an axion's spectral distribution, which is derived from a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. In addition, we show that the synthetic axion's power can be calibrated with reference to the system noise. Compared to the synthetic axion injection in the Haloscope At Yale Sensitive to Axion Cold dark matter (HAYSTAC) Phase I, we demonstrated synthetic signal injection with a more realistic line shape and calibrated power.

Measurement of the Spectral Shape of the ß-Decay of

We report on a comparison between the theoretically predicted and experimentally measured spectra of the first-forbidden nonunique ß-decay transition ^{137}Xe(7/2^{-})→^{137}Cs(7/2^{+}). The experimental data were acquired by the EXO-200 experiment during a deployment of an AmBe neutron source. The ultralow background environment of EXO-200, together with dedicated source deployment and analysis procedures, allowed for collection of a pure sample of the decays, with an estimated signal to background ratio of more than 99 to 1 in the energy range from 1075 to 4175 keV. In addition to providing a rare and accurate measurement of the first-forbidden nonunique ß-decay shape, this work constitutes a novel test of the calculated electron spectral shapes in the context of the reactor antineutrino anomaly and spectral bump.

Search for Neutrinoless Double-ß Decay with the Complete EXO-200 Dataset.

A search for neutrinoless double-ß decay (0νßß) in ^{136}Xe is performed with the full EXO-200 dataset using a deep neural network to discriminate between 0νßß and background events. Relative to previous analyses, the signal detection efficiency has been raised from 80.8% to 96.4±3.0%, and the energy resolution of the detector at the Q value of ^{136}Xe 0νßß has been improved from σ/E=1.23% to 1.15±0.02% with the upgraded detector. Accounting for the new data, the median 90% confidence level 0νßß half-life sensitivity for this analysis is 5.0×10^{25} yr with a total ^{136}Xe exposure of 234.1 kg yr. No statistically significant evidence for 0νßß is observed, leading to a lower limit on the 0νßß half-life of 3.5×10^{25} yr at the 90% confidence level.

Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay with the Upgraded EXO-200 Detector.

Results from a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νßß) of ^{136}Xe are presented using the first year of data taken with the upgraded EXO-200 detector. Relative to previous searches by EXO-200, the energy resolution of the detector has been improved to σ/E=1.23%, the electric field in the drift region has been raised by 50%, and a system to suppress radon in the volume between the cryostat and lead shielding has been implemented. In addition, analysis techniques that improve topological discrimination between 0νßß and background events have been developed. Incorporating these hardware and analysis improvements, the median 90% confidence level 0νßß half-life sensitivity after combining with the full data set acquired before the upgrade has increased twofold to 3.7×10^{25} yr. No statistically significant evidence for 0νßß is observed, leading to a lower limit on the 0νßß half-life of 1.8×10^{25} yr at the 90% confidence level.

Physical therapists' recognition of battered women in clinical settings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to describe physical therapists' knowledge regarding battered women and to determine whether physical therapists recognize these patients in clinical settings. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred questionnaires were distributed to outpatient physical therapists in northern California. One hundred fifty-one usable questionnaires (76%) were returned. RESULTS: Although 43% of the respondents reported treating a patient they identified or strongly suspected as having been battered, only two respondents (1%) reported they routinely asked patients about physical abuse. Less than 50% of the respondents correctly identified that battering injuries are more likely to occur in a central pattern (ie, head, neck, chest, abdomen). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of this survey suggest that physical therapists have treated patients who are battered. Many physical therapists, however, may not be fully educated to detect the signs of abuse. This study is the first step in initiating physical therapy research in domestic violence identification and education.

PIP: Domestic violence from a spouse or an intimate partner has become a public issue as well as criminal justice, since it was known to be a leading cause of death, in the US. Physical therapists (PTs) play a critical role in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation in health care of a battered patient. This study describes the knowledge of PTs regarding battered women and determines whether PTs recognize these patients in clinical settings. 200 questionnaires were distributed to 25 outpatient PT facilities in northern California. 151 usable questionnaires were returned. Results showed that out of the 151 respondents (121 females, 30 males), 43% dealt with women whom they strongly suspected or identified as being physically battered; however, only 1% of the respondents routinely inquired about physical abuse. Furthermore, 42% correctly identified the neck, head, chest, and abdomen as the most common location of injuries, and having depression as a psychological symptom resulting from the abuse. The results of the survey suggest that the detection of battered patients by a PT was very low. This could be due to the PT's lack of domestic violence education; and reluctance to ask patients whether they were abused; or beliefs that domestic violence was an uncommon occurrence in their patients' lives.

Effects of approximation on postural sway in healthy subjects.

The effect of approximation on the postural sway of healthy subjects wearing a weighted belt around their pelvis was measured. Twenty subjects between the ages of 23 and 30 years stood on a polyurethane foam platform that amplified their postural sway and were filmed from a lateral view. All subjects wore markers over their mandibles, hips, and knees and were filmed three times with the weighted belt worn on a randomly selected trial. Frames from a 10-second interval of film from each trial were studied, and the summed displacement at each bony landmark between each frame of film was calculated. A significant decrease in displacement at the mandible (p less than .02) was found when the weighted belt was worn. The decrease in displacement was not significant at the hip or knee. Approximation was shown to decrease the postural sway of healthy subjects. Further study is indicated to investigate the effect of approximation on patient populations.

Changes in spinal mobility with increasing age in women.

The purpose of our study was to determine changes in spinal mobility for women aged 20 to 84 years. Anterior flexion, right and left lateral flexion, and extension were measured on 109 healthy women. The modified Schober method was used to measure anterior flexion. Standard goniometry was used to measure lateral flexion and extension. The results of the study indicated that spinal mobility decreases with advancing age. The most significant (p less than .05) differences occurred between the two youngest and the two oldest age categories. Data gathered in this study indicate that physical therapists should consider the effects of age on spinal mobility when assessing spinal range of motion. A simple, objective method for measuring spinal mobility is presented. Suggestions for future research are given.

Thermographic evaluation of the painful shoulder in the hemiplegic patient.

In this study, we investigated the applicability of thermography as a technique for evaluating the painful postcerebrovascular accident (CVA) shoulder in hemiplegic patients. A thermographic series was taken of the upper extremities and upper trunk of 27 female subjects. The four groups we evaluated were nonhemiplegic subjects (n = 9), post-CVA subjects with recovered function (n = 6), hemiplegic subjects with upper extremity motor impairment (n = 6), and hemiplegic subjects with both motor impairment and ipsilateral shoulder pain (n = 6). The data revealed a normal thermographic series in 8 of the 9 nonhemiplegic subjects, but only in 1 of the 18 post-CVA subjects. The majority of the abnormal thermographic series of post-CVA subjects showed a 1 degree to 5 degree C coolness on the involved side. No consistent thermographic patterns emerged that could be related to the severity or location of pain. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of thermography as a means of determining the relationship between ipsilateral post-CVA coolness and hemiplegic shoulder pain.

Effect of vibration on tactile sensitivity.

Tactile hypersensitivity is a common sequela of traumatic hand injury. Vibration is used clinically to reduce this hypersensitivity. The purpose of this study was to determine if vibration has an effect on tactile threshold and if so to determine the duration of that effect. Mean tactile thresholds were determined for 24 healthy adults by means of a pressure aesthesiometer. The experimental group (6 men, 6 women) received 10 minutes of vibration. Mean tactile thresholds were redetermined at the end of the 10-minute treatment period in the experimental group and after a 10-minute rest period in the control group (6 men, 6 women). Thresholds were also redetermined at 5-minute intervals for the next 20 minutes in all subjects. The experimental group showed a significant change in mean tactile threshold after 10 minutes of vibration (p less than .001). This difference remained at 5 (p less than .001) and 10 (p less than .05) minutes postvibration but not at 15 and 20 minutes. No significant change in mean tactile threshold was found in the control group. The results indicate that vibration does increase tactile threshold in "normal" hands and the effect lasts for at least 10 minutes. The application of this information to the clinical setting is discussed.

Ultrastructural localization of Thermoplasma acidophilum surface carbohydrate by using concanavalin A.

Surface carbohydrate, presumably the lipopolysaccharide, of Thermoplasma acidophilum was visualized by means of the concanavalin A, horseradish peroxidase, and diaminobenzidine cytochemical staining procedure.