2,321 research outputs found
Density functional approach for inhomogeneous star polymers
We propose microscopic density functional theory for inhomogeneous star
polymers. Our approach is based on fundamental measure theory for hard spheres,
and on Wertheim's first- and second-order perturbation theory for the
interparticle connectivity. For simplicity we consider a model in which all the
arms are of the same length, but our approach can be easily extended to the
case of stars with arms of arbitrary lengths.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitte
Integrating Time Into Family Business Research: Using Random Coefficient Modeling to Examine Temporal Influences on Family Firm Ambidexterity
Organizational ambidexterity refers to a firm’s ability to pursue both exploitation and exploration orientations. Despite research that suggests ambidexterity is a critical phenomenon in family firms, few studies directly examine the role of ambidexterity over time in family business. This study examines how family firm ambidexterity changes over time as a result of temporal-, firm-, and industry-level factors. We find that family firm ambidexterity is stable over time, punctuated by dramatic changes. We also find that the level of innovation required to compete in an industry is a predictor of changes in exploration versus exploitation over time among family firms.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline
A Revised Design for Microarray Experiments to Account for Experimental Noise and Uncertainty of Probe Response
Background
Although microarrays are analysis tools in biomedical research, they are known to yield noisy output that usually requires experimental confirmation. To tackle this problem, many studies have developed rules for optimizing probe design and devised complex statistical tools to analyze the output. However, less emphasis has been placed on systematically identifying the noise component as part of the experimental procedure. One source of noise is the variance in probe binding, which can be assessed by replicating array probes. The second source is poor probe performance, which can be assessed by calibrating the array based on a dilution series of target molecules. Using model experiments for copy number variation and gene expression measurements, we investigate here a revised design for microarray experiments that addresses both of these sources of variance.
Results
Two custom arrays were used to evaluate the revised design: one based on 25 mer probes from an Affymetrix design and the other based on 60 mer probes from an Agilent design. To assess experimental variance in probe binding, all probes were replicated ten times. To assess probe performance, the probes were calibrated using a dilution series of target molecules and the signal response was fitted to an adsorption model. We found that significant variance of the signal could be controlled by averaging across probes and removing probes that are nonresponsive or poorly responsive in the calibration experiment. Taking this into account, one can obtain a more reliable signal with the added option of obtaining absolute rather than relative measurements.
Conclusion
The assessment of technical variance within the experiments, combined with the calibration of probes allows to remove poorly responding probes and yields more reliable signals for the remaining ones. Once an array is properly calibrated, absolute quantification of signals becomes straight forward, alleviating the need for normalization and reference hybridizations
School violence, school differences and school discourses
This article highlights one strand of a study which investigated the concept of the violenceresilient school. In six inner-city secondary schools, data on violent incidents in school and violent crime in the neighbourhood were gathered, and compared with school practices to minimise violence, accessed through interviews. Some degree of association between the patterns of behaviour and school practices was found: schools with a wider range of wellconnected practices seemed to have less difficult behaviour. Interviews also showed that the different schools had different organisational discourses for construing school violence, its possible causes and the possible solutions. Differences in practices are best understood in connection with differences in these discourses. Some of the features of school discourses are outlined, including their range, their core metaphor and their silences. We suggest that organisational discourse is an important concept in explaining school effects and school differences, and that improvement attempts could have clearer regard to this concept
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An Orbital Comparison of a Late Mantling Unit on Aeolis Mons With Other Erosion-Resistant Strata Explored by MSL in Gale Crater, Mars
Previous investigations along Curiosity's traverse in Gale crater have explored the relationship between orbital and in situ observations. This work aims to better understand the geologic environment of units only observable from orbit and compare them to the properties of units examined by Curiosity. Here, we map an erosion-resistant dark-toned mantling unit that overlies the modern topography of Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mt. Sharp) and compare this unit to two other previously mapped dark-toned resistant units, the marker band and the mound skirting unit (MSU), that have been inferred to represent different geologic environments (lacustrine and aeolian, respectively). Visible to short wave infrared spectra from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars and visual images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and Context Cameras aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are used for this comparison. Spectral data suggest a mafic composition with minor alteration, although the composition varies more with location around Mt. Sharp rather than between units. Morphologically, the mantling unit has strong similarities to the marker band based on their consistent low-albedo, erosion-resistance, and smooth appearance, contrasting with the highly variable surface texture of the MSU. We hypothesize that all three units had a similar sediment source but experienced aqueous alteration at different times: early ubiquitous cementation in a surface aqueous environment in the mantling unit and marker band versus patchy late diagenesis in the MSU. If true, these results suggest that water activity continued within the Gale crater long after the erosion of Mt. Sharp
First Gale Western Butte Capping-Unit Compositions, and Relationships to Earlier Units Along Curiosity's Traverse
The Curiosity rover has been traversing through the clay-bearing unit (Glen Torridon; GT), approaching Greenheugh pediment, a large, fan-shaped surface surrounding the mouth of Gediz Vallis on the lower slope of Mt. Sharp. The pediment unconformably overlies the underlying bedrock, and is hence younger than units of the Mt. Sharp group. Orbital imaging of the pediment has shown it to have a slightly lower albedo and higher thermal inertia than neighboring units, to be relatively retentive of craters (e.g., erosion resistant), and to exhibit curved bedforms suggestive of lithified eolian bedforms. No diagnostic spectral signature has been observed from orbit. Recent rover positions allowed remote imaging of the contact between Greenheugh pediment and the eroded Murray formation strata below it, showing that the pediment capping material is cross-bedded and relatively thin (1-3 m), and suggesting that the pediment may have been much larger at one time. As Curiosity approached the edge of the pediment, the team investigated two buttes named Central and Western. The latter butte contains dark capping material that initially looked similar to the pediment cap, but close inspection revealed important physical differences. Here we report on compositions from ChemCam of two float rocks that appear to have rolled down from the capping unit, and on potential relation-ships to other targets along the traverse of the rover
Magnetism of small V clusters embedded in a Cu fcc matrix: an ab initio study
We present extensive first principles density functional theory (DFT)
calculations dedicated to analyze the magnetic and electronic properties of
small V clusters (n=1,2,3,4,5,6) embedded in a Cu fcc matrix. We consider
different cluster structures such as: i) a single V impurity, ii) several
V dimers having different interatomic distance and varying local atomic
environment, iii) V and iv) V clusters for which we assume compact
as well as 2- and 1-dimensional atomic configurations and finally, in the case
of the v) V and vi) V structures we consider a square pyramid and a
square bipyramid together with linear arrays, respectively. In all cases, the V
atoms are embedded as substitutional impurities in the Cu network. In general,
and as in the free standing case, we have found that the V clusters tend to
form compact atomic arrays within the cooper matrix. Our calculated non
spin-polarized density of states at the V sites shows a complex peaked
structure around the Fermi level that strongly changes as a function of both
the interatomic distance and local atomic environment, a result that
anticipates a non trivial magnetic behavior. In fact, our DFT calculations
reveal, in each one of our clusters systems, the existence of different
magnetic solutions (ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and antiferromagnetic) with
very small energy differences among them, a result that could lead to the
existence of complex finite-temperature magnetic properties. Finally, we
compare our results with recent experimental measurements.Comment: 7 pages and 4 figure
Density functional theory and demixing of binary hard rod-polymer mixtures
A density functional theory for a mixture of hard rods and polymers modeled
as chains built of hard tangent spheres is proposed by combining the functional
due to Yu and Wu for the polymer mixtures [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 117}, 2368
(2002)] with the Schmidt's functional [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 63}, 50201 (2001)] for
rod-sphere mixtures. As a simple application of the functional, the demixing
transition into polymer-rich and rod-rich phases is examined. When the chain
length increases, the phase boundary broadens and the critical packing fraction
decreases. The shift of the critical point of a demixing transition is most
noticeable for short chains.Comment: 4 pages,2 figures, in press, PR
Density functional formalism in the canonical ensemble
Density functional theory, when applied to systems with , is based
on the grand canonical extension of the Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham theorem due to
Mermin (HKSM theorem). While a straightforward canonical ensemble
generalization fails, work in nanopore systems could certainly benefit from
such extension. We show that, if the asymptotic behaviour of the canonical
distribution functions is taken into account, the HKSM theorem can be extended
to the canonical ensemble. We generate -modified correlation and
distribution functions hierarchies and prove that, if they are employed, either
a modified external field or the density profiles can be indistinctly used as
independent variables. We also write down the % -modified free energy
functional and prove that its minimum is reached when the equilibrium values of
the new hierarchy are used. This completes the extension of the HKSM theorem.Comment: revtex, to be submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
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