270 research outputs found
Cognitive processing for step precision increases beta and gamma modulation during overground walking
Vortex lattice stability in the SO(5) model
We study the energetics of superconducting vortices in the SO(5) model for
high- materials proposed by Zhang. We show that for a wide range of
parameters normally corresponding to type II superconductivity, the free energy
per unit flux \FF(m) of a vortex with flux quanta is a decreasing
function of , provided the doping is close to its critical value. This
implies that the Abrikosov lattice is unstable, a behaviour typical of type I
superconductors. For dopings far from the critical value, \FF(m) can become
very flat, indicating a less rigid vortex lattice, which would melt at a lower
temperature than expected for a BCS superconductor.Comment: 4 pp, revtex, 5 figure
Electronic structure, phase stability and chemical bonding in ThAl and ThAlH
We present the results of theoretical investigation on the electronic
structure, bonding nature and ground state properties of ThAl and
ThAlH using generalized-gradient-corrected first-principles
full-potential density-functional calculations. ThAlH has been reported
to violate the "2 \AA rule" of H-H separation in hydrides. From our total
energy as well as force-minimization calculations, we found a shortest H-H
separation of 1.95 {\AA} in accordance with recent high resolution powder
neutron diffraction experiments. When the ThAl matrix is hydrogenated, the
volume expansion is highly anisotropic, which is quite opposite to other
hydrides having the same crystal structure. The bonding nature of these
materials are analyzed from the density of states, crystal-orbital Hamiltonian
population and valence-charge-density analyses. Our calculation predicts
different nature of bonding for the H atoms along and . The strongest
bonding in ThAlH is between Th and H along which form dumb-bell
shaped H-Th-H subunits. Due to this strong covalent interaction there is very
small amount of electrons present between H atoms along which makes
repulsive interaction between the H atoms smaller and this is the precise
reason why the 2 {\AA} rule is violated. The large difference in the
interatomic distances between the interstitial region where one can accommodate
H in the and planes along with the strong covalent interaction
between Th and H are the main reasons for highly anisotropic volume expansion
on hydrogenation of ThAl.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure
Space-time Phase Transitions in Driven Kinetically Constrained Lattice Models
Kinetically constrained models (KCMs) have been used to study and understand
the origin of glassy dynamics. Despite having trivial thermodynamic properties,
their dynamics slows down dramatically at low temperatures while displaying
dynamical heterogeneity as seen in glass forming supercooled liquids. This
dynamics has its origin in an ergodic-nonergodic first-order phase transition
between phases of distinct dynamical "activity". This is a "space-time"
transition as it corresponds to a singular change in ensembles of trajectories
of the dynamics rather than ensembles of configurations. Here we extend these
ideas to driven glassy systems by considering KCMs driven into non-equilibrium
steady states through non-conservative forces. By classifying trajectories
through their entropy production we prove that driven KCMs also display an
analogous first-order space-time transition between dynamical phases of finite
and vanishing entropy production. We also discuss how trajectories with rare
values of entropy production can be realized as typical trajectories of a
mapped system with modified forces
Dragon-kings: mechanisms, statistical methods and empirical evidence
This introductory article presents the special Discussion and Debate volume
"From black swans to dragon-kings, is there life beyond power laws?" published
in Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics in May 2012. We summarize and put in
perspective the contributions into three main themes: (i) mechanisms for
dragon-kings, (ii) detection of dragon-kings and statistical tests and (iii)
empirical evidence in a large variety of natural and social systems. Overall,
we are pleased to witness significant advances both in the introduction and
clarification of underlying mechanisms and in the development of novel
efficient tests that demonstrate clear evidence for the presence of
dragon-kings in many systems. However, this positive view should be balanced by
the fact that this remains a very delicate and difficult field, if only due to
the scarcity of data as well as the extraordinary important implications with
respect to hazard assessment, risk control and predictability.Comment: 20 page
Hidden Order in the Cuprates
We propose that the enigmatic pseudogap phase of cuprate superconductors is
characterized by a hidden broken symmetry of d(x^2-y^2)-type. The transition to
this state is rounded by disorder, but in the limit that the disorder is made
sufficiently small, the pseudogap crossover should reveal itself to be such a
transition. The ordered state breaks time-reversal, translational, and
rotational symmetries, but it is invariant under the combination of any two. We
discuss these ideas in the context of ten specific experimental properties of
the cuprates, and make several predictions, including the existence of an
as-yet undetected metal-metal transition under the superconducting dome.Comment: 12 pages of RevTeX, 9 eps figure
Measurement of charm production at central rapidity in proton-proton collisions at TeV
The -differential production cross sections of the prompt (B
feed-down subtracted) charmed mesons D, D, and D in the rapidity
range , and for transverse momentum GeV/, were
measured in proton-proton collisions at TeV with the ALICE
detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The analysis exploited the hadronic
decays DK, DK, DD, and their charge conjugates, and was performed on a
nb event sample collected in 2011 with a
minimum-bias trigger. The total charm production cross section at TeV and at 7 TeV was evaluated by extrapolating to the full phase space
the -differential production cross sections at TeV
and our previous measurements at TeV. The results were compared
to existing measurements and to perturbative-QCD calculations. The fraction of
cdbar D mesons produced in a vector state was also determined.Comment: 20 pages, 5 captioned figures, 4 tables, authors from page 15,
published version, figures at
http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/307
Sustainable Supply Chain Management and the transition towards a Circular Economy: Evidence and some Applications
In the last decades, green and sustainable supply chain management practices have been developed, trying to integrate environmental concerns into organisations by reducing unintended negative consequences on the environment of production and consumption processes. In parallel to this, the circular economy discourse has been propagated in the industrial ecology literature and practice. Circular economy pushes the frontiers of environmental sustainability by emphasising the idea of transforming products in such a way that there are workable relationships between ecological systems and economic growth. Therefore, circular economy is not just concerned with the reduction of the use of the environment as a sink for residuals but rather with the creation of self-sustaining production systems in which materials are used over and over again.
Through two case studies from different process industries (chemical and food), this paper compares the performances of traditional and circular production systems across a range of indicators. Direct, indirect and total lifecycle emissions, waste recovered, virgin resources use, as well as carbon maps (which provide a holistic visibility of the entire supply chain) are presented. The paper asserts that an integration of circular economy principles within sustainable supply chain management can provide clear advantages from an environmental point view. Emerging supply chain management challenges and market dynamics are also highlighted and discussed
Ant species distribution along a topographic gradient in a "terra-firme" forest reserve in Central Amazonia
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