3,699 research outputs found
Sharp-Interface Limit of a Fluctuating Phase-Field Model
We present a derivation of the sharp-interface limit of a generic fluctuating
phase-field model for solidification. As a main result, we obtain a
sharp-interface projection which presents noise terms in both the diffusion
equation and in the moving boundary conditions. The presented procedure does
not rely on the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, and can therefore be applied
to account for both internal and external fluctuations in either variational or
non-variational phase-field formulations. In particular, it can be used to
introduce thermodynamical fluctuations in non-variational formulations of the
phase-field model, which permit to reach better computational efficiency and
provide more flexibility for describing some features of specific physical
situations. This opens the possibility of performing quantitative phase-field
simulations in crystal growth while accounting for the proper fluctuations of
the system.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Rev.
A probabilistic model for crystal growth applied to protein deposition at the microscale
A probabilistic discrete model for 2D protein crystal growth is presented.
This model takes into account the available space and can describe growing
processes of different nature due to the versatility of its parameters which
gives the model great flexibility. The accuracy of the simulation is tested
against a real protein (SbpA) crystallization experiment showing high agreement
between the proposed model and the actual images of the nucleation process.
Finally, it is also discussed how the regularity of the interface (i.e. the
curve that separates the crystal from the substrate) affects to the evolution
of the simulation.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure
Mechanically bonded macromolecules
Mechanically bonded macromolecules constitute a class of challenging synthetic targets in polymer science. The controllable intramolecular motions of mechanical bonds, in combination with the processability and useful physical and mechanical properties of macromolecules, ultimately ensure their potential for applications in materials science, nanotechnology and medicine. This tutorial review describes the syntheses and properties of a library of diverse mechanically bonded macromolecules, which covers (i) main-chain, side-chain, bridged, and pendant oligo/polycatenanes, (ii) main-chain oligo/polyrotaxanes, (iii) poly[c2]daisy chains, and finally (iv) mechanically interlocked dendrimers. A variety of highly efficient synthetic protocols—including template-directed assembly, step-growth polymerisation, quantitative conjugation, etc.—were employed in the construction of these mechanically interlocked architectures. Some of these structures, i.e., side-chain polycatenanes and poly[c2]daisy chains, undergo controllable molecular switching in a manner similar to their small molecular counterparts. The challenges posed by the syntheses of polycatenanes and polyrotaxanes with high molecular weights are contemplated
Maturation level in adolescents: effects on body composition and physical activity changes
Background and aims: Longitudinal studies help move researchers closer to understanding determinants and mediators of maturation, physical activity (PA) and adiposity. The aim of this study was to longitudinally explore the influence of maturation on PA and adiposity changes in adolescents.
Methods: Eighty healthy adolescents (42 girls and 38 boys) were followed over three academic years. A PA score was estimated using the Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ-A). Fat mass percentage (FMP) was assessed by anthropometric measurements. Sexual maturity was estimated by percentage of predicted adult stature and adolescents were classified into three changes groups: C0, change from on time to late maturation; C1, no change; C2, change from late/on time to on time/early maturation. A stepwise linear regression was conducted in order to estimate the predictors of PA and FMP changes.
Results: An interaction between PA and maturation was statically significant (P<0.05). A non-significant trend was observed between three stages of change with a progressive reduction of FMP across the three stages of change in maturation level (C0 = 0.2752.70%; C1= -1.4901.10%; C2= -6.4172.57%; pairwise comparisons: C0 - C2 = 6.69%, P=0.081 and C1-C2 = 4.93%, P=0.080).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that body composition changes observed during adolescence are not driven by changes in PA. PA alteration patterns were influenced by sex but not by maturation.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional AndalucĂa Tech. Supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (AP2010-0583); the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (DEP2011-30565
Algunas anotaciones sobre la crisis de un modelo de la sociologĂa clásica
Es preciso medir la importancia de un modelo clásico del cual no es fácil deshacerse sin salirse del campo de la propia sociologĂa... la apariciĂłn de otros paradigmas no puede conducir a una ruptura radical con un modelo cuya economĂa general reporta respuestas esenciales a los problemas fundamentales de la sociologĂa. Si es posible la formaciĂłn de sociologĂas post-clásicas, hoy no se puede creer en sociologĂas anti-clásicas
Small family-owned construction companies in Colombia : a business strategy
Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1990.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-74).by Jaime A. BenĂtez.M.S
Fuzzy Networked Control Systems Design Considering Scheduling Restrictions
Nowadays network control systems present a common approximation when connectivity is the issue to be solved based on time delays coupling from external factors. However, this approach tends to be complex in terms of time delays. Therefore, it is necessary to study the behavior of the delays as well as the integration into differential equations of these bounded delays. The related time delays needs to be
known a priory but from a dynamic real-time behavior. To do so, the use of priority dynamic Priority exchange scheduling is performed. The objective of this paper is to show a way to tackle multiple time delays that are bounded and the dynamic response from real-time scheduling approximation. The related control law is designed considering fuzzy logic approximation for nonlinear time delays coupling, where the main advantage is the integration of this behavior through extended state space representation keeping certain linear and bounded behavior and leading to a stable situation during events presentation by guaranteeing stability through Lyapunov
Nodal involvement evaluation in advanced cervical cancer: a single institutional experience
Purpose: To assess the usefulness of different imaging techniques in the detection of nodal involvement in patients with advanced
cervical carcinoma. Moreover, to analyze the correlation between the presurgical (FIGO) and postsurgical (pTNM) staging classifications.
Materials and Methods: All patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (FIGO Stages IIB-IV) from 2005 to 2012 were
selected. The medical charts of 51 patients that underwent presurgical assessment with posterior surgical staging by means of paraaortic
lymphadenectomy, were reviewed. Nodal status assessment by computed tomography scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and sonography was compared, as well as the size given in imaging techniques
compared to the final pathologic report information. Results: Presurgical analysis by CT scan, MRI, PET, and sonography showed
pelvic nodal involvement in 51.3% of patients, and para-aortic involvement in 30.8% of cases. CT scan showed positive pelvic nodes
in 35% of cases, but pathologic confirmation was observed in just 17.6% of cases. However, MRI resulted in higher rates of up to
48.8% of cases. Concerning para-aortic nodal involvement, CT scan showed positive nodes in 25% of cases, MRI in 3.2% of cases,
and the pathologic report in 15.6% of cases. The authors found significant differences between staging groups among both classifications
(FIGO vs. pTNM; p < 0.001). Eight cases (15.7%) were understaged by FIGO classification. Conclusions: Despite all imaging
techniques available, none has demonstrated to be efficient enough to avoid the systematic study of para-aortic nodal status by
means of surgical evaluatio
The ALHAMBRA photometric system
This paper presents the characterization of the optical range of the ALHAMBRA
photometric system, a 20 contiguous, equal-width, medium-band CCD system with
wavelength coverage from 3500A to 9700A. The photometric description of the
system is done by presenting the full response curve as a product of the
filters, CCD and atmospheric transmission curves, and using some first and
second order moments of this response function. We also introduce the set of
standard stars that defines the system, formed by 31 classic spectrophotometric
standard stars which have been used in the calibration of other known
photometric systems, and 288 stars, flux calibrated homogeneously, from the
Next Generation Spectral Library (NGSL). Based on the NGSL, we determine the
transformation equations between Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) ugriz
photometry and the ALHAMBRA photometric system, in order to establish some
relations between both systems. Finally we develop and discuss a strategy to
calculate the photometric zero points of the different pointings in the
ALHAMBRA project.Comment: Astronomical Journal on the 14th of January 201
Spin precession and spin Hall effect in monolayer graphene/Pt nanostructures
Spin Hall effects have surged as promising phenomena for spin logics
operations without ferromagnets. However, the magnitude of the detected
electric signals at room temperature in metallic systems has been so far
underwhelming. Here, we demonstrate a two-order of magnitude enhancement of the
signal in monolayer graphene/Pt devices when compared to their fully metallic
counterparts. The enhancement stems in part from efficient spin injection and
the large resistivity of graphene but we also observe 100% spin absorption in
Pt and find an unusually large effective spin Hall angle of up to 0.15. The
large spin-to-charge conversion allows us to characterise spin precession in
graphene under the presence of a magnetic field. Furthermore, by developing an
analytical model based on the 1D diffusive spin-transport, we demonstrate that
the effective spin-relaxation time in graphene can be accurately determined
using the (inverse) spin Hall effect as a means of detection. This is a
necessary step to gather full understanding of the consequences of spin
absorption in spin Hall devices, which is known to suppress effective spin
lifetimes in both metallic and graphene systems.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in 2D Materials.
https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/aa882
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