15,611 research outputs found
First principles phase diagram calculations for the wurtzite-structure systems AlNâGaN, GaNâInN, and AlNâInN
First principles phase diagram calculations were performed for the wurtzite-structure quasibinary systems AlNâGaN, GaNâInN, and AlNâInN. Cluster expansion Hamiltonians that excluded, and included, excess vibrational contributions to the free energy, Fvib, were evaluated. Miscibility gaps are predicted for all three quasibinaries, with consolute points, (XC,TC), for AlNâGaN, GaNâInN, and AlNâInN equal to (0.50, 305 K), (0.50, 1850 K), and (0.50, 2830 K) without Fvib, and (0.40, 247 K), (0.50, 1620 K), and (0.50, 2600 K) with Fvib, respectively. In spite of the very different ionic radii of Al, Ga, and In, the GaNâInN and AlNâGaN diagrams are predicted to be approximately symmetric
First-principles phase diagram calculations for the HfCâTiC, ZrCâTiC, and HfCâZrC solid solutions
We report first-principles phase diagram calculations for the binary systems HfCâTiC, TiCâZrC, and HfCâZrC. Formation energies for superstructures of various bulk compositions were computed with a plane-wave pseudopotential method. They in turn were used as a basis for fitting cluster expansion Hamiltonians, both with and without approximations for excess vibrational free energies. Significant miscibility gaps are predicted for the systems TiCâZrC and HfCâTiC, with consolute temperatures in excess of 2000 K. The HfCâZrC system is predicted to be completely miscibile down to 185 K. Reductions in consolute temperature due to excess vibrational free energy are estimated to be ~7%, ~20%, and ~0%, for HfCâTiC, TiCâZrC, and HfCâZrC, respectively. Predicted miscibility gaps are symmetric for HfCâZrC, almost symmetric for HfCâTiC and asymmetric for TiCâZrC
Effects of Vacancies on Properties of Relaxor Ferroelectrics: a First-Principles Study
A first-principles-based model is developed to investigate the influence of
lead vacancies on the properties of relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3
(PSN). Lead vacancies generate large, inhomogeneous, electric fields that
reduce barriers between energy minima for different polarization directions.
This naturally explains why relaxors with significant lead vacancy
concentrations have broadened dielectric peaks at lower temperatures, and why
lead vacancies smear properties in the neighborhood of the ferroelectric
transition in PSN. We also reconsider the conventional wisdom that lead
vacancies reduce the magnitude of dielectric response.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur
3D MHD Modeling of the Gaseous Structure of the Galaxy: Synthetic Observations
We generated synthetic observations from the four-arm model presented in
Gomez & Cox (2004) for the Galactic ISM in the presence of a spiral
gravitational perturbation. We found that velocity crowding and diffusion have
a strong effect in the l-v diagram. The v-b diagram presents structures at the
expected spiral arm velocities, that can be explained by the off-the-plane
structure of the arms presented in previous papers of this series. Such
structures are observed in the Leiden/Dwingeloo HI survey. The rotation curve,
as measured from the inside of the modeled galaxy, shows similarities with the
observed one for the Milky Way Galaxy, although it has large deviations from
the smooth circular rotation corresponding to the background potential. The
magnetic field inferred from a synthetic synchrotron map shows a largely
circular structure, but with interesting deviations in the midplane due to
distortion of the field from circularity in the interarm regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. Better quality figures in
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~gomez/publica/3d_galaxy-3.pd
EuroSpine Task Force on Research: support for spine researchers
In recognition of the value of research to the practice of spine care, Federico Balagué and Ferran Pellisé, at the time President and Secretary for EuroSpine, asked Margareta Nordin to set up a Task Force on Research (TFR) for EuroSpine during summer 2011. The concept was to stimulate and facilitate a research community within the society, through two main functions: (1) distribution of EuroSpine funds to researchers; (2) develop and deliver research training/education courses. What has the EuroSpine TFR accomplished since its inception
Functional somatic disorders: discussion paper for a new common classification for research and clinical use
Background
Functional somatic symptoms and disorders are common and complex phenomena involving both bodily and brain processes. They pose major challenges across medical specialties. These disorders are common and have significant impacts on patientsâ quality of life and healthcare costs.
Main body
We outline five problems pointing to the need for a new classification: (1) developments in understanding aetiological mechanisms; (2) the current division of disorders according to the treating specialist; (3) failure of current classifications to cover the variety of disorders and their severity (for example, patients with symptoms from multiple organs systems); (4) the need to find acceptable categories and labels for patients that promote therapeutic partnership; and (5) the need to develop clinical services and research for people with severe disorders.
We propose âfunctional somatic disordersâ (FSD) as an umbrella term for various conditions characterised by persistent and troublesome physical symptoms. FSDs are diagnosed clinically, on the basis of characteristic symptom patterns. As with all diagnoses, a diagnosis of FSD should be made after considering other possible somatic and mental differential diagnoses. We propose that FSD should occupy a neutral space within disease classifications, favouring neither somatic disease aetiology, nor mental disorder. FSD should be subclassified as (a) multisystem, (b) single system, or (c) single symptom. While additional specifiers may be added to take account of psychological features or co-occurring diseases, neither of these is sufficient or necessary to make the diagnosis. We recommend that FSD criteria are written so as to harmonise with existing syndrome diagnoses. Where currently defined syndromes fall within the FSD spectrum â and also within organ system-specific chapters of a classification â they should be afforded dual parentage (for example, irritable bowel syndrome can belong to both gastrointestinal disorders and FSD).
Conclusion
We propose a new classification, âfunctional somatic disorderâ, which is neither purely somatic nor purely mental, but occupies a neutral space between these two historical poles. This classification reflects both emerging aetiological evidence of the complex interactions between brain and body and the need to resolve the historical split between somatic and mental disorders
A search for soft X-ray emission associated with prominent high-velocity-cloud complexes
We correlate the ROSAT 1/4 keV all-sky survey with the Leiden/Dwingeloo HI
survey, looking for soft X-ray signatures of prominent high-velocity-cloud
(HVC) complexes. We study the transfer of 1/4 keV photons through the
interstellar medium in order to distinguish variations in the soft X-ray
background (SXRB) intensity caused by photoelectric absorption effects from
those due to excess X-ray emission. The X-ray data are modelled as a
combination of emission from the Local Hot Bubble (LHB) and emission from a
distant plasma in the galactic halo and extragalactic sources. The X-ray
radiation intensity of the galactic halo and extragalactic X-ray background is
modulated by the photoelectric absorption of the intervening galactic
interstellar matter. We show that large- and small-scale intensity variations
of the 1/4 keV SXRB are caused by photoelectric absorption which is
predominantly traced by the total N(HI) distribution. The extensive coverage of
the two surveys supports evidence for a hot, X-ray emitting corona. We show
that this leads to a good representation of the SXRB observations. For four
large areas on the sky, we search for regions where the modelled and observed
X-ray emission differ. We find that there is excess X-ray emission towards
regions near HVC complexes C, D, and GCN. We suggest that the excess X-ray
emission is positionally correlated with the high-velocity clouds. Some lines
of sight towards HVCs also pass through significant amounts of
intermediate-velocity gas, so we cannot constrain the possible role played by
IVC gas in these directions of HVC and IVC overlap, in determining the X-ray
excesses.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysics main journa
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