411 research outputs found
Mechanical Properties of Bulk Metallic Glasses and Composites
We have studied the mechanical properties of monolithic bulk metallic glasses and composite in the La based alloys. La₈₆₋yAl₁₄(Cu, Ni)y (y=24 to 32) alloy systems was used to cast the in-situ structure and subsequently tested under compression. We found that the ductility of the monolithic is actually poorer than that of the fully crystalline composite.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA
On the Topology of Black Hole Event Horizons in Higher Dimensions
In four dimensions the topology of the event horizon of an asymptotically
flat stationary black hole is uniquely determined to be the two-sphere .
We consider the topology of event horizons in higher dimensions. First, we
reconsider Hawking's theorem and show that the integrated Ricci scalar
curvature with respect to the induced metric on the event horizon is positive
also in higher dimensions. Using this and Thurston's geometric types
classification of three-manifolds, we find that the only possible geometric
types of event horizons in five dimensions are and . In
six dimensions we use the requirement that the horizon is cobordant to a
four-sphere (topological censorship), Friedman's classification of topological
four-manifolds and Donaldson's results on smooth four-manifolds, and show that
simply connected event horizons are homeomorphic to or .
We find allowed non-simply connected event horizons and
, and event horizons with finite non-abelian first homotopy
group, whose universal cover is . Finally, following Smale's results we
discuss the classification in dimensions higher than six.Comment: 12 pages, minor edits 27/09/0
Level-Spacing Distributions and the Bessel Kernel
The level spacing distributions which arise when one rescales the Laguerre or
Jacobi ensembles of hermitian matrices is studied. These distributions are
expressible in terms of a Fredholm determinant of an integral operator whose
kernel is expressible in terms of Bessel functions of order . We derive
a system of partial differential equations associated with the logarithmic
derivative of this Fredholm determinant when the underlying domain is a union
of intervals. In the case of a single interval this Fredholm determinant is a
Painleve tau function.Comment: 18 pages, resubmitted to make postscript compatible, no changes to
manuscript conten
On Orthogonal and Symplectic Matrix Ensembles
The focus of this paper is on the probability, , that a set
consisting of a finite union of intervals contains no eigenvalues for the
finite Gaussian Orthogonal () and Gaussian Symplectic ()
Ensembles and their respective scaling limits both in the bulk and at the edge
of the spectrum. We show how these probabilities can be expressed in terms of
quantities arising in the corresponding unitary () ensembles. Our most
explicit new results concern the distribution of the largest eigenvalue in each
of these ensembles. In the edge scaling limit we show that these largest
eigenvalue distributions are given in terms of a particular Painlev\'e II
function.Comment: 34 pages. LaTeX file with one figure. To appear in Commun. Math.
Physic
Fredholm Determinants, Differential Equations and Matrix Models
Orthogonal polynomial random matrix models of NxN hermitian matrices lead to
Fredholm determinants of integral operators with kernel of the form (phi(x)
psi(y) - psi(x) phi(y))/x-y. This paper is concerned with the Fredholm
determinants of integral operators having kernel of this form and where the
underlying set is a union of open intervals. The emphasis is on the
determinants thought of as functions of the end-points of these intervals. We
show that these Fredholm determinants with kernels of the general form
described above are expressible in terms of solutions of systems of PDE's as
long as phi and psi satisfy a certain type of differentiation formula. There is
also an exponential variant of this analysis which includes the circular
ensembles of NxN unitary matrices.Comment: 34 pages, LaTeX using RevTeX 3.0 macros; last version changes only
the abstract and decreases length of typeset versio
“Write here, sanctuary” Creative writing for refugees and people seeking asylum
Background
There are few research studies reporting findings from creative writing groups amongst refugees and people seeking asylum. This study evaluates the educational, wellbeing, social and satisfaction outcomes of writing groups across three cities in the UK.
Methods
This study employs a mixed-method design comprising: a thematic analysis of writers’ (facilitators) diaries, demographic and satisfaction survey and 14 qualitative interviews.
Results
The project delivered a creative writing programme for refugees and people seeking asylum in three UK cities. This evaluation has determined that it provided both educational and wellbeing outcomes for 144 attendees. Participants asserted that they had improved their English language and wellbeing. Satisfaction was extremely high across the cities. Participants reported increased confidence and an increased sense of hope.
Conclusions
Professionally-led creative writing groups may be effective in enabling people to help come to terms with past experiences and find ways of coping for the future
Time-dependent Stochastic Modeling of Solar Active Region Energy
A time-dependent model for the energy of a flaring solar active region is
presented based on a stochastic jump-transition model (Wheatland and Glukhov
1998; Wheatland 2008; Wheatland 2009). The magnetic free energy of the model
active region varies in time due to a prescribed (deterministic) rate of energy
input and prescribed (random) flare jumps downwards in energy. The model has
been shown to reproduce observed flare statistics, for specific
time-independent choices for the energy input and flare transition rates.
However, many solar active regions exhibit time variation in flare
productivity, as exemplified by NOAA active region AR 11029 (Wheatland 2010).
In this case a time-dependent model is needed. Time variation is incorporated
for two cases: 1. a step change in the rates of flare jumps; and 2. a step
change in the rate of energy supply to the system. Analytic arguments are
presented describing the qualitative behavior of the system in the two cases.
In each case the system adjusts by shifting to a new stationary state over a
relaxation time which is estimated analytically. The new model retains
flare-like event statistics. In each case the frequency-energy distribution is
a power law for flare energies less than a time-dependent rollover set by the
largest energy the system is likely to attain at a given time. For Case 1, the
model exhibits a double exponential waiting-time distribution, corresponding to
flaring at a constant mean rate during two intervals (before and after the step
change), if the average energy of the system is large. For Case 2 the
waiting-time distribution is a simple exponential, again provided the average
energy of the system is large. Monte Carlo simulations of Case~1 are presented
which confirm the analytic estimates. The simulation results provide a
qualitative model for observed flare statistics in active region AR 11029.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure
Amplitude measurements of Faraday waves
A light reflection technique is used to measure quantitatively the surface
elevation of Faraday waves. The performed measurements cover a wide parameter
range of driving frequencies and sample viscosities. In the capillary wave
regime the bifurcation diagrams exhibit a frequency independent scaling
proportional to the wavelength. We also provide numerical simulations of the
full Navier-Stokes equations, which are in quantitative agreement up to
supercritical drive amplitudes of 20%. The validity of an existing perturbation
analysis is found to be limited to 2.5% overcriticaly.Comment: 7 figure
Long-Term Outcomes with Subcutaneous C1-Inhibitor Replacement Therapy for Prevention of Hereditary Angioedema Attacks
Background: For the prevention of attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE), the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous human C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH[SC]; HAEGARDA, CSL Behring) was established in the 16-week Clinical Study for Optimal Management of Preventing Angioedema with Low-Volume Subcutaneous C1-Inhibitor Replacement Therapy (COMPACT). Objective: To assess the long-term safety, occurrence of angioedema attacks, and use of rescue medication with C1-INH(SC). Methods: Open-label, randomized, parallel-arm extension of COMPACT across 11 countries. Patients with frequent angioedema attacks, either study treatment-naive or who had completed COMPACT, were randomly assigned (1:1) to 40 IU/kg or 60 IU/kg C1-INH(SC) twice per week, with conditional uptitration to optimize prophylaxis (ClinicalTrials.gov registration no. NCT02316353). Results: A total of 126 patients with a monthly attack rate of 4.3 in 3 months before entry in COMPACT were enrolled and treated for a mean of 1.5 years; 44 patients (34.9%) had more than 2 years of exposure. Mean steady-state C1-INH functional activity increased to 66.6% with 60 IU/kg. Incidence of adverse events was low and similar in both dose groups (11.3 and 8.5 events per patient-year for 40 IU/kg and 60 IU/kg, respectively). For 40 IU/kg and 60 IU/kg, median annualized attack rates were 1.3 and 1.0, respectively, and median rescue medication use was 0.2 and 0.0 times per year, respectively. Of 23 patients receiving 60 IU/kg for more than 2 years, 19 (83%) were attack-free during months 25 to 30 of treatment. Conclusions: In patients with frequent HAE attacks, long-term replacement therapy with C1-INH(SC) is safe and exhibits a substantial and sustained prophylactic effect, with the vast majority of patients becoming free from debilitating disease symptoms
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