Frequency tuning, nonlinearities and mode coupling in circular graphene resonators

We study circular nanomechanical graphene resonators by means of continuum elasticity theory, treating them as membranes. We derive dynamic equations for the flexural mode amplitudes. Due to geometrical nonlinearity these can be modeled by coupled Duffing equations. By solving the Airy stress problem we obtain analytic expressions for eigenfrequencies and nonlinear coefficients as functions of radius, suspension height, initial tension, back-gate voltage and elastic constants, which we compare with finite element simulations. Using perturbation theory, we show that it is necessary to include the effects of the non-uniform stress distribution for finite deflections. This correctly reproduces the spectrum and frequency tuning of the resonator, including frequency crossings.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures, 3 table

Marketing Of Protected Areas As A Tool To Influence Visitors' Pre-Visit Decisions

As the result of the increasing influence of tourism, natural and protected area management is evolving from one primarily focused around onsite management and conservation to one that more broadly encompasses a greater range of holistic recreation and tourism experiences. In dealing with this evolution, national parks and protected area managers are now required to balance onsite interpretation activities with marketing and demand management activities

The Integrated Pre-visit Communication Audit: A User Guide

As a result of the increasing influence of tourism, natural and protected area management continues to evolve from management primarily focused around on-site management and conservation to one that more broadly encompasses a greater range of holistic recreation and tourism experiences. In dealing with this evolution national parks and protected area managers are now required to balance on-site interpretation activities with previsit marketing and demand management activities

Nonlinear damping in graphene resonators

Based on a continuum mechanical model for single-layer graphene, we propose and analyze a microscopic mechanism for dissipation in nanoelectromechanical graphene resonators. We find that coupling between flexural modes and in-plane phonons leads to linear and nonlinear damping of out-of-plane vibrations. By tuning external parameters such as bias and ac voltages, one can cross over from a linear-to a nonlinear-damping dominated regime. We discuss the behavior of the effective quality factor in this context. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.86.23543

Comment on the paper I. M. Suslov: Finite Size Scaling from the Self Consistent Theory of Localization

In the recent paper [I.M.Suslov, JETP {\bf 114} (2012) 107] a new scaling theory of electron localization was proposed. We show that numerical data for the quasi-one dimensional Anderson model do not support predictions of this theory.Comment: Comment on the paper arXiv 1104.043

Coherent manipulation of charge qubits in double quantum dots

The coherent time evolution of electrons in double quantum dots induced by fast bias-voltage switches is studied theoretically. As it was shown experimentally, such driven double quantum dots are potential devices for controlled manipulation of charge qubits. By numerically solving a quantum master equation we obtain the energy- and time-resolved electron transfer through the device which resembles the measured data. The observed oscillations are found to depend on the level offset of the two dots during the manipulation and, most surprisingly, also the on initialization stage. By means of an analytical expression, obtained from a large-bias model, we can understand the prominent features of these oscillations seen in both the experimental data and the numerical results. These findings strengthen the common interpretation in terms of a coherent transfer of electrons between the dots.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

A bifunctional platinum(II) antitumor agent that forms DNA adducts with affinity for the estrogen receptor

A strategy is described for the re-design of DNA damaging platinum(II) complexes to afford elevated toxicity towards cancer cells expressing the estrogen receptor (ER). Two platinum-based toxicants are described in which a DNA damaging warhead, [Pt(en)Cl[subscript 2]] (en, ethylenediamine), is tethered to either of two functional groups. The first agent, [6-(2-amino-ethylamino)-hexyl]-carbamic acid 2-[6-(7α-estra-1,3,5,(10)-triene)-hexylamino]-ethyl ester platinum(II) dichloride ((Est-en)PtCl[subscript 2]), terminates in a ligand for the ER. The second agent is a control compound lacking the steroid; this compound, N-[6-(2-amino-ethylamino)-hexyl]-benzamide platinum(II) dichloride ((Bz-en)PtCl[subscript 2])), terminates in a benzamide moiety, which lacks affinity for the ER. Using a competitive binding assay, Est-en had 28% relative binding affinity (RBA) for the ER as compared to 17β-estradiol. After covalent binding to a synthetic DNA duplex 16-mer, the compound retained its affinity for the ER; specificity of the binding event was demonstrated by the ability of free 17β-estradiol as a competitor to disrupt the DNA adduct-ER complex. The (Est-en)PtCl[subscript 2] compound showed higher toxicity against the ER positive ovarian cancer cell line CAOV3 than did the control compound. (Est-en)PtCl[subscript 2] was also more toxic to the ER positive breast cancer line, MCF-7, than to an ER negative line, MDA-MB231.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant CA08661)Life Sciences Research Foundatio

Marketing Ethics: A Study of Significance Within National Professional Associations

Professional associations are expected to maintain a reasonable standard of behavior regarding how they market to their service bases. Prior research indicates that the use of written marketing ethics is not standardized and that business codes of ethics are a potential base for a universal code of marketing ethics from which all professionals could draw. We use document analysis to review several professional associations’ codes of conduct across several industries and quantify the mention of marketing ethics within each code to identify and explore gaps. The review found that some associations’ codes had significant representation, and others had a minimal or nonexistent representation of marketing ethics. Our findings also indicate that several external forces may determine the presence of marketing ethics and that such sporadic inclusion of marketing ethics indicates a necessity to develop and implement marketing ethics to protect professional and organizational integrity and market and consumer interests

The Impact of Olfactory Disorders in the United Kingdom

Olfactory disorders are believed to affect 5% of the general population and have been shown to bear significant psychosocial consequences to sufferers. Although more common than blindness and profound deafness in the United Kingdom, the impact of these disorders has not been assessed to date and the plight of British patients has yet to be quantified. In 2012, a patient support organization, Fifth Sense, was founded to provide information and support to sufferers of chemosensory disorders. Following a recent members conference, a survey of the membership was conducted anonymously using a series of questions based on an existing olfactory disorders questionnaire. From 496 respondents, this has demonstrated high rates of depression (43%) and anxiety (45%), impairment of eating experience (92%), isolation (57%), and relationship difficulties (54%). Women appear to have significantly more issues than men in terms of social and domestic dysfunction relating to olfactory loss (P = 0.01). Qualitative disorders also affected more than 1 in 5 members with parosmia reported in 19% and phantosmia in 24%. This paper discusses the details of the British story of anosmia and other related disorders as depicted by those most affected