12,328 research outputs found
Arresting bubble coarsening: A two-bubble experiment to investigate grain growth in presence of surface elasticity
Many two-phase materials suffer from grain-growth due to the energy cost
which is associated with the interface that separates both phases. While our
understanding of the driving forces and the dynamics of grain growth in
different materials is well advanced by now, current research efforts address
the question of how this process may be slowed down, or, ideally, arrested. We
use a model system of two bubbles to explore how the presence of a finite
surface elasticity may interfere with the coarsening process and the final
grain size distribution. Combining experiments and modelling in the analysis of
the evolution of two bubbles, we show that clear relationships can be predicted
between the surface tension, the surface elasticity and the initial/final size
ratio of the bubbles. We rationalise these relationships by the introduction of
a modified Gibbs criterion. Besides their general interest, the present results
have direct implications for our understanding of foam stability
Un-reduction
This paper provides a full geometric development of a new technique called
un-reduction, for dealing with dynamics and optimal control problems posed on
spaces that are unwieldy for numerical implementation. The technique, which was
originally concieved for an application to image dynamics, uses Lagrangian
reduction by symmetry in reverse. A deeper understanding of un-reduction leads
to new developments in image matching which serve to illustrate the
mathematical power of the technique.Comment: 25 pages, revised versio
Evaluation of a measles vaccine campaign by oral-fluid surveys in a rural Kenyan district: interpretation of antibody prevalence data using mixture models
We evaluated the effectiveness of a measles vaccine campaign in rural Kenya, based on oral-fluid surveys and mixture-modelling analysis. Specimens were collected from 886 children aged 9 months to 14 years pre-campaign and from a comparison sample of 598 children aged 6 months post-campaign. Quantitative measles-specific antibody data were obtained by commercial kit. The estimated proportions of measles-specific antibody negative in children aged 0–4, 5–9 and 10–14 years were 51%, 42% and 27%, respectively, pre- campaign and 18%, 14% and 6%, respectively, post-campaign. We estimate a reduction in the proportion susceptible of 65–78%, with ~85% of the population recorded to have received vaccine. The proportion of ‘weak’ positive individuals rose from 35% pre-campaign to 54% post-campaign. Our results confirm the effectiveness of the campaign in reducing susceptibility to measles and demonstrate the potential of oral-fluid studies to monitor the impact of measles vaccination campaigns
Modelling the hepatitis B vaccination programme in prisons
A vaccination programme offering hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine at reception into prison has been introduced into selected prisons in England and Wales. Over the coming years it is anticipated this vaccination programme will be extended. A model has been developed to assess the potential impact of the programme on the vaccination coverage of prisoners, ex-prisoners, and injecting drug users (IDUs). Under a range of coverage scenarios, the model predicts the change over time in the vaccination status of new entrants to prison, current prisoners and IDUs in the community. The model predicts that at baseline in 2012 57% of the IDU population will be vaccinated with up to 72% being vaccinated depending on the vaccination scenario implemented. These results are sensitive to the size of the IDU population in England and Wales and the average time served by an IDU during each prison visit. IDUs that do not receive HBV vaccine in the community are at increased risk from HBV infection. The HBV vaccination programme in prisons is an effective way of vaccinating this hard-to-reach population although vaccination coverage on prison reception must be increased to achieve this
Investigation of spin-orbit effects in the excitation of noble gases by spin-polarized electrons
We have measured the integrated Stokes parameters of the light emitted following the impact excitation by polarized electrons of the np5 (n+1)p [5/2] 3 states in Ne (n=2), Ar (n=3), Kr (n=4), Xe (n=5), and the np5 (n+1) p[5/2] 2 state in Kr. The near-threshold linear-polarization fractions η1 were consistent with zero for all of the J=3 states measured, providing no evidence of Mott scattering. For J=2 excitation, η1 shows the clear influence of the intermediately coupled nature of the state. At threshold, the measured circular polarization η2 and linear polarization η3 for the J=3 states agree well with the LS-coupled threshold predictions. These results provide the basis for optical measurements of electron polarization
Analysis of surface waves generated on subwavelength-structured silver films
Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to analyse the physical-chemical
surface properties of subwavlength structured silver films and
finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical simulations of the optical
response of these structures to plane-wave excitation, we report on the origin
and nature of the persistent surface waves generated by a single slit-groove
motif and recently measured by far-field optical interferometry. The surface
analysis shows that the silver films are free of detectable oxide or sulfide
contaminants, and the numerical simulations show very good agreement with the
results previously reported.Comment: 9 Figure
The unresolved case of sacral chordoma: from misdiagnosis to challenging surgery and medical therapy resistance.
PURPOSE: A sacral chordoma is a rare, slow-growing, primary bone tumor, arising from embryonic notochordal remnants. Radical surgery is the only hope for cure. The aim of our present study is to analyse our experience with the challenging treatment of this rare tumor, to review current treatment modalities and to assess the outcome based on R status.
METHODS: Eight patients were treated in our institution between 2001 and 2011. All patients were discussed by a multidisciplinary tumor board, and an en bloc surgical resection by posterior perineal access only or by combined anterior/posterior accesses was planned based on tumor extension.
RESULTS: Seven patients underwent radical surgery, and one was treated by using local cryotherapy alone due to low performance status. Three misdiagnosed patients had primary surgery at another hospital with R1 margins. Reresection margins in our institution were R1 in two and R0 in one, and all three recurred. Four patients were primarily operated on at our institution and had en bloc surgery with R0 resection margins. One had local recurrence after 18 months. The overall morbidity rate was 86% (6/7 patients) and was mostly related to the perineal wound. Overall, 3 out of 7 resected patients were disease-free at a median follow-up of 2.9 years (range, 1.6-8.0 years).
CONCLUSION: Our experience confirms the importance of early correct diagnosis and of an R0 resection for a sacral chordoma invading pelvic structures. It is a rare disease that requires a challenging multidisciplinary treatment, which should ideally be performed in a tertiary referral center
Spatial Symmetry of Superconducting Gap in YBa2Cu3O7-\delta Obtained from Femtosecond Spectroscopy
The polarized femtosecond spectroscopies obtained from well characterized
(100) and (110) YBa2Cu3O7-\delta thin films are reported. This bulk-sensitive
spectroscopy, combining with the well-textured samples, serves as an effective
probe to quasiparticle relaxation dynamics in different crystalline
orientations. The significant anisotropy in both the magnitude of the
photoinduced transient reflectivity change and the characteristic relaxation
time indicates that the nature of the relaxation channel is intrinsically
different in various axes and planes. By the orientation-dependent analysis,
d-wave symmetry of the bulk-superconducting gap in cuprate superconductors
emerges naturally.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Physical Review B, Rapid
Communication
Monte Carlo studies of Mott scattering asymmetries from gold foils
We present the results of a series of model Monte Carlo calculations of the scattering of spin-polarized electrons from gold foil targets. Our calculations examine the behavior of the left-right scattering asymmetry A as a function of various parameters conventionally used in extrapolation of the left-right asymmetry to single atom and/or elastic scattering conditions. These parameters include target thickness, scattered count rate, and the maximum energy that an electron can have lost in the target and still be detected. Data are obtained at incident electron energies of 10–120 keV, with detector-subtended half-cone angles of 5°, 10°, and 20°, and gold foils of average thickness varying from 3 to 1000Å. Both elastic and inelastic electron scattering effects have been considered. Comparisons of our results are made with existing measurements and theoretical models. We make recommendations concerning extrapolation algorithms and for future experiments to test the present Mott scattering Monte Carlo model
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