19,752 research outputs found
Taxonomic studies in the genus Acrostemon Kl. and related genera
Investigations were carried out on the genus Asrostemon Kl. in the Ericaceae. Examination of variation ranges in the species of Acrostem912 revealed that the two monotypic genera, Hexastemon Kl. and Arachnocalyx Compton, could not be upheld as separate genera. They were therefore reduced under Acrostemon. Studies of variation and intergradation in the distinguishing characters between Acrostemon and the genera, Simochocheilus Kl. and Syndesmanthus Kl., have shown that the three genera may have to be incorporated into a single genus in a future revision of the Ericaceae. However further study is necessary to clarify this problem. In this work eighteen taxa have been investigated and of these taxa only seven remained unaltered. In the genus Acrostemon thirteen species have been recognised, of which two are newly described, A. vernicosus and A. glutinosus. One new subspecies and two species reduced to varietal level have been recognised. been found necessary. Five changes in nomenclature have Two species have been referred to different genera, Blaeria concinna and SimÂŁcheilus fourcadei. Studies of the cytology of five species of Acrostemon indicate that the basic chromosome number for the genus is twelve
Nucleation and Growth of GaN/AlN Quantum Dots
We study the nucleation of GaN islands grown by plasma-assisted
molecular-beam epitaxy on AlN(0001) in a Stranski-Krastanov mode. In
particular, we assess the variation of their height and density as a function
of GaN coverage. We show that the GaN growth passes four stages: initially, the
growth is layer-by-layer; subsequently, two-dimensional precursor islands form,
which transform into genuine three-dimensional islands. During the latter
stage, island height and density increase with GaN coverage until the density
saturates. During further GaN growth, the density remains constant and a
bimodal height distribution appears. The variation of island height and density
as a function of substrate temperature is discussed in the framework of an
equilibrium model for Stranski-Krastanov growth.Comment: Submitted to PRB, 10 pages, 15 figure
The motivating operation and negatively reinforced problem behavior. A systematic review.
The concept of motivational operations exerts an increasing influence on the understanding and assessment of problem behavior in people with intellectual and developmental disability. In this systematic review of 59 methodologically robust studies of the influence of motivational operations in negative reinforcement paradigms in this population, we identify themes related to situational and biological variables that have implications for assessment, intervention, and further research. There is now good evidence that motivational operations of differing origins influence negatively reinforced problem behavior, and that these might be subject to manipulation to facilitate favorable outcomes. There is also good evidence that some biological variables warrant consideration in assessment procedures as they predispose the person's behavior to be influenced by specific motivational operations. The implications for assessment and intervention are made explicit with reference to variables that are open to manipulation or that require further research and conceptualization within causal models
Does e-learning policy drive change in Higher Education?: A case study relating models of organisational change to e-learning implementation
Due to the heightened competition introduced by the potential global market and the need for structural changes within organisations delivering e-content, e-learning policy is beginning to take on a more significant role within the context of educational policy per se. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important to establish what effect such policies have and how they are achieved. This paper addresses this question, illustrating five ways in which change is understood (Fordist, evolutionary, ecological, community of practice and discourse-oriented) and then using this range of perspectives to explore how e-learning policy drives change (both organisational and pedagogic) within a selected higher education institution. The implications of this case are then discussed, and both methodological and pragmatic conclusions are drawn, considering the relative insights offered by the models and ways in which change around e-learning might be supported or promoted
Electromagnetically induced transparency in superconducting quantum circuits : Effects of decoherence, tunneling and multi-level cross-talk
We explore theoretically electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) in a
superconducting quantum circuit (SQC). The system is a persistent-current flux
qubit biased in a configuration. Previously [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93,
087003 (2004)], we showed that an ideally-prepared EIT system provides a
sensitive means to probe decoherence. Here, we extend this work by exploring
the effects of imperfect dark-state preparation and specific decoherence
mechanisms (population loss via tunneling, pure dephasing, and incoherent
population exchange). We find an initial, rapid population loss from the
system for an imperfectly prepared dark state. This is followed by a
slower population loss due to both the detuning of the microwave fields from
the EIT resonance and the existing decoherence mechanisms. We find analytic
expressions for the slow loss rate, with coefficients that depend on the
particular decoherence mechanisms, thereby providing a means to probe,
identify, and quantify various sources of decoherence with EIT. We go beyond
the rotating wave approximation to consider how strong microwave fields can
induce additional off-resonant transitions in the SQC, and we show how these
effects can be mitigated by compensation of the resulting AC Stark shifts
Oscillatory Modes of a Prominence-PCTR-Corona Slab Model
Oscillations of magnetic structures in the solar corona have often been
interpreted in terms of magnetohydrodynamic waves. We study the adiabatic
magnetoacoustic modes of a prominence plasma slab with a uniform longitudinal
magnetic field, surrounded by a prominence-corona transition region (PCTR) and
a coronal medium. Considering linear small-amplitude oscillations, the
dispersion relation for the magnetoacoustic slow and fast modes is deduced
assuming evanescent-like perturbations in the coronal medium. In the system
without PCTR, a classification of the oscillatory modes according to the
polarisation of their eigenfunctions is made in order to distinguish modes with
fast-like or slow-like properties. Internal and external slow modes are
governed by the prominence and coronal properties respectively, and fast modes
are mostly dominated by prominence conditions for the observed wavelengths. In
addition, the inclusion of an isothermal PCTR does not substantially influence
the mode frequencies, but new solutions (PCTR slow modes) are present.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
IRAC Imaging of Lockman Hole
IRAC imaging of a 4'7x4'7 area in the Lockman Hole detected over 400 galaxies
in the IRAC 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron bands, 120 in the 5.8 micron, and 80 in
the 8 micron bandin 30 minutes of observing time. Color-color diagrams suggest
that about half of these galaxies are at redshifts 0.6<z<1.3 with about a
quarter at higher redshifts (z>1.3). We also detect IRAC counterparts for 6 of
the 7 SCUBA sources and all 9 XMM sources in this area. The detection of the
counterparts of the SCUBA sources and galaxies at z>1.3 demonstrates the
ability of IRAC to probe the universe at very high redshifts.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures. accepted by ApJS, Spizter Special Issu
Star Formation in the Northern Cloud Complex of NGC 2264
We have made continuum and spectral line observations of several outflow
sources in the Mon OB1 dark cloud (NGC 2264) using the Heinrich Hertz Telescope
(HHT) and ARO 12m millimeter-wave telescope. This study explores the kinematics
and outflow energetics of the young stellar systems observed and assesses the
impact star formation is having on the surrounding cloud environment. Our data
set incorporates 12CO(3-2), 13CO(3-2), and 12CO(1-0) observations of outflows
associated with the sources IRAS 06382+1017 and IRAS 06381+1039, known as IRAS
25 and 27, respectively, in the northern cloud complex. Complementary 870
micron continuum maps were made with the HHT 19 channel bolometer array. Our
results indicate that there is a weak (approximately less than 0.5%) coupling
between outflow kinetic energy and turbulent energy of the cloud. An analysis
of the energy balance in the IRAS 25 and 27 cores suggests they are maintaining
their dynamical integrity except where outflowing material directly interacts
with the core, such as along the outflow axes.Comment: 28 pages including 6 figures, to be published in ApJ 01 July 2006,
v645, 1 issu
Simulated Annealing for Topological Solitons
The search for solutions of field theories allowing for topological solitons
requires that we find the field configuration with the lowest energy in a given
sector of topological charge. The standard approach is based on the numerical
solution of the static Euler-Lagrange differential equation following from the
field energy. As an alternative, we propose to use a simulated annealing
algorithm to minimize the energy functional directly. We have applied simulated
annealing to several nonlinear classical field theories: the sine-Gordon model
in one dimension, the baby Skyrme model in two dimensions and the nuclear
Skyrme model in three dimensions. We describe in detail the implementation of
the simulated annealing algorithm, present our results and get independent
confirmation of the studies which have used standard minimization techniques.Comment: 31 pages, LaTeX, better quality pics at
http://www.phy.umist.ac.uk/~weidig/Simulated_Annealing/, updated for
publicatio
The early development of self-injurious behaviour: evaluating the role of social reinforcement
Background: The potential role of social reinforcement in the development of selfâinjury has not yet been subjected to empirical analysis. In this 2âyear prospective study, the pattern of social interactions related to the early presentation of selfâinjury were examined to identify a potential association with an increase in selfâinjury.
Methods: The selfâinjurious behaviour and social contact with adults of 16 children with intellectual disability (ID) with selfâinjury of recent onset were observed at 3âmonth intervals over 2âyears.
Results: Increase in selfâinjury over a 2âyear period was positively correlated with a distribution of social contact relative to episodes of selfâinjury that is consistent with a mutual social reinforcement paradigm. When this paradigm was operative, selfâinjury was evoked under stable antecedent conditions over time but tended to evoke increasing levels of social interaction.
Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that increases in the frequency of early selfâinjury in children with ID may be determined by social reinforcement with implications for early intervention and proactive identification of children at risk for increases in selfâinjury
- âŠ