2,703 research outputs found
The mechanics and physics of thin film decohesion and its measurement
The intent of this review is to utilize the mechanics of thin films in order to define quantitative procedures for predicting interface decohesion motivated by residual stress. The emphasis is on the role of the interface debond energy, especially methods for measuring this parameter in an accurate and reliable manner. Experimental results for metal films on dielectric substrates are reviewed and possible mechanisms are discussed
Optimization of photomixers and antennas for continuous-wave terahertz emission
We have studied terahertz emission from interdigitated
finger photomixers coupled to planar antenna structures.
Using both pulsed and continuous-wave excitation, polarization
measurements reveal that the antenna design dominates the properties
of the radiated output at frequencies below 0.6 THz, while
the efficiency at higher frequencies is additionally dependent on
the design of the photomixer fingers. We have produced terahertz
maps of the device, characterizing the photomixer by measuring
the generated power as a function of the excitation position. Together,
these measurements have allowed us to understand better
the distinct roles of the photomixer and antenna in emission at
different fre
A solution to the problems of cusps and rotation curves in dark matter halos in the cosmological standard model
We discuss various aspects of the inner structure formation in virialized
dark matter (DM) halos that form as primordial density inhomogeneities evolve
in the cosmological standard model. The main focus is on the study of central
cusps/cores and of the profiles of DM halo rotation curves, problems that
reveal disagreements among the theory, numerical simulations, and observations.
A method that was developed by the authors to describe equilibrium DM systems
is presented, which allows investigating these complex nonlinear structures
analytically and relating density distribution profiles within a halo both to
the parameters of the initial small-scale inhomogeneity field and to the
nonlinear relaxation characteristics of gravitationally compressed matter. It
is shown that cosmological random motions of matter `heat up' the DM particles
in collapsing halos, suppressing cusp-like density profiles within developing
halos, facilitating the formation of DM cores in galaxies, and providing an
explanation for the difference between observed and simulated galactic rotation
curves. The analytic conclusions obtained within this approach can be confirmed
by the N-body model simulation once improved spatial resolution is achieved for
central halo regions.Comment: 44 pages, 16 figures, 1 tabl
Stability of Circular Orbits in General Relativity: A Phase Space Analysis
Phase space method provides a novel way for deducing qualitative features of
nonlinear differential equations without actually solving them. The method is
applied here for analyzing stability of circular orbits of test particles in
various physically interesting environments. The approach is shown to work in a
revealing way in Schwarzschild spacetime. All relevant conclusions about
circular orbits in the Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime are shown to be
remarkably encoded in a single parameter. The analysis in the rotating Kerr
black hole readily exposes information as to how stability depends on the ratio
of source rotation to particle angular momentum. As a wider application, it is
exemplified how the analysis reveals useful information when applied to motion
in a refractive medium, for instance, that of optical black holes.Comment: 20 pages. Accepted for publication in Int. J. theor. Phy
Effectiveness of integrated treatment for eating disorders in Spain: protocol for a multicentre, naturalistic, observational study
Introduction Eating disorders (EDs) are complex pathologies which require equally complex treatment strategies. These strategies should be multidisciplinary, personalised interventions, performed in appropriate settings along a healthcare continuum from inpatient to community care. Personalisation, and the complexity of levels of care and interventions make evaluation of treatments difficult. The present study aims to measure the effectiveness of a complex treatment programme for EDs which includes hospitalisation, day hospital and outpatient settings. Our purpose is to assess the complete therapeutic process of each patient through all these levels of care, capturing the multiplicity of trajectories that a programme of these characteristics involves.
Methods and analysis This protocol describes a multicentre, naturalistic, observational study. All patients starting between November 2017 and October 2020 in a healthcare network for EDs in Spain are being invited to participate. The first phase of intensive change monitoring to November 2020 is followed by lower intensity follow-up until October 2025. In the first phase progress of all participants is assessed every 3 weeks using specific measures for ED and the Clinical Outcomes Routine Evaluation system, a family of instruments specifically designed to measure change in psychotherapy. In the second phase data collection will happen quarterly. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses will be conducted, with a special focus on patterns and predictors of change studied through multilevel linear models.
Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the Research Bioethics Committee of the University of Barcelona (no. IRB00003099) and the ethical committee of ITA Mental Health, the organisation to which all participating centres belong. Dissemination will be in papers for peer-reviewed research journals and to clinicians working with ED.
Trial registration number NCT04127214
A particle-based model for endothelial cell migration under flow conditions
Endothelial cells (ECs) play a major role in the healing process following angioplasty to inhibit excessive neointima. This makes the process of EC healing after injury, in particular EC migration in a stented vessel, important for recovery of normal vessel function. In that context, we present a novel particle-based model of EC migration and validate it against in vitro experimental data. We have developed a particle-based model of EC migration under flow conditions in an in vitro vessel with obstacles. Cell movement in the model is a combination of random walks and directed movement along the local flow velocity vector. For model calibration, a set of experimental data for cell migration in a similarly shaped channel has been used. We have calibrated the model for a baseline case of a channel with no obstacles and then applied it to the case of a channel with ridges on the bottom surface, representative of stent strut geometry. We were able to closely reproduce the cell migration speed and angular distribution of their movement relative to the flow direction reported in vitro. The model also reproduces qualitative aspects of EC migration, such as entrapment of cells downstream from the flow-disturbing ridge. The model has the potential, after more extensive in vitro validation, to study the effect of variation in strut spacing and shape, through modification of the local flow, on EC migration. The results of this study support the hypothesis that EC migration is strongly affected by the direction and magnitude of local wall shear stress
Revised spherically symmetric solutions of gravity
We study spherically symmetric static empty space solutions in
model of gravity. We show that the Schwarzschild
metric is an exact solution of the resulted field equations and consequently
there are general solutions which {are perturbed Schwarzschild metric and
viable for solar system. Our results for large scale contains a logarithmic
term with a coefficient producing a repulsive gravity force which is in
agreement with the positive acceleration of the universe.Comment: 8 page
Image resonance in the many-body density of states at a metal surface
The electronic properties of a semi-infinite metal surface without a bulk gap are studied by a formalism that is able to account for the continuous spectrum of the system. The density of states at the surface is calculated within the GW approximation of many-body perturbation theory. We demonstrate the presence of an unoccupied surface resonance peaked at the position of the first image state. The resonance encompasses the whole Rydberg series of image states and cannot be resolved into individual peaks. Its origin is the shift in spectral weight when many-body correlation effects are taken into account
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