2,713 research outputs found
Liquid-gas phase behaviour of an argon-like fluid modelled by the hard-core two-Yukawa potential
We study a model for an argon-like fluid parameterised in terms of a
hard-core repulsion and a two-Yukawa potential. The liquid-gas phase behaviour
of the model is obtained from the thermodynamically self-consistent
Ornstein-Zernike approximation (SCOZA) of Hoye and Stell, the solution of which
lends itself particularly well to a pair potential of this form. The
predictions for the critical point and the coexistence curve are compared to
new high resolution simulation data and to other liquid-state theories,
including the hierarchical reference theory (HRT) of Parola and Reatto. Both
SCOZA and HRT deliver results that are considerably more accurate than standard
integral-equation approaches. Among the versions of SCOZA considered, the one
yielding the best agreement with simulation successfully predicts the critical
point parameters to within 1%.Comment: 10 pages 6 figure
A liquid state theory that remains successful in the critical region
A thermodynamically self-consistent Ornstein-Zernike approximation (SCOZA) is
applied to a fluid of spherical particles with a pair potential given by a
hard-core repulsion and a Yukawa attractive tail . This
potential allows one to take advantage of the known analytical properties of
the solution to the Ornstein-Zernike equation for the case in which the direct
correlation function outside the repulsive core is given by a linear
combination of two Yukawa tails and the radial distribution function
satisfies the exact core condition for . The predictions for the
thermodynamics, the critical point, and the coexistence curve are compared here
to other theories and to simulation results. In order to unambiguously assess
the ability of the SCOZA to locate the critical point and the phase boundary of
the system, a new set of simulations has also been performed. The method
adopted combines Monte Carlo and finite-size scaling techniques and is
especially adapted to deal with critical fluctuations and phase separation. It
is found that the version of the SCOZA considered here provides very good
overall thermodynamics and a remarkably accurate critical point and coexistence
curve. For the interaction range considered here, given by , the
critical density and temperature predicted by the theory agree with the
simulation results to about 0.6%.Comment: Prepared for the John Barker festschrift issue of Molecular Physics.
22 pages Latex, 6 ps figure
Self-consistent Ornstein-Zernike approximation for three-dimensional spins
An Ornstein-Zernike approximation for the two-body correlation function
embodying thermodynamic consistency is applied to a system of classical
Heisenberg spins on a three-dimensional lattice. The consistency condition
determined in a previous work is supplemented by introducing a simplified
expression for the mean-square fluctuations of the spin on each lattice site.
The thermodynamics and the correlations obtained by this closure are then
compared with approximants based on extrapolation of series expansions and with
Monte Carlo simulations. The comparison reveals that many properties of the
model, including the critical temperature, are very well reproduced by this
simple version of the theory, but that it shows substantial quantitative error
in the critical region, both above the critical temperature and with respect to
its rendering of the spontaneous magnetization curve. A less simple but
conceptually more satisfactory version of the SCOZA is then developed, but not
solved, in which the effects of transverse correlations on the longitudinal
susceptibility is included, yielding a more complete and accurate description
of the spin-wave properties of the model.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figure
Anisotropy effects on the magnetic excitations of a ferromagnetic monolayer below and above the Curie temperature
The field-driven reorientation transition of an anisotropic ferromagnetic
monolayer is studied within the context of a finite-temperature Green's
function theory. The equilibrium state and the field dependence of the magnon
energy gap are calculated for static magnetic field applied in plane
along an easy or a hard axis. In the latter case, the in-plane reorientation of
the magnetization is shown to be continuous at T=0, in agreement with free spin
wave theory, and discontinuous at finite temperature , in contrast with
the prediction of mean field theory. The discontinuity in the orientation angle
creates a jump in the magnon energy gap, and it is the reason why, for ,
the energy does not go to zero at the reorientation field. Above the Curie
temperature , the magnon energy gap vanishes for H=0 both in the
easy and in the hard case. As is increased, the gap is found to increase
almost linearly with , but with different slopes depending on the field
orientation. In particular, the slope is smaller when is along the hard
axis. Such a magnetic anisotropy of the spin-wave energies is shown to persist
well above ().Comment: Final version accepted for publication in Physical Review B (with
three figures
Relevance of analgesic abuse in the maintenance of chronic headaches
The role of daily use of analgesics is discussed. The literature data are reported and compared with the data collected in the Modena and Trieste Headache Center
Smooth cutoff formulation of hierarchical reference theory for a scalar phi4 field theory
The phi4 scalar field theory in three dimensions, prototype for the study of
phase transitions, is investigated by means of the hierarchical reference
theory (HRT) in its smooth cutoff formulation. The critical behavior is
described by scaling laws and critical exponents which compare favorably with
the known values of the Ising universality class. The inverse susceptibility
vanishes identically inside the coexistence curve, providing a first principle
implementation of the Maxwell construction, and shows the expected
discontinuity across the phase boundary, at variance with the usual sharp
cutoff implementation of HRT. The correct description of first and second order
phase transitions within a microscopic, nonperturbative approach is thus
achieved in the smooth cutoff HRT.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Energy refurbishment of the general physiology institute at Sapienza university campus
The energy requalification of the existing building heritage is one of the pillars European Union energy policy. A large part of the building heritage was built without taking into consideration the problem of energy consumption. With the aim of energy efficiency and energy savings in electrical uses, there are wide and diversified possibilities for improvement, including interventions on the building envelope and on the systems, with the introduction, where possible, of renewable energy sources. In this context, the redevelopment of historic buildings constitutes an important challenge, which involves both historical-artistic aspects and technological aspects relating to the improvement of energy efficiency and comfort. A critical analysis of every possibility is essential to preserve the balance between efficiency and architecture. The purpose of the study is the energy retrofitting of the Institute of General Physiology located within the "Sapienza" University campus. The proposed interventions include the renovation of the whole building envelope, investigated by thermographic surveys, and the installation of new heating and cooling systems. The results were analysed to identify the best intervention for a sustainable energy renovation of the historic building, taking into account the preservation of its architectural values and making it suitable for modern use
Solar urticaria in the visible spectrum successfully treated with astemizole
Three cases of solar urticaria in the visible spectrum successfully treated with astemizole, a H1 antihistamine, are reported. The administration of 10 mg a day of the drug increased the minimal urticarial dose from 2 to 12 times
Ordered structures formed by ultrasoft, aspherical particles
We have applied the formalism of classical density functional theory to study the shape and the orientation of the density profiles rho(r) formed by aspherical, ultrasoft particles. For simplicity we have considered particles with an elliptic shape, characterised by an aspect ratio lambda. The rho(r)\u2019s are obtained via the minimisation of the grand-potential functional Omega[rho], for which we have used a mean-field format. The optimisation of Omega[rho] is numerically realised in a free (i.e. unbiased) manner minimising the functional with respect to the density profile, which we have discretised in the unit cell of the lattice on 80^3 grid points. Keeping the temperature fixed and varying the chemical potential and lambda, we have investigated the impact of these parameters on the density profile
Triptans: the experience of a clinical pharmacologist in clinical practice.
Despite the pharmacokinetic differences among triptans and the variety of ways of administration, the clinical differences in every day use of these drugs lack in an accepted decisional tree. In fact,
there are a number of comparative trials showing conflicting results with regard to efficacy, onset of action, safety and ecurrence incidence. That means that the patient’s preference probably is the main criterion for choosing one triptan vs. others. This point of view is probably correct considering also that the
main cause of therapy failure is noncompliance.
A good migraine care strategy requires a balance in what the patient views as satisfactory, a reasonable compromise between
efficacy and tolerability, and a careful follow-up. Improvement in compliance should be the main and more immediate goal for the treatment of migraine attacks
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