16,081 research outputs found
New evidence for a dramatic rise in atmosphere oxygen ca. 1,900 m.y. ago
Several lines of geologic evidence have pointed to a significant increase in P sub O2 about 2,000 m.y. ago, but the magnitude of P sub O2 before and after that time has been quite uncertain. The data that we have recently accumulated suggest that P sub O2 was approximately less than 2 x 10 (exp -3) atm more than 2,000 m.y. ago, and approximately greater than 0.03 atm more recently than ca. 1,900 m.y. ago. These estimates are based on the behavior of iron in Precambrian weathering horizons. More than ca. 2,000 m.y. ago, Fe(+2), released during the weathering of basalts was not oxidized to Fe(+3), and was removed in ground water from the upper layers of soil horizons. More recently than ca. 1,850 m.y. ago, Fe(+2) was oxidized to Fe(+3) and precipitated as iron oxides and hydroxides in such soil horizons and in the weathering products of a carbonate facies banded iron formation in Griqualand West, South Africa. The O2 content of the atmosphere must have increased dramatically about 1,900 m.y. ago to explain these observations. The reasons for the increase are still obscure, but are probably related to changes in the biologic productivity of the oceans. Eukaryotes appear to have developed shortly after the increase in P sub O2, perhaps in response to the subsequent increase in the supply of nitrate from the atmosphere to the oceans
Entangled-state cryptographic protocol that remains secure even if nonlocal hidden variables exist and can be measured with arbitrary precision
Standard quantum cryptographic protocols are not secure if one assumes that
nonlocal hidden variables exist and can be measured with arbitrary precision.
The security can be restored if one of the communicating parties randomly
switches between two standard protocols.Comment: Shortened version, accepted in Phys. Rev.
Low noise high performance 50nm T-gate metamorphic HEMT with cut-off frequency f<sub>T</sub> of 440 GHz for millimeterwave imaging receivers applications
The 50 nm m-HEMT exhibits extremely high f<sub>T</sub>, of 440GHz, low F<sub>min</sub> of 0.7 dB, associated gain of 13 dB at 26 GHz with an exceptionally high Id of 200 mA/mm and gm of 950 ms/mm at low noise biased point
Strings, T-duality breaking, and nonlocality without the shortest distance
T-duality of string theory suggests nonlocality manifested as the shortest
possible distance. As an alternative, we suggest a nonlocal formulation of
string theory that breaks T-duality at the fundamental level and does not
require the shortest possible distance. Instead, the string has an objective
shape in spacetime at all length scales, but different parts of the string
interact in a nonlocal Bohmian manner.Comment: 7 pages, revised, to appear in Eur. Phys. J.
Genetic algorithms: a pragmatic, non-parametric approach to exploratory analysis of questionnaires in educational research
Data from a survey to determine student attitudes to their courses are used as an example to show how genetic algorithms can be used in the analysis of questionnaire data. Genetic algorithms provide a means of generating logical rules which predict one variable in a data set by relating it to others. This paper explains the principle underlying genetic algorithms and gives a non-mathematical description of the means by which rules are generated. A commercially available computer program is used to apply genetic algorithms to the survey data. The results are discussed
Prospects for a mHz-linewidth laser
We propose a new light source based on having alkaline-earth atoms in an
optical lattice collectively emit photons on an ultra-narrow clock transition
into the mode of a high Q-resonator. The resultant optical radiation has an
extremely narrow linewidth in the mHz range, even smaller than that of the
clock transition itself due to collective effects. A power level of order
is possible, sufficient for phase-locking a slave optical local
oscillator. Realizing this light source has the potential to improve the
stability of the best clocks by two orders of magnitude.Comment: minor revisions + shortening; factor 2 algebra mistake correcte
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I-Xe analysis of a magnetic separate from Lodranite GRA95209
I-Xe dating of a magnetic mineral separate from lodranite GRA95209 suggests that peak temperatures (and therefore melt migration) occurred early, at least a few million years before closure of the I-Xe system in phosphates from Acapulco
The SUMMIT trial: a field comparison of buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance treatment.
This prospective patient-preference study examined the effectiveness in practice of methadone versus buprenorphine maintenance treatment and the beliefs of subjects regarding these drugs. A total of 361 opiate-dependent individuals (89% of those eligible, presenting for treatment over 2 years at a drug service in England) received rapid titration then flexible dosing with methadone or buprenorphine; 227 patients chose methadone (63%) and 134 buprenorphine (37%). Participants choosing methadone had more severe substance abuse and psychiatric and physical problems but were more likely to remain in treatment. Survival analysis indicated those prescribed methadone were over twice as likely to be retained (hazard ratio for retention was 2.08 and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.49-2.94 for methadone vs. buprenorphine), However, those retained on buprenorphine were more likely to suppress illicit opiate use (odds ratio = 2.136, 95% CI = 1.509-3.027, p < .001) and achieve detoxification. Buprenorphine may also recruit more individuals to treatment because 28% of those choosing buprenorphine (10% of the total sample) stated they would not have accessed treatment with methadone
Pathways to "opportunity and excellence": collaborative curriculum innovation in South Yorkshire
This paper reports on two aspects of a large-scale curriculum project currently taking place in four LEAs in South Yorkshire. The first of these is concerned with the positive and negative influences on effective curriculum innovation and is addressed from the perspective of the LEA project managers who are managing the delivery of the project in the region's schools. The second aspect considers what the pupils (Year 10, age 14-15) think about the new learning opportunities. The project is set in the context of regional regeneration. The paper concludes that the extremely positive responses from the sample of pupils in all three strands of the programme indicate that the greater emphasis on vocational work and work experience in schools is having a strong motivational effect on pupils who are responding with improved attendance, behaviour and achievement.</p
Relativistic quantum mechanics and the Bohmian interpretation
Conventional relativistic quantum mechanics, based on the Klein-Gordon
equation, does not possess a natural probabilistic interpretation in
configuration space. The Bohmian interpretation, in which probabilities play a
secondary role, provides a viable interpretation of relativistic quantum
mechanics. We formulate the Bohmian interpretation of many-particle wave
functions in a Lorentz-covariant way. In contrast with the nonrelativistic
case, the relativistic Bohmian interpretation may lead to measurable
predictions on particle positions even when the conventional interpretation
does not lead to such predictions.Comment: 10 pages, revised, to appear in Found. Phys. Let
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