Ferromagnetic Film on a Superconducting Substrate

We study the equilibrium domain structure and magnetic flux around a ferromagnetic (FM) film with perpendicular magnetization M_0 on a superconducting (SC) substrate. At 4{\pi}M_0<H_{c1} the SC is in the Meissner state and the equilibrium domain width in the film, l, scales as (l/4{\pi}{\lambda}_{L}) = (l_{N}/4{\pi}{\lambda}_{L})^{2/3} with the domain width on a normal (non-superconducting) substrate, l_{N}/4\pi\lambda_L >> 1. Here \lambda_L is the London penetration length. For 4{\pi}M_0 > H_{c1} and l_{N} in excess of about 35 {\lambda}_{L}, the domains are connected by SC vortices. We argue that pinning of vortices by magnetic domains in FM/SC multilayers can provide high critical currents.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PR

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Adult Female Sexual Assault Survivors

Sexual assault is an international problem affecting hundreds of thousands of women each year. Significant psychological, physical, and financial consequences result from sexual assault. The prevalence of sexual assault suggests that nurses frequently encounter survivors yet minimal literature exists focusing on how nurses should adjust their care to meet the needs of this population. The phenomenon of sexual assault has been widely studied from multiple perspectives and across disciplines. Likewise, studies of spiritual and religious beliefs and practices and their impact at the end-of-life and in disease, grief, and loss are extensive in nursing literature. However, a nominal number of studies examine the recovery process following sexual assault, resilience as an aspect of recovery, behaviors to aide in the recovery process, and the role which spirituality and religious beliefs and practices may play in that process. Therefore, a hermeneutical phenomenological study occurred to explore the meaning of the lived experience of sexual assault recovery and to increase understanding of the participants’ experiences of recovery. No other hermeneutical phenomenological study on this subject was present in the literature prior to this study. This method was congruent with the aims and the ultimate goals for the study. The aim of the study was to examine the lived experience of adult female sexual assault survivors while examining the influence of spirituality and religious practices upon the recovery process. After performing a qualitative analysis of the transcripts from nine participant interviews, findings for this phenomenological study resulted in five constitutive patterns: forever changed with fourteen related themes; coping afterwards with five related themes; finding strength through faith and a greater being with six related themes; focusing on what helps with three related themes, and talking is healing with three related themes. This study provides insight into what it means to live as a sexual assault survivor and provides the impetus for multiple future studies potentially impacting future nursing practice

Формирование гипохолестеролемии при холестеролопатиях

гипохолестеролемияХОЛЕСТЕРИНхолестеролопати

Best-Fit Ellipsoids of Atom-Probe Tomographic Data to Study Coalescence of Gamma Prime (L1_2) Precipitates in Ni-Al-Cr

An algorithm is presented to fit precipitates in atom probe tomographic data sets as equivalent ellipsoids. Unlike previous techniques, which measure only the radius of gyration, these ellipsoids retain the moments of inertia and principle axes of the original precipitate, preserving crystallographic orientational information. The algorithm is applied to study interconnected gamma prime precipitates (L1_2) in the Gamma-matrix (FCC) of a Ni-Al-Cr alloy. The precipitates are found to coagulate along -type directions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Scripta Materialia, added information about local magnification effect

Geology and Wine 13. Geographic Information System Characterization of Four Appellations in West Texas, USA

Texas produces approximately 90 000 hl of wine annually from more than 200 wineries and 1214 ha of vineyards. Eight wine grape production regions are officially recognized as American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Texas. Improved understanding of the growing conditions within each AVA facilitates selection of well-adapted cultivars that is critical for continued success and expansion of the wine industry. A geographic information system (GIS) was developed to enable enhanced characterization of the climatic, geologic and edaphic conditions of Texas AVAs. The GIS contains datasets describing climatic variables, geology, soils, elevation and topography, all of significance to grape production. This paper characterizes the four viticultural areas (AVAs) of west Texas: Texas High Plains AVA, Escondido Valley AVA, Texas Davis Mountains AVA, and Mesilla Valley AVA. Common features of the four AVAs are relatively high elevation, warm to very warm growing-season temperatures, mild winter temperatures, and low annual precipitation. Local differences in elevation and topography modify climatic conditions among AVAs, providing variations in growing degree-days and ripening-period mean temperatures that influence the performance of grape cultivars. The Texas High Plains and Texas Davis Mountains AVAs have the lowest growing degree-days and coolest ripening-period mean temperatures; Escondido Valley and Mesilla Valley AVAs are drier and warmer, resulting in fruit ripening earlier than in the High Plains and Davis Mountains AVAs. Variable underlying geology leads to differing soil types planted to vineyards in each AVA; predominantly loamy fine sands and fine sandy loam in Texas High Plains, silty clay loam and loam in Escondido Valley, loam and clay loam in Texas Davis Mountains, and clay loam and sandy loam in Mesilla Valley. West Texas produces red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot cultivars, which are notable for good tannin and excellent colour; recent planting trends to warm-climate cultivars, including Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Mourvèdre, and Grenache, are producing blended wines of great promise. Similarly, a solid reputation for white wines from Chenin blanc and Chardonnay is being enhanced by increased production of Viognier, Vermentino, and other warm-climate varietal wines. Sommaire Texas produit environ 90 000 hectolitres de vin par année provenant de plus de 200 établissements vinicoles et 1214 ha de vignes. Huit régions de productions de raisins de cuve sont officiellement reconnues comme zones viticoles américaines (AVA) en Texas. Une meilleure compréhension des conditions de croissance au sein de chacune AVA facilite le choix des variétés, (cultivars) adaptées pour le succès et l’expansion continue de l’industrie viticole. Un système d’information géographique (SIG) a été développé pour permettre la caractérisation améliorée des conditions climatiques, géologiques et édaphiques de l’AVA de Texas. Le SIG contient les ensembles de données décrivant les variables climatiques, la géologie, les sols, l’altitude, et topographie d’importances pour la production viticole. Ce document caractérise les quatre Zones viticoles de l’Ouest Texas: Texas High Plains, Escondido Valley, Texas Davis Mountains, et Mesilla Valley. Les caractéristiques communes entre des quatre AVA sont relativement haute altitude, très chaudes températures de saison de croissance, les températures de l’hiver doux et faibles précipitations annuelles. Les variations locales en altitude et topographie modifient les conditions climatiques entre les zones viticoles américaines et entraînent des variations des degrés-jour de croissance (GDD) et la température moyenne de mûrissement (RPMT), ce qui exercent une influence sur rendement des cultivars de raisin. Le Texas High Plains et le Texas Davis Mountains zones viticoles ont les GDD les plus bas et une RPMT froide; le Escondido Valley et Mesilla Valley zones viticoles sont plus secs et plus chauds, ce qui entraine le mûrissement de fruit plus tôt que dans le High Plains et Davis Mountains AVAs. Variable géologie sous-jacente conduit à une variation des types de sol plantés aux vignobles dans chaque AVA ; principalement loam sableux et le loam sablo-argileux dans Texas High Plains, loam limoneux et loam dans Escondido Valley, loam et loam argileux dans Texas Davis Mountains, et loam argileux et loam sableux dans Mesilla Valley. Ouest Texas produit des vins rouges de Cabernet Sauvignon et le Merlot qui se distinguent par le tanin et une couleur excellente, les tendances récentes à la plantation de climat chaud cultivars, y compris le Tempranillo, le Sangiovese, Mourvèdre, et Grenache, produisent des vins d’assemblages de grandes promesses. De même, une solide réputation pour les vins blancs de Chenin blanc et le Chardonnay est améliorer par l’augmentation de la production de Viognier, Vermentino, et d’autres vins de climat chaud cépages

Variation of the density of states in amorphous GdSi at the metal-insulator transition

We performed detailed conductivity and tunneling mesurements on the amorphous, magnetically doped material $\alpha$-Gd$_x$Si$_{1-x}$ (GdSi), which can be driven through the metal-insulator transition by the application of an external magnetic field. Conductivity increases linearly with field near the transition and slightly slower on the metallic side. The tunneling conductance, proportional to the density of states $N(E)$, undergoes a gradual change with increasing field, from insulating, showing a soft gap at low bias, with a slightly weaker than parabolic energy dependence, i.e. $N(E) \sim E^c$, $c \lesssim 2$, towards metallic behavior, with $E^d$, $0.5 \lt d \lt 1$ energy dependence. The density of states at the Fermi level appears to be zero at low fields, as in an insulator, while the sample shows already small, but metal-like conductivity. We suggest a possible explanation to the observed effect.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

E-cadherin and cell adhesion: a role in architecture and function in the pancreatic islet

Background/Aims: The efficient secretion of insulin from beta-cells requires extensive intra-islet communication. The cell surface adhesion protein epithelial (E)-cadherin (ECAD) establishes and maintains epithelial tissues such as the islets of Langerhans. In this study, the role of ECAD in regulating insulin secretion from pseudoislets was investigated. Methods: The effect of an immuno-neutralising ECAD on gross morphology, cytosolic calcium signalling, direct cell-to-cell communication and insulin secretion was assessed by fura-2 microfluorimetry, Lucifer Yellow dye injection and insulin ELISA in an insulin-secreting model system. Results: Antibody blockade of ECAD reduces glucose-evoked changes in [Ca2+](i) and insulin secretion. Neutralisation of ECAD causes a breakdown in the glucose-stimulated synchronicity of calcium oscillations between discrete regions within the pseudoislet, and the transfer of dye from an individual cell within a cell cluster is attenuated in the absence of ECAD ligation, demonstrating that gap junction communication is disrupted. The functional consequence of neutralising ECAD is a significant reduction in insulin secretion. Conclusion: Cell adhesion via ECAD has distinct roles in the regulation of intercellular communication between beta-cells within islets, with potential repercussions for insulin secretion. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel