11,516 research outputs found
Role of the Brans-Dicke scalar in the holographic description of dark energy
We study cosmological application of the holographic energy density in the
Brans-Dicke theory. Considering the holographic energy density as a dynamical
cosmological constant, it is more natural to study it in the Brans-Dicke theory
than in general relativity. Solving the Friedmann and Brans-Dicke field
equations numerically, we clarify the role of Brans-Dicke field during
evolution of the universe. When the Hubble horizon is taken as the IR cutoff,
the equation of state (w_{\Lmd}) for the holographic energy density is
determined to be 5/3 when the Brans-Dicke parameter \omg goes infinity. This
means that the Brans-Dicke field plays a crucial role in determining the
equation of state. For the particle horizon IR cutoff, the Brans-Dicke scalar
mediates a transition from w_{\Lmd} = -1/3 (past) to w_{\Lmd} = 1/3
(future). If a dust matter is present, it determines future equation of state.
In the case of future event horizon cutoff, the role of the Brans-Dicke scalar
and dust matter are turned out to be trivial, whereas the holographic energy
density plays an important role as a dark energy candidate with w_{\Lmd} =-1.Comment: 10pages, 3figures, version to appear in PL
First-order magnetic and structural phase transitions in FeSeTe
We use bulk magnetic susceptibility, electronic specific heat, and neutron
scattering to study structural and magnetic phase transitions in FeSe%
Te. FeTe exhibits a first order phase transition near 67
K with a tetragonal to monoclinic structural transition and simultaneously
develops a collinear antiferromagnetic (AF) order responsible for the entropy
change across the transition. Systematic studies of FeSeTe system
reveal that the AF structure and lattice distortion in these materials are
different from those of FeAs-based pnictides. These results call into question
the conclusions of present density functional calculations, where
FeSeTe and FeAs-based pnictides are expected to have similar Fermi
surfaces and therefore the same spin-density-wave AF order.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
The relationship between web enjoyment and student perceptions and learning using a web-based tutorial
Web enjoyment has been regarded as a component of system experience. However, there has been little targeted research considering the role of web enjoyment alone in student learning using web-based systems. To address this gap, this study aims to examine the influence of web enjoyment on learning performance and perceptions by controlling system experience as a variable in the study. 74 students participated in the study, using a web-based tutorial covering subject matter in the area of 'Computation and algorithms'. Their learning performance was assessed with a pre-test and a post-test and their learning perceptions were evaluated with a questionnaire. The results indicated that there are positive relationships between the levels of web enjoyment and perceived usefulness and non-linear navigation for users with similar, significant levels of system experience. The implications of these findings in relation to web-based learning are explored and ways in which the needs of students who report different levels of web enjoyment might be met are discussed
Quantum Black Holes from Cosmic Rays
We investigate the possibility for cosmic ray experiments to discover
non-thermal small black holes with masses in the TeV range. Such black holes
would result due to the impact between ultra high energy cosmic rays or
neutrinos with nuclei from the upper atmosphere and decay instantaneously. They
could be produced copiously if the Planck scale is in the few TeV region. As
their masses are close to the Planck scale, these holes would typically decay
into two particles emitted back-to-back. Depending on the angles between the
emitted particles with respect to the center of mass direction of motion, it is
possible for the simultaneous showers to be measured by the detectors.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Aqua(dicyanamido-κN 1)(nitrato-κ2 O,O′)(2,3,5,6-tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine-κ3 N 2,N 1,N 6)manganese(II)
In the title compound, [Mn(C2N3)(NO3)(C24H16N6)(H2O)], the central manganese(II) ion is heptacoordinated to a tridentate 2,3,5,6-tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine ligand (tppz), a bidentate nitrate ligand, a terminal monodentate dicyanamide ligand (dca) and a water molecule. The structure contains isolated neutral complexes, which are linked by O(water)—H⋯N hydrogen bonds generating chains along [010]
Modelling the electronic structure and magnetic properties of LiFeAs and FeSe using hybrid-exchange density functional theory
The electronic structure and magnetic properties of LiFeAs and FeSe have been
studied using hybrid exchange density functional theory. The total energies for
a unit cell in LiFeAs and FeSe with different spin states including
non-magnetic and spin-2 are calculated. The spin-2 configuration has the lower
energy for both LiFeAs and FeSe. The computed anti-ferromagnetic exchange
interactions between spins on the nearest (next nearest) neighbouring Fe atoms
in LiFeAs and FeSe are approximately 14 (17) meV and 6 (13) meV respectively.
The total energies of the checkerboard and stripe-type anti-ferromagnetic
ordering for LiFeAs and FeSe are compared, yielding that for LiFeAs the
checkerboard is lower whereas for FeSe the stripe-type is lower. However, owing
to the fact that the exchange interaction of the next nearest neighbour is
larger than that of the nearest one, which means that the collinear ordering
might be the ground state. These results are in agreement with previous
theoretical calculations and experiments. Especially the calculations for
LiFeAs indicate a co-existence of conducting d-bands at the Fermi surface and
d-orbital magnetism far below the Fermi surface. The theoretical results
presented here might be useful for the experimentalists working on the
electronic structure and magnetism of iron-based superconductors.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted by Solid State Communication
Electronic Structure, Magnetism and Superconductivity of Layered Iron Compounds
The layered iron superconductors are discussed using electronic structure
calculations. The four families of compounds discovered so far, including
Fe(Se,Te) have closely related electronic structures. The Fermi surface
consists of disconnected hole and electron cylinders and additional hole
sections that depend on the specific material. This places the materials in
proximity to itinerant magnetism, both due to the high density of states and
due to nesting. Comparison of density functional results and experiment
provides strong evidence for itinerant spin fluctuations, which are discussed
in relation to superconductivity. It is proposed that the intermediate phase
between the structural transition and the SDW transition in the oxy-pnictides
is a nematic phase.Comment: Proceedings ISS200
Field-Induced Magnetostructural Transitions in Antiferromagnetic Fe1+yTe1-xSx
The transport and structural properties of Fe1+yTe1-xSx (x=0, 0.05, and 0.10)
crystals were studied in pulsed magnetic fields up to 65 T. The application of
high magnetic fields results in positive magnetoresistance effect with
prominent hystereses in the antiferromagnetic state. Polarizing microscope
images obtained at high magnetic fields showed simultaneous occurrence of
structural transitions. These results indicate that magnetoelastic coupling is
the origin of the bicollinear magnetic order in iron chalcogenides.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of the
Physical Society of Japa
Single Gene Deletions of Orexin, Leptin, Neuropeptide Y, and Ghrelin Do Not Appreciably Alter Food Anticipatory Activity in Mice
Timing activity to match resource availability is a widely conserved ability in nature. Scheduled feeding of a limited amount of food induces increased activity prior to feeding time in animals as diverse as fish and rodents. Typically, food anticipatory activity (FAA) involves temporally restricting unlimited food access (RF) to several
hours in the middle of the light cycle, which is a time of day when rodents are not normally active. We compared this model to calorie restriction (CR), giving the mice 60% of their normal daily calorie intake at the same time each day. Measurement of body temperature and home cage behaviors suggests that the RF and CR models are very similar but CR has the advantage of a clearly defined food intake and more stable mean body temperature. Using the CR model, we then attempted to verify the published result that orexin deletion diminishes food anticipatory activity (FAA) but observed little to no diminution in the response to CR and, surprisingly, that orexin KO mice are refractory to body weight loss on a CR diet. Next we tested the orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and ghrelin and the anorexigenic hormone, leptin, using mouse mutants. NPY deletion did not alter the behavior or physiological response to CR. Leptin deletion impaired FAA in terms of some activity measures, such as walking and rearing, but did not substantially diminish hanging behavior preceding feeding time, suggesting that leptin knockout mice do anticipate daily meal time but do not manifest the full spectrum of activities that typify FAA. Ghrelin knockout mice do not have impaired FAA on a CR diet. Collectively, these results suggest that the individual hormones and neuropepetides tested do not regulate FAA by acting individually but this does not rule out the possibility of their concerted action in mediating FAA
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