1,804 research outputs found
Disorder-Induced Resistive Anomaly Near Ferromagnetic Phase Transitions
We show that the resistivity rho(T) of disordered ferromagnets near, and
above, the Curie temperature T_c generically exhibits a stronger anomaly than
the scaling-based Fisher-Langer prediction. Treating transport beyond the
Boltzmann description, we find that within mean-field theory, d\rho/dT exhibits
a |T-T_c|^{-1/2} singularity near T_c. Our results, being solely due to
impurities, are relevant to ferromagnets with low T_c, such as SrRuO3 or
diluted magnetic semiconductors, whose mobility near T_c is limited by
disorder.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; V2: with a few clarifications, as publishe
Investigation of chlorine radical chemistry in the Eyjafjallajkull volcanic plume using observed depletions in non-methane hydrocarbons
As part of the effort to understand volcanic plume composition and chemistry during the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajkull, the CARIBIC atmospheric observatory was deployed for three special science flights aboard a Lufthansa passenger aircraft. Measurements made during these flights included the collection of whole air samples, which were analyzed for non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). Hydrocarbon concentrations in plume samples were found to be reduced to levels below background, with relative depletions characteristic of reaction with chlorine radicals (Cl). Recent observations of halogen oxides in volcanic plumes provide evidence for halogen radical chemistry, but quantitative data for free halogen radical concentrations in volcanic plumes were absent. Here we present the first observation-based calculations of Cl radical concentrations in volcanic plumes, estimated from observed NMHC depletions. Inferred Cl concentrations were between 1.3 × 10 and 6.6 × 10 Cl cm. The relationship between NMHC variability and local lifetimes was used to investigate the ratio between OH and Cl within the plume, with [OH]/[Cl] estimated to be ∼37. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union
Calibration of the GLAST Burst Monitor detectors
The GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM) will augment the capabilities of GLAST for the
detection of cosmic gamma-ray bursts by extending the energy range (20 MeV to >
300 GeV) of the Large Area Telescope (LAT) towards lower energies by 2
BGO-detectors (150 keV to 30 MeV) and 12 NaI(Tl) detectors (10 keV to 1 MeV).
The physical detector response of the GBM instrument for GRBs is determined
with the help of Monte Carlo simulations, which are supported and verified by
on-ground calibration measurements, performed extensively with the individual
detectors at the MPE in 2005. All flight and spare detectors were irradiated
with calibrated radioactive sources in the laboratory (from 14 keV to 4.43
MeV). The energy/channel-relations, the dependences of energy resolution and
effective areas on the energy and the angular responses were measured. Due to
the low number of emission lines of radioactive sources below 100 keV,
calibration measurements in the energy range from 10 keV to 60 keV were
performed with the X-ray radiometry working group of the
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) at the BESSY synchrotron radiation
facility, Berlin.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure; to appear in the Proc. of the First Int. GLAST
Symp. (Stanford, Feb. 5-8, 2007), eds. S.Ritz, P.F.Michelson, and C.Meegan,
AIP Conf. Pro
Ancient colonization of marginal habitats. A comparative analysis of case studies from the Ancient World
The present contribution deals with the concepts of marginal habitats in selected regions of the ancient world, ranging from modern Spain to the Jordanian desert and from Turkey to the Ethiopian highlands. Central to this research is the hypothesis that the occupation of areas beyond the ‘normal’ settlement patterns corresponds to colonization processes which reflect specific social strategies and may have stimulated the development of new technological skills. A review of ‘marginality’ research in various disciplines indicates that there is no comprehensive definition of the concept, which can be approached from a multitude of perspectives and with manifold objectives. A survey of the eight case studies and two more in-depth discussions of the sites of Musawwarat (Sudan) and Ayamonte (Spain) highlight the potentials as well as the limits of the archaeological investigation into past marginalities. Patterns of spatial marginalization are the easiest to detect. The studies also show that we must not limit our analysis to the adverse factors connected to different kinds of marginalities. Instead, our analyses suggest that spatially marginal areas were deliberately chosen for settlement – an integration with core-periphery approaches may help us to understand these scenarios, which have received little attention in ‘marginality’ research in archaeology or elsewhere so far
Primary care management for optimized antithrombotic treatment [PICANT]: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial
Background: Antithrombotic treatment is a continuous therapy that is often performed in general practice and requires careful safety management. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a best practice model that applies major elements of case management, including patient education, can improve antithrombotic management in primary health care in terms of reducing major thromboembolic and bleeding events.
Methods: This 24-month cluster-randomized trial will be performed in 690 adult patients from 46 practices. The trial intervention will be a complex intervention involving general practitioners, health care assistants and patients with an indication for oral anticoagulation. To assess adherence to medication and symptoms in patients, as well as to detect complications early, health care assistants will be trained in case management and will use the Coagulation-Monitoring-List (Co-MoL) to regularly monitor patients. Patients will receive information (leaflets and a video), treatment monitoring via the Co-MoL and be motivated to perform self-management. Patients in the control group will continue to receive treatment-as-usual from their general practitioners. The primary endpoint is the combined endpoint of all thromboembolic events requiring hospitalization, and all major bleeding complications. Secondary endpoints are mortality, hospitalization, strokes, major bleeding and thromboembolic complications, severe treatment interactions, the number of adverse events, quality of anticoagulation, health-related quality of life and costs. Further secondary objectives will be investigated to explain the mechanism by which the intervention is effective: patients' assessment of chronic illness care, self-reported adherence to medication, general practitioners' and health care assistants' knowledge, patients' knowledge and satisfaction with shared decision making. Practice recruitment is expected to take place between July and December 2012. Recruitment of eligible patients will start in July 2012. Assessment will occur at three time points: baseline (T0), follow-up after 12 (T1) and after 24 months (T2).
Discussion: The efficacy and effectiveness of individual elements of the intervention, such as antithrombotic interventions, self-management concepts in orally anticoagulated patients and the methodological tool, case-management, have already been extensively demonstrated. This project foresees the combination of several proven instruments, as a result of which we expect to profit from a reduction in the major complications associated with antithrombotic treatment
On Locality in Quantum General Relativity and Quantum Gravity
The physical concept of locality is first analyzed in the special
relativistic quantum regime, and compared with that of microcausality and the
local commutativity of quantum fields. Its extrapolation to quantum general
relativity on quantum bundles over curved spacetime is then described. It is
shown that the resulting formulation of quantum-geometric locality based on the
concept of local quantum frame incorporating a fundamental length embodies the
key geometric and topological aspects of this concept. Taken in conjunction
with the strong equivalence principle and the path-integral formulation of
quantum propagation, quantum-geometric locality leads in a natural manner to
the formulation of quantum-geometric propagation in curved spacetime. Its
extrapolation to geometric quantum gravity formulated over quantum spacetime is
described and analyzed.Comment: Mac-Word file translated to postscript for submission. The author may
be reached at: [email protected] To appear in Found. Phys. vol. 27,
199
An overview of the taxonomy, phylogeny, and typification of nectriaceous fungi in Cosmospora, Acremonium, Fusarium, Stilbella, and Volutella
A comprehensive phylogenetic reassessment of the ascomycete genus
Cosmospora (Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) is undertaken using
fresh isolates and historical strains, sequences of two protein encoding
genes, the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), and a
new phylogenetic marker, the larger subunit of ATP citrate lyase
(acl1). The result is an extensive revision of taxonomic concepts,
typification, and nomenclatural details of many anamorph- and
teleomorph-typified genera of the Nectriaceae, most notably
Cosmospora and Fusarium. The combined phylogenetic analysis
shows that the present concept of Fusarium is not monophyletic and
that the genus divides into two large groups, one basal in the family, the
other terminal, separated by a large group of species classified in genera
such as Calonectria, Neonectria, and Volutella. All accepted
genera received high statistical support in the phylogenetic analyses.
Preliminary polythetic morphological descriptions are presented for each
genus, providing details of perithecia, micro- and/or macro-conidial
synanamorphs, cultural characters, and ecological traits. Eight species are
included in our restricted concept of Cosmospora, two of which have
previously documented teleomorphs and all of which have
Acremonium-like microconidial anamorphs. A key is provided to the
three anamorphic species recognised in Atractium, which is removed
from synonymy with Fusarium and epitypified for two macroconidial
synnematous species and one sporodochial species associated with waterlogged
wood. Dialonectria is recognised as distinct from Cosmospora
and two species with teleomorph, macroconidia and microconidia are accepted,
including the new species D. ullevolea. Seven species, one with a
known teleomorph, are classified in Fusicolla, formerly considered a
synonym of Fusarium including members of the F. aquaeductuum
and F. merismoides species complex, with several former varieties
raised to species rank. Originally a section of Nectria,
Macroconia is raised to generic rank for five species, all producing
a teleomorph and macroconidial anamorph. A new species of the
Verticillium-like anamorphic genus Mariannaea is described
as M. samuelsii. Microcera is recognised as distinct from
Fusarium and a key is included for four macroconidial species, that
are usually parasites of scale insects, two of them with teleomorphs. The four
accepted species of Stylonectria each produce a teleomorph and micro-
and macroconidial synanamorphs. The Volutella species sampled fall
into three clades. Pseudonectria is accepted for a perithecial and
sporodochial species that occurs on Buxus. Volutella s. str.
also includes perithecial and/or sporodochial species and is revised to
include a synnematous species formerly included in Stilbella. The
third Volutella-like clade remains unnamed. All fungi in this paper
are named using a single name system that gives priority to the oldest generic
names and species epithets, irrespective of whether they are originally based
on anamorph or teleomorph structures. The rationale behind this is
discussed
“A very orderly retreat”: Democratic transition in East Germany, 1989-90
East Germany's 1989-90 democratisation is among the best known of East European transitions, but does not lend itself to comparative analysis, due to the singular way in which political reform and democratic consolidation were subsumed by Germany's unification process. Yet aspects of East Germany's democratisation have proved amenable to comparative approaches. This article reviews the comparative literature that refers to East Germany, and finds a schism between those who designate East Germany's transition “regime collapse” and others who contend that it exemplifies “transition through extrication”. It inquires into the merits of each position and finds in favour of the latter. Drawing on primary and secondary literature, as well as archival and interview sources, it portrays a communist elite that was, to a large extent, prepared to adapt to changing circumstances and capable of learning from “reference states” such as Poland. Although East Germany was the Soviet state in which the positions of existing elites were most threatened by democratic transition, here too a surprising number succeeded in maintaining their position while filing across the bridge to market society. A concluding section outlines the alchemy through which their bureaucratic power was transmuted into property and influence in the “new Germany”
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