954 research outputs found
Strain-Rate Frequency Superposition in Large-Amplitude Oscillatory Shear
In a recent work, Wyss, {\it et.al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett., {\bf 98}, 238303
(2007)] have noted a property of `soft solids' under oscillatory shear, the
so-called strain-rate frequency superposition (SRFS). We extend this study to
the case of soft solids under large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). We show
results from LAOS studies in a monodisperse hydrogel suspension, an aqueous
gel, and a biopolymer suspension, and show that constant strain-rate frequency
sweep measurements with soft solids can be superimposed onto master curves for
higher harmonic moduli, with the {\it same} shift factors as for the linear
viscoelastic moduli. We show that the behavior of higher harmonic moduli at low
frequencies in constant strain-rate frequency sweep measurements is similar to
that at large strain amplitudes in strain-amplitude sweep tests. We show
surface plots of the harmonic moduli and the energy dissipation rate per unit
volume in LAOS for soft solids, and show experimentally that the energy
dissipated per unit volume depends on the first harmonic loss modulus alone, in
both the linear and the nonlinear viscoelastic regime.Comment: 10 pages, 25 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review E.
Incorporates referee comment
Rationality as the Rule of Reason
The demands of rationality are linked both to our subjective normative perspective (given that rationality is a person-level concept) and to objective reasons or favoring relations (given that rationality is non-contingently authoritative for us). In this paper, I propose a new way of reconciling the tension between these two aspects: roughly, what rationality requires of us is having the attitudes that correspond to our take on reasons in the light of our evidence, but only if it is competent. I show how this view can account for structural rationality on the assumption that intentions and beliefs as such involve competent perceptions of downstream reasons, and explore various implications of the account
Enhanced Tunnelling in a Hybrid of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene
Transparent and conductive films (TCFs) are of great technological
importance. The high transmittance, electrical conductivity and mechanical
strength make single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) a good candidate for
their raw material. Despite the ballistic transport in individual SWCNTs,
however, the electrical conductivity of their networks is limited by low
efficiency of charge tunneling between the tube elements. Here, we demonstrate
that the nanotube network sheet resistance at high optical transmittance is
decreased by more than 50% when fabricated on graphene and thus provides a
comparable improvement as widely adopted gold chloride ()
doping. However, while Raman spectroscopy reveals substantial changes in
spectral features of doped nanotubes, no similar effect is observed in presence
of graphene. Instead, temperature dependent transport measurements indicate
that graphene substrate reduces the tunneling barrier heights while its
parallel conductivity contribution is almost negligible. Finally, we show that
combining the graphene substrate and doping, the SWCNT thin
films can exhibit sheet resistance as low as 36 /sq. at 90%
transmittance.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure
Coulomb blockade in one-dimensional arrays of high conductance tunnel junctions
Properties of one-dimensional (1D) arrays of low Ohmic tunnel junctions (i.e.
junctions with resistances comparable to, or less than, the quantum resistance
k) have been studied experimentally
and theoretically. Our experimental data demonstrate that -- in agreement with
previous results on single- and double-junction systems -- Coulomb blockade
effects survive even in the strong tunneling regime and are still clearly
visible for junction resistances as low as 1 k. We have developed a
quasiclassical theory of electron transport in junction arrays in the strong
tunneling regime. Good agreement between the predictions of this theory and the
experimental data has been observed. We also show that, due to both heating
effects and a relatively large correction to the linear relation between the
half-width of the conductance dip around zero bias voltage, , and the
measured electronic temperature, such arrays are inferior to those
conventionally used in the Coulomb Blockade Thermometry (CBT). Still, the
desired correction to the half-width, , can be determined
rather easily and it is proportional to the magnitude of the conductance dip
around zero bias voltage, . The constant of proportionality is a
function of the ratio of the junction and quantum resistances, ,
and it is a pure strong tunneling effect.Comment: LaTeX file + five postscript figure
Совершенствование региональных целевых программ – инструмента управления социально-экономическим развитием Одесского региона и его конкурентоспособностью
Розглянуто регіональні цільові програми розвитку Одеського регіону; виявлено недоліки діючого підходу до розробки й оцінки програм на регіональному рівні; подано рекомендації щодо загальних підходів до програмного управління, експертизи проектів; запропоновано експертний метод оцінки ефективності цільових програм із точки зору управління процесом розробки та реалізацією програм, своєчасного прийняття рішень.
Ключові слова: регіональні цільові програми, соціально-економічний розвиток, регіон,
управління, конкурентоспроможність.Рассмотрены региональные целевые программы развития Одесского региона; выявлены недостатки действующего подхода к разработке и оценке программ на региональном уровне; даны рекомендации по общим подходам к программному управлению, экспертизе проектов; предложен экспертный метод оценки эффективности целевых программ с точки зрения управления процессом разработки и ходом реализации программ, своевременного принятия решений.
Ключевые слова: региональные целевые программы, социально-экономическое развитие, регион, управление, конкурентоспособность.The paper considers the regional target programs of Odessa region development. Shortcomings of the present approach to the development and evaluation of programs at the regional level are shown, recommendations on common approaches to program management and project appraisal are given; expert method for evaluating target programs is proposed from the view of managing the process of development and implementation of programs, timely decisions.
Keywords: regional target programs, socio-economic development, region, management, competitiveness
Accelerated long-term forgetting in healthy older adults predicts cognitive decline over one year
Quantum Conductance of the Single Electron Transistor
The quantum conductance of the single-electron tunneling (SET) transistor is
investigated in this paper by the functional integral approach. The formalism
is valid for arbitrary tunnel resistance of the junctions forming the SET
transistor at any temperature. The path integrals are evaluated by the
semiclassical method to yield an explicit non-perturbation form of the quantum
conductance of the SET transistor. An anomaly of the quantum conductance is
found if the tunnel resistances are much smaller than the quantum resistance.
The dependence of the conductance on the gate voltage is also discussed.Comment: 4 pages including some mathe details of cond-mat/990806
Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pegvisomant for the treatment of acromegaly: a systematic review and economic evaluation
Background: Acromegaly, an orphan disease usually caused by a benign pituitary tumour, is characterised by hyper-secretion of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1). It is associated with reduced life expectancy, cardiovascular problems, a variety of insidiously progressing detrimental symptoms and metabolic malfunction. Treatments include surgery, radiotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Pegvisomant (PEG) is a genetically engineered GH analogue licensed as a third or fourth line option when other treatments have failed to normalise IGF-1 levels.
Methods: Evidence about effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of PEG was systematically reviewed. Data were extracted from published studies and used for a narrative synthesis of evidence. A decision analytical economic model was identified and modified to assess the cost-effectiveness of PEG.
Results: One RCT and 17 non-randomised studies were reviewed for effectiveness. PEG substantially reduced and rapidly normalised IGF-1 levels in the majority of patients, approximately doubled GH levels, and improved some of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Tumour size was unaffected at least in the short term. PEG had a generally safe adverse event profile but a few patients were withdrawn from treatment because of raised liver enzymes. An economic model was identified and adapted to estimate the lower limit for the cost-effectiveness of PEG treatment versus standard care. Over a 20 year time horizon the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was pound81,000/QALY and pound212,000/LYG. To reduce this to pound30K/QALY would require a reduction in drug cost by about one third.
Conclusion: PEG is highly effective for improving patients' IGF-1 level. Signs and symptoms of disease improve but evidence is lacking about long term effects on improved signs and symptoms of disease, quality of life, patient compliance and safety. Economic evaluation indicated that if current standards (UK) for determining cost-effectiveness of therapies were to be applied to PEG it would be considered not to represent good value for money
Increase in outbreaks of gastroenteritis linked to bathing water in Finland in summer 2014
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