1,255 research outputs found
Theoretical Study of Spin-dependent Electron Transport in Atomic Fe Nanocontacts
We present theoretical predictions of spintronic transport phenomena that
should be observable in ferromagnetic Fe nanocontacts bridged by chains of Fe
atoms. We develop appropriate model Hamiltonians based on semi-empirical
considerations and the known electronic structure of bulk Fe derived from ab
initio density functional calculations. Our model is shown to provide a
satisfactory description of the surface properties of Fe nano-clusters as well
as bulk properties. Lippmann-Schwinger and Green's function techniques are used
together with Landauer theory to predict the current, magneto-resistance, and
spin polarization of the current in Fe nanocontacts bridged by atomic chains
under applied bias. Unusual device characteristics are predicted including
negative magneto-resistance and spin polarization of the current, as well as
spin polarization of the current for anti-parallel magnetization of the Fe
nanocontacts under moderate applied bias. We explore the effects that
stretching the atomic chain has on the magneto-resistance and spin polarization
and predict a cross-over regime in which the spin polarization of the current
for parallel magnetization of the contacts switches from negative to positive.
We find resonant transmission due to dangling bond formation on tip atoms as
the chain is stretched through its breaking point to play an important role in
spin-dependent transport in this regime. The physical mechanisms underlying the
predicted phenomena are discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review
Chandra Observation of the Cluster Environment of a WAT Radio Source in Abell 1446
Wide-angle tail (WAT) radio sources are often found in the centers of galaxy
clusters where intracluster medium (ICM) ram pressure may bend the lobes into
their characteristic C-shape. We examine the low redshift (z=0.1035) cluster
Abell 1446, host to the WAT radio source 1159+583. The cluster exhibits
possible evidence for a small-scale cluster-subcluster merger as a cause of the
WAT radio source morphology. This evidence includes the presence of temperature
and pressure substructure along the line that bisects the WAT as well as a
possible wake of stripped interstellar material or a disrupted cool core to the
southeast of the host galaxy. A filament to the north may represent cool,
infalling gas that's contributing to the WAT bending while spectroscopically
determined redshifts of member galaxies may indicate some component of a merger
occurring along the line-of-sight. The WAT model of high flow velocity and low
lobe density is examined as another scenario for the bending of 1159+583. It
has been argued that such a model would allow the ram pressure due to the
galaxy's slow motion through the ICM to shape the WAT source. A temperature
profile shows that the cluster is isothermal (kT= 4.0 keV) in a series of
annuli reaching a radius of 400 kpc. There is no evidence of an ongoing cooling
flow. Temperature, abundance, pressure, density, and mass profiles, as well as
two-dimensional maps of temperature and pressure are presented.Comment: 40 AASTeX pages including 15 postscript figures; accepted for
publication in Ap
Time-Dependence of the Mass Accretion Rate in Cluster Cooling Flows
We analyze two time-dependent cluster cooling flow models in spherical
symmetry. The first assumes that the intracluster gas resides in a static
external potential, and includes the effects of optically thin radiative
cooling and mass deposition. This corresponds to previous steady-state cooling
flow models calculated by White & Sarazin (1987). Detailed agreement is found
between steady-state models and time-dependent models at fixed times in the
simulations. The mass accretion rate is found either to increase or remain
nearly constant once flows reach a steady state. The time rate of change of the
accretion rate is strongly sensitive to the value of the mass deposition
parameter q, but only mildly sensitive to the ratio beta of gravitational
binding energy to gas temperature. We show that previous scaling arguments
presented by Bertschinger (1988) and White (1988) are valid only for mature
cooling flows with weak mass deposition (q ~< 1). The second set of models
includes the effects of a secularly deepening cluster potential and secondary
infall of gas from the Hubble flow. We find that such heating effects do not
prevent the flows from reaching a steady state within an initial central
cooling time.Comment: 22 pages (AASTeX) with 16 EPS figures; accepted for publication in
The Astrophysical Journa
Microbial diversity and iron oxidation at Okuoku-hachikurou Onsen, a Japanese hot spring analog of Precambrian iron formations
Banded iron formations (BIFs) are rock deposits common in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic (and regionally Neoproterozoic) sedimentary successions. Multiple hypotheses for their deposition exist, principally invoking the precipitation of iron via the metabolic activities of oxygenic, photoferrotrophic, and/or aerobic iron-oxidizing bacteria. Some isolated environments support chemistry and mineralogy analogous to processes involved in BIF deposition, and their study can aid in untangling the factors that lead to iron precipitation. One such process analog system occurs at Okuoku-hachikurou (OHK) Onsen in Akita Prefecture, Japan. OHK is an iron- and CO_2-rich, circumneutral hot spring that produces a range of precipitated mineral textures containing fine laminae of aragonite and iron oxides that resemble BIF fabrics. Here, we have performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of microbial communities across the range of microenvironments in OHK to describe the microbial diversity present and to gain insight into the cycling of iron, oxygen, and carbon in this ecosystem. These analyses suggest that productivity at OHK is based on aerobic iron-oxidizing Gallionellaceae. In contrast to other BIF analog sites, Cyanobacteria, anoxygenic phototrophs, and iron-reducing micro-organisms are present at only low abundances. These observations support a hypothesis where low growth yields and the high stoichiometry of iron oxidized per carbon fixed by aerobic iron-oxidizing chemoautotrophs like Gallionellaceae result in accumulation of iron oxide phases without stoichiometric buildup of organic matter. This system supports little dissimilatory iron reduction, further setting OHK apart from other process analog sites where iron oxidation is primarily driven by phototrophic organisms. This positions OHK as a study area where the controls on primary productivity in iron-rich environments can be further elucidated. When compared with geological data, the metabolisms and mineralogy at OHK are most similar to specific BIF occurrences deposited after the Great Oxygenation Event, and generally discordant with those that accumulated before it
Is the biology of breast cancer changing? A study of hormone receptor status 1984-1986 and 1996-1997
Using archived tumours, those from 1984-1986 and 1996-1997 underwent immunohistochemistry for hormone receptors and grade analysis. A significant shift towards more ER-positive and low-grade disease was found; this appears to reflect screening practices, but could still influence survival
New Optical Insights into the Mass Discrepancy of Galaxy Clusters: The Cases of A1689 and A2218
We analyze the internal structures of clusters A1689 and A2218 by applying a
recent development of the method of wavelet analysis, which uses the complete
information obtained from optical data, i.e. galaxy positions and redshifts. We
find that both clusters show the presence of structures superimposed along the
line of sight with different mean redshifts and smaller velocity dispersions
than that of the system as a whole, suggesting that the clusters could be cases
of the on-going merging of clumps. In the case of A2218 we find an acceptable
agreement between our estimate of optical virial mass and X-ray and
gravitational lensing masses. On the contrary, in the case of A1689 we find
that our mass estimates are smaller than X-ray and gravitational lensing ones
at both small and large radii. In any case, at variance with earlier claims,
there is no evidence that X-ray mass estimates are underestimated.Comment: 8 pages, 2 eps figures, Use LaTeX2e, accepted by Astrophysical
Journal, in press November 1997, Vol.49
Discovery of a New Nearby Star
We report the discovery of a nearby star with a very large proper motion of
5.06 +/- 0.03 arcsec/yr. The star is called SO025300.5+165258 and referred to
herein as HPMS (high proper motion star). The discovery came as a result of a
search of the SkyMorph database, a sensitive and persistent survey that is well
suited for finding stars with high proper motions. There are currently only 7
known stars with proper motions > 5 arcsec/yr. We have determined a preliminary
value for the parallax of 0.43 +/- 0.13 arcsec. If this value holds our new
star ranks behind only the Alpha Centauri system (including Proxima Centauri)
and Barnard's star in the list of our nearest stellar neighbors. The spectrum
and measured tangential velocity indicate that HPMS is a main-sequence star
with spectral type M6.5. However, if our distance measurement is correct, the
HPMS is underluminous by 1.2 +/- 0.7 mag.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to ApJ Letter
The STRENCO Logic Model for tripartite working in mental health
The STRENCO Logic Model for Tripartite Working provides a snapshot of the feasibility of working in more co-produced ways to achieve greater inclusiveness of service users, family members, carers, experts by experience, clinicians, academics and students in relation to decision making processes, care, policy and research, which is aspired for mental health.
The development of the model was conceived in the context of EU policy emphasising the role of research, education and practice as co-creators in developing new approaches for working (knowledge triangle). In some countries co-production is written into national policy frameworks, whilst in others the integration of service users is limited to involvement in research projects, with the integration of service users and family members into mental health service development, delivery, evaluation and research a work in progress.
Whilst co-production forms part of discussions in regards to mental health services, few examples of how this can be done by involving all dimensions in the knowledge triangle currently exist. The STRENCO Logic Model for tripartite working (Figure 1) extends current evidence by providing pragmatic guidance on how to co-produce in mental health (Slay & Stephens, 2013; NDTi, 2016).
In making the proposal to create a Tripartite Model for working, the partners agreed and put forward a method where all stakeholders in the mental health conversation could be involved in the co-creation of knowledge and learning that might strengthen and improve competencies in mental health. An approach, drawing from the principles of participatory action research was adopted. This approach proposed the development of Communities of Practice (CoPs) comprising service users, family members, carers, experts by experience, clinicians, academics and students in each of the six partner institutions in the five countries. These CoPs fed into the central project as âthink tanksâ, both for the development of the Outputs on the project and for the running of the associated Intensive Programmes for students and teachers. Through our learning in these Communities of Practice, they have become the keystone of the STRENCO Logic Model and as a way of working
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