Anisotropic spatially heterogeneous dynamics in a model glass-forming binary mixture

We calculated a four-point correlation function G_4(k,r;t) and the corresponding structure factor S_4(k,q;t) for a model glass-forming binary mixture. These functions measure the spatial correlations of the relaxation of different particles. We found that these four-point functions are anisotropic and depend on the angle between vectors k and r (or q). The anisotropy is the strongest for times somewhat longer than the beta relaxation time but it is quite pronounced even for times comparable to the alpha relaxation time, tau_alpha. At the lowest temperatures S_4(k,q;tau_alpha) is strongly anisotropic even for the smallest wavevector q accessible in our simulation

Comprehensive genome analysis of 203 genomes provides structural genomics with new insights into protein family space

We present an analysis of 203 completed genomes in the Gene3D resource (including 17 eukaryotes), which demonstrates that the number of protein families is continually expanding over time and that singleton-sequences appear to be an intrinsic part of the genomes. A significant proportion of the proteomes can be assigned to fewer than 6000 well-characterized domain families with the remaining domain-like regions belonging to a much larger number of small uncharacterized families that are largely species specific. Our comprehensive domain annotation of 203 genomes enables us to provide more accurate estimates of the number of multi-domain proteins found in the three kingdoms of life than previous calculations. We find that 67% of eukaryotic sequences are multi-domain compared with 56% of sequences in prokaryotes. By measuring the domain coverage of genome sequences, we show that the structural genomics initiatives should aim to provide structures for less than a thousand structurally uncharacterized Pfam families to achieve reasonable structural annotation of the genomes. However, in large families, additional structures should be determined as these would reveal more about the evolution of the family and enable a greater understanding of how function evolves

Lattice-gas Monte Carlo study of adsorption in pores

A lattice gas model of adsorption inside cylindrical pores is evaluated with Monte Carlo simulations. The model incorporates two kinds of site: (a line of) ``axial'' sites and surrounding ``cylindrical shell'' sites, in ratio 1:7. The adsorption isotherms are calculated in either the grand canonical or canonical ensembles. At low temperature, there occur quasi-transitions that would be genuine thermodynamic transitions in mean-field theory. Comparison between the exact and mean-field theory results for the heat capacity and adsorption isotherms are provided

Market Dependency as Boundary for Solidarity

Der Beitrag untersucht Grenzlinien der Solidarität. Er betrachtet, wie in Krisensituationen Unterstützungsbedarfe für jene soziale Gruppen verhandelt werden, die in etablierten Solidaritätsdiskursen in eine Deutungslücke fallen. Untersuchungsgegenstand bildet die öffentliche Verhandlung von Solidarität mit Soloselbstständigen zu Beginn der Coronapandemie. Gestützt auf Auswertungen von 21 qualitativen Interviews und ein Textkorpus mit 2428 Zeitungsartikeln zeichnen wir den Diskurs um Soforthilfe nach. Mittels einer Kombination aus strukturierender Inhaltsanalyse und Textmining zeigen wir auf, dass die Deutungsfigur der Marktabhängigkeit von Soloselbstständigen in dieser Krisenzeit dazu dient, die Hilfsbedürftigkeit der Gruppe zu identifizieren (soziale Grenzziehung), aber auch die Ausgestaltung der Hilfe kontrovers zu diskutieren (substanzielle Grenzziehung). Wir zeigen, wie sich Solidaritätsnormen im Diskursverlauf konfigurieren und dabei Marktabhängigkeit als relevante Grenze für Solidarität freigeben, diese aber nur zeitlich begrenzt wirksam bleibt.This article asks how boundaries of solidarity are constructed. From a sociological perspective, solo self-employed workers, who are both employees and entrepreneurs, fall into a collective interpretation gap in the discourse on solidarity. However, this changes at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing on the analyses of 21 qualitative interviews and a text corpus of 2428 newspaper articles, we trace the public discourse on “Soforthilfe.” Using a combination of structuring content analysis and text mining, we show that the market dependency of the solo self-employed serves to identify the group’s need for financial support (social boundary), but also to controversially discuss the design of this support (substantive boundary). We show how norms of solidarity are configured throughout the discourse, releasing market dependence as a relevant boundary for solidarity – at least temporarily

Towards the observation of phase locked Bloch oscillations in arrays of small Josephson junctions

We have designed an experiment and performed extensive simulations and preliminary measurements to identify a set of realistic circuit parameters that should allow the observation of constant-current steps at I=2ef in short arrays of small Josephson junctions under external AC drive of frequency f. Observation of these steps demonstrating phase lock of the Bloch oscillations with the external drive requires a high-impedance environment for the array, which is provided by on-chip resistors close to the junctions. We show that the width and shape of the steps crucially depend on the shape of the drive and the electron temperature in the resistors

Single-charge escape processes through a hybrid turnstile in a dissipative environment

We have investigated the static, charge-trapping properties of a hybrid superconductor---normal metal electron turnstile embedded into a high-ohmic environment. The device includes a local Cr resistor on one side of the turnstile, and a superconducting trapping island on the other side. The electron hold times, t ~ 2-20s, in our two-junction circuit are comparable with those of typical multi-junction, N >= 4, normal-metal single-electron tunneling devices. A semi-phenomenological model of the environmental activation of tunneling is applied for the analysis of the switching statistics. The experimental results are promising for electrical metrology.Comment: Submitted to New Journal of Physics 201

Multiparty specification

This paper examines a formal model of how specifications can be constructed from multiple viewpoints and presents some tools to support this approach. The development of specifications is presented as a dialogue in which the viewpoints negotiate. establish responsibilities and cooperatively construct a specification. The model is illustrated by means of some small examples

Insights into the oral health beliefs and practices of mothers from a north London Orthodox Jewish community

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of this study was to explore oral health knowledge and beliefs and access to dental care in a culturally distinct Orthodox Jewish community in North London, with a view to informing local health policy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A dual method qualitative approach to data collection was adopted in this study utilising semi-structured face to face interviews and focus groups with women from this North London orthodox Jewish community. In total nine interviews and four focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of thirty three mothers from the community aged 21-58 years. The data were transcribed and analysed using Framework Methodology</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cultural influences, competing pressures and perceptions of hereditary influences, together with a lack of contemporary oral health knowledge are the main factors affecting oral health knowledge and beliefs. This supported an overall perspective of disempowerment or a perceived lack of control over oral health behaviours, both for mothers and their children. Community signposting pointed mothers to dental services, whilst family pressures together with inadequate capacity and capability and generic barriers such as fear and cost acted as barriers. Mothers from this community welcomed community development initiatives from the NHS.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of this study provide insight into the challenges of a culturally isolated community who would welcome community support through schools and expanded culturally appropriate opening hours to improve access to dental care.</p