1,959 research outputs found
Statistical Laws and Mechanics of Voronoi Random Lattices
We investigate random lattices where the connectivities are determined by the
Voronoi construction, while the location of the points are the dynamic degrees
of freedom. The Voronoi random lattices with an associated energy are immersed
in a heat bath and investigated using a Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. In
thermodynamic equilibrium we measure coordination number distributions and test
the Aboav-Weaire and Lewis laws.Comment: 14 pages (figures not included), LaTeX, HLRZ-26/9
Quenched noise and over-active sites in sandpile dynamics
The dynamics of sandpile models are mapped to discrete interface equations.
We study in detail the Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld model, a stochastic model with
random thresholds, and the Manna model. These are, respectively,
discretizations of the quenched Edwards-Wilkinson equation with columnar,
point-like and correlated noise, with the constraint that the interface
velocity is either zero or exactly one. The constraint, embedded in the
sandpile rules, gives rise to another noise component. This term has for the
Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld model long-range on-site correlations and reveals that with
open boundary conditions there is no spatial translational invariance.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Routine functional assessment for hip fracture patients
Background and purpose — Pre-fracture functional level has been shown to be a consistent predictor of rehabilitation outcomes in older hip fracture patients. We validated 4 overall pre-fracture functional level assessment instruments in patients aged 65 or more, used the prediction of outcome at 4 months post-fracture, and assessed cutoff values for decision making in treatment and rehabilitation. Patients and methods — 165 consecutive patients with acute primary hip fracture were prospectively included in the study. Pre-fracture Barthel-20, Barthel-100, cumulated ambulation score, and new mobility score were scored immediately after admission. Outcome defined as mortality, residential status, and independent walking ability was assessed at 4 months. Results — 3 of the assessment instruments, namely Barthel-20, Barthel-100, and new mobility score, correlated with outcome at 4 months post-fracture and were valid predictors. Thresholds were estimated. We found no evidence that Barthel-100, with its finer granularity, performs better than Barthel-20 as a predictor. Interpretation — Our findings indicate that pre-fracture scores of Barthel-20 and new mobility score have predictive ability, and further investigation of usage for guidance of clinical and rehabilitation decisions concerning hip fracture patients is warranted
Universality in the pair contact process with diffusion
The pair contact process with diffusion is studied by means of multispin
Monte Carlo simulations and density matrix renormalization group calculations.
Effective critical exponents are found to behave nonmonotonically as functions
of time or of system length and extrapolate asymptotically towards values
consistent with the directed percolation universality class. We argue that an
intermediate regime exists where the effective critical dynamics resembles that
of a parity conserving process.Comment: 8 Pages, 9 figures, final version as publishe
Active Width at a Slanted Active Boundary in Directed Percolation
The width W of the active region around an active moving wall in a directed
percolation process diverges at the percolation threshold p_c as W \simeq A
\epsilon^{-\nu_\parallel} \ln(\epsilon_0/\epsilon), with \epsilon=p_c-p,
\epsilon_0 a constant, and \nu_\parallel=1.734 the critical exponent of the
characteristic time needed to reach the stationary state \xi_\parallel \sim
\epsilon^{-\nu_\parallel}. The logarithmic factor arises from screening of
statistically independent needle shaped sub clusters in the active region.
Numerical data confirm this scaling behaviour.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Citations and Convictions: One Community’s Coordinated Response to Intimate Partner Violence & Efforts toward Offender Accountability
In 1996, a coordinated community response (CCR) was formally established in a mid-sized Midwestern city to improve the criminal justice response to intimate partner violence (IPV). Data for this study included all IPV-related incidents to which the local police department responded since the establishment of the CCR for a fourteen year period. Effective CCRs provide for IPV offender accountability through citation and prosecution of IPV-related crimes. Concerns about demographic variables affecting citation and prosecution rates have been identified in the literature. Compared to national statistics, gender differences were consistent but higher citation and conviction rates were identified in this community. While differences related to race were found, they were small in size. Although lack of data available from the time prior to the implementation of the CCR model for comparison precludes a definitive conclusion about the effectiveness of the CCR, our findings suggest there is benefit to having one
A study of fragmentation processes using a discrete element method
We present a model of solids made from polygonal cells connected via beams.
We calculate the macroscopic elastic moduli from the beam and cell parameters.
This modellisation is particularly suited for the simulation of fragmentation
processes. We study the effects of an explosion inside a circular disk and the
impact of a projectile and obtain the fragment size distribution. We find that
if breaking only happens under tensile forces a layer on the free wall opposed
to impact is first ejected. In that case the distribution follows a power-law
with an exponent that in most cases is around two.Comment: 16 pages in LaTex format, 17 PostScript figures. Figures are
available upon request from the authors. Submitted to Int. J. of Mod. Phys.
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