Transition-metal silicides lattice-matched to silicon

We have used a systematic search to determine all the possible transition-metal silicides that are geometrically lattice-matched to either the (100), (110), or the (111) face of silicon. A short table with the best possible matches is presented here, and a more comprehensive table including slightly worse matches is deposited with the editor

Precise B-Decay Measurements sensitive to Beyond Standard Model Physics at ATLAS

The LHC experiments will perform sensitive tests of physics phenomena beyond the Standard Model (BSM). Investigation of decays of beauty hadrons represents an alternative approach in addition to direct BSM searches. The ATLAS efforts concentrate on those $B$ decays that can be selected already at the first and second trigger levels. The most favorable trigger signature will be for $B$ hadrons decaying to $J/\psi \rightarrow \mu\mu$. Using this trigger ATLAS will be able to accommodate unprecedently high statistics in so called Golden LHC channel $B_{s} \rightarrow J/\psi\phi$ allowing a measurement of the CP violation effect, where BSM models predicted values are significantly higher than SM. In the rare decays sector, these are purely di-muon decays, and families of semi-muonic exclusive channels. Already with $1~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ the ATLAS sensitivity in the di-muon channels will be comparable to today worlds statistics. The strategy is to carry on the di-muon channel program up to nominal LHC luminosity. In particular the $B_{s} \mu\mu X$ signal with $4.3~\sigma$ significance can be measured combining low luminosity samples with those of one year of LHC operation at a luminosity of $10^{34}~\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\mathrm{s}^{-1}$. This precision allows excluding or confirming the SM unambiguously

Students' Interest in Reading English Texts

The purpose of this study was to examine students’ reading habits and the factors that influence their desire to read English texts. A total of thirty-four EFL students were chosen. A qualitative descriptive approach was used. A questionnaire and interviews were used to gather information. The study’s findings revealed that the students had a strong desire to read. Several factors influenced students’ interest, including their effort in reading, their motivation and assumptions about reading, all of which were categorized as at ‘high’ levels. The motivation of students had a significant impact on their desire to read. The desire to learn new things about interesting topics became the primary motivator for students to read. Given the importance of reading, it is critical to prepare an engaging reading text as well as engaging teaching methods to pique students’ interest in reading. Keywords: Students’ Interest, Factor, Reading English Text

Assessment of Occupational Competence in Dementia: Identifying Key Components of Cognitive Competence and Examining Validity of the Cognitive Competency Test

Considering the links between dementia and everyday living, occupational therapists are called upon to make recommendations regarding appropriate living arrangements for persons with dementia. Re-framed as occupational competence, this is often accomplished by an evaluation of cognitive competence. Within the context of an aging population, a key question is how to best inform decisions regarding occupational competence, using cognitive competence as an indicator. The Cognitive Competency Test (CCT) is a tool used to evaluate cognitive competence and inform judgments about occupational competence in individuals with dementia. This thesis incorporates two studies that identified cognitive components that predict occupational competence in individuals with dementia, and examined the construct validity of the CCT, using a framework developed by Samuel Messick. A Delphi study, conducted amongst Canadian occupational therapists with experience in dementia care, generated a consensus regarding the components of cognitive competence essential to predict occupational competence in persons with dementia. A second study employed a retrospective chart review and examined the dimensional structure of the CCT and its relationship with other clinical measures typically used in dementia care. Occupational therapists identified ten cognitive components essential to predict occupational competence in individuals with dementia. The structure of the CCT is a unitary factor that demonstrates correlations to some clinical measures commonly used in dementia care. These findings give some support to the validity of the CCT and have implications for development of new measures and education regarding cognitive competence, pointing to the need to address other factors identified in the Delphi

Internet:Historie und Technik

Das Internet - oft als "Netz der Netze" bezeichnet - hat in den letzten Jahren ein rasantes Wachstum hinter sich. Häufig wird der Begriff Internet mit dem Internet-Dienst World Wide Web gleichgesetzt, ohne hier die notwendige Differenzierung vorzunehmen, denn das Internet ist weit mehr als nur ein Medium zur Verwaltung von World-Wide-Web-Seiten. Dienste wie FTP, E-Mail und NetNews verzeichnen auch drei Jahrzehnte nach den ersten Internet- Versuchen stetig zunehmende Benutzerzahlen. Um die Diskussion um das Internet konzeptionell zu untermauern, wird in diesem Artikel die historische Entwicklung, die zur Bildung des Internet in seiner heutigen Form führte, beschrieben sowie der technische Hintergrund und die Organisation des weltweiten Datennetzes näher erläutert. Daran anschließend werden einige Entwicklungen erläutert, welche die zukünftige Entwicklung des Internet beeinflussen werden.<br/

Dark Matter and Pseudo-flat Directions in Weakly Coupled SUSY Breaking Sectors

We consider candidates for dark matter in models of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, in which the supersymmetry breaking sector is weakly coupled and calculable. Such models typically contain classically flat directions, that receive one-loop masses of a few TeV. These pseudo-flat directions provide a new mechanism to account for the cold dark matter relic abundance. We discuss also the possibility of heavy gravitino dark matter in such models.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures. v2: comments, refs adde

Quarkonia and open Beauty production in ATLAS

When the LHC starts up in the second half of 2008 and beginning of 2009, ATLAS will have unique opportunities to study beauty production from central $pp$ collisions at 14 TeV making use of first data. In the initial phase of the LHC operation at lower luminosity several Standard Model physics analyses have to be performed to contribute to the commissioning and validation of the ATLAS detector and trigger system. One of the crucial initial measurements is that of the inclusive bbar production cross section, quarkonium spectroscopy and polarization. Furthermore, the B+ -> J/psi K+ channel will be an important reference channel for the search for di-muons from rare $B$ decays and a control channel for the CP violation measurement used to estimate systematic uncertainties and tagging efficiencies. Due to the huge bbar cross section and the expected high rates of the corresponding triggers, the data collection for beauty measurements can be done easily during the low luminosity phase. We describe the ATLAS expectations and strategies for open and hidden b-quark production where we expect to have first results already in the first few data

Der Lösungsbeitrag von Metadatenmodellen beim Vergleich von Workflowmanagementsystemen

Die DV-gestützte Prozeßabwicklung mittels Workflowmanagementsystemen erlaubt die Auslagerung der Ablaufsteuerung aus Anwendungssystemen. Mittlerweile ist eine Vielzahl an Systemen mit unterschiedlicher Entwicklungsgeschichte (Dokumentenmanagement, Vorgangssteuerung etc.) verfügbar. Damit stellt sich das Problem der Auswahl eines bedarfsgerechten Workflowmanagementsystems. Im Rahmen dieses Arbeitsberichts soll der diesbezügliche Lösungsbeitrag des Vergleichs der Metadatenmodelle von Workflowmanagementsystemen evaluiert werden. Nach allgemeinen Ausführungen zur Metamodellierung werden hierzu exemplarisch die Metadatenmodelle für die Workflowmanagementsysteme WorkParty (SNI) und FlowMark (IBM) skizziert und verglichen.<br/

Incomplete Resolution of Deep Vein Thromboses during Rivaroxaban Therapy.

We present the case of a patient with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who failed rivaroxaban therapy. Our patient initially presented with left lower extremity edema, erythema, and pain. He was subsequently started on rivaroxaban therapy for a combined treatment period of 12 months, during and after which he persisted to have evidence of a DVT. The patient's prescribed drug regimen was changed from rivaroxaban to warfarin, which demonstrated a rapid resolution of the DVTs as determined by ultrasound assessment of our patient's lower extremity veins. Rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, is a well-known oral anticoagulant that is used for a variety of indications and has become a mainstay in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. With the introduction and emergence of this medication in the clinic, postmarketing reports of efficacy or lack thereof are important to review. In conclusion, we anticipate that it is likely that there are other patients with DVTs who may not respond to rivaroxaban and for whom alternative anticoagulation therapies should be explored