19,841 research outputs found
Restricting Voting Rights in Modern America
The Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder ruling invalidating Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is in part a product of efforts to resist further transformations to the traditional American institutional arrangements that have conferred advantages on whites, especially disproportionate political power. Those efforts in resistance are not likely to succeed in the long run. But they may embroil American elections and American governance in paralyzing conflicts for years to come.La décision de la Cour suprême dans l’arrêt Comté de Shelby c. Holder, invalidant la Section 4 (b) de la Loi sur les droits de vote de 1965, est en partie le produit d’une volonté de maintenir les avantages particulièrement disproportionnée des Blancs en matière de pouvoir politique et de résister à toutes les nouvelles tentatives transformation des arrangements institutionnels américains traditionnels. Ces efforts de résistance ne sont pas susceptibles de réussir sur le long terme. Mais ils peuvent entrainer les élections américaines et la gouvernance américaine dans des conflits paralysants pour les années à venir
Accurate polarization within a unified Wannier function formalism
We present an alternative formalism for calculating the maximally localized
Wannier functions in crystalline solids, obtaining an expression which is
extremely simple and general. In particular, our scheme is exactly invariant
under Brillouin zone folding, and therefore it extends trivially to the
Gamma-point case. We study the convergence properties of the Wannier functions,
their quadratic spread and centers as obtained by our simplified technique. We
show how this convergence can be drastically improved by a simple and
inexpensive ``refinement'' step, which allows for very efficient and accurate
calculations of the polarization in zero external field.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Predicting polarization enhancement in multicomponent ferroelectric superlattices
Ab initio calculations are utilized as an input to develop a simple model of
polarization in epitaxial short-period CaTiO3/SrTiO3/BaTiO3 superlattices grown
on a SrTiO3 substrate. The model is then combined with a genetic algorithm
technique to optimize the arrangement of individual CaTiO3, SrTiO3 and BaTiO3
layers in a superlattice, predicting structures with the highest possible
polarization and a low in-plane lattice constant mismatch with the substrate.
This modelling procedure can be applied to a wide range of layered
perovskite-oxide nanostructures providing guidance for experimental development
of nanoelectromechanical devices with substantially improved polar properties.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to PR
Motivations and experiences of UK students studying abroad
This report summarises the findings of research aimed at improving understanding of the motivations behind the international diploma mobility of UK student
Geometric phases and Wannier functions of Bloch electrons in 1-dimension
We present a formal expression for Wannier functions of composite bands of
1-D Bloch electrons in terms of parallel-transported Bloch functions and their
non-Abelian geometric phases. Spatial decay properties of these Wannier
functions are studied in the case of simple bands of 1-D model insulator and
metal. Within first-principles density functional theory, we illustrate the
formalism through the construction of Wannier functions of polyethylene and
polyacetylene.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
The ferroelectric transition in YMnO from first principles
We have studied the structural phase transition of multiferroic YMnO from
first principles. Using group-theoretical analysis and first-principles density
functional calculations of the total energy and phonons, we perform a
systematic study of the energy surface around the prototypic phase. We find a
single instability at the zone-boundary which couples strongly to the
polarization. This coupling is the mechanism that allows multiferroicity in
this class of materials. Our results imply that YMnO is an improper
ferroelectric. We suggest further experiments to clarify this point.Comment: published version, PRB (rapid comm), slight change in presentatio
The mediating role of visuospatial planning skills on adaptive function among young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors
The Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS) was used as a method to examine executive skills on the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF). Young adult survivors of childhood brain tumor (N = 31) and a demographically-matched comparison group (N = 33) completed the ROCF copy version and Grooved Pegboard, and informants were administered the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Survivors had significantly lower BQSS planning and SIB-R community living skills and greater perseveration. Mediation analyses found that BQSS planning skills mediate the relationship between group and community living skills. Convergent findings of the BRIEF Planning, and discriminant findings with the BQSS Fragmentation, BRIEF Emotional Control, and Grooved Pegboard support the planning construct as the specific mediator in this model. Together, these findings highlight the role of planning skills in adaptive functions of young adult survivors of childhood brain tumor
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