88 research outputs found
A comparison of high temperature fatigue crack propagation in various sub-solvus heat treated turbine disc alloys
The microstructure and fatigue performance of three sub-solvus heat treated nickel based disc superalloys for turbine disc applications are reported. The alloy variants studied are RR1000, N18 and Udimet 720 Low Interstitial (U720Li), with the latter tested both in a standard and large grain variant (LG). Their microstructures are examined in terms of grain and gamma prime size. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) rates for all materials at 650ÂşC show that RR1000 provides the best performance, followed by U720Li-LG, N18 and U720Li. In general, the failure modes become increasingly intergranular with increasing ?K. Some of the variations in FCG rate between the alloys are due to reduction in grain boundary oxidation processes with increased grain size, but more subtle interplays between grain boundary character, alloy composition and slip character are also importan
Characterising a solid state qubit via environmental noise
We propose a method for characterising the energy level structure of a
solid-state qubit by monitoring the noise level in its environment. We consider
a model persistent-current qubit in a lossy resevoir and demonstrate that the
noise in a classical bias field is a sensitive function of the applied field.Comment: 3 Figure
Quantum measurement with chaotic apparatus
We study a dissipative quantum mechanical model of the projective measurement
of a qubit. We demonstrate how a correspondence limit, damped quantum
oscillator can realise chaotic-like or periodic trajectories that emerge in
sympathy with the projection of the qubit state, providing a model of the
measurement process.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure
Finite covers of random 3-manifolds
A 3-manifold is Haken if it contains a topologically essential surface. The
Virtual Haken Conjecture posits that every irreducible 3-manifold with infinite
fundamental group has a finite cover which is Haken. In this paper, we study
random 3-manifolds and their finite covers in an attempt to shed light on this
difficult question. In particular, we consider random Heegaard splittings by
gluing two handlebodies by the result of a random walk in the mapping class
group of a surface. For this model of random 3-manifold, we are able to compute
the probabilities that the resulting manifolds have finite covers of particular
kinds. Our results contrast with the analogous probabilities for groups coming
from random balanced presentations, giving quantitative theorems to the effect
that 3-manifold groups have many more finite quotients than random groups. The
next natural question is whether these covers have positive betti number. For
abelian covers of a fixed type over 3-manifolds of Heegaard genus 2, we show
that the probability of positive betti number is 0.
In fact, many of these questions boil down to questions about the mapping
class group. We are lead to consider the action of mapping class group of a
surface S on the set of quotients pi_1(S) -> Q. If Q is a simple group, we show
that if the genus of S is large, then this action is very mixing. In
particular, the action factors through the alternating group of each orbit.
This is analogous to Goldman's theorem that the action of the mapping class
group on the SU(2) character variety is ergodic.Comment: 60 pages; v2: minor changes. v3: minor changes; final versio
Quantum superpositions of clockwise and counterclockwise supercurrent states in the dynamics of a rf-SQUID exposed to a quantized electromagnetic field
The dynamical behavior of a superconducting quantum interference device (a
rf-SQUID) irradiated by a single mode quantized electromagnetic field is
theoretically investigated. Treating the SQUID as a flux qubit, we analyze the
dynamics of the combined system within the low lying energy Hilbert subspace
both in the asymmetric and in the symmetric SQUID potential configurations. We
show that the temporal evolution of the system is dominated by an oscillatory
behavior characterized by more than one, generally speaking, incommensurable
Rabi frequencies whose expressions are explicitly given. We find that the
external parameters may fixed in such a way to realize a control on the
dynamical replay of the total system which, for instance, may be forced to
exhibit a periodic evolution accompanied by the occurrence of an oscillatory
disappearance of entanglement between the two subsystems. We demonstrate the
possibility of generating quantum maximally entangled superpositions of the two
macroscopically distinguishable states describing clockwise and
counterclockwise supercurrents in the loop. The experimental feasibility of our
proposal is briefly discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, submitted to PR
Arbitrary rotation and entanglement of flux SQUID qubits
We propose a new approach for the arbitrary rotation of a three-level SQUID
qubit and describe a new strategy for the creation of coherence transfer and
entangled states between two three-level SQUID qubits. The former is succeeded
by exploring the coupled-uncoupled states of the system when irradiated with
two microwave pulses, and the latter is succeeded by placing the SQUID qubits
into a microwave cavity and used adiabatic passage methods for their
manipulation.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Gravitomagnetism and the Clock Effect
The main theoretical aspects of gravitomagnetism are reviewed. It is shown
that the gravitomagnetic precession of a gyroscope is intimately connected with
the special temporal structure around a rotating mass that is revealed by the
gravitomagnetic clock effect. This remarkable effect, which involves the
difference in the proper periods of a standard clock in prograde and retrograde
circular geodesic orbits around a rotating mass, is discussed in detail. The
implications of this effect for the notion of ``inertial dragging'' in the
general theory of relativity are presented. The theory of the clock effect is
developed within the PPN framework and the possibility of measuring it via
spaceborne clocks is examined.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX, submitted to Proc. Bad Honnef Meeting on: GYROS,
CLOCKS, AND INTERFEROMETERS: TESTING GENERAL RELATIVITY IN SPACE (22 - 27
August 1999; Bad Honnef, Germany
Translation to practice: a randomised controlled study of an evidenced based booklet targeted at breast care nurses in the United Kingdom
BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom (UK), it was documented that a problem of knowledge transfer existed within the speciality of breast-cancer care, thus depriving patients of receiving optimal care. Despite increasingly robust research evidence indicating recommendation of whole body exercise for people affected by breast cancer, commensurate changes to practice were not noted amongst breast-care nurses (BCNs).
AIM: To evaluate the effect of a targeted booklet, Exercise and Breast Cancer: A Booklet for Breast-Care Nurses, on changes in knowledge, reported practice, and attitudes of BCNs in the UK.
METHOD: A prospective, experimental approach was used for designing a pre- and post-test randomised controlled study. Comparisons of knowledge, reported practice, and attitudes based on responses to a questionnaire were made at two time-points in two groups of BCNs (control and experimental). The unit of randomisation and analysis was hospital clusters of BCNs. The sample comprised 92 nurses from 62 hospitals. Analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and clustered regression techniques: clustered logistic regression for knowledge items, clustered linear regression for knowledge scores, ologit for attitude and reported practice items, and clustered multiple regression for paired and multiple variable analysis.
RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in knowledge and changes in reported practice and attitudes were found. Robust variables affecting knowledge acquisition were: promotion of health, promotion of exercise, and understanding how exercise can reduce cancer-related fatigue.
DISCUSSION: The study has shown that evidence-based printed material, such as an information booklet, can be used as an effective research dissemination method when developed for needs, values, and context of a target audience.
CONCLUSIONS: This practical approach to research dissemination could be replicated and applied to other groups of nurses.</p
Biological Contribution to Social Influences on Alcohol Drinking: Evidence from Animal Models
Social factors have a tremendous influence on instances of heavy drinking and in turn impact public health. However, it is extremely difficult to assess whether this influence is only a cultural phenomenon or has biological underpinnings. Research in non-human primates demonstrates that the way individuals are brought up during early development affects their future predisposition for heavy drinking, and research in rats demonstrates that social isolation, crowding or low social ranking can lead to increased alcohol intake, while social defeat can decrease drinking. Neurotransmitter mechanisms contributing to these effects (i.e., serotonin, GABA, dopamine) have begun to be elucidated. However, these studies do not exclude the possibility that social effects on drinking occur through generalized stress responses to negative social environments. Alcohol intake can also be elevated in positive social situations, for example, in rats following an interaction with an intoxicated peer. Recent studies have also begun to adapt a new rodent species, the prairie vole, to study the role of social environment in alcohol drinking. Prairie voles demonstrate a high degree of social affiliation between individuals, and many of the neurochemical mechanisms involved in regulation of these social behaviors (for example, dopamine, central vasopressin and the corticotropin releasing factor system) are also known to be involved in regulation of alcohol intake. Naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist approved as a pharmacotherapy for alcoholic patients, has recently been shown to decrease both partner preference and alcohol preference in voles. These findings strongly suggest that mechanisms by which social factors influence drinking have biological roots, and can be studied using rapidly developing new animal models
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