137 research outputs found
Energy relaxation in disordered charge and spin density waves
We investigate collective effects in the strong pinning model of disordered
charge and spin density waves (CDWs and SDWs) in connection with heat
relaxation experiments. We discuss the classical and quantum limits that
contribute to two distinct contribution to the specific heat (a contribution and a contribution respectively),
with two different types of disorder (strong pinning versus substitutional
impurities). From the calculation of the two level system energy splitting
distribution in the classical limit we find no slow relaxation in the
commensurate case and a broad spectrum of relaxation times in the
incommensurate case. In the commensurate case quantum effects restore a non
vanishing energy relaxation, and generate stronger disorder effects in
incommensurate systems. For substitutional disorder we obtain Friedel
oscillations of bound states close to the Fermi energy. With negligible
interchain couplings this explains the power-law specific heat observed in experiments on CDWs and SDWs combined to the power-law
susceptibility observed in the CDW o-TaS.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, improvements in the presentatio
X-ray micro-tomography and pore network modeling of single-phase fixed-bed reactors.
A three-dimensional (3D) irregular and unstructured pore network was built using local topological and geometrical properties of an isometric bead pack imaged by means of a high-resolution X-ray computed micro-tomography technique. A pore network model was developed to analyze the 3D laminar/inertial(non-Darcy) flows at the mesoscopic (pore level) and macroscopic (after ensemble-averaging) levels. The non-linear laminar flow signatures were captured at the mesoscale on the basis of analogies with contraction and expansion friction losses. The model provided remarkably good predictions of macroscopic frictional loss gradient in Darcy and non-Darcy regimes with clear-cut demarcation using channel-based Reynolds number statistics. It was also able to differentiate contributions due to pore and channel linear losses, and contraction/expansion quadratic losses. Macroscopic mechanical dispersion was analyzed in terms of retroflow channels, and transverse and longitudinal Péclet numbers. The model qualitatively retrieved the Péclet-Reynolds scaling law expected for heterogeneous networks with predominance of mechanical dispersion. Advocated in watermark is the potential of pore network modeling to build a posteriori constitutive relations for the closures of the more conventional macroscopic Euler approaches to capture more realistically single-phase flow phenomena in fixed-bed reactor applications in chemical engineering
Effects of ocean acidification on invertebrate settlement at volcanic CO<inf>2</inf> vents
We present the first study of the effects of ocean acidification on settlement of benthic invertebrates and microfauna. Artificial collectors were placed for 1 month along pH gradients at CO2 vents off Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Seventy-nine taxa were identified from six main taxonomic groups (foraminiferans, nematodes, polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and chaetognaths). Calcareous foraminiferans, serpulid polychaetes, gastropods and bivalves showed highly significant reductions in recruitment to the collectors as pCO2 rose from normal (336-341 ppm, pH 8.09-8.15) to high levels (886-5,148 ppm) causing acidified conditions near the vents (pH 7.08-7.79). Only the syllid polychaete Syllis prolifera had higher abundances at the most acidified station, although a wide range of polychaetes and small crustaceans was able to settle and survive under these conditions. A few taxa (Amphiglena mediterranea, Leptochelia dubia, Caprella acanthifera) were particularly abundant at stations acidified by intermediate amounts of CO2 (pH 7. 41-7.99). These results show that increased levels of CO2 can profoundly affect the settlement of a wide range of benthic organisms. © 2010 Springer-Verlag
A resource-based view and dynamic capabilities approach in the context of a region’s international attractiveness: The recent case of Western Australia
This exploratory study proposes a framework based on the resource view theory and the dynamic capabilities approach to further the understanding of a region’s attractiveness, particularly from an international perspective. The case of Western Australia is examined through in-depth, face-to-face interviews with nine country consuls experienced in international trade. The findings revealed significant ways in which Western Australia could enhance its future commercial appeal. The findings revealed the value of synergies between this state and other countries, particularly exchanging expertise, transferring knowledge, or exporting know-how, education, both university and industry-focused, research and development and expertise. These forms of regional attractiveness emphasise the strategic role of industry resources and dynamic capabilities, thus, underscoring the usefulness and applicability of the proposed framework. While the state’s mineral exports will continue to drive its economy, harnessing its potential in other areas is crucial to adapt to changing business environments and to build sustained competitive advantage. © 2018, The Author(s) 2018
Depicting the tree of life: The philosophical and historical roots of evolutionary tree diagrams
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Sequencing and timing of strategic responses after industry disruption: evidence from post-deregulation competition in the U.S. railroad industry
This paper examines the sequencing and timing of firms’ strategic responses after significant industry disruption. We show that it is not the single strategic choice or response per se, but the sequencing and patterns of consecutive strategic responses that drive a firm’s adaptation and survival in the aftermath of a shift in the industry. We find that firms’ renewal efforts involved differential adaptability in finding balance at the juxtaposition of responding to demand-side pressures and choosing a path of new capability acquisition efficiently. Our study underscores the importance of taking a sequencing approach to studying strategic responses to industry disruption
Final results on the 0νββ decay half-life limit of Mo from the CUPID-Mo experiment
The CUPID-Mo experiment to search for 0νββ decay in Mo has been recently completed after about 1.5 years of operation at Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France). It served as a demonstrator for CUPID, a next generation 0νββ decay experiment. CUPID-Mo was comprised of 20 enriched LiMoO scintillating calorimeters, each with a mass of ∼0.2 kg, operated at ∼20 mK. We present here the final analysis with the full exposure of CUPID-Mo (Mo exposure of 1.47 kg×year) used to search for lepton number violation via 0νββ decay. We report on various analysis improvements since the previous result on a subset of data, reprocessing all data with these new techniques. We observe zero events in the region of interest and set a new limit on the Mo 0νββ decay half-life of T >1.8×10 year (stat. + syst.) at 90% CI. Under the light Majorana neutrino exchange mechanism this corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass of ⟨m⟩ < (0.28−0.49) eV, dependent upon the nuclear matrix element utilized
Cocaine Is Low on the Value Ladder of Rats: Possible Evidence for Resilience to Addiction
International audienceBACKGROUND:Assessing the relative value of cocaine and how it changes with chronic drug use represents a long-standing goal in addiction research. Surprisingly, recent experiments in rats--by far the most frequently used animal model in this field--suggest that the value of cocaine is lower than previously thought.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we report a series of choice experiments that better define the relative position of cocaine on the value ladder of rats (i.e., preference rank-ordering of different rewards). Rats were allowed to choose either taking cocaine or drinking water sweetened with saccharin--a nondrug alternative that is not biologically essential. By systematically varying the cost and concentration of sweet water, we found that cocaine is low on the value ladder of the large majority of rats, near the lowest concentrations of sweet water. In addition, a retrospective analysis of all experiments over the past 5 years revealed that no matter how heavy was past cocaine use most rats readily give up cocaine use in favor of the nondrug alternative. Only a minority, fewer than 15% at the heaviest level of past cocaine use, continued to take cocaine, even when hungry and offered a natural sugar that could relieve their need of calories.CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This pattern of results (cocaine abstinence in most rats; cocaine preference in few rats) maps well onto the epidemiology of human cocaine addiction and suggests that only a minority of rats would be vulnerable to cocaine addiction while the large majority would be resilient despite extensive drug use. Resilience to drug addiction has long been suspected in humans but could not be firmly established, mostly because it is difficult to control retrospectively for differences in drug self-exposure and/or availability in human drug users. This conclusion has important implications for preclinical research on the neurobiology of cocaine addiction and for future medication development
The background model of the CUPID-Mo experiment
CUPID-Mo, located in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France), was a
demonstrator for the next generation decay experiment, CUPID.
It consisted of an array of 20 enriched LiMoO bolometers and
20 Ge light detectors and has demonstrated that the technology of scintillating
bolometers with particle identification capabilities is mature. Furthermore,
CUPID-Mo can inform and validate the background prediction for CUPID. In this
paper, we present a detailed model of the CUPID-Mo backgrounds. This model is
able to describe well the features of the experimental data and enables studies
of the decay and other processes with high precision. We also
measure the radio-purity of the LiMoO crystals which are
found to be sufficient for the CUPID goals. Finally, we also obtain a
background index in the region of interest of
3.7(stat)(syst)counts/E/mol/yr,
the lowest in a bolometric decay experiment
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