Spin-triplet paired phases inside ferromagnet induced by Hund's rule coupling and electronic correlations: Application to UGe2\mathrm{UGe}_2

We discuss a mechanism of real-space spin-triplet pairing, alternative to that due to quantum paramagnon excitations, and demonstrate its applicability to $\mathrm{UGe_2}$. Both the Hund's rule ferromagnetic exchange and inter-electronic correlations contribute to the same extent to the equal-spin pairing, particularly in the regime in which the weak-coupling solution does not provide any. The theoretical results, obtained within the orbitally-degenerate Anderson lattice model, match excellently the observed phase diagram for $\mathrm{UGe_2}$ with the coexistent ferromagnetic (FM1) and superconducting ($A_1$-type) phase. Additionally, weak $A_2$- and $A$-type paired phases appear in very narrow regions near the metamaganetic (FM2 $\rightarrow$ FM1) and FM1 $\rightarrow$ paramagnetic first-order phase-transition borders, respectively. The values of magnetic moments in the FM2 and FM1 states are also reproduced correctly in a semiquantitative manner. The Hund's metal regime is also singled out as appearing near FM1-FM2 boundary

A sock for foot-drop: A preliminary study on two chronic stroke patients

Background: Foot-drop is a common motor impairment of chronic stroke patients, which may be addressed with an ankle foot orthosis. Although there is reasonable evidence of effectiveness for ankle foot orthoses, user compliance is sometimes poor. This study investigated a new alternative to the ankle foot orthosis, the dorsiflex sock. Case description and methods: The dorsiflex sock was evaluated using an A-B single case experimental design. Two community-dwelling, chronic stroke patients with foot-drop participated in this study. Measures were selected to span the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health domains and user views on the dorsiflex sock were also collected. Findings and outcomes: The dorsiflex sock was not effective in improving participants’ walking symmetry, speed or energy expenditure. Participant 1 showed improvement in the distance he could walk in 6 min when using the dorsiflex sock, but this was in keeping with a general improvement trend over the course of this study. However, both participants viewed the dorsiflex sock positively and reported a positive effect on their walking. Conclusion: Despite positive user perceptions, the study found no clear evidence that dorsiflex sock is effective in improving foot-drop. Clinical relevance Although the dorsiflex sock offers an attractive alternative to an ankle foot orthosis, the case studies found no clear evidence of its efficacy. Clinicians should view this device with caution until further research becomes availabl

On plane gravitational waves in real connection variables

We investigate using plane fronted gravitational wave space-times as model systems to study loop quantization techniques and dispersion relations. In this classical analysis, we start with planar symmetric space-times in the real connection formulation. We reduce via Dirac constraint analysis to a final form with one canonical pair and one constraint, equivalent to the metric and Einstein equations of plane-fronted with parallel rays waves. Due to the symmetries and use of special coordinates general covariance is broken. However, this allows us to simply express the constraints of the consistent system. A recursive construction of Dirac brackets results in non-local brackets, analogous to those of self-dual fields, for the triad variables chosen in this approach.Comment: v2: Matches published version, up to minor stylistic change

Mechanical and Chemical Control of Smooth Cordgrass in Waillapa Bay, Washington

We evaluated four methods to control smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel), hereafter spartina, in Willapa Bay, Washington: mowing, mowing plus herbicide combination, herbicide only for clones, and aerial application of herbicide for meadows. (PDF has 7 pages.

Towards Loop Quantization of Plane Gravitational Waves

The polarized Gowdy model in terms of Ashtekar-Barbero variables is further reduced by including the Killing equations for plane-fronted parallel gravitational waves with parallel rays. The resulting constraint algebra, including one constraint derived from the Killing equations in addition to the standard ones of General Relativity, are shown to form a set of first-class constraints. Using earlier work by Banerjee and Date the constraints are expressed in terms of classical quantities that have an operator equivalent in Loop Quantum Gravity, making space-times with pp-waves accessible to loop quantization techniques.Comment: 14 page

Management accounting change: a case study of balanced scorecard implementation in a Portuguese service company

This paper presents a longitudinal case study of management accounting change (MA) in a Portuguese service company operating within the information technology business, which has implemented a Balanced scorecard (BSC). BSC implementation turned out to be problematic. It took too long and faced several dificulties and obstacles. Drawing upon Kasurinen's revised model of accounting change, the factors that created a potential for change (motivators, facilitators and catalysts) and the events that seek to explain how the process of change evolved (momentum and leadership) are identified. Furthermore, Kasurinen's barriers to change (confusers, frustraters and delayers) have been recognised in the study. This investigation demonstrates how Kasurinen's (2002) framework can help researchers to understand the reasons and explanations as to why change occurs in organizations and the process by which MA changes

Accounting as practice

In this paper we seek to debate some of the problems affecting positivist accounting research, and how the adoption of organizational theory grounded on qualitative methods can fruitfully contribute to advance research in the area. To this end we draw on research we have previously conducted in Portuguese public hospitals to discuss how the incorporation of power issues, institutional entrepreneurship, hybridization, institutional logics and institutional work in accounting studies fosters in-depth explanations of accounting practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Neutralizing antibody response during acute and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Little is known about the role of Abs in determining the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. By using infectious retroviral pseudotypes bearing HCV glycoproteins, we measured neutralizing Ab (nAb) responses during acute and chronic HCV infection. In seven acutely infected health care workers, only two developed a nAb response that failed to associate with viral clearance. In contrast, the majority of chronically infected patients had nAbs. To determine the kinetics of strain-specific and crossreactive nAb emergence, we studied patient H, the source of the prototype genotype 1a H77 HCV strain. An early weak nAb response, specific for the autologous virus, was detected at seroconversion. However, neutralization of heterologous viruses was detected only between 33 and 111 weeks of infection. We also examined the development of nAbs in 10 chimpanzees infected with H77 clonal virus. No nAb responses were detected in three animals that cleared virus, whereas strain-specific nAbs were detected in six of the seven chronically infected animals after approximately 50 weeks of infection. The delayed appearance of high titer crossreactive nAbs in chronically infected patients suggests that selective mechanism(s) may operate to prevent the appearance of these Abs during acute infection. The long-term persistence of these nAbs in chronically infected patients may regulate viral replication

Shape in an Atom of Space: Exploring quantum geometry phenomenology

A phenomenology for the deep spatial geometry of loop quantum gravity is introduced. In the context of a simple model, an atom of space, it is shown how purely combinatorial structures can affect observations. The angle operator is used to develop a model of angular corrections to local, continuum flat-space 3-geometries. The physical effects involve neither breaking of local Lorentz invariance nor Planck scale suppression, but rather reply on only the combinatorics of SU(2) recoupling. Bhabha scattering is discussed as an example of how the effects might be observationally accessible.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures; v2 references adde