Structure and elastic properties of Mg(OH)2_2 from density functional theory

The structure, lattice dynamics and mechanical properties of the magnesium hydroxide have been investigated with static density functional theory calculations as well as \it {ab initio} molecular dynamics. The hypothesis of a superstructure existing in the lattice formed by the hydrogen atoms has been tested. The elastic constants of the material have been calculated with static deformations approach and are in fair agreement with the experimental data. The hydrogen subsystem structure exhibits signs of disordered behaviour while maintaining correlations between angular positions of neighbouring atoms. We establish that the essential angular correlations between hydrogen positions are maintained to the temperature of at least 150 K and show that they are well described by a physically motivated probabilistic model. The rotational degree of freedom appears to be decoupled from the lattice directions above 30K

First-principles study of orthorhombic CdTiO3 perovskite

In this work we perform an ab-initio study of CdTiO3 perovskite in its orthorhombic phase using FLAPW method. Our calculations help to decide between the different cristallographic structures proposed for this perovskite from X-Ray measurements. We compute the electric field gradient tensor (EFG) at Cd site and obtain excellent agreement with available experimental information from a perturbed angular correlation (PAC) experiment. We study EFG under an isotropic change of volume and show that in this case the widely used "point charge model approximation" to determine EFG works quite well.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Accepted in Physical Review

Unintelligible lifeworlds: Sexual and gender minority refugees living in Southeast Asian cities

Many people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) are forced to flee their country of origin or place of habitual residence to avoid persecution and to safely exercise their human rights. Persecution based on one’s real or SOGIE is potentially grounds for claiming asylum according to the 1951 Refugee Convention. However, a person with diverse SOGIE may not feel safe to disclose their identity or claim on that basis, especially in places where authorities may not be sympathetic or challenge the credibility of their claim. Sexual and gender minorities face even higher levels of discrimination and violence due to their diverse gender identity, presentation, or sexual orientation, than those experienced by the larger refugee population (Rosenberg 2016). In addition to refugees with diverse SOGIE being excluded from protection initiatives, discrimination leads to lack of representation in decision-making regarding how initiatives are designed and implemented. This paper explores these challenges for refugees with diverse SOGIE in the context of transit countries in Southeast Asia, incorporating perspectives from refugee protection stakeholders and self-settled refugees living in urban centres. The study is a comparative case study in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to learn about the diverse and contingent protection strategies that refugees enact in their struggle against exclusion and discrimination. A post-intentional phenomenological research design is applied to explore the ‘lifeworlds’ of refugees and reflect on their process of orientation. The paper shares the ways refugee minorities form their gendered and sexual identities, in a ‘process of becoming’ (Hoffman, Tierney & Robertson 2017) within their experience of forced migration. This provides learning about refugees with diverse SOGIE orienting within their reconstituted community in exile, their host city, social minority advocacy groups and humanitarian actors providing protection services. The findings indicate the need to explore the tension between protection for the whole refugee community and intersectional concerns for individuals from minority groups. The research contributes to theory by exploring intelligibility of minorities within refugee governance regimes, especially in the context of urban centres in Southeast Asia

(Un)intelligible and (in)visible: queer refugees in Indonesian protection programs

Many asylum seekers who intended to stay only a short period in Indonesia are now facing an indefinite wait due to changes in Australia’s policies. While the general refugee population suffers ongoing poverty and exclusion from Indonesian society, queer refugees face even higher levels of discrimination and violence due to their diverse gender identity, presentation, or sexual orientation. However, there is a network of non-government and refugee-led organisations committed to providing community-based protection and are grappling with how to make programs accessible to minority groups. This phenomenological study draws on workshops and interviews with organisations working on refugee protection in Indonesia. The presentation shares emerging findings that show the unintelligibility and invisibility of refugees from sexual and gender minority groups hampers their inclusion in protection programs. This research highlights the need for queer refugees to have a voice in community-based protection and be supported to advocate for their rights

Revalidation and electronic cataract surgery audit: a Scottish survey on current practice and opinion

PURPOSE: To determine current knowledge and opinion on revalidation, and methods of cataract surgery audit in Scotland and to outline the current and future possibilities for electronic cataract surgery audit. METHODS: In 2010 we conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, Scottish-wide survey on revalidation knowledge and opinion, and cataract audit practice among all senior NHS ophthalmologists. Results were anonymised and recorded manually for analysis. RESULTS: In all, 61% of the ophthalmologists surveyed took part. Only 33% felt ready to take part in revalidation, whereas 76% felt they did not have adequate information about the process. Also, 71% did not feel revalidation would improve patient care, but 85% agreed that cataract surgery audit is essential for ophthalmic practice. In addition, 91% audit their cataract outcomes; 52% do so continuously. Further, 63% audit their subspecialist surgical results. Only 25% audit their cataract surgery practice electronically, and only 12% collect clinical data using a hospital PAS system. Funding and system incompatibility were the main reasons cited for the lack of electronic audit setup. Currently, eight separate hospital IT patient administration systems are used across 14 health boards in Scotland. CONCLUSION: Revalidation is set to commence in 2012. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists will use cataract outcome audit as a tool to ensure surgical competency for the process. Retrospective manual auditing of cataract outcome is time consuming, and can be avoided with an electronic system. Scottish ophthalmologists view revalidation with scepticism and appear to have inadequate knowledge of the process. However, they strongly agree with the concept of cataract surgery audit. The existing and future electronic applications that may support surgical audit are commercial electronic records, web-based applications, centrally funded software applications, and robust NHS connections between community and hospital