935 research outputs found
Feminists really do count : the complexity of feminist methodologies
We are delighted to be presenting this special issue on the topic of feminism and quantitative methods. We believe that such an issue is exceptionally timely. This is not simply because of ongoing debates around quantification within the field of feminism and women‟s studies. It is also because of debates within the wider research community about the development of appropriate methodologies that take account of new technological and philosophical concerns and are fit-for-purpose for researching contemporary social, philosophical, cultural and global issues. Two areas serve as exemplars in this respect and both speak to these combined wider social science and specifically feminist methodological concerns. The first is the increasing concern amongst social scientists with how the complexity of social life can be captured and analysed. Within feminism, this can be seen in debates about intersectionality that recognise the concerns arising from multiple social positions/divisions and associated power issues. As Denis (2008: 688) comments in respect of intersectional analysis „The challenge of integrating multiple, concurrent, yet often contradictory social locations into analyses of power relations has been issued. Theorising to accomplish this end is evolving, and we are struggling to develop effective methodological tools in order to marry theorising with necessary complex analyses of empirical data.‟ Secondly, new techniques and new data sources are now coming on line. This includes work in the UK of the ESRC National Data Strategy which has been setting out the priorities for the development of research data resources both within and across the boundaries of the social sciences. This will facilitate historical, longitudinal, interdisciplinary and mixed methodological research. And it may be the case that these developments facilitate the achievement of a longstanding feminist aim not simply for interdisciplinarity but for transdisciplinarity in epistemological and methodological terms
Linking Ultracold Polar Molecules
We predict that pairs of polar molecules can be weakly bound together in an
ultracold environment, provided that a dc electric field is present. The field
that links the molecules together also strongly influences the basic properties
of the resulting dimer, such as its binding energy and predissociation
lifetime. Because of their long-range character these dimers will be useful in
disentangling cold collision dynamics of polar molecules. As an example, we
estimate the microwave photoassociation yield for OH-OH cold collisions.Comment: 4 pages 2 figure
Novel technique for the CO<sub>2</sub> laser fabrication of optical devices with sub-micrometer ablation depth precision
We present novel techniques for the processing of fibre end face and cladding surfaces using a 9.6 µm CO2 laser. We investigate the effects of pulse duration on process parameters
Development of use of an Operational Procedure Information System (OPIS) for future space missions
A MS-Windows based electronic procedure system, called OPIS (Operational Procedure Information System), was developed. The system consists of two parts, the editor, for 'writing' the procedure and the notepad application, for the usage of the procedures by the crew during training and flight. The system is based on standardized, structured procedure format and language. It allows the embedding of sketches, photos, animated graphics and video sequences and the access to off-nominal procedures by linkage to an appropriate database. The system facilitates the work with procedures of different degrees of detail, depending on the training status of the crew. The development of a 'language module' for the automatic translation of the procedures, for example into Russian, is planned
Collisional and molecular spectroscopy in an ultracold Bose-Bose mixture
The route toward a Bose-Einstein condensate of dipolar molecules requires the
ability to efficiently associate dimers of different chemical species and
transfer them to the stable rovibrational ground state. Here, we report on
recent spectroscopic measurements of two weakly bound molecular levels and
newly observed narrow d-wave Feshbach resonances. The data are used to improve
the collisional model for the Bose-Bose mixture 41K87Rb, among the most
promising candidates to create a molecular dipolar BEC.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure
Generalized Pseudopotentials for Higher Partial Wave Scattering
We derive a generalized zero-range pseudopotential applicable to all partial
wave solutions to the Schroedinger equation based on a delta-shell potential in
the limit that the shell radius approaches zero. This properly models all
higher order multipole moments not accounted for with a monopolar delta
function at the origin, as used in the familiar Fermi pseudopotential for
s-wave scattering. By making the strength of the potential energy dependent, we
derive self-consistent solutions for the entire energy spectrum of the
realistic potential. We apply this to study two particles in an isotropic
harmonic trap, interacting through a central potential, and derive analytic
expressions for the energy eigenstates and eigenvalues.Comment: RevTeX 4 pages, 1 figure, final published versio
Feshbach spectroscopy and analysis of the interaction potentials of ultracold sodium
We have studied magnetic Feshbach resonances in an ultracold sample of Na
prepared in the absolute hyperfine ground state. We report on the observation
of three s-, eight d-, and three g-wave Feshbach resonances, including a more
precise determination of two known s-wave resonances, and one s-wave resonance
at a magnetic field exceeding 200mT. Using a coupled-channels calculation we
have improved the sodium ground-state potentials by taking into account these
new experimental data, and derived values for the scattering lengths. In
addition, a description of the molecular states leading to the Feshbach
resonances in terms of the asymptotic-bound-state model is presented.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Customized television: Standards compliant advanced digital television
This correspondence describes a European Union supported collaborative project called CustomTV based on the premise that future TV sets will provide all sorts of multimedia information and interactivity, as well as manage all such services according to each user’s or group of user’s preferences/profiles. We have demonstrated the potential of recent standards (MPEG-4 and MPEG-7) to implement such a scenario by building
the following services: an advanced EPG, Weather Forecasting, and Stock Exchange/Flight Information
Characterisation by EIS of ternary Mg alloys synthesised by mechanical alloying
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to study the electrochemical behaviour of ternary Mg60Ti10Si30 and Mg88Ti5Si7 alloy samples fabricated by mechanical alloying of the elemental powders in an argon atmosphere. The influence of different milling times up to 25Â h and heat treatment on the electrochemical behaviour of the samples, after compacting under pressure into disks, has been investigated in 0.1Â M Na2SO4 and 0.01Â M NaCl electrolyte solutions. Complementary measurements of open circuit potential, polarisation curves, and surface and microstructural analysis have been carried out. The experimental results revealed that corrosion is greater for Mg88Ti5Si7 which contains free magnesium; however, in sulphate solution a protective oxide layer formed can reduce the corrosion rate. In Mg60Ti10Si30, heat treatment increases corrosion, which is explained through a greater tendency for pitting corrosion. Comparison is made between the electrochemical impedance data and the nanophase structure as well as with the electrochemical behaviour of other magnesium alloys.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TG0-4H21KGF-3/1/564bda28bb49702cb8769e10e8e350a
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