Structure and phase behavior of colloidal dumbbells with tunable attractive interactions

We investigate thermodynamic and structural properties of colloidal dumbbells in the framework provided by the Reference Interaction Site Model (RISM) theory of molecular fluids and Monte Carlo simulations. We consider two different models: in the first one we set identical square-well attractions on the two tangent spheres composing the molecule (SW-SW model); in the second scheme, one of square-well interactions is switched off (HS-SW model). Appreciable differences emerge between the physical properties of the two models. Specifically, the $k \to 0$ behavior of SW-SW structure factors $S(k)$ points to the presence of a gas-liquid coexistence, as confirmed by subsequent fluid phase equilibria calculations. Conversely, the HS-SW $S(k)$ develops a low-$k$ peak, signaling the presence of aggregates; such a process destabilizes the gas-liquid phase separation, promoting at low temperatures the formation of a cluster phase, whose structure depends on the system density. We further investigate such differences by studying the phase behavior of a series of intermediate models, obtained from the original SW-SW by progressively reducing the depth of one square-well interaction. RISM structural predictions positively reproduce the simulation data, including the rise of $S(k \to 0$) in the SW-SW model and the low-$k$ peak in the HS-SW structure factor. As for the phase behavior, RISM agrees with Monte Carlo simulations in predicting a gas-liquid coexistence for the SW-SW model (though the critical parameters appears overestimated by the theory) and its progressive disappearance moving toward the HS-SW model.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, 1 table, 78 reference

Verbi in serie: una prospettiva tipologica

The authors acknowledge EPSRC (EP/K503162/1) for funding this research.Na2MoO2−δF4+δ (δ ∼ 0.08) displays a unique variant of the perovskite structure, with simultaneous (Na,vacancy) ordering on the A-site, (Na,Mo) ordering on the B-site, (O,F) ordering on the anion site and an unusual NaNbO3-like octahedral tilt system.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Hydrides as high capacity anodes in lithium cells: an Italian “Futuro in Ricerca di Base FIRB-2010” project

Automotive and stationary energy storage are among the most recently-proposed and still unfulfilled applications for lithium ion devices. Higher energy, power and superior safety standards, well beyond the present state of the art, are actually required to extend the Li-ion battery market to these challenging fields, but such a goal can only be achieved by the development of new materials with improved performances. Focusing on the negative electrode materials, alloying and conversion chemistries have been widely explored in the last decade to circumvent the main weakness of the intercalation processes: the limitation in capacity to one or at most two lithium atoms per host formula unit. Among all of the many proposed conversion chemistries, hydrides have been proposed and investigated since 2008. In lithium cells, these materials undergo a conversion reaction that gives metallic nanoparticles surrounded by an amorphous matrix of LiH. Among all of the reported conversion materials, hydrides have outstanding theoretical properties and have been only marginally explored, thus making this class of materials an interesting playground for both fundamental and applied research. In this review, we illustrate the most relevant results achieved in the frame of the Italian National Research Project FIRB 2010 Futuro in Ricerca “Hydrides as high capacity anodes in lithium cells” and possible future perspectives of research for this class of materials in electrochemical energy storage devices

What is the Future of Work 2022

Thanks to the collective experiences of knowledge workers over the last 24 months of the pandemic we have become better at knowing what’s best done at work, and elsewhere. Our purpose has been to understand how this plays out in the context of a more flexible work landscape. Our next generation of workforce is further accelerating the rate of change with choice and flexibility now driving the conversation and talent war. The trick is how do you manage employee expectations with what your organisation can offer. We have well and truly adjusted our workstyles. Yet we are innately social creatures that thrive with human connection. WHAT WE’VE EXPLORED IS THE SENTIMENT OF GEN Z

Switchback 1.2

Adventure photography is about going out and getting that shot that you can show people and blow them away. Currently, there are no bags that address the needs of an adventure photographer in the rigorous setting that they encounter. The Wanderer focuses on accessibility, protection and weight distribution, and is designed so you can retrieve your camera, grab the quick shot, and stow the camera away, all without the hassle of digging through your bag

Braid invariants for non-linear differential equations

Vorst, R.C.A.M. van der [Promotor]Berg, G.J.B. van den [Promotor

Supporting Social-captial in an omni-channel workforce

Since pandemic-imposed restrictions eased, employees globally have been experiencing an experimental stepping-stone of hybrid working, towards a future workplace model which is yet to crystalise. Meanwhile our needs and experiences of connection, belonging and deeper purpose in work are increasingly driving our decisions of who we work for, with and where from, directly affecting the social capital within organisations and teams. This case study reports findings from Mirvac’s Adaptive Workplace Pilot, an experimental work floor within the company’s Sydney CBD office designed to test spaces and tools most effective in supporting seamless hybrid work. The pilot targeted challenges of human connection, knowledge exchange, and community in a hybrid workforce, with observations, focus groups and utilisation measurements conducted from May to September 2022. The research highlights the importance of responsive and dynamic environments for enabling high-performing teams confirming the absence of a single solution. Ambiguous spaces were found to be least successful, highlighting need for clear purpose in design. Strong leadership proved crucial in managing permissions and empowering employees to make conscious decisions about their workstyle, while successful guidance frameworks enabled self-organization and the sustainable evolution of hybrid ways of working. Allowing teams time to find their tools and develop new working habits driven by intrinsic motivations was key to success. This not only built trust through face-to-face interactions and relational connections, but fostered deeper connection, a sense of ownership, and fulfilment of basic psychological needs in work – all critical factors of the sustaining social contract that is social capital

The Future of Work: Global impacts shaping the way we design workplaces

A comprehensive survey conducted by Iva Durakovic (UNSW), Lisa Munao, Head of Workplace Design and Innovation (Davenport Campbell) and Kathryn Marshall (Davenport Campbell) questioning Australians on workplaces changes since COVID-19 has given us a great deal of insight into what the workplace might look like moving forward

Approximate solution to a hybrid model with stochastic volatility: a singular-perturbation strategy

We study a hybrid model of Sch¨obel-Zhu-Hull-White-type from a singular-perturbationanalysis perspective. The merit of the paper is twofold: On one hand, we find boundary conditions for the deterministic non-linear degenerate parabolic partial differential equation for the evolution of the stock price. On the other hand, we combine two-scales regular- and singular-perturbation techniques to find an approximate solution to the pricing PDE. The aim is to produce an expression that can be evaluated numerically very fast