582 research outputs found
Connection between slow and fast dynamics of molecular liquids around the glass transition
The mean-square displacement (MSD) was measured by neutron scattering at
various temperatures and pressures for a number of molecular glass-forming
liquids. The MSD is invariant along the glass-transition line at the pressure
studied, thus establishing an ``intrinsic'' Lindemann criterion for any given
liquid. A one-to-one connection between the MSD's temperature dependence and
the liquid's fragility is found when the MSD is evaluated on a time scale of
approximately 4 nanoseconds, but does not hold when the MSD is evaluated at
shorter times. The findings are discussed in terms of the elastic model and the
role of relaxations, and the correlations between slow and fast dynamics are
addressed.Comment: accepted by Phys Rev E (2010
On the correlation between fragility and stretching in glassforming liquids
We study the pressure and temperature dependences of the dielectric
relaxation of two molecular glassforming liquids, dibutyl phtalate and
m-toluidine. We focus on two characteristics of the slowing down of relaxation,
the fragility associated with the temperature dependence and the stretching
characterizing the relaxation function. We combine our data with data from the
literature to revisit the proposed correlation between these two quantities. We
do this in light of constraints that we suggest to put on the search for
empirical correlations among properties of glassformers. In particular, argue
that a meaningful correlation is to be looked for between stretching and
isochoric fragility, as both seem to be constant under isochronic conditions
and thereby reflect the intrinsic effect of temperature
Supercooled Liquid Dynamics Studied via Shear-Mechanical Spectroscopy
We report dynamical shear-modulus measurements for five glass-forming liquids
(pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxane, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate,
1,2-propanediol, and m-touluidine). The shear-mechanical spectra are obtained
by the piezoelectric shear-modulus gauge (PSG) method. This technique allows
one to measure the shear modulus ( Pa) of the liquid within a
frequency range from 1 mHz to 10 kHz. We analyze the frequency-dependent
response functions to investigate whether time-temperature superposition (TTS)
is obeyed. We also study the shear-modulus loss-peak position and its
high-frequency part. It has been suggested that when TTS applies, the
high-frequency side of the imaginary part of the dielectric response decreases
like a power law of the frequency with an exponent -1/2. This conjecture is
analyzed on the basis of the shear mechanical data. We find that TTS is obeyed
for pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxane and in 1,2-propanediol while in the
remaining liquids evidence of a mechanical process is found. Although
the the high-frequency power law behavior of the shear-loss
may approach a limiting value of when lowering the temperature, we
find that the exponent lies systematically above this value (around 0.4). For
the two liquids without beta relaxation (pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxane and
1,2-propanediol) we also test the shoving model prediction, according to which
the the relaxation-time activation energy is proportional to the instantaneous
shear modulus. We find that the data are well described by this model.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
ESTIMATION OF THERMAL PARAMETERS OF POWER BIPOLAR TRANSISTORS BY THE METHOD OF THERMAL RELAXATION DIFFERENTIAL SPECTROMETRY
Thermal performance of electronic devices determines the stability and reliability of the equipment. This leads to the need for a detailed thermal analysis of semiconductor devices. The goal of the work is evaluation of thermal parameters of high-power bipolar transistors in plastic packages TO-252 and TO-126 by a method of thermal relaxation differential spectrometry. Thermal constants of device elements and distribution structure of thermal resistance defined as discrete and continuous spectra using previously developed relaxation impedance spectrometer. Continuous spectrum, based on higher-order derivatives of the dynamic thermal impedance, follows the model of Foster, and discrete to model of Cauer. The structure of sample thermal resistance is presented in the form of siх-chain electro-thermal RC model. Analysis of the heat flow spreading in the studied structures is carried out on the basis of the concept of thermal diffusivity. For transistor structures the area and distribution of the heat flow cross-section are determined. On the basis of the measurements the thermal parameters of high-power bipolar transistors is evaluated, in particular, the structure of their thermal resistance. For all of the measured samples is obtained that the thermal resistance of the layer planting crystal makes a defining contribution to the internal thermal resistance of transistors. In the transition layer at the border of semiconductor-solder the thermal resistance increases due to changes in the mechanism of heat transfer. Defects in this area in the form of delamination of solder, voids and cracks lead to additional growth of thermal resistance caused by the reduction of the active square of the transition layer. Method of thermal relaxation differential spectrometry allows effectively control the distribution of heat flow in high-power semiconductor devices, which is important for improving the design, improve the quality of landing crystals of power electronics products to reduce overheating
Dielectric and thermal relaxation in the energy landscape
We derive an energy landscape interpretation of dielectric relaxation times
in undercooled liquids, comparing it to the traditional Debye and
Gemant-DiMarzio-Bishop pictures. The interaction between different local
structural rearrangements in the energy landscape explains qualitatively the
recently observed splitting of the flow process into an initial and a final
stage. The initial mechanical relaxation stage is attributed to hopping
processes, the final thermal or structural relaxation stage to the decay of the
local double-well potentials. The energy landscape concept provides an
explanation for the equality of thermal and dielectric relaxation times. The
equality itself is once more demonstrated on the basis of literature data for
salol.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 41 references, Workshop Disordered Systems,
Molveno 2006, submitted to Philosophical Magazin
A Blue Straggler Binary System with at least Three Progenitors in the Core of a Globular Cluster?
We show that the X-ray source W31 in the core of the globular cluster 47
Tucanae is physically associated with the bright blue straggler BSS-7. The two
sources are astrometrically matched to 0.061\arcsec, with a chance coincidence
probability of less than 1%. We then analyse optical time-series photometry
obtained with the {\em Hubble Space Telescope} (HST) and find that BSS-7
displays a 1.56 day periodic signal in the I band. We also construct a
broad-band (far-ultraviolet through far-red) spectral energy distribution for
BSS-7 and fit this with single and binary models. The binary model is a better
fit to the data, and we derive the corresponding stellar parameters.
All of our findings are consistent with BSS-7 being a detached binary
consisting of a blue straggler primary with an X-ray-active,
upper-main-sequence companion. The formation of such a system would necessarily
involve at least three stars, which is consistent with recent N-body models in
which blue stragglers often form via multiple encounters that can involve both
single and binary stars. However, we cannot yet entirely rule out the
possibility that BSS-7 descended directly from a binary system via mass
transfer. The system parameters needed to distinguish definitively between
these scenarios may be obtainable from time-resolved spectroscopy.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ; revised version
includes a discussion of an alternative 2-progenitor binary evolution
scenario, and an appendix discussing other probable/possible BSS/X-ray
matches in globular clusters and related source
Allergen-specific IgG+ memory B cells are temporally linked to IgE memory responses
BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) are least abundant, tightly regulated and IgE producing B cells are rare. The cellular origin and evolution of IgE responses are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cellular and clonal origin of IgE memory responses following mucosal allergen exposure by sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). METHODS: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, time-course SLIT study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and nasal biopsies were collected from forty adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis at baseline, 4, 8, 16, 28 and 52 weeks. RNA was extracted from PBMCs, sorted B cells and nasal biopsies for VH repertoire sequencing. Moreover, monoclonal antibodies were derived from single B cell transcriptomes. RESULTS: Combining VH repertoire sequencing and single cell transcriptomics yielded direct evidence of a parallel boost of two clonally and functionally related B cell subsets of short-lived IgE+ plasmablasts and IgG+ memory B cells (termed IgGE). Mucosal grass pollen allergen exposure by SLIT resulted in highly diverse IgE and IgGE repertoires. These were extensively mutated and appeared relative stable as per heavy chain isotype, somatic hypermutations and clonal composition. Single IgGE + memory B cell and IgE+ pre-plasmablast transcriptomes encoded antibodies that were specific for major grass pollen allergens and were able to elicit basophil activation at very low allergen concentrations. CONCLUSION: For the first time, we have shown that upon mucosal allergen exposure, human IgE memory resides in allergen-specific IgG+ memory B cells. These rapidly switch isotype and expand into short-lived IgE+ plasmablasts and serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention
Blue Straggler Stars: Early Observations that Failed to Solve the Problem
In this chapter, I describe early ideas on blue stragglers, and various
observations (some published, some not) that promised but failed to resolve the
question of their origin. I review the data and ideas that were circulating
from Allan Sandage's original discovery in 1953 of "anomalous blue stars" in
the globular cluster M3, up until about 1992, when what seems to have been the
only previous meeting devoted to Blue Straggler Stars (BSSs) was held at the
Space Telescope Science Institute.Comment: Chapter 2, in Ecology of Blue Straggler Stars, H.M.J. Boffin, G.
Carraro & G. Beccari (Eds), Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Springe
Connie Myers v. Albertsons, Inc. : Brief of Appellee
Appeal of the Judgment of Michael Glasmann Based upon a Jury Verdict Second Judicial District Court Weber County, State of Uta
Survey team on : conceptualisations of the role of competencies, knowing and knowledge in mathematics education research
This paper presents the outcomes of the work of the ICME 13 Survey Team on 'Conceptualisation and the role of competencies, knowing and knowledge in mathematics education research'. It surveys a variety of historical and contemporary views and conceptualisations of what it means to master mathematics, focusing on notions such as mathematical competence and competencies, mathematical proficiency, and mathematical practices, amongst others. The paper provides theoretical analyses of these notions-under the generic heading of mathematical competencies-and gives an overview of selected research on and by means of them. Furthermore, an account of the introduction and implementation of competency notions in the curricula in various countries and regions is given, and pertinent issues are reviewed. The paper is concluded with a set of reflections on current trends and challenges concerning mathematical competencie
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