Spin polarization in a T-shape conductor induced by strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling

We investigate numerically the spin polarization of the current in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction in a T-shaped conductor proposed by A.A. Kiselev and K.W. Kim (Appl. Phys. Lett. {\bf 78} 775 (2001)). The recursive Green function method is used to calculate the three terminal spin dependent transmission probabilities. We focus on single-channel transport and show that the spin polarization becomes nearly 100 % with a conductance close to $e^{2}/h$ for sufficiently strong spin-orbit coupling. This is interpreted by the fact that electrons with opposite spin states are deflected into an opposite terminal by the spin dependent Lorentz force. The influence of the disorder on the predicted effect is also discussed. Cases for multi-channel transport are studied in connection with experiments

Mechanical Properties and Biological Responses of Bioactive Glass Ceramics Processed using Indirect SLS

This paper will report on research which aims to generate bone replacement components by processing bioactive glass-ceramic powders using indirect selective laser sintering. The indirect SLS route has been chosen as it offers the ability to tailor the shape of the implant to the implantation site, and two bioactive glass ceramic materials have been processed through this route: apatite-mullite and apatite-wollostanite. The results of bend tests, to investigate mechanical properties, and in vitro and in vivo experiments to investigate biological responses of the materials will be reported, and the suitability of completed components for implant will be assessed.Mechanical Engineerin

Mesoscopic Hall effect driven by chiral spin order

A Hall effect due to spin chirality in mesoscopic systems is predicted. We consider a 4-terminal Hall system including local spins with geometry of a vortex domain wall, where strong spin chirality appears near the center of vortex. The Fermi energy of the conduction electrons is assumed to be comparable to the exchange coupling energy where the adiabatic approximation ceases to be valid. Our results show a Hall effect where a voltage drop and a spin current arise in the transverse direction. The similarity between this Hall effect and the conventional spin Hall effect in systems with spin-orbit interaction is pointed out.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Comparison of two linearization schemes for the nonlinear bending problem of a beam pinned at both ends

The nonlinear bending problem of a constant cross-section simply supported beam pinned at both ends and subject to a uniformly distributed load qðxÞ is analyzed in detail. The numerical integration of the two-point boundary value problem (BVP) derived for the nonlinear Timoshenko beam is tackled through two different linearization schemes, the multi-step transversal linearization (MTrL) and the multi-step tangential linearization (MTnL), proposed by Viswanath and Roy (2007). The fundamentals of these linearization techniques are to replace the nonlinear part of the governing ODEs through a set of conditionally linearized ODE systems at the nodal grid points along the neutral axis, ensuring the intersection between the solution manifolds (transversally in the MTrL and tangentially in the MTnL). In this paper, the solution values are determined at grid points by means of a centered finite differences method with multipoint linear constraints (Keller, 1969), and a simple iterative strategy. The analytical solution for this kind of bending problem, including the extensional effects, can be worked out by integration of the governing two-point BVP equations (Monleón et al., 2008). Finally, the comparison of analytical and numerical results shows the better ability of MTnL with the proposed iterative strategy to reproduce the theoretical behavior of the beam for each load step, because the restraint of equating derivatives in MTnL leads to further closeness between solution paths of the governing ODEs and the linearized ones, in comparison with MTrL. This result is opposed to the conclusion reached in Viswanath and Roy (2007), where the relative errors produced by MTrL are said to be smaller than the MTnL ones for the simply supported beam and the tip-loaded cantilever beam problems. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Merli Gisbert, R.; Lazaro, C.; Monleón Cremades, S.; Domingo Cabo, A. (2010). Comparison of two linearization schemes for the nonlinear bending problem of a beam pinned at both ends. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 47(6):865-874. doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2009.12.001S86587447

Witten's Invariants of Rational Homology Spheres at Prime Values of KK and Trivial Connection Contribution

We establish a relation between the coefficients of asymptotic expansion of trivial connection contribution to Witten's invariant of rational homology spheres and the invariants that T.~Ohtsuki extracted from Witten's invariant at prime values of $K$. We also rederive the properties of prime $K$ invariants discovered by H.~Murakami and T.~Ohtsuki. We do this by using the bounds on Taylor series expansion of the Jones polynomial of algebraically split links, studied in our previous paper. These bounds are enough to prove that Ohtsuki's invariants are of finite type. The relation between Ohtsuki's invariants and trivial connection contribution is verified explicitly for lens spaces and Seifert manifolds.Comment: 32 pages, no figures, LaTe

Attitudes toward depression among Japanese non-psychiatric medical doctors: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Under-recognition of depression is common in many countries. Education of medical staff, focusing on their attitudes towards depression, may be necessary to change their behavior and enhance recognition of depression. Several studies have previously reported on attitudes toward depression among general physicians. However, little is known about attitudes of non-psychiatric doctors in Japan. In the present study, we surveyed nonpsychiatric doctors’ attitude toward depression. Methods: The inclusion criteria of participants in the present study were as follows: 1) Japanese non-psychiatric doctors and 2) attendees in educational opportunities regarding depression care. We conveniently approached two populations: 1) a workshop to depression care for non-psychiatric doctors and 2) a general physician-psychiatrist (GP)network group. We contacted 367 subjects. Attitudes toward depression were measured using the Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ), a 20-item self-report questionnaire developed for general physicians. We report scores of each DAQ item and factors derived from exploratory factor analysis. Results: We received responses from 230 subjects, and we used DAQ data from 187 non-psychiatric doctors who met the inclusion criteria. All non-psychiatric doctors (n = 187) disagreed with "I feel comfortable in dealing with depressed patients' needs," while 60 % (n = 112) agreed with "Working with depressed patients is heavy going." Factor analysis indicated these items comprised a factor termed "Depression should be treated by psychiatrists" - to which 54 % of doctors (n = 101) agreed. Meanwhile, 67 % of doctors (n = 126) thought that nurses could be useful in depressed patient support. The three factors derived from the Japanese DAQ differed from models previously derived from British GP samples. The attitude of Japanese non-psychiatric doctors concerning whether depression should be treated by psychiatrists was markedly different to that of British GPs. Conclusions: Japanese non-psychiatric doctors believe that depression care is beyond the scope of their duties. It is suggested that educational programs or guidelines for depression care developed in other countries such as the UK are not directly adaptable for Japanese non-psychiatric doctors. Developing a focused educational program that motivates non-psychiatric doctors to play a role in depression care is necessary to enhance recognition and treatment of depression in Japan

Fabrication of Spherical CaO-SrO-ZnO-SiO2 Particles by Sol-Gel Processing

This study was concerned with the fabrication of ceramic CaO-SrO-ZnO-SiO2 spherical particles, which are novel candidates for the glass phase in glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs). GPCs made from these glasses have potential as bone cements because, unlike conventional GPCs, they do not contain aluminum ions, which inhibit the calcification of hydroxyapatite in the body. The glass phase of GPCs require a controllable glass morphology and particle size distribution. Sol-gel processing can potentially be used to fabricate homogenous ceramic particles with controlled morphology. However, a thorough study on preparation conditions of spherical CaO-SrO-ZnO-SiO2 particles by sol-gel processing has, to date, not been reported. In this study, gels were prepared by hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in an aqueous solution containing polyethylene glycol and nitrates of calcium, strontium and zinc. It was possible to control the morphology and size of the gels by varying the H2O/TEOS molar ratio and the metal ion content in the starting compositions. An aliquot of 3-5 μm homogenous spherical particles were obtained at a H2O/TEOS molar ratio of 42.6 when the starting composition molar ratios were Sr(NO 3):Ca(NO3)2:Zn(NO3) 2:Si(OC2H5)4 = x:0.12:(0.40 - x):0.48 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8). Starting composition limitations are caused by the low solubility of strontium ions in the minimal amount of water used and the acceleration of hydrolysis as well as polycondensation at higher water content. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

A unified Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant for integral homology spheres

We construct an invariant J_M of integral homology spheres M with values in a completion \hat{Z[q]} of the polynomial ring Z[q] such that the evaluation at each root of unity \zeta gives the the SU(2) Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant \tau_\zeta(M) of M at \zeta. Thus J_M unifies all the SU(2) Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants of M. As a consequence, \tau_\zeta(M) is an algebraic integer. Moreover, it follows that \tau_\zeta(M) as a function on \zeta behaves like an ``analytic function'' defined on the set of roots of unity. That is, the \tau_\zeta(M) for all roots of unity are determined by a "Taylor expansion" at any root of unity, and also by the values at infinitely many roots of unity of prime power orders. In particular, \tau_\zeta(M) for all roots of unity are determined by the Ohtsuki series, which can be regarded as the Taylor expansion at q=1.Comment: 66 pages, 8 figure

Mesoscopic Stern-Gerlach spin filter by nonuniform spin-orbit interaction

A novel spin filtering in two-dimensional electron system with nonuniform spin-orbit interactions (SOI) is theoretically studied. The strength of SOI is modulated perpendicular to the charge current. A spatial gradient of effective magnetic field due to the nonuniform SOI causes the Stern-Gerlach type spin separation. The direction of the polarization is perpendicular to the current and parallel to the spatial gradient. Almost 100 % spin polarization can be realized even without applying any external magnetic fields and without attaching ferromagnetic contacts. The spin polarization persists even in the presence of randomness.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures (2 color figures), to appear in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Commu