36,797 research outputs found
A nonlinear equation for ionic diffusion in a strong binary electrolyte
The problem of the one dimensional electro-diffusion of ions in a strong
binary electrolyte is considered. In such a system the solute dissociates
completely into two species of ions with unlike charges. The mathematical
description consists of a diffusion equation for each species augmented by
transport due to a self consistent electrostatic field determined by the
Poisson equation. This mathematical framework also describes other important
problems in physics such as electron and hole diffusion across semi-conductor
junctions and the diffusion of ions in plasmas. If concentrations do not vary
appreciably over distances of the order of the Debye length, the Poisson
equation can be replaced by the condition of local charge neutrality first
introduced by Planck. It can then be shown that both species diffuse at the
same rate with a common diffusivity that is intermediate between that of the
slow and fast species (ambipolar diffusion). Here we derive a more general
theory by exploiting the ratio of Debye length to a characteristic length scale
as a small asymptotic parameter. It is shown that the concentration of either
species may be described by a nonlinear integro-differential equation which
replaces the classical linear equation for ambipolar diffusion but reduces to
it in the appropriate limit. Through numerical integration of the full set of
equations it is shown that this nonlinear equation provides a better
approximation to the exact solution than the linear equation it replaces.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
A dual-beam actinic light source for photosynthesis research
Simulation of photosynthetic process in plants is accomplished by using two separate and identical optical channels that provide independently adjustable wavelengths (filters), shutter sequencing, and control intensity of illumination. In addition to experiments using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, system may be applicable to other types of research in photosynthetic field
Magnetic shell enhancements during magnetic disturbances
Magnetic shell enhancements during magnetic field disturbances from Langmuir probe observations of electron density on Ariel I satellit
Open-mindedness can decrease persuasion amongst adolescents: The role of self-affirmation
Objectives
Self-affirmation (e.g., by reflecting on important personal values) has been found to promote more open-minded appraisal of threatening health messages in at-risk adults. However, it is unclear how self-affirmation affects adolescents and whether it has differential effects on the impact of these messages amongst those at relatively lower and higher risk. The current study explored moderation by risk.
Design
Participants were randomly assigned to either a self-affirmation or a control condition before receiving a health message concerning physical activity.
Methods
Older adolescents (N = 125) completed a self-affirmation or control writing task before reading about the health consequences of not meeting recommendations to be physically active for at least 60 min daily. Most of the sample did not achieve these levels of activity (98%, N = 123). Consequently, the message informed these participants that – unless they changed their behaviour – they would be at higher risk of heart disease. Participants completed measures of responses to the message and behaviour-specific cognitions (e.g., self-efficacy) for meeting the recommendations.
Results
For relatively inactive participants, self-affirmation was associated with increased persuasion. However, for those who were moderately active (but not meeting recommendations), those in the self-affirmation condition were less persuaded by the message.
Conclusions
Whilst self-affirmation can increase message acceptance, there are circumstances when the open-mindedness it induces may decrease persuasion. The evidence provided in this study suggests that caution may be needed when recommendations are challenging and it could be considered reasonable to be sceptical about the need to change behaviour
Short turn-around intercontinental clock synchronization using very-long-baseline interferometry
During the past year work was accomplished to bring into regular operation a VLBI system for making intercontinental clock comparisons with a turn around of a few days from the time of data taking. Earlier VLBI systems required several weeks to produce results. The present system, which is not yet complete, incorporates a number of refinements not available in earlier systems, such as dual frequency inosopheric delay cancellation and wider synthesized bandwidths with instrumental phase calibration
Vortex spectrum in superfluid turbulence: interpretation of a recent experiment
We discuss a recent experiment in which the spectrum of the vortex line
density fluctuations has been measured in superfluid turbulence. The observed
frequency dependence of the spectrum, , disagrees with classical
vorticity spectra if, following the literature, the vortex line density is
interpreted as a measure of the vorticity or enstrophy. We argue that the
disagrement is solved if the vortex line density field is decomposed into a
polarised field (which carries most of the energy) and an isotropic field
(which is responsible for the spectrum).Comment: Submitted for publication
http://crtbt.grenoble.cnrs.fr/helio/GROUP/infa.html
http://www.mas.ncl.ac.uk/~ncfb
Developing mathematical thinking in the primary classroom: liberating students and teachers as learners of mathematics
This paper reports on a research study conducted with a group of practising primary school teachers (n = 24) in North East Scotland during 2011–2012. The teachers were all participants in a newly developed Masters course that had been designed with the aim of promoting the development of mathematical thinking in the primary classroom as part of project supported by the Scottish Government. The paper presents the background for this initiative within the context of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence reform. Particular attention is given to the epistemological positioning of the researchers as this influenced both the curriculum design process and also the theoretical framing of the research study which are both described. The project was set up within a design research framework, which aimed to promote classroom-based action research on the part of participants through the course and also research by the university researchers into the process of curriculum development. The research questions focused on the teachers’ confidence, competence, attitudes and beliefs in relation to mathematics and their expectations and experiences of the impact on pupil learning arising from this course. Empirical data were drawn from pre- and post-course surveys, interviews and observations of the discussion forums in the online environment. Findings from this study highlight the way the course had a transformational and emancipatory impact on these teachers. They also highlight ways in which the ‘framing’ of particular aspects of the curriculum had an oppressive impact on learners in the ways that suppressed creativity and limited the exercise of learner autonomy. Furthermore, they highlight the ways in which a number of these teachers had experienced mathematics as a school subject in very negative ways, involving high levels of ‘symbolic violence’ and of being ‘labelled’
A review of peer-assisted learning to deliver interprofessional supplementary image interpretation skills.
Background Peer-assisted learning provides a means through which individuals can learn from one another through a reciprocal process. Radiographic image interpretation skills are fundamental to both diagnostic radiography students and medical students due to their shared role in preliminary evaluation of conventional radiographic images. Medical students on graduation, may not be well prepared to carry out image interpretation, since evidence suggests that they perform less well than radiographers in e.g. Accident and Emergency situations. Method A review of literature was conducted exploring the application of peer-assisted learning within diagnostic radiography and health education more widely as well as the practice of initial image interpretation. An extensive and systematic search strategy was developed which provided a range of material related to the areas. Findings An overview was obtained of the effectiveness of peer-assisted learning and the issues associated with development of image interpretation skills and a degree of discrepancy was identified between the two cohorts regarding their interpretative competence and confidence. This inconsistency may create an opportunity to apply peer-assisted learning, better preparing both disciplines for the practical application of image interpretation skills. Conclusion The review identified the lack of a substantial evidence base relating to peer-assisted learning in radiography. Peer-assisted learning is not widely embraced in an interprofessional context. Multiple positive factors of such an intervention are identified which outweigh perceived negative issues. Student teacher and learner may benefit as should the clinical service from enhanced practitioner performance. The findings justify further research to develop the evidence base
Witness for initial system-environment correlations in open system dynamics
We study the evolution of a general open quantum system when the system and
its environment are initially correlated. We show that the trace distance
between two states of the open system can increase above its initial value, and
derive tight upper bounds for the growth of the distinguishability of open
system states. This represents a generalization of the contraction property of
quantum dynamical maps. The obtained inequalities can be interpreted in terms
of the exchange of information between the system and the environment, and lead
to a witness for system-environment correlations which can be determined
through measurements on the open system alone.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Proper and improper zero energy modes in Hartree-Fock theory and their relevance for symmetry breaking and restoration
We study the spectra of the molecular orbital Hessian (stability matrix) and
random-phase approximation Hamiltonian of broken-symmetry Hartree-Fock
solutions, focusing on zero eigenvalue modes. After all negative eigenvalues
are removed from the Hessian by following their eigenvectors downhill, one is
left with only positive and zero eigenvalues. Zero modes correspond to orbital
rotations with no restoring force. These rotations determine states in the
Goldstone manifold, which originates from a spontaneously broken continuous
symmetry in the wave function. Zero modes can be classified as improper or
proper according to their different mathematical and physical properties.
Improper modes arise from symmetry breaking and their restoration always lowers
the energy. Proper modes, on the other hand, correspond to degeneracies of the
wave function, and their symmetry restoration does not necessarily lower the
energy. We discuss how the RPA Hamiltonian distinguishes between proper and
improper modes by doubling the number of zero eigenvalues associated with the
latter. Proper modes in the Hessian always appear in pairs which do not double
in RPA. We present several pedagogical cases exemplifying the above statements.
The relevance of these results for projected Hartree-Fock methods is also
addressed
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