4,921 research outputs found
Field-induced charge symmetry revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance in the topological insulator Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub>
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was recently shown to measure the bulk band inversion of Bi2Se3 through changes in the Bi-209 nuclear quadrupole interaction, and the corresponding tensor of the local electric field gradient was found to follow, surprisingly, the direction of the external magnetic field if the sample is rotated. This manifests a hidden property of the charge carriers in the bulk of this topological insulator, which is explored here with another material, Bi2Te3. It is found that two electric field gradients appear to be present at Bi-209, one rests with the lattice, as usual, while a second follows the external field if it is rotated with respect to the crystal axes. These electronic degrees of freedom and their lifetime is believed to be responsible for an alternate quadrupolar relaxation that should lead to other special properties including the electronic specific heat
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Bromoform and dibromomethane measurements in the seacoast region of New Hampshire, 2002-2004
Atmospheric measurements of bromoform (CHBr3) and dibromomethane (CH2Br2) were conducted at two sites, Thompson Farm (TF) in Durham, New Hampshire (summer 2002-2004), and Appledore Island (AI), Maine (summer 2004). Elevated mixing ratios of CHBr3 were frequently observed at both sites, with maxima of 37.9 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) and 47.4 pptv for TF and AI, respectively. Average mixing ratios of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 at TF for all three summers ranged from 5.3-6.3 and 1.3-2.3 pptv, respectively. The average mixing ratios of both gases were higher at AI during 2004, consistent with AI's proximity to sources of these bromocarbons. Strong negative vertical gradients in the atmosphere corroborated local sources of these gases at the surface. At AI, CHBr3 and CH2Br2 mixing ratios increased with wind speed via sea-to-air transfer from supersaturated coastal waters. Large enhancements of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 were observed at both sites from 10 to 14 August 2004, coinciding with the passage of Tropical Storm Bonnie. During this period, fluxes of CHBr3 and CH2Br3 were 52.4 ± 21.0 and 9.1 ± 3.1 nmol m-2 h-1, respectively. The average fluxes of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 during nonevent periods were 18.9 ± 12.3 and 2.6 ± 1.9 nmol m-2 h-1, respectively. Additionally, CHBr3 and CH2Br2 were used as marine tracers in case studies to (1) evaluate the impact of tropical storms on emissions and distributions of marine-derived gases in the coastal region and (2) characterize the transport of air masses during pollution episodes in the northeastern United States. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union
Interpretation of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectra in Doped LaCuO
The nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectrum of strontium doped
LaCuO surprisingly resembles the NQR spectrum of LaCuO doped
with excess oxygen, both spectra being dominated by a main peak and one
principal satellite peak at similar frequencies. Using first-principles cluster
calculations this is investigated here by calculating the electric field
gradient (EFG) at the central copper site of the cluster after replacing a
lanthanum atom in the cluster with a strontium atom or adding an interstitial
oxygen to the cluster. In each case the EFG was increased by approximately 10 %
leading unexpectedly to the explanation that the NQR spectra are only
accidentally similar and the origins are quite different. Additionally the
widths of the peaks in the NQR spectra are explained by the different EFG of
copper centres remote from the impurity. A model, based on holes moving rapidly
across the planar oxygen atoms, is proposed to explain the observed increase in
frequency of both the main and satellite peaks in the NQR spectrum as the
doping concentration is increased
Trapping and manipulating neutral atoms with electrostatic fields
We report on experiments with cold thermal Li atoms confined in combined
magnetic and electric potentials. A novel type of three-dimensional trap was
formed by modulating a magnetic guide using electrostatic fields. We observed
atoms trapped in a string of up to six individual such traps, a controlled
transport of an atomic cloud over a distance of 400m, and a dynamic
splitting of a single trap into a double well potential. Applications for
quantum information processing are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Mutations of the ret protooncogene in German multiple endocrine neoplasia families: Relation between genotype and phenotype.
It has been suggested that not only the position but also the nature of the mutations of the ret protooncogene strongly correlate with the clinical manifestation of the multiple endocrine neoplasm type 2 (MEN 2) syndrome. In particular, individuals with a Cys634-Arg substitution should have a greater risk of developing parathyroid disease. We, therefore, analyzed 94 unrelated families from Germany with inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) for mutation of the ret protooncogene. In all but 1 of 59 families with MEN 2A, germline mutations in the extracellular domain of the ret protein were found. Some 81% of the MEN 2A mutations affected codon 634. Phenotype-genotype correlations suggested that the prevalence of pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism is significantly higher in families with codon 634 mutations, but there was no correlation with the nature of the mutation. In all but 1 of 27 familial MTC (FMTC) families, mutations were detected in 1 of 4 cysteines in the extracellular domain of the ret protooncogene. Half of the FMTC mutations affected codon 634. Mutations outside of codon 634 occurred more often in FMTC families than in MEN 2A families. In all but 1 of 8 MEN 2B patients, de novo mutations in codon 918 were found. These data confirm the preferential localization of MEN 2-associated mutations and the correlation between disease phenotype and the position of the ret mutation, but there was no correlation between the occurrence of hyperparathyroidism or pheochromocytoma and the nature of the mutation
Diffusion in nanopores recorded by microscopic measuring techniques
The poster presents two measuring techniques which, by their very nature, can be focused on,
exclusively, microscopic dimensions, including the interior of the individual particles (crystallites) of
the material under study. Correspondingly, they are referred to as “microscopic measuring techniques”.
The examples presented refer, in particular, to the potentials of these techniques for investigating mass
transfer in complex systems
HOPE: Help fOr People with money, employment, benefit or housing problems: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Background:
Self-harm and suicide increase in times of economic recession. Factors including job loss, austerity measures, financial difficulties and house repossession contribute to the risk. Vulnerable individuals commonly experience difficulties in navigating the benefits system and in accessing the available sources of welfare and debt advice, and this contributes to their distress. Our aim is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a brief psychosocial intervention (the “HOPE” service) for people presenting to hospital emergency departments (ED) following self-harm or in acute distress because of financial, employment, or welfare (benefit) difficulties.
Method:
A pilot study including randomisation will be employed to determine whether it is possible to undertake a full-scale trial. Twenty people presenting to the ED who have self-harmed, have suicidal thoughts and depression and/or are in crisis and where financial, employment or benefit problems are cited as contributory factors will be asked to consent to random allocation to the intervention or control arm on a 2:1 basis. People who require secondary mental health follow-up will be excluded. Those randomised to the intervention arm will receive up to six sessions with a mental health worker who will provide practical help with financial and other problems. The mental health worker will use the motivational interviewing method in their interactions with participants. Control participants will receive one session signposting them to existing relevant support organisations. Participants will be followed up after 3 months. Participants and the mental health workers will take part in qualitative interviews to enable refinement of the intervention. The acceptability of outcome measures including the PHQ-9, GAD-7, repeat self-harm, EQ5D-5L and questions about debt, employment and welfare benefits will be explored.
Discussion:
This study will assess whether a full-scale randomised trial of this novel intervention to prevent self-harm among those distressed because of financial difficulties is feasible, including the acceptability of randomisation, potential rate of recruitment and the acceptability of outcome measures.
Trial registration:
ISRCTN5853124
Versatile Atomic Magnetometry Assisted by Bayesian Inference
Quantum sensors typically translate external fields into a periodic response
whose frequency is then determined by analyses performed in Fourier space. This
allows for a linear inference of the parameters that characterize external
signals. In practice, however, quantum sensors are able to detect fields only
in a narrow range of amplitudes and frequencies. A departure from this range,
as well as the presence of significant noise sources and short detection times,
lead to a loss of the linear relationship between the response of the sensor
and the target field, thus limiting the working regime of the sensor. Here we
address these challenges by means of a Bayesian inference approach that is
tolerant to strong deviations from desired periodic responses of the sensor and
is able to provide reliable estimates even with a very limited number of
measurements. We demonstrate our method for an Yb trapped-ion
quantum sensor but stress the general applicability of this approach to
different systems.Comment: 5+14 pages, 3+9 figures. Comments are welcome
Discrete model for laser driven etching and microstructuring of metallic surfaces
We present a unidimensional discrete solid-on-solid model evolving in time
using a kinetic Monte Carlo method to simulate micro-structuring of kerfs on
metallic surfaces by means of laser-induced jet-chemical etching. The precise
control of the passivation layer achieved by this technique is responsible for
the high resolution of the structures. However, within a certain range of
experimental parameters, the microstructuring of kerfs on stainless steel
surfaces with a solution of shows periodic ripples,
which are considered to originate from an intrinsic dynamics. The model mimics
a few of the various physical and chemical processes involved and within
certain parameter ranges reproduces some morphological aspects of the
structures, in particular ripple regimes. We analyze the range of values of
laser beam power for the appearance of ripples in both experimental and
simulated kerfs. The discrete model is an extension of one that has been used
previously in the context of ion sputtering and is related to a noisy version
of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation used extensively in the field of pattern
formation.Comment: Revised version. Etching probability distribution and new simulations
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