Competition of mixing and segregation in rotating cylinders

Using discrete element methods, we study numerically the dynamics of the size segregation process of binary particle mixtures in three-dimensional rotating drums, operated in the continuous flow regime. Particle rotations are included and we focus on different volume filling fractions of the drum to study the interplay between the competing phenomena of mixing and segregation. It is found that segregation is best for a more than half-filled drum due to the non-zero width of the fluidized layer. For different particle size ratios, it is found that radial segregation occurs for any arbitrary small particle size difference and the final amount of segregation shows a linear dependence on the size ratio of the two particle species. To quantify the interplay between segregation and mixing, we investigate the dynamics of the center of mass positions for each particle component. Starting with initially separated particle groups we find that no mixing of the component is necessary in order to obtain a radially segregated core.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures (EPIC/EEPIC & EPS, macros included), submitted to Physics of Fluid

“I wish I’d told them”: a qualitative study examining the unmet psychosexual needs of prostate cancer patients during follow-up after treatment

<b>Objective</b> To gain insight into patients' experiences of follow-up care after treatment for prostate cancer and identify unmet psychosexual needs.<p></p> <b>Methods</b> Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 35 patients aged 59-82 from three UK regions. Partners were included in 18 interviews. Data were analyzed using constant comparison. <p></p> <b>Results</b> (1) Psychosexual problems gained importance over time, (2) men felt they were rarely invited to discuss psychosexual side effects within follow-up appointments and lack of rapport with health care professionals made it difficult to raise problems themselves, (3) problems were sometimes concealed or accepted and professionals' attempts to explore potential difficulties were resisted by some, and (4) older patients were too embarrassed to raise psychosexual concerns as they felt they would be considered 'too old' to be worried about the loss of sexual function.<p></p> <b>Conclusion</b> Men with prostate cancer, even the very elderly, have psychosexual issues for variable times after diagnosis. These are not currently always addressed at the appropriate time for the patient.Practice implications Assessments of psychosexual problems should take place throughout the follow-up period, and not only at the time of initial treatment. Further research examining greater willingness or reluctance to engage with psychosexual interventions may be particularly helpful in designing future intervention

Characterisation of HTSC ceramics from their resistive transition

The resistivity vs. temperature relation in bulk ceramic HTSC under self-field conditions as well as in weak external magnetic fields is modelled by local Lorentz force induced fluxon motion with temperature dependent pinning. A pinning force density and two viscous drag coefficients in intergrain and intragrain regions, respectively, can be used as characteristic parameters describing the temperature, current, and external field dependences of the sample resistance.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX2e, 6 figures (epsfig), to be published in Supercond. Sci. and Techno

Teleological Essentialism

Placeholder essentialism is the view that there is a causal essence that holds category members together, though we may not know what the essence is. Sometimes the placeholder can be filled in by scientific essences, such as when we acquire scientific knowledge that the atomic weight of gold is 79. We challenge the view that placeholders are elaborated by scientific essences. On our view, if placeholders are elaborated, they are elaborated Aristotelian essences, a telos. Utilizing the same kinds of experiments used by traditional essentialists—involving superficial change (study 1), transformation of insides (study 2), acquired traits (study 3) and inferences about offspring (study 4)—we find support for the view that essences are elaborated by a telos. And we find evidence (study 5) that teleological essences may generate category judgments

Electronic properties of Fabre charge-transfer salts under various temperature and pressure conditions

Using density functional theory, we determine parameters of tight-binding Hamiltonians for a variety of Fabre charge transfer salts, focusing in particular on the effects of temperature and pressure. Besides relying on previously published crystal structures, we experimentally determine two new sets of structures; (TMTTF)$_2$SbF$_6$ at different temperatures and (TMTTF)$_2$PF$_6$ at various pressures. We find that a few trends in the electronic behavior can be connected to the complex phase diagram shown by these materials. Decreasing temperature and increasing pressure cause the systems to become more two-dimensional. We analyze the importance of correlations by considering an extended Hubbard model parameterized using Wannier orbital overlaps and show that while charge order is strongly activated by the inter-site Coulomb interaction, the magnetic order is only weakly enhanced. Both orders are suppressed when the effective pressure is increased.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

Vlasov simulation in multiple spatial dimensions

A long-standing challenge encountered in modeling plasma dynamics is achieving practical Vlasov equation simulation in multiple spatial dimensions over large length and time scales. While direct multi-dimension Vlasov simulation methods using adaptive mesh methods [J. W. Banks et al., Physics of Plasmas 18, no. 5 (2011): 052102; B. I. Cohen et al., November 10, 2010, http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2010.DPP.NP9.142] have recently shown promising results, in this paper we present an alternative, the Vlasov Multi Dimensional (VMD) model, that is specifically designed to take advantage of solution properties in regimes when plasma waves are confined to a narrow cone, as may be the case for stimulated Raman scatter in large optic f# laser beams. Perpendicular grid spacing large compared to a Debye length is then possible without instability, enabling an order 10 decrease in required computational resources compared to standard particle in cell (PIC) methods in 2D, with another reduction of that order in 3D. Further advantage compared to PIC methods accrues in regimes where particle noise is an issue. VMD and PIC results in a 2D model of localized Langmuir waves are in qualitative agreement

Using novel palaeolimnological techniques to define lake conservation objectives (Phase 1)

This is the final report to Natural England on Contract No: SAE03/02/054 ‘Using novel palaeolimnological techniques to define lake conservation objectives’. The primary objective of this project is to use existing and recently developed palaeoecological techniques to define reference conditions and assess the condition of selected SSSIs in England, and thereby to assist in the setting of conservation objectives and management goals. The eight selected sites are Aqualate Mere, Hawes Water (Silverdale), Cunswick Tarn, Over Water, Sunbiggin Tarn, Malham Tarn, Semer Water and Hornsea Mere. The project is divided into four main tasks with Task 1 essentially involving the collection, processing and dating of cores from the study sites. To date only the latter has been funded and this report describes the outputs of this task

Maximum Power Efficiency and Criticality in Random Boolean Networks

Random Boolean networks are models of disordered causal systems that can occur in cells and the biosphere. These are open thermodynamic systems exhibiting a flow of energy that is dissipated at a finite rate. Life does work to acquire more energy, then uses the available energy it has gained to perform more work. It is plausible that natural selection has optimized many biological systems for power efficiency: useful power generated per unit fuel. In this letter we begin to investigate these questions for random Boolean networks using Landauer's erasure principle, which defines a minimum entropy cost for bit erasure. We show that critical Boolean networks maximize available power efficiency, which requires that the system have a finite displacement from equilibrium. Our initial results may extend to more realistic models for cells and ecosystems.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 1 figure in .eps format. Comments welcome, v2: minor clarifications added, conclusions unchanged. v3: paper rewritten to clarify it; conclusions unchange