21,508 research outputs found
On a heuristic point of view concerning the motion of matter. From random metric to Schroedinger equation
The motion of a particle is studied in a random space-time. It is assumed
that the velocity is small enough for the non-relativistic approximation to be
valid. The randomness of the metric induces a diffusion in coordinate space.
Hence it is shown that the evolution of the probability density is given by
Schroedinger equation.Comment: 13 pages, minor changes, publication reference give
Real-space study of the growth of magnesium on ruthenium
The growth of magnesium on ruthenium has been studied by low-energy electron
microscopy (LEEM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In LEEM, a
layer-by-layer growth is observed except in the first monolayer, where the
completion of the first layer in inferred by a clear peak in electron
reflectivity. Desorption from the films is readily observable at 400 K.
Real-space STM and low-energy electron diffraction confirm that sub-monolayer
coverage presents a moir\'e pattern with a 1.2 nm periodicity, which evolves
with further Mg deposition by compressing the Mg layer to a 2.2 nm periodicity.
Layer-by-layer growth is followed in LEEM up to 10 ML. On films several ML
thick a substantial density of stacking faults are observed by dark-field
imaging on large terraces of the substrate, while screw dislocations appear in
the stepped areas. The latter are suggested to result from the mismatch in
heights of the Mg and Ru steps. Quantum size effect oscillations in the
reflected LEEM intensity are observed as a function of thickness, indicating an
abrupt Mg/Ru interface.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure
Do Natural Disasters Affect Human Capital? An Assessment Based on Existing Empirical Evidence
The last few years have seen a notable increase in the number of studies investigating the causes and effects of natural disasters in many dimensions. This paper seeks to review and assess available empirical evidence on the ex-post microeconomic effects of natural disasters on the accumulation of human capital, focusing on consumption, nutrition, education and health, including mental health. Three major findings come forward from this work. First, disasters appear to bring substantial damages to human capital, including death and destruction, and produce deleterious consequences on nutrition, education, health and many income-generating processes. Furthermore, some of these detrimental effects are both large and long-lasting. Second, there is a large degree of heterogeneity in the size â but not much in the direction â of the impacts on different socioeconomic groups. Yet, an empirical regularity across natural hazards is that the poorest carry the heaviest burden of the effects of disasters across different determinants and outcomes of human capital. Finally, although the occurrence of natural hazards is mostly out of control of authorities, there still is a significant room for policy action to minimize their impacts on the accumulation of human capital. We highlight the importance of flexible safety nets as well as the double critical role of accurate and reliable information to monitor risks and vulnerabilities, and identify the impacts and responses of households once they are hit by a disaster. The paper also lays out existing knowledge gaps, particularly in regard to the need of improving our understanding of the impacts of disasters on health outcomes, the mechanisms of transmission and the persistence of the effects in the long-run.natural disasters, human capital accumulation
GPR clutter amplitude processing to detect shallow geological targets
The analysis of clutter in A-scans produced by energy randomly scattered in some specific geological structures, provides information about changes in the shallow sedimentary geology. The A-scans are composed by the coherent energy received from reflections on electromagnetic discontinuities and the incoherent waves from the scattering in small heterogeneities. The reflected waves are attenuated as consequence of absorption, geometrical spreading and losses due to reflections and scattering. Therefore, the amplitude of those waves diminishes and at certain two-way travel times becomes on the same magnitude as the background noise in the radargram, mainly produced by the scattering. The amplitude of the mean background noise is higher when the dispersion of the energy increases. Then, the mean amplitude measured in a properly selected time window is a measurement of the amount of the scattered energy and, therefore, a measurement of the increase of scatterers in the ground. This paper presents a simple processing that allows determining the Mean Amplitude of Incoherent Energy (MAEI) for each A-scan, which is represented in front of the position of the trace. This procedure is tested in a field study, in a city built on a sedimentary basin. The basin is crossed by a large number of hidden subterranean streams and paleochannels. The sedimentary structures due to alluvial deposits produce an amount of the random backscattering of the energy that is measured in a time window. The results are compared along the entire radar line, allowing the location of streams and paleochannels. Numerical models were also used in order to compare the synthetic traces with the field radargrams and to test the proposed processing methodology. The results underscore the amount of the MAEI over the streams and also the existence of a surrounding zone where the amplitude is increasing from the average value to the maximum obtained over the structure. Simulations show that this zone does not correspond to any particular geological change but is consequence of the path of the antenna that receives the scattered energy before arriving to the alluvial depositsPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Mediating towards digital inclusion: the monitors of internet access places
Local dynamics play a key role in individual and collective empowerment for digital literacy and citizenship. This paper presents the results and reflections from a broader investigation into the public Internet access places in Portugal in the inland municipalities of the country's coast, undertaken by ObLID Network. Specifically, we intend to reflect on the actual mission of these places and reveal the actual profile, activities and training needs of their monitors and coordinators. In the first stage of the empirical study, several documents available on the Internet Spaces Network are analyzed. In the second stage, a questionnaire was applied to monitors and coordinators of the Internet access places, in seventeen Portuguese municipalities. The research results warn of the need to redefine and clarify the social and educational value of Internet spaces, indicating that the dominant activities of monitors in the Internet access places do not induce the foster of literacy and digital inclusion of the most vulnerable groups. In this context, actions are proposed that can contribute to improving the mission of Internet places, as well as the training quality of their monitors and coordinators. Internet Access Spaces, made available by municipalities, should be used to promote digital literacy programs, for individuals and groups.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Analysis and comparison of competitive balance in the Spanish ACB basketball league : a preliminary study
Regardless its relevance in sports economics, competitive balance has not been studied neither in Spanish nor in European professional basketball. In this preliminary study we measured the competitive balance in the Spanish ACB League from seasons 1983/1984 to 2003/2004 using the well-known winning percentage standard deviation index. Results showed great difference between seasons and a general low competitive balance index. In addition, tournament designing did not seem to affect the competitive balance in ACB
Moral in Cervantes: From Judgments to cases in Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda
El tratamiento de aspectos morales
en la literatura de Cervantes es especialmente
problemĂĄtico. Considerando que
el Persiles es una de las obras de Cervantes
que mĂĄs atenciĂłn crĂtica ha recibido
al respecto, nos proponemos un acercamiento
la visiĂłn y configuraciĂłn morales
de la obra a partir del anĂĄlisis de las
intervenciones del narrador y de la voz
de los personajes. A través de este método,
estudiaremos la articulaciĂłn en la
novela del esquema clĂĄsico sentencia-caso
(generalidad-particularidad) para establecer
conclusiones en relaciĂłn con la
moralThe treatment of moral issues in Cervantesâs
literature is particularly problematic.
Taking into account that Persiles
is one of the authorâs works that has
received most critical attention thereon,
we propose an approach to the workâs
moral vision and configuration based
on the analysis of the narratorâs statements
and the charactersâ voices. By
means of this method, we will study the
articulation in the novel of the classical
framework judgment-exemplum (generality-
particularity) in order to reach
conclusions with regards to moral
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