2,689 research outputs found
The shortcomings of semi-local and hybrid functionals: what we can learn from surface science studies
A study of the adsorption of CO on late 4d and transition metal (111)
surfaces (Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, and Pt) considering atop and hollow site
adsorption is presented. The applied functionals include the gradient corrected
PBE and BLYP functional, and the corresponding hybrid Hartree-Fock density
functionals HSE and B3LYP. We find that PBE based hybrid functionals
(specifically HSE) yield, with the exception of Pt, the correct site order on
all considered metals, but they also considerably overestimate the adsorption
energies compared to experiment. On the other hand, the semi-local BLYP
functional and the corresponding hybrid functional B3LYP yield very
satisfactory adsorption energies and the correct adsorption site for all
surfaces. We are thus faced with a Procrustean problem: the B3LYP and BLYP
functionals seem to be the overall best choice for describing adsorption on
metal surfaces, but they simultaneously fail to account well for the properties
of the metal, vastly overestimating the equilibrium volume and underestimating
the atomization energies. Setting out from these observations, general
conclusions are drawn on the relative merits and drawbacks of various
semi-local and hybrid functionals. The discussion includes a revised version of
the PBE functional specifically optimized for bulk properties and surface
energies (PBEsol), a revised version of the PBE functional specifically
optimized to predict accurate adsorption energies (rPBE), as well as the
aforementioned BLYP functional. We conclude that no semi-local functional is
capable to describe all aspects properly, and including non-local exchange also
only improves some, but worsens other properties.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures; to be published in New Journal of Physic
The asymmetric exclusion process: Comparison of update procedures
The asymmetric exclusion process (ASEP) has attracted a lot of interest not
only because its many applications, e.g. in the context of the kinetics of
biopolymerization and traffic flow theory, but also because it is a
paradigmatic model for nonequilibrium systems. Here we study the ASEP for
different types of updates, namely random-sequential, sequential,
sublattice-parallel and parallel. In order to compare the effects of the
different update procedures on the properties of the stationary state, we use
large-scale Monte Carlo simulations and analytical methods, especially the
so-called matrix-product Ansatz (MPA). We present in detail the exact solution
for the model with sublattice-parallel and sequential updates using the MPA.
For the case of parallel update, which is important for applications like
traffic flow theory, we determine the phase diagram, the current, and density
profiles based on Monte Carlo simulations. We furthermore suggest a MPA for
that case and derive the corresponding matrix algebra.Comment: 47 pages (11 PostScript figures included), LATEX, Two misprints in
equations correcte
Disorder Effects in CA-Models for Traffic Flow
We investigate the effect of quenched disorder in the Nagel-Schreckenberg
model of traffic flow. Spatial inhomogenities, i.e. lattice sites where the
braking probability is enlarged, are considered as well as particle disorder,
i.e. cars of a different maximum velocity. Both types of disorder lead to
segregated states.Comment: 6 pages, 4 postscript figures, Proceedings of the conference "Traffic
and Granular Flow '97", Duisburg, Germany, October 5-8, 199
Metastable States in Cellular Automata for Traffic Flow
Measurements on real traffic have revealed the existence of metastable states
with very high flow. Such states have not been observed in the
Nagel-Schreckenberg (NaSch) model which is the basic cellular automaton for the
description of traffic. Here we propose a simple generalization of the NaSch
model by introducing a velocity-dependent randomization. We investigate a
special case which belongs to the so-called slow-to-start rules. It is shown
that this model exhibits metastable states, thus sheding some light on the
prerequisites for the occurance of hysteresis effects in the flow-density
relation.Comment: 15 pages, 8 ps-figures included; accepted for publication in EPJ
Boundary-induced phase transitions in traffic flow
Boundary-induced phase transitions are one of the surprising phenomena
appearing in nonequilibrium systems. These transitions have been found in
driven systems, especially the asymmetric simple exclusion process. However, so
far no direct observations of this phenomenon in real systems exists. Here we
present evidence for the appearance of such a nonequilibrium phase transition
in traffic flow occurring on highways in the vicinity of on- and off-ramps.
Measurements on a German motorway close to Cologne show a first-order
nonequilibrium phase transition between a free-flow phase and a congested
phase. It is induced by the interplay of density waves (caused by an on-ramp)
and a shock wave moving on the motorway. The full phase diagram, including the
effect of off-ramps, is explored using computer simulations and suggests means
to optimize the capacity of a traffic network.Comment: 5 figures, revte
A model for bidirectional traffic of cytoskeletal motors
We introduce a stochastic lattice gas model including two particle species
and two parallel lanes. One lane with exclusion interaction and directed motion
and the other lane without exclusion and unbiased diffusion, mimicking a
micotubule filament and the surrounding solution. For a high binding affinity
to the filament, jam-like situations dominate the system's behaviour. The
fundamental process of position exchange of two particles is approximated. In
the case of a many-particle system, we were able to identify a regime in which
the system is rather homogenous presenting only small accumulations of
particles and a regime in which an important fraction of all particles
accumulates in the same cluster. Numerical data proposes that this cluster
formation will occur at all densities for large system sizes. Coupling of
several filaments leads to an enhanced cluster formation compared to the
uncoupled system, suggesting that efficient bidirectional transport on
one-dimensional filaments relies on long-ranged interactions and track
formation.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figure
Treatment of symptoms of the menopause: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline
Objective:
The objective of this document is to generate a practice guideline for the management and treatment of symptoms of the menopause.
Participants:
The Treatment of Symptoms of the Menopause Task Force included six experts, a methodologist, and a medical writer, all appointed by The Endocrine Society.
Evidence:
The Task Force developed this evidenced-based guideline using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to describe the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. The Task Force commissioned three systematic reviews of published data and considered several other existing meta-analyses and trials.
Consensus Process:
Multiple e-mail communications, conference calls, and one face-to-face meeting determined consensus. Committees of The Endocrine Society, representatives from endorsing societies, and members of The Endocrine Society reviewed and commented on the drafts of the guidelines. The Australasian Menopause Society, the British Menopause Society, European Menopause and Andropause Society, the European Society of Endocrinology, and the International Menopause Society (co-sponsors of the guideline) reviewed and commented on the draft.
Conclusions:
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and other symptoms of the climacteric. Benefits may exceed risks for the majority of symptomatic postmenopausal women who are under age 60 or under 10 years since the onset of menopause. Health care professionals should individualize therapy based on clinical factors and patient preference. They should screen women before initiating MHT for cardiovascular and breast cancer risk and recommend the most appropriate therapy depending on risk/benefit considerations. Current evidence does not justify the use of MHT to prevent coronary heart disease, breast cancer, or dementia. Other options are available for those with vasomotor symptoms who prefer not to use MHT or who have contraindications because these patients should not use MHT. Low-dose vaginal estrogen and ospemifene provide effective therapy for the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are available for those not choosing hormonal therapy. All postmenopausal women should embrace appropriate lifestyle measures
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