14,352 research outputs found
Foaming-electrolyte fuel cell
Foam structure feeds fuel gas solution into electrolyte. Fuel gas reacts at static, three-phase interface between fuel gas, electrolyte, and electrode material. The foam forms an electrical contact between main body of electrolyte and the electrode, and aids in removal of by-products of the chemical reaction
Pattern stabilization through parameter alternation in a nonlinear optical system
We report the first experimental realization of pattern formation in a
spatially extended nonlinear system when the system is alternated between two
states, neither of which exhibits patterning. Dynamical equations modeling the
system are used for both numerical simulations and a weakly nonlinear analysis
of the patterned states. The simulations show excellent agreement with the
experiment. The nonlinear analysis provides an explanation of the patterning
under alternation and accurately predicts both the observed dependence of the
patterning on the frequency of alternation, and the measured spatial
frequencies of the patterns.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. To appear in PR
Hybrid receiver study
The results are presented of a 4 month study to design a hybrid analog/digital receiver for outer planet mission probe communication links. The scope of this study includes functional design of the receiver; comparisons between analog and digital processing; hardware tradeoffs for key components including frequency generators, A/D converters, and digital processors; development and simulation of the processing algorithms for acquisition, tracking, and demodulation; and detailed design of the receiver in order to determine its size, weight, power, reliability, and radiation hardness. In addition, an evaluation was made of the receiver's capabilities to perform accurate measurement of signal strength and frequency for radio science missions
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Areas of the visual field important during reading in patients with glaucoma
Purpose To determine the areas of the binocular visual field (VF) associated with reading speed in glaucomatous patients with preserved visual acuity (VA). Materials and methods Fifty-four patients with glaucoma (mean age ± standard deviation 70 ± 8 years) and 38 visually healthy controls (mean age 66 ± 9 years) had silent reading speeds measured using non-scrolling text on a computer setup. Participants completed three cognitive tests and tests of visual function, including the Humphrey 24-2 threshold VF test in each eye; the results were combined to produce binocular integrated VFs (IVFs). Regression analyses using the control group to correct for cognitive test scores, age and VA were conducted to obtain the IVF mean deviation (MD) and total deviation (TD) value from each IVF test location. Concordance between reading speed and TD, assessed using R2 statistics, was ranked in order of importance to explore the parts of the IVF most likely to be linked with reading speed. Results No significant association between IVF MD value and reading speed was observed (p = 0.38). Ranking individual thresholds indicated that the inferior left section of the IVF was most likely to be associated with reading speed. Conclusions Certain regions of the binocular VF impairment may be associated with reading performance even in patients with preserved VA. The inferior left region of patient IVFs may be important for changing lines during
reading
Band structures of rare gas solids within the GW approximation
Band structures for solid rare gases (Ne, Ar) have been calculated using the
GW approximation. All electron and pseudopotential ab initio calculations were
performed using Gaussian orbital basis sets and the dependence of particle-hole
gaps and electron affinities on basis set and treatment of core electrons is
investigated. All electron GW calculations have a smaller particle-hole gap
than pseudopotential GW calculations by up to 0.2 eV. Quasiparticle electron
and hole excitation energies, valence band widths and electron affinities are
generally in very good agreement with those derived from optical absorption and
photoemission measurements.Comment: 7 pages 1 figur
An Empirically Based Calculation of the Extragalactic Infrared Background
Using the excellent observed correlations among various infrared wavebands
with 12 and 60 micron luminosities, we calculate the 2-300 micron spectra of
galaxies as a function of luminosity. We then use 12 micron and 60 micron
galaxy luminosity functions derived from IRAS data, together with recent data
on the redshift evolution of galaxy emissivity, to derive a new, empirically
based IR background spectrum from stellar and dust emission in galaxies. Our
best estimate for the IR background is of order 2-3 nW/m^2/sr with a peak
around 200 microns reaching 6-8 nW/m^2/sr. Our empirically derived background
spectrum is fairly flat in the mid-IR, as opposed to spectra based on modeling
with discrete temperatures which exhibit a "valley" in the mid-IR. We also
derive a conservative lower limit to the IR background which is more than a
factor of 2 lower than our derived flux.Comment: 14 pages AASTeX, 2 .ps figures, the Astrophysical Journal, in pres
“Five hours to sort out your life”: A qualitative study of university students experience of mental health support
Background:
Previous qualitative research suggests that university students feel that current service provision does not meet their needs. Exploring the reasons for this may help to promote service change, encourage the uptake of care, improve outcomes and increase satisfaction within university services.
Aims:
This study aimed to improve the understanding of how students experience the process of accessing and using mental health support, barriers and facilitators to treatment, and how students would adapt provision to improve experiences.
Method:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 full-time students who had used mental health services at university. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Five higher-order themes were identified: personalisation and informed choice, simplifying the process, feeling abandoned ignored or invisible, stigma, and superiority of private and external services. Sixteen subthemes were identified within these themes.
Conclusions:
Findings indicate that access to mental health support should be simplified, with collaboration across university and external health and care services, to prevent students feeling lost or abandoned when seeking care. An inclusive approach to support access and provision of services for all presentations of mental health problems should be developed
Mean Field Theory of Collective Transport with Phase Slips
The driven transport of plastic systems in various disordered backgrounds is
studied within mean field theory. Plasticity is modeled using non-convex
interparticle potentials that allow for phase slips. This theory most naturally
describes sliding charge density waves; other applications include flow of
colloidal particles or driven magnetic flux vortices in disordered backgrounds.
The phase diagrams exhibit generic phases and phase boundaries, though the
shapes of the phase boundaries depend on the shape of the disorder potential.
The phases are distinguished by their velocity and coherence: the moving phase
generically has finite coherence, while pinned states can be coherent or
incoherent. The coherent and incoherent static phases can coexist in parameter
space, in contrast with previous results for exactly sinusoidal pinning
potentials. Transitions between the moving and static states can also be
hysteretic. The depinning transition from the static to sliding states can be
determined analytically, while the repinning transition from the moving to the
pinned phases is computed by direct simulation.Comment: 30 pages, 29 figure
Higher-order Mechanics: Variational Principles and other topics
After reviewing the Lagrangian-Hamiltonian unified formalism (i.e, the
Skinner-Rusk formalism) for higher-order (non-autonomous) dynamical systems, we
state a unified geometrical version of the Variational Principles which allows
us to derive the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian equations for these kinds of
systems. Then, the standard Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of these
principles and the corresponding dynamical equations are recovered from this
unified framework.Comment: New version of the paper "Variational principles for higher-order
dynamical systems", which was presented in the "III Iberoamerican Meeting on
Geometry, Mechanics and Control" (Salamanca, 2012). The title is changed. A
detailed review is added. Sections containing results about variational
principles are enlarged with additional comments, diagrams and summarizing
results. Bibliography is update
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