Spintronics with individual metal-organic molecules

In this work two ideas of using individual metal organic molecules in applications for data storage are presented. On the one hand, metal-free phthalocyanine is used to form a GMR contact consisting of one single molecule leading to the world smallest magnetic sensor. On the other hand, chromium acetylacetonate was used to study the properties of magnetic molecules adsorbed on surfaces in order to build magnetic bits for date storage

Government Policy and Postsecondary Education in Alberta: A ‘Field Theory’ Analysis

While the landscape of postsecondary education in Alberta continues to expand and diversify, there seems to be very little written about the organization of postsecondary education in the province over the past 15 to 20 years (Wimmer & Schmaus, 2010). This paper provides an analysis of postsecondary education in Alberta over the past 15 to 20 years using social theory, specifically “thinking tools” (Grenfell & James, 2004) provided in Bourdieu’s Field Theory to reveal power struggles in the system. Government policies that drive postsecondary institutions to struggle for position in market-like conditions while tightly controlling the parameters of that market are explored. We discuss the role government policy plays in the reproduction of power structures and their distribution of capital in the province of Alberta. Alors que l’éducation postsecondaire en Alberta continue à s’étendre et à se diversifier, on a très peu écrit sur son organisation dans les 15 ou 20 dernières années (Wimmer & Schmaus, 2010). Cet article analyse l’éducation postsecondaire en Alberta dans les 15 ou 20 dernières années par le biais de la théorie sociale, notamment les outils de pensée (Grenfell & James, 2004) de la théorie des champs de Bourdieu, de sorte à dévoiler les luttes pour le pouvoir au sein du système. Nous nous penchons sur les politiques gouvernementales qui poussent les établissements postsecondaires à se battre pour leur position dans des conditions qui ressemblent à celles du marché tout en contrôlant strictement les paramètres de ce marché. Nous discutons le rôle des politiques gouvernementales dans la reproduction des structures du pouvoir et leur répartition du capital aux établissements postsecondaires en Alberta

Transitioning from the Reflection-Based Safety Literacy Classroom to the Worksite: The Student Experience

Reflection-based safety literacy is a form of education that builds bridges between the classroom and the workplace. This paper explores how experiences shared in the classroom create connections between health and safety learning material and its application in personal and professional lives. The exploration of the student experience showed that students transferred course themes to the work environment more effectively when sharing the experience with a colleague and created personal connection to the content through application and reflection between learning sessions. Instructor and student stories demonstrated that a variety of experiences in implementing and interpreting the material resulted in a meaningful context for the student experience. These themes provide insight into the value of reflection and dialogue as tools to enhance health and safety curriculum. La formation à la sécurité basée sur la réflexion est une forme d’éducation qui érige des ponts entre les salles de classe et les milieux de travail. Cet article explore la mesure dans laquelle le partage d’expériences en classe crée des liens entre le matériel pédagogique portant sur la santé et la sécurité d’une part et son application dans la vie personnelle et professionnelle d’autre part. L’étude de l’expérience des étudiants a révélé que ceux-ci transféraient plus efficacement au milieu de travail les savoirs acquis en classe quand ils partageaient l’expérience avec un collègue et qu’ils créaient des liens personnels avec le contenu par l’application et la réflexion entre les cours. Les récits des enseignants et des étudiants ont démontré que diverses expériences portant sur la mise en pratique et l’interprétation du matériel ont créé un contexte significatif pour l’apprentissage. Ces thèmes offrent un aperçu de la valeur de la réflexion et du dialogue en tant qu’outils pour améliorer le programme d’éducation à la santé et à la sécurité. Mots clés : éducation en matière de santé et sécurité au travail; apprentissage basé sur la réflexion; diversité; narration

Performance Of Adipate Diester Synthetic Lubricants In The Hydrodynamic Regime.

Special PaperPg. 139-144Diester based synthetic lubricants provide numerous performance advantages over mineral oils in industrial applications. The synthetics not only .permit significant extension of oil drain intervals and application over a wider 'temperature range than mineral oils, but field experience also indicates that synthetic oils develop thicker and stronger films than their mineral oil counterparts. This results from the combination of the diester basestock and appropriate additives. A laboratory evaluation has been conducted to quantify the performance advantages of the synthetic oils over mineral oils in hydrodynamic lubrication. The power loss, maximum pad temperature, and oil film thickness in a tilting pad thrust bearing were measured for an ISO VG 32 mineral oil and ISO VG 32 and VG 10 diester based synthetic oils. Results of the tests revealed that the comparable grade mineral and synthetic oils yielded similar bearing power losses and pad temperatures, while the synthetic product developed significantly thicker films. Relative to the VG 32 mineral oil, the VG 10 synthetic lubricant yielded lower bearing power losses and cooler operation, while developing a slightly thicker film. These laboratory test results confirm the field experience that replacement of mineral oil with a suitable grade synthetic lubricant can yield significant economic and technical benefits, including reduction in bearing power losses, without sacrificing machine protection

Evidence for Orbital Order and its Relation to Superconductivity in FeSe0.4Te0.6

The emergence of nematic electronic states accompanied by a structural phase transition is a recurring theme in many correlated electron materials, including the high-temperature copper oxide- and iron-based superconductors. We provide evidence for nematic electronic states in the iron-chalcogenide superconductor FeSe0.4Te0.6 from quasi-particle scattering detected in spectroscopic maps. The symmetry-breaking states persist above Tc into the normal state. We interpret the scattering patterns by comparison with quasi-particle interference patterns obtained from a tight-binding model, accounting for orbital ordering. The relation to superconductivity and the influence on the coherence length are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, updated with published versio

Nonequilibrium Cotunneling through a Three-Level Quantum Dot

We calculate the nonlinear cotunneling conductance through a quantum dot with 3 electrons occupying the three highest lying energy levels. Starting from a 3-orbital Anderson model, we apply a generalized Schrieffer-Wolff transformation to derive an effective Kondo model for the system. Within this model we calculate the nonequilibrium occupation numbers and the corresponding cotunneling current to leading order in the exchange couplings. We identify the inelastic cotunneling thresholds and their splittings with applied magnetic field, and make a qualitative comparison to recent experimental data on carbon nanotube and InAs quantum-wire quantum dots. Further predictions of the model like cascade resonances and a magnetic-field dependence of the orbital level splitting are not yet observed but within reach of recent experimental work on carbon nanotube and InAs nanowire quantum dots.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

High realistic aspirations : Do normative pressures overthrow rational calculations? ; Applying the model of frame selection to the educational aspirations of immigrant and majority students in Germany

Educational aspirations are of interest to scholars in several disciplines. They can affect multiple aspects of educational success and have been shown to differ between major social groups. Explanations for educational aspirations typically link to two main models of aspiration formation: the Wisconsin model (WM) and rational choice theory (RCT). Whereas the WM highlights significant others’ educational norms, RCT cites cost-benefit calculations to explain how aspirations are formed. As it is still unclear how the two approaches interrelate, we apply a third model, namely the model of frame selection (MFS), which allows the integration of both WM and RCT arguments. In short, it suggests that the importance of others’ educational norms moderates the relevance of own cost-benefit calculations. We assume that considering this interrelation is fruitful when explaining aspirations in general, and specifically when explaining immigrant students’ aspirations, who often perceive high educational obligations by their parents. Using data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), we test prognoses derived from the three theoretical models for their relevance when explaining the aspirations of Turkish and German students. Results indicate that the processes suggested by both WM and RCT shape aspirations. Consistent with the MFS, these processes also interrelate in that parents’ educational norms reduce the relevance of students’ own cost-benefit calculations. This interrelation does not only apply to Turkish students but holds for all students in the sample

CEMIP, a Promising Biomarker That Promotes the Progression and Metastasis of Colorectal and Other Types of Cancer

Originally discovered as a hypothetical protein with unknown function, CEMIP (cell migration-inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including deafness, arthritis, atherosclerosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and cancer. Although a comprehensive definition of its molecular functions is still in progress, major functions ascribed to CEMIP include the depolymerization of the extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid (HA) and the regulation of a number of signaling pathways. CEMIP is a promising biomarker for colorectal cancer. Its expression is associated with poor prognosis for patients suffering from colorectal and other types of cancer and functionally contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of how CEMIP is able to foster the process of tumor growth and metastasis, focusing particularly on colorectal cancer. Studies in cancer cells suggest that CEMIP exerts its pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic activities through stimulating migration and invasion, suppressing cell death and promoting survival, degrading HA, regulating pro-metastatic signaling pathways, inducing the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) program, and contributing to the metabolic reprogramming and pre-metastatic conditioning of future metastatic microenvironments. There is also increasing evidence indicating that CEMIP may be expressed in cells within the tumor microenvironment that promote tumorigenesis and metastasis formation, although this remains in an early stage of investigation. CEMIP expression and activity can be therapeutically targeted at a number of levels, and preliminary findings in animal models show encouraging results in terms of reduced tumor growth and metastasis, as well as combating therapy resistance. Taken together, CEMIP represents an exciting new player in the progression of colorectal and other types of cancer that holds promise as a therapeutic target and biomarker