22,102 research outputs found
Vibration damping system Patent
Vibration damping system operating in low vacuum environment for spacecraft mechanism
Alternative derivation of the Feigel effect and call for its experimental verification
A recent theory by Feigel [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 020404 (2004)] predicts
the finite transfer of momentum from the quantum vacuum to a fluid placed in
strong perpendicular electric and magnetic fields. The momentum transfer arises
because of the optically anisotropic magnetoelectric response induced in the
fluid by the fields. After summarising Feigel's original assumptions and
derivation (corrected of trivial mistakes), we rederive the same result by a
simpler route, validating Feigel's semi-classical approach. We then derive the
stress exerted by the vacuum on the fluid which, if the Feigel hypothesis is
correct, should induce a Poiseuille flow in a tube with maximum speed m/s (2000 times larger than Feigel's original prediction). An experiment
is suggested to test this prediction for an organometallic fluid in a tube
passing through the bore of a high strength magnet. The predicted flow can be
measured directly by tracking microscopy or indirectly by measuring the flow
rate (ml/min) corresponding to the Poiseuille flow. A second
experiment is also proposed whereby a `vacuum radiometer' is used to test a
recent prediction that the net force on a magnetoelectric slab in the vacuum
should be zero.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figures. revised and improved versio
The vegetation of the River Tweed
A detailed account is given of the macrophytic vegetation of the major rivers within the Tweed Basin. Of these rivers, the Tweed and its largest tributary, the Teviot, tare been studied in most detail, both being surveyed from source to mouth. Information brought together on the history and physiography of the Tweed Basin are summarized in this account, together with physical and water chemical data collected during the survey. The distribution of species is discussed in relation to changes in such parameters. The method of survey involved recording the presence or absence of all macrophytic species within 0.5 km lengths of river, together with a subjective evaluation of their abundance. 570 such 0.5 km lengths were surveyed. All macroscopically visable species were recorded which were found completely submerged or at the immediate edge of the river. A total of 180 different macrophytic growths (usually species, but occasionally identified only to genus level ) were present in the basin, including: 31 algae, 5 lichens, 83 bryophytes, 59 angiosperms, 2 macroscopic microbial communities. The identification and taxonomy of all species were studied critically. Environmental parameters collected in most detail were the physical characteristics of each river, such as altitude, features of the substratum and flow regime. A water sampling programme was undertaken which involved the collection of 5 duplicate samples from sites in the main river and tributaries, and subsequent analysis for optical density, pH, conductivity, 10 cations and 6 anions. The final discussion includes an appraisal of literature concerned with macrophytes in rivers, methods of study, and results obtained. Particular attention is paid to floristic accounts, especially those from the neighbourhood of the Tweed, the floras of these rivers being compared with the flora of the Tweed Basin. Comparison with data from these surveys would suggest that the Tweed is a river which is especially rich in macrophyte species. The presence of historical data and herbarium specimens collected over the past two centuries has made it possible to suggest tentatively that the distribution of some species has changed markedly, whereas others appear to have changed little over 150 years. Cladophora, glomerata is an example of a species which in recent years has become much less abundant. This is most probably due to a decrease in total phosphate content ±n. the water, this in turn being due to a reduction in the use of synthetic detergents by the textile industry
Anisotropy, disorder, and superconductivity in CeCu2Si2 under high pressure
Resistivity measurements were carried out up to 8 GPa on single crystal and
polycrystalline samples of CeCu2Si2 from differing sources in the homogeneity
range. The anisotropic response to current direction and small uniaxial
stresses was explored, taking advantage of the quasi-hydrostatic environment of
the Bridgman anvil cell. It was found that both the superconducting transition
temperature Tc and the normal state properties are very sensitive to uniaxial
stress, which leads to a shift of the valence instability pressure Pv and a
small but significant change in Tc for different orientations with respect to
the tetragonal c-axis. Coexistence of superconductivity and residual
resistivity close to the Ioffe-Regel limit around 5 GPa provides a compelling
argument for the existence of a valence-fluctuation mediated pairing
interaction at high pressure in CeCu2Si2.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
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The Differences in Antibiotic Decision-making Between Acute Surgical and Acute Medical Teams: An Ethnographic Study of Culture and Team Dynamics
Background
Cultural and social determinants influence antibiotic decision-making in hospitals. We investigated and compared cultural determinants of antibiotic decision-making in acute medical and surgical specialties.
Methods
An ethnographic observational study of antibiotic decision-making in acute medical and surgical teams at a London teaching hospital was conducted (August 2015–May 2017). Data collection included 500 hours of direct observations, and face-to-face interviews with 23 key informants. A grounded theory approach, aided by Nvivo 11 software, analyzed the emerging themes. An iterative and recursive process of analysis ensured saturation of the themes. The multiple modes of enquiry enabled cross-validation and triangulation of the findings.
Results
In medicine, accepted norms of the decision-making process are characterized as collectivist (input from pharmacists, infectious disease, and medical microbiology teams), rationalized, and policy-informed, with emphasis on de-escalation of therapy. The gaps in antibiotic decision-making in acute medicine occur chiefly in the transition between the emergency department and inpatient teams, where ownership of the antibiotic prescription is lost. In surgery, team priorities are split between 3 settings: operating room, outpatient clinic, and ward. Senior surgeons are often absent from the ward, leaving junior staff to make complex medical decisions. This results in defensive antibiotic decision-making, leading to prolonged and inappropriate antibiotic use.
Conclusions
In medicine, the legacy of infection diagnosis made in the emergency department determines antibiotic decision-making. In surgery, antibiotic decision-making is perceived as a nonsurgical intervention that can be delegated to junior staff or other specialties. Different, bespoke approaches to optimize antibiotic prescribing are therefore needed to address these specific challenges
Spatial patterns in timing of the diurnal temperature cycle
This paper investigates the structural difference in timing of the diurnal temperature cycle (DTC) over land resulting from choice of measuring device or model framework. It is shown that the timing can be reliably estimated from temporally sparse observations acquired from a constellation of low Earth-orbiting satellites given record lengths of at least three months. Based on a year of data, the spatial patterns of mean DTC timing are compared between temperature estimates from microwave Ka-band, geostationary thermal infrared (TIR), and numerical weather prediction model output from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). It is found that the spatial patterns can be explained by vegetation effects, sensing depth differences and more speculatively the orientation of orographic relief features. In absolute terms, the GMAO model puts the peak of the DTC on average at 12:50 local solar time, 23 min before TIR with a peak temperature at 13:13 (both averaged over Africa and Europe). Since TIR is the shallowest observation of the land surface, this small difference represents a structural error that possibly affects the model's ability to assimilate observations that are closely tied to the DTC. The equivalent average timing for Ka-band is 13:44, which is influenced by the effect of increased sensing depth in desert areas. For non-desert areas, the Ka-band observations lag the TIR observations by only 15 min, which is in agreement with their respective theoretical sensing depth. The results of this comparison provide insights into the structural differences between temperature measurements and models, and can be used as a first step to account for these differences in a coherent way
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Inversely Associated With Clustering of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors: The Ball State Adult Fitness Program Longitudinal Lifestyle Study
Objective: The focus of this study was the association between the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) defined as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Although previous research has shown a relationship between MetSyn and CRF, most studies are based on less objective measures of CRF and different cardiometabolic risk factor thresholds from earlier guidelines
Interplay between quantum criticality and geometrical frustration in Fe3Mo3N with stella quadrangula lattice
In the eta-carbide-type correlated-electron metal Fe3Mo3N, ferromagnetism is
abruptly induced from a nonmagnetic non-Fermi-liquid ground state either when a
magnetic field (~14 T) applied to it or when it is doped with a slight amount
of impurity (~5% Co). We observed a peak in the paramagnetic neutron scattering
intensity at finite wave vectors, revealing the presence of the
antiferromagnetic (AF) correlation hidden in the magnetic measurements. It
causes a new type of geometrical frustration in the stellla quadrangula lattice
of the Fe sublattice. We propose that the frustrated AF correlation suppresses
the F correlation to its marginal point and is therfore responsible for the
origin of the ferromagnetic (F) quantum critical behavior in pure Fe3Mo3N
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