25,265 research outputs found
Remarks on a Paper of Leighton
Counterexamples to theorems for zeros of solutions of second order linear differential equation
Wettability-independent droplet transport by \emph{Bendotaxis}
We demonstrate \textit{bendotaxis}, a novel mechanism for droplet
self-transport at small scales. A combination of bending and capillarity in a
thin channel causes a pressure gradient that, in turn, results in the
spontaneous movement of a liquid droplet. Surprisingly, the direction of this
motion is always the same, regardless of the wettability of the channel. We use
a combination of experiments at a macroscopic scale and a simple mathematical
model to study this motion, focussing in particular on the time scale
associated with the motion. We suggest that \emph{bendotaxis} may be a useful
means of transporting droplets in technological applications, for example in
developing self-cleaning surfaces, and discuss the implications of our results
for such applications.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Supplementary Information available on reques
Reports of injury risks and reasons for choice of sleep environments for infants and toddlers
OBJECTIVE: Compare mothers\u27 reports of injuries for infants and toddlers sleeping with crib-bumpers/mesh-liners/no-barriers and reasons for these sleep environment choices.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of mothers subscribing to a parenting magazine and using crib bumpers (n = 224), mesh liners (n = 262), and no barriers (n = 842). Analyses of four possible injuries (face-covered, climb-out/fall, slat-entrapment, hit-head) including multivariate logistic regression adjusted for missing data/demographics and Chi squared analyses of reasons for mothers\u27 choices.
RESULTS: Maternal reports of finding infants/toddlers with face covered had 3.5 times higher adjusted odds (aOR) for crib bumper versus mesh liner use. Breathing difficulties and wedgings were reported for infants/toddlers using crib bumpers but not mesh liners. Climb-outs/falls showed no significant difference in aORs for crib bumpers versus no-barriers and mesh liners versus no barriers. Reports of slat-entrapment were less likely for mothers using crib bumpers and mesh liners than using no barrier (aOR = .28 and .32). Reports of hit-heads were less likely for crib bumpers vs no barrier (aOR = .38) with no significant difference between mesh liners versus no barrier use. Mothers using crib bumpers and mesh liners felt their choice prevented slat-entrapment (89%, 91%); 93.5% of crib bumper users felt their choice prevented hit-heads. Significantly more mesh liner than crib bumper users chose them because There is no suffocation risk (64.1% vs. 40.6%), while 83.6% of no-barrier users chose them because I was concerned about suffocation risk.
CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Mothers appeared to be more concerned about preventing minor risks than suffocation. Understanding reasons for mothers\u27 use of barriers/no-barriers is important in tailoring counseling for mothers with infants/toddlers
Non-destructive spatial heterodyne imaging of cold atoms
We demonstrate a new method for non-destructive imaging of laser-cooled
atoms. This spatial heterodyne technique forms a phase image by interfering a
strong carrier laser beam with a weak probe beam that passes through the cold
atom cloud. The figure of merit equals or exceeds that of phase-contrast
imaging, and the technique can be used over a wider range of spatial scales. We
show images of a dark spot MOT taken with imaging fluences as low as 61 pJ/cm^2
at a detuning of 11 linewidths, resulting in 0.0004 photons scattered per atom.Comment: text+3 figures, submitted to Optics Letter
Nonlocal Landau theory of the magnetic phase diagram of highly frustrated magnetoelectric CuFeO
A nonlocal Landau-type free energy functional of the spin density is
developed to model the large variety of magnetic states which occur in the
magnetic field-temperature phase diagram of magnetoelectric CuFeO.
Competition among long-range quadratic exchange, biquadratic anti-symmetric
exchange, and trigonal anisotropy terms, consistent with the high-temperature
rhombohedral Rm crystal symmetry, are shown to all play important
roles in stabilizing the unusual combination of commensurate and incommensurate
spin structures in this highly frustrated triangular antiferromagnet. It is
argued that strong magnetoelastic coupling is largely responsible for the
nonlocal nature of the free energy. A key feature of the analysis is that an
electric polarization is induced by a canting of the non-collinear
incommensurate spin structure. Application of the model to ordered spin states
in the triangular antiferromagnets MnBr and NaFeO is also discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure
A -adic RanSaC algorithm for stereo vision using Hensel lifting
A -adic variation of the Ran(dom) Sa(mple) C(onsensus) method for solving
the relative pose problem in stereo vision is developped. From two 2-adically
encoded images a random sample of five pairs of corresponding points is taken,
and the equations for the essential matrix are solved by lifting solutions
modulo 2 to the 2-adic integers. A recently devised -adic hierarchical
classification algorithm imitating the known LBG quantisation method classifies
the solutions for all the samples after having determined the number of
clusters using the known intra-inter validity of clusterings. In the successful
case, a cluster ranking will determine the cluster containing a 2-adic
approximation to the "true" solution of the problem.Comment: 15 pages; typos removed, abstract changed, computation error remove
Out With the Old, In With the New: Are Western Commodity Producers Ready for Buyouts?
Agricultural and Food Policy,
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