2,610 research outputs found
Structural, optical, magnetic and electrical properties of Zn1-x Co (x) O thin films
Despite a considerable effort aiming at elucidating the nature of
ferromagnetism in ZnO-based magnetic semiconductor, its origin still remains
debatable. Although the observation of above room temperature ferromagnetism
has been reported frequently in the literature by magnetometry measurement, so
far there has been no report on correlated ferromagnetism in magnetic, optical
and electrical measurements. In this paper, we investigate systematically the
structural, optical, magnetic and electrical properties of Zn1-x Co (x) O:Al
thin films prepared by sputtering with x ranging from 0 to 0.33. We show that
correlated ferromagnetism is present only in samples with x > 0.25. In
contrast, samples with x < 0.2 exhibit weak ferromagnetism only in magnetometry
measurement which is absent in optical and electrical measurements. We
demonstrate, by systematic electrical transport studies that carrier
localization indeed occurs below 20-50 K for samples with x < 0.2; however,
this does not lead to the formation of ferromagnetic phase in these samples
with an electron concentration in the range of 6 x 10(19) cm(-3) 1 x 10(20)
cm(-3). Detailed structural and optical transmission spectroscopy analyses
revealed that the anomalous Hall effect observed in samples with x > 0.25 is
due to the formation of secondary phases and Co clusters.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figure
The role of tank-treading motions in the transverse migration of a spheroidal vesicle in a shear flow
The behavior of a spheroidal vesicle, in a plane shear flow bounded from one
side by a wall, is analysed when the distance from the wall is much larger than
the spheroid radius. It is found that tank treading motions produce a
transverse drift away from the wall, proportional to the spheroid eccentricity
and the inverse square of the distance from the wall. This drift is independent
of inertia, and is completely determined by the characteristics of the vesicle
membrane. The relative strength of the contribution to drift from tank-treading
motions and from the presence of inertial corrections, is discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, Latex. To appear on J. Phys. A (Math. Gen.
Combinatorial models of rigidity and renormalization
We first introduce the percolation problems associated with the graph
theoretical concepts of -sparsity, and make contact with the physical
concepts of ordinary and rigidity percolation. We then devise a renormalization
transformation for -percolation problems, and investigate its domain of
validity. In particular, we show that it allows an exact solution of
-percolation problems on hierarchical graphs, for . We
introduce and solve by renormalization such a model, which has the interesting
feature of showing both ordinary percolation and rigidity percolation phase
transitions, depending on the values of the parameters.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure
Health risk assessment and source identification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in commercially available singed cowhide within the Greater Accra Region, Ghana
This study ascertains the sources and potential carcinogenic threats of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in singed cowhide. The objective was to assess the sources of PAHs and the health threats singed cowhide possess to the consuming public. A total of fifty-four (54) cowhide samples from selected markets within the Greater-Accra Region of Ghana were analyzed using Agilent GC 6890N, MS5975B Series gas chromatography in a splitless mode. The study shows that, singed cowhide within the Greater Accra Region is dominated by positive genotoxicity PAHs classified as carcinogens (1) and possible carcinogens (2B) as well as positive and questionable genotoxic PAHs that are not classifiable (3). The [B(a)P]eq and PEC results suggest that consumption of singed cowhide at the rate of 25.2 g/day poses potential adverse health effects such as cancer, mutations and birth defects in terms of B(a)P to humans. Results further show that, the HQ/HI < 1, thus, there is no concern for potential human health risks caused by exposure to non-carcinogenic PAHs in singed cowhide. However, the carcinogenic toxic equivalent (TEQs) values for both adults and children were greater than the screening values and therefore, there is concern for potential human health risks caused by exposure to carcinogenic PAHs in singed cowhide. Source assessment of PAHs in singed cowhide shows that, PAH sources in singed cowhide is predominantly from pyrolitic rather than petrogenic origins. Thus, the PAHs in singed cowhide within the Greater Accra Region originate primarily from incomplete combustion and of petroleum origin due to singeing. 
Transition Matrix Monte Carlo Reweighting and Dynamics
We study an induced dynamics in the space of energy of single-spin-flip Monte
Carlo algorithm. The method gives an efficient reweighting technique. This
dynamics is shown to have relaxation times proportional to the specific heat.
Thus, it is plausible for a logarithmic factor in the correlation time of the
standard 2D Ising local dynamics.Comment: RevTeX, 5 pages, 3 figure
Algorithms for 3D rigidity analysis and a first order percolation transition
A fast computer algorithm, the pebble game, has been used successfully to
study rigidity percolation on 2D elastic networks, as well as on a special
class of 3D networks, the bond-bending networks. Application of the pebble game
approach to general 3D networks has been hindered by the fact that the
underlying mathematical theory is, strictly speaking, invalid in this case. We
construct an approximate pebble game algorithm for general 3D networks, as well
as a slower but exact algorithm, the relaxation algorithm, that we use for
testing the new pebble game. Based on the results of these tests and additional
considerations, we argue that in the particular case of randomly diluted
central-force networks on BCC and FCC lattices, the pebble game is essentially
exact. Using the pebble game, we observe an extremely sharp jump in the largest
rigid cluster size in bond-diluted central-force networks in 3D, with the
percolating cluster appearing and taking up most of the network after a single
bond addition. This strongly suggests a first order rigidity percolation
transition, which is in contrast to the second order transitions found
previously for the 2D central-force and 3D bond-bending networks. While a first
order rigidity transition has been observed for Bethe lattices and networks
with ``chemical order'', this is the first time it has been seen for a regular
randomly diluted network. In the case of site dilution, the transition is also
first order for BCC, but results for FCC suggest a second order transition.
Even in bond-diluted lattices, while the transition appears massively first
order in the order parameter (the percolating cluster size), it is continuous
in the elastic moduli. This, and the apparent non-universality, make this phase
transition highly unusual.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figure
Shoulder recovery for head and neck cancer patients after unilateral neck dissection: a pilot exploratory study
An established side-effect of neck dissection (ND) for head and neck (HNC) tumour management includes shoulder dysfunction (SD), which can impact quality of life (QOL). Shoulder strength and range of movement (ROM) are key parameters to be monitored in SD. However, such evaluations are not routinely conducted in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate objectively the impact of ND on shoulder functions.
Methods: This is a pilot exploratory study in a tertiary cancer centre. Five participants with unilateral ND and advanced HNC, completed the study. Outcome measures consisted of self-reported QOL questionnaires, C2–T1 dermatomes and shoulder ROM and strength testing. Data was collected at baseline, 1.5-months after surgery and 6-months after diagnosis (after adjuvant treatment completion).
Results: Most outcome measures on the surgically affected side were negatively impacted post-operatively, with varied recovery seen at follow-up. Sensory loss was noted at C3–4 dermatome levels. Shoulder ROM and strength was reduced on the surficial side for all participants, with some recovery after six months except for two participants.
Conclusion: Results of SD after ND are diverse and unique to each patient. Findings from this pilot study indicate that regular rehabilitation/exercise may facilitate recovery of shoulder function post HNC surgery. However, customised rehabilitation may yield better outcomes. Future studies with a larger sample are indicated to validate the findings of this study
MMP-2 assay within the hybrid layer created by a two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive: biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis.
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