7,114 research outputs found
Changes in movement symmetry over the stages of the shoeing process in military working horses
Domain Dynamics of Magnetic Films with Perpendicular Anisotropy
We study the magnetic properties of nanoscale magnetic films with large
perpendicular anisotropy comparing polarization microscopy measurements on
Co_28Pt_72 alloy samples based on the magneto-optical Kerr effect with Monte
Carlo simulations of a corresponding micromagnetic model. We focus on the
understanding of the dynamics especially the temperature and field dependence
of the magnetisation reversal process. The experimental and simulational
results for hysteresis, the reversal mechanism, domain configurations during
the reversal, and the time dependence of the magnetisation are in very good
qualitative agreement. The results for the field and temperature dependence of
the domain wall velocity suggest that for thin films the hysteresis can be
described as a depinning transition of the domain walls rounded by thermal
activation for finite temperatures.Comment: 7 pages Latex, Postscript figures included, accepted for publication
in Phys.Rev.B, also availible at:
http://www.thp.Uni-Duisburg.DE/Publikationen/Publist_Us_R.htm
Photoelastic Analysis of Three-dimensional Stress Systems Using Scattered Light
A method has been developed for making photoelastic analyses of three-dimensional stress systems by utilizing the polarization phenomena associated with the scattering of light. By this method, the maximum shear and the directions of the three principal stresses at any point within a model can be determined, and the two principal stresses at a free-bounding surface can be separately evaluated. Polarized light is projected into the model through a slit so that it illuminates a plane section. The light is continuously analyzed along its path by scattering and the state of stress in the illuminated section is obtained. By means of a series of such sections, the entire stress field may be explored. The method was used to analyze the stress system of a simple beam in bending. The results were found to be in good agreement with those expected from elementary theory
Experimental observation of oscillating and interacting matter wave dark solitons
We report on the generation, subsequent oscillation and interaction of a pair
of matter wave dark solitons. These are created by releasing a Bose-Einstein
condensate from a double well potential into a harmonic trap in the crossover
regime between one dimension (1D) and three dimensions (3D). The oscillation of
the solitons is observed and the frequency is in quantitative agreement with
simulations using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. An effective particle picture
is developed and reveals that the deviation of the observed frequencies from
the asymptotic prediction , where is the
longitudinal trapping frequency, results from the dimensionality of the system
and the interaction between the solitons.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Crystal growth, structural studies and superconducting properties of beta-pyrochlore KOs2O6
Single crystals of KOs2O6 have been grown in a sealed quartz ampoule.
Detailed single crystal X-ray diffraction studies at room temperature show
Bragg peaks that violate Fd-3m symmetry. With a comparative structure
refinement the structure is identified as non-centrosymmetric (F-43m). Compared
to the ideal beta-pyrochlore lattice (Fd-3m), both Os tetrahedral and O
octahedral network exhibit breathing mode like volume changes accompanied by
strong anisotropic character of the K channels. The crystals show metallic
conductivity and a sharp transition to the superconducting state at Tc = 9.65
K. Superconducting properties have been investigated by magnetization
measurements performed in a temperature range from 2 to 12 K and in magnetic
fields from 0 to 60 kOe. The temperature dependence of the upper critical field
Hc2(T) has been determined and the initial slope (dHc2/dT)Tc = -33.3 kOe/K has
been obtained near Tc. The upper critical field at zero temperature was
estimated to be Hc2(0) \cong 230 kOe, which is a value close to the Pauli
paramagnetic limiting field Hp(0)\cong 250 kOe. Then, the Ginzburg-Landau (GL)
coherence length xi GL(0) \approx 3.8 nm was calculated, and the Maki parameter
alpha \approx \sqrt 2 was obtained, suggesting the possibility that KOs2O6
might behave unconventionally at low temperatures and high magnetic fields
Diurnal cortisol and decision making under risk in problem gambling.
The aim of this study was to assess the influence of diurnal cortisol profile on decision making under risk in individuals with problem gambling and a healthy control group. We examined the relationship between diurnal cortisol, assessed over the course of 2 days, and a battery of tasks that assessed decision making under risk, including the Columbia Card Task and the Cups Task. Thirty individuals with problem gambling and 29 healthy individuals took part in the study. Those with problem gambling showed blunted diurnal cortisol and more risk taking behavior compared with those in the healthy control group. Blunted cortisol profile was associated with more risky behavior and less sensitivity to losing money in problem gambling. These findings suggest that blunted stress physiology plays a role in specific parameters of risky decision making in problem gambling
Structure of plastically compacting granular packings
The developing structure in systems of compacting ductile grains were studied
experimentally in two and three dimensions. In both dimensions, the peaks of
the radial distribution function were reduced, broadened, and shifted compared
with those observed in hard disk- and sphere systems. The geometrical
three--grain configurations contributing to the second peak in the radial
distribution function showed few but interesting differences between the
initial and final stages of the two dimensional compaction. The evolution of
the average coordination number as function of packing fraction is compared
with other experimental and numerical results from the literature. We conclude
that compaction history is important for the evolution of the structure of
compacting granular systems.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
Validity of the activPAL3 activity monitor in people moderately affected by Multiple Sclerosis
Background: Walking is the primary form of physical activity performed by people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), therefore it is important to ensure the validity of tools employed to measure walking activity. The aim of this study was to assess the criterion validity of the activPAL3 activity monitor during overground walking in people with MS.\ud
Methods: Validity of the activPAL3 accelerometer was compared to video observation in 20 people moderately affected by MS. Participants walked 20-30m twice along a straight quiet corridor at a comfortable speed.\ud
Results: Inter-rater reliability of video observations was excellent (all intraclass correlations > 0.99). The mean difference (activPAL3- mean of raters) was -4.70 ± 9.09, -4.55 s ± 10.76 and 1.11 s ± 1.11 for steps taken, walking duration and upright duration respectively. These differences represented 8.7, 10.0 and 1.8% of the mean for each measure respectively. The activPAL3 tended to underestimate steps taken and walking duration in those who walked at cadences of ≤ 38 steps/minute by 60% and 47% respectively.\ud
Discussion: The activPAL3 is valid for measuring walking activity in people moderately affected by MS. It is accurate for upright duration regardless of cadence. In participants with slow walking cadences, outcomes of steps taken and walking duration should be interpreted with caution
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