7,054 research outputs found
The Origin of Tunneling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance in Break Junctions
First-principles calculations of electron tunneling transport in Ni and Co
break junctions reveal strong dependence of the conductance on the
magnetization direction, an effect known as tunneling anisotropic
magnetoresistance (TAMR). The origin of this phenomenon stems from resonant
states localized in the electrodes near the junction break. The energy and
broadening of these states is strongly affected by the magnetization
orientation due to spin-orbit coupling, causing TAMR to be sensitive to bias
voltage on a scale of a few mV. Our results bear a resemblance to recent
experimental data and suggest that TAMR driven by resonant states is a general
phenomenon typical for magnetic broken contacts and other experimental
geometries where a magnetic tip is used to probe electron transport.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Microparticles and Exercise in Clinical Populations
open access journalMicroparticles (MPs) are shed membrane vesicles released from a variety of cell types in response to cellular activation or apoptosis. They are elevated in a wide variety of disease states and have been previously measured to assess both disease activity and severity. However, recent research suggests that they also possess bioeffector functions, including but not limited to promoting coagulation and thrombosis, inducing endothelial dysfunction, increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine release and driving angiogenesis, thereby increasing cardiovascular risk. Current evidence suggests that exercise may reduce both the number and pathophysiological potential of circulating MPs, making them an attractive therapeutic target. However, the existing body of literature is largely comprised of in vitro or animal studies and thus drawing meaningful conclusions with regards to health and disease remains difficult. In this review, we highlight the role of microparticles in disease, comment on the use of exercise and dietary manipulation as a therapeutic strategy, and suggest future research directions that would serve to address some of the limitations present in the research to dat
Magnetic Moment Softening and Domain Wall Resistance in Ni Nanowires
Magnetic moments in atomic scale domain walls formed in nanoconstrictions and
nanowires are softened which affects dramatically the domain wall resistance.
We perform ab initio calculations of the electronic structure and conductance
of atomic-size Ni nanowires with domain walls only a few atomic lattice
constants wide. We show that the hybridization between noncollinear spin states
leads to a reduction of the magnetic moments in the domain wall. This magnetic
moment softening strongly enhances the domain wall resistance due to scattering
produced by the local perturbation of the electronic potential.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Atomic step motion during the dewetting of ultra-thin films
We report on three key processes involving atomic step motion during the
dewetting of thin solid films: (i) the growth of an isolated island nucleated
far from a hole, (ii) the spreading of a monolayer rim, and (iii) the zipping
of a monolayer island along a straight dewetting front. Kinetic Monte Carlo
results are in good agreement with simple analytical models assuming
diffusion-limited dynamics.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Trapping in the random conductance model
We consider random walks on among nearest-neighbor random conductances
which are i.i.d., positive, bounded uniformly from above but whose support
extends all the way to zero. Our focus is on the detailed properties of the
paths of the random walk conditioned to return back to the starting point at
time . We show that in the situations when the heat kernel exhibits
subdiffusive decay --- which is known to occur in dimensions --- the
walk gets trapped for a time of order in a small spatial region. This shows
that the strategy used earlier to infer subdiffusive lower bounds on the heat
kernel in specific examples is in fact dominant. In addition, we settle a
conjecture concerning the worst possible subdiffusive decay in four dimensions.Comment: 21 pages, version to appear in J. Statist. Phy
A contiuum model for low temperature relaxation of crystal steps
High and low temperature relaxation of crystal steps are described in a
unified picture, using a continuum model based on a modified expression of the
step free energy. Results are in agreement with experiments and Monte Carlo
simulations of step fluctuations and monolayer cluster diffusion and
relaxation. In an extended model where mass exchange with neighboring terraces
is allowed, step transparency and a low temperature regime for unstable step
meandering are found.Comment: Submitted to Phys.Rev.Let
Factorization and Lie point symmetries of general Lienard-type equation in the complex plane
We present a variational approach to a general Lienard-type equation in order
to linearize it and, as an example, the Van der Pol oscillator is discussed.
The new equation which is almost linear is factorized. The point symmetries of
the deformed equation are also discussed and the two-dimensional Lie algebraic
generators are obtained
Gender violence in schools: taking the ‘girls-as-victims’ discourse forward
This paper draws attention to the gendered nature of violence in schools. Recent recognition that schools can be violent places has tended to ignore the fact that many such acts originate in unequal and antagonistic gender relations, which are tolerated and ‘normalised’ by everyday school structures and processes. After examining some key concepts and definitions, we provide a brief overview of the scope and various manifestations of gender violence in schools, noting that most research to date has focused on girls as victims of gender violence within a heterosexual context and ignores other forms such as homophobic and girl violence. We then move on to look at a few interventions designed to address gender violence in schools in the developing world and end by highlighting the need for more research and improved understanding of the problem and how it can be addressed
The Importance of Audit Firm Characteristics and the Drivers of Auditor Change in UK Listed Companies
This paper explores the importance of audit firm characteristics and the factors motivating auditor change based on questionnaire responses from 210 listed UK companies (a response rate of 70%). Twenty-nine potentially desirable auditor characteristics are identified from the extant literature and their importance elicited. Exploratory factor analysis reduces these variables to eight uncorrelated underlying dimensions: reputation/quality; acceptability to third parties; value for money; ability to provide non-audit services; small audit firm; specialist industry knowledge; non-Big Six large audit firm; and geographical proximity. Insights into the nature of 'the Big Six factor' emerge. Two thirds of companies had recently considered changing auditors; the main reasons cited being audit fee level, dissatisfaction with audit quality and changes in top management. Of those companies that considered change, 73% did not actually do so, the main reasons cited being fee reduction by the incumbent and avoidance of disruption. Thus audit fee levels are both a key precipitator of change and a key factor in retaining the status quo
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