Comment on ``Superconducting PrBa_2Cu_3O_x''

Recently, Zou et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 1074, 1998) reported the observation of bulk superconductivity (SC) for a PrBa_2Cu_3O_x (Pr123) single crystal grown by the traveling-solvent floating zone (TSFZ) method. The aim of this Comment is to show the inconsistency of the value of effective magnetic moment \mu_{eff} reported by Zou et al. (2.92\mu_B) with their magnetic susceptibility data. The estimation made directly from their data points gives a considerably smaller value of \mu_{eff}=2.09\mu_B. At the same time the values of mu_{eff}=2.9\mu_B and 3.1\mu_B were obtained for our Pr123 single crystals grown by flux method for H||ab-plane and H||c-axis, respectively. This suggests that Pr occupies only about a half of the RE sites in TSFZ crystal. The other half of the RE sites is occupied most probably by the nonmagnetic Ba. Noteworthy, SC with T_c=43 K was observed earlier for Pr_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-y} thin films. Ba^{2+} has a larger ionic radius than Pr^{3+} and so the substitution of Ba for Pr could give a natural explanation not only for the SC in TSFZ Pr123 but also for the elongation of the distance between the CuO_2 planes observed by Zou et al.Comment: Slightly extended version of Comment accepted to Phys. Rev. Lett. (v.81, N24, 1998), tentatevely to be publ. 14Dec98. 1 page, REVTex; 1 EPS fi

Self-organized dynamics and the transition to turbulence of confined active nematics

We study how confinement transforms the chaotic dynamics of bulk microtubule-based active nematics into regular spatiotemporal patterns. For weak confinements, multiple continuously nucleating and annihilating topological defects self-organize into persistent circular flows of either handedness. Increasing confinement strength leads to the emergence of distinct dynamics, in which the slow periodic nucleation of topological defects at the boundary is superimposed onto a fast procession of a pair of defects. A defect pair migrates towards the confinement core over multiple rotation cycles, while the associated nematic director field evolves from a distinct double spiral towards a nearly circularly symmetric configuration. The collapse of the defect orbits is punctuated by another boundary-localized nucleation event, that sets up long-term doubly-periodic dynamics. Comparing experimental data to a theoretical model of an active nematic, reveals that theory captures the fast procession of a pair of $+\frac{1}{2}$ defects, but not the slow spiral transformation nor the periodic nucleation of defect pairs. Theory also fails to predict the emergence of circular flows in the weak confinement regime. The developed confinement methods are generalized to more complex geometries, providing a robust microfluidic platform for rationally engineering two-dimensional autonomous flows

Centers and Cocenters of 00-Hecke algebras

In this paper, we give explicit descriptions of the centers and cocenters of $0$-Hecke algebras associated to finite Coxeter groups.Comment: 13 pages, a mistake in 4.2 is correcte

A more representative chamber: representation and the House of Lords

Since 1997 there has been substantive reform of the House of Lords in an effort to make the chamber ‘more democratic and more representative’. Whilst the Labour government failed to press ahead with any of the proposed plans for further reform following the removal of the bulk of the hereditary peers in 1999, it remained committed to the notion that such reform must make the second chamber ‘more representative’. The coalition government's programme advocates a long-term aspiration for a House wholly or mainly elected on the basis of proportional representation, and a short-term approach based on additional appointments to ensure a balance of the parties. What is clear in all of these proposals for reform is a desire for the House of Lords to become more representative than it is at present. However, what is less clear is what is meant by ‘representative’ – who the House of Lords is supposed to represent, and what form representation will take. Moreover, in proposing to make the chamber more representative, either through appointment or election, little attention has been paid to how the current House of Lords provides representation. This article examines these questions in the context of Pitkin's classic conceptions of representation and peers' attitudes towards their own representative rol

The Philosophy of Simulation: Hot New Issues or Same Old Stew?

Articl

Little boxes: A simple implementation of the Greenberger, Horne, and Zeilinger result for spatial degrees of freedom

A Greenberger, Horne, and Zeilinger-type construction is realized in the position properties of three particles whose wavefunctions are distributed over three two-chambered boxes. The same system is modeled more realistically using three spatially separated, singly ionized hydrogen molecules. © 2011 American Association of Physics Teachers

Short-Distance Structure of Nuclei

One of Jefferson Lab's original missions was to further our understanding of the short-distance structure of nuclei. In particular, to understand what happens when two or more nucleons within a nucleus have strongly overlapping wave-functions; a phenomena commonly referred to as short-range correlations. Herein, we review the results of the (e,e'), (e,e'p) and (e,e'pN) reactions that have been used at Jefferson Lab to probe this short-distance structure as well as provide an outlook for future experiments.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, for publication in Journal of Physics

An interstellar precursor mission

A mission out of the planetary system, with launch about the year 2000, could provide valuable scientific data as well as test some of the technology for a later mission to another star. Primary scientific objectives for the precursor mission concern characteristics of the heliopause, the interstellar medium, stellar distances (by parallax measurements), low energy cosmic rays, interplanetary gas distribution, and mass of the solar system. Secondary objectives include investigation of Pluto. Candidate science instruments are suggested. Individual spacecraft systems for the mission were considered, technology requirements and problem areas noted, and a number of recommendations made for technology study and advanced development. The most critical technology needs include attainment of 50-yr spacecraft lifetime and development of a long-life NEP system

Force-detected nuclear magnetic resonance: Recent advances and future challenges

We review recent efforts to detect small numbers of nuclear spins using magnetic resonance force microscopy. Magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) is a scanning probe technique that relies on the mechanical measurement of the weak magnetic force between a microscopic magnet and the magnetic moments in a sample. Spurred by the recent progress in fabricating ultrasensitive force detectors, MRFM has rapidly improved its capability over the last decade. Today it boasts a spin sensitivity that surpasses conventional, inductive nuclear magnetic resonance detectors by about eight orders of magnitude. In this review we touch on the origins of this technique and focus on its recent application to nanoscale nuclear spin ensembles, in particular on the imaging of nanoscale objects with a three-dimensional (3D) spatial resolution better than 10 nm. We consider the experimental advances driving this work and highlight the underlying physical principles and limitations of the method. Finally, we discuss the challenges that must be met in order to advance the technique towards single nuclear spin sensitivity -- and perhaps -- to 3D microscopy of molecules with atomic resolution.Comment: 15 pages & 11 figure

Predictors and outcomes of crossover to surgery from physical therapy for meniscal tear and osteoarthritis a randomized trial comparing physical therapy and surgery

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) combined with physical therapy (PT) have yielded pain relief similar to that provided by PT alone in randomized trials of subjects with a degenerative meniscal tear. However, many patients randomized to PT received APM before assessment of the primary outcome. We sought to identify factors associated with crossing over to APM and to compare pain relief between patients who had crossed over to APM and those who had been randomized to APM. METHODS: We used data from the MeTeOR (Meniscal Tear in Osteoarthritis Research) Trial of APM with PT versus PT alone in subjects ≥45 years old who had mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis and a degenerative meniscal tear. We assessed independent predictors of crossover to APM among those randomized to PT. We also compared pain relief at 6 months among those randomized to PT who crossed over to APM, those who did not cross over, and those originally randomized to APM. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four subjects were randomized to and received APM and 177 were randomized to PT, of whom 48 (27%) crossed over to receive APM in the first 140 days after randomization. In multivariate analyses, factors associated with a higher likelihood of crossing over to APM among those who had originally been randomized to PT included a baseline Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain Score of ≥40 (risk ratio [RR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00, 3.93) and symptom duration of <1 year (RR = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.98, 3.08). Eighty-one percent of subjects who crossed over to APM and 82% of those randomized to APM had an improvement of ≥10 points in their pain score at 6 months, as did 73% of those who were randomized to and received only PT. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects who crossed over to APM had presented with a shorter symptom duration and greater baseline pain than those who did not cross over from PT. Subjects who crossed over had rates of surgical success similar to those of the patients who had been randomized to surgery. Our findings also suggest that an initial course of rigorous PT prior to APM may not compromise surgical outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence