Peculiar Asymmetry Research Articles

National Democracy and Nazism. The Asymmetry of Relations

The relationship between Polish nationalism and fascism and National Socialism has been the subject of numerous publications, especially those that are part of the Polish scientific literature. There is a peculiar asymmetry embedded in this relationship. During the interwar period and nowadays, this subject has been reflected on rather on the Polish side rather than the German side. The author attempts to answer a question about reasons for this asymmetry. In the 1930s, German interest in Polish nationalism was limited. Publications dealing specifically with Eastern European issues were the only to designate more space and attention to the topic. The publications, however, almost completely ignored official NSDAP sources. The shape and evolution of the national camp in Poland focused on a few issues only and it was a domain of a few authors whose names appear in various periodicals. In Germany, a hypothetical explanation for this phenomenon is based on fundamental contradictions that divided the Polish and German forms of nationalism at the time, namely the absence of the biological-racial dimension in the Polish national ideology and its strong connection with Catholicism. The practical absence of the Polish national movement in German articles of the 1930s might be attributed to the doctrine and racist objectives of National Socialism.

Marine propeller noise propagation within bounded domains

In the present work, we develop a new methodology to investigate the propagation of acoustic noise originating from a naval propeller, in a bounded marine environment. The propagation in a realistic environment is achieved by coupling the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation with the acoustic wave equation, overcoming some intrinsic limitations of the FW-H equation. First, the FW-H equation applied to the hydrodynamics field obtained from Large Eddy Simulation, accurately characterizes the propeller source in the acoustic near-field. Then, the propagation in the acoustic far-field is evaluated in an arbitrary domain by solving the acoustic wave equation. After validating the new proposed methodology, we investigate the propagation of the linear part of the noise generated by a naval propeller within a canal. The results show complex interaction between the noise source and the environment: the decay rate of the acoustic energy is strictly related to the distance of the source from the boundaries of the canal; local maxima and minima of the acoustic energy are observed resulting from the superposition of direct and reflected waves; the water–air interface introduces a peculiar asymmetry of the acoustic field associated with the interaction between the acoustic waves.

Structure, seismostratigraphy, and tectonic evolution of Lago Roca (southern Patagonia, Argentina)

Lago Roca is a NE–SW elongated lacustrine body located to the south of Lago Argentino, the largest lake of the UNESCO ‘Los Glaciares’ National Park. An extensive high‐resolution seismic survey carried out within the Lago Roca, integrated with geological information gathered in the area, have allowed to produce: (a) a complete bathymetric map of the lake; (b) a basement topography map and a structural map; and (c) an analysis of the geometry, distribution, and thickness of the sedimentary infill. Two sub‐basins were recognized in Lago Roca, separated by a central basement high that shows a pop‐up structure. The northern and southern margins of the lake basement are bounded by NE–SW trending strike‐slip faults that constitute subsidiary faults strands of the regional structural lineament known as the ‘Lago Argentino transfer fault’. The shallow, low magnitude seismicity recorded in the area supports the interpretation that this fault segment is active at the present. The relative motion along the fault led to the deformation of the sedimentary infill of the lake, which was also affected by several subsidiary normal faults oriented parallel to the Lago Argentino transfer fault. Data show the peculiar asymmetry in the sedimentary filling of Lago Roca, typical of those of pull‐apart basins generated along transform margins. A simplified model for the evolution of Lago Roca is also here proposed, based on the analysed data and the regional tectonic background.

Signatures of an eccentric disc cavity: Dust and gas in IRS 48

ABSTRACT We test the hypothesis that the disc cavity in the ‘transition disc’ Oph IRS 48 is carved by an unseen binary companion. We use 3D dust–gas smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulations to demonstrate that marginally coupled dust grains concentrate in the gas overdensity that forms in the cavity around a low binary mass ratio binary. This produces high contrast ratio dust asymmetries at the cavity edge similar to those observed in the disc around IRS 48 and other transition discs. This structure was previously assumed to be a vortex. However, we show that the observed velocity map of IRS 48 displays a peculiar asymmetry that is not predicted by the vortex hypothesis. We show the unusual kinematics are naturally explained by the non-Keplerian flow of gas in an eccentric circumbinary cavity. We further show that perturbations observed in the isovelocity curves of IRS 48 may be explained as the product of the dynamical interaction between the companion and the disc. The presence of an ∼0.4 M⊙ companion at an ∼10 au separation can qualitatively explain these observations. High spatial resolution line and continuum imaging should be able to confirm this hypothesis.

Theory of current-induced skyrmion dynamics close to a boundary

Skyrmions are the prime candidate as the information carrier of tomorrow’s data storage devices. But they face the risk of annihilation on encountering a boundary. We show how skyrmions can avoid this undesired outcome through management of their anisotropy energies. Specifically we derive an edge potential and a contact interaction term which only operate close to the edge. We verify the accuracy of these two terms by modelling a realistic skyrmion system and comparing it with micromagnetic simulations. We not only observe and explain the speeding up of skyrmions near the edge (which had been expected) but also observe and explain a peculiar asymmetry in the motion (where it speeds up more on one edge compared to the other). We devise a means to stabilize a skyrmion against Magnus force (without the need for a transverse current) by modifying the damping parameters. Finally, we note a link between these damping parameters and the anisotropy energy. Our results will be of value in the design of skyrmion-based devices and would give fresh impetus to the study of magnetic anisotropy. SignificanceSkyrmions are the prime candidate as information carrier of tomorrow’s ever ubiquitous data storage devices. But they face the risk of annihilation on encountering a boundary. We propose a model for the skyrmion-edge dynamics by deriving an edge potential and a contact interaction, which are incorporated into the standard Thiele equation for the current-induced motion of skyrmions. We compare this model with micromagnetic simulations which leads us to observe and explain the speeding up of skyrmions near the edge. We also observe and explain a peculiar asymmetry in the motion (where skyrmions speed up more on one edge compared to the other) and discover the important role played by the damping constants of the Thiele equation. We devised a means to stabilize a skyrmion against Magnus force (without the need for a transverse current) by modifying the damping parameters. A connection with the anisotropy energy is noted.

Distinct mechanisms explain the control of reach speed planning: evidence from a race model framework

Previous studies have investigated the computational architecture underlying the voluntary control of reach movements that demands a change in position or direction of movement planning. Here we used a novel task in which subjects had to either increase or decrease the movement speed according to a change in target color that occurred randomly during a trial. The applicability of different race models to such a speed redirect task was assessed. We found that the predictions of an independent race model that instantiated an abort-and-replan strategy was consistent with all aspects of performance in the fast-to-slow speed condition. The results from modeling indicated a peculiar asymmetry, in that although the fast-to-slow speed change required inhibition, none of the standard race models was able to explain how movements changed from slow to fast speeds. Interestingly, a weighted averaging model that simulated the gradual merging of two kinematic plans explained behavior in the slow-to-fast speed task. In summary, our work shows how a race model framework can provide an understanding of how the brain controls different aspects of reach movement planning and help distinguish between an abort-and-replan strategy and merging of plans. NEW & NOTEWORTHY For the first time, a race model framework was used to understand how reach speeds are modified. We provide evidence that a fast-to-slow speed change required aborting the current plan and a complete respecification of a new plan, while none of the race models was able to explain an instructed increase of hand movement speed, which was instead accomplished by a merging of a new kinematic plan with the existing kinematic plan.

Asymmetric band gaps in a Rashba film system

The joint effect of exchange and Rashba spin-orbit interactions is examined on the surface and quantum well states of ${\mathrm{Ag}}_{2}\mathrm{Bi}$-terminated Ag films grown on ferromagnetic Fe(110). The system displays a particular combination of time-reversal and translational symmetry breaking that strongly influences its electronic structure. Angle-resolved photoemission reveals asymmetric band-gap openings, due to spin-selective hybridization between Rashba-split surface states and exchange-split quantum well states. This results in an unequal number of states along positive and negative reciprocal space directions. We suggest that the peculiar asymmetry of the discovered electronic structure can have significant influence on spin-polarized transport properties.

Striking anomalies in the shape of Mössbauer spectra measured near “magnetic” Bragg reflection from [Fe/Cr] multilayer

The present work reports the observation of a peculiar asymmetry of the Mossbauer spectra of reflectivity from a periodic [57Fe(8A)/Cr(10.5A)]30 multilayer measured on both slopes of the half-order “magnetic” Bragg peak. The performed analysis and model calculations confirm the responsibility of the refraction effect for the observed features.

Electron Spin Density on the N-Donor Atoms of Cu(II)–(Bis)oxamidato Complexes As Probed by a Pulse ELDOR Detected NMR

We have applied the pulse ELDOR detected NMR (EDNMR) technique to determine the tensors of the transferred Cu (S = 1/2) - (14)N (I = 1) hyperfine (HF) interaction in single crystals of diamagnetically diluted mononuclear o-phenylenebis(N(R)-oxamide) complexes of [(n)Bu4N]2[Cu(opboR2)] (R = Et 1, (n)Pr 2) (1%) in a host lattice of [(n)Bu4N]2[Ni(opboR2)] (R = Et 3, (n)Pr 4) (99%) (1@3 and 2@4)). To facilitate the analysis of our EDNMR data and to analyze possible manifestations of the nuclear quadrupole interaction in the EDNMR spectra, we have treated a model electron-nuclear system of the coupled S = 1/2 and I = 1 spins using the spin density matrix formalism. It appears that this interaction yields a peculiar asymmetry of the EDMR spectra that manifests not only in the shift of the positions of the EDNMR lines that correspond to the forbidden EPR transitions, as expected, but also in the intensities of the EDNMR lines. The symmetric shape of the experimental spectra suggests the conclusion that, in the studied complexes, the quadrupole interaction is negligible. This has simplified the analysis of the spectra. The HF tensors of all four N donor atoms could be accurately determined. On the basis of the HF tensors, an estimate of the spin density transferred from the central paramagnetic Cu(II) ion to the N donor atoms reveals its unequal distribution. We discuss possible implications of our estimates for the magnetic exchange paths and interaction strengths in respective trinuclear complexes [Cu3(opboR2) (pmdta)2](NO3)2 (R = Et 6, (n)Pr 7).

Bilayer-induced asymmetric quantum Hall effect in epitaxial graphene

The transport properties of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) at quantizing magnetic fields are investigated. Devices patterned perpendicularly to SiC terraces clearly exhibit bilayer inclusions distributed along the substrate step edges. We show that the transport properties in the quantum Hall regime are heavily affected by the presence of bilayer inclusions, and observe a significant departure from the conventional quantum Hall characteristics. In particular, we observe anomalous values of the quantized resistance and a peculiar asymmetry with magnetic field which was not observed before for graphene on SiC. A quantitative model involving enhanced inter-channel scattering mediated by the presence of bilayer inclusions is presented that successfully explains the observed symmetry properties.

Limits on Allomorphy: A Case Study in Nominal Suppletion

Reporting on a study of 79 languages (see appendix B), I argue that (morpho-)syntactic structure plays a crucial role in two observed asymmetries: (i) in nouns number-driven root suppletion is common while case-driven root suppletion is virtually unattested, and (ii) in contrast to lexical nouns, pronouns commonly supplete for both number and case. I propose that the structural difference between lexical nouns and pronouns, combined with locality effects as proposed in Distributed Morphology (DM; Halle and Marantz 1993), account for the two asymmetries, which raises the question whether these can be captured in frameworks that deny that hierarchical syntactic structure plays a role in the morphology, such as Word and Paradigm approaches (e.g. Anderson 1992, Stump 2001).

Transnationals in an English-speaking world

The dominance of the English language in the last half century has simplified globalisation and enabled more peoples to engage in transnational entrepreneurship than ever was possible in the past. Currently, transnational entrepreneurs need only English language competence to undertake the work of knitting together geographically and linguistically distant regions and countries. Although everywhere an elite skill, English language competence is now widespread in every region of the world. Therefore, linking two non-English-speaking countries now requires only one language, English. In the past, when middleman minorities undertook international trade, that same linkage required mastery of three language: the language of the exporter, the language of the middlemen and the language of the importer. English language dominance is a cultural resource that abets globalisation, but some evidence suggests a peculiar asymmetry arises when English-speaking countries export to non-English-speaking countries.

Broad [O iii] in the globular cluster RZ 2109: X-ray ionized nova ejecta

We study the possibility that the very broad (~1500 km/s) and luminous (L_5007 ~ 1.4e37 erg/s) [OIII] line emission observed in the globular cluster RZ 2109 might be explained with the photoionization of nova ejecta by the bright (L_X ~ 4e39 erg/s) X-ray source hosted in the same globular cluster. We find that such scenario is plausible and explains most of the features of the RZ 2109 spectrum (line luminosity, absence of H emission lines, peculiar asymmetry of the line profile); on the other hand, it requires the nova ejecta to be relatively massive (>~ 0.5e-3 Msun}), and the nova to be located at a distance <~ 0.1 pc from the X-ray source. We also predict the time evolution of the RZ 2109 line emission, so that future observations can be used to test this scenario.

Theoretical Studies on Molecular and Structures of Mono- and Binuclear Chromium Carbazole Derivatives for Optoelectronics

Studies on the molecular geometries, electronic properties and second-order nonlinearities of a series of mono- and binuclear chromium carbazole complexes: (N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(3) (M1), (N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(2)PPh(3) (M2), (CO)(3)Cr(N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(3) (B1), and (CO)(3)Cr(N-vinylcarbazole)Cr(CO)(2)PPh(3) (B2) were carried out, using the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP//LanL2DZ/6-31G(d) level. The experimental singlet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ((1)MLCT) spectra of these complexes can also be well simulated and discussed by the time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) at the B3LYP//LanL2DZ/6-311+G(d) level associated with the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The computational results show that an unusual characteristic of chromium carbazole structures is explained in terms of interaction between frontier molecular orbitals of the metal and its ligands. The highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) of these complexes are composed of a set of distorted degenerated Cr 3d orbitals, whereas the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) are predominantly the N-vinylcarbazole ligand π* orbitals. The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps decrease in the order NVC > M1 > B1 > M2 > B2. The considerable coupling between the carbazole and (CO)(3) in M1 creates an asymmetric environment about the chromium atom, leading to modest second-order responses. The PPh(3) ligand is acting as a donor which increases the donating strength of the d(π) orbitals in chromium carbazole species, resulting in the large electronic asymmetry in M2. As for the binuclear chromium carbazole chromophores, a wide-range (1)MLCT band and large oscillator strength are found, allowing for the electronic interactions between two metal centers which can be modified by altering the ligand bound to the metals to induce peculiar asymmetry. Essentially, Cr(CO)(3) acceptor and Cr(CO)(2)PPh(3) donor units in B2 make significant contribution to the charge-transfer process or NLO responses via conventional push-pull chromophoric architecture.

Synthesis and structure of three dichromium hexacarbonyl complexes with (CPPh 2) 2, (CHPPh 2) 2, and carbazole bridges

Three dichromium hexacarbonyl complexes containing (CPPh 2) 2, (CHPPh 2) 2, and carbazole as a conjugated bridging ligand are synthesized and exhibit a variety of electronic interactions between the metal centers, which can be modified by altering either the conjugated bridging nature or the ligand bound to the metals to induce peculiar asymmetry.

Amorphous phase behavior and crystalline morphology in blends of poly(vinyl methyl ether) with isomeric polyesters: poly(hexamethylene adipate) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone)

Two isomeric polyesters, poly(1,6-hexamethylene adipate) (PHA) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), were each blended with amorphous poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and investigated and compared in the crystalline and amorphous phases. The amorphous phase, Tg, and crystalline morphology of the PVME/PHA blend were compared with those of classical PVME/PCL. Both blend systems exhibit a similar peculiar asymmetry with positive deviation in Tg-composition relationships, and both are similarly miscible, with the PVME/PHA blend exhibiting χ12=−0.21; for PVME/PCL, χ12=−0.20. These values indicate that both blends are similarly miscible but have only quite weak interactions in the amorphous phase. Neat PHA shows a regime-I to -II transition, but neat PCL exhibits a regime-II to -III transition. On blending with PVME (at 20 wt%), both PVME/PCL and PVME/PHA blends undergo changes in crystallization temperature (Tc). Dendritic spherulites in the high-Tc (46 °C or above)-crystallized PVME/PHA blend assume a straight-stalk pattern (chrysanthemum flower pestles or banana stems). In contrast to the similarities in amorphous-phase miscibility, the crystalline phases of these two blends differ significantly. When crystallized at high Tc (46 °C or above), the PVME/PCL (20/80) blend assumes a fluffy feather-like dendritic pattern, which is dramatically different from the straight-stalk dendrites in the PVME/PHA (20/80) blend. The amorphous phase and crystalline morphology of the poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/poly(1,6-hexamethylene adipate) (PHA) blend were compared with those of the classical PVME/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) system, isomeric to the former. Both blend systems’ amorphous phases are similarly miscible with χ12=−0.2. In contrast, the crystalline phases of these two blends differ significantly. When crystallized at high Tc (46 °C or above), the PVME/PCL (20/80) blend assumes fluffy feather-like dendrites (Graph-a), which are dramatically different from straight-stalk dendrites in the PVME/PHA (20/80) blend (Graph-b).

The Moroccan diplocaulid: the last lepospondyl, the single one on Gondwana

Diplocaulus minimus Dutuit, 1988, the diplocaulid lepospondyl from the Late Permian of the Argana Basin (Morocco) is revised based on a redescription of the type material, together with a description of recently found specimens. The revised specimens, previously reported to Diplocaulus, prove to be more closely related to the genus Diploceraspis. These animals exhibit a peculiar asymmetry of the skull. They are the only known Gondwanian lepospondyls and their unique co-occurrence with pareiasaurs strengthens the hypotheses of climate-controlled endemism in the end-Permian Pangea.

A Peculiar Feature of the Seasonal Migration of the South American Rain Band

Seasonal migration of tropical rainfall is examined in the South American sector and compared with that over Africa, using satellite and reanalysis data. While the African rain band moves continuously back and forth across the equator following the seasonal march of the sun, the South American one displays a peculiar asymmetry between its northward and southward migration. The rain band moves gradually northward from October to July from the Amazon toward the Caribbean Sea, while its return to the Amazon is an abrupt event, with convection developing rapidly in October around 10 � S without going through the equator. Over the equatorial Amazon during July–October, equivalent potential temperature (ye) is kept low by the easterly advection of low temperature and humidity air from the equatorial Atlantic, coinciding with the seasonal development of ocean upwelling and a cold tongue in sea surface temperature. The low ye values prevent convection from developing in the equatorial Amazon while warm SST supports convection on the north coast of South America during August–October. Meanwhile solar radiation continues to heat up the land surface to the south, eventually triggering the onset of deep convection there in October.

Friedel oscillation and charge density wave pinning in vanadium-doped blue bronze

An analysis of x-ray data from vanadium-doped blue bronze K0.3(Mo1-xVx)O3 is presented for x=2.8% and 1.44%. 2kF satellite reflections are broadened in all the directions and exhibit a peculiar profile asymmetry in the chain direction We interpret this profile asymmetry by the presence of Friedel oscillations around the charged vanadium impurities.

Long-term photometry of the near-contact detached binary GR Tauri

We present photometric observations of the eclipsing binary GR Tau made in 1985, 1993, 1998, 2000 and 2001. New times of minima and ephemerides are given. Based on a statistical analysis of the times of minima obtained by photoelectric and CCD photometry, the orbital period of the system is found to be decreasing with a rate of during the past decades. An assumed hot spot on the trailing hemisphere of the secondary enables us to reconstruct the peculiar asymmetry of the distorted light curves. The photometric solution with the Wilson-Devinney code reveals that GR Tau is a near-contact detached system with the two components almost filling their respective critical Roche lobes. The photometric mass ratio turns out to be , and the masses and radii are derived for the components as , , and . The authors discuss the possible evolutionary status of the component stars and the probable nature of the assumed hot spot.