Search results for " freedom"
showing 10 items of 346 documents
Life situation and identity among single older home-living people: A phenomenologicalhermeneutic study
2012
Being able to continue living in their own home as long as possible is the general preference for many older people, and this is also in line with the public policy in the Nordic countries. The aim of this study was to elucidate the meaning of self-care and health for perception of life situation and identity among single-living older individuals in rural areas in southern Norway. Eleven older persons with a mean age of 78 years were interviewed and encouraged to narrate their self-care and health experiences. The interviews were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. The findings are presented as a n…
The Italian law on assisted reproduction: a view from Spain
2006
Despite the pessimistic concerns about the outcome of assisted reproduction in Italy after the application of the new law, initial reports show similar pregnancy rates. However, with increasing numbers, the deleterious effect of such a restrictive law will show up. Moreover, it may seriously affect the scientific production of Italian groups, which may be forced to migrate to other countries to maintain their independence and scientific freedom.
Lautsi contra Italia: sobre la libertad religiosa y los deberes de neutralidad e imparcialidad del Estado.
2011
RESUMENRecientemente, la Gran Sala del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos ha resuelto que la presencia del crucifijo en las aulas italianas no supone una vulneración del derecho de los padres a asegurar la educación de sus hijos de conformidad con sus propias creencias religiosas y de los deberes de neutralidad e imparcialidad estatal impuestos por el derecho de libertad religiosa. Con ello revocaba una decisión en sentido contrario de una Sala de la Sección Segunda del propio tribunal. En el trabajo se repasan críticamente los fundamentos de la decisión definitiva, basada principalmente en el reconocimiento de un amplio margen de discrecionalidad en la actuación de las autoridades nacion…
Stationary and non-stationary stochastic response of linear fractional viscoelastic systems
2012
Abstract A method is presented to compute the stochastic response of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structural systems with fractional derivative damping, subjected to stationary and non-stationary inputs. Based on a few manipulations involving an appropriate change of variable and a discretization of the fractional derivative operator, the equation of motion is reverted to a set of coupled linear equations involving additional degrees of freedom, the number of which depends on the discretization of the fractional derivative operator. As a result of the proposed variable transformation and discretization, the stochastic analysis becomes very straightforward and simple since, based on stand…
On the role of atomic thermal vibrations in binary-alloy thermodynamics
2001
An ab initio approach is advanced for the thermodynamical properties investigations of disordered binary alloys. Configurational and vibrational degrees of freedom are considered on the microscopic level in the grand partition sum calculations. Summing over the vibrational and configurational states of an alloy is performed within the reference system approach and the collective variables method, respectively. An equation defining the alloy free energy is obtained. The role of the atomic thermal vibrations in the binary-alloy thermodynamics and their relationship with the configurational effects are discussed. Conditions when the configurational and vibrational effects can be treated separa…
Revealing Charge-Transfer Dynamics at Electrified Sulfur Cathodes Using Constrained Density Functional Theory
2021
To understand and control the behavior of electrochemical systems, including batteries and electrocatalysts, we seek molecular-level details of the charge transfer mechanisms at electrified interfaces. Recognizing some key limitations of standard equilibrium electronic structure methods to model materials and their interfaces, we propose applying charge constraints to effectively separate electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom, which are especially beneficial to the study of conversion electrodes, where electronic charge carriers are converted to much slower polarons within a material that is nonmetallic. We demonstrate the need for such an approach within the context of sulfur cathodes …
Multiscale modeling of polymers at interfaces
2009
A brief review of modeling and simulation methods for a study of polymers at interfaces is provided. When studying truly multiscale problems as provided by realistic polymer systems, coarse graining is practically unavoidable. In this process, degrees of freedom on smaller scales are eliminated to the favor of a model suitable for efficient study of the system behavior on larger length and time scales. We emphasize the need to distinguish between dynamic and static properties regarding the model validation. A model which accurately reproduces static properties may fail completely, when it comes to the dynamic behavior of the system. Furthermore, we comment on the use of Monte Carlo method i…
A microstructural model for homogenisation and cracking of piezoelectric polycrystals
2019
Abstract An original three-dimensional generalised micro-electro-mechanical model for computational homogenisation and analysis of degradation and micro-cracking of piezoelectric polycrystalline materials is proposed in this study. The model is developed starting from a generalised electro-mechanical boundary integral representation of the micro-structural problem for the individual bulk grains and a generalised cohesive formulation is employed for studying intergranular micro-damage initiation and evolution into intergranular micro-cracks. To capture the electro-mechanical coupling at the evolving damaging intergranular interfaces, standard mechanical cohesive laws are enriched with suitab…
Optical and Vibrational Properties of Self-assembled GaN Quantum Dots
2008
Publisher Summary This chapter describes quantum dots (QDs) based on group III nitrides (III-N). They are expected to be the active medium of new optoelectronic devices operating at high powers and high temperatures. Besides the well-known advantages of their bulk and quantum well (QW) counterparts, III-N QDs provide strong confinement of carriers in nearly perfect zero-dimensional boxes. Quantum effects provide new degrees of freedom for the design of advanced devices. The chapter reviews the systems of dots that appear spontaneously during epitaxial growth without the need of artificial post-processing and designate them as self-assembled or self-organized QDs regardless of the mechanism …
Sospensione riproduttiva temporanea: etica delle popolazioni e cambiamento climatico
2012
The article defends a proposal of demographic self-limitation that should be realized by the citizens of industrialized countries as a contribution to the reduction of global emissions, for the benefit of future generations and emerging countries. It will also argue that many of the practical objections to the feasibility of this kind of voluntary choice are surmountable, as are some moral objections raised in the name of reproductive freedom and the value of future lives that would not be lived as a result of this choice.