Question: What do Curve and The Sisters of Mercy have in common?

<P0-S0> The Sisters of Mercy are an English gothic rock band, formed in 1980 in Leeds, United Kingdom (UK). <P0-S1>  After achieving early underground fame there, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company Time Warner. <P0-S2>  Currently, the band is a touring outfit only. <SEP> <P1-S0> In thermodynamics, the limit of local stability with respect to small fluctuations is clearly defined by the condition that the second derivative of Gibbs free energy is zero. <P1-S1>  The locus of these points (the inflection point within a G-x or G-c curve, Gibbs free energy as a function of composition) is known as the spinodal curve. <P1-S2>  For compositions within this curve, infinitesimally small fluctuations in composition and density will lead to phase separation via spinodal decomposition. <P1-S3>  Outside of the curve, the solution will be at least metastable with respect to fluctuations. <P1-S4>  In other words, outside the spinodal curve some careful process may obtain a single phase system. <P1-S5>  Inside it, only processes far from thermodynamic equilibrium, such as physical vapor deposition, will enable one to prepare single phase compositions. <P1-S6>  The local points of coexisting compositions, defined by the common tangent construction, are known as binodal (coexistence) curve, which denotes the minimum-energy equilibrium state of the system. <P1-S7>  Increasing temperature results in a decreasing difference between mixing entropy and mixing enthalpy, thus, the coexisting compositions come closer. <P1-S8>  The binodal curve forms the bases for the miscibility gap in a phase diagram. <P1-S9>  Since the free energy of mixture changes with temperature and concentration, the binodal and spinodal meet at the critical or consulate temperature and composition. <SEP> <P2-S0> Many, or perhaps most, law schools in the United States grade on a curve. <P2-S1>  The process generally works within each class, where the instructor grades each exam, and then ranks the exams against each other, adding to and subtracting from the initial grades so that the overall grade distribution matches the school's specified curve (usually a bell curve). <P2-S2>  "The curve" is the permitted range of each letter grade that can be awarded, for example, 0-3% A+, 3-7% A, etc. <P2-S3>  Curves vary between different law schools, as do the rules for when the curve is mandatory versus suggestive. <P2-S4>  It is common for the curve to be mandatory for first year ("1L") courses, and for classes above a certain size. <SEP> <P3-S0> Curve were an English alternative rock and electronica duo from London, formed in 1990 and split in 2005. <P3-S1>  The band consisted of Toni Halliday (vocals, occasionally guitar) and Dean Garcia (bass, guitar, drums, programming). <P3-S2>  Halliday wrote also the lyrics of their songs and they both contributed to songwriting. <P3-S3>  An important collaborator was the producer Alan Moulder, who helped them to shape their blend of heavy beats and densely layered guitar tracks set against Halliday's vocals.