Tight bounds for break minimization

We consider round-robin sports tournaments with n teams and n − 1 rounds. We construct an infinite family of opponent schedules for which every home-away assignment induces at least 1/4 n(n−2) breaks. This construction establishes a matching lower bound for a corresponding upper bound from the literature

The behavioural impact of a visually represented virtual assistant in a selfservice checkout context

Our research investigated whether the presence of an interface agent - or virtual assistant (VA) - in a self-service checkout context has behavioural effects on the transaction process during particular tasks. While many participants claimed to have not noticed a VA within the self-service interface, behaviour was still affected, i.e. fewer people made errors with the VA present than in the voice-only and control conditions. The results are explained as reflective of an unconscious observation of non-verbal cues exhibited by the VA. The results are discussed in relation to possible behavioural outcomes of VA presence.</p

Lattice Ising model in a field: E8_8 scattering theory

Zamolodchikov found an integrable field theory related to the Lie algebra E$_8$, which describes the scaling limit of the Ising model in a magnetic field. He conjectured that there also exist solvable lattice models based on E$_8$ in the universality class of the Ising model in a field. The dilute A$_3$ model is a solvable lattice model with a critical point in the Ising universality class. The parameter by which the model can be taken away from the critical point acts like a magnetic field by breaking the \Integer_2 symmetry between the states. The expected direct relation of the model with E$_8$ has not been found hitherto. In this letter we study the thermodynamics of the dilute A$_3$ model and show that in the scaling limit it exhibits an appropriate E$_8$ structure, which naturally leads to the E$_8$ scattering theory for massive excitations over the ground state.Comment: 11 pages, LaTe

Quantum Jacobi-Trudi Formula and E8E_8 Structure in the Ising Model in a Field

We investigate a 1D quantum system associated with the Ising model in a field(the dilute $A_3$ model) by the recently developed quantum transfer matrix (QTM) approach. A closed set of functional relations is found among variants of fusion QTMs which are characterized by skew Young tableaux. These relations are proved by using a quantum analogue of Jacobi-Trudi formula, together with special features at "root of unity" . The numerical analysis on their eigenvalues shows a remarkable coincidence with exponents characteristic to $E_8$. From these findings, we have successfully recovered the $E_8$ Thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equation by Bazhanov et al, however, without specific choice of strings solutions.Comment: 16 pages +Table, 4 Figures, Latex 2e, use graphic

Family stressors and children's outcomes

The research reported here aimed to identify:1.which family stress factors and parental behaviours were associated with worse outcomes for children at age 7 andwhich factors helped children to succeed2.whether stressful life events experienced at different periods of childhood were associated with worse outcomes in adolescence.Differences in children’s outcomeshave been shown to emerge early in life, and to be linked to both family circumstances, such as social disadvantage, and parenting behaviours, such as parenting style and activities with the child. Both these aspects of a child’s environment are important for their early cognitive and emotional development. But it is not clear whether these early differences, and the factors associated with them, persist up to age 7. Previous research has also shown that stressful life events are associated with worse outcomesfor children. However, it has not previously been possible to explore whether particular life events are especially detrimental, whether they impact across different sorts of children’s outcomes(educational, social etc.), and whether the effects of early childhood events persist into adolescence. In order to target interventions, it is clearly important to understand which family circumstances are significant for child wellbeing at different ages, and how that varies across outcomes. A range of children’s outcomeswere examined using data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). At age 7, these were verbal cognitive skills, non-verbal skills, maths skills, Key Stage 1 (KS1) attainment and behavioural difficulties. For teenagers, the following outcomes were explored at age 13-14: Key Stage 3 (KS3) attainment; emotional, behavioural, social, and school wellbeing; and Key Stage 4 (KS4) results at age 16. Key findingsA wide range of family background factors and parental behaviours are associated with children’s outcomesat age 7. These tend to be the same factors that are important at earlier ages, and include parenting behaviours, family structure andsocio-economic position of the family.Family poverty, child disability and the child’s mother having higher qualifications are consistently associated with children faring respectively worse (poverty and disability) and better (higher maternal qualifications) across all five age 7 outcomes, holding other factors constant.No other factors are associated with all five outcomes.Different aspects of family background matter for different outcomes.Children can experience a range of stressful life events. Extreme stressful events, such as homelessness, victimisation or abuse, can have long-term effects on children’s outcomes

Aspirations for later life: a report of research carried out by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (Research Report No 737)

This research report presents new survey findings on people’s aspirations for later life (that is, aged 60 onwards) in Great Britain. The survey sought to determine whether people hold aspirations for their later life and, if so, what these might be. In addition, it sought to provide an insight into what are the enablers and barriers to achieving these aspirations. Questions were asked of adults of all ages, not just those in middle and older age groups to explore when people start thinking about later life and how these attitudes change across the life cycle. This survey was carried out as part of the National Centre for Social Research Omnibus Survey. The sample was drawn from the Postcode Address File (PAF), commonly used in general population surveys. Face-to-face interviews were carried out in summer 2010. A total of 1,867 adults aged 16 years and over took part in the survey. However, it was assumed that respondents aged 45 to 65 years (i.e. those closer to retirement) would be most likely to have aspirations for later life, and so the number of respondents in this category was boosted, to allow more detailed analysis of their answers

Nonlinear Stochastic Convergence Analysis of Regional Unemployment Rates in Poland

This paper analyses convergence of unemployment rates in Poland at NUTS4 level by testing nonlinear convergence, applying the modified KSS-CHLL for each pair of territorial units. The results suggest that actually the convergence is a rare phenomenon and occurs only in 1916 cases out of potential over 70 000 combinations. This paper inquires what systematic reasons contribute to this phenomenon. There are some circumstances under which unemployment convergence should be more expected than in others. These include sharing a higher level territorial authority, experiencing similar labour market hardship or sharing the same structural characteristics. For each of these three criteria we analyse the frequency of the differential nonstationarity within groups (as evidence of convergence) and across groups (as evidence of "catching up").nonlinear convergence, stochastic convergence, unemployment, transition, Poland

Nonlinear Stochastic Convergence Analysis of Regional Unemployment Rates in Poland

This paper analyzes convergence of unemployment rates in Poland at NUTS4 level by testing nonlinear convergence, applying the modified KSS-CHLL for each pair of territorial units. The results suggest that actually the convergence is a rare phenomenon and occurs only in 1916 cases out of potential over 70 000 combinations. This paper inquires what systematic reasons contribute to this phenomenon. There are some circumstances under which unemployment convergence should be more awaited than in the others. These include sharing a higher level territorial authority, experiencing similar labour market hardship or sharing the same structural characteristics. For each of these three criteria we analyse the frequency of the dierential nonstationarity within groups (as evidence of convergence) and across groups (as evidence of "catching up").nonlinear convergence, stochastic convergence, unemployment, transition, Poland