Influence of microscopic transport coefficients on the formation probabilities for super-heavy elements

The formation probability is shown to increase by a few orders of magnitude if microscopic transport coefficients are used rather than those of the common macroscopic pictures. Quantum effects in collective dynamics are taken into account through the fluctuating force, as exhibited in diffusion coefficients for a Gaussian process. In the range of temperatures considered here, they turn out to be of lesser importance.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, replaced by revised version accepted for publication in NP

SU(2,CMB), the nature of light and acceleratedcosmological expansion

We present quantitative and qualitative arguments in favor of the claim that, within the present cosmological epoch, the U(1)gamma factor in the Standard Model is an effective manifestation of SU(2) pure gauge dynamics of Yang-Mills scale Lambda ~ 10^-4 eV. Results for the pressure and the energy density in the deconfining phase of this theory, obtained in a nonperturbative and analytical way, support this connection in view of large-angle features inherent in the map of the CMB temperature fluctuations and temperature-polarization cross correlations

Influence of solar ultraviolet-B radiation in New Zealand on white clover (Trifolium repens L.), ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

New Zealand pasture plants have been exposed to increasing levels of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) as a result of stratospheric ozone depletion during recent years. Thus far, there has been only limited published information on UV-B effects on pasture plants growing under field conditions. This study set out to investigate effects of natural solar UV-B radiation in the field for the pasture species white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and compared those with pea (Pisum sativum L.), another economically important crop. Contrasting UV-B levels were created with two filter systems, using UV-B-absorbing glasshouse polythene film and UV-B-transmitting perspex glass. A further treatment included open plots that were not covered by filters. Ambient UV-B irradiance levels were recorded daily during the experimental period in summer from early December 1995 to late February 1996. The pasture species were investigated in monoculture as well as in their typical association in an established sward that was regularly grazed by sheep. Morphological measurements included leaf expansion, leaf initiation, leaf senescence, stem elongation, above-ground biomass and aspects of plant reproduction. To identify possible responses related to UV-B protection, measurements included specific leaf mass (SLM), accumulation of UV-absoibing compounds and of anthocyanins. The highest UV-B levels occurred during the early- and midsummer period from mid December to late January. Clouding reduced UV-B irradiance by more than 70%. The UV-B-absorbing treatment reduced ambient UV-B levels by about 90%, and the transmitting filters by about 25%. Results from the monoculture trials revealed interspecific differences in UV-B sensitivity between the three plant species tested. Ryegrass and white clover appeared UV-B-sensitive in a number of vegetative morphological aspects, while pea generally displayed UV-B tolerance. Most features of UV-B sensitivity in the two pasture species were recorded during midsummer in January, with young plant pans particularly affected by the UV-B-transmitting treatments. The area of young white clover leaves was reduced by about 20%, and the length of young internodes by more than 25%. Solar UV-B increased the number of senescing ryegrass leaves in January and induced white clover inflorescence formation in February. Inflorescence numbers were also increased in pea under UV-B-transmitting filters. While there was no clear relationship between SLM and UV-B susceptibility, the biochemical studies suggest that the interspecific differences in UV-B sensitivity may be due to differences in the accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds and of anthocyanins. Average levels of UV-absorbing compounds across treatments were about 50% higher in pea than in the two pasture species. Furthermore and in contrast to the pasture species, pea showed the highest levels of anthocyanins under solar UV-B in January. The results from the sward trials were in general agreement with the findings from the monoculture studies, showing that morphological sensitivity under the UV-B-transmitting treatments could also be detected for white clover and ryegrass when grown in association. This was reflected in a reduction of white clover leaf area and of leaf elongation in mature ryegrass tillers by 13%, and by more than 20% in young ryegrass tillers. The effects on the two species under pasture conditions were also reflected in whole sward measurements, showing decreases in sward height of about 15% and in herbage accumulation of about 20% under UV-B-transmitting filters. In conclusion, the findings from this study show that near-ambient solar UV-B levels can affect the morphology of the two most commonly sown pasture plant species in New Zealand. In contrast, pea showed tolerance to UV-B and this may at least be partly due to higher intrinsic levels of UV-absorbing compounds

SU(2) and SU(3) Yang-Mills thermodynamics and some implications

We sketch the development of effective theories for SU(2) and SU(3) Yang-Mills thermodynamics. The most important results are quoted and some implications for particle physics and cosmology are discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, v3: consequences of a change in the evolution equations for the effective couplings implemented, practically no change in the physics, erratum to appear in the journal-published versio

Fundamental and effective SU(2) Yang-Mills vertices

Calorons and plane waves within and in between them {\sl collectively} give rise to a thermal ground state. The latter provides a homgeneous energy density and a negative pressure, and it induces quasiparticle masses to part of the propagating spectrum of deconfining SU(2) Yang-Mills thermodynamics (dynamical gauge-symmetry breaking). In the present talk we discuss the role of a {\sl single} caloron in inducing effective local vertices, characterized by powers of $\hbar$, mediating the interaction of plane waves which propagate over large distances. The constraints on momentum transfers through effective 4-vertices are revisited.Comment: 4 pages, no figur

The enriched Vietoris monad on representable spaces

Employing a formal analogy between ordered sets and topological spaces, over the past years we have investigated a notion of cocompleteness for topological, approach and other kind of spaces. In this new context, the down-set monad becomes the filter monad, cocomplete ordered set translates to continuous lattice, distributivity means disconnectedness, and so on. Curiously, the dual(?) notion of completeness does not behave as the mirror image of the one of cocompleteness; and in this paper we have a closer look at complete spaces. In particular, we construct the "up-set monad" on representable spaces (in the sense of L. Nachbin for topological spaces, respectively C. Hermida for multicategories); we show that this monad is of Kock-Z\"oberlein type; we introduce and study a notion of weighted limit similar to the classical notion for enriched categories; and we describe the Kleisli category of our "up-set monad". We emphasize that these generic categorical notions and results can be indeed connected to more "classical" topology: for topological spaces, the "up-set monad" becomes the upper Vietoris monad, and the statement "$X$ is totally cocomplete if and only if $X^\mathrm{op}$ is totally complete" specialises to O. Wyler's characterisation of the algebras of the Vietoris monad on compact Hausdorff spaces.Comment: One error in Example 1.9 is corrected; Section 4 works now without the assuming core-compactnes

Airbnb in New York City: Whose Privacy Rights are Threatened by a Government Data Grab?

New York City regulators have vigorously resisted the rise of Airbnb as an alternative to traditional hotels, characterizing “home sharing” as a trend that is sucking up permanent housing in a city already facing an affordability crisis. However, laws banning short-term rentals have done little to discourage this practice, as Airbnb’s policy of keeping user information private makes it possible for illegal operators to evade law enforcement. Frustrated by this power imbalance, the New York City Council passed Local Law 146, which requires Airbnb to provide city officials with access to the names and information of its home sharing hosts on a monthly basis to assist with law enforcement efforts. Airbnb claims that the ordinance is a flagrant violation of its own privacy rights and the rights of its customers. Local Law 146 is the culmination of the regulatory struggle over Airbnb in New York City, but it is also a flash point for government data-collection efforts generally. Because of the massive potential of using private companies’ data to aid in law enforcement efforts, the implementation of data-collection statutes could be an attractive policing tool. Using Local Law 146 as a lens, this Note examines the privacy issues implicated by datacollection laws and discusses which parties can assert these privacy rights, particularly given recent changes in third-party doctrine jurisprudence. Ultimately, this Note concludes that, while the outcome of Airbnb’s challenge to Local Law 146 will be an important indicator, the suit will not resolve the question of whether individual Airbnb hosts could successfully challenge this law without the support of the company. Individual challenges to sweeping data-collection statutes could be the next frontier in breaking down the third-party doctrine’s barrier to Fourth Amendment protections