Critical Behaviour of the Two Dimensional Step Model

We use finite--size scaling of Lee--Yang partition function zeroes to study the critical behaviour of the two dimensional step or sgn $O(2)$ model. We present evidence that, like the closely related $XY$--model, this has a phase transition from a disordered high temperature phase to a low temperature massless phase where the model remains critical. The critical parameters (including logarithmic corrections) are compatible with those of the $XY$--model indicating that both models belong to the same universality class.Comment: 6 pages latex, 3 postscript figures, compressed and uuencoded (revised remarks on Lee_Yang theorem, version to appear in Phys Rev B

Ecojusticia, equidad y ética: retos para la orientación educativa y profesional

In social and environmental terms we live in precarious and uncertain times, where not only the sustainability of the planet rests in the balance, but also that of human existence. Many nation-states around the world talk of the importance of social cohesion, and are aware of the threat of environmental degradation, climate change, and ecological well-being. However, the dominating global policy discourse, particularly championed in the West, is located within a delimiting neo/liberal political framework. With a few noticeable exceptions, the influence of neo/liberal thinking continues to flourish in the contemporary career literature where there has been little deep critical engagement with the discourse of capitalist economics and how these impact human and environmental well-being. Often caught up in market-led discourses, and captured by the notion that ‘work sets you free’, educational and career guidance has been located within an uncritical economic frame. Its energies tend to be directed towards the preparation of individuals to make ‘good’ educational and occupational choices, underpinned by the need for ‘clients’ to acquire the skills and competencies demanded by employers (and the economy) (Bengtsson, 2011; Irving, 2018). The disjuncture between educational and career guidance and social and environmental justice (i.e. ecojustice) has rarely been breached. In this article, we seek to disrupt dominant discourses of the market that currently permeates thinking in education by identifying how an ecojustice perspective provides a forward looking and equitable foundation for educational and career guidance.En términos sociales y ambientales, vivimos en tiempos precarios e inciertos, donde no solo la sostenibilidad del planeta está en juego, sino también la de la existencia humana. Muchos estados-nación de todo el mundo hablan de la importancia de la cohesión social y son conscientes de la degradación ambiental, el cambio climático y la amenaza al bienestar ecológico y social. Sin embargo, el discurso dominante de la política global, particularmente defendido en Occidente, se sitúa dentro de un marco político neoliberal. Con algunas notables excepciones, la influencia del pensamiento neoliberal continúa siendo hegemónico en el campo de la educación y de la orientación profesional, donde en términos generales ha habido poco compromiso crítico profundo con el discurso de la economía capitalista y cómo este impacta sobre el bienestar humano y ambiental. A menudo atrapada en discursos dirigidos por el mercado y por la noción de que "el trabajo nos hace libres", la orientación educativa y profesional se ha ubicado dentro de un marco económico acrítico. Se tiende a preparar a los individuos para tomar "buenas" decisiones educativas y ocupacionales, respaldadas por la necesidad de que adquieran las habilidades y competencias exigidas por los empleadores (y la economía) (Bengtsson, 2011; Irving, 2018). La disyuntiva entre la orientación educativa y profesional y la justicia social y ambiental (la ecojusticia) rara vez se ha abordado. En este artículo cuestionamos los discursos dominantes del mercado que actualmente impregnan el pensamiento en educación, y proponemos la adopción de una perspectiva de ecojusticia que proporciona una guía para el futuro y contribuye a promover la equidad desde la orientación educativa y profesional

The Modernization of Legal Lists

Worldwide, fatal traffic injuries and drowning deaths are important problems. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the cirumstances of fatal and non-fatal traffic injuries and drowning deaths in Sweden including analysis of the presence of alcohol and drugs, which are considered to be major risk factors for these events. Data where obtained from the database of National Board of Forensic Medicine. In the first study, we investigated 420 passenger deaths from 372 crashes during 1993-1996. There were 594 drivers involved. In total, 21% of the drivers at fault were alcohol positive compared to 2% of drivers not at fault (p<0.001) (Paper I). During 2004-2007, crashes involving 56 fatally and 144 non-fatally injured drivers were investigated in a prospective study from Northern Sweden (Paper II). The drivers were alcohol positive in 38% and 21%, respectively. Psychoactive drugs were found in 7% and 13%, respectively. Benzodiazepines, opiates and antidepressants were the most frequent drugs found in drivers. Illict drugs were found 9% and 4% respectively, with tetrahydrocannabinol being the most frequent of these drugs (Paper II). We investigated 5,125 drowning deaths in Sweden during 1992-2009 (Paper III). The incidence decreased on average by about 2% each year (p<0.001). Unintentional drowning was most common (50%). Alcohol was found in 44% of unintentional, 24% of intentional, and 45% of undetermined drowning deaths. Psychoactive substances were detected in 40% and benzodiazepines were the most common substance. Illicit drugs were detected in 10%. Of all drowning deaths, a significantly higher proportion females commited suicide compared with males (55% vs. 21%, p<0.001). Suicidal drowning deaths (n=129) in Northern Sweden were studied further in detail (Paper IV). of these, 53% had been hospitalized due to a psychiatric diagnosis within five years prior to the suicide. Affective and psychotic disorders were the most common psychiatric diagnoses. Almost one third had performed a previous suicide attempt. One fourth had committed suicide after less than one week of discharge from hospital. Alochol was found in 16% and psychoactive drugs in 62% of these cases, respectively.  In conclusion, alcohol and psychoactive drugs are commonly detected among injured drivers and drowning victims, and probably play a role in these events. Most of the individuals that tested positive for alcohol and high blood concentrations, indicating alochol dependence or abuse. This association warrants futher attention when planning future prevention.

Diophantine Approximation with Products of Two Primes

We show that for any irrational $\alpha$ and any $\tau<8/23$ there are infinitely many $n$ which are the product of two primes for which $$\|n\alpha\|\leq n^{-\tau}.$$ We also show that for all sufficiently large $b$ there exist 3-digit palindromes in base $b$ with precisely two prime factors.Comment: 25 page