Conserving and Gapless Approximations for an Inhomogeneous Bose Gas at Finite Temperatures

We derive and discuss the equations of motion for the condensate and its fluctuations for a dilute, weakly interacting Bose gas in an external potential within the self--consistent Hartree--Fock--Bogoliubov (HFB) approximation. Account is taken of the depletion of the condensate and the anomalous Bose correlations, which are important at finite temperatures. We give a critical analysis of the self-consistent HFB approximation in terms of the Hohenberg--Martin classification of approximations (conserving vs gapless) and point out that the Popov approximation to the full HFB gives a gapless single-particle spectrum at all temperatures. The Beliaev second-order approximation is discussed as the spectrum generated by functional differentiation of the HFB single--particle Green's function. We emphasize that the problem of determining the excitation spectrum of a Bose-condensed gas (homogeneous or inhomogeneous) is difficult because of the need to satisfy several different constraints.Comment: plain tex, 19 page

Compromising building regulations and user expectations in the design of high-rise domestic kitchens

Purpose ??? The purpose of this paper is to discuss the significance and relevance of social and habitual behaviours of home occupants to the building design process. It argues that introducing quantitative measures such as daylight level alone may not result in a ???healthy and functional??? kitchen without appreciating or factoring-in the impacts of the social roles and user expectations of kitchens in high-rise and compact urban situations.\ud Design/methodology/approach ??? The study investigated three common types of apartment buildings in Hong Kong. Case studies suggested that it is crucial to include in a design process proper considerations of human behaviours byway of preferred approaches andmodes of living, space usage, and weightings of end-user responses that would influence architectural design in a direct and crucial way.\ud Findings ??? The study noted that daylight quality of a kitchen is perceived by most families to be not as important as building control officials and designers thought it would. Instead, it is found that social and cultural factors are more important parameters for users. The study observed that designers rely on physical and quantitative approaches such as daylight factor, window size and window-to-room area ratio to qualify a design solution and ignore the socio-cultural parameters.\ud Originality/value ??? The paper calls for designers and building control officials to incorporate the study of functionality and socio-cultural preferences of users groups in the building design process. The study envisages that an integrated design methodology would enhance the living environment

Notes on some plant collections from Bachok and several forest reserves in Kelantan

A botanical survey of Bachok and various forest reserves at Jeram Linang, Jeram Pasu and Bukit Bakar was part of an expedition from 14–20 June 2008 carried out by the IOES (Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences) University of Malaya to survey and prepare an inventory of the biodiversity of the coastal region around Bachok, Kelantan. A total of 54 species from 30 families, consisting of seashore and mangrove plants were identified from the coastal area of Bachok and Semerak; while 89 species of flowering plants representing 44 families, a single gymnosperm, Agathis borneensis (Araucariaceae); and 15 genera and 23 species of mosses (from 10 families) were recorded in the three forest reserves. Several of the species collected were rarely found outside Kelantan. Satu survei tumbuhan di Bachok dan beberapa hutan simpanan termasuk Jeram Linang, Jeram Pasu dan Bukit Bakar, Kelantan adalah sebahagian ekspedisi survei biodiversiti kawasan pantai di sekitar Bachok Kelantan oleh IOES (Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences) Universiti Malaya pada 14–20 Jun 2008. Sejumlah 54 spesies daripada 30 famili tumbuhan pantai dan bakau dikenalpasti dari kawasan pantai Bachok dan Semerak; sedangkan 89 spesies tumbuhan berbunga (mewakili 44 famili), satu gimnosperma, Agathis borneensis (Araucariaceae); serta 15 genera dan 23 spesies daripada 10 famili lumut sejati telah direkodkan di kawasan sekitar Jeram Linang, Jeram Pasu dan Hutan Lipur Bukit Bakar. Beberapa spesies yang dikutip adalah jarang ditemui di luar Kelantan

Wearable and flexible thin film thermoelectric module for multi-scale energy harvesting

Developing a thermoelectric generator(TEG) with shape conformable geometry for sustaining low-thermal impedance and large temperature gradient (ΔT) is fundamental for wearable and multi-scale energy harvesting applications. Here we demonstrate a flexible architectural design, with efficient thin film thermoelectric generator as a solution for this problem. This approach not only decreases the thermal impedance but also multiplies the temperature gradient, thereby increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) as comparable to bulk TEG. Intact thin films of Tin telluride (p-type) and Lead Telluride (n-type) are deposited on flexible substrate through physical vapor deposition and a thermoelectric module possessing a maximum output power density of 8.4 mW/cm2 is fabricated. We have demonstrated the performance of p-SnTe/n-PbTe based TEG as a flexible wearable power source for electronic gadgets, as a thermal touch sensor for real-time switching and temperature monitoring for exoskeleton applications

Integrated dopaminergic neuronal model with reduced intracellular processes and inhibitory autoreceptors

Dopamine (DA) is an important neurotransmitter for multiple brain functions, and dysfunctions of the dopaminergic system are implicated in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Although the dopaminergic system has been studied at multiple levels, an integrated and efficient computational model that bridges from molecular to neuronal circuit level is still lacking. In this study, the authors aim to develop a realistic yet efficient computational model of a dopaminergic pre‐synaptic terminal. They first systematically perturb the variables/substrates of an established computational model of DA synthesis, release and uptake, and based on their relative dynamical timescales and steady‐state changes, approximate and reduce the model into two versions: one for simulating hourly timescale, and another for millisecond timescale. They show that the original and reduced models exhibit rather similar steady and perturbed states, whereas the reduced models are more computationally efficient and illuminate the underlying key mechanisms. They then incorporate the reduced fast model into a spiking neuronal model that can realistically simulate the spiking behaviour of dopaminergic neurons. In addition, they successfully include autoreceptor‐mediated inhibitory current explicitly in the neuronal model. This integrated computational model provides the first step toward an efficient computational platform for realistic multiscale simulation of dopaminergic systems in in silico neuropharmacology

Normal Cones and Thompson Metric

The aim of this paper is to study the basic properties of the Thompson metric $d_T$ in the general case of a real linear space $X$ ordered by a cone $K$. We show that $d_T$ has monotonicity properties which make it compatible with the linear structure. We also prove several convexity properties of $d_T$ and some results concerning the topology of $d_T$, including a brief study of the $d_T$-convergence of monotone sequences. It is shown most of the results are true without any assumption of an Archimedean-type property for $K$. One considers various completeness properties and one studies the relations between them. Since $d_T$ is defined in the context of a generic ordered linear space, with no need of an underlying topological structure, one expects to express its completeness in terms of properties of the ordering, with respect to the linear structure. This is done in this paper and, to the best of our knowledge, this has not been done yet. The Thompson metric $d_T$ and order-unit (semi)norms $|\cdot|_u$ are strongly related and share important properties, as both are defined in terms of the ordered linear structure. Although $d_T$ and $|\cdot|_u$ are only topological (and not metrical) equivalent on $K_u$, we prove that the completeness is a common feature. One proves the completeness of the Thompson metric on a sequentially complete normal cone in a locally convex space. At the end of the paper, it is shown that, in the case of a Banach space, the normality of the cone is also necessary for the completeness of the Thompson metric.Comment: 36 page

Friedel Oscillations in Relativistic Nuclear Matter

We calculate the low-momentum N-N effective potential obtained in the OBE approximation, inside a nuclear plasma at finite temperature, as described by the relativistic $\sigma$-$\omega$ model. We analyze the screening effects on the attractive part of the potential in the intermediate range as density or temperature increase. In the long range the potential shows Friedel-like oscillations instead of the usual exponential damping. These oscillations arise from the sharp edge of the Fermi surface and should be encountered in any realistic model of nuclear matter.Comment: 11 pages in preprint format, typeset using REVTEX, 3 included figures in tar, compressed, uuencoded forma

Simple incentives and group dependence for successful payments for ecosystem services programs: evidence from an experimental game in rural Lao PDR

In this paper, we use a new game-based tool to evaluate the immediate and longer-term behavioral change potential of three different payment for environmental services (PES) delivery mechanisms: direct payments for individual performance, direct payments for group performance and insurance. Results from four rural shifting-cultivation dependent communities in Lao PDR suggest that easily understood group-oriented incentives yield the greatest immediate resource-use reduction and experience less free-riding. Group-based incentives may succeed because they motivate participants to communicate about strategies and coordinate their actions and are perceived as fair. No incentive had a lasting effect after it ceased, but neither did any crowd out the participants’ baseline behavior. Temporary reductions in resource dependence may provide a buffer for development of new livelihoods and longer-term change. Games like the one developed here can help policymakers appropriately target environmental incentive programs to local contexts and teach program participants how incentive schemes work

Diagnosing the misuse of the Bayes factor in Applied Research

Hypothesis testing is often used for inference in the social sciences. In particular, null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) and its p-value are ubiquitous in published research for decades. Much more recently, null hypothesis Bayesian testing (NHBT) and its Bayes factor also started to be more commonplace in applied research. Following preliminary work by Wong and colleagues, we investigated how, and to what extent, researchers misapply the Bayes factor in applied psychological research by means of a literature study. Based on a final sample of 167 papers, our results indicate that, not unlike NHST and the p-value, also the use of NHBT and the Bayes factor shows signs of misconceptions. We pondered over the root causes of the identified problems. We also provided suggestions to improve the current state of affairs. This paper is aimed to assist researchers to draw the best inferences possible while using NHBT and the Bayes factor in applied research