Fundraising and vote distribution: a non-equilibrium statistical approach

The number of votes correlates strongly with the money spent in a campaign, but the relation between the two is not straightforward. Among other factors, the output of a ballot depends on the number of candidates, voters, and available resources. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on Shannon entropy maximization and Superstatistics to establish a relation between the distributions of money spent by candidates and their votes. By establishing such a relation, we provide a tool to predict the outcome of a ballot and to alert for possible misconduct either in the report of fundraising and spending of campaigns or on vote counting. As an example, we consider real data from a proportional election with $6323$ candidates, where a detailed data verification is virtually impossible, and show that the number of potential misconducting candidates to audit can be reduced to only nine

Hubbard-model description of the high-energy spin-spectral-weight distribution in La(2)CuO(4)

The spectral-weight distribution in recent neutron scattering experiments on the parent compound La$_2$CuO$_4$ (LCO), which are limited in energy range to about 450\,meV, is studied in the framework of the Hubbard model on the square lattice with effective nearest-neighbor transfer integral $t$ and on-site repulsion $U$. Our study combines a number of numerical and theoretical approaches, including, in addition to standard treatments, density matrix renormalization group calculations for Hubbard cylinders and a suitable spinon approach for the spin excitations. Our results confirm that the $U/8t$ magnitude suitable to LCO corresponds to intermediate $U$ values smaller than the bandwidth $8t$, which we estimate to be $8t \approx 2.36$ eV for $U/8t\approx 0.76$. This confirms the unsuitability of the conventional linear spin-wave theory. Our theoretical studies provide evidence for the occurrence of ground-state d-wave spinon pairing in the half-filled Hubbard model on the square lattice. This pairing applies only to the rotated-electron spin degrees of freedom, but it could play a role in a possible electron d-wave pairing formation upon hole doping. We find that the higher-energy spin spectral weight extends to about 566 meV and is located at and near the momentum $[\pi,\pi]$. The continuum weight energy-integrated intensity vanishes or is extremely small at momentum $[\pi,0]$. This behavior of this intensity is consistent with that of the spin waves observed in recent high-energy neutron scattering experiments, which are damped at the momentum $[\pi,0]$. We suggest that future LCO neutron scattering experiments scan the energies between 450 meV and 566 meV and momenta around $[\pi,\pi]$.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figure

Breeding latitude predicts timing but not rate of spring migration in a widespread migratory bird in South America

Identifying the processes that determine avian migratory strategies in different environmental contexts is imperative to understanding the constraints to survival and reproduction faced by migratory birds across the planet. We compared the spring migration strategies of Fork‐tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus s. savana) that breed at south‐temperate latitudes (i.e., austral migrants) vs. tropical latitudes (i.e., intratropical migrants) in South America. We hypothesized that austral migrant flycatchers are more time‐selected than intratropical migrants during spring migration. As such, we predicted that austral migrants, which migrate further than intratropical migrants, will migrate at a faster rate and that the rate of migration for austral migrants will be positively correlated with the onset of spring migration. We attached light‐level geolocators to Fork‐tailed Flycatchers at two tropical breeding sites in Brazil and at two south‐temperate breeding sites in Argentina and tracked their movements until the following breeding season. Of 286 geolocators that were deployed, 37 were recovered ~1 year later, of which 28 provided useable data. Rate of spring migration did not differ significantly between the two groups, and only at one site was there a significantly positive relationship between date of initiation of spring migration and arrival date. This represents the first comparison of individual migratory strategies among conspecific passerines breeding at tropical vs. temperate latitudes and suggests that austral migrant Fork‐tailed Flycatchers in South America are not more time‐selected on spring migration than intratropical migrant conspecifics. Low sample sizes could have diminished our power to detect differences (e.g., between sexes), such that further research into the mechanisms underpinning migratory strategies in this poorly understood system is necessary.Fil: Jahn, Alex. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Cereghetti, Joaquín. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Cueto, Víctor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagóica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; ArgentinaFil: Hallworth, Michael T.. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Levey, Douglas J.. National Science Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: Marini, Miguel Â.. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Masson, Diego. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Pizo, Marco A.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Sarasola, José Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Tuero, Diego Tomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Percolative phase transition on ferromagnetic insulator manganites: uncorrelated to correlated polaron clusters

In this work, we report an atomic scale study on the ferromagnetic insulator manganite LaMnO$_{3.12}$ using $\gamma-\gamma$ PAC spectroscopy. Data analysis reveals a nanoscopic transition from an undistorted to a Jahn-Teller-distorted local environment upon cooling. The percolation thresholds of the two local environments enclose a macroscopic structural transition (Rhombohedric-Orthorhombic). Two distinct regimes of JT-distortions were found: a high temperature regime where uncorrelated polaron clusters with severe distortions of the Mn$^{3+}$O$_{6}$ octahedra survive up to $T \approx 800 K$ and a low temperature regime where correlated regions have a weaker JT-distorted symmetry.Comment: 4 pages, 4 Figures, submitted to PRL, new version with more data, text reformulate

Interação genótipo x ambiente para produção de leite na raça Pardo Suíço, utilizando-se inferência Bayesiana.

Informações de 2.981 lactações referentes às primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Pardo-Suíça, filhas de 151 reprodutores, distribuídas em 62 rebanhos, com parições entre 1980 a 2002, foram utilizadas para se verificar a existência da heterogeneidade de variância entre rebanhos e o seu impacto na classificação de reprodutores. As produções de leite foram utilizadas para se classificar os rebanhos em níveis de alta e baixa produção. Utilizou-se um modelo animal que incluiu os efeitos fixos de rebanho-ano e estação de parto, efeito linear do período de lactação, linear e quadrático da idade da vaca ao parto, como covariáveis, além dos efeitos aleatórios de animal e ambiente temporário. Estimaram-se componentes de variância, considerando-se os rebanhos como uma única amostra e assumindo-se a produção de leite em cada nível de produção como característica diferente. Médias e componentes de variância foram maiores para o nível de alta produção, caracterizando a presença de heterogeneidade de variância entre os rebanhos. As estimativas de herdabilidade foram de 0,21 em ambos os níveis para a produção de leite e de 0,25 e 0,26 para os níveis de alta e baixa produção, respectivamente. As correlações genéticas entre os níveis foram de 0,48, indicando a presença de heterogeneidade de variâncias. Correlações de Spearman entre os valores genéticos dos reprodutores preditos em análise conjunta com o nível de alta produção foram altas, enquanto que correlações baixas foram observadas para o nível de produção baixo, para os 10, 20 e 30% dos melhores reprodutores. Reprodutores com proles em rebanhos mais variáveis estariam sendo melhores classificados na avaliação genética, quando se desconsidera a heterogeneidade de variânci

Dynamical reentrance and geometry imposed quantization effects in Nb-AlOx-Nb Josephson junction arrays

In this paper, we report on different phenomena related to the magnetic properties of artificially prepared highly ordered (periodic) two-dimensional Josephson junction arrays (2D-JJA) of both shunted and unshunted Nb-AlOx-Nb tunnel junctions. By employing mutual-inductance measurements and using a high-sensitive bridge, we have thoroughly investigated (both experimentally and theoretically) the temperature and magnetic field dependence of complex AC susceptibility of 2D-JJA. We also demonstrate the use of the scanning SQUID microscope for imaging the local flux distribution within our unshunted arrays

Experimental and theoretical evidences for the ice regime in planar artificial spin ices

In this work, we explore a kind of geometrical effect in the thermodynamics of artificial spin ices (ASI). In general, such artificial materials are athermal. Here, We demonstrate that geometrically driven dynamics in ASI can open up the panorama of exploring distinct ground states and thermally magnetic monopole excitations. It is shown that a particular ASI lattice will provide a richer thermodynamics with nanomagnet spins experiencing less restriction to flip precisely in a kind of rhombic lattice. This can be observed by analysis of only three types of rectangular artificial spin ices (RASI). Denoting the horizontal and vertical lattice spacings by a and b, respectively, then, a RASI material can be described by its aspect ratio $\gamma$=a/b. The rhombic lattice emerges when $\gamma$=$\sqrt{3}$. So, by comparing the impact of thermal effects on the spin flips in these three appropriate different RASI arrays, it is possible to find a system very close to the ice regime

Dirac-Surface-State-Dominated Spin to Charge Current Conversion in the Topological Insulator (Bi0.22Sb0.78)2Te3(Bi_{0.22}Sb_{0.78})_2Te_3 Films at Room Temperature

We report the spin to charge current conversation in an intrinsic topological insulator (TI) $(Bi_{0.22}Sb_{0.78})_2Te_3$ film at room temperature. The spin currents are generated in a thin layer of permalloy (Py) by two different processes, spin pumping (SPE) and spin Seebeck effects (SSE). In the first we use microwave-driven ferromagnetic resonance of the Py film to generate a SPE spin current that is injected into the TI $(Bi_{0.22}Sb_{0.78})_2Te_3$ layer in direct contact with Py. In the second we use the SSE in the longitudinal configuration in Py without contamination by the Nernst effect made possible with a thin NiO layer between the Py and $(Bi_{0.22}Sb_{0.78})_2Te_3$ layers. The spin-to-charge current conversion is attributed to the inverse Edelstein effect (IEE) made possible by the spin-momentum locking in the electron Fermi contours due to the Rashba field. The measurements by the two techniques yield very similar values for the IEE parameter, which are larger than the reported values in the previous studies on topological insulators.Comment: 18 pages and 7 figure