Extraordinary transition in the two-dimensional O(n) model

The extraordinary transition which occurs in the two-dimensional O(n) model for $n<1$ at sufficiently enhanced surface couplings is studied by conformal perturbation theory about infinite coupling and by finite-size scaling of the spectrum of the transfer matrix of a simple lattice model. Unlike the case of $n\geq1$ in higher dimensions, the surface critical behaviour differs from that occurring when fixed boundary conditions are imposed. In fact, all the surface scaling dimensions are equal to those already found for the ordinary transition, with, however, an interesting reshuffling of the corresponding eigenvalues between different sectors of the transfer matrix.Comment: 18 pages, Latex, 12 eps figures; submitted to Nucl. Phys.

Temperature response functions (G-functions) for single pile heat exchangers

Foundation piles used as heat exchangers as part of a ground energy system have the potential to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions from new buildings. However, current design approaches for pile heat exchangers are based on methods developed for boreholes which have a different geometry, with a much larger aspect (length to diameter) ratio. Current methods also neglect the transient behaviour of the pile concrete, instead assuming a steady state resistance for design purposes. As piles have a much larger volume of concrete than boreholes, this neglects the significant potential for heat storage within the pile. To overcome these shortcomings this paper presents new pile temperature response functions (G-functions) which are designed to reflect typical geometries of pile heat exchangers and include the transient response of the pile concrete. Owing to the larger number of pile sizes and pipe configurations which are possible with pile heat exchangers it is not feasible to developed a single unified G-function and instead upper and lower bound solutions are provided for different aspects ratios

High-precision determination of transition amplitudes of principal transitions in Cs from van der Waals coefficient C_6

A method for determination of atomic dipole matrix elements of principal transitions from the value of dispersion coefficient C_6 of molecular potentials correlating to two ground-state atoms is proposed. The method is illustrated on atomic Cs using C_6 deduced from high-resolution Feshbach spectroscopy. The following reduced matrix elements are determined < 6S_{1/2} || D || 6P_{1/2} > =4.5028(60) |e| a0 and =6.3373(84) |e| a0 (a0= 0.529177 \times 10^{-8} cm.) These matrix elements are consistent with the results of the most accurate direct lifetime measurements and have a similar uncertainty. It is argued that the uncertainty can be considerably reduced as the coefficient C_6 is constrained further.Comment: 4 pages; 3 fig

Alleviation of Cosmic Age Problem In Interacting Dark Energy Model

We investigate the cosmic age problem associated with the old high-$z$ quasar APM 08279 + 5255 and the oldest globular cluster M 107, both being difficult to accommodate in $\Lambda$CDM model. By evaluating the age of the Universe in a model that has an extremely phantom like form of dark energy (DE), we show that simply introducing the dark energy alone does not remove the problem, and the interaction between dark matter (DM) and DE need to be taken into account. Next, as examples, we consider two interacting DE models. It is found that both these two interacting DE Models can predict a cosmic age much greater than that of $\Lambda$CDM model at any redshift, and thus substantially alleviate the cosmic age problem. Therefore, the interaction between DM and DE is the crucial factor required to make the predicted cosmic ages consistent with observations.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, 5 tables, to appear in PL

Determination of the exponent gamma for SAWs on the two-dimensional Manhattan lattice

We present a high-statistics Monte Carlo determination of the exponent gamma for self-avoiding walks on a Manhattan lattice in two dimensions. A conservative estimate is \gamma \gtapprox 1.3425(3), in agreement with the universal value 43/32 on regular lattices, but in conflict with predictions from conformal field theory and with a recent estimate from exact enumerations. We find strong corrections to scaling that seem to indicate the presence of a non-analytic exponent Delta < 1. If we assume Delta = 11/16 we find gamma = 1.3436(3), where the error is purely statistical.Comment: 24 pages, LaTeX2e, 4 figure

Data, interface, security: Assembling technologies that govern the future

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. Over the last decade, fire governance practices in the British Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) have undergone fundamental transformation. Rather than just being responded to as and when they occur, the FRS have adopted a range of anticipatory governing strategies to govern fires in anticipation of their occurence. This turn towards anticipatory governance has been facilitated in no small part by the digital infrastructure now embedded in the FRS. Composed of data, hardware, software, fibre-optic cables along with human analysts and organisational processes, this infrastructure operates to make risk projections on fire which shape and condition strategic decision making. This paper explores the operation of this digital infrastructure through the notion of interface. Drawing on empirical material relating to processes of data sourcing and risk calculation, interfaces account for the sites, moments and experiences in which human and non-human agents relate to one another in making fire risk projections. Showing relations to exist spatially, temporally and sensually, I argue that interfaces are crucial to the operation of an anticipatory security apparatus which relies on digital devices

Communicating antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in the national press: lessons from sepsis awareness campaigns

No abstract available

Piezochromism in Nickel Salicylaldoximato Complexes: Tuning Crystal-Field Splitting with High Pressure

The crystal structures of bis(3-fluoro-salicylaldoximato)nickel( II) and bis(3-methoxy-salicylaldoximato) nickel(II) have been determined at room temperature between ambient pressure and approximately 6 GPa. The principal effect of pressure is to reduce intermolecular contact distances. In the fluoro system molecules are stacked, and the Ni Ni distance decreases from 3.19 Å at ambient pressure to 2.82 Å at 5.4 GPa. These data are similar to those observed in bis(dimethylglyoximato) nickel(II) over a similar pressure range, though contrary to that system, and in spite of their structural similarity, the salicyloximato does not become conducting at high pressure. Ni-ligand distances also shorten, on average by 0.017 and 0.011 Å for the fluoro and methoxy complexes, respectively. Bond compression is small if the bond in question is directed towards an interstitial void. A band at 620 nm, which occurs in the visible spectrum of each derivative, can be assigned to a transition to an antibonding molecular orbital based on the metal 3d(x 2-y 2) orbital. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations show that the energy of this orbital is sensitive to pressure, increasing in energy as the Ni-ligand distances are compressed, and consequently increasing the energy of the transition. The resulting blueshift of the UV-visible band leads to piezochromism, and crystals of both complexes, which are green at ambient pressure, become red at 5 GPa

Thermal Scanning at the Cellular Level by an Optically Trapped Upconverting Fluorescent Particle

Single particle spectroscopy in the form of three-dimensional optical manipulation of an upconverting nanoparticle is here used for non-invasive thermal sensing at the cellular level. In particular, a single infrared 980 nm laser beam is used as a three-dimensional optical tweezer and, simultaneously, as an optical excitation source for a single NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+ upconverting particle. Real time analysis of the thermosensitive green emission of Er3+ ions obtained after Yb3+ excitation provides thermal sensing during optical manipulation. Thus, three-dimensional particle scanning allows for the measurement of thermal gradients in the surroundings of individual cancer cells subjected to a plasmonic-mediated photothermal therapy. It is found that such thermal gradients extends for distances larger than 10 microns, avoiding real single cell photothermal treatments under in vitro conditions. This work introduces to the scientific community a novel and simple approach for high resolution thermal sensing at the cellular level that could constitute a powerful tool for a better understanding of cell dynamics during thermal treatmentsThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MAT2013–47395-C4–1-R) and by Banco Santander for “Proyectos de Cooperación Interuniversitaria” (2015/ASIA/06). P.H.G thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) for the Juan de la Cierva program. P.R.S thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) for the “Promoción del talento y su Empleabilidad en I+D+i” statal progra

Towards a resolution of the proton form factor problem: new electron and positron scattering data

There is a significant discrepancy between the values of the proton electric form factor, $G_E^p$, extracted using unpolarized and polarized electron scattering. Calculations predict that small two-photon exchange (TPE) contributions can significantly affect the extraction of $G_E^p$ from the unpolarized electron-proton cross sections. We determined the TPE contribution by measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections using a simultaneous, tertiary electron-positron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target and detecting the scattered particles in the Jefferson Lab CLAS detector. This novel technique allowed us to cover a wide range in virtual photon polarization ($\varepsilon$) and momentum transfer ($Q^2$) simultaneously, as well as to cancel luminosity-related systematic errors. The cross section ratio increases with decreasing $\varepsilon$ at $Q^2 = 1.45 \text{ GeV}^2$. This measurement is consistent with the size of the form factor discrepancy at $Q^2\approx 1.75$ GeV$^2$ and with hadronic calculations including nucleon and $\Delta$ intermediate states, which have been shown to resolve the discrepancy up to $2-3$ GeV$^2$.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR