519 research outputs found
Unnatural selection in Galapagos : the role of disease in Darwinâs Finches (Geospizinae)
Micro-evolutionary studies, such as those of Darwinâs finches (Geospizinae), have been used as indicators of rates of evolution under natural selection. Today however, such studies may be compromised by unnatural selection. Recently introduced infectious and parasitic agents in Galapagos may hamper our ability to monitor natural evolutionary change in endemic birds, by modifying such change. The opportunity to study natural selection in its iconic site may thus be lost, due to these and other forms of human environmental alteration, which may be replacing non-anthropogenic factors as the principal driver of evolution. To ensure that natural selection continues to shape the biota of Galapagos, anthropogenic impacts including introduced diseases must be managed effectively
Dispersion Coefficients by a Field-Theoretic Renormalization of Fluid Mechanics
We consider subtle correlations in the scattering of fluid by randomly placed
obstacles, which have been suggested to lead to a diverging dispersion
coefficient at long times for high Peclet numbers, in contrast to finite
mean-field predictions. We develop a new master equation description of the
fluid mechanics that incorporates the physically relevant fluctuations, and we
treat those fluctuations by a renormalization group procedure. We find a finite
dispersion coefficient at low volume fraction of disorder and high Peclet
numbers.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Influences on academics' approaches to development: voices from below
The purpose of this qualitative case study research was to explore faculty-based academicsâ views on what influences their behaviours and attitudes towards their development. Informed by critical realist ontology, the data collection was carried out through narrative interviews with academics in two contrasting English Universities. Findings, or areas for reflection, have emerged about the constraints and enablements academics perceive in respect of their professional development. In particular, themes such as the significance of professional status; misaligned initiatives and priorities; the influence of supportive networks; and emergent personal, individual concerns have surfaced. The conclusion is drawn that the significance of agency raises the importance of responding to the âvoices from belowâ
``Superfast'' Reaction in Turbulent Flow with Potential Disorder
We explore the regime of ``superfast'' reactivity that has been predicted to
occur in turbulent flow in the presence of potential disorder. Computer
simulation studies confirm qualitative features of the previous renormalization
group predictions, which were based on a static model of turbulence. New
renormalization group calculations for a more realistic, dynamic model of
turbulence show that the superfast regime persists. This regime, with
concentration decay exponents greater than that for a well-mixed reaction,
appears to be a general result of the interplay among non-linear reaction
kinetics, turbulent transport, and local trapping by potential disorder.Comment: 14 pages. 4 figures. Uses IOP styles. To appear in J. Phys. A: Math.
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Effective diffusion constant in a two dimensional medium of charged point scatterers
We obtain exact results for the effective diffusion constant of a two
dimensional Langevin tracer particle in the force field generated by charged
point scatterers with quenched positions. We show that if the point scatterers
have a screened Coulomb (Yukawa) potential and are uniformly and independently
distributed then the effective diffusion constant obeys the
Volgel-Fulcher-Tammann law where it vanishes. Exact results are also obtained
for pure Coulomb scatterers frozen in an equilibrium configuration of the same
temperature as that of the tracer.Comment: 9 pages IOP LaTex, no figure
Expanding the parameters of academia
This paper draws on qualitative data gathered from two studies funded by the UK Leadership Foundation for Higher Education to examine the expansion of academic identities in higher education. It builds on Whitchurchâs earlier work, which focused primarily on professional staff, to suggest that the emergence of broadly based projects such as widening participation, learning support and community partnership is also impacting on academic identities. Thus, academic as well as professional staff are increasingly likely to work in multi-professional teams across a variety of constituencies, as well as with external partners, and the binary distinction between âacademicâ and ânon-academicâ roles and activities is no longer clear-cut. Moreover, there is evidence from the studies of an intentionality about deviations from mainstream academic career routes among respondents who could have gone either way. Consideration is therefore given to factors that influence individuals to work in more project-oriented areas, as well as to variables that affect ways in which these roles and identities develop. Finally, three models of academically oriented project activity are identified, and the implications of an expansion of academic identities are reviewed
Solitons on the edge of a two-dimensional electron system
We present a study of the excitations of the edge of a two-dimensional
electron droplet in a magnetic field in terms of a contour dynamics formalism.
We find that, beyond the usual linear approximation, the non-linear analysis
yields soliton solutions which correspond to uniformly rotating shapes. These
modes are found from a perturbative treatment of a non-linear eigenvalue
problem, and as solutions to a modified Korteweg-de Vries equation resulting
from a local induction approximation to the nonlocal contour dynamics. We
discuss applications to the edge modes in the quantum Hall effect.Comment: 4 pages, 2 eps figures (included); to appear in Phys. Rev. Letter
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