Solvable Kinetic Gaussian Model in External Field

In this paper, the single-spin transition dynamics is used to investigate the kinetic Gaussian model in a periodic external field. We first derive the fundamental dynamic equations, and then treat an isotropic d-dimensional hypercubic lattice Gaussian spin system with Fourier's transformation method. We obtain exactly the local magnetization and the equal-time pair correlation function. The critical characteristics of the dynamical, the complex susceptibility, and the dynamical response are discussed. The results show that the time evolution of the dynamical quantities and the dynamical responses of the system strongly depend on the frequency and the wave vector of the external field.Comment: 11 page

Barking up the same tree: a comparison of ethnomedicine and canine ethnoveterinary medicine among the Aguaruna

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This work focuses on plant-based preparations that the Aguaruna Jivaro of Peru give to hunting dogs. Many plants are considered to improve dogs' sense of smell or stimulate them to hunt better, while others treat common illnesses that prevent dogs from hunting. This work places canine ethnoveterinary medicine within the larger context of Aguaruna ethnomedicine, by testing the following hypotheses: H1 -- Plants that the Aguaruna use to treat dogs will be the same plants that they use to treat people and H2 -- Plants that are used to treat both people and dogs will be used for the same illnesses in both cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Structured interviews with nine key informants were carried out in 2007, in Aguaruna communities in the Peruvian department of Amazonas. Informants provided freelists of plants given to dogs and explained the purpose, preparation and route of administration used. For each plant, informants also described any uses for treating people. Botanical voucher specimens were collected and additional informal observations were made, accompanying people on hunting trips.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 35 plant species given to dogs, 29 (83%) are also given to humans for some medicinal purpose, while five are used only for dogs. However, the same plant is used to treat the same illness in both humans and dogs in only 53% of the cases. Forty-three percent of plants used to treat a particular illness for both dogs and people are administered in the same manner for both.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results suggest that Aguaruna canine ethnoveterinary medicine is, at least partly, an independent cognitive domain. Some of the difference in plant use between dogs and people can be explained by the fact that certain diseases mentioned only apply to dogs. Although reports of canine ethnoveterinary medicine are very sparse in the literature, Aguaruna practices show some similarities with a few trends reported for other Amazonian societies, particularly, in the prevalence of the nasal route of administration, the use of plant-based psychoactives and in the importance of ants and wasps, in some form, for training dogs.</p

Thermodynamic characteristics of the classical n-vector magnetic model in three dimensions

The method of calculating the free energy and thermodynamic characteristics of the classical n-vector three-dimensional (3D) magnetic model at the microscopic level without any adjustable parameters is proposed. Mathematical description is perfomed using the collective variables (CV) method in the framework of the $\rho^4$ model approximation. The exponentially decreasing function of the distance between the particles situated at the N sites of a simple cubic lattice is used as the interaction potential. Explicit and rigorous analytical expressions for entropy,internal energy, specific heat near the phase transition point as functions of the temperature are obtained. The dependence of the amplitudes of the thermodynamic characteristics of the system for $T>T_c$ and $T<T_c$ on the microscopic parameters of the interaction potential are studied for the cases $n=1,2,3$ and $n\to\infty$. The obtained results provide the basis for accurate analysis of the critical behaviour in three dimensions including the nonuniversal characteristics of the system.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure

'A habitual disposition to the good': on reason, virtue and realism

Amidst the crisis of instrumental reason, a number of contemporary political philosophers including Jürgen Habermas have sought to rescue the project of a reasonable humanism from the twin threats of religious fundamentalism and secular naturalism. In his recent work, Habermas defends a post-metaphysical politics that aims to protect rationality against encroachment while also accommodating religious faith within the public sphere. This paper contends that Habermas’ post-metaphysical project fails to provide a robust alternative either to the double challenge of secular naturalism and religious fundamentalism or to the ruthless instrumentalism that underpins capitalism. By contrast with Habermas and also with the ‘new realism’ of contemporary political philosophers such as Raymond Geuss or Bernard Williams, realism in the tradition of Plato and Aristotle can defend reason against instrumental rationality and blind belief by integrating it with habit, feeling and even faith. Such metaphysical–political realism can help develop a politics of virtue that goes beyond communitarian thinking by emphasising plural modes of association (not merely ‘community’), substantive ties of sympathy and the importance of pursuing goodness and mutual flourishing

Reinventing grounded theory: some questions about theory, ground and discovery

Grounded theory’s popularity persists after three decades of broad-ranging critique. In this article three problematic notions are discussed—‘theory,’ ‘ground’ and ‘discovery’—which linger in the continuing use and development of grounded theory procedures. It is argued that far from providing the epistemic security promised by grounded theory, these notions—embodied in continuing reinventions of grounded theory—constrain and distort qualitative inquiry, and that what is contrived is not in fact theory in any meaningful sense, that ‘ground’ is a misnomer when talking about interpretation and that what ultimately materializes following grounded theory procedures is less like discovery and more akin to invention. The procedures admittedly provide signposts for qualitative inquirers, but educational researchers should be wary, for the significance of interpretation, narrative and reflection can be undermined in the procedures of grounded theory

Collins and Sivers asymmetries in muonproduction of pions and kaons off transversely polarised proton

Measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries for charged pions and charged and neutral kaons produced in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering of high energy muons off transversely polarised protons are presented. The results were obtained using all the available COMPASS proton data, which were taken in the years 2007 and 2010. The Collins asymmetries exhibit in the valence region a non-zero signal for pions and there are hints of non-zero signal also for kaons. The Sivers asymmetries are found to be positive for positive pions and kaons and compatible with zero otherwise.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures and 1 tabl

Oral vitamin B(12 )therapy in the primary care setting: a qualitative and quantitative study of patient perspectives

BACKGROUND: Although oral replacement with high doses of vitamin B(12 )is both effective and safe for the treatment of B(12 )deficiency, little is known about patients' views concerning the acceptability and effectiveness of oral B(12). We investigated patient perspectives on switching from injection to oral B(12 )therapy. METHODS: This study involved a quantitative arm using questionnaires and a qualitative arm using semi-structured interviews, both to assess patient views on injection and oral therapy. Patients were also offered a six-month trial of oral B(12 )therapy. One hundred and thirty-three patients who receive regular B(12 )injections were included from three family practice units (two hospital-based academic clinics and one community health centre clinic) in Toronto. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent (63/86) of respondents were willing to try oral B(12). In a multivariate analysis, patient factors associated with a "willingness to switch" to oral B(12 )included being able to get to the clinic in less than 30 minutes (OR 9.3, 95% CI 2.2–40.0), and believing that frequent visits to the health care provider (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.1–26.6) or the increased costs to the health care system (OR 16.7, 95% CI 1.5–184.2) were disadvantages of injection B(12). Fifty-five patients attempted oral therapy and 52 patients returned the final questionnaire. Of those who tried oral therapy, 76% (39/51) were satisfied and 71% (39/55) wished to permanently switch. Factors associated with permanently switching to oral therapy included believing that the frequent visits to the health care provider (OR 35.4, 95% CI 2.9–432.7) and travel/parking costs (OR 8.7, 95% CI 1.2–65.3) were disadvantages of injection B(12). Interview participants consistently cited convenience as an advantage of oral therapy. CONCLUSION: Switching patients from injection to oral B(12 )is both feasible and acceptable to patients. Oral B(12 )supplementation is well received largely due to increased convenience. Clinicians should offer oral B(12 )therapy to their patients who are currently receiving injections, and newly diagnosed B(12)-deficient patients who can tolerate and are compliant with oral medications should be offered oral supplementation

Competing values in public management

The main objective of the article is to review relevant literature on (competing) public values in public management and to present a number of perspectives on how to deal with value conflicts in different administrative settings and contexts. We start this symposium with the assumption that value conflicts are prevalent, the public context can be characterized by value pluralism, and instrumental rationality does not seem to be the most useful to understand or improve value conflicts in public governance. This begs the question: what is the best way to study and manage value conflicts? The contributions to this symposium issue approach value conflicts in public governance from different perspectives, within different countries and different administrative and management systems, hoping to contribute to the debate on how to deal with important yet conflicting public values in public management, without pretending to offer a conclusive strategy or approach. This introductory article also presents and reviews the contributions to this symposium issue. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Search for exclusive photoproduction of Zc±_c^{\pm}(3900) at COMPASS

A search for the exclusive production of the $Z_c^{\pm}(3900)$ hadron by virtual photons has been performed in the channel $Z_c^{\pm}(3900)\rightarrow J/\psi \pi^{\pm}$. The data cover the range from 7 GeV to 19 GeV in the centre-of-mass energy of the photon-nucleon system. The full set of the COMPASS data set collected with a muon beam between 2002 and 2011 has been used. An upper limit for the ratio $BR(Z_c^{\pm}(3900)\rightarrow J/\psi \pi^{\pm} )\times \sigma_{ \gamma~N \rightarrow Z_c^{\pm}(3900)~ N} /\sigma_{\gamma~N \rightarrow J/\psi~ N}$ of $3.7\times10^{-3}$ has been established at the confidence level of 90%.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl