Special Deformed Exponential Functions Leading to More Consistent Klauder's Coherent States

We give a general approach for the construction of deformed oscillators. These ones could be seen as describing deformed bosons. Basing on new definitions of certain quantum series, we demonstrate that they are nothing but the ordinary exponential functions in the limit when the deformation parameters goes to one. We also prove that these series converge to a complex function, in a given convergence radius that we calculate. Klauder's Coherent States are explicitly found through these functions that we design by deformed exponential functionsComment: 10 page

On the properties of massive Population III stars and metal-free stellar populations

We present realistic models for massive Population III stars and stellar populations based on non-LTE model atmospheres, recent stellar evolution tracks and up-to-date evolutionary synthesis models, to study their spectral properties, including their dependence on age, star formation history, and IMF. (..) The main results regarding integrated stellar populations are: * For young bursts and the case of a constant SFR, nebular continuous emission - neglected in previous studies - dominates the spectrum redward of Lyman-alpha (...). Therefore predicted emission line equivalent widths are considerably smaller than found in earlier studies, whereas the detection of the continuum is eased. Nebular line and continuous emission strongly affect the broad band photometric properties of Pop III objects. * Due to stellar evolution, the hardness of the ionising spectrum decreases rapidly, leading to the disappearance of the characteristic HeII 1640 recombination lines after ~ 3 Myr in instantaneous bursts. * The relative efficiency of ionising photon energy to heavy element rest mass production, eta, of metal-poor and metal-free populations is increased by factors of ~ 4 to 18 with respect to solar metallicity and for ``standard'' IMFs. * The lowest values of eta ~ 1.6 - 2.2 % are obtained for IMFs exclusively populated with high mass stars (M_low >~ 50 Msun). If correct, the yields dominated by pair creation SNae then predict large overabundances of O/C and Si/C compared to solar abundance ratios. Detailed results are given in tabular form and as fit formulae for implementation in other calculations. (abridged abstract)Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. LaTeX, 15 pages including 8 figures. Related models are available at http://webast.ast.obs-mip.fr/people/schaerer/ . SEDs will be available by request from the author (mailto:[email protected]). Y-axis of Figs. 5 correcte

The feasibility of using pedometers and brief advice to increase activity in sedentary older women:a pilot study

Background: People over the age of 70 carry the greatest burden of chronic disease, disability and health care use. Participation in physical activity is crucial for health, and walking accounts for much of the physical activity undertaken by sedentary individuals. Pedometers are a useful motivational tool to encourage increased walking and they are cheap and easy to use. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of the use of pedometers plus a theory-based intervention to assist sedentary older women to accumulate increasing amounts of physical activity, mainly through walking. Methods: Female participants over the age of 70 were recruited from primary care and randomised to receive either pedometer plus a theory-based intervention or a theory-based intervention alone. The theory-based intervention consisted of motivational techniques, goal-setting, barrier identification and self-monitoring with pedometers and daily diaries. The pedometer group were further randomised to one of three target groups: a 10%, 15% or 20% monthly increase in step count to assess the achievability and acceptability of a range of targets. The primary outcome was change in daily activity levels measured by accelerometry. Secondary outcome measures were lower limb function, health related quality of life, anxiety and depression. Results: 54 participants were recruited into the study, with an average age of 76. There were 9 drop outs, 45 completing the study. All participants in the pedometer group found the pedometers easy to use and there was good compliance with diary keeping (96% in the pedometer group and 83% in the theory-based intervention alone group). There was a strong correlation (0.78) between accelerometry and pedometer step counts i.e. indicating that walking was the main physical activity amongst participants. There was a greater increase in activity (accelerometry) amongst those in the 20% target pedometer group compared to the other groups, although not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.192). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that it is feasible to use pedometers and provide theory-based advice to community dwelling sedentary older women to increase physical activity levels and a larger study is planned to investigate this further.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

On the construction of generalized Grassmann representatives of state vectors

Generalized $Z_k$-graded Grassmann variables are used to label coherent states related to the nilpotent representation of the q-oscillator of Biedenharn and Macfarlane when the deformation parameter is a root of unity. These states are then used to construct generalized Grassmann representatives of state vectors.Comment: 8 page

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 Whitchurch’s 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 ‘academic’ and ‘non-academic’ 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

Ionic liquids containing tricyanomethanide anions: physicochemical characterisation and performance as electrochemical double-layer capacitor electrolytes

We investigated the use of fluorine free ionic liquids (ILs) containing the tricyanomethanide anion ([C(CN)3]) as an electrolyte in electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). Three cations were used; 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([Im1,4]), N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium ([Pyr1,4]) and N-butyl-N-methylpiperidinium ([Pip1,4]). Their physicochemical properties are discussed alongside with their performance as electrolytes. We found that the cyano-based ILs present higher ionic conductivity (9.4, 8.7 and 4.2 mS cm−1 at 25 °C for [Im1,4], [Pyr1,4] and [Pip1,4], respectively) than the widely studied IL containing the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion, namely [Pyr1,4][Tf2N] (2.7 mS cm−1 at 25 °C). Of the three ILs investigated, [Pip1,4][C(CN)3] presents the widest electrochemical stability window, 3.0 V, while [Pyr1,4][C(CN)3] is stable up to 2.9 V and its [Tf2N] analogue can operate at 3.5 V. Despite operating at a lower voltage, [Pyr1,4][C(CN)3] EDLC is capable of delivering up to 4.5 W h kg−1 when operating at high specific power of 7.2 kW kg−1, while its [Pyr1,4][Tf2N] counterpart only delivered 3.0 W h kg−1 when operated at similar power

Rock comminution as a source of hydrogen for subglacial ecosystems

Substantial parts of the beds of glaciers, ice sheets and ice caps are at the pressure melting point. The resulting water harbours diverse subglacial microbial ecosystems capable of affecting global biogeochemical cycles. Such subglacial habitats may have acted as refugia during Neoproterozoic glaciations. However, it is unclear how life in subglacial environments could be supported during glaciations lasting millions of years because energy from overridden organic carbon would become increasingly depleted. Here we investigate the potential for abiogenic H2 produced during rock comminution to provide a continual source of energy to support subglacial life. We collected a range of silicate rocks representative of subglacial environments in Greenland, Canada, Norway and Antarctica and crushed them with a sledgehammer and ball mill to varying surface areas. Under an inert atmosphere in the laboratory, we added water, and measured H2 production with time. H2 was produced at 0ºC in all silicate–water experiments, probably through the reaction of water with mineral surface silica radicals formed during rock comminution. H2 production increasedwith increasing temperature or decreasing silicate rock grain size. Sufficient H2 was produced to support previously measured rates of methanogenesis under a Greenland glacier. We conclude that abiogenic H2 generation from glacial bedrock comminution could have supported life and biodiversity in subglacialrefugia during past extended global glaciations

New q-deformed coherent states with an explicitly known resolution of unity

We construct a new family of q-deformed coherent states $|z>_q$, where $0 < q < 1$. These states are normalizable on the whole complex plane and continuous in their label $z$. They allow the resolution of unity in the form of an ordinary integral with a positive weight function obtained through the analytic solution of the associated Stieltjes power-moment problem and expressed in terms of one of the two Jacksons's $q$-exponentials. They also permit exact evaluation of matrix elements of physically-relevant operators. We use this to show that the photon number statistics for the states is sub-Poissonian and that they exhibit quadrature squeezing as well as an enhanced signal-to-quantum noise ratio over the conventional coherent state value. Finally, we establish that they are the eigenstates of some deformed boson annihilation operator and study some of their characteristics in deformed quantum optics.Comment: LaTeX, 26 pages, contains 9 eps figure

Addressing a youth mental health crisis:Utilising therapeutic landscapes and creative approaches in an English school

This paper explores the Rooted in Nature research project, which developed a co-produced and arts-based methodology alongside children who were accessing nature-based activities designed to promote mental health and wellbeing. The aim of the project was to identify relevant health and social outcomes relating to involvement in these activities for the purposes of scaling up, particularly in the North East &amp; North Cumbria in the UK. Using a case study approach, this paper describes how the concept of therapeutic landscapes was utilised in the project and how data were gathered through the arts-based method of photo-elicitation with six pupils from a secondary school in North East England. The discussion of the findings focuses upon the views and experiences of the pupils involved in the activities and these are explored in terms of three themes: the enjoyment the pupils felt from being in nature and learning about it; the responsibility pupils felt for looking after nature; and thirdly, how these two aspects helped to contribute to a sense of better mental health and wellbeing. We conclude with a consideration of the potential for integrating what we have learnt within educational settings in the UK and more widely.<br/