Bounding normalization time through intersection types

Non-idempotent intersection types are used in order to give a bound of the length of the normalization beta-reduction sequence of a lambda term: namely, the bound is expressed as a function of the size of the term.Comment: In Proceedings ITRS 2012, arXiv:1307.784

Collective optomechanical effects in cavity quantum electrodynamics

We investigate a cavity quantum electrodynamic effect, where the alignment of two-dimensional freely rotating optical dipoles is driven by their collective coupling to the cavity field. By exploiting the formal equivalence of a set of rotating dipoles with a polymer we calculate the partition function of the coupled light-matter system and demonstrate it exhibits a second order phase transition between a bunched state of isotropic orientations and a stretched one with all the dipoles aligned. Such a transition manifests itself as an intensity-dependent shift of the polariton mode resonance. Our work, lying at the crossroad between cavity quantum electrodynamics and quantum optomechanics, is a step forward in the on-going quest to understand how strong coupling can be exploited to influence matter internal degrees of freedom.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Influence of oxidized oils on digestibility of caseins in O/W emulsions

The impact of lipid oxidation on protein modifications in emulsions and the consequences on protein digestibility remains unclear. In this study, this impact is evaluated in casein (6 mg mL(-1)) based emulsions containing oxidized soybean or fish oil (3%) in presence (0.3%) or absence of the emulsifier Tween 20. Emulsions are prepared using oils at three oxidation levels and subsequently the impact on protein digestibility is evaluated after 24 h incubation at 4 degrees C. Remarkably, protein digestibility increases in emulsions containing medium and highly oxidized fish oil: 70 +/- 0.4% and 73 +/- 0.4% of the proteins are digested, respectively, whereas protein digestibility in emulsions containing low oxidized fish oil amounted to 63 +/- 0.4%. Protein digestibility in emulsions containing soybean oil stabilized by Tween 20 is not influenced by the oxidation level of the oil used. A remarkable tendency is observed for the malondialdehyde content of the emulsions depending on the presence of Tween 20. For soybean oil based emulsions, malondialdehyde concentrations are consistently higher in the presence of Tween 20. On the other hand, for the fish oil based emulsions an opposite trend is observed, except at the highest oxidation level evaluated, for which no significant differences can be detected. It is concluded that the composition of the interface in emulsions depends strongly upon the degree of oil oxidation and the presence of other emulsifiers. If the oil is more oxidized, less protein is present in the interface restricting the impact of lipid oxidation products on the proteins and hence their digestibility

Strong coupling of ionising transitions

We demonstrate that a ionising transition can be strongly coupled to a photonic resonance. The strong coupling manifests itself with the appearance of a narrow optically active resonance below the ionisation threshold. Such a resonance is due to electrons transitioning into a novel bound state created by the collective coupling of the electron gas with the vacuum field of the photonic resonator. Applying our theory to the case of bound-to-continuum transitions in microcavity-embedded doped quantum wells, we show how those strong-coupling features can be exploited as a novel knob to tune both optical and electronic properties of semiconductor heterostructures.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Huber, Marper and Others: Throwing new light on the shadows of suspicion. INEX Policy Brief No. 8, June 2010

The proliferation of large-scale databases containing personal information, and the multiple uses to which they can be put, can be highly problematic from the perspective of fundamental rights and freedoms. This paper discusses two landmark decisions that illustrate some of the risks linked to these developments and point to a better framing of such practices: the Heinz Huber v. Germany judgement, from the European Court of Justice, and the S. and Marper v. United Kingdom ruling, from the European Court of Human Rights. The paper synthesises the lessons to be learnt from such decisions. Additionally, it questions the impact of the logic of pure prevention that is being combined with other rationales in the design and management of databases. This Policy Brief is published in the context of the INEX project, which looks at converging and conflicting ethical values in the internal/external security continuum in Europe, and is funded by the Security Programme of DG Enterprise of the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Research Programme. For more information visit: www.inexproject.e

Working Memory Training for Healthy Older Adults: The Role of Individual Characteristics in Explaining Short- and Long-Term Gains

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore whether individual characteristics such as age, education, vocabulary, and baseline performance in a working memory (WM) task\u2014similar to the one used in the training (criterion task)\u2014predict the short- and long-term specific gains and transfer effects of a verbal WM training for older adults. Method: Four studies that adopted the Borella et al. (2010) verbal WM training procedure were found eligible for our analysis as they included: healthy older adults who attended either the training sessions (WM training group), or alternative activities (active control group); the same measures for assessing specific gains (on the criterion WM task), and transfer effects (nearest on a visuo-spatial WM task, near on short-term memory tasks and far on a measure of fluid intelligence, a measure of processing speed and two inhibitory measures); and a follow-up session. Results: Linear mixed models confirmed the overall efficacy of the training, in the short-term at least, and some maintenance effects. In the trained group, the individual characteristics considered were found to contribute (albeit only modestly in some cases) to explaining the effects of the training. Conclusions: Overall, our findings suggest the importance of taking individual characteristics and individual differences into account when examining WMtraining gains in older adults

THE CASE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE v LOUIS KAREL FICK: A FIRST STEP TOWARDS DEVELOPING A DOCTRINE ON THE STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL JUDGEMENTS WITHIN THE DOMESTIC LEGAL ORDER

The Fick case which was decided by the Constitutional Court on 27 June 2013 was the first time since its inception that the Constitutional Court was confronted with the status of a binding international decision within the domestic legal order. It concerned a binding decision by the (now suspended) Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal against Zimbabwe, which was also enforceable in South Africa. A key issue before the Court was whether or not the South African statutory rules of civil procedure for the enforcement of foreign judgments also covered judgments of international courts and tribunals (as anticipated by Article 32(1) of the Protocol on the SADC Tribunal). As none of the relevant statutory legislation was applicable in this instance, the common law remained the only possible avenue through which the SADC Tribunal’s decision could be enforced in South Africa. At the time of the decision, the common law on the enforcement of civil judgments had developed only to a point where it provided for the execution of judgments made by domestic courts of a foreign state (ie decisions of other national courts). The Court was therefore confronted with whether or not an international decision in the form of a cost order of the SADC Tribunal amounted to a “foreign judgment” as recognized by the South African common law. The Court answered this question in the affirmative by relying on those clauses in the Constitution that committed South Africa to the rule of law, as well as its obligations under international law, and to an international-law friendly interpretation of domestic law. Although the decision is to be welcomed and applied the law correctly to the facts of the case, it does raise the issue of the wisdom of equating international judgments with foreign judgments on a more general scale. This relates to the fact that it is generally accepted in most jurisdictions that the recognition and enforcement of a “foreign judgment” can be denied where it would result in a violation of domestic public policy. The public policy exception does not, however, fit well in a regime based on public international law, which does not permit States to use their domestic law as an excuse for not implementing their international obligations