The fluctuation theorem and Lyapunov weights

The Fluctuation Theorem (FT) is a generalisation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics that applies to small systems observed for short times. For thermostatted systems it gives the probability ratio that entropy will be consumed rather than produced. In this paper we derive the Transient and Steady State Fluctuation Theorems using Lyapunov weights rather than the usual Gibbs weights. At long times the Fluctuation Theorems so derived are identical to those derived using the more standard Gibbs weights.Comment: 26 pages; to appear in Physica

Quark Condensates in Non-Supersymmetric MQCD

A set of non-supersymmetric minimal area embeddings of an M-theory 5-brane are considered. The field theories on the surface of the 5-brane have the field content of N=2 SQCD with fundamental representation matter fields. By suitable choice of curve parameters the N=2 and N=1 superpartners may be decoupled leaving a semi-classical approximation to QCD with massive quarks. As supersymmetry breaking is introduced a quark condensate grows breaking the low energy $Z_{F}$ flavour symmetry. At $\theta =$ (odd) $\pi$ spontaneous CP violation is observed consistent with that of the QCD chiral lagrangian.Comment: 16 pages, 1 ps figure, corrected some typos, updated reference

O(d,d,Z) Transformations as Automorphisms of the Operator Algebra

We implement the O(d,d,Z) transformations of T-duality as automorphisms of the operator algebras of Conformal Field Theories. This extends these transformations to arbitrary field configurations in the deformation class.Comment: 9 pages, Plain Te

We are not ‘all in this together’: British democracy is suffering from the disconnect between politicians and the wider public

Recent failures of British democracy lead voters to feel that being ignored by Government is the most likely consequence of casting a vote and participating in democracy, writes Mary Evans

Controlled Soft Breaking of N=1 SQCD

We discuss the introduction of soft breaking terms into the exact solutions of N=1 SQCD using a spurion analysis. The spurion symmetries are not sufficient to determine the behavior of models in which squark or gaugino masses alone are introduced. However, a controlled approximation is obtained in some cases if a supersymmetric mass is first introduced for the matter fields. We present low-energy solutions for two models with perturbing soft breaking terms, one with a gaugino mass and one with squark mixing. These models have non-trivial theta angle dependence and exhibit phase transitions at non-zero theta angle analogous to those found in the chiral Lagrangian description of QCD.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, one eps figur

Mental Health Nurse Prescribing: Challenges in Theory and Practice

This article addresses the historical context of mental health nursing and its relationship to nurse prescribing.; examines some of the theoretical and philosophical forces that have molded modern mental health nursing, discussing the tensions between the medical model and the psychosocial models favoured by many mental health nurse academics and practitioners over the last forty years; and finally discusses the issues and challenges around commencing prescribing in practice, especially when nurse prescribing is not integral to the practitioner’s role. The article intends to examine the theoretical basis for mental health nurse prescribing, to discuss some of the theoretical tensions which are implicit; and describes briefly the author’s own experience as a recently qualified nurse prescriber

Simple Efficient Contracts in Complex Environments

The paper studies a general model of hold-up in a setting encompassing the models of Segal (1999) and Che and Hausch (1999) among others. It is shown that if renegotiation is modelled as an infinite-horizon non-cooperative bargaining game then, with a simple initial contract, an efficient equilibrium will generally exist. The contract gives authority to one party to set the terms of trade and gives the other party a non-expiring option to trade at these terms. The difference from standard results arises because the existing contract ensures that the renegotiation game has multiple equilibria; the multiplicity of continuation equilibria can be used to enforce efficient investment

A review of measures of competitive balance in the "analysis of competitive balance" literature

This paper presents a review of measures of the competitive balance of sports leagues proposed in the line of literature which Fort and Maxcy (2003, p. 155) call “ ... the analysis of competitive balance (ACB) literature itself”. They describe this as\ud the literature which “... focuses on what has happened to competitive balance over time or as a result of changes in the business practices of pro sports.” A number of boo ks and articles have provided surveys of these measures of competitive balance. This review consolidates that work and augments it by adding details to facilitate the appropriate application and interpretation of the measures. This paper also considers the applicability of the measures of competitive balance in the literature to the professional leagues of association football

Doubled up all over again: borrowing, sound change and reduplication in Iwaidja

This article examines the interactions between reduplication, sound change, and borrowing, as played out in the Iwaidja language of Cobourg Peninsula, Arnhem Land, in Northern Australia, a non-Pama-Nyungan language of the Iwaidjan family. While Iwaidja traditionally makes use of (various types of) right-reduplication, contact with two other left-reduplicating languages-one Australian (Bininj Gun-wok) and one Austronesian (Makassarese)-has led to the introduction of several (non-productive) left-reduplicating patterns. At the same time as these new patterns have been entering the language, the cumulative effect of sweeping sound changes within Iwaidja has complicated the transparency of reduplicative outputs. This has left the language with an extremely varied and complicated set of reduplication types, for some of which the analysis is no longer synchronically recoverable by children