566 research outputs found
Geometric Interpretation of the Mixed Invariants of the Riemann Spinor
Mixed invariants are used to classify the Riemann spinor in the case of
Einstein-Maxwell fields and perfect fluids. In the Einstein-Maxwell case these
mixed invariants provide information as to the relative orientation of the
gravitational and electromagnetic principal null directions. Consideration of
the perfect fluid case leads to some results about the behaviour of the
Bel-Robinson tensor regarded as a quartic form on unit timelike vectors.Comment: 31 pages, AMS-LaTe
Ricci Collineations for type B warped space-times
We present the general structure of proper Ricci Collineations (RC) for type
B warped space-times. Within this framework, we give a detailed description of
the most general proper RC for spherically symmetric metrics. As examples,
static spherically symmetric and Friedmann-Robertson-Walker space-times are
considered.Comment: 18 pages, Latex, To appear in GR
Metrics to evaluate research performance in academic institutions: A critique of ERA 2010 as applied in forestry and the indirect H2 index as a possible alternative
Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) is an attempt by the Australian
Research Council to rate Australian universities on a 5-point scale within 180
Fields of Research using metrics and peer evaluation by an evaluation
committee. Some of the bibliometric data contributing to this ranking suffer
statistical issues associated with skewed distributions. Other data are
standardised year-by-year, placing undue emphasis on the most recent
publications which may not yet have reliable citation patterns. The
bibliometric data offered to the evaluation committees is extensive, but lacks
effective syntheses such as the h-index and its variants. The indirect H2 index
is objective, can be computed automatically and efficiently, is resistant to
manipulation, and a good indicator of impact to assist the ERA evaluation
committees and to similar evaluations internationally.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables, appendice
Does distance hinder the collaboration between Australian universities in the humanities, arts and social sciences?
Australia is a vast country with an average distance of 1911 km between its eight state capital cities. The quantitative impact of this distance on collaboration practices between Australian universities and between different types of Australian universities has not been examined previously and hence our knowledge about the spatial distribution effects, if any, on collaboration practices and opportunities is very limited. The aim of the study reported here was therefore to analyse the effect of distance on the collaboration activities of humanities, arts and social science scholars in Australia, using co-authorship as a proxy for collaboration. In order to do this, gravity models were developed to determine the distance effects on external collaboration between universities in relation to geographic region and institutional alliance of 25 Australian universities. Although distance was found to have a weak impact on external collaboration, the strength of the research publishing record within a university (internal collaboration) was found to be an important factor in determining external collaboration activity levels. This finding would suggest that increasing internal collaboration within universities could be an effective strategy to encourage external collaboration between universities. This strategy becomes even more effective for universities that are further away from each other. Establishing a hierarchical structure of different types of universities within a region can optimise the location advantage in the region to encourage knowledge exchange within that region. The stronger network could also attract more collaboration between networks
New insights on commemoration of the dead through mortuary and architectural use of pigments at Neolithic ĂatalhöyĂŒk, Turkey
The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the creation of social memory. Neolithic ĂatalhöyĂŒk (Turkey, 7100â5950 cal BC) provides a unique case study for the exploration of links between pigments in burials, demographic data and colourants in contemporary architectural contexts. This study presents the first combined analysis of funerary and architectural evidence of pigment use in Neolithic Anatolia and discusses the possible social processes underlying the observed statistical patterns. Results reveal that pigments were either applied directly to the deceased or included in the grave as a burial association. The most commonly used pigment was red ochre. Cinnabar was mainly applied to males and blue/green pigment was associated with females. A correlation was found between the number of buried individuals and the number of painted layers in the buildings. Mortuary practices seem to have followed specific selection processes independent of sex and age-at-death of the deceased. This study offers new insights about the social factors involved in pigment use in this community, and contributes to the interpretation of funerary practices in Neolithic Anatolia. Specifically, it suggests that visual expression, ritual performance and symbolic associations were elements of shared long-term socio-cultural practices
The best Of CafeLit 2011
Each story in this little volume is the right length and quality for enjoying as you sip the assigned drink in your favourite Creative CafĂ©. You need never feel alone again in a cafĂ©. So whatâs the mood today? Espresso? Earl Grey tea? Hot chocolate with marshmallows? Youâll find most drinks in our drinks index.
If youâre reading the cafĂ©âs copy and you have your Kindle or iPhone with you, why not download the Kindle version? Or browse the CafĂ©Lit web site for more examples of CafĂ©Lit stories? http://cafelitcreativecafe.blogspot.com/ and http://creativecafeproject.co.uk/CafLit.aspx
CaféLit supports the Creative Café project
New insights on commemoration of the dead through mortuary and architectural use of pigments at Neolithic ĂatalhöyĂŒk, Turkey.
The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the creation of social memory. Neolithic ĂatalhöyĂŒk (Turkey, 7100-5950 cal BC) provides a unique case study for the exploration of links between pigments in burials, demographic data and colourants in contemporary architectural contexts. This study presents the first combined analysis of funerary and architectural evidence of pigment use in Neolithic Anatolia and discusses the possible social processes underlying the observed statistical patterns. Results reveal that pigments were either applied directly to the deceased or included in the grave as a burial association. The most commonly used pigment was red ochre. Cinnabar was mainly applied to males and blue/green pigment was associated with females. A correlation was found between the number of buried individuals and the number of painted layers in the buildings. Mortuary practices seem to have followed specific selection processes independent of sex and age-at-death of the deceased. This study offers new insights about the social factors involved in pigment use in this community, and contributes to the interpretation of funerary practices in Neolithic Anatolia. Specifically, it suggests that visual expression, ritual performance and symbolic associations were elements of shared long-term socio-cultural practices
A rebellious past : history, theatre and the England riots
Alain Badiou has argued that the England riots of 2011, in dialogue with societal upheavals around the world that same year, demonstrated fundamental crises in our governing social, economic and political discourses. Whilst institutional responses to the riots treated them as an aberration, Badiou believes them to be symptomatic of a broader rebirth of âhistoryâ â the coalescing of past and present events into a congruent trajectory with powerful implications for the future. Using Badiouâs argument as a starting point, this article considers two theatrical responses to the riots â Nicholas Kentâs premiere of Gillian Slovoâs The Riots at the Tricycle, and Sean Holmesâ revival of Edward Bondâs Saved at the Lyric Hammersmith. By looking at the ways in which the productions sought to historicise the riots, I unpick both their interpretations of these events, and the contributions they were able to make to the urgent and ongoing discussions that the riots have generated.PostprintPeer reviewe
Energetics of the Einstein-Rosen spacetime
A study covering some aspects of the Einstein--Rosen metric is presented. The
electric and magnetic parts of the Weyl tensor are calculated. It is shown that
there are no purely magnetic E--R spacetimes, and also that a purely electric
E--R spacetime is necessarily static. The geodesics equations are found and
circular ones are analyzed in detail. The super--Poynting and the
``Lagrangian'' Poynting vectors are calculated and their expressions are found
for two specific examples. It is shown that for a pulse--type solution, both
expressions describe an inward radially directed flow of energy, far behind the
wave front. The physical significance of such an effect is discussed.Comment: 19 pages Latex.References added and updated.To appear in
Int.J.Theor.Phy
Prenatal maternal plasma DNA screening for cystic fibrosis: A computer modelling study of screening performance.
Background: Prenatal cystic fibrosis (CF) screening is currently based on determining the carrier status of both parents. We propose a new method based only on the analysis of DNA in maternal plasma. Methods: The method relies on the quantitative amplification of the CF gene to determine the percentage of DNA fragments in maternal plasma at targeted CF mutation sites that carry a CF mutation. Computer modelling was carried out to estimate the distributions of these percentages in pregnancies with and without a fetus affected with CF. This was done according to the number of DNA fragments counted and fetal fraction, using the 23 CF mutations recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics for parental carrier testing. Results: The estimated detection rate (sensitivity) is 70% (100% of those detected using the 23 mutations), the false-positive rate 0.002%, and the odds of being affected given a positive screening result 14:1, compared with 70%, 0.12%, and 1:3, respectively, with current prenatal screening based on parental carrier testing. Conclusions: Compared with current screening practice based on parental carrier testing, the proposed method would substantially reduce the number of invasive diagnostic procedures (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) without reducing the CF detection rate. The expected advantages of the proposed method justify carrying out the necessary test development for use in a clinical validation study.The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work
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