Exact and semiclassical approach to a class of singular integral operators arising in fluid mechanics and quantum field theory

A class of singular integral operators, encompassing two physically relevant cases arising in perturbative QCD and in classical fluid dynamics, is presented and analyzed. It is shown that three special values of the parameters allow for an exact eigenfunction expansion; these can be associated to Riemannian symmetric spaces of rank one with positive, negative or vanishing curvature. For all other cases an accurate semiclassical approximation is derived, based on the identification of the operators with a peculiar Schroedinger-like operator.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, amslatex, bibtex (added missing label eq.11

Residual disorder and diffusion in thin Heusler alloy films

Co2FeSi/GaAs(110) and Co2FeSi/GaAs(111)B hybrid structures were grown by molecular-beam epitaxy and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The films contained inhomogeneous distributions of ordered L2_1 and B2 phases. The average stoichiometry was controlled by lattice parameter measurements, however diffusion processes lead to inhomogeneities of the atomic concentrations and the degradation of the interface, influencing long-range order. An average long-range order of 30-60% was measured by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction, i.e. the as-grown Co2FeSi films were highly but not fully ordered. Lateral inhomogeneities of the spatial distribution of long-range order in Co2FeSi were found using dark-field TEM images taken with superlattice reflections

Decolonising the curriculum is an ongoing and collective effort: Responding to Townsend (2020) and Gibson and Farias (2020)

This paper responds to Townsend (2020), and Gibson and Farias (2020), who were invited to write commentaries regarding Simaan’s (2020) ‘Decolonising occupational science education through learning activities based on a study from the Global South’. My reply acknowledges work done by scholars in the Global North and South, both in and outside occupational science, that critiques Western-centric hegemony in academia. It recognises the multiple aspects of decolonial work in occupational science education, and its collective and continuous nature. I argue that my objective of stimulating reflections and discussion about decolonising occupational science education and knowledge has been achieved by this collective effort to extend this discourse. Future reflections, research, and activism in this area are of paramount importance if we are to truly decolonise occupational science

Femoral Neck Shaft Angle in Men with Fragility Fractures

Introduction. Femoral neck shaft angle (NSA) has been reported to be an independent predictor of hip fracture risk in men. We aimed to assess the role of NSA in UK men. Methods. The NSA was measured manually from the DXA scan printout in men with hip (62, 31 femoral neck and 31 trochanteric), symptomatic vertebral (91), and distal forearm (67) fractures and 389 age-matched control subjects. Age, height, weight, and BMD (g/cm2: lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur) measurements were performed. Results. There was no significant difference in mean NSA between men with femoral neck and trochanteric hip fractures, so all further analyses of hip fractures utilised the combined data. There was no difference in NSA between those with hip fractures and those without (either using the combined data or analysing trochanteric and femoral neck shaft fractures separately), nor between fracture subjects as a whole and controls. Mean NSA was smaller in those with vertebral fractures (129.2° versus 131°: P = 0.001), but larger in those with distal forearm fractures (129.8° versus 128.5°: P = 0.01). Conclusions. The conflicting results suggest that femoral NSA is not an important determinant of hip fracture risk in UK men

Individual Rights, Economic Transactions, and Recognition: A Legal Approach to Social Economics

Modernity brought the idea of individual property rights as a com- plex phenomenon. However, economics adopted a simplistic view of property as a fundamental institution, understating the complex interaction of different rights and obligations that frame the legal environment of economic processes with an insufficiently elaborated tool. Here, a more elaborate view of legal elements will be propose

Prepubertal Dietary and Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids Related to Puberty Timing: Longitudinal Cohort and Mendelian Randomization Analyses.

Funder: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Cambridge: Nutrition, Diet, and Lifestyle Research Theme; Grant(s): IS-BRC-1215-20014Dietary intakes of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids (FAs) have been inconsistently associated with puberty timing. We examined longitudinal associations of prepubertal dietary and plasma phospholipid FAs with several puberty timing traits in boys and girls. In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, prepubertal fat intakes at 3-7.5 years and plasma phospholipid FAs at 7.5 years were measured. Timings of Tanner stage 2 genital or breast development and voice breaking or menarche from repeated reports at 8-17 years, and age at peak height velocity (PHV) from repeated height measurements at 5-20 years were estimated. In linear regression models with adjustment for maternal and infant characteristics, dietary substitution of polyunsaturated FAs for saturated FAs, and higher concentrations of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3n6) and palmitoleic acid (16:1n7) were associated with earlier timing of puberty traits in girls (n = 3872) but not boys (n = 3654). In Mendelian Randomization models, higher genetically predicted circulating dihomo-γ-linolenic acid was associated with earlier menarche in girls. Based on repeated dietary intake data, objectively measured FAs and genetic causal inference, these findings suggest that dietary and endogenous metabolic pathways that increase plasma dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, an intermediate metabolite of n-6 polyunsaturated FAs, may promote earlier puberty timing in girls

Seabird and marine mammal management options in the face of climate change

Climate change is already impacting Australia’s oceans. Responses by marine life to both climate variability and change have been documented for low trophic levels, however, responses for Australia’s iconic higher trophic level marine taxa are poorly understood, including for many conservation-dependent seabirds and marine mammals. We report initial results from a national study evaluating impacts an adaptation options. Individual time series and combined analyses show consistent responses to historical climate signals, however, improved monitoring protocols are needed to maximize detection of any climate-related demographic signals. Despite difference in sampling , the development of regional multi-species-indices of environmental change provides robust climate indicators over large regions