QCD and strongly coupled gauge theories : challenges and perspectives

We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.Peer reviewe

Soviet Planning Archives: the Files that Bergson could not see1

This paper examines Soviet industrial materials supply planning using official documents from the Soviet state and party archives. It examines the planning practices of the 1930s and uses two criteria suggested by Bergson to examine its efficiency. The actual practices of annual and quarterly planning are viewed in terms of the relationship between the dictator, the industrial ministries and their branch administrations, and producing enterprises. Our results confirm the general picture of operational planning from the Western literature but add a number of new insights into the operation and efficiency of industrial materials supply planning. Comparative Economic Studies (2005) 47, 364–386. doi:10.1057/palgrave.ces.8100097

Advances in electrokinetics and their applications in micro/nano fluidics

Electrokinetic phenomena originally developed in colloid chemistry have drawn great attention in micro- and nano-fluidic lab-on-a-chip systems for manipulation of both liquids and particles. Here we present an overview of advances in electrokinetic phenomena during recent decades and their various applications in micro- and nano-fluidics. The advances in electrokinetics are generally classified into two categories, namely electrokinetics over insulating surfaces and electrokinetics over conducting surfaces. In each category, the phenomena are further grouped according to different physical mechanisms. For each category of electrokinetics, the review begins with basic theories, and followed by their applications in micro- and/or nano-fluidics with highlighted disadvantages and advantages. Finally, the review is ended with suggested directions for the future research