Phase diagram of the fully frustrated transverse-field Ising model on the honeycomb lattice

Motivated by the current interest in the quantum dimer model on the triangular lattice, we investigate the phase diagram of the closely related fully-frustrated transverse field Ising model on the honeycomb lattice using classical and semi-classical approximations. We show that, in addition to the fully polarized phase at large field, the classical model possesses a multitude of phases that break the translational symmetry which in the dimer language, correspond to a plaquette phase and a columnar phase separated by an infinite cascade of mixed phases. The modification of the phase diagram by quantum fluctuations has been investigated in the context of linear spin-wave theory. The extrapolation of the semiclassical energies suggests that the plaquette phase extends down to zero field for spin 1/2, in agreement with the $\sqrt{12}\times\sqrt{12}$ phase of the quantum dimer model on the triangular lattice with only kinetic energy.Comment: 15 Pages, 11 Figures, Accepted for PR

Passport to Prosperity: Enhancing Student Advising and Support for International Students at an Ontario College

International students are underserviced and increasingly unsupported in Ontario’s post-secondary education system. This dissertation-in-practice (DiP) explores the complex challenges confronting international students in Ontario, with a primary focus on Polytechnic College. Through an in-depth analysis of existing literature and institutional practices, the DiP uncovers gaps in current support systems and proposes strategic interventions, particularly within student advising services, to address these gaps. Embracing principles of inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and collaborative partnership, the DiP employs a multifaceted approach to enhance the academic and personal success of international students. The Problem of Practice (PoP) centers on the disparities in support needed and support actualized for international students, exacerbated by shifting demographics, financial constraints, and governing policies. Through a thorough needs assessment, and analysis of the environment and context of Polytechnic College, the DiP identifies critical areas for intervention and support. The DiP delineates a series of strategic change initiatives, and communication, evaluation, and monitoring strategies anchored in a reimagined student advising intake for international students at Polytechnic College. By implementing evidence-based interventions, the DiP aims to elevate the academic and personal success and well-being of international students, creating connections and support, while contributing to broader realms of student life. Through collaboration with campus partners and the mobilization of knowledge, the change plan endeavours to effect enduring change that positively shapes the experiences of international students within and beyond Polytechnic College

Double-Pass Measurement of Retinal Image Quality in the Chicken Eye

8 pages, 6 figures.-- PMID: 12553544 [PubMed].-- This research was presented as a paper at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology on May 4, 2000, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.[Purpose] The chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus, is used as an animal model to study the development of refractive error. Although vision is important in determining the eye's refractive state, relatively little is known about the retinal image quality of the chicken eye. An objective double-pass technique was used to measure the optical quality of the eyes of White Leghorn chickens.[Methods] Measurements were made on 21 eyes of six untreated birds and eight experimental birds that were members of a study of refractive development. Ages ranged from 3 to 6 weeks, and refractions ranged from -1.29 to +0.58 D in the untreated eyes and -4.58 to +10.17 D in the experimental eyes. The measurements were made under general anesthesia combined with either cycloplegia or ciliary nerve section. Proper optical alignment of the eye was achieved with the aid of a TV monitor, CCD camera, and an infrared source. A 543-nm laser point source was focused on the retina, and the double-pass aerial image was collected by a high-resolution CCD camera. Refractive errors were corrected with trial lenses, using a bracketing method to optimize the retinal images. Both the full width at half-maximum of the double-pass aerial image and the single-pass modulation transfer function were used as objective estimates of the optical quality.[Results] The mean full width at half-maximum value in eyes of the untreated birds was 1.60 min arc for a 4.50-mm mean pupil diameter. Optical quality tended to be worse in the experimental myopic eyes.[Conclusions] The optical quality of the chicken eye measured under monochromatic conditions meets or may even exceed the neural limits of spatial acuity based on anatomical estimates of ganglion cell spacing. The data also suggest that optical quality is worse in myopic eyes, which is consistent with studies of human eyes.Support for this research was provided by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health grants EY04395 to S. Burns, EY11228 to D. Troilo, EY12392 to C. Wildsoet, and EY12847 to N. Coletta. S. Marcos was supported by the Human Frontier Science Program LT/0542/1997-B and Fulbright 163/2000.Peer reviewe

On-chip production of nanometer sized 'Ultra fine' bubble populations

Microbubble (MB) contrast agents have been used for many years as image enhancers for medical Ultrasound (US). Ultra-Fine bubble (UFB) populations of bubbles <1 µm in diameter are a relatively new technology that has found use as highly effective ‘eco’ cleaning agents. High-resolution US imaging is another potentially exciting area for UFB. This paper reports the on-chip production of UFB populations with a diameter of ~ 500 – 700 nm at a concentration of 10¹⁰ bub / mL. These UFB showed US scattering at higher frequency fields and enhanced contrast when imaging in in vivo mouse models

The remarkable influence of N , O -ligands in the assembly of a bis-calix[4]arene-supported [MnIV2MnIII10MnII8] cluster

Calix[4]arenes are versatile ligands, capable of supporting the formation of a wide variety of polymetallic clusters comprising 3d, 4f or 3d-4f metal ions. Calixarene-based metal ion fragments act as both bridging and structure capping moieties in these systems, and this behaviour is systematically extended upon moving to bis-calix[4]arene, a relatively new ligand in which two calix[4]arenes are tethered at the methylene bridge position. N,O-Ligands greatly influence cluster formation with bis-calix[4]arene, affording a remarkable mixed-valence [MnIV2MnIII10MnII8] cluster that displays coordination chemistry typical of each ligand type, but also new structure capping behaviour for the latter.</p

X-ray afterglow detection of the short gamma-ray burst 991014

GRB 991014 is one of the shortest gamma-ray bursts detected so far with the Wide Field Cameras aboard BeppoSAX, both in gamma-rays and X-rays. The duration is 9.6 sec in 2-28 keV and 3.2 sec in 40 to 700 keV (as measured between the times when 5 and 95% of the burst photons have been accumulated). We refine the InterPlanetary Network annulus of the burst, present the detection of the X-ray afterglow of GRB 991014 within this refined annulus, and discuss X-ray and gamma-ray observations of the prompt and afterglow emission. Except for the briefness of the prompt event, no other unusual aspects were found in the prompt and afterglow observations as compared to such measurements in previous gamma-ray bursts.Comment: accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa

Images in Christmas Balls

We describe light-reflection properties of spherically curved mirrors, like balls in the Christmas tree. In particular, we study the position of the image which is formed somewhere beyond the surface of a spherical mirror, when an eye observes the image of a pointlike light source. The considered problem, originally posed by Abu Ali Hasan Ibn al-Haitham -- alias Alhazen -- more than a millennium ago, turned out to have the now well known analytic solution of a biquadratic equation, being still of great relevance, e.g. for the aberration-free construction of telescopes. We do not attempt to perform an exhaustive survey of the rich historical and engineering literature on the subject, but develop a simple pedagogical approach to the issue, which we believe to be of continuing interest in view of its maltreating in many high-school textbooks.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures plain LaTeX; Also see http://cft.fis.uc.pt/eef/mirrors.htm, revised version has simplified formulas, more transparent for a wider audience, one reference adde