Effect of finite particle number sampling on baryon number fluctuations

The effects of finite particle number sampling on the net baryon number cumulants, extracted from fluid dynamical simulations, are studied. The commonly used finite particle number sampling procedure introduces an additional Poissonian (or multinomial if global baryon number conservation is enforced) contribution which increases the extracted moments of the baryon number distribution. If this procedure is applied to a fluctuating fluid dynamics framework one severely overestimates the actual cumulants. We show that the sampling of so called test-particles suppresses the additional contribution to the moments by at least one power of the number of test-particles. We demonstrate this method in a numerical fluid dynamics simulation that includes the effects of spinodal decomposition due to a first order phase transition. Furthermore, in the limit where anti-baryons can be ignored, we derive analytic formulas which capture exactly the effect of particle sampling on the baryon number cumulants. These formulas may be used to test the various numerical particle sampling algorithms.Comment: 9 pages 3 figure

Bounded policy learning? : EU efforts to anticipate unintended consequences in conflict minerals legislation

Inspired by the emerging literature on unintended consequences of EU external action, this article studies how the anticipation of negative unintended consequences factors into EU policy-making. Using policy learning analytical lens, case study research strategy and process-tracing method, this article examines EU policy-making on conflict minerals: when respective EU policy was drafted, the negative unintended consequences of the earlier US conflict minerals legislation figured prominently in the debate. The analysis shows why and how major differences between US and EU conflict minerals legislation have resulted from bounded lessons-drawing driven by two opposing transatlantic advocacy coalitions. Eventually, the EU designed its conflict minerals policy so as to mitigate perceived negative unintended consequences of the earlier US law. The article contributes to literatures on unintended consequences of EU external action, policy learning and specifically bounded lessons-drawing in EU context, and conflict minerals legislation

Heating and thermoelectric transport in a molecular junction

The energy dissipation and heat flows associated with the particle current in a system with a molecular junction are considered. In this connection, we determine the effective temperature of the molecular oscillator that is compatible with the existence of a steady state. The calculations based on the Kadanov-Baym nonequilibrium Green function formalism are carried out supposing a strong coupling of the dot electrons with the molecular vibrations. Accordingly, the representation given by the Lang-Firsov polaron transformation is used and the dependence of results on the electron-phonon interaction strength is investigated.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to EPJ

Human-resource-based theory of the small firm, A

Presentatie van een conceptueel model over de wijze waarop personeelsbeleid tot stand komt in kleinere bedrijven. Het model geeft weer hoe verschillende algemene kenmerken van kleinere bedrijven zich verhouden tot het personeelsbeleid. Personeelsbeleid in kleinere bedrijven wordt door drie karakteristieken gekenmerkt, te weten een sterke nadruk op teamgeest, een informele werkwijze en een centrale rol van de ondernemer.

Utterly Disgusting! How the Experience of Disgust Can Both Prevent and Stimulate Societal Change

Achieving a sustainable lifestyle is arguably humanity’s biggest challenge to date. While most consumers are aware of this situation, key issues remain unaffected. For instance, as a major driver of global CO2 emissions, the steadily rising consumption of meat fuels the pollution of air, water, and soil, and threatens biodiversity. Why is it so difficult for consumers to abandon current unsustainable behaviors, and adopt more sustainable behaviors instead? This dissertation examines how change may be promoted by introducing disgust as both an underrecognized barrier and key to behavior change. On the one hand, this dissertation shows that disgust can be a reason why consumers reject sustainable behaviors such as consuming sustainable food alternatives. Consumers, for instance, intuitively reject edible insects and lab-meat due to disgust. This disgust, I show, may not be the result of any of the foods’ inherent qualities like taste or texture, but may simply result from the perception that such foods deviate from what consumers have internalized to be the norm. If sustainable food alternatives were perceived to be more normal, consumers would no longer feel disgusted in response to these foods and consequently accept them. Disgust can, on the other hand, also be used to make people refrain from unsustainable behavior. For instance, graphic warning labels can visually link the consumption of meat to its detrimental consequences and thereby make people reduce it. Importantly, previously voiced concerns that the use of graphic warning labels may stigmatize the target group were not supported by my research

Acute injuries in student circus artists with regard to gender specific differences

Purpose: Student circus artists train as both artists and athletes with their bodies holding the key to professional success. The daily training load of student circus artists is often associated with maximum physical and psychological stress with injuries posing a threat to a potential professional career. The purpose of this study is the differentiated analysis and evaluation of work accidents in order to initiate the development of injury preventive programs. Methods: The 17 years of data were obtained from standardized anonymous work accident records of the Berlin State Accident Insurance (UKB) as well as a State Artist Educational School (n = 169, Male: 70; Female: 99) from student artists. Evaluation and descriptive statistics were conducted with Excel 2007 and PASW Statistics 18. Results: The injury risk seems to be relatively low (0.3 injuries/1000h). There are gender specific differences as to the location of injuries. Only 7% of the accidents demand a break of more than 3 days. Injury patterns vary depending on the activity and the employment of props/equipment. 75.2% of work accidents have multifactorial and 24.8% exogenous causes. Conclusions: Because physical fitness is all important in the circus arts there are numerous options for injury prevention programs that should be realized subject to gender-specific differences. Follow-ups on chronic complaints and a more individual approach are indispensable due to the very specific activities in the circus arts

An inefficient dwarf: Chemical abundances and the evolution of the Ursa Minor dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present detailed chemical element abundance ratios of 17 elements in three metal poor stars in the Ursa Minor dwarf spheroidal galaxy, which we combine with extant data from the literature to assess the predictions of a novel suite of galaxy chemical evolution models. The spectroscopic data were obtained with the Keck/HIRES instrument and revealed low metallicities of [Fe/H]=-2.12, -2.13 and -2.67 dex. While the most metal poor star in our sample shows an overabundance of [Mn/Fe] and other Fe-peak elements, our overall findings are in agreement with previous studies of this galaxy: elevated values of the [alpha/Fe] ratios that are similar to, or only slightly lower than, the halo values but with SN Ia enrichment at very low metallicity, as well as an enhancement of the ratio of first to second peak neutron capture elements [Y/Ba] with decreasing metallicity. The chemical evolution models which were tailored to reproduce the metallicity distribution function of the dSph, indicate that UMi had an extended star formation which lasted nearly 5 Gyr with low efficiency and are able to explain the [Y/Ba] enhancement at low metallicity for the first time. In particular, we show that the present day lack of gas is probably due to continuous loss of gas from the system, which we model as winds.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, table