Magnetic Grueneisen ratio of the random transverse-field Ising chain

The magnetic analog of the Gr\"{u}neisen parameter, i.e., the magnetocaloric effect, is a valuable tool for studying field-tuned quantum phase transitions. We determine the magnetic Gr\"{u}neisen parameter of the one-dimensional random transverse-field Ising model, focusing on its low-temperature behavior at the exotic infinite-randomness quantum critical point and in the associated quantum Griffiths phases. We present extensive numerical simulations showing that the magnetic Gr\"{u}neisen parameter diverges logarithmically with decreasing temperature in the quantum Griffiths phase. It changes sign right at criticality. These results confirm a recent strong-disorder renormalization group theory. We also compare our findings to the behavior of the clean transverse-field Ising chain.Comment: 5 pages, 6 eps figures, submitted to Proc. of QCNP0

Time Delay and Noise Explaining Cyclical Fluctuations in Prices of Commodities

This paper suggests to model jointly time delay and random effects in economics and finance. It proposes to explain the random and often cyclical fluctuations in commodity prices as a consequence of the interplay between external noise and time delays caused by the time between initiation of production and delivery. The proposed model is formulated as a stochastic delay differential equation. The typical behavior of a commodity price index under this model will be discussed. Methods for parameter estimation and the evaluation of functionals will be proposed.commodity prices; stochastic delay differential equation; cyclical behavior; scenario simulation; parameter estimation; autocorrelation function

Convergence results for multivariate martingales

We present a new version of the Central Limit Theorem for multivariate martingales

Morphine Metabolism in Human Skin Microsomes

For patients with severe skin wounds, topically applied morphine is an option to induce efficient analgesia due to the presence of opioid receptors in the skin. However, for topical administration it is important to know whether the substance is biotransformed in the skin as this can eventually reduce the concentration of the active agent considerably. We use skin microsomes to elucidate the impact of skin metabolism on the activity of topically applied morphine. We are able to demonstrate that morphine is only glucuronidated in traces, indicating that the biotransformation in the skin can be neglected when morphine is applied topically. Hence, there is no need to take biotransformation into account when setting up the treatment regimen. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Vegetation change and effects of cattle grazing in the transition mire "Burgmoos”

Mires are highly threatened ecosystems in the lowlands of Central Europe. Reduced water levels and eutrophication promote shrub encroachment and the expansion of tall species, such as common reed (Phragmites australis). In the "Burgmoos”, a Swiss mire of national importance, attempts have been made to reverse these developments through cattle grazing in parts of the mire area. To monitor overall vegetation change and to assess the influence of grazing (which started in 2004), the vegetation was surveyed in 1995, 2001 and 2007. Ecological indicator values of the vegetation changed considerably between 1995 and 2007: mean indicator values for nutrients and soil pH increased in 80 and 72% of the relevés, respectively, while mean indicator values for moisture, humus and light decreased in 81, 86 and 76% of the relevés, respectively. Plant species from bogs, transition mires and fens decreased, while trees, pasture species and P. australis increased. Grazing had a weak effect on P. australis and did not prevent an increase in abundance of this species. The abundance of transition mire species was maintained in the grazed area between 2001 and 2007, whereas it continued to decrease in the ungrazed areas. This positive effect of grazing was, however, compensated by several adverse effects: In the non-forested parts of the mire, grazing accelerated the increase of nutrient indicator values, the decrease of bog species and the increase of pasture species. We conclude that grazing has not been effective in preventing undesirable vegetation changes in the Burgmoo

On life-time-distributions of some one-dimensional diffusions and related exponential families

Diffusions X on the positive halfaxis with elastic killing boundary at zero and inaccessible boundary at ∞ are considered. The life-time ζ is finite and hθ(x) = Ex exp(θζ), n ≥ 0, is an θ-excessive function. The h(θ)-transforms of X define a family of diffusions, such that the life-time distributions of them form an exponential family of distributions, the inverse local times at zero form an exponential family of processes with independent increments and the spectral measures of them are connected simply by translation

Des matières qui travaillent : Une leçon pour l’anthropologie (Note de recherche)

De nouvelles matières font désormais concurrence aux artefacts et aux fonctions selon des modes appelés à déstabiliser notre façon d’envisager la nature du monde social et culturel que nous habitons. Dans cette note de recherche, nous soulignons la nécessité d’étudier l’introduction et l’adoption de ces nouvelles matières et des nouvelles technologies auxquelles elles font appel pour comprendre les répercussions que ces innovations auront sur la théorie et la méthodologie des sciences sociales et historiques. Une telle étude dans le contexte euro-américain pourrait bénéficier de la comparaison avec des données ethnologiques provenant de régions du monde où l’économie du savoir constitue une pratique de longue date, données oblitérées par une approche de la technologie et de sa transmission qui a été centrée jusqu’ici sur l’objet et la production.New materials compete now over artefacts and functions in ways that will unsettle our received assumptions about the nature of the social and culture world we inhabit. This note of research outlines the need to chart the introduction and uptake of new materials and new technologies to understand the implication that these innovations will have for theory and methodology in the social and historical sciences. It suggests that its study in the Euro-American context can benefit from comparable ethnographic data from regions of the world where knowledge economies have long been practice; data, shunned by an object and production centered approach to social technology and its transmission.Nuevas materias compiten de ahora en adelante con los artefactos y las funciones de acuerdo con los modos destinados a desestabilizar nuestra manera de considerar la naturaleza del mundo social y cultural que habitamos. En esta nota de investigación, subrayamos la necesidad de estudiar la introducción y la adopción de nuevas materias y de las nuevas tecnologías empleadas para comprender las repercusiones que esas innovaciones tendrán sobre la teoría y la metodología de las ciencias sociales e históricas. Este tipo de estudio en el contexto euro-americano podría aprovechar la comparación con los datos etiológicos provenientes de regiones del mundo en donde la economía del saber constituye una práctica antigua, datos borrados por un enfoque de la tecnología y de su transmisión que ha sido centrada, hasta aquí, sobre el objeto y la producción

Digital Learning and the Humanities

The current research and funding situation with regards to digital teaching and learning will be a starting point to further inquire about the mission, intent and self-styling of the humanities and the field of English. The proliferation of digital opportunities makes knowledge globally available and universally transferable in a technological sense. Yet, what about the changes that digitalization triggers in epistemology or cultural techniques of information management? And, what are the stakes of the humanities and their way of making meaning and creation of knowledge? Can the knowledge of the humanities or the field of English – here particularly language, narrative literature and culture – be communicated, taught or learned with digital means? The humanities make it their designated task to provide orientation and evaluation for the increasingly complex and fast-paced global developments and their diverse cultural, societal and educative contexts. It should be in the interest of the humanities and its disciplines, to find answers to the questions of benefits that can be provided by digitalization of educational fields. Puentedura's SAMR matrix (substitution, amplification, modification, redefinition) will be introduced to allow for an evaluation of digitalization processes and tools