On the structure and spectrum of classical two-dimensional clusters with a logarithmic interaction potential

We present a numerical study of the effect of the repulsive logarithmic inter-particle interaction on the ground state configuration and the frequency spectrum of a confined classical two-dimensional cluster containing a finite number of particles. In the case of a hard wall confinement all particles form one ring situated at the boundary of the potential. For a general r^n confinement potential, also inner rings can form and we find that all frequencies lie below the frequency of a particular mode, namely the breathing-like mode. An interesting situation arises for the parabolic confined system(i.e. n=2). In this case the frequency of the breathing mode is independent of the number of particles leading to an upper bound for all frequencies. All results can be understood from Earnshaw's theorem in two dimensions. In order to check the sensitivity of these results, the spectrum of vortices in a type II superconductor which, in the limit of large penetration depths, interact through a logarithmic potential, is investigated.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Global Assimilation of Loon Stratospheric Balloon Observations and Their Trajectories Relative to Tropical Waves

Project Loon has an overall goal of providing worldwide internet coverage using a network of long-duration super-pressure balloons. Beginning in 2013, Loon has launched over 1600 balloons from multiple tropical and middle latitude locations. These GPS tracked balloon trajectories provide lower stratospheric wind information over the oceans and remote land areas where traditional radiosonde soundings are sparse, thus providing unique coverage of lower stratospheric winds. To fully investigate these Loon winds we: 1) compare the Loon winds to winds produced by a global data assimilation system (DAS: NASA GEOS) and 2) assimilate the Loon winds into the same comprehensive DAS. During May through December 2016 Loon balloons were often able to remain near the equator by selectively adjusting the Loon altitude. Our results based on global wind analyses show that the expected mean poleward motion from the Brewer-Dobson circulation can be circumvented by vertically adjusting the Loon altitudes with the phasing with the meridional wind of equatorial Rossby waves, allowing the Loon balloons to remain in the tropics

Togetherness and (work)Place: Insights from Workers and Managers during Australian COVID-Induced Lockdowns

(1) Background: Pandemic-imposed lockdowns have heightened our awareness of the value of (work)place and made apparent the role it plays in establishing our sense of belonging and professional identity. The opportunity to work remotely during the pandemic has given us an appreciation of the benefits from access to increased flexibility, but there is consistent evidence emerging showing how much workers miss in-office social and learning interactions. This paper focuses on results about (i) reported perceived effectiveness and performance, (ii) sense of adjustment to remote working, and (iii) sense of belonging during the first two COVID-19-induced lockdowns, as reported by managers and workers in Australia in 2020. Findings shed light onto (i) how remote working experience affected our connection to, and the importance of, (work)place and (ii) how to harness insights towards creating spaces responsive to the activities we prefer to undertake in the workplace, permitting employees to choose the workstyle and pattern that suits their professional role and personal circumstances. (2) Methods: Correlational and thematic analyses were conducted on findings from 1579 online surveys focusing on remote working experiences during the first and second rounds of COVID-19-imposed lockdowns. A total of 668 managers and 911 workers from 12 different industry sectors participated in two rounds of the Bates Smart remote work survey (BSRWS). Surveys targeted knowledge workers of all career stages, age, and experience. (3) Results: Employees felt (i) technologically supported and productive whilst working from home, but (ii) aspects of connection, collaboration, and sense of belonging suffered; (iii) collaboration and togetherness are main motivators for returning to the office. Managers’ experiences were significantly different with (i) perceived productivity, collaboration, knowledge sharing, sense of belonging, and performance dropping; (ii) face-to-face interaction and business development were key priorities for returning to the office with (iii) challenges of mentoring and managing emotional wellbeing of teams evident. (4) Conclusions: From these surveys we conclude space is an enabler of organisational culture and professional identity, playing a critical role in establishing psychologically safe and equitable workplaces. This paper reports snapshot data showing knowledge workers’ experiences and effects of WFH under strict lockdown circumstances on wellbeing, productivity, and culture over time. It proposes two lenses (togetherness and place), through which the future workplace should be considered by industry and researchers alike

Differences in occupants' satisfaction and perceived productivity in high- and low-performance offices

© 2019 by the authors. This paper reports the results from a dataset comprising 9794 post-occupancy evaluation (POE) surveys from 77 Australian open-plan offices. This paper specifically focuses on a sub-set of 20 offices (n = 2133), identified from ranking 10 offices each, with the least (n = 1063) and highest (n = 1070) satisfaction scores, respectively. The satisfaction scores were evaluated on the basis of seven factors (i.e., building/office aesthetics and quality, thermal comfort and indoor air quality, noise distraction and privacy, personal control, connection to outdoor environment, maintenance and visual comfort, and individual space). Using the POE survey data from 20 offices, regression analyses and two-way ANOVA tests were carried out to understand the differences in occupants' satisfaction and perceived productivity arising from open-plan offices. According to the statistically significant regression analyses results, it was identified that building/office aesthetics and quality (β = 0.55, p < 0.001) and noise distraction and privacy (β = 0.33, p < 0.001) were the two strongest predictors contributing perceived productivity in low-performance offices. Two-way ANOVA test results for the 10 high-performance offices indicate that the perceived productivity was strongly associated with the office's physical configuration, the employees' working experience, and the working hours at that office

Avaliacao genetica e selecao em Eucalyptus grandis na regiao de Arapoti - PR.

Foram avaliados 17.916 indivíduos, pertencentes a 163 progênies de polinização aberta de 11 populações de Eucalyptus grandis, implantadas em duas fazendas na região de Arapoti - PR, visando a seleção de indivíduos com base em seus valores genéticos preditos. Foram obtidas estimativas médias da herdabilidade no sentido restrito, em nível de indivíduos e da acurácia seletiva, da ordem de 40 e 65%, respectivamente. A estimativa (0,75) da correlação genética entre médias de progênies, nas duas fazendas, indicou que a interação genótipo X ambiente não é problemática para o melhorista. Ganhos genéticos da ordem de 87 a 105% poderão ser obtidos com o estabelecimento das populações de melhoramento e de produção de sementes, respectivamente

Garlic (Allium spp.) viruses: detection, distribution and remediation attempts in a European garlic collection

Garlic is an important vegetable crop in numerous countries used as food and natural based medicine. Similar to the majority of vegetatively propagated plants, garlic may be affected by several viruses that can cause severe crop losses. The present study aimed to screen 105 garlic accessions (mother plants) from 5 European countries (Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, and France) for possible presence of Onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV), Leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV), Garlic common latent virus (GCLV) and Shallot latent virus (SLV). The occurrence of three Allexiviruses (GarV-A, GarV-B and GarV-C) in mixed assays was also investigated. Meristem-tip culture assays were performed in order to attempt eradication of the studied viruses. Garlic viruses identification was made by ELISA and RT-PCR. ELISA outcomes showed that all 105 garlic accessions were infected by different virus combinations. The OYDV and LYSV were identified, by ELISA, in all countries at 96% and 88,6% respectively and by RT-PCR at 99% and 96%. Furthermore, GCLV and SLV were detected by ELISA in about 88% and by RT-PCR at 89% and 90%, respectively with the exception of the studied Allexiviruses which were not amplified by RT-PCR with ALLEX1/ALLEX2 primers. Smaller meristem size (0,3-1,5 mm) led to better virus elimination efficiency (29%) compared to 8% obtained for the larger size (2-2,5 mm). The outcomes were opposite (16% vs. 90%) for plants regeneration. Virus elimination efficiency was linked to the virus type, e.g., OYDV and LYSV were eradicated at 90% while GCLV and Allexiviruses were difficult to eliminate (57,4% and 55,6% of eradication). Given the economic relevance of garlic crops worldwide and the frequently reported incidence of viral infections, it is important to make virusfree germplasm available. Therefore, investigating the garlic germplasm sanitary status and constantly improving it is of crucial importance aiming to increase the overall garlic production

L&#8217;incerta evoluzione del regionalismo sanitario in Italia

Muovendo dal riparto di competenze in materia di \u201ctutela della salute\u201d prima e dopo la riforma del Titolo V della Costituzione, il contributo esamina le principali esperienze sovranazionali (in particolare, comunitarie) di federalismo sanitario e le modalit\ue0 attraverso le quali i diversi Paesi hanno inteso coniugare il principio del decentramento con l\u2019esigenza di garantire alla popolazione assistita uniformit\ue0 di trattamento nel godimento delle prestazioni. Guardando poi all\u2019ordinamento interno, ci si domanda quanto le diverse Regioni siano riuscite a sfruttare le opportunit\ue0 di differenziazione loro concesse dalla riforma costituzionale sul piano dell\u2019offerta dei servizi sanitari, nonch\ue9 quali siano \u2013 e se siano oggi determinabili \u2013 gli effetti del federalismo fiscale sulla gestione delle risorse destinate alla sanit\ue0.Taking as its starting point the division of competences before and after the reform of Title V of the Italian Constitution, the essay surveys the main supranational experiences in health care federalism (particularly, in the European Union) and how different countries have tried to combine the principle of decentralisation and the guarantee of treatment uniformity for assisted citizens in the enjoyment of services. Turning to the Italian system, the essay investigates to which extent the Regions used the opportunities opened by the constitutional reform to adopt different models in providing health services, and which are \u2013 if they are currently determinable \u2013 the effects of fiscal federalism on the management of health care resources