Centrifugal terms in the WKB approximation and semiclassical quantization of hydrogen

A systematic semiclassical expansion of the hydrogen problem about the classical Kepler problem is shown to yield remarkably accurate results. Ad hoc changes of the centrifugal term, such as the standard Langer modification where the factor l(l+1) is replaced by (l+1/2)^2, are avoided. The semiclassical energy levels are shown to be exact to first order in $\hbar$ with all higher order contributions vanishing. The wave functions and dipole matrix elements are also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Prescribing and sales of intramammary antimicrobials in Ireland in 2019 and 2020: the role of milk purchasers

Background: In Ireland between 2008 and 2022, intramammary antimicrobial (AM) products could be prescribed by a veterinary practitioner under what was known as Schedule 8 (or remote) prescribing. Under this prescribing route, an annual herd visit was not required when criteria were met as outlined in Animal Remedies Regulation 2007 to 2017 (statutory instruments No. 786/2007 and 558/2017). Under this prescribing route, the responsibilities of the milk purchaser, the farmer and the veterinary practitioner were each outlined, and a written mastitis control programme (MCP) was required. Milk purchasers implemented MCPs on participating farms (so-called MCP herds) with support from veterinary practitioner(s) who undertook Schedule 8 prescribing of intramammary AM tubes. This study seeks a clearer understanding of the role of milk purchasers in the prescribing and sale of intramammary AM products in Ireland during 2019 and 2020, whilst this Regulation was in force. Specifically, the study sought insights into the role of milk purchasers in the prescribing and sale of intramammary AM products in the Irish dairy industry during 2019 and 2020, using anonymised and highly aggregated milk purchaser data. The study also provided insights into milk quality among supplying herds during this period. Methods: For this study, we had access to anonymised, highly aggregated data from all milk purchasers that operated a MCP on at least some of their supplying herds during 2019 or 2020. Data collection was undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. Data analysis was primarily descriptive. Results: Data were available on 11 milk purchasers (64.7% of all) and 13,251 supplying herds. Of these, 52% were MCP herds. The quality of milk from supplying herds varied significantly by month, year and milk purchaser. During 2019 and 2020, there was a single Schedule 8 prescriber (a private veterinary practitioner prescribing intramammary AMs as part of a MCP), on average, for 549.3 herds. The sale of intramammary AM products through milk purchasers represented 15.2% and 26.9% of national sales in in-lactation and dry cow tubes, respectively. There was an overall 2% increase in sales through milk purchasers between 2019 and 2020. Few European Medicines Agency (EMA) category B (‘Restrict’) intramammary AM products were sold by milk purchasers. For both in-lactation and dry cow tubes, there was a statistically significant association between EMA classification and route of sale (through milk purchasers or otherwise).Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin

On the Thermodynamic Geometry of BTZ Black Holes

We investigate the Ruppeiner geometry of the thermodynamic state space of a general class of BTZ black holes. It is shown that the thermodynamic geometry is flat for both the rotating BTZ and the BTZ Chern Simons black holes in the canonical ensemble. We further investigate the inclusion of thermal fluctuations to the canonical entropy of the BTZ Chern Simons black holes and show that the leading logartithmic correction due to Carlip is reproduced. We establish that the inclusion of thermal fluctuations induces a non zero scalar curvature to the thermodynamic geometry.Comment: 1+17 pages, LaTeX, 4 eps figure

Lattice supersymmetry, superfields and renormalization

We study Euclidean lattice formulations of non-gauge supersymmetric models with up to four supercharges in various dimensions. We formulate the conditions under which the interacting lattice theory can exactly preserve one or more nilpotent anticommuting supersymmetries. We introduce a superfield formalism, which allows the enumeration of all possible lattice supersymmetry invariants. We use it to discuss the formulation of Q-exact lattice actions and their renormalization in a general manner. In some examples, one exact supersymmetry guarantees finiteness of the continuum limit of the lattice theory. As a consequence, we show that the desired quantum continuum limit is obtained without fine tuning for these models. Finally, we discuss the implications and possible further applications of our results to the study of gauge and non-gauge models.Comment: 44 pages, 1 figur

On the Resolution of the Time-Like Singularities in Reissner-Nordstrom and Negative-Mass Schwarzschild

Certain time-like singularities are shown to be resolved already in classical General Relativity once one passes from particle probes to scalar waves. The time evolution can be defined uniquely and some general conditions for that are formulated. The Reissner-Nordstrom singularity allows for communication through the singularity and can be termed "beam splitter" since the transmission probability of a suitably prepared high energy wave packet is 25%. The high frequency dependence of the cross section is w^{-4/3}. However, smooth geometries arbitrarily close to the singular one require a finite amount of negative energy matter. The negative-mass Schwarzschild has a qualitatively different resolution interpreted to be fully reflecting. These 4d results are similar to the 2d black hole and are generalized to an arbitrary dimension d>4.Comment: 47 pages, 5 figures. v2: See end of introduction for an important note adde

Ground motion measurements at the LBL Light Source site, the Bevatron and at SLAC

This report describes the technique for measuring ground motion at the site of the 1.0 to 2.0 GeV Synchrotron Radiation Facility which was known as the Advanced Light Source (in 1983 when the measurements were taken). The results of ground motion measurements at the Light Source site at Building 6 at LBL are presented. As comparison, ground motion measurements were made at the Byerly Tunnel, the Bevatron, Blackberry Canyon, and SLAC at the Spear Ring. Ground Motion at the Light Source site was measured in a band from 4 to 100 Hz. The measured noise is primarily local in origin and is not easily transported through LBL soils. The background ground motion is for the most part less than 0.1 microns. Localized truck traffic near Building 6 and the operation of the cranes in the building can result in local ground motions of a micron or more for short periods of time. The background motion at Building 6 is between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude higher than ground motion in a quiet seismic tunnel, which is representative of quiet sites worldwide. The magnitude of the ground motions at SLAC and the Bevatron are comparable to ground motions measured at the Building 6 Light Source site. However, the frequency signature of each site is very different

Comparison of the confidence in freedom from infection based on different control programmes between EU member states: STOC free

The STOC free project constructed a generic framework that allows a standardised and harmonised description of different control programmes (CP) for cattle diseases. The STOC free model can be used to determine the confidence of freedom from infection that has been achieved in disease CPs, in support of an ongoing assessment of progress towards output-based standards as outlined in the EU Animal Health Law. With this information, and as required, further CP actions can be taken to mitigate the risks of persistence and (re-)introduction on the probability of freedom from infection. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was chosen as the case disease because of the diversity in CPs in the six participating countries. A Bayesian hidden Markov model was considered the best modelling method. Detailed BVDVCP information was collected in the participating countries and the key aspects for inclusion in the STOCfree model were identified. A first version of STOC free model was developed and tested on simulated data. The risk factors for BVDV infection that needed to be included in the model were defined and default values for these risk factors were quantified. A data collection tool was finalised with which the data for the STOC free model was collected. Subsequently, the developed model was tested and validated using real BVDV CP data from partner countries. Based on the feedback, the model was finalised and the report and corresponding computer code were made publicly available. There were roughly three different BVDV situations that occurred in the partner countries: 1. Endemic situation with a CP operating at herd level, 2. Endemic situation with a CP operating at animal level and 3. BVD free situation. The STOC free model is able to include herd level data only and animal level data has to be aggregated to herd level before the model can be applied. The STOC free model is not applicable for a country that is completely BVDV free given that it needs some infections to estimate its parameters and converge. In the latter situation, a scenario tree model could be a better suited tool, and this was evaluated in the Swedish case study. Further work is needed for generalisation of the method to other diseases and expansion of the method to include socioeconomic aspects of CPs <br/