Absence of anisotropic universal transport in YBCO

There exists significant in-plane anisotropy between $a$ and $b$ axis for various properties in YBCO. However recent thermal conductivity measurement by Chiao et al. which confirms previous microwave conductivity measurement by Zhang et al., shows no obvious anisotropy in the context of universal transport. We give a possible explanation of why the anisotropy is seen in most properties but not seen in the universal transport.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

A methodology for comparing design processes

Engineering Design Centre, University of Cambridge; Design and Innovation, Open UniversityWe gain insights into design processes by recognising similarities to other processes, often in radically different industries. The crucial determinants of what happens are characteristics shared with some other design processes. But there is no way to draw on comparisons beyond one's own experience. We are developing a programme of comparative design research that aims to map the similarities and differences between design processes, and develop a deeper understanding of how and why design is done differently in different industries, and how effective practices can be transferred between industries. In this paper we outline a methodology for creating analyses of design processes that facilitates both cross-process comparisons and the integration of different analytical perspectives on design. The analyst draws on a catalogue of previous design process descriptions for useful concepts, to map processes as a network of participants and activities and the relationships between them, and describe the causal relationships between the properties of the participants, activities and relationships.EPSR

Action of generalized symmetric groups on symmetric and exterior powers of their natural representations

We establish upper and lower bounds on the dimension of the space spanned by the symmetric powers of the natural character of generalized symmetric groups. We adapt the methods of Savitt and Stanley to obtain bounds both over the complex numbers and in prime characteristic