Chiral Symmetry Restoration in the Schwinger Model with Domain Wall Fermions

Domain Wall Fermions utilize an extra space time dimension to provide a method for restoring the regularization induced chiral symmetry breaking in lattice vector gauge theories even at finite lattice spacing. The breaking is restored at an exponential rate as the size of the extra dimension increases. Before this method can be used in dynamical simulations of lattice QCD, the dependence of the restoration rate to the other parameters of the theory and, in particular, the lattice spacing must be investigated. In this paper such an investigation is carried out in the context of the two flavor lattice Schwinger model.Comment: LaTeX, 37 pages including 18 figures. Added comments regarding power law fitting in sect 7. Also, few changes were made to elucidate the content in sect. 5.1 and 5.3. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Exact solution (by algebraic methods) of the lattice Schwinger model in the strong-coupling regime

Using the monomer--dimer representation of the lattice Schwinger model, with $N_f =1$ Wilson fermions in the strong--coupling regime ($\beta=0$), we evaluate its partition function, $Z$, exactly on finite lattices. By studying the zeroes of $Z(k)$ in the complex plane $(Re(k),Im(k))$ for a large number of small lattices, we find the zeroes closest to the real axis for infinite stripes in temporal direction and spatial extent $S=2$ and 3. We find evidence for the existence of a critical value for the hopping parameter in the thermodynamic limit $S\rightarrow \infty$ on the real axis at about $k_c \simeq 0.39$. By looking at the behaviour of quantities, such as the chiral condensate, the chiral susceptibility and the third derivative of $Z$ with respect to $1/2k$, close to the critical point $k_c$, we find some indications for a continuous phase transition.Comment: 22 pages (6 figures

Perfect Lattice Actions for Staggered Fermions

We construct a perfect lattice action for staggered fermions by blocking from the continuum. The locality, spectrum and pressure of such perfect staggered fermions are discussed. We also derive a consistent fixed point action for free gauge fields and discuss its locality as well as the resulting static quark-antiquark potential. This provides a basis for the construction of (classically) perfect lattice actions for QCD using staggered fermions.Comment: 30 pages, LaTex, 10 figure

Alternative shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete flat slabs

This paper presents the first series of validation tests for a patented shear reinforcement system for reinforced concrete flat slabs. The system, called “Shearband,” consists of elongated thin steel strips punched with holes, which undulate into the slab from the top surface. The main advantages of the new reinforcement system are structural effectiveness, flexibility, simplicity, and speed of construction. Four reinforced concrete slabs were tested in a specially designed test rig. The slabs reinforced in shear exhibited ductile behavior after achieving their full flexural potential, thus proving the effectiveness of the new reinforcement. This paper reviews briefly existing types of shear reinforcement and identifies the need for more efficient and economic solutions. Details of the experimental setup and results are given, including strain and deflection measurements as well as photographs of sections through the slabs. Finally, comparisons are made with the ACI 318 and BS8110 code predictions, which confirm that the system enabled the slabs to avoid punching shear failure and achieve their flexural potential. In addition, both codes are shown to lead to conservative estimates of flexural and punching shear capacities of reinforced concrete slabs

Staggered versus overlap fermions: a study in the Schwinger model with Nf=0,1,2N_f=0,1,2

We study the scalar condensate and the topological susceptibility for a continuous range of quark masses in the Schwinger model with $N_f=0,1,2$ dynamical flavors, using both the overlap and the staggered discretization. At finite lattice spacing the differences between the two formulations become rather dramatic near the chiral limit, but they get severely reduced, at the coupling considered, after a few smearing steps.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, v2: 1 ref corrected, minor change

The quasi‐ductile resistance of compressed spun concrete beam‐columns

The expediency of reinforcing precast spun concrete members of annular cross sections reinforced by high‐strength steel bars is discussed. Test materials, mechanical properties, production and testing procedures of plain and rein‐forced spun concrete specimens are presented. The quasi‐ductile strength and strain features of concentrically and eccentrically loaded specimens are considered. The modelling of a bearing capacity of beam‐columns of annular cross sections is based on the concepts of bending with a concentrical force and compression with a bending moment. The comparison of modelling and test data of spun concrete beam‐columns is analysed. Santrauka Aptariamas didžiastipriais plieniniais strypais armuotu gamykliniu žiedinio skerspjūvio elementu iš centrifuguotojo betono tinkamumas. Pateiktos grynojo ir armuotojo centrifuguotojo betono bandiniu medžiagos, mechanines savybes, gamybos ir bandymo tvarka. Nagrinejamos centriškai ir ekscentriškai apkrautu bandiniu tartum stamantraus stiprumo ir deformaciju ypatybes. Žiedinio skerspjūvio sijiniu kolonu laikomajai galiai modeliuoti taikomos gniuždomojo lenkimo ir lenkiamojo gniuždymo sampratos. Analizuojami sijiniu kolonu iš centrifuguotojo betono modeliavimo ir bandymo duomenys. First Published Online: 24 Jun 2011 Reikšminiai žodžiai: centrifuguotasis betonas, didžiastipris plienas, žiedinio skerspjūvio elementai, ekscentrinis apkrovimas, gniuždymo bandyma

The need to promote behaviour change at the cultural level: one factor explaining the limited impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health intervention in rural Tanzania. A process evaluation

Background - Few of the many behavioral sexual health interventions in Africa have been rigorously evaluated. Where biological outcomes have been measured, improvements have rarely been found. One of the most rigorous trials was of the multi-component MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health programme, which showed improvements in knowledge and reported attitudes and behaviour, but none in biological outcomes. This paper attempts to explain these outcomes by reviewing the process evaluation findings, particularly in terms of contextual factors. Methods - A large-scale, primarily qualitative process evaluation based mainly on participant observation identified the principal contextual barriers and facilitators of behavioural change. Results - The contextual barriers involved four interrelated socio-structural factors: culture (i.e. shared practices and systems of belief), economic circumstances, social status, and gender. At an individual level they appeared to operate through the constructs of the theories underlying MEMA kwa Vijana - Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Reasoned Action – but the intervention was unable to substantially modify these individual-level constructs, apart from knowledge. Conclusion - The process evaluation suggests that one important reason for this failure is that the intervention did not operate sufficiently at a structural level, particularly in regard to culture. Recently most structural interventions have focused on gender or/and economics. Complementing these with a cultural approach could address the belief systems that justify and perpetuate gender and economic inequalities, as well as other barriers to behaviour change