2,551 research outputs found
New Zealandâs Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) model undermines Maori research
The Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) model was instigated in 2002 to increase âthe quality of research through peer assessment and performance indicatorsâ in New Zealand (Ministry of Education 2002: 17). It is used to allocate funding between universities, departments and researchers according to the putative quality and quantity of their research outputs over the preceding 6 years. PBRF is expected to incentivise improved research excellence and efficiency, and allow government to invest research funds where greatest returns will result. This is potentially a huge gain for MÄori. However, âby changing the conditions of knowledge production, research assessment exercises may also alter the shape and direction of disciplines by diverting and channelling researchersâ intellectual attention and political engagement, influencing what they study, how they do it, and how they report and writeâ (Middleton 2009: 194). Indeed, universities repeatedly encourage researchers to focus on activities that will improve their PBRF rankings. We believe that an unintended consequence of PBRF is the creation of significant barriers to increasing the volume, scope and quality of environmental research for MÄori
Small scale fracture behaviour of multilayer TiN/CrN systems: Assessment of bilayer thickness effects by means of ex-situ tests on FIB-milled micro-cantilevers
TiN/CrN multilayered PVD coatings are known to exhibit outstanding micromechanical properties and wear resistance. On the other hand, information on their small scale fracture behaviour is rather scarce. The present work aims to address it by testing to failure FIB-milled microbeams of multilayer TiN/CrN systems with different bilayer periods (8, 19 and 25 nm). In doing so, these micrometric specimens are first FIB notched, and thus deflected by means of a nanoindentation system. It is found that multilayer architecture translates into a beneficial synergic effect regarding critical load for reaching unstable failure; and thus, on energy absorption at fracture. Such behaviour is associated with small scale crack deflection as main toughening mechanism.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Calculating error bars for neutrino mixing parameters
One goal of contemporary particle physics is to determine the mixing angles
and mass-squared differences that constitute the phenomenological constants
that describe neutrino oscillations. Of great interest are not only the best
fit values of these constants but also their errors. Some of the neutrino
oscillation data is statistically poor and cannot be treated by normal
(Gaussian) statistics. To extract confidence intervals when the statistics are
not normal, one should not utilize the value for chisquare versus confidence
level taken from normal statistics. Instead, we propose that one should use the
normalized likelihood function as a probability distribution; the relationship
between the correct chisquare and a given confidence level can be computed by
integrating over the likelihood function. This allows for a definition of
confidence level independent of the functional form of the !2 function; it is
particularly useful for cases in which the minimum of the !2 function is near a
boundary. We present two pedagogic examples and find that the proposed method
yields confidence intervals that can differ significantly from those obtained
by using the value of chisquare from normal statistics. For example, we find
that for the first data release of the T2K experiment the probability that
chisquare is not zero, as defined by the maximum confidence level at which the
value of zero is not allowed, is 92%. Using the value of chisquare at zero and
assigning a confidence level from normal statistics, a common practice, gives
the over estimation of 99.5%.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
DeformaciĂłn de Branquias en SalmĂłnidos: AnĂĄlisis MacroscĂłpico, HistolĂłgico, Ultraestructural y de Elementos
Rojas, M (Rojas, Mariana).Univ Talca, Unidad Anat Normal, Valparaiso, Chile
Decoherence assisting a measurement-driven quantum evolution process
We study the problem of driving an unknown initial mixed quantum state onto a
known pure state without using unitary transformations. This can be achieved,
in an efficient manner, with the help of sequential measurements on at least
two unbiased bases. However here we found that, when the system is affected by
a decoherence mechanism, only one observable is required in order to achieve
the same goal. In this way the decoherence can assist the process. We show
that, depending on the sort of decoherence, the process can converge faster or
slower than the method implemented by means of two complementary observables.Comment: Four pages, three figures included ([email protected]
PMS21 ABATACEPT OR INFLIXIMAB FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN VENEZUELA? A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS
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