Work, play and boredom

This special issue focuses on the interconnections between work, play and boredom in contemporary organizations and features contributions by Donncha Kavanagh, Joyce Goggin, Abe Walker, Norman Jackson and Pippa Carter, Niels �kerstr�m Andersen, Hanne Knudsen, Ole Bjerg, Sophie-Th�r�se Krempl and Timon Beyes, Rasmus Johnsen, Jacob J. Peters, and Peter Fleming. The contributions seek to shed light on the way in which play is becoming increasingly incorporated within the world of work and open on to the question of how we might problematize this phenomenon. Boredom emerges as a prominent theme that provides a critical - if ambiguous - counterpoint to the management of fun and frivolity within modern-day corporations. Encompassing both sociological and philosophical reflections, the papers in this special issue add to ongoing debates around the politics of play currently taking place in the field of organization studies. This issue emerged from the ephemera conference on the same theme held at the University of St Andrews in May 2010

S(k) for Haldane Gap Antiferromagnets: Large-scale Numerical Results vs. Field Theory and Experiment

The structure function, S(k), for the s=1, Haldane gap antiferromagnetic chain, is measured accurately using the recent density matrix renormalization group method, with chain-length 100. Excellent agreement with the nonlinear $\sigma$ model prediction is obtained, both at $k\approx \pi$ where a single magnon process dominates and at $k\approx 0$ where a two magnon process dominates. We repeat our calculation with crystal field anisotropy chosen to model NENP, obtaining good agreement with both field theory predictions and recent experiments. Correlation lengths, gaps and velocities are determined for both polarizations.Comment: 11 pages, 3 postscript figures included, REVTEX 3.0, UBCTP-93-02

Absence of Self-Averaging and Universal Fluctuations in Random Systems Near Critical Points

The distributions P(X) of singular thermodynamic quantities, on an ensemble of d-dimensional quenched random samples of linear size L near a critical point, are analyzed using the renormalization group. For L much larger than the correlation length ξ, we recover strong self-averaging (SA): P(X) approaches a Gaussian with relative squared width RX~(L/ξ)−d. For L≪ξ we show weak SA (RX decays with a small power of L) or no SA [P(X) approaches a non-Gaussian, with universal L-independent relative cumulants], when the randomness is irrelevant or relevant, respectively

Oxidative Damage to DNA and Lipids as Biomarkers of Exposure to Air Pollution

Ba c k g r o u n d: Air pollution is thought to exert health effects through oxidative stress, which causes damage to DNA and lipids. Obj e c t i v e: We determined whether levels of oxidatively damaged DNA and lipid peroxidation products in cells or bodily fluids from humans are useful biomarkers of biologically effective dose in studies of the health effects of exposure to particulate matter (PM) from combustion processes. Data s o u r c e s: We identified publications that reported estimated associations between environmental exposure to PM and oxidative damage to DNA and lipids in PubMed and EMBASE. We also identified publications from reference lists and articles cited in the Web of Science. Data extraction: For each study, we obtained information on the estimated effect size to calculate the standardized mean difference (unitless) and determined the potential for errors in exposure assessment and analysis of each of the biomarkers, for total and stratified formal meta-analyses. Data synthesis: In the meta-analysis, the standardized mean differences (95 % confidence interval) between exposed and unexposed subjects for oxidized DNA and lipids were 0.53 (0.29–0.76) and 0.73 (0.18–1.28) in blood and 0.52 (0.22–0.82) and 0.49 (0.01–0.97) in urine, respectively. The standardized mean difference for oxidized lipids was 0.64 (0.07–1.21) in the airways. Restricting analyses to studies unlikely to have substantial biomarker or exposure measurement error, studies likely to have biomarker and/or exposure error, or studies likely to have both sources of error resulted in standardized mean differences of 0.55 (0.19–0.90), 0.66 (0.37–0.95), and 0.65 (0.34–0.96), respectively. Co n c l u s i o n s: Exposure to combustion particles is consistenly associated with oxidatively damaged DNA and lipids in humans, suggesting that it is possible to use these measurements as biomarkers of biologically effective dose. Key w o r d s: biomarker, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation products, oxidative stress, particulate matter. Environ Health Perspect 118:1126–1136 (2010). doi:10.1289/ehp.0901725 [Onlin

Equal Time Correlations in Haldane Gap Antiferromagnets

The $S=1$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain both with and without single ion anisotropy is studied. Using the recently proposed density matrix renormalization group technique we calculate the energy gaps as well as several different correlation functions. The two gaps, $\Delta_{||}, \Delta_\perp$, along with associated correlation lengths and velocities are determined. The numerical results are shown to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions derived from the nonlinear sigma model and a free boson model. We also study the $S=1/2$ excitations that occur at the ends of open chains; in particular we study the behavior associated with open boundary conditions, using a model of $S=1/2$ spins coupled to the free bosons.Comment: 32 pages, uufiles encoded REVTEX 3.0, 19 postscript figures included, UBCTP-93-02

Magnetoresistance of a 2-dimensional electron gas in a random magnetic field

We report magnetoresistance measurements on a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) made from a high mobility GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure, where the externally applied magnetic field was expelled from regions of the semiconductor by means of superconducting lead grains randomly distributed on the surface of the sample. A theoretical explanation in excellent agreement with the experiment is given within the framework of the semiclassical Boltzmann equation.Comment: REVTEX 3.0, 11 pages, 3 Postscript figures appended. The manuscript can also be obtained from our World Wide Web server: http://roemer.fys.ku.dk/randmag.ht

Impurities in s=1s=1 Heisenberg Antiferromagnets

The $s=1$ Heisenberg Antiferromagnet is studied in the presence of two kinds of local impurities. First, a perturbed antiferromagnetic bond with $J'\ne J$ at the center of an even-length open chain is considered. Using the density matrix renormalization group method we find that, for sufficiently strong or weak $J'$, a bound state is localized at the impurity site, giving rise to an energy level in the Haldane gap. The energy of the bound state is in agreement with perturbative results, based on $s=1/2$ chain-end excitations, both in the weak and strong coupling limit. In a region around the uniform limit, $J'=J$, no states are found with energy below the Haldane gap. Secondly, a $s=1/2$ impurity at the center of an otherwise even-length open chain is considered. The coupling to the $s=1/2$ impurity is varied. Bound states in the Haldane gap are found {\it only} for sufficiently weak (antiferromagnetic) coupling. For a $s=1/2$ impurity coupled with a strong (antiferromagnetic) bond, {\it no} states are found in the Haldane. Our results are in good qualitative agreement with recent experiments on doped NENP and Y$_2$BaNiO$_5$.Comment: 29 pages, RevTeX 3.0, 12 uuencoded postscript figures include

Bronchoalveolar lavage in infants with recurrent lower respiratory symptoms

Background: Few data are available about the inflammatory cytokine profile of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from young children with frequent wheeze. The first aim was to investigate the BAL cellular and cytokine profiles in infants with recurrent lower respiratory symptoms in whom bronchoscopy was indicated for clinical symptom evaluation. The second aim was to relate the BAL results with the histological findings of the endobronchial carina biopsies. Methods: Thirty-nine infants (median age 0.9 years) underwent lung function testing by whole-body plethysmography prior to the bronchoscopy. The BAL differential cell counts and cytokine levels were quantified. These findings were compared with the histological findings of the endobronchial carina biopsies. Results: The differential cytology reflected mainly that described for healthy infants with lymphocyte counts at the upper range level. A positive association between BAL CD8+ lymphocytes and neutrophils and endobronchial reticular basement membrane was found. Detectable levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine proteins IL-1 beta, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23, and IL-33 were found, whereas levels of Th2-type cytokine proteins were low. Frequent wheeze was the only clinical characteristic significantly related to detectable combined pro-inflammatory cytokine profile. Lung function did not correlate with any cytokine. Conclusions: A positive association between BAL CD8+ lymphocytes and neutrophils and endobronchial reticular basement thickness was found. Detectable production of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated positively with frequent wheeze.Peer reviewe