Constraints on a scalar-pseudoscalar Higgs mixing at future e+e- colliders: an update

We perform an update of our previous analysis on the constraints on possible deviations of Hbb coupling from its Standard Model value, arising from a scalar-pseudoscalar mixing. In this paper we include a complete simulation of the process e+ e- -> b bbar e+ e- and combine it with our previous results to obtain tighter bounds on the deviations of the parameters describing this coupling that could be measured at the Next Linear Collider.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.

Phase behaviour of additive binary mixtures in the limit of infinite asymmetry

We provide an exact mapping between the density functional of a binary mixture and that of the effective one-component fluid in the limit of infinite asymmetry. The fluid of parallel hard cubes is thus mapped onto that of parallel adhesive hard cubes. Its phase behaviour reveals that demixing of a very asymmetric mixture can only occur between a solvent-rich fluid and a permeated large particle solid or between two large particle solids with different packing fractions. Comparing with hard spheres mixtures we conclude that the phase behaviour of very asymmetric hard-particle mixtures can be determined from that of the large component interacting via an adhesive-like potential.Comment: Full rewriting of the paper (also new title). 4 pages, LaTeX, uses revtex, multicol, epsfig, and amstex style files, to appear in Phys. Rev. E (Rapid Comm.

A new approach to the inverse problem for current mapping in thin-film superconductors

A novel mathematical approach has been developed to complete the inversion of the Biot-Savart law in one- and two-dimensional cases from measurements of the perpendicular component of the magnetic field using the well-developed Magneto-Optical Imaging technique. Our approach, especially in the 2D case, is provided in great detail to allow a straightforward implementation as opposed to those found in the literature. Our new approach also refines our previous results for the 1D case [Johansen et al., Phys. Rev. B 54, 16264 (1996)], and streamlines the method developed by Jooss et al. [Physica C 299, 215 (1998)] deemed as the most accurate if compared to that of Roth et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 65, 361 (1989)]. We also verify and streamline the iterative technique, which was developed following Laviano et al. [Supercond. Sci. Technol. 16, 71 (2002)] to account for in-plane magnetic fields caused by the bending of the applied magnetic field due to the demagnetising effect. After testing on magneto-optical images of a high quality YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting thin film, we show that the procedure employed is effective

Three Jet Events and New Strong Couplings at LEP and NLC

We study the effects of new dimension--6 operators, resulting from a general $SU(3)_C \otimes SU(2)_L \otimes U(1)_Y$ invariant effective Lagrangian, on three jet production at LEP and at the Next Linear Collider. Contributions to the total event rate and to some event shape variables are analysed in order to establish bounds on these operators.Comment: 5 pages, LaTeX, 1 Figur

A pilot study in using argumentation frameworks for online debates

We describe a pilot study in using argumentation frameworks obtained from an online debate to evaluate positions expressed in the debate. This pilot study aims at exploring the richness of Computational Argumentation methods and techniques for evaluating arguments to reason with the output of Argument Mining. It uses a hand-generated graphical representation of the debate as an intermediate representation from which argumentation frameworks can be extracted, but richer than any existing argumentation framework. The intermediate representation can provide insights for benchmark sets derived from online debates

Look, the World is Watching How We Treat Migrants! The Making of the Anti-Trafficking Legislation during the Ma Administration

Employing the spiral model, this research analyses how anti-human trafficking legislation was promulgated during the Ma Ying-jeou (Ma Yingjiu) presidency. This research found that the government of Taiwan was just as accountable for the violation of migrants’ human rights as the exploitive placement agencies and abusive employers. This research argues that, given its reliance on the United States for political and security support, Taiwan has made great efforts to improve its human rights records and meet US standards for protecting human rights. The reform was a result of multilevel inputs, including US pressure and collaboration between transnational and domestic advocacy groups. A major contribution of this research is to challenge the belief that human rights protection is intrinsic to democracy. In the same light, this research also cautions against Tai-wan’s subscription to US norms since the reform was achieved at the cost of stereotyping trafficking victimhood, legitimising state surveillance, and further marginalising sex workers

Mid-infrared quantum optics in silicon

Applied quantum optics stands to revolutionise many aspects of information technology, provided performance can be maintained when scaled up. Silicon quantum photonics satisfies the scaling requirements of miniaturisation and manufacturability, but at 1.55 $\mu$m it suffers from unacceptable linear and nonlinear loss. Here we show that, by translating silicon quantum photonics to the mid-infrared, a new quantum optics platform is created which can simultaneously maximise manufacturability and miniaturisation, while minimising loss. We demonstrate the necessary platform components: photon-pair generation, single-photon detection, and high-visibility quantum interference, all at wavelengths beyond 2 $\mu$m. Across various regimes, we observe a maximum net coincidence rate of 448 $\pm$ 12 Hz, a coincidence-to-accidental ratio of 25.7 $\pm$ 1.1, and, a net two photon quantum interference visibility of 0.993 $\pm$ 0.017. Mid-infrared silicon quantum photonics will bring new quantum applications within reach.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; revised figures, updated discussion in section 3, typos corrected, added referenc

\u3ci\u3eTomoxia bucephala\u3c/i\u3e A. Costa (Coleoptera: Mordellidae), a Palearctic tumbling flower beetle established in North America

Tomoxia bucephala A. Costa (Coleoptera: Mordellidae), a Palearctic tumbling flower beetle native to Europe, Asia, and northernmost Africa, is now known from North America. The first known occurrences were in 2015 in Essex and Union counties, New Jersey, U.S.A. and in 2019 in Passaic County, New Jersey, all in the New York City metropolitan area. An additional collection documents the species in 2016 from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The multiple occurrences, the large distance between those in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and multiple detections in natural areas indicate T. bucephala is established in North America and apparently invasive. Several morphological features differenti­ate T. bucephala from the two congeners native to North America, T. inclusa LeConte and T. lineella LeConte, especially coloration patterns of elytral and pronotal vestiture, and coloration of antennae and front legs. This is the first report of a non-native mordellid species established in North America. Tomoxia bucephala does not appear to pose a significant direct economic threat in North America since it feeds in decaying trees. However, T. bucephala occurrences are within the geographic ranges of T. inclusa and T. lineella, and the biology of T. bucephala is similar to these other Tomoxia species. Thus, T. bucephala likely will expand its range within North America, with probable ecological impact on communities of native saproxylic beetles, especially T. lineella and T. inclusa

Spherical Collapse in Chameleon Models

We study the gravitational collapse of an overdensity of nonrelativistic matter under the action of gravity and a chameleon scalar field. We show that the spherical collapse model is modified by the presence of a chameleon field. In particular, we find that even though the chameleon effects can be potentially large at small scales, for a large enough initial size of the inhomogeneity the collapsing region possesses a thin shell that shields the modification of gravity induced by the chameleon field, recovering the standard gravity results. We analyse the behaviour of a collapsing shell in a cosmological setting in the presence of a thin shell and find that, in contrast to the usual case, the critical density for collapse depends on the initial comoving size of the inhomogeneity.Comment: matches printed versio