Hydrodynamic fluctuations and the minimum shear viscosity of the dilute Fermi gas at unitarity

We study hydrodynamic fluctuations in a non-relativistic fluid. We show that in three dimensions fluctuations lead to a minimum in the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio $\eta/s$ as a function of the temperature. The minimum provides a bound on $\eta/s$ which is independent of the conjectured bound in string theory, $\eta/s \geq \hbar/(4\pi k_B)$, where $s$ is the entropy density. For the dilute Fermi gas at unitarity we find \eta/s\gsim 0.2\hbar. This bound is not universal -- it depends on thermodynamic properties of the unitary Fermi gas, and on empirical information about the range of validity of hydrodynamics. We also find that the viscous relaxation time of a hydrodynamic mode with frequency $\omega$ diverges as $1/\sqrt{\omega}$, and that the shear viscosity in two dimensions diverges as $\log(1/ \omega)$.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures; final version to appear in Phys Rev

Production of Z^0 bosons with rapidity gaps: exclusive photoproduction in gamma p and p p collisions and inclusive double diffractive Z^0's

We extend the k_\perp-factorization formalism for exclusive photoproduction of vector mesons to the production of electroweak Z^0 bosons. Predictions for the gamma p \to Z^0 p and p p \to p p Z^0 reactions are given using an unintegrated gluon distribution tested against deep inelastic data. We present distributions in the Z^0 rapidity, transverse momentum of Z^0 as well as in relative azimuthal angle between outgoing protons. The contributions of different flavours are discussed. Absorption effects lower the cross section by a factor of 1.5-2, depending on the Z-boson rapidity. We also discuss the production of Z^0 bosons in central inclusive production. Here rapidity and (x_{\Pom,1}, x_{\Pom,2}) distributions of Z^0 are calculated. The corresponding cross section is about three orders of magnitude larger than that for the purely exclusive process.Comment: 19 pages, 14 figs, A. Cisek is married name of A. Rybarsk

Variable damping and coherence in a high-density magnon gas

We report on the fast relaxation behavior of a high-density magnon gas created by a parametric amplification process. The magnon gas is probed using the technique of spin-wave packet recovery by parallel parametric pumping. Experimental results show a damping behavior which is in disagreement with both the standard model of exponential decay and with earlier observations of non-linear damping. In particular, the inherent magnon damping is found to depend upon the presence of the parametric pumping field. A phenomenological model which accounts for the dephasing of the earlier injected magnons is in good agreement with the experimental data

Diffractive charged meson pair production

We investigate the possibility to measure the nonforward gluon distribution function by means of diffractively produced \pi^+\pi^- and K^+K^- pairs in polarized lepton nucleon scattering. The resulting cross sections are small and are dominated by the gluonic contribution. We find relatively large spin asymmetries, both for \pi^+\pi^- and for K^+K^- pairs.Comment: 15 pages, version with changed kinematical cuts, to be pubished in Phys.Lett.

CENP-C unwraps the human CENP-A nucleosome through the H2A C-terminal tail

Centromeres are defined epigenetically by nucleosomes containing the histone H3 variant CENP-A, upon which the constitutive centromere-associated network of proteins (CCAN) is built. CENP-C is considered to be a central organizer of the CCAN. We provide new molecular insights into the structure of human CENP-A nucleosomes, in isolation and in complex with the CENP-C central region (CENP-C-CR), the main CENP-A binding module of human CENP-C. We establish that the short alpha N helix of CENP-A promotes DNA flexibility at the nucleosome ends, independently of the sequence it wraps. Furthermore, we show that, in vitro, two regions of human CENP-C (CENP-C-CR and CENP-C-motif) both bind exclusively to the CENP-A nucleosome. We find CENP-C-CR to bind with high affinity due to an extended hydrophobic area made up of CENP-A(V)(532) and CENP-A(V)(533). Importantly, we identify two key conformational changes within the CENP-A nucleosome upon CENP-C binding. First, the loose DNA wrapping of CENP-A nucleosomes is further exacerbated, through destabilization of the H2A C-terminal tail. Second, CENP-C-CR rigidifies the N-terminal tail of H4 in the conformation favoring H4(K20) monomethylation, essential for a functional centromere

The Double Voluntarism in EU Social Dialogue and Employment Policy

In this article, we analyse the development of new modes of governance in EU employment and social policy over the past two decades. In this field, a number of innovations can be observed. First, with the Maastricht Treaty, the right to draw up legislation was given to European social partners. Second, with the European Employment Strategy and the Open Method of Coordination, new instruments of coordinating national policies were introduced to EU policy-making. Recently, the latter instrument was incorporated into the social dialogue. Hence, we contend that a double voluntarism takes places that not only delegates responsibility for social policy to the social partners but also relies on soft rather than on hard law

Biogas from manure – a new technology to close the nutrient and energy circuit on-farm

The Biodynamic Research Institute in Järna developed a two-phase on-farm biogas plant. The plant digests manure of dairy cattle and organic residues originating from the farm and the surrounding food processing units containing 17.7-19.6 % total solids. A new technology for continuously filling and discharging the hydrolysis reactor was developed and implemented. The output of the hydrolysis reactor is separated into a solid and liquid fraction. The solid fraction is composted. The liquid fraction is further digested in a methane reactor and the effluent used as liquid fertiliser. Initial results show that anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic composting of the solid fraction improves the nutrient balance of the farm compared to mere aerobic composting. Composted solid fraction and effluent together contain about 70.8 % of total input nitrogen and 93.3 % of input NH4. The manure that was merely aerobic digested contained about 51.3 % of total input nitrogen and 3.9 % of input NH4. Additionally anaerobic digestion improves the energy balance of the farm producing up to 269 l biogas kg-1 volatile solids or 1.7 kWh heat kg-1 volatile solids