Energy-level crossings and number-parity effects in a bosonic tunneling model

An exactly solved bosonic tunneling model is studied along a line of the coupling parameter space, which includes a quantum phase boundary line. The entire energy spectrum is computed analytically, and found to exhibit multiple energy level crossings in a region of the coupling parameter space. Several key properties of the model are discussed, which exhibit a clear dependence on whether the particle number is even or odd.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Book Review: Microfinance and its Discontents: Women in Debt in Bangladesh

Review of Microfinance and its Discontents: Women in Debt in Bangladesh by Lamia Kari

Book Review: Arab America: Gender, Cultural Politics, and Activism

Review of Arab America: Gender, Cultural Politics, and Activism by Nadine Nabe

Research on Advanced Technologies for Housing: Optimized FRP-reinforced OSB Panels for Disaster-resistant Construction

The satisfactory performance of wood-framed housing in a seismic or wind event requires a sufficiently strong, ductile, and energy-absorbing lateral force-resisting system. This project will focus on the development of optimized synthetic fiber-reinforced OSB panels to improve the disaster resistance of conventional wood-frame construction. The project research will employ response simulation, small-scale connection and durability testing, and full-scale shear wall testing. Various fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems will be investigated for reinforcing the OSB panels. Shear tests of individual nailed connections between FRP-reinforced and plain OSB panels and lumber framing will be conducted to determine monotonic and cyclic fastener load-slip relationships. In addition, full-scale monotonic and static structural tests of shear walls made with both FRP-reinforced and unreinforced OSB panels will be conducted to quantify the strength and ductility benefits achieved through selective panel reinforcement. We expect that the new fiber-reinforced OSB panels will be stonger, more ductile, and less sensitive to construction errors than conventional OSB or plywood

On the horns of a dilemma: experts as communicators for property-level flood risk adaptation measures

This paper investigates the role of flood risk experts in supporting homeowners to implement property-level flood risk adaption (PLFRA). Homeowners can reduce their flood risks by implementing PLFRA. However, oftentimes they need advice on what sort of and how to implement PLFRA. This means that tailored experts advice is necessary to inform homeowners on such measures. But experience shows that mere information is often insufficient to motivate homeowners to realize measures. This contribution explores the reasons for the ineffectiveness of expert advice by investigating how expert advice responds to homeowners’ rationalities. Based on a case study from Flanders, Belgium, this paper reveals how the relation between experts and homeowners differs related to different rationalities of homeowners. The paper uses Cultural Theory to discuss strategies on how experts, providing advice on property-level risk adaption, could move beyond engineering skills by also using risk communication skills in order to involve homeowners in flood risk governance

Filling a theoretical void: The lived experiences of “coloured” women as mathematics educators in higher education

Thanks to intense prohibition and regulation of access to higher education during apartheid, a significant number of teachers from historically marginalised groups did not necessarily enter the profession as a first choice or as a desirable profession. Instead, post-schooling choices were based on access and financial support, restricting many marginalised groups to enrol at teacher training colleges. Beyond schools, there were no career pathways for “coloured”, “black”, and “Indian” teachers to teach at a higher education level. In mathematics education, the challenges experienced by “coloured” women are especially pronounced yet unexplored. To date, the dominant literature has leaned towards a negative portrayal, informed by stereotypical imagery and caricature. By exploring the lived experiences of six “coloured” women, who succeeded in establishing themselves as mathematics educators in higher education, the article is driven by a twofold imperative. On the one hand, it seeks to highlight the intersectional barriers of discrimination and marginalisation encountered by these women during apartheid and democratic South Africa. On the other hand, the article is interested in filling the theoretical void on the lives and capabilities of “coloured” women as mathematics educators in higher education

Determination of S17(0) from published data

The experimental landscape for the 7Be+p radiative capture reaction is rapidly changing as new high precision data become available. We present an evaluation of existing data, detailing the treatment of systematic errors and discrepancies, and show how they constrain the astrophysical S factor (S17), independent of any nuclear structure model. With theoretical models robustly determining the behavior of the sub-threshold pole, the extrapolation error can be reduced and a constraint placed on the slope of S17. Using only radiative capture data, we find S17(0) = 20.7 +/- 0.6 (stat) +/- 1.0 (syst) eV b if data sets are completely independent, while if data sets are completely correlated we find S17(0) = 21.4 +/- 0.5 (stat) +/- 1.4 (syst) eV b. The truth likely lies somewhere in between these two limits. Although we employ a formalism capable of treating discrepant data, we note that the central value of the S factor is dominated by the recent high precision data of Junghans et al., which imply a substantially higher value than other radiative capture and indirect measurements. Therefore we conclude that further progress will require new high precision data with a detailed error budget.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure published versio

ABT-199: Taking Dead Aim at BCL-2

ABT-199 is a new selective small molecule inhibitor of BCL-2 that appears to spare platelets while achieving potent antitumor activity. Assays that can predict the efficacy of ABT-199 in individual tumors will be critical in determining how best to incorporate this promising agent into the armamentarium of cancer therapies