Radiation linewidth of a long Josephson junction in the flux-flow regime

Theoretical model for the radiation linewidth in a multi-fluxon state of a long Josephson junction is presented. Starting from the perturbed sine-Gordon model with the temperature dependent noise term, we develop a collective coordinate approach which allows to calculate the finite radiation linewidth due to excitation of the internal degrees of freedom in the moving fluxon chain. At low fluxon density, the radiation linewidth is expected to be substantially larger than that of a lumped Josephson oscillator. With increasing the fluxon density, a crossover to a much smaller linewidth corresponding to the lumped oscillator limit is predicted.Comment: 11 pages LaTeX, to appear in Phys Rev

A pyrene-appended spiropyran for selective photo-switchable binding of Zn(II): UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy studies of binding and non-covalent attachment to graphene, graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes

PublishedArticleSynthesis of photo-switchable, Zn2+ sensitive hybrid materials was achieved by facile non-covalent functionalization of graphene, graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes with a pyrene-appended spiropyran. Solution phase binding studies, using UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, indicated that the pyrene-spiropyran dyad was highly selective for Zn2+ over a range of potentially competitive cations and that binding occurred with 1:1 stoichiometry and a binding constant of K=1.4×104 mol−1 dm3 at 295 K. Zn2+ binding was promoted by UV irradiation or in darkness and reversed upon irradiation with visible light.Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

A Rigorous Path Integral for Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics and the Heat Kernel

In a rigorous construction of the path integral for supersymmetric quantum mechanics on a Riemann manifold, based on B\"ar and Pf\"affle's use of piecewise geodesic paths, the kernel of the time evolution operator is the heat kernel for the Laplacian on forms. The path integral is approximated by the integral of a form on the space of piecewise geodesic paths which is the pullback by a natural section of Mathai and Quillen's Thom form of a bundle over this space. In the case of closed paths, the bundle is the tangent space to the space of geodesic paths, and the integral of this form passes in the limit to the supertrace of the heat kernel.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, no fig

Mechanistic investigation of Rh(i)-catalysed asymmetric Suzuki–Miyaura coupling with racemic allyl halides

Understanding how catalytic asymmetric reactions with racemic starting materials can operate would enable new enantioselective cross-coupling reactions that give chiral products. Here we propose a catalytic cycle for the highly enantioselective Rh(I)-catalysed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of boronic acids and racemic allyl halides. Natural abundance 13C kinetic isotope effects provide quantitative information about the transition-state structures of two key elementary steps in the catalytic cycle, transmetallation and oxidative addition. Experiments with configurationally stable, deuterium-labelled substrates revealed that oxidative addition can happen via syn- or anti-pathways, which control diastereoselectivity. Density functional theory calculations attribute the extremely high enantioselectivity to reductive elimination from a common Rh complex formed from both allyl halide enantiomers. Our conclusions are supported by analysis of the reaction kinetics. These insights into the sequence of bond-forming steps and their transition-state structures will contribute to our understanding of asymmetric Rh–allyl chemistry and enable the discovery and application of asymmetric reactions with racemic substrates

RhierBAPS: An R implementation of the population clustering algorithm hierBAPS [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Identifying structure in collections of sequence data sets remains a common problem in genomics. hierBAPS, a popular algorithm for identifying population structure in haploid genomes, has previously only been available as a MATLAB binary. We provide an R implementation which is both easier to install and use, automating the entire pipeline. Additionally, we allow for the use of multiple processors, improve on the default settings of the algorithm, and provide an interface with the ggtree library to enable informative illustration of the clustering results. Our aim is that this package aids in the understanding and dissemination of the method, as well as enhancing the reproducibility of population structure analyses

Determination and Prediction of Zinc Speciation in Estuaries

Lowering of the estuarine Environmental Quality Standard for zinc in the UK to 121 nM reflects rising concern regarding zinc in ecosystems and is driving the need to better understand its fate and behavior and to develop and parametrize speciation models to predict the metal species present. For the first time, an extensive data set has been gathered for the speciation of zinc within an estuarine system with supporting physicochemical characterization, in particular dissolved organic carbon. WHAM/Model VII and Visual MINTEQ speciation models were used to simulate zinc speciation, using a combination of measured complexation variables and available defaults. Data for the five estuarine transects from freshwater to seawater endmembers showed very variable patterns of zinc speciation depending on river flows, seasons, and potential variations in metal and ligand inputs from in situ and ex situ sources. There were no clear relationships between free zinc ion concentration [Zn2+] and measured variables such as DOC concentration, humic and biological indices. Simulations of [Zn2+] carried out with both models at high salinities or by inputting site specific complexation capacities were successful, but overestimated [Zn2+] in low salinity waters, probably owing to an underestimation of the complexation strength of the ligands present. Uncertainties in predicted [Zn2+] are consistently smaller than standard deviations of the measured values, suggesting that the accuracy of the measurements is more critical than model uncertainty in evaluating the predictions

Effects of rapid prey evolution on predator-prey cycles

We study the qualitative properties of population cycles in a predator-prey system where genetic variability allows contemporary rapid evolution of the prey. Previous numerical studies have found that prey evolution in response to changing predation risk can have major quantitative and qualitative effects on predator-prey cycles, including: (i) large increases in cycle period, (ii) changes in phase relations (so that predator and prey are cycling exactly out of phase, rather than the classical quarter-period phase lag), and (iii) "cryptic" cycles in which total prey density remains nearly constant while predator density and prey traits cycle. Here we focus on a chemostat model motivated by our experimental system [Fussmann et al. 2000,Yoshida et al. 2003] with algae (prey) and rotifers (predators), in which the prey exhibit rapid evolution in their level of defense against predation. We show that the effects of rapid prey evolution are robust and general, and furthermore that they occur in a specific but biologically relevant region of parameter space: when traits that greatly reduce predation risk are relatively cheap (in terms of reductions in other fitness components), when there is coexistence between the two prey types and the predator, and when the interaction between predators and undefended prey alone would produce cycles. Because defense has been shown to be inexpensive, even cost-free, in a number of systems [Andersson and Levin 1999, Gagneux et al. 2006,Yoshida et al. 2004], our discoveries may well be reproduced in other model systems, and in nature. Finally, some of our key results are extended to a general model in which functional forms for the predation rate and prey birth rate are not specified.Comment: 35 pages, 8 figure

A model to determine staff levels, cost, and productivity of hospital units

A methodology is presented with examples of the productivity, the staffing required, the resultant productivity, and costs that can be obtained for hospital units that are subject to random work demands such as laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, and nuclear medicine. The methodology assumes that the hospital has a labor productivity system that produces the RVUs or earned hours of work accomplished daily by shift. Factors considered are the distribution of the capabilities of the work force, the fatigue and delay allowances of the work standards, the quality of the work standards, the maximum amount of overtime that people will be asked to work, staffing policies such as constant or different staffing levels for each day of the week, and worker selection processes. Predicted results are compared with present practice, which indicates that substantial cost reductions can occur with the use of the methodology.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44987/1/10916_2004_Article_BF00996347.pd

Motivation and Knowledge Sharing through Social Media within Danish Organizations

Part 3: Creating Value through ApplicationsInternational audienceBased on an empirical quantitative study, this article investigates employee motivation in Danish companies and aims at determining which factors affect employees’ knowledge sharing through social media in a working environment. Our findings pinpoint towards the potential social media have for enhancing internal communication, knowledge sharing and collaboration in organizations, but the adoption is low, at this point, due to mainly organizational and individual factors. Technological factors do not seem to affect employees’ motivation for knowledge sharing as much as previous research has found, but it is the influence from the combination of individual and organizational factors, which affect the adoption of the platforms. A key finding in the study is that knowledge sharing is not a ‘social dilemma’ as previous studies have found. The study shows a positive development in employees’ willingness to share knowledge, because knowledge sharing is considered more beneficial than to hoard it