The quark mass and μ\mu dependence of the QCD chiral critical point

In order to study the QCD chiral critical point we investigate Binder Cumulants of the chiral condensate. The results were obtained from simulations of 3 and 2+1 flavors of standard staggered fermions and 3 flavors of p4 improved staggered fermions. The quark masses used are close to the physical quark mass. To extract the dependence on quark mass and chemical potential we apply a new reweighting technique based on a Taylor expansion of the action. The reweighting accuracy is ${\cal O}(m)$ for the standard and ${\cal O}(m^2)$, ${\cal O}(\mu^2)$ for the p4 action.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, Lattice2002(nonzerot

Design, Implementation and Evaluation of PsyWeb, a Learning Environment in a Problem Based Learning Curriculum.

In this article we describe the design and implementation of PsyWeb, a rich learning environment for the new problem based study in Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam Experiences are reported for the first five (of eight) courses of the first year of the new study. Students opinions have been collected as part of a survey at the end of each course. Results indicate that students are positive about PsyWeb. The overall appreciation shows a slight increase over time. Starting with the second course, usage of PsyWeb has been logged. Usage has been quantified in terms of the number of unique IP-addresses per day. Using this measure we assume that PsyWeb has a student reach between 25% and 100% per day. Usage shows a slight increase over the courses. The implementation of a series of additions to PsyWeb has been planned for the next year

Was macht die Digitalisierung mit den Hochschulen? Einwürfe und Provokationen

What will become of successful universities once everything is digitalized? Experts from schools and universities, policymakers, journalists, and computer scientists present their responses, expectations, and trepidations, under the overarching premise of humanely shaping the digital revolution. The essays were developed from the course "Humans/Machines/The Future" presented in 2019 at the former Diessen cloister in Ammersee

Habitusreflexion und reflexiver Habitus im Widerstreit. Grundlagentheoretische Überlegungen und empirische Annäherungsversuche

Die doppelte Konjunktur des Reflexionsbegriffs auf der einen und des Habitusbegriffs auf der anderen Seite ist Anlass zu einer vertieften Auseinandersetzung mit den Möglichkeiten und Grenzen, beide Konzepte in der Lehrer*innenbildung aufeinander zu beziehen. Anhand zweier Projekte, die im Rahmen der Qualitätsoffensive Lehrer*innenbildung stattfinden, werden nach dem Versuch einer systematisierenden begrifflichen Klärung die jeweiligen theoretischen Grundlagen der Konzeption dargelegt, das konkrete hochschuldidaktische Setting beschrieben und die Versuche charakterisiert, das Konzept der Habitusreflexion empirisch zu fassen. Dabei zeigt sich in beiden Projekten, dass das jeweilige Arrangement zwar Reflexionen anzuregen vermag, aber zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nicht abschließend feststellbar ist, inwieweit die reflexiven Bezugnahmen der Studierenden tatsächlich die Ebene des jeweiligen Habitus erreichen. Der Beitrag schließt mit professionstheoretischen Überlegungen, die die Frage nach der Graduierung von Normativität in den zentralen Konzepten, die Bedeutung der Anderen für das Unterfangen der Habitusreflexion und pragmatische Anfragen aufgreifen, die auch über die vorgestellten Vorhaben hinausweisen. (DIPF/Orig.

A Fast bipolar H2 outflow from IRAS 16342-3814: an old star reliving its youth

Some evolved stars in the pre-planetary nebula phase produce highly-collimated molecular outflows that resemble the accretion-driven jets and outflows from pre-main sequence stars. We show that IRAS 16342-3814 (the Water Fountain Nebula) is such an object and present K-band integral field spectroscopy revealing a fast (> 150 km/s) bipolar H2 outflow. The H2 emission is shock excited and may arise in fast-moving clumps, accelerated by the previously observed precessing jet. The total luminosity in H2 is 0.37 L$_{\odot}$ which is comparable with that of accretion-powered outflows from Class 0 protostars. We also detect CO overtone bandhead emission in the scattered continuum, indicating hot molecular gas close to the centre, a feature also observed in a number of protostars with active jets. It seems likely that the jet and outflow in IRAS 16342-3814 are powered by accretion onto a binary companion.Comment: Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Geo-environmental mapping using physiographic analysis: constraints on the evaluation of land instability and groundwater pollution hazards in the Metropolitan District of Campinas, Brazil

Geo-environmental terrain assessments and territorial zoning are useful tools for the formulation and implementation of environmental management instruments (including policy-making, planning, and enforcement of statutory regulations). They usually involve a set of procedures and techniques for delimitation, characterisation and classification of terrain units. However, terrain assessments and zoning exercises are often costly and time-consuming, particularly when encompassing large areas, which in many cases prevent local agencies in developing countries from properly benefiting from such assessments. In the present paper, a low-cost technique based on the analysis of texture of satellite imagery was used for delimitation of terrain units. The delimited units were further analysed in two test areas situated in Southeast Brazil to provide estimates of land instability and the vulnerability of groundwater to pollution hazards. The implementation incorporated procedures for inferring the influences and potential implications of tectonic fractures and other discontinuities on ground behaviour and local groundwater flow. Terrain attributes such as degree of fracturing, bedrock lithology and weathered materials were explored as indicators of ground properties. The paper also discusses constraints on- and limitations of- the approaches taken