Phase locking in quantum and classical oscillators: polariton condensates, lasers, and arrays of Josephson junctions

We connect three phenomena in which a coherent electromagnetic field could be generated: polariton condensation, phase-locking in arrays of underdamped Josephson junctions, and lasing. All these phenomena have been described using Dicke-type models of spins coupled to a single photon mode. These descriptions may be distinguished by whether the spins are quantum or classical, and whether they are strongly or weakly damped.Comment: 6 pages, RevTex. To appear in a special edition of Solid State Communications on "Quantum Phases at the Nanoscale

Multidimensionality of job performance: An empirical assessment through scale development

Purpose: The objective of the present study is focused on the development and validation of a job performance scale. An empirical framework was developed to measure the teacher’s performance by adopting four dimensions of measurement viz. Task-Performance, Contextual-Performance, Counterproductive-Work behavior, and Adaptive-Performance.Methodology: The self-designed supervisory rating scale has been used for the present study. Thirty-Six items were generated to measure the job performance scale. A convenience sample of 423 principals was taken to rate the teacher’s performance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used for validation of the job performance scale.Findings: The outcomes of EFA indicated three factored structure of job performance constructs. The results of CFA confirmed job-performance as a reliable and valid construct.Research limitations/Implications: The present study provides the theoretic development of a scale for the operationalization of job performance among teachers. It will help the principals, supervisors and academic policymakers to design, modify and organize the performance of teachers which will upsurge the long-term performance of students in academics. The performance of a teacher cannot be assessed only from a single perspective i.e., principal or supervisor with a minimum sample of government school principals only. Therefore, future research should validate the performance of teachers with all the three perspectives including principals, teachers, and students considering both private and public sectors.Originality: The study developed and validated the job performance construct with an updated scale developed procedure.Paper type: Empirica

Unraveling the Genetic Mysteries of the Norwegian Fjord-horse: Identifying Harmful Haplotypes for Improved Breeding Strategies

Fertiliteten til avlsdyrene er særdeles kritisk i små populasjoner med høy innavl. Fjordhest- populasjonen i Norge består av få stamfedre, og er blitt registrert til å ha en lavere føllings-rate enn flere andre hesteraser. Denne analysen er basert på høy-tetthets SNP genotyper fra ca. 330 Fjordhester. For å identifisere mulige resessive dødelige alleler undersøkes genomet for homozygote avvik i haplotyper. Signifikante avvik i haplotyper med én eller mindre observerte homozygoter ble karakterisert som kandidat-loci. Deretter, vil kandidat-loci analyseres i forhold til funksjonell kunnskap om genomet til hest, menneske og mus. Kandidatgenene som dette studiet kommer frem til er DEAF5L, DEFA22, KIA1109, og DPF2.The fertility in breeding-animals is especially critical in small populations in which there is a high degree of inbreeding. The Norwegian Fjord-horse population consists of few founder animals and is observed to underperform in foaling rate compared to several other horse breeds. The project is based on HD SNP genotypes from approximately 330 Fjord-horses. In order to identify potential recessive lethal alleles, the haplotype homozygote deficiencies were identified. Significant haplotypes with one or fewer homozygotes observed were characterized as the candidate loci. Further, the candidate loci were aligned with functional knowledge of equine, human, and mouse genomes. Candidate genes identified by this study were DEFA5L, DEFA22, KIA1109, and DPF2

Fractional vortices in the XY model with π\pi bonds

We define a new set of excitations in the XY model which we call ``fractional vortices''. In the frustrated XY model containing $\pi$ bonds, we make the ansatz that the ground state configurations can be characterized by pairs of oppositely charged fractional vortices. For a chain of $\pi$ bonds, the ground state energy and the phase configurations calculated on the basis of this ansatz agree well with the results from direct numerical simulations. Finally, we discuss the possible connection of these results to some recent experiments by Kirtley {\it et al} [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 51}, R12057 (1995)] on high-T$_c$ superconductors where fractional flux trapping was observed along certain grain boundaries.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures included (.eps). No essential differences to previous version, however more compact forma