Recent results in Euclidean dynamical triangulations

We study a formulation of lattice gravity defined via Euclidean dynamical triangulations (EDT). After fine-tuning a non-trivial local measure term we find evidence that four-dimensional, semi-classical geometries are recovered at long distance scales in the continuum limit. Furthermore, we find that the spectral dimension at short distance scales is consistent with 3/2, a value that is also observed in the causal dynamical triangulation (CDT) approach to quantum gravity.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings for the 3rd conference of the Polish society on relativit

LaFeAsO1−x_{1-x}Fx_x: A low carrier density superconductor near itinerant magnetism

Density functional studies of 26K superconducting LaFeAs(O,F) are reported. We find a low carrier density, high density of states, $N(E_F)$ and modest phonon frequencies relative to $T_c$. The high $N(E_F)$ leads to proximity to itinerant magnetism, with competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic fluctuations and the balance between these controlled by doping level. Thus LaFeAs(O,F) is in a unique class of high $T_c$ superconductors: high $N(E_F)$ ionic metals near magnetism.Comment: Shortened published form. Typos correcte

Opportunistic use of a wool-like artificial material as lining of Tit (Paridae) nests

The lining material is a key element of bird nests primarily serving as insulation for the adult, eggs and/or chicks but collection of such material will have an energetic cost. This study investigated the nest building effort of four species of tit (Paridae) in an English wood by determining the use of colored, wool-like artificial nest lining material over the period 2000-2010. The distances that birds carried the material from source to nest was recorded for each nest as an indirect measure of the energetic cost of collection of nest material by individual birds. Birds did not always use nest material from the nearest source to their nest and some birds collected material from 2, 3 or 4 well-separated sources. There was no detectable color preference in choice of material and few birds would travel more than 200 m to gather the material. Use of the material appeared to depend on the species. Within defined areas around material dispensers not all individual Great Tits (Parus major) used the artificial material and, for all species examined, the proportion of birds using the material declined with increasing distance between source and nest. Use of artificial material suggested that selection of nest materials was probably opportunistic but also reflected the preference of these species for a wool-like nest-lining