Effective statistical physics of Anosov systems

We present evidence indicating that Anosov systems can be endowed with a unique physically reasonable effective temperature. Results for the two paradigmatic Anosov systems (i.e., the cat map and the geodesic flow on a surface of constant negative curvature) are used to justify a proposal for extending Ruelle's thermodynamical formalism into a comprehensive theory of statistical physics for nonequilibrium steady states satisfying the Gallavotti-Cohen chaotic hypothesis.Comment: 38 pages, 17 figures. Substantially more details in sections 4 and 6; new and revised figures also added. Typos and minor errors (esp. in section 6) corrected along with minor notational changes. MATLAB code for calculations in section 16 also included as inline comment in TeX source now. The thrust of the paper is unaffecte

Effective temperature for finite systems

Under the Ansatz that the occupation times of a system with finitely many states are given by the Gibbs distribution, an effective temperature is uniquely determined (up to a choice of scale), and may be computed de novo, without any reference to a Hamiltonian for empirically accessible systems. As an example, the calculation of the effective temperature for a classical Bose gas is outlined and applied to the analysis of computer network traffic.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

In margins and in longings ...: the beach in Australian life and literature

Muitos ativos farmacêuticos (APIs) são administrados usando formulações sólidas, por exemplo comprimidos e cápsulas por serem geralmente mais estáveis e seguras. No estado sólido, o mesmo API pode apresentar diferentes formas – polimorfos do composto puro, solvatos, sais e co-cristais – que podem ter diferentes propriedades físico-químicas. Portanto, entender, e se possível controlar, a química do estado sólido de APIs, constitui um importante objetivo no desenvolvimento de formulações farmacêuticas. O trabalho desenvolvido nesta dissertação assenta sobre um ativo quiral, o levetiracetam, o enantiómero (S) do etiracetam, caracterizado farmacologicamente pela sua atividade anticonvulsivante. O trabalho encontra-se dividido em duas etapas, a primeira das quais incidiu na investigação de polimorfismo do levetiracetam. Não se encontra na literatura, referência a quaisquer polimorfos deste ativo. Foram estudados sólidos obtidos por cristalização do composto em três solventes (clorofórmio, etanol e metanol) e também por arrefecimento de fundidos. Como métodos de estudo foram utilizados a calorimetria diferencial de varrimento (DSC), termogravimetria (TG) termomicroscopia com luz polarizada (PLTM), difração de raios-X de pó (XRPD), espetroscopia de infravermelho com refletância total atenuada (FTIR-ATR), imagiologia de infravermelho e de Raman. Dos resultados obtidos foi possível registar, pela primeira vez, evidências da existência de polimorfismo, nomeadamente em amostras preparadas por arrefecimento de fundidos. A segunda etapa deste trabalho incidiu na investigação de co-cristais de levetiracetam. Um co-cristal farmacêutico é composto pelo menos por dois compostos (que quando puros são sólidos à temperatura ambiente), com estequiometria definida, unidos, geralmente por ligações intermoleculares de hidrogénio. Os co-cristais possuem vantagens quando comparados a solvatos e podem ser obtidos, ao contrário dos sais, mesmo que o API não possua grupos ionizáveis, como é o caso do levetiracetam. Foram investigados como co-formadores anti-inflamatórios não-esteróides (NSAIDs), ibuprofeno, naproxeno, cetoprofeno e flurbiprofeno, todos eles pertencentes à classe II do BCS, os quais possuem grupos funcionais capazes de formar heterossintões supramoleculares viáveis com o levetiracetam. Usaram-se quer os racematos dos quatro NSAIDs, quer os enantiómeros S dos três primeiros. As misturas binárias levetiracetam:NSAIDs foram obtidas por mecanoquímica, sem adição de solvente. Pretendia-se avaliar a potencialidade desta metodologia para promover co-cristalização enantiosseletiva/diastereosseletiva partindo de racematos do tipo composto racémico usando levetiracetam como agente de resolução. Dada a importância que outras misturas binárias Lev:NSAIDs poderão ter em aplicação farmacêutica (por exemplo, eutéticos), xi v construíram-se os diagramas de fases binários/pseudo-binários para os sistemas em estudo. Obteve-se no sistema levetiracetam:(S)-ibuprofeno um co-cristal (1:1), com fusão incongruente, identificando-se, também um eutético, , Tfus = 42,0ºC. Para todos os sistemas investigados (com exceção do (S)-cetoprofeno) foi possível caracterizar misturas eutéticas com potencial para aplicação farmacêutica: Lev:(R,S)-Ibu ( , Tfus = 47,2 ºC); Lev:(S)-Npx ( , Tfus = 82,1 ºC); Lev:(R,S)-Npx ( , Tfus = 82,0 ºC) e Lev:(S)-Kp ( , Tfus = 49,8 ºC). A mecanoquímica, nas condições utilizadas neste trabalho, não foi eficiente para promover co-cristalização enantiosseletiva/diastereosselectiva partindo dos racematos dos NSAIDs investigados e usando levetiracetam como agente de resolução. Iniciaram-se ensaios de estabilidade acelerados nas condições indicadas pela ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline: Stability testing of new drugs substances and products Q1A(R2) sobre o co-cristal 1:1 Lev:(S)-Ibu e sobre a mistura eutética obtida para este sistema. Os resultados indicam que o co-cristal é estável nas condições ensaiadas. Palavras-chave: Levetiracetam, polimorfismo, co-cristal farmacêutico, anti-inflamatórios não-esteróides, co-cristalização enantiosseletiva, DSC, XRPD, FTIR-ATR, PLTM, TG, imagiologia de infravermelho, imagiologia de Raman, ensaios de estabilidade

The common struggle: locating the international connections of national spaces of conflict in the Francophone world

In their 2007 manifesto, Quand les murs tombent: l’identit&236; nationale hors-la-loi, &200;douard Glissant and Patrick Chamoiseau propose that the nation-state is a stumbling block to global solidarity as it emphasizes cultural division. In order to achieve international community across borders, people must find common bonds that link them across traditional lines of conflict. My thesis applies this notion within the context of la Francophonie, an organization that has struggled with its goal of cultural rapprochement as its member nations continue to perceive each other as foreign entities rather than as like components of a larger community. I assert that la Francophonie is connected by a series of historical and literary experiences that go beyond the organization’s stated unities of language and humanistic values, and that these experiences are rooted in conflict. To understand what is common across nations, one need first look at what is uncommon within them. In examining lines of division that disrupt national unities, I uncover international ones, highlighting trans-historical and transnational trends in the types of conflict that revolve around specific contentious subjects, as well as the similarities of conditions, motivations, and actions that mark these battles. My first chapter addresses the issue of language, detailing the ways in which multilingual societies struggle to cope with coexistence. I show that speakers of various languages are confronted with consistent social imbalances, attempts to regulate language usage, and questions of national affiliation. In my second chapter, I analyze religious divides that have plagued numerous civilizations, positing that religions become embroiled in two archetypical relationships: an uneasy relationship with the state marked by interference, and a paradigm in which minority religions are transformed into archrivals. My third chapter brings a different perspective to the notion of national conflict, using literature to highlight tensions between individuals and the urban environments they call home. I establish a common antagonistic relationship with the city as diverse authors struggle against the psychological strains of losing their emotional connections, their freedom, and their moral fiber. I conclude by demonstrating the contemporary relevance of establishing new imaginaires in light of evolving conceptions of global connections

Addressing Workplace Accessibility Practices Through Technical Communication Research Methods: One Size Does Not Fit All

Background: Accessibility of digital materials within workplaces continues to be an issue that is not readily and completely addressed through legal compliance and institutional policy. Despite the lack of marked improvement in digital accessibility, many continue to pursue a policy approach to accessibility, including checklists and guidelines. Literature review: Despite the attention paid to accessibility and surrounding issues by scholars in the field of technical and professional communication, little direction has been given to help practitioners advocate for accessibility in the workplace. Research question: Can common ground between institutional values and accessibility be discovered and leveraged to motivate value-driven accessibility? Research methods: Common ground theory was used to code and analyze data obtained from research interviews of 18 university instructors to determine how they consider accessibility within the process of developing their course documents. Data were coded and analyzed to discover common attitudes toward accessibility. Results and discussion: The data revealed that although instructors approached accessibility differently, all were motivated to work for student success, a fact that indicated common ground between instructor practices and accessibility. This finding suggests that accessibility advocates can motivate value-driven accessibility by leveraging common ground. Conclusion: I used the revealed common ground to inform the development of a digital accessibility resource, which underwent usability testing. My research-informed design process illustrates that despite institutional variability, technical and professional communicators can find and leverage common ground to move away from a singular, policy-driven approach to accessibility in favor of a more sustainable value-driven accessibility, which generates and supports long-term accessibility design