Jungles, Mayan Ruins, and More – Chiapas

Postcard from Shelby Reece, during the Linfield College Semester Abroad Program at the Instituto Cultural A.C. in Oaxaca, Mexic

Aristotle on Divine and Human Contemplation

Aristotle’s theory of human happiness in the Nicomachean Ethics explicitly depends on the claim that contemplation (theôria) is peculiar to human beings, whether it is our function or only part of it. But there is a notorious problem: Aristotle says that divine beings also contemplate. Various solutions have been proposed, but each has difficulties. Drawing on an analysis of what divine contemplation involves according to Aristotle, I identify an assumption common to all of these proposals and argue for rejecting it. This allows a straightforward solution to the problem and there is evidence that Aristotle would have adopted it

To What Extent Does the Ideological Construct of Collectivism Continue to Govern the British Trade Union and Labour Movement?

This project addresses the issue of declining collectivism within the British labour movement. This paper will argue that recent changes in the structures of capitalism – such as flexible labour markets, belligerent state relations and private sector expansion – have successfully individualised the functionality of the labour movement. As a result of these developments the ability for trade unions to develop a collectivist social identity has been hindered, leading them to apply increasingly individualised strategies. Similarly, due to these changes, the British Labour Party has altered its traditional collectivist position leading to an erosion of the party-union relationship. Data has been drawn from secondary research accompanied by qualitative interviews to assess participants’ understanding of an ideological shift. It is concluded that trade unions will need to apply the dimensions of collectivism to a supply side environment by devolving democratic procedures and increasing democratic participation to modernise their activity

Anti-telephones in transformation optics: metamaterials with closed null geodesics

We apply the methods of transformation optics to theoretical descriptions of spacetimes that support closed null geodesic curves. The metric used is based on frame dragging spacetimes, such as the van Stockum dust or the Kerr black hole. Through transformation optics, this metric is analogous to a material that in theory should allow for communication between past and future. Presented herein is a derivation and description of the spacetime and the resulting permeability, permittivity, and magneto-electric couplings that a material would need in order for light in the material to follow closed null geodesics. We also address the paradoxical implications of such a material, and demonstrate why such a material would not actually result in a violation of causality. A full derivation of the Plebanski equations is also included.Comment: Submitted to Phys Rev D. This is a pre-print, uploaded here in hopes of wider review and community feedbac

Explosive bonded TZM-wire-reinforced C129Y columbium composites

Technique consists of positioning layers of TZM metal filaments between thin C129Y columbium sheets and joining multiple sheet stacks by single explosive joining operation. Metallurgical bonds are excellent, external heat is not required, process is relatively inexpensive, and resulting composites are considerably stronger than base alloy

Acknowledging the potential role of animal self-medication

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Much research on animal health and welfare assumes that animals passively endure the pathogens, diet, and environmental conditions that come their way. Natural selection however has honed behavioural strategies for optimising health. Some of these involve the selection of ‘medicines’ to modulate health. Although it is not yet known to what extent domestic species retain the ability to self-medicate, it is vital that researchers acknowledge the potential role such behaviour might play when designing research protocol

Laminated sheet composites reinforced with modular filament sheet

Aluminum and magnesium composite sheet laminates reinforced with low density, high strength modular filament sheets are produced by diffusion bonding and explosive bonding. Both processes are accomplished in normal atmosphere and require no special tooling or cleaning other than wire brushing the metal surfaces just prior to laminating

Horizontal cryostat for fatigue testing Patent

Cryostat for use with horizontal fatigue testing machines at low temperature

A New Look at Higgs Constraints on Stops

We present a simple new way to visualize the constraints of Higgs coupling measurements on light stops in natural SUSY scenarios beyond the MSSM, which works directly in the plane of stop mass eigenvalues (with no need to make assumptions about mixing angles). For given stop mass eigenvalues, the smallest value of $X_t$ that can bring the correction to the $h \to gg$ and $h\to \gamma\gamma$ couplings into agreement with data is computed. Requiring that this $X_t$ is consistent--i.e. that the chosen mass eigenvalues can be the outcome of diagonalizing a matrix with a given off-diagonal term--rules out the possibility that both stops have a mass below $\approx$ 400 GeV. Requiring that $X_t$ is not fine-tuned for agreement with the data shows that neither stop can be lighter than $\approx$ 100 GeV. These constraints are interesting because, unlike direct searches, they apply no matter how stops decay, and suggest a minimum electroweak fine-tuning of between a factor of 5 and 10. We show that a multi-parameter fit can slightly weaken this conclusion by allowing a large Higgs coupling to $b$-quarks, but only if a second Higgs boson is within reach of experiment. Certain models, like $R$-symmetric models with Dirac gauginos, are much more strongly constrained because they predict negligible $X_t$. We illustrate how the constraints will evolve given precise measurements at future colliders (HL-LHC, ILC, and TLEP), and comment on the more difficult case of Folded Supersymmetry.Comment: v2: references added, accepted by JHE