Massive scalar field near a cosmic string

The $\zeta$ function of a massive scalar field near a cosmic string is computed and then employed to find the vacuum fluctuation of the field. The vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor is also computed using a point-splitting approach. The obtained results could be useful also for the case of self-interacting scalar fields and for the finite-temperature Rindler space theory.Comment: 15 pages, standard LaTeX, no figures. Reference [14] correcte

Role of causality in ensuring unconditional security of relativistic quantum cryptography

The problem of unconditional security of quantum cryptography (i.e. the security which is guaranteed by the fundamental laws of nature rather than by technical limitations) is one of the central points in quantum information theory. We propose a relativistic quantum cryptosystem and prove its unconditional security against any eavesdropping attempts. Relativistic causality arguments allow to demonstrate the security of the system in a simple way. Since the proposed protocol does not employ collective measurements and quantum codes, the cryptosystem can be experimentally realized with the present state-of-art in fiber optics technologies. The proposed cryptosystem employs only the individual measurements and classical codes and, in addition, the key distribution problem allows to postpone the choice of the state encoding scheme until after the states are already received instead of choosing it before sending the states into the communication channel (i.e. to employ a sort of ``antedate'' coding).Comment: 9 page

Ambiguity in the evaluation of the effective action on the cone

An ambiguity in the computation of the one-loop effective action for fields living on a cone is illustrated. It is shown that the ambiguity arises due to the non-commutativity of the regularization of ultraviolet and (conical) boundary divergencies.Comment: REVTeX file, 10 pages. Comments on recent papers have been adde

Experiences of service users involved in recruitment for nursing courses: a phenomenological research study

The aim of this study was to gain insight into service users’ experiences of participating in recruitment for Adult, Mental Health and Child nursing studies at the authors’ university; to establish potential motivations behind such participation; and to make suggestions for improved future practice. The involvement of service users in nurse education and recruitment has for some years been required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, but there is a dearth of publications on the meaning of that involvement to participating service users. It is hoped that this study will contribute to this body of knowledge. A phenomenological approach was selected, field-specific focus groups of service users being facilitated using a semi-structured interview format; these were audio recorded and transcribed. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Participation was subject to the service users having been involved in recruitment to nursing studies at the authors’ university and the focus groups took place either at the university or at the child participants’ school. Themes identified demonstrated largely positive experiences and a sense of meaningful involvement for all concerned. Findings indicated a close link between the values of the participants and those of the wider NHS, benefits to a sense of wellbeing and achievement, as well as the need for greater ownership of the recruitment process by service users. Potential lessons for academics wishing to promote greater service user involvement in student recruitment are articulated

Competing mechanisms for singlet-triplet transition in artificial molecules

We study the magnetic field induced singlet/triplet transition for two electrons in vertically coupled quantum dots by exact diagonalization of the Coulomb interaction. We identify the different mechanisms occurring in the transition, involving either in-plane correlations or localization in opposite dots, depending on the field direction. Therefore, both spin and orbital degrees of freedom can be manipulated by field strength and direction. The phase diagram of realistic devices is determined.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. B - Rapid Comm. - 5 pages, 3 figure

Bonding of the Inner Tracker Silicon Microstrip Modules

Microbonding of the CMS Tracker Inner Barrel (TIB) and Tracker Inner Disks (TID) modules was shared among six different Italian Institutes. The organization devised and the infrastructure deployed to handle this task is illustrated. Microbonding specifications and procedures for the different types of TIB and TID modules are given. The tooling specially designed and developed for these types of modules is described. Experience of production is presented. Attained production rates are given. An analysis of the microbonding quality achieved is presented, based on bond strengths measured in sample bond pull tests as well as on rates of bonding failures. Italian Bonding Centers routinely performed well above minimum specifications and a very low global introduced failure rate, at the strip level, of only $\sim$0.015 \% is observed

DNA Vaccination Partially Protects against African Swine Fever Virus Lethal Challenge in the Absence of Antibodies

The lack of available vaccines against African swine fever virus (ASFV) means that the evaluation of new immunization strategies is required. Here we show that fusion of the extracellular domain of the ASFV Hemagglutinin (sHA) to p54 and p30, two immunodominant structural viral antigens, exponentially improved both the humoral and the cellular responses induced in pigs after DNA immunization. However, immunization with the resulting plasmid (pCMV-sHAPQ) did not confer protection against lethal challenge with the virulent E75 ASFV-strain. Due to the fact that CD8+ T-cell responses are emerging as key components for ASFV protection, we designed a new plasmid construct, pCMV-UbsHAPQ, encoding the three viral determinants above mentioned (sHA, p54 and p30) fused to ubiquitin, aiming to improve Class I antigen presentation and to enhance the CTL responses induced. As expected, immunization with pCMV-UbsHAPQ induced specific T-cell responses in the absence of antibodies and, more important, protected a proportion of immunized-pigs from lethal challenge with ASFV. In contrast with control pigs, survivor animals showed a peak of CD8+ T-cells at day 3 post-infection, coinciding with the absence of viremia at this time point. Finally, an in silico prediction of CTL peptides has allowed the identification of two SLA I-restricted 9-mer peptides within the hemagglutinin of the virus, capable of in vitro stimulating the specific secretion of IFNγ when using PBMCs from survivor pigs. Our results confirm the relevance of T-cell responses in protection against ASF and open new expectations for the future development of more efficient recombinant vaccines against this disease

Comparing migration in Britain and Australia: Harmonisation through use of age-time plans

Differences in the way migration is measured impede cross-national comparisons of internal migration. In this paper we utilise age-time diagrams to elucidate these problems for Australia and the United Kingdom and present solutions which generate time series of interregional migration for the two countries, harmonised with respect to age-time plans. We achieve this through estimation of the numbers of migration transitions (Australia) or migration events (Britain) for common age-period-cohort (APC) spaces. We derive appropriate population stocks for computation of transition probabilities or occurrence-exposure rates. In the final section of the paper we present a series of migration-intensity calculations based on varying combinations of period-cohort, period-age, and age-period-cohort perspectives, to demonstrate the significance of the variations, and the errors that can arise without harmonisation

First year nursing students use of social media within education: results of a survey

Introduction – Social media rapidly disseminates information but is a controversial learning platform in nurse education. This study aimed to explore how students viewed the use of Twitter, and other social media, in their first year of a nursing degree. Aim - The aim of this study was to evaluate first year student nurses’ use of social media, before and after commencing a pre-registration programme, where Twitter was used in a module Methodology – A cross-sectional approach using a descriptive survey was completed. Methods – An online survey, that included Likert scale and open questions, was open for one month in 2016 Sample – All students on Nursing Undergraduate Degrees, in Adult, Child and Mental Health, who were in the first year of their programme were eligible to participate. 121 students took part with a response rate of 32%. Results –Most students were positive about using social media as they found it an engaging way to promote discussion and share information. Students use of Twitter changed in the first year with 19.8% using it once or more per week on commencement of the programme which increased to 45.5%; other social media platforms remained static. Most students (57.8%) understood the purpose of using Twitter although 14% reported that it was not used within their module; thus, not all students gained experience of using the social media. 81% of students said that using Twitter had been beneficial to increase awareness of nursing issues within their course. However, there were areas that students found difficult such as time, and not knowing what to say. Conclusion –The study suggests that teaching about social media, and incorporating it into learning activities, may be beneficial for students. However, more research into the subject using an experimental design to assess changes over time would be useful