Hardcore dimer aspects of the SU(2) Singlet wavefunction

We demonstrate that any SU(2) singlet wavefunction can be characterized by a set of Valence Bond occupation numbers, testing dimer presence/vacancy on pairs of sites. This genuine quantum property of singlet states (i) shows that SU(2) singlets share some of the intuitive features of hardcore quantum dimers, (ii) gives rigorous basis for interesting albeit apparently ill-defined quantities introduced recently in the context of Quantum Magnetism or Quantum Information to measure respectively spin correlations and bipartite entanglement and, (iii) suggests a scheme to define consistently a wide family of quantities analogous to high order spin correlation. This result is demonstrated in the framework of a general functional mapping between the Hilbert space generated by an arbitrary number of spins and a set of algebraic functions found to be an efficient analytical tool for the description of quantum spins or qubits systems.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

The effect of social security payroll tax reductions on employment and wages: an evaluation of the 2003 French reform

public policy evaluation, payroll tax cuts, labour cost, semi-parametric estimations

Local regularity for parabolic nonlocal operators

Weak solutions to parabolic integro-differential operators of order $\alpha \in (\alpha_0, 2)$ are studied. Local a priori estimates of H\"older norms and a weak Harnack inequality are proved. These results are robust with respect to $\alpha \nearrow 2$. In this sense, the presentation is an extension of Moser's result in 1971.Comment: 31 pages, 3 figure

The effect of copper toxicity on synergisms and antagonisms between nutrients in grapevine plants

Copper (Cu) accumulation in soils can induce toxicity and nutrient imbalances in several plant species. The aim of this work was thus to evaluate the effect of Cu toxicity on two grapevine rootstocks, Fercal and 196.17, and to elucidate if intercropping with oat can alleviate grapevine Cu toxicity using hydroponic trials and rhizobox experiments. The hydroponic trial revealed that Cu-induced root exudation was correlated with genes expression (VvPEZlike); furthermore the ionome analysis revealed that both mono- and intercropped L96.t7 rootstocks display a synergistic effect on Zn and Mn in the root tissues at high Cu concentrations. An increase of Zn and Mn in roots was also reported for the intercropped FercaJ rootstock at high Cu concentrations while an antagonistic relation was observed for root Zn in the monocropped Fercal rootstock. The rhizobox experiments further confirmed these results showing a different nutrient concentration depending on the rootstock and on the soil characteristics. lndeed, Cu availability is shaped by rhizosphere processes, which depend on soil properties and/or the co-cultivation of different plant species. The soil-based experiments revealed that nutrient availability and dissolved organic carbon including root exudates differ depending on soil properties and the rootstock rather than on the cultivation system, ln particular, we did not observe any apparent competition between the two plant species in the alkaline soil; on the other hand, in the acid soil, the intercropping revealed a beneficial etfect reducing the available Cu in the rhizosphere. Our results revealed that Fercal rootstock is able to take advantage from oat, while 196.17 seems disadvantaged by the intercropping system. Yet, even though the intercropping system seems to be a valuable tool to counteract grapevine Cu toxicity, the application of this agricultural practice has shown to be species and mostly soil type dependent and should be evaluated for each rootstock

Observables in Topological Yang-Mills Theories

Using topological Yang-Mills theory as example, we discuss the definition and determination of observables in topological field theories (of Witten-type) within the superspace formulation proposed by Horne. This approach to the equivariant cohomology leads to a set of bi-descent equations involving the BRST and supersymmetry operators as well as the exterior derivative. This allows us to determine superspace expressions for all observables, and thereby to recover the Donaldson-Witten polynomials when choosing a Wess-Zumino-type gauge.Comment: 39 pages, Late

Direct measurement of superluminal group velocity and of signal velocity in an optical fiber

We present an easy way of observing superluminal group velocities using a birefringent optical fiber and other standard devices. In the theoretical analysis, we show that the optical properties of the setup can be described using the notion of "weak value". The experiment shows that the group velocity can indeed exceed c in the fiber; and we report the first direct observation of the so-called "signal velocity", the speed at which information propagates and that cannot exceed c.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Recording of the thermal evolution of limestones undergoing experimental accelerated ageing tests

Sodium sulfates are widely regarded as the most destructive salts for porous stone, concrete and brick. Thenardite (Na2SO4), mirabilite (Na2SO4, 10H2O) and heptahydrate (Na2SO4, 7H2O) are the common phases that occur under surface conditions. The heptahydrate phase has been largely neglected in most modern work about salt weathering. However, several recent publications suggest that it could play an important role in geochemical and planetary processes. Therefore its role in the Na2SO4- H2O system should be clarified. We present here results of accelerated ageing experiments performed on samples of a micritic limestone under two different ambient temperatures: 20 C (i.e. below the upper limit of metastability of the heptahydrate), and 30 C (i.e. above this limit and also below the upper limit of stability of mirabilite). Thermocouples were placed into the samples in order to follow the evolution of the temperature of the stones during the weathering tests. This method allows the recording of exo and endo-thermic reactions that are linked to physicochemical processes, such as crystallization, wetting, evaporative cooling, etc. The experiments show significant differences in the pattern and degree of damage. In the experiment at 20 C, the loss of material is noticeable, and occurs as crumbling and scaling. In the experiment at 30 C, we observe just efflorescence with no visible loss of material. The recorded thermal evolution is also different for the two experiments, which provides some clues as to the different physicochemical processes occurring in each situation, depending on the "ambient" temperature

A Data-Driven Design Evaluation Tool for Handheld Device Soft Keyboards

Thumb interaction is a primary technique used to operate small handheld devices such as smartphones. Despite the different techniques involved in operating a handheld device compared to a personal computer, the keyboard layouts for both devices are similar. A handheld device keyboard that considers the physical capabilities of the thumb may improve user experience. We developed and applied a design evaluation tool for different geometries of the QWERTY keyboard using a performance evaluation model. The model utilizes previously collected data on thumb motor performance and posture for different tap locations and thumb movement directions. We calculated a performance index (PITOT, 0 is worst and 2 is best) for 663 designs consisting in different combinations of three variables: the keyboard's radius of curvature (R) (mm), orientation (O) (°), and vertical location on the screen (L). The current standard keyboard performed poorly (PITOT = 0.28) compared to other designs considered. Keyboard location (L) contributed to the greatest variability in performance out of the three design variables, suggesting that designers should modify this variable first. Performance was greatest for designs in the middle keyboard location. In addition, having a slightly upward curve (R = −20 mm) and orientated perpendicular to the thumb's long axis (O = −20°) improved performance to PITOT = 1.97. Poorest performances were associated with placement of the keyboard's spacebar in the bottom right corner of the screen (e.g., the worst was for R = 20 mm, O = 40°, L = Bottom (PITOT = 0.09)). While this evaluation tool can be used in the design process as an ergonomic reference to promote user motor performance, other design variables such as visual access and usability still remain unexplored

Tablet Keyboard Configuration Affects Performance, Discomfort and Task Difficulty for Thumb Typing in a Two-Handed Grip

When holding a tablet computer with two hands, the touch keyboard configuration imposes postural constraints on the user because of the need to simultaneously hold the device and type with the thumbs. Designers have provided users with several possible keyboard configurations (device orientation, keyboard layout and location). However, potential differences in performance, usability and postures among these configurations have not been explored. We hypothesize that (1) the narrower standard keyboard layout in the portrait orientation leads to lower self-reported discomfort and less reach than the landscape orientation; (2) a split keyboard layout results in better overall outcomes compared to the standard layout; and (3) the conventional bottom keyboard location leads to the best outcomes overall compared to other locations. A repeated measures laboratory experiment of 12 tablet owners measured typing speed, discomfort, task difficulty, and thumb/wrist joint postures using an active marker system during typing tasks for different combinations of device orientation (portrait and landscape), keyboard layout (standard and split), and keyboard location (bottom, middle, top). The narrower standard keyboard with the device in the portrait orientation was associated with less discomfort (least squares mean (and S.E.) 2.9±0.6) than the landscape orientation (4.5±0.7). Additionally, the split keyboard decreased the amount of reaching required by the thumb in the landscape orientation as defined by a reduced range of motion and less MCP extension, which may have led to reduced discomfort (2.7±0.6) compared to the standard layout (4.5±0.7). However, typing speed was greater for the standard layout (127±5 char./min.) compared to the split layout (113±4 char./min.) regardless of device orientation and keyboard location. Usage guidelines and designers can incorporate these findings to optimize keyboard design parameters and form factors that promote user performance and usability for thumb interaction