It is argued that the topological approach to the (anti-)symmetrisation condition for the quantum state of a collection of identical particles, defined in the ‘reduced’ configuration space, is particularly natural from the perspective of de Broglie–Bohm pilot-wave theory. Typeset using REVTEX Sub-Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University, 10 Merton Street, Oxford OX1 4JJ, U.K. (e-mail: harvey.br...

Enhanced monsoon duration and soil acidification from acid rain are expected to impact the distribution of microbial communities in surface and subsurface environments, although these impacts are poorly understood for most systems. In central China, soluble carbonate bedrock forms extensive karst landscapes. Current predictions are that the amount of monsoonal precipitation and acid rainfall in...

We explore the contribution of fractures (joints) in controlling the rate of weathering advance for a low-porosity rock by using methods of homogenization to create averaged weathering equations. The rate of advance of the weathering front can be expressed as the same rate observed in non-fractured media (or in an individual block) divided by the volume fraction of nonfractured blocks in the fr...

Groundwater in the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone aquifer, Liverpool, UK, has locally elevated chloride concentrations (∼4000mg/l) in parts of the coastal region although there is freshwater right up to the coast line in other areas. The aquifer is cut my numerous faults with vertical displacements of as much 300m. SPOT satellite data 5 have been used for the Merseyside area of Liverpool. The sate...

Soil samples were collected in six South American countries in a total of 71 different 1 ha forest plots across the Amazon Basin as part of the RAINFOR project. They were analysed for total and exchangeable cations, C, N, pH with various P fractions also determined. Physical properties were also examined and an index of soil physical quality proposed. A diverse range of soils was found. For the...

The drivers behind microplastic (up to 5mm in diameter) consumption by animals are uncertain and impacts on foundational species are poorly understood. We investigated consumption of weathered, unfouled, biofouled, pre-production and microbe-free National Institute of Standards plastic by a scleractinian coral that relies on chemosensory cues for feeding. Experiment one found that corals ingest...

lapping is one of the most important polishing processes which can be used to fabricate flat and smooth surfaces. in this paper, the effect of lapping characteristics and mesh number of abrasive particles are studied on the surface roughness and flatness for the machining of hardened aisi 52100 rings. the most significant lapping characteristics are pressure, lap plate speed and time. scanning ...

an epoxy resin was modified by silica nanoparticles and cured with an anhydride. the particles with different batches of 12, 20, and 40 nm sizes were each distributed into the epoxy resin ultrasonically. electron microscopy images showed that the silica particles were well dispersed throughout the resin. tensile test results showed that young’s modulus and tensile strength increased with the vo...

  Background: The sale of food by street vendors is an activity of economic, sanitary, and nutritional importance, but these foods can pose a high risk to the health of consumers in inadequate conditions of preparation and storage. The aim of this study was to investigate the preparation conditions and the hygienic-sanitary quality of food sold by street vendors in the vicinity of four campuse...