A holistic method to assess building energy efficiency combining D-S theory and the evidential reasoning approach

The assessment of building energy efficiency is one of the most effective measures for reducing building energy consumption. This paper proposes a holistic method (HMEEB) for assessing and certifying building energy efficiency based on the D-S (Dempster-Shafer) theory of evidence and the Evidential Reasoning (ER) approach. HMEEB has three main features: (i) it provides both a method to assess and certify building energy efficiency, and exists as an analytical tool to identify improvement opportunities; (ii) it combines a wealth of information on building energy efficiency assessment, including identification of indicators and a weighting mechanism; and (iii) it provides a method to identify and deal with inherent uncertainties within the assessment procedure. This paper demonstrates the robustness, flexibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, using two examples to assess the energy efficiency of two residential buildings, both located in the ‘Hot Summer and Cold Winter’ zone in China. The proposed certification method provides detailed recommendations for policymakers in the context of carbon emission reduction targets and promoting energy efficiency in the built environment. The method is transferable to other countries and regions, using an indicator weighting system to modify local climatic, economic and social factors.

A structuration theory perspective on the institutional change in Higher Education sector

Budgeting system has been traditionally viewed as a control mechanism rather than a communication tool to facilitate the institutionalisation of organisational change. A good budgeting system not only reflects the organisational reality but also socially constructs the reality. This paper uses the structuration perspective to understand budget-related behaviour in a UK research-intensive university and especially, study the role of budgeting system in achieving organisational sustainability. Giddens’ structuration theory offers a valuable framework for the study of the duality of structure and emphasises on the structural properties of social systems. Based on the semi-structured interviews with top management and budget holders, it is concluded that in this specific context, budgeting system may place a significant role in establishing and legitimising institutional change.

SPECTRUM OF SCREENING MASSES FOR SU(2) GAUGE THEORY: UNIVERSALITY CLASS

In this work we study the spectrum of the lowest screening masses for Yang-Mills theories on the lattice. We used the SU(2) gauge group in (3 + 1) dmensions. We adopted the multiple exponential method and the so-called ""variational"" method, in order to detect possible excited states. The calculations were done near the critical temperature of the confinement-deconfinement phase transition. We obtained values for the ratios of the screening masses consistent with predictions from universality arguments. A Monte Carlo evolution of the screening masses in the gauge theory confirms the validity of the predictions.

Liberty in key works of John Locke and John Stuart Mill

The ideas of liberty presented in the important works of John Locke and John Stuart Mill, The Second Treatise of Government (1689) and On Liberty (1859), are often viewed as belonging to the same conceptual tradition, that of English liberalism. This thesis is an articulation of the diversity between the theories of liberty expressed by Locke and Mill in the Second Treatise and On liberty. \ am aiming to provide a corrective to the tendency to ignore or to gloss over very significant differences between the two men. The work concentrates on the philosophical aspects of each theory of liberty, arguing that they differ in four respects. These are; definitions of liberty; justifications of liberty; how much liberty and for whom they recommend it, and finally, who they believe threatens liberty and how this threat is to be curbed. It is the purpose of this thesis to show that in terms of these areas Locke and Mill are pursuing different ends. I conclude that Locke and Mill present strikingly different theories of liberty and cannot be thought of as belonging to the one conceptual tradition in terms of the definition, the justification, the prescription and the threat to liberty. Ultimately, I question the value of including Locke and Mill in the one conceptual tradition of liberty solely on the basis that they argue ‘freedom from.’

The Yang-Lee edge singularity in spin models on connected and non-connected rings

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Game theory in sugarcane crop residue and available energy optimization

This work proposes a mathematical model to aid variety selection and planting quantity of sugarcane in order to reduce crop residues, maximize energy generated by this residue, and satisfy all the supply of the mill. We propose Linear Programming with two objective. The conflict between these objectives allows the use of the Nonzero-sum Game Theory. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Duality between non-commutative Yang-Mills-Chem-Simons and non-Abelian self-dual models

By introducing an appropriate parent action and considering a perturbative approach, we establish, up to fourth order terms in the field and for the full range of the coupling constant, the equivalence between the non-commutative Yang-Mills-ChernSimons theory and the non-commutative, non-Abelian self-dual model. In doing this, we consider two different approaches by using both the Moyal star-product and the Seiberg-Witten map. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau and Klein-Cordon-Fock equations for electromagnetic, Yang-Mills and external gravitational field interactions: proof of equivalence

Starting from the Generating functional for the Green Function (GF), constructed from the Lagrangian action in the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau (DKP) theory (L-approach) we strictly prove that the physical matrix elements of the S-matrix in DKP and Klein-Gordon-Fock (KGF) theories coincide in cases of interacting spin O particles with external and quantized Maxwell and Yang-Mills fields and in case of external gravitational field (without or with torsion), For the proof we use the reduction formulas of Lehmann, Symanzik and Zimmermann (LSZ). We prove that many photons and Yang-Mills particles GF coincide in both theories too. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Cubic twistorial string field theory

Witten has recently proposed a string theory in twistor space whose D-instanton contributions are conjectured to compute M = 4 super-Yang-Mills scattering amplitudes. An alternative string theory in twistor space was then proposed whose open string tree amplitudes reproduce the D-instanton computations of maximal degree in Witten's model. In this paper, a cubic open string field theory action is constructed for this alternative string in twistor space, and is shown to be invariant under parity transformations which exchange MHV and googly amplitudes. Since the string field theory action is gauge-invariant and reproduces the correct cubic super-Yang-Mills interactions, it provides strong support for the conjecture that the string theory correctly computes N-point super-Yang-Mills tree amplitudes. © SISSA/ISAS 2004.

A simpler prescription to calculate MHV amplitudes for gravitons at tree level in superstring theory

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Non-renormalization conditions for four-gluon scattering in supersymmetric string and field theory

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Yang-Lee zeros of the two- and three-state Potts model defined on π3 Feynman diagrams

We present both analytical and numerical results on the position of partition function zeros on the complex magnetic field plane of the q=2 state (Ising) and the q=3 state Potts model defined on phi(3) Feynman diagrams (thin random graphs). Our analytic results are based on the ideas of destructive interference of coexisting phases and low temperature expansions. For the case of the Ising model, an argument based on a symmetry of the saddle point equations leads us to a nonperturbative proof that the Yang-Lee zeros are located on the unit circle, although no circle theorem is known in this case of random graphs. For the q=3 state Potts model, our perturbative results indicate that the Yang-Lee zeros lie outside the unit circle. Both analytic results are confirmed by finite lattice numerical calculations.

Caos e termalização na teoria de Yang-Mills-Higgs em uma rede espacial

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Integrable Models: from Dynamical Solutions to String Theory

We review the status of integrable models from the point of view of their dynamics and integrability conditions. A few integrable models are discussed in detail. We comment on the use it is made of them in string theory. We also discuss the SO(6) symmetric Hamiltonian with SO(6) boundary. This work is especially prepared for the 70th anniversaries of Andr, Swieca (in memoriam) and Roland Koberle.