Would you like to enjoy festival season in style and be the envy of your camp? I am sadly selling my fully equipped, custom converted Sprinter van, because I am moving to to Spain. This is a fantastic glamping road trip vehicle, and festival mobile media station, equipped with ample USB chargers and power sockets, and solar panels. I am so sad to be leaving it behind, but alas, Spain awaits.
The entire room of this vehicle is laser cut double flower of life light panel that can be set to different colors (or to cycle through the colors of the rainbow) for your ultimate chillout experience.
The ceiling light is a unique art piece that is laser cut out of wood. The interior of the van is lined with redwood, there is a finished wood floor, and a computer workstation with flat screen monitor. The bed is a fold down Murphy bed with a memory foam topper. There is a full length closet, a small fridge in the closet, and a full length mirror. There is also a marine toilet.
There is ample storage space inside the bench seat and under the workstation counter, as well as a metal rack upon which you can pile more stuff. There are 3 drying racks you can hang off this metal rack for plates, cups, and utensils.
You can stand up in this van and it fits in normal parking spaces.
The fridge: There isn't enough storage power in the marine batteries stored under the passenger seat to power the fridge 24/7 WHILE THE VAN IS STATIONARY. When the van is driving, the batteries are charging. When the van is stationary during the day, the solar keeps the batteries charged. But at night, with no sun, the batteries will drain. That's why it's a dual propane / AC fridge. You can pull it out and hitch it to a propane tank. Or turn off the fridge at night when it's cooler (so you have enough battery juice to power lights and other things), and power it back on during the day.
The bed: Is an XL twin bed, that is cozy for a couple, but a little too intimate to share with a friend.
The toilet: is NOT a flushing toilet. It is a marine toilet that is a toilet sit fitted on top of a jerry can that you can then take to the porta potty. This beats walking to the porta potty at 3am. The marine toilet fits into it's own cabinet under the sink. I did it this way because I did not want the hassle of installing and dealing with a black water tank.
Air conditioning: exists in the front cabin, but there is no air conditioning in the cargo area. Insulation was added between the vehicle body and the wood trim. On Playa, the van remains cool in the desert heat, and doesn't drop to freezing in the desert night. If you do attempt to sleep in it in the dead of winter, in locales where the outside temperature fall below freezing, it will be cold.
Sliding trash cabinet: contains a trash bin, but the carpenter built the cabinet around the trash bin (ya, I know), so the plastic bin itself doesn't come out. Use a trash bag and you're fine.
Underneath the sink, behind the blue curtain is a hot water heater, marine toilet cabinet, and the clean water & grey water tanks. There is no stove (because I opted not to install a ventilation system for gas exhaust), but there is a foldout shelf where you can place a propane stove.
• Hanging drying racks for plates, cups, and utensils.
PLEASE NOTE: This tricked out camper van is not a replacement for an RV. This is a vehicle with great gas mileage that will allow you to park / sleep in urban areas in stealth, drive 80-90 miles an hour on the freeway, fit into a parking space, do 3 point turns, and most importantly attract as little attention as possible as you go about your business. There is no shower, flushing toilet, or built in stove.
If you want an RV, get an RV and deal with crappy gas mileage, maneuvering a big vehicle in tight city spaces, urban parking challenges, grey and black water system maintenance, cops waking up up in the middle of the night and telling you to move along and attracting curious people looking in.
• a rustic self-converted 2008 Sprinter camper for sale in Santa Rosa with 111K miles for $26K.
This van comes with so much more.
Step 2: Call, text , or email for questions, a viewing/test drive.


text:
Council Decision of 27 April 2009 on the existence of an excessive deficit in France (2009/414/EC) (repealed)
Decisions originating from the EU
2009 No. 414
Whole Decision
Open whole Decision
This is a Decision originating from the EU
This is the original version (as it was originally adopted).
Council Decision
of 27 April 2009
on the existence of an excessive deficit in France
(2009/414/EC) (repealed)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 104(6) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission,
Having regard to the observations made by France,
(1) According to Article 104 of the Treaty Member States are to avoid excessive government deficits.
(2) The Stability and Growth Pact is based on the objective of sound government finances as a means of strengthening the conditions for price stability and for strong sustainable growth conducive to employment creation.
(3) The excessive deficit procedure (EDP) under Article 104, as clarified by Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure(1) (which is part of the Stability and Growth Pact), provides for a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit. The Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty sets out further provisions relating to the implementation of the EDP. Council Regulation (EC) No 3605/93(2) lays down detailed rules and definitions for the application of the provisions of the said Protocol.
(4) The 2005 reform of the Stability and Growth Pact sought to strengthen its effectiveness and economic underpinnings as well as to safeguard the sustainability of the public finances in the long run. It aimed at ensuring that in particular the economic and budgetary background was taken fully into account in all steps in the EDP. In this way, the Stability and Growth Pact provides the framework supporting government policies for a prompt return to sound budgetary positions taking account of the economic situation.
(5) Article 104(5) of the Treaty requires the Commission to address an opinion to the Council if the Commission considers that an excessive deficit in a Member State exists or may occur. Having taken into account its report in accordance with Article 104(3) and having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee in accordance with Article 104(4), the Commission concluded that an excessive deficit exists in France. The Commission therefore addressed such an opinion to the Council in respect of France on 24 March 2009(3).
(6) Article 104(6) of the Treaty states that the Council should consider any observations which the Member State concerned may wish to make before deciding, after an overall assessment, whether an excessive deficit exists. In the case of France, this overall assessment leads to the following conclusions.
(7) According to the data notified by the French authorities on 6 February 2009, the general government deficit in France reached 3,2 % of GDP in 2008(4), thus exceeding the 3 % of GDP reference value. The Commission report under Article 104(3) considers that the deficit was close to the 3 % of GDP reference value but that the excess over the reference value cannot be qualified as exceptional within the meaning of the Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact with GDP growth estimated to have attained 0,7 % of GDP in 2008, after 2,2 % in 2007. The excess over the reference value cannot be considered temporary. According to the Commission services January 2009 interim forecast, the general government deficit is forecast to reach 5,4 % of GDP in 2009 and, on a no-policy change basis, to decline only slightly to 5 % in 2010 as the budgetary impact of the recovery plan is phased out. Therefore the deficit criterion in the Treaty is not fulfilled.
(8) According to Article 2(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1467/97, 'relevant factors' can only be taken into account in the steps leading to the Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in accordance with Article 104(6) if the double condition – that the deficit remains close to the reference value and that its excess over the reference value is temporary – is fully met. In the case of France, this double condition is not met. Therefore, relevant factors are not taken into account in the steps leading to this Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
From an overall assessment it follows that an excessive deficit exists in France.
This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.
Done at Luxembourg, 27 April 2009.
A. Vondra
OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 6.
OJ L 332, 31.12.1993, p. 7.
All EDP-related documents for France can be found at the following website:
http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/netstartsearch/pdfsearch/pdf.cfm?mode=_m2
The Government announced on 4 March that the deficit would reach 3,4 % of GDP in 2008. This estimate is not final.
PrintThe Whole Decision
PDF The Whole Decision
Web page The Whole Decision

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Why it's important for your workout regimen. Plus three easy exercises you can do at home.
Lifting weights isn't just for serious athletes. Weight and resistance training should be considered an important part of everyone's workout, regardless of fitness level or background.
Dr. Chris Sellar, a sports and fitness advocate, earned his PhD in physical education from the University of Alberta and is well aware of the universal benefits of resistance-training. According to Sellar, weight-training improves muscular strength and endurance, which can help with everything from athletic performance to completing day-to-day activities. It also increases muscle mass, which can improve metabolism and, in turn, helps manage weight gain. And weight-training exercises can increase bone density, which can reduce one's risk of fractures and osteoporosis, and also stabilize joints.
Sellar is now the project coordinator for the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) Program, a free, 12-week, province-wide community exercise program that is part of a five-year study funded by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions' Cancer Prevention Research Opportunity. ACE teaches its participants how to properly incorporate exercise — including both resistance and aerobic training — into their lives following a cancer diagnosis. In his role, Sellar helps design, supervise and monitor the workout programs for ACE's Edmonton participants.
Here, Sellar offers some training tips and ideas that will help you begin a safe and successful resistance-training regimen.
In order to safely incorporate weight-training into your exercise regimen and keep it a regular part of your workout, Sellar strongly recommends starting "low and slow," regardless of fitness level or background.
"If you try to do too much too soon, you may get injured, or you won't feel good and won't want to continue exercising," Sellar says.
If you're unsure of how to start, get support from a certified trainer or other staff member at a fitness facility.
Sellar adds that two to three days of resistance-training per week is the goal, but incorporating it into a fitness routine once a week is a great place to start.
Sellar recommends eight to 15 repetitions of each exercise to see some muscle-building and toning, as well as increased strength and endurance.
"With moderate repetitions and higher weights, you'll get a little more muscle building. If your goal is muscular endurance or toning the muscle, your workout should be in that higher rep range," says Sellar.
If you're doing a higher number of repetitions, remember to lighten the load you're lifting.
A resistance-training routine should work the whole body, but you don't have to train the whole body in one session. However, it is important to work opposite muscles in the same training session. For example, train the legs one day, working the leg's opposing muscles — the quadriceps and hamstrings — with exercises like leg presses and lunges. Focus on arms another day, making sure to balance bicep exercises, like bicep curls, with triceps exercises, like triceps dips.
"Working muscles in opposition helps to maintain good joint alignment, good posture and stability. It also helps avoid muscle imbalance. If you're strong on one side and weak on the other, that's when you can get injuries," says Sellar.
Don't forget to listen to your body. A variety of factors can affect your workout, including fatigue, illness and injury, so don't feel disheartened if you need to modify your sessions.
Consider incorporating these simple, equipment-free exercises into your routine. They can help you build strength and stamina using nothing but your own body weight.
If you're new to push-ups, start out by doing them against a wall while standing. Work your way up to doing them on the ground from your knees, then from your toes as you get stronger. Start with one or two sets of 10 repetitions.
Work various muscles in the lower body by slowing sitting down into a chair or performing a squat against a wall. Try squats unsupported as you gain strength and endurance. Start with one or two sets of 10 repetitions.
Challenge your core muscles by holding your body straight above the ground while resting on your forearms, and on either your knees or toes. Start by holding this position for 10 seconds.


Capturing impressive deep-sky astroimages is easier than ever with Celestron's new Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph, the perfect companion to today's top DSLR or astronomical CCD cameras. This fast, wide-field f/2.2 system offers two huge advantages over traditional f/10 astroimaging: better apparent tracking and shorter exposures. That means you'll create better-looking astroimages in a fraction of the time, even without the use of an autoguider.
Key design goals included larger 144 mm diameter worm wheels which provide smoother operation and can more accurately drive heavier loads, longer 270 mm dovetail saddle to support larger optical tubes, remote operation friendly features such as home and limit optical sensors, easier polar alignment adjustments, and better cable management overall.


Well, its time to explore basing miniatures the Lazy Mini Painter way! We want the bases to look reasonably good, and take very little time. Whats the best way to do that?
GW texture paints, specifically the microbead options. Its effectively doing a layer of PVA and glue, at the same time as laying down the colour. You can get colour matched paint (Dryad Bark matches Stirland Battlemire perfectly) to colour the base first (or just do the outer ring afterwards), and then a quick drybrush when dry with an Ochre looks fantastic, and really matches the early GW terrain packs colours magnificently – which happens to be the colours of my Realm of Battle Battleboard!
You can use the crackle options like Agrellan Earth or Martian Ironcrust, and put a wash over it instead! That also looks pretty sharp! Again, quick, easy and simple to colour match. The problem with the crackle option is it often doesn't work very well if you've used a very grippy primer.
I like to finish any of those with either a little PVA and flock, or some self adhesive tufts. Quick, simple, effective, done.
No messing around with cork or slate. No fuss dealing with PVA and sand. No painstakingly painting tiny resin bases. Just quick, simple effective techniques that look pretty bloody good over an army. A Lazy Mini Painter win!
Honestly, there are only so many things you can do to minimise your assembly time, but it is worth thinking about those things in advance!
First, make sure you have decent, high quality, sharp tools. If you have really good, sharp sprue cutters, you'll waste almost no time in cleaning up the parts afterwards. If you have old, blunt cutters, you'll spend more time cleaning up the kit than you do actually cutting the bits off! Or waiting for replacements if you've buggered them up.
Using sharp hobby knives and mould line cleaners also help. And …. though it burns my mouth to say so … if you are doing a quick tabletop job with modern quality minis, you don't even really need to worry about mould lines. At 3 feet distance with modern kits and paint, you won't see them. For display and close up photos? Oh god yeah, and I hate the sight of them. But honestly, you probably don't need to bother with the cleverer placement of mould lines on modern plastics, or at least just tackle just the worst examples.
Drilling out gun barrels? A slow precise task that you can replace by dabbing a little blob of black paint on the end of the gun later in the painting process. Again, not quite as good, but more than adequate for tabletop level armies.
How can you speed up assembling a unit? The best trick I've come across is the use of the humble egg box (ideally an empty 12 egg box). As you cut parts off the sprues, put the bits for each man into one of the egg bits. It makes such a difference sorting it out and assembling each one rather than trying to cut and glue, or sort through a big mound of parts.
You really should prepare and wash all your models and make sure they are thoroughly free of any oils and release agents, particularly resin. If you are feeling very lazy, you can actually normally get by without this if you have a really good grippy primer, like Halfords grey. If you are using GW or Army Painter primers, you can still get away without it for plastics or metals, but you should still clean resin as it can be quite oily.
Other assembly tricks? Well, if you want to be really lazy, make sure you plan your models out in advance, during non-hobby time. Try to get parts in one consistent material if you want to kit bash stuff – its a lot easier to glue plastics to plastics than resins to metals! Don't fall for the trap of assembling all the models you have – make sure you're only assembling the ones you need. If you've got a start collecting box but you only want to add the tank from it to your army right now, just build the tank. It saves time right now, and it also reduces the chances that when you add another model from the kit to your army, you won't have assembled it earlier with the wrong weapon choices.
On the flip side, if you have a planned army, don't waste time – assemble everything you have planned, so you can minimise the shared priming afterwards! The real key is just don't get distracted by ad hoc assembly and hobby – build the models you need to build.
These tips won't massively reduce your assembly time. But reducing it even a little, and actually focusing just on the models you actually need to do makes a difference. If its just enough time to let you quickly undercoat or prime the models this session, so they can dry properly before your next hobby session, even a few minutes can make the difference between wasting a full hobby session with just a few minutes of priming and then having to wait. Its all good, and gets us closer to deploying a painted army onto the field.
Well, this sessions we're going to be looking at dips and washes. Dipping models is seen as a massive cheat by many painters. Its not. Its just another technique, at least for the Lazy Mini Painter! Oddly enough, the same people who complain about dipping a model are often the same ones who happily wash a whole model in Agrax Earthshade and then spray on varnish, which does pretty much the same thing.
Lets start by looking at washes. Washes are really nothing more than a particular tone of paint, heavily watered down. When you apply it to a part of the model, it darkens it slightly, adds a slight amount of the wash colour to the tone, and pools in the recesses. Unsurprisingly, you tend to use darker colours! Lighter colours pooling the recesses can look a little odd!
Now, you can use enormous numbers of washes. You can use dark blue washes over blue, yellow over yellow, green over green and so on. Its a fantastic technique that adds a great virtual illusion of depth. Incidentally, I always recommend mixing some Lahmia medium into the wash. It tends to flow much much better, and leaves you with a cleaner effect, rather than the slight blobbing straight washes can leave.
However, we're looking at doing this the Lazy Mini Painter way. You don't always need to use lots of washes. A single wash of a brown or black leaves the whole model with appropriately coloured shadows shading the recesses. It can work from top to bottom! The best I've found for this are the Army Painter Soft Tone Quickshade, Strong Tone, Dark Tone, the old Devlan Mud from GW, and the current Agrax Earthshade. My favourite is probably the AP Strong Tone. Dark Tone is fantastic for metals where you want a darker contrast, though the GW Agrax Earthshade Gloss is probably the best for golds.
Now, if you want to use washes as your main technique for giving you miniatures a feeling of depth, its useful to have painted slightly lighter colours on as the base coat than you actually need. A complete wash will darken the overall model, not just the recesses, so if you aren't then going to highlight back up, you need to have started lighter than you actually want it to end up!
Dips are fundamentally the same technique as using a single quickshade across the models. However, dips are basically a varnish – they combine a final all over wash with a varnish to do 2 stages of the painting process in one. Despite the name, many painters like myself, tend to apply the dip with a brush.
One useful note – applying the dip gives you a fantastic surface to apply decals, though you will probably want to pop a little dip or varnish over the top of the decal afterwards.
Is this approach going to win you a Golden Demon? No. Will it let you get great tabletop quality armies out on the field asap? Oh yeah, baby!
I tend to compromise – I use these sorts of techniques for troops, and will sometimes break them down. If I've been doing separate heads and weapons with priming and painting, well, I might use 3 different dips! Soft tone is great for flesh, heads, and light colours, dark tone for gun metal weapons, and strong tone is the general go to for everything else.
I'll often use a wash rather than a dip, then apply a more matt varnish by a spray, if it matches the gritty feel of an army. Cadian Infantry can look a bit odd in a shiny gloss. My Eldar are shiny glory, and I field them lots, so I prefer a more resilient gloss finish for those.
So if we're putting all our techniques together, we've primed up an army and done a load of the base coating in the process. At some point we should finish off the base coats, and then we might have done a little optimised edge highlighting. We've now dipped our models, shading and varnishing in one process.
One thing that the dips are fantastic for is for painting marble terrain. Spray statues or building a plain white primer, making sure you get good coverage – maybe spray it twice. Apply a load of Strong Tone dip by a brush, and you can a fantastic white rock/marble type look with absolutely minimum effort. It is a brilliant time saver for big chunks of terrain. The angel on the fortress of redemption, the marine statue, the lord of the rings walls and statues, they all look absolutely brilliant with very minimum effort. After they are dry, applying some PVA in lines and flocking it to look like creeping vines is a great bonus extra.
Well, the current style of painting is massively into edge highlights. Its a terrific technique that really makes hard surfaces pop … and takes absolutely ages. Heck, at the peak of the art of edge highlighting, you do multiple thickness of edge highlights moving to brighter and brighter edges as they narrow down. If you want amazing looking models, wow. If you have limited time and want models to see the tabletop, how the heck can you get this to work.
Highlights do draw the eye, and make a model pop. Generally, though, its seen as an all or nothing technique. You do edge highlights? You highlight every damn edge on the model. In many ways we've forgotten one of the meanings of highlight – to draw attention just to the important or pretty bits.
However …. we want good looking models for the tabletop, right? Why highlight all of a model. Instead, we should cherry pick a few spots where we want the eye to be drawn, where there is other details or natural model complexity. Pick spot easily visible as if looking down at the model at 45˚ angle – shoulder pads, heads, upper chest, backpack top, maybe the gun. You can reduce your edge highlighting time by a massive amount, still have figures that pop on the battlefield, and look like they've been done in a modern style. Yeah, the legs won't look anywhere near as good in an eye level display cabinet. If you put them in a cabinet, put them on a lower shelf. They will look cracking on the battlefield.
Take standard Cadians, for example. Highlight the helmet, shoulder pads and gun case with a lighter green, and it'll look modern and pop. The foot guards? Man, overkill. The chest plate? Much of that will be covered up anyway when the lasguns go on. In terms of making a difference to the overall effect, you end up putting in huge amounts of time for minimal gain.
Space Marines can be similar. Backpacks, helmet, weapon case, maybe shoulder pads depending on insignia. All the other plates? minimal difference for loads of effort.
You get much better at edge highlights as you go on – I always suggest edge highlighting, then washing, as it unifies the tone a little more, and makes any slight wobbles on the edges less apparent. It lets you do them faster and less precise. Again, thats not necessarily a good thing on a single beautiful model you've been painting for weeks. On your tenth tactical squad of marines? unless you are superhuman, you'll be painting quick and make a few slips.
Honestly, for a very large army, you can get away with skipping edge highlights entirely. For a modern looking army on the field, though, cherry picking your edges, and doing a single colour, not multiples, can actually makes the technique look more effective, matches up with other, more time consuming forces on the table, and is a good compromise on smaller elite forces. Huzzah! We can knock these out all day! Armies are possible … the Lazy Mini Painter way!
OK! Lets get this series started properly, and where's better to start than proper priming! Of course, I mean proper in the Lazy Mini Painter way! Normally I'll be posting these on a Monday, but as we've just had an introduction and no real content, I thought, what the hell!
Most minis tend to be primed in monochrome – white, black or grey – as a blank canvas for the colours to go on. If you want to get models that look amazing, where every colour choice is perfectly balanced, thats definitely the way forward.
Me, though, I want to get things on the field ASAP. They are going to be looked at from 3 feet away. If the flesh tone is fractionally off, well, hell, no one will notice and people have different skin tones anyway! Lets look at priming with coloured primer! Thats a massive chunk of time saved – at least one base coat colour already done!
What colour should we prime models with? The obvious answer is the one that makes up most of the models area, to save the most time. However, the obvious answer isn't always the right one.
The colour that is in the hardest to reach fiddly places. Painting fiddly tiny areas actually takes far more time than slapping some more green on easy to reach armour plates.
The colour that is hardest to get good coverage with from a pot. You've probably heard the phrase "two thin coats" is better than one thick one. It is, but it takes twice the time. If much of model is a light colour like yellow, or zhandri dust for Cadians, you can be better off priming with that for a quick, consistent finish, rather than spraying green for the bulk of the armour.
The colour that goes under your other colours best. I know, we've just discounted grey, black and white (well, unless they hit the other criteria, of course!), but the way colours go together is still important. If you are doing mostly metals, priming in gold or silver is fine. If you want to use glazes or gem paints, base coating with a metallic look is superb. But if the model is mostly matt, lighter colours, you really don't want to base coat with a metal, as you'll find a slightly higher shine coming through. If you are painting Cadians with khaki fatigues and bright red armour, you'll find it hard to cover red with khaki than the other way around.
It often is still the obviously choice. I'd base coat Sisters of Silence and Adeptus Custodes in gold, Grey Knights in Silver, and so on. But black goes on really easily, looks nice and glossy over metal, and silver looks good in joints (and is fiddly to reach) with a wash. You might want to think about using a silver or gun metal primer for Death Watch, not black, even though its mostly just the arm at first glance. As a rule of thumb, priming with lighter colours will save you more time than darker ones.
So we've primed our models, and got a chunk of the base coat down … and the hardest part of the base coat too. Is there any other ways we can speed things up during priming?
Well, its really a trick during model assembly, not priming. Build the model in sections, and prime the sections in different colours! You don't want to be spending more time doing sections separately than it takes to use a brush, of course – that takes away the whole point! But there are a few key assemblages that can really save time.
Heads. Now, I wouldn't normally bother for marine helmets – they'll match the armour (unless its something like blood angels with blue yellow helmets in an assault squad!) But in the case of armoured models with an unarmored head, spraying the heads separately with a flesh tone, then gluing them in place afterwards, saves buckets of time. It can be a bit painful to paint lighter flesh tones, and we're probably going to be looking at dips and washes, and not waste too much time on layering, so lighter tones are what we need! Its also easier to do different hair shades over a lighter flesh. Painting blondes over a dark or metal colour is painful!
Backpacks. Why backpacks, I hear you ask? Aren't they the same colour as the rest of the model normally? Indeed they are, but in 40k, particularly for marine types, they are bulky awkward things that are painful to spray around. You'll often find you waste loads of time touching up fiddly areas that haven't got great coverage because of these. You'll probably save more time giving them a quick spray front and back separately (with a blob of bluetack or playdoh to let you glue the contact point). It also lets you use a different colour if that's useful – Dark Angel veterans are sometimes easier to base coat for their robes, and then you can save time on the backpacks in dark green.
Weapons. Why weapons? Because these are generally gun metal regardless of the rest of the model, and like the backpacks, block the sprays coverage quite a lot if attached. You can get your weapon base colour down as well as your core models, cover the whole model better with primer, and waste less time touching up fiddly bits that are hard to reach with a brush.
If you do this, priming (and assembly) will probably take a little longer. But base coating, the dullest part of painting models, will generally be between 50-75% complete before you even pick up a brush. And if you want to get a game in sooner rather than later, you aren't fielding grey plastic already or plain black primed models even at this stage. Even better, unlike brush work, spraying is just as easy with a whole army full of models as doing a unit of 5. If you have to manually slap one colour of paint on 100 models, it can be soul destroying – most people find doing a unit is about as much as they can cope with at a batch.
We've talked about priming in colours – where can we get them? I love the GW metal aerosol sprays, and the small range of coloured sprays match their paints, of course. For general coloured spray primers, I get on with Army Painter sprays, though some people don't like them. And if you have an airbrush, you can even mix your own coloured primers, as well as exploiting Vallejo's extensive range.
Fantastic. Its what the Lazy Mini Painter is all about – getting armies ready to go!
I often see guides and tutorials on all sorts of techniques to paint minis better and better. Fantastic convoluted techniques that take you to the golden demon awards and back. And if you master them, your minis will look truly fantastic.
That isn't what this is all about. Like many gamers out there, my hobby time is limited, and I like to play with armies that look pretty good on the tabletop. I'm getting better as a painter, and I like to push my limits on occasion, but I just don't have time to do that on a regular basis. So how the hell do I get armies out to play?
This is where the Lazy Mini Painter comes in. There are fantastic techniques to paint models quickly and efficiently, that look at least OK. These are great tricks to have in your arsenal. Some people will look down on some of the shortcuts – but as long as you're ok with a solid tabletop army, who cares! I honestly believe as long as you do the painting yourself, it's not cheating – it's just a different approach. There's nothing "better" about doing everything painstakingly with a brush.
Don't expect anything too revolutionary – a lot of these will be techniques you already know, but applied to minimise the amount of time needed.
Priming, washes, dips, drybrushing, highlighting, quick basing, combining techniques. It's all to come. The plan is to publish a timesaving article every Monday, to inspire those who haven't achieved a #miniaturemonday tweet this week! And for those more interested in painting as well as possible, it's still worth a read. The theory behind the techniques can still be bloody useful!


text:
Q: A question about Span in Linear Algebra So I have this question about Span that I'm not sure how to do:
Let $\DeclareMathOperator{\Span}{Span}u_1 =\begin{bmatrix}
1\\
2\\
             3
\end{bmatrix},
u_2 =\begin{bmatrix}
2\\
3\\
4
\end{bmatrix},
v_1 =\begin{bmatrix}
1\\
1\\
2
\end{bmatrix},
v_2 =\begin{bmatrix}
2\\
2\\
3
\end {bmatrix}$, in the real vector space $\mathbb{R}^3$.
Let $U=\Span(u_1,u_2)$ and $V=\Span(v_1, v_2)$.
Show that $U\cap V$ is equal to $\Span(v)$ where $v = \begin{bmatrix}
1\\
1\\
1
\end{bmatrix}$.
So I have already shown that all elements in $V$ can be written as $\begin{bmatrix}
\alpha +2\beta\\
\alpha + 2\beta\\
2\alpha + 3\beta
\end{bmatrix}$ (1)
and that $\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2\\
2 & 3\\
3 & 4
\end{bmatrix}
x = \begin{bmatrix}
\alpha +2\beta\\
\alpha + 2\beta\\
2\alpha + 3\beta
\end{bmatrix}$ only has a solution if $\alpha = \beta$ (2). I have also shown that $\begin{bmatrix}
\alpha +2\beta\\
\alpha + 2\beta\\
2\alpha + 3\beta
\end{bmatrix}$ is equal to $\beta\begin{bmatrix}
1\\
1\\
1
\end{bmatrix} = \beta v$ when $\alpha = \beta$. (3)
I know that I have to show that $U\cap V ⊆ \Span(v)$ and that $\Span(v) ⊆ U\cap V$.
My answer so far:
$U\cap V ⊆ \Span(v):$
Since we know that (3) and (2) is true then every element in $V$ can be written as a linear combination of $v$ which means that $V=\Span(v)$. Since $U\cap V⊆ V \Rightarrow U\cap V ⊆ \Span(v)$.
However I'm not sure how to show that $\Span(v) ⊆U\cap V$. Any help would be appreciated!
Edit:
With help from the comments I think I have found the answer:
Since $Span(v)=\{\alpha v|\alpha \in \mathbb{R}\}$ then $\alpha v=\alpha \cdot (−\gamma)\cdot v_1 + \beta \cdot v_2$, where $\beta=−\gamma$ and $\alpha \cdot v=\alpha \cdot (−\gamma)\cdot u_1 + \alpha \cdot \delta \cdot u_2$ where $\delta=−\gamma$ so $Span(v)⊆U\cap V$.
Are both these arguments correct?

A: Hint: Can you show that $v \in U \cap V$?

A: Suppose a vector belongs to the intersection, so it can be written as
$$
\alpha\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 2 \\ 3 \end{bmatrix}
+
\beta\begin{bmatrix} 2 \\ 3 \\ 4 \end{bmatrix}
=
\gamma\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ 2 \end{bmatrix}
+
\delta\begin{bmatrix} 2 \\ 2 \\ 3 \end {bmatrix}
$$
Let's then look at the null space of the matrix
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & -1 & -2 \\
2 & 3 & -1 & -2 \\
3 & 4 & -2 & -3
\end{bmatrix}
$$
A standard elimination yields
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & -1 & -2 \\
2 & 3 & -1 & -2 \\
3 & 4 & -2 & -3
\end{bmatrix}
\to
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & -1 & -2 \\
0 & -1 & 1 & 2 \\
0 & -2 & 1 & 3
\end{bmatrix}
\to
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & -1 & -2 \\
0 & 1 & -1 & -2 \\
0 & 0 & -1 & -1
\end{bmatrix}
\to
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & -1 & -2 \\
0 & 1 & -1 & -2 \\
0 & 0 & 1 & 1
\end{bmatrix}
\to
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & 0 & -1 \\
0 & 1 & 0 & -1 \\
0 & 0 & 1 & 1
\end{bmatrix}
\to
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\
0 & 1 & 0 & -1 \\
0 & 0 & 1 & 1
\end{bmatrix}
$$
Thus we get $\alpha=-\delta$, $\beta=\delta$, $\gamma=-\delta$.
Choosing $\delta=1$ and $\gamma=-1$, we get the vector
$$
v=-u_1+u_2=-v_1+v_2=\begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix}\in U\cap V
$$
The equations imply that the dimension of $U\cap V$ is $1$, so $U\cap V=\operatorname{Span}\{v\}$. If you want a confirm of this, the elimination implies that the rank of $[u_1\ u_2\ v_1\ v_2]$, which equals the rank of $[u_1\ u_2\ {-v_1}\ {-v_2}]$ is $3$ and Grassmann's formula yields $\dim(U\cap V)=\dim U+\dim V-\dim(U+V)=2+2-3=1$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Research Impact is Growing
May 7, 2015 kevin_dudley
(Ed. Note: The latest edition of the WSU Spokane Magazine is available as a PDF here. It is also distributed statewide to WSU alumni and friends. We will share a story each day from the latest issue on the blog. Enjoy!)
By Terren Roloff
Most people think of research as improving lives. Spokane leaders know it is also changing our economy.
Consider WSU Spokane: Research dollars on campus have nearly doubled in the last few years.
We've received close to $142 million in grant and contract funding since 2005, including $40 million from the National Institutes of Health. (For every dollar in NIH funding an institution attracts, approximately $2.21 in local economic growth is generated.)
Our health sciences research portfolio has grown significantly, now encompassing genetics, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, addictions, neuropharmacology, exercise physiology, mental health, sleep, neuroscience, behavioral health and molecular biosciences.
Employment has increased dramatically, accompanied by a payroll that contributes to the economy through rents and mortgages, household purchases, and entertainment outings.
The last two years, in particular, have seen significant economic impact to Spokane with the move of the College of Pharmacy to Spokane from Pullman and the recruitment of several new renowned researchers.
Recruitment Begets Recruitment
Some of the new recruitments were made possible by grants from the Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County. Since 2012, HSSA has committed $3.2 million for high-end laboratory equipment and for startup packages for national-level researchers.
The first researcher to arrive through HSSA was Mike Gibson, Ph.D., leader of Experimental & Systems Pharmacology in the College of Pharmacy, who studies rare inherited disorders related to metabolism and how they are affected by diet, drugs and cellular treatments.
Philip Lazarus, Ph.D., chair of the College's Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, followed. He examines the role of genetics in the activity of the enzymes that metabolize drugs and carcinogens.
Between them, Gibson and Lazarus have brought almost $3 million in external funding to the campus. They have also spearheaded recruitment efforts that have attracted six new tenure-track faculty who have in turn brought a number of other research faculty and staff members with them.
Since the two arrived, Pharmacy has received more than $17.5 million in new funding, of which at least $14 million is attributable in part to HSSA as a result of the new recruits who brought grants with them as well as grants that use HSSA-funded equipment. "That $14 million is a huge return on HSSA's investment," said Dean Gary Pollack, Ph.D.
Within the next two years, HSSA's recruitment of Gibson and Lazarus and two other highly regarded researchers will result in even more research-intensive faculty, research staff (technicians, postdoctoral fellows, and research-track faculty) and Ph.D.-seeking graduate students moving to Spokane.
Two years ago the College employed 26 people in Spokane. Now it has 156 staff and faculty. This includes more than 40 faculty and graduate students who have relocated to Spokane as a result of the recruitment efforts by Pharmacy alone. Most of the rest are a result of Pharmacy's move to Spokane from Pullman. The total payroll for the College is $11.5 million.
As the College grows, the faculty, staff and students buy or rent homes, shop at local stores, attend cultural events, and contribute to the community by participating in their children's schools, their places of worship and their civic groups.
In many cases, they also work to commercialize their research.
Commercialization is Key
Mark VanDam, Ph.D., assistant professor of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, is another example of a researcher who moved to Spokane. He is in the College of Medical Sciences and is hoping his work will lead to health benefits for those suffering from Parkinson's disease, of which there are an estimated 22,000 in Washington and 1,600 in Spokane County.
VanDam's speech and voice biofeedback device will help improve Parkinson's patients' lives by giving them the ability to engage more fully. The wearable, real-time vocal biofeedback device alerts the wearer to adjust speech and voice production characteristics such as speaking volume. Someday it might be commercialized.
Hans Van Dongen, Ph.D., director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center, is a step or two further along than VanDam. He has received gap funding from the WSU Office of Commercialization that will help get his patented drowsiness driver detection technology ready for commercialization.
The Office of Commercialization helps WSU researchers navigate the path from innovation to the marketplace. "We ensure their valuable discoveries are protected where possible, and prepared for startup generation or potential licensing by third parties," said Anson Fatland, associate vice president of Economic Development for WSU.
Fatland says it takes both a vibrant community and university to recruit researchers like internationally respected Van Dongen to support their commercialization efforts. "The University needs to have a strong infrastructure of labs and equipment and the community needs to have a strong economy, good schools, entertainment options and activities that appeal to faculty."
Once these prerequisites are in place, productive researchers form teams that compete successfully for funding from federal sources or organizations like the Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) or HSSA. "That's exactly what is happening at WSU Spokane," said Chancellor Lisa Brown.
John Roll, Ph.D., is one of two researchers from WSU Spokane to receive a LSDF grant. LSDF invests monies from the state's Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement and from private and corporate donors in research and development projects across Washington that demonstrate the strongest potential for delivering health and economic returns to the state.
Roll's grant for more than $4 million covers opiate addiction and chronic pain in rural communities, among other subjects, and gives more than 200 physicians and nurses better training to combat addiction. Some estimate that substance abuse treatment yields $3.77 in economic benefit for every dollar spent on treatment costs. Roll is the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and research, and holds faculty positions in the College of Nursing and other programs. He is the most well-funded researcher on campus.
The research of Weihang Chai, Ph.D., focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular processes for initiation of cancer and premature aging. "We study how various proteins interact with genome DNA and protect genome stability. It is our hope that our findings will be applied in therapeutic research for facilitating the cure of cancer and age-related disease," said Chai.
Like their colleagues in the College of Pharmacy, Roll's and Chai's work in the colleges of Nursing and Medical Sciences, respectively, have resulted in the recruitment of several other researchers to Spokane as well.
The Future is Indeed Bright
Chai is part of a growing cadre of faculty in the new College of Medical Sciences and in what WSU plans to be part of the new medical school.
The likelihood of a WSU medical school in Spokane increases research and economic impact opportunities. Medical schools are economic engines that attract federal research dollars and create jobs and the potential for new spin-off companies.
Universities with medical schools are most likely to fully realize their research potential and commercialize biomedical research, says Andrea Lazarus, Ph.D., assistant vice president for research. "A medical school in Spokane will enhance the reputation of area hospitals and the health systems that will train medical students and residents, attracting patients to seek care at those institutions."
Greater Spokane Incorporated's President Steve Stevens says this about Spokane's economy: "We want to fully realize what we dreamed of many years ago, which is doctors being trained in Spokane and research coming to Spokane that would ultimately turn into commercialization, which means jobs. That's companies and jobs being created by virtue of research."
Research Facilities Open to External Users
WSU Spokane has five new core research facilities in various stages of availability for external users. These were funded in full or part by the Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County.
According to Andrea Lazarus, Ph.D., assistant vice president for research, the core facilities provide for efficient use of resources. "All researchers have access to them, allowing us to spend our money wisely instead of duplicating equipment."
HSSA required, as part of its investment in the core facilities, that the equipment be available to both public and private researchers from the area at a small rental cost. In addition to saving resources, the requirement encourages collaboration among researchers, a key condition of HSSA. For more information about all core research facilities, visit spokane.wsu.edu/research/instrument-access.
Farthest along is the genomics lab where DNA can be sequenced and analyzed with the help of expertise from faculty. The state-of-the-art instruments can decode DNA and sequence an entire human genome in one day. In 2001 it took the Human Genome Project 10 years to sequence one person's genome.
A person's DNA can provide information about individual disease predisposition and response to medications, and can help scientists decipher how genes coordinate with tissues and organs, how the body develops, and how environmental factors affect genetic profiles.
Differences in individuals' DNA are responsible for the development of many human conditions and determine how the body responds to toxins and drugs.
In the near future, by tailoring recommendations to each person's DNA, health care professionals can focus on the specific strategies most likely to maintain or restore health for that particular individual—from diet to high-tech medical surveillance.
For more information, contact Spok.GenomicsCore@wsu.edu or visit labs.wsu.edu/genomicscore.
Mike Gibson
Philip Lazarus
« Brian Pitcher Led Campus Expansion
WSU Spokane Research Roundup »


Norfolk-based Electric Wheels is the first company in the UK to offer all-terrain electric utility motorbikes for long-term and short-term hire for use in the agriculture, tourism conservation, event management, estate management and recreation sectors.
The electric utility Work Bikes, which do not have pedals, feature two-wheel drive to enable all-terrain use, and are available with a range of accessories such as load platforms, luggage boxes and even flashing blue lights.
They can carry up to 150kg, have a 75 mile range from a six hour charge, and can travel at speeds of up to 30mph. They are not currently road-legal in the UK, being designed for off-road use.


text:
Q: PHP remove duplicate multi-dimensional array This is the input array that I am going to use to filter.
[TESTING] => Array
    (
        [0] => Array
            (
                [a] => false
                [b] => WCP
                [c] => Title A
            )

        [1] => Array
            (
                [a] => false
                [b] => WCP
                [c] => Title B
            )

        [2] => Array
            (
                [a] => false
                [b] => WCP
                [c] => Title C
            )

    )

I want to remove duplicate records that have both: keys [a] and [b] have the same value. I don't want to use [c] as a condition to remove duplicate records. The output in this case should be.
[TESTING] => Array
    (
    )

Cause all 3 subarrays have values of key [a] and key [b] are the same value. I used array_unique() but this function use all 3 [a], [b] and [c] as the conditions to remove duplicate records which I don't want. I don't get the output as I want.
Need help. Any suggestions or idea?

A: The array functions in PHP are primarily designed for 2D arrays.  You will need to iterate over the multidimensional array, conduct a comparison of key values, and then assign the correct results to a holding array.  The holding array would need a scope that would allow multiple iterations through the upper level of the multidimensional array.  This could be done as a function used with array_filter; or, done by standalone reassignment.

A: Try this,
function clearDuplicates($array)
{
   $new_array=array();

    for($i=0;$i<count($array);$i++)
    {
        $x=false;
        for($j=0;$j<count($array);$j++)
        if($j!=$i)
            if($array[$i]["a"]==$array[$j]["a"] && $array[$i]["b"]==$array[$j]["b"])
                $x=true;

        if(!$x)
            $new_array[]=$array[$i];
     }

    return new_array;
}

A: Here is solution to your problem, if you found it useful:-
<?php $a = array(
        0 => array(
                "a" => false,
                "b" => "WCP",
                "c" => "Title A"
            ),
        1 => array(
                "a" => false,
                "b" => "WCP",
                "c" => "Title B"
            ),
            2 => array(
                "a" => false,
                "b" => "WCP",
                "c" => "Title C"
            )
        );
global $checkArray;
$checkArray = $a;
function array_remove($a){
  global $checkArray;
  $arrLen = count($checkArray);
  unset($a['c']);
  foreach ($checkArray as $key => $value) {
    $diff = array_diff($value, $a);
    if (1 != count($diff) ||  !array_key_exists('c', $diff)){
      return true;
    }
  }
  return false;
}
print_r(array_filter($a, "array_remove"));


Born in 1985, Ali Barkın studied drama in Canada after graduating from university. Afterwards, he began to take on roles in stage productions in Turkey and soon started to work on TV shows and movies. Being recognised by his talent, Ali Barkın continues to take on roles in TV shows and movies.


text:
Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins — Half Alive in Hollywood
(Immune IMM 1013/14, 1996, 2CD)
Most should be familiar with Mike Keneally's recent albums and his album with the Mistakes (unless you've been living in a cave, or stubbornly ignoring our writers' recommendations). Mike was, of course the hotshot guitar in Zappa's late-80s lineup before retiring to the life of a guitar magazine columnist, then launching his solo career with the album Hat in 1993. This two-disc set features his current trio configuration Beer for Dolphins (for these recordings Toss Panos on drums, Bryan Beller on bass, and Keneally on guitar, vocals, and everything else) in a couple different live settings. The first disc is a live-in-the-studio recording from '95, drawing on material from his first two albums ("Skunk," "Open Up," "I Can't Stop," "Uglytown," and "Spoon Guy" among them), but in most cases the songs are expanded with plenty of soloing space and extra parts. All of the warts are here, the screw-ups, in-between song chatter, false starts, multiple takes and other irregularities that would normally be filtered out in the mixdown process, giving the disc a very live uncut feel.
The second disc is a for-real live recording in front of an audience at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. Here the band stretches out even more, achieving that heavier feel that only a live band can, throwing in a few cover tunes as well (Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and a bit of "My Sharona" among others). There are a few repeat songs from the first disc, as one might expect, but given that these discs were recorded a year apart, the arrangements on the repeat songs had gone through some evolution. The recording (quite good) sounds straight off the mixing board, but for some reason is very monaural, and thus sounds far better cranked up through the car speakers than it does on the headphones. In all, this is an excellent set documenting two very different performances, and a must-have for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Filed under: New releases, Issue 13, 1996 releases
Related artist(s): Mike Keneally
Anthony Moore - Reed, Whistle and Sticks, Out & Flying Doesn't Help – Before hooking up with Peter Blegvad and Dagmar Krause to form Slapp Happy, Anthony Moore was experimenting with some very innovative musical techniques. Reed, Whistle and Sticks is one of the results... (2001) » Read more
Do they serve frogs at this café?


The federal government has relaxed the cap placed on Commonwealth employees' wage rises, raising it to 2%.
Under the Abbott leadership, the government imposed a 1.5% ceiling on any wage rise gained through enterprise bargaining by Commonwealth employees. The policy also required there to be productivity "offsets" i.e. trade-offs of working conditions for any rise at all.
Needless to say, bargaining has ground to a halt under this regime with only a very small number of agreements being voted up by employees since the policy was introduced.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) which represents many Commonwealth public sector workers, estimates that some 150,000 such employees have gone without a wage rise since 2013.
The new federal Employment Minister, Michaela Cash, says that the changes are designed to encourage agreements to be made both "quickly and efficiently". It remains to be seen, though, whether employees will be persuaded to accept agreements on these new terms.
The 2% limit is still below the average annualised wage increases (AAWI) in public sector agreements, which reached 3.9% a year in the June quarter and also well below pay rises in private sector enterprise agreements, which have been growing at an average of 3.1% a year ( a low rate, historically).
And while substantial trade-offs are still being demanded in return for the rise, it is likely that many employees will continue to resist agreements they regard as unfair and unacceptable.


text:
\section{Introduction}
\label{sec:intro}

Recently a growing interest has been put on the investigation of
thermodynamic properties of nanosystems, where coherent effects can be
both of fundamental interest and useful for applications.
\cite{esposito_2009,campisi_2011,giazotto_2006,carrega_2016,fornieri_2016b}
In particular, superconductor junction systems have attracted
interest, as they exhibit phase-dependent thermal transport enabling
coherent caloritronic devices,
\cite{giazotto_2006,giazotto2012-jhi,strambini_2014,giazotto2012-pcs,martinez-perez2013-ept,fornieri2016-npe,paolucci_2016}
and have properties useful for cooling systems in solid-state devices
\cite{muhonen_2012,solinas_2016,nguyen_2016,courtois_2016}. Conversely,
they enable conversion between thermal currents and electric signals,
leading to applications in electronic thermometry
\cite{saira_2016,giazotto_2006,feshchenko_2015} and bolometric sensors
and single-photon detectors
\cite{wei_2008,govenius_2016,semenov_2002,engel_2015,voutilainen_2010,giazotto2008-upj,govenius2014-mnb,govenius2016-dzm,karasik_2012}.
In such applications, detailed understanding of the thermodynamic
aspects of hybrid superconducting--normal metal structures is crucial,
in particular, the interplay between the energy and entropy related to
quasiparticles and supercurrents.

The entropy $S$ of noninteracting quasiparticles at equilibrium is
generally determined by their density of states (DOS). In the
superconducting state, it is modified by the appearance of an energy
gap in the spectrum.  In extended Josephson junctions such as
superconductor--normal metal--superconductor (SNS) structures, the
modification of the DOS depends both on the formation of Andreev bound
states inside the junction and the inverse proximity effect in the
superconducting banks, both being modulated by the phase difference
$\varphi$ between the superconducting order parameters.
\cite{likharev79,pannetier_2000} Reflecting the fact that the Andreev
bound states carry the supercurrent $I$ across the junction, a
thermodynamic Maxwell relation
\begin{equation}
  \frac{\dd{{S}}}{\dd{\varphi}}=-\frac{\hbar}{2e}\frac{\dd{I}}{\dd{T}}
  =
  -\frac{\dd{^2 F}}{\dd{T}\dd{\varphi}}
  \label{eq:TD_relation}
\end{equation}
connects the entropy and the supercurrent to the temperature $T$ and
phase derivative of the free energy $F$.  The entropy in
superconductors can be expressed in terms of the DOS
\cite{bardeen1957-tos} or in terms of Green functions
\cite{gorkov59b,eilenberger1968-tog}. Moreover, the phase-dependent
part of ${S}$ can be obtained from the current-phase relation
$I(T,\varphi)$, \cite{likharev79,golubov_2004}, by applying
Eq.~\eqref{eq:TD_relation}, a contribution important in short
junctions
\cite{beenakker1991-spc,beenakker1991-jct,beenakker1991-spc}.  The
different expressions are mathematically equivalent (see e.g.
Refs.~\onlinecite{kosztin1998-feo,kos1999-gef}). Such equivalences
however can be broken by approximations: in particular, the ``rigid
boundary condition'' approximation \cite{likharev79,golubov_2004}, in
which the inverse proximity effect in the superconductors is
neglected, invalidates DOS-based expressions for entropy. Although
such approximations are appropriate for many purposes, they can give
wrong results for thermodynamic quantities when boundary effects matter.

Heat capacity \cite{fulde1967,zaitlin1982-hcd,kobes1988-fec} and free
energy boundary contributions
\cite{hu1972-tse,eilenberger1975-beb,blackburn1975,kos1999-gef} in
NS systems were considered in several previous works; also
experimentally, \cite{lechevet1972-tpe,manuel1976-shj} close to the
critical temperature $T_c$. The inverse proximity effect in the
superconducting banks of diffusive NS structures is also well studied.
\cite{kupriyanov1982-tpe,likharev79,blackburn1975,golubov_2004}
The entropy and heat capacity in diffusive SNS junctions
were discussed in Refs.~\onlinecite{rabani2008-pde,rabani_2009}, but
neglecting the inverse proximity effect, which limits the validity of
the results to long junctions only.

In this work, we discuss the proximity effect contributions to the
entropy and heat capacity in SNS structures of varying size. We also
point out reasons for the discrepancies that appear with the rigid
boundary condition approximation in the quasiclassical formalism. We
provide analytical results for limiting cases, and discuss the
cross-over regions numerically.

The paper is organized as follows. In Sec.~\ref{sec:theory} we
introduce the theoretical formalism, based on the Usadel equations,
and all basic definitions.  In Sec.~\ref{sec:Maxwell} we discuss the
origin of inconsistencies in the rigid boundary condition
approximation. In Sec. \ref{sec:inverse_entropy} we present
quantitative results for the entropy inside the inverse proximity
region and the total entropy. We also show results for the heat
capacity in Sec.~\ref{sec:heatcapacity} and the effect of inverse proximity contributions on this
quantity. Sec.\ref{sec:concl} concludes with discussion.

\section{Model and basic definitions}
\label{sec:theory}

Here we consider a Josephson junction as schematically depicted in
Fig.\ref{fig:schematics}(a), where two superconducting banks (S) are
in clean electric contact with a normal (N) diffusive wire of length
$L_N$. The S and N parts are characterized by cross sections $A_{S,N}$
and electrical conductivities $\sigma _{S,N}$,
respectively. Microscopically, the two diffusive regions are
characterized by the diffusion coefficients $D_{S,N}$ and density of
states (DOS) per spin $\mathcal{N}_{0,S}$ and $\mathcal{N}_{0,N}$ at
Fermi level. These quantities are related to conductivities via
$\sigma _j = 2 e^2 D_j \mathcal{N}_{0,j}$, where, the factor 2 takes
into account spin degeneracy.

The presence of superconducting leads induces superconducting
correlations in the electrons in the normal metal. The correlations at
energy $E$ are associated with a characteristic coherence length
$\xi_E$, which in general may differ from the superconducting
coherence length $\xi_{N/S}\equiv\sqrt{\hbar{}D_{N/S}/|\Delta|}$. The
superconductors have order parameter $\Delta$, with phase difference
$\varphi$ across the junction. We also assume that the superconductor
material has critical temperature $T_c$ in bulk.

\begin{figure}
  \includegraphics{fig1}
  \caption{(a)
    Schematic of a SNS junction consisting of two superconducting (S) leads
    in clean electric contact with a normal (N) diffusive nanowire of length
    $L_N$. The S and N parts have cross sections $A_{S,N}$ and conductivity
    $\sigma_{S,N}$. (b) Normalized density of states (DOS) $N(E,x)$
    for $\sigma _S A_S/\sigma_N A_N=1$, $L_N/\xi_{N}=1$ and phase difference
    $\varphi=0$.
  }
  \label{fig:schematics}
\end{figure}

The entropy density ${\cal S}$, and thus the total entropy
$S(T, \varphi) =\int{}dx{\cal S}(x,T,\varphi)$, can be written in
terms of the quasiparticle spectrum:
\begin{multline}
  \label{eq:dosentropy}
  {\cal S}(x,T,\varphi)
  = \\=
  -
  4 {\cal N}_0
  \int_{-\infty}^\infty\dd{E}
  N(E,x,\varphi)f(E, T)\ln{f(E,T)}
  \,,
\end{multline}
where $N(E,x,\varphi)$ is the (reduced) local density of states and
$f(E, T)=1/(e^{E/T} + 1)$ the Fermi distribution function. The
normal-state result without proximity effect is found by setting
$N(E,x,\varphi)=1$ in the above expression, giving
$\mathcal{S}_n(T)= 2\pi^3{\cal N}_0T/3$.  The entropy density
${\cal S}(x,T,\varphi)$ can also be written as:
\begin{equation}
  {\cal S}(x,T, \varphi) = {\cal S}_n(x,T) -
  \frac{\dd{\mathcal{F}_S(x,T,\varphi)}}{\dd{T}}
  \,,
\end{equation}
where ${\cal F}_S=\mathcal{F}-\mathcal{F}_n$ is the difference in the free energy density
between superconducting and normal states.

A functional for the free energy density difference can be expressed
in terms of isotropic quasiclassical Green functions $\hat{g}$ in the
dirty limit:
\cite{eilenberger1968-tog,usadel1970-gde,altland1998-ftm,taras-semchuk2001-qif}
\begin{align}
  \label{eq:eilenberger}
  {\cal F}_S
  &=
  {\cal N}_0
  |\Delta|^2
  \ln\frac{T}{T_c}
  +
  \pi{}T
  {\cal N}_0\sum_{\omega_n}[\frac{|\Delta|^2}{\omega_n} + \mathcal{L}(i\omega_n)]
  \,,
  \\
  \mathcal{L} &=
  \tr\{
  \omega_n[\mathop{\mathrm{sgn}}(\omega_n) - \tau_3\hat{g}]
  -
  (\Delta\tau_++\Delta^*\tau_-)\hat{g}
  +
  \frac{D}{4}(\hat{\nabla}\hat{g})^2
  \}
  \,,
\end{align}
where $\tau_j$ indicate Pauli matrices in the Nambu space. The above
expression assumes the quasiclassical constraint $\hat{g}^2=1$.  The
long gradient $\hat{\nabla}X=\nabla{}X-i[\vec{A}\tau_3,X]$ contains
the vector potential.  The superconducting order parameter is
$\Delta=|\Delta|e^{i\phi}$ and $\omega_n=2\pi{}T(n+\frac{1}{2})$ are
Matsubara frequencies. The reduced density of states reads
$N(E,x,\varphi)=\frac{1}{2}\Re\tr\tau_3\hat{g}(E+i0^+,x,\varphi)$.
Here and below, $e=\hbar=k_B=1$, unless otherwise specified.

The quasiclassical functions can be determined by the Usadel equation,
\cite{usadel1970-gde} which is an Euler-Lagrange equation
$\frac{\delta{}F}{\delta{\hat{g}}}=0$ for free energy
$F=\int\dd{x}\mathcal{F}$, under the constraint $\hat{g}^2=1$.
Explicitly we have
\begin{equation}
\label{eq:usadel}
D\hat\nabla\cdot(\hat{g}\hat{\nabla}\hat{g})-[\omega_n\tau_3+\Delta\tau_++\Delta^*\tau_-,\hat{g}]=0\,,
\end{equation}
The supercurrent $I$ along the $x$-axis, at a given position $x_0$,
can be expressed in terms of the above functional as
\begin{align}
  \label{eq:supercurrent}
  I(x_0)
  =
  \frac{\delta{}F}{\delta A_x(x_0)}
  =
  \frac{2e}{\hbar}\frac{\dd{F}}{\dd{\varphi}}
  \,.
\end{align}
Note that this quantity is generally conserved only if the order
parameter $\Delta$ is self-consistent,
$\delta{F}/\delta\Delta=\delta{F}/\delta\Delta^*=0$.
\footnote{
  As usual, the complex conjugate is formally a separate variable
  in the derivative.
}
If this is not
the case, the equalities in Eq.~\eqref{eq:supercurrent} remain valid
if the derivative vs. $\varphi$ is understood to be taken with
respect to the order parameter phases as
$\phi(x,\varphi)=\phi_0(x)+\theta(x-x_0)\varphi/2-\theta(x_0-x)\varphi/2$.

From Eq.~\eqref{eq:TD_relation} and known current-phase relations
\cite{golubov_2004}, the entropy associated to Andreev bound states
can also be obtained up to a $\varphi$-independent term. From the result
relevant for short junctions in the diffusive limit, \cite{kulik1975-cmt}
\begin{gather}
  \label{eq:KOI}
  I(T,\varphi)
  = \frac{4\pi T}{e R_N}
  \sum_{\omega_n}
  \frac{\Delta \cos(\varphi/2)}{\Omega_n}
  \mathrm{arctan}\frac{\Delta \sin(\varphi/2)}{\Omega_n}
  \\
  \label{eq:KOentropy}
  \begin{split}
  S(T,\varphi)-S(T,\varphi=0)
  =
  -\frac{\hbar}{2e}
  \int_0^{\varphi}\dd{\varphi'}
  \frac{\dd{I}}{\dd{T}}
  =
  \\
  =
  \frac{\pi\hbar}{2e^2R_NT^2}
  \int_{|\Delta||\cos\frac{\varphi}{2}|}^{|\Delta|}
  \dd{E}E
  \sech^2\Bigl(\frac{E}{2T}\Bigr)
  \\
  \times
  \ln
  \frac{
    |\Delta||\sin\frac{\varphi}{2}| + \sqrt{E^2 - |\Delta|^2\cos^2\frac{\varphi}{2}}
  }{
    \sqrt{|\Delta|^2 - E^2}
  }
  \,,
  \end{split}
\end{gather}
where $R_N=L_N/(\sigma_N A_N)$ is the resistance of the normal region
and $\Omega_n^2=\omega_n^2 + |\Delta|^2 \cos^2(\varphi/2)$. The
temperature dependence of $\Delta(T)$ is ignored, which is valid at
low temperatures.  The $\varphi=0$ term can be determined to be
$S(\varphi=0)=0$ (see below). This result ignores the inverse
proximity effect --- qualitatively, including it would result to an
increase of $L_N$ by a multiple of the coherence
length. \cite{likharev79}

For simplicity, in the following we assume transparent SN
interfaces, described by the quasi 1D boundary conditions (e.g. at the
left SN contact $x=0$), \cite{kupriyanov1988-iob,nazarov_1994}
\begin{equation}
  \hat{g}\rvert_{x\rightarrow 0^-}
  =
  \hat{g}\rvert_{x\rightarrow 0^+}
  \,,
  \;
  \sigma_S A_S \hat{g} \partial _x \hat{g} \rvert_{x\rightarrow 0^-} = \sigma_N A_N \hat{g} \partial _x \hat{g} \rvert_{x\rightarrow 0^+}
  \,.
  \label{eq:boundary1}
\end{equation}
and similarly on the right SN interface at $x=L_N$. The
cross-sectional areas appear in the above equations from conservation
of the matrix current $\hat{g}\nabla\hat{g}$; \cite{nazarov_1994} for
$A_S\ne{}A_N$ such quasi-1D approximation ignores details of the
current distribution at the contact, which requires that the
cross-sectional size is small compared to superconducting coherence
length $\xi_{S/N}$.

The rigid NS boundary condition approximation is formally given by the
limit $A_S\sigma_S\to\infty$, where there is no inverse proximity
effect. In this case, the Green function inside S approaches its bulk
value, and the boundary conditions are replaced by
$\hat{g}\rvert_{x=0,L_N}=\hat{g}\rvert_{S,\mathrm{BCS}}$.

For reference, we show in Fig. \ref{fig:schematics}(b) the behavior of
the density of states $N(E, x,\varphi)$ at $\varphi=0$, computed
numerically from $\hat{g}$ using the above approach.  The result assumes a
non-self-consistent $\Delta(x)=|\Delta|$ in the S regions.  Far from
the N region ($x\to\pm\infty$), the DOS approaches the BCS form
with energy gap $|\Delta|$, and towards the N region a minigap $E_g$
\cite{zhou_1998} becomes clearly visible.

\section{Rigid boundary conditions}
\label{sec:Maxwell}

Supercurrent and entropy are connected by an exact
Maxwell relation:
\begin{equation}
  \frac{\partial I}{\partial T} = -\frac{2 e}{\hbar} \frac{\partial S}{\partial \varphi}
  \label{eq:maxwell2}
\end{equation}
This relation does not hold between Eqs.~\eqref{eq:dosentropy}
and~\eqref{eq:supercurrent} within the rigid boundary condition
approximation, as one can argue directly as follows. Within the
approximation, the phase dependent part of the entropy $S$ is
localized in the N region; hence, the volume integral of
Eq.~\eqref{eq:dosentropy} scales as $\partial_\varphi S \propto
L_N$. On the other hand, the supercurrent~\eqref{eq:KOI} obtained
under the same approximation scales as
$\frac{\dd{I}}{\dd{T}}\propto{}L_N^{-1}$. Therefore one immediately
recognizes that the left and right-hand sides of
Eq.~\eqref{eq:maxwell2} have different dependence on $L_N$,
demonstrating the inconsistency between
supercurrent and entropy within the approximation.

\begin{figure}
  \includegraphics{fig2}
  \caption{Inconsistency of the Maxwell relation with
    the rigid boundary condition approximation, using
    Eqs.~\eqref{eq:dosentropy},\eqref{eq:supercurrent}. (a)
    Left and right-hand sides of Eq.~\eqref{eq:maxwell2} vs.
    $\varphi$,
    at fixed temperature $T=0.5T_c$, for $\sigma_SA_S=\sigma_NA_N$
    and $L_N=\xi_N$.
    (b) Same vs. temperature at $\varphi=\pi/2$.
    (c) The relative discrepancy $P$ (see text)
    as a function of the normal region size $L_N/\xi_N$.
  }
\label{fig:discrepancy}
\end{figure}

The magnitude of the discrepancy in the rigid boundary condition
approximation is shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:discrepancy}(a,b), showing the
that the left and right-hand sides of Eq.~\eqref{eq:maxwell2} do not
match, as functions of phase difference $\varphi$ and temperature
$T$. Fig.~\ref{fig:discrepancy}(c) shows the dependence on $L_N/\xi_N$
of the relative discrepancy
\begin{equation}
  P=\max _{(\varphi,T)} \left|\frac{\partial _T I +
    \frac{2 e}{\hbar} \partial_\varphi S}{\partial _T I} \right|
  \,.
\end{equation}
It decreases with increasing junction length $L_N$, and remains
significant up to $L_N$ several times the coherence length $\xi_N$.
As one would expect, the discrepancy becomes negligible for long
junctions ($L_N\gg \xi_N$).

Let us now point out a mathematical relation between
Eqs.~\eqref{eq:dosentropy} and~\eqref{eq:eilenberger} related to the
discrepancy. Consider a modified Eilenberger functional,
$\mathcal{L}_{\zeta}=\mathcal{L}\rvert_{
  \omega_n\mapsto\omega_n+i\zeta}$, where the $\omega_n$ appearing
explicitly in $\mathcal{L}$ are replaced by $\omega_n+i\zeta$,
(cf. Ref.~\onlinecite{burkhardt1994-ffl}) and define the corresponding
Green functions $\hat{g}_{\zeta}$ satisfying
$\delta{}{\cal F}/\delta\hat{g}\rvert_{\hat{g}_\zeta}=0$
and keep $\Delta$ fixed. Recall that
the analytic continuation of the sign function is given by
$\mathop{\mathrm{sgn}}{}z=z/\sqrt{z^2}=\mathop{\mathrm{sgn}}\Re{}z$.  The stationary value of the
functional then satisfies for real $\zeta$
\begin{multline}
  \frac{\dd{}}{\dd{\zeta}}\mathcal{F}_{S,\zeta}\rvert_{\hat{g}_\zeta,\Delta}
  =
  \pi{}T{\cal N}_0\sum_{\omega_n}\tr[\mathop{\mathrm{sgn}}(\omega_n)-\tau_3\hat{g}_\zeta(i\omega_n)]
  \\
  =
  -{\cal N}_0
  \int_{-\infty}^\infty\dd{E}[N_\zeta(E) - 1]
  \tanh\frac{E}{2T}
  \,.
\end{multline}
The second line follows by standard analytic continuation, where
$N_\zeta(E)=\frac{1}{4}\tr\tau_3[g_\zeta(E+i0^+)-g_\zeta(E-i0^+)]$.
Suppose now that the boundary conditions are \emph{energy-indepenent},
i.e., invariant under transformation
$\omega_n\mapsto{}\omega_n+i\zeta$ of explicit frequency arguments: in
this case $\hat{g}_\zeta(i\omega_n)=\hat{g}(i\omega_n-\zeta)$ and
$N_\zeta(E)=N(E-\zeta)$ coincide with the energy-shifted Green
function and the corresponding DOS.  It is worth to notice that
$\mathcal{F}_{S,\zeta}\to\text{const}(T)$ for $\zeta\to\infty$ while
$\hat{g}(i\omega_n-\zeta)\to\tau_3\mathop{\mathrm{sgn}}(\omega_n)$. Moreover,
recalling the relation
\begin{multline}
\int_{-\infty}^0\dd{\zeta}\frac{\dd}{\dd{T}}\tanh\frac{E+\zeta}{2T}\\
=-2[f(E,T)\ln{}f(E,T)
+ (1-f(E,T))\ln(1-f(E,T))]~,
\end{multline}
it follows that $\partial_T\mathcal{F}_{S}=-\mathcal{S}_S$.  Finally,
setting $\Delta$ to its self-consistent value (which is a saddle point
of $\mathcal{F}_{S}$), we find Eqs.~\eqref{eq:dosentropy}
and~\eqref{eq:eilenberger} are equivalent, under the assumption that
the boundary conditions do not depend on energy.

The boundary value $\hat{g}_{S,\mathrm{BCS}}(i\omega_n)$ however is
strongly energy dependent, which breaks the above argument and causes
the discrepancy between Eqs.~\eqref{eq:dosentropy}
and~\eqref{eq:eilenberger},\eqref{eq:supercurrent}.  It is interesting
to note that a similar issue does not occur in an NSN structure under
an analogous approximation (also inspected numerically; not shown),
because in that case the value $\hat{g}_{N}=\tau_3\mathop{\mathrm{sgn}}\omega_n$
imposed in the boundary condition is invariant under
$\omega_n\mapsto{}\omega_n+i\zeta$.  This happens also for insulating
interfaces ($\hat{n}\cdot\hat{\nabla}\hat{g}=0$) or for periodic
boundary conditions, which are functionals of $\hat{g}$ with no
explicit dependence on $\omega_n$.

\begin{figure}{}
  \includegraphics{fig3}
  \caption{
    Maxwell relation including the inverse proximity effect.
    (a)
    Left and right-hand sides of Eq.~\eqref{eq:maxwell2} vs.
    $\varphi$, for $T=0.5T_c$, $\sigma_SA_S=\sigma_NA_N$, $L_N=\xi_N$.
    The entropy contributions from the N and S regions,
    $S=S_S+S_N$, are also shown separately.
    (b)
    Same vs. temperature at $\varphi=\pi/2$.
  }
  \label{fig:agreement}
\end{figure}

The apparent thermodynamic discrepancy can be eliminated by properly
taking into account the inverse proximity effect. For example,
replacing the rigid superconducting terminals by S wires of length
$L_S$. Below, we adopt a S'SNSS' geometry, with the boundary
conditions
$\hat{g}\rvert_{x=-L_S}=\hat{g}\rvert_{x=L_N+L_S}
=\hat{g}\rvert_{\mathrm{BCS}}$.  The effect of the boundary values is
rapidly suppressed and vanishes in the limit $L_S\to\infty$.

We show results for such SS'NS'S structure in
Fig.~\ref{fig:agreement}. In them, the
Maxwell relation~\eqref{eq:maxwell2} applies for any $L_N$. For
simplicity, this calculation does not use a self-consistent $\Delta$,
so that the phase derivative is to be understood as explained below
Eq.~\eqref{eq:supercurrent}.  Note that the entropy contribution from
the superconductor regions dominates for the parameters chosen.

\section{Inverse proximity effect}
\label{sec:inverse_entropy}

Let us consider the inverse proximity effect in more detail.  We
define the entropy difference $\delta S_S$ due to the inverse
proximity effect in the superconducting region as:
\begin{multline}
  \delta S_S = S_S - S_{{\rm BCS}}=
  \\
  =
  -4\int^\infty_{-\infty}\dd{E} \int_S\dd{x} {\cal N}_{0,S} \delta N (E, x,\varphi) f(E,T) \ln f(E,T)
  \,,
\end{multline}
where ${S}_{{\rm BCS}}$ is the entropy of a bulk BCS superconductor
and $\delta N (E, x,\varphi) = N(E,x,\varphi)-N_{{\rm BCS}}(E)$ is the
difference of the local density of states from the BCS expression.
Moreover, we define dimensionless parameters
\begin{equation}
  a
  =
  \sigma_SA_S/(\sigma_NA_N)
  \,,
  \qquad
  \ell
  =
  L_N/\xi_N
\end{equation}
for the discussion below.

Analytical solutions can be obtained in the limiting cases of
short junction $\ell\ll1$ at phase differences $\varphi=0$ and
$\varphi=\pi$. A solution to the Usadel equation in a semi-infinite
superconducting wire with uniform $\Delta=\pm|\Delta|$ is given by
\begin{equation}
\hat{g}=\tau_3\cosh\theta + i\tau_2\sinh\theta
\end{equation}
where (cf. Ref.~\onlinecite{zaikin81})
\begin{align}
  \theta(x) = \theta_S - 4\artanh\Bigl(e^{-\sqrt{2}(x-L_N)/\xi_E}\tanh\frac{\theta_S-\theta(L_N)}{4}\Bigr)
  \,,
\end{align}
and $\xi_E=(1 - E^2/|\Delta|^2)^{-1/4}\xi_N$ and
$\theta_S=\artanh\frac{|\Delta|}{E+i0^+}$.
The spatially integrated change
in the superconductor DOS can be evaluated based on this solution:
\begin{multline}
  \int_S\dd{x}\delta N(x,E) =\\
  =
  \sqrt{2}\Re\Bigl[
  \xi_E
  \cosh\theta_S\bigl(\cosh\frac{\theta_S-\theta(L_N)}{2}-1\bigr)+
  \notag \qquad
  \\-
  \xi_E
  \sinh\theta_S\sinh\frac{\theta_S-\theta(L_N)}{2}
  \Bigl]
\end{multline}
For $L_N\ll\xi_E$, the Usadel equation in the N region can be
approximated as $\partial_x^2\theta(x)=0$.  Matching to the boundary
condition
$\sigma_NA_N\partial_x\theta_{N}=\sigma_SA_S\partial_x\theta_{S}$ at
the two NS interfaces results to
\begin{align}
  \theta(L_N)
  =
  \begin{cases}
    \theta_S & \text{for $\varphi=0$,}
    \\
    \sqrt{2}\frac{\xi_E}{\xi_N} a \ell \sinh\frac{\theta_S-\theta(L_N)}{2}
    &
    \text{for $\varphi=\pi$}
    \,,
  \end{cases}
  \label{eq:phase_discontinuity}
\end{align}
from which $\theta(L_N)$ can be solved. For the entropy at
$\varphi=0$, this gives a trivial solution $\delta S_S = 0$.  On the
other hand, at $\varphi=\pi$, we have for temperatures $T\ll|\Delta|$,
\begin{align}
  \delta{} S_S(\varphi=\pi)
  \simeq
  \frac{4\pi^2}{3} T
  {\cal N}_{0,S} A_S \xi_N
  \times
  \begin{cases}
    1 \,, & \text{for $a\ell\ll1$,}
    \\
    \frac{\pi}{2a\ell} \,, & \text{for $a\ell\gg1$.}
  \end{cases}
  \label{eq:limits}
\end{align}
The full temperature dependence for $\ell\to0$ reads
\begin{multline}
  \label{eq:ST-pi-analytic}
  \delta{} S_S(\varphi=\pi)
  =
  -\frac{16}{\sqrt{2}}
  {\cal N}_{0,S} A_S
  \int_{-\infty}^\infty\dd{E}
  f(E,T)\ln f(E,T)
  \\\quad\times
  \Re[(\cosh\frac{\theta_S}{2} - \cosh\theta_S)\xi_E]
  \,.
\end{multline}
For cross-over regions, the boundary condition matching would need to
be solved numerically.

\begin{figure}
  \includegraphics{fig4}
  \caption{
    Behavior of the entropy variation $\delta S_S$ of the superconducting leads.
    (a)
    Temperature dependence at $\varphi=0$ for $a=1$ and different $\ell$.
    (b)
    Same at $\varphi=\pi$. Result~\eqref{eq:ST-pi-analytic} for $\ell=0$
    is also shown (dashed).
    (c)
    Dependence of $\delta  S_S(\varphi=\pi)$ on $\ell$ and $a$, at $T/T_C=0.1$.
    Limiting behavior from Eq.~\eqref{eq:limits} is indicated (dashed).
  }
  \label{fig:entropy_limits}
\end{figure}

The behavior in the rigid boundary condition limit (i.e. $a\to\infty$)
can be understood based on the above result.  For the entropy, the
short-junction rigid-boundary limit $a\to\infty$, $\ell\to0$ is not
unique, but results depend on the product $a\ell$.  Generally, the
entropy is proportional to $\hbar/(e^2R_{\rm tot})$, where
$R_{\rm tot}$ is the resistance of $\xi_S$-length superconductor
segment in series with the normal wire, as can be expected a priori
\cite{likharev79}.

Figures~\ref{fig:entropy_limits}(a,b) show the geometry dependence of
the proximity effect contribution $\delta{S}_S$ to the entropy, for
$\varphi=0$ and $\varphi=\pi$. Generally, $\delta S_S(\varphi=0)$
decreases with decreasing junction length and approaches the limit of
$\delta S_S(\varphi = 0)\rightarrow 0$ for $l\rightarrow 0$. The
temperature dependence of $\delta{S}_S(0)$ is largely affected by the
presence of a minigap in the spectrum,
$S(0)\sim{}e^{-E_g/T}$ with
$E_g\sim{}\min[\hbar{}D_N/L_N^2,|\Delta|]$ [see
Fig.~\ref{fig:schematics}(b)].  For $\varphi=\pi$ on the other hand,
the entropy contribution $\delta S_S$ of the superconductors increases
with decreasing length, in accordance with the increase of the
supercurrent with decreasing junction resistance. For very short
junctions, $\ell\lesssim{}a^{-1}$, $\delta S_S$ saturates as indicated
in Eq.~\eqref{eq:limits}.
The behavior of $\delta S_S (\varphi = \pi)$ at phase difference
$\varphi=\pi$ as a function of the product $al$ is shown in
Fig. \ref{fig:entropy_limits}(c). It is interesting to note that the
results are essentially converged to the short-junction limit $l\ll1$
already at $l=1$.

\begin{figure}
  \includegraphics{fig5}
  \caption{
    Modulation of the heat capacity $\Delta C(T,\varphi)=C(T,\varphi)-C (T,\varphi=0)$
    in an SNS junction, for $a=500$, $\ell=0.1$.
    (a)
    Numerical results including inverse proximity effect (IP, solid) and
    results from Eq.~\eqref{eq:KOentropy} (KO, dash-dotted),
    for different temperatures.
    (b)
    Same, shown on a logarithmic scale, together with
    the result from a rigid boundary condition approximation
    (RB, dashed).
  }
  \label{fig:heat}
\end{figure}

\section{Heat capacity}
\label{sec:heatcapacity}

The heat capacity
\begin{equation}
  C = T\frac{\dd{S}}{\dd{T}}
  \,,
\end{equation}
can be obtained from the entropy discussed in the previous
sections. Fig.~\ref{fig:heat} shows numerical results for the heat
capacity.  In these calculations, the order parameter $\Delta(x,T)$ is
computed to satisfy the self-consistency relations
$\delta{}F/\delta\Delta=\delta{}F/\delta\Delta^*=0$.  For the selected
short junction length, $al\gg1$, and the numerical results obtained by
taking the inverse proximity effect into account match relatively well
with Eq.~\eqref{eq:KOentropy}. Note that a
self-consistent $\Delta$ does not cause significant qualitative
deviations. On the other hand, calculations within the rigid boundary
condition approximation, shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:heat}(b),
underestimate the heat capacity by several orders of magnitude. As
pointed out above, we expect that this approach is accurate only for
long junctions $L_N\gtrsim{}5\xi_N$.

Finally, note that the total heat capacity at $\varphi=0$, being an
extensive quantity, will generally depend on device parameters of the
whole system.

\section{Summary and discussion}

\label{sec:concl}

The entropy in SNS junctions roughly consists of two contributions ---
a phase dependent part associated with the bound states contributing
also to the supercurrent, and a phase-independent part. Generally, the
two behave differently as a function of the junction length.
Moreover, the phase-dependent contribution in short junctions, if
expressed in terms of the local density of states, largely originates
from the proximity effect in the superconducting banks. Approximations
that neglect this can produce thermodynamically inconsistent results.
The results also reiterate, as clear from the connection to CPR, that the
junction heat capacity has a part not directly related to the junction
volume. A proper quantitative calculation of entropy and thermodynamic
quantities taking into account inverse proximity effect is thus of
importance both for fundamental and application purposes.

Finally, we can consider factors important for an experimental
measurement of the heat capacity of a single nanoscale SNS
junction. For example, the heat capacity of the junction can be inferred by measuring the temperature variation, after an heating pulse, as a function of the phase difference, which can be manipulated by means of external field. For such experimental realization, two points have to be considered with care. First, the device should be thermally well-isolated, in
order to avoid heat dispersion outside of device volume itself.
Second, the bulk superconductor mass should be made as small as
possible: the total heat capacity $C$ is an extensive property, so its
variation as a function of phase difference $\Delta C(\varphi)/C$
increases by increasing the ratio of critical current and device
volume.  However, this target will be also constrained by the
requirement of large superconducting leads in order to ensure the
phase-bias of the junction and thus an optimal trade-off has to be
considered in a proper device design.

In summary, we discussed entropy and heat capacity in SNS structures
numerically and analytically, and point out that inconsistencies
appear if inverse proximity contributions are not properly
included. The results obtained can be used in designing
superconducting devices concerning caloritronic, heat and photon
sensors, and are in general relevant also for other devices based on
thermodynamic working principles.

\acknowledgments

We thank A. Braggio for discussions.  P.V. , F.V. and F.G. acknowledge
funding by the European Research Council under the European Union's
Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement
No. 615187-COMANCHE and the MIUR under the FIRB2013 Grant
No. RBFR1379UX - Coca.
M.C. acknoledges support from the CNR-CONICET cooperation programme ``Energy conversion in quantum, nanoscale, hybrid devices''.
The work of E.S. was funded by a Marie Curie
Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IFEF-ST No. 660532-SuperMag).
F. G. acknowledges funding by Tuscany Region under the FARFAS 2014 project SCIADRO.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
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To minimise unnecessary brake pad and disc wear, all Trakker models offer a third generation intarder.
Just like its predecessor, the new Trakker stands out for its impressive robustness, as proven in the Dakar Rally. Starting with the steel chassis, every component has been selected to deliver reliable performance that endures over time.
The ZF gearboxes available on the new Trakker have been chosen for their ergonomics and performance. The manual 9-speed and 16-speed Ecosplit transmissions are equipped with a servo-shift system for safer, more comfortable driving and the automated 12-speed and 16-speed EuroTronic gearboxes feature a gear selector built into the steering column stalk, for maximum driving ease.
April 9 – 11, 2013, NEC, Hall 4, Stand 4G10
Iveco Trakker Hi-Track
Sara Buosi
Europe IVECO Press Office
sara.buosi@iveco.com
Iveco shows
CV Show
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Systems Analyst/Programmer
Education Industry Company
Raleigh, NC, United States
Primary Function of Organizational Unit
Information Technology and Engineering Computing Services (ITECS) is charged with providing a world-class computing environment for the Faculty, Staff, and Students of the College of Engineering at Company. ITECS fulfills this charge through a combination of direct IT support activities, active collaboration, and partnership with other IT support entities within the College, with other IT support groups (OIT, DELTA, colleges) and with our faculty, staff, and student constituencies. ITECS staff provides technical leadership and capability in their core competencies both within the College of Engineering and to the University's technical community as a whole.
The Systems Analyst/Programmer position primarily maintains and improves the systems Linux infrastructure.
Primary duties of the Systems Analyst/Programmer include, but are not limited to:
Overseeing applications (including the Github) and dependent systems for the College of Engineering. This includes providing technical administration and leadership and ensuring security and compliance for all systems therein.
Developing software for integrating, connecting, and automating back-end systems related to the College of Engineering.
Representing the team in all committees and looks for opportunities to collaborate, influence, and build systems for the benefit of faculty, staff, and students.
Other Work/Responsibilities
Linux Development
Responsible for Linux systems in the College of Engineering.
Working in collaboration with other Systems staff includes re-architecting of infrastructure, migrating tenants to newer versions of software, and fueling continuous improvement.
Contributing and developing for Campus Linux Services community. The success of this community is crucial to the College of Engineering's Linux environments (remote access, labs, web, database, etc.). Leading efforts in cross-organizational sharing of ideas and looking for opportunities to share the effort with other units on campus to free ITECS Systems resources to innovate further.
Serving as a primary technical contributor to projects and maintain subject matter expertise in shared infrastructure supported by the community.
Projects and Collaboration:
Facilitating project management duties using project-appropriate methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kan-ban, etc.)
Fulfilling a technical leadership role within the organization.
Supporting and advocating for the vision of the College of Engineering, particularly when it comes to providing systems and services that promote innovation for students and faculty.
Seeking opportunities to collaborate on projects and committees with peers in other units across Company, which would provide benefit to the College of Engineering faculty, staff, and students.
Leveraging technical depth of knowledge to lead and influence development efforts.
Remaining involved in other initiatives such as shared web infrastructure and shared compute via container infrastructure.
Software Development:
Serving as a mentor/advisor for developers and system administrators within ITECS and other College of Engineering IT organizations.
Working with ITECS Systems to develop custom software to fulfill business processes in our college.
Maintaining and developing software that improves the quality of life for system administrators, web developers, faculty, staff, and students in the College of Engineering.
Working with open-source communities to improve the software for the university and those communities.
High-Performance Computing:
Assisting and developing with the College of Engineering HPC initiatives.
Working with on-premises and cloud-based HPC systems to provide compute services for the College of Engineering.
Systems Services:
GitHub Service administration.
Developing policies and procedures for the campus deployment of the GitHub appliance.
Performing regular maintenance on services to keep the product patched and secure.
Writing documentation for common issues and workflows.
Developing systems for maintaining the health of the service, including automated account deprovisioning and other administrative tooling.
Minimum Education/Experience
Masters degree and at least 1-2 years related experience; OR a Bachelors degree and 2-4 years related experience.
Departmental Required Skills
Communication. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Open and transparent collaborator of information. Ability to lead and facilitate group discussion, maintaining focus, and productivity. Ability to present highly technical topics in a manner appropriately accessible to intended audiences. Attention to detail and ability to produce precise and robust documentation.
Desire and ability to innovate and solve complex problems. At NC State, we Think and Do, and that is the core of the vision of the College of Engineering and ITECS Systems.
Extensive knowledge in administering web and database infrastructures (PHP, MariaDB/MySQL, Docker).
Proficiency in following and influencing modern, Agile development best practices (Object-oriented programming, version control, code review, auditing, automated testing).
Comfortable working in legacy environments, making iterative improvements over time (as well as large-scale upgrades to existing infrastructures).
Expert supporting and configuring Linux configuration management systems.
Technical expertise regarding Linux server setup, implementation, and support.
Experience and knowledge working with HPC environments in a research organization.
Integration and guidance helping groups onboard into computing systems.
Ability to collaborate with other university IT departments to affect change in the Linux enterprise environment within the university.
Ability to analyze threats and institute/maintain an appropriate level of Information security for systems and servers.
Knowledge and skills to troubleshoot and perform break-fix tasks on systems as necessary, including servers, appliances, and operations.
Knowledge and ability to analyze and interpret error logs, monitor system performance data, and assess user information to ensure service reliability.
Ability to operate in a VMWare virtual environment.
Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education
Working with Linux systems. Knowledge and ability to work in a mixed enterprise environment consisting of Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile operating systems.
To adapt and work with technologies that will innovative and interesting to students and faculty in Engineering.
Working in environments that implement an Agile workflow.
This is a reposting. Previous applicants do not need to reapply.
In addition to your application please submit a cover letter and resume.
AA/EOE
Company is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or ___@___(apply_to_show_email). Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process, please call 919-515-3148.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. If highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified at Company website or equivalent service. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
Company participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
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ST. GEORGE, Utah — Police in St. George are working with animal services to locate a dog they believe was shot once by an officer who fired after the animal attacked him early Tuesday morning.
According to a press release from the St. George Police Department, officers were responding to an assault call around 3 a.m. at a home near 1100 North and 1100 West.
During that response, a dog was barking and the owner asked for and received permission to to take the into the home. Police described the dog as "possibly a pit-bull/lab mix" and said that moments after it was taken inside the animal escaped the home through an open window at the rear of the residence.
The animal ran away, and police believe it was hit by at least one bullet.
The officer was treated for a bite wound to his forearm.
Animal Services responded to the scene but as of Tuesday morning they have not yet located the animal.