Direct CP violation and the ΔI = 1/2 rule in K → ππ decay in the Standard Model

We discuss the RBC & UKQCD collaborations’ recent [1] lattice calculation of ϵ′, the measure of direct CP-violation in kaon decays. This result significantly improves on our previous 2015 calculation, with nearly 4× the statistics and more reliable systematic error estimates. We discuss how our results demonstrate the Standard Model origin of the ΔI = 1/2 rule, and present our plans for future calculations.

Beyond RoboDebt

Automated decision support systems with high stake decision processes are frequently controversial. The Online Compliance Intervention (herewith “OCI” or “RoboDebt”) is a system of compliance implemented with the intention to facilitate automatic issuance of statutory debt notices to individuals, taking a receipt of welfare payments and exceeding their entitlement. The system appears to employ rudimentary data scraping and expert systems to determine whether notices should be validly issued. However, many individuals that take receipt of debt notices assert that they were issued in error. The commentary on the system has resulted in a lot of conflation of the system with other system types and caused many to question the role of decision of support systems in public administration given the potentially deleterious impacts of such systems for the most vulnerable. The authors employ a taxonomy of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) issues, to review the OCI and RPA more generally. This paper identifies potential problems of bias, inconsistency, procedural fairness, and overall systematic error. This research also considers a series of RoboDebt specific issues regarding contractor arrangements and the potential impact of the system for Australia's Indigenous population. The authors offer a set of recommendations based on the observed challenges, emphasizing the importance of moderation, independent algorithmic audits, and ongoing reviews. Most notably, this paper emphasizes the need for greater transparency and a broadening of criteria to determine vulnerability that encompasses, temporal, geographic, and technological considerations.

VISCOMETRY OF NANODISPERSE MAGNETIC LIQUIDS AND LUBRICATING OILS. 2. METROLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF A DEVICE FOR RHEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MAGNETIC NANODISPERSE LIQUID MEDIA

Проведен анализ основных источников методических погрешностей магнитного ротационного вискозиметра, позволивший усовершенствовать конструкцию и исключить критические режимы исследований. Теоретическая оценка систематической погрешности прибора показала, что значение относительной ошибки измерений можно довести до значения менее 1%. Наибольший вклад в систематическую погрешность прибора вносит нестабильность температурного режима исследуемой наножидкости и неточность определения высоты слоя жидкости, контактирующего с измерительным цилиндром. Измерение вязкости эталонных жидкостей на магнитном вискозиметре показало, что экспериментальные значения незначительно, примерно на 0,9% завышены. Тарировка прибора на различных эталонных жидкостях позволила снизить суммарную ошибку измерений до десятых долей процента. Магнитный ротационный вискозиметр может найти применение при нестандартных научных исследованиях структуры и реологических характеристик наножидкостей, для оперативного контроля процессов синтеза магнитных жидкостей и аттестации магнитных наножидкостей, предназначенных для технического применения. An analysis is carried out of the main sources of methodological errors of the magnetic rotary viscometer. The analysis allowed to improve design and to eliminate critical modes of the research. Theoretical evaluations of the systematic error of the device showed that the value of the relative measurement error can be brought to a value of less than 1%. The greatest contribution to the systematic error of the device is made by the instability of the temperature regime of the nanofluid under study and by the inaccuracy of determining the height of the liquid layer in contact with the measuring cylinder. The measurement of the viscosity of the reference liquids on the magnetic viscometer showed that experimental values are slightly, by about 0.9% overestimated. Calibration of the device on various reference liquids allowed reducing the total measurement error down to tenths of a percent. The magnetic rotary viscometer can be used in non-standard scientific studies of the structure and rheological characteristics of nanofluids, for operational control of the processes of synthesis of magnetic liquids and certification of magnetic nanofluids intended for technical use.

Cation–Anionic Interactions of Dyes in Aqueous Solutions: Bromocresol Purple in the Processes of Dissimilar Association

The interaction between single- or double-charged anions of bromocresol purple (BP) and cyanine cations (quinaldine blue, QB, or quinaldine red, QR) at concentrations of dyes 5.0·10−7–4.0·10−5 mol/L has been investigated by vis-spectroscopy. The thermodynamic constants of dissimilar associations (Kas) have been studied. Comparison of the values of lg Kas shows that QB− associates of BP− are more stable (6.61 ± 0.07) than QR associates (4.84 ± 0.06); a similar phenomenon is observed for associates of the BP2− anion. Semi-empirical calculations (PM3 method) are in agreement with the vis-spectroscopy data and indicate that the association of dye into an associate is possible. The standard enthalpies of formation of associates (ΔfHo) and energy diagrams have been determined. The ΔfHo data indicate that the formation of an associate between dye ions is an energetically favourable process. The gain in energy significantly exceeds the systematic error of semi-empirical calculations and increases from 157 kJ/mol (associate ”BP− + QB+”) to 729 kJ/mol (associate “BP2− + QR+”). The most probable structures of dissimilar associates are presented. The study of the dissimilar association develops the concept of intermolecular interactions in solutions.

Performance evaluation of internal quality control rules, EWMA, CUSUM, and the novel machine learning model

Objectives The present study set out to build a machine learning model to incorporate conventional quality control (QC) rules, exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), and cumulative sum (CUSUM) with random forest (RF) algorithm to achieve better performance and to evaluate the performances the models using computer simulation to aid laboratory professionals in QC procedure planning. Methods Conventional QC rules, EWMA, CUSUM, and RF models were implemented on the simulation data using an in-house algorithm. The models’ performances were evaluated on 170,000 simulated QC results using outcome metrics, including the probability of error detection (Ped), probability of false rejection (Pfr), average run length (ARL), and power graph. Results The highest Pfr (0.0404) belonged to the 1–2s rule. The 1–3s rule could not detect errors with a 0.9 Ped up to 4 SD of systematic error. The random forest model had the highest Ped for systematic errors lower than 1 SD. However, ARLs of the model require the combined utility of the RF model with conventional QC rules having lower ARLs or more than one QC measurement is required. Conclusions The RF model presented in this study showed acceptable Ped for most degrees of systematic error. The outcome metrics established in this study will help laboratory professionals planning internal QC.

Differential sampling of AC waveforms based on a programmable Josephson voltage standard using a high-precision sampler

A high-precision sampler, Fluke 8588A multimeter in the sampling mode, was utilised to perform differential sampling of AC waveforms with a programmable Josephson voltage standard. The systematic error on the differential sampling, induced by the inherent voltage-response characteristics and built-in low-pass filter of the sampler, was estimated. Experimental results and numerical simulations revealed that the sampler could be used for reliable differential sampling of AC waveforms at frequencies up to several kilohertz, with an appropriate number of the voltage steps per the waveform period, when the input bandwidth was set to 3 MHz. In addition, the sampler was compared to an integrating sampler, Keysight 3458A, now widely used for differential sampling. At 62.5 Hz, a key frequency in the future on-site key comparison of the differential sampling on AC voltage, the difference in RMS-amplitude values obtained by the differential sampling using the two different samplers is approximately 150 nV/V due to the systematic error caused by the limited bandwidth of 150~kHz for the integrating sampler.

Error Analysis and Modeling of GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar Near-surface Rainfall Product

The error characterization of rainfall products of spaceborne radar is essential for better applications of radar data, such as multi-source precipitation data fusion and hydrological modeling. In this study, we analyzed the error of the near-surface rainfall product of the dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) and modeled it based on ground C-band dual-polarization radar (CDP) data with optimization rainfall retrieval. The comparison results show that the near-surface rainfall data were overestimated by light rain and slightly underestimated by heavy rain. The error of near-surface rainfall of the DPR was modeled as an additive model according to the comparison results. The systematic error of near-surface rainfall was in the form of a quadratic polynomial, while the systematic error of stratiform precipitation was smaller than that of convective precipitation. The random error was modeled as a Gaussian distribution centered at −1−0 mm h−1. The standard deviation of the Gaussian distribution of convective precipitation was 1.71 mm h−1 and the standard deviation of stratiform precipitation was 1.18 mm h−1, which is smaller than that of convective precipitation. In view of the precipitation retrieval algorithm of DPR, the error causes were analyzed from the reflectivity factor (Z) and the drop size distribution (DSD) parameters (Dm, Nw). The high accuracy of the reflectivity factor measurement results in a small systematic error. Importantly, the negative bias of Nw was very obvious when the rain type was convective precipitation, resulting in a large random error.

Stellar Spins in the Pleiades, Praesepe, and M35 Open Clusters

We analyze spectroscopic and photometric data to determine the projected inclinations of stars in three open clusters: the Pleiades, Praesepe, and M35. We determine the sin i values of 42, 35, and 67 stars in each cluster, respectively, and from their distributions we find that isotropic spins and moderate alignment are both consistent with the Pleiades and Praesepe data. While it is difficult to distinguish between these scenarios for a single cluster, an ensemble of such distributions may facilitate a distinction. The M35 inclination distribution is most consistent with a superposition of isotropic and anisotropic spins, the source of which could be systematic error or a physical grouping of aligned stars. We also study internal cluster kinematics using radial velocities and proper motions. Our kinematics analysis reveals significant plane-of-sky rotation in Praesepe, with a mean velocity of 0.132 ± 0.022 km s−1 in a clockwise direction.