Calculation of the continuum--lattice HQET matching for the complete basis of four--fermion operators: reanalysis of the B0B^{0}-Bˉ0\bar{B}^{0} mixing

In this work, we find the expressions of continuum HQET four-fermion operators in terms of lattice operators in perturbation theory. To do so, we calculate the one--loop continuum--lattice HQET matching for the complete basis of $\Delta B=2$ and $\Delta B=0$ operators (excluding penguin diagrams), extending and completing previous studies. We have also corrected some errors in previous evaluations of the matching for the operator $O_{LL}$. Our results are relevant to the lattice computation of the values of unknown hadronic matrix elements which enter in many very important theoretical predictions in $B$--meson phenomenology: $B^{0}$-$\bar{B}^{0}$ mixing, $\tau_{B}$ and $\tau_{B_{s}}$ lifetimes, SUSY effects in $\Delta B=2$ transitions and the $B_{s}$ width difference $\Delta \Gamma_{B_{s}}$. We have reanalyzed our lattice data for the $B_{B}$ parameter of the $B^{0}$-$\bar{B}^{0}$ mixing on 600 lattices of size $24^{3}\times 40$ at $\beta=6.0$ computed with the SW-Clover and HQET lattice actions. We have used the correct lattice--continuum matching factors and boosted perturbation theory with tadpole improved heavy--light operators to reduce the systematic error in the evaluation of the renormalization constants. Our best estimate of the renormalization scale independent $B$--parameter is $\hat{B}_{B} = 1.29 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.06$, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic coming from the uncertainty in the determination of the renormalization constants. Our result is in good agreement with previous results obtained by extrapolating Wilson data. As a byproduct, we also obtain the complete one--loop anomalous dimension matrix for four--fermion operators in the HQET.Comment: 34 pages, 1 figure. Revised version including the referee's comments. Some references have been also added. Accepted to be published in Nucl.Phys.B. No result change

To assemble to resemble? A study of tax disparities among French municipalities

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of inter-municipal cooperation on local taxation. Municipalities that join/create an inter-municipal jurisdiction choose between three tax regimes, which may induce both horizontal and vertical tax externalities. Using the differences in differences method with a quasi-exhaustive panel for French municipalities over the 1994-2010 period, we show a positive causal effect of cooperation on the level of cumulative tax rates (i.e. the sum of municipal and inter-municipal tax rates). Moreover, we show that cooperation leads to a convergence of tax rates within an inter-municipal structure, which thus reduces tax disparities among municipalities.Inter-municipal cooperation, tax competition, fiscal disparities

The urease inhibitor NBPT negatively affects DUR3-mediated uptake and assimilation of urea in maize roots

Despite the widespread use of urease inhibitors in agriculture, little information is available on their effect on nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation. Aim of this work was to study, at physiological and transcriptional level, the effects of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) on urea nutrition in hydroponically grown maize plants. Presence of NBPT in the nutrient solution limited the capacity of plants to utilize urea as a N-source; this was shown by a decrease in urea uptake rate and 15N accumulation. Noteworthy, these negative effects were evident only when plants were fed with urea, as NBPT did not alter 15N accumulation in nitrate-fed plants. NBPT also impaired the growth of Arabidopsis plants when urea was used as N-source, while having no effect on plants grown with nitrate or ammonium. This response was related, at least in part, to a direct effect of NBPT on the high affinity urea transport system. Impact of NBPT on urea uptake was further evaluated using lines of Arabidopsis overexpressing ZmDUR3 and dur3-knockout; results suggest that not only transport but also urea assimilation could be compromised by the inhibitor. This hypothesis was reinforced by an over-accumulation of urea and a decrease in ammonium concentration in NBPT-treated plants. Furthermore, transcriptional analyses showed that in maize roots NBPT treatment severely impaired the expression of genes involved in the cytosolic pathway of ureic-N assimilation and ammonium transport. NBPT also limited the expression of a gene coding for a transcription factor highly induced by urea and possibly playing a crucial role in the regulation of its acquisition. This work provides evidence that NBPT can heavily interfere with urea nutrition in maize plants, limiting influx as well as the following assimilation pathway. \ua9 2015 Zanin, Tomasi, Zamboni, Varanini and Pinton

To assemble to resemble? A study of tax disparities among French municipalities

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of inter-municipal cooperation on local taxation. Municipalities that join/create an inter-municipal jurisdiction choose between three tax regimes, which may induce both horizontal and vertical tax externalities. Using the differences in differences method with a quasi-exhaustive panel for French municipalities over the 1994-2010 period, we show a positive causal effect of cooperation on the level of cumulative tax rates (i.e. the sum of municipal and inter-municipal tax rates). In addition, we show that cooperation leads to a convergence of tax rates within an inter-municipal structure, which thus reduces tax disparities among municipalities.Inter-municipal cooperation, tax competition, ?scal disparities.

Spatio-Temporal Multiway Data Decomposition Using Principal Tensor Analysis on k-Modes: The R Package PTAk

The purpose of this paper is to describe the R package {PTAk and how the spatio-temporal context can be taken into account in the analyses. Essentially PTAk() is a multiway multidimensional method to decompose a multi-entries data-array, seen mathematically as a tensor of any order. This PTAk-modes method proposes a way of generalizing SVD (singular value decomposition), as well as some other well known methods included in the R package, such as PARAFAC or CANDECOMP and the PCAn-modes or Tucker-n model. The example datasets cover different domains with various spatio-temporal characteristics and issues: (i)~medical imaging in neuropsychology with a functional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) study, (ii)~pharmaceutical research with a pharmacodynamic study with EEG (electro-encephaloegraphic) data for a central nervous system (CNS) drug, and (iii)~geographical information system (GIS) with a climatic dataset that characterizes arid and semi-arid variations. All the methods implemented in the R package PTAk also support non-identity metrics, as well as penalizations during the optimization process. As a result of these flexibilities, together with pre-processing facilities, PTAk constitutes a framework for devising extensions of multidimensional methods such ascorrespondence analysis, discriminant analysis, and multidimensional scaling, also enabling spatio-temporal constraints.

Temperate Grassland Yields and Nitrogen Uptake Are Influenced by Fertilizer Nitrogen Source

This research was supported under the National Development Plan through the Research Stimulus Fund administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Grants RSF10-/RD/SC/716 and RSF11S138) and from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland and by the Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Scheme.peer reviewedIn temperate grasslands, N source influences greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrification and urea hydrolysis inhibitors can reduce these losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of N source, urease inhibitors, and nitrification inhibitors on temperate grassland yields and N uptake. Experiments were conducted at three locations over 2 years (6 site-years) on the island of Ireland, covering a range of soils and climatic conditions. Results showed that calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea+N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), urea+NBPT+dicyandiamide (DCD), and urea had equal annual dry matter yield. Urea+DCD had lower dry matter yield than CAN for 3 site-years. Calcium ammonium nitrate and urea+NBPT consistently had the same N uptake, urea+DCD had lower N uptake than CAN in 4 of 6 site-years, urea had lower N uptake than CAN in 2 site-years, and urea+NBPT+DCD had lower N uptake than CAN in 1 site-year. Urea+NBPT is a cost-effective alternative to CAN, which is consistently equal in terms of yield and N uptake in temperate grassland.Teagasc Walsh Fellowship ProgrammeDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern IrelandDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marin

Influência de fontes de nitrogênio no fluxo de gases e na produtividade do milho e do trigo em sistema de plantio direto

TCC (graduação)- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Curitibanos. Agronomia.O Nitrogênio é o nutriente exigido em maior quantidade, com maior custo e o que mais influencia a produtividade das culturas do milho e trigo, porém está sujeito a consideráveis perdas, principalmente por lixiviação de nitrato (NO3 -), volatilização de amônia (NH3), além de emissão de óxido nitroso (N2O), um dos principais gases causadores do efeito estufa. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes fertilizantes nitrogenados disponíveis na região de Curitibanos, aplicados em cobertura nas culturas de milho e trigo sob a volatilização de amônia, emissão de oxido nitroso, e resposta a produtividade das culturas do trigo e milho, além da influencia na emissão de metano. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram-se na aplicação das seguintes fontes de N: Ureia (45% N); Fertilizante mineral misto (30% N (nítrico) + 1% Ca); Ureia encapsulada com polímero de ação física (45% N); Ureia com tecnologia Uremax+NBPT (45%N) e testemunha (sem N). Não houve diferença entre as fontes de N sobre a produtividade de milho e trigo. As formas de ureia tratadas apresentaram tendência em reduzir as perdas por volatilização de amônia. A aplicação de fertilizantes nitrogenados aumentou a emissão de N2O, sendo que fontes nítricas apresentaram maior potencial de emissão nas condições de realização desse estudo. A aplicação de fertilizantes nitrogenados interfere na oxidação de CH4, sendo esse efeito, mais expressivo quando fontes amídicas, são utilizadas.The nitrogen it’s a nutrient required in more quantity, with more cost and is the one that has more influence on the yields of corn and wheat, but it’s exposed to considerable losses, mainly through the nitrate (NO3 -) lixiviation, ammonia (NH3) volatilization, besides the nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, one of the mainly gases causing the greenhouse effect. The objective of the current research was evaluate the effect of different nitrogen fertilizers available in the Curitibanos region, applied in the cover way on corn and wheat, monitoring the indices of ammonia volatilization, nitrous oxide emission, the yield responses of the corn and wheat, and in addition the influence on methane emission. The experiment had randomized design utilizing random blocks, with four repetitions. The different treatments were constituted of nitrogen application on the following sources: urea (45%N), mix of mineral fertilizer (30% N(nitric) + 1% Ca); Urea encapsulated with physical action polymer (45% N); Urea with technology Uremax+NBPT (45% N) and witness (without N). There was no difference between the nitrogen sources on the corn and wheat productivity yields. The urea treated forms showed tendency to reduce the ammonia volatilization loss. The application of nitrogen fertilizers increased the N2O emissions, where the nitric sources presented more emission potential on the conditions of this study. The application of nitrogen fertilizers interfere on the CH oxidation, and this effect, it’s more expressive when amidic sources are utilized

Ammonia emissions from a soil amended with urea and inhibitor of urease activity in a Mediterranean area

Urea and ammonium-based fertilisers are nowadays one of the most important sources of ammonia (NH3) emissions to the atmosphere in Europe. However, little is known about NH3 volatilisation in Mediterranean areas. The aim of the present study was the quantification of NH3 emissions by using the Integrated Horizontal Flux (IHF) method after application of urea with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphorie triamide (NBPT) to a semiarid agricultural soil. The field experiment was carried out at "La Poveda" field station in Madrid on a sunflower crop in spring 2006. Urea and a mixture of urea and the inhibitor (0.14%) were surfaee-applied by hand at a rate of 170 kg N ha"' to eircular plots (diam. 40 m). The soil was irrigated with 10 mm of water just after the applieation of urea to dissolve and incorporate it onto the first layer of soil. There were three peaks in the NH3 flux over the duration of the measurement period (36 d). The first peak was associated to irrigation and the others to rainfall events. The total NH3 emission during the whole experiment (36 days) was 17.3 ±5.5kgNH3-N ha"1 in the ease of urea treated soils and 10.0 ± 4.5 kg NHrN ha"' where NBPT was ineluded with the urea

Spacecraft cell testing program Monthly progress report

Test data printout tables for cycling performance of Ag Cd, Ag Zn, Ni Cd, Pb Ca, and lead-acid cell