Leptonic Pion Decay And Physics Beyond The Electroweak Standard Model

The ratio of branching ratios in leptonic pion decay $R_{\pi} \equiv (\Gamma(\pi^- \to e \nu_e))/(\Gamma(\pi^- \to \mu \nu_\mu))$ is a powerfully sensitive probe of new interactions beyond the electroweak standard model. This is due to the chirality suppression of the standard model amplitude for the decay, which results in a precise prediction for the ratio, and suppressed amplitudes for new contributions to interfere with. We calculate, including QCD corrections, the contributions to $R_{\pi}$ arising from a broad selection of standard model extensions to which it is sensitive, including: R-parity violating interactions in supersymmetric theories, theories with light (electroweak scale) leptoquark degrees of freedom, non-minimal models of extra doublet Higgs bosons, models in which the quarks and leptons are composite both with and without supersymmetry, and models with strong TeV scale gravitational interactions. Comparing with existing measurements of $R_{\pi}$ we provide limits on each of these classes of models; our calculations also represent state of the art theoretical benchmarks against which the results from the upcoming round of leptonic pion decay experiments may be compared.Comment: 31 pages, 3 figure

Reconfiguring process plans: A mathematical programming approach

Increased global competition and frequent unpredictable market changes are current challenges facing manufacturing enterprises. Unpredictable changes of part design and engineering specifications trigger frequent and costly changes in process plans, which often require changes in the functionality and design of the manufacturing system. Process planning is a key logical enabler that should be further developed to cope with the changes encountered at the system level as well as to support the new manufacturing paradigms and continuously evolving products. Retrieval-based process planning predicated on rigid pre-defined boundaries of part families, does not satisfactorily support this changeable manufacturing environment. Since purely generative process planning systems are not yet a reality, a sequential hybrid approach at the macro-level has been proposed. Initially the master plan information of the part family\u27s composite part is retrieved, then modeling tools and algorithms are applied to arrive at the process plan of the new part, the definition of which does not necessarily lie entirely within the boundary of its original part family. Two distinct generative methods, namely Reconfigurable Process Planning (RPP) and Process Re-Planning were developed and compared. For RPP, a genuine reconfiguration of process plans to optimize the scope, extent and cost of reconfiguration is achieved using a novel 0-1 integer-programming model. Mathematical programming and formulation is proposed, for the first time, to reconfigure process plans to account for changes in parts\u27 features beyond the scope of the original product family. The computational time complexity of RPP is advantageously polynomial compared with the exponentially growing time complexity of its classical counterparts. As for Process Re-Planning, a novel adaptation of the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) formulation has been developed, where machining features are assigned positions in one-dimensional space. A linearization of the quadratic model was performed. The proposed model cures the conceptual flaws in the classical Traveling Salesperson Problem; it also overcomes the complexity of the sub-tour elimination constraints and, for the first time, mathematically formulates the precedence constraints, which are a comer stone of the process planning problem. The developed methods, their limitations and merits are conceptually and computationally, analyzed, compared and validated using detailed industrial case studies. A reconfiguration metric on the part design level is suggested to capture the logical extent and implications of design changes on the product level; equally, on the process planning level a new criterion is introduced to evaluate and quantify impact of process plans reconfiguration on downstream shop floor activities. GAMS algebraic modeling language, its SBB mixed integer nonlinear programming solver, CPLEX solvers and Matlab are used. The presented innovative new concepts and novel formulations represent significant contributions to knowledge in the field of process planning. Their effectiveness and applicability were validated in different domains

Multiresolution analysis in statistical mechanics. I. Using wavelets to calculate thermodynamic properties

The wavelet transform, a family of orthonormal bases, is introduced as a technique for performing multiresolution analysis in statistical mechanics. The wavelet transform is a hierarchical technique designed to separate data sets into sets representing local averages and local differences. Although one-to-one transformations of data sets are possible, the advantage of the wavelet transform is as an approximation scheme for the efficient calculation of thermodynamic and ensemble properties. Even under the most drastic of approximations, the resulting errors in the values obtained for average absolute magnetization, free energy, and heat capacity are on the order of 10%, with a corresponding computational efficiency gain of two orders of magnitude for a system such as a $4\times 4$ Ising lattice. In addition, the errors in the results tend toward zero in the neighborhood of fixed points, as determined by renormalization group theory.Comment: 13 pages plus 7 figures (PNG

Improved DC-Link Voltage Controller for Photo Voltaic ON-Grid Systems

The DC-link voltage is an essential intermediate stage between the DC/DC and DC/AC converters in solar energy system. Due to the voltage fluctuations and current disturbances, a controller should be suitably designed to maintain the DC-link voltage well stabilized. In this paper, a variant of an adaptive DC-link voltage controller is proposed, namely PI-Fuzzy controller. The proposed controller has a fixed integral gain, while the proportional gain is determined based on a set of Fuzzy logic inference rules. Moreover, an anti-windup mechanism is added to the proposed controller to overcome integrator windup when the actuator saturates. Simulation results show that the proposed controller provides better rejection of current disturbances and fastest rise-time comparing to recently proposed PI-controllers for the DC-link voltage control

Nε-(Carboxymethyl)lysine and Coronary Atherosclerosis-Associated Low Density Lipoprotein Abnormalities in Type 2 Diabetes: Current Status

In comparison to the general population, individuals with diabetes suffer a 3- to 4-fold increased risk for developing complications of atherosclerosis and vascular insufficiency. This fact should be taken into account to develop a suitable determinant for the early detection of these complications and subsequently reduce the adverse effect of type 2 diabetes. In vitro experiments have shown that the products of glucose auto-oxidation and Amadori adducts are both potential sources of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML). Excessive formation of CML on low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been proposed to be an important mechanism for the dyslipidemia and accelerated atherogenesis observed in patients with type 2 diabetes. It has been postulated that the uptake of CML-LDL by LDL receptors is impaired, thereby decreasing its clearance from the blood circulation. Alternatively, the uptake of these modified LDL particles by scavenger receptors on macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and by AGE receptors on endothelial cells, SMCs, and monocytes is highly enhanced and this, in turn, is centrally positioned to contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications especially coronary artery disease. The present review summarizes the up-to-date information on effects and mechanism of type 2 diabetes-associated coronary atherosclerosis induced by CML-LDL modification

Identifying Contextual Predictors Of Urban Park Utilization Among Inter-Ethnic Groups In Malaysia

Social interaction among diverse ethnic groups motivates people within communities to visit urban parks towards achieving social cohesion. Malaysians of different ethnic backgrounds spend their leisure time in urban parks because it offers opportunities for social interaction. The perception and requirement of attributes needed varies among the various ethnic groups of Malays, Chinese and Indians in order to be assured of their full utilization of the parks. This study investigates the urban park attributes that encourage the utilization of urban park by these three ethnic groups toward achieving social cohesion. Using a survey questionnaire method a total of 274 respondents were sampled at Batu Pahat urban parks in Johor, Malaysia. Afterwards, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse and validate respondents’ perception of urban park utilization. The findings show that aesthetics, safety, lighting, maintenance and cleanliness in public spaces attracted people to visit the urban park and contributed towards social cohesion