Vanishing of cosmological constant in nonfactorizable geometry

We generalize the results of Randall and Sundrum to a wider class of four-dimensional space-times including the four-dimensional Schwarzschild background and de Sitter universe. We solve the equation for graviton propagation in a general four dimensional background and find an explicit solution for a zero mass bound state of the graviton. We find that this zero mass bound state is normalizable only if the cosmological constant is strictly zero, thereby providing a dynamical reason for the vanishing of cosmological constant within the context of this model. We also show that the results of Randall and Sundrum can be generalized without any modification to the Schwarzschild background.Comment: 8 Pages(expanded version), Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Sedimentation record in the Konkan-Kerala Basin: implications for the evolution of the Western Ghats and the Western Indian passive margin

The Konkan and Kerala Basins constitute a major depocentre for sediment from the onshore hinterland of Western India and as such provide a valuable record of the timing and magnitude of Cenozoic denudation along the continental margin. This paper presents an analysis of sedimentation in the Konkan-Kerala Basin, coupledwith a mass balance study, and numerical modelling of flexural responses to onshore denudational unloading and o¡shore sediment loading in order to test competing conceptual models for the development of high-elevation passive margins. The Konkan-Kerala Basin contains an estimated 109,000 km<sup>3</sup>; of Cenozoic clastic sediment, a volume difficult to reconcile with the denudation of a downwarped rift flank onshore, and more consistent with denudation of an elevated rift flank. We infer from modelling of the isostatic response of the lithosphere to sediment loading offshore and denudation onshore that flexure is an important component in the development of the Western Indian Margin.There is evidence for two major pulses in sedimentation: an early phase in the Palaeocene, and a second beginning in the Pliocene. The Palaeocene increase in sedimentation can be interpreted in terms of a denudational response to the rifting between India and the Seychelles, whereas the mechanism responsible for the Pliocene pulse is more enigmatic

RQM description of the charge form factor of the pion and its asymptotic behavior

The pion charge and scalar form factors, $F_1(Q^2)$ and $F_0(Q^2)$, are first calculated in different forms of relativistic quantum mechanics. This is done using the solution of a mass operator that contains both confinement and one-gluon-exchange interactions. Results of calculations, based on a one-body current, are compared to experiment for the first one. As it could be expected, those point-form, and instant and front-form ones in a parallel momentum configuration fail to reproduce experiment. The other results corresponding to a perpendicular momentum configuration (instant form in the Breit frame and front form with $q^+=0$) do much better. The comparison of charge and scalar form factors shows that the spin-1/2 nature of the constituents plays an important role. Taking into account that only the last set of results represents a reasonable basis for improving the description of the charge form factor, this one is then discussed with regard to the asymptotic QCD-power-law behavior $Q^{-2}$. The contribution of two-body currents in achieving the right power law is considered while the scalar form factor, $F_0(Q^2)$, is shown to have the right power-law behavior in any case. The low-$Q^2$ behavior of the charge form factor and the pion-decay constant are also discussed.}Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure

Asymptotic Expansions for Stationary Distributions of Perturbed Semi-Markov Processes

New algorithms for computing of asymptotic expansions for stationary distributions of nonlinearly perturbed semi-Markov processes are presented. The algorithms are based on special techniques of sequential phase space reduction, which can be applied to processes with asymptotically coupled and uncoupled finite phase spaces.Comment: 83 page

Theory of the first-order isostructural valence phase transitions in mixed valence compounds YbIn_{x}Ag_{1-x}Cu_{4}

For describing the first-order isostructural valence phase transition in mixed valence compounds we develop a new approach based on the lattice Anderson model. We take into account the Coulomb interaction between localized f and conduction band electrons and two mechanisms of electron-lattice coupling. One is related to the volume dependence of the hybridization. The other is related to local deformations produced by f- shell size fluctuations accompanying valence fluctuations. The large f -state degeneracy allows us to use the 1/N expansion method. Within the model we develop a mean-field theory for the first-order valence phase transition in YbInCu_{4}. It is shown that the Coulomb interaction enhances the exchange interaction between f and conduction band electron spins and is the driving force of the phase transition. A comparison between the theoretical calculations and experimental measurements of the valence change, susceptibility, specific heat, entropy, elastic constants and volume change in YbInCu_{4} and YbAgCu_{4} are presented, and a good quantitative agreement is found. On the basis of the model we describe the evolution from the first-order valence phase transition to the continuous transition into the heavy-fermion ground state in the series of compounds YbIn_{1-x}Ag_{x}Cu_{4}. The effect of pressure on physical properties of YbInCu_{4} is studied and the H-T phase diagram is found.Comment: 17 pages RevTeX, 9 Postscript figures, to be submitted to Phys.Rev.

Observing Supermassive Black Holes across cosmic time: from phenomenology to physics

In the last decade, a combination of high sensitivity, high spatial resolution observations and of coordinated multi-wavelength surveys has revolutionized our view of extra-galactic black hole (BH) astrophysics. We now know that supermassive black holes reside in the nuclei of almost every galaxy, grow over cosmological times by accreting matter, interact and merge with each other, and in the process liberate enormous amounts of energy that influence dramatically the evolution of the surrounding gas and stars, providing a powerful self-regulatory mechanism for galaxy formation. The different energetic phenomena associated to growing black holes and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), their cosmological evolution and the observational techniques used to unveil them, are the subject of this chapter. In particular, I will focus my attention on the connection between the theory of high-energy astrophysical processes giving rise to the observed emission in AGN, the observable imprints they leave at different wavelengths, and the methods used to uncover them in a statistically robust way. I will show how such a combined effort of theorists and observers have led us to unveil most of the SMBH growth over a large fraction of the age of the Universe, but that nagging uncertainties remain, preventing us from fully understating the exact role of black holes in the complex process of galaxy and large-scale structure formation, assembly and evolution.Comment: 46 pages, 21 figures. This review article appears as a chapter in the book: "Astrophysical Black Holes", Haardt, F., Gorini, V., Moschella, U and Treves A. (Eds), 2015, Springer International Publishing AG, Cha

The Health of Hispanic Children from Birth to Emerging Adulthood

This article summarizes frameworks for understanding Hispanic children’s health, sources of national data available to evaluate their health, and variations in health among Hispanic children. Following ecological and life-course perspectives, we organize our review of the literature on Hispanic children’s health and development according to three key stages of child development (zero to three, early to middle childhood, and adolescence to emerging adulthood) with attention to how each stage influences the next. Within each stage, we consider how social position (i.e., skin color, social class, gender, and nativity), social contexts (i.e., family, school, and neighborhood), and political and legal contexts influence Hispanic children’s health and development. We argue that to improve the health and development of Hispanic children, federal, state, and local policies must address social and economic injustices that lead to declines in health across immigrant generations and persistent racial/ethnic health disparities

Stealth monoolein-based nanocarriers for delivery of siRNA to cancer cells

While the delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is an attractive strategy to treat several clinical con- ditions, siRNA-nanocarriers stability after intravenous administration is still a major obstacle for the development of RNA-interference based therapies. But, although the need for stability is well recognized, the notion that strong stabilization can decrease nanocarriers efficiency is sometimes neglected. In this work we evaluated two stealth functionalization strategies to stabilize the previously validated dioctade- cyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB):monoolein (MO) siRNA-lipoplexes. The nanocarriers were pre- and post-pegylated, forming vectors with different stabilities in biological fluids. The stealth nanocarriers behavior was tested under biological mimetic conditions, as the production of stable siRNA-lipoplexes is determinant to achieve efficient intravenous siRNA delivery to cancer cells. Upon incubation in human serum for 2 h, by fluorescence Single Particle Tracking microscopy, PEG-coated lipo- plexes were found to have better colloidal stability as they could maintain a relatively stable size. In addi- tion, using fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy, post-pegylation also proved to avoid siRNA dissociation from the nanocarriers in human serum. Concomitantly it was found that PEG-coated lipoplexes improved cellular uptake and transfection efficiency in H1299 cells, and had the ability to silence BCR-ABL, affecting the survival of K562 cells. Based on an efficient cellular internalization, good silencing effect, good siRNA retention and good col- loidal stability in human serum, DODAB:MO (2:1) siRNA-lipoplexes coated with PEG-Cer are considered promising nanocarriers for further in vivo validation. Statement of Significance This work describes two stealth functionalization strategies for the stabilization of the previously validated dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB):monoolein (MO) siRNA-lipoplexes. These nanocarriers are capable of efficiently incorporating and delivering siRNA molecules to cells in order to silence genes whose expression is implicated in a pathological condition. The main objective was to functionalize these nanocarriers with a coating conferring protection to siRNA in blood without compromising its efficient delivery to cancer cells, validating the potential of DODAB:MO (2:1) siRNA-lipoplexes as therapeutic vec- tors. We show that the stealth strategy is determinant to achieve a stable and efficient nanocarrier, and that DODAB:MO mixtures have a very promising potential for systemic siRNA delivery to leukemic cells.FEDER through POFC-COMPETE and by national funds from FCT I.P. through the strategic funding UID/BIA/04050/2013 (CBMA) and PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (CFUM) and PTDC/QUI/69795/2006. We thank the support of the Frame Work Program 7 of the European Commission: BIOCAPS (316265, FP7/REGPOT) and Xunta de Galicia, Spain (Agrupamento INBIOMED, Grupo con potencial crecimiento) reference IF/00498/2012, scholarship SFRH/BD/68588/2010. NanoDelivery-I&D em Bionanotecnologia, Lda. for access to their equipment

Computational Implementation of a Thermodynamically Based Work Potential Model For Progressive Microdamage and Transverse Cracking in Fiber-Reinforced Laminates

A continuum-level, dual internal state variable, thermodynamically based, work potential model, Schapery Theory, is used capture the effects of two matrix damage mechanisms in a fiber-reinforced laminated composite: microdamage and transverse cracking. Matrix microdamage accrues primarily in the form of shear microcracks between the fibers of the composite. Whereas, larger transverse matrix cracks typically span the thickness of a lamina and run parallel to the fibers. Schapery Theory uses the energy potential required to advance structural changes, associated with the damage mechanisms, to govern damage growth through a set of internal state variables. These state variables are used to quantify the stiffness degradation resulting from damage growth. The transverse and shear stiffness of the lamina are related to the internal state variables through a set of measurable damage functions. Additionally, the damage variables for a given strain state can be calculated from a set of evolution equations. These evolution equations and damage functions are implemented into the finite element method and used to govern the constitutive response of the material points in the model. Additionally, an axial failure criterion is included in the model. The response of a center-notched, buffer strip-stiffened panel subjected to uniaxial tension is investigated and results are compared to experiment

Access to Health Insurance and Health Care for Hispanic Children in the United States

Health insurance gives families access to medical services and protects them against the costs of illness and medical treatment. Insured children are more likely than their uninsured peers to use medical services, preventive health services, have a usual source of care, and have fewer unmet medical needs. In this article, we review trends in health insurance coverage for Hispanic children and the factors that influence their coverage. We then discuss health care utilization among Hispanic children and barriers to health care utilization. We conclude with a discussion of strategies to improve Hispanic children’s health care access in the age of COVID-19