Squeezing out predictions with leptogenesis from SO(10)

We consider the see-saw mechanism within a non-supersymmetric SO(10) model. By assuming the SO(10) quark-lepton symmetry, and after imposing suitable conditions that ensure that the right-handed (RH) neutrino masses are at most mildly hierarchical (compact RH spectrum) we obtain a surprisingly predictive scenario. The absolute neutrino mass scale, the Dirac and the two Majorana phases of the neutrino mixing matrix remain determined in terms of the set of already measured low energy observables, modulo a discrete ambiguity in the signs of two neutrino mixing angles and of the Dirac phase. The RH neutrinos mass spectrum is also predicted, as well as the size and sign of the leptogenesis CP asymmetries. We compute the cosmological baryon asymmetry generated through leptogenesis and obtain the correct sign and a size compatible with observations.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures; minor changes, version accepted for publication in PR

Field Performance of Mungbean (Vigna radiata Wilczek) Seed differing in Vigour Levels.

A study was conducted at Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, to investigate the influence of seed vigour on field performance of Vigna radiata. Seeds of the U-Thong cultivar of medium and low vigour were obtained by subjecting high quality seeds to an atmosphere of high temperature and high relative humidity. Genninability of seeds cOrresponded directly with their respective vigour' levels, with the differences being significant. Some yield component characteristics were found to be significantly influenced by seed vigour. Plants established from high vigour seeds produced significantly higher seed yield (1300 kg/ha) than those from medium (884 kg/ha) and low vigour seeds (767 kg/ha). However, some vegetative characteristics did not appear to be influenced by seed vigoUl·

Temperature-tuning of near-infrared monodisperse quantum dot solids at 1.5 um for controllable Forster energy transfer

We present the first time-resolved cryogenic observations of Forster energy transfer in large, monodisperse lead sulphide quantum dots with ground state transitions near 1.5 um (0.83 eV), in environments from 160 K to room temperature. The observed temperature-dependent dipole-dipole transfer rate occurs in the range of (30-50 ns)^(-1), measured with our confocal single-photon counting setup at 1.5 um wavelengths. By temperature-tuning the dots, 94% efficiency of resonant energy transfer can be achieved for donor dots. The resonant transfer rates match well with proposed theoretical models

The prevalence of insomnia in the general population in China: A meta-analysis

This is the first meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of insomnia in the general population of China. A systematic literature search was conducted via the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE and Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Interne (CNKI), WanFang Data and SinoMed). Statistical analyses were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis program. A total of 17 studies with 115,988 participants met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The pooled prevalence of insomnia in China was 15.0% (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 12.1%-18.5%). No significant difference was found in the prevalence between genders or across time period. The pooled prevalence of insomnia in population with a mean age of 43.7 years and older (11.6%; 95% CI: 7.5%-17.6%) was significantly lower than in those with a mean age younger than 43.7 years (20.4%; 95% CI: 14.2%-28.2%). The prevalence of insomnia was significantly affected by the type of assessment tools (Q = 14.1, P = 0.001). The general population prevalence of insomnia in China is lower than those reported in Western countries but similar to those in Asian countries. Younger Chinese adults appear to suffer from more insomnia than older adults

Eigenvector Expansion and Petermann Factor for Ohmically Damped Oscillators

Correlation functions $C(t) \sim$ in ohmically damped systems such as coupled harmonic oscillators or optical resonators can be expressed as a single sum over modes $j$ (which are not power-orthogonal), with each term multiplied by the Petermann factor (PF) $C_j$, leading to "excess noise" when $|C_j| > 1$. It is shown that $|C_j| > 1$ is common rather than exceptional, that $|C_j|$ can be large even for weak damping, and that the PF appears in other processes as well: for example, a time-independent perturbation \sim\ep leads to a frequency shift \sim \ep C_j. The coalescence of $J$ ($>1$) eigenvectors gives rise to a critical point, which exhibits "giant excess noise" ($C_j \to \infty$). At critical points, the divergent parts of $J$ contributions to $C(t)$ cancel, while time-independent perturbations lead to non-analytic shifts \sim \ep^{1/J}.Comment: REVTeX4, 14 pages, 4 figures. v2: final, 20 single-col. pages, 2 figures. Streamlined with emphasis on physics over formalism; rewrote Section V E so that it refers to time-dependent (instead of non-equilibrium) effect

Revealing copper contamination at the Penang industrial area by using Malaysian mussel watch approach.

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pb and Zn were determined in the four different parts of soft tissues and shells of Perna viridis collected from 6 geographical sites in the Straits of Malacca in 2005. All the 6 metal concentrations except for Cu were considered low and comparable to those reported in the literature. The Cu concentrations found in the Penang population was found to be extremely elevated and exceeding the ranges for most reported studies as well as safety guidelines, which may be derived from a variety of industrial activities at Penang industrial area. Therefore, the consumption of mussels collected from the intertidal water adjacent to Penang Industrial Area should be given a special caution since human consumption on the mussels could pose toxicological risk of Cu. The present study showed that the Penang coastal water was receiving industrial effluents as a point source of Cu pollution as indicated by the elevated concentration of Cu in the different soft tissues of P. viridis

Detection of Gravitational Wave - An Application of Relativistic Quantum Information Theory

We show that a passing gravitational wave may influence the spin entropy and spin negativity of a system of $N$ massive spin-1/2 particles, in a way that is characteristic of the radiation. We establish the specific conditions under which this effect may be nonzero. The change in spin entropy and negativity, however, is extremely small. Here, we propose and show that this effect may be amplified through entanglement swapping. Relativistic quantum information theory may have a contribution towards the detection of gravitational wave.Comment: 9 page

Psychomotor depressive symptoms may differentially respond to venlafaxine

Predicting differential antidepressant efficacy remains an elusive goal in major depressive disorder (MDD). The aims of this study were three-fold. Firstly, to examine if psychomotor retardation symptoms (item 8 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) improve preferentially to venlafaxine (VEN) over escitalopram (ESC) treatment. Secondly, whether the 18 item CORE psychomotor signs scale predicted antidepressant remission. Finally, to investigate the role of two norepinephrine transporter gene (NET) polymorphisms (rs2242446 and rs5569) on antidepressant efficacy. Adults with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. MDD (n=113) were treated with ESC or VEN prospectively for 8 weeks and rated serially with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. In a subsample (n=51) of patients from one of the three recruitment sites, the CORE psychomotor signs scale was also administered at baseline. Participants treated with VEN had significantly greater reduction in psychomotor retardation symptoms than those treated with ESC. The CORE scale did not predict antidepressant response or remission. Neither NET polymorphism moderated antidepressant efficacy. Findings suggest possible preferential utility of a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor in cases of MDD presenting with greater psychomotor retardation. The moderate to small sample size makes a type II error risk possible, and the negative findings need to be interpreted with caution. The positive finding of preferential efficacy of VEN for psychomotor retardation symptoms has potential translational utility