5,936 research outputs found
K_L \ra \mu^\pm e^\mp \nu \overline{\nu} as background to K_L \ra \mu^\pm e^\mp
We consider the process K_L \ra \mu^\pm e^\mp \nu \overline{\nu} at next to
leading order in chiral perturbation theory. This process occurs in the
standard model at second order in the weak interaction and constitutes a
potential background in searches for new physics through the modes K_L \ra
\mu^\pm e^\mp. We find that the same cut, ~MeV, used to remove
the sequential decays K_{l3}\ra \pi_{l2} pushes the B(K_L \ra \mu^\pm e^\mp
\nu \overline{\nu}) to the level, effectively removing it as a
background.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure appended as postscript file after
\end{document}. Fermilab-Pub-93/024-
The impact of early and late literacy on the functional connectivity of vision and
Introduction: Learning to read leads to functional and structural changes in the cortical regions related to
vision and language. The visual word-form area (VWFA) is though to play a key role in the interaction between
these two systems (Dehaene et al. 2015). For instance, the VWFA is activated not only from bottom-up during
reading but also in a top-down manner during speech listening without visual stimulation (Dehaene et al. 2010).
The objective of this study was twofolded: how literacy acquisition affects four intrinsic functional connectivity
networks related to vision and language (a dorsal language [DLN], a bilateral auditory [AN], a low-level
[LLVN] and a high-level visual [HLVN] networks); and to explore the role of the VWFA as an interface between
high-level vision and language functions.
Methods: Independent component analysis (ICA) was applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging data
from 40 adult participants with variable levels of literacy (illiterate, late literate and early literate). The four
functional connectivity networks were compared across groups using dual-regression (Filippini et al. 2009). In
addition, we directly explored the functional connectivity between the VWFA and each of the studied networks.
Finally, the strengh of connectivity between the VWFA and each network was compared across groups and
correlated with individual reading fluency scores.
Results: ICA produced 40 networks, and spatial crosscorrelation was used to identify the four networks of
interest. Literacy was positively correlated with increased connectivity within the four networks. A major
difference separating early literate from illiterate and late literate subjects was found. The connectivity between
the VWFA and the DLN increased with literacy. Conversely, the strength of connectivity between the VWFA and
the HLVN correlated negatively with literacy. Finally, , the HLVN-VWFA connectivity was negatively correlated
with reading scores while the connectivity between the DLN-VWFA was positively correlated with reading
scores.
Discussion:Literacy has a strong influence on the visual and language functional networks. Literacy modifies
the VWFA connectivity, by making it functionally closer to the language system, and more distinct from other
associative visual areas that do not contribute to the reading process. The current results suggest that early
acquisition of literacy plays a critical role for the tuning of the functional brain architecture.
References: -Dehaene S et al. Nat Rev Neurosci.(2015)16:234 244
-Dehaene S et al. Science.(2010)330:1359–1364
-Filippini N et al. PNAS.(2009)106, 7209–7214Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Dietary Intake of US Children Participating in WIC
Recent studies have assessed diet quality of low-income U.S. children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), but differences by race/ethnicity remain unknown. We assessed racial/ethnic disparities in nutrient intake from dietary sources (not supplements) among children participating in WIC, with a focus on priority nutrients and food groups for future WIC food package revisions, as described in a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). We used data from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) and multivariable linear regression analysis to evaluate relationships between race/ethnicity and nutrient/food group intake of children participating in WIC. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 survey procedures, accounting for the complex survey design of the NHANES. Compared to non-Hispanic White children, Hispanic children had diets with better nutrient distribution and lower dietary energy density, while non-Hispanic Black children had diets with poorer nutrient intake. Hispanic children had higher potassium and fiber intake, and consumed more legumes, while non-Hispanic Black children had lower calcium and vitamin D intake, higher sodium intake, and lower total dairy intake, compared to non-Hispanic White children. These findings can inform WIC nutrition education messages and future food package revisions
A note on the rare decay of a Higgs boson into photons and a boson
We have calculated the width of the rare decay at
one-loop level in the standard model for Higgs boson masses in the range . For this range of Higgs boson masses
we find that boson is predominantly longitudinally polarized, and the
photons have the same helicity. A comparison of the decay width to those of and shows that,
for the Higgs boson mass of , the ratios of the decay
widths are .Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, RevTe
Mix design, properties and cost analysis of fly ash-based geopolymer foam
This study has investigated the joint effect of several mix parameters on the properties of foam geopolymers.
The mix parameters analysed through a laboratory experiment of 54 different mortar mixes were,
sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide mass ratio (2.5, 3.5, 4.5), activator/binder mass ratio (0.6, 0.8, 1.0),
chemical foaming agent type (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium perborate (NaBO3)) and foaming
agent mass ratio content (1%, 2%, 3%). Properties, SEM and FTIR analysis and cost analysis are included.
The results show that the sodium perborate over performs hydrogen peroxide leading to a lower overall
thermal conductibility of foam geopolymers. Mixtures with a low thermal conductivity of around 0.1 W/
(m K) and a compressive strength of around 6 MPa were achieved. The cost analysis show that the foaming
agents are responsible for a small percentage of foam geopolymers total cost being that the alkaline
activators are responsible for more than 80%
Ultrametric spaces of branches on arborescent singularities
Let be a normal complex analytic surface singularity. We say that is
arborescent if the dual graph of any resolution of it is a tree. Whenever
are distinct branches on , we denote by their intersection
number in the sense of Mumford. If is a fixed branch, we define when and
otherwise. We generalize a theorem of P{\l}oski concerning smooth germs of
surfaces, by proving that whenever is arborescent, then is an
ultrametric on the set of branches of different from . We compute the
maximum of , which gives an analog of a theorem of Teissier. We show that
encodes topological information about the structure of the embedded
resolutions of any finite set of branches. This generalizes a theorem of Favre
and Jonsson concerning the case when both and are smooth. We generalize
also from smooth germs to arbitrary arborescent ones their valuative
interpretation of the dual trees of the resolutions of . Our proofs are
based in an essential way on a determinantal identity of Eisenbud and Neumann.Comment: 37 pages, 16 figures. Compared to the first version on Arxiv, il has
a new section 4.3, accompanied by 2 new figures. Several passages were
clarified and the typos discovered in the meantime were correcte
Performance of a fly ash geopolymeric mortar for coating of ordinary portland cement concrete exposed to harsh chemical environments
Premature degradation of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete infrastructures is a
current and serious problem with overwhelming costs amounting to several trillion dollars. The use
of concrete surface treatments with waterproofing materials to prevent the access of aggressive
substances is an important way of enhancing concrete durability. The most common surface
treatments use polymeric resins based on epoxy, silicone (siloxane), acrylics, polyurethanes or
polymethacrylate. However, epoxy resins have low resistance to ultraviolet radiation while
polyurethanes are sensitive to high alkalinity environments. Geopolymers constitute a group of
materials with high resistance to chemical attack that could also be used for coating of concrete
infrastructures exposed to harsh chemical environments.
This article presents results of an experimental investigation on the resistance to chemical attack (by
sulfuric and nitric acid) of several materials: OPC concrete, high performance concrete (HPC),
epoxy resin, acrylic painting and a fly ash based geopolymeric mortar. Three types of acids, each
with high concentrations of 10%, 20% and 30%, were used to simulate long term degradation by
chemical attack. The results show that the epoxy resin had the best resistance to chemical attack,
irrespective of the acid type and acid concentration
Mechanical performance of geopolymeric mortars based on tunisian calcined clay, fly ash and metakaolin
Infrastructure rehabilitation represents a multitrillion dollar opportunity for the construction industry.
Since the majority of the existent infrastructures are Portland cement concrete based this means that concrete infrastructure rehabilitation is a hot issue to be dealt with. Geopolymers are novel inorganic binders with high potential to replace Portland cement based ones. So far very few studies in the geopolymer field have addressed the rehabilitation of deteriorated concrete structures. This paper discloses results of an investigation concerning the development geopolymeric repair mortars. The mortars are based on Tunisian clay coming from Medenine region, plus calcium hydroxide, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. Results show that the geopolymeric mortar has a high compressive strength and a lower unrestrained shrinkage performance as long as partial replacement by metakaolin is carried out. The results also show that Tunisian calcined clay based mortars have hydration products with typical geopolymeric phases
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