Neutral Pion Double Longitudinal Spin Asymmetry in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV Using the PHENIX Detector

New results from polarized p-p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV of double longitudinal spin asymmetry in pi0 production using the PHENIX detector in the 2005 RHIC run are presented. Both positive and negative maximal gluon polarization scenarios are inconsistent with the data. The data is consistent with small |\Delta g|, including \Delta g=0.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of the 2005 Particles and Nuclei International Conference (PANIC 2005), Santa Fe, NM, October 24-28, 200

Double Longitudinal Spin Asymmetry in Neutral Pion Production in Polarized p+p Collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV at PHENIX

A major goal of the RHIC spin program is to measure \Delta g, the gluon contribution to the proton's spin. Measurements by PHENIX of the double longitudinal spin asymmetry, A_LL, of the neutral pion production at mid-rapidity in polarized proton collisions have been shown to constrain \Delta g. Results from the 2005 RHIC run, as well as high p_T data from the 2006 RHIC run, are presented. The results disfavor maximal positive and negative values of \Delta g. A measurement of azimuthally independent double transverse spin asymmetry, A_TT, is also presented.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the 17th International Spin Physics Symposium (SPIN2006), Kyoto (Japan), October 2-7, 200

Why do some countries produce so much more output per worker than others? - A note

In an important paper, Hall and Jones (1999) show that international differences in output per worker across 127 countries in 1988 are fundamentally determined by variations in, what they term, a country's ``social infrastructure''. This paper conducts a robustness check of their findings by implementing a testing framework that is radically different to their approach. Specifically, we estimate a stochastic, rather than a deterministic, production frontier and we also model the potential role of social infrastructure in explaining productivity in a single step, rather than the statistically unsatisfactory two-step method used by Hall and Jones. We obtain two important findings that are strongly supportive of Hall and Jones' results. First, the bulk of inter-country variation in output per worker is accounted for by differences in productivity. Second, social infrastructure is found to be a highly significant variable in explaining inter-country productivity differences.

A New Mean Standard Deviation Utility Function and the Behaviour Towards Risk of Specialist Irish Agricultural Producers: 1988-1997

This paper employs a new mean-standard deviation utility (MSU) function with more general properties than traditionally employed function in the agricultural economics literature to explore the risk preferences of Irish barley producers between 1988 and 1997. During this period EU cereal producers were subject to major policy reforms (MacSharry Reforms) that may have influenced the nature of producers' risk attitudes. Our findings support the proposed function in preference to the Linear Mean Variance (LMV) function. We find that Irish cereal producers are highly risk averse but their degree of risk aversion falls appreciably in the period before and following the MacSharry Reforms. We also find that the majority of Irish producers exhibit increasing absolute risk aversion (IARA) but the proportion displaying DARA increases substantially following the 1992 Reforms. The policy implications of our results are discussed.

<i>CPT</i>-Symmetric Universe

We propose that the state of the universe does {\it not} spontaneously violate CPT. Instead, the universe after the big bang is the CPT image of the universe before it, both classically and quantum mechanically. The pre- and post-bang epochs comprise a universe/anti-universe pair, emerging from nothing directly into a hot, radiation-dominated era. CPT symmetry selects a unique QFT vacuum state on such a spacetime, providing a new interpretation of the cosmological baryon asymmetry, as well as a remarkably economical explanation for the cosmological dark matter. Requiring only the standard three-generation model of particle physics (with right-handed neutrinos), a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry suffices to render one of the right-handed neutrinos stable. We calculate its abundance from first principles: matching the observed dark matter density requires its mass to be $4.8\times10^{8}~{\rm GeV}$. Several other testable predictions follow: (i) the three light neutrinos are Majorana and allow neutrinoless double $\beta$ decay; (ii) the lightest neutrino is massless; and (iii) there are no primordial long-wavelength gravitational waves. We mention connections to the strong CP problem and the arrow of time.Comment: 5 pages, matches version published in PR

Applied Sport Science of Gaelic Football: A Review

The current review focuses on Gaelic football literature providing an insight into the physical characteristics of players, the demands of match-play, the injury profile, and nutritional considerations within the game. Since the first review of Gaelic football in 2001, an increased understanding of match dynamics has taken place through the application of movement analysis technology. In recent years, the evolution of the application of sport science provisions within Gaelic football has increased. This has resulted in researchers attempting to bridge the gap between the scientific laboratory and the applied practitioner. Overall, intermittent aerobic fitness remains important during competition, along with upper and lower body strength, speed and jump-based characteristics, with positional and seasonal variations present in Gaelic football. The stochastic nature of Gaelic football means distances covered during match-play will have an inherent positional profile, with gradual reductions in match-play running performance frequently observed. Monitoring training loads in combination with response variables, such as well-being, can allow practitioners to achieve optimal dose and response characteristics via training regimes. The risk of injury to elite Gaelic football players is significantly greater during match-play, compared to during training. 70% of injuries occur to the lower limb region, with hamstring and knee injuries being the most common. Furthermore, specific findings show that training days elicit the greatest deficits between intake and expenditure, as such practitioners should target specific nutritional interventions to ensure that players are optimally loaded for the energetic requirements of these sessions. The current review can provide information to coaches and practitioners around position-specific physical qualities, match-play demands, and concurrently, support the training process within Gaelic football

Do Irish cereal Producers use Multiple Cropping as a Strategy for Dealing with Risk?

Portfolio theory suggests that risk-averse agents favour a diversified protfolio of assets as a strategy to offset market risk. This paper explicitly tests whethr Irish cereal producers decision to engage in multi-crop production(as set deversification) in itself reveals a relatively risk-averave nature. The issue is examined within the context of sample selection bias, where multi-croppers (portfolio diversifiers) are treated as a sub-sample of a general sample (mono + multi croppers) of Irish cereal productio

Do Irish cereal Producers use Multiple Cropping as a Strategy for Dealing with Risk?

Portfolio theory suggests that risk-averse agents favour a diversified protfolio of assets as a strategy to offset market risk. This paper explicitly tests whethr Irish cereal producers decision to engage in multi-crop production(as set deversification) in itself reveals a relatively risk-averave nature. The issue is examined within the context of sample selection bias, where multi-croppers (portfolio diversifiers) are treated as a sub-sample of a general sample (mono + multi croppers) of Irish cereal productio

Why do some countries produce so much more output per worker than others? - A note

In an important paper, Hall and Jones (1990) show that internatinal differences in output per worker across 127 countries in 1988 are fundamentally determined by variations in, what they term, a country's "social infrastructure". This paper conducts a robustness check of their findings by implementing a testing framework that is radically different to their approach. Specifically, we extimate a stochastic, rather than a deterministic, production frontier and we also model the potential role of social infrastructure in explaining productivity in a single step, rather thatn the statistically unsatisfactory two-step method used by Hall and Jones. We obtain two important findings that are strongly supportive of Hall and Jones' results. First, the bulk of inter-country variation in output per worker is accounted for by differences in productivity. Second, social infrastructure is found to be a highly significant variable in explaining inter-country productivity difference