2,589 research outputs found
Inflation, Endogenous Market Segmentation and the Term Structure of Interest Rates
__Abstract__
The term structure of interest rates does not adhere to the expectations hypothesis, possibly due to a risk premium. We consider the implications of a risk premium that arises from endogenous market segmentation driven by variable inflation rates. In the absence of autocorrelation in inflation, the risk premium is constant. If inflation is correlated, however, the risk premium becomes time varying and we can rationalize the failure of the expectations hypothesis. Indirect empirical tests of the model’s implications are provided
Space-time evolution induced by spinor fields with canonical and non-canonical kinetic terms
We study spinor field theories as an origin to induce space-time evolution.
Self-interacting spinor fields with canonical and non-canonical kinetic terms
are considered in a Friedman-Robertson-Walker universe. The deceleration
parameter is calculated by solving the equation of motion and the Friedman
equation, simultaneously. It is shown that the spinor fields can accelerate and
decelerate the universe expansion. To construct realistic models we discuss the
contributions from the dynamical symmetry breaking.Comment: 16 pages, 19 figure
The Variable X-ray and Near-IR Behavior of the Particularly Anomaloux X-ray Pulsar 1E 1048.1-5937
We present the results of X-ray and near-IR observations of the anomalous
X-ray pulsar 1E 1048.1-5937, believed to be a magnetar. This AXP underwent a
period of extreme variability during 2001-2004, but subsequently entered an
extended and unexpected quiescence in 2004-2006, during which we monitored it
with RXTE, CXO, and HST. Its timing properties were stable for >3 years
throughout the quiescent period. 1E 1048.1-5937 again went into outburst in
March 2007, which saw a factor of >7 total X-ray flux increase which was
anti-correlated with a pulsed fraction decrease, and correlated with spectral
hardening, among other effects. The near-IR counterpart also brightened
following the 2007 event. We discuss our findings in the context of the
magnetar and other models.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the "40 Years of
Pulsars: Millisecond Pulsars, Magnetars and More" conference, held 12-17
August 2007, in Montreal QC (AIP, in press, eds: C. Bassa, Z. Wang, A.
Cumming, V. Kaspi
The global monsoon system: research and forecast
The main objective of this workshop was to provide a forum for discussion between researchers and forecasters on the current status of monsoon forecasting and on priorities and opportunities for monsoon research. WMO hopes that through this series of quadrennial workshops, the following goals can be accomplished: (a) to update forecasters on the latest reseach findings and forecasting technology; (b) to update researchers on monsoon analysis and forecasting; (c) to identify basic and applied research priorities and opportunities; (d) to identify opportunities and priorities for acquiring observations; (e) to discuss the approach of a web-based training document in order to update forecasters on developments of direct relevance to monsoon forecasting
Room temperature ferromagnetism in chemically synthesized ZnO rods
We report structural and magnetic properties of pure ZnO rods using X-ray
diffraction (XRD), magnetization hysteresis (M-H) loop and near edge x-ray fine
structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) study at O K edge. Sample of ZnO was prepared
by co-precipitation method. XRD and selective area electron diffraction
measurements infer that ZnO rods exhibit a single phase polycrystalline nature
with wurtzite lattice. Field emission transmission electron microscopy, field
emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs infers that ZnO have rod type
microstructures with dimension 200 nm in diameter and 550 nm in length. M-H
loop studies performed at room temperature display room temperature
ferromagnetism in ZnO rods. NEXAFS study reflects absence of the oxygen
vacancies in pure ZnO rods.Comment: 8 Pages, 3 Figure
Characteristics of the grain-filling process and starch accumulation of high-yield common buckwheat ‘cv. Fengtian 1’ and tartary buckwheat ‘cv. Jingqiao 2’
High-yield common buckwheat ‘cv. Fengtian 1’ (FT1) and tartary buckwheat ‘cv. Jingqiao 2’ (JQ2) were selected to investigate the characteristics of the grain-filling process and starch accumulation of high-yield buckwheat. FT1 had an average yield that was 43.0% higher than that of the control ‘cv. Tongliaobendixiaoli’ (TLBDXL) in two growing seasons, while JQ2 had an average yield that was 27.3% higher than that of the control ‘cv. Chuanqiao 2’ (CQ2). The Richards equation was utilized to evaluate the grain-filling process of buckwheat. Both FT1 and JQ2 showed higher values of initial growth power and final grain weight and longer linear increase phase, compared with respective control. These values suggest that the higher initial increasing rate and the longer active growth period during grain filling play important roles to increase buckwheat yield. Similar patterns of starch, amylose and amylopectin accumulation were detected in common buckwheat, leading to similar concentration of each constituent at maturity in FT1 and TLBDXL. Tartary buckwheat showed an increasing accumulation pattern of amylose in developing seeds, which differed from that of starch and amylopectin. This pattern led to a significant difference of the concentrations of amylose and amylopectin at maturity between JQ2 and CQ2, the mechanisms of which remained unclear. Nevertheless, both FT1 and JQ2 showed increased starch, amylose, and amylopectin accumulation during the physiological maturity of grains. The results suggest that prolonging the active grain-filling period to increase carbohydrate partitioning from source to seed sink can be an effective strategy to improve buckwheat yield
A design optimization method for solar-driven thermochemical storage systems based on building performance simulation
The challenge of the temporal mismatch between energy supply and demand in buildings is growing with the increasing share of renewable energy in total energy consumption. Among all the state-of-the-art energy storage solutions, thermochemical heat storage shows a unique potential thanks to its considerable energy density, acceptable cost, and negligible heat loss. For this reason, it becomes a promising alternative to common sensible heat storage solutions for building applications. The integration of such a novel technology in buildings necessitates a method for the assessment of its potential impact and benefit, the comparison to common alternatives, and the optimization of the system design. This work proposes a method based on modeling and simulation of the interaction between the thermochemical heat storage system and the building using a data-driven surrogate model of the storage system in combination with a building performance simulation engine. The data-driven model was developed and validated based on laboratory measurements of a novel closed-loop thermochemical heat storage system, the heat battery (HB). The method was demonstrated in a case study to identify the optimal size of the HB in a solar-driven configuration based on a residential building use case. The results show that the heat battery can digest the thermal energy transferred from the solar thermal collector to reduce the original electricity consumption for heating the detached house (0.7 MWh to 1.0 MWh in considered cases) without any obvious sacrifice in thermal comfort and that the small-scale HB (with a storage volume below 160 liters) shows efficient usage of the designed storage capacity
Discovery and Measurement of Sleptons, Binos, and Winos with a Z'
Extensions of the MSSM could significantly alter its phenomenology at the
LHC. We study the case in which the MSSM is extended by an additional U(1)
gauge symmetry, which is spontaneously broken at a few TeV. The production
cross-section of sleptons is enhanced over that of the MSSM by the process
, so the discovery potential for
sleptons is greatly increased. The flavor and charge information in the
resulting decay, , provides a useful handle on
the identity of the LSP. With the help of the additional kinematical constraint
of an on-shell Z', we implement a novel method to measure all of the
superpartner masses involved in this channel. For certain final states with two
invisible particles, one can construct kinematic observables bounded above by
parent particle masses. We demonstrate how output from one such observable,
m_T2, can become input to a second, increasing the number of measurements one
can make with a single decay chain. The method presented here represents a new
class of observables which could have a much wider range of applicability.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures; v2 references added and minor change
A Modular Platform for Cytocompatible Hydrogels with Tailored Mechanical Properties Based on Monolithic Matrices and Particulate Building Blocks
Spin Measurements in Cascade Decays at the LHC
We systematically study the possibility of determining the spin of new
particles after their discovery at the LHC. We concentrate on angular
correlations in cascade decays. Motivated by constraints of electroweak
precision tests and the potential of providing a Cold Dark Matter candidate, we
focus on scenarios of new physics in which some discrete symmetry guarantees
the existence of stable neutral particles which escape the detector. More
specifically, we compare supersymmetry with another generic scenario in which
new physics particles have the same spin as their Standard Model partners. A
survey of possibilities of observing spin correlations in a broad range of
decay channels is carried out, with interesting ones identified. Rather than
confining ourselves to one "collider friendly" benchmark point (such as SPS1a),
we describe the parameter region in which any particular decay channel is
effective. We conduct a more detailed study of chargino's spin determination in
the decay channel . A scan
over the chargino and neutralino masses is performed. We find that as long as
the spectrum is not too degenerate the prospects for spin determination in this
channel are rather good.Comment: 36 pages, references added, 1 figure modifie
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