782 research outputs found
Extended nonlocal chiral-quark model for the heavy-light quark systems
In this talk, we report the recent progress on constructing a
phenomenological effective model for the heavy-light quark systems, which
consist of (u,d,s,c,b) quarks, i.e. extended nonlocal chiral-quark model
(ExNLChQM). We compute the heavy-meson weak-decay constants to verify the
validity of the model. From the numerical results, it turns out that (f_D, f_B,
f_{D_s}, f_{B_s})=(207.54,208.13,262.56,262.39) MeV. These values are in
relatively good agreement with experimental data and various theoretical
estimations.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Talk given at the 20th International IUPAP
Conference on Few-Body Problems in Physics (FB20), 20~25 August 2012,
Fukuoka, Japa
Sequential soil washing techniques using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide for remediating arsenic-contaminated soils in abandoned iron-ore mines
Sequential washing techniques using single or dual agents sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions were applied to arsenic-contaminated soils in an abandoned iron-ore mine area. We investigated the best remediation strategies to maximize arsenic removal efficiency for both soils and arsenic-containing washing solution through conducting a series of batch experiments. Based on the results of a sequential extraction procedure, most arsenic prevails in Fe-As precipitates or coprecipitates, and iron exists mostly in the crystalline forms of iron oxide. Soil washing by use of a single agent was not effective in remediating arsenic-contaminated soils because arsenic extractions determined by the Korean standard test (KST) methods for washed soils were not lower than 6 mg kg-1 in all experimental conditions. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that iron-ore fines produced mobile colloids through coagulation and flocculation in water contacting the soils, containing dissolved arsenic and fine particles of ferric arsenate-coprecipitated silicate. The first washing step using 0.2 M HCl was mostly effective in increasing the cationic hydrolysis of amorphous ferrihydrite, inducing high removal of arsenic. Thus, the removal step of arsenic-containing flocs can lower arsenic extractions (KST methods) of washed soils. Among several washing trials, alternative sequential washing using 0.2 M HCl followed by 1 M HCl (second step) and 1 M NaOH solution (third step) showed reliable and lower values of arsenic extractions (KST methods) of washed soils. This washing method can satisfy the arsenic regulation of washed soil for reuse or safe disposal application. The kinetic data of washing tests revealed that dissolved arsenic was easily readsorbed into remaining soils at a low pH. This result might have occurred due to dominant species of positively charged crystalline iron oxides characterized through the sequential extraction procedure. However, alkaline extraction using NaOH was effective in removing arsenic readsorbed onto the surface of crystalline minerals. This is because of the ligand displacement reaction of hydroxyl ions with arsenic species and high pH conditions that can prevent readsorption of arsenic. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Non-universal gaugino masses: a signal-based analysis for the Large Hadron Collider
We discuss the signals at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for scenarios with
non-universal gaugino masses in supersymmetric (SUSY) theories. We perform a
multichannel analysis, and consider the ratios of event rates in different
channels such as , - and -
, as well as and final states
together with . Low-energy SUSY spectra corresponding to
high-scale gaugino non-universality arising from different breaking schemes of
SU(5) as well as SO(10) Grand Unified (GUT) SUSY models are considered, with
both degenerate low-energy sfermion masses and those arising from a
supergravity scenario. We present the numerical predictions over a wide range
of the parameter space using the event generator {\tt Pythia}, specifying the
event selection criteria and pointing out regions where signals are likely to
be beset with backgrounds. Certain broad features emerge from the study, which
may be useful in identifying the signatures of different GUT breaking schemes
and distinguishing them from a situation with a universal gaugino mass at high
scale. The absolute values of the predicted event rates for different scenarios
are presented together with the various event ratios, so that these can also be
used whenever necessary.Comment: 54 pages, 18 figure
Effect of disorder in MgB2 thin films
We report on scanning tunneling spectroscopy studies of magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin films grown by different techniques. The films have critical temperatures ranging between 28 and 41 K with very different upper critical fields. We find that the superconducting gap associated with the sigma band decreases almost linearly with decreasing critical temperature while the gap associated with the pi band is only very weakly affected in the range of critical temperatures above 30 K. In the sample with the lowest critical temperature (28 K) we observe a small increase of the pi gap that can only be explained in terms of an increase in the interband scattering. The tunneling data was analyzed in the framework of the two-band model. The magnetic-field-dependent tunneling spectra and the upper critical field measurements of these disordered samples can be consistently explained in terms of an increase of disorder that mostly affects the pi band in samples with reduced critical temperatures
Continuity theorems for the queueing system
In this paper continuity theorems are established for the number of losses
during a busy period of the queue. We consider an queueing
system where the service time probability distribution, slightly different in a
certain sense from the exponential distribution, is approximated by that
exponential distribution. Continuity theorems are obtained in the form of one
or two-sided stochastic inequalities. The paper shows how the bounds of these
inequalities are changed if further assumptions, associated with specific
properties of the service time distribution (precisely described in the paper),
are made. Specifically, some parametric families of service time distributions
are discussed, and the paper establishes uniform estimates (given for all
possible values of the parameter) and local estimates (where the parameter is
fixed and takes only the given value). The analysis of the paper is based on
the level crossing approach and some characterization properties of the
exponential distribution.Comment: Final revision; will be published as i
Lepton Dipole Moments and Rare Decays in the CP-violating MSSM with Nonuniversal Soft-Supersymmetry Breaking
We investigate the muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment (MDM), the muon
electric dipole moment (EDM) and the lepton-flavour-violating decays of the
lepton, and , in the CP-violating
Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with nonuniversal
soft-supersymmetry breaking. We evaluate numerically the muon EDM and the
branching ratios and , after taking
into account the experimental constraints from the electron EDM and muon MDM.
Upon imposition of the experimental limits on our theoretical predictions for
the aforementioned branching ratios and the muon MDM, we obtain an upper bound
of about on the muon EDM which lies well within the
explorable reach of the proposed experiment at BNL.Comment: Latex, 26 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Experimental evidence of two-band behavior of MgB2
The break-junction tunneling has been systematically investigated in MgB2.
Two types of the break-junction contacts have been exploited on the same
samples, which demonstrated tunnel contact like (SIS) and point contact like
(SnS) behavior. Both of them have shown the existence of the two distinct
energy gaps. We have observed also the peculiarities on the I(V)-
characteristics related to Leggett's collective mode assisted tunneling. -->
Corresponding author address: [email protected]: 14 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; corrected typos and fig
Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy
We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable
and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is
presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and
systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of
globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude,
with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may
have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky
Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the
second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the
HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The
relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level
and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax
measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance
modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are
studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of
low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and
Space Scienc
Imaging-based clusters in current smokers of the COPD cohort associate with clinical characteristics: The SubPopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS) 11 Medical and Health Sciences 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
Background: Classification of COPD is usually based on the severity of airflow, which may not sensitively differentiate subpopulations. Using a multiscale imaging-based cluster analysis (MICA), we aim to identify subpopulations for current smokers with COPD. Methods: Among the SPIROMICS subjects, we analyzed computed tomography images at total lung capacity (TLC) and residual volume (RV) of 284 current smokers. Functional variables were derived from registration of TLC and RV images, e.g. functional small airways disease (fSAD%). Structural variables were assessed at TLC images, e.g. emphysema and airway wall thickness and diameter. We employed an unsupervised method for clustering. Results: Four clusters were identified. Cluster 1 had relatively normal airway structures; Cluster 2 had an increase of fSAD% and wall thickness; Cluster 3 exhibited a further increase of fSAD% but a decrease of wall thickness and airway diameter; Cluster 4 had a significant increase of fSAD% and emphysema. Clinically, Cluster 1 showed normal FEV1/FVC and low exacerbations. Cluster 4 showed relatively low FEV1/FVC and high exacerbations. While Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 showed similar exacerbations, Cluster 2 had the highest BMI among all clusters. Conclusions: Association of imaging-based clusters with existing clinical metrics suggests the sensitivity of MICA in differentiating subpopulations
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