54 research outputs found
Meta-Stable Supersymmetry Breaking in a Cooling Universe
We look at the recently proposed idea that susy breaking can be accomplished
in a meta-stable vacuum. In the context of one of the simplest models (the
Seiberg-dual of super-QCD), we address the following question: if we look at
this theory as it cools from high temperature, is it at all possible that we
can end up in a susy-breaking meta-stable vacuum? To get an idea about the
answer, we look at the free energy of the system at high temperature. We
conclude that the phase-structure of the free-energy as the temperature drops,
is indeed such that there is a second order phase transition in the direction
of the non-susy vacuum at a finite . On the other hand, the potential
barrier in the direction of the susy vacuum is there all the way till .Comment: writing full author name
Interacting one dimensional electron gas with open boundaries
We discuss the properties of interacting electrons on a finite chain with
open boundary conditions. We extend the Haldane Luttinger liquid description to
these systems and study how the presence of the boundaries modifies various
correlation functions. In view of possible experimental applications to quantum
wires, we analyse how tunneling measurements can reveal the underlying
Luttinger liquid properties. The two terminal conductance is calculated. We
also point out possible applications to quasi one dimensional materials and
study the effects of magnetic impurities.Comment: 38 pages, ReVTeX, 7 figures (available upon request
Impact of Soil Type, Biology and Temperature on the Survival of Non-Toxigenic Escherichia Coli O157
peer-reviewedThe occurrence of microbial enteropathogens in the environment can represent a serious risk to human health. The fate of enteropathogens introduced into the soil environment is dependent on a wide range of complex interacting environmental factors. While the effect of abiotic factors on enteropathogen survival has been widely examined, the interaction of enteropathogens with the soil microbial community is poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of soil biology and soil type on the survival of a non-toxigenic strain of Escherichia coli O157 under different temperature regimes. Soil microcosms of two soil types, with and without an intact microbial community, were inoculated with the enteropathogen surrogate, and survival was determined over a 64-day period, encompassing a shift from cold to ambient temperatures. In both soil types bacterial numbers decreased in soil with an intact microflora, while in the absence of an intact community E. coli populations increased. This effect was temperature specific, with E. coli populations remaining stable at low temperature, regardless of treatment. Soil type was of importance in survival at both cold and ambient temperatures. This work highlights the signifi cance of the soil microbial community in suppressing enteropathogens in soil, and of investigating die-off in a multi-factorial manner.Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Programm
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