Non-linear generalization of the sl(2) algebra

We present a generalization of the sl(2) algebra where the algebraic relations are constructed with the help of a general function of one of the generators. When this function is linear this algebra is a deformed sl(2) algebra. In the non-linear case, the finite dimensional representations are constructed in two different ways. In the first case, which provides finite dimensional representations only for the non-linear case, these representations come from solutions to a dynamical equation and we show how to construct explicitly these representations for a general quadratic non-linear function. The other type of finite dimensional representation comes from solutions to a cut condition equation. We give examples of solutions of this type in the non-linear case as well.Comment: 13 pages, 3 EPS figures, Late

An all-in-one numerical methodology for fretting wear and fatigue life assessment

Many mechanical components such as, bearing housings, flexible couplings and spines or orthopedic devices are simultaneously subjected to a fretting wear and fatigue damage. For this reason, the combined study on a single model of wear, crack initiation and propagation is of great interest. This paper presents an all-in-one 2D cylinder on flat numerical model for life assessment on coupled fretting wear and fatigue phenomena. In the literature, two stages are usually distinguished: crack nucleation and its subsequent growth. The method combines the Archard wear model, a critical-plane implementation of the Smith-Watson- Topper (SWT) multiaxial fatigue criterion coupled with the Miner-Palmgren accumulation damage rule for crack initiation prediction. Then, the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) via eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM) embedded into the commercial finite element code Abaqus FEA has been employed to determine the crack propagation stage. Therefore, the sum of the two stages gives a total life prediction. Finally, the numerical model was validated with experimental data reported in the literature and a good agreement was obtained

Brans-Dicke DGP Brane Cosmology

We consider a five dimensional DGP-brane scenario endowed with a non-minimally coupled scalar field within the context of Brans-Dicke theory. This theory predicts that the mass appearing in the gravitational potential is modified by the addition of the mass of the effective intrinsic curvature on the brane. We also derive the effective four dimensional field equations on a 3+1 dimensional brane where the fifth dimension is assumed to have an orbifold symmetry. Finally, we discuss the cosmological implications of this setup, predicting an accelerated expanding universe with a value of the Brans-Dicke parameter $\omega$ consistent with values resulting from the solar system observations.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, to appear in JCA

Accounting for the foreground contribution to the dust emission towards Kepler's supernova remnant

‘The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com '. Copyright Royal Astronomical Society. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15061.xWhether or not supernovae contribute significantly to the overall dust budget is a controversial subject. Submillimetre (sub-mm) observations, sensitive to cold dust, have shown an excess at 450 and 850 μm in young remnants Cassiopeia A (Cas A) and Kepler. Some of the sub-mm emission from Cas A has been shown to be contaminated by unrelated material along the line of sight. In this paper, we explore the emission from material towards Kepler using sub-mm continuum imaging and spectroscopic observations of atomic and molecular gas, via H i, 12CO(J= 2–1) and 13CO(J= 2–1). We detect weak CO emission (peak T*A = 0.2–1 K, 1–2 km s−1 full width at half-maximum) from diffuse, optically thin gas at the locations of some of the sub-mm clumps. The contribution to the sub-mm emission from foreground molecular and atomic clouds is negligible. The revised dust mass for Kepler's remnant is 0.1–1.2 M⊙ , about half of the quoted values in the original study by Morgan et al., but still sufficient to explain the origin of dust at high redshifts.Peer reviewe

Effect of match-related contextual factors on positional performance in the national rugby league

Objectives: To examine the effects of match-related contextual variables on positional groups and success in the National Rugby League (NRL). Methods: Data relating to match location, match outcome, quality of opposition and match type (absolute score differential) from all matches across the 2015–2019 NRL seasons were collected, in addition to 14 previously identified Factors (technical performance indicators). A decision tree, grown using the Exhaustive Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) algorithm, was used to model the effect of each of these match-related contexts on positional contribution according to match outcome. Results: The accuracy of the exhaustive CHAID model in explaining the influence of positional groups on match outcome was 66%. The model revealed four primary splits: interchange forwards, utility backs, adjustables and a group containing the remaining three positional groups (forwards, backs, and interchange). Conclusions: Results suggest that interchange forwards, utility backs and adjustables could have a definitive role within the team compared to the remaining positional groups in determining match outcome. In contrast to team-level research, there is a greater emphasis on the importance of defensive actions (e.g. try causes, tackles made) at a positional level than attacking performance indicators. The moderate classification accuracy justifies the use of this approach for examination of the interactions between match-related contextual variables, performance indicators and positional groups

Preparation and degradation of rhodium and iridium diolefin catalysts for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols

Rhodium and iridium diolefin catalysts for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols have been prepared, and their degradation has been investigated, during the study of the reactivity of the dimers [M(µ-Cl)(I4-C8H12)]2 (M = Rh (1), Ir (2)) and [M(µ-OH)(I4-C8H12)]2 (M = Rh (3), Ir (4)) with 1, 3-bis(6'-methyl-2'-pyridylimino)isoindoline (HBMePHI). Complex 1 reacts with HBMePHI, in dichloromethane, to afford equilibrium mixtures of 1, the mononuclear derivative RhCl(I4-C8H12){¿1-Npy-(HBMePHI)} (5), and the binuclear species [RhCl(I4-C8H12)]2{µ-Npy, Npy-(HBMePHI)} (6). Under the same conditions, complex 2 affords the iridium counterparts IrCl(I4-C8H12){¿1-Npy-(HBMePHI)} (7) and [IrCl(I4-C8H12)]2{µ-Npy, Npy-(HBMePHI)} (8). In contrast to chloride, one of the hydroxide groups of 3 and 4 promotes the deprotonation of HBMePHI to give [M(I4-C8H12)]2(µ-OH){µ-Npy, Niso-(BMePHI)} (M = Rh (9), Ir (10)), which are efficient precatalysts for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols. In the presence of KOtBu, the [BMePHI]- ligand undergoes three different degradations: Alcoholysis of an exocyclic isoindoline-N double bond, alcoholysis of a pyridyl-N bond, and opening of the five-membered ring of the isoindoline core.

Moduli stabilization with positive vacuum energy

We study the effect of anomalous U(1) gauge groups in string theory compactification with fluxes. We find that, in a gauge invariant formulation, consistent AdS vacua appear breaking spontaneously supergravity. Non vanishing D-terms from the anomalous symmetry act as an uplifting potential and could allow for de Sitter vacua. However, we show that in this case the gravitino is generically (but not always) much heavier than the electroweak scale. We show that alternative uplifting scheme based on corrections to the Kahler potential can be compatible with a gravitino mass in the TeV range.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur

SQUID-based microtesla MRI for in vivo relaxometry of the human brain

SQUID-based MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) at microtesla fields has developed significantly over the past few years. Here we describe application of this method for magnetic relaxation measurements in the living human brain. We report values of the longitudinal relaxation time T1 for brain tissues, measured in vivo for the first time at microtesla fields. The experiments were performed at 46 microtesla field using a seven-channel SQUID system designed for microtesla MRI and MEG. Values of T1, measured for different tissues at this field, are found to be close (within 5%) to the corresponding values of the transverse relaxation time T2 at the same field. Implications of this result for imaging contrast in microtesla MRI are discussed.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of 2008 Applied Superconductivity Conferenc

Plasmonic LED device

Plasmonic nanostructures are known to influence the emission of near-by emitters. They can enhance the absorption and modify the external quantum efficiency of the coupled system. To evaluate the possibility of using plasmonics to enhance the light emission of a phosphor-converted LED device and create an efficient directional light source, regular arrays of aluminium nanoparticles covered with a red dye layer are investigated. In arrays of aluminum nanocylinders with a diameter of ca 140 nm combined with a thin (650 nm) layer of luminescent material, very narrow resonances have been observed, which lead to large enhancement factors of up to 70 and 20 for excitation with a directional blue laser source and a lambertian LED respectively, in a small spectral range for particular angles. The measured resonances agree very well with finite-difference time-domain numerical simulations. These changes in the angular emission profile of the red dye as well as the spectral shape of its emission can help to optimize the efficacy of phosphor-converted LED modules and increase the amount of useable light in a certain angular cone. Using Fourier microscopy, large modifications of the angular emission profile as well as spectral shaping are observed for these plasmonic LED devices if compared to reference samples without plasmonic nanostructures