Cosmic Radiation Constraints on Low String Scale and Extra Dimension Cross Sections

The observed interaction energy of cosmic rays with atmospheric nuclei reaches up to a PeV in the center of mass. We compute nucleon-nucleon and nucleon-neutrino cross sections for various generic parton cross sections appearing in string and brane world scenarios for gravity and compare them with cosmic ray data. Scenarios with effective energy scales in the TeV range and parton cross sections with linear or stronger growth with the center of mass energy appear strongly constrained or ruled out. String-inspired scenarios with infinite-volume extra dimensions may require a fundamental scale above 100 eV for which they are probably in conflict with gravity on parsec scales.Comment: 4 revtex pages, 1 postscript figur

Lectures on Astroparticle Physics

These are extended notes of a series of lectures given at the XIth Brazilian School of Cosmology and Gravitation. They provide a selection of topics at the intersection of particle and astrophysics. The first part gives a short introduction to the theory of electroweak interactions, with specific emphasize on neutrinos. In the second part we apply this framework to selected topics in astrophysics and cosmology, namely neutrino oscillations, neutrino hot dark dark matter, and big bang nucleosynthesis. The last part is devoted to ultra high energy cosmic rays and neutrinos where again particle physics aspects are emphasized. The often complementary role of laboratory experiments is also discussed in several examples.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures, extended version of lectures given at the XIth Brazilian School of Cosmology and Gravitation, Rio de Janeiro, July 26 - August 4, 2004, prepared for AIP conference proceeding

Weak Interactions in Supernova Cores and Saturation of Nucleon Spin Fluctuations

Extrapolation of perturbative nucleon spin fluctuation rates seems to suggest a strong suppression of weak interactions in supernova cores. We derive a new sum rule for the dynamical spin-density structure function which relates the spin fluctuation rate to the average nuclear interaction energy. For a bremsstrahlung like structure function profile we show that instead of strongly decreasing, the neutrino scattering cross section is roughly density independent and axion emission rates increase somewhat slower than the lowest order emissivities towards the center of a hot supernova core.Comment: 9 latex pages, 1 uuencoded postscript figure added via figures comman

Oral Protein Therapy for the Future - Transport of Glycolipid-Modified Proteins: Vision or Fiction?

The reliable and early diagnosis of common complex multifactorial diseases depends on the individual determination of all (or as many as possible) polymorphisms of each susceptibility gene together with amount and type of the corresponding gene products and their downstream effects, including the synthesis and flux of metabolites and regulation of signalling processes. In addition, this system's biology-driven personalized diagnosis must be accompanied by options for personalized reliable and early therapy. In the midterm, the direct substitution or inhibition of the proteins encoded by the corresponding defective gene products of the susceptibility genes exerting lower or higher activity by administration of the `normal' proteins or inhibitory antibodies, respectively, seems to be most promising. The critical hurdle of oral bioavailability as well as transport into the cytoplasm of the target cells, if required, could be overcome by therapeutic proteins with carboxy-terminal modification by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). This may be deduced from recent experiments with rat adipocytes. Here this membrane-anchoring glycolipid structure induces the sequential transport of proteins from special regions of the plasma membrane via the surface of intracellular lipid droplets to special membrane vesicles, which are finally released from the adipocytes together with the associated GPI proteins. It remains to be studied whether similar molecular mechanisms operate in intestinal epithelial cells and may enable the transport of GPI proteins from the intestinal lumen into the blood stream. If so, modification of proteins encoded by (combinations of) susceptibility genes with GPI could significantly facilitate the personalized therapy of common diseases on the basis of `inborn' safety, efficacy, rapid realization and oral application. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

INTERNATIONAL WINE TRADE: ANALYZING THE VALUE OF REPUTATION AND QUALITY SIGNALS

This research examines the factors behind price differentials based on regional origin. For this purpose, we estimate a hedonic pricing model of premium wines sold in the U.S. We hypothesize that numerous quality signals affect wine prices including expert opinions about sensory quality, maturing potential, and special selections as well as derived indicators that signal a high or low quality producer. After correcting for variety, regional origin, and age, the data confirms that a wine's price is related to producer quality signals, which may even negate regional effects. We conclude that it is problematic to interpret regional premiums as brand value (as opposed to quality premiums) without adjusting them for producer quality signals. Estimated brand values may then be biased. Moreover, a strong positive producer quality signal receives a larger percentage price premium than a comparable negative signal which warrants important marketing implications for producers and entire regions.International Relations/Trade,

Global Warming and German Agriculture

This study uses the concept of shadow prices for measuring the impacts of climate change. Estimation of a restricted profit function rather than a cost or a production function increases the explanatory power of the agroclimate approach because of an endogenous output structure. Using micro-based panel data on Western German farmers, the results im-ply that the agricul-tural production process is significantly influenced by climate conditions. By linking this model with a climate-change scenario, a remarkable positive shadow value is found for the German agricultural sector. Interestingly, the spatial distribution of the gains shows no concentration on those regions, which currently suffer from insufficient temperature. Finally, the importance of an endogenous output structure is confirmed by the finding that the de-sired product mix will drastically change.

Nominal exchange rate regimes and relative price dispersion: on the importance of nominal exchange rate volatility for the width of the border

Based on a broad set of regional aggregated and disaggregated consumer price index (CPI) data from major industrialized countries in Asia, North America and Europe we are examining the role that national borders play for goods market integration. In line with the existing literature we find that intra-national markets are better integrated than international market. Additionally, our results show that there is a large "ocean" effect, i.e., inter-continental markets are significantly more segmented than intra-continental markets. To examine the impact of the establishment of the European Monetary Union (EMU) on integration, we split our sample into a pre-EMU and EMU sample. We find that border effects across EMU countries have declined by about 80% to 90% after 1999 whereas border estimates across non-EMU countries have remained basically unchanged. Since global factors have affected all countries in our sample similarly and major integration efforts across EMU countries were made before 1999, we suggest that most of the reduction in EMU border estimates has been "nominal". Panel unit root evidence shows that the observed large differences in integration across intra- and inter-continental markets remain valid in the long-run. This finding implies that real factors are responsible for the documented segmentations across our sample countries