Colchicine-Doubling of Germinating Seedlings of Interspecific Wildrye Hybrids

Colchicine has usually been applied to sterile clones of interspecific grass hybrids to restore fertility. However, when hybrids are partially fertile, colchicine can be applied to germinating seedlings. Four populations of Basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus) X beardless wildrye (L. triticoides) were treated with a 0.2% colchicine solution to double chromosome number from 4x=28 to 8x=56. Doubling percentage was 28, 33, 42, and 44% of all root-tips examined for the four populations. When plants without doubled sectors were discarded, doubling percentage increased to 56, 68, 78, and 78%. Plants with doubled sectors have been placed in crossing blocks to generate octoploid progeny. Octoploids identified through root-tip chromosome counts will be intercrossed to generate 8x populations

The exact Darwin Lagrangian

Darwin (1920) noted that when radiation can be neglected it should be possible to eliminate the radiation degrees-of-freedom from the action of classical electrodynamics and keep the discrete particle degrees-of-freedom only. Darwin derived his well known Lagrangian by series expansion in $v/c$ keeping terms up to order $(v/c)^2$. Since radiation is due to acceleration the assumption of low speed should not be necessary. A Lagrangian is suggested that neglects radiation without assuming low speed. It cures deficiencies of the Darwin Lagrangian in the ultra-relativistic regime.Comment: 2.5 pages, no figure

Unfrustrated Qudit Chains and their Ground States

We investigate chains of 'd' dimensional quantum spins (qudits) on a line with generic nearest neighbor interactions without translational invariance. We find the conditions under which these systems are not frustrated, i.e. when the ground states are also the common ground states of all the local terms in the Hamiltonians. The states of a quantum spin chain are naturally represented in the Matrix Product States (MPS) framework. Using imaginary time evolution in the MPS ansatz, we numerically investigate the range of parameters in which we expect the ground states to be highly entangled and find them hard to approximate using our MPS method.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. Typos correcte

Alternative Mathematical Technique to Determine LS Spectral Terms

We presented an alternative computational method for determining the permitted LS spectral terms arising from $l^N$ electronic configurations. This method makes the direct calculation of LS terms possible. Using only basic algebra, we derived our theory from LS-coupling scheme and Pauli exclusion principle. As an application, we have performed the most complete set of calculations to date of the spectral terms arising from $l^N$ electronic configurations, and the representative results were shown. As another application on deducing LS-coupling rules, for two equivalent electrons, we deduced the famous Even Rule; for three equivalent electrons, we derived a new simple rule.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Bridge-specific fragility analysis: when is it really necessary?

In seismic assessment of bridges the research focus has recently shifted on the derivation of bridge-specific fragility curves that account for the effect of different geometry, structural system, component and soil properties, on the seismic behaviour. In this context, a new, component-based methodology for the derivation of bridge-specific fragility curves has been recently proposed by the authors, with a view to overcoming the inherent difficulties in assessing all bridges of a road network and the drawbacks of existing methodologies, which use the same group of fragility curves for bridges within the same typological class. The main objective of this paper is to critically assess the necessity of bridge-specific fragility analysis, starting from the effect of structure-specific parameters on component capacity (limit state thresholds), seismic demand, and fragility curves. The aforementioned methodology is used to derive fragility curves for all bridges within an actual road network, with a view to investigating the consistency of adopting generic fragility curves for bridges that fall within the same class and quantifying the degree of over- or under-estimation of the probability of damage when generic bridge classes are considered. Moreover, fragility curves for all representative bridges of the analysed concrete bridge classes are presented to illustrate the differentiation in bridge fragility for varying structural systems, bridge geometry, total bridge length and maximum pier height. Based on the above, the relevance of bridge-specific fragility analysis is assessed, and pertinent conclusions are drawn

Entanglement Evolution in the Presence of Decoherence

The entanglement of two qubits, each defined as an effective two-level, spin 1/2 system, is investigated for the case that the qubits interact via a Heisenberg XY interaction and are subject to decoherence due to population relaxation and thermal effects. For zero temperature, the time dependent concurrence is studied analytically and numerically for some typical initial states, including a separable (unentangled) initial state. An analytical formula for non-zero steady state concurrence is found for any initial state, and optimal parameter values for maximizing steady state concurrence are given. The steady state concurrence is found analytically to remain non-zero for low, finite temperatures. We also identify the contributions of global and local coherence to the steady state entanglement.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures. The second version of this paper has been significantly expanded in response to referee comments. The revised manuscript has been accepted for publication in Journal of Physics

Single-qubit gates and measurements in the surface acoustic wave quantum computer

In the surface acoustic wave quantum computer, the spin state of an electron trapped in a moving quantum dot comprises the physical qubit of the scheme. Via detailed analytic and numerical modeling of the qubit dynamics, we discuss the effect of excitations into higher-energy orbital states of the quantum dot that occur when the qubits pass through magnetic fields. We describe how single-qubit quantum operations, such as single-qubit rotations and single-qubit measurements, can be performed using only localized static magnetic fields. The models provide useful parameter regimes to be explored experimentally when the requirements on semiconductor gate fabrication and the nanomagnetics technology are met in the future.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The Effect of CardioWaves Interval Training on Resting Blood Pressure, Resting Heart Rate, and Mind-Body Wellness

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(1): 89-100, 2016. An experimental study to examine the effects of CardioWaves interval training (CWIT) and continuous training (CT) on resting blood pressure, resting heart rate, and mind-body wellness. Fifty-two normotensive (blood pressure \u3c120/80 mmHg), pre-hypertensive (120–139/80–89 mmHg), and hypertensive (\u3e140/90 mmHg) participants were randomly assigned and equally divided between the CWIT and CT groups. Both groups participated in the assigned exercise protocol 30 minutes per day, four days per week for eight weeks. Resting blood pressure, resting heart rate, and mind-body wellness were measured pre- and post-intervention. A total of 47 participants (15 females and 32 males) were included in the analysis. The CWIT group had a non-significant trend of reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) and increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) while the CT group had a statistically significant decrease in awake SBP (p = 0.01) and total SBP (p = 0.01) and a non-significant decrease in DBP. With both groups combined, the female participants had a statistically significant decrease in awake SBP (p = 0.002), asleep SBP (p = 0.01), total SBP (p = 0.003), awake DBP (p = 0.02), and total DBP (p = 0.05). The male participants had an increase in SBP and DBP with total DBP showing a statistically significant increase (p = 0.05). Neither group had a consistent change in resting heart rate. Both groups showed improved mind-body wellness. CWIT and CT reduced resting blood pressure, with CT having a greater effect. Resting heart rate did not change in either group. Additionally, both CWIT and CT improved mind-body wellness

Theory of Crystalline Electric Field and Kondo Effect in Pr Skutterudites

Possible Kondo effect in Pr skutterudite is studied with attention to characteristic features of low-lying crystalline electric field (CEF) levels and the conduction band. A mechanism for the small CEF splitting between a singlet and a triplet is proposed as combination of the point-charge interaction and hybridization of 4f with ligand p states. Provided 4f^3 configurations dominate over 4f^1 as intermediate states, p-f hybridization favors the triplet, while point-charge interaction favors the singlet. For realistic parameters for hybridization as well as 4f^1 and 4f^3 levels, these singlet and triplet can form a nearly degenerate pseudo-quartet. It is found that one of two spin 1/2 objects composing the pseudo-quartet has a ferromagnetic exchange, while the other has an antiferromagnetic exchange with conduction electrons. The magnitude of each effective exchange depends strongly on a parameter characterizing the triplet wave function under the T_h symmetry. It is argued that differences of this parameter among Pr skutterdudites are responsible for the apparent diversity of their physical properties. Numerical renormalization group is used to derive the renormalization flows going toward singlet, doublet, triplet or quaret according to the CEF splitting and exchange interactions.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Special Invited Section (Kondo Effect) of Journal of Physical Society of Japa