Sigma terms from an SU(3) chiral extrapolation

We report a new analysis of lattice simulation results for octet baryon masses in 2+1-flavor QCD, with an emphasis on a precise determination of the strangeness nucleon sigma term. A controlled chiral extrapolation of a recent PACS-CS Collaboration data set yields baryon masses which exhibit remarkable agreement both with experimental values at the physical point and with the results of independent lattice QCD simulations at unphysical meson masses. Using the Feynman-Hellmann relation, we evaluate sigma commutators for all octet baryons. The small statistical uncertainty, and considerably smaller model-dependence, allows a signifcantly more precise determination of the pion-nucleon sigma commutator and the strangeness sigma term than hitherto possible, namely {\sigma}{\pi}N=45 \pm 6 MeV and {\sigma}s = 21 \pm 6 MeV at the physical point.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Operationalising a Threshold Concept in Economics: A Pilot Study Using Multiple Choice Questions on Opportunity Cost

This paper addresses the emerging educational framework that envisions threshold concepts as mediators of learning outcomes. While the threshold concepts framework is highly appealing on a theoretical level, few researchers have attempted to measure threshold concept acquisition empirically. Achieving this would open a new arena for exploration and debate in the threshold concepts field, and provide potential results to inform teaching practice. We begin the process of operationalising threshold concepts in economics by attempting to measure students' grasp of the threshold concept of opportunity cost in an introductory economics class. We suggest two potential measures and correlate them with an array of ex ante and ex post variables, including students' expectations of success, prior misconceptions about economics and the work of economists, and actual success in the course. Results cast new light onto the factors that influence the acquisition of threshold concepts, the relationship between threshold concept acquisition and final learning outcomes, and the empirical viability of threshold concepts generally.

Gene action of blast disease reaction and grain yield traits in finger millet

Gene action of blast reaction, yield and yield associated traits in finger millet were studied using a 4x4 North Carolina Design II mating scheme. The four female and four male parents and their 16 crosses were evaluated at Alupe and Kakamega in western Kenya in a randomized complete block design under both artificially induced and natural disease pressure. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) estimates of the traits were calculated to determine the genotypes breeding value. The GCA variance predominated over SCA variance for all traits except finger width hence these traits can be improved through selection. With high, desirable GCA effects, male parent KNE 392 and female parents KNE 744 and IE 11 are suitable for blast resistance breeding while male parent Okhale 1 is suitable for grain yield improvement. The frequency distribution for the segregating F2 generation for the three blast types differed within and between crosses which could be due to differences in gene numbers or gene combinations being expressed in the different parents used. Convergent crossing or gene pyramiding for durable resistance could be possible

The Chern-Simons number as an order parameter: classical sphaleron transitions for SU(2)-Higgs field theories for m(H)approximate to 120 GeV

The classical transitions between topologically distinct vacua in a SU(2)-Higgs model, using a Higgs field of mass approximately 120 GeV, is examined to probe the crossover region between the symmetric and broken phase. Assuming the Higgs mass is constant, we find the width of this crossover region is approximately 20% of the average temperature. We suggest that this observable is a better parameter to explore this region of phase space than equal-time correlation functions, (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

The Light Hadron Mass Spectrum with Non-Perturbatively O(a) Improved Wilson Fermions

We compute the light hadron mass spectrum in quenched lattice QCD at $\beta = 6.0$ using the Sheikholeslami-Wohlert fermionic action. The calculation is done for several choices of the coefficient $c_{SW}$, including $c_{SW} = 0$ and the recently proposed optimal value $c_{SW} = 1.769$. We find that the individual masses change by up to 30\% under $O(a)$ improvement. The spectrum calculation suggests $c_{SW} \approx 1.4$ for the optimal value of the coefficient.Comment: 15 pages, uuencoded Z-compressed postscript file. Also available from http://www.desy.de/pub/preprints/desy/199

Capillary Pressure and Contact Line Force on a Soft Solid

The surface free energy, or surface tension, of a liquid interface gives rise to a pressure jump when the interface is curved. Here we show that a similar capillary pressure arises at the interface of soft solids. We present experimental evidence that immersion of a thin elastomeric wire into a liquid induces a substantial elastic compression due to the solid capillary pressure at the bottom. We quantitatively determine the effective surface tension from the elastic displacement field, and find a value comparable to the liquid-vapor surface tension. Most importantly, these results also reveal the way the liquid pulls on the solid close to the contact line: the capillary force is not oriented along the liquid-air interface, nor perpendicularly to the solid surface, as previously hypothesized, but towards the interior of the liquid