1,741 research outputs found
Natural Theories of Ultra-Low Mass PNGB's: Axions and Quintessence
We consider the Wilson Line PNGB which arises in a U(1)^N gauge theory,
abstracted from a latticized, periodically compactified extra dimension U(1).
Planck scale breaking of the PNGB's global symmetry is suppressed, providing
natural candidates for the axion and quintessence. We construct an explicit
model in which the axion may be viewed as the 5th component of the U(1)_Y gauge
field in a 1+4 latticized periodically compactified extra dimension. We also
construct a quintessence PNGB model where the ultra-low mass arises from
Planck-scale suppressed physics itself.Comment: 20 pages, fixed typo and reference
Whole egg consumption and cortical bone in healthy children
Eggs contain bioactive compounds thought to benefit pediatric bone. This cross-sectional study shows a positive link between childhood egg intake and radius cortical bone. If randomized trials confirm our findings, incorporating eggs into children's diets could have a significant impact in preventing childhood fractures and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
INTRODUCTION:
This study examined the relationships between egg consumption and cortical bone in children.
METHODS:
The cross-sectional study design included 294 9-13-year-old black and white males and females. Three-day diet records determined daily egg consumption. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography measured radius and tibia cortical bone. Body composition and biomarkers of bone turnover were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ELISA, respectively.
RESULTS:
Egg intake was positively correlated with radius and tibia cortical bone mineral content (Ct.BMC), total bone area, cortical area, cortical thickness, periosteal circumference, and polar strength strain index in unadjusted models (r = 0.144-0.224, all P < 0.050). After adjusting for differences in race, sex, maturation, fat-free soft tissue mass (FFST), and protein intakes, tibia relationships were nullified; however, egg intake remained positively correlated with radius Ct.BMC (r = 0.138, P = 0.031). Egg intake positively correlated with total body bone mineral density, BMC, and bone area in the unadjusted models only (r = 0.119-0.224; all P < 0.050). After adjusting for covariates, egg intake was a positive predictor of radius FFST (β = 0.113, P < 0.050) and FFST was a positive predictor of Ct.BMC (β = 0.556, P < 0.050) in path analyses. There was a direct influence of egg on radius Ct.BMC (β = 0.099, P = 0.035), even after adjusting for the mediator, FFST (β = 0.137, P = 0.020). Egg intake was positively correlated with osteocalcin in both the unadjusted (P = 0.005) and adjusted (P = 0.049) models.
CONCLUSION:
If the positive influence of eggs on Ct.BMC observed in this study is confirmed through future randomized controlled trials, whole eggs may represent a viable strategy to promote pediatric bone development and prevent fractures
First-principles study of (BiScO3){1-x}-(PbTiO3){x} piezoelectric alloys
We report a first-principles study of a class of (BiScO3)_{1-x}-(PbTiO3)_x
(BS-PT) alloys recently proposed by Eitel et al. as promising materials for
piezoelectric actuator applications. We show that (i) BS-PT displays very large
structural distortions and polarizations at the morphotropic phase boundary
(MPB) (we obtain a c/a of ~1.05-1.08 and P_tet of ~1.1 C/m^2); (ii) the
ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of BS-PT are dominated by the onset
of hybridization between Bi/Pb-6p and O-2p orbitals, a mechanism that is
enhanced upon substitution of Pb by Bi; and (iii) the piezoelectric responses
of BS-PT and Pb(Zr_{1-x}Ti_x)O3 (PZT) at the MPB are comparable, at least as
far as the computed values of the piezoelectric coefficient d_15 are concerned.
While our results are generally consistent with experiment, they also suggest
that certain intrinsic properties of BS-PT may be even better than has been
indicated by experiments to date. We also discuss results for PZT that
demonstrate the prominent role played by Pb displacements in its piezoelectric
properties.Comment: 6 pages, with 3 postscript figures embedded. Uses REVTEX and epsf
macros. Also available at
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~dhv/preprints/ji_bi/index.htm
Irrigation Management -- Water Requirements and Water Balance
This paper seeks to discuss irrigation water requirement estimates in the
light of current practice, important developments during the 1970's, significant
research and future research and applications of that research. Each of
these are elaborated in more detail in the text of this paper.
A major addition to the science and art of estimating irrigation water requirements
has been to replace the often ambiguous "potential evapotranspiration"
with "reference crop evapotranspiration". In the past decade a series of experiments
relating irrigation water applications to crop yield now permit a
much better economic analysis of the use of water for irrigation. The estimation
of monthly irrigation water requirements was facilitated, particularly
for varying climatic conditions with the United Nations publication "Crop
Water Requirements" by Doorenbos and Pruitt (1977).
Estimation of daily water requirements for purposes of irrigation scheduling
has been refined by the development of an albedo model and a wind function
for the Penman method, that is variable throughout the season, Wright (1981).
Several western states are experiencing lawsuits or other legal deliberations
involving seasonal irrigation water requirements because of conflicts between
groups of water users or water right transfers from agriculture to industry
or municipal use. Irrigation scheduling continues to be refined from the
standpoints of predicting ET, verifying yield conditions and other factors
like production and peak pumping power reduction. Future research probably
will include emphasis on breeding crops that require less water, refinements
on the relationships between yields and water consumption, refinements in
methods of estimating irrigation water requirements, and the development of
irrigation schemes that minimize water and energy requirements.
For other methods and more detail the reader is referred to sources such as
Doorenbos and Pruitt (1977), Jensen (1974), Barman. et al. (1981)
Hadron Collider Signatures for New Interactions of Top and Bottom Quarks
One of the main goals for hadron colliders is the study of the properties of
the third generation quarks. We study the signatures for new TeV resonances
that couple to top or bottom quarks both at the Tevatron Run II and at the LHC.
We find that in the simplest production processes of Drell-Yan type at the
Tevatron, the signals are overwhelmed by QCD backgrounds. We also find that it
is possible to study these resonances when they are produced in association
with a pair of heavy quarks or in association with a single top at the LHC.In
particular, with an integrated luminosity of 300 fb at the LHC, it is
possible to probe resonance masses up to around 2 TeV.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, Minor corrections, version to appear in Phys.
Rev.
Discrete symmetries, invisible axion and lepton number symmetry in an economic 3-3-1 model
We show that Peccei-Quinn and lepton number symmetries can be a natural
outcome in a 3-3-1 model with right-handed neutrinos after imposing a Z_11 x
Z_2 symmetry. This symmetry is suitably accommodated in this model when we
augmented its spectrum by including merely one singlet scalar field. We work
out the breaking of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry, yielding the axion, and study
the phenomenological consequences. The main result of this work is that the
solution to the strong CP problem can be implemented in a natural way, implying
an invisible axion phenomenologically unconstrained, free of domain wall
formation and constituting a good candidate for the cold dark matter.Comment: 17 pages, Revtex
Force and Motion Generation of Molecular Motors: A Generic Description
We review the properties of biological motor proteins which move along linear
filaments that are polar and periodic. The physics of the operation of such
motors can be described by simple stochastic models which are coupled to a
chemical reaction. We analyze the essential features of force and motion
generation and discuss the general properties of single motors in the framework
of two-state models. Systems which contain large numbers of motors such as
muscles and flagella motivate the study of many interacting motors within the
framework of simple models. In this case, collective effects can lead to new
types of behaviors such as dynamic instabilities of the steady states and
oscillatory motion.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figure
Magnetic and quantum entanglement properties of the distorted diamond chain model for azurite
We present the results of magnetic properties and entanglement of the
distorted diamond chain model for azurite using pure quantum exchange
interactions. The magnetic properties and concurrence as a measure of pairwise
thermal entanglement have been studied by means of variational mean-field like
treatment based on Gibbs-Bogoliubov inequality. Such a system can be considered
as an approximation of the natural material azurite, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2. For values
of exchange parameters, which are taken from experimental results, we study the
thermodynamic properties, such as azurite specific heat and magnetic
susceptibility. We also have studied the thermal entanglement properties and
magnetization plateau of the distorted diamond chain model for azurite
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