T-Parity Violation by Anomalies

Little Higgs theories often rely on an internal parity ("T-parity'') to suppress non-standard electroweak effects or to provide a dark matter candidate. We show that such a symmetry is generally broken by anomalies, as described by the Wess-Zumino-Witten term. We study a simple SU(3) x SU(3)/SU(3) Little Higgs scheme where we obtain a minimal form for the topological interactions of a single Higgs field. The results apply to more general models, including [SU(3) x SU(3)/SU(3)]^4, SU(5)/SO(5), and SU(6)/Sp(6).Comment: 17 page

Training and Pruning Fruit Trees

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Beyond good intentions: lessons on equipment donation from an African hospital.

OBJECTIVE: In 2000, a referral hospital in the Gambia accepted a donation of oxygen concentrators to help maintain oxygen supplies. The concentrators broke down and were put into storage. A case study was done to find the reasons for the problem and to draw lessons to help improve both oxygen supplies and the success of future equipment donations. METHODS: A technical assessment of the concentrators was carried out by a biomedical engineer with relevant expertise. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key informants, and content analysis and inductive approaches were applied to construct the history of the episode and the reasons for the failure. FINDINGS: Interviews confirmed the importance of technical problems with the equipment. They also revealed that the donation process was flawed, and that the hospital did not have the expertise to assess or maintain the equipment. Technical assessment showed that all units had the wrong voltage and frequency, leading to overheating and breakdown. Subsequently a hospital donations committee was established to oversee the donations process. On-site biomedical engineering expertise was arranged with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) partner. CONCLUSION: Appropriate donations of medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators, can be of benefit to hospitals in resource-poor settings, but recipients and donors need to actively manage donations to ensure that the donations are beneficial. Success requires planning, technical expertise and local participation. Partners with relevant skills and resources may also be needed. In 2002, WHO produced guidelines for medical equipment donations, which address problems that might be encountered. These guidelines should be publicized and used

Evolution of Maine’s Electric Utility Industry, 1975-1995

Recent articles in Maine Policy Review have focused on the sweeping changes taking place in Maine’s electric industry. We continue the dialogue with this article by Carroll Lee, Vice President-Operations at Bangor Hydro-Electric Company and Richard Hill, retired University of Maine Professor. Lee and Hill trace the electric industry evolution back 20 years and offer a comprehensive and integrated perspective on how this industry has progressed from a monopoly to one with significant elements of competition

Infection and Twiddler Syndrome in a Dog With Addison\u27s Disease, Complete Heart Block, and Wandering Artificial Pacemakers

Third-degree heart block developed in an obese seven-year-old dog with adrenal cortical failure. After three days of extensive medial therapy and use of a temporary transvenous pacemaker, a transthoracic permanent pacemaker was implanted in the usual paracostal location. After two years of normal function, the pulse generator suddenly migrated to a ventral location in the flank and became surrounded by an abscess. Intermittent pacing failure ensued. Medical therapy with antibiotics failed to eliminate infection until the infected pacemaker and site were excised surgically. A new pacemaker was placed on the opposite side and functioned well for two months. Subsequent migration and rotation of the new pacemaker led to spiral twisting of the lead and dislodgment of the corkscrew electrode from the myocardium in a syndrome analogous to Twiddler\u27s syndrome in man. The dog presently is 10 years old and asymptomatic with a nonpaced ventricular rhythm of 60 beats per minute and an usual chest radiograph

Utah Water Quality- Utah Ground Water

Ground water is important to the economic and physical well-being of the people of Utah. About 95% of Utah\u27s fresh water is ground water. It provides more than 70% of the state\u27s drinking water and is a major source of water for agriculture and irrigation

Utah Water Quality- Fertilizer Impact on Groundwater in Utah

Water quality has become the focal point of many decisions involving crop production. Crop production depends on specific inputs including fertilizer application. Without proper fertilization a farmer cannot achieve maximum economic returns. Crop yields in Utah have been increased over 50% by nitrogen fertilizer application alone. However, increasing nitrogen application beyond that needed for optimum economic return does more harm than good. This is especially true when groundwater concerns are addressed

Pesticide Movement in Response to Furrow Irrigation and Pesticide Parameters

Production of adequate supplies of food and fiber currently requires that pesticides be used to limit crop losses from insects, pathogens, weeds and other pests. The term pesticide refers to a large number ofchemical compounds. Pesticides include acaricides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, algicides, arboricides, zoocides, and many more

Predicting Effects of Ocean Warming, Acidification, and Water Quality on Chesapeake Region Eelgrass

Although environmental requirements of seagrasses have been studied for years, reliable metrics for predicting their response to current or future conditions remain elusive. Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) populations of the Chesapeake region lie near the southern limit of their range in the Western North Atlantic, exposing them to increasing thermal stress as the climate warms. However, CO2 stimulated photosynthesis may offset some of the negative effects of temperature stress. The combined effects of temperature, CO2, and light availability controlled by water quality and epiphytes were explored using GrassLight, a bio-optical model that provided a predictive environment for evaluating the interaction of multiple stressors on eelgrass distribution and density across the submarine landscape. Model predictions were validated against in situ measures of spectral diffuse attenuation, eelgrass density, and distribution. The potential for photosynthesis stimulated by ocean acidification to mitigate the effects of high temperature on eelgrass populations growing near the southern limit of their distribution was explored. The model accurately reproduced the submarine light environment from measured water quality parameters, and predicted their impacts on eelgrass distribution. It also reproduced the negative effects of warm summer temperatures on eelgrass distributions, and demonstrated that CO2 increases projected for the next century should stimulate photosynthesis sufficiently to offset the negative effects of thermal stress on eelgrass growing in the Chesapeake region, even in the presence of epiphytes. Thus, improved water quality should facilitate the survival of eelgrass populations in Chesapeake region, even in the face of a warming climate