Determination of the Kobayashi-Maskawa-Cabibbo matrix element V_{us} under various flavor-symmetry-breaking models in hyperon semileptonic decays

We study the success to describe hyperon semileptonic decays of four models that incorporate second-order SU(3) symmetry breaking corrections. The criteria to assess their success is by determining V_{us} in each of the three relevant hyperon semileptonic decays and comparing the values obtained with one another and also with the one that comes from K_{l3} decays. A strong dependence on the particular symmetry breaking model is observed. Values of V_{us} which do not agree with the one of K_{l3} are generally obtained. However, in the context of chiral perturbation theory, only the model whose corrections are O(m_s) and O(m_s^{3/2}) is successful. Using its predictions for the f_1 form factors one can quote a value of V_{us} from this model, namely, V_{us}=0.2176\pm 0.0026, which is in excellent agreement with the K_{l3} one.Comment: Final versio

Peaks in the Hartle-Hawking Wave Function from Sums over Topologies

Recent developments in ``Einstein Dehn filling'' allow the construction of infinitely many Einstein manifolds that have different topologies but are geometrically close to each other. Using these results, we show that for many spatial topologies, the Hartle-Hawking wave function for a spacetime with a negative cosmological constant develops sharp peaks at certain calculable geometries. The peaks we find are all centered on spatial metrics of constant negative curvature, suggesting a new mechanism for obtaining local homogeneity in quantum cosmology.Comment: 16 pages,LaTeX, no figures; v2: some changes coming from revision of a math reference: wave function peaks sharp but not infinite; v3: added paragraph in intro on interpretation of wave functio

Panel-Stiffener Debonding and Analysis Using a Shell/3D Modeling Technique

A shear loaded, stringer reinforced composite panel is analyzed to evaluate the fidelity of computational fracture mechanics analyses of complex structures. Shear loading causes the panel to buckle. The resulting out-of-plane deformations initiate skin/stringer separation at the location of an embedded defect. The panel and surrounding load fixture were modeled with shell elements. A small section of the stringer foot, web and noodle as well as the panel skin near the delamination front were modeled with a local 3D solid model. Across the width of the stringer foot, the mixed-mode strain energy release rates were calculated using the virtual crack closure technique. A failure index was calculated by correlating the results with a mixed-mode failure criterion of the graphite/epoxy material. The objective was to study the effect of the fidelity of the local 3D finite element model on the computed mixed-mode strain energy release rates and the failure index

The double torus as a 2D cosmos: groups, geometry and closed geodesics

The double torus provides a relativistic model for a closed 2D cosmos with topology of genus 2 and constant negative curvature. Its unfolding into an octagon extends to an octagonal tessellation of its universal covering, the hyperbolic space H^2. The tessellation is analysed with tools from hyperbolic crystallography. Actions on H^2 of groups/subgroups are identified for SU(1, 1), for a hyperbolic Coxeter group acting also on SU(1, 1), and for the homotopy group \Phi_2 whose extension is normal in the Coxeter group. Closed geodesics arise from links on H^2 between octagon centres. The direction and length of the shortest closed geodesics is computed.Comment: Latex, 27 pages, 5 figures (late submission to arxiv.org

Redshifts for 2410 Galaxies in the Century Survey Region

The `Century Survey' strip covers 102 square degrees within the limits 8.5h \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 16.5h, 29.0 degrees \leq \delta_{1950} \leq 30.0 degrees. The strip passes through the Corona Borealis supercluster and the outer region of the Coma cluster. Within the Century Survey region, we have measured 2410 redshifts which constitute four overlapping complete redshift surveys: (1) 1728 galaxies with Kron-Cousins R_{phot} \leq 16.13 covering the entire strip, (2) 507 galaxies with R_{phot} \leq 16.4 in the right ascension range 8h 32m \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 10h 45m, (3) 1251 galaxies with absorption- and K-corrected R_{CCD, corr} \leq 16.2 covering the right ascension range 8.5h \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 13.5h and (4) 1255 galaxies with absorption- and K-corrected V_{CCD, corr} \leq 16.7 also covering the right ascension range 8.5h \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 13.5h. All of these redshift samples are more than 98 % complete to the specified magnitude limit.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, 2 abbreviated tables. In press, to appear in Astronomical Journal, Dec. 2001 issu

Mutation analysis of HIF prolyl hydroxylases (PHD/EGLN) in individuals with features of phaeochromocytoma and renal cell carcinoma susceptibility

Germline mutations in the von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL) and succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) genes can cause inherited phaeochromocytoma and/or renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Dysregulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors has been linked to VHL and SDHB-related RCC; both HIF dysregulation and disordered function of a prolyl hydroxylase domain isoform 3 (PHD3/EGLN3)-related pathway of neuronal apoptosis have been linked to the development of phaeochromocytoma. The 2-oxoglutarate-dependent prolyl hydroxylase enzymes PHD1 (EGLN2), PHD2 (EGLN1) and PHD3 (EGLN3) have a key role in regulating the stability of HIF-a subunits (and hence expression of the HIF-a transcription factors). A germline PHD2 mutation has been reported in association with congenital erythrocytosis and recurrent extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma. We undertook mutation analysis of PHD1, PHD2 and PHD3 in two cohorts of patients with features of inherited phaeochromocytoma (nZ82) and inherited RCC (nZ64) and no evidence of germline mutations in known susceptibility genes. No confirmed pathogenic mutations were detected suggesting that mutations in these genes are not a frequent cause of inherited phaeochromocytoma or RCC