On the nuclear dependence of the mu-e conversion branching ratio

The variation of the coherent branching ratio $R_{\mu e}$ (ratio of the $\mu^-\to e^-$ reaction rate divided by the total muon-capture rate) through the periodic table is studied by using exact muon wave functions. It was found that, by using very heavy nuclei (e.g. \nuc{197}Au, the SINDRUM II target) as $\mu^-\to e^-$ conversion stopping-targets, the above ratio is favored by a factor of about four to five than by using light ones (e.g. \nuc{48}Ti, chosen as PRIME target).Comment: 7 pages, 1 Figure NIM Phys. Res., submitte

Fake switch points

Based on C.Bidard’s and E.Klimovsky’s “Switches and Fake switches in methods of production”, an attempt will be made to show if fake switch points (as named) are in fact, and opposite of what Bidard and Klimovsky claim, real switch points.Fake switch points, Choice of Techniques, Input-Output Models

Choosing techniques or typical subsystems instead? A PhD thesis

This paper deals with the problem of choosing techniques. When we refer to the problem of choosing techniques, we actually refer to choose from a set of given production processes-techniques -according to a specific criterion- the optimum one. The criteria which are going to be presented are the w-r criterion, the cost minimization criterion, the Bidard’s algorithm and the -so called- John von Neumann’s criterion. Based on the usual neo-Ricardian assumptions for the linear production techniques, we try to figure out whether a comparison of the above techniques is possible according to any of the above criteria. The main conclusion of this paper is that it is impossible in either a neoclassical, or a neo-Ricardian “world” to choose or to rank a technique between others, according to any of the above criteriaeven in the special case of the non decomposable single production techniques. We are confident that it is possible to rank univocally the techniques in the case of corn and charasoffian economies, and of course in an economy a ℓa von Neumann. We conclude that in fact we do not compare or choose techniques but typical systems instead.Choice of techniques, Input- Output models, criteria of choice

B-quark mediated neutrinoless μ−−e−\mu^--e^- conversion in presence of R-parity violation

We found that in supersymmetric models with R-parity non-conservation the b-quarks may appreciably contribute to exotic neutrinoless muon-electron conversion in nuclei via the triangle diagram with two external gluons. This allowed us to extract previously overlooked constraints on the third generation trilinear R-parity violating parameters significantly more stringent than those existing in the literature.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Cyclase associated protein 2: Roles in heart physiology and wound healing

Cyclase-associated proteins (CAPs) are evolutionary conserved proteins, essential for normal actin organization by binding to G-actin and regulating actin filament dynamics. Loss of CAP results in defects in cell morphology, migration, endocytosis and development. Higher eukaryotes have two homologs of CAP, CAP1 and CAP2, which are closely related. CAP1 shows a broad tissue distribution, whereas CAP2 is significantly expressed only in brain, heart and skeletal muscle, and skin. To identify the in vivo function of CAP2 we generated mice in which the Cap2 gene was inactivated by a gene-trap approach. Mutant mice showed a decrease in body weight and had a decreased survival rate. We analyzed skeletal muscle, heart and skin phenotypes. Knockout mice developed a severe cardiac defect marked by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) associated with drastic reduction in basal heart rate and prolongations in atrial and ventricular conduction times. In muscle, CAP2 is an essential component of the M-line in the sarcomere and its ablation leads to disarrayed sarcomeric organization. In human skin, CAP2 is present in all living layers of the epidermis localizing to the nuclei and the cell periphery. We performed in vivo wound healing experiments in WT and in mice lacking CAP2 and observed delayed wound repair in knockout mice. In addition, knockout mice showed decreased macrophage infiltration, slower neovascularization and increase in apoptosis. Furthermore, fibroblasts which were isolated from mice lacking CAP2 showed reduced velocity, developed long filopodia and increased focal adhesions, something that can be attributed to the effect of CAP2 on G-/F-actin ratio. Taken together, our studies so far show that CAP2 has roles in cardiac physiology, cell migration and wound healing

Simulations of Gamma-ray emission from magnetized micro-quasar jets

In this work, we simulate $\gamma$-rays created in the hadronic jets of the compact object in binary stellar systems known as microquasars. We utilize as main computational tool the $3$-D relativistic magneto-hydro-dynamical code PLUTO combined with in house derived codes. Our simulated experiments refer to the SS433 X-ray binary, a stellar system in which hadronic jets have been observed. We examine two new model configurations that employ hadron-based emission mechanisms. The simulations aim to explore the dependence of the $\gamma$-ray emissions on the dynamical as well as the radiative properties of the jet (hydrodynamic parameters of the mass-flow density, gas-pressure, temperature of the ejected matter, high energy proton population inside the jet plasma, etc.). The results of the two new scenarios of initial conditions for the micro-quasar stellar system studied, are compared to those of previously considered scenarios.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

An evaluation of financial strategies used by companies in the retail sector during recession period (2000-2010).

This paper analyses financial strategies for Zimbabwean companies in the retail sector industry in an economy characterized by recession from 2000 to 2010. The paper sought to meet the following objectives among others; to identify the various operating financial strategies available for companies operating in recession; assess the applicability of various short and medium term financial strategies for Zimbabwean companies and; provide a prescription to various stakeholders in the retail sector on evidence based operating financial strategies. Research findings showed that many companies ceased operations voluntarily and in most cases involuntarily. Others adopted a variety of financial strategies ranging from scaling down operations, streamlining business operations, being selective in service delivery to putting plants and machinery under care and maintenance. There was liquidity crunch in the market and as a result, companies failed to get funding; banks failed to attract meaningful deposits to provide companies with funding. Lack of operating finance was the chief cause why companies failed to reach pre-2000 operating levels. The study recommended companies to taking advantage of priority option in making payments as well as adopting a thorough recession management approach. Ignoring the impact of recession and its repercussions with the view that it would go away proved to exacerbate the problem. Key words: Recession Management, Capacity Utilization, Depression, Multi-Currency, Working Capital