Augmented Superfield Approach to Nilpotent Symmetries in the Modified Version of 2D Proca Theory

We derive the complete set of off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST), anti-BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations for all the fields of the modified version of two (1+1)-dimensional (2D) Proca theory by exploiting the "augmented" superfield formalism where the (dual-)horizontality conditions and (dual-)gauge-invariant restrictions are exploited together. We capture the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST invariance of the Lagrangian density in the language of superfield formalism. We also express the nilpotency and absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST charges within the framework of augmented superfield formalism. This exercise leads to some novel observations which have, hitherto, not been pointed out in the literature within the framework of superfield approach to BRST formalism. For the sake of completeness, we also mention, very briefly, a unique bosonic symmetry, the ghost-scale symmetry and discrete symmetries of the theory and show that the algebra of conserved charges captures the cohomological aspects of differential geometry. Thus, our present modified 2D Proca theory is a model for the Hodge Theory.Comment: LaTeX file, 32 pages, journal reference give

Multi-epoch intra-night optical monitoring of 8 radio-quiet BL Lac candidates

For a new sample of 8 weak-line-quasars (WLQs) we report a sensitive search in 20 intranight monitoring sessions, for blazar-like optical flux variations on hour-like and longer time scale (day/month/year$-$like). The sample consists exclusively of the WLQs that are not radio$-$loud and have either been classified as `radio-weak probable BL Lac candidates' and/or are known to have exhibited at least one episode of large, blazar$-$like optical variability. Whereas only a hint of intra$-$night variability is seen for two of these WLQs, J104833.5$+$620305.0(z = 0.219) and J133219.6$+$622715.9 (z = 3.15), statistically significant inter$-$night variability at a few per cent level is detected for three of the sources, including the radio-intermediate WLQ J133219.6$+$622715.9 (z = 3.15) and the well known bona$-$fide radio$-$quiet WLQs J121221.5$+$534128.0 (z = 3.10) and WLQ J153259.9$-$003944.1 (z = 4.62). In the rest$-$frame, this variability is intra-day and in the far$-$UV band. On the time scale of a decade, we find for three of the WLQs large brightness changes, amounting to 1.655$\pm$0.009, 0.163$\pm$0.010 and 0.144$\pm$0.018 mag, for J104833.5$+$620305.0, J123743.1$+$630144.9 and J232428.4$+$144324.4, respectively. Whereas the latter two are confirmed radio-quiet WLQs, the extragalactic nature of J104833.5$+$620305.0 remains to be well established, thanks to the absence of any feature(s) in its available optical spectra. The present study forms a part of our ongoing campaign of intranight optical monitoring of radio quiet weak-line quasars, in order to improve the understanding of this enigmatic class of Active Galactic Nuclei and to look among them for a possible tiny, elusive population of radio-quiet BL Lacs.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS. 12 pages, 1 figure, 4 Tabl

EFFECT OF RISK PERSPECTIVE ON FERTILIZER CHOICE BY SHARECROPPERS

Peanut and corn are two major crops in the tri-state area of the Southeast US, an area encompassing North Florida, Southwest Georgia, and Southeast Alabama. Sharecroppers in this region apply higher amount of input in crop production than the average farmers. We analyzed the behavior of sharecroppers in this region with regard to their fertilizer application decisions. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested based on sharecroppers' fertilizer application decisions: one assuming that sharecroppers are risk averse farmers and the other assuming that sharecroppers are regret minimizers. Our results show that a sharecropper uses different fertilizer treatments when minimizing risk depending on risk perspective and desired income. Sharecroppers who apply more fertilizer to obtain a desired level of income are regret minimizers where as sharecroppers who apply relatively low fertilizer are risk minimizer. At the same desired level of income, a regret minimizer farmer would apply a higher amount of fertilizer than the risk averse farmers. Our analysis revealed that sharecroppers in the Southeast US are regret minimizers as they apply a higher amount of fertilizer than an average farmer on the major crops grown in the region. The result of this study also confirms the result of a previous study in the region which reported that sharecroppers in the region are over capitalized and apply more fertilizer than average farmers.Southeast U.S., Sharecroppers, Regret minimizer, Risk averse, Peanut-Corn rotation, Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty,

AN EVALUATION OF AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING WATER POLLUTION USING A PHOSPHORUS CONSISTENT TRANSPORTATION MODEL: A CASE OF BROILER LITTER MANAGEMENT

We calculated the profitability of using broiler litter as a source of plant nutrient using a phosphorus consistent litter application rule. We found that each ton of litter can be transferred cost effectively up to 164 miles from the production facilities. The minimum cost phosphorus consistent transportation model developed to meet the nutrient needs of 29 counties in North Alabama revealed that not all the litter can be utilized in the region. The total cost for nutrient supply increased when transportation of litter from heavily surplus counties were prioritized. The effect of chemical fertilizer price change minimally affected the total litter use.Environmental Economics and Policy,