Local gauge invariance implies Siegert's hypothesis

The nonrelativistic Ward-Takahashi identity, a consequence of local gauge invariance in quantum mechanics, shows the necessity of exchange current contributions in case of nonlocal and/or isospin-dependent potentials. It also implies Siegert's hypothesis: in the nonrelativistic limit, two-body charge densities identically vanish. Neither current conservation, which follows from global gauge invariance, nor the constraints of (lowest order) relativity are sufficient to arrive at this result. Furthermore, a low-energy theorem for exchange contributions is established.Comment: 5 pages, REVTE

O₂ photoabsorption in the 40 950–41 300 cm⁻¹ region: New Herzberg bands, new absorption lines, and improved spectroscopic data

The technique of cavity ring‐down (CRD) spectroscopy is particularly useful for measuring absorptions of very weak optical transitions. We have in this manner investigated the 40 950–41 300 cm−1 region in O2, where only absorption in the O2(A 3Σ+u–X 3Σ−g) 11‐0 band had been previously identified. Five new bands have been discovered in this range—the A′ 3Δu–X 3Σ−g 12‐0 and 13‐0 bands, the c 1Σ−u–X 3Σ−g 17‐0 and 18‐0 bands, and the A 3Σ+u−X 3Σ−g 12‐0 band. The origins of the F1 and F2 components of the latter lie only 7 cm−1 below the lowest dissociation limit, and 15 lines have been identified. No F3 levels were observed; apparently all are above the dissociation limit. The high instrumental sensitivity of the CRD technique has allowed observation of weak lines of the A–X 11‐0 band, and 12 of the 13 branches have been identified and their intensities measured. A very low upper limit has been set on the intensity of the thirteenth branch, Q13. We find 107 unidentified lines in the region, the stronger ones (19) lying in the vicinity of lines of the A–X 11‐0 band. The weaker ones (88) are spread throughout the spectral region, up to and even beyond the O2dissociation limit, and probably have their origin in transitions to very weakly bound O2 states, which may have atmospheric significance. These weaker lines have intensities that are typically 1%–5% of the strong A–X 11‐0 band lines

Rayleigh scattering in the transit spectrum of HD 189733b

The transit spectrum of the exoplanet HD 189733b has recently been obtained between 0.55 and 1.05 microns. Here we present an analysis of this spectrum. We develop first-order equations to interpret absorption spectra. In the case of HD 189733b, we show that the observed slope of the absorption as a function of wavelength is characteristic of extinction proportional to the inverse of the fourth power of the wavelength (lambda^-4). Assuming an extinction dominated by Rayleigh scattering, we derive an atmospheric temperature of 1340+/-150 K. If molecular hydrogen is responsible for the Rayleigh scattering, the atmospheric pressure at the planetary characteristic radius of 0.1564 stellar radius must be 410+/-30 mbar. However the preferred scenario is scattering by condensate particles. Using the Mie approximation, we find that the particles must have a low value for the imaginary part of the refraction index. We identify MgSiO3 as a possible abundant condensate whose particle size must be between 0.01 and 0.1 microns. For this condensate, assuming solar abundance, the pressure at 0.1564 stellar radius is found to be between a few microbars and few millibars, and the temperature is found to be in the range 1340-1540 K, and both depend on the particle size.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Lette

The off-shell electromagnetic form factors of pions and kaons in chiral perturbation theory

The off-shell electromagnetic vertex of a (pseudo-) scalar particle contains, in general, two form factors F and G which depend, in addition to the squared momentum transfer, on the invariant masses associated with the initial and final legs of the vertex. Chiral perturbation theory to one loop is used to calculate the off-shell form factors of pions and kaons. The formalism of Gasser and Leutwyler, which was previously used to calculate the on-shell limit of the form factor F, is extended to accommodate the most general form for off-shell Green's functions in the pseudoscalar meson sector. We find that chiral symmetry predicts that the form factors F of the charged pions and kaons go off-shell in the same way, i.e., the off-shell slope at the real photon point is given by the same new phenomenological constant $\beta_1$. Furthermore, it is shown that at order $p^4$ the form factor F of the $K^0$ does not show any off-shell dependence. The form factors G are all related to the form factors F in the correct fashion as required by the Ward-Takahashi identity. Numerical results for different off-shell kinematics are presented.Comment: TRIUMF preprint TRI-PP-94-4, 25 pages in LaTeX + 10 figures (uufile'd, compressed PostScript file appended at end, hardcopy available from authors

Concrete containment aging study

In 1989, IAEA initiated a pilot study on the management of aging of nuclear power plant components. The Phase I and II studies of concrete containment are discussed. With the data base, plant owners will be able to review and enhance their existing programs. IAEA will analyze data provided by participating plants and the report is scheduled to be released by late 1994 (final report release mid-1995)

Electromagnetic form factors of the bound nucleon

We calculate electromagnetic form factors of the proton bound in specified orbits for several closed shell nuclei. The quark structure of the nucleon and the shell structure of the finite nuclei are given by the QMC model. We find that orbital electromagnetic form factors of the bound nucleon deviate significantly from those of the free nucleon.Comment: 12 pages including 4 ps figure

Measuring portfolio performance using a modified measure of risk

This paper reports the results of an investigation into the properties of a theoretical modification of beta proposed by Leland (1999) and based on earlier work of Rubinstein (1976). It is shown that when returns are elliptically symmetric, beta is the appropriate measure of risk and that there are other situations in which the modified beta will be similar to the traditional measure based on the capital asset pricing model. For the case where returns have a normal distribution, it is shown that the criterion either does not exist or reduces exactly to the conventional beta. It is therefore conjectured that the modified measure will only be useful for portfolios that have nonstandard return distributions which incorporate skewness. For such situations, it is shown how to estimate the measure using regression and how to compare the resulting statistic with a traditional estimated beta using Hotelling's test. An empirical study based on stocks from the FTSE350 does not find evidence to support the use of the new measure even in the presence of skewness.Journal of Asset Management (2007) 7, 388-403. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jam.225005

Targeting MAPK phosphorylation of Connexin43 provides neuroprotection in stroke

Connexin43 (Cx43) function is influenced by kinases that phosphorylate specific serine sites located near its C-terminus. Stroke is a powerful inducer of kinase activity, but its effect on Cx43 is unknown. We investigated the impact of wild-type (WT) and knock-in Cx43 with serine to alanine mutations at the protein kinase C (PKC) site Cx43(S368A), the casein kinase 1 (CK1) sites Cx43(S325A/328Y/330A), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) sites Cx43(S255/262/279/282A) (MK4) on a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) stroke model. We demonstrate that MK4 transgenic animals exhibit a significant decrease in infarct volume that was associated with improvement in behavioral performance. An increase in astrocyte reactivity with a concomitant decrease in microglial reactivity was observed in MK4 mice. In contrast to WT, MK4 astrocytes displayed reduced Cx43 hemichannel activity. Pharmacological blockade of Cx43 hemichannels with TAT-Gap19 also significantly decreased infarct volume in WT animals. This study provides novel molecular insights and charts new avenues for therapeutic intervention associated with Cx43 function

Final report of comprehensive testing program for concrete at elevated temperatures

The objective of this program was to define the variations in physical (thermal) and mechanical (strength) properties of limestone aggregate concrete and lightweight insulating concrete exposed to elevated temperatures that could occur as a result of a postulated large sodium spill in a lined LMFBR equipment cell. To meet this objective, five test series were conducted: (1) unconfined compression, (2) shear, (3) rebar bond, (4) sustained loading (creep), and (5) thermal properties. Mechanical property results are presented for concretes subjected to temperature up to 621{sup 0}C (1150{sup 0}F)

Assessment of Aging of Nuclear Power Plant Civil Structures

ABSTRACT Research is being conducted by ORNL for the USNRC to address aging of civil structures in light-water reactor plants. The importance and operating experience of nuclear power plant (NPP) civil structures is reviewed. Factors that can lead to age-related degradation of reinforced concrete structures and containment metallic pressure boundaries (i.e., steel containments and liners of reinforced concrete containments) are identified and their manifestations described. Background information and data for improving and developing methods to assess the effects of age-related degradation on structural performance are provided. Techniques for detection of degradation are reviewed and research related to development of methods for inspection of inaccessible regions of the containment pressure boundary presented. Application of structural reliability analysis methods to develop condition assessment tools and guidelines is described