Relativistic Nuclear Energy Density Functionals: adjusting parameters to binding energies

We study a particular class of relativistic nuclear energy density functionals in which only nucleon degrees of freedom are explicitly used in the construction of effective interaction terms. Short-distance (high-momentum) correlations, as well as intermediate and long-range dynamics, are encoded in the medium (nucleon density) dependence of the strength functionals of an effective interaction Lagrangian. Guided by the density dependence of microscopic nucleon self-energies in nuclear matter, a phenomenological ansatz for the density-dependent coupling functionals is accurately determined in self-consistent mean-field calculations of binding energies of a large set of axially deformed nuclei. The relationship between the nuclear matter volume, surface and symmetry energies, and the corresponding predictions for nuclear masses is analyzed in detail. The resulting best-fit parametrization of the nuclear energy density functional is further tested in calculations of properties of spherical and deformed medium-heavy and heavy nuclei, including binding energies, charge radii, deformation parameters, neutron skin thickness, and excitation energies of giant multipole resonances.Comment: 53 pages, 23 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

β\beta-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei and matter flow in the rr-process

The $\beta$-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei with $20 \leqslant Z \leqslant 50$ are systematically investigated using the newly developed fully self-consistent proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA), based on the spherical relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (RHFB) framework. Available data are reproduced by including an isospin-dependent proton-neutron pairing interaction in the isoscalar channel of the RHFB+QRPA model. With the calculated $\beta$-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei a remarkable speeding up of $r$-matter flow is predicted. This leads to enhanced $r$-process abundances of elements with $A \gtrsim 140$, an important result for the understanding of the origin of heavy elements in the universe.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Reproductive and productive traits and genetic polymorphism of K-casein and ß- lactoglobulin in domestic and imported populations of simmental cows.

У циљу испитивања репродуктивних, производних и морфометријских особина домаће и увежене популације крава сименталске расe, у овој дисертацији обухваћено је 954 крава, са укупно 3641 закљученом лактацијом. Све краве су се налазиле на подручју Топличког округа, код индивидуалних пољопривредних произвођача (везани систем) и на фарми са интензивним начином гајења (слободни систем). Од целокупне популације обухваћене овим истраживањем формиран је подузорак (157 крава) на коме је испитиван генетички полиморфизам за гене који кодирају κ-казеин и β-лактоглобулин. На основу начина држања (везани и слободни систем) и порекла (дамаћа грла, грла из увоза) грла су била подељена у четири групе: група 1 (грла домаћег порекла, гајена код индивидуалних произвођача); група 2 (грла пореклом из увоза, гајена код индивидуалних произвођача); група 3 (грла домаћег порекла, гајена на фарми) и група 4 (грла пореклом из увоза, гајена на фарми). На целокупној посматраној популацији F тестом вршено је испитивање утицаја обједињеног фактора начина држања и порекла за све производне, репродуктивне и особине телесне развијености, а затим је код особина које су значајно варирале под утицајем овог фактора вршен појединачан тест најмање значајне разлике (LSD). Након тога, такође F тестом је путем двофакторијалне анализе варијансе испитан утицај начина држања, порекла и њихове интеракције на све посматране особине. У овом истраживању, од негенетских фактора на целокупној популацији испитиван је утицај тељења-лактације по реду и сезоне тељења и њихове интеракција са обједињеним фактором начина држања и порекла грла...The analysis of the reproductive, productive and morphometric traits of domestic and imported populations of Simmental cows, in this thesis, included 954 cows with a total of 3641 concluded lactations. All cows were located in the territory of Toplica districts, and reared by individual agricultural producers (tied system) and on the farm with intensive cattle rearing (free system). The sub-sample was formed (157 cows) of the entire population included in this study, for the purpose of studying the genetic polymorphism in the genes encoding k-casein and β-lactoglobulin. Тhe animals were divided into four groups based on the rearing (tied and free system) and origin (local animals, imported animals): group 1 (animals of domestic origin, reared by individual agricultural producers/farmers); Group 2 (imported animals, reared by individual agricultural producers/farmers); Group 3 (animals of domestic origin, reared on the farm) and Group 4 (imported animals, reared on the farm). The impact of the unified factor rearing and origin for all productive, reproductive traits and body development properties was observed on the entire population by using the F test, and subsequently, in traits that showed significant variations under the influence of this factor, a single test of least significant difference (LSD) was carried out. Also, the F test was used, by a two factorial analysis of variance, to determine the effect of rearing system, origin and their interactions on all of the properties. In this study, the influence of calving – order of lactation and calving season, as non-genetic factors, and their interaction with the unified factor rearing and origin of animals, was examined on the overall population..

Beyond the relativistic mean-field approximation: configuration mixing of angular momentum projected wave functions

We report the first study of restoration of rotational symmetry and fluctuations of the quadrupole deformation in the framework of relativistic mean-field models. A model is developed which uses the generator coordinate method to perform configuration mixing calculations of angular momentum projected wave functions, calculated in a relativistic point-coupling model. The geometry is restricted to axially symmetric shapes, and the intrinsic wave functions are generated from the solutions of the constrained relativistic mean-field + BCS equations in an axially deformed oscillator basis. A number of illustrative calculations are performed for the nuclei 194Hg and 32Mg, in comparison with results obtained in non-relativistic models based on Skyrme and Gogny effective interactions.Comment: 32 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Beyond the relativistic mean-field approximation (II): configuration mixing of mean-field wave functions projected on angular momentum and particle number

The framework of relativistic self-consistent mean-field models is extended to include correlations related to the restoration of broken symmetries and to fluctuations of collective variables. The generator coordinate method is used to perform configuration mixing of angular-momentum and particle-number projected relativistic wave functions. The geometry is restricted to axially symmetric shapes, and the intrinsic wave functions are generated from the solutions of the relativistic mean-field + Lipkin-Nogami BCS equations, with a constraint on the mass quadrupole moment. The model employs a relativistic point-coupling (contact) nucleon-nucleon effective interaction in the particle-hole channel, and a density-independent $\delta$-interaction in the pairing channel. Illustrative calculations are performed for $^{24}$Mg, $^{32}$S and $^{36}$Ar, and compared with results obtained employing the model developed in the first part of this work, i.e. without particle-number projection, as well as with the corresponding non-relativistic models based on Skyrme and Gogny effective interactions.Comment: 37 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Superallowed Fermi transitions in RPA with a relativistic point-coupling energy functional

The self-consistent random phase approximation (RPA) approach with the residual interaction derived from a relativistic point-coupling energy functional is applied to evaluate the isospin symmetry-breaking corrections {\delta}c for the 0+\to0+ superallowed Fermi transitions. With these {\delta}c values, together with the available experimental ft values and the improved radiative corrections, the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix is examined. Even with the consideration of uncertainty, the sum of squared top-row elements has been shown to deviate from the unitarity condition by 0.1% for all the employed relativistic energy functionals.Comment: 13 pages,2 figure

Osobine i sastav trupa junadi domaće šarene rase različitih težina pred klanje

Objective of this research was to determine the slaughter properties and carcass composition of carcass sides derived from young cattle of Domestic Spotted breed, of pre-slaughter weights of 500 (group A) and 600 kg (group B). Heavier cattle had higher share of kidney fat in carcass, whereas the share of offals showed no significant differences. Statistically significant difference was registered only in share of toungue (P lt 0.05), that was higher in cattle of group A. Share of extra/premium (tenderloin), I category (round) and II category (loin, back, shoulder) showed no significant differences between groups of cattle. Statistically significant difference (P lt 0.05) was established in the share of III category carcass parts. Share of forearm and chest was significantly higher in lighter cattle (3.55% and 7.95%) compared to heavier animals (2.89% and 6.33%), whereas the share of subshoulder was considerably lower in group A (6.89%) compared to cattle of group B (9.73%). Data obtained by dissection of main carcass side parts differed significantly in regard to the share of muscle tissue in round and belly, that was significantly higher in cattle of group A (P lt 0.05). Share of fat tissue (subcutaneous and intermuscular) was higher in cattle of group B in almost all carcass side parts, however, statistically significant difference between groups was determined only in round, back, neck and subshoulder. Also, share of bones in chest differed statistically significantly (P lt 0.05) and it was higher in group A (20.09%) compared to cattle of group B (15.52%).Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se utvrde klanične osobine i sastav polutki junadi domaće šarene rase, zaklanih pri dostizanju prosečne težine od 500 (grupa A) i 600 kg (grupa B). Teža junad su imala veći udeo bubrežnog loja u trupu, dok se udeo iznutrica nije značajno razlikovao. Statistički značajna razlika je pronađena samo u udelu jezika (P lt 0.05), koji je bio veći kod junadi grupe A. Udeo delova ekstra (biftek), I kategorije (but) i II kategorije (slabine, leđa, plećka) nisu se značajno razlikovali između grupa junadi. Statistički značajna razlika (P lt 0.05) je pronađena u udelu delova III kategorije. Udeo podlaktice i grudi bio je značajno veći kod lakših (3.55% i 7.95%) u odnosu na težu junad (2.89% i 6.33%), dok je udeo potplećke bio znatno niži kod junadi grupe A (6.89%) u odnosu na junad grupe B (9.73%). Podaci dobijeni disekcijom osnovnih delova polutke su se statistički značajno razlikovali u udelu mišićnog tkiva u butu i potrbušini, koji je bio značajno veći kod junadi grupe A (P lt 0.05). Udeo masnog tkiva (potkožnog i intermuskularnog) je bio veći kod junadi grupe B kod gotovo svih delova polutke, međutim, statistički značajna razlika između grupa je pronađena samo kod buta, leđa, vrata i potplećke. Takođe, udeo kostiju grudi se statistički značajno razlikovao (P lt 0.05) i bio je veći kod junadi grupe A (20.09%) u poređenju sa junadima grupe B (15.52%)

A microscopic estimate of the nuclear matter compressibility and symmetry energy in relativistic mean-field models

The relativistic mean-field plus RPA calculations, based on effective Lagrangians with density-dependent meson-nucleon vertex functions, are employed in a microscopic analysis of the nuclear matter compressibility and symmetry energy. We compute the isoscalar monopole and the isovector dipole response of $^{208}$Pb, as well as the differences between the neutron and proton radii for $^{208}$Pb and several Sn isotopes. The comparison of the calculated excitation energies with the experimental data on the giant monopole resonance in $^{208}$Pb, restricts the nuclear matter compression modulus of structure models based on the relativistic mean-field approximation to $K_{\rm nm}\approx 250 - 270$ MeV. The isovector giant dipole resonance in $^{208}$Pb, and the available data on differences between neutron and proton radii, limit the range of the nuclear matter symmetry energy at saturation (volume asymmetry) to 32 MeV $\leq a_4 \leq$ 36 MeV.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

WELFARE INDICATORS OF DAIRY COWS - SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION IN ASSESSMENT

Definition, implementation, analysis of relevance and development of standards of animal welfare on cattle farms have become very important issues in the late 20th and early 21 century. Today, the most widely accepted definition of welfare is that it is the condition of an animal as a response to its attempts to cope with the effects of the environment. Depending on the type, duration and intensity of action of stimuli and the condition of the animal this struggle can be successfully or unsuccessfully completed in which case the animal welfare is endangered. But how do you assess the welfare as satisfactory and when not? In declaration of welfare as a scientific field, the turning point was the observation of its measurable character or the fact that as a result of the reaction to the effects of the stimulus in the organism of the animal changes occur at the physical, physiological, behavioural and emotional level that can be measured. Traits mentioned belong to output or animal-based welfare indicators which have a primary role in the modern methods of assessment. Unlike them, input indicators relate to information resources (resource - based) and applied management (management - based) and are important as additional information in the evaluation. Problems and the importance of selecting indicators in the assessment of the quality of welfare are still present but the practical implementation of a wide variety of assessment methodologies over time should enable better perception, analysis and even synthesis of the most relevant indicators and targets for evaluation of the different methods. This paper presents an overview of the selection, implementation and use of indicators to assess the welfare of dairy cows with a special emphasis on two current methodologies