96 research outputs found
Climacteric Nature of the Carambola (A verrhoa carambola L.) Fruit.
The carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) is determined to be a non-climacteric type fruit. The characteristic
upsurge of carbon dioxide exhibited by climacteric fruits during the ripening process was not
evident in carambola fruits of differing maturity. The ethrel treated fruit showed no sudden sharp increase
in carbon-dioxide nor an ethylene peak
S_3 Symmetry and Neutrino Masses and Mixings
Based on a universal seesaw mass matrix model with three scalars \phi_i, and
by assuming an S_3 flavor symmetry for the Yukawa interactions, the lepton
masses and mixings are investigated systematically. In order to understand the
observed neutrino mixing, the charged leptons (e, \mu, \tau) are regarded as
the 3 elements (e_1, e_2, e_3) of S_3, while the neutrino mass-eigenstates are
regarded as the irreducible representation (\nu_\eta, \nu_\sigma, \nu_\pi) of
S_3, where (\nu_\pi, \nu_\eta) and \nu_\sigma are a doublet and a singlet,
respectively, which are composed of the 3 elements (\nu_1, \nu_2, \nu_3) of
S_3.Comment: 16 pages, no figure, version to appear in EPJ-
Tri-Bimaximal Mixing from Twisted Friedberg-Lee Symmetry
We investigate the Friedberg-Lee (FL) symmetry and its promotion to include
the symmetry, and call that the twisted FL symmetry.Based on the
twisted FL symmetry, two possible schemes are presented toward the realistic
neutrino mass spectrum and the tri-bimaximal mixing.In the first scheme, we
suggest the semi-uniform translation of the FL symmetry.The second one is based
on the permutation family symmetry.The breaking terms, which are twisted
FL symmetric, are introduced.Some viable models in each scheme are also
presented.Comment: 14 pages, no figure. v2: 16 pages, modified some sentences, appendix
added, references added. v3: 14 pages, composition simplified, accepted
version in EPJ
Characteristics of individuals presenting to treatment for primary alcohol problems versus other drug problems in the Australian patient pathways study
Background: People seeking treatment for substance use disorders often have additional health and social issues.
Although individuals presenting with alcohol as the primary drug of concern (PDOC) account for nearly half of all
treatment episodes to the Australian alcohol and other drug (AOD) service system, previous treatment cohort
studies have focused only on the profile of Australian heroin or methamphetamine users. While studies overseas
indicate that clients seeking treatment primarily for their drinking are less likely to experience social and economic
marginalisation than those seeking treatment primarily for illicit or pharmaceutical drug use, very little research has
directly compared individuals presenting with alcohol as the PDOC to those primarily presenting with other drugs
as their PDOC.
Methods: Seven hundred and ninety-six participants were recruited at entry to specialist AOD treatment in Victoria
and Western Australia, and completed measures of demographic and social factors, substance use, quality of life,
service use, and criminal justice involvement. We compared those with alcohol as their PDOC to those with other
drugs as their PDOC using Pearson chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests.
Results: Rates of social disadvantage, poor quality of life, high severity of substance dependence, and past-year
AOD, mental health, acute health, and social service use were high in all groups. However, participants with alcohol as
the PDOC were older; more likely to have an educational qualification; less likely to report criminal justice involvement,
housing/homelessness service use, tobacco smoking, or problems with multiple substances; and reported better
environmental quality of life; but were more likely to have used ambulance services, than those with other drugs
as their PDOC.
Conclusions: While those seeking treatment primarily for alcohol problems appear less likely to suffer some forms of
social and economic disadvantage or to use multiple substances than those with a primary drug problem, they
experience similarly high levels of substance dependence severity and mental health and AOD service use. These
findings reinforce the need for AOD services to integrate or coordinate care with programs that address the many
complexities clients frequently present with, while also acknowledging differences between those seeking treatment
for alcohol versus other drug problems
A SUSY SU(5) Grand Unified Model of Tri-Bimaximal Mixing from A4
We discuss a grand unified model based on SUSY SU(5) in extra dimensions and
on the flavour group A4xU(1) which, besides reproducing tri-bimaximal mixing
for neutrinos with the accuracy required by the data, also leads to a natural
description of the observed pattern of quark masses and mixings.Comment: 19 page
Renormalization Group Running of Lepton Mixing Parameters in See-Saw Models with Flavor Symmetry
We study the renormalization group running of the tri-bimaximal mixing
predicted by the two typical flavor models at leading order. Although the
textures of the mass matrices are completely different, the evolution of
neutrino mass and mixing parameters is found to display approximately the same
pattern. For both normal hierarchy and inverted hierarchy spectrum, the quantum
corrections to both atmospheric and reactor neutrino mixing angles are so small
that they can be neglected. The evolution of the solar mixing angle
depends on and neutrino mass spectrum, the deviation
from its tri-bimaximal value could be large. Taking into account the
renormalization group running effect, the neutrino spectrum is constrained by
experimental data on in addition to the self-consistency
conditions of the models, and the inverted hierarchy spectrum is disfavored for
large . The evolution of light-neutrino masses is approximately
described by a common scaling factor.Comment: 23 pages, 6figure
Neutrino Masses with "Zero Sum" Condition:
It is well known that the neutrino mass matrix contains more parameters than
experimentalists can hope to measure in the foreseeable future even if we
impose CP invariance. Thus, various authors have proposed ansatzes to restrict
the form of the neutrino mass matrix further. Here we propose that ; this ``zero sum'' condition can occur in certain
class of models, such as models whose neutrino mass matrix can be expressed as
commutator of two matrices. With this condition, the absolute neutrino mass can
be obtained in terms of the mass-squared differences. When combined with the
accumulated experimental data this condition predicts two types of mass
hierarchies, with one of them characterized by eV, and the other by eV and eV. The mass ranges
predicted is just below the cosmological upper bound of 0.23 eV from recent
WMAP data and can be probed in the near future. We also point out some
implications for direct laboratory measurement of neutrino masses, and the
neutrino mass matrix.Comment: Latex 12 pages. No figures. New references adde
Study protocol for "Moving bright, eating smart"- a phase 2 clinical trial on the acceptability and feasibility of a diet and physical activity intervention to prevent recurrence in colorectal cancer survivors
Background: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer and cancer-killer in Hong Kong with an alarming increasing incidence in recent years. The latest World Cancer Research Fund report concluded that foods low in fibre, and high in red and processed meat cause colorectal cancer whereas physical activity protects againstcolon cancer. Yet, the influence of these lifestyle factors on cancer outcome is largely unknown even though cancer survivors are eager for lifestyle modifications. Observational studies suggested that low intake of a Western-pattern diet and high physical activity level reduced colorectal cancer mortality. The Theory of PlannedBehaviour and the Health Action Process Approach have guided the design of intervention models targeting a wide range of health-related behaviours.Methods/design: We aim to demonstrate the feasibility of two behavioural interventions intended to improve colorectal cancer outcome and which are designed to increase physical activity level and reduce consumption of a Western-pattern diet. This three year study will be a multicentre, randomised controlled trial in a 2x2 factorialdesign comparing the “Moving Bright, Eating Smart” (physical activity and diet) programme against usual care. Subjects will be recruited over a 12-month period, undertake intervention for 12 months and followed up for a further 12 months. Baseline, interim and three post-intervention assessments will be conducted. Two hundred and twenty-two colorectal cancer patients who completed curative treatment without evidence of recurrence will be recruited into the study. Primary outcome measure will be whether physical activity and dietary targets are met at the end of the 12-month intervention. Secondary outcome measures include the magnitude andmechanism of behavioural change, the degree and determinants of compliance, and the additional health benefits and side effects of the intervention.Discussion: The results of this study will establish the feasibility of targeting the two behaviours (diet and physical activity) and demonstrate the magnitude of behaviour change. The information will facilitate the design of a further larger phase III randomised controlled trial with colorectal cancer outcome as the study endpoint to determine whether this intervention model would reduce colorectal cancer recurrence and mortality
Studies of a three-stage dark matter and neutrino observatory based on multi-ton combinations of liquid xenon and liquid argon detectors
We study a three stage dark matter and neutrino observatory based on
multi-ton two-phase liquid Xe and Ar detectors with sufficiently low
backgrounds to be sensitive to WIMP dark matter interaction cross sections down
to 10E-47 cm^2, and to provide both identification and two independent
measurements of the WIMP mass through the use of the two target elements in a
5:1 mass ratio, giving an expected similarity of event numbers. The same
detection systems will also allow measurement of the pp solar neutrino
spectrum, the neutrino flux and temperature from a Galactic supernova, and
neutrinoless double beta decay of 136Xe to the lifetime level of 10E27 - 10E28
y corresponding to the Majorana mass predicted from current neutrino
oscillation data. The proposed scheme would be operated in three stages G2, G3,
G4, beginning with fiducial masses 1-ton Xe + 5-ton Ar (G2), progressing to
10-ton Xe + 50-ton Ar (G3) then, dependent on results and performance of the
latter, expandable to 100-ton Xe + 500-ton Ar (G4). This method of scale-up
offers the advantage of utilizing the Ar vessel and ancillary systems of one
stage for the Xe detector of the succeeding stage, requiring only one new
detector vessel at each stage. Simulations show the feasibility of reducing or
rejecting all external and internal background levels to a level <1 events per
year for each succeeding mass level, by utilizing an increasing outer thickness
of target material as self-shielding. The system would, with increasing mass
scale, become increasingly sensitive to annual signal modulation, the agreement
of Xe and Ar results confirming the Galactic origin of the signal. Dark matter
sensitivities for spin-dependent and inelastic interactions are also included,
and we conclude with a discussion of possible further gains from the use of
Xe/Ar mixtures
The 3-3-1 model with S_4 flavor symmetry
We construct a 3-3-1 model based on family symmetry S_4 responsible for the
neutrino and quark masses. The tribimaximal neutrino mixing and the diagonal
quark mixing have been obtained. The new lepton charge \mathcal{L} related to
the ordinary lepton charge L and a SU(3) charge by L=2/\sqrt{3} T_8+\mathcal{L}
and the lepton parity P_l=(-)^L known as a residual symmetry of L have been
introduced which provide insights in this kind of model. The expected vacuum
alignments resulting in potential minimization can origin from appropriate
violation terms of S_4 and \mathcal{L}. The smallness of seesaw contributions
can be explained from the existence of such terms too. If P_l is not broken by
the vacuum values of the scalar fields, there is no mixing between the exotic
and the ordinary quarks at the tree level.Comment: 20 pages, revised versio
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