Double Threefold Degeneracies for Active and Sterile Neutrinos

We explore the possibility that the 3 active (doublet) neutrinos have nearly degenerate masses which are split only by the usual seesaw mechanism from 3 sterile (singlet) neutrinos in the presence of a softly broken $A_4$ symmetry. We take the unconventional view that the sterile neutrinos may be light, i.e. less than 1 keV, and discuss some very interesting and novel phenomenology, including a connection between the LSND neutrino data and solar neutrino oscillations.Comment: 8 pages, no figur

Reunion of Vicious Walkers: Results from ϵ\epsilon-Expansion -

The anomalous exponent, $\eta_{p}$, for the decay of the reunion probability of $p$ vicious walkers, each of length $N$, in $d$ $(=2-\epsilon)$ dimensions, is shown to come from the multiplicative renormalization constant of a $p$ directed polymer partition function. Using renormalization group(RG) we evaluate $\eta_{p}$ to $O(\epsilon^2)$. The survival probability exponent is $\eta_{p}/2$. For $p=2$, our RG is exact and $\eta_p$ stops at $O(\epsilon)$. For $d=2$, the log corrections are also determined. The number of walkers that are sure to reunite is 2 and has no $\epsilon$ expansion.Comment: No of pages: 11, 1figure on request, Revtex3,IP/BBSR/929

Novel parametric reduced order model for aeroengine blade dynamics

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The work introduces a novel reduced order model (ROM) technique to describe the dynamic behavior of turbofan aeroengine blades. We introduce an equivalent 3D frame model to describe the coupled flexural/torsional mode shapes, with their relevant natural frequencies and associated modal masses. The frame configurations are identified through a structural identification approach based on a simulated annealing algorithm with stochastic tunneling. The cost functions are constituted by linear combinations of relative errors associated to the resonance frequencies, the individual modal assurance criteria (MAC), and on either overall static or modal masses. When static masses are considered the optimized 3D frame can represent the blade dynamic behavior with an 8% error on the MAC, a 1% error on the associated modal frequencies and a 1% error on the overall static mass. When using modal masses in the cost function the performance of the ROM is similar, but the overall error increases to 7%. The approach proposed in this paper is considerably more accurate than state-of-the-art blade ROMs based on traditional Timoshenko beams, and provides excellent accuracy at reduced computational time when compared against high fidelity FE models. A sensitivity analysis shows that the proposed model can adequately predict the global trends of the variations of the natural frequencies when lumped masses are used for mistuning analysis. The proposed ROM also follows extremely closely the sensitivity of the high fidelity finite element models when the material parameters are used in the sensitivity

Multiphysics Analysis of a Magnetorheological Damper

     A Magnetorheological damping has evolved as a potential tool in vibration control. The design of magnetorheological damping involves analysis of fluid flow principles and electromagnetic flux analysis. This research paper involves design and analysis of a magnetorheological damper employed for vibration control. The analysis is carried over by considering the domain as an axisymmetric model. The damping force of the damper depends upon the shear stress due to fluid viscosity and yield stress induced due to magnetic flux applied. The damping force generated by the damper is calculated

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity using seaweed Urospora sp.

In the present research work, biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and its activity on bacterial pathogens were investigated. Silver nanoparticles were rapidly synthesized using Urospora sp. and the formation of nanoparticles was observed within 30 min. The results recorded from UV–vis spectrum, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) support the biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles. From HRTEM analysis, the size of the silver nanoparticles was measured 20 to 30 nm. Further, the antibacterial activity of synthesized silver nanoparticles showed effective inhibitory activity against the pathogens namely: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Key words: Urospora sp, silver nanoparticles, biosynthesis, antibacterial activity

One pion events by atmospheric neutrinos: A three flavor analysis

We study the one-pion events produced via neutral current (NC) and charged current (CC) interactions by the atmospheric neutrinos. We analyze the ratios of these events in the framework of oscillations between three neutrino flavors. The ratios of the CC events induced by $\nu_e$ to that of the NC events and a similar ratio defined with $\nu_\mu$ help us in distinguishing the different regions of the neutrino parameter space.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures (separate postscript files

Object Segmentation and Ground Truth in 3D Embryonic Imaging

Many questions in developmental biology depend on measuring the position and movement of individual cells within developing embryos. Yet, tools that provide this data are often challenged by high cell density and their accuracy is difficult to measure. Here, we present a three-step procedure to address this problem. Step one is a novel segmentation algorithm based on image derivatives that, in combination with selective post-processing, reliably and automatically segments cell nuclei from images of densely packed tissue. Step two is a quantitative validation using synthetic images to ascertain the efficiency of the algorithm with respect to signal-to-noise ratio and object density. Finally, we propose an original method to generate reliable and experimentally faithful ground truth datasets: Sparse-dense dual-labeled embryo chimeras are used to unambiguously measure segmentation errors within experimental data. Together, the three steps outlined here establish a robust, iterative procedure to fine-tune image analysis algorithms and microscopy settings associated with embryonic 3D image data sets

Advances in molecular and genomic research to safeguard food and feed supply from aflatoxin contamination

Worldwide recognition that aflatoxin contamination of agricultural commodities by the fungus Aspergillus flavus is a global problem has significantly benefitted from global collaboration for understanding the contaminating fungus, as well as for developing and implementing solutions against the contamination. The effort to address this serious food and feed safety issue has led to a detailed understanding of the taxonomy, ecology, physiology, genomics and evolution of A. flavus, as well as strategies to reduce or control pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination, including (1) biological control, using atoxigenic aspergilli, (2) proteomic and genomic analyses for identifying resistance factors in maize as potential breeding markers to enable development of resistant maize lines, and (3) enhancing host-resistance by bioengineering of susceptible crops, such as cotton, maize, peanut and tree nuts. A post-harvest measure to prevent the occurrence of aflatoxin contamination in storage is also an important component for reducing exposure of populations worldwide to aflatoxins in food and feed supplies. The effect of environmental changes on aflatoxin contamination levels has recently become an important aspect for study to anticipate future contamination levels. The ability of A. flavus to produce dozens of secondary metabolites, in addition to aflatoxins, has created a new avenue of research for understanding the role these metabolites play in the survival and biodiversity of this fungus. The understanding of A. flavus, the aflatoxin contamination problem, and control measures to prevent the contamination has become a unique example for an integrated approach to safeguard global food and feed safety

Scaling of fluctuation for Directed polymers with random interaction

Using a finite size scaling form for reunion probability, we show numerically the existence of a binding-unbinding transition for Directed polymers with random interaction. The cases studied are (A1) two chains in 1+1 dimensions, (A2) two chains in 2+1 dimensions and (B) three chains in 1+1 dimensions. A similar finite size scaling form for fluctuation establishes a disorder induced transition with identical exponents for cases A2 and B. The length scale exponents in all the three cases are in agreement with previous exact renormalization group results.Comment: Revtex, 4 postscript figures available on request (email: [email protected]); To appear in J. Phys. A Letter

Multicritical two-dimensional vertex models

We study the multicritical behavior of a class of two-dimensional ice-type vertex models on different lattices using renormalization-group theory. The models are classified by an integer m, with m=2 corresponding to the known square lattice case. For m>2, the specific-heat exponent is a=(m-2)/(m-1) with an upper critical dimensional confluent (lnt)1/2 divergence for m=3. The nature of the transition is similar to the mth-order multicritical point, yet the exponents are not those known from c<1 conformal invariance. The models are anisotropic with v||=1 and v⊥=12. A few special features of the models are discussed