The epimorphic hull of C(X)

AbstractThe epimorphic hull H(A) of a commutative semiprime ring A is defined to be the smallest von Neumann regular ring of quotients of A.Let X denote a Tychonoff space. In this paper the structure of H(C(X)) is investigated, where C(X) denotes the ring of continuous real-valued functions with domain X. Spaces X that have a regular ring of quotients of the form C(Y) are characterized, and a “minimum” such Y is found. Necessary conditions for H(C(X)) to equal C(Y) for some Y are obtained

Mandarin Market Segments Based on Consumer Sensory Evaluations

Ninety-five consumers in seven grocery stores tasted unidentified peeled sections of three mandarins (a tangerine, a satsuma, and a clementine), and provided demographic and purchase information. Forty-four percent of the respondents preferred tangerines, 34 percent satsumas, and 22 percent clementines. The probability of preferring each of type of mandarin was estimated from internal quality analysis of paired samples, as well as from demographic and purchase responses. Model simulations were used to recommend harvest standards for satsumas based on Brix-to-acid ratios.Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

A Minimal Regular Ring Extension of C(X)

Let G(X) denote the smallest (von Neumann) regular ring of real-valued functions with domain X that contains C(X), the ring of continuous real-valued functions on a Tikhonov topological space (X,Τ). We investigate when G(X) coincides with the ring C(X,Τδ) of continuous real-valued functions on the space (X,Τδ), where Τδ is the smallest Tikhonov topology on X for which tau subset of or equal to tau(delta) and C(X,Τδ) is von Neumann regular. The compact and metric spaces for which G(X) = C(X,Τδ) are characterized. Necessary, and different sufficient, conditions for the equality to hold more generally are found

Statistical properties of SGR 1806-20 bursts

We present statistics of SGR 1806-20 bursts, combining 290 events detected with RXTE/PCA, 111 events detected with BATSE and 134 events detected with ICE. We find that the fluence distribution of bursts observed with each instrument are well described by power laws with indices 1.43, 1.76 and 1.67, respectively. The distribution of time intervals between successive bursts from SGR 1806-20 is described by a lognormal function with a peak at 103 s. There is no correlation between the burst intensity and either the waiting times till the next burst or the time elapsed since the previous burst. In all these statistical properties, SGR 1806-20 bursts resemble a self-organized critical system, similar to earthquakes and solar flares. Our results thus support the hypothesis that the energy source for SGR bursts is crustquakes due to the evolving, strong magnetic field of the neutron star, rather than any accretion or nuclear power.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, To appear in ApJ Letter

Spin-orbit enhancement in Si/SiGe heterostructures with oscillating Ge concentration

We show that Ge concentration oscillations within the quantum well region of a Si/SiGe heterostructure can significantly enhance the spin-orbit coupling of the low-energy conduction-band valleys. Specifically, we find that for Ge oscillation wavelengths near $\lambda = 1.57~\text{nm}$, a Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling is produced that is over an order of magnitude larger than what is found in conventional Si/SiGe heterostructures without Ge concentration oscillations. We also provide a detailed explanation for this resonance phenomenon. This involves the Ge concentration oscillations producing wavefunction satellite peaks a distance $2 \pi/\lambda$ away in momentum space from each valley, which then couple to the opposite valley through Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling. Our results indicate that the enhanced spin-orbit coupling can enable fast spin manipulation within Si quantum dots using electric dipole spin resonance in the absence of micromagnets. Indeed, our calculations yield a Rabi frequency $\Omega_{\text{Rabi}}/B > 500~\text{MHz/T}$ near the optimal Ge oscillation wavelength $\lambda = 1.57~\text{nm}$Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure

Hard Burst Emission from the Soft Gamma Repeater SGR 1900+14

We present evidence for burst emission from SGR 1900+14 with a power-law high energy spectrum extending beyond 500 keV. Unlike previous detections of high energy photons during bursts from SGRs, these emissions are not associated with high-luminosity burst intervals. Not only is the emission hard, but the spectra are better fit by Band's GRB function rather than by the traditional optically-thin thermal bremsstrahlung model. We find that the spectral evolution within these hard events obeys a hardness/intensity anti-correlation. Temporally, these events are distinct from typical SGR burst emissions in that they are longer (~ 1 s) and have relatively smooth profiles. Despite a difference in peak luminosity of > 1E+11 between these bursts from SGR 1900+14 and cosmological GRBs, there are striking temporal and spectral similarities between the two kinds of bursts, aside from spectral evolution. We outline an interpretation of these events in the context of the magnetar model.Comment: 11 pages (text and figures), submitted to ApJ Letters, corrected erroneous hardness ratio

Risk of heat illness in men and women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Heat illness (HI) is a growing global concern; its incidence has risen dramatically across the world in recent years. The individual factors whereby elevated core temperature produces HI are not well-understood. Given known physiological differences between men and women pertaining to temperature regulation, we hypothesized that women would be at increased risk of HI than men. Objectives We aimed to determine the relative risk of HI in women compared with men through an exhaustive literature review and meta-analysis. Methods We search PubMed and Ovid Medline databases from inception to Apr 2017. Search terms included all permutations of sex and heat illness (including heatstroke and exertional heat illness) with no language restrictions. We included adult or adolescent human data reporting comparable male and female HI rates. One reviewer identified and screened titles and abstracts. Two independent reviewers applied eligibility criteria. Disagreements were resolved with a third reviewer. Results Of 5888 articles identified by searches, 36 were included in the systematic review and 22 in the meta-analysis. The mean (standard deviation) quality score was 3.31(1.25)/5. Overall the rate among women was consistently lower than men across the lifespan. The male: female pooled IRR was 2.28 (p<0.001, 95% CI: 1.66-3.16). There was modest heterogeneity (between-studies variance (τ2) = 0.02). The rates did not differ significantly when corrected for severity or occupation. Discussion The rate of HI was significantly increased in men compared with women. Risk for HI might be conferred by psychological and behavioral factors rather than physiological ones. Further research is required to delineate which groups are at greatest risk, leading to the development of mitigation strategies against HI

Variable Spin-down in the Soft Gamma Repeater SGR 1900+14 and Correlations with Burst Activity

We have analyzed Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array observations of the pulsed emission from SGR 1900+14 during September 1996, June - October 1998, and early 1999. Using these measurements and results reported elsewhere, we construct a period history of this source for 2.5 years. We find significant deviations from a steady spin-down trend during quiescence and the burst active interval. Burst and Transient Source Experiment observations of the burst emission are presented and correlations between the burst activity and spin-down rate of SGR 1900+14 are discussed. We find an 80 day interval during the summer of 1998 when the average spin-down rate is larger than the rate elsewhere by a factor ~ 2.3. This enhanced spin-down may be the result of a discontinuous spin-down event or ``braking glitch'' at the time of the giant flare on 27 August 1998. Furthermore, we find a large discrepancy between the pulsar period and average spin-down rate in X-rays as compared to radio observations for December 1998 and January 1999.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, submitted to ApJ Letter