Branching ratios of BcB_c Meson Decaying to Vector and Axial-Vector Mesons

We investigate the weak decays of $B_c$ mesons in Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa favored and suppressed modes. We present a detailed analysis of the $B_c$ meson decaying to vector meson (V) and axial-vector meson (A) in the final state. We also give the form factors involving $B_c \to A$ transition in the Isgur-Scora-Grinstein-Wise II framework and consequently, predict the branching ratios of $B_c \to V A$ and $AA$ decays.Comment: 26 Pages, Version to appear in Phys. Rev. D(2013

Role of optimization in interdisciplinary analyses of naval structures

The need for numerical design optimization of naval structures is discussed. The complexity of problems that arise due to the significant roles played by three major disciplines, i.e., structural mechanics, acoustics, and hydrodynamics are discussed. A major computer software effort that has recently begun at the David W. Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center to accommodate large multidisciplinary analyses is also described. In addition to primarily facilitating, via the use of data bases, interdisciplinary analyses for predicting the response of the Navy's ships and related structures, this software effort is expected to provide the analyst with a convenient numerical workbench for performing large numbers of analyses that may be necessary for optimizing the design performance. Finally, an example is included that investigates several aspects of optimizing a typical naval structure from the viewpoints of strength, hydrodynamic form, and acoustic characteristics

Optimization and transformation of Arundo donax L. using particle bombardment

An optimized particle bombardment protocol to introduce DNA into Arundo donax L. (giant reed) embryogenic callus cells was developed. The physical and biological parameters tested for optimal transient expression of ß-glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes were: helium pressure, distance from stopping screen to target tissue and vacuum pressure together with other factors such as gold microparticle size, DNA concentration and the number of bombardments. The highest transient GUS and GFP expression was obtained when cells were bombarded twice at 1100 psi, with 9 cm target distance, 24 mm Hg vacuum pressure, 1 mm gold particle size, 1.5 mg DNA per bombardment, three days pre-culture prior to bombardment and six days post bombardment culture. This is the first report of optimization of particle bombardment parameters for high-efficiency DNA delivery combined with minimum damage to target giant reed tissues.Key words: Arundo donax, particle bombardment, ß-glucuronidase (GUS), green fluorescent protein (GFP), transient gene expression, genetic transformation

Decays of bottom mesons emitting tensor meson in final state using ISGW II model

In this paper, we investigate phenomenologically two-body weak decays of the bottom mesons emitting pseudoscalar/vector meson and a tensor meson. Form factors are obtained using the improved ISGW II model. Consequently, branching ratios for the CKM-favored and CKM-suppressed decays are calculated.Comment: 32 pages, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Do Online Privacy Concerns Predict Selfie Behavior among Adolescents, Young Adults and Adults?

Selfies, or self-portraits, are often taken and shared on social media for online self-presentation reasons, which are considered essential for the psychosocial development and well-being of people in today's culture. Despite the growing popularity and widespread sharing of selfies in the online space, little is known about how privacy concerns moderate selfie behavior. In addition to this, it is also not known whether privacy concerns across age and gender groups influence selfie behavior. To address this timely issue, a survey assessing common selfie behaviors, that is, frequency of taking (individual and group selfies), editing (cropping and filtering), and posting selfies online, and social media privacy concerns (over personal data being accessed and misused by third parties) was conducted. The web-survey was administered to 3,763 Norwegian social media users, ranging from 13 to 50 years, with a preponderance of women (n = 2,509, 66.7%). The present study investigated the impact of privacy concerns on selfie behaviors across gender and age groups (adolescent, young adult, and adult) by use of the structural equation modeling approach. The results suggest that young adults have greater privacy concerns compared to adolescents and adults. Females have greater privacy concerns than males. Greater privacy concerns among female social media users were linked to lower engagement in selfie behavior, but privacy concerns did not influence selfie behavior in the case of male adolescents and young adults. Overall, privacy concerns were more consistently and inversely related to selfie behavior (taking and posting) among females than males. The study results have theoretical as well as practical implications for both researchers and policy makers.Peer reviewe

ST-Segment Elevation and Normokalemia in Acute Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Case Report and Brief Literature Review

Background: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (DM1) and requires prompt management; however, benign transient electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities with normal serum potassium levels can be seen in diabetic patients secondary to metabolic changes. Understanding the varying presentation among patients provides valuable insight into the management of this seemingly uncommon and benign diagnosis. The Case: A 24-year-old male with a history of DM1 presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with ST-segment elevation, normal potassium levels and metabolic acidosis. The patient was found to be in DKA with benign cardiac manifestations. Conclusion: The correction of underlying metabolic abnormalities in DKA and the awareness of the benign cardiac pseudo pathology on ECG allows for effective management and personalized patient care

Development of an EPQ Model for Deteriorating Product with Stock and Demand Dependent Production rate under Variable Carrying Cost and Partial Backlogging

In the present article, an economic production quantity (EPQ) model is developed for deteriorating product with time dependent demand and the time dependent inventory carrying cost. Here,it is assumed that the production rate at any instant depends on both the stock and the demand of the product. To make the model more realistic, the shortages are allowed and partially backlogged. The backordering rate is taken as a decreasing function of waiting time for the next refill.The main objective of the present study is to find the optimal total cost per unit time of the production system. To validate the optimal resuts, numerical example is provided. To analyze the effect of variations in the optimal resuts with respect to change in one parameter at a time, sensitivity analysis is carried out and the results are presented graphically