Modulus stabilization of generalized Randall Sundrum model with bulk scalar field

We study the stabilization of inter-brane spacing modulus of generalized warped brane models with a nonzero brane cosmological constant. Employing Goldberger-Wise stabilization prescription of brane world models with a bulk scalar field, we show that the stabilized value of the modulus generally depends on the value of the brane cosmological constant. Our result further reveals that the stabilized modulus value corresponding to a vanishingly small cosmological constant can only resolve the gauge hierarchy problem simultaneously. This in turn vindicates the original Randall-Sundrum model where the 3-brane cosmological constant was chosen to be zero.Comment: 12 Pages, 1 figure, Revtex, Version to appear in Euro. Phys. Let

Observation of R-Band Variability of L Dwarfs

We report, for the first time, photometric variability of L dwarfs in $R$ band. Out of three L1 dwarfs (2MASS 1300+19, 2MASS 1439+19, and 2MASS 1658+70) observed, we have detected R band variability in 2MASS 1300+19 and 2MASS 1439+19. The objects exhibit variability of amplitude ranging from 0.01 mag to 0.02 mag. Object 2MASS 1658+70, turns out to be non-variable in both $R$ and $I$ band. However, more observations are needed to infer its variability. No periodic behaviour in the variability is found from the two L1 dwarfs that are variable. All the three L1 dwarfs have either negligible or no $H_{\alpha}$ activity. In the absence of any direct evidence for the presence of sufficiently strong magnetic field, the detection of polarization at the optical favors the presence of dust in the atmosphere of L dwarfs. We suggest that the observed $R$ band photometric variability is most likely due to atmospheric dust activity.Comment: 13 pages (latex, aastex style) including 3 eps figures. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

The Role of the Teaching Context in Hong Kong English Teachers' Perceptions of L2 Writing Pedagogy

This paper examines the ways in which L2 writing is perceived and its pedagogy conceptualised by English language teachers in Hong Kong secondary schools. It then attempts to delineate the factors thatshape teacher perceptions.Data for this study were gathered through a questionnaire survey, which was followed up by teacher interviews,classroom observations,written protocols and documentary analysis.These data indicate that the perceptions of Hong Kong language teachers regarding students' L2 writing are dominated by language-related concerns at the sentence levelwith minimal focus on either the discourse-related or cognitive aspects of writing. Grammatical and lexical errors engage maximum teacher attention. The data suggest that teachers' perceptions of L2 writing are predominantly shaped by the contextual factors that surround their classroom lives. It is argued that conditions for teacher perceptions will be subject to change as the context becomes more sensitive to the discourse-related and cognitive factors within L2 writing that recent developments in curriculum renewal and language teacher education in Hong Kong are likely to bring.published_or_final_versio

Evaluation of Health Status of Fishers: Prediction of Cardiovascular Fitness and Anaerobic Power

It is assumed that physically demanding jobs may have a positive influence on the physical parameters of workers. Thus the present study was designed to evaluate the influence of fishery, such an physically demanding occupation on physical fitness and to compare whether fishermen have more cardiovascular fitness, anaerobic power than sedentary population or not. The study was carried out among randomly selected fishermen of coastal, West Bengal (mean age 22.4). A significant difference (p < 0.05) in Blood pressure, PFI, Energy expenditure, body fat% and anaerobic power was found in fishermen. But, in contrast, BSA, BMI, resting heart rate, V.O2 max, upper arm circumference and thigh and calf circumferences were found to be non-significant. This study infers fishermen have more physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness) and muscle mass, but less fat percentage than sedentary population. But with physical strength and cardiovascular fitness more endurance is required for better health of young fishermen

An Ergonomic Assessment and Fitness Evaluation of Young Male Tea Factory Workers in Dooars, West Bengal

Introduction: There are very few published reports on the heath status of tea garden workers of West Bengal, while reports on cardiorespiratory fineness and body composition of male tea factory workers is almost scanty. Purpose: The present study was carried out in the Dooars region of the Cooch Behar district, West Bengal to evaluate the physical fitness and morphological characteristics due to the physio-logical workload of respondents engaged in processing of tea leaves in factories within the tea-estates. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 18-25 years’ young male tea-garden workers (n=15) by random selection from Cooch Behar District, West Bengal (mean age 20.1) and college students (n=15) of Kolkata (mean age 21.9), who served as controls. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated in terms of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and physical fitness index (PFI), while morphological characters were estimated by means of physical anthropometric measures. Results: A significant difference in body surface area, body mass index, percentage of body fat (% fat), blood pressure, physical fitness index, energy expenditure, anaerobic power, mean upper arm circumference, thigh circumference, waist circum-ference and buttock circumference were found (p<0.05) in tea garden workers. No significant difference was observed in calf circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Conclusions: On the basis of the findings of the present study using morphometric indicators and fitness markers it can be concluded that, the majority of respondents had an ectomorph stature but have good physical fitness level

Health-related morphological characteristics and physiological fitness in connection with nutritional, socio-economic status, occupational workload of tea garden workers

Background: Reports on the cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition of male workers engaged in processing of tea leaves in factories within the tea-estates of West Bengal, under the influence of physiological workload, are quite scanty.Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate morphometric characteristics based on physiological status and physical fitness of tea factory laborers who are continuously exposed to tea dust in their work environment for more than two years.Methods: Subjects were divided into control and tea garden workers groups. Height and weight were measured and the body mass index (BMI) was computed. Physiological parameters such as resting heart rate, blood pressure, fitness variables like physical fitness index (PFI), energy expenditure (EE), handgrip strength and anthropometric parameters like mid-upper arm (MUAC), thigh circumference (TC), head circumference (HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured.Results: Body surface area (BSA), BMI, body fat percentage and fitness variables (PFI, EE) showed significant difference (p&lt;0.05) between the two groups. Anthropometric measures (MUAC, TC, HC, WHR) reflected poor status among laborers.Conclusions: The present study shows that the majority of workers had ectomorph stature, good physical fitness, but had poor nutritional status (BMI and WHR)Key words: anthropometry; blood pressure; body mass index; body surface area; physical fitness; tea

Gravitational Redshift in Einstein-Kalb-Ramond Spacetime and Randall-Sundrum Scenario

It is shown that the gravitational redshift as predicted by Einstein's theory, is modified in presence of second rank antisymmetric tensor (Kalb-Ramond) field in a string inspired background spacetime.In presence of extra dimensions, the Randall-Sundrum brane world scenario is found to play a crucial role in suppressing this additional shift. The bound on the value of the warp factor is determined from the redshift data and is found to be in good agreement with that determined from the requirements of Standard model.Comment: 4 Pages, Revtex, No figures, version thoroughly revise

Langevin Dynamics simulations of a 2-dimensional colloidal crystal under confinement and shear

Langevin Dynamics simulations are used to study the effect of shear on a two-dimensional colloidal crystal confined by structured parallel walls. When walls are sheared very slowly, only two or three crystalline layers next to the walls move along with them, while the inner layers of the crystal are only slightly tilted. At higher shear velocities, this inner part of the crystal breaks into several pieces with different orientations. The velocity profile across the slit is reminiscent of shear-banding in flowing soft materials, where liquid and solid regions coexist; the difference, however, is that in the latter case the solid regions are glassy while here they are crystalline. At even higher shear velocities, the effect of the shearing becomes smaller again. Also the effective temperature near the walls (deduced from the velocity distributions of the particles) decreases again when the wall velocity gets very large. When the walls are placed closer together, thereby introducing a misfit, a structure containing a soliton staircase arises in simulations without shear. Introducing shear increases the disorder in these systems until no solitons are visible any more. Instead, similar structures like in the case without misfit result. At high shear rates, configurations where the incommensurability of the crystalline structure is compensated by the creation of holes become relevant