Universality of Low-Energy Scattering in 2+1 Dimensions: The Non Symmetric Case

For a very large class of potentials, $V(\vec{x})$, $\vec{x}\in R^2$, we prove the universality of the low energy scattering amplitude, $f(\vec{k}', \vec{k})$. The result is $f=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\{1/log k)+O(1/(log k)^2)$. The only exceptions occur if $V$ happens to have a zero energy bound state. Our new result includes as a special subclass the case of rotationally symmetric potentials, $V(|\vec{x}|)$.Comment: 65 pages, Latex, significant changes, new sections and appendice

A multivariate regional test for detection of trends in extreme rainfall: the case of extreme daily rainfall in the French Mediterranean area

In this paper we present a multivariate regional test we developed for the detection of trends in extreme rainfall, which takes into account the spatial dependence between rainfall measurements with copula functions. The test is based on four steps. It was applied to a set of 92 series of Annual Daily Maxima (ADM) rainfall in the French Mediterranean area, sampled during the 1949–2004 observation period. The results show a low significant trend, concerning mainly the mountains area in the west part of the French Mediterranean region. The position's parameters of the ADM rainfall probability distribution functions present a low but significant increasing trend of about 5% to 10%, the same increase as that observed in ADM rainfall quantiles in the last 56 years. Further work is needed to understand if this significative trend is related to the global climate change or to the natural variability of Mediterranean climate

²¹⁰Pb- ²²⁶Ra chronology reveals rapid growth rate of Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa on world's largest cold-water coral reef

Here we show the use of the 210Pb- 226Ra excess method to determine the growth rate of two corals from the world's largest known cold-water coral reef, Røst Reef, north of the Arctic circle off Norway. Colonies of each of the two species that build the reef, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, were collected alive at 350 m depth using a submersible. Pb and Ra isotopes were measured along the major growth axis of both specimens using low level alpha and gamma spectrometry and trace element compositions were studied. 210Pb and 226Ra differ in the way they are incorporated into coral skeletons. Hence, to assess growth rates, we considered the exponential decrease of initially incorporated 210Pb, as well as the increase in 210Pb from the decay of 226Ra and contamination with 210Pb associated with Mn-Fe coatings that we were unable to remove completely from the oldest parts of the skeletons. 226Ra activity was similar in both coral species, so, assuming constant uptake of 210Pb through time, we used the 210Pb- 226Ra chronology to calculate growth rates. The 45.5 cm long branch of M. oculata was 31 yr with an average linear growth rate of 14.4 ± 1.1 mm yr -1 (2.6 polyps per year). Despite cleaning, a correction for Mn-Fe oxide contamination was required for the oldest part of the colony; this correction corroborated our radiocarbon date of 40 yr and a mean growth rate of 2 polyps yr -1. This rate is similar to the one obtained in aquarium experiments under optimal growth conditions. For the 80 cm-long L. pertusa colony, metal-oxide contamination remained in both the middle and basal part of the coral skeleton despite cleaning, inhibiting similar age and growth rate estimates. The youngest part of the colony was free of metal oxides and this 15 cm section had an estimated a growth rate of 8 mm yr -1, with high uncertainty (∼1 polyp every two to three years). We are less certain of this 210Pb growth rate estimate which is within the lowermost ranges of previous growth rate estimates. We show that 210Pb- 226Ra dating can be successfully applied to determine the age and growth rate of framework-forming cold-water corals if Mn-Fe oxide deposits can be removed. Where metal oxides can be removed, large M. oculata and L. pertusa skeletons provide archives for studies of intermediate water masses with an up to annual time resolution and spanning over many decades. © 2012 Author(s)

Biological Effects of Stellar Collapse Neutrinos

Massive stars in their final stages of collapse radiate most of their binding energy in the form of MeV neutrinos. The recoil atoms that they produce in elastic scattering off nuclei in organic tissue create radiation damage which is highly effective in the production of irreparable DNA harm, leading to cellular mutation, neoplasia and oncogenesis. Using a conventional model of the galaxy and of the collapse mechanism, the periodicity of nearby stellar collapses and the radiation dose are calculated. The possible contribution of this process to the paleontological record of mass extinctions is examined.Comment: gzipped PostScript (filename.ps.Z), 12 pages. Final version, Phys. Rev. Lett., in pres

Lateral variations in the signature of earthquake‐generated deposits in Lake Iznik, NW Turkey

Using lake-sediment cores to document past seismicity requires a comprehen- sive understanding of possible lateral variations in depositional processes. This study aims to reveal the lateral variations in earthquake-induced event deposits throughout Lake Iznik, a large lake located on the middle strand of the North Anatolian Fault. Based on stratigraphic, sedimentological and geochemical anal- yses of 14 sediment cores from two subbasins across the lake, five different types of event deposits (T1–T5) were identified and characterised. One event deposit type (T5) is restricted to a delta mouth, characterised by the occurrence of au- thigenic Fe-Mn carbonates and interpreted to result from flood events. The four other types of event deposits are characterised by their synchronicity between cores and their age consistency with historical earthquakes and are interpreted to be likely generated by earthquakes. The locally prominent 1065 CE historical earthquake that ruptured the sub-lacustrine Iznik Fault produced at least three different types of event deposits. One deposit type (T2) is only observed for this very local earthquake, implying that the type of event deposit might also depend on ground-motion parameters. At the lake scale, the occurrence of various event deposits depends on the flow distance from the source of sediment destabilisa- tions to the coring site

Local economic strategy development under Regional Development Agencies and Local Enterprise Partnerships: applying the lens of the multiple streams framework

Following the decision to abolish the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England by the newly elected Coalition Government in 2010, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were introduced to drive economic development at a local level. However, the limited Government prescription as to both the form and function of LEPs has contributed to a fundamental ambiguity as to their roles and ‘legitimate spheres’ of activity. In the context of this ambiguity, this paper uses the Multiple Streams Framework (Kingdon, 1995) to analyse the challenges faced by RDAs and LEPs in developing effective economic development strategies. The paper identifies the dimensions of strategic capability that LEPs must develop if they are to mature as effective agents of local economic development in England

Local and non-local equivalent potentials for p-12C scattering

A Newton-Sabatier fixed energy inversion scheme has been used to equate inherently non-local p-${}^{12}$C potentials at a variety of energies to pion threshold, with exactly phase equivalent local ones. Those energy dependent local potentials then have been recast in the form of non-local Frahn-Lemmer interactions.Comment: 15 pages plus 9 figures submitted to Phys. Rev.