Ultrahigh energy neutrino scattering onto relic light neutrinos in galactic halo as a possible source of highest energy extragalactic cosmic rays

The diffuse relic neutrinos with light mass are transparent to Ultrahigh energy (UHE) neutrinos at thousands EeV, born by photoproduction of pions by UHE protons on relic 2.73 K BBR radiation and originated in AGNs at cosmic distances. However these UHE $\nu$s may interact with those (mainly heaviest $\nu_{\mu_r}$, $\nu_{\tau_r}$ and respective antineutrinos) clustered into HDM galactic halos. UHE photons or protons, secondaries of $\nu\nu_r$ scattering, might be the final observed signature of such high-energy chain reactions and may be responsible of the highest extragalactic cosmic-ray (CR) events. The chain-reactions conversion efficiency, ramifications and energetics are considered for the October 1991 CR event at 320 EeV observed by the Fly's Eye detector in Utah. These quantities seem compatible with the distance, direction and power (observed at MeV gamma energies) of the Seyfert galaxy MCG 8-11-11. The $\nu\nu_r$ interaction probability is favoured by at least three order of magnitude with respect to a direct $\nu$ scattering onto the Earth atmosphere. Therefore, it may better explain the extragalactic origin of the puzzling 320 EeV event, while offering indirect evidence of a hot dark galactic halo of light (i.e., $m_\nu\sim$ tens eV) neutrinos, probably of tau flavour.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure minor corrections, updated references. In press in AP

Researchers in rheumatology should avoid categorization of continuous predictor variables

BACKGROUND: Rheumatology researchers often categorize continuous predictor variables. We aimed to show how this practice may alter results from observational studies in rheumatology. METHODS: We conducted and compared the results of two analyses of the association between our predictor variable (percentage change in body mass index [BMI] from baseline to four years) and two outcome variable domains of structure and pain in knee and hip osteoarthritis. These two outcome variable domains covered 26 different outcomes for knee and hip combined. In the first analysis (categorical analysis), percentage change in BMI was categorized as ≥ 5% decrease in BMI, < 5% change in BMI, and ≥ 5% increase in BMI, while in the second analysis (continuous analysis), it was left as a continuous variable. In both analyses (categorical and continuous), we used generalized estimating equations with a logistic link function to investigate the association between the percentage change in BMI and the outcomes. RESULTS: For eight of the 26 investigated outcomes (31%), the results from the categorical analyses were different from the results from the continuous analyses. These differences were of three types: 1) for six of these eight outcomes, while the continuous analyses revealed associations in both directions (i.e., a decrease in BMI had one effect, while an increase in BMI had the opposite effect), the categorical analyses showed associations only in one direction of BMI change, not both; 2) for another one of these eight outcomes, the categorical analyses suggested an association with change in BMI, while this association was not shown in the continuous analyses (this is potentially a false positive association); 3) for the last of the eight outcomes, the continuous analyses suggested an association of change in BMI, while this association was not shown in the categorical analyses (this is potentially a false negative association). CONCLUSIONS: Categorization of continuous predictor variables alters the results of analyses and could lead to different conclusions; therefore, researchers in rheumatology should avoid it

Mode Spectroscopy and Level Coupling in Ballistic Electron Waveguides

A tunable quantum point contact with modes occupied in both transverse directions is studied by magnetotransport experiments. We use conductance quantization of the one-dimensional subbands as a tool to determine the mode spectrum. A magnetic field applied along the direction of the current flow couples the modes. This can be described by an extension of the Darwin-Fock model. Anticrossings are observed as a function of the magnetic field, but not for zero field or perpendicular field directions, indicating coupling of the subbands due to nonparabolicity in the electrical confinement.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Association of Decrease in Body Mass Index With Reduced Incidence and Progression of the Structural Defects of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Multi-Cohort Study

Objective: To define the association between change in body mass index (BMI) and the incidence and progression of the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis as assessed by radiography. Methods: Radiographic analyses of knees at baseline and at 4–5 years of follow-up were obtained from the following 3 independent cohort studies: the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) study, the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST), and the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee (CHECK) study. Logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equations, with clustering of both knees within individuals, were used to investigate the association between change in BMI from baseline to 4–5 years of follow-up and the incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Results: A total of 9,683 knees (from 5,774 participants) in an “incidence cohort” and 6,075 knees (from 3,988 participants) in a “progression cohort” were investigated. Change in BMI was positively associated with both the incidence and progression of the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for osteoarthritis incidence was 1.05 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02–1.09), and the adjusted OR for osteoarthritis progression was 1.05 (95% CI 1.01–1.09). Change in BMI was also positively associated with degeneration (i.e., narrowing) of the joint space and with degeneration of the femoral and tibial surfaces (as indicated by osteophytes) on the medial but not on the lateral side of the knee. Conclusion: A decrease in BMI was independently associated with lower odds of incidence and progression of the structural defects of knee osteoarthritis and could be a component in preventing the onset or worsening of knee osteoarthritis

Two level anti-crossings high up in the single-particle energy spectrum of a quantum dot

We study the evolution with magnetic field of the single-particle energy levels high up in the energy spectrum of one dot as probed by the ground state of the adjacent dot in a weakly coupled vertical quantum dot molecule. We find that the observed spectrum is generally well accounted for by the calculated spectrum for a two-dimensional elliptical parabolic confining potential, except in several regions where two or more single-particle levels approach each other. We focus on two two-level crossing regions which show unexpected anti-crossing behavior and contrasting current dependences. Within a simple coherent level mixing picture, we can model the current carried through the coupled states of the probed dot provided the intrinsic variation with magnetic field of the current through the states (as if they were uncoupled) is accounted for by an appropriate interpolation scheme.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physica E in MSS 13 conference proceeding

Breakdown of the Korringa Law of Nuclear Spin Relaxation in Metallic GaAs

We present nuclear spin relaxation measurements in GaAs epilayers using a new pump-probe technique in all-electrical, lateral spin-valve devices. The measured T1 times agree very well with NMR data available for T > 1 K. However, the nuclear spin relaxation rate clearly deviates from the well-established Korringa law expected in metallic samples and follows a sub-linear temperature dependence 1/T1 ~ T^0.6 for 0.1 K < T < 10 K. Further, we investigate nuclear spin inhomogeneities.Comment: 5 pages, 4 (color) figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1109.633

Modelagem do crescimento e da colheita periódica do aguapé (Eichhornia crassipes) para produção de biocombustíveis.

Este estudo analisou o crescimento do aguapé em sistemas fechados por meio da análise ecossistêmica permitindo assim o desenvolvimento de um modelo para a simulação do crescimento da biomassa do aguapé, remoção de nutrientes e efeitos da colheita