Big-bang nucleosynthesis and gamma-ray constraints on cosmic strings with a large Higgs condensate

We consider constraints on cosmic strings from their emission of Higgs particles, in the case that the strings have a Higgs condensate with amplitude of order the string mass scale, assuming that a fraction of the energy of the condensate can be turned into radiation near cusps. The injection of energy by the decaying Higgs particles affects the light element abundances predicted by standard big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and also contributes to the diffuse gamma-ray background (DGRB) in the Universe today. We examine the two main string scenarios (Nambu-Goto and field theory) and find that the primordial helium and deuterium abundances strongly constrain the string tension and the efficiency of the emission process in the NG scenario, while the strongest BBN constraint in the FT scenario comes from the deuterium abundance. The Fermi-LAT measurement of the DGRB constrains the field theory scenario even more strongly than previously estimated from EGRET data, requiring that the product of the string tension μ and Newton’s constant G is bounded by Gμ≲2.7×10−11β−2ft, where β2ft is the fraction of the strings’ energy going into Higgs particles

Programming languages in economics: a comparison among Fortran77, C++, and Java

The main objective of this paper was to compare the computer programming languages Fortran77, C++, and Java under four aspects: runtime efficiency, readability, ease of learning, and reliability. For this comparison, we revised the specialized literature on programming languages and used pieces of codes of these three programming languages. The purpose of this comparison was to provide some objective information for economists interested in learning one or more of these languages.Programming language, Runtime efficiency, Readability, Reliability, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Informed citizen and empowered citizen in health: results from an European survey

Background: The knowledge about the relationship between health-related activities on the Internet (i.e. informed citizens) and individuals? control over their own experiences of health or illness (i.e. empowered citizens) is valuable but scarce. In this paper, we investigate the correlation between four ways of using the Internet for information on health or illness and citizens attitudes and behaviours toward health professionals and health systems and establish the profile of empowered eHealth citizens in Europe. Methods: Data was collected during April and May 2007 (N = 7022), through computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Respondents from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Portugal participated in the survey. The profiles were generated using logistic regressions and are based on: a) socio-demographic and health information, b) the level of use of health-related online services, c) the level of use of the Internet to get health information to decide whether to consult a health professional, prepare for a medical appointment and assess its outcome, and d) the impact of online health information on citizens? attitudes and behavior towards health professionals and health systems. Results: Citizens using the Internet to decide whether to consult a health professional or to get a second opinion are likely to be frequent visitors of health sites, active participants of online health forums and recurrent buyers of medicines and other health related products online, while only infrequent epatients, visiting doctors they have never met face-to-face. Participation in online health communities seems to be related with more inquisitive and autonomous patients. Conclusions: The profiles of empowered eHealth citizens in Europe are situational and country dependent. The number of Europeans using the Internet to get health information to help them deal with a consultation is raising and having access to online health information seems to be associated with growing number of inquisitive and self-reliant patients. Doctors are increasingly likely to experience consultations with knowledgeable and empowered patients, who will challenge them in various ways

Hybrid sol-gel coatings containing clay nanoparticles for corrosion protection of mild steel

The development of a new environment-friendly anticorrosive coating for mild steel substrate is afforded in this work. The combined use of cerium, as a self-healing agent, and clay nanoparticles, as improvers of the barrier properties, was considered to the development of new anticorrosive sol-gel coatings. Nanostructured hybrid films were synthesized by the sol-gel route from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-glicidoxipropyl-trimetoxisilano (GPTMS) using laminar nanoclays (Laponite Na+0.7[Si8Mg5.5Li0.3H4O24]−0.7) to improve mechanical and barrier properties, and Ce(NO3)3?6H2O as a supplier of Ce(III) to provide an inhibiting effect in the event of coating failure. Carbon steel plates, AISI 1010, were used as substrates. Prior to the application of the coating, samples were treated with a phosphoric acid 2% v/v in order to improve coating adherence.In order to evaluate cerium effect, electrochemical behaviour of films containing Laponite and cerium salts (TGL-Ce) were compared with films containing only Laponite (TGL) by means of potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements using a 0.35 wt% NaCl solution. Microstructural characterization and surface analysis of substrates and sol-gel coatings were performed by optical microscopy and by XPS techniques. The use of nanoclays allowed to achieve a significant improvement of the anticorrosive behaviour of the cerium doped coating at the same time that enhances the physical integrity of the coatings under immersion tests.Fil: Santana, Ianina Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Pepe, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Schreiner, Wido H.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Pellice, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Ceré, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin