Anomalies in the ERG Approach

The antifield formalism adapted in the exact renormalization group is found to be useful for describing a system with some symmetry, especially the gauge symmetry. In the formalism, the vanishing of the quantum master operator implies the presence of a symmetry. The QM operator satisfies a simple algebraic relation that will be shown to be related to the Wess-Zumino condition for anomalies. We also explain how an anomaly contributes to the QM operator.Comment: 13 page

Whole body counter surveys of Miharu-town school children for four consecutive years after the Fukushima NPP accident

Comprehensive whole-body counter surveys of Miharu town school children have been conducted for four consecutive years, in 2011-2014. This represents the only long-term sampling-bias-free study of its type conducted after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident. For the first time in 2014, a new device called the Babyscan, which has a low $^{134/137}$Cs MDA of $< 50$ Bq/body, was used to screen the children shorter than 130 cm. No child in this group was found to have detectable level of radiocesium. Using the MDAs, upper limits of daily intake of radiocesium were estimated for each child. For those screened with the Babyscan, the upper intake limits were found to be <1 Bq/day for $^{137}$Cs. Analysis of a questionnaire filled out by the children's parents regarding their food and water consumption shows that the majority of Miharu children regularly consume local and/or home-grown rice and vegetables. This however does not increase the body burden.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Effective Stress Analysis by Shear Strain Controllable Model and its Application to Centrifuge Shaking Model Test

Effective stress FEM which is able to control the growth of shear strains is proposed. Its validity is firstly confirmed through the simulation of undrained cyclic torsional shear tests. Then, it is applied to simulation of centrifuge shaking model tests; the experimental model consists of a caisson type quay wall and reclamation laid on the sand layer. Development of shear strain is shown to be controlled arbitrary keeping the excess porewater pressure generation unchanged through the simulation of undrained cyclic torsional shear test, which indicates that proposed model can be applicable to variety of soils with different density and fines contents. Displacement is shown to be controlled keeping excess porewater pressure generation constant in the centrifugal model, too, and good agreement is obtained between test and analysis by controlling the parameter for shear strain development

Roles of silica and lignin in horsetail (Equisetum hyemale), with special reference to mechanical properties

This research deals with detailed analyses of silica and lignin distribution in horsetail with special reference to mechanical strength. Scanning electron images of a cross-section of an internode showed silica deposited densely only around the outer epidermis. Detailed histochemical analyses of lignin showed no lignin deposition in the silica-rich outer internodes of horsetail, while a characteristic lignin deposition was noticed in the vascular bundle in inner side of internodes. To analyze the structure of horsetail from a mechanical viewpoint, we calculated the response of a model structure of horsetail to a mechanical force applied perpendicularly to the long axis by a finite element method. We found that silica distributed in the outer epidermis may play the major structural role, with lignin's role being limited ensuring that the vascular bundle keep waterproof. These results were in contrast to more modern tall trees like gymnosperms, for which lignin provides mechanical strength. Lignin has the advantage of sticking to cellulose, hemicellulose, and other materials. Such properties make it possible for plants containing lignin to branch. Branching of tree stems aids in competing for light and other atmospheric resources. This type of branching was impossible for ancient horsetails, which relied on the physical properties of silica. From the evolutional view points, over millennia in trees with high lignin content, true branching, and many chlorophyll-containing leaves developed. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3688253]ArticleJOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS. 111(4):044703 (2012)journal articl