Two Recent Results on B Physics from CDF

Preliminary results from two recent CDF b physics analysis are presented. The first obtains sin(2beta) = 0.79 + 0.41 -0.44 from a measurement of the asymmetry in B0, B0bar to J/psi K_short decays, providing the best direct indication so far that CP invariance is violated in the b sector. The second obtains new results on the parity even (A_0 and A_par) and odd (A_perp) polarization amplitudes from full angular analyses of B0 to J/psi K*0 and B_s to J/psi phi decays.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; presented at the 34th Recontres de Moriond, Les Arcs, 1800, France, 13-20 March 199

High-Velocity Features in Type Ia Supernova Spectra

We use a sample of 58 low-redshift (z <= 0.03) Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) having well-sampled light curves and spectra near maximum light to examine the behaviour of high-velocity features (HVFs) in SN Ia spectra. We take advantage of the fact that Si II 6355 is free of HVFs at maximum light in all SNe Ia, allowing us to quantify the strength of HVFs by comparing the structure of these two lines. We find that the average HVF strength increases with decreasing light-curve decline rate, and rapidly declining SNe Ia (dm_15(B) >= 1.4 mag) show no HVFs in their maximum-light spectra. Comparison of HVF strength to the light-curve colour of the SNe Ia in our sample shows no evidence of correlation. We find a correlation of HVF strength with the velocity of Si II 6355 at maximum light (v_Si), such that SNe Ia with lower v_Si have stronger HVFs, while those SNe Ia firmly in the "high-velocity" (i.e., v_Si >= 12,000 km/s) subclass exhibit no HVFs in their maximum-light spectra. While v_Si and dm_15(B) show no correlation in the full sample of SNe Ia, we find a significant correlation between these quantities in the subset of SNe Ia having weak HVFs. In general, we find that slowly declining (low dm_15(B)) SNe Ia, which are more luminous and more energetic than average SNe Ia, tend to produce either high photospheric ejecta velocities (i.e., high v_Si) or strong HVFs at maximum light, but not both. Finally, we examine the evolution of HVF strength for a sample of SNe Ia having extensive pre-maximum spectroscopic coverage and find significant diversity of the pre-maximum HVF behaviour.Comment: Version accepted by MNRA

PREDICTING SOYBEAN WEIGHT PER POD

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) makes predictions of soybean yield at both the state and national level. Experience indicates that the key to improving yield predictions is improving the prediction of soybean weight pod. Towards this end, NASS has entered into a three year cooperative agreement with the Department of Plant, Soil and General Agriculture at Southern lllinois University at Carbondale (SID-C) to investigate predictive models for soybean weight per pod based on a measurement of pod width and a count of the number of seeds per pod. Aside from the scientific issues involved in this effort, the practical issues of eventually developing procedures which can be implemented in the context of the NASS Objective Yield Survey, which is an immense data collection effort, must be addressed by this cooperative effort. The results obtained from the three years of this cooperative effort will provide a useful starting point for further work in this direction

A reconnaissance of the possible donor stars to the Kepler supernova

The identity of Type Ia supernova progenitors remains a mystery, with various lines of evidence pointing towards either accretion from a non-degenerate companion, or the rapid merger of two degenerate stars leading to the thermonuclear destruction of a white dwarf. In this paper we spectroscopically scrutinize 24 of the brightest stars residing in the central 38" x 38" of the SN 1604 (Kepler) supernova remnant to search for a possible surviving companion star. We can rule out, with high certainty, a red giant companion star - a progenitor indicated by some models of the supernova remnant. Furthermore, we find no star that exhibits properties uniquely consistent with those expected of a donor star down to L>10Lsun. While the distribution of star properties towards the remnant are consistent with unrelated stars, we identify the most promising candidates for further astrometric and spectroscopic follow-up. Such a program would either discover the donor star, or place strong limits on progenitor systems to luminosities with L<<Lsun.Comment: accepted by Ap

Hybrid Deterministic-Stochastic Methods for Data Fitting

Many structured data-fitting applications require the solution of an optimization problem involving a sum over a potentially large number of measurements. Incremental gradient algorithms offer inexpensive iterations by sampling a subset of the terms in the sum. These methods can make great progress initially, but often slow as they approach a solution. In contrast, full-gradient methods achieve steady convergence at the expense of evaluating the full objective and gradient on each iteration. We explore hybrid methods that exhibit the benefits of both approaches. Rate-of-convergence analysis shows that by controlling the sample size in an incremental gradient algorithm, it is possible to maintain the steady convergence rates of full-gradient methods. We detail a practical quasi-Newton implementation based on this approach. Numerical experiments illustrate its potential benefits.Comment: 26 pages. Revised proofs of Theorems 2.6 and 3.1, results unchange

Inhibition of Candida albicans by Fluvastatin Is Dependent on pH

The cholesterol-lowering drug fluvastatin (FS) has an inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans that is dependent on the pH of the medium. At the low pH value of the vagina, FS is growth inhibitory at low and at high concentrations, while at intermediate concentrations (1–10 mM), it has no inhibitory effect. Examination of the effect of the common antifungal drug fluconazole in combination with FS demonstrates drug interactions in the low concentration range. Determination of intracellular stress and the activity of the FS target enzyme HMG-CoA reductase confirm our hypothesis that in the intermediate dose range adjustments to the sterol biosynthesis pathway can compensate for the action of FS. We conclude that the pH dependent uptake of FS across yeast membranes might make FS combination therapy an attractive possibility for treatment of vaginal C. albicans infections

The Effect of Prophylactic Knee Braces on Balance and Uninjured Knee Range of Motion

There has been numerous studies performed regarding the effectiveness of prophylactic knee braces (PKB) preventing knee injuries or the effect of PKB on injured knees, but minimal research is available on the effect of how PKB affect the functioning capacity of uninjured knees. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of two different types of PKB, hinged (HGB) and non-hinged (NHB), on uninjured preferred knee joint range of motion and dynamic balance in males and females. METHODS: Thirty subjects were recruited (male=15, female=15) with ages ranging from 18-28 years. Only participants with no history of any knee injuries or current knee problems were allowed to participate. Subjects were blinded to the purpose of the study, but were allowed practice trials for the dynamic balance test (Y-Balance test). Prior to experimental trials subjects were measured for body composition and knee brace size. All subjects underwent three experimental trials [HGB, NHB, and a no PKB control (CON)] on the same day in balanced cross-over design. During the treatment trials, the subjects wore the braces on their preferred leg. Each experimental trial was comprised of a test for dynamic balance and four tests for knee joint range of motion. Dynamic balance composite score, knee extension/flexion (°), and internal/external knee rotation (°) were compared between sex (M, F) and across PKB (HGB, NHB, CON) using an ANOVA (1 between, 1 within), α=0.05. Age and body composition differences between sex were examined using independent t-tests, α=0.05. RESULTS: M and F did not differ (p\u3e0.05) with regard to age, but did differ significantly (p\u3c0.05) in body mass, body stature, and percent body fat. For the sex main effect, when pooled across PKB (CON, HGB, NHG) M and F did not differ (p\u3e0.05) in knee flexion, internal knee rotation, right/left leg balance, but did differ significantly (p\u3c0.05) in knee extension (M=+0.8±1.8°, F=-0.6±2.4°) and external knee rotation (M=29.7±7.5°, F=35.9±9.7°). For the main effect for PKB, when pooled across sex external knee rotation and right/left leg balance did not differ (p\u3e0.05) between HGB, NHB, and CON, but both HGB and NHB differed significantly (p\u3c0.05) from CON for internal rotation (HGB=21.9±10.3°, NHB=22.5±9.8°, CON=24.8±10.0°), flexion (HGB=126.9±17.7°, NHB=125.7±15.9°, CON=139.0±6.8°), and extension (HGB=+0.7±1.4°, NHB=+=1.3±1.8°, CON=-1.7±2.2°). The sex x knee brace interaction was not significant (p\u3e0.05). CONCLUSION: PKB have no effect on dynamic balance, but appear to hinder the range of motion for most motions of the knee