(63)Cu NQR Evidence for Spatial Variation of Hole Concentration in La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4)

We report experimental evidence for the spatial variation of hole concentration x_(hole) in the high Tc superconductor La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) (0.04 <= x <= 0.16) by using (63)Cu NQR for (63)Cu isotope enriched samples. We demonstrate that the extent of the spatial variation of the local hole concentration D(x)_(hole) is reflected on (63)1/T1 and deduce the temperature dependence. D(x)_(hole) increases below 500 - 600K, and reaches values as large as D(x)_(hole)/x ~ 0.5 below ~ 150K. We estimate the length scale of the spatial variation in x_(hole) to be R_(hole) >~ 3nm from analysis of the NQR spectrum.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Vegetarianism

Ethical vegetarians maintain that vegetarianism is morally required. The principal reasons offered in support of ethical vegetarianism are: (i) concern for the welfare and well-being of the animals being eaten, (ii) concern for the environment, (iii) concern over global food scarcity and the just distribution of resources, and (iv) concern for future generations. Each of these reasons is explored in turn, starting with a historical look at ethical vegetarianism and the moral status of animals

Diffusion, dimensionality and noise in transcriptional regulation

The precision of biochemical signaling is limited by randomness in the diffusive arrival of molecules at their targets. For proteins binding to the specific sites on the DNA and regulating transcription, the ability of the proteins to diffuse in one dimension by sliding along the length of the DNA, in addition to their diffusion in bulk solution, would seem to generate a larger target for DNA binding, consequently reducing the noise in the occupancy of the regulatory site. Here we show that this effect is largely cancelled by the enhanced temporal correlations in one dimensional diffusion. With realistic parameters, sliding along DNA has surprisingly little effect on the physical limits to the precision of transcriptional regulation.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

(13)C NMR investigation of the superconductor MgCNi_3 up to 800K

We report (13)C NMR characterization of the new superconductor MgCNi_3 (He et al., Nature (411), 54 (2001)). We found that both the uniform spin susceptibility and the spin fluctuations show a strong enhancement with decreasing temperature, and saturate below ~50K and ~20K respectively. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/(13)T_1T exhibits typical behaviour for isotropic s-wave superconductivity with a coherence peak below Tc=7.0K that grows with decreasing magnetic field.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Hydrogen Flare Stack Diffusion Flames - Low and High Flow Instabilities, Burning Rates, Dilution Limits, Temperatures, and Wind Effects

Combustion characteristics and safety factors for hydrogen diffusion flames in flare stack operation

Why Global Inequality Matters: Derivative Global Egalitarianism

This article integrates empirical and normative discussions about why global economic inequalities matter in critically examining an approach known as derivative global egalitarianism (DGE). DGE is a burgeoning perspective that opposes excessive global economic inequality not based on the intrinsic value of equality but inequality\u27s negative repercussions on other values. The article aims to advance the research agenda by identifying and critically evaluating four primary varieties of DGE arguments from related but distinct literatures, which span a number of disciplines, including economics, international relations, and political philosophy. Overall, DGE offers a number of persuasive arguments as to why current levels of global inequality are of concern, but aspects of DGE beg further philosophical and empirical examination. By situating DGE within the wider theoretical and empirical contexts, this article provides resources for its critical assessment and theoretical development

Assessing the associations of sodium intake with long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a hypertensive cohort

BACKGROUND: Although higher sodium intake is known to increase blood pressure, its association with cardiovascular mortality is less established. We examined the association of baseline sodium intake in a hypertensive cohort with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality over a mean follow-up of 18.6 years. METHODS: Three thousand five hundred five subjects were participants in a worksite hypertension program. Sodium intake was estimated by 24-hour urine excretion. Mortality data were obtained from the U.S. National Death Index. Unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted associations between sodium quartiles (quartile I (QI) to quartile IV (QIV)) and mortality were assessed using Cox models. RESULTS: Estimated mean +/- SD sodium intake was 130+/-69 mmol overall (55+/-20 mmol in QI; 220+/-56 mmol in QIV). Baseline systolic blood pressure did not vary significantly between groups. Last available mean systolic blood pressure was highest in QI and lowest in QIV (137+/-16 vs. 134+/-14 mm Hg; P = 0.009). Overall there were 1,013 deaths (399 cardiovascular). Unadjusted models exhibited significant inverse relationships between sodium and mortality outcomes. In adjusted models, sodium intake was not significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality (QI vs. QIV: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71-1.42; P = 0.99). A borderline significant direct association with all-cause mortality was observed (QI vs. QIV: HR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.66-1.00; P = 0.05) driven partly by noncardiovascular deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found no significant association between sodium intake and cardiovascular outcomes, although a significant association with all-cause mortality was observed. Although these findings suggest that sodium may not have a strong relationship with cardiovascular mortality, the inconsistent results cast doubt on whether a single measurement can reliably predict mortality over a prolonged follow-up period