The Status of Inelastic Dark Matter

In light of recent positive results from the DAMA experiment, as well as new null results from CDMS Soudan, Edelweiss, ZEPLIN-I and CRESST, we reexamine the framework of inelastic dark matter with a standard halo. In this framework, which was originally introduced to reconcile tensions between CDMS and DAMA, dark matter particles can scatter off of nuclei only by making a transition to a nearly degenerate state that is roughly 100 \kev heavier. We find that recent data significantly constrains the parameter space of the framework, but that there are still regions consistent with all experimental results. Due to the enhanced annual modulation and dramatically different energy dependence in this scenario, we emphasize the need for greater information on the dates of data taking, and on the energy distribution of signal and background. We also study the specific case of ``mixed sneutrino'' dark matter, and isolate regions of parameter space which are cosmologically interesting for that particular model. A significant improvement in limits by heavy target experiments such as ZEPLIN or CRESST should be able to confirm or exclude the inelastic dark matter scenario in the near future. Within the mixed sneutrino model, an elastic scattering signature should be seen at upcoming germanium experiments, including future results from CDMS Soudan.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; updated to include CRESST results; version to appear in Phys.Rev.

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GUT Breaking on the Brane

We present a five-dimensional supersymmetric SU(5) theory in which the gauge symmetry is broken maximally (i.e. at the 5D Planck scale M_*) on the same 4D brane where chiral matter is localized. Masses of the lightest Kaluza-Klein modes for the colored Higgs and X and Y gauge fields are determined by the compactification scale of the fifth dimension, M_C ~ 10^{15} GeV, rather than by M_*. These fields' wave functions are repelled from the GUT-breaking brane, so that proton decay rates are suppressed below experimental limits. Above the compactification scale, the differences between the standard model gauge couplings evolve logarithmically, so that ordinary logarithmic gauge coupling unification is preserved. The maximal breaking of the grand unified group can also lead to other effects, such as O(1) deviations from SU(5) predictions of Yukawa couplings, even in models utilizing the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

The Monopoly Component of Inflation in Food Prices

Part I examines monopoly power in the food industry, paying close attention to the increased economic strength of monopolies and the economic costs caused by monopoly power. Part II details the problems resulting from monopoly power in one segment of the food industry-the meatpacking industry. Part III calls upon the Congress to undertake new antitrust initiatives to reverse the food industry\u27s trend toward increasing concentration. It cannot be said with certainty that food price inflation would totally disappear if the consumer loss due to monopoly were removed from the food manufacturing and retailing sectors. Doing away with these losses, however, would be the equivalent of a major reduction in unnecessary industry costs. Such a cost reduction, along with an industry restructuring aimed at workable competition, would result in substantially lower food costs

Red Crossbill Invasion of Northwestern Arkansas during 2012-2013

An irruption of Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) occurred in primarily northwestern Arkansas starting in November of 2012 and lasting to the end of May of 2013. Based on recordings of call notes, most birds around Fayetteville were Type 2, the large-billed ponderosa pine crossbill, associated with a variety of conifer species. Birds recorded in Carroll County were Type 3, the small-billed western hemlock crossbill, and they were associated with small cones on shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). One recording was obtained in Fayetteville of Type 5, the lodgepole pine crossbill, only the third recording east of the Great Plains. Crossbills at the Fayetteville Country Club were observed eating algae (Cladophora sp.) during the months of December and January, a behavior rarely reported for passerines. During March, crossbills appeared at sunflower bird feeders, which is a relatively recent phenomenon associated with low conifer seed abundance. The first two Arkansas specimens of crossbills (probably Type 3) were obtained from birds that struck windows near feeders. This is only the third recorded irruption of crossbills in Arkansas in the last 43 years, suggesting that crossbills rarely travel this far south in search of cone crops

An Effective Z'

We describe a method to couple Z' gauge bosons to the standard model (SM), without charging the SM fields under the U(1)', but instead through effective higher dimension operators. This method allows complete control over the tree-level couplings of the Z' and does not require altering the structure of any of the SM couplings, nor does it contain anomalies or require introduction of fields in non-standard SM representations. Moreover, such interactions arise from simple renormalizable extensions of the SM - the addition of vector-like matter that mixes with SM fermions when the U(1)' is broken. We apply effective Z' models as explanations of various recent anomalies: the D0 same-sign dimuon asymmetry, the CDF W+di-jet excess and the CDF top forward-backward asymmetry. In the case of the W+di-jet excess we also discuss several complementary analyses that may shed light on the nature of the discrepancy. We consider the possibility of non-Abelian groups, and discuss implications for the phenomenology of dark matter as well.Comment: 44 pages; 5 figures. References added, discussion of gamma+jj constraints update

Non-uniform thermal magnetization noise in thin films: application to GMR heads

A general scheme is developed to analyze the effect of non-uniform thermal magnetization fluctuations in a thin film. The normal mode formalism is utilized to calculate random magnetization fluctuations. The magnetization noise is proportional to the temperature and inversely proportional to the film volume. The total noise power is the sum of normal mode spectral noises and mainly determined by spin-wave standing modes with an odd number of oscillations. The effect rapidly decreases with increasing mode number. An exact analytical calcutaion is presented for a two-cell model.Comment: Paper for MMM'01, CB-10, to be published in J. Appl. Phy

Effect of Values and Technology Use on Exercise: Implications for Personalized Behavior Change Interventions

Technology has recently been recruited in the war against the ongoing obesity crisis; however, the adoption of Health & Fitness applications for regular exercise is a struggle. In this study, we present a unique demographically representative dataset of 15k US residents that combines technology use logs with surveys on moral views, human values, and emotional contagion. Combining these data, we provide a holistic view of individuals to model their physical exercise behavior. First, we show which values determine the adoption of Health & Fitness mobile applications, finding that users who prioritize the value of purity and de-emphasize values of conformity, hedonism, and security are more likely to use such apps. Further, we achieve a weighted AUROC of .673 in predicting whether individual exercises, and we also show that the application usage data allows for substantially better classification performance (.608) compared to using basic demographics (.513) or internet browsing data (.546). We also find a strong link of exercise to respondent socioeconomic status, as well as the value of happiness. Using these insights, we propose actionable design guidelines for persuasive technologies targeting health behavior modification

Relationships between selected Tennessee beef cattle producers\u27 personal and farm characteristics and the number of cattle handling facility components present on their farms

The purpose of this study was to characterize the Tennessee beef cattle producers who did not construct or repair any cattle handling facility components during the implementation of the CATCH FOUR program in order to identify program content, target audiences and delivery methods to emphasize in future Extension beef cattle programs. An analysis of the relationships between those selected beef producers\u27 personal and farm characteristics and the number of cattle handling facility components present on their farm was used to accomplish this purpose. The population of this study was the Tennessee beef cattle producers that did not construct or repair any cattle handling facility components from January 1, 1985 to the fall of 1987. The producers had at least 25 beef cows of breeding age. To identify the producers, Extension agents used an up-to-date mailing list of beef cattle producers to select a stratified random sample by applying the nth number technique. The Extension agents were instructed to select 10 producers who since the beginning of the CATCH FOUR program had either constructed or remodeled one or more components for handling cattle. If 10 producers were not available, the agents were to survey all producers who did something to their cattle handling facilities since January 1, 1985. Secondly, the Extension agents were to select 15 other producers who had not constructed or repaired any component of their cattle handling facilities since the beginning of the CATCH FOUR program. Following the completion of the survey, the data were coded and processed for computer analysis. Computations were made by the University of Tennessee Computing Center. The F-ratio analysis of variance test and the chi square statistical test were used to deter mine the strength of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The .05 probability level was the point at which the relationship was considered significant. Major findings included the following; 1. Beef producers had a mean age of 53 years, over 53 percent were high school graduates, 47 percent were part-time farmers and over 50 percent reported the sale of feeder calves as their major source of farm income. The producers exposed an average of 47.8 females to bulls, weaned an average of 43 calves and sold calves with an average weaning weight of 478 pounds. In regard to the type of cattle handling facilities on the farm, almost 36 percent of the producers had all 5 components and 18 percent had no components. Over 78 percent of the producers surveyed had received visits from an Extension agent. 2. Beef producers ranging in age from 21 to 45 years, with college or technical school training, who were full-time farmers and who listed row crops as their major source of farm income had a greater number of cattle handling facility components on their farms than producers who were 46 or older, had less education, were part-time farmers or retired, and listed feeder calves as their major source of farm income. Those producers who exposed 25 to 35 females, weaned 17 to 35 calves, and sold calves at an average weight range of 501 or more pounds had a greater number of cattle handling facility components on their farms than producers who exposed 36 or more females, weaned 36 or more calves, and sold calves that weighed less than 500 pounds at weaning. Those producers who had 9 to 13 total Extension contacts had a greater number of cattle handling facility components on their farms than producers with less Extension contacts. 3. Beef cattle producers who rated economic benefit, safety, labor saving, pride of ownership, have good location, recommended by Extension, and recommended by veterinarian as important reasons for constructing cattle handling facilities had a greater number of cattle handling facility components on their farms than the producers who rated the reasons as unimportant. The beef producers who indicated time, not economical, no suitable location, no materials, no plans available, and no Extension help as important reasons for not constructing facilities had a fewer number of cattle handling facility components present on their farms than the producers who rated the reasons as not important. 4. Beef producers with all 5 cattle handling facility components rated Extension meetings, beef cattle demonstrations, newspaper articles. Extension newsletters, visits from Extension agents, visits to Extension office and telephone calls to Extension office as helpful sources of information about Extension\u27s CATCH FOUR program. 5. Beef producers with all 5 cattle handling facility components were more likely than producers with no handling facilities to vaccinate females for leptospirosis, vaccinate cows/calves for respiratory disease complex, vaccinate calves for blackleg, implant calves, deworm cows/bulls, deworm calves, castrate, dehorn,,permanently identify animals, use horn and face fly control and treat cattle for grubs and/or lice. Implications and recommendations are also included in this study