The optical/UV excess of isolated neutron stars in the RCS model

The X-ray dim isolated neutron stars (XDINSs) are peculiar pulsar-like objects, characterized by their very well Planck-like spectrum. In studying their spectral energy distributions, the optical/UV excess is a long standing problem. Recently, Kaplan et al. (2011) have measured the optical/UV excess for all seven sources, which is understandable in the resonant cyclotron scattering (RCS) model previously addressed. The RCS model calculations show that the RCS process can account for the observed optical/UV excess for most sources . The flat spectrum of RX J2143.0+0654 may due to contribution from bremsstrahlung emission of the electron system in addition to the RCS process.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysic

AXPs and SGRs in the outer gap model: confronting Fermi observations

Anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) are magnetar candidates, i.e., neutron stars powered by strong magnetic field. If they are indeed magnetars, they will emit high-energy gamma-rays which are detectable by Fermi-LAT according to the outer gap model. However, no significant detection is reported in recent Fermi-LAT observations of all known AXPs and SGRs. Considering the discrepancy between theory and observations, we calculate the theoretical spectra for all AXPs and SGRs with sufficient observational parameters. Our results show that most AXPs and SGRs are high-energy gamma-ray emitters if they are really magnetars. The four AXPs 1E 1547.0-5408, XTE J1810-197, 1E 1048.1-5937, and 4U 0142+61 should have been detected by Fermi-LAT. Then there is conflict between out gap model in the case of magnetars and Fermi observations. Possible explanations in the magnetar model are discussed. On the other hand, if AXPs and SGRs are fallback disk systems, i.e., accretion-powered for the persistent emissions, most of them are not high-energy gamma-ray emitters. Future deep Fermi-LAT observations of AXPs and SGRs will help us make clear whether they are magnetars or fallback disk systems.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Geometric Phase, Hannay's Angle, and an Exact Action Variable

Canonical structure of a generalized time-periodic harmonic oscillator is studied by finding the exact action variable (invariant). Hannay's angle is defined if closed curves of constant action variables return to the same curves in phase space after a time evolution. The condition for the existence of Hannay's angle turns out to be identical to that for the existence of a complete set of (quasi)periodic wave functions. Hannay's angle is calculated, and it is shown that Berry's relation of semiclassical origin on geometric phase and Hannay's angle is exact for the cases considered.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. (revised version

Comment on a mechanism of dynamical breaking of supersymmetry

We re-examine the so-called Nambu-Jona-Lasinio mechanism suggested by Song, Xu and Chin in breaking the supersymmetry in the Wess-Zumino model and show that this mechanism cannot be justified without assuming special effects between fermions. The fermion condensation suggested by them corresponds to an unstable vacuum configuration. As a result, there is no fermion condensation and no supersymmetry breaking in the model discussed by them.Comment: 10 pages, Plain Late

Dietary Nutrient Intake and Obesity Prevalence Among Native American Adolescents

The prevalence of obesity among adolescent minority populations has been long recognized, but little research has been done on Native Americans adolescents. Using anthropometric measurements and dietary assessments, the findings within each study have shown to obtain baseline measures to determine the prevalence of obesity within the Sherman Indian High School's Native American adolescent population. Data of each assessment appear to be of use for predicting obesity and creating effective future interventions. Compiling data using the Harvard School of Public Health Youth/Adolescent Questionnaire (HSPH YAQ), a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire allowed significant data to be found between normal and obese weight students. Utilizing each finding allows more effective ways of targeting and reversing the inclining rate of obesity among Native American adolescents. Results show that antioxidants being examined on such as vitamin E and lycopene are beneficial in lowering the obesity rate among Native American adolescents. Levels of fiber, thiamin and folate consumption was significantly lower among the obese population in Sherman Indian High School's Native American adolescents. Moreover, dietary mineral intake was shown to be lower among obese Native American adolescents comparing with the normal weight group. The results suggested that dietary consumption of these nutrients might correlate and predict obesity and lead to the development of effective interventions for Native Americans. This study also found the effects of total fiber and vitamin B in diets with lifestyle intervention in prediabetic adults, showing that total fiber intake among the normal weight students is significantly higher than obese students, indicating that fiber and vitamin profile could be important determinants of the effect of dietary intervention

Sea flavor content of octet baryons and intrinsic five-quark Fock states

Sea quark contents of the octet baryons are investigated by employing an extended chiral constituent quark approach, which embodies higher Fock five-quark components in the baryons wave-functions. The well-known flavor asymmetry of the nucleon sea $\bar{d}-\bar{u}$, is used as input to predict the probabilities of $\bar{u}$, $\bar{d}$ and $\bar{s}$ in the nucleon, $\Lambda$, $\Sigma$ and $\Xi$ baryons, due to the intrinsic five-quark components in the baryons wave functions.Comment: 22 page

Using handheld pocket computers in a wireless telemedicine system

Objectives: To see if senior emergency nurse practitioners can provide support to inexperienced ones in a Minor Injuries Unit by using a wireless LAN system of telemedicine transmitting images to a PDA when they were on duty. In addition, whether such a system could be sufficiently accurate to make clinical diagnoses with a high level of diagnostic confidence. This would permit an overall lower grade of nurse to be employed to manage most of the cases as they arrive with a proportionate lowering of costs. Methods: The wireless LAN equipment could roam in the Minor Injuries Unit and the experienced emergency Nurse practitioners could be at home, shopping or even at a considerable distance from the centre. Thirty pictorial images of patients who had been sent to the Review Clinic were transmitted to a PDA various distances of one to sixteen miles from the centre. Two senior emergency nurse practitioners viewed the images and opined on the diagnosis, their degree of confidence in the diagnosis and their opinion of the quality of the image. Results: the images of patients were sharp, clear, and of diagnostic quality. The image quality was only uncertain, as was the level of confidence of the diagnosis if the patient was very dark skinned. Conclusions: The wireless LAN system works with a remote PDA in this clinical situation. However there are question marks over the availability of enough experienced emergency nurse practitioners to staff a service that provides senior cover for longer parts of the day and at weekends