Risk, precaution and science: towards a more constructive policy debate. Talking point on the precautionary principle

Few issues in contemporary risk policy are as momentous or contentious as the precautionary principle. Since it first emerged in German environmental policy, it has been championed by environmentalists and consumer protection groups, and resisted by the industries they oppose (Raffensperger & Tickner, 1999). Various versions of the principle now proliferate across different national and international jurisdictions and policy areas (Fisher, 2002). From a guiding theme in European Commission (EC) environmental policy, it has become a general principle of EC law (CEC, 2000; Vos & Wendler, 2006). Its influence has extended from the regulation of environmental, technological and health risks to the wider governance of science, innovation and trade (O'Riordan & Cameron, 1994)

WZWZ Production at eγe\gamma Colliders and Anomalous Quartic WWZγWWZ\gamma Coupling

We investigate the constraints on the anomalous quartic $W^{+}W^{-}Z\gamma$ gauge boson coupling through the process $e^{-}\gamma\to \nu_{e}W^{-}Z$. Considering incoming beam polarizations and the longitudinal and transverse polarization states of the final W and Z boson we find 95% confidence level limits on the anomalous coupling parameter $a_{n}$ with an integrated luminosity of 500 $fb^{-1}$ and $\sqrt{s}$=0.5, 1 TeV energies. We show that initial beam and final state polarizations improve the sensitivity to the anomalous coupling by up to factors of 2 - 3.5 depending on the energy.Comment: published versio

The point of maximum curvature as a marker for physiological time series

We present a geometric analysis of the model of Stirling. In particular we analyze the curvature of a heart rate time series in response to a step like increment in the exercise intensity. We present solutions for the point of maximum curvature which can be used as a marker of physiological interest. This marker defines the point after which the heart rate no longer continues to rapidly rise and instead follows either a steady state or slow rise. These methods are then applied to find analytic solutions for a mono exponential model which is commonly used in the literature to model the response to a moderate exercise intensity. Numerical solutions are then found for the full model and parameter values presented in Stirling

The Momentum Distribution of Liquid 3^3He

We present high-resolution neutron Compton scattering measurements of liquid $^3$He below its renormalized Fermi temperature. Theoretical predictions are in excellent agreement with the experimental data when instrumental resolution and final state effects are accounted for. Our results resolve the long-standing inconsistency between theoretical and experimental estimates of the average atomic kinetic energy.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure