Which long-baseline neutrino experiments are preferable?

We discuss the physics of superbeam upgrades, where we focus on T2KK, a NuMI beam line based experiment NOvA*, and a wide band beam (WBB) experiment independent of the NuMI beam line. For T2KK, we find that the Japan-Korea baseline helps resolve parameter degeneracies, but the improvement due to correlated systematics between the two detectors (using identical detectors) is only moderate. For an upgrade of NOvA with a liquid argon detector, we demonstrate that the Ash River site is preferred compared to alternatives, such as at the second oscillation maximum, and is the optimal site within the U.S. For a WBB experiment, we find that high proton energies and long decay tunnels are preferable. We compare water Cherenkov and liquid argon technologies, and find the break-even point in detector cost at about 4:1. In order to compare the physics potential of the different experimental configurations, we use the concept of exposure to normalize the performance. We find that experiments with WBBs are the best experimental concept. NOvA* could be competitive with sufficient luminosity. If $\sin^2 2\theta_{13}$ > 0.01, a WBB experiment can perform better than a neutrino factory.Comment: 31 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables. Version to appear in PR

Rise of Kp Total Cross Section and Universality

The increase of the measured hadronic total cross sections at the highest energies is empirically described by squared log of center-of-mass energy sqrt s as sigma(tot)= B (log s)2, consistent with the energy dependence of the Froissart unitarity bound. The coefficient B is argued to have a universal value, but this is not proved directly from QCD. In the previous tests of this universality, the p(pbar)p, pi p, and K p forward scatterings were analyzed independently and found to be consistent with B(pp) = B(pip) = B(Kp), although the determined value of B(Kp) had large uncertainty. In the present work, we have further analyzed forward Kp scattering to obtain a more exact value of B(Kp). Making use of continuous moment sum rules(CMSR) we have fully exploited the information of low-energy scattering data to predict the high-energy behavior of the amplitude hrough duality. The estimation of B(Kp) is improved remarkably, and our result strongly supports the universality of B.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Some path-following techniques for solution of nonlinear equations and comparison with parametric differentiation

Some path-following techniques are described and compared with other methods. Use of multipurpose techniques that can be used at more than one stage of the path-following computation results in a system that is relatively simple to understand, program, and use. Comparison of path-following methods with the method of parametric differentiation reveals definite advantages for the path-following methods. The fact that parametric differentiation has found a broader range of applications indicates that path-following methods have been underutilized

A streamline curvature method for design of supercritical and subcritical airfoils

An airfoil design procedure, applicable to both subcritical and supercritical airfoils, is described. The method is based on the streamline curvature velocity equation. Several examples illustrating this method are presented and discussed

Additional Records of Acanthocephalan Parasites from Arkansas Fishes, with New Records from Missouri Fishes

Over the last decade, our research consortium has provided information on acanthocephalan parasites of Arkansas vertebrates, including records from some of the state’s fishes. Here, we continue to provide data on new geographic and new host records of acanthocephalans from Arkansas fishes. In addition, for the first time, we report records of acanthocephalans for some Missouri fishes. We document 2 new state records as well as 10 new host records for some fish acanthocephalans

Continuously operating induction plasma accelerator Patent

Continuous operation, single phased, induction plasma accelerator producing supersonic speed

Generic dark matter signature for gamma-ray telescopes

We describe a characteristic signature of dark matter (DM) annihilation or decay into gamma-rays. We show that if the total angular momentum of the initial DM particle(s) vanishes, and helicity suppression operates to prevent annihilation/decay into light fermion pairs, then the amplitude for the dominant 3-body final state f^+f^-\gamma has a unique form dictated by gauge invariance. This amplitude and the corresponding energy spectra hold for annihilation of DM Majorana fermions or self-conjugate scalars, and for decay of DM scalars, thus encompassing a variety of possibilities. Within this scenario, we analyze Fermi LAT, PAMELA and HESS data, and predict a hint in future Fermi gamma-ray data that portends a striking signal at atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (ACTs).Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Version to appear in PR

Vascular consequences of passive Aβ immunization for Alzheimer's disease. Is avoidance of "malactivation" of microglia enough?

The role of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been controversial since its first consideration. As with most instances of neuroinflammation, the possibility must be considered that activation of glia and cytokine networks in AD arises merely as a reaction to neurodegeneration. Active, healthy neurons produce signals that suppress inflammatory events, and dying neurons activate phagocytic responses in microglia at the very least. But simultaneous with the arrival of a more complex view of microglia, evidence that inflammation plays a causal or exacerbating role in AD etiology has been boosted by genetic, physiological, and epidemiological studies. In the end, it may be that the semantics of "inflammation" and glial "activation" must be regarded as too simplistic for the advancement of our understanding in this regard. It is clear that elaboration of the entire repertoire of activated microglia – a phenomenon that may be termed "malactivation" – must be prevented for healthy brain structure and function. Nevertheless, recent studies have suggested that phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia plays an important role in clearance of amyloid plaques, a process boosted by immunization paradigms. To the extent that this clearance might produce clinical improvements (still an open question), this relationship thus obligates a more nuanced consideration of the factors that indicate and control the various activities of microglia and other components of neuroinflammation

An estimate of the branching ratio for Z -> nu nubar gamma gamma

The effective interaction for two neutrino, two photon coupling is used to find an approximate width for the decay of the Z boson into the nu nubar gamma gamma final state.Comment: Three pages, 2 figure

Social Cohesion in Omaha

How are you feeling today? a physician asks, and the answer to that question can become the basis for a serious analysis of the general well-being of the individual. Similarly, we now ask the question: What makes a community? and state that the answer can lead us to important levels of analysis into the nature of the ongoing social order