495 research outputs found
On Epstein's trajectory model of non-relativistic quantum mechanics
In 1952 Bohm presented a theory about non-relativistic point-particles moving
along deterministic trajectories and showed how it reproduces the predictions
of standard quantum theory. This theory was actually presented before by de
Broglie in 1926, but Bohm's particular formulation of the theory inspired
Epstein to come up with a different trajectory model. The aim of this paper is
to examine the empirical predictions of this model. It is found that the
trajectories in this model are in general very different from those in the de
Broglie-Bohm theory. In certain cases they even seem bizarre and rather
unphysical. Nevertheless, it is argued that the model seems to reproduce the
predictions of standard quantum theory (just as the de Broglie-Bohm theory).Comment: 12 pages, no figures, LaTex; v2 minor improvement
Achieving the reduction of disaster risk by better predicting impacts of El Niño and La Niña
Extreme phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) show relationships with economic damages due to disasters worldwide. Climate forecasts can predict ENSO months in advance, enabling stakeholders to take disaster risk reducing actions. An understanding of risks during ENSO extremes is key for adequate response. Here, we review the effects of ENSO on disaster risks, including droughts and floods. We show that ENSO may increase the risk of water scarcity and low crop yields globally, and change the probabilities of extreme rainfall, and coastal and river flooding. We provide recommendations on how to reduce risks using ENSO forecasts
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. galleriae simultaneously produces two δ-endotoxins differing strongly in primary structure and entomocidal activity
AbstractStrain 11–67 of B. thuringiensis ssp. galleriae produces two entomocidal proteins of molecular mass 130 kDa. Limited proteolysis of these proteins — protoxins — yields the ‘true’ toxins of molecular mass 65 kDa which are drastically different with respect to their charges at pH 8.6, immunological properties and toxicity (host range). One of the proteins — the ‘negative’ component — is toxic for Lymantria dispar larvae and shows 65% homology when compared with B. thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki δ-endotoxins. The other — the ‘positive’ component — is toxic for Galleria mellonella larvae. Its N-terminal sequence of 11 amino acid residues is homologous with the B. thuringiensis ssp. israelensis and san diego endotoxins known to be toxic for Coleoptera and Diptera but not for Lepidoptera. Hence, B. thuringiensis subspecies may produce simultaneously δ-endotoxins differing substantially in structural features and host range
New Approach to GUTs
We introduce a new string-inspired approach to the subject of grand
unification which allows the GUT scale to be small, \lesssim 200 TeV, so that
it is within the reach of {\em conceivable} laboratory accelerated colliding
beam devices. The key ingredient is a novel use of the heterotic string
symmetry group physics ideas to render baryon number violating effects small
enough to have escaped detection to date. This part of the approach involves
new unknown parameters to be tested experimentally. A possible hint at the
existence of these new parameters may already exist in the EW precision data
comparisons with the SM expectations.Comment: 8 pages; improved text and references, note added; extended text, 1
figure added; extended text for publication in Eur. Phys. Journal
X-wave mediated instability of plane waves in Kerr media
Plane waves in Kerr media spontaneously generate paraxial X-waves (i.e.
non-dispersive and non-diffractive pulsed beams) that get amplified along
propagation. This effect can be considered a form of conical emission (i.e.
spatio-temporal modulational instability), and can be used as a key for the
interpretation of the out of axis energy emission in the splitting process of
focused pulses in normally dispersive materials. A new class of spatio-temporal
localized wave patterns is identified. X-waves instability, and nonlinear
X-waves, are also expected in periodical Bose condensed gases.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Effects of carprofen administered by different routes to control experimental uveitis in dogs
Measurement of the partial widths of the Z into up- and down-type quarks
Using the entire OPAL LEP1 on-peak Z hadronic decay sample, Z -> qbarq gamma
decays were selected by tagging hadronic final states with isolated photon
candidates in the electromagnetic calorimeter. Combining the measured rates of
Z -> qbarq gamma decays with the total rate of hadronic Z decays permits the
simultaneous determination of the widths of the Z into up- and down-type
quarks. The values obtained, with total errors, were Gamma u = 300 ^{+19}_{-18}
MeV and Gamma d = 381 ^{+12}_{-12} MeV. The results are in good agreement with
the Standard Model expectation.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Letts.
Measurement of the Strong Coupling alpha s from Four-Jet Observables in e+e- Annihilation
Data from e+e- annihilation into hadrons at centre-of-mass energies between
91 GeV and 209 GeV collected with the OPAL detector at LEP, are used to study
the four-jet rate as a function of the Durham algorithm resolution parameter
ycut. The four-jet rate is compared to next-to-leading order calculations that
include the resummation of large logarithms. The strong coupling measured from
the four-jet rate is alphas(Mz0)=
0.1182+-0.0003(stat.)+-0.0015(exp.)+-0.0011(had.)+-0.0012(scale)+-0.0013(mass)
in agreement with the world average. Next-to-leading order fits to the
D-parameter and thrust minor event-shape observables are also performed for the
first time. We find consistent results, but with significantly larger
theoretical uncertainties.Comment: 25 pages, 15 figures, Submitted to Euro. Phys. J.
Search for R-Parity Violating Decays of Scalar Fermions at LEP
A search for pair-produced scalar fermions under the assumption that R-parity
is not conserved has been performed using data collected with the OPAL detector
at LEP. The data samples analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of
about 610 pb-1 collected at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) 189-209 GeV. An
important consequence of R-parity violation is that the lightest supersymmetric
particle is expected to be unstable. Searches of R-parity violating decays of
charged sleptons, sneutrinos and squarks have been performed under the
assumptions that the lightest supersymmetric particle decays promptly and that
only one of the R-parity violating couplings is dominant for each of the decay
modes considered. Such processes would yield final states consisting of
leptons, jets, or both with or without missing energy. No significant
single-like excess of events has been observed with respect to the Standard
Model expectations. Limits on the production cross- section of scalar fermions
in R-parity violating scenarios are obtained. Constraints on the supersymmetric
particle masses are also presented in an R-parity violating framework analogous
to the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 51 pages, 24 figures, Submitted to Eur. Phys. J.
Measurement of Rb in e+e- Collisions at 182 - 209 GeV
Measurements of Rb, the ratio of the bbbar cross-section to the qqbar cross-
section in e+e- collisions, are presented. The data were collected by the OPAL
experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies between 182 GeV and 209 GeV.
Lepton, lifetime and event shape information is used to tag events containing b
quarks with high efficiency. The data are compatible with the Standard Model
expectation. The mean ratio of the eight measurements reported here to the
Standard Model prediction is 1.055+-0.031+-0.037, where the first error is
statistical and the second systematic.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Letts
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