On the absolute value of the neutrino mass

The neutrino oscillations probabilities depend on mass squared differences; in the case of 3-neutrino mixing, there are two independent differences, which have been measured experimentally. In order to calculate the absolute masses of neutrinos, we have conjectured a third relation, in the form of a sum of squared masses. The calculated masses look plausible and are in good agreement with the upper bounds coming from astrophysics

Dynamical behavior of generic quintessence potentials: constraints on key dark energy observables

We perform a comprehensive study of a class of dark energy models - scalar field models where the effective potential can be described by a polynomial series - exploring their dynamical behavior using the method of flow equations that has previously been applied to inflationary models. Using supernova, baryon oscillation, CMB and Hubble constant data, and an implicit theoretical prior imposed by the scalar field dynamics, we find that the LCDM model provides an excellent fit to the data. Constraints on the generic scalar field potential parameters are presented, along with the reconstructed w(z) histories consistent with the data and the theoretical prior. We propose and pursue computationally feasible algorithms to obtain estimates of the principal components of the equation of state, as well as parameters w_0 and w_a. Further, we use the Monte Carlo Markov Chain machinery to simulate future data based on the Joint Dark Energy Mission, Planck and baryon acoustic oscillation surveys and find that the inverse area figure of merit improves nearly by an order of magnitude. Therefore, most scalar field models that are currently consistent with data can be potentially ruled out by future experiments. We also comment on the classification of dark energy models into "thawing'" and "freezing" in light of the more diverse evolution histories allowed by this general class of potentials.Comment: 22 pages and 12 figures, minor clarifications and a new Figure (#9) added in v3, matches the published PRD version. Chains and high-res figures are available at http://kicp.uchicago.edu/~dhuterer/DE_FLOWROLL/de_flowroll.htm

The Role of Media in Shaping the Consumers’ Food Risk Perception and Behavior: A Case Study of Spinach Recall

A clear understanding of consumers’ perception and attitude toward food risk and their behavior to food recall is important in order to develop an effective crisis management program at the firm level as well as at the government level. This study will develop food risk profiles of US consumers based on their perceived food safety risk and attitude toward food safety. The role of media usage in shaping the risk profile will be examined. The preliminary results suggest that the risk profiles of households were shaped by media usage. While the “accountables” were more likely to search internet or get news from internet, the “conservatives” usually watched news on local TV.Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Food Safety Risk Perceptions as a Tool for Market Segmentation: The U.S. Poultry Meat Market

This study explores the application of risk perceptions as a segmentation tool in the poultry meat market. Principal component analysis is used to examine data from a 2006 survey on a potential avian influenza outbreak in the U.S. The results suggest that the perceived level of safety of poultry meat will drive consumption choices in the case of an avian influenza outbreak. Based on the perceived safety level, the poultry meat product market was categorized into those that are home cooked and from familiar brands, the technological/novel, and organic/fast food poultry products, with the first category being perceived as the safest and the third as the least safe. The results also show significant differences in public trust in the avian influenza information provided by the government, poultry producers, politicians, and the media.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries,

Evidence for dielectric aging due to progressive 180 domain wall pinning in polydomain Pb(Zr0.45Ti0.55)O3 thin films

An evidence that the dielectric ageing in the polydomain Pb(Zr0.45Ti0.55)O3 thin films is controlled by progressive pinning of 180 domain walls is presented. To provide such a conclusion, we use a general method, which is based on the study of the time evolution of the nonlinear, but anhysteretic, dielectric response of the ferroelectric to a weak electric field. A thermodynamic model of the ferroelectric system where the dielectric response is controlled by bending movements of pinned 180 domain walls is developed. Within this model, the nonlinear permittivity of the ferroelectric is expressed as a function of the microstructural parameters of the domain pattern. It is shown that using the analysis of the time evolution of the nonlinear permittivity, it is possible to estimate changes in the concentration of the pinning centers that block the movements of the 180 domain walls during aging in polydomain perovskite ferroelectrics.Comment: This version is modifed and corrected according to recently published Erratum: Phys. Rev. B 79, 219903(E) (2009). 21 pages, 3 figure

EFFECT OF ADDITION OF TREHALOSE, MALTOSE AND TWO MODIFIED STARCHES ON COLOUR AND TEXTURAL ATTRIBUTES OF CHICKEN SURIMI GELS DURING FROZEN STORAGE

Texture profile analysis (TPA) and instrumental colour parameters of chicken surimi gels after frozen storage were investigated. Chicken surimi gels were prepared from mechanically deboned chicken meat, mixed with trehalose (w = 8%), maltose (w = 8%), tapioca modified starch (MTS) (w = 8%) and barley modified starch (MBS) (w = 8%), quickly frozen and stored for 90 days s on -30oC. Instrumental colour parameters (Lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and whiteness (L* − 3b*) of chicken surimi gels were significantly (P < 0,05) affected by addition of trehalose, maltose and modified starches. Highest values of lightness (L*) and whiteness showed sample mixed with MBS. Textural profile analysis (TPA) parameters, hardness and chewiness increased significantly (P < 0,05) by addition of trehalose, maltose, MBS and MTS. Cohesiveness and springiness of chicken surimi gels were also significantly (P < 0,05) affected by addition of trehalose, maltose MBS and MTS. Increase in colour and textural attributes of chicken surimi gels after frozen storage indicates possible interactions between chicken myofibrillar proteins and trehalose, maltose and modified starches

ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC ANALOGIES BETWEEN THERMOELASTIC COMPONENT OF THE PHOTOACOUSTIC SIGNAL AND LOW-PASS RC FILTER

This paper presents a new approach to the thermal characterization of aluminum, based on the electro-acoustic analogy between the thermoelastic component of the photoacoustic signal and the passive RC low-pass filter. The analogies were used to calculate the characteristic thermoelastic cut-off frequencies of the photoacoustic component and obtain their relationship with the thickness of the aluminum samples. Detailed numerical analysis showed that the required relationship is linear in the log-log scale and can serve as a reference curve for the given material. The results of the numerical analysis were also confirmed experimentally

Depolarization channels with zero-bandwidth noises

A simple model describing depolarization channels with zero-bandwidth environment is presented and exactly solved. The environment is modelled by Lorentzian, telegraphic and Gaussian zero-bandwidth noises. Such channels can go beyond the standard Markov dynamics and therefore can illustrate the influence of memory effects of the noisy communication channel on the transmitted information. To quantify the disturbance of quantum states the entanglement fidelity between arbitrary input and output states is investigated.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

The impact of the July 2007 heat wave on daily mortality in Belgrade, Serbia

Objective: Mortality has been shown to increase with heat waves. Serbia experienced the hottest heat wave in July 2007. In this study, we examined patterns of non-traumatic excess mortality in Belgrade during this event. Methods: The numbers of deaths observed during the 9-day heat wave were compared to those expected on the basis of mortality rates reported for the previous eight years and two following years. Excess mortality was analyzed by age, gender and cause of death. Results: There was a total of 167 excess deaths (38%) between 16 and 24 July. People aged 75 years and older accounted for 151(90%) of all excess deaths. An increase of mortality among elderly was 76% in comparison to the baseline mortality. Excess female mortality was over two times higher than excess male mortality (54% : 23%). The biggest increase in mortality was from diabetes mellitus (286%), chronic kidney disease (200%), respiratory system diseases (73%), and nervous system diseases (67%). Cardiovascular and malignant neoplasms mortality accounted for the highest absolute numbers of excess deaths (77 and 49, respectively). There was no decrease in mortality in the 60-day period after the heat wave. Conclusions: There are several causes of an increase in heat-related mortality. The most vulnerable population group is the elderly females