Is the transition redshift a new cosmological number?

Observations from Supernovae Type Ia (SNe Ia) provided strong evidence for an expanding accelerating Universe at intermediate redshifts. This means that the Universe underwent a transition from deceleration to acceleration phases at a transition redshift $z_t$ of the order unity whose value in principle depends on the cosmology as well as on the assumed gravitational theory. Since cosmological accelerating models endowed with a transition redshift are extremely degenerated, in principle, it is interesting to know whether the value of $z_t$ itself can be observationally used as a new cosmic discriminator. After a brief discussion of the potential dynamic role played by the transition redshift, it is argued that future observations combining SNe Ia, the line-of-sight (or "radial") baryon acoustic oscillations, the differential age of galaxies, as well as the redshift drift of the spectral lines may tightly constrain $z_t$, thereby helping to narrow the parameter space for the most realistic models describing the accelerating Universe.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. Some discussions about how to estimate the transition redshift have been added. New data by Planck and H(z) data have been mentioned. New references have been adde

A geometric proof of the Kochen-Specker no-go theorem

We give a short geometric proof of the Kochen-Specker no-go theorem for non-contextual hidden variables models. Note added to this version: I understand from Jan-Aake Larsson that the construction we give here actually contains the original Kochen-Specker construction as well as many others (Bell, Conway and Kochen, Schuette, perhaps also Peres).Comment: This paper appeared some years ago, before the author was aware of quant-ph. It is relevant to recent developments concerning Kochen-Specker theorem

Unique Mass Texture for Quarks and Leptons

Texture specific quark mass matrices which are hermitian and hierarchical are examined in detail . In the case of texture 6 zeros matrices, out of sixteen possibilities examined by us, none is able to fit the low energy data (LED), for example, $V_{us} = 0.2196 \pm 0.0023$, $V_{cb} = 0.0395 \pm 0.0017$, $\frac{V_{ub}}{V_{cb}} = 0.08 \pm 0.02$, $V_{td}$ lies in the range $0.004 - 0.013$ (PDG). Similarly none of the 32 texture 5 zeros mass matrices considered is able to reproduce LED. In particular, the latest data from LEP regarding $|V_{ub}|/|V_{cb}|(=0.093\pm0.016)$ rules out all of them. In the texture 4 zeros case, we find that there is a unique texture structure for $U$ and $D$ mass matrices which is able to fit the data.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX,some changes in the references,minor changes in the text,to appear in Phys Rev D(Rapid communications

Suicide and self-harm in Britain: researching risk and resilience using UK surveys

Aim The main aim of this study was to raise awareness of surveys that could be used to inform self-harm and suicide prevention work. We asked: What UK survey datasets are available for research? What aspects of people’s lives are associated with self-harm and attempted suicide? How do statistical findings resonate with people’s lived experience? What implications do they see? Findings Survey analyses revealed that risk factors for self-harm are wide ranging and include: Mental health Physical health and health behaviours Social relationships Stressful events Employment and financial circumstances Identity and demographics Many different factors are independently associated with self-harm. There is a dose relationship, with more exposure to a factor linked with increased risk. Risks are cumulative that is, exposure to multiple factors is associated with greater risk. Through facilitated consultation, men with lived experience, bereaved family members, and practitioners identified recommendations for responding to suicidal distress in men. These related to the following three main areas: 1. Recognising need: who is ‘ill enough’? Permission - men said that they often did not know they were entitled to help Ask - people who outwardly appear to be functioning may not be Persistence - ask and offer help more than once. 2. Facilitating access: right words, time and place What is available - support is needed with ongoing stress as well as for crises Find the words - men wanted examples of how to ask for help Allow time - employers expect recovery to be swift, some men felt rushed to come off medications or were discharged from services they still needed. 3. Adjusting delivery: equal engagement Power - some were uncomfortable with service dynamics, preferring peer support Every service contact counts - negative contacts had particular impact Safe spaces - may be different for men and women. Methods There were three strands of work: Secondary analysis of nine survey series, spanning more than twenty years Linkage of 144,000 survey participants to information on whether they were alive in 2013 and whether they had taken their own life Facilitated consultation, through depth interviews with people with lived experience

Effect of integrated nitrogen management on NPK uptake in basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment entitled NPK uptake influenced by integrated nitrogen management in basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif 2010. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with 13 treatment combinations of chemical fertilizer, green manuring (GM) with Crotalaria juncea, farmyard manure (FYM) and organic preparations [OP (Jeevamrit and Panchagavya)] in four replications. The highest grain yield (34.9±0.54 q ha-1 ) was obtained with combined application of FYM and 50 per cent of recommended nitrogen (RN) followed by GM+FYM+OP (33.7 q ha-1 ) and GM+FYM (33.4±0.99 q ha-1 ). Straw yield (63.1 q ha-1 ) increased significantly (P<0.01) in treatment where FYM combined with 50 per cent of RN was applied. Among different nitrogen management treatments, the maximum N, P and K uptake in grain and straw were observed under treatment T8 (FYM +50 per cent of RN) viz. integrated nitrogen treatment followed by T11 (GM+FYM+OP) and T9 (GM+FYM). Thus, combined application of FYM @ 19.76 t ha-1- with reduced fertilizer dose (50 % of RN) increased the yield and NPK uptake in basmati rice

Significant differences in incubation times in sheep infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy result from variation at codon 141 in the PRNP gene

The susceptibility of sheep to prion infection is linked to variation in the PRNP gene, which encodes the prion protein. Common polymorphisms occur at codons 136, 154 and 171. Sheep which are homozygous for the A<sub>136</sub>R<sub>154</sub>Q<sub>171</sub> allele are the most susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The effect of other polymorphisms on BSE susceptibility is unknown. We orally infected ARQ/ARQ Cheviot sheep with equal amounts of BSE brain homogenate and a range of incubation periods was observed. When we segregated sheep according to the amino acid (L or F) encoded at codon 141 of the PRNP gene, the shortest incubation period was observed in LL141 sheep, whilst incubation periods in FF<sub>141</sub> and LF<sub>141</sub> sheep were significantly longer. No statistically significant differences existed in the expression of total prion protein or the disease-associated isoform in BSE-infected sheep within each genotype subgroup. This suggested that the amino acid encoded at codon 141 probably affects incubation times through direct effects on protein misfolding rates

Robustness of Planar Fourier Capture Arrays to Colour Changes and Lost Pixels

Planar Fourier capture arrays (PFCAs) are optical sensors built entirely in standard microchip manufacturing flows. PFCAs are composed of ensembles of angle sensitive pixels (ASPs) that each report a single coefficient of the Fourier transform of the far-away scene. Here we characterize the performance of PFCAs under the following three non-optimal conditions. First, we show that PFCAs can operate while sensing light of a wavelength other than the design point. Second, if only a randomly-selected subset of 10% of the ASPs are functional, we can nonetheless reconstruct the entire far-away scene using compressed sensing. Third, if the wavelength of the imaged light is unknown, it can be inferred by demanding self-consistency of the outputs.Comment: 15 pages including cover page, 12 figures, associated with the 9th International Conference on Position Sensitive Detector

Propulsion Study for Small Transport Aircraft Technology (STAT)

Propulsion requirements were determined for 0.5 and 0.7 Mach aircraft. Sensitivity studies were conducted on both these aircraft to determine parametrically the influence of propulsion characteristics on aircraft size and direct operating cost (DOC). Candidate technology elements and design features were identified and parametric studies conducted to select the STAT advanced engine cycle. Trade off studies were conducted to determine those advanced technologies and design features that would offer a reduction in DOC for operation of the STAT engines. These features were incorporated in the two STAT engines. A benefit assessment was conducted comparing the STAT engines to current technology engines of the same power and to 1985 derivatives of the current technology engines. Research and development programs were recommended as part of an overall technology development plan to ensure that full commercial development of the STAT engines could be initiated in 1988

GASTRO RETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A SIGNIFICANT TOOL TO INCREASE THE GASTRIC RESIDENCE TIME OF DRUGS

Writing the review on gastro retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) was to start up the current literature with a special consequence on several gastro retentive approaches that have become main mode in the field of site-specific orally conduct sustained/controlled release drug delivery. Multi-furious ways have been made in research and development to rate-controlled oral drug delivery systems to solve physiological difficulties, like short gastric residence times (GRT) and unpredictable gastric emptying times (GET). GRDDS is a tool to prolong the GRT, thereby targeting site-specific drug release in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) for local or systemic effect. Oral dosage forms as low bioavailability issues because of their swift gastric transition from the stomach, particularly in the case of drugs that are less soluble at an alkaline pH of the intestine. The drugs that produce their local action in the stomach get quickly emptied and don’t get enough residence time in the stomach. Many efforts have been made to extend the retention time of a drug delivery system to reduce the frequency of dose administration. GRDDS not only prolong dosing intervals but also increase patient compliance beyond the level of existing controlled release dosage forms. This article gives an overview of the advantages, disadvantages, and characterization of gastro retentive drug delivery systems. This also includes commercially available gastro retentive products and patents