Uniqueness of the standard model neutral current predictions

In view of an excellent agreement between the recently determinedv _μ-hadron couplings and predictions of the standard model, the basic question discussed is how far its neutral current predictions can be mimiced in going either from the isodoublet to an isotriplet (or an even higher isospin) left-handed representation or from SU _L (2) × U(1) toG × U(1), whereG is a simple group of rank two. This question is addressed with reference to a sufficiently broad class of schemes. Their most distinctive properties are: in the higher isospin scheme, neutrino couplings are precisely in the form obtainable with standard l.h. representation; the higher g.g. scheme isL+R type in which, to each light fermion of evenRU parity, a superheavy fermion of the same charge and oddRU parity is associated, parity conservation forbidding their mixing. Reasons for excluding theL-type andG ₂ higher g.g. schemes are given. Their neutral current predictions are compared with those of the standard model. A higher isospin representation can mimic the predictions of the standard model in inclusive and semi-inclusivev _μ-hadron reactions but is conclusively discriminated from the isodoublet representation by elasticv _μ ⁽⁻ p scattering. TheG × U(1) scheme can mimic standard model neutrino sector but is conclusively discriminated from minimal scheme by parity violating effects.     

Exact potential minimization for a supergravity model

The low energy effective scalar potential arising from the supergravity model proposed by Nilles, Srednicki and Wyler is minimized exactly. Bounds are derived for the parameters of the theory from the requirement that SU(2) × U(1) be broken at the tree level. These results support earlier approximate results.     

Parallel analysis of v-Src mutant protein function using reverse transfection cell arrays

The conversion of the genomic information produced by the recent sequencing projects into a comprehensive understanding of the human proteome has yet to occur. A new technology that represents a potential bridge between genomics and proteomics is reverse transfection. Reverse transfection cell microarrays are produced by overlaying cDNA arrays with mammalian cells, generating localized clusters of transfected cells with each cluster overexpressing a unique protein. This miniaturized cell-based microarray format affords parallel functional analysis of thousands of cDNA constructs in a high throughput format. In this report we document the development of a co-transfection methodology for reverse transfection applications. The demonstrated high co-transfection efficiency with a "marker" plasmid encoding for GFP enables the identification of transfected cells and eliminates the need for epitope-tagged constructs in cell-based high throughput screening applications using reverse transfection. This co-transfection method was used to study in parallel the structure/function of multiple versions of the v-Src protein using automated fluorescence microscopy. The wild-type v-Src protein and four mutants having insertions or deletions in the SH2 or SH3 domains displayed high levels of tyrosine kinase activity in HEK293T cells. Three other mutated v-Src proteins, including a kinase-dead version, were shown to be defective for tyrosine kinase activity. This reverse co-transfection approach is applicable for high throughput screening of both cDNA libraries and positional scanning recombinant protein libraries.     

Hybrid mesh generation with embedded surfaces using a multiple marching direction approach

This paper proposes a method for the creation of hybrid meshes with embedded surfaces for viscous flow simulations as an extension of the multiple marching direction approach (AIAA J. 2007; 45 (1):162–167). The multiple marching direction approach enables to place semi‐structured elements around singular points, where valid semi‐structured elements cannot be placed using conventional hybrid mesh generation methods. This feature is discussed first with a couple of examples. Elements sometimes need to be clustered inside a computational domain to obtain more accurate results. For example, solution features, such as shocks, vortex cores and wake regions, can be extracted during the process of adaptive mesh generation. These features can be represented as surface meshes embedded in a computational domain. Semi‐structured elements can be placed around the embedded surface meshes using the multiple marching direction approach with a pretreatment method. Tetrahedral elements can be placed easily instead. A couple of results are presented to demonstrate the capability of the mesh generation method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Free vibrations of a rectangular plate of variable thickness elastically restrained against rotation along three edges and free on the fourth edge

A literature search has shown that the title problem has received no treatment.In this paper solutions are presented as obtained (I) by use of the Ritz method with deflection functions which are simple polynomials, and (II) by use of the extended Kantorovich Method. The natural boundary conditions along the free edge are not satisfied in the first case, while they are complied with approximately when using the second approach. The fundamental frequency coefficient is determined and good agreement is shown to exist between the results obtained by the two methods.     

Optical fiber humidity sensor based on evanescent-wave scattering

The phenomenon of evanescent-wave scattering (EWS) is used to design an optical-fiber humidity sensor. Porous solgel silica (PSGS) coated on the surface of a silica optical-fiber core scatters evanescent waves that penetrate the coating layer. Water molecules in the gas phase surrounding the optical fiber can be absorbed into the inner surface of the pores of the porous silica. The absorbed water molecules form a thin layer of liquid water on the inner surface of the porous silica and enhance the EWS. The amount of water absorbed into the PSGS coating is in dynamic equilibrium with the water-vapor pressure in the gas phase. Therefore the humidity in the air can be quantitatively determined with fiber-optic EWS caused by the PSGS coating. The humidity sensor reported here is fast in response, reversible, and has a wide dynamic range. The possible interference caused by EWS to an optical-fiber gas sensor with a reagent-doped PSGS coating as a transducer is also discussed.     

Spinning cone water film power meter for high-power CO2 lasers

A laser power meter based on water as an absorbing medium has been developed to measure multi-kilowatt CO₂ laser power with high sensitivity and accuracy. Water absorbs CO₂ laser radiation readily within a very thin layer. Though water has large thermal capacity, due to short absorption length, it could vapourize at high laser powers. In order to circumvent this problem, this power meter has a centre cone and a rapidly spinning water film as the calorimetric medium. The unique feature in this development is the centre cone, which diverges the beam and reduces the power density thus reduces the possibility of vapourization. This minimizes the error in measurements. Due to the rapidly moving fluid film, it exhibits fast response at low as well as high power levels.     

Iodometric microdetermination of carboxyl function by indirect and direct procedures

Two iodometric procedures have been described for the microdetermination of certain organic acids which can be adopted for evaluating 0.03–0.1 meq of these acids. These methods consist of treating the acid sample with an excess of neutral potassium iodide and iodate. In the indirect method the iodate used up is measured whereas the direct procedure is based on the titration of the liberated iodine. The latter procedure has been applied to determine acids in a water-alcohol medium also. The effect of various factors influencing the stoichiometry of the reactions involved has also been studied.     

Tree-level breaking of SU(2)×U(1) in general SUGRA theories

It is shown that SU(2)×U(1) can be broken at the tree level, without the occurrence of global potential minima that break U(1)_e.m., in supergravity models that are more general than those proposed by Nilles, Srednicki and Wyler. The study comprises an analysis of models with a general soft supersymmetry-breaking structure as well as those of the Hall-Lykken-Weinberg type.