Some 41,000 people have been forced to flee conflict in Darfur so far this year, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It warned that needs for the displaced are significantly higher because relief agencies are largely denied access to East Jebel Marra, where some of the heaviest fighting between government forces, militiamen, and armed rebels takes place. The access denial has also made exact verification of the numbers of refugees impossible.
"To date, aid organisations have assessed and verified the needs of 41,304 people displaced as a result of this conflict," OCHA reported in its weekly humanitarian update on Sudan. The humanitarian office adjusted the number from the 38,600 newly displaced people aid organisations registered last week.
As of 12 February, the International Organization for Migration has registered an estimated 7,500 displaced people who have taken refuge near the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid) team site in Um Baru locality, in the western part of North Darfur. The refugees are mainly women and children. The displaced and the locality commissioner have been discussing a possible allocation from the congested safe zone to a more spacious area in Um Baru.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP), children's fund (Unicef), refugee agency (UNHCR), and other humanitarian partners provide food, water, sanitation supplies and emergency household kits to displaced people in Um Baru and northern El Fasher. Médecins Sans Frontières-Spain (MSF-E) is awaiting road clearance to deliver 600 emergency household supply kits.
Humanitarian organisations have verified an estimated 12,000 displaced people in Behair, Majdob, Shagara A,B,C, and Um Hagaleeg in rural El Fasher. International humanitarian actors have distributed emergency household supplies to people in the Shagara villages.
Insecurity in East Jebel Marra worsens further because militia members continue to plunder villages and steal large numbers of livestock. A witness in Um Baru said last week that pro-government militiamen expropriated the areas north of Kutum and in Um Baru and Karnoi localities. "They move in vehicles mounted with automatic weapons, and then divide themselves into two groups. The first group heads directly to the villages to steal the money and properties of the residents. The second group moves to the pasture and steal the livestock in lorries, while they are guarded by gunmen in Land Cruisers," he described their "tactic".


Agasse painted many horses in his lifetime and his patrons often wanted to be depicted at their leisure activities and this is one such example. Departure to the hunt shows the light concentrating on the tableau of the horses and riders along with their dogs, the buildings and scenery being of secondary importance to Agasse.
The light spilling out from the archway seems to be blinding the man on the brown horse as he holds up his arm to shield his eyes and all attention is drawn to the rider on the white horse whose coat positively shines out of the darkness surrounding it. The rider is held in half shadow on his horse and is a more dynamic figure because of the lighting. The brown horse seems to be shying away from the barking dogs in front of it, and, there is a general air of controlled action and excitement to the painting.


Bed Bath & Beyond has become a popular store for many consumers. Whether you just moved into your first apartment, you've been living in your home for years, or your child is just heading off to college, you'll probably find much of what you need at Bed Bath & Beyond. The store is known for selling just about anything and everything that you could use in your home, from sheets and towels to kitchen appliances and gadgets, to picture frames, wall hangings, and more.
In addition to Bed Bath & Beyond's wide selection of items, what draws so many consumers to this retailer is the coupons, which can bring valuable savings of 20% off or more. You can sign up to receive coupons in the mail at the Bed Bath & Beyond Web site and there are often Bed Bath & Beyond coupons printed in magazines. If you sign up for coupons online, Bed Bath & Beyond's stated policy is that it will not sell personal information to a third party.
Bed Bath & Beyond offers two main types of coupons: "20% off one item" and "$5 off a $15 purchase." The $5 off $15 coupon gives you $5 off a purchase of $15 or more, while the 20% coupon is good for a discount on one item. Occasionally, Bed Bath & Beyond offers "20% off your purchase" coupons, which takes the discount off the cost of your entire purchase. To determine which is better, the 20% off coupon or the $5 off $15 coupon, it depends on the price of both your total purchase and individual items. As a rule of thumb, if your purchase is between $15 and $25, it's best to use the $5 off coupon. If your purchase is a big ticket item, the 20% off coupon will provide more savings.
In most instances, Bed Bath & Beyond will accept coupons from competitors for similar items. If you're not sure if your local store will accept competitor coupons, simply call and ask. Bed Bath & Beyond will also accept manufacturers coupons. However, you may not be able to combine manufacturers' coupons with Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. It's best to call and ask or inquire in your local store.
A Bed Bath & Beyond coupon cannot be reused. It applies to a single item and you must surrender the coupon at the time of purchase. You can use multiple coupons for multiple items. For example, if you buy five items and have five 20% off coupons with you, you can apply each coupon to each item. This will maximize your savings. There are a number of brands that are exempt from coupons. They are listed on the Bed Bath & Beyond website or a store employee will know the exemptions. Every Bed Bath & Beyond coupon has an expiration date printed on it, but if your coupon has expired, you aren't necessarily out of luck. The store is known for accepting expired coupons. So, if you've got a stack of expired Bed Bath & Beyond coupons sitting around, there's some chance you will be able to use them. If you return items purchased with coupons, you will not get the coupon back at the time of the return. Your refunded amount will be the same as the discounted amount you paid for the item.
If you purchase an item at full price and later find a coupon, bring the receipt and coupon into your local Bed Bath & Beyond store for a price adjustment. You can't use Bed Bath & Beyond coupons on gift cards or on some items by certain manufacturers, as listed on the coupon or the Bed Bath & Beyond website. The popular 20% off, $5 off $15, and other printed coupons are for in-store purchases only, and Bed Bath & Beyond doesn't offer coupon codes for using the printed coupons for online purchasing. However, if you've signed up for Bed Bath & Beyond email offers, you will receive digital coupons that can be used online.


The European Parliament has today adopted a proposal intended to provide clarity on what sustainable investments are by creating an EU-wide classification system. This is a first and essential step in efforts to channel investments into sustainable activities.
Currently, there are various notions and definitions across the EU of what 'sustainability' and 'green' entail.
Private investment is essential to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and other environmental objectives and the financial sector has a key role to play.
""The financial sector is in the position to make or break the transition to a sustainable economy. With this vote, we made a first step, but we must raise the ambition. We need to ensure that all parts of the financial system are sustainable. The European Commission will have to work on further rules to ensure that the financial system truly supports the green transition that our society and the planet so badly need."


+Derby County have been flying high in the Championship and this provides defender Stephen Warnock with a great opportunity to return to the Premier League.
The former Blackburn Rovers defender has not been seen in the top division for the last few years. Regarded as one of the finest attacking left backs, he has found it difficult to find top clubs interested in his services especially after the failed to spell at Liverpool. He came through the ranks at the Merseyside club before joining and playing for the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa.
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas will not be taken out of international duty following his move to FC Porto according to national team boss Vicente del Bosque.
The Spain manager has been expected to drop Casillas since he is no longer playing for a top club like Madrid. However, FC Porto are top club in their own right and we'll be playing in the Champions League just as they have done for several seasons continuously. This means that Casillas will have his opportunities on the big stage. However, questions have been asked about the form and longevity of the player.
Spain have been a fading force ever since the World Cup 2014 began. After a humiliating exit from the competition, the team has been facing more troubles with regard to their Euro 2016 qualification campaign.
Slovakia were not expected to even come close to topping the group, but they now hold a two-point advantage over Spain. The 2010 World Cup is needed to win their away match against Belarus at all costs in order to stay in touch with Slovakia. Such was the precarious nature of the game, but Spain managed to come out on the right side following a 1-0 win.
Sigi Schmid tried to invent a new position for midfielder Brad Evans, although it was largely due to the club's current injury problems.
The midfielder was used as a centre back in the recent match against San Jose Earthquakes. The experiment proved to be a disaster after Seattle Sounders conceded three goals and lost the match 3-2. This turned out to be the first setback of the season for the club and it has come very early in the campaign. Seattle Sounders managed a convincing 3-0 win over New England Revolution in the first match of the season.
The Spanish national football team will have to begin searching around for a new manager after Vicente del Bosque steps down from his coaching position in the national team when the 2016 Euro's reaches it's end.
"In life you cannot be absolutely sure about anything but it is my intention to continue until France 2016 and then leave. In my case, the federation will make a smooth transition and my plan is to remain involved in football and with the federation." Spain's Vicente del Bosque told the media his intention to resign in 2 years.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes came in with praise for striker Bojan Krkic, who scored his first Premier League goal since joining the club in the summer.
The former Barcelona forward created a tremendous talking point in the summer after deciding to join Stoke, who have been widely known as a physical team, by looking at various options across the continent. Even thoughKrkic has failed to hit the heights many expected of him a few years ago, he continues to remain a highly talented player. As expected, the Spanish international has struggled to cope with the physicality of the Premier League.
He has featured in seven matches so far, but his best performance came in the weekend's victory over Tottenham. The former Barcelona man scored one of the goals in the 2-1 win, but it was not any other goal after he managed to run through an entire Tottenham defence and finish with a lot of composure. This would have been the kind of goal Hughes would have been expecting from the 24-year-old, who still has a long time left in his game. It was not surprising when Hughes came in with praise for the youngster after the win that lifts the club into the top half of the table.
"Bojan was doing what he did in pre-season. At the start of the season it was a bit of a shock to him in the Premier League.We just had to bide our time a bit but he is ready now and the quality of his goal shows the technical ability he has.
I was really pleased with what we produced today. From start to finish we were the more accomplished side. We were always a threat on the break and had great ability in forward areas," said Hughes.


Will the Redskins Regret Picking Up RG3's Option?
The Washington Redskins didn't need to wait until May 3 to decide what they were going to do with Robert Griffin III. The team had made its decision "a while back." Monday was simply the day things became official, as the organization chose to exercise the fifth-year option on the quarterback's contract.
By picking up the option, the Redskins will maintain contractual control over RG3 through the 2016 season. While the QB is set to make a base salary of $3.27 million in 2015, this option will see Griffin III paid $16.2 million in his fifth year. That's a lot of money to throw at a kid who only played in nine games last season. Does this mean the organization actually believes its young quarterback will return to his 2012 form, or is there something else at play here?
The truth is, this choice isn't as risky as it may seem. Of course, that could certainly change in an instant.
Washington has spent the entire offseason supporting its embattled quarterback. Second-year coach Jay Gruden even went so far as to name RG3 the starting quarterback heading into this upcoming season.
For a guy who came into the NFL with such promise and hype, and then slowly started to lose confidence in himself, it has to feel good to have the whole franchise throwing its weight behind you. Now that the team has decided to pick up Griffin's option for 2016, the quarterback will be able to come into training camp with complete peace of mind that the job is his. Except that might not be the case.
As you can see, the decision to exercise the RG3's fifth-year option is not a guarantee that he will be the man under center moving forward. What it does do, however, is allow for the organization to control the QB should it want him beyond 2015. There is a big difference between the two scenarios. That doesn't necessarily mean Washington isn't playing with fire here. On the contrary, that's exactly what the team is doing.
Griffin flashed his upside in 2012, when he went on to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The team would love for him to return to the form that allowed him to pass for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions.
This is the main reason for picking up the fifth-year option. Should RG3 prove that he is capable of being the organization's franchise quarterback, then the Redskins will have him under contract for another season. However, if he can't get back to performing at a high level, the team is still covered.
While it may seem appear that Washington will owe Griffin $16.2 million in 2016, that isn't the whole story. The contract is only fully guaranteed for injury. If there is no injury and RG3 doesn't look like the guy moving forward, the Washington can release him prior to the 2016 season, and its cap won't be affected.
Again, things are clearly in the organization's favor. The only situation that could damage the team's position would be if the quarterback got injured this upcoming season. Therein lies the risk and the potential pitfalls of this scenario.
The Washington Redskins need RG3 to stay healthy. It's that simple. Whether he goes out on the field in 2015 and destroys the rest of the NFL is irrelevant. What's most important is that he doesn't get injured. It sounds cruel, but it's true.
Don't get us wrong — if Griffin plays at a high level, then everyone wins. If he doesn't, then the Redskins can move on to the next quarterback, no harm, no foul. But if he gets hurt, it's Washington's wallet that will suffer. Right now, the organization has no reason to regret picking up the option. Not yet, anyways.


text:
HRO.org in English >
European Court of Human Rights rules in case of Nizhny Novgorod human rights defender Stanislav Dmitrievsky
posted 20 Oct 2017, 09:24 by Rights in Russia [ updated 20 Oct 2017, 09:25 ]
Source: HRO.org [original source: Committee Against Torture]
Photo: Stanislav Dmitrievsky holds the newspaper for which he was prosecuted in 2006
On 3 October 2017 the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment in the case of Stanislav Dmitrievsky, who had complained about a violation by Russia of his rights under Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights (freedom of expression). The Court in Strasbourg ruled that the Russian Federation violated Dmitrievsky's right to freedom of expression and awarded him 10,000 euros in moral compensation. Olga Sadovskaya, the lawyer from the Committee Against Torture acting for Dmitrievsky, said that today's judgment may become the basis for a review of Dmitrievsky's criminal conviction for extremism.
The application by Stanislav Dmitrievsky concerned his conviction under Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code (Incitement of hatred or enmity, including abasement of human dignity) for publishing in the newspaper Pravo-zashchita, of which he was editor, statements by Aslan Maskhadov and Akmed Zakaev. Both statements contained criticism of the Russian authorities in relation to the then on-going military conflict in the Chechen Republic. The texts were found to be extremist, and for their publication Dmitrievsky was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Dmitrievsky and his lawyer insisted that his conviction violated his freedom of speech as laid down in Article 10 of the European Convention. Today the European Court of Huma Rights has completely concurred with this view.
The Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, that published Pravo-Zashchita and was also ruled by the Russian courts to be extremist, on more than one occasion assisted the Committee Against Torture in collecting information about human rights violations committed primarily by military personnel during the first and second Chechen conflicts.
The decision to launch the criminal prosecution of Stanislav Dmitrievsky was taken by the prosecutor of Nizhny Novgorod region, Vladimir Demidov, on the basis of an expert opinion of the texts provided by Olga Khokhlysheva, the head of the department of world politics and international law at Nizhny Novgorod State University. Her expertise contained a description of Dmitrievsky that was, in his opinion, insulting and discriminatory.
Moreover, an analysis of the case found that the record of the trial signed by Judge Bondarenko did not correspond to what had in reality taken place in the court room, and, therefore, the charges were based on statements that had been distorted.
In today's judgment, the European Court of Human Rights focused particular attention on the status of the applicant, the nature of the articles he published and the language used in them, the context in which they were published, and also the approach of the Russian courts in justifying intervention.
As a result, the European Court concluded that the statements of opinion in the articles cannot be considered as incitement of violence, nor interpreted as incitement of hatred or intolerance that could provoke any kind of acts of violence. The Court found nothing in the texts in question except criticism of the Russian government and its actions in the Chechen Republic, criticism that did not exceed permitted limits.
The Court also pointed out that the decisions of national courts in the Dmitrievsky case were not well-founded: the courts not only did not present corresponding and sufficient arguments for the conviction of the applicant, but also declined all the arguments in defence of the applicant as "inadmissible from a legal point of view," stating that this was his "attempt to protect himself from punishment." The European Court of Human Rights concluded that Dmitrievsky was deprived of his right to legal defence to which he had the right with respect to Article 10 of the Convention.
Moreover, the Court pointed out that the conviction of the applicant and the use of severe sanctions against him could have a negative influence on the freedom of expression of journalists in Russia and prevent the press from openly discussing questions that are of public interest, including those related to the conflict in the Chechen Republic.
"It is important that the conviction of Dmitrievsky was one of the first (and perhaps the very first) of this kind. And this marked the beginning of an attack on freedom of expression in Russia," Olga Sadovskaya said. "I hope that the position taken by the European Court of Human Rights on the basis of a review of this case will be further developed in other decisions in cases concerning the wrongful use of Article 282 with regard to publications that are solely exercising the right to freedom of expression, and nothing else. Today's decision of the Court may also serve as grounds for a reconsideration of the criminal prosecution of Dmitrievsky."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Tourists can take advantage of a convenient bike-sharing service for €6 a day.
Persistent sunlight, loud songbirds and fragrant flowers in full-bloom: spring in Slovakia is the perfect time to explore the more lush and beautiful parts of the city on a bike. I decided it was time to try sightseeing from a different angle, so I set out on a day trip, biking my way around Bratislava's tourist sites.
The bright yellow bikes, parked at docking stations throughout the city, are hard to miss. Tourists can take advantage of this service for just €6 a day and ride their bikes for up to 12 hours per day before returning it to one of the many docking stations spread throughout the city.
After I registered online , I purchased the daily package for €70. €6 of that sum went towards the daily ticket while the remaining €64 was used as a deposit. This €64 deposit was returned to my credit card within a few days. After payment, I received a PIN code to my phone and unlocked a bike from the stand.
Biking around Bratislava turned out to be a fun and quick way to see the best of Bratislava. Those who ride for more than 12 hours in a day will be charged an extra fee of 12 cents per each 6 min, which will be subtracted from the deposit. But, I found that 12 hours was more than enough time to explore the city.
Bicycles can be used only within the Bratislava territory. However, popular attractions further away from the city centre like the Devín Castle, Danubiana Museum and the Zlaté Piesky summer resort are still considered a part of Bratislava.
Although Bratislava is small compared to other European capitals, there are plenty of places to explore on bike. Here's how I spent my day biking around the Slovak capital.
I decided to beat the swarms of tourists by taking an early morning spin around Old Town. I took one of the bikes from the docking station at Hurbanovo námestie and set off for my trip past St.Michael's Gate.
I circled around Hlavné námestie, where the magnificent Primate's Palace and some legendary neighbouring statues reside, and took some time to reflect by St Martin's cathedral.
The cobblestone streets of Old Town add to its charm, but they can pose a challenge to even the most practised cyclist, so I cycled with caution. When I grew hungry, I parked my bike at the Kapucínska - Župné námestie station. Old Town's many restaurants, cafés, and shops are just a few steps away and once the bike is locked at a nearby docking station, rest time does not count towards the daily quota of 12 hours.
2) Choose the program that suits you best and make an online payment.
3) After payment, your personal PIN code will be sent to you via SMS and through the email address you used to register.
4) At the docking station of your choice, enter the PIN code into one of the bikes, unlock it, and enjoy the ride.
5) Return the BAjk to any docking station with an empty space, ensuring the bike is locked completely in place.
6) Information about the ride will be saved to your account.
After I appeased my appetite for food and history, I walked toward the Danube river to shake out my legs and took a bike from the Most SNP docking station. On the right side of the river (the closest to Old Town) I passed by many other cyclists and pedestrians as I cycled along the bustling promenade. For a change of pace, I crossed the Most SNP bridge to the other side. From there, I spent a little time weaving through Sad Janka Kráľa park before connecting to the long bike path running from the Petržalka dam all the way to the Gabčíkovo dam.This route proved to be much more peaceful as the official bike path is flanked by forests on either side. I even took time to notice some partially-hidden World War II bunkers and a distant view of the Bratislava Castle peeking between the trees.
I was feeling especially ambitious, so I decided to ride on the south bank of the Danube all the way to the Danubiana Museum. There are no docking stations by the museum, but I was able to borrow a lock free of charge at the reception desk. If I had cycled their on the first Sunday of the month, I could have taken a break after the long ride and looked around the museum for free.
If I hadn't hiked there just a few days before, I would have biked on the same side of the bank in the opposite direction toward Devin castle. Various sign posts make it hard to get lost, but the trail gets more bumpy as the impressive fortress comes into view.
I rewarded myself after a long ride along the Danube with some delicious gelato from one of the several highly-rated gelato stands in Hviezdoslavovo Námestie square. I returned my bike to the Most SNP docking station, which is less than five minutes on foot from the square.
After you have unlocked the bike from the docking station, click the lock into the designated place by the front wheel. The screen on the bicycle will then keep track of how long you have been riding for. Once you have completed your ride, make sure the bike is completely locked in place. The bicycle's screen will confirm whether or not the bike is properly locked.
After a well-deserved ice cream break, I ended the day with a challenge and a view. I took a bike from the Kapucínska - Župné námestie station and braved the long hill leading all the way up to the Slavín memorial. I took a breather at the Bratislava Castle and admired the UFO bridge from afar before continuing to the top, taking several more much needed breaks along the way. I did my best to be mindful of traffic and travel on the right side of the road (with traffic), but cars tend to drive quickly around the turns, so extra caution should always be taken. At the top, I watched the sunset from Slavín.
Slovnaft bikes have adjustable seating and several gears, so they can be used by anyone. However, the Slovnaft BAjk service is intended for users who are at least 16 years of age. Children up to 15 years of age are required by law to wear a helmet and while adults are not required to do so within the city's limits, it is highly recommended (the yellow bikes do not come with helmets, so you need to bring your own).
This article was created with the support of Slovnaft BAJK, which provided the author with several complementary PIN codes for bike-sharing in Bratislava.


text:
Mirador Biomedical Seeks to Prevent Hospital Errors with Simple Digital Sensor
Xconomy Seattle —
Justin Hulvershorn learned in medical school about one of the everyday procedures done in hospitals, when a patient has a catheter inserted into a central vein to deliver fluids or drugs. In one memorable moment from about 10 years ago, the medical professional missed the vein and hit one of the biggest arteries that carries blood to the lower half of the body, the femoral artery.
Blood was everywhere.
"It was horrifying," Hulvershorn says. "It stuck in my mind."
Mistakes like that one, and the life-threatening emergency it created, are what Hulvershorn and his colleagues are seeking to prevent at a Seattle-based startup called Mirador Biomedical. The Seattle-based company has developed a low-cost pressure sensor designed to be incorporated into a syringe and guide wire used to insert the catheter. This tool provides doctors with a digital readout on the pressure of the blood flow in the vessel it has reached, which provides an obvious readout that can show the difference between a high-pressure artery and a low-pressure vein. This sort of tool could be incorporated into central venous procedures that are performed 6 million times a year in the U.S., and could have potential to prevent thousands of mistakes that can cause severe complications, or even death.
The company, with a shoestring budget and just a $1.1 million investment in March, has pulled together a business plan, intellectual property, prominent medical device advisors like Pathway Medical founder Tom Clement and NeuroVista CEO John Harris, and an application to the FDA to start marketing its simple product, possibly as soon as the end of this year. It's not a classic blockbuster opportunity of the kind that venture capitalists like to bet on, but Mirador hopes that it can get this first product on the market generating revenue, and then build follow-on products to help the company grow.
Karl Schmidt
"There's nothing else out there like this," says Mirador CEO Karl Schmidt. "It's a simple product, but nobody has come up with it."
Mirador got started in some grim circumstances. Schmidt, 38, and Hulvershorn, 36, got to know each other when they worked together at Seattle-based Northstar Neuroscience, which shut down in January 2009 after its lead product candidate failed in a clinical trial. Schmidt was the head of global marketing, and Hulvershorn was the director of research. They found they had complementary skills at Northstar, and when the company started winding down, they decided to try creating a startup.
They scoped out various university tech transfer offices for ideas to license, but nothing there really grabbed them. Then they started combing through scientific literature to brainstorm about other ideas, and started homing in on errors in hospitals that threaten patient safety. Suddenly, the vivid memory of what happened to that patient came back to Hulvershorn when he started investigating the problems of catheter insertion.
Traditionally, medical pros who insert central vein catheters ("central lines" in hospital lingo) would look at the color of the blood flowing back into the syringe. If it was dark blue, that meant it was from a vein. Bright red meant the line was in an artery.
This method wasn't entirely reliable, so doctors over the past couple decades … Next Page »
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text:
\section{Introduction}
The investigation of mirror nuclei along the $N=Z$ line is of
significant interest since it addresses directly the isospin
symmetry problem in nuclear many-fermion systems. Isospin symmetry
is approximate due to the charge dependence in strong force and the
Coulomb force between protons. Direct evidence of isospin symmetry
breaking (ISB) can be deduced from ground-state displacement
energies (MDE) and excitation-energy differences between analogous
states (MED) in mirror nuclei. In the past decade, numerous
experimental and theoretical efforts have been devoted to mirror
pairs in the lower $fp$ shell and extends the knowledge of MED
evolution patterns to high-spin states
\cite{Zuker02,Martinezpinedo97,Brandolini05,Poves01,
Bentley00,Bentley06,Bentley98,Oleary97,Tonev02,William03}.

The MDE range from a few to tens of MeV, with the dominant origin in
the Coulomb field \cite{Shlomo78}. However, if only the Coulomb
effect is considered, a persistent inaccuracy exists between the
theoretical results of MDE and corresponding experimental
observations \cite{ns}. This long-standing problem is referred to as
Nolen-Schiffer anomaly \cite{ns}, revealing the necessity to
introduce charge symmetry breaking (CSB) in strong force in
depicting nuclear properties
\cite{Miller90,Suzuki92,Brown00,Machleidt01,Muther99,Tsushima99}.
Contributions from the Coulomb field and CSB in strong force to MED
has been shown theoretically, e.g., in Ref. \cite{Zuker02}, finding
that the later is at least as important as the former.

The purpose of this work is to study the structures and decay
properties of $T=1/2$ mirror nuclei in the lower \emph{fp} shell by
shell-model diagonalization method and to investigate the effects of
ISB. We employ an isospin-nonconserving effective Hamiltonian
\cite{interaction} derived microscopically from a high-precision
version of the charge-dependent Bonn (CD-Bonn) nucleon-nucleon
(\textit{NN}) potential \cite{Machleidt01} using the folded-diagram
renormalization method \cite{Kuo90,Jensen95}. The charge dependence
of the \textit{NN} interaction is retained, enabling to quantify its
effect on nuclear properties exactly with full model-space
diagonalizations. In our previous work, the effective Hamiltonian
has been used to study the isospin structures of odd-odd $N=Z$
nuclei in the lower \textit{fp} shell \cite{interaction}.

The essence of the shell model lies in that the true eigen energies
and wave functions of the original many-body Hamiltonian can be
constructed by diagonalizing an effective Hamiltonian in a
constrained finite model space \cite{Towner,Kuo90}. The model-space
dependent effective Hamiltonian can be written as
\begin{equation}\label{ham}
H_{\text{eff}}=H_{\text{o}}'+v_{\text{eff}},
\end{equation}
where
$H_{\text{o}}'=\sum_{\alpha}\varepsilon_{\alpha}'\text{a}^{\dag}_{\alpha}
\text{a}_{\alpha}$ is the effective one-body Hamiltonian with
$\varepsilon_{\alpha}'$ being single-particle energies (SPE). In
general calculations, the effective interaction $v_{\text{eff}}$ is
expressed as two-body matrix elements (TBME) in harmonic oscillator
(HO) basis. The effective interaction can be decomposed into two
parts. The monopole part of the interaction, in combination with the
SPE, gives out the bulk properties of the nuclei. The multipole part
of the effective interaction accounts for the configuration-mixing
which is essential for modern shell-model calculations
\cite{Caurier05}.

The effective interaction is directly related to the underlying
\textit{NN} potential. Due to the unperturbative nature of the QCD
at low energies, most of the knowledge concerning the \textit{NN}
force is from the measurements of nucleon-nucleon and
nucleon-deuteron scattering properties. The scattering behavior can
be well approximated by one-boson-exchange (OBE) potential which has
been commonly employed in modern realistic \textit{NN} forces
\cite{Machleidt01}. The bare \textit{NN} potential, however, is
unsuitable for direct applications in nuclear systems due to the
strong repulsive core. In early practices, the Brueckner G reaction
matrix is introduced to evaluate the effective interaction for a
chosen model space, as done in the derivation of the famous
Kuo-Brown interaction \cite{Kuo68}. The G matrix takes into account
the short-range repulsive behavior of the \textit{NN} potential and
satisfies
\begin{equation}
\langle\Psi| G |\Psi\rangle=\langle\Psi|V|\Psi\rangle,
\end{equation}
where $V$ is the bare $NN$ potential and $|\Psi\rangle$ the
correlated wave function.

Effective interaction with the G matrix may lead to bad behavior
with increasing particle numbers. The folded-diagram renormalization
method is proposed to include the core-polarization effect from the
configuration-mixing outside the model space. Folded and non-folded
diagrams are introduced in evaluating the time-evolution operator in
time-dependent perturbation theory in which both contributions from
the model space and the excluded space are considered. The two kinds
of diagrams can be evaluated from the G matrix.

In 1990s, various high-precision phenomenological OBE potentials
(e.g., AV18 of the Argonne group, Nijm I $\&$ II of the Nigmegen
group and CD-Bonn of the Bonn group) have been proposed by fitting
the huge amount of neutron-proton and proton-proton scattering data
available \cite{Machleidt01}, with reasonable descriptions of the
charge dependence in strong force. Both charge independence and
charge symmetry are related to the symmetric properties of the $NN$
force under rotations in isospin space. The breaking of charge
symmetry and charge independence are mainly due to the mass
splitting of the nucleons (m$_{\text{proton}}\neq$
m$_{\text{neutron}}$) and pions (m$_{\pi^{\pm}}\neq$ m$_{\pi^0}$).
CSB is a special case of CIB, referring to the difference between
the proton-proton and neutron-neutron interactions. CIB means that
all interactions in isospin $T=1$ state, the proton-proton,
neutron-neutron and neutron-proton interactions, are different,
after electromagnetic effects have been removed.

All the OBE potentials have similar low-momentum behavior. In the
present work, we use a new high-precision CD-Bonn potential.
Detailed descriptions on the CD-Bonn potential can be found in Ref.
\cite{Machleidt01}. In the CD-Bonn potential, both CSB and CIB are
embedded in all partial waves with angular momentum $J\leq4$. The
off-shell behavior of the nonlocal covariant Feynman amplitudes used
in the potential can lead to larger binding energies for nuclear
many-body systems, which can help to improve the effective
interaction's performance around the $N=28$ shell closure
\cite{KB3}.

\section{Level structures}

The level structures of $T=1/2$ mirror nuclei in the lower $fp$
shell are calculated with the residual interaction described above
(denoted as CD-Bonn). For comparison, the isospin-conserving KB3
interaction \cite{KB3} is also used. KB3 is a revised version of the
Kuo-Brown interaction with monopole centroids modified to improve
its performance around $^{56}$Ni \cite{KB3}. The effective
Hamiltonians are diagonalized with the shell model code OXBASH
\cite{Oxbash}. Calculations are performed in the $fp$ major shell.
Specific center-of-mass corrections due to the effects of spurious
states can be avoided \cite{Dean04}. Earlier theoretical efforts on
the nuclei can be find, e.g., in Refs.
\cite{Brandolini05,Poves01,Martinezpinedo97}.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.41]{sm2-qi-fig1.eps}
\caption{\label{fig1}Experimental and calculated excitation energies
for yrast bands in $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V. Experimental results are
taken from Ref. \cite{Bentley06}}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.53]{sm2-qi-fig2.eps}
\caption{\label{fig2} Average number of particles in the $0f_{7/2}$
sub-shell for yrast states in $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V. Columns
denoted by $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V are results calculated with the
CD-Bonn interaction.}
\end{figure}

Fig. \ref{fig1} shows the calculated excitation energies of yrast
bands in $^{45}$V and $^{45}$Ti, together with experimental
observations \cite{Bentley06}. Agreements between calculations and
experiments are satisfactory. Experiments have identified three
low-lying states with $J^{\pi}=7/2^-,~5/2^-$ and $3/2^-$. In the
framework of the deformed Nilsson model, the structure can be
interpreted as the splitting of the $0f_{7/2}$ harmonic oscillator
orbit into $[321]3/2^-,~[312]5/2^-$ and $[303]7/2^-$ orbits at low
excitation energies. The existence of these nearly-degenerate states
gives evidence for nuclear deformation. In spherical shell model,
deformation is described as configuration-mixing contribution from
upper sub-shells. The configuration of $3/2^-$ state can be
approximately described as the excitation of one particle out of the
$0f_{7/2}$ orbit, as shown in Fig. \ref{fig2}, in which the
$0f_{7/2}$ occupancies for $^{45}$V and $^{45}$Ti are plotted as a
function of spin.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.38]{sm2-qi-fig3.eps}
\caption{\label{fig3}Same as Fig. \ref{fig1} but for $^{47}$V and
$^{47}$Cr. Experimental results are taken from Ref.
\cite{Bentley98,Tonev02}}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{sm2-qi-fig4.eps}
\caption{\label{fig4} The sequence of the ground-state triplet under
different model truncations. $\text{N}_{\text{max}}$ denotes the
maximal number of particles being excited to the upper $fp$ shell.}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[htdp]
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{sm2-qi-fig5.eps}
\caption{\label{fig5}Experimental and proposed yrast band for
$^{47}$Cr.}
\end{figure}

For nuclei with $A\geq 47$, excellent agreements between
calculations and experiments are obtained. Theoretical and
experimental results for mirror pair $^{47}$V and $^{47}$Cr are
shown in Fig. \ref{fig3}. The nucleus $^{47}$V has been recognized
as a $K=3/2$ rotor. Our calculations show that the contribution from
the upper $fp$ shell plays an important role in giving the correct
positions of the $3/2^-$ ground state and other low-lying states. In
Fig. \ref{fig4} we plotted the evolution of the relative positions
of the ground-state triplet as a function of the maximal number of
particles ($\text{N}_{\text{max}}$) being excited out of the
$0f_{7/2}$ sub-shell. To give the correct $3/2^-$ ground state,
$\text{N}_{\text{max}}$ must be larger than four to account for the
configuration mixing. This configuration corresponds to a prolate
deformation. Also interesting is the nearly degenerate coupled
doublet in the yrast band of $^{47}$V \cite{Brandolini01}.
Calculations reproduce well the relative sequence of the yrast
states. A similar scheme is predicted for $^{47}$Cr, as shown in
Fig. \ref{fig5}.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{sm2-qi-fig6.eps}
\caption{\label{fig6} Same as Fig. \ref{fig1} but for $^{49}$Cr and
$^{49}$Mn. Experimental data are taken from Ref. \cite{Oleary97}.}
\end{figure}

Calculated results for mirror pairs $^{49}$Cr-$^{49}$Mn and
$^{51}$Mn-$^{5}$Fe are shown in Fig. \ref{fig6} and \ref{fig7},
respectively. Calculations are done in truncated $fp$ model spaces.
These two pairs are the cross-conjugate partners of the $A=47$ and
$A=45$ nuclei, respectively. For nucleus $^{49}$Cr, one $25/2^-$
state with an excitation energy of 8879 keV was observed in Ref.
\cite{Oleary97}. The calculated level most close to the observed
state locates at 8758 keV. In our calculations, four $25/2^-$ states
are generated around 8879 keV, with the lowest one lying at 7812
keV. The proposed yrast state is more close to the experimental
result of 8334 keV given in Ref. \cite{Brandolini01}. However,
confusion still exists concerning the calculated B(E2) for the
$25/2_1^-\rightarrow 21/2_1^-$ transition when comparing with the
corresponding experimental result, which will be discussed below.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{sm2-qi-fig7.eps}
\caption{\label{fig7} Same as Fig. \ref{fig1} but for $^{51}$Fe and
$^{51}$Mn. Experimental data are taken from Ref. \cite{Bentley00}.}
\end{figure}

Our calculations in the $fp$ shell generate well the negative-parity
bands for the odd-A nuclei. Positive-parity states can be
approximated by assuming a hole in the $0d_{3/2}$ orbit. In nuclei
$^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V, the positive-parity collective bands start
at 328 keV and 386 keV, respectively. To give a good description of
the positive-parity states, large-scale calculation in full $sdpf$
shell is needed \cite{Brandolini05}. However, it is beyond the scope
of this paper.

\section{ISB effects in MDE and MED}

As mentioned above, the discrepancy between the theoretical MDE of
mirror nuclei and corresponding experimental data is a long-standing
problem in nuclear physics \cite{Shlomo78,ns,Suzuki92}. In Ref.
\cite{Brown00}, Brown {\it et al.} investigated the role played by
CSB in addressing the NS anomaly in a self-consistent Hartree-Fock
method by adding a CSB term to the $s$-wave part of the Skyrme
interaction. The crucial importance of introducing CSB in partial
waves with $L>0$ for the full explanation of the NS anomaly have
been further studied by M\"uther {\it et al.} within the
Bruckner-Hartree-Fock calculations of nuclear matter
\cite{Muther99}. The anomaly has also been investigated by Tsushima
{\it et al.} \cite{Tsushima99} at the quark level using the
so-called quark-meson coupling (QMC) model in which the
mass-difference between the \textit{up} and \textit{down} quark is
taken into account. QMC can be seen as an extended model of the
relativistic mean-field theory with quark mass difference entering
to account for the short-range CSB \cite{Miller90}.

\begin{table}
\centering \caption{$0f_{7/2}$-$0f_{7/2}$ monopole interactions and
the monopole centroids. The $T=1$ KB3 matrix elements are also shown
for a comparison.}\label{table1}
\begin{ruledtabular}
\begin{tabular}{ ccccc cc }
$j$ & 0 & 2 & 4 & 6  & centroid\\
\hline
$\pi-\pi$&-1.22&-0.20&0.58 &  0.86&0.51\\
$\nu-\nu$&-1.54&-0.39& 0.40&0.69& 0.32 \\
KB3&-1.92&-1.09& -0.19&0.18 &-0.24\\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table}

\begin{table}
\centering \caption{ISB contribution (in MeV) to MDE. See details in
the text.}\label{mde}
\begin{ruledtabular}
\begin{tabular}{ ccccc cc }
Mirror pair& A=45 & A=47 & A=49 & A=51   \\
\hline
T=1/2&0.359&0.604&0.658 &  0.936\\
T=3/2&1.269& 1.586& 2.197&2.579  \\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table}

In isospin-conserving shell-model calculations, the binding energies
of mirror nuclei are identical since the Coulomb field is not taken
into account. In this work, the Coulomb force and charge-dependence
in strong force are embedded at the two-body level, as shown in
Table \ref{table1}. The two-body ISB interaction leads to more
binding energies for the neutron-rich side of the mirror nuclei. The
binding-energy differences of $T=1/2$ mirror pairs are of the order
of a few hundreds keV. Table \ref{mde} shows results for $T=1/2$ and
$T=3/2$ mirror pairs which is defined as
\begin{equation}
\Delta E_{ISB}=E(Z_<,\text{g.s.})-E(Z_{>},\text{g.s.}),
\end{equation}
where $Z_{<}~(Z_>)$ denotes neutron (proton)-rich side of mirror
nuclei. The energy differences reflect contribution from ISB to MDE.
What is still absent in the present Hamiltonian is the proper
evaluation of Coulomb effect on the SPE. The study of Coulomb effect
on MDE in the context of the shell model has been shown, i.e., in
Ref~\cite{Ormand97}. Further investigations of the problem would be
done in the future to see whether the charge-dependent strong force
can be totally responsible for the NS anomaly.

\begin{figure*}
\includegraphics[scale=0.81]{sm2-qi-fig8.eps}
\caption{\label{med} $\Delta V_M$ contribution (denoted as ISB) to
MED for $T=1/2$ mirror pairs $^{45}$Ti-$^{45}$V, $^{47}$V-$^{47}$Cr,
$^{49}$Cr-$^{49}$Mn and $^{51}$Mn-$^{51}$Fe. Experimental data are
taken from Ref.
\cite{Bentley00,Bentley06,Bentley98,Oleary97,Tonev02}. See the text
for details.}
\end{figure*}

In medium-mass nuclei, observed MED are very small (usually of the
order of 10-100 keV) \cite{Zuker02}. It provides a special ground to
deduce the effect of charge-dependent strong force. In Ref.
\cite{Zuker02}, contribution from CSB are approximated by an
additional $J=2$ pairing term evaluated phenomenally from the MED
and triplet energy difference in the A=42 isospin triplet.
Contributions from the Coulomb field and the above CSB term were
collected and compared with the measured MED in $^{45}$V and
$^{45}$Ti by Bentley {\it et al.} \cite{Bentley06}. However, the
prediction power of the model is very poor \cite{Bentley06},
indicating that a more precise treatment of the charge-dependence in
strong force is needed.

In the present work, contributions from the two-body Coulomb force
and the charge-dependent strong force can be calculated exactly from
the calculated energy differences of analogous states in mirror
nuclei. We simply decompose the contributions to total MED into two
parts,
\begin{equation}
\text{MED}_J=\Delta\langle U_s\rangle_J+\Delta (V_{M})_J,
\end{equation}
where $\Delta\langle U_s\rangle_J$ denotes contribution from the
Coulomb shifts of proton SPE. $\Delta (V_{M})_J$ is given as
\begin{equation}
\Delta (V_{M})_J=E_{\text{cal.}}(Z_>)_J-E_{\text{cal.}}(Z_<)_J,
\end{equation}
where $E_{\text{cal.}}$ is calculated excitation energy of the state
with angular momentum $J$. Calculations for $\Delta (V_{M})_J$ are
plotted in Fig. \ref{med}.

Configurations for low-lying states in the lower $fp$ shell nuclei
are dominated by the $0f_{7/2}$ orbit since a sizable energy-gap
between the $0f_{7/2}$ and other orbits ($1p_{3/2}, 0f_{5/2},
1p_{1/2}$) exists. Contributions from the monopole part of the
Coulomb force, however, are sensitive to the $1p_{3/2}$ occupancy
and are expected to be enhanced at the nuclear surface
\cite{Bulgac99}. In recent studies, explanations of the evolution
behavior of MED with spin have been focus on particle alignment and
nuclear shape changes \cite{Bentley00,Oleary97,Bentley98}. These
arguments are mainly based on the fact that the MED tend to vanish
at band termination states where maximum possible alignments of all
valence particles are expected.

In the MED of the $A=51$ mirror pair, two sharp changes exist,
leading to two peaks of about 100 keV at the $J=17/2^-$ state and
the band-terminated $J=27/2^-$ state. Calculations with empirical
Coulomb matrix elements reproduced the two peaks but over-estimated
results for the $J=17/2^-$ state \cite{Bentley00}. Further
investigations by the authors showed that a sharp alignment of a
$0f_{7/2}$ proton pair exist at the $17/2^-$ state in $^{51}$Fe
\cite{Bentley00}. In our calculations, the ISB contribution $\Delta
(V_{M})_J$ reproduced the peak at the $J=17/2^-$ state and vanished
at the termination state.

Also interesting is the staggering in the MED of yrast bands in
mirror pair $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V and the cross-conjugate partners
$^{51}$Fe and $^{51}$Mn. In Ref. \cite{Bentley00}, it was
tentatively explained as the existence of two bands with different
signatures in the yrast band. Calculated $\Delta (V_{M})_J$
characterized the staggering.

\section{Transition properties in mirror nuclei}

Electromagnetic (EM) and Gamow-Teller (GT) analogous transitions in
mirror nuclei can provide other detailed information on the
properties of nuclear structures and transition operators
\cite{Ekman04,Fujita04,Smirnova03}. Different transition strengths
have already been identified in the yrast cascades of $^{47}$V and
$^{47}$Cr, with tentative work trying to extract information on
differences in corresponding wave functions by Tonev {\it et al.}
\cite{Tonev02}. In the following, calculated strengths for EM and GT
analogous transitions will be given, with the analyse of existing
asymmetries.

\begin{table*}
\centering \caption{Calculated B(E2) (in e$^2$fm$^4$) in mirror
nuclei $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V. Effective charges with e$_{p}$=1.5e
and e$_n$=0.5e are used.}\label{table2}
\begin{ruledtabular} \begin{tabular}{cccccccccc}
&\multicolumn{4}{c}{$^{45}$Ti}~~~  &&\multicolumn{4}{c}{$^{45}$V}\\
\cline{2-5}\cline{7-10}
$J_i\rightarrow J_f$ &HO&WS&SKcsb&KB3&~~~&HO&WS&SKcsb&KB3\\
\hline
$11/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$  &124&124&105& 132 && 154&158&134&157\\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$  &139&139& 118&144&& 167 &171&146&165\\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$&96&95&80&94&&110&113&95&98\\
$23/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$&65&64&54&70&&119&122&104&118\\
$27/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$&48&47&40&50&&87&90&76&83\\
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$ &  82 &86&71&94&& 97&101&85&104 \\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 9/2^-_1$&151&160&131&158&&175&185&155&191\\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$&100&101&84&108&&130&135&113&130\\
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$ &  48 &51&41&83&& 41&45& 36&77\\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$ &  33&35&29 &44&& 28&30&25&31 \\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$ & 16 &17&14&22&& 30&33& 26&27\\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$ &  14 &14&12&22&& 9 &10&8&11\\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$ &  17 &17&15&17&& 38 &40&34&30\\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table*}

\begin{table}
\centering \caption{Theoretical B(M1) (in $\mu^2_N$) and B(GT) in
mirror pair $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V. Free nucleon g-factors
[g$_{s}$(proton)=5.586, g$_s$(neutron)=-3.826, g$_{l}$(proton)=1 and
g$_{l}$(neutron)=0] and free axial-vector constant ($g_A=1.26$) are
used.}\label{a45m1}
\begin{ruledtabular}
\begin{tabular}{cccccc}
& \multicolumn{2}{c}{B(M1)}&~~ &\multicolumn{2}{c}{B(GT)}\\
\cline{2-3}\cline{5-6}
$J_i\rightarrow J_f$&$^{45}$Ti&$^{45}$V&&$\beta^+$&CE\\
\hline
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$    & 0.40  & 0.42   &~~ &  0.12&0.13 \\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   &  0.21 & 0.25  &~~&  0.08 &0.09\\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$   & 0.87  &  0.83   &~~&  0.30&0.32 \\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   & 0.11  &  0.13  &~~&  0.04&0.05\\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$   & 0.15  &  0.16  &~~ &  0.53&0.53\\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table}

Table \ref{table2} shows calculated strengths for electrical
quadrupole (E2) analogous transitions in $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V.
Effective charges for neutrons and protons have been renormalized to
e$_{n}$=0.5e and e$_p$=1.5e, respectively, to account for the
core-polarization effect. The wave functions of the shell model are
calculated with three different bases, i.e., the HO, the Woods-Saxon
(WS) potential and the Skyrme force (SKcsb) by Brown {\it et al.}
\cite{Brown00} in which a charge-symmetry-breaking term has been
added. For comparison, results calculated with the KB3 interaction
and the HO basis (denoted as KB3) are also shown.

\begin{table}
\centering \caption{Calculated B(E2) (in e$^2$fm$^4$) and B(M1) (in
$\mu^2_N$) for analogous transitions in mirror pair $^{47}$V and
$^{47}$Cr.}\label{table4}
\begin{ruledtabular}  \begin{tabular}{cccccc}
&\multicolumn{2}{c}{B(E2)}&~~ &\multicolumn{2}{c}{B(M1)}\\
\cline{2-3}\cline{5-6}
$J_i\rightarrow J_f$~~~~& ~~~$^{47}$V~~~&~~~$^{47}$Cr~~~&~~~&~~~$^{47}$V~~~~&~~$^{47}$Cr~~~\\
\hline
$7/2^-_1\rightarrow 3/2^-_1$    & 142  & 172   &~~ &   &  \\
$11/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$   &  242 & 314  &~~&    & \\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   & 249  &  326   &~~&   &  \\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   &203  &  261  &~~&   & \\
$23/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   & 182  &  221  &~~ &    & \\
$27/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$   &118  &  141  &~~&   & \\
$31/2^-_1\rightarrow 27/2^-_1$   & 67  &  96  &~~ &   & \\
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$    & 182  & 248   &~~ &   &  \\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 9/2^-_1$    & 220  &  291   &~~ & &  \\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$    & 218  &   256  &~~ &   &  \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$    & 185  &  225   &~~ &   &  \\
$25/2^-_1\rightarrow 21/2^-_1$    & 121  &  141  &~~ &   &  \\
$29/2^-_1\rightarrow 25/2^-_1$    & 1  &   1  &~~ &   &  \\
$5/2^-_1\rightarrow 3/2^-_1$   &314  &  393  &~~& 0.15  &0.13 \\
$7/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$   & 251 &  282  &~~& 0.29  &0.26\\
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$   & 101 &  137  &~~& 0.11  &0.10\\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   & 43  &  60  &~~&  0.07 & 0.06\\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$   & 74 &  81 &~~& 0.70  & 0.62\\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   & 17 &  25   &~~& 0.03  &0.03 \\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   & 37 &  49   &~~& 0.70  &1.0 \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   & 2.4 & 8.3    &~~& 0.11  &0.12 \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$   & 2.9 &  5  &~~& 1.6  & 1.5\\
$25/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$   & 0.06 & 2.7    &~~& 0.06  & 0.07\\
$27/2^-_1\rightarrow 25/2^-_1$   & 4.1 &  6.2 &~~& 2.2  &2.1 \\
$29/2^-_1\rightarrow 31/2^-_1$   & 0.24 &  0.10   &~~& 0.27$\times10^{-2}$  &0.18$\times10^{-2}$ \\
$29/2^-_1\rightarrow 27/2^-_1$   & 5.4 &   18  &~~&  0.10$\times10^{-1}$  & 0.15$\times10^{-1}$\\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table}

\begin{table}
\centering \caption{Theoretical B(E2) (in e$^2$fm$^4$) and B(M1) (in
$\mu^2_N$) for analogous transitions in mirror pair $^{49}$Cr and
$^{49}$Mn.}\label{table5}
\begin{ruledtabular}  \begin{tabular}{cccccc}
& \multicolumn{2}{c}{B(E2)}&~~ &\multicolumn{2}{c}{B(M1)}\\
\cline{2-3}\cline{5-6}
$J_i\rightarrow J_f$& $^{49}$Cr&$^{49}$Mn&&$^{49}$Cr&$^{49}$Mn\\
\hline
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$    & 110  & 109   &~~ &   &  \\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 9/2^-_1$    & 223  &  225   &~~ & &  \\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$    & 191  &  214  &~~ &   &  \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$    & 190 &  246   &~~ &   &  \\
$25/2^-_1\rightarrow 21/2^-_1$    & 148  &  231   &~~ &   &  \\
$29/2^-_1\rightarrow 25/2^-_1$    & 165  &  224   &~~ &   &  \\
$11/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$   &  195 & 204  &~~&    & \\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   & 228  &  230   &~~&   &  \\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   & 211  &  223  &~~&   & \\
$23/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   & 191  &  224  &~~ &    & \\
$27/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$   &131  &  159  &~~&   & \\
$31/2^-_1\rightarrow 27/2^-_1$   & 51  &  55   &~~&   &  \\
$7/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$   & 382 &  408  &~~& 0.24  &0.26\\
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$   & 307 &  299   &~~& 0.57 &0.58  \\
$11/2^-_1\rightarrow 9/2^-_1$   & 234 &  247  &~~&  0.65 &0.66\\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   & 165  &  162  &~~& 0.70  & 0.73\\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$   & 106 &  130 &~~&  0.88 & 0.93\\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   & 67 &  89   &~~&  0.29 &0.33 \\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$   & 92 &  131   &~~&  0.42 &0.53 \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   &  38 &  72  &~~&  0.48$\times10^{-1}$ & 0.63$\times10^{-1}$ \\
$25/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$   & 29 &  61  &~~& 0.30$\times10^{-3} $ & 0.68$\times10^{-5} $\\
$29/2^-_1\rightarrow 27/2^-_1$   & 22 &  45  &~~& 0.47$\times10^{-2}$  & 0.64$\times10^{-2}$\\
$31/2^-_1\rightarrow 29/2^-_1$   & 3.0 &  10  &~~&  0.58  & 0.75\\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table}

\begin{table}
\centering \caption{Calculated B(E2) (in e$^2$fm$^4$) and B(M1) (in
$\mu^2_N$) for analogous transitions in mirror pair $^{51}$Mn and
$^{51}$Fe.}\label{table6}
\begin{ruledtabular}  \begin{tabular}{cccccc}
& \multicolumn{2}{c}{B(E2)}&~~ &\multicolumn{2}{c}{B(M1)}\\
\cline{2-3}\cline{5-6}
$J_i\rightarrow J_f$& $^{51}$Mn&$^{51}$Fe&&$^{51}$Mn&$^{51}$Fe\\
\hline
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$    & 81  & 95   &~~ &   &  \\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 9/2^-_1$    & 155  &  183   &~~ & &  \\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$    & 1  &   1  &~~ &   &  \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$    & 36  &  18   &~~ &   &  \\
$11/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$   &  156 & 179  &~~&    & \\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   & 189  &  232   &~~&   &  \\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   & 54  &  63  &~~&   & \\
$23/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   & 81  &  52  &~~ &    & \\
$27/2^-_1\rightarrow 23/2^-_1$   &69  &  51  &~~&   & \\
$7/2^-_1\rightarrow 5/2^-_1$   & 294 &  205  &~~& 0.23  &0.22\\
$9/2^-_1\rightarrow 7/2^-_1$   & 183 &  197   &~~& 0.15  &0.14 \\
$11/2^-_1\rightarrow 9/2^-_1$   & 178 &  153  &~~& 0.48  &0.45\\
$13/2^-_1\rightarrow 11/2^-_1$   & 63  &  67  &~~&  0.08 & 0.07\\
$15/2^-_1\rightarrow 13/2^-_1$   & 89 &  74 &~~& 0.71  & 0.68\\
$17/2^-_1\rightarrow 15/2^-_1$   & 0.01 &  1.3   &~~& 0.38$\times10^{-2}$  &0.40$\times10^{-2}$ \\
$19/2^-_1\rightarrow 17/2^-_1$   & 104 &  51   &~~& 0.77  &0.83 \\
$21/2^-_1\rightarrow 19/2^-_1$   & 86 & 47   &~~& 0.83  &0.85 \\
$23/2^-_1\rightarrow 21/2^-_1$   & 43 &  37  &~~& 1.65  & 1.68\\
\end{tabular}
\end{ruledtabular}
\end{table}

B(E2) strengths derived from the three bases are similar to each
other. In the following, only results with the HO basis are given
for simplicity. Calculated B(E2) values for mirror pairs
$^{47}$V-$^{47}$Cr, $^{49}$Cr-$^{49}$Mn, and $^{51}$Mn-$^{51}$Fe are
given in Table \ref{table4},\ref{table5}, and \ref{table6},
respectively. Comparisons with available experimental data are
ploted in Fig. \ref{fig9} and \ref{fig10}. It can be seen that
overall agreements are excellent. Our calculations reproduce the
observed staggering pattern in the EM transitions of $^{47}$V and
$^{49}$Cr. The largest discrepancy appears at the $25/2^-_1$ state
in $^{49}$Cr at which rather small E2 strength has been observed
\cite{Brandolini01}. A large B(E2) value, however, is expected for
the yrast decay in our calculations. Confusion still exist
concerning the position of the $25/2^-$ yrast state
\cite{Oleary97,Brandolini01}. More experimental and theoretical
efforts may clear the picture.

The M1 transition is relatively insensitive to the radial property
of the wave function. The transition operator is given by
\begin{equation}\label{m1}
\hat{O}(M1) =
\left[\sum_{n=1}^Z(g_l^{\pi}\mathbf{l}_n+g_s^{\pi}\mathbf{s}_n)
+\sum_{n=1}^N(g_l^{\nu}\mathbf{l}_n+g_s^{\nu}\mathbf{s}_n)\right]\mu_N, \\
\end{equation}
where $\mu_N$ is the nuclear magneton and $g_{l(s)}$ the orbital
(spin) gyromagnetic factor. Eq. (\ref{m1}) can be rewritten as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{m2}
\nonumber \hat{O}(M1)&=&  \Bigg[\sum_{n=1}^A\left(\frac{g_l^{\pi}+
g_l^{\nu}}{2}\mathbf{l}_n+\frac{g_s^{\pi}+g_s^{\nu}}{2}
\frac{\text{\boldmath{$\sigma$}}_n}{2}\right)\\
&-&\left(\frac{g_l^{\pi}-g_l^{\nu}}{2}\mathbf{l}_n+\frac{g_s^{\pi}-g_s^{\nu}}{2}
\frac{\text{\boldmath{$\sigma$}}_n}{2}\right)\tau_z(n)\Bigg]\mu_N,
\end{eqnarray}
with which M1 transition strengths can be separated into two parts:
the isoscalar and isovector term. It can be seen that the M1
transition strength is dominated by the isovector spin
($\sigma\tau_z$) term with coupling constant of
$g_s^{IV}=(g_s^{\pi}-g_s^{\nu})/2$=4.706. Contributions from orbital
terms are expected to be enhanced when nuclear deformation effects
manifest.

Strengths for analogous M1 transitions are calculated with the free
gyromagnetic factors of g$_{s}^{\pi}$=5.586, g$_s^{\nu}$=-3.826,
g$_{l}^{\pi}$=1 and g$_{l}^{\nu}$=0. Results for the $A=45$, 47, 49
and 51 mirror pairs are given in Table \ref{a45m1}, \ref{table4},
\ref{table5} and \ref{table6}, respectively. Fig. \ref{fig9} and
\ref{fig10} show comparisons with experiments. Our calculations
reproduced well the experimental strengths except the strong M1
strength observed at the band-terminated state in $^{49}$Cr.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{sm2-qi-fig9.eps}
\caption{\label{fig9}Comparisons between experimental
\cite{Brandolini01} and calculated (solid line) $B(M1)_{J\rightarrow
J-1}(\mu_N^2)$ and $B(E2)_{J\rightarrow J-2}$(e$^2$fm$^4$) in the
yrast band of $^{47}$V. The dashed line gives corresponding
theoretical results for $^{47}$Cr.}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{sm2-qi-fig10.eps}
\caption{\label{fig10}Same as Fig. \ref{fig9} but for $^{49}$Cr.
Experimental data are taken from \cite{Brandolini01}. The dashed
line gives corresponding theoretical strengths in $^{49}$Mn.}
\end{figure}

Weak processes in atomic nuclei can be separated into two kinds, the
Fermi (isoscalar and spin-unflip) and Gamow-Teller (isovector and
spin-flip) transitions. The Lorentz covariant hadronic current
related to the GT transition can be written as
\begin{equation}\label{avector}
A_{\mu}=i\overline{\psi}_p[g_A\gamma_{\mu}\gamma_5+\frac{g_T}{2M}\sigma_{\mu\nu}
\gamma_5k_{\nu}+ig_Pk_{\mu}\gamma_5]\psi_n,
\end{equation}
where $k_{\mu}$ is the transferred momentum, $M$ the mass of the
nucleon and $\psi_p~(\psi_n)$ the proton (neutron) field operator.
Included in the bracket are the axial-vector, induced tensor and
induced pseudoscalar term, with $g_A,~g_T$ and $g_P$ the
corresponding coupling constants. In atomic nuclei, processes
governed by the hadronic current are dominated by the isovector
term. The isovector GT transition operator is given as
\begin{equation}
\hat{O}(\text{GT}^{\pm})=\frac{1}{2}g_A\sum_{n=1}^A\bm{\sigma}_n\tau_{\pm}(k),
\end{equation}
where $\bm{\sigma}$ and $\tau$ are spin and isospin operators,
respectively.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.42]{sm2-qi-fig11.eps}
\caption{\label{fig11} Ground-state GT transition strengths for the
$\beta^+$-decay of $^{47}$Cr and the CE reaction of $^{47}$V. Free
axial-vector ($g_A=1.26$) are used.}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.42]{sm2-qi-fig12.eps}
\caption{Same as Fig. \ref{fig11} but for the $A=49$
pair.\label{fig12}}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.42]{sm2-qi-fig13.eps}
\caption{Same as Fig. \ref{fig11} but for the $A=51$
pair.\label{fig13}}
\end{figure}

Experimentally, B(GT) is accessible through the study of
$\beta$-decay and the conjugate charge-exchange (CE) reaction, such
as $(p,n)$ reaction. All nuclei discussed above have $\beta^+$ decay
mode. The distributions of the reduced GT transition strengths for
ground-state $\beta^+$-decay of $^{47}$Cr, $^{49}$Mn, and $^{51}$Fe
are plotted in Fig. \ref{fig11}, \ref{fig12}, and \ref{fig13},
respectively. In the lower part of the figures, we give the B(GT)
values of conjugate CE processes as a comparison. If isospin
symmetry is exactly conserved, the two strength distributions should
be identical. The asymmetry deduced from the strengths,
\begin{equation}
\delta^{ISB}=\frac{B(\text{GT;~CE})}{B(\text{GT};~\beta^+)}-1,
\end{equation}
reflects the ISB effect. Another possible origin of the observed
asymmetry come from the non-zero contribution of the induced-tensor
term (commonly referred to as second-class current) in Eq.
(\ref{avector}). The underlying electroweak theory does not put any
limit on the value of $g_T$. Investigations for the possible
existence of induced-tensor current in weak processes is
longstanding \cite{Smirnova03}. In the past a few decades,
considerable attentions have been paid to light nuclei where large
asymmetry has been identified in mirror nuclei GT transitions (See
Ref. \cite{Smirnova03} for a review). The dominant origin is the
strong Coulomb effect which, however, can lead to large
uncertainties. One notable property of \textit{fp} shell nuclei is
the relatively small influence from the Coulomb field. More
extensive studies concerning the \textit{fp} nuclei would to very
helpful.

Free axial-vector factor with $g_A=1.26$ are used in the
calculations. For practical applications, a renormalization factor,
about 0.744 in $fp$ shell, has to be introduced to account for the
quenching effects induced by core-polarization and subnuclear
freedoms \cite{Caurier05}.

Contributions from orbital and spin terms to M1 transition strengths
in $T=1/2$ nuclei can be separated since both isovector M1 and GT
decay processes in nuclei are dominated by a $\sigma\tau$-type
operator \cite{Fujita04}. If isospin symmetry is exact, the final
states of the M1 transition and the corresponding GT transition
differ only in their $\tau_z$ quantum number. Relative strengths
between GT and isovector spin-flip M1 strengths can be written as
\begin{equation}
\frac{B(GT^{\pm})}{B(\sigma\tau_z)}=\frac{8\pi}{3}\left(\frac{g_A}
{g_s^{IS}}\right)^2\frac{\langle
T_i,T_{iz},1,\pm1|T_f,T_{fz}\rangle^2} {\langle
T_i,T_{iz},1,0|T_f,T_{fz}\rangle^2},
\end{equation}
by which a more deep insight into the nuclear structure can be
deduced. It also has direct astrophysics applications
\cite{Kawabata04}. Some similar works have been done in $p$ and $sd$
shell, as shown in Ref. \cite{Fujita04}. ISB effects on the relation
can be evaluated through the calculations of direct overlaps between
the analogous final states. We caulcated M1 and GT transitions
connecting analogous states in the $T=1/2$ pairs. Theoretical
results for B(M1) and B(GT) in mirror pair $^{45}$Ti and $^{45}$V
are shown in Table \ref{a45m1}.

\section{Summary}
$T=1/2$ mirror nuclei in the lower $fp$ shell have been studied by
shell-model configuration-mixing calculations based on a microscopic
effective Hamiltonian. The effective interaction is derived from the
high-precision CD-Bonn \textit{NN} potential. Calculated level
schemes agree well with experimental observations till the
$0f_{7/2}$ band termination. The largest discrepancy seen at the
$25/2^-$ state in $^{49}$Cr is also discussed. Electromagnetic and
Gamow-Teller transition strengths for analogous transitions in the
mirror pairs are presented where experimental observations are still
insufficient.

The isospin-nonconserving effective interaction enables the
investigation of asymmetries existing in nuclear structures and
transitions. We calculate ISB contributions to MDE and MED of the
mirror pairs. An important role played the term is identified. The
discrepancies exist in analogous transitions ara analyzed which can
be used to deduce properties of nuclear structures and decay
operators.

\begin{acknowledgments}
This work has been supported by the Natural Science Foundations of
China under Grant Nos. 10525520 and 10475002, the Key Grant Project
(Grant No. 305001) of Ministry of Education of China. We also thank
the PKU computer Center where numerical calculations have been done.
\end{acknowledgments}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


Made it to the Bigs. Network Field Day 3.
Wow so here I am just a few days from flying to San Jose for Network Field Day #3. What an honor! A bit over a year ago I sadly had to decline Steve Foskett's invitation to attend a field day. Ever since then I was hoping I had not blown my chance to be part of what I think is where our industry is heading in concern to vendor interaction. For so long the process has been ran by insiders and in a closed off to the majority of the comment. Tech Field Day's opened the kimono and I can't wait participate and share information from my perspective what we get to see and talk about while in San Jose.


The Tamil Nadu state board 12th class Higher Secondary Certificate HSC public examination timetable schedule for the upcoming New Year 2017 published by the Tamilnadu Directorate of Government Examination on 16th December 2016.
In the press release the Tamilnadu Directorate of Government Examination had mentioned that the Tamilnadu state board Class XIIth Plus 2 public examinations will be conducted from March 2, 2017 to March 31, 2017.
The students can visit the web portal of Tamilnadu Directorate of Government Examination for knowing more details regarding the Tamilnadu Plus 2 annual examinations 2017.


I've been drinking a lot of coffee lately and my analytical side started to wonder what is too much caffeine? So I looked into how I could time my coffee consumption to my productive or less than productive times.
Caffeine, for around 2000 years, is being used to increase mental alertness, fight fatigue, increase response time, alter mood states, and explored for military use.
Since caffeine is so widely used, it's also been widely studied. Caffeine has been studied so much that its withdrawal effects, is now included as a new mental disorder according to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5).
Despite the fact that the real discoverer of caffeine as a stimulant is unknown; legend has it that it was first discovered in Ethiopia around the 3rd century AD when a shepherd observed that his goats became active and agitated after consuming berries or "beans".
The shepherd tried chewing the berries and noticed their effect as a stimulant. These berries were used in a monastery; the monks brewed the beans in hot water and discovered the beverage helped keep them awake them during long nights of prayer.
Cultivation of the coffee plant might have started as early as the 6th century AD, possibly in Ethiopia. Elsewhere in Africa, coffee berries were beaten and blended with fat to function as food to fuel warriors in battle.
By around 1000 AD, the berries reached Yemen, where the beverage has become very popular and ingesting it as a social ritual. From there it expanded to Europe and the Americas through trade.
Have you ever been in a meeting and feel yourself getting tired and not focusing?
Of course, you have, and we have all reached for a caffeine source (coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks) to help us through a meeting, a long day at work, or a long road trip.
Caffeine is a molecule similar to a chemical found in all our cells, adenosine. In our brains adenosine acts as a depressant of the central nervous system.
Normally, adenosine triggers sleep and suppress wakefulness by slowing down nerve activity. Adenosine also binds to cells causing blood vessels in the brain to dilate; this helps us by increasing air intake while sleep.
Adenosine levels decrease over time as we sleep, this will trigger our body to start "waking up". While we're awake, the levels of adenosine in our brain increase over time, and we get tired or lose mental alertness.
If you were a nerve cell and saw caffeine, you would think it looks like adenosine and it would bind to you like a lock and key.
Our cells bind to caffeine thinking its adenosine; this means you have free-floating adenosine your brain without a place to bind. This change in binding results in you feeling less tired and your cell activity speeds up.
It also causes the blood vessels in your brain to constrict; this is why some headache medications have caffeine. Increased adenosine also triggers our bodies to release another stimulant, adrenaline.
So when thinking about what is too much caffeine, we can think of this as another stimulant increasing in your system and impacting your mood, emotions, and behavior.
Caffeine, blocking adenosine binding, results in a physical change in the brain; it causes us to have more adenosine receptors.
This is why it takes increasing amounts of caffeine over time to have the same stimulant effects. The more adenosine receptors you have the more caffeine you need.
Caffeine's main effect on the body is an increased temporary sense of wakefulness and alertness but can also have side effects such as shakes, sleeplessness or a hard time falling asleep, fast or uneven heartbeat, high blood pressure, headaches, nervousness, dizziness, and dehydration.
How long does it take for caffeine to work?
It takes about 45 minutes for caffeine to reach the maximum number of cells, so the more you drink at one time will not increase your alertness if your cells are already full.
Caffeine can also stay in your body for around 16 hours as our bodies work to remove the molecule.
How do I drink it effectively?
Based on the 45 minutes it takes to reach maximum effect, you could consume 20 milligrams, the equivalent of 8 fluid ounces of green tea, to 200 milligrams, the equivalent of 16 fluid ounces of coffee per hour to maintain focus and alertness.
Twenty milligrams is enough to maintain alertness without the jitteriness of constantly drinking coffee or energy drinks; though up to 400 milligrams per day is considered safe. If you think you've consumed too much caffeine and you don't feel right, please contact your healthcare provider for help.
Researchers found that caffeine does increase performance; it only comes at a cost, the withdrawal. Essentially, you can't increase performance and avoid withdrawal. During withdrawal, your performance decreases and so does your mood.
The only way to increase performance and mood, or feel normal, is to drink caffeine. This will only bring you back to increased performance and mood for a short time. This is the basis of addiction.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms can begin within 12 to 24 hours of caffeine consumption and last between 2 and 9 days. Once you stop consuming caffeine it takes about a week to 12 days for your adenosine receptors to decrease thereby breaking your caffeine addiction.
Caffeine has been used for thousands of years as a mental and physical stimulant.
There are benefits to drinking caffeinated drinks: alertness and increased concentration; but there are consequences to drinking caffeinated drinks: dependence leading to physical symptoms of withdrawals within 12-24 hrs.
We know it takes about 45 minutes to have your receptors full of caffeine, and it takes around a week to 12 days to leave your body.
Now that you know how long it takes for caffeine to reach maximum levels, try to challenge yourself by strategically drinking caffeine around your lifestyle.
For a greater challenge and targeting caffeine use, try to go without caffeine and break your addiction. Then use caffeine in a controlled targeted way. It might just save you money (another bonus) because you'll need less caffeine to keep you alert.


Crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a necklace, facing right (effigy known as the "Third portrait"); around, the monarch's legend and date: ELIZABETH II FIJI 2009. Incuse in tiny letters on neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).
Takia (an outrigger sailing canoe, described on the mint sets as a "drua"), below, the value and denomination: 50 cents.
The design is by J. Ken Payne from Suva, Fiji.


It's the most wonderful time of the year. The above photo is from last year's "Candy Moon" book signing. I'm at the far left, centered is Nick Nixon, the illustrator, and Bonnie Harker as Mrs. Santa is far right.) I love Christmastime, especially when I get to promote my children's Christmas books. I enjoy every bit of the preparation process. I try to do an annual signing, complete with Mrs. Santa Clause passing out cookies and the ornament craft kits. I get joy in shopping for door prizes and putting together the giveaway basket. My illustrator always offers free caricatures to the anyone who purchases a book, which is an added blessing. Nick Nixon is a very talented artist. This type of book signing is the easiest for me to plan and most fun. It's easy to find ways to promote to kids in schools, churches, local media and all the various Christmas craft shows. Many people are very excited to participate as well. Just a lot of fun.
Sometimes I get lucky and other doors for media promotion open. It seems everyone loves Christmas. And then there are those obvious opportunities which seem to elude me yet. Such as Christian schools and certain Christian bookstores. One might think those would be the easiest places to get into for signings, but not true. They are in fact the hardest, which is very frustrating. This makes me feel so unwelcome by my own kind, the Christians. Doesn't seem right does it. After all, this is a wonderful children's Christmas book series which could potentially bring them in a lot of local business. What's the problem? For one thing, most Christian bookstore chains are owned by 'certain' religious publishers who want to promote their own books or those of only well-known Christian authors. They are not open or supportive of independent Christian publishers or local authors. Although I can understand this to a certain extent, the extent of greed anyway, but this doesn't make it right, nor does it make a lot of sense. There are many local authors who can bring in a lot of business to local bookstores, if they would be open to support them. However, the unfortunate reality presents roadblocks for independent publishers to distribute books and for the local author to sell books. Nevertheless, there is nothing too big for our God.
As Christian authors we must pray for favor from God to open the doors to promote our books in main streams. Then we must be willing to listen, be patient, and continue taking steps towards our goals. Setting goals makes a huge difference. Here at the end of the year is a perfect time to consider new goals and perhaps re-consider old ones. So get out your pen and pad and start listing your goals for 2016. These are specific writing goals and promotional goals. You might need to make more than one list, but be careful not to overdo it. Too many goals could present frustrations in the future. Be realistic and take baby steps. No more than 10 goals per list. As you accomplish each goal, scratch it off the list. By setting obtainable goals, you will experience confidence and joy in your writing journey.
Have a wonderful, merry Christmas and a very, happy New Year. In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us everyone."


text:
Kaminsky, Dekker drafted by Hornets, Rockets
Jordan Schelling
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
After leading Wisconsin to back-to-back Final Fours, Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker are headed to the NBA.
Kaminsky was drafted No. 9 overall by the Charlotte Hornets, becoming the Badgers' first top 10 draft pick since Devin Harris went fifth in the 2004 draft.
Dekker was selected nine picks later by the Houston Rockets at No. 18, making them the first Wisconsin duo ever picked in the first round of the same draft.
The consensus player of the year in college basketball, Kaminsky averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during his senior year at Wisconsin. Kaminsky helped lead UW to Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, as well as its first national championship game since 1941.
Kaminsky burst onto the national scene as a junior, earning most outstanding player honors in the west region as Wisconsin went to its first Final Four since 2000.
He finished his career as the second player in school history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks. Kaminsky was the first national player of the year in Wisconsin history and the school's 18th consensus All-American. His 1,458 career points ranks ninth in UW history.
Dekker, a Sheboygan native, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior and was named the west region's most outstanding player in the 2015 NCAA tournament.
The Badgers' second-leading scorer, Dekker averaged 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Dekker took his game to another level during the NCAA tournament, averaging 19.2 points, including games of 23 and 27 against North Carolina and Arizona.
Dekker was just the eighth player in UW history to tally 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in just three seasons. He ranks 15th on the Badgers' all-time scoring list with 1,363 career points.
Before teaming with Kaminsky to lead the Badgers, Dekker powered Sheboygan Lutheran to the Division 5 state championship in 2012, scoring 40 points and hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat Racine Lutheran in the title game.
Dekker was named Wisconsin's Mr. Basketball as a senior and his 2,629 career points rank fourth all-time in state history.


Sora finds Riku taking a nap... and, he really shouldn't sleep face down. It's a disaster waiting to happen (it nearly happens anyways).
Sora's not too sure what he was expecting when he turned into the rest area of the hospital, but finding Riku face down on one of the hospital's horrible, creaky and uncomfortable mattresses… definitely wasn't it. He blinks a few times, uncertain and intrigued before he finally edges over, putting a gentle hand on the other man's shoulder to try waking him up. Even if he's tired, sleeping like that can't be good for him.
"Riku? Hey, you should really—"
A startled swear escapes under his breath and he barely backs up fast enough to avoid the elbow that nearly collides with his face. Okay, he probably should have seen that coming. Kairi mentioned he used to take self-defence and martial arts. That… that should've been a given. Still, he relaxes when Riku spots him and gives a nervous wave; in turn, the other man relaxes and lets out a slow breath, rubbing at his face.
"Sorry, I—honestly, I don't know what I thought, but I shouldn't have—"
"It's okay." Well. Maybe not okay; but, Sora still shrugs it off. "I shouldn't have, either. Kairi told me you have fighter reflexes. I should've found a different way to wake you up."
The smile he gets is unsteady and still laced in sleep. It's distracting. Enough that Sora only barely notices Riku talking to him and… honestly, the only reason he does is because a small yawn breaks the words when he tries.
"Anyways, what's—excuse me—what's up? My pager didn't go off, so I'm assuming it's nothing… drastic."
"Oh. No, no one's looking for you. I was coming down for a power nap and you were, uh… you really shouldn't sleep like that."
Riku stares at him for a long minute, clearly confused, before it seems to catch up with him and he laughs. "I usually don't, I promise. I just… I kind of banged my shoulder up a little—my other shoulder, I mean. You're fine."
Sora wonders how guilty he looked; but, he does relax when Riku indicates the shoulder he didn't move in his attempt to elbow Sora in the face… that does, unfortunately, mean it was the one Sora had his hand on a minute ago. He thought it felt tense, but had brushed it off as the weird sleeping position. He frowns.
"So… you sleep on your side, then?"
"I sleep on that side, very specifically. It's habit, more than anything." Riku laughs, holding up his right arm, in some sort of attempt at an explanation. "When I was little I broke this one. I had it in a cast for… I don't even remember now, probably six months? Maybe longer. I couldn't sleep on it and sleeping on my back was weird and reminded me of being in the hospital bed, propped up to sleep, so I just. Slept on my other side and I never really grew out of it, I guess."
Sora kind of wants to ask about his arm. What he did, what happened, is that why he took to the medical field? Why didn't he think of asking this last time they went out? He wants to ask now; but, instead, his attention drifts to the left arm.
"Do you mind if I take a look?" He's probably already seen someone. Kairi was good with muscle strain. Hell, if Aqua found out, she would have thrown him to Terra down in physical rehab, already, just to make sure it was nothing. When Riku gives him a wary look… he kind of wonders if he did see anyone. He had to have. Right?
"That depends… are you going to go rat me out to Aqua?"
Sora wrinkles his nose, brows furrowing in frustration. "I should. You're one of—no. You're the best surgeon in the building! If you're injured, she should know if it's going to get in the way…"
For a short moment—a very brief second that Sora feels his heart lodge in his throat, in equal parts fear and confused attraction—Riku's eyes narrow. But, he relaxes again, head shrugging to one side and brow quirking up in an interested manner.
"Should implies you aren't going to… what's the catch?"
"Just let me see. I—I'm not Terra, but… at least let me check? If it's serious you really should go see him."
Another stretch of unsteady silence—as silent as a hospital can be, anyways; Sora would swear everything is louder than ever as people pass by the door in the hallway, as the trolleys and gurneys squeak by—before Riku finally nods.
"Kairi mentioned you took massage therapy classes."
Oh, for the love of—when did she tell him that? Sora tries not to shuffle and nods a little. "Uh. Yeah. My cousins—well. You know Rox. He's… reckless, sometimes."
"If by sometimes you mean six days out of the week, then sure." Despite the dry tone, Riku's smiling again. He's careful when he shrugs out of his long jacket and then again as he's unbuttoning his shirt to slip out of that. He doesn't bother with the tank top beneath it, tilting his head again. "Should I stay sitting up or lie back down?"
Gods if Sora doesn't want to tell him to lie back down. He shakes the thoughts off, fighting down the embarrassment when he shrugs. "You can stay sitting, I just need to be able to reach your shoulder."
He edges around Riku as calmly as he can in some vain hope to not draw attention to the fact he's still a little pink in the face. Just at a glance, he can tell there's still tension in the left shoulder. He frowns, carefully reaching forward and pressing the tips of his fingers along the muscle on both sides, starting at his neck and working down. Admittedly, he may have been a bit worried about focusing… but, the very second his fingers find the beginning of tension—just before the junction of neck and shoulder—his attention zeroes in and he forgets how awkward this could be. Enough that he doesn't react past a small flinch when Riku hisses out a short note of pain.
"Sorry. Jeez, what did you do?"
"Honestly, if I knew. I probably just slept wrong." Riku grumbles again and Sora nods. He's seen the man fall asleep over his desk more times than he cares to admit. A lot more, recently, since they started hanging out more. Maybe dating. They need to clear this up.
Sora shakes his head, hard, and pulls a slow breath. They can clear it up when he's done.
"This is probably going to hurt for a few seconds," he admits, laughing a bit unsteadily. "I trust you not to elbow me in the face."
Riku nods, slowly, like he isn't entirely sure what he's being told before he hisses again, his entire body tensing up when Sora pushes a little bit harder on the muscle in his shoulder. He pauses, waiting for the man relax again before he starts back up. A little bit gentler, slowly working into the message and trying to push the knot out of the muscle as carefully as he can. The worst is in the center of his shoulder and is proving more than a little difficult to work with. After a few minutes, he finally sighs.
"Could you lie down?" Riku makes a sleepy hum and Sora realises the man's nearly fallen back asleep. He bites down on the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. "I need you to lie down. This is a lot tighter than I thought. I'm pretty sure I can work most of it out, though."
It takes a few minutes longer than it should. It should be a simple task; but Riku stays upright a bit longer, clearly unsteady and trying to wake up enough to find a way to lie down that won't agitate his shoulder. When he manages, his right arm is folded into a pillow, while his left arm is hanging off the side of the bed. Sora moves over to the left side, leaning over him to start pressing at the knot again, once more trying to push the tension out. This is proving a lot easier and before he even really thinks about what he's doing, he's only using one hand to massage the shoulder, the other moving to mimic the motion on the right. The muffled moan of approval is what alerts him to the change, himself, and he feels his cheeks heating up.
"Sorry—I, uh—I should've asked first," he doesn't stop; but, he does slow the massage a little, ready to pull his hands away. "I can stop, your shoulder should be fine to sleep on, but you should really ice it when you get home—"
"No, that felt… that felt great." Riku manages to throw him a smile, clearly starting to fall asleep and tries to make a motion with his left hand. "If you don't mind… please."
Sora mostly definitely doesn't mind and he nods, a bit too eagerly perhaps, and turns his attention back to the task at hand. Almost immediately Riku's eyes close and his breathing evens back out to slow, deep breaths. Every few seconds his back arches, like he's trying to follow the touch and Sora smiles, paying extra attention to where he's touching when this happens.
It's hard to feel everything beneath the tank top… but, what he can feel is dedication. Years of careful exercise in the way his muscles follow the message, melting beneath the touch as Riku relaxes more and more. Sora kind of regrets not asking him to take the tank top off, but… honestly, this is almost better. He's seen Riku shirtless before. The hospital showers and locker rooms didn't leave much to anyone's imagination. It made things a little awkward when one of his cousins or one of their boyfriends was in the room; but, overall… it was just… normal. It's something he's gotten used to. Riku's touched his bare back before—an accidental gesture when he caught sight of an old scar down Sora's side. An old story that still hasn't been told—maybe if he ever gets the nerve to ask about when Riku broke his arm—but a touch that had been equal parts alarming and welcome.
"Hey, Riku—?" Sora stops himself before he asks. The man's already fallen back asleep, breathing leveled out to a steady pattern and Sora finds himself smiling again, a moderately exasperated sigh slipping by his lips. "I literally just told you not to sleep like that."
It takes some effort—and a lot longer than he's willing to admit—to turn Riku onto his side. Longer than it should as he tries to make sure not to startle the man awake. But, he is eventually able to get Riku onto his left side, careful to ensure that a pillow is propped snugly to keep his shoulder or neck from straining too much. The best part, perhaps, is that Riku almost immediately curls into a ball when Sora puts his jacket over him and then the hospital blanket. He really shouldn't… but, he snaps a quick pictures on his phone, making a note to text it to Riku later when they both eventually get to go home.
For now… well, he's wide awake. Might as well go make sure they both have a meal waiting for them, later, too.
Riku stifles the yawn behind his hand as he's trying to get into his apartment. The nap in the hospital, so close to the end of his shift, was probably one of the worst ideas he's had lately, but it's also the best sleep he's had lately. He wonders how Sora would feel about going out to dinner as thanks. His shoulder feels much better, Aqua's still none the wiser to the small strain, and he finally got a little bit of sleep.
Before he can text Sora, a familiar notification fills the stillness of his foyer and he raises a brow. Weird… Sora usually passed out as soon as he got home. Trying to fight the worry down, Riku swipes his phone open and almost immediately drops it when he sees a picture of himself. Asleep. Curled up in a ball.
A second notification and he finally tears his eyes from the picture to read the text.
From Sora: You're really cute when you sleep. Hope you get some rest! We should hang out later! Good night!
Too many exclamation points and as mad as Riku wants to be, he finds himself smiling and heaving a slow, deep sigh that feels a lot more fond than exasperated. Whatever. It's one picture… he can at least trust Sora won't send it to anyone else.
Not two hours later, however, he's startled out of his sleep by an influx of texts from basically everyone at the hospital. The latest one from Sora. Apologising. What the Hell is he apologising for?
Trying to rub the sleep from his eyes, Riku scrolls through his phone—none of the texts make sense—until he finds the culprit at the bottom of the missed text list and feels a vein in his forehead starting to throb.
Below that is a picture of Sora curled up sleeping… and as cute as it is, Riku finally realises that Vanitas not only sent that to Riku… but he sent Sora and Riku both to literally everyone they knew.
He's going to kill Vanitas next time he sees him, no matter what Ventus or Sora says, he is dead.
Comments welcome, criticism will be ignored and possibly deleted.


Harvey Edelman and Neil Fishman are the authors of the first multicast audiobook musical, entitled Spin: The Rumpelstiltskin Musical, distributed by HarperAudio, and featuring Jim Dale, legendary Broadway performer and the voice of the Harry Potter series. The music of Spin was composed by Mr. Fishman, who also did the musical arrangements for the audio book. Mr. Edelman wrote the book and lyrics and co-adapted his original stage play to the audio book with David B. Coe. The cast of Spin, a witty musical re-imagining of the Grimm's fairy tale, also features a stellar list of Broadway and audiobook performers. Spin was the recipient of two 2018 SOVAS awards including "Outstanding Production - Audiobook" and "Audiobook Narration - Children, Best Voice Over (the cast)". Spin also won a 2018 Parents Choice Silver Medal.
Mr. Edelman and Mr. Fishman first collaborated on a musical adaptation of George Farquar's restoration comedy, "The Beaux' Stratagem," entitled, "To Bed a Fortune," which was produced in 1976. Since that time their writing efforts have been heard from the musical theater stage to Madison Avenue.
Mr. Edelman and Mr. Fishman have collaborated on a number of educational works including "Songsleuth" a musical to be performed by sixth graders for their classmates. Songsleuth was published in the Macmillan Publishing Educational Series, "Music and You" and a recording of the songs is part of the accompanying "Music and You" soundtrack on CBS Records. The 1995 edition of "Music and You" contains "Earthkids," a musical that teaches children about environmental concerns and what they can do about them. "Earthkids" has also been performed live in theaters in the New York area.
Mr. Edelman and Mr. Fishman have also written and produced a number of songs about hygiene, nutrition, and dental care for the national Headstart Program, sponsored by the Soap and Detergent Association, Weightwatchers, and Colgate-Palmolive, respectively.
In 1989, they were commissioned by the Pittsburgh Playhouse to write a musical version of "Puss 'n Boots," for its Spring Season and serve as Artists In Residence prior to its debut. "Puss 'n Boots, the Musical" was subsequently produced in other regional and community theaters. The genesis of that commission was the Pittsburgh Playhouse's production of an earlier Edelman/Fishman children's musical, "Rumpelstiltskin," originally produced in northern New Jersey.
Their other works include "On The Air," a musical spoof of the Golden Age of Radio, which first appeared Off-Broadway in 1984 with numerous subsequent theater productions; a musical based on Sidney Kingsley's landmark play, "Dead End," first developed in the ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop that was chosen for a staged reading at the Dramatists Guild Musical Theater Workshop; and a musical about independent business people entitled, "Entrepreneurs".
"Nighlights", is a collection of songs that recounts the true story of how people of all faiths and races came together in the town of Billings, Montana in 1993 to successfully fight a group of haters threatening the town's tiny Jewish population and other minorities. Songs from "Nightlights" were first performed in a musical at the Passage Theatre in Trenton, New Jersey in 2005.
Under the auspices of Creative Audio Enterprises, their audio marketing company also doing business as HOLDCOM and Sammy Smile Music, their publishing company, they have also written and produced award-winning musical numbers for advertising and industrial projects out of their production facilities in northern New Jersey. Their music has been heard on stage, cabaret, television, radio, film, and the Internet. In recent years Holdcom expanded to offer video services from its sister company, Seevox.
Mr. Fishman received his formal musical education at Juilliard Preparatory Division and later earned his degree at Yale University. Beside his work as a composer and producer, he has also done extensive work as musical director, vocal coach, and arranger.
Mr. Edelman earned a degree in Journalism from Georgia State University. In addition to his work as lyricist and producer, he has written the librettos for a number of their musicals including, "Rumpelstiltskin," "Songsleuth," "Earthkids," and "Puss 'n Boots."