Theory of the Trojan-Horse Method

The Trojan-Horse method is an indirect approach to determine the energy dependence of S-factors of astrophysically relevant two-body reactions. This is accomplished by studying closely related three-body reactions under quasi-free scattering conditions. The basic theory of the Trojan-Horse method is developed starting from a post-form distorted wave Born approximation of the T-matrix element. In the surface approximation the cross section of the three-body reaction can be related to the S-matrix elements of the two-body reaction. The essential feature of the Trojan-Horse method is the effective suppression of the Coulomb barrier at low energies for the astrophysical reaction leading to finite cross sections at the threshold of the two-body reaction. In a modified plane wave approximation the relation between the two-body and three-body cross sections becomes very transparent. The appearing Trojan-Horse integrals are studied in detail.Comment: 27 pages, REVTeX4, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Beam energy dependence and updated test of the Trojan horse nucleus invariance via the d(d,p)t measurement at ultra-low energies

The $\mathrm{^2H}(d,p)\mathrm{^3H}$ bare nucleus astrophysical S(E) factor has been measured indirectly at energies from about 500 keV down to several keV by means of the Trojan-horse method applied to the quasi-free process $\mathrm{^2H({}^6Li},pt)\mathrm{^4He}$ induced at the lithium beam energy of 11 and 9.5 MeV, which makes the virtual binary process incident energy $\mathrm {E}_{dd}^{qf}$ go much closer to the zero-quasi-free-energy point than that in the previous similar experiment. The obtained results are compared with direct data as well as with previous indirect investigation of the same binary reactions. It shows that the precision of S(E) data in low energy range extracted via the same Trojan horse nucleus ($\mathrm{^6Li}=(d \oplus \alpha)$ ) becomes better when the incident energy decreases from high value down to the zero-quasi-free-energy point. The very good agreement between data extracted from different Trojan horse nucleus ($\mathrm{^6Li}=(d \oplus \alpha)$ vs. $\mathrm{^3He}=(d \oplus p)$) gives a strong updated test for the independence of the binary indirect cross section on the chosen Trojan horse nucleus at low energies.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1503.0867

Say “Neigh” to Abuse: On the Treatment of Horses and Mules in the Civil War

The stuffed head of Old Baldy, General George Meade’s favorite horse, can be found mounted on the wall of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum in Philadelphia. General Robert E. Lee’s horse, Traveler, received gifts and international adoration even after the war’s end, and General Ulysses S. Grant’s three war mounts, including one pony stolen from a plantation belonging to Jeff Davis’ brother, rested comfortably in fame and verdant pastures until the ends of their lives [excerpt]

FNAS/advanced protein crystal growth

A scintillation method is presented for determination of the temperature dependence of the solubility, S(T), of proteins in 50-100 micro-l volumes of solution. S(T) data for lysozyme and horse serum albumin were obtained for various combinations of pH and precipitant concentrations. The resulting kinetics and equilibrium information was used for dynamic control, that is the separation of nucleation and growth stages in protein crystallization. Individual lysozyme and horse serum albumin crystals were grown in 15-20 micro-l solution volumes contained in x-ray capillaries

An Introduction to the Battle for the Melfa River

The battle for the Melfa River on 24 May 1944 started with Lieutenant-Colonel Vokes’ VOKESFORCE, based on the British Columbia Dragoons, advancing through the breakthrough of the Hitler Line at about 0800 hours. This force established a firm base, codeword KUMMEL, about 2,000 yards beyond the 3rd Infantry Brigade salient. STRATHFORCE, (also known as #8220;Griffin Force,#8221;) based on Lieutenant-Colonel Griffin#8217;s Lord Strathcona#8217;s Horse (RC), moved through KUMMEL at about 1330 hours. Its objective was to seize a crossing of the Melfa River

Stereospecificity of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and synthesis of stereospecifically labelled coniferyl alcohol

Using horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, stereospecifically tritiated (R)- and (S)-(γ-3H)-coniferyl alcohol was synthesized. Using both of these substrates it was demonstrated that cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase from lignifying Forsythia tissue specifically removes the pro-R-hydrogen atom of coniferyl alcohol in the oxidation to the aldehyde. This also means that in the reverse reaction the A-hydrogen of NADPH is transferred to the Re-site of coniferyl aldehyde

Features of reproduction and assisted reproduction in the white (Ceratotherium simum) and black (Diceros bicornis) rhinoceros

Despite the worldwide increase of rhinoceros calf numbers, the growth of the population of white and black rhinoceros is slowing down mainly due to anthropogenic causes, such as poaching and habitat loss. Assisted reproduction is one of the methods of preserving the valuable genomes of these animals from being lost, and assists in breeding them in captivity to maintain the specie(s) numbers and provide an option for possible reintroduction into the wild. Since wild rhinoceros are difficult to handle and examine clinically, most of the current information available on their reproductive characteristics has been gained from captive rhinoceros populations. Nevertheless, very little is known about rhinoceros reproduction. Since the rhinoceros belongs to the odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyls) group, like the horse and the tapir, the horse has been proposed as a suitable model to study reproduction and artificial reproductive techniques in the rhinoceros. In this review, the current knowledge of the reproduction of the rhinoceros is summarized

Measurement of kick loads from horses on stable fittings and building elements

Fittings and fixtures in horse stables may cause injuries to horses when trapped and there is a great risk of an accident to animal and handler when releasing a horse. The risk of injuries to horses and handlers must be minimised by correct structural design and appropriate choice of building material. The physical load of horse kicks were measured in order to obtain data for the design of safe horse fittings and fixtures. To record the forces exerted by horse kicks a measuring wall and a computerised measuring system were constructed and used in single horse boxes. For reference, the characteristics of the measuring system were determined by a drop hammer test. Through regression analysis a linear relation was found between the field recorded impact values from horse kicks obtained by the measuring system and drop hammer impact values. The drop hammer method can thus be used to test fittings. Impacts recorded in the field tests were rapid, often shorter than 0.03 s and 90% had a maximum value below 1924 N. The greatest impact force and impulse caused by a horse kick were 8722 N and 131 N s respectively, with no statistical difference between provoked and unprovoked kicks. Considering the data obtained and allowing a certain safety margin, the impact resistance of horse fixtures and fittings in single horse boxes, to be used for horses of up to 700 kg mass, should be at least equivalent to 150 Ns exerted by a horse shoe at 45°

Two-dice horse race

In this article we analyse the “two-dice horse race” task often used in lower secondary school, in which two ordinary dice are thrown repeatedly and each time the sum of the scores determines which horse (numbered 1 to 12) moves forwards one space. The process is repeated until one horse crosses the finishing line a fixed number of spaces away. We examine the difficulties involved in calculating the probability of any particular horse winning the race and carry out a simulation to estimate these probabilities. We conclude that while this task might be a helpful way to introduce sample space diagrams, great care is needed in interpreting the outcome of the race. The greater probability of obtaining a total score of 7 on a single throw of two dice is only partly responsible for horse 7’s greater chance of winining, since the length of the track is also important