Analysis of the total 12C(α,γ)16O cross section based on available angular distributions and other primary data

Because a knowledge of the 12C/16O ratio is crucial to the understanding of the later evolution of massive stars, new R- and K-matrix fits have been completed using the available angular distribution data from radiative α capture and elastic α scattering on 12C. Estimates of the total 12C(α,γ)16O rate at stellar energies are reported. In contrast with previous work, the analyses generally involve R- and K-matrix fits directly to the primary data, i.e., the energy- and angle-dependent differential yields, with all relevant partial waves fitted simultaneously (referred to here as surface fits). It is shown that, while the E1 part of the reaction is well constrained by a recent experiment on the β-delayed α-particle decay of 16N, only upper limits can be placed on the E2 ground state cross section factor which we take conservatively as SE2(300)<140 keV b. Simulations were then carried out to explore what kind of new data could lead to better restrictions on SE2(300). We find that improved elastic scattering data may be the best short-term candidate for such restrictions while significantly improving S(300) with new radiative capture data may require a longer-term effort. Theoretical models and estimates from α-transfer reactions for the E2 part of 12C(α,γ)16O are then discussed for comparison with the R- and K-matrix fits of the present work

Swift Highly Charged Ion Channelling

We review recent experimental and theoretical progress made in the scope of swift highly charged ion channelling in crystals. The usefulness of such studies is their ability to yield impact parameter information on charge transfer processes, and also on some time related problems. We discuss the cooling and heating phenomena at MeV/u energies, results obtained with decelerated H-like ion beams at GSI and with ions having an excess of electrons at GANIL, the superdensity effect along atomic strings and Resonant Coherent Excitation.Comment: to be published in Journal of Physics

Singularity results for functional equations driven by linear fractional transformations

We consider functional equations driven by linear fractional transformations, which are special cases of de Rham's functional equations. We consider Hausdorff dimension of the measure whose distribution function is the solution. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for singularity. We also show that they have a relationship with stationary measures.Comment: 14 pages, Title changed, to appear in Journal of Theoretical Probabilit

Deformation of grain boundaries in polar ice

The ice microstructure (grain boundaries) is a key feature used to study ice evolution and to investigate past climatic changes. We studied a deep ice core, in Dome Concordia, Antarctica, which records past mechanical deformations. We measured a "texture tensor" which characterizes the pattern geometry and reveals local heterogeneities of deformation along the core. These results question key assumptions of the current models used for dating

An overview of Indonesian doctors in combating COVID-19

Background: Indonesia's COVID-19 pandemic is putting a strain on the ability of health systems around the world to adapt and maintain sustainable performance. Indonesia has had more than four million cases of the disease and more than 141 thousand deaths in Indonesia. The hospital, along with other healthcare facilities, contributes to providing comprehensive individual health care in outpatient, inpatient, and emergency settings. Changes in facilities for patient accommodation, and acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) are all going through substantial changes. As doctors and health workers continue to work on this case every day while out in the field, many of their colleagues become ill and some die as a result. The aim of the study was intended to provide an overview of the conditions faced by doctors in Indonesia in dealing with COVID-19.Methods: The researchers surveyed the situation of 270 Indonesian doctors and specialists working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaires adapted from the WHO risk assessment tool for healthcare workers were translated into Bahasa Indonesia and distributed from April 2021 to May 2021 using a retrospective study.Results: Most respondents were female (61.5%) with an average age of 27.7. Forty respondents (14.8%) had a history of COVID-19.Conclusions: Based on compliance with using PPE and compliance with washing hands, doctors in Indonesia had a low risk of contracting COVID-19 from the healthcare facility environment. Even so, a correlation was found between the history of COVID-19 and happiness at work

The index of the overlap Dirac operator on a discretized 2d non-commutative torus

The index, which is given in terms of the number of zero modes of the Dirac operator with definite chirality, plays a central role in various topological aspects of gauge theories. We investigate its properties in non-commutative geometry. As a simple example, we consider the U(1) gauge theory on a discretized 2d non-commutative torus, in which general classical solutions are known. For such backgrounds we calculate the index of the overlap Dirac operator satisfying the Ginsparg-Wilson relation. When the action is small, the topological charge defined by a naive discretization takes approximately integer values, and it agrees with the index as suggested by the index theorem. Under the same condition, the value of the index turns out to be a multiple of N, the size of the 2d lattice. By interpolating the classical solutions, we construct explicit configurations, for which the index is of order 1, but the action becomes of order N. Our results suggest that the probability of obtaining a non-zero index vanishes in the continuum limit, unlike the corresponding results in the commutative space.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX, JHEP3.cls. v3:figures 1 and 2 improved (all the solutions included),version published in JHE