Superdeformed bands in neutron-rich Sulfur isotopes suggested by cranked Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculations

On the basis of the cranked Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculations in the three-dimensional coordinate-mesh representation, we suggest that, in addition to the well-known candidate 32S, the neutron-rich nucleus 36S and the drip-line nuclei,48S and 50S, are also good candidates for finding superdeformed rotational bands in Sulfur isotopes. Calculated density distributions for the superdeformed states in 48S and 50S exhibit superdeformed neutron skinsComment: 18 pages including 10 ps figure

Tests and applications of self-consistent cranking in the interacting boson model

The self-consistent cranking method is tested by comparing the cranking calculations in the interacting boson model with the exact results obtained from the SU(3) and O(6) dynamical symmetries and from numerical diagonalization. The method is used to study the spin dependence of shape variables in the $sd$ and $sdg$ boson models. When realistic sets of parameters are used, both models lead to similar results: axial shape is retained with increasing cranking frequency while fluctuations in the shape variable $\gamma$ are slightly reduced.Comment: 9 pages, 3 ps figures, Revte

Cost-effectiveness of malaria diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests compared to microscopy or clinical symptoms alone in Afghanistan

Background Improving access to parasitological diagnosis of malaria is a central strategy for control and elimination of the disease. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are relatively easy to perform and could be used in primary level clinics to increase coverage of diagnostics and improve treatment of malaria.<p></p> Methods A cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken of RDT-based diagnosis in public health sector facilities in Afghanistan comparing the societal and health sector costs of RDTs versus microscopy and RDTs versus clinical diagnosis in low and moderate transmission areas. The effect measure was ‘appropriate treatment for malaria’ defined using a reference diagnosis. Effects were obtained from a recent trial of RDTs in 22 public health centres with cost data collected directly from health centres and from patients enrolled in the trial. Decision models were used to compare the cost of RDT diagnosis versus the current diagnostic method in use at the clinic per appropriately treated case (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER).<p></p> Results RDT diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients with uncomplicated febrile illness had higher effectiveness and lower cost compared to microscopy and was cost-effective across the moderate and low transmission settings. RDTs remained cost-effective when microscopy was used for other clinical purposes. In the low transmission setting, RDTs were much more effective than clinical diagnosis (65.2% (212/325) vs 12.5% (40/321)) but at an additional cost (ICER) of US$4.5 per appropriately treated patient including a health sector cost (ICER) of US$2.5 and household cost of US$2.0. Sensitivity analysis, which varied drug costs, indicated that RDTs would remain cost-effective if artemisinin combination therapy was used for treating both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Cost-effectiveness of microscopy relative to RDT is further reduced if the former is used exclusively for malaria diagnosis. In the health service setting of Afghanistan, RDTs are a cost-effective intervention compared to microscopy.<p></p> Conclusions RDTs remain cost-effective across a range of drug costs and if microscopy is used for a range of diagnostic services. RDTs have significant advantages over clinical diagnosis with minor increases in the cost of service provision.<p></p&gt

Mixed Representation RPA Calculation for Octupole Excitations on Superdeformed Sates in the 40Ca and Neutron-Rich Sulfur Regions

By means of the mixed representation RPA based on the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock mean field, we investigate low-frequency octupole excitations built on the superdeformed (SD) states in the N=Z nuclei around 40Ca and the neutron-rich Sulfur isotopes. The RPA calculation is carried out fully self-consistently on the three-dimensional Cartesian mesh in a box, and yields a number of low-frequency octupole vibrations built on the SD states in 32S, 36Ar, 40Ca and 44Ti. In particular, a strongly collective K^\pi=1^- octupole vibration is suggested to appear on top of the SD state in 40Ca. For 48,50S close to the neutron drip line, we find that the low-lying state created by the excitation of a single neutron from a loosely bound low Omega level to a high Omega resonance level acquires an extremely strong octupole transition strength due to the spatially very extended structure of the particle-hole wave functions.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure

Cost-effectiveness of malaria diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests compared to microscopy or clinical symptoms alone in Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Improving access to parasitological diagnosis of malaria is a central strategy for control and elimination of the disease. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are relatively easy to perform and could be used in primary level clinics to increase coverage of diagnostics and improve treatment of malaria. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken of RDT-based diagnosis in public health sector facilities in Afghanistan comparing the societal and health sector costs of RDTs versus microscopy and RDTs versus clinical diagnosis in low and moderate transmission areas. The effect measure was 'appropriate treatment for malaria' defined using a reference diagnosis. Effects were obtained from a recent trial of RDTs in 22 public health centres with cost data collected directly from health centres and from patients enrolled in the trial. Decision models were used to compare the cost of RDT diagnosis versus the current diagnostic method in use at the clinic per appropriately treated case (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER). RESULTS: RDT diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in patients with uncomplicated febrile illness had higher effectiveness and lower cost compared to microscopy and was cost-effective across the moderate and low transmission settings. RDTs remained cost-effective when microscopy was used for other clinical purposes. In the low transmission setting, RDTs were much more effective than clinical diagnosis (65.2% (212/325) vs 12.5% (40/321)) but at an additional cost (ICER) of US$4.5 per appropriately treated patient including a health sector cost (ICER) of US$2.5 and household cost of US$2.0. Sensitivity analysis, which varied drug costs, indicated that RDTs would remain cost-effective if artemisinin combination therapy was used for treating both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Cost-effectiveness of microscopy relative to RDT is further reduced if the former is used exclusively for malaria diagnosis. In the health service setting of Afghanistan, RDTs are a cost-effective intervention compared to microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: RDTs remain cost-effective across a range of drug costs and if microscopy is used for a range of diagnostic services. RDTs have significant advantages over clinical diagnosis with minor increases in the cost of service provision. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT00935688

Biomechanical predictors of ball velocity during punt kicking in elite rugby league kickers

Punt kicking is integral to the attacking and defensive elements of rugby league and the ability to kick the ball with high velocity is desirable. This study aimed to identify important technical aspects of kicking linked to the generation of ball velocity. Maximal punt kicks were obtained from six elite rugby league kickers using a 10-camera motion capture system. Three-dimensional kinematics of the lower extremities was obtained. Regression analysis with ball velocity as criterion was used to identify the kinematic parameters associated with the development of ball velocity. The regression model yielded an adj R2¼0.76, p�0.01. Two parameters were identified: knee extension angular velocity of the kicking limb at impact (R2¼0.50) and peak flexion angular velocity of the kicking hip (R2¼0.26, p�0.01). It is conceivable that players may benefit from exposure to coaching and strength techniques geared toward the modification of kicking mechanics specific to this stud

Time-odd components in the mean field of rotating superdeformed nuclei

Rotation-induced time-odd components in the nuclear mean field are analyzed using the Hartree-Fock cranking approach with effective interactions SIII, SkM*, and SkP. Identical dynamical moments ${{\cal J}^{(2)}}$ are obtained for pairs of superdeformed bands $^{151}$Tb(2)--$^{152}$Dy(1) and $^{150}$Gd(2)--$^{151}$Tb(1). The corresponding relative alignments strongly depend on which time-odd mean-field terms are taken into account in the Hartree-Fock equations.Comment: 23 pages, ReVTeX, 6 uuencoded postscript figures include

Theoretical description of deformed proton emitters: nonadiabatic coupled-channel method

The newly developed nonadiabatic method based on the coupled-channel Schroedinger equation with Gamow states is used to study the phenomenon of proton radioactivity. The new method, adopting the weak coupling regime of the particle-plus-rotor model, allows for the inclusion of excitations in the daughter nucleus. This can lead to rather different predictions for lifetimes and branching ratios as compared to the standard adiabatic approximation corresponding to the strong coupling scheme. Calculations are performed for several experimentally seen, non-spherical nuclei beyond the proton dripline. By comparing theory and experiment, we are able to characterize the angular momentum content of the observed narrow resonance.Comment: 12 pages including 10 figure

The Majorana Project

Building a \BBz experiment with the ability to probe neutrino mass in the inverted hierarchy region requires the combination of a large detector mass sensitive to \BBz, on the order of 1-tonne, and unprecedented background levels, on the order of or less than 1 count per year in the \BBz signal region. The MAJORANA Collaboration proposes a design based on using high-purity enriched Ge-76 crystals deployed in ultra-low background electroformed Cu cryostats and using modern analysis techniques that should be capable of reaching the required sensitivity while also being scalable to a 1-tonne size. To demonstrate feasibility, the collaboration plans to construct a prototype system, the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, consisting of 30 kg of 86% enriched \Ge-76 detectors and 30 kg of natural or isotope-76-depleted Ge detectors. We plan to deploy and evaluate two different Ge detector technologies, one based on a p-type configuration and the other on n-type.Comment: paper submitted for the 2008 Carolina International Symposium on Neutrino Physic