New broad 8Be nuclear resonances

Energies, total and partial widths, and reduced width amplitudes of 8Be resonances up to an excitation energy of 26 MeV are extracted from a coupled channel analysis of experimental data. The presence of an extremely broad J^pi = 2^+ ``intruder'' resonance is confirmed, while a new 1^+ and very broad 4^+ resonance are discovered. A previously known 22 MeV 2^+ resonance is likely resolved into two resonances. The experimental J^pi T = 3^(+)? resonance at 22 MeV is determined to be 3^-0, and the experimental 1^-? (at 19 MeV) and 4^-? resonances to be isospin 0.Comment: 16 pages, LaTe

Who uses foodbanks and why? Exploring the impact of financial strain and adverse life events on food insecurity

Background Rising use of foodbanks highlights food insecurity in the UK. Adverse life events (e.g. unemployment, benefit delays or sanctions) and financial strains are thought to be the drivers of foodbank use. This research aimed to explore who uses foodbanks, and factors associated with increased food insecurity. Methods We surveyed those seeking help from front line crisis providers from foodbanks (N = 270) and a comparison group from Advice Centres (ACs) (N = 245) in relation to demographics, adverse life events, financial strain and household food security. Results About 55.9% of foodbank users were women and the majority were in receipt of benefits (64.8%). Benefit delays (31.9%), changes (11.1%) and low income (19.6%) were the most common reasons given for referral. Compared to AC users, there were more foodbank users who were single men without children, unemployed, currently homeless, experiencing more financial strain and adverse life events (P = 0.001). Food insecurity was high in both populations, and more severe if they also reported financial strain and adverse life events. Conclusions Benefit-related problems appear to be a key reason for foodbank referral. By comparison with other disadvantaged groups, foodbank users experienced more financial strain, adverse life events, both increased the severity of food insecurity

Magneto-optical behaviour of EuIn_2P_2

We report results of a magneto-optical investigation of the Zintl-phase compound EuIn$_2$P$_2$. The compound orders magnetically at $T_C$=24 K and exhibits concomitant large magnetoresistance effects. For $T\le$50 K and increasing magnetic fields we observe a transfer of spectral weight in $\sigma_1(\omega)$ from energies above 1 eV into the low-energy metallic component as well as into a mid-infrared signal centered at about 600 cm$^{-1}$. This latter absorption is reminiscent to what has been seen in a large variety of so-called Kondo materials and ascribed to excitations across the hybridization gap. The observed gain of Drude weight upon increasing magnetic field suggests an enhancement of the itinerant charge-carrier concentration due to the increasing magnetization, a phenomenon that was previously observed in other compounds which exhibit colossal magnetoresistive effects.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Clinical features of a novel TIMP-3 mutation causing Sorsby's fundus dystrophy: implications for disease mechanism

AIMS: To describe the phenotype in three family members affected by a novel mutation in the gene coding for the enzyme tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3). METHODS: Three members of the same family were seen with a history of nyctalopia and visual loss due to maculopathy. Clinical features were consistent with Sorsby's fundus dystrophy. Exon 5 of the gene coding for TIMP-3 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism analysis undertaken and exon 5 amplicons were directly sequenced. RESULTS: Onset of symptoms was in the third to fourth decade. Five of six eyes had geographic macular atrophy rather than neovascularisation as a cause for central visual loss. Peripheral retinal pigmentary disturbances were present. Scotopic ERGs were abnormal in all three. Mutation analysis showed a GT transversion in all three resulting in a premature termination codon, E139X, deleting most of the carboxy terminal domain of TIMP-3. CONCLUSIONS: The patients described had a form of Sorsby's fundus dystrophy which fell at the severe end of the spectrum of this disease. Postulated disease mechanisms include deposition of dimerised TIMP-3 protein

Post-Newtonian gravitational radiation and equations of motion via direct integration of the relaxed Einstein equations. III. Radiation reaction for binary systems with spinning bodies

Using post-Newtonian equations of motion for fluid bodies that include radiation-reaction terms at 2.5 and 3.5 post-Newtonian (PN) order (O[(v/c)^5] and O[(v/c)^7] beyond Newtonian order), we derive the equations of motion for binary systems with spinning bodies. In particular we determine the effects of radiation-reaction coupled to spin-orbit effects on the two-body equations of motion, and on the evolution of the spins. For a suitable definition of spin, we reproduce the standard equations of motion and spin-precession at the first post-Newtonian order. At 3.5PN order, we determine the spin-orbit induced reaction effects on the orbital motion, but we find that radiation damping has no effect on either the magnitude or the direction of the spins. Using the equations of motion, we find that the loss of total energy and total angular momentum induced by spin-orbit effects precisely balances the radiative flux of those quantities calculated by Kidder et al. The equations of motion may be useful for evolving inspiraling orbits of compact spinning binaries.Comment: 19 pages, small corrections, equivalent to published versio

Athlete learning in Olympic sport

High-performance sport impacts athletes beyond the physical. Coaches and coaching practice are particularly influential in shaping this learning and development. This article examines the learning identified through an inductive content analysis of eight former Olympic athletes’ career narratives. Three phases of learning could be identified across the cohort: ‘Growing into high-performance sport’, ‘Making sense of high-performance sport’, and ‘(Re)shaping high-performance sport’. A cultural perspective of learning, in particular the metaphor of ‘becoming’, is employed to interpret the Olympians’ learning experiences. The findings of this research indicate that athlete learning is bound by particular high-performance sporting contexts and career phases, yet impacted by the athletes’ individual backgrounds and dispositions. Further, data indicate that athletes’ personal development reflexively intertwines with athletic performance and performance enhancement. Implications for coaches are to: (1) involve athletes in co-constructing their sporting cultures and training contexts; and (2) provide possibilities and support for athletes to develop personally

Validation of magnetophonon spectroscopy as a tool for analyzing hot-electron effects in devices

It is shown that very high precision hot-electron magnetophonon experiments made on n+n−n+-GaAs sandwich device structures which are customized for magnetoresistance measurements can be very accurately modeled by a new Monte Carlo technique. The latter takes account of the Landau quantization and device architecture as well as material parameters. It is proposed that this combination of experiment and modeling yields a quantitative tool for the direct analysis of spatially localized very nonequilibrium electron distributions in small devices and low dimensional structures