First determination of the CPCP content of D→π+π−π+π−D \to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- and updated determination of the CPCP contents of D→π+π−π0D \to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0 and D→K+K−π0D \to K^+K^-\pi^0

Quantum-correlated $\psi(3770) \to D\bar{D}$ decays collected by the CLEO-c experiment are used to perform a first measurement of $F_+^{4\pi}$, the fractional $CP$-even content of the self-conjugate decay $D \to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$, obtaining a value of $0.737 \pm 0.028$. An important input to the measurement comes from the use of $D \to K^0_{\rm S}\pi^+\pi^-$ and $D \to K^0_{\rm L}\pi^+\pi^-$ decays to tag the signal mode. This same technique is applied to the channels $D \to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ and $D \to K^+K^-\pi^0$, yielding $F_+^{\pi\pi\pi^0} = 1.014 \pm 0.045 \pm 0.022$ and $F_+^{KK\pi^0} = 0.734 \pm 0.106 \pm 0.054$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These measurements are consistent with those of an earlier analysis, based on $CP$-eigenstate tags, and can be combined to give values of $F_+^{\pi\pi\pi^0} = 0.973 \pm 0.017$ and $F_+^{KK\pi^0} = 0.732 \pm 0.055$. The results will enable the three modes to be included in a model-independent manner in measurements of the unitarity triangle angle $\gamma$ using $B^\mp \to DK^\mp$ decays, and in time-dependent studies of $CP$ violation and mixing in the $D\bar{D}$ system.Comment: Minor revisions following journal acceptanc

High efficiency thermionic converter studies

The objective is to improve thermionic converter performance by means of reduced interelectrode losses, greater emitter capabilities, and lower collector work functions until the converter performance level is suitable for out-of-core space reactors and radioisotope generators. Electrode screening experiments have identified several promising collector materials. Back emission work function measurements of a ZnO collector in a thermionic diode have given values less than 1.3 eV. Diode tests were conducted over the range of temperatures of interest for space power applications. Enhanced mode converter experiments have included triodes operated in both the surface ionization and plasmatron modes. Pulsed triodes were studied as a function of pulse length, pulse potential, inert gas fill pressure, cesium pressure, spacing, emitter temperature and collector temperature. Current amplifications (i.e., mean output current/mean grid current) of several hundred were observed up to output current densities of one amp/sq cm. These data correspond to an equivalent arc drop less than 0.1 eV

High efficiency thermionic converter studies

Research in thermionic energy conversion technology is reported. The objectives were to produce converters suitable for use in out of core space reactors, radioisotope generators, and solar satellites. The development of emitter electrodes that operate at low cesium pressure, stable low work function collector electrodes, and more efficient means of space charge neutralization were investigated to improve thermionic converter performance. Potential improvements in collector properties were noted with evaporated thin film barium oxide coatings. Experiments with cesium carbonate suggest this substance may provide optimum combinations of cesium and oxygen for thermionic conversion

Joint density-functional theory for electronic structure of solvated systems

We introduce a new form of density functional theory for the {\em ab initio} description of electronic systems in contact with a molecular liquid environment. This theory rigorously joins an electron density-functional for the electrons of a solute with a classical density-functional theory for the liquid into a single variational principle for the free energy of the combined system. A simple approximate functional predicts, without any fitting of parameters to solvation data, solvation energies as well as state-of-the-art quantum-chemical cavity approaches, which require such fitting.Comment: Fixed typos and minor updates to tex

Use of MenACWY-CRM vaccine in children aged 2 through 23 months at increased risk for meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2013

During its October 2013 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended use of a third meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MenACWY-CRM (Menveo, Novartis), as an additional option for vaccinating infants aged 2 through 23 months at increased risk for meningococcal disease. MenACWY-CRM is the first quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine licensed for use in children aged 2 through 8 months. MenACWY-D (Menactra, Sanofi Pasteur) is recommended for use in children aged 9 through 23 months who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, and Hib-MenCY-TT (MenHibrix, GlaxoSmithKline) is recommended for use in children aged 6 weeks through 18 months at increased risk. This report summarizes information on MenACWY-CRM administration in infants and provides recommendations for vaccine use in infants aged 2 through 23 months who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease. Because the burden of meningococcal disease in infants is low in the United States and the majority of cases that do occur are caused by serogroup B, which is not included in any vaccine licensed in the United States, only those infants who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease are recommended to receive a meningococcal vaccine

Probing the functional tolerance of the b subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase for sequence manipulation through a chimera approach.

A dimer of 156-residue b subunits forms the peripheral stator stalk of eubacterial ATP synthase. Dimerization is mediated by a sequence with an unusual 11-residue (hendecad) repeat pattern, implying a right-handed coiled coil structure. We investigated the potential for producing functional chimeras in the b subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase by replacing parts of its sequence with corresponding regions of the b subunits from other eubacteria, sequences from other polypeptides having similar hendecad patterns, and sequences forming left-handed coiled coils. Replacement of positions 55-110 with corresponding sequences from Bacillus subtilis and Thermotoga maritima b subunits resulted in fully functional chimeras, judged by support of growth on nonfermentable carbon sources. Extension of the T. maritima sequence N-terminally to position 37 or C-terminally to position 124 resulted in slower but significant growth, indicating retention of some capacity for oxidative phosphorylation. Portions of the dimerization domain between 55 and 95 could be functionally replaced by segments from two other proteins having a hendecad pattern, the distantly related E subunit of the Chlamydia pneumoniae V-type ATPase and the unrelated Ag84 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Extension of such sequences to position 110 resulted in loss of function. None of the chimeras that incorporated the leucine zipper of yeast GCN4, or other left-handed coiled coils, supported oxidative phosphorylation, but substantial ATP-dependent proton pumping was observed in membrane vesicles prepared from cells expressing such chimeras. Characterization of chimeric soluble b polypeptides in vitro showed their retention of a predominantly helical structure. The T. maritima b subunit chimera melted cooperatively with a midpoint more than 20 degrees C higher than the normal E. coli sequence. The GCN4 construct melted at a similarly high temperature, but with much reduced cooperativity, suggesting a degree of structural disruption. These studies provide insight into the structural and sequential requirements for stator stalk function

New Source of CP violation in B physics ?

In this talk we discuss how the down type left-right squark mixing in Supersymmetry can induce a new source of CP violation in the time dependent asymmtries in B --> phi K process. We use QCD improved factorization process to calculate the hadronic matrix element for the process and find the allowed parameter space for $\rho$ and $\phi$, the magnitude and phase of the down type LR(RL) squark mixing parameter $\delta^{bs}_{LR(RL)}$. In the same allowed regin we calculate the expected CP asymmtries in the $B \to \phi K^{*}$ process.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, 2 postscript figures, invited talk presented by N.G. Deshpande at the 9th Adriatic meeting, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 4-14 September, 2003. With updated reference

Science results from the imaging Fourier transform spectrometer SpIOMM

SpIOMM is an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer designed to obtain the visible range (350 to 850 nm) spectrum of every light source in a circular field of view of 12 arcminutes in diameter. It is attached to the 1.6-m telescope of the Observatoire du Mont Megantic in southern Quebec. We present here some results of three successful observing runs in 2007, which highlight SpIOMMs capabilities to map emission line objects over a very wide field of view and a broad spectral range. In particular, we discuss data cubes from the planetary nebula M27, the supernova remnants NGC 6992 and M1, the barred spiral galaxy NGC7479, as well as Stephans quintet, an interacting group of galaxies.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, to appear in "Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy II", SPIE conference, Marseille, 23-28 June 200

Binary systems of neutral mesons in Quantum Field Theory

Quasi-degenerate binary systems of neutral mesons of the kaon type are investigated in Quantum Field Theory (QFT). General constraints cast by analyticity and discrete symmetries P, C, CP, TCP on the propagator (and on its spectral function) are deduced. Its poles are the physical masses; this unambiguously defines the propagating eigenstates. It is diagonalized and its spectrum thoroughly investigated. The role of ``spurious'' states, of zero norm at the poles, is emphasized, in particular for unitarity and for the realization of TCP symmetry. The K_L-K_S mass splitting triggers a tiny difference between their CP violating parameters \epsilon_L and \epsilon_S, without any violation of TCP. A constant mass matrix like used in Quantum Mechanics (QM) can only be introduced in a linear approximation to the inverse propagator, which respects its analyticity and positivity properties; it is however unable to faithfully describe all features of neutral mesons as we determine them in QFT, nor to provide any sensible parameterization of eventual effects of TCP violation. The suitable way to diagonalize the propagator makes use of a bi-orthogonal basis; it is inequivalent to a bi-unitary transformation (unless the propagator is normal, which cannot occur here). Problems linked with the existence of different ``in'' and ``out'' eigenstates are smoothed out. We study phenomenological consequences of the differences between the QFT and QM treatments. The non-vanishing of semi-leptonic asymmetry \delta_S - \delta_L does not signal, unlike usually claimed, TCP violation, while A_TCP keeps vanishing when TCP is realized. We provide expressions invariant by the rephasing of K0 and K0bar.Comment: 44 pages, 2 figures. Version to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.