Polarized Neutron Matter: A Lowest Order Constrained Variational Approach

In this paper, we calculate some of the polarized neutron matter properties, using the lowest order constrained variational method with the $AV_{18}$ potential and employing a microscopic point of view. A comparison is also made between our results and those of other many-body techniques.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Thermal and dissipative effects in Casimir physics

We report on current efforts to detect the thermal and dissipative contributions to the Casimir force. For the thermal component, two experiments are in progress at Dartmouth and at the Institute Laue Langevin in Grenoble. The first experiment will seek to detect the Casimir force at the largest explorable distance using a cylinder-plane geometry which offers various advantages with respect to both sphere-plane and parallel-plane geometries. In the second experiment, the Casimir force in the parallel-plane configuration is measured with a dedicated torsional balance, up to 10 micrometers. Parallelism of large surfaces, critical in this configuration, is maintained through the use of inclinometer technology already implemented at Grenoble for the study of gravitationally bound states of ultracold neutrons, For the dissipative component of the Casimir force, we discuss detection techniques based upon the use of hyperfine spectroscopy of ultracold atoms and Rydberg atoms. Although quite challenging, this triad of experimental efforts, if successful, will give us a better knowledge of the interplay between quantum and thermal fluctuations of the electromagnetic field and of the nature of dissipation induced by the motion of objects in a quantum vacuum.Comment: Contribution to QFEXT'06, appeared in special issue of Journal of Physics

Universal behavior of quantum Green's functions

We consider a general one-particle Hamiltonian H = - \Delta_r + u(r) defined in a d-dimensional domain. The object of interest is the time-independent Green function G_z(r,r') = . Recently, in one dimension (1D), the Green's function problem was solved explicitly in inverse form, with diagonal elements of Green's function as prescribed variables. The first aim of this paper is to extract from the 1D inverse solution such information about Green's function which cannot be deduced directly from its definition. Among others, this information involves universal, i.e. u(r)-independent, behavior of Green's function close to the domain boundary. The second aim is to extend the inverse formalism to higher dimensions, especially to 3D, and to derive the universal form of Green's function for various shapes of the confining domain boundary.Comment: 46 pages, the shortened version submitted to J. Math. Phy

Bose-Einstein condensation in arbitrarily shaped cavities

We discuss the phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation of an ideal non-relativistic Bose gas in an arbitrarily shaped cavity. The influence of the finite extension of the cavity on all thermodynamical quantities, especially on the critical temperature of the system, is considered. We use two main methods which are shown to be equivalent. The first deals with the partition function as a sum over energy levels and uses a Mellin-Barnes integral representation to extract an asymptotic formula. The second method converts the sum over the energy levels to an integral with a suitable density of states factor obtained from spectral analysis. The application to some simple cavities is discussed.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, to appear in Physical Review

Magnetothermal instability in laser plasmas including hydrodynamic effects

The impact of both density gradients and hydrodynamics on the evolution of the field compressing magnetothermal instability is considered [J. J. Bissell et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 175001 (2010)]. Hydrodynamic motion is found to have a limited effect on overall growth-rates; however, density gradients are shown to introduce an additional source term corresponding to a generalised description of the field generating thermal instability [D. Tidman and R. Shanny, Phys. Fluids 17, 1207 (1974)]. The field compressing and field generating source terms are contrasted, and the former is found to represent either the primary or sole instability mechanism for a range of conditions, especially those with Hall parameter v > 101. The generalised theory is compared to numerical simulation in the context of a recent nano-second gas-jet experiment [D. H. Froula et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 135001 (2007)] and shown to be in good agreement: exhibiting peak growth-rates and wavelengths of order 10 ns1 and 50 lm, respectively. The instability’s relevance to other experimental conditions, including those in inertial confinement fusion (I.C.F.) hohlraums, is also discussed

The Full SPECTRUM: Developing a Tripartite Partnership between Community, Government and Academia for Collaborative Social Policy Research

Problem: In Canadian society, public policies guide the development and administration of social services and systems, including the public education system, the justice system, family services, social housing and income support. However, because social services are often planned and implemented in a ‘siloed’ manner, coordination and collaboration across departments, sectors and organisations is sorely lacking. Data and resource constraints may prevent services being evaluated to ensure they meet the needs of the people for whom they are intended. When the needs of individuals are not addressed, the result is poor outcomes and wasted resources across multiple areas.Our Response: In 2018, we formed the SPECTRUM Partnership in response to a recognised need for collaborative cross-sector approaches to strengthening the policies that shape social services and systems in our country. The tripartite SPECTRUM partnership comprises representatives from community organisations, government and academia, and is an entity designed to conduct social policy research and evaluation, incorporating interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise from its members. Guided by community-driven research questions and building on existing data resources, SPECTRUM seeks to address specific knowledge gaps in social programs, services and systems. New research findings are then translated into viable public policy options, in alignment with government priorities, and presented to policy-makers for consideration.Implications: In this practice-based article, we describe the key steps we took to create the SPECTRUM partnership, build our collective capacity for research and evaluation, and transform our research findings into actionable evidence to support sound public policy. We outline four of SPECTRUM’s achievements to date in the hope that the lessons we learned during the development of the partnership may serve as a guide for others aiming to optimise public policy development in a collaborative evidence-based way

Integrating Teaching and Research in Undergraduate Biology Laboratory Education

A course recently designed and implemented at Stanford University applies practical suggestions for creating research-based undergraduate courses that benefit both teaching and research

Stability of the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised from Pre-School to Elementary School Age in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study examined the stability of scores on the ADI-R from pre-school to elementary school age in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Participants were 35 children who, at T1, all had a clinical diagnosis of ASD. On initial assessment (mean age 3.5 years; SD 0.6), all met ADI-R algorithm criteria for autism. ADI-R assessments were repeated at follow up (FU; mean age 10.5 years; SD 0.8). Changes in ADI-R total, domain and ADI-R algorithm item scores were assessed. Twentyeight children continued to score above the ADI-R cut-off for autism at FU, although significant decreases in ADI-R domain and item scores were also found. In conclusion, while classification of children according to ADI-R criteria, generally remained stable between pre-school and elementary school age, many children demonstrated significant improvements in symptom severity

Avelumab in patients with previously treated metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (JAVELIN Merkel 200): updated overall survival data after >5 years of follow-up

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that has a poor prognosis in patients with advanced disease. Avelumab [anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)] became the first approved treatment for patients with metastatic MCC (mMCC), based on efficacy and safety data observed in the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial. We report long-term overall survival (OS) data after >5 years of follow-up from the cohort of patients with mMCC whose disease had progressed after one or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Patients and methods: In Part A of the single-arm, open-label, phase II JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial, patients with mMCC that had progressed following one or more prior lines of chemotherapy received avelumab 10 mg/kg by intravenous infusion every 2 weeks until confirmed disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. In this analysis, long-term OS was analyzed. Results: In total, 88 patients were treated with avelumab. At data cut-off (25 September 2020), median follow-up was 65.1 months (range 60.8-74.1 months). One patient (1.1%) remained on treatment, and an additional patient (1.1%) had reinitiated avelumab after previously discontinuing treatment. Median OS was 12.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.5-17.1 months], with a 5-year OS rate of 26% (95% CI 17% to 36%). In patients with PD-L1+ versus PD-L1- tumors, median OS was 12.9 months (95% CI 8.7-29.6 months) versus 7.3 months (95% CI 3.4-14.0 months), and the 5-year OS rate was 28% (95% CI 17% to 40%) versus 19% (95% CI 5% to 40%), respectively (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.36-1.25). Conclusion: Avelumab monotherapy resulted in meaningful long-term OS in patients with mMCC whose disease had progressed following chemotherapy. These results further support the role of avelumab as a standard of care for patients with mMCC