The alpha-particle in nuclear matter

Among the light nuclear clusters the alpha-particle is by far the strongest bound system and therefore expected to play a significant role in the dynamics of nuclei and the phases of nuclear matter. To systematically study the properties of the alpha-particle we have derived an effective four-body equation of the Alt-Grassberger-Sandhas (AGS) type that includes the dominant medium effects, i.e. self energy corrections and Pauli-blocking in a consistent way. The equation is solved utilizing the energy dependent pole expansion for the sub system amplitudes. We find that the Mott transition of an alpha-particle at rest differs from that expected from perturbation theory and occurs at approximately 1/10 of nuclear matter densities.Comment: 9 pages RevTex file, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Orbital navigation, docking and obstacle avoidance as a form of three dimensional model-based image understanding

Range imagery from a laser scanner can be used to provide sufficient information for docking and obstacle avoidance procedures to be performed automatically. Three dimensional model-based computer vision algorithms in development can perform these tasks even with targets which may not be cooperative (that is, objects without special targets or markers to provide unambiguous points). Role, pitch, and yaw of a vehicle can be taken into account as image scanning takes place, so that these can be correlated when the image is converted from egocentric to world coordinated. Other attributes of the sensor, such as the registered reflectance and texture channels, provide additional data sources for algorithm robustness

Investigating the Physical Origin of Unconventional Low-Energy Excitations and Pseudogap Phenomena in Cuprate Superconductors

We investigate the physical origin of unconventional low-energy excitations in cuprate superconductors by considering the effect of coexisting competing orders (CO) and superconductivity (SC) and of quantum fluctuations and other bosonic modes on the low-energy charge excitation spectra. By incorporating both SC and CO in the bare Green's function and quantum phase fluctuations in the self-energy, we can consistently account for various empirical findings in both the hole- and electron-type cuprates, including the excess subgap quasiparticle density of states, ``dichotomy'' in the fluctuation-renormalized quasiparticle spectral density in momentum space, and the occurrence and magnitude of a low-energy pseudogap being dependent on the relative gap strength of CO and SC. Comparing these calculated results with experiments of ours and others, we suggest that there are two energy scales associated with the pseudogap phenomena, with the high-energy pseudogap probably of magnetic origin and the low-energy pseudogap associated with competing orders.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Invited paper for the 2006 Taiwan International Conference on Superconductivity. Correspondence author: Nai-Chang Yeh (e-mail: [email protected]

The implications of Methylphenidate use by healthy medical students and doctors in South Africa

Background: The use of medical stimulants to sustain attention, augment memory and enhance intellectual capacity is increasing in society. The use of Methylphenidate for cognitive enhancement is a subject that has received much attention in the literature and academic circles in recent times globally. Medical doctors and medical students appear to be equally involved in the off-label use of Methylphenidate. This presents a potential harm to society and the individual as the long-term side effect profile of this medication is unknown. Discussion: The implication of the use of Methylphenidate by medical students and doctors has not been fully explored. This article considers the impact of this use on the traditional role of medicine, society, the patient and suggests a way forward. We discuss the salient philosophy surrounding the use of cognitive enhancement. We query whether there are cognitive benefits to the use of Methylphenidate in healthy students and doctors and whether these benefits would outweigh the risks in taking the medication. Could these benefits lead to tangible outcomes for society and could the off label-use of Methylphenidate potentially undermine the medical profession and the treatment of patients? If cognitive benefits are proven then doctors may be coerced explicitly or implicitly to use the drug which may undermine their autonomy. The increased appeal of cognitive enhancement challenges the traditional role of medicine in society, and calls into question the role of a virtuous life as a contributing factor for achievement. In countries with vast economic disparity such as South Africa an enhancement of personal utility that can be bought may lead to greater inequities. Summary: Under the status quo the distribution of methylphenidate is unjust. Regulatory governmental policy must seek to remedy this while minimising the potential for competitive advantage for the enhanced. Public debate on the use of cognitive enhancement is long overdue and must be stimulated. The use of Methylphenidate for cognitive enhancement is philosophically defendable if long-term research can prove that the risks are negligible and the outcomes tangible

Metal and Glass: An Investigation of Possible Historic Period Native American Sites in Wind Cave National Park

The Black Hills region was one of the last areas of the American West where Native tribes were able to escape the intervention of the federal government. Because of this and the cultural ties that many Plains Indian tribes hold to the area, this region would seem to be one where non-reservation historic period Native American sites are abundant. The goals of this research were to identify markers that could be utilized by archaeologists to differentiate Native American sites and Euro American sites from the same historic time period in the Black Hills Region, positively identify the occupation of certain sites within the boundaries of Wind Cave National Park, and determine if metal detection and pedestrian survey could be used effectively in the field to achieve these two goals. The investigation was comprised of both historical research and archaeological fieldwork that included metal detector survey and artifact collection. Findings, unfortunately, indicate little about the possible occupation of these sites, though there is hope for future research on these and other similar sites. Adviser: Effie Athanassopoulo