Recent developments in the eikonal description of the breakup of exotic nuclei

The study of exotic nuclear structures, such as halo nuclei, is usually performed through nuclear reactions. An accurate reaction model coupled to a realistic description of the projectile is needed to correctly interpret experimental data. In this contribution, we briefly summarise the assumptions made within the modelling of reactions involving halo nuclei. We describe briefly the Continuum-Discretised Coupled Channel method (CDCC) and the Dynamical Eikonal Approximation (DEA) in particular and present a comparison between them for the breakup of 15C on Pb at 68AMeV. We show the problem faced by the models based on the eikonal approximation at low energy and detail a correction that enables their extension down to lower beam energies. A new reaction observable is also presented. It consists of the ratio between angular distributions for two different processes, such as elastic scattering and breakup. This ratio is completely independent of the reaction mechanism and hence is more sensitive to the projectile structure than usual reaction observables, which makes it a very powerful tool to study exotic structures far from stability.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of the XXI International School on Nuclear Physics and Applications & the International Symposium on Exotic Nuclei, dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the JINR (Dubna) (Varna, Bulgaria, 6-12 September 2015), 7 pages, 4 figure

Distance of W3(OH) by VLBI annual parallax measurement

The most powerful tool for measuring distances within our Galaxy is the annual parallax. We carried out phase-referencing VLBI observations of H$_{2}$O masers in the star forming region W3(OH) with respect to the extragalactic continuum source ICRF 0244+624 to measure their absolute proper motions. The measured annual parallax is 0.484 $\pm$ 0.004 milli-arcseconds which corresponds to a distance of 2.07^{+0.01}_{-0.02}$ kpc from the sun. This distance is consistent with photometric and kinematic distances from previous observations.Comment: Proceedings of the 7th European VLBI Network Symposium (October 12-15 2004, Toledo, Spain), eds. Bachiller, R., Colomer, F., Desmurs, J. F., & de Vicente, P., 4 pages, 4 figures, needs evn2004.cl

Spectral Properties of the Core and the VLBI-Jets of Cygnus A

We present a detailed VLBI study of the spectral properties of the inner core region of the radio galaxy Cygnus A at 5 GHz, 15 GHz, 22 GHz, 43 GHz and 86 GHz. Our observations include an epoch using phase-referencing at 15 GHz and 22 GHz and the first successful VLBI observations of Cygnus A at 86 GHz. We find a pronounced two-sided jet structure, with a steep spectrum along the jet and an inverted spectrum towards the counter-jet. The inverted spectrum and the frequency-dependent jet-to-counter-jet ratio suggest that the inner counter-jet is covered by a circum-nuclear absorber as it is proposed by the unified scheme.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of the 7th EVN Symposium held in Toledo, Spain in October 2004, needs evn2004.cl

Voluntary suppression of associated activity decreases force steadiness in the active hand

Unilateral muscle contractions are often accompanied by the activation of the ipsilateral hemisphere, producing associated activity (AA) in the contralateral homologous muscles. However, the functional role of AA is not fully understood. We determined the effects of voluntary suppression of AA in the first dorsal interosseous (FDI), on force steadiness during a constant force isometric contraction of the contralateral FDI. Participants (n = 17, 25.5 years) performed two trials of isometric FDI contractions as steadily as possible. In Trial 1, they did not receive feedback or explicit instructions for suppressing the AA in the contralateral homologous FDI. In Trial 2, participants received feedback and were asked to voluntarily suppress the AA in the contralateral nontarget FDI. During both trials, corticospinal excitability and motor cortical inhibition were measured. The results show that participants effectively suppressed the AA in the nontarget contralateral FDI (-71%), which correlated with reductions in corticospinal excitability (-57%), and the suppression was also accompanied by increases in inhibition (27%) in the ipsilateral motor cortex. The suppression of AA impaired force steadiness, but the decrease in force steadiness did not correlate with the magnitude of suppression. The results show that voluntary suppression of AA decreases force steadiness in the active hand. However, due to the lack of association between suppression and decreased steadiness, we interpret these data to mean that specific elements of the ipsilateral brain activation producing AA in younger adults are neither contributing nor detrimental to unilateral motor control during a steady isometric contraction

Membrane Computing as a Modelling Tool: Looking Back and Forward from Sevilla

This paper is a tribute to Prof. Mario de Jesús Pérez- Jiménez. An overview of modelling applications in membrane computing has been compiled, trying to narrate it from a historical perspective and including numerous bibliographical references. Since being exhaustive was obviously out of scope, this quick tour on almost two decades of applications is biased, paying special attention to the contributions in which Prof. Pérez-Jiménez and members of his research group were involved.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2017-89842-

Effect of sintering under CO+N2/H2 and CO2+air atmospheres on the physicochemical features of a commercial nano-YSZ

Given the need to process anodes and composites based on nano-YSZ in reducing or in air containing additional CO2 atmospheres for the fabrication of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), we have studied the effect of the exposure to CO+N2/H2 or CO2+air mixtures during sintering of YSZ green pellets, prepared from commercial nanopowders, on their structure, microstructure, chemical composition and their electrical properties. The reduced sample shows Raman bands at 1298 and 1605 cm−1 that are assigned to the D and G bands of carbon, respectively. The bands intensity ratio ID/IG indicates a larger content of disordered carbon. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that C is present in the reduced samples as reduced carbon. However, the samples sintered in CO2+air present C as carbonate-type. Impedance spectroscopy reveals that the highest total conductivity is for the reduced samples in the whole range of studied temperatures. In addition, sintering in CO2+air causes a detrimental effect on the grain boundary conductivity and therefore, on the total electrical conductivity of YSZ. It can be due to the presence of impurities such as carbonates and oxidised or even, polymerised carbonaceous species located at those areas.España Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and cofinanced with FEDER Funds under the Grant PID2019-104118RB-C2

Unexpected residual habitats raise hope for the survival of the fan mussel Pinna nobilis along the Occitan coast (Northwest Mediterranean Sea)

In 2019, the status of the Mediterranean fan mussel Pinna nobilis was elevated to ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, in response to the pandemic caused by the parasite Haplosporidium pinnae. Identifying refuge habitats, free from parasites, is critical to the survival of the mussel. The distribution of P. nobilis was investigated along the Occitan coast (Northwest Mediterranean Sea) because of the presence of a unique lagoonal system that may provide potential refuges. Interviews with users and managers were conducted to identify target zones where the species was sighted. In situ surveys were carried out to define the main aggregations of fan mussels and characterize the habitat. Line transects were deployed to count and measure individuals to estimate density, abundance, and size distribution. Population densities were variable, ranging from 0.6 ± 0.2 (SE) to 70.8 ± 7.6 ind. 100 m−2, representing one of the highest densities re - ported in the Mediterranean Sea. The total abundance of individuals across the coast was extra - polated to 163 000, with 87% located in Thau and Salses-Leucate, highlighting these lagoons as essential for the survival of the species. This study also revealed the diversity of habitats colonized by P. nobilis. In the context of the pandemic, only the lagoon populations remain unaffected and provide natural refuges that have disappeared from all open-water coastal areas. However, the conditions in these lagoons could become unfavorable, leading to the collapse of the last P. nobilis populations. We therefore propose that Thau and Salses-Leucate lagoons, which harbor the largest remaining populations of P. nobilis, should be declared as conservation priorities.En prens

Genetic epidemiology of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth in the Spanish Gypsy population: the Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy type Russe in depth

[EN] Four private mutations responsible for three forms demyelinating of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) or hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) have been associated with the Gypsy population: the NDRG1 p.R148X in CMT type 4D (CMT4D/HMSN-Lom); p.C737_P738delinsX and p.R1109X mutations in the SH3TC2 gene (CMT4C); and a G>C change in a novel alternative untranslated exon in the HK1 gene causative of CMT4G (CMT4G/HMSN-Russe). Here we address the findings of a genetic study of 29 Gypsy Spanish families with autosomal recessive demyelinating CMT. The most frequent form is CMT4C (57.14%), followed by HMSN-Russe (25%) and HMSN-Lom (17.86%). The relevant frequency of HMSN-Russe has allowed us to investigate in depth the genetics and the associated clinical symptoms of this CMT form. HMSN-Russe probands share the same haplotype confirming that the HK1 g.9712G>C is a founder mutation, which arrived in Spain around the end of the 18th century. The clinical picture of HMSN-Russe is a progressive CMT disorder leading to severe weakness of the lower limbs and prominent distal sensory loss. Motor nerve conduction velocity was in the demyelinating or intermediate range.We thank all patients and their relatives for their kind collaboration. We also thank Drs G. Glover, R. Vilches, F. Galan, and C. Diaz for referring patients for genetic analysis. We also acknowledge F Barraclough for English corrections. This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (grants number PI08/90857, PI08/0889, CP08/00053 and PS09/00095) co-funded with FEDER funds and by the ISCIII-IRDiRC Programme (TREAT-CMT grant). C. E. has a 'Miguel Servet' contract funded by the ISCIII. Both Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) and Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) are initiative from the ISCIII.Sevilla, T.; Martínez-Rubio, D.; Márquez, C.; Paradas, C.; Colomer, J.; Jaijo, T.; Millán, J.... (2013). Genetic epidemiology of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth in the Spanish Gypsy population: the Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy type Russe in depth. Clinical Genetics. 83(6):565-570. https://doi.org/10.1111/cge.1201556557083

Patient and public involvement in cancer research: A scoping review.

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research emphasizes the importance of doing research with, rather than for people with lived health/illness experience(s). The purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the breadth and depth of scientific literature on PPI in cancer research and to identify how is PPI applied and reported in cancer research. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo up to March 2022. All titles/abstracts and full-text results were screened by two reviewers. Data were analyzed and are presented in both narrative and tabular format. We screened 22,009 titles/abstract, reviewed 375 full-text articles, of which 101 studies were included in this review. 66 papers applied PPI; 35 used co-design methodologies. PPI in cancer research in published research has increased steadily since 2015 and often includes those with a past diagnosis of cancer or relatives/informal caregivers. The most common applied methods were workshops or interviews. PPI was generally used at the level of consultation/advisor and occurred mainly in early stages of research. Costs related to PPI were mentioned in 25 papers and four papers described training provided for PPI. Results of our review demonstrate the nature and extent of PPI expansion in cancer research. Researchers and research organizations entering the fray of PPI should consider planning and reporting elements such as the stage, level, and role type of PPI, as well as methods and strategies put in place to assure diversity. Furthermore, a thorough evaluation of whether all these elements meet the stated PPI purpose will help to grasp its impact on research outcomes. Two patients participated in the stakeholder consultation as part of the scoping review methodology, contributed to the discussion on refining the results, and critically reviewed the manuscript. Both are co-authors of this manuscript