1,494 research outputs found
Comment on "Theory of tailoring sonic devices: Diffraction dominates over refraction"
Recently N. Garcia et al. (Phys. Rev. E 67, 046606 (2003)) theoretically
studied several acoustic devices with dimensions on de order of several
wavelenghts. The authors discussed on experimental results previously reported
by several of us (F. Cervera et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 023902 (2002)). They
concluded that diffraction and not refraction is the ominating mechanism that
explain the focusing effects observed in those experiments. In this Comment we
reexamined their calculations and discussed why some of their interpretations
of our results are misleading.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, a comment on an articl
Determining Neutrino Mass Hierarchy by Precision Measurements in Electron and Muon Neutrino Disappearance Experiments
Recently a new method for determining the neutrino mass hierarchy by
comparing the effective values of the atmospheric \Delta m^2 measured in the
electron neutrino disappearance channel, \Delta m^2(ee), with the one measured
in the muon neutrino disappearance channel, \Delta m^2(\mu \mu), was proposed.
If \Delta m^2(ee) is larger (smaller) than \Delta m^2(\mu \mu) the hierarchy is
of the normal (inverted) type. We re-examine this proposition in the light of
two very high precision measurements: \Delta m^2(\mu \mu) that may be
accomplished by the phase II of the Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) experiment, for
example, and \Delta m^2(ee) that can be envisaged using the novel Mossbauer
enhanced resonant \bar\nu_e absorption technique. Under optimistic assumptions
for the systematic uncertainties of both measurements, we estimate the
parameter region of (\theta_13, \delta) in which the mass hierarchy can be
determined. If \theta_13 is relatively large, sin^2 2\theta_13 \gsim 0.05, and
both of \Delta m^2(ee) and \Delta m^2(\mu \mu) can be measured with the
precision of \sim 0.5 % it is possible to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy
at > 95% CL for 0.3 \pi \lsim \delta \lsim 1.7 \pi for the current best fit
values of all the other oscillation parameters.Comment: 12 pages, 6 postscript figure
Visual control through narrow passages for an omnidirectional wheeled robot
Robotic systems are gradually replacing human intervention in dangerous facilities to improve human safety and prevent risky situations. In this domain, our work addresses the problem of autonomous crossing narrow passages in a semi-structured (i.e., partially-known) environment. In particular, we focus on the CERN’s Super Proton Synchrotron particle accelerator, where a mobile robot platform is equipped with a lightweight arm to perform measurements, inspection, and maintenance operations. The proposed approach leverages an image-based visual servoing strategy that exploits computer vision to detect and track known geometries defining narrow passage gates. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been demonstrated in a realistic mock-up
Vanadate inhibits degradation of short-lived, but not of long-lived, proteins in L-132 human cells
Low prostaglandin E2 and cyclooxygenase expression in nasal mucosa fibroblasts of aspirin-intolerant asthmatics.
Background and objective: Anomalies in the regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and-2 have been described in nasal polyps of aspirin-induced asthma (AIA). Whether these anomalies are specific to nasal polyps or affect all the nasal mucosa (NM) of upper airways is still unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the COX pathway in NM of AIA patients with the NM of control subjects. Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated from NM of 5 AIA patients (AIA-NM) and 5 control subjects (control-NM). Cells were treated with 10 ng/ml IL-1b for up to 72 hours. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was measured by ELISA, expression of COX-1 protein by Western blot, and COX-2 protein by ELISA, Western blot and immunofluorescence techniques. Results: IL-1b increased PGE2 production and COX-1 protein expression in control-NM fibroblasts, but no changes were found in AIA-NM. IL-1b provoked a significant timedependent increase in COX-2 protein expression in control-NM fibroblasts but had a very mild effect on COX-2 protein expression in AIA-NM. Conclusions: Our data suggest that abnormalities in the COX pathway are not a phenomenon exclusive to nasal polyp mucosa as they are also present in all the nasal mucosa of AIA patients. These anomalies may be involved in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation and NSAID intolerance in asthma patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis
Analytic Approximations for Three Neutrino Oscillation Parameters and Probabilities in Matter
The corrections to neutrino mixing parameters in the presence of matter of
constant density are calculated systematically as series expansions in terms of
the mass hierarchy \dm{21}/\dm{31}. The parameter mapping obtained is then
used to find simple, but nevertheless accurate formulas for oscillation
probabibilities in matter including CP-effects. Expressions with one to one
correspondence to the vacuum case are derived, which are valid for neutrino
energies above the solar resonance energy. Two applications are given to show
that these results are a useful and powerful tool for analytical studies of
neutrino beams passing through the Earth mantle or core: First, the
``disentanglement problem'' of matter and CP-effects in the CP-asymmetry is
discussed and second, estimations of the statistical sensitivity to the
CP-terms of the oscillation probabilities in neutrino factory experiments are
presented.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure
El comportamiento post-critico de las vigas de acero armadas con chapas delgadas
An advance of expositions concerning the method of ultimate strength or post-critical strength of steel beams reinforced with thin plates is presented. This method is being object of experimental researches at the Applied Mechanics and Structures Institute (IMAE) of the Mathematics and Engineering Faculty, National University, Rosario (Argentina).Se presenta un avance de planteamientos relativos al mĂ©todo de la resistencia Ăşltima o resistencia post-crĂtica de vigas de acero armadas con chapas delgadas, el cual está siendo objeto de investigaciones experimentales en el Instituto de Mecánica Aplicada y Estructuras (IMAE) de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas e IngenierĂa de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario (RepĂşblica Argentina)
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