1,535 research outputs found
Absolute Calibration of a 200 MeV Proton Polarimeter for Use with the Brookhaven Linac
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 81-14339 and by Indiana Universit
Search for the Hypothetical pi -> mu x Decay
The KARMEN collaboration has reported the possible observation of a hitherto
unknown neutral and weakly interacting particle x, which is produced in the
decay pi -> mu + x with a mass m(x) = 33.9 MeV. We have searched for this
hypothetical decay branch by studying muons from pion decay in flight with the
LEPS spectrometer at the piE3 channel at PSI and find branching ratios BR(pi-
to mu- anti-x) < 4e-7 and BR(pi+ to mu+ x) < 7e-8 (95\% C.L.). Together with
the limit BR > 2e-8 derived in a recent theoretical paper our result would
leave only a narrow region for the existence of x if it is a heavy neutrino.Comment: 10 pages, TeX (uses epsf), 3 Postscript figures uu-encode
Low Energy Analyzing Powers in Pion-Proton Elastic Scattering
Analyzing powers of pion-proton elastic scattering have been measured at PSI
with the Low Energy Pion Spectrometer LEPS as well as a novel polarized
scintillator target. Angular distributions between 40 and 120 deg (c.m.) were
taken at 45.2, 51.2, 57.2, 68.5, 77.2, and 87.2 MeV incoming pion kinetic
energy for pi+ p scattering, and at 67.3 and 87.2 MeV for pi- p scattering.
These new measurements constitute a substantial extension of the polarization
data base at low energies. Predictions from phase shift analyses are compared
with the experimental results, and deviations are observed at low energies.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Evidence-based opportunities for out-scaling climate-smart agriculture in East Africa
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is being widely promoted as a solution for food insecurity
and climate change adaptation in food systems of sub-Saharan Africa, while simultaneously
reducing the rate of greenhouse gas emissions. Governments throughout Africa are writing
policies and programs to promote CSA practices despite uncertainty about the ability for
practices to meet the triple CSA objectives of CSA. We conducted a systematic review of 175
peer-reviewed and grey literature studies, to gauge the impact of over seventy potential CSA
practices on CSA outcomes in Tanzania and Uganda. Using a total of 6,342 observations, we
found that practice impacts were highly context (i.e. farming system and location) specific.
Nevertheless, practice effect across CSA outcomes generally agreed in direction. While our
results suggest that CSA is indeed possible, lack of mitigation data precludes a more
conclusive statement. Furthermore, the inclusion of potential adoption rates changes the
potential of CSA practices to achieve benefits at scale. Given the uncertainty and variable
impacts of practices across regions and outcomes, it is critical for decision makers to prioritize
practices based on their desired outcomes and local context
Transverse spin dependence of pp total cross‐sections
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87331/2/72_1.pd
Determinants of human adipose tissue gene expression: impact of diet, sex, metabolic status, and cis genetic regulation
Weight control diets favorably affect parameters of the metabolic syndrome and delay the onset of diabetic complications. The adaptations occurring in adipose tissue (AT) are likely to have a profound impact on the whole body response as AT is a key target of dietary intervention. Identification of environmental and individual factors controlling AT adaptation is therefore essential. Here, expression of 271 transcripts, selected for regulation according to obesity and weight changes, was determined in 515 individuals before, after 8-week low-calorie diet-induced weight loss, and after 26-week ad libitum weight maintenance diets. For 175 genes, opposite regulation was observed during calorie restriction and weight maintenance phases, independently of variations in body weight. Metabolism and immunity genes showed inverse profiles. During the dietary intervention, network-based analyses revealed strong interconnection between expression of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis and components of the metabolic syndrome. Sex had a marked influence on AT expression of 88 transcripts, which persisted during the entire dietary intervention and after control for fat mass. In women, the influence of body mass index on expression of a subset of genes persisted during the dietary intervention. Twenty-two genes revealed a metabolic syndrome signature common to men and women. Genetic control of AT gene expression by cis signals was observed for 46 genes. Dietary intervention, sex, and cis genetic variants independently controlled AT gene expression. These analyses help understanding the relative importance of environmental and individual factors that control the expression of human AT genes and therefore may foster strategies aimed at improving AT function in metabolic diseases
A distinct adipose tissue gene expression response to caloric restriction predicts 6-mo weight maintenance in obese subjects
BACKGROUND:
Weight loss has been shown to reduce risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes; however, successful maintenance of weight loss continues to pose a challenge.
OBJECTIVE:
The present study was designed to assess whether changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (scAT) gene expression during a low-calorie diet (LCD) could be used to differentiate and predict subjects who experience successful short-term weight maintenance from subjects who experience weight regain.
DESIGN:
Forty white women followed a dietary protocol consisting of an 8-wk LCD phase followed by a 6-mo weight-maintenance phase. Participants were classified as weight maintainers (WMs; 0-10% weight regain) and weight regainers (WRs; 50-100% weight regain) by considering changes in body weight during the 2 phases. Anthropometric measurements, bioclinical variables, and scAT gene expression were studied in all individuals before and after the LCD. Energy intake was estimated by using 3-d dietary records.
RESULTS:
No differences in body weight and fasting insulin were observed between WMs and WRs at baseline or after the LCD period. The LCD resulted in significant decreases in body weight and in several plasma variables in both groups. WMs experienced a significant reduction in insulin secretion in response to an oral-glucose-tolerance test after the LCD; in contrast, no changes in insulin secretion were observed in WRs after the LCD. An ANOVA of scAT gene expression showed that genes regulating fatty acid metabolism, citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis were regulated differently by the LCD in WM and WR subjects.
CONCLUSION:
This study suggests that LCD-induced changes in insulin secretion and scAT gene expression may have the potential to predict successful short-term weight maintenanc
Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy
We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable
and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is
presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and
systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of
globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude,
with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may
have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky
Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the
second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the
HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The
relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level
and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax
measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance
modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are
studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of
low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and
Space Scienc
Large enhancement of deuteron polarization with frequency modulated microwaves
We report a large enhancement of 1.7 in deuteron polarization up to values of
0.6 due to frequency modulation of the polarizing microwaves in a two liters
polarized target using the method of dynamic nuclear polarization. This target
was used during a deep inelastic polarized muon-deuteron scattering experiment
at CERN. Measurements of the electron paramagnetic resonance absorption spectra
show that frequency modulation gives rise to additional microwave absorption in
the spectral wings. Although these results are not understood theoretically,
they may provide a useful testing ground for the deeper understanding of
dynamic nuclear polarization.Comment: 10 pages, including the figures coming in uuencoded compressed tar
files in poltar.uu, which also brings cernart.sty and crna12.sty files neede
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