569 research outputs found
A Zero-Gravity Instrument to Study Low Velocity Collisions of Fragile Particles at Low Temperatures
We discuss the design, operation, and performance of a vacuum setup
constructed for use in zero (or reduced) gravity conditions to initiate
collisions of fragile millimeter-sized particles at low velocity and
temperature. Such particles are typically found in many astronomical settings
and in regions of planet formation. The instrument has participated in four
parabolic flight campaigns to date, operating for a total of 2.4 hours in
reduced gravity conditions and successfully recording over 300 separate
collisions of loosely packed dust aggregates and ice samples. The imparted
particle velocities achieved range from 0.03-0.28 m s^-1 and a high-speed,
high-resolution camera captures the events at 107 frames per second from two
viewing angles separated by either 48.8 or 60.0 degrees. The particles can be
stored inside the experiment vacuum chamber at temperatures of 80-300 K for
several uninterrupted hours using a built-in thermal accumulation system. The
copper structure allows cooling down to cryogenic temperatures before
commencement of the experiments. Throughout the parabolic flight campaigns,
add-ons and modifications have been made, illustrating the instrument
flexibility in the study of small particle collisions.Comment: D. M. Salter, D. Hei{\ss}elmann, G. Chaparro, G. van der Wolk, P.
Rei{\ss}aus, A. G. Borst, R. W. Dawson, E. de Kuyper, G. Drinkwater, K.
Gebauer, M. Hutcheon, H. Linnartz, F. J. Molster, B. Stoll, P. C. van der
Tuijn, H. J. Fraser, and J. Blu
Adaptation as defense against film censorship: Pasolini’s Salò – 120 Days of Sodom in Italy and the UK
Full-Folding Optical Potentials for Elastic Nucleon-Nucleus Scattering based on Realistic Densities
Optical model potentials for elastic nucleon nucleus scattering are
calculated for a number of target nuclides from a full-folding integral of two
different realistic target density matrices together with full off-shell
nucleon-nucleon t-matrices derived from two different Bonn meson exchange
models. Elastic proton and neutron scattering observables calculated from these
full-folding optical potentials are compared to those obtained from `optimum
factorized' approximations in the energy regime between 65 and 400 MeV
projectile energy. The optimum factorized form is found to provide a good
approximation to elastic scattering observables obtained from the full-folding
optical potentials, although the potentials differ somewhat in the structure of
their nonlocality.Comment: 21 pages, LaTeX, 17 postscript figure
Starbursts and High-Redshift Galaxies are Radioactive: High Abundances of Al and Other Short Lived Radionuclides
Short lived radionuclides (SLRs) like Al are synthesized by massive
stars and are a byproduct of star formation. The abundances of SLRs in the gas
of a star-forming galaxy are inversely proportional to the gas consumption
time. The rapid evolution of specific star formation rate (SSFR) of normal
galaxies implies they had mean SLR abundances ~3--10 times higher at z = 2.
During the epoch of Solar system formation, the background SLR abundances of
the Galaxy were up to twice as high as at present, if SLR yields from massive
stars do not depend on metallicity. If SLRs are homogenized in the gas of
galaxies, the high SSFRs of normal galaxies can partly explain the elevated
abundance of SLRs like Fe and Al in the early Solar system.
Starburst galaxies have much higher SSFRs still, and have enormous mean
abundances of Al (Al/Al ~ for Solar metallicity
gas). The main uncertainty is whether the SLRs are mixed with the star-forming
molecular gas: they could be trapped in hot gas and decay before entering the
colder phases, or be blown out by starburst winds. I consider how variability
in star-formation rate affects the SLR abundances, and I discuss how SLR
transport may differ in these galaxies. The enhanced Al of starbursts
might maintain moderate ionization rates ( -- s),
possibly dominating ionization in dense clouds not penetrated by cosmic rays.
Similar ionization rates would be maintained in protoplanetary discs of
starbursts, if the SLRs are well-mixed, and the radiogenic heating of
planetesimals would likewise be much higher. In this way, galaxy evolution can
affect the geological history of planetary systems.Comment: Published in MNRAS, 12 pages, 3 figure
Role of uteroplacental and fetal Doppler in identifying fetal growth restriction at term.
Identification of the fetus at risk of adverse outcome at term is a challenge to both clinicians and researchers alike. Despite the fact that fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a known risk factor for stillbirth, at least two thirds of the stillbirth cases at term are not small for gestational age (SGA) - a commonly used proxy for FGR. However, the majority of SGA fetuses are constitutionally small babies and do not suffer from adverse perinatal outcome. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) is emerging as a marker of failure to reach growth potential at term. CPR is an independent predictor of intrapartum fetal distress, admission to the neonatal unit at term, stillbirth, perinatal death and neonatal morbidity. Raised uterine artery Doppler resistance in the third trimester is independently associated with significantly lower birthweight and CPR. The combination of the estimated fetal weight, CPR and uterine Doppler in the third trimester can identify the majority of fetuses at risk of stillbirth
Assessement of tensile strength of graphites by the iosipescu coupon test
Polycrystalline graphites are widely used in the metallurgical, nuclear and aerospace industries. Graphites are particulated composites manufactured with a mixture of coke with pitch, and changes in relative proportions of these materials cause modifications in their mechanical properties. Uniaxial tension tests must be avoided for mechanical characterization in this kind of brittle material, due to difficulties in making the relatively long specimens and premature damages caused during testing set-up. On other types of tests, e.g. bending tests, the specimens are submitted to combined stress states (normal and transverse shear stresses). The Iosipescu shear test, is performed in a beam with two 90° opposite notches machined at the mid-length of the specimens, by applying two forces couples, so that a pure and uniform shear stress state is generated at the cross section between the two notches. When a material is isotropic and brittle, a failure at 45° in relation to the beam long axis can take place, i.e., the tensile normal stress acts parallel to the lateral surface of the notches, controls the failure and the result of the shear test is numerically equivalent to the tensile strength. This work has evaluated a graphite of the type used in rocket nozzles by the Iosipescu test and the resulted stress, ~11 MPa, was found to be equal to the tensile strength. Thus, the tensile strength can be evaluated just by a single and simple experiment, thus avoiding complicated machining of specimen and testing set-up
Close-to-threshold Meson Production in Hadronic Interactions
Studies of meson production at threshold in the hadron--hadron interaction
began in the fifties when sufficient energies of accelerated protons were
available. A strong interdependence between developments in accelerator
physics, detector performance and theoretical understanding led to a unique
vivid field of physics. Early experiments performed with bubble chambers
revealed already typical ingredients of threshold studies, which were
superseded by more complete meson production investigations at the nucleon beam
facilities TRIUMF, LAMPF, PSI, LEAR and SATURNE. Currently, with the advent of
the new cooler rings as IUCF, CELSIUS and COSY the field is entering a new
domain of precision and the next step of further progress.
The analysis of this new data in the short range limit permits a more
fundamental consideration and a quantitative comparison of the production
processes for different mesons in the few--body final states. The
interpretation of the data take advantage of the fact that production reactions
close-to-threshold are characterized by only a few degrees of freedom between a
well defined combination of initial and exit channels. Deviations from
predictions of phase-space controlled one-meson-exchange models are indications
of new and exciting physics. Precision data on differential cross sections,
isospin and spin observables -- partly but by no means adequately available --
are presently turning up on the horizon. There is work for the next years and
excitement of the physics expected. Here we try to give a brief and at the same
time comprehensive overview of this field of hadronic threshold production
studies.Comment: 100 pages, Review article to be published in Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys.
Vol. 49, issue 1 (2002
Social Class
Discussion of class structure in fifth-century Athens, historical constitution of theater audiences, and the changes in the comic representation of class antagonism from Aristophanes to Menander
Spike-Timing Precision and Neuronal Synchrony Are Enhanced by an Interaction between Synaptic Inhibition and Membrane Oscillations in the Amygdala
The basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) is a critical component of the neural circuit regulating fear learning. During fear learning and recall, the amygdala and other brain regions, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, exhibit phase-locked oscillations in the high delta/low theta frequency band (∼2–6 Hz) that have been shown to contribute to the learning process. Network oscillations are commonly generated by inhibitory synaptic input that coordinates action potentials in groups of neurons. In the rat BLA, principal neurons spontaneously receive synchronized, inhibitory input in the form of compound, rhythmic, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs), likely originating from burst-firing parvalbumin interneurons. Here we investigated the role of compound IPSPs in the rat and rhesus macaque BLA in regulating action potential synchrony and spike-timing precision. Furthermore, because principal neurons exhibit intrinsic oscillatory properties and resonance between 4 and 5 Hz, in the same frequency band observed during fear, we investigated whether compound IPSPs and intrinsic oscillations interact to promote rhythmic activity in the BLA at this frequency. Using whole-cell patch clamp in brain slices, we demonstrate that compound IPSPs, which occur spontaneously and are synchronized across principal neurons in both the rat and primate BLA, significantly improve spike-timing precision in BLA principal neurons for a window of ∼300 ms following each IPSP. We also show that compound IPSPs coordinate the firing of pairs of BLA principal neurons, and significantly improve spike synchrony for a window of ∼130 ms. Compound IPSPs enhance a 5 Hz calcium-dependent membrane potential oscillation (MPO) in these neurons, likely contributing to the improvement in spike-timing precision and synchronization of spiking. Activation of the cAMP-PKA signaling cascade enhanced the MPO, and inhibition of this cascade blocked the MPO. We discuss these results in the context of spike-timing dependent plasticity and modulation by neurotransmitters important for fear learning, such as dopamine
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