277 research outputs found
Temperature dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy
We have studied the properties of A=54 and A=64 isobars at temperatures T
\leq 2 MeV via Monte Carlo shell model calculations with two different residual
interactions. In accord with empirical indications, we find that the symmetry
energy coefficient, b_{sym}, is independent of temperature to within 0.6 MeV
for T \leq 1 MeV. This is in contrast to a recent suggestion of a 2.5 MeV
increase of b_{sym} for this temperature, which would have significantly
altered the supernova explosion scenario.Comment: 7 pages, including 2 figures, Caltech preprint MAP-17
Pairing correlations in N~Z pf-shell nuclei
We perform Shell Model Monte Carlo calculations to study pair correlations in
the ground states of nuclei with masses A=48-60. We find that ,
proton-neutron correlations play an important, and even dominant
role, in the ground states of odd-odd nuclei, in agreement with
experiment. By studying pairing in the ground states of Fe, we
observe that the isovector proton-neutron correlations decrease rapidly with
increasing neutron excess. In contrast, both the proton, and trivially the
neutron correlations increase as neutrons are added.
We also study the thermal properties and the temperature dependence of pair
correlations for Mn and Fe as exemplars of odd-odd and even-even
nuclei. While for Fe results are similar to those obtained for
other even-even nuclei in this mass range, the properties of Mn at low
temperatures are strongly influenced by isovector neutron-proton pairing. In
coexistence with these isovector pair correlations, our calculations also
indicate an excess of isoscalar proton-neutron pairing over the mean-field
values. The isovector neutron-proton correlations rapidly decrease with
temperatures and vanish for temperatures above keV, while the isovector
correlations among like nucleons persist to higher temperatures. Related to the
quenching of the isovector proton-neutron correlations, the average isospin
decreases from 1, appropriate for the ground state, to 0 as the temperature
increases
Shell model Monte Carlo calculations for Dy-170
We present the first auxiliary field Monte Carlo calculations for a rare
earth nucleus, Dy-170. A pairing plus quadrupole Hamiltonian is used to
demonstrate the physical properties that can be studied in this region. We
calculate various static observables for both uncranked and cranked systems and
show how the shape distribution evolves with temperature. We also introduce a
discretization of the path integral that allows a more efficient Monte Carlo
sampling.Comment: 11 pages, figures available upon request, Caltech Preprint No.
MAP-16
Investigating event-specific drought attribution using self-organizing maps
Previous studies evaluating anthropogenic influences on the meteorological drivers of drought have found mixed results owing to (1) the complex physical mechanisms which lead to the onset of drought, (2) differences in the characteristics and time scales of drought for different regions of the world, and (3) different approaches to the question of attribution. For a midlatitude, temperate climate like New Zealand, strongly modulated by oceanic influences, summer droughts last on the order of 3âmonths, and are less strongly linked to persistent temperature anomalies than continental climates. Here we demonstrate the utility of a novel approach for characterizing the meteorological conditions conducive to extreme drought over the North Island of New Zealand, using the JanuaryâMarch 2013 event as a case study. Specifically, we consider the use of selfâorganizing map techniques in a multimember coupled climate model ensemble to capture changes in daily circulation, between two 41âyear periods (1861â1901 and 1993â2033). Comparisons are made with seasonal pressure and precipitation indices. Our results demonstrate robust (>99% confidence) increases in the likelihood of observing circulation patterns like those of the 2013 drought in the recentâclimate simulations when compared with the earlyâclimate simulations. Best guess estimates of the fraction of attributable risk range from 0.2 to 0.4, depending on the metric used and threshold considered. Contributions to uncertainty in these attribution statements are discussed
Dental Caries, Fluorosis, and Fluoride Exposure in Michigan Schoolchildren
This study relates the prevalence of caries and fluorosis among Michigan children, residing in four different areas, to the various concentrations of F in the communities' water supplies. Demographic information, details of F history, and dental attendance data were collected by a questionnaire form filled out by parents. Children ages six to 12 were screened for caries by means of the NIDR criteria and for fluorosis by means of the TSIF index. Results pertain only to continuous residents and the permanent dentition. The prevalence of both caries and fluorosis was significantly associated with the F concentration in the community water supply. Approximately 65% of all children were caries-free, ranging from 55.1 % in fluoride-deficient Cadillac to 73.7% in Redford (1. 0 ppm F). About 36% of all children had dental fluorosis, ranging from 12.2 in Cadillac to 51.2 in Richmond (1.2 ppm). All of the fluorosis was very mild. From logistic regression, the prevalence of caries was significantly associated with age, dental attendance, and the use of a water supply fluoridated at 1.0 ppm. The odds of experiencing fluorosis increased at every F level above the baseline (Cadillac), with the use of topical F rinses, and with age. Results suggest that children in the four communities may be ingesting a similar level of F from sources such as dentifrices, dietary supplements, and professional applications, but the factor that differentiates them with respect to the prevalence of caries and fluorosis is the F concentration in the community water supply.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66926/2/10.1177_00220345880670050101.pd
Delocalization in harmonic chains with long-range correlated random masses
We study the nature of collective excitations in harmonic chains with masses
exhibiting long-range correlated disorder with power spectrum proportional to
, where is the wave-vector of the modulations on the random
masses landscape. Using a transfer matrix method and exact diagonalization, we
compute the localization length and participation ratio of eigenmodes within
the band of allowed energies. We find extended vibrational modes in the
low-energy region for . In order to study the time evolution of an
initially localized energy input, we calculate the second moment of
the energy spatial distribution. We show that , besides being dependent
of the specific initial excitation and exhibiting an anomalous diffusion for
weakly correlated disorder, assumes a ballistic spread in the regime
due to the presence of extended vibrational modes.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figure
Some general properties of the renormalized stress-energy tensor for static quantum states on (n+1)-dimensional spherically symmetric black holes
We study the renormalized stress-energy tensor (RSET) for static quantum
states on (n+1)-dimensional, static, spherically symmetric black holes. By
solving the conservation equations, we are able to write the stress-energy
tensor in terms of a single unknown function of the radial co-ordinate, plus
two arbitrary constants. Conditions for the stress-energy tensor to be regular
at event horizons (including the extremal and ``ultra-extremal'' cases) are
then derived using generalized Kruskal-like co-ordinates. These results should
be useful for future calculations of the RSET for static quantum states on
spherically symmetric black hole geometries in any number of space-time
dimensions.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, RevTeX4, references added, accepted for
publication in General Relativity and Gravitatio
The incidence of fatal breast cancer measures the increased effectiveness of therapy in women participating in mammography screening
Background: Women and their health care providers need a reliable answer to this important question: If a woman chooses to participate in regular mammography screening, then how much will this choice improve her chances of avoiding a death from breast cancer compared with women who choose not to participate?Methods: To answer this question, we used comprehensive registries for population, screening history, breast cancer incidence, and diseaseâspecific death data in a defined population in Dalarna County, Sweden. The annual incidence of breast cancer was calculated along with the annual incidence of breast cancers that were fatal within 10 and within 11 to 20 years of diagnosis among women aged 40 to 69 years who either did or did not participate in mammography screening during a 39âyear period (1977â2015). For an additional comparison, corresponding data are presented from 19 years of the prescreening period (1958â1976). All patients received stageâspecific therapy according to the latest national guidelines, irrespective of the mode of detection.Results: The benefit for women who chose to participate in an organized breast cancer screening program was a 60% lower risk of dying from breast cancer within 10 years after diagnosis (relative risk, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.34â0.48) and a 47% lower risk of dying from breast cancer within 20 years after diagnosis (relative risk, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.44â0.63) compared with the corresponding risks for nonparticipants.Conclusions: Although all patients with breast cancer stand to benefit from advances in breast cancer therapy, the current results demonstrate that women who have participated in mammography screening obtain a significantly greater benefit from the therapy available at the time of diagnosis than do those who have not participated.</p
Hypogene Calcitization: Evaporite Diagenesis in the Western Delaware Basin
Evaporite calcitization within the Castile Formation of the Delaware Basin is more widespread and diverse than originally recognized. Coupled field and GIS studies have identified more than 1000 individual occurrences of calcitization within the Castile Formation outcrop area, which includes both calcitized masses (limestone buttes) and laterally extensive calcitized horizons (limestone sheets). Both limestone buttes and sheets commonly contain a central brecciated zone that we attribute to hypogene dissolution. Lithologic fabric of calcitized zones ranges from little alteration of original varved laminae to fabrics showing extensive laminae distortion as well as extensive vuggy and open cavernous porosity. Calcitization is most abundant in the western portion of the Castile outcrop region where surface denudation has been greatest. Calcitization often forms linear trends, indicating fluid migration along fractures, but also occurs as dense clusters indicating focused, ascending, hydrocarbon-rich fluids. Native sulfur, secondary tabular gypsum (i.e. selenite) and hypogene caves are commonly associated with clusters of calcitization. This assemblage suggests that calcium sulfate diagenesis within the Castile Formation is dominated by hypogene speleogemesis
- âŠ