Non-yrast nuclear spectra in a model of coherent quadrupole-octupole motion

A model assuming coherent quadrupole-octupole vibrations and rotations is applied to describe non-yrast energy sequences with alternating parity in several even-even nuclei from different regions, namely $^{152,154}$Sm, $^{154,156,158}$Gd, $^{236}$U and $^{100}$Mo. Within the model scheme the yrast alternating-parity band is composed by the members of the ground-state band and the lowest negative-parity levels with odd angular momenta. The non-yrast alternating-parity sequences unite levels of $\beta$-bands with higher negative-parity levels. The model description reproduces the structure of the considered alternating-parity spectra together with the observed B(E1), B(E2) and B(E3) transition probabilities within and between the different level-sequences. B(E1) and B(E3) reduced probabilities for transitions connecting states with opposite parity in the non-yrast alternating-parity bands are predicted. The implemented study outlines the limits of the considered band-coupling scheme and provides estimations about the collective energy potential which governs the quadrupole-octupole properties of the considered nuclei.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figure

Role of Brownian motion and N\'{e}el relaxations in Mossbauer spectra of magnetic liquids

The absorption cross section of M\"{o}ssbauer radiation in magnetic liquids is calculated, taking into consideration both translational and rotational Brownian motion of magnetic nanoparticles. Stochastic reversals of their magnetization are also regarded in the absence of external magnetic field. The role of Brownian motion in ferrofluids is considered in the framework of the diffusion theory, while for the magnetorheological fluids with large nanoparticles it is done in the framework of the Langevin's approach. For rotation we derived the equation analogous to Langevin's equation and gave the corresponding correlation function. In both cases the equations for rotation are solved in the approximation of small rotations during lifetime of the excited state of M\"{o}ssbauer nuclei. The influence of magnetization relaxations is studied with the aid of the Blume-Tjon model.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2011–13 in Ukraine

Objectives: To determine the antibiotic susceptibility of respiratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae collected in 2011–13 from Ukraine. Methods: MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints. Results: A total of 134 isolates of S. pneumoniae and 67 of H. influenzae were collected from eight sites in Ukraine. Overall, 87.3% of S. pneumoniae were penicillin susceptible by CLSI oral breakpoints and 99.3% by CLSI iv breakpoints. Susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin), ceftriaxone and levofloxacin was 100% by CLSI and PK/PD breakpoints. Cephalosporin and macrolide susceptibility was ≥95.5% and 88.1%, respectively using CLSI breakpoints. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was essentially inactive against pneumococci. Of the 67 H. influenzae tested, 4.5% were b-lactamase positive and all H. influenzae were fully susceptible to amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, cefixime and levofloxacin (all breakpoints). Cefuroxime susceptibility was 100% by CLSI but 73.1% by EUCAST and PK/PD breakpoints. A discrepancy was found in macrolide susceptibility between CLSI (100% susceptible), EUCAST (22%–43% susceptible) and PK/PD (0%–22% susceptible) breakpoints. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was poorly active (59.7% susceptible). Conclusions: Generally, antibiotic resistance was low in respiratory pathogens from Ukraine. However, only amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin), ceftriaxone and levofloxacin were fully active against both species. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was the least active, particularly against S. pneumoniae. Some susceptibility differences were apparent between CLSI, EUCAST and PK/PD breakpoints, especially with macrolides against H. influenzae. These data suggest that further efforts are required to harmonize these international breakpoints. Future studies are warranted to monitor continued low resistance levels in Ukraine compared with other parts of Eastern Europe

Analytic Description of Critical Point Actinides in a Transition from Octupole Deformation to Octupole Vibrations

An analytic collective model in which the relative presence of the quadrupole and octupole deformations is determined by a parameter (phi_0), while axial symmetry is obeyed, is developed. The model [to be called the analytic quadrupole octupole axially symmetric model (AQOA)] involves an infinite well potential, provides predictions for energy and B(EL) ratios which depend only on phi_0, draws the border between the regions of octupole deformation and octupole vibrations in an essentially parameter-independent way, and describes well 226-Th and 226-Ra, for which experimental energy data are shown to suggest that they lie close to this border. The similarity of the AQOA results with phi_0=45 degrees for ground state band spectra and B(E2) transition rates to the predictions of the X(5) model is pointed out. Analytic solutions are also obtained for Davidson potentials, leading to the AQOA spectrum through a variational procedure.Comment: LaTeX, 27 pages, including 14 postscript figure

Temperature Dependence of the Shake-off Effect for Conductivity Electrons in Metals

We analyzed the emission of the conduction electrons in metals caused by any nuclear decay. The refraction of the electron wave at the crystal surface, as well as its attenuation due to scattering by phonons, are taken into account. It is shown that the energy distribution of ejected shake-off electrons contains a peak at the energy of the order of 1 eV, whose intensity falls down with growing temperature. The dependence of the yield of conduction electrons on the thickness of a radioactive source is studied as well.Проаналiзовано емiсiю iз металу електронiв провiдностi, спричинену ядерним розпадом. Враховано заломлення електронної хвилi на поверхнi кристала та затухання, викликане розсiянням на фононах. Показано, що енергетичний розподiл випромiнених електронiв струсу має пiк при енергiї порядку 1 еВ, iнтенсивнiсть якого спадає зi зростанням температури. Вивчено також залежнiсть виходу електронiв провiдностi вiд товщини зразка

Nuclear collective motion with a coherent coupling interaction between quadrupole and octupole modes

A collective Hamiltonian for the rotation-vibration motion of nuclei is considered, in which the axial quadrupole and octupole degrees of freedom are coupled through the centrifugal interaction. The potential of the system depends on the two deformation variables $\beta_2$ and $\beta_3$. The system is considered to oscillate between positive and negative $\beta_3$-values, by rounding an infinite potential core in the $(\beta_2,\beta_3)$-plane with $\beta_2>0$. By assuming a coherent contribution of the quadrupole and octupole oscillation modes in the collective motion, the energy spectrum is derived in an explicit analytic form, providing specific parity shift effects. On this basis several possible ways in the evolution of quadrupole-octupole collectivity are outlined. A particular application of the model to the energy levels and electric transition probabilities in alternating parity spectra of the nuclei $^{150}$Nd, $^{152}$Sm, $^{154}$Gd and $^{156}$Dy is presented.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2011–13 in Ukraine

Objectives: To determine the antibiotic susceptibility of respiratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae collected in 2011–13 from Ukraine. Methods: MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints. Results: A total of 134 isolates of S. pneumoniae and 67 of H. influenzae were collected from eight sites in Ukraine. Overall, 87.3% of S. pneumoniae were penicillin susceptible by CLSI oral breakpoints and 99.3% by CLSI iv breakpoints. Susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin), ceftriaxone and levofloxacin was 100% by CLSI and PK/PD breakpoints. Cephalosporin and macrolide susceptibility was ≥95.5% and 88.1%, respectively using CLSI breakpoints. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was essentially inactive against pneumococci. Of the 67 H. influenzae tested, 4.5% were b-lactamase positive and all H. influenzae were fully susceptible to amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, cefixime and levofloxacin (all breakpoints). Cefuroxime susceptibility was 100% by CLSI but 73.1% by EUCAST and PK/PD breakpoints. A discrepancy was found in macrolide susceptibility between CLSI (100% susceptible), EUCAST (22%–43% susceptible) and PK/PD (0%–22% susceptible) breakpoints. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was poorly active (59.7% susceptible). Conclusions: Generally, antibiotic resistance was low in respiratory pathogens from Ukraine. However, only amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin), ceftriaxone and levofloxacin were fully active against both species. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was the least active, particularly against S. pneumoniae. Some susceptibility differences were apparent between CLSI, EUCAST and PK/PD breakpoints, especially with macrolides against H. influenzae. These data suggest that further efforts are required to harmonize these international breakpoints. Future studies are warranted to monitor continued low resistance levels in Ukraine compared with other parts of Eastern Europe