9,919 research outputs found
First Evaluation of an Index of Low Vagally-Mediated Heart Rate Variability as a Marker of Health Risks in Human Adults: Proof of Concept.
Multiple studies have demonstrated low vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) being associated with a range of risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including inflammation, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Yet, no cut point exists that indicates elevated risk. In the present study we sought to identify a cut point-value for HRV that is associated with elevated risk across a range of known risk factors. METHODS:A total of 9550 working adults from 19 study sites took part in a health assessment that included measures of inflammation, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension and vagally-mediated HRV (Root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD)). Multiple age and sex adjusted logistic regressions were calculated per risk factor (normal versus clinical range), with RMSSD being entered in binary at different cut points ranging from 15-39 msec with a 2 msec increment. RESULTS:For daytime RMSSD, values below 25 ± 4 indicated elevated risk (odds ratios (OR) 1.5-3.5 across risk factors). For nighttime RMSSD, values below 29 ± 4 indicated elevated risk (OR 1.2-2.0). CONCLUSION:These results provide the first evidence that a single value of RMSSD may be associated with elevated risk across a range of established cardiovascular risk factors and may present an easy to assess novel marker of cardiovascular risk
New Results on e+e- Line Emission in U+Ta Collisions
We present new results obtained from a series of follow-up e+e- coincidence
measurements in heavy-ion collisions, utilizing an improved experimental set-up
at the double-Orange beta-spectrometer of GSI. The collision system U+Ta was
reinvestigated in three independent runs at beam energies in the range
(6.0-6.4)xA MeV and different target thicknesses, with the objective to
reproduce a narrow sum-energy e+e- line at ~635 keV observed previously in this
collision system. At improved statistical accuracy, the line could not be found
in these new data. For the ''fission'' scenario, an upper limit (1 sigma) on
its production probability per collision of 1.3x10^{-8} can be set which has to
be compared to the previously reported value of [4.9 +- 0.8 (stat.) +- 1.0
(syst)]x10^{-7}. In the light of the new results, a reanalysis of the old data
shows that the continuous part of the spectrum at the line position is
significantly higher than previously assumed, thus reducing the production
probability of the line by a factor of two and its statistical significance to
< 3.4sigma.Comment: 15 pages, standard LaTeX with 3 included PS figures; Submitted to
Physics Letters
Chemical Bonding Technology: Direct Investigation of Interfacial Bonds
This is the third Flat-Plate Solar Array (FSA) Project document reporting on chemical bonding technology for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules. The impetus for this work originated in the late 1970s when PV modules employing silicone encapsulation materials were undergoing delamination during outdoor exposure. At that time, manufacturers were not employing adhesion promoters and, hence, module interfaces in common with the silicone materials were only in physical contact and therefore easily prone to separation if, for example, water were to penetrate to the interfaces. Delamination with silicone materials virtually vanished when adhesion promoters, recommended by silicone manufacturers, were used. The activities related to the direct investigation of chemically bonded interfaces are described
Laser and microwave spectroscopy of even-parity Rydberg states of neutral ytterbium and Multichannel Quantum Defect Theory analysis
New measurements of high-lying even parity and
levels of neutral Yb are presented in this paper.
Spectroscopy is performed by a two-step laser excitation from the ground state
, and the Rydberg levels are detected by using the
field ionization method. Additional two-photon microwave spectroscopy is used
to improve the relative energy accuracy where possible. The spectroscopic
measurements are complemented by a multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT)
analysis for the J=0 and the two-coupled J=2 even parity series. We compare our
results with the previous analysis of Aymar {\it{et al}} \cite{Aymar_1980} and
analyze the observed differences. From the new MQDT models, a revised value for
the first ionization limit cm is proposed.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure
First Energy and Angle differential Measurements of e^+e^- -pairs emitted by Internal Pair Conversion of excited Heavy Nuclei
We present the first energy and angle resolved measurements of e+e- pairs
emitted from heavy nuclei (Z>=40) at rest by internal pair conversion (IPC) of
transitions with energies of less than 2MeV as well as recent theoretical
results using the DWBA method, which takes full account of relativistic
effects, magnetic substates and finite size of the nucleus. The 1.76MeV E0
transition in Zr90 (Sr source) and the 1.77MeV M1 transition in Pb207 (Bi
source) have been investigated experimentally using the essentially improved
set-up at the double-ORANGE beta-spectrometer of GSI. The measurements prove
the capability of the setup to cleanly identify the IPC pairs in the presence
of five orders of magnitude higher beta- and gamma background from the same
source and to yield essentially background-free sum spectra despite the large
background. Using the ability of the ORANGE setup to directly determine the
opening angle of the e+e- pairs, the angular correlation of the emitted pairs
was measured. In the Zr90 case the correlation could be deduced for a wide
range of energy differences of the pairs. The Zr90 results are in good
agreement with recent theory. The angular correlation deduced for the M1
transition in Pb207 is in strong disagreement with theoretical predictions
derived within the Born approximation and shows almost isotropic character.
This is again in agreement with the new theoretical results.Comment: LaTeX, 28 pages incl. 10 PS figures; Accepted by Z.Phys.
Positron spectra from internal pair conversion observed in {238}U + {181}Ta collisions
We present new results from measurements and simulations of positron spectra,
originating from 238U + 181Ta collisions at beam energies close to the Coulomb
barrier. The measurements were performed using an improved experimental setup
at the double-Orange spectrometer of GSI. Particular emphasis is put on the
signature of positrons from Internal-Pair-Conversion (IPC) processes in the
measured e+ energy spectra, following the de-excitation of electromagnetic
transitions in the moving Ta-like nucleus. It is shown by Monte Carlo
simulations that, for the chosen current sweeping procedure used in the present
experiments, positron emission from discrete IPC transitions can lead to rather
narrow line structures in the measured energy spectra. The measured positron
spectra do not show evidence for line structures within the statistical
accuracy achieved, although expected from the intensities of the observed
transitions (E keV) and theoretical conversion
coefficients. This is due to the reduced detection efficiency for IPC
positrons, caused by the limited spatial and momentum acceptance of the
spectrometer. A comparison with previous results, in which lines have been
observed, is presented and the implications are discussed.Comment: LaTeX, 20 pages including 5 EPS figures; Accepted by Eur. Phys.Jour.
Photoassociation of cold atoms with chirped laser pulses: time-dependent calculations and analysis of the adiabatic transfer within a two-state model
This theoretical paper presents numerical calculations for photoassociation
of ultracold cesium atoms with a chirped laser pulse and detailed analysis of
the results. In contrast with earlier work, the initial state is represented by
a stationary continuum wavefunction. In the chosen example, it is shown that an
important population transfer is achieved to vibrational levels in
the vicinity of the v=98 bound level in the external well of the
potential. Such levels lie in the energy range swept by
the instantaneous frequency of the pulse, thus defining a ``photoassociation
window''. Levels outside this window may be significantly excited during the
pulse, but no population remains there after the pulse. Finally, the population
transfer to the last vibrational levels of the ground (6s + 6s)
is significant, making stable molecules. The results are interpreted in the
framework of a two state model as an adiabatic inversion mechanism, efficient
only within the photoassociation window. The large value found for the
photoassociation rate suggests promising applications. The present chirp has
been designed in view of creating a vibrational wavepacket in the excited state
which is focussing at the barrier of the double well potential.Comment: 49 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Optimizing the photoassociation of cold atoms by use of chirped laser pulses
Photoassociation of ultracold atoms induced by chirped picosecond pulses is
analyzed in a non-perturbative treatment by following the wavepackets dynamics
on the ground and excited surfaces. The initial state is described by a
Boltzmann distribution of continuum scattering states. The chosen example is
photoassociation of cesium atoms at temperature T=54 from the continuum to bound levels in the external well of the
potential. We study how the modification of the pulse
characteristics (carrier frequency, duration, linear chirp rate and intensity)
can enhance the number of photoassociated molecules and suggest ways of
optimizing the production of stable molecules.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Eur. Phys. J.
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