1,134 research outputs found
GERDA: a Germanium Detector Array to Search for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay
The GERDA, a new experiment to search for the double beta decay of 76 Ge, is being installed at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The potentialities of this experiment as well as the status of the project are reviewed.JRC.D.4-Isotope measurement
Search for decay of Eu to the first excited level of Pm using underground -ray spectrometry
The alpha decay of Eu to the first excited level of Pm
(, keV) was searched for at the HADES underground
laboratory ( m w.e.). A sample of high purity europium oxide with
mass of 303 g and a natural isotopic composition has been measured over 2232.8
h with a high energy resolution ultra-low background n-type semi-planar HPGe
detector (40 cm) with sub-micron deadlayer. The new improved half-life
limit has been set as yr at 68% C.L.
Possibilities to improve the sensitivity of the experiment, which is already
near the theoretical predictions, are discussed. New half-life limit for
decay of Eu is also set as
yr.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, 18 reference
Neutrophil Dynamics Affect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Granuloma Outcomes and Dissemination
Neutrophil infiltration into tuberculous granulomas is often associated with higher bacteria loads and severe disease but the basis for this relationship is not well understood. To better elucidate the connection between neutrophils and pathology in primate systems, we paired data from experimental studies with our next generation computational model GranSim to identify neutrophil-related factors, including neutrophil recruitment, lifespan, and intracellular bacteria numbers, that drive granuloma-level outcomes. We predict mechanisms underlying spatial organization of neutrophils within granulomas and identify how neutrophils contribute to granuloma dissemination. We also performed virtual deletion and depletion of neutrophils within granulomas and found that neutrophils play a nuanced role in determining granuloma outcome, promoting uncontrolled bacterial growth in some and working to contain bacterial growth in others. Here, we present three key results: We show that neutrophils can facilitate local dissemination of granulomas and thereby enable the spread of infection. We suggest that neutrophils influence CFU burden during both innate and adaptive immune responses, implying that they may be targets for therapeutic interventions during later stages of infection. Further, through the use of uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, we predict which neutrophil processes drive granuloma severity and structure
Tractable non-local correlation density functionals for flat surfaces and slabs
A systematic approach for the construction of a density functional for van
der Waals interactions that also accounts for saturation effects is described,
i.e. one that is applicable at short distances. A very efficient method to
calculate the resulting expressions in the case of flat surfaces, a method
leading to an order reduction in computational complexity, is presented.
Results for the interaction of two parallel jellium slabs are shown to agree
with those of a recent RPA calculation (J.F. Dobson and J. Wang, Phys. Rev.
Lett. 82, 2123 1999). The method is easy to use; its input consists of the
electron density of the system, and we show that it can be successfully
approximated by the electron densities of the interacting fragments. Results
for the surface correlation energy of jellium compare very well with those of
other studies. The correlation-interaction energy between two parallel jellia
is calculated for all separations d, and substantial saturation effects are
predicted.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
The technology potentials for satellite spacing and frequency sharing
Satellite spacing and frequency sharing in microwave relay system
Results of a European interlaboratory comparison on gross alpha/beta activity determination in drinking water
An interlaboratory comparison was organised by the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (JRC-IRMM) among environmental radioactivity monitoring laboratories for the determination of gross alpha/beta activity concentration in drinking water. Four independent standard methods were used for the determination of the reference values of three different water samples. The performance of participating laboratories was evaluated with respect to the reference values using relative deviations. Sample preparation and measurement methods used by the participating laboratories are described in detail, in particular in the view of method-dependency of the results. Many of the participants’ results deviate by more than two orders of magnitude from the reference values regardless of the techniques used. This suggests that gross methods need revision.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard
Unified Treatment of Asymptotic van der Waals Forces
In a framework for long-range density-functional theory we present a unified
full-field treatment of the asymptotic van der Waals interaction for atoms,
molecules, surfaces, and other objects. The only input needed consists of the
electron densities of the interacting fragments and the static polarizability
or the static image plane, which can be easily evaluated in a ground-state
density-functional calculation for each fragment. Results for separated atoms,
molecules, and for atoms/molecules outside surfaces are in agreement with those
of other, more elaborate, calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Women's Reasons to Seek Bariatric Surgery and Their Expectations on the Surgery Outcome - a Multicenter Study from Five European Countries
Purpose Understanding patients' reasons for having bariatric surgery and their expectation on surgery outcomes is important to provide the best clinical practice and reduce unrealistic expectations. It is unknown if reasons and expectations differ between countries. We aimed to investigate the reasons for seeking bariatric surgery and expectations of surgical outcomes among patients in five European countries. Methods In total, 250 women accepted for bariatric surgery were recruited: 50 women each from Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Participants ranked 14 reasons for seeking surgery, and reported the three primary reasons. They also reported expectations on weight loss and impact of surgery vs. lifestyle on weight loss outcomes. Results Mean age and body mass index were 42.9 +/- 11.5 years and 45.1 +/- 6.2 kg/m(2), respectively. Weight loss and improved co-morbidity were ranked as the most important reasons. Participants expected to lose between 70.8 and 94.3% of their excessive weight. The expected impact of surgery as a driver of weight loss was higher in Germany and the Netherlands compared to in Finland, Norway, and Sweden where participants expected lifestyle changes to also have an impact. Conclusion Weight loss and improved co-morbidities were the main reasons for undergoing bariatric surgery. Expectations on weight loss were generally very high, but expectations of surgery vs. lifestyle as the main driver of weight loss differed between countries. While some patients understand the importance of lifestyle change and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle after surgery in order to obtain a successful weight loss, other may need additional counselling.Peer reviewe
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