1,025 research outputs found
Systematic trends in beta-delayed particle emitting nuclei: The case of beta-p-alpha emission from 21Mg
We have observed beta+-delayed alpha and p-alpha emission from the
proton-rich nucleus 21Mg produced at the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The
assignments were cross-checked with a time distribution analysis. This is the
third identified case of beta-p-alpha emission. We discuss the systematic of
beta-delayed particle emission decays, show that our observed decays fit
naturally into the existing pattern, and argue that the patterns are to a large
extent caused by odd-even effects.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
The variable X-ray light curve of GRB 050713A: the case of refreshed shocks
We present a detailed study of the spectral and temporal properties of the
X-ray and optical emission of GRB050713a up to 0.5 day after the main GRB
event. The X-ray light curve exhibits large amplitude variations with several
rebrightenings superposed on the underlying three-segment broken powerlaw that
is often seen in Swift GRBs. Our time-resolved spectral analysis supports the
interpretation of a long-lived central engine, with rebrightenings consistent
with energy injection in refreshed shocks as slower shells generated in the
central engine prompt phase catch up with the afterglow shock at later times.
Our sparsely-sampled light curve of the optical afterglow can be fitted with a
single power law without large flares. The optical decay index appears flatter
than the X-ray one, especially at later times.Comment: few changes, to be published in A&
Can agricultural cultivation methods influence the healthfulness of crops for foods
The aim of the current study was to investigate if there are any health effects of long-term consumption of organically grown crops using a rat model. Crops were retrieved over two years from along-term field trial at three different locations in Denmark, using three different cultivation systems(OA, organic based on livestock manure; OB, organic based on green manure; and C, conventional with mineral fertilizers and pesticides)with two field replicates. The cultivation system had an impact on the nutritional quality, affecting γ-tocopherol, some amino acids, and fatty acid composition. Additionally, the nutritional quality was affected by harvest year and location. However, harvest year and location rather than cultivation system affected the measured health biomarkers. In conclusion, the differences in dietary treatments composed of ingredients from different cultivation systems did not lead to significant differences in the measured health biomarkers, except for a significant difference in plasma IgGl evels
Local Chirality of Low-Lying Dirac Eigenmodes and the Instanton Liquid Model
The reasons for using low-lying Dirac eigenmodes to probe the local structure
of topological charge fluctuations in QCD are discussed, and it is pointed out
that the qualitative double-peaked behavior of the local chiral orientation
probability distribution in these modes is necessary, but not sufficient for
dominance of instanton-like fluctuations. The results with overlap Dirac
operator in Wilson gauge backgrounds at lattice spacings ranging from a~0.04 fm
to a~0.12 fm are reported, and it is found that the size and density of local
structures responsible for double-peaking of the distribution are in
disagreement with the assumptions of the Instanton Liquid Model. More
generally, our results suggest that vacuum fluctuations of topological charge
are not effectively dominated by locally quantized (integer-valued) lumps in
QCD.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures; v2: minor improvements in presentation, results
and conclusions unchanged, version to appear in PR
The relationship between the systemic inflammatory response, tumour proliferative activity, T-lymphocytic and macrophage infiltration, microvessel density and survival in patients with primary operable breast cancer
The significance of the inter-relationship between tumour and host local/systemic inflammatory responses in primary operable invasive breast cancer is limited. The inter-relationship between the systemic inflammatory response (pre-operative white cell count, C-reactive protein and albumin concentrations), standard clinicopathological factors, tumour T-lymphocytic (CD4+ and CD8+) and macrophage (CD68+) infiltration, proliferative (Ki-67) index and microvessel density (CD34+) was examined using immunohistochemistry and slide-counting techniques, and their prognostic values were examined in 168 patients with potentially curative resection of early-stage invasive breast cancer. Increased tumour grade and proliferative activity were associated with greater tumour T-lymphocyte (P<0.05) and macrophage (P<0.05) infiltration and microvessel density (P<0.01). The median follow-up of survivors was 72 months. During this period, 31 patients died; 18 died of their cancer. On univariate analysis, increased lymph-node involvement (P<0.01), negative hormonal receptor (P<0.10), lower albumin concentrations (P<0.01), increased tumour proliferation (P<0.05), increased tumour microvessel density (P<0.05), the extent of locoregional control (P<0.0001) and limited systemic treatment (Pless than or equal to0.01) were associated with cancer-specific survival. On multivariate analysis of these significant covariates, albumin (HR 4.77, 95% CI 1.35–16.85, P=0.015), locoregional treatment (HR 3.64, 95% CI 1.04–12.72, P=0.043) and systemic treatment (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.23–4.27, P=0.009) were significant independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. Among tumour-based inflammatory factors, only tumour microvessel density (P<0.05) was independently associated with poorer cancer-specific survival. The host inflammatory responses are closely associated with poor tumour differentiation, proliferation and malignant disease progression in breast cancer
Wheat-barley hybridization – the last forty years
Abstract Several useful alien gene transfers have
been reported from related species into wheat (Triticum
aestivum), but very few publications have dealt
with the development of wheat/barley (Hordeum
vulgare) introgression lines. An overview is given
here of wheat 9 barley hybridization over the last
forty years, including the development of
wheat 9 barley hybrids, and of addition and translocation
lines with various barley cultivars. A short
summary is also given of the wheat 9 barley hybrids
produced with other Hordeum species. The meiotic
pairing behaviour of wheat 9 barley hybrids is presented,
with special regard to the detection of wheat–
barley homoeologous pairing using the molecular
cytogenetic technique GISH. The effect of in vitro
multiplication on the genome composition of intergeneric
hybrids is discussed, and the production and
characterization of the latest wheat/barley translocation
lines are presented. An overview of the agronomical
traits (b-glucan content, earliness, salt tolerance,
sprouting resistance, etc.) of the newly developed
introgression lines is given. The exploitation and
possible use of wheat/barley introgression lines for
the most up-to-date molecular genetic studies
(transcriptome analysis, sequencing of flow-sorted
chromosomes) are also discussed
Metal-macrofauna interactions determine microbial community structure and function in copper contaminated sediments
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Predicting climate change using response theory: global averages and spatial patterns
The provision of accurate methods for predicting the climate response to anthropogenic and natural forcings is a key contemporary scientific challenge. Using a simplified and efficient open-source general circulation model of the atmosphere featuring O(105105) degrees of freedom, we show how it is possible to approach such a problem using nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Response theory allows one to practically compute the time-dependent measure supported on the pullback attractor of the climate system, whose dynamics is non-autonomous as a result of time-dependent forcings. We propose a simple yet efficient method for predicting—at any lead time and in an ensemble sense—the change in climate properties resulting from increase in the concentration of CO22 using test perturbation model runs. We assess strengths and limitations of the response theory in predicting the changes in the globally averaged values of surface temperature and of the yearly total precipitation, as well as in their spatial patterns. The quality of the predictions obtained for the surface temperature fields is rather good, while in the case of precipitation a good skill is observed only for the global average. We also show how it is possible to define accurately concepts like the inertia of the climate system or to predict when climate change is detectable given a scenario of forcing. Our analysis can be extended for dealing with more complex portfolios of forcings and can be adapted to treat, in principle, any climate observable. Our conclusion is that climate change is indeed a problem that can be effectively seen through a statistical mechanical lens, and that there is great potential for optimizing the current coordinated modelling exercises run for the preparation of the subsequent reports of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change
Integrating Entrepreneurship into the Design Classroom: Case Studies from the Developing World
© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Developing countries are more and more committed to building a knowledge-based economy as a means to diversify from their current resource-based economy. The current focus of many governments is on technology with real insights on creative economy and arts. In this context, universities are seen as a key partner of the government. This article presents the results of two innovative case studies of professors working in the College of Art and Design collaborating with a professor in the College of Business to integrate the concepts of entrepreneurship into their interior design courses. This was done through designing space for entrepreneurial projects and by the students acting as entrepreneurs themselves with an external client. This dual model of training combines (1) learning processes about the habits and the needs of entrepreneurs and (2) learning by acting as an entrepreneur. Such methods demonstrate the role of universities to provide a proper theoretical background for students and to foster entrepreneurial behaviors through arts entrepreneurship education. Furthermore, the central role of professors to introduce innovative teaching methods to combine entrepreneurship and the creative economy into non-business courses is an important finding in these case studies
- …