Scattering in three-dimensional fuzzy space

We develop scattering theory in a non-commutative space defined by a $su(2)$ coordinate algebra. By introducing a positive operator valued measure as a replacement for strong position measurements, we are able to derive explicit expressions for the probability current, differential and total cross-sections. We show that at low incident energies the kinematics of these expressions is identical to that of commutative scattering theory. The consequences of spacial non-commutativity are found to be more pronounced at the dynamical level where, even at low incident energies, the phase shifts of the partial waves can deviate strongly from commutative results. This is demonstrated for scattering from a spherical well. The impact of non-commutativity on the well's spectrum and on the properties of its bound and scattering states are considered in detail. It is found that for sufficiently large well-depths the potential effectively becomes repulsive and that the cross-section tends towards that of hard sphere scattering. This can occur even at low incident energies when the particle's wave-length inside the well becomes comparable to the non-commutative length-scale.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Spectrum of the three dimensional fuzzy well

We develop the formalism of quantum mechanics on three dimensional fuzzy space and solve the Schr\"odinger equation for a free particle, finite and infinite fuzzy wells. We show that all results reduce to the appropriate commutative limits. A high energy cut-off is found for the free particle spectrum, which also results in the modification of the high energy dispersion relation. An ultra-violet/infra-red duality is manifest in the free particle spectrum. The finite well also has an upper bound on the possible energy eigenvalues. The phase shifts due to scattering around the finite fuzzy potential well have been calculated

Relativistic mean field formulation of clustering in heavy nuclei

Very little is known about clustering in heavy nuclei and in particular the interaction between the correlated cluster nucleons and remaining core nucleons. Currently the phenomenological Saxon-Woods plus cubic Saxon-Woods core-cluster potential successfully predicts the alpha decay half-life and energy band spectra of a number of heavy nuclei. This model, however, lacks a microscopic understanding of clustering phenomenon in these heavy nuclear systems. A fully relativistic microscopic formalism is presented, which generates the core-cluster potential by means of the McNeil, Ray and Wallace based double folding procedure. The core and cluster baryon densities are calculated by using a relativistic mean field approach. The Lorentz covariant IA1 representation of the nucleon-nucleon interaction is folded with the core and cluster densities. Theoretical predictions of the ground-state decay half-life and positive parity energy band of 212Po are obtained with the relativistic mean field formalism and which are compared to the results from the phenomenological Saxon-Woods plus cubic Saxon-Wood core-cluster potential and microscopic M3Y interaction

The peculiar new state of the blazar PKS 1510-089

Contemporaneous multiwavelength observations with H.E.S.S., SALT, Fermi-LAT, Swift, and ATOM show that the blazar PKS 1510-089 suffered a significant decrease in its optical flux, degree of optical polarization and high-energy gamma-ray (E > 100 MeV) flux since July 2021. Meanwhile, the X-ray and very-high-energy gamma-ray (E > 100 GeV) fluxes remained steady throughout 2021 and 2022. The degree of optical polarization decreased to about zero in 2022, indicating an unpolarized dominating accretion disk component in the optical-UV domain that is completely diluting the polarized electron synchrotron component. In this proceeding we will discuss, via theoretical SED modeling, possible reasons for this dramatic change in the appearance of this blazar.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, ICRC conferenc

A simulation study to compare reference and other priors in the case of a standard univariate Student t-distribution

In this paper, reference and probability-matching priors are derived for the univariate Student t-distribution. These priors generally lead to procedures with properties frequentists can relate to while still retaining Bayes validity. The priors are tested by performing simulation studies. The focus is on the relative mean squared error from the posterior median and on the frequentist coverage of the 95% credibility intervals for a sample of size n = 30. Average interval lengths of the credibility intervals as well as the modes of the interval lengths based on 2 000 simulations are also considered. The performance of the priors is also tested on real data, namely daily logarithmic returns of IBM stocks

Microcyclospora and Microcyclosporella: novel genera accommodating epiphytic fungi causing sooty blotch on apple

Recent studies have found a wide range of ascomycetes to be associated with sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) blemishes on the surfaces of pomaceous fruits, specifically apples. Based on collections of such fungi from apple orchards in Germany and Slovenia we introduce two novel genera according to analyses of morphological characters and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences (large subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions). Microcyclosporella is represented by a single species, M. mali, and is presently known from Germany and Slovenia. Microcyclosporella is Pseudocercosporella-like in morphology, but genetically and morphologically distinct from Pseudocercosporella s.str., for which an epitype is designated based on a fresh collection of P. bakeri from Laos. Furthermore, Pseudocercosporella is shown to be paraphyletic within the Capnodiales. Microcyclospora gen. nov. is Pseudocercospora-like in morphology, but is genetically and morphologically distinct from Pseudocercospora s.str., which is based on P. vitis. Three species, Microcyclospora malicola, M. pomicola (both collected in Germany), and M. tardicrescens (collected in Slovenia) are described. Finally, a new species of Devriesia, D. pseudoamericana, is described from pome fruit surfaces collected in Germany. Devriesia is shown to be paraphyletic, and to represent several lineages of which only Devriesia s.str. is thermotolerant. Further collections are required, however, before the latter generic complex can be resolved

Phyllosticta citricarpa and sister species of global importance to Citrus.

Several Phyllosticta species are known as pathogens of Citrus spp., and are responsible for various disease symptoms including leaf and fruit spots. One of the most important species is P. citricarpa, which causes a foliar and fruit disease called citrus black spot. The Phyllosticta species occurring on citrus can most effectively be distinguished from P. citricarpa by means of multilocus DNA sequence data. Recent studies also demonstrated P. citricarpa to be heterothallic, and reported successful mating in the laboratory. Since the domestication of citrus, different clones of P. citricarpa have escaped Asia to other continents via trade routes, with obvious disease management consequences. This pathogen profile represents a comprehensive literature review of this pathogen and allied taxa associated with citrus, focusing on identification, distribution, genomics, epidemiology and disease management. This review also considers the knowledge emerging from seven genomes of Phyllosticta spp., demonstrating unknown aspects of these species, including their mating behaviour.TaxonomyPhyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Aa, 1973. Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Dothideomycetes, Order Botryosphaeriales, Family Phyllostictaceae, Genus Phyllosticta, Species citricarpa.Host rangeConfirmed on more than 12 Citrus species, Phyllosticta citricarpa has only been found on plant species in the Rutaceae.Disease symptomsP. citricarpa causes diverse symptoms such as hard spot, virulent spot, false melanose and freckle spot on fruit, and necrotic lesions on leaves and twigs.Useful websitesDOE Joint Genome Institute MycoCosm portals for the Phyllosticta capitalensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycap1), P. citriasiana (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycit1), P. citribraziliensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phcit1), P. citrichinaensis (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phcitr1), P. citricarpa (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycitr1, https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phycpc1), P. paracitricarpa (https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phy27169) genomes. All available Phyllosticta genomes on MycoCosm can be viewed at https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Phyllosticta

Micromanipulation at an infertility centre

Aim. Human in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer have been used in the management of various forms of infertility. In cases of severe male-factor infertility, fertilisation can be a factor. In this study micromanipulation was used to increase fertilisation in such cases.Methods. Two micromanipulation techniques, subzonal sperm injection (SUZI) and partial zona dissection (PZD), were used to assist fertilisation in patients with abnorTl)al semen parameters. Ten couples with severe oligo-, teratoand asthenozoospermia participated in the SUZI programme. Seventy-three oocytes were obtained from these 10 patients. PZD was used on day 1 oocytes in cases of male infertility as well as a rescue attempt on day 2 oocytes when fertilisation had failed after routine insemination.Results. The SUZI technique had a fertilisation rate of 37,7%. In this group, a biochemical pregnancy was achieved. Differences between the fertilisation rate of conventionallVF (33,3%) and PZD (56,3%) in cases of male infertility, were not statistically significant although a clinical difference could be detected. PZD was statistically effective in facilitating fertilisation (37,5% v. 8,3%) in couples where this procedure was introduced to reinseminate 24-hour-old unfertilised oocytes. Four patients received PZD reinseminated embryos. An average of 1,45 PZD embryos were replaced and 1 implantation pregnancy was confirmed.Conclusion. The micromanipulation results are encouraging arid seemed to increase the efficiency of IVF in humans. Furthermore, our data support the conclusion that micromanipulation procedures can bring about pregnancies