641 research outputs found
Deep far infrared ISOPHOT survey in "Selected Area 57", I. Observations and source counts
We present here the results of a deep survey in a 0.4 sq.deg. blank field in
Selected Area 57 conducted with the ISOPHOT instrument aboard ESAs Infrared
Space Observatory (ISO) at both 60 um and 90 um. The resulting sky maps have a
spatial resolution of 15 x 23 sq.arcsec. per pixel which is much higher than
the 90 x 90 sq.arcsec. pixels of the IRAS All Sky Survey. We describe the main
instrumental effects encountered in our data, outline our data reduction and
analysis scheme and present astrometry and photometry of the detected point
sources. With a formal signal to noise ratio of 6.75 we have source detection
limits of 90 mJy at 60 um and 50 mJy at 90 um. To these limits we find
cumulated number densities of 5+-3.5 per sq.deg. at 60 um and 14.8+-5.0 per
sq.deg.at 90 um. These number densities of sources are found to be lower than
previously reported results from ISO but the data do not allow us to
discriminate between no-evolution scenarios and various evolutionary models.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic
Graphene formed on SiC under various environments: Comparison of Si-face and C-face
The morphology of graphene on SiC {0001} surfaces formed in various
environments including ultra-high vacuum, 1 atm of argon, and 10^-6 to 10^-4
Torr of disilane is studied by atomic force microscopy, low-energy electron
microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The graphene is formed by heating the
surface to 1100 - 1600 C, which causes preferential sublimation of the Si
atoms. The argon atmosphere or the background of disilane decreases the
sublimation rate so that a higher graphitization temperature is required, thus
improving the morphology of the films. For the (0001) surface, large areas of
monolayer-thick graphene are formed in this way, with the size of these areas
depending on the miscut of the sample. Results on the (000-1) surface are more
complex. This surface graphitizes at a lower temperature than for the (0001)
surface and consequently the growth is more three-dimensional. In an atmosphere
of argon the morphology becomes even worse, with the surface displaying
markedly inhomogeneous nucleation, an effect attributed to unintentional
oxidation of the surface during graphitization. Use of a disilane environment
for the (000-1) surface is found to produce improved morphology, with
relatively large areas of monolayer-thick graphene.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, Proceedings of STEG-2 Conference; eliminated
Figs. 4 and 7 from version 1, for brevity, and added Refs. 18, 29, 30, 31
together with associated discussio
Confirmation of Parity Violation in the Gamma Decay of
This paper reports measurements using the technique of On Line Nuclear
Orientation (OLNO) which reexamine the gamma decay of isomeric Hf and specifically the 501 keV 8 -- 6
transition. The irregular admixture of E2 to M2/E3 multipolarity in this
transition, deduced from the forward-backward asymmetry of its angular
distribution, has for decades stood as the prime evidence for parity mixing in
nuclear states. The experiment, based on ion implantation of the newly
developed mass-separated Hf beam at ISOLDE, CERN into an
iron foil maintained at millikelvin temperatures, produces higher degrees of
polarization than were achieved in previous studies of this system. The value
found for the E2/M2 mixing ratio, = -0.0324(16)(17), is in close
agreement with the previous published average value = - 0.030(2), in
full confirmation of the presence of the irregular E2 admixture in the 501 keV
transition. The temperature dependence of the forward-backward asymmetry has
been measured over a more extended range of nuclear polarization than
previously possible, giving further evidence for parity mixing of the 8 and 8 levels and the deduced E2/M2 mixing ratio.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review
The Computational Complexity of Knot and Link Problems
We consider the problem of deciding whether a polygonal knot in 3-dimensional
Euclidean space is unknotted, capable of being continuously deformed without
self-intersection so that it lies in a plane. We show that this problem, {\sc
unknotting problem} is in {\bf NP}. We also consider the problem, {\sc
unknotting problem} of determining whether two or more such polygons can be
split, or continuously deformed without self-intersection so that they occupy
both sides of a plane without intersecting it. We show that it also is in NP.
Finally, we show that the problem of determining the genus of a polygonal knot
(a generalization of the problem of determining whether it is unknotted) is in
{\bf PSPACE}. We also give exponential worst-case running time bounds for
deterministic algorithms to solve each of these problems. These algorithms are
based on the use of normal surfaces and decision procedures due to W. Haken,
with recent extensions by W. Jaco and J. L. Tollefson.Comment: 32 pages, 1 figur
Intrauterine exposure to mild analgesics during pregnancy and the occurrence of cryptorchidism and hypospadia in the offspring: The Generation R Study
This article is available open access through the publisherâs website. Copyright @ 2012 The Authors.BACKGROUND - Recently, over-the-counter mild analgesic use during pregnancy has been suggested to influence the risk of reproductive disorders in the offspring. We examined the influence of maternal exposure to mild analgesics during pregnancy on the occurrence of cryptorchidism and hypospadia in their offspring.
METHODS - Associations between maternal exposure to mild analgesics during pregnancy and cryptorchidism or hypospadia in the offspring were studied in 3184 women participating in a large population-based prospective birth cohort study from early pregnancy onwards in the Netherlands (2002â2006), the Generation R Study. Cryptorchidism and hypospadia were identified during routine screening assessments performed in child health care centres by trained physicians. The use of mild analgesics was assessed in three prenatal questionnaires in pregnancy, resulting in four periods of use, namely, periconception period, first 14 weeks of gestation, 14â22 weeks of gestation and 20â32 weeks of gestation. Logistic regression analyses were used to study the associations between maternal exposure to mild analgesics and cryptorchidism and hypospadia.
RESULTS - The cumulative prevalence over 30 months of follow up was 2.1% for cryptorchidism and 0.7% for hypospadia. Use of mild analgesics in the second period of pregnancy (14â22 weeks) increased the risk of congenital cryptorchidism [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17â3.83], primarily due to the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) (adjusted OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.01â3.51). Among mothers of cryptorchid sons, 33.8% reported (23 of 68) the use of mild analgesics during pregnancy, compared with 31.8% (7 of 22) of mothers with a boy with hypospadia and 29.9% (926 of 3094) of mothers with healthy boys.
CONCLUSIONS - Our results suggest that intrauterine exposure to mild analgesics, primarily paracetamol, during the period in pregnancy when male sexual differentiation takes place, increases the risk of cryptorchidism.Erasmus University Rotterdam, School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences, the Municipal Health Service Rotterdam area, Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation, Rotterdam and the Stichting Trombosedienst & Artsenlaboratorium
Rijnmond (STAR), Rotterdam
Supporting the organisation of a workshop on thyroid disruption â final report
Written by Brunel University London, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Septemberâ 2017. Framework Contract ENV.A.3/FRA/2014/0029 on
implementation of the Community strategy on Endocrine Disrupters. This document has been prepared for the European Commission however it reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.This report describes the outcomes of a project that culminated in a workshop on thyroid disruption, held on 29th â 31st March 2017 in Maison-Alfort near Paris, France, on the premises of ANSES. The workshop objectives were: To address and discuss interpretations of experimental laboratory studies, wildlife field data as well as human epidemiological data in relation to the identification of thyroid disrupting substances; and to identify ways forward in addressing potential gaps in the test methods in relation to identification of thyroid disrupting substances.European Commission ENV.A.3/FRA/2014/002
First-Principles Calculations of Hyperfine Interactions in La_2CuO_4
We present the results of first-principles cluster calculations of the
electronic structure of La_2CuO_4. Several clusters containing up to nine
copper atoms embedded in a background potential were investigated.
Spin-polarized calculations were performed both at the Hartree-Fock level and
with density functional methods with generalized gradient corrections to the
local density approximation. The distinct results for the electronic structure
obtained with these two methods are discussed. The dependence of the
electric-field gradients at the Cu and the O sites on the cluster size is
studied and the results are compared to experiments. The magnetic hyperfine
coupling parameters are carefully examined. Special attention is given to a
quantitative determination of on-site and transferred hyperfine fields. We
provide a detailed analysis that compares the hyperfine fields obtained for
various cluster sizes with results from additional calculations of spin states
with different multiplicities. From this we conclude that hyperfine couplings
are mainly transferred from nearest neighbor Cu^{2+} ions and that
contributions from further distant neighbors are marginal. The mechanisms
giving rise to transfer of spin density are worked out. Assuming conventional
values for the spin-orbit coupling, the total calculated hyperfine interaction
parameters are compared to informations from experiments.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figure
A New Precision Measurement of the 7Be(p,gamma)8B Cross section with an Implanted 7Be Target
The 7Be(p,gamma)8B reaction plays a central role in the evaluation of solar
neutrino fluxes. We report on a new precision measurement of the cross section
of this reaction, following our previous experiment with an implanted 7Be
target, a raster scanned beam and the elimination of the backscattering loss.
The new measurement incorporates a more abundant 7Be target and a number of
improvements in design and procedure. The point at Elab=991 keV was measured
several times under varying conditions, yielding a value of S17(Ec.m. =850 keV)
= 24.0(5) eV b. Measurements were carried out at lower energies as well. Due to
the precise knowledge of the implanted 7Be density profile it was possible to
reconstitute both the off- and on resonance parts of the cross section and to
obtain from the entire set of measurements an extrapolated value of
S17(0)=21.2(7) eV b.Comment: 4 Pages, 3 Figure
Influence of orbital pair breaking on paramagnetically limited states in clean superconductors
Paramagnetic pair breaking is believed to be of increasing importance in many
layered superconducting materials such as cuprates and organic compounds.
Recently, strong evidence for a phase transition to the
Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov(FFLO) state has been obtained for the first
time. We present a new theory of competing spin and orbital pair breaking in
clean superconducting films or layers. As a general result, we find that the
influence of orbital pair breaking on the paramagnetically limited phase
boundary is rather strong, and its neglect seldom justified. This is
particularly true for the FFLO state which can be destroyed by a very small
orbital contribution. We discuss the situation in YBa_2Cu_3O_7 which has two
coupled conducting Cu-O layers per unit cell. As a consequence, an intrinsic
orbital pair breaking component might exist even for applied field exactly
parallel to the layers.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
- âŠ