52 research outputs found
Nucleosynthesis of Nb and the relevance of the low-lying isomer at 135.5 keV
Background: Because of its half-life of about 35 million years, 92Nb is
considered as a chronometer for nucleosynthesis events prior to the birth of
our sun. The abundance of 92Nb in the early solar system can be derived from
meteoritic data. It has to be compared to theoretical estimates for the
production of 92Nb to determine the time between the last nucleosynthesis event
before the formation of the early solar system.
Purpose: The influence of a low-lying short-lived isomer on the
nucleosynthesis of 92Nb is analyzed. The thermal coupling between the ground
state and the isomer via so-called intermediate states affects the production
and survival of 92Nb.
Method: The properties of the lowest intermediate state in 92Nb are known
from experiment. From the lifetime of the intermediate state and from its decay
branchings, the transition rate from the ground state to the isomer and the
effective half-life of 92Nb are calculated as a function of the temperature.
Results: The coupling between the ground state and the isomer is strong. This
leads to thermalization of ground state and isomer in the nucleosynthesis of
92Nb in any explosive production scenario and almost 100% survival of 92Nb in
its ground state. However, the strong coupling leads to a temperature-dependent
effective half-life of 92Nb which makes the 92Nb survival very sensitive to
temperatures as low as about 8 keV, thus turning 92Nb at least partly into a
thermometer.
Conclusions: The low-lying isomer in 92Nb does not affect the production of
92Nb in explosive scenarios. In retrospect this validates all previous studies
where the isomer was not taken into account. However, the dramatic reduction of
the effective half-life at temperatures below 10 keV may affect the survival of
92Nb after its synthesis in supernovae which are the most likely astrophysical
site for the nucleosynthesis of 92Nb.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; Phys. Rev. C, accepted for publicatio
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Shy or sociable : introversion/extraversion and message recall
textPersonality research has long been an area of interest in the study of consumer behavior. Currently, common practice is to segment prospective audiences by demographic variables (age, gender, and race) instead of psychographics (values, attitudes, personality). In this research, the author investigates the relationship between personality type (introversion/extraversion) and message recall. Using 122 undergraduate and graduate students, recall was examined across two forms of stimulus (incongruent and congruent messages). Results indicated that while there is no relationship between personality type and message recall, there is a relationship between the frequency of advertising messaging and recall. Results are discussed individually by messaging frequency and personality type with further suggestions for future research.Advertisin
The association between parent's and healthcare professional's behavior and children's coping and distress during venepuncture
Objectives: Examine the association between childrenâs distress and coping during venepuncture with parentâs and healthcare professionalâs behavior in a sample from the UK.
Methods:âFifty children aged 7â16 years accompanied by a carer were videotaped while having venepuncture. Verbalizations of children, parents, and healthcare professionals were coded using the ChildâAdult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised.
Results: Childrenâs distress was associated with childâs age, anxiety, and distress promoting behavior of adults (R2 = .91). Childrenâs coping was associated with age, anxiety, and coping promoting behaviors of adults (R2 = .57). Associations were stronger between healthcare professionalâs behavior and child coping; and between parentâs behaviors and child distress. Empathizing, apologizing, and criticism were not frequently used by adults in this sample (<12%).
Conclusion:âThis study supports and extends previous research showing adultâs behavior is important in childrenâs distress and coping during needle procedures. Clinical implications and methodological issues are discussed
Computation of the radiation characteristics of a generalized phased array
With the advent of monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology, the phased array has become a key component in the design of advanced antenna systems. Array-fed antennas are used extensively in today's multiple beam satellite antennas. A computer program based on a very efficient numerical technique for calculating the radiated power (Romberg integration), directivity, and radiation pattern of a phased array is described. The formulation developed is very general, and takes into account arbitrary element polarization, E- and H-plane element pattern, element location, and complex element excitation. For comparison purposes sample cases have been presented. Excellent agreement has been obtained for all cases. Also included are a user guide and a copy of the computer program
Zirconium stable isotope analysis of zircon by MC-ICP-MS: Methods and application to evaluating intra-crystalline zonation in a zircon megacryst
Zirconium (Zr) plays a key role in the development of phases like zircon (ZrSiOâ) and baddeleyite (ZrOâ) in magmatic systems. These minerals are crucial for the study of geologic time and crustal evolution, and their high resistivity to weathering and erosion results in their preservation on timescales of billions of years. Although zircon and baddeleyite may also preserve a robust record of Zr isotope behavior in high-temperature terrestrial environments, little is known about the factors that control Zr isotope partitioning in magmatic systems, the petrogenetic significance of fractionated compositions, or how these variations are recorded in Zr-rich accessory phases. Here, we describe a new analytical protocol for accurately determining the Zr stable isotope composition of zircon by multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), using the double-spike method to correct for procedural and instrumental mass bias. We apply this technique to test whether zircon crystallization in carbonatite magmatic systems is a driver of Zr isotope fractionation by interrogating the internal zonation of a zircon megacryst from the Mud Tank carbonatite (MTUR1). We find the MTUR1 megacryst to lack internal zoning within analytical uncertainties with a mean Îźâšâ´/âšâ°Zr_(NIST) = â55 Âą 28 ppm (2 SD, n = 151), which suggests that zircon crystallization is not a driver of Zr isotope fractionation in carbonatite magmas. This observation is in stark contrast with those made in silicate magmatic systems, raising the possibility that the bonding environment of Zrâ´âş ions may be fundamentally different in carbonatite vs. silicate melts. Because of its remarkable homogeneity, the MTUR1 megacryst is an ideal natural reference material for Zr isotopic analysis of zircon using both solution and spatially resolved methods. The reproducibility of a pure Zr solution and our chemically purified zircon fractions indicate that the external reproducibility of our method is on the order of Âą28 ppm for Îźâšâ´/âšâ°Zr, or Âą7 ppm per amu, at 95% confidence
Lifestyles and consumer behavior
In this article, the concept of lifestyle is traced to its early roots in personality psychology and in marketing. In the latter field, many commercial marketing firms have made strong claims as to the explanatory power of lifestyle dimensions, often based on procedures which have been kept secret, but researchers have seldom been able to verify such claims. In spite of this, the approach is very popular, has wide credibility and is often given very favorable media coverage. Probably because of this, it is often considered as a very important and promising approach by administrators working with the regulation of risk and risk communication. It may also be credible in some quarters because it affords a way of âexplainingâ risk perception as being non-rational. In this paper, we give results from an empirical study of nuclear waste risk perception which is related to a basic risk perception model and three approaches to lifestyles: Kahleâs List of Values, a Swedish adaptation of the âAgorame´trieâ approach suggested by a group of French researchers, and Dake and Wildavskyâs Cultural Theory dimensions. It was found that nuclear waste risk perception could be modeled successfully with risk attitudes and perception data (basic model about 65% of the variance explained), but that lifestyle dimensions added virtually nothing to the explanatory power of the model.consumer behavior; lifestyle; risk
Mito, musica e rito nelle raffigurazioni musicali dei pinakes del Persephoneion di Locri Epizefirii (VI-V sec.a.C.)
I pinakes locresi sono tavolette votive in terracotta del VI e V sec. a. C., per la maggior parte rinvenuti in frammenti, nel 1908, da Paolo Orsi, presso lâedicola tesauraria della Mannella a Locri Epizefirii, polis italiota che si distinse per la sua intensa attivitĂ cultuale e sacra e la vigile custodia di antichissime tradizioni mitiche e storiche.
Nelle rappresentazioni dei coroplasti, talvolta veri artisti, lâambiente locrese è individuabile attraverso la configurazione di templi dove, accanto a personaggi, animali e oggetti mitici o cultuali, sono riprodotti carri, arredamenti, vesti e drappi, suppellettili di uso e di cosmesi, e scene musicali e di danza.
Il soggetto figurativo prevalente nellâintero corpus, costituito da 5360 pinakes, è legato al grande ciclo mitologico della vita di Persephone. Le immagini illustrano il racconto del passaggio di Kore in Persephone, dal suo rapimento da parte di Hades, quando ancora vergine mortale, coglieva fiori sul prato, allâarrivo nel mondo sotterraneo, sino alla preparazione delle nozze e alla festa della presentazione dei doni da parte delle varie divinitĂ alla dea seduta sul trono, sposa di Hades e giĂ sovrana nel regno degli Inferi.
Le raffigurazioni dei pinakes sarebbero espressione e concorderebbero con il culto della dea, nella sua duplice qualitĂ di divinitĂ ctonia e di protettrice della fertilitĂ umana, praticato nel santuario della Mannella e dei riti a lei collegati durante i quali, presumibilmente prima delle nozze, le fanciulle dedicavano alla dea le tavolette votive con scene della vita di Persephone, forse considerata metafora di quella delle giovani donne.
Nel complesso ideologico dei pinakes di Locri, la musica sembra avere avuto un ruolo nei riti di passaggio dallâadolescenza allâetĂ adulta nellâambito di una religiositĂ fortemente legata alla vita sociale
Short-lived Nuclei in the Early Solar System: Possible AGB Sources
(Abridged) We review abundances of short-lived nuclides in the early solar
system (ESS) and the methods used to determine them. We compare them to the
inventory for a uniform galactic production model. Within a factor of two,
observed abundances of several isotopes are compatible with this model. I-129
is an exception, with an ESS inventory much lower than expected. The isotopes
Pd-107, Fe-60, Ca-41, Cl-36, Al-26, and Be-10 require late addition to the
solar nebula. Be-10 is the product of particle irradiation of the solar system
as probably is Cl-36. Late injection by a supernova (SN) cannot be responsible
for most short-lived nuclei without excessively producing Mn-53; it can be the
source of Mn-53 and maybe Fe-60. If a late SN is responsible for these two
nuclei, it still cannot make Pd-107 and other isotopes. We emphasize an AGB
star as a source of nuclei, including Fe-60 and explore this possibility with
new stellar models. A dilution factor of about 4e-3 gives reasonable amounts of
many nuclei. We discuss the role of irradiation for Al-26, Cl-36 and Ca-41.
Conflict between scenarios is emphasized as well as the absence of a global
interpretation for the existing data. Abundances of actinides indicate a
quiescent interval of about 1e8 years for actinide group production in order to
explain the data on Pu-244 and new bounds on Cm-247. This interval is not
compatible with Hf-182 data, so a separate type of r-process is needed for at
least the actinides, distinct from the two types previously identified. The
apparent coincidence of the I-129 and trans-actinide time scales suggests that
the last actinide contribution was from an r-process that produced actinides
without fission recycling so that the yields at Ba and below were governed by
fission.Comment: 92 pages, 14 figure files, in press at Nuclear Physics
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