Inclusive (e,e′N)(e,e^\prime N), (e,e′NN)(e,e^\prime NN), (e,e′π)(e,e^\prime \pi) ... reactions in nuclei

We study the inclusive $(e,e^\prime N)$, $(e,e^\prime NN)$, $(e,e^\prime \pi)$, $(e,e^\prime \pi N)$ reactions in nuclei using a Monte Carlo simulation method to treat the multichannel problem of the final state. The input consists of reaction probabilities for the different steps evaluated using microscopical many body methods. We obtain a good agreement with experiment in some channels where there is data and make predictions for other channels which are presently under investigation in several electron laboratories. The comparison of the theoretical results with experiment for several kinematical conditions and diverse channels can serve to learn about different physical processes ocurring in the reaction. The potential of this theoretical tool to make prospections for possible experiments, aiming at pinning down certain reaction probabilities, is also emphasized.Comment: 21 pages (LaTeX + figure files

Caractéristiques moléculaires de l'immunité des plantes induite par les rhizobactéries non pathogènes

Molecular characteristics of the rhizobacteria-triggered plant immunity. Recognition of certain non-pathogenic rhizobacteria by plants can trigger a systemic resistance reaction that renders the host less susceptible to subsequent infection by a virulent agent. Used in combination with other approaches, this induced systemic resistance (ISR) phenomenon is considered as a promising strategy for plant disease control both in greenhouse cultures and under field conditions. This review emphasizes the molecular aspects of this three-step process involving sequentially the perception by plant cells of elicitors produced by the inducing agents that initiates the phenomenon, signal transduction that is needed to propagate the induced state systemically through the plant and expression of defense mechanisms sensu stricto that limit or inhibit pathogen penetration into the host tissues. The current state of knowledge about rhizobacteria-stimulated ISR is discussed in parallel with the better characterized systemic acquired resistance induced by incompatible pathogens

Rift Valley fever in a temperate and mountaneous area of Madagascar

A serological study was performed in 2009 in Madagascar highlands to evaluate the point prevalence rate of RVF antibodies in ruminants and identify environmental and trade factors potentially linked to RVF persistence and transmission. Nine hundred ruminants were randomly selected among 51 villages and sampled. Sera were analysed using a commercial validated ELISA test. For each ruminant, the following variables were recorded: age, location of the night pen, minimum distance from the pen to the closest water point and the forest, water point type, and the way owners use to renewal their herd: auto-renewal vs purchase. Serological data were analysed using a generalized linear mixed model, the individual serological status being the binomial response, and the above-mentioned variables the explicative factors, and the breeder as random effect. The overall IgG seroprevalence rate was 28% [IC95% 25-31]. The main effect on prevalence was due to age (P=10-4) suggesting an endemic RVF circulation in this area. The distance to the closest water point was a protective factor (P=5×10-3) but the type of water point had no effect on the prevalence rate: a substantial part of the transmission is due to vectors and several mosquito species are probably involved. Ruminants belonging to owners renewing their herd by purchase were significantly more infected than others (P=0.04), suggesting that cattle trade may contribute to the circulation of the virus in this area. This is the first evidence of a recurrent transmission of RVFV in such an ecosystem which associates a wet, temperate climate, high altitude, paddy fields, and vicinity to a dense rain forest. Persistence mechanisms need to be further investigated. (Texte intégral

Conceptual mechanization studies for a horizon definition spacecraft electrical power subsystem

Solar cell-battery electrical power subsystem for horizon definition spacecraf

Approximate treatment of electron Coulomb distortion in quasielastic (e,e') reactions

In this paper we address the adequacy of various approximate methods of including Coulomb distortion effects in (e,e') reactions by comparing to an exact treatment using Dirac-Coulomb distorted waves. In particular, we examine approximate methods and analyses of (e,e') reactions developed by Traini et al. using a high energy approximation of the distorted waves and phase shifts due to Lenz and Rosenfelder. This approximation has been used in the separation of longitudinal and transverse structure functions in a number of (e,e') experiments including the newly published 208Pb(e,e') data from Saclay. We find that the assumptions used by Traini and others are not valid for typical (e,e') experiments on medium and heavy nuclei, and hence the extracted structure functions based on this formalism are not reliable. We describe an improved approximation which is also based on the high energy approximation of Lenz and Rosenfelder and the analyses of Knoll and compare our results to the Saclay data. At each step of our analyses we compare our approximate results to the exact distorted wave results and can therefore quantify the errors made by our approximations. We find that for light nuclei, we can get an excellent treatment of Coulomb distortion effects on (e,e') reactions just by using a good approximation to the distorted waves, but for medium and heavy nuclei simple additional ad hoc factors need to be included. We describe an explicit procedure for using our approximate analyses to extract so-called longitudinal and transverse structure functions from (e,e') reactions in the quasielastic region.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figures, 16 reference

y scaling in electron-nucleus scattering

Data on inclusive electron scattering from A = 4, 12, 27, 56, 197 nuclei at large momentum transfer are presented and analyzed in terms of y scaling. We find that the data do scale for y 1), and we study the convergence of the scaling function with the momentum transfer Q^2 and A

Entropy production and fluctuation theorems under feedback control: the molecular refrigerator model revisited

We revisit the model of a Brownian particle in a heat bath submitted to an actively controlled force proportional to the velocity that leads to thermal noise reduction (cold damping). We investigate the influence of the continuous feedback on the fluctuations of the total entropy production and show that the explicit expression of the detailed fluctuation theorem involves different dynamics and observables in the forward and backward processes. As an illustration, we study the analytically solvable case of a harmonic oscillator and calculate the characteristic function of the entropy production in a nonequilibrium steady state. We then determine the corresponding large deviation function which results from an unusual interplay between 'boundary' and 'bulk' contributions.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures. References 9,10,13,14,15 added. A few changes in the text. Accepted for publication in J. Stat. Mec

Elastic behavior in Contact Dynamics of rigid particles

The systematic errors due to the practical implementation of the Contact Dynamics method for simulation of dense granular media are examined. It is shown that, using the usual iterative solver to simulate a chain of rigid particles, effective elasticity and sound propagation with a finite velocity occur. The characteristics of these phenomena are investigated analytically and numerically in order to assess the limits of applicability of this simulation method and to compare it with soft particle molecular dynamics.Comment: submitted to PRE, 7 pages, 6 figure

Gazelle seasonal mobility in the Jordanian steppe: The use of dental isotopes and microwear as environmental markers, applied to Epipalaeolithic Kharaneh IV

The Early/Middle Epipalaeolithic aggregation site of Kharaneh IV in the east Jordan steppe is one of the largest of the period, showing repeated use, high degrees of site investment, and relatively prolonged periods of occupation. Hunters relied heavily on the single prey species, Gazella subgutturosa. This paper reports on isotopic analyses of gazelle teeth, drawn from the Kharaneh IV assemblage, to explore the seasonal and spatial distribution of gazelle in life and examine models of long-distance seasonal gazelle migrations. Dental microwear analysis is also employed to assess hunting seasons. Results from sequential isotope analyses of 11 Epipalaeolithic gazelle molars show that, with one exception, gazelle did not move seasonally from the limestone steppe onto other geologies, nor did they seasonally relocate to areas with different climate regimes. Rather, seasonal herd mobility seems to have been local, meaning animals would have been available in the vicinity of Kharaneh IV year-round. Results from 19 microwear analyses show some gazelle to have died in spring when grass graze was available, whilst others had been browsing around their time of death, indicating non-spring hunting. Microwear evidence thus suggests gazelle were hunted in more than one restricted season. The implications of these new datasets for hunter-gatherer use of the steppe, and potential hunting methods, is highlighted