1,204 research outputs found
The size of two-body weakly bound objects : short versus long range potentials
The variation of the size of two-body objects is investigated, as the
separation energy approaches zero, with both long range potentials and short
range potentials having a repulsive core. It is shown that long range
potentials can also give rise to very extended systems. The asymptotic laws
derived for states with angular momentum l=1,2 differ from the ones obtained
with short range potentials. The sensitivity of the asymptotic laws on the
shape and length of short range potentials defined by two and three parameters
is studied. These ideas as well as the transition from the short to the long
range regime for the l=0 case are illustrated using the Kratzer potential.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter
Multimorbidity, control and treatment of noncommunicable diseases among primary healthcare attenders in the Western Cape, South Africa
Background. South Africa (SA) is facing a heavy burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Few studies address multimorbidity, control and treatment of NCDs in patients attending primary healthcare (PHC) clinics. Objectives. To describe multimorbidity, related risk factors, disease severity and treatment status of patients with four important NCDs attending public sector PHC clinics in two districts in SA. Methods. A cross-sectional sample of patients completed baseline data collection for a randomised controlled trial of a health systems intervention. The study population comprised adults attending PHC clinics in the Eden and Overberg districts of the Western Cape in 2011. Four subgroups of patients were identified: hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and depression. A total of 4 393 participants enrolled from 38 clinics completed a baseline structured questionnaire and had measurements taken. Prescription data were recorded. Results. Of participants with hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease and depression, 80%, 92%, 88% and 80%, respectively, had at least one of the other three conditions. There were low levels of control and treatment: 59% of participants with hypertension had a blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, the mean haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value in participants with diabetes was 9%, 12% of participants in the depression group were prescribed an antidepressant at a therapeutic dose, and 48% of respiratory participants were prescribed a b2-agonist and 34% an inhaled corticosteroid. Conclusion. Considerable multimorbidity and unmet treatment needs exist among patients with NCDs attending public sector PHC clinics. Improved strategies are required for diagnosing and managing NCDs in this sector
Development of a custom on-line ultrasonic vapour analyzer/flowmeter for the ATLAS inner detector, with application to gaseous tracking and Cherenkov detectors
Precision sound velocity measurements can simultaneously determine binary gas
composition and flow. We have developed an analyzer with custom electronics,
currently in use in the ATLAS inner detector, with numerous potential
applications. The instrument has demonstrated ~0.3% mixture precision for
C3F8/C2F6 mixtures and < 10-4 resolution for N2/C3F8 mixtures. Moderate and
high flow versions of the instrument have demonstrated flow resolutions of +/-
2% F.S. for flows up to 250 l.min-1, and +/- 1.9% F.S. for linear flow
velocities up to 15 ms-1; the latter flow approaching that expected in the
vapour return of the thermosiphon fluorocarbon coolant recirculator being built
for the ATLAS silicon tracker.Comment: Paper submitted to TWEPP2012; Topical Workshop on Electronics for
Particle Physics, Oxford, UK, September 17-21, 2012. KEYWORDS: Sonar;
Saturated fluorocarbons; Flowmetry; Sound velocity, Gas mixture analysis. 8
pages, 7 figure
Modulation effect in the differential rate for Supersymmetric Dark Matter detection
The modulation effect in the direct detection of supersymmetric Cold Dark
Matter (CDM) particles is investigated. It is shown that, while normally the
modulation effect in the total event rate is small, , in some special
cases it becomes much larger. It also becomes more pronounced in the
differential event rate. It may thus be exploited to discriminate against
background.Comment: 17 LATEX pages, 4 Tables, 4 PostScript Figures included. Phys. Rev.
D, to be publishe
Genome sequence of the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus reveals mechanisms governing adaptation to a humic-rich ecological niche
Agaricus bisporus is the model fungus for the adaptation, persistence, and growth in the humic-rich leaf-litter environment. Aside from its ecological role, A. bisporus has been an important component of the human diet for over 200 y and worldwide cultivation of the "button mushroom" forms a multibillion dollar industry. We present two A. bisporus genomes, their gene repertoires and transcript profiles on compost andduringmushroomformation.The genomes encode a full repertoire of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes similar to that of wood-decayers. Comparative transcriptomics of mycelium grown on defined medium, casing-soil, and compost revealed genes encoding enzymes involved in xylan, cellulose, pectin, and protein degradation aremore highly expressed in compost. The striking expansion of heme-thiolate peroxidases and β-etherases is distinctive from Agaricomycotina wood-decayers and suggests a broad attack on decaying lignin and related metabolites found in humic acid-rich environment. Similarly, up-regulation of these genes together with a lignolytic manganese peroxidase, multiple copper radical oxidases, and cytochrome P450s is consistent with challenges posed by complex humic-rich substrates. The gene repertoire and expression of hydrolytic enzymes in A. bisporus is substantially different from the taxonomically related ectomycorrhizal symbiont Laccaria bicolor. A common promoter motif was also identified in genes very highly expressed in humic-rich substrates. These observations reveal genetic and enzymatic mechanisms governing adaptation to the humic-rich ecological niche formed during plant degradation, further defining the critical role such fungi contribute to soil structure and carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. Genome sequence will expedite mushroom breeding for improved agronomic characteristics
Weight, physical activity and dietary behavior change in young mothers : short term results of the HeLP-her cluster randomized controlled trial
BackgroundPreventing weight gain rather than treating established obesity is an important economic and public health response to the rapidly increasing rates of obesity worldwide. Treatment of established obesity is complex and costly requiring multiple resources. Preventing weight gain potentially requires fewer resources to reach broad population groups, yet there is little evidence for successful interventions to prevent weight gain in the community. Women with children are an important target group because of high rates of weight gain and the potential to influence the health behaviors in family members.MethodsThe aim of this cluster randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the short term effect of a community-based self-management intervention to prevent weight gain. Two hundred and fifty mothers of young children (mean age 40 years ± 4.5, BMI 27.9 kg/m2 ± 5.6) were recruited from the community in Melbourne, Australia. The intervention group (n = 127) attended four interactive group sessions over 4 months, held in 12 local primary schools in 2006, and was compared to a group (n = 123) receiving a single, non-interactive, health education session. Data collection included self-reported weight (both groups), measured weight (intervention only), self-efficacy, dietary intake and physical activity.ResultsMean measured weight decreased significantly in the intervention group (-0.78 kg 95% CI; -1.22 to -0.34, p < 0.001). Comparing groups using self-reported weight, both the intervention and comparison groups decreased weight, -0.75 kg (95% CI; -1.57 to 0.07, p = 0.07) and -0.72 kg (95% CI; -1.59 to 0.14 p = 0.10) respectively with no significant difference between groups (-0.03 kg, 95% CI; -1.32 to 1.26, p = 0.95). More women lost or maintained weight in the intervention group. The intervention group tended to have the greatest effect in those who were overweight at baseline and in those who weighed themselves regularly. Intervention women who rarely self-weighed gained weight (+0.07 kg) and regular self-weighers lost weight (-1.66 kg) a difference of -1.73 kg (95% CI; -3.35 to -0.11 p = 0.04). The intervention reported increased physical activity although the difference between groups did not reach significance. Both groups reported replacing high fat foods with low fat alternatives and self-efficacy deteriorated in the comparison group only.ConclusionBoth a single health education session and interactive behavioral intervention will result in a similar weight loss in the short term, although more participants in the interactive intervention lost or maintained weight. There were small non-significant changes to physical activity and changes to fat intake specifically replacing high fat foods with low fat alternatives such as fruit and vegetables. Self-monitoring appears to enhance weight loss when part of an intervention.<br /
Observation of Parity Nonconservation in Moller Scattering
We report a measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in fixed target
electron-electron (Moller) scattering: A_PV = -175 +/- 30 (stat.) +/- 20
(syst.) parts per billion. This first direct observation of parity
nonconservation in Moller scattering leads to a measurement of the electron's
weak charge at low energy Q^e_W = -0.053 +/- 0.011. This is consistent with the
Standard Model expectation at the current level of precision:
sin^2\theta_W(M_Z)_MSbar = 0.2293 +/- 0.0024 (stat.) +/- 0.0016 (syst.) +/-
0.0006 (theory).Comment: Version 3 is the same as version 2. These versions contain minor text
changes from referee comments and a change in the extracted value of Q^e_W
and sin^2\theta_W due to a change in the theoretical calculation of the
bremsstrahulung correction (ref. 16
Determination of Matter Surface Distribution of Neutron-rich Nuclei
We demonstrate that the matter density distribution in the surface region is
determined well by the use of the relatively low-intensity beams that become
available at the upcoming radioactive beam facilities. Following the method
used in the analyses of electron scattering, we examine how well the density
distribution is determined in a model-independent way by generating pseudo data
and by carefully applying statistical and systematic error analyses. We also
study how the determination becomes deteriorated in the central region of the
density, as the quality of data decreases. Determination of the density
distributions of neutron-rich nuclei is performed by fixing parameters in the
basis functions to the neighboring stable nuclei. The procedure allows that the
knowledge of the density distributions of stable nuclei assists to strengthen
the determination of their unstable isotopes.Comment: 41 pages, latex, 27 figure
Precision Determination of the Neutron Spin Structure Function g1n
We report on a precision measurement of the neutron spin structure function
using deep inelastic scattering of polarized electrons by polarized
^3He. For the kinematic range 0.014<x<0.7 and 1 (GeV/c)^2< Q^2< 17 (GeV/c)^2,
we obtain at an average . We find relatively large negative
values for at low . The results call into question the usual Regge
theory method for extrapolating to x=0 to find the full neutron integral
, needed for testing quark-parton model and QCD sum rules.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures To be published in Phys. Rev. Let
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