Quasielastic neutrino scattering from oxygen and the atmospheric neutrino problem

We examine several phenomena beyond the scope of Fermi-gas models that affect the quasielastic scattering (from oxygen) of neutrinos in the 0.1 -- 3.0 GeV range. These include Coulomb interactions of outgoing protons and leptons, a realistic finite-volume mean field, and the residual nucleon-nucleon interaction. None of these effects are accurately represented in the Monte Carlo simulations used to predict event rates due to $\mu$ and $e$ neutrinos from cosmic-ray collisions in the atmosphere. We nevertheless conclude that the neglected physics cannot account for the anomalous $\mu$ to $e$ ratio observed at Kamiokande and IMB, and is unlikely to change absolute event rates by more than 10--15\%. We briefly mention other phenomena, still to be investigated in detail, that may produce larger changes.Comment: In Revtex version 2. 14 pages, 3 figures (available on request from J. Engel, tel. 302-831-4354, [email protected]

Neutron-Proton Correlations in an Exactly Solvable Model

We examine isovector and isoscalar neutron-proton correlations in an exactly solvable model based on the algebra SO(8). We look particularly closely at Gamow-Teller strength and double beta decay, both to isolate the effects of the two kinds of pairing and to test two approximation schemes: the renormalized neutron-proton QRPA (RQRPA) and generalized BCS theory. When isoscalar pairing correlations become strong enough a phase transition occurs and the dependence of the Gamow-Teller beta+ strength on isospin changes in a dramatic and unfamiliar way, actually increasing as neutrons are added to an N=Z core. Renormalization eliminates the well-known instabilities that plague the QRPA as the phase transition is approached, but only by unnaturally suppressing the isoscalar correlations. Generalized BCS theory, on the other hand, reproduces the Gamow-Teller strength more accurately in the isoscalar phase than in the usual isovector phase, even though its predictions for energies are equally good everywhere. It also mixes T=0 and T=1 pairing, but only on the isoscalar side of the phase transition.Comment: 13 pages + 11 postscript figures, in RevTe

A new result on the Klein-Gordon equation in the background of a rotating black hole

This short paper should serve as basis for further analysis of a previously found new symmetry of the solutions of the wave equation in the gravitational field of a Kerr black hole. Its main new result is the proof of essential self-adjointness of the spatial part of a reduced normalized wave operator of the Kerr metric in a weighted L^2-space. As a consequence, it leads to a purely operator theoretic proof of the well-posedness of the initial value problem of the reduced Klein-Gordon equation in that field in that L^2-space and in this way generalizes a corresponding result of Kay (1985) in the case of the Schwarzschild black hole. It is believed that the employed methods are applicable to other separable wave equations

The discrete fragmentation equations : semigroups, compactness and asynchronous exponential growth

In this paper we present a class of fragmentation semigroups which are compact in a scale of spaces defined in terms of finite higher moments. We use this compactness result to analyse the long time behaviour of such semigroups and, in particular, to prove that they have the asynchronous growth property. We note that, despite compactness, this growth property is not automatic as the fragmentation semigroups are not irreducible

Isovector Pairing in Odd-A Proton-Rich Nuclei

A simple model based on the group SO(5) suggests that both the like-particle and neutron-proton components of isovector pairing correlations in odd-A nuclei are Pauli blocked. The same effect emerges from Monte Carlo Shell-model calculations of proton-rich nuclei in the full fp shell. There are small differences between the two models in their representation of the effects of an odd nucleon on the competition between like-particle and neutron-proton pairing, but they can be understood and reduced by using a two-level version of the SO(5) model. On the other hand, in odd-odd nuclei with N not equal to Z SO(5) disagrees more severely with the shell model because it incorrectly predicts ground-state isospins. The shell model calculations for any fp-shell nuclei can be extended to finite temperature, where they show a decrease in blocking

Plasmodium falciparum glutamate dehydrogenase a is dispensable and not a drug target during erythrocytic development

<p>Background: Plasmodium falciparum contains three genes encoding potential glutamate dehydrogenases. The protein encoded by gdha has previously been biochemically and structurally characterized. It was suggested that it is important for the supply of reducing equivalents during intra-erythrocytic development of Plasmodium and, therefore, a suitable drug target.</p> <p>Methods: The gene encoding the NADP(H)-dependent GDHa has been disrupted by reverse genetics in P. falciparum and the effect on the antioxidant and metabolic capacities of the resulting mutant parasites was investigated.</p> <p>Results: No growth defect under low and elevated oxygen tension, no up-or down-regulation of a number of antioxidant and NADP(H)-generating proteins or mRNAs and no increased levels of GSH were detected in the D10(Delta gdha) parasite lines. Further, the fate of the carbon skeleton of [(13)C] labelled glutamine was assessed by metabolomic studies, revealing no differences in the labelling of a-ketoglutarate and other TCA pathway intermediates between wild type and mutant parasites.</p> <p>Conclusions: First, the data support the conclusion that D10(Delta gdha) parasites are not experiencing enhanced oxidative stress and that GDHa function may not be the provision of NADP(H) for reductive reactions. Second, the results imply that the cytosolic, NADP(H)-dependent GDHa protein is not involved in the oxidative deamination of glutamate but that the protein may play a role in ammonia assimilation as has been described for other NADP(H)dependent GDH from plants and fungi. The lack of an obvious phenotype in the absence of GDHa may point to a regulatory role of the protein providing glutamate (as nitrogen storage molecule) in situations where the parasites experience a limiting supply of carbon sources and, therefore, under in vitro conditions the enzyme is unlikely to be of significant importance. The data imply that the protein is not a suitable target for future drug development against intra-erythrocytic parasite development.</p&gt

The Effect of Fatigue on Essential Element Distribution in the Rabbit Masseter

The rabbit masseter is composed of mainly fast fatiguable type IIB fibers which give a positive mATPase reaction at pH 9.3. To study the effect of fatigue on the distribution of some crucial elements, the masseter was stimulated electrically for 45 minutes. The contralateral muscle served as a control. Control and experimental tissues were rapidly excised, and frozen in isopentane cooled to -150°C in liquid nitrogen. Sections were cut in a cryostat and prepared by freeze-drying. Water content of fatigued muscle was significantly higher than controls: 79.3% versus 77.3%. The fatigued state was verified by glycogen depletion viewed in PAS-stained sections. Ice crystal artifacts were more prominent in stimulated muscle, suggesting cytoplasmic edema and/or a change in water state. Element analysis of myofibers, using an scanning electron microscope equipped with a computer assisted energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer was performed at 15 kV for 100 seconds. Counts were recorded for Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K and Ca ( Mg and Ca counts were too low to evaluate). Counts were converted to concentrations using a gelatin element standard. The most striking finding in fatigued muscle was a decrease in K concentration (33%) and an increase in Na (100%) and Cl (75%). P and S values were slightly lower. An interpretation of these findings is made in relation to a) changes in water structure and b) conformational changes in myofibril macromolecules

Antenna servo control system characterization: Rate loop analysis for 34-m antenna at DSS 15

The elevation and azimuth servo rate loops at the 34-m High Efficiency Deep Space Station 15 (DSS 15) are described. Time and frequency response performance criteria were measured. The results are compared to theoretically deduced performance criteria. Unexpected anomalies in the frequency response are observed and identified

Binary jumps in continuum. II. Non-equilibrium process and a Vlasov-type scaling limit

Let $\Gamma$ denote the space of all locally finite subsets (configurations) in $\mathbb R^d$. A stochastic dynamics of binary jumps in continuum is a Markov process on $\Gamma$ in which pairs of particles simultaneously hop over $\mathbb R^d$. We discuss a non-equilibrium dynamics of binary jumps. We prove the existence of an evolution of correlation functions on a finite time interval. We also show that a Vlasov-type mesoscopic scaling for such a dynamics leads to a generalized Boltzmann non-linear equation for the particle density