2,518 research outputs found
Dust in the wind: Crystalline silicates, corundum and periclase in PG 2112+059
We have determined the mineralogical composition of dust in the Broad
Absorption Line (BAL) quasar PG 2112+059 using mid-infrared spectroscopy
obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. From spectral fitting of the solid
state features, we find evidence for Mg-rich amorphous silicates with olivine
stoichiometry, as well as the first detection of corundum (Al_2O_3) and
periclase (MgO) in quasars. This mixed composition provides the first direct
evidence for a clumpy density structure of the grain forming region. The
silicates in total encompass 56.5% of the identified dust mass, while corundum
takes up 38 wt.%. Depending on the choice of continuum, a range of mass
fractions is observed for periclase ranging from 2.7% in the most conservative
case to 9% in a less constrained continuum. In addition, we identify a feature
at 11.2 micron as the crystalline silicate forsterite, with only a minor
contribution from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The 5% crystalline silicate
fraction requires high temperatures such as those found in the immediate quasar
environment in order to counteract rapid destruction from cosmic rays.Comment: 2 figure
The mineralogy of newly formed dust in active galactic nuclei
The tori around active galactic nuclei (AGN) are potential formation sites
for large amounts of dust, and they may help resolve the so-called dust budget
crisis at high redshift. We investigate the dust composition in 53 of the 87
Palomar Green (PG) quasars showing the 9.7 micron silicate feature in emission.
By simultaneously fitting the mid-infrared spectroscopic features and the
underlying continuum, we estimate the mass fraction in various amorphous and
crystalline dust species. We find that the dust consists predominantly of
alumina and amorphous silicates, with a small fraction in crystalline form. The
mean crystallinity is 8 +/- 6%, with more than half of the crystallinities
greater than 5%, well above the upper limit determined for the Galaxy. Higher
values of crystallinity are found for higher oxide fractions and for more
luminous sources.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Planetary and Space
Scienc
Is the structure of 42Si understood?
A more detailed test of the implementation of nuclear forces that drive shell
evolution in the pivotal nucleus \nuc{42}{Si} -- going beyond earlier
comparisons of excited-state energies -- is important. The two leading
shell-model effective interactions, SDPF-MU and SDPF-U-Si, both of which
reproduce the low-lying \nuc{42}{Si}() energy, but whose predictions for
other observables differ significantly, are interrogated by the population of
states in neutron-rich \nuc{42}{Si} with a one-proton removal reaction from
\nuc{43}{P} projectiles at 81~MeV/nucleon. The measured cross sections to the
individual \nuc{42}{Si} final states are compared to calculations that combine
eikonal reaction dynamics with these shell-model nuclear structure overlaps.
The differences in the two shell-model descriptions are examined and linked to
predicted low-lying excited states and shape coexistence. Based on the
present data, which are in better agreement with the SDPF-MU calculations, the
state observed at 2150(13)~keV in \nuc{42}{Si} is proposed to be the ()
level.Comment: accepted in Physical Review Letter
Thermodynamic properties and thermal correlation lengths of a Hubbard model with bond-charge interaction
We investigate the thermodynamics of a one-dimensional Hubbard model with
bond-charge interaction X using the transfer matrix renormalization group
method (TMRG). Numerical results for various quantities like spin and charge
susceptibilities, particle densities, specific heat and thermal correlation
lengths are presented and discussed. We compare our data also to results for
the exactly solvable case X/t=1 as well as to bosonisation results for weak
coupling X/t << 1, which shows excellent agreement. We confirm the existence of
a Tomonaga-Luttinger and a Luther-Emery liquid phase, in agreement with
previous studies at zero temperature. Thermal singlet-pair correlation lengths
are shown to dominate density and spin correlations for finite temperatures in
certain parameter regimes.Comment: 13 pages, revte
Curvature effect on the interaction between folded graphitic surface and silver clusters
Evidence of curvature effects on the interaction and binding of silver
clusters on folded graphitic surfaces has been shown from both experiment and
theory. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations within the local density
and generalized gradient approximations have been performed for the structural
relaxation of both Ag and Ag on curved surfaces, showing a cross-over from
quantum to classical behaviour. Using Lennard-Jones potential to model the
interaction between a single cluster and the graphene surface, evidence is
found for the curvature effect on the binding of silver nano-particles to
folding graphitic surfaces. The theoretical results are compared to SEM and AFM
images of samples obtained from pre-formed silver cluster deposition on
carboneous substrates exhibiting anisotropic pleat structures
Cochlear implant positioning:development and validation of an automatic method using computed tomography image analysis
The aim of this study was to preoperatively asses the feasibility of drilling a bony recess for the fixation of a cochlear implant in the temporal bone. Even though complications are rare with cochlear implantations, drilling at the site of implantation have resulted in hematoma or cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Mainly in cases with a reduced temporal bone thickness, the risk for complications has increased, such as in paediatric patients.Methods An in-house designed semi-automatic algorithm was developed to analyse a 3D model of the skull. The feasibility of drilling the recess was determined by a gradient descent method to search for the thickest part of the temporal bone. Feasibility was determined by the residual bone thickness which was calculated after a simulated drilling of the recess at the thickest position. An initial validation of the algorithm was performed by measuring the accuracy of the algorithm on five 3D models with known thickest locations for the recess. The accuracy was determined by a part comparison between the known position and algorithm provided position.Results In four of the five validation models a standard deviation for accuracy below the predetermined cut-off value of 4.2 mm was achieved between the actual thickest position and the position determined by the algorithm. Furthermore, the residual thickness calculated by the algorithm showed a high agreement (max. 0.02 mm difference) with the actual thickness.Conclusion With the developed algorithm, a semi-automatic method was created to analyse the temporal bone thickness within a specified region of interest on the skull. Thereby, providing indications for surgical feasibility, potential risks for anatomical structures and impact on procedure time of cochlear implantation. This method could be a valuable research tool to objectively assess feasibility of drilling a recess in patients with thin temporal bones preoperatively
Changes in use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS) among clinicians enrolled in an online curriculum
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about clinicians' use of herbs and dietary supplements (HDS), how their personal HDS use changes with time and training, and how changes in their personal use affect their confidence or communication with patients about HDS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a prospective cohort study of clinicians before and after an on-line curriculum about HDS in winter-spring, 2005.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 569 clinicians who completed surveys both at baseline and after the course, 25% were male and the average age was 42 years old; 88% used HDS before and after the course. The average number of supplements used fell slightly from 6.2 at baseline to 5.8 after the course (P < 0.01). The most commonly used supplements at baseline were: multivitamins (65%), calcium (42%), B vitamins (34%), vitamin C (34%), green tea (27%), fish oil (27%) and vitamin E (25%). Use of fish oil increased to 30% after the course (P = 0.01). Use of supplements traditionally used to treat colds decreased: vitamin C (34% to 27%), zinc (13% to 10%), and echinacea (7% to 5%, P < 0.05 for all three). Changes in personal HDS use were not associated with significant changes in confidence or communication with patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Many clinicians use HDS personally; use changes seasonally and to a small extent with professional education. Professional use of HDS is dynamic and seasonal. Additional research is needed to understand the impact of personal use on professional attitudes and behavior in populations with lower baseline uses of HDS.</p
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