Unbound states in 12^{12}C populated by γ\gamma-decay of the (Jπ,T)=(2+,1)(J^{\pi},T) = (2^+,1) 16.11 MeV state

The reaction $^{11}\textrm{B}+p$ has been used to populate the $(J^\pi,T) = (2^+,1)$ state at an excitation energy of 16.11 MeV in $^{12}$C. $\gamma$-decay to unbound states in $^{12}$C are identified from analysis of the decay of the populated daughter states. Due to a new technique, $\gamma$-decay to the 10.8 MeV 1$^-$ state is observed for the first time, and transitions to the 9.64 MeV (3$^-$) and 12.71 MeV (1$^+$) are confirmed. Unresolved transitions to natural parity strength at 10 MeV and 11.5-13 MeV are also observed. For all transitions partial widths are deducedComment: Corrected small typographical errors and added more details on data analysi

Investigating 16O with the 15N(p,{\alpha})12C reaction

The 16O nucleus was investigated through the 15N(p,{\alpha})12C reaction at excitation energies from Ex = 12 231 to 15 700 keV using proton beams from a 5 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator at beam energies of Ep = 331 to 3800 keV. Alpha decay from resonant states in 16O was strongly observed for ten known excited states in this region. The candidate 4-alpha cluster state at Ex = 15.1 MeV was investigated particularly intensely in order to understand its particle decay channels.Comment: Submitted for Proceedings of Fourth International Workshop on State of the Art in Nuclear Cluster Physics (SOTANCP4), held from May 13 - 18, 2018 in Galveston, TX, US

Emission of polarized photons from unpolarized electrons moving in crystals

Radiation emitted by unpolarized high-energy electrons penetrating crystals may be linearly polarized. This occurs when the particle velocity makes an angle, with respect to some major crystal axis, being sufficiently larger than the axial-channelling angle. For such orientation, a complete description of spectral and polarization characteristics of the radiation is derived. At planar channelling, a non-perturbative contribution to the probability of the process appears caused by the plane field, and we must solve exactly a one~-~dimensional mechanical problem. For that, the approximate form of the actual plane potential is suggested which provides a precise fit for any crystal plane and an analytical solution to the motion problem. In a practical case, we must consider electron-photon showers developing in sufficiently thick crystals. For the first time, this development is described taking into account the polarization of photons. We discuss qualitative features of the phenomenon, present results of numerical calculations for thin and thick crystals, and evaluate the possibility of the use of differently oriented crystals in a polarized hard photon source.Comment: 16 pages, 7 PostScript figure

The Influence of Radiation Damage on the Deflection of High-Energy Beams in Bent Silicon Crystals

Experimental results obtained for deflection of 450 GeV/c protons channeling along the {111} planes in a bent, strongly irradiated silicon crystal are presented. A comparison between the deflection efficiencies in irradiated areas and non-irradiated areas in the crystal shows that irradiation by 2.4 · 1020 protons/cm2 leads to a reduction of around 30 % in deflection efficiency. As a consequence, beam-splitting and extraction from an accelerator by means of a bent crystal are feasible solutions at high energies even for intense beams and during long periods

Record deflection efficiencies measured for high energy protons in a bent germanium crystal

New experimental results on the deflection of high energy protons in a bent germanium crystal are presented. At 450 GeV/c, the 50 mm long crystal gave record deflection efficiencies up to 60% for small angles (1 mrad), while at angles as large as 12 mrad, the efficiency is about 25 times larger than for a silicon crystal of the same size. The experimental results are in good agreement with a model for channeling and deflection developed by Ellison and give - together with a similar comparison for a 200 GeV/c beam - confidence in extrapolations to higher energies (e.g. to LHC), other crystal materials or different deflection angles

Plasma phosphorylated-tau217 is increased in Niemann–Pick disease type C

Niemann–Pick disease type C and Alzheimer’s disease are distinct neurodegenerative disorders that share the presence of neurofibrillary tangle pathology. In this multicentre study, we measured plasma phosphorylated-tau217 in controls (n = 60), Niemann–Pick disease type C (n = 71) and Alzheimer’s disease (n = 30 positive for amyloid and negative for tau in CSF [A+T−] and n = 30 positive for both [A+T+]). Annual Severity Increment Score and Lysotracker measurements were evaluated in the Niemann–Pick disease type C group to estimate the rate of progression and lysosomal enlargement, respectively. In the cross-sectional analysis, plasma phosphorylated-tau217 was increased in Niemann–Pick disease type C compared with controls (2.52 ± 1.93 versus 1.02 ± 0.34 pg/mL, respectively, P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with age at disease onset (R = −0.54, P < 0.001). In the longitudinal analysis, plasma phosphorylated-tau217 was associated with disease progression determined by Annual Severity Increment Score (R = 0.48, P < 0.001) and lysosomal enlargement (R = 0.26, P = 0.004). We found no differences between A+T− Alzheimer’s disease and Niemann–Pick disease type C (2.67 ± 1.18 versus 2.52 ± 1. 93 pg/mL, P = 0.31); however, A+T+ Alzheimer’s disease had significantly higher levels than Niemann–Pick disease type C (3.26 ± 1.36 versus 2.52 ± 1.93 pg/mL, P = 0.001). Our findings suggest that plasma p-tau217 can increase in brain disorders with isolated tau pathology. Plasma p-tau217 associations with disease progression and severity make it a potential marker in Niemann–Pick disease type C

Initial operation of the recoil mass spectrometer EMMA at the ISAC-II facility of TRIUMF

The Electromagnetic Mass Analyser (EMMA) is a new vacuum-mode recoil mass spectrometer currently undergoing the final stages of commissioning at the ISAC-II facility of TRIUMF. EMMA employs a symmetric configuration of electrostatic and magnetic deflectors to separate the products of nuclear reactions from the beam, focus them in both energy and angle, and disperse them in a focal plane according to their mass/charge (m∕q) ratios. The spectrometer was designed to accommodate the γ-ray detector array TIGRESS around the target position in order to provide spectroscopic information from electromagnetic transitions. EMMA is intended to be used in the measurement of fusion evaporation, radiative capture, and transfer reactions for the study of nuclear structure and astrophysics. Its complement of focal plane detectors facilitates the identification of recoiling nuclei and subsequent recoil decay spectroscopy. Here we describe the facility and report on commissioning efforts

Investigating the relationship between allocentric spatial working memory and biomarker status in preclinical and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease

The 4 Mountain Test (4MT) is a test of allocentric spatial working memory and has been proposed as an earlier marker of predementia Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than episodic verbal memory. We here compare the 4MT to the CERAD word list memory recall in both cognitively normal (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cases with or without cerebrospinal fluid markers (CSF) of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Linear regression was used to assess the influence of CSF determined Aβ-plaque (Aβ-/+) or neurofibrillary tau tangles (Tau-/+) on 4MT and CERAD recall performance. Analyses were performed in the full sample and the CN and MCI sub-samples. Pearson correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between 4MT and tests of psychomotor speed, verbal memory, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, and visuo-spatial perception. Analyses showed no significant differences in 4MT scores between Aβ-/Aβ+, nor Tau-/Tau + participants, irrespective of cognitive status. In contrast, CERAD recall scores were lower in both Aβ+ compared to Aβ- (p<.01), and Tau + compared to Tau- participants (p<.01) in the full sample analyses. There were no significant differences in CERAD recall performance between Aβ- vs. Aβ+ and Tau- vs. to Tau + in the in CN/MCI sub-samples. 4MT scores were significantly correlated with tests of psychomotor speed, cognitive flexibility, and visuo-spatial perception in the full sample analyses. In conclusion, the CERAD recall outperformed the 4MT as a cognitive marker of CSF determined AD pathology. This suggests that allocentric working memory, as measured by the 4MT, may not be used as an early marker of predementia AD.publishedVersio