DsJ(2860)D_{sJ}(2860) and DsJ(2715)D_{sJ}(2715)

Recently Babar Collaboration reported a new $c\bar{s}$ state $D_{sJ}(2860)$ and Belle Collaboration observed $D_{sJ}(2715)$. We investigate the strong decays of the excited $c\bar{s}$ states using the $^{3}P_{0}$ model. After comparing the theoretical decay widths and decay patterns with the available experimental data, we tend to conclude: (1) $D_{sJ}(2715)$ is probably the $1^{-}(1^{3}D_{1})$ $c\bar{s}$ state although the $1^{-}(2^{3}S_{1})$ assignment is not completely excluded; (2) $D_{sJ}(2860)$ seems unlikely to be the $1^{-}(2^{3}S_{1})$ and $1^{-}(1^{3}D_{1})$ candidate; (3) $D_{sJ}(2860)$ as either a $0^{+}(2^{3}P_{0})$ or $3^{-}(1^{3}D_{3})$ $c\bar{s}$ state is consistent with the experimental data; (4) experimental search of $D_{sJ}(2860)$ in the channels $D_s\eta$, $DK^{*}$, $D^{*}K$ and $D_{s}^{*}\eta$ will be crucial to distinguish the above two possibilities.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Some discussions added. The final version to appear at EPJ

Life History of Dwarf Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus) in the Elk River Watershed

In 2004, a population of dwarf longnose sucker was discovered co-existing with the normal form within the Elk River Watershed of south-eastern British Columbia. This thesis evaluated morphological, genetic and life history characteristics of this dwarf longnose sucker form to determine whether the dwarf morphotype warranted designation as an evolutionary significant unit and to determine any special habitat requirements. In addition to size, distinct morphological differences were indicated between Elk River Watershed dwarf and normal adult longnose sucker, with dwarf adults appearing to retain morphological features of juveniles and sharing morphological features with Salish sucker, which is a separate dwarf longnose sucker form that is considered endangered. Slight, but significant, genetic differences were indicated between Elk River Watershed dwarf and normal longnose sucker forms, and compared to Salish sucker, suggesting some basis for separate designation of the dwarf form. Dwarf longnose sucker are widespread in the Elk River Watershed, and most abundant in small, cool lentic water bodies that contained dense vegetative cover, potential oxycline fluctuation and/or limited fish species diversity. Dwarf adult longnose sucker showed some habitat preference differences compared to normal longnose sucker, with the findings suggesting that dwarf longnose sucker have adopted a more opportunistic life-history strategy than normal longnose sucker. It is postulated that an ontogenetic niche shift has allowed dwarf longnose sucker to more successfully exploit habitats experiencing periodic disturbances (e.g., hypoxia) that, in turn, has led to the occurrence of two longnose sucker morphotypes in the Elk River Watershed

Measurement of the elastic tensor of SmScO3 and NdSc03 using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy with ab initio calculations

The complete elastic tensors of SmScO3 and NdScO3 were measured using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) in combination with ab-initio calculations. Measurement of the elastic tensor of these recently synthesized single crystal RE scandates is essential for understanding dynamic lattice applications including phonon confinement, strain induced thin film growth and superlattice construction. On average, the experimental elastic constants differed by less than 5% of the theoretical values, further validating the accuracy of modern ab-initio calculations as a means of estimating the initial elastic constants used in RUS measurements

Spitzer Mapping of PAHs and H2 in Photodissociation Regions

The mid-infrared (MIR) spectra of dense photodissociation regions (PDRs) are typically dominated by emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the lowest pure rotational states of molecular hydrogen (H2); two species which are probes of the physical properties of gas and dust in intense UV radiation fields. We utilize the high angular resolution of the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope to construct spectral maps of the PAH and H2 features for three of the best studied PDRs in the galaxy, NGC 7023, NGC 2023 and IC 63. We present spatially resolved maps of the physical properties, including the H2 ortho-to-para ratio, temperature, and G_o/n_H. We also present evidence for PAH dehydrogenation, which may support theories of H2 formation on PAH surfaces, and a detection of preferential self-shielding of ortho-H2. All PDRs studied exhibit average temperatures of ~500 - 800K, warm H2 column densities of ~10^20 cm^-2, G_o/n_H ~ 0.1 - 0.8, and ortho-to-para ratios of ~ 1.8. We find that while the average of each of these properties is consistent with previous single value measurements of these PDRs, when available, the addition of spatial resolution yields a diversity of values with gas temperatures as high as 1500 K, column densities spanning ~ 2 orders of magnitude, and extreme ortho-to-para ratios of 3.Comment: 14 figure

Real-time quantitative PCR assay with Taqman® probe for rapid detection of MCR-1 plasmid-mediated colistin resistance

AbstractHere we report the development of two rapid real-time quantitative PCR assays with TaqMan® probes to detect the MCR-1 plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene from bacterial isolates and faecal samples from chickens. Specificity and sensitivity of the assay were 100% on bacterial isolates including 18 colistin-resistant isolates carrying the mcr-1 gene (six Klebsiella pneumoniae and 12 Escherichia coli) with a calibration curve that was linear from 101 to 108 DNA copies. Five out of 833 faecal samples from chickens from Algeria were positive, from which three E. coli strains were isolated and confirmed to harbour the mcr-1 gene by standard PCR and sequencing

Hybrid Meson Decay Phenomenology

The phenomenology of a newly developed model of hybrid meson decay is developed. The decay mechanism is based on the heavy quark expansion of QCD and the strong coupling flux tube picture of nonperturbative glue. A comprehensive list of partial decay widths of a wide variety of light, $s\bar s$, $c\bar c$, and $b \bar b$ hybrid mesons is presented. Results which appear approximately universal are highlighted along with those which distinguish different hybrid decay models. Finally, we examine several interesting hybrid candidates in detail.Comment: 37 pages, 2 figures, 6 tables, Revte

Configuration mixing in 188^{188}Pb : band structure and electromagnetic properties

In the present paper, we carry out a detailed analysis of the presence and mixing of various families of collective bands in $^{188}$Pb. Making use of the interacting boson model, we construct a particular intermediate basis that can be associated with the unperturbed bands used in more phenomenological studies. We use the E2 decay to construct a set of collective bands and discuss in detail the B(E2)-values. We also perform an analysis of these theoretical results (Q, B(E2)) to deduce an intrinsic quadrupole moment and the associated quadrupole deformation parameter, using an axially deformed rotor model.Comment: submitted to pr

The XMM large scale structure survey: optical vs. X-ray classifications of active galactic nuclei and the unified scheme

Our goal is to characterize AGN populations by comparing their X-ray and optical classifications. We present a sample of 99 spectroscopically identified X-ray point sources in the XMM-LSS survey which are significantly detected in the [2-10] keV band, and with more than 80 counts. We performed an X-ray spectral analysis for all of these 99 X-ray sources. Introducing the fourfold point correlation coefficient, we find only a mild correlation between the X-ray and the optical classifications, as up to 30% of the sources have differing X-ray and optical classifications: on one hand, 10% of the type 1 sources present broad emission lines in their optical spectra and strong absorption in the X-rays. These objects are highly luminous AGN lying at high redshift and thus dilution effects are totally ruled out, their discrepant nature being an intrinsic property. Their X-ray luminosities and redshifts distributions are consistent with those of the unabsorbed X-ray sources with broad emission lines. On the other hand, 25/32 are moderate luminosity AGN, which are both unabsorbed in the X-rays and only present narrow emission lines in their optical spectra. The majority of them have an optical spectrum which is representative of the host galaxy. We finally infer that dilution of the AGN by the host galaxy seems to account for their nature. 5/25 have been defined as Seyfert 2. In conclusion, most of these 32 discrepant cases can be accounted for by the standard AGN unified scheme, as its predictions are not met for only 12% of the 99 X-ray sources. ABRIDGEDComment: 25 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in A&