Hyperfine anomaly in Be isotopes in the cluster model and the neutron spatial distribution

The study of the hyperfine anomaly of neutron rich nuclei, in particular, neutron halo nuclei, can give a very specific and unique way to measure their neutron distribution and confirm a halo structure. The hyperfine structure anomaly in Be+ ions is calculated with a realistic electronic wave function, obtained as a solution of the Dirac equation. In the calculations, the Coulomb potential modified by the charge distribution of the clustered nucleus and three electrons in the 1s^2 2s configuration is used. The nuclear wave function is obtained in the core+nucleon model of 9,11Be. The aim of this study is to test whether the hyperfine structure anomaly reflects a halo structure in 11Be.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Retention behavior of conjugated and isolated n-alkadienes. Identification of n-nona- and n-decadienes by capillary gas chromatography using structure-retention correlations and mass spectrometry

The isomerization products of n-C8---C10 a,¿-alkadienes were separated on a high-efficiency squalane column (195 m × 0.25 mm I.D.) with 500,000 effective plates. Of the 102 possible n-C8---C10 dienes with isolated and conjugated double bonds, only nine groups of isomers were not separated. All isomers, except those with cumulated double bonds, were identified (23 octadienes, 33 nonadienes and 46 decadienes). The n-octadienes were identified by matching measured and published retention data. Because of the lack of standards, retention data and mass spectra of n-nona- and decadienes, and because the previously reported identification method for n-dienes up to C8 was succesful, the problem of the identification of C9---C10 n-alkadienes was solved similarly by using structure-retention correlations and combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Based on these results, the retention behaviour of the conjugated and isolated n-alkadienes, on squalane stationary phase, is generalized

Development of Lumped Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors for NIKA

Lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors(LEKIDs) have recently shown considerable promise as direct absorption mm-wavelength detectors for astronomical applications. One major research thrust within the N\'eel Iram Kids Array (NIKA) collaboration has been to investigate the suitability of these detectors for deployment at the 30-meter IRAM telescope located on Pico Veleta in Spain. Compared to microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKID), using quarter wavelength resonators, the resonant circuit of a LEKID consists of a discrete inductance and capacitance coupled to a feedline. A high and constant current density distribution in the inductive part of these resonators makes them very sensitive. Due to only one metal layer on a silicon substrate, the fabrication is relatively easy. In order to optimize the LEKIDs for this application, we have recently probed a wide variety of individual resonator and array parameters through simulation and physical testing. This included determining the optimal feed-line coupling, pixel geometry, resonator distribution within an array (in order to minimize pixel cross-talk), and resonator frequency spacing. Based on these results, a 144-pixel Aluminum array was fabricated and tested in a dilution fridge with optical access, yielding an average optical NEP of ~2E-16 W/Hz^1/2 (best pixels showed NEP = 6E-17 W/Hz^1/2 under 4-8 pW loading per pixel). In October 2010 the second prototype of LEKIDs has been tested at the IRAM 30 m telescope. A new LEKID geometry for 2 polarizations will be presented. Also first optical measurements of a titanium nitride array will be discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 12 figures; ISSTT 2011 Worksho

Macroscopic analysis and modelling of multi-class, flexible-lane traffic

An excessive demand of vehicles to a motorway bottleneck leads to traffic jams. Motorbikes are narrow and can drive next to each other in a lane, or in-between lanes in low speeds. This paper analyses the resulting traffic characteristics and presents numerical scheme for a macroscopic traffic flow model for these two classes. The behavior included is as follows. If there are two motorbikes behind each other, they can travel next to each other in one lane, occupying the space of one car. Also, at low speeds of car traffic, they can go in between the main lanes, creating a so-called filtering lane. The paper numerically derives functions of class-specific speeds as function of the density of both classes, incorporating flexible lane usage dependent on the speed. The roadway capacity as function of the motorbike fraction is derived, which interesting can be in different types of phases (with motorbikes at higher speeds or not). We also present a numerical scheme to analyse the dynamics of this multi-class system. We apply the model to an example case, revealing the properties of the traffic stream , queue dynamics and class specific travel times. The model can help in showing the relative advantage in travel time of switching to a motorbike

Early assessment of glucose abnormalities during continuous glucose monitoring associated with lung function impairment in cystic fibrosis patients

AbstractBackgroundCystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is correlated with a decline in lung function. Under certain circumstances, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) screening, used to diagnose CFRD, fails to reveal early glucose tolerance abnormalities. In this situation, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) could be a useful tool for evaluating early abnormalities of glucose tolerance in CF patients. We aimed to study the CGM glucose profile in CF patients with normal OGTT screening results and to evaluate lung function and nutritional status according to the CGM glucose profile.MethodsWe assessed glycemic control, the CGM glucose profile, nutritional status, lung function antibiotic courses and colonization (P. aeruginosa and S. aureus) in CF patients, aged 10years and over, with normal screening OGTT results (blood glucose at T120min<7.8mmol/l). Two groups were identified according to the max CGM glucose value: Group 1<11mmol/l and Group 2≥11mmol/l.ResultsAmong the 38 patients with normal OGTT, 12 (31.6%) were in Group 2. Compared to Group 1, Group 2 patients exhibited a significant impairment in lung function: FEV1, 68.2±25.6% vs. 87.3±17%, p=0.01 and FVC, 86.1%±19.4% vs. 99.3%±13.4%, p=0.021, as well as a higher rate of colonization by P. aeruginosa: 83.3% vs. 44%, p=0.024. Nevertheless, there were no differences in nutritional status (BMI standard deviation score: p=0.079; prealbumin: p=0.364).ConclusionsCGM reveals early abnormalities of glucose tolerance that remain undiagnosed by OGTT screening and are associated with worse lung function and a higher prevalence of P. aeruginosa colonization in patients with CF.Clinical trial registration number: NCT00476281

Adoptive immunotherapy monitored by micro-MRI in experimental colorectal liver metastasis

In this study we used the colon carcinoma DHDK12 cell line and generated single metastasis after subcapsular injection in BDIX rats as an experimental tumor model. The aim of the work was to set up in vitro experimental conditions to prepare immune effector cells and in vivo conditions for monitoring the effects of such cells injected as adoptive immunotherapy. Dendritic cells can process tumor cell antigens, induce a T-cell response and be used ex vivo to prepare activated lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were harvested from mesenteric lymph nodes and cocultured with bone marrow-derived autologous dendritic cells previously loaded with irradiated tumor cells. In vitro, the coculture: 1) induced the proliferation of lymphocytes, 2) expanded a preferential subpopulation of T CD8 lymphocytes, and 3) was in favor of lymphocyte cytotoxic activity against the DHDK12 tumor cell line. Activated lymphocytes were injected in the tumor-bearing rat portal vein. Parameters could be set to monitor tumor volume by micro MRI. This monitoring before and after treatment and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that: 1) micro MRI is an appropriate tool to survey metastasis growth in rat, 2) injected lymphocytes increase lesional infiltration with T CD8 cells even 15 days after treatment, 3) a dose of 50 millions lymphocytes is not sufficient to act on the course of the tumor