62 research outputs found
Neutron Correlations in the Decay of the First Excited State of 11Li
The decay of unbound excited 11Li was measured after being populated by a two-proton removal from a 13B beam at 71 MeV/nucleon. Decay energy spectra and Jacobi plots were obtained from measurements of the momentum vectors of the 9Li fragment and neutrons. A resonance at an excitation energy of ∼1.2 MeV was observed. The kinematics of the decay are equally well fit by a simple dineutron-like model or a phase-space model that includes final state interactions. A sequential decay model can be excluded
Ground-State Dynamical Correlation Functions: An Approach from Density Matrix Renormalization Group Method
A numerical approach to ground-state dynamical correlation functions from
Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) is developed. Using sum rules,
moments of a dynamic correlation function can be calculated with DMRG, and with
the moments the dynamic correlation function can be obtained by the maximum
entropy method. We apply this method to one-dimensional spinless fermion
system, which can be converted to the spin 1/2 Heisenberg model in a special
case. The dynamical density-density correlation function is obtained.Comment: 11 pages, latex, 4 figure
Big Physics At Small Places: The Mongol Horde Model Of Undergraduate Research
A model for engaging undergraduates in cutting-edge experimental nuclear physics research at a national user facility is discussed. Methods to involve students and examples of their success are presented
The aged lymphoid tissue environment fails to support naive T cell homeostasis.
Aging is associated with a gradual loss of naive T cells and a reciprocal increase in the proportion of memory T cells. While reduced thymic output is important, age-dependent changes in factors supporting naive T cells homeostasis may also be involved. Indeed, we noted a dramatic decrease in the ability of aged mice to support survival and homeostatic proliferation of naive T cells. The defect was not due to a reduction in IL-7 expression, but from a combination of changes in the secondary lymphoid environment that impaired naive T cell entry and access to key survival factors. We observed an age-related shift in the expression of homing chemokines and structural deterioration of the stromal network in T cell zones. Treatment with IL-7/mAb complexes can restore naive T cell homeostatic proliferation in aged mice. Our data suggests that homeostatic mechanisms that support the naive T cell pool deteriorate with age.11128Ysciescopu
Quantitative Assessment of the Sulfuric Acid Contribution to New Particle Growth
The Nano Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (NAMS) was deployed
to rural/coastal
and urban sites to measure the composition of 20–25 nm diameter
nanoparticles during new particle formation (NPF). NAMS provides a
quantitative measure of the elemental composition of individual, size-selected
nanoparticles. In both environments, particles analyzed during NPF
were found to be enhanced in elements associated with inorganic species
(nitrogen, sulfur) relative to that associated with organic species
(carbon). A molecular apportionment algorithm was applied to the elemental
data in order to place the elemental composition into a molecular
context. These measurements show that sulfate constitutes a substantial
fraction of total particle mass in both environments. The contribution
of sulfuric acid to new particle growth was quantitatively determined
and the gas-phase sulfuric acid concentration required to incorporate
the measured sulfate fraction was calculated. The calculated values
were compared to those calculated by a sulfuric acid proxy that considers
solar radiation and SO<sub>2</sub> levels. The two values agree within
experimental uncertainty. Sulfate accounts for 29–46% of the
total mass growth of particles. Other species contributing to growth
include ammonium, nitrate, and organics. For each location, the relative
amounts of these species do not change significantly with growth rate.
However, for the coastal location, sulfate contribution increases
with increasing temperature whereas nitrate contribution decreases
with increasing temperature
Plasticizer Interaction With the Heart.
BACKGROUND: Phthalates are used as plasticizers in the manufacturing of flexible, plastic medical products. Patients can be subjected to high phthalate exposure through contact with plastic medical devices. We aimed to investigate the cardiac safety and biocompatibility of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), a phthalate with documented exposure in intensive care patients.
METHODS: Optical mapping of transmembrane voltage and pacing studies were performed on isolated, Langendorff-perfused rat hearts to assess cardiac electrophysiology after MEHP exposure compared with controls. MEHP dose was chosen based on reported blood concentrations after an exchange transfusion procedure.
RESULTS: Thirty-minute exposure to MEHP increased the atrioventricular node (147 versus 107 ms) and ventricular (117 versus 77.5 ms) effective refractory periods, compared with controls. Optical mapping revealed prolonged action potential duration at slower pacing cycle lengths, akin to reverse use dependence. The plateau phase of the action potential duration restitution curve steepened and became monophasic in MEHP-exposed hearts (0.18 versus 0.06 slope). Action potential duration lengthening occurred during late-phase repolarization resulting in triangulation (70.3 versus 56.6 ms). MEHP exposure also slowed epicardial conduction velocity (35 versus 60 cm/s), which may be partly explained by inhibition of Na
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the impact of acute MEHP exposure, using a clinically relevant dose, on cardiac electrophysiology in the intact heart. Heightened clinical exposure to plasticized medical products may have cardiac safety implications-given that action potential triangulation and electrical restitution modifications are a risk factor for early after depolarizations and cardiac arrhythmias
Plasticizer Interaction With the Heart: Chemicals Used in Plastic Medical Devices Can Interfere With Cardiac Electrophysiology.
BACKGROUND: Phthalates are used as plasticizers in the manufacturing of flexible, plastic medical products. Patients can be subjected to high phthalate exposure through contact with plastic medical devices. We aimed to investigate the cardiac safety and biocompatibility of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), a phthalate with documented exposure in intensive care patients.
METHODS: Optical mapping of transmembrane voltage and pacing studies were performed on isolated, Langendorff-perfused rat hearts to assess cardiac electrophysiology after MEHP exposure compared with controls. MEHP dose was chosen based on reported blood concentrations after an exchange transfusion procedure.
RESULTS: Thirty-minute exposure to MEHP increased the atrioventricular node (147 versus 107 ms) and ventricular (117 versus 77.5 ms) effective refractory periods, compared with controls. Optical mapping revealed prolonged action potential duration at slower pacing cycle lengths, akin to reverse use dependence. The plateau phase of the action potential duration restitution curve steepened and became monophasic in MEHP-exposed hearts (0.18 versus 0.06 slope). Action potential duration lengthening occurred during late-phase repolarization resulting in triangulation (70.3 versus 56.6 ms). MEHP exposure also slowed epicardial conduction velocity (35 versus 60 cm/s), which may be partly explained by inhibition of Na
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the impact of acute MEHP exposure, using a clinically relevant dose, on cardiac electrophysiology in the intact heart. Heightened clinical exposure to plasticized medical products may have cardiac safety implications-given that action potential triangulation and electrical restitution modifications are a risk factor for early after depolarizations and cardiac arrhythmias
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