68 research outputs found
The beta-decay of 22Al
In an experiment performed at the LISE3 facility of GANIL, we studied the
decay of 22Al produced by the fragmentation of a 36Ar primary beam. A
beta-decay half-life of 91.1 +- 0.5 ms was measured. The beta-delayed one- and
two-proton emission as well as beta-alpha and beta-delayed gamma decays were
measured and allowed us to establish a partial decay scheme for this nucleus.
New levels were determined in the daughter nucleus 22Mg. The comparison with
model calculations strongly favours a spin-parity of 4+ for the ground state of
22Al
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Algorithm for Rapid Tomography of Gas Concentrations
We present a new computed tomography method, the low third derivative (LTD) method, that is particularly suited for reconstructing the spatial distribution of gas concentrations from path-integral data for a small number of optical paths. The method finds a spatial distribution of gas concentrations that (1) has path integrals that agree with measured path integrals, and (2) has a low third spatial derivative in each direction, at every point. The trade-off between (1) and (2) is controlled by an adjustable parameter, which can be set based on analysis of the path-integral data. The method produces a set of linear equations, which can be solved with a single matrix multiplication if the constraint that all concentrations must be positive is ignored; the method is therefore extremely rapid. Analysis of experimental data from thousands of concentration distributions shows that the method works nearly as well as Smooth Basis Function Minimization (the best method previously available), yet is 100 times faster
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Experimental Determination of ETS Particle Deposition in a Low Ventilation Room
Deposition on indoor surfaces is an important removal mechanism for tobacco smoke particles. We report measurements of deposition rates of environmental tobacco smoke particles in a room-size chamber. The deposition rates were determined from the changes in measured concentrations by correcting for the effects of coagulation and ventilation. The air flow turbulent intensity parameter was determined independently by measuring the air velocities in the chamber. Particles with diameters smaller than 0.25 {micro}m coagulate to form larger particles of sizes between 0.25-0.5 {micro}m. The effect of coagulation on the particles larger than 0.5 {micro}m was found to be negligible. Comparison between our measurements and calculations using Crump and Seinfeld's theory showed smaller measured deposition rates for particles from 0.1 to 0.3 {micro}m in diameter and greater measured deposition rates for particles larger than 0.6 {micro}m at three mixing intensities. Comparison of Nazaroff and Cass model for natural convection flow showed good agreement with the measurements for particles larger than 0.1 {micro}m in diameter, however, measured deposition rates exceeded model prediction by a factor of approximately four for particles in size range 0.05-0.1 {micro}m diameter. These results were used to predict deposition of sidestream smoke particles on interior surfaces. Calculations predict that in 10 hours after smoking one cigarette, 22% of total sidestream particles by mass will deposit on interior surfaces at 0.03 air change per hour (ACH), 6% will deposit at 0.5 ACH, and 3% will deposit at 1 ACH
Beta-decay properties of Si and P
The -decay properties of the neutron-deficient nuclei Si and
P have been investigated at the GANIL/LISE3 facility by means of
charged-particle and -ray spectroscopy. The decay schemes obtained and
the Gamow-Teller strength distributions are compared to shell-model
calculations based on the USD interaction. B(GT) values derived from the
absolute measurement of the -decay branching ratios give rise to a
quenching factor of the Gamow-Teller strength of 0.6. A precise half-life of
43.7 (6) ms was determined for P, the - (2)p decay mode of which
is described
Search for Fragment Emission from Nuclear Shock Waves
Energy spectra and angular distributions have been measured of 3He and 4He fragments emitted from Ag and U targets, bombarded with 2.7-GeV protons, and 1.05-GeV/nucleon alpha particles and 16O ions. All cross sections increase dramatically with projectile mass. No narrow peaks are found in the angular distributions or in the energy spectra
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Indoor, outdoor and regional profiles of PM2.5 sulfate, nitrateand carbon
Fine particle concentrations were measured simultaneously at three locations: a regional monitoring site in Fresno, California, a backyard of an unoccupied residence in Clovis, California located 6 km northeast of the regional site; and indoors at the same residence. Measurements included 10-min determination of PM{sub 2.5} nitrate, sulfate and carbon using an automated collection and vaporization system, and black carbon measured by light attenuation through a filter deposit. Specific outdoor PM{sub 2.5} constituents were compared to assess the appropriateness of using regional data to model indoor concentrations from outdoor sources. The outdoor data show that, in general, the regional results provide a good representation of the concentrations seen at the building exterior. The indoor concentrations showed considerable attenuation as well as a broadening and time-lag for the concentration peaks. The concentration reduction was the largest for PM{sub 2.5} nitrate, which appears to undergo phase changes in addition to indoor deposition and penetration losses
Standard Neutrino Spectrum from B-8 Decay
We present a systematic evaluation of the shape of the neutrino energy
spectrum produced by beta-decay of B. We place special emphasis on
determining the range of uncertainties permitted by existing laboratory data
and theoretical ingredients (such as forbidden and radiative corrections). We
review and compare the available experimental data on the
BBe decay chain. We analyze the theoretical and
experimental uncertainties quantitatively. We give a numerical representation
of the best-fit (standard-model) neutrino spectrum, as well as two extreme
deviations from the standard spectrum that represent the total (experimental
and theoretical) effective deviations. Solar neutrino experiments
that are currently being developed will be able to measure the shape of the
B neutrino spectrum above about 5 MeV. An observed distortion of the B
solar neutrino spectrum outside the range given in the present work could be
considered as evidence, at an effective significance level greater than three
standard deviations, for physics beyond the standard electroweak model. We use
the most recent available experimental data on the Gamow--Teller strengths in
the system to calculate the B neutrino absorption cross section on
chlorine: ~cm (
errors). The chlorine cross section is also given as a function of the neutrino
energy. The B neutrino absorption cross section in gallium is cm ( errors).Comment: Revised version, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma derived from nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma presents with variable histopathology
Factors associated with worse lung function in cystic fibrosis patients with persistent staphylococcus aureus
Background Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF). However, it is not clear which factors are associated with worse lung function in patients with persistent S. aureus airway cultures. Our main hypothesis was that patients with high S. aureus density in their respiratory specimens would more likely experience worsening of their lung disease than patients with low bacterial loads. Methods Therefore, we conducted an observational prospective longitudinal multi-center study and assessed the association between lung function and S. aureus bacterial density in respiratory samples, co-infection with other CF-pathogens, nasal S. aureus carriage, clinical status, antibiotic therapy, IL-6- and IgG-levels against S. aureus virulence factors. Results 195 patients from 17 centers were followed; each patient had an average of 7 visits. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and generalized linear mixed models. Our main hypothesis was only supported for patients providing throat specimens indicating that patients with higher density experienced a steeper lung function decline (p<0.001). Patients with exacerbations (n = 60), S. aureus small-colony variants (SCVs, n = 84) and co-infection with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 44) had worse lung function (p = 0.0068; p = 0.0011; p = 0.0103). Patients with SCVs were older (p = 0.0066) and more often treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (p = 0.0078). IL-6 levels positively correlated with decreased lung function (p<0.001), S. aureus density in sputa (p = 0.0016), SCVs (p = 0.0209), exacerbations (p = 0.0041) and co-infections with S. maltophilia (p = 0.0195) or A. fumigatus (p = 0.0496). Conclusions In CF-patients with chronic S. aureus cultures, independent risk factors for worse lung function are high bacterial density in throat cultures, exacerbations, elevated IL-6 levels, presence of S. aureus SCVs and co-infection with S. maltophilia
Prioritizing Risks and Uncertainties from Intentional Release of Selected Category A Pathogens
This paper synthesizes available information on five Category A pathogens (Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Variola major and Lassa) to develop quantitative guidelines for how environmental pathogen concentrations may be related to human health risk in an indoor environment. An integrated model of environmental transport and human health exposure to biological pathogens is constructed which 1) includes the effects of environmental attenuation, 2) considers fomite contact exposure as well as inhalational exposure, and 3) includes an uncertainty analysis to identify key input uncertainties, which may inform future research directions. The findings provide a framework for developing the many different environmental standards that are needed for making risk-informed response decisions, such as when prophylactic antibiotics should be distributed, and whether or not a contaminated area should be cleaned up. The approach is based on the assumption of uniform mixing in environmental compartments and is thus applicable to areas sufficiently removed in time and space from the initial release that mixing has produced relatively uniform concentrations. Results indicate that when pathogens are released into the air, risk from inhalation is the main component of the overall risk, while risk from ingestion (dermal contact for B. anthracis) is the main component of the overall risk when pathogens are present on surfaces. Concentrations sampled from untracked floor, walls and the filter of heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system are proposed as indicators of previous exposure risk, while samples taken from touched surfaces are proposed as indicators of future risk if the building is reoccupied. A Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis is conducted and input-output correlations used to identify important parameter uncertainties. An approach is proposed for integrating these quantitative assessments of parameter uncertainty with broader, qualitative considerations to identify future research priorities
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