4,039 research outputs found
Introducing the Fission-Fusion Reaction Process: Using a Laser-Accelerated Th Beam to produce Neutron-Rich Nuclei towards the N=126 Waiting Point of the r Process
We propose to produce neutron-rich nuclei in the range of the astrophysical
r-process around the waiting point N=126 by fissioning a dense
laser-accelerated thorium ion bunch in a thorium target (covered by a CH2
layer), where the light fission fragments of the beam fuse with the light
fission fragments of the target. Via the 'hole-boring' mode of laser Radiation
Pressure Acceleration using a high-intensity, short pulse laser, very
efficiently bunches of 232Th with solid-state density can be generated from a
Th layer, placed beneath a deuterated polyethylene foil, both forming the
production target. Th ions laser-accelerated to about 7 MeV/u will pass through
a thin CH2 layer placed in front of a thicker second Th foil closely behind the
production target and disintegrate into light and heavy fission fragments. In
addition, light ions (d,C) from the CD2 production target will be accelerated
as well to about 7 MeV/u, inducing the fission process of 232Th also in the
second Th layer. The laser-accelerated ion bunches with solid-state density,
which are about 10^14 times more dense than classically accelerated ion
bunches, allow for a high probability that generated fission products can fuse
again. In contrast to classical radioactive beam facilities, where intense but
low-density radioactive beams are merged with stable targets, the novel
fission-fusion process draws on the fusion between neutron-rich, short-lived,
light fission fragments both from beam and target. The high ion beam density
may lead to a strong collective modification of the stopping power in the
target, leading to significant range enhancement. Using a high-intensity laser
as envisaged for the ELI-Nuclear Physics project in Bucharest (ELI-NP),
estimates promise a fusion yield of about 10^3 ions per laser pulse in the mass
range of A=180-190, thus enabling to approach the r-process waiting point at
N=126.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure
Association between Residential Proximity to PERC Dry Cleaning Establishments and Kidney Cancer in New York City
Perchloroethylene (PERC) is commonly used as a dry cleaning solvent and is believed to be a human carcinogen, with occupational exposure resulting in elevated rates of kidney cancer. Living near a dry cleaning facility using PERC has been demonstrated to increase the risk of PERC exposure throughout the building where the dry cleaning is conducted, and in nearby buildings. We designed this study to test the hypothesis that living in an area where there are many PERC dry cleaners increases PERC exposure and the risk of kidney cancer. We matched the diagnosis of kidney cancer from hospitalization discharge data in New York City for the years 1994–2004 by zip code of patient residence to the zip code density of dry cleaners using PERC, as a surrogate for residential exposure. We controlled for age, race, gender, and median household income. We found a significant association between the density of PERC dry cleaning establishments and the rate of hospital discharges that include a diagnosis of kidney cancer among persons 45 years of age and older living in New York City. The rate ratio increased by 10 to 27% for the populations in zip codes with higher density of PERC dry cleaners. Because our exposure assessment is inexact, we are likely underestimating the real association between exposure to PERC and rates of kidney cancer. Our results support the hypothesis that living near a dry cleaning facility using PERC increases the risk of PERC exposure and of developing kidney cancer. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate an association between residential PERC exposure and cancer risk
Direct visualization reveals dynamics of a transient intermediate during protein assembly
Interactions between proteins underlie numerous biological functions. Theoretical work suggests that protein interactions initiate with formation of transient intermediates that subsequently relax to specific, stable complexes. However, the nature and roles of these transient intermediates have remained elusive. Here, we characterized the global structure, dynamics, and stability of a transient, on-pathway intermediate during complex assembly between the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP) and its receptor. We show that this intermediate has overlapping but distinct interaction interfaces from that of the final complex, and it is stabilized by long-range electrostatic interactions. A wide distribution of conformations is explored by the intermediate; this distribution becomes more restricted in the final complex and is further regulated by the cargo of SRP. These results suggest a funnel-shaped energy landscape for protein interactions, and they provide a framework for understanding the role of transient intermediates in protein assembly and biological regulation
On the dust temperatures of high redshift galaxies
Dust temperature is an important property of the interstellar medium (ISM) of
galaxies. It is required when converting (sub)millimeter broadband flux to
total infrared luminosity (L_IR), and hence star formation rate, in high-z
galaxies. However, different definitions of dust temperatures have been used in
the literature, leading to different physical interpretations of how ISM
conditions change with, e.g., redshift and star formation rate. In this paper,
we analyse the dust temperatures of massive (M* > 10^10 Msun) z=2-6 galaxies
with the help of high-resolution cosmological simulations from the Feedback in
Realistic Environments (FIRE) project. At z~2, our simulations successfully
predict dust temperatures in good agreement with observations. We find that
dust temperatures based on the peak emission wavelength increase with redshift,
in line with the higher star formation activity at higher redshift, and are
strongly correlated with the specific star formation rate. In contrast, the
mass-weighted dust temperature does not strongly evolve with redshift over
z=2-6 at fixed IR luminosity but is tightly correlated with L_IR at fixed z.
The mass-weighted temperature is important for accurately estimating the total
dust mass. We also analyse an 'equivalent' dust temperature for converting
(sub)millimeter flux density to total IR luminosity, and provide a fitting
formula as a function of redshift and dust-to-metal ratio. We find that
galaxies of higher equivalent (or higher peak) dust temperature ('warmer dust')
do not necessarily have higher mass-weighted temperatures. A 'two-phase'
picture for interstellar dust can explain the different scaling relations of
the various dust temperatures.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis: epidural pannus and atlantoaxial subluxation resulting in basilar invagination.
Presented in part at the AAPMR 71st Annual Assembly Meeting, Seattle, WA, November 4-7, 2010.
Atlantoaxial instability results from cartilaginous destruction, periarticular erosions, and ligament and tendon attenuation. Instability affects 19%-70% of patients, and basilar invagination from vertical odontoid subluxation through the foramen magnum occurs in 38% of patients. This phenomenon occurs twice as often in women than men, whose age at diagnosis typically ranges from 30-50 years. Along with bony compression, the pannus further decreases the space available for the cord by 3mmor more in approximately 66% of patients (Figures 1-7). The earliest and most common symptom of cervical subluxation is pain radiating up into the occiput with associated headaches. Episodes of medullary dysfunction that represent severe but less common patterns of progressive myelopathic symptoms provide an even more grim prognosis. When cervical myelopathy is established, 50% of these patients die within 1 year
Analytical realization of finite-size scaling for Anderson localization. Does the band of critical states exist for d>2?
An analytical realization is suggested for the finite-size scaling algorithm
based on the consideration of auxiliary quasi-1D systems. Comparison of the
obtained analytical results with the results of numerical calculations
indicates that the Anderson transition point is splitted into the band of
critical states. This conclusion is supported by direct numerical evidence
(Edwards and Thouless, 1972; Last and Thouless, 1974; Schreiber, 1985; 1990).
The possibility of restoring the conventional picture still exists but requires
a radical reinterpretetion of the raw numerical data.Comment: PDF, 11 page
Ultrasmall divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils
We report on experimental studies of divergence of proton beams from
nanometer thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) foils irradiated by an intense laser
with high contrast. Proton beams with extremely small divergence (half angle)
of 2 degree are observed in addition with a remarkably well-collimated feature
over the whole energy range, showing one order of magnitude reduction of the
divergence angle in comparison to the results from micrometer thick targets. We
demonstrate that this reduction arises from a steep longitudinal electron
density gradient and an exponentially decaying transverse profile at the rear
side of the ultrathin foils. Agreements are found both in an analytical model
and in particle-in-cell simulations. Those novel features make nm foils an
attractive alternative for high flux experiments relevant for fundamental
research in nuclear and warm dense matter physics.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Utilization of Dantrolene in Stiff-Person Syndrome: A Case Report
Setting: University hospital-based acute rehabilitation.
Patient: 75-year-old woman with Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS) with a recent fall and Colles fracture.
Case Description: Four months prior to admission, the patient was diagnosed with SPS, negative for anti-GAD antibodies. Diagnosis was based on a 3-year history of progressive rigidity leading to frequent falls and fractures. Anxiety and fear of falling limited her mobility, and she sustained a sacral pressure ulcer during acute hospitalization. On admission, history was remarkable for unsteady gait and muscle cramps exacerbated when startled or excited. Examination was remarkable for rigidity in her axial and limb muscles. She presented at the maximal assist level for transfers and toileting and moderate assist level for grooming and ambulation using a platform walker (right arm in cast). She was unable to tolerate titration of diazepam due to sedation, or baclofen due to hypotension.
Results: During acute rehabilitation, rigidity was treated with titration of dantrolene (from 25 to 50 mg four times daily) in addition to maximal tolerated doses of diazepam (1 mg qAM/2 mg qPM) and baclofen (20mg TID). The addition of dantrolene reduced rigidity and improved range of motion, both subjectively per patient and objectively by exam. Functional gains stalled with dose decrease and resumed with dose increase. She had pronounced gains in grooming to the supervision level, modest gains in transfers and toileting to the moderate assist level, but remained at the moderate assist level for ambulation. Progress was limited due to a change to non-weight bearing status of her right arm. Anxiety and depression were improved with buspirone, paroxetine, and psychological counseling.
Discussion: SPS results in significant activity of daily life and ambulatory dysfunction as exemplified by her pressure ulcer and multiple falls. Although GABA agonists are the preferred treatment for SPS, the adverse effects of high doses can increase the risk of falls. Dantrolene reduced muscle rigidity and improved function without sedative or hypotensive effects.
Conclusion: Dantrolene is a useful additional treatment for SPS rigidity
A Study of Mental Maps in Immersive Network Visualization
The visualization of a network influences the quality of the mental map that
the viewer develops to understand the network. In this study, we investigate
the effects of a 3D immersive visualization environment compared to a
traditional 2D desktop environment on the comprehension of a network's
structure. We compare the two visualization environments using three
tasks--interpreting network structure, memorizing a set of nodes, and
identifying the structural changes--commonly used for evaluating the quality of
a mental map in network visualization. The results show that participants were
able to interpret network structure more accurately when viewing the network in
an immersive environment, particularly for larger networks. However, we found
that 2D visualizations performed better than immersive visualization for tasks
that required spatial memory.Comment: IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium 202
A dynamical trichotomy for structured populations experiencing positive density-dependence in stochastic environments
Positive density-dependence occurs when individuals experience increased
survivorship, growth, or reproduction with increased population densities.
Mechanisms leading to these positive relationships include mate limitation,
saturating predation risk, and cooperative breeding and foraging. Individuals
within these populations may differ in age, size, or geographic location and
thereby structure these populations. Here, I study structured population models
accounting for positive density-dependence and environmental stochasticity i.e.
random fluctuations in the demographic rates of the population. Under an
accessibility assumption (roughly, stochastic fluctuations can lead to
populations getting small and large), these models are shown to exhibit a
dynamical trichotomy: (i) for all initial conditions, the population goes
asymptotically extinct with probability one, (ii) for all positive initial
conditions, the population persists and asymptotically exhibits unbounded
growth, and (iii) for all positive initial conditions, there is a positive
probability of asymptotic extinction and a complementary positive probability
of unbounded growth. The main results are illustrated with applications to
spatially structured populations with an Allee effect and age-structured
populations experiencing mate limitation
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