877 research outputs found
The Age of the Galactic Disk
I review different methods devised to derive the age of the Galactic Disk,
namely the Radio-active Decay (RD), the Cool White Dwarf Luminosity Function
(CWDLF), old opne clusters (OOC) and the Color Magnitude Diagram (CMD) of the
stars in the solar vicinity. I argue that the disk is likely to be 8-10 Gyr
old. Since the bulk of globulars has an age around 13 Gyr, the possibility
emerges that the Galaxy experienced a minimum of Star Formation at the end of
the halo/bulge formation. This minimum might reflect the time at which the
Galaxy started to acquire material to form the disk inside-out.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure, invited review, in "The chemical evolution of the
Milky Way : Stars vs Clusters, Vulcano (Italy), 20-24 September 199
The r-Process Enriched Low Metallicity Giant HD 115444
New high resolution, very high signal-to-noise spectra of ultra-metal-poor
(UMP) giant stars HD 115444 and HD 122563 have been gathered with the
High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer of the McDonald Observatory 2.7m
Telescope. With these spectra, line identification and model atmosphere
analyses have been conducted, emphasizing the neutron-capture elements. Twenty
elements with Z > 30 have been identified in the spectrum of HD 115444. This
star is known to have overabundances of the neutron-capture elements, but it
has lacked a detailed analysis necessary to compare with nucleosynthesis
predictions. The new study features a line-by-line differential abundance
comparison of HD 115444 with the bright, well-studied halo giant HD 122563. For
HD 115444, the overall metallicity is [Fe/H]~ -3.0. The abundances of the light
and iron-peak elements generally show the same pattern as other UMP stars (e.g.
overdeficiencies of manganese and chromium, overabundances of cobalt), but the
differential analysis indicates several nucleosynthesis signatures that are
unique to each star.Comment: To Appear in the Astrophysical Journa
The Chemical Composition and Age of the Metal-Poor Halo Star BD +17^\circ 3248
We have combined new high-resolution spectra obtained with the Hubble Space
Telescope (HST) and ground-based facilities to make a comprehensive new
abundance analysis of the metal-poor, halo star BD +17^\circ 3248. We have
detected the third r-process peak elements osmium, platinum, and (for the first
time in a metal-poor star) gold, elements whose abundances can only be reliably
determined using HST. Our observations illustrate a pattern seen in other
similar halo stars with the abundances of the heavier neutron-capture elements,
including the third r-process peak elements, consistent with a scaled solar
system r-process distribution. The abundances of the lighter neutron-capture
elements, including germanium and silver, fall below that same scaled solar
r-process curve, a result similar to that seen in the ultra-metal-poor star CS
22892--052. A single site with two regimes or sets of conditions, or perhaps
two different sites for the lighter and heavier neutron-capture elements, might
explain the abundance pattern seen in this star. In addition we have derived a
reliable abundance for the radioactive element thorium. We tentatively identify
U II at 3859 A in the spectrum of BD +17^\circ 3248, which makes this the
second detection of uranium in a very metal-poor halo star. Our combined
observations cover the widest range in proton number (from germanium to
uranium) thus far of neutron-capture elements in metal-poor Galactic halo
stars. Employing the thorium and uranium abundances in comparison with each
other and with several stable elements, we determine an average
cosmochronological age for BD +17^\circ 3248 of 13.8 +/- 4 Gyr, consistent with
that found for other similar metal-poor halo stars.Comment: 58 pages, 4 tables, 11 figures; To appear in ApJ Typo correcte
Novel Energy Sources -Material Architecture and Charge Transport in Solid State Ionic Materials for Rechargeable Li ion Batteries
Since its introduction in the consumer market at the beginning of 1990s by Sony Corporation âLi-ion rechargeable batteryâ and âLiCoO2 cathodeâ is an inseparable couple for highly reliable practical applications. However, a separation is inevitable as Li-ion rechargeable battery industry demand more and more from this well serving cathode. Spinel-type lithium manganate (e.g., LiMn2O4), lithium-based layered oxide materials (e.g., LiNiO2) and lithium-based olivine-type compounds (e.g., LiFePO4) are nowadays being extensively studied for application as alternate cathode materials in Li-ion rechargeable batteries. Primary goal of this project was the advancement of Li-ion rechargeable battery to meet the future demands of the energy sector. Major part of the research emphasized on the investigation of electrodes and solid electrolyte materials for improving the charge transport properties in Li-ion rechargeable batteries. Theoretical computational methods were used to select electrodes and electrolyte material with enhanced structural and physical properties. The effect of nano-particles on enhancing the battery performance was also examined. Satisfactory progress has been made in the bulk form and our efforts on realizing micro-battery based on thin films is close to give dividend and work is progressing well in this direction
Integrating isotopes and documentary evidence : dietary patterns in a late medieval and early modern mining community, Sweden
We would like to thank the Archaeological Research Laboratory, Stockholm University, Sweden and the Tandem Laboratory (Ă
ngström Laboratory), Uppsala University, Sweden, for undertaking the analyses of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in both human and animal collagen samples. Also, thanks to Elin Ahlin Sundman for providing the ÎŽ13C and ÎŽ15N values for animal references from VĂ€sterĂ„s. This research (BĂ€ckströmâs PhD employment at Lund University, Sweden) was supported by the Berit Wallenberg Foundation (BWS 2010.0176) and Jakob and Johan Söderbergâs foundation. The âSala projectâ (excavations and analyses) has been funded by Riksens Clenodium, Jernkontoret, Birgit and Gad Rausingâs Foundation, SAUâs Research Foundation, the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund, Berit Wallenbergs Foundation, Ă
ke Wibergs Foundation, Lars Hiertas Memory, Helge Ax:son Johnsonâs Foundation and The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Electric field control of spins in bilayer graphene: Local moment formation and local moment interactions
We study local moment formation for adatoms on bilayer graphene (BLG) within
a mean-field theory of the Anderson impurity model. The wavefunctions of the
BLG electrons induce strong particle-hole asymmetry and band dependence of the
hybridization, which is shown to result in unusual features in the impurity
model phase diagram. We also study the effect of varying the chemical
potential, as well as varying an electric field perpendicular to the bilayer;
the latter modifies the density of states of electrons in BLG and, more
significantly, shifts the impurity energy. We show that this leads to regimes
in the impurity phase diagram where local moments can be turned on or off by
applying modest external electric fields. Finally, we show that the RKKY
interaction between local moments can be varied by tuning the chemical
potential (as has also been suggested in monolayer graphene) or, more
interestingly, by tuning the electric field so that it induces changes in the
band structure of BLG.Comment: Revised discussion and figures, 17 page
Multidisciplinary studies on a sick-leader syndrome-associated mass stranding of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic coast of Italy
Mass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are rare in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, in 2014 a pod of 7 specimens stranded alive along the Italian coast of the Central Adriatic Sea: 3 individuals died on the beach after a few hours due to internal damages induced by prolonged recumbency; the remaining 4 whales were refloated after great efforts. All the dead animals were genetically related females; one was pregnant. All the animals were infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and the pregnant whale was also affected by a severe nephropathy due to a large kidney stone. Other analyses ruled out other possible relevant factors related to weather conditions or human activities. The results of multidisciplinary post-mortem analyses revealed that the 7 sperm whales entered the Adriatic Sea encountering adverse weather conditions and then kept heading northward following the pregnant but sick leader of the pod, thereby reaching the stranding site. DMV infection most likely played a crucial role in impairing the health condition and orientation abilities of the whales. They did not steer back towards deeper waters, but eventually stranded along the Central Adriatic Sea coastline, a real trap for sperm whales
The importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes
Based on a calculation of neural decoherence rates, we argue that that the
degrees of freedom of the human brain that relate to cognitive processes should
be thought of as a classical rather than quantum system, i.e., that there is
nothing fundamentally wrong with the current classical approach to neural
network simulations. We find that the decoherence timescales ~10^{-13}-10^{-20}
seconds are typically much shorter than the relevant dynamical timescales
(~0.001-0.1 seconds), both for regular neuron firing and for kink-like
polarization excitations in microtubules. This conclusion disagrees with
suggestions by Penrose and others that the brain acts as a quantum computer,
and that quantum coherence is related to consciousness in a fundamental way.Comment: Minor changes to match accepted PRE version. 15 pages with 5 figs
included. Color figures and links at
http://www.physics.upenn.edu/~max/brain.html or from [email protected].
Physical Review E, in pres
Treatment patterns, resource use and costs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Spain â results of a Delphi Panel
Clinical features and health-related quality of life in adult patients with mucopolysaccharidosis IVA: the Spanish experience
Background:
Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA or Morquio A syndrome is a progressive and disabling disease characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase. Its clinical presentation is very heterogeneous and poorly understood in adults.
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations of MPS IVA in adult patients in Spain and to assess their health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Results:
Thirty-three patients from nine reference centres participated in the study. The median age was 32 (interquartile range [IQR]: 20.5â40.5) years. The phenotype was classical in 54.5% of patients, intermediate in 33.3% of patients, and non-classical in 12.1% of patients. The most common clinical manifestation was bone dysplasia, with a median height of 118 (IQR: 106â136) cm. Other frequent clinical manifestations were hearing loss (75.7%), ligamentous laxity (72.7%), odontoid dysplasia (69.7%), limb deformities that required orthopaedic aids (mainly hip dysplasia and genu valgus) (63.6%), and corneal clouding (60.6%). In addition, 36.0% of patients had obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome and 33.3% needed non-invasive ventilation. Cervical surgery and varisation osteotomy were the most common surgical interventions (36.4% each). Almost 80% of patients had mobility problems and 36.4% used a wheelchair at all times. Furthermore, 87.9% needed help with self-care, 33.3% were fully dependent, and 78.8% had some degree of pain. HRQoL according to the health assessment questionnaire was 1.43 (IQR: 1.03â2.00) in patients with the non-classical phenotype, but 2.5 (IQR: 1.68â3.00) in those with the classical phenotype. Seven patients were initiated on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), but two of them were lost to follow-up. Lung function improved in four patients and slightly worsened in one patient. The distance achieved in the six-minute walk test increased in the four patients who could perform it. HRQoL was better in patients treated with elosulfase alfa, with a median (IQR) of 1.75 (1.25â2.34) versus 2.25 (1.62â3.00) in patients not treated with ERT.
Conclusions:
The study provides real-world data on patients with MPS IVA. Limited mobility, difficulties with self-care, dependence, and pain were common, together with poor HRQoL. The severity and heterogeneity of clinical manifestations require the combined efforts of multidisciplinary teams
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