588 research outputs found
New type of microengine using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen
Microsystems become part of everyday life but their application is restricted
by lack of strong and fast motors (actuators) converting energy into motion.
For example, widespread internal combustion engines cannot be scaled down
because combustion reactions are quenched in a small space. Here we present an
actuator with the dimensions 100x100x5 um^3 that is using internal combustion
of hydrogen and oxygen as part of its working cycle. Water electrolysis driven
by short voltage pulses creates an extra pressure of 0.5-4 bar for a time of
100-400 us in a chamber closed by a flexible membrane. When the pulses are
switched off this pressure is released even faster allowing production of
mechanical work in short cycles. We provide arguments that this unexpectedly
fast pressure decrease is due to spontaneous combustion of the gases in the
chamber. This actuator is the first step to truly microscopic combustion
engines.Comment: Paper and Supplementary Information (to appear in Scientific Reports
Maternal hemodynamics in screenâpositive and screenânegative women of the ASPRE trial
Objective
To compare maternal hemodynamics and perinatal outcome, in pregnancies that do not develop preâeclampsia (PE) or deliver a smallâforâgestationalâage (SGA) neonate, between those identified at 11â13âweeks' gestation as being screen positive or negative for preterm PE, by a combination of maternal factors, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, serum placental growth factor and pregnancy associated plasma proteinâA.
Methods
This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of maternal cardiovascular function, assessed using a bioreactance method, in women undergoing firstâtrimester screening for PE. Maternal hemodynamics and perinatal outcome were compared between screenâpositive and screenânegative women who did not have a medical comorbidity, did not develop PE or pregnancyâinduced hypertension and delivered at term a live neonate with birth weight between the 5th and 95th percentiles. A multilevel linear mixedâeffects model was used to compare the repeated measures of cardiac variables, controlling for maternal characteristics.
Results
The screenânegative group (nâ=â926) had normal cardiac function changes across gestation, whereas the screenâpositive group (nâ=â170) demonstrated static or reduced cardiac output and stroke volume and higher mean arterial pressure and peripheral vascular resistance with advancing gestation. In the screenâpositive group, compared with screenânegative women, birthâweight Zâscore was shifted toward lower values, with prevalence of delivery of a neonate below the 35th, 30th or 25th percentile being about 70% higher, and the rate of operative delivery for fetal distress in labor also being higher.
Conclusion
Women who were screen positive for impaired placentation, even though they did not develop PE or deliver a SGA neonate, had pathological cardiac adaptation in pregnancy and increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome
Exclusive Measurement of the Nonmesonic Weak Decay of ^{5}_{\Lambda}He Hypernucleus
We performed a coincidence measurement of two nucleons emitted from the
nonmesonic weak decay (NMWD) of ^{5}_{\Lambda}He formed via the
^{6}Li(\pi^+,K^+) reaction. The energies of two nucleons and the pair number
distributions in the opening angle between them were measured. In both np and
nn pairs, we observed a clean back-to-back correlation coming from the two-body
decay of \Lambda p --> n p and \Lambda n --> n n, respectively. The ratio of
the nucleon pair numbers was N_{nn}/N_{np}=0.45 \pm 0.11(stat)\pm 0.03(syst) in
the kinematic region of cos(theta_{NN}) < -0.8. Since each decay mode was
exclusively detected, the measured ratio should be close to the ratio of
\Gamma(\Lambda p --> np)/\Gamma(\Lambda n --> nn).
The ratio is consistent with recent theoretical calculations based on the
heavy meson/direct quark exchange picture.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. lett., 4 pages, 3 figure
Proton spectra from Non-Mesonic Weak Decay of p-shell Lambda-Hypernuclei and evidence for the two-nucleon induced process
New spectra from the FINUDA experiment of the Non Mesonic Weak Decay (NMWD)
proton kinetic energy for 9(Lambda)Be, 11(Lambda)B, 12(Lambda)C, 13(Lambda)C,
15 (Lambda)N and 16(Lambda)O are presented and discussed along with the
published data on 5(Lambda)He and 7(Lambda)Li. Exploiting the large mass number
range and the low energy threshold (15 MeV) for the proton detection of FINUDA,
an evaluation of both Final State Interactions (FSI) and the two nucleon
induced NMWD contributions to the decay process has been done. Based on this
evaluation, a linear dependence of FSI on the hypernuclear mass number A is
found and for the two nucleon stimulated decay rate the experimental value of
Gamma2/Gammap=0.43+-0.25 is determined for the first time. A value for the two
nucleon stimulated decay rate to the total decay rate
Gamma2/GammaNMWD=0.24+-0.10 is also extracted.Comment: 11 pages and 2 figure
A study of the proton spectra following the capture of in Li and C with FINUDA
Momenta spectra of protons emitted following the capture of in Li
and C have been measured with 1% resolution. The C spectrum is
smooth whereas for Li a well defined peak appears at about 500 MeV/. The
first observation of a structure in this region was identified as a strange
tribaryon or, possibly, a -nuclear state. The peak is correlated with a
coming from decay in flight, selected by setting momenta
larger than 275 MeV/. The could be produced, together with a 500
MeV/ proton, by the capture of a in a deuteron-cluster substructure of
the Li nucleus. The capture rate for such a reaction is (1.62\pm
0.23_{stat} ^{+0.71}_{-0.44}(sys))%/K^-_{stop}, in agreement with the existing
observations on He targets and with the hypothesis that the Li nucleus
can be interpreted as a cluster.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in NP
Production of H and H with the (K,) reaction
The production of neutron rich -hypernuclei via the
(,) reaction has been studied using data collected with the
FINUDA spectrometer at the DANE -factory (LNF). The analysis of the
inclusive momentum spectra is presented and an upper limit for the
production of H and H from Li and Li, is
assessed for the first time.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in PL
Strangeness nuclear physics: a critical review on selected topics
Selected topics in strangeness nuclear physics are critically reviewed. This
includes production, structure and weak decay of --Hypernuclei, the
nuclear interaction and the possible existence of bound
states in nuclei. Perspectives for future studies on these issues are also
outlined.Comment: 63 pages, 51 figures, accepted for publication on European Physical
Journal
Correlated pairs from the reaction
Correlated pairs emitted after the absorption of negative kaons
at rest in light nuclei and are
studied. -hyperons and deuterons are found to be preferentially
emitted in opposite directions. The invariant mass spectrum of
shows a bump whose mass is 32516 MeV/c. The bump mass (binding
energy), width and yield are reported. The appearance of a bump is discussed in
the realm of the [] clustering process in nuclei. The experiment was
performed with the FINUDA spectrometer at DANE (LNF).Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Lett.
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