1,697 research outputs found
Stability of the inverse resonance problem on the line
In the absence of a half-bound state, a compactly supported potential of a
Schr\"odinger operator on the line is determined up to a translation by the
zeros and poles of the meropmorphically continued left (or right) reflection
coefficient. The poles are the eigenvalues and resonances, while the zeros also
are physically relevant. We prove that all compactly supported potentials
(without half-bound states) that have reflection coefficients whose zeros and
poles are \eps-close in some disk centered at the origin are also close (in a
suitable sense). In addition, we prove stability of small perturbations of the
zero potential (which has a half-bound state) from only the eigenvalues and
resonances of the perturbation.Comment: 21 page
A Mycobacterium ESX-1–Secreted Virulence Factor with Unique Requirements for Export
Specialized secretion systems of pathogenic bacteria commonly transport multiple effectors that act in concert to control and exploit the host cell as a replication-permissive niche. Both the Mycobacterium marinum and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genomes contain an extended region of difference 1 (extRD1) locus that encodes one such pathway, the early secretory antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) system 1 (ESX-1) secretion apparatus. ESX-1 is required for virulence and for secretion of the proteins ESAT-6, culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10), and EspA. Here, we show that both Rv3881c and its M. marinum homolog, Mh3881c, are secreted proteins, and disruption of RD1 in either organism blocks secretion. We have renamed the Rv3881c/Mh3881c gene espB for ESX-1 substrate protein B. Secretion of M. marinum EspB (EspBM) requires both the Mh3879c and Mh3871 genes within RD1, while CFP-10 secretion is not affected by disruption of Mh3879c. In contrast, disruption of Mh3866 or Mh3867 within the extRD1 locus prevents CFP-10 secretion without effect on EspBM. Mutants that fail to secrete only EspBM or only CFP-10 are less attenuated in macrophages than mutants failing to secrete both substrates. EspBM physically interacts with Mh3879c; the M. tuberculosis homolog, EspBT, physically interacts with Rv3879c; and mutants of EspBM that fail to bind Mh3879c fail to be secreted. We also found interaction between Rv3879c and Rv3871, a component of the ESX-1 machine, suggesting a mechanism for the secretion of EspB. The results establish EspB as a substrate of ESX-1 that is required for virulence and growth in macrophages and suggests that the contribution of ESX-1 to virulence may arise from the secretion of multiple independent substrates
Structural analysis, magnetic and transport properties of the (Ru1-xCox)Sr2GdCu2O8 system
The effects of Co substitution on structural and superconducting properties
of RuSr2GdCu2O8 compound have been studied. Rietveld refinements of the X-ray
diffraction patterns indicate that the cobalt ion progressively replaces
ruthenium sites. This replacement induces significant changes on the crystal
structure and on the magnetic and superconducting properties. The effects Co
substitution on the superconducting behaviour, and more particulary on the
changes induce by the hole doping mechanism, were investigated in
(Ru1-xCox)Sr2GdCu2O8 by a "bond valence sum" analysis with Co content from x=
0.0 to x = 0.2. The weak ferromagnetic transition at Tm= 138.2 K is shifted to
lower temperature, and suppressed at higher Co content. From the
crystallographic point of view the Ru-O(1)-Cu bond angle, associated to the
rotation of the RuO6 octahedra, around the c-axis remain essetially constant
when Ru is substituted by Co. Furthermore, increasing Co content has the effect
to increase the weak ferromagnetic moment, which may be interpreted as the main
responsible for breaking the delicate balance between magnetic and
superconducting ordering.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure
3D MHD Coronal Oscillations About a Magnetic Null Point: Application of WKB Theory
This paper is a demonstration of how the WKB approximation can be used to
help solve the linearised 3D MHD equations. Using Charpit's Method and a
Runge-Kutta numerical scheme, we have demonstrated this technique for a
potential 3D magnetic null point, .
Under our cold plasma assumption, we have considered two types of wave
propagation: fast magnetoacoustic and Alfv\'en waves. We find that the fast
magnetoacoustic wave experiences refraction towards the magnetic null point,
and that the effect of this refraction depends upon the Alfv\'en speed profile.
The wave, and thus the wave energy, accumulates at the null point. We have
found that current build up is exponential and the exponent is dependent upon
. Thus, for the fast wave there is preferential heating at the null
point. For the Alfv\'en wave, we find that the wave propagates along the
fieldlines. For an Alfv\'en wave generated along the fan-plane, the wave
accumulates along the spine. For an Alfv\'en wave generated across the spine,
the value of determines where the wave accumulation will occur:
fan-plane (), along the axis () or along the
axis (). We have shown analytically that currents build up
exponentially, leading to preferential heating in these areas. The work
described here highlights the importance of understanding the magnetic topology
of the coronal magnetic field for the location of wave heating.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figure
Neutrino-induced neutron spallation and supernova r-process nucleosynthesis
In order to explore the consequences of the neutrino irradiation for the
supernova r-process nucleosynthesis, we calculate the rates of charged-current
and neutral-current neutrino reactions on neutron-rich heavy nuclei, and
estimate the average number of neutrons emitted in the resulting spallation.
Our results suggest that charged-current captures can be important in
breaking through the waiting-point nuclei at N=50 and 82, while still allowing
the formation of abundance peaks. Furthermore, after the r-process freezes out,
there appear to be distinctive neutral-current and charged-current
postprocessing effects. A subtraction of the neutrino postprocessing effects
from the observed solar r-process abundance distribution shows that two mass
regions, A=124-126 and 183-187, are inordinately sensitive to neutrino
postprocessing effects. This imposes very stringent bounds on the freeze-out
radii and dynamic timescales governing the r-process. Moreover, we find that
the abundance patterns within these mass windows are entirely consistent with
synthesis by neutrino interactions. This provides a strong argument that the
r-process must occur in the intense neutrino flux provided by a core-collapse
supernova.Comment: 34 pages, 4 PostScript figures, RevTe
Reflections and Experiences of a Co-Researcher involved in a Renal Research Study
Background Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is seen as a prerequisite for health research. However, current Patient and public involvement literature has noted a paucity of recording of patient and public involvement within research studies. There have been calls for more recordings and reflections, specifically on impact. Renal medicine has also had similar criticisms and any reflections on patient and public involvement has usually been from the viewpoint of the researcher. Roles of patient and public involvement can vary greatly from sitting on an Advisory Group to analysing data. Different PPI roles have been described within studies; one being a co-researcher. However, the role of the co-researcher is largely undefined and appears to vary from study to study. Methods The aims of this paper are to share one first time co-researcher's reflections on the impact of PPI within a mixed methods (non-clinical trial) renal research study. A retrospective, reflective approach was taken using data available to the co-researcher as part of the day-to-day research activity. Electronic correspondence and documents such as meeting notes, minutes, interview thematic analysis and comments on documents were re-examined. The co-researcher led on writing this paper. Results This paper offers a broad definition of the role of the co-researcher. The co-researcher reflects on undertaking and leading on the thematic analysis of interview transcripts, something she had not previously done before. The co-researcher identified a number of key themes; the differences in time and responsibility between being a coresearcher and an Advisory Group member; how the role evolved and involvement activities could match the co-researchers strengths (and the need for flexibility); the need for training and support and lastly, the time commitment. It was also noted that it is preferable that a co-researcher needs to be involved from the very beginning of the grant application. Conclusions The reflections, voices and views of those undertaking PPI has been largely underrepresented in the literature. The role of co-researcher was seen to be rewarding but demanding, requiring a large time commitment. It is hoped that the learning from sharing this experience will encourage others to undertake this role, and encourage researchers to reflect on the needs of those involved.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Photon interferometry and size of the hot zone in relativistic heavy ion collisions
The parameters obtained from the theoretical analysis of the single photon
spectra observed by the WA98 collaboration at SPS energies have been used to
evaluate the two photon correlation functions. The single photon spectra and
the two photon correlations at RHIC energies have also been evaluated, taking
into account the effects of the possible spectral change of hadrons in a
thermal bath. We find that the ratio for SPS and
for RHIC energy.Comment: text changed, figures adde
Habit training versus habit training with direct visual biofeedback in adults with chronic constipation: A randomized controlled trial
Aim: The aim was to determine whether specialist-led habit training using Habit Training with Biofeedback (HTBF) is more effective than specialist-led habit training alone (HT) for chronic constipation and whether outcomes of interventions are improved by stratification to HTBF or HT based on diagnosis (functional defaecation disorder vs. no functional defaecation disorder) by radio-physiological investigations (INVEST). Method: This was a parallel three-arm randomized single-blinded controlled trial, permitting two randomized comparisons: HTBF versus HT alone; INVEST- versus no-INVEST-guided intervention. The inclusion criteria were age 18–70 years; attending specialist hospitals in England; self-reported constipation for >6 months; refractory to basic treatment. The main exclusions were secondary constipation and previous experience of the trial interventions. The primary outcome was the mean change in Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score at 6 months on intention to treat. The secondary outcomes were validated disease-specific and psychological questionnaires and cost-effectiveness (based on EQ-5D-5L). Results: In all, 182 patients were randomized 3:3:2 (target 384): HT n = 68; HTBF n = 68; INVEST-guided treatment n = 46. All interventions had similar reductions (improvement) in the primary outcome at 6 months (approximately −0.8 points of a 4-point scale) with no statistically significant difference between HT and HTBF (−0.03 points; 95% CI −0.33 to 0.27; P = 0.85) or INVEST versus no-INVEST (0.22; −0.11 to 0.55; P = 0.19). Secondary outcomes showed a benefit for all interventions with no evidence of greater cost-effectiveness of HTBF or INVEST compared with HT. Conclusion: The results of the study at 6 months were inconclusive. However, with the caveat of under-recruitment and further attrition at 6 months, a simple, cheaper approach to intervention may be as clinically effective and more cost-effective than more complex and invasive approaches
Review article: MHD wave propagation near coronal null points of magnetic fields
We present a comprehensive review of MHD wave behaviour in the neighbourhood
of coronal null points: locations where the magnetic field, and hence the local
Alfven speed, is zero. The behaviour of all three MHD wave modes, i.e. the
Alfven wave and the fast and slow magnetoacoustic waves, has been investigated
in the neighbourhood of 2D, 2.5D and (to a certain extent) 3D magnetic null
points, for a variety of assumptions, configurations and geometries. In
general, it is found that the fast magnetoacoustic wave behaviour is dictated
by the Alfven-speed profile. In a plasma, the fast wave is focused
towards the null point by a refraction effect and all the wave energy, and thus
current density, accumulates close to the null point. Thus, null points will be
locations for preferential heating by fast waves. Independently, the Alfven
wave is found to propagate along magnetic fieldlines and is confined to the
fieldlines it is generated on. As the wave approaches the null point, it
spreads out due to the diverging fieldlines. Eventually, the Alfven wave
accumulates along the separatrices (in 2D) or along the spine or fan-plane (in
3D). Hence, Alfven wave energy will be preferentially dissipated at these
locations. It is clear that the magnetic field plays a fundamental role in the
propagation and properties of MHD waves in the neighbourhood of coronal null
points. This topic is a fundamental plasma process and results so far have also
lead to critical insights into reconnection, mode-coupling, quasi-periodic
pulsations and phase-mixing.Comment: 34 pages, 5 figures, invited review in Space Science Reviews => Note
this is a 2011 paper, not a 2010 pape
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