468 research outputs found
Brain GABA and Glutamate Concentrations Following Chronic Gabapentin Administration: A Convenience Sample Studied During Early Abstinence From Alcohol.
Gabapentin (GBP), a GABA analog that may also affect glutamate (Glu) production, can normalize GABA and Glu tone during early abstinence from alcohol, effectively treating withdrawal symptoms and facilitating recovery. Using in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we tested the degree to which daily GBP alters regional brain GABA and Glu levels in short-term abstinent alcohol-dependent individuals. Regional metabolite levels were compared between 13 recently abstinent alcohol-dependent individuals who had received daily GBP for at least 1 week (GBP+) and 25 matched alcohol-dependent individuals who had not received GBP (GBP-). Magnetic resonance spectra from up to five different brain regions were analyzed to yield absolute GABA and Glu concentrations. GABA and Glu concentrations in the parieto-occipital cortex were not different between GBP- and GBP+. Glu levels in anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and basal ganglia did not differ between GBP- and GBP+. However, in a subgroup of individuals matched on age, sex, and abstinence duration, GBP+ had markedly lower Glu in the frontal white matter (WM) than GBP-, comparable to concentrations found in light/non-drinking controls. Furthermore, lower frontal WM Glu in GBP+ correlated with a higher daily GBP dose. Daily GBP treatment at an average of 1,600 mg/day for at least 1 week was not associated with altered cortical GABA and Glu concentrations during short-term abstinence from alcohol, but with lower Glu in frontal WM. GBP for the treatment of alcohol dependence may work through reducing Glu in WM rather than increasing cortical GABA
Decoupling Inflation From the String Scale
When Inflation is embedded in a fundamental theory, such as string theory, it
typically begins when the Universe is already substantially larger than the
fundamental scale [such as the one defined by the string length scale]. This is
naturally explained by postulating a pre-inflationary era, during which the
size of the Universe grew from the fundamental scale to the initial
inflationary scale. The problem then arises of maintaining the [presumed]
initial spatial homogeneity throughout this era, so that, when it terminates,
Inflation is able to begin in its potential-dominated state. Linde has proposed
that a spacetime with compact negatively curved spatial sections can achieve
this, by means of chaotic mixing. Such a compactification will however lead to
a Casimir energy, which can lead to effects that defeat the purpose unless the
coupling to gravity is suppressed. We estimate the value of this coupling
required by the proposal, and use it to show that the pre-inflationary
spacetime is stable, despite the violation of the Null Energy Condition
entailed by the Casimir energy.Comment: 24 pages, 5 eps figures, references added, stylistic changes, version
to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit
Effects of the Neutron Spin-Orbit Density on Nuclear Charge Density in Relativistic Models
The neutron spin-orbit density contributes to the nuclear charge density as a
relativistic effect. The contribution is enhanced by the effective mass
stemming from the Lorentz-scalar potential in relativistic models. This
enhancement explains well the difference between the cross sections of elastic
electron scattering off Ca and Ca which was not reproduced in
non-relativistic models. The spin-orbit density will be examined in more detail
in electron scattering off unstable nuclei which would be available in the
future.Comment: 4 pages with 3 eps figures, revte
Linking micro‐ and macroevolutionary perspectives to evaluate the role of Quaternary sea‐level oscillations in island diversification
With shifts in island area, isolation, and cycles of island fusion–fission, the role of Quaternary sea‐level oscillations as drivers of diversification is complex and not well understood. Here, we conduct parallel comparisons of population and species divergence between two island areas of equivalent size that have been affected differently by sea‐level oscillations, with the aim to understand the micro‐ and macroevolutionary dynamics associated with sea‐level change. Using genome‐wide datasets for a clade of seven Amphiacusta ground cricket species endemic to the Puerto Rico Bank (PRB), we found consistently deeper interspecific divergences and higher population differentiation across the unfragmented Western PRB, in comparison to the currently fragmented Eastern PRB that has experienced extreme changes in island area and connectivity during the Quaternary. We evaluate alternative hypotheses related to the microevolutionary processes (population splitting, extinction, and merging) that regulate the frequency of completed speciation across the PRB. Our results suggest that under certain combinations of archipelago characteristics and taxon traits, the repeated changes in island area and connectivity may create an opposite effect to the hypothesized “species pump” action of oscillating sea levels. Our study highlights how a microevolutionary perspective can complement current macroecological work on the Quaternary dynamics of island biodiversity.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141544/1/evo13384.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141544/2/evo13384_am.pd
Effect of recent R_p and R_n measurements on extended Gari-Krumpelmann model fits to nucleon electromagnetic form factors
The Gari-Krumpelmann (GK) models of nucleon electromagnetic form factors, in
which the rho, omega, and phi vector meson pole contributions evolve at high
momentum transfer to conform to the predictions of perturbative QCD (pQCD), was
recently extended to include the width of the rho meson by substituting the
result of dispersion relations for the pole and the addition of rho' (1450)
isovector vector meson pole. This extended model was shown to produce a good
overall fit to all the available nucleon electromagnetic form factor (emff)
data. Since then new polarization data shows that the electric to magnetic
ratios R_p and R_n obtained are not consistent with the older G_{Ep} and G_{En}
data in their range of momentum transfer. The model is further extended to
include the omega' (1419) isoscalar vector meson pole. It is found that while
this GKex cannot simultaneously fit the new R_p and the old G_{En} data, it can
fit the new R_p and R_n well simultaneously. An excellent fit to all the
remaining data is obtained when the inconsistent G_{Ep} and G_{En} is omitted.
The model predictions are shown up to momentum transfer squared, Q^2, of 8
GeV^2/c^2.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, using RevTeX4; email correspondence to
[email protected] ; minor typos corrected, figures added, conclusions
extende
Extended Gari-Krumpelmann model fits to nucleon electromagnetic form factors
Nucleon electromagnetic form factor data (including recent data) is fitted
with models that respect the confinement and asymptotic freedom properties of
QCD. Gari-Krumpelmann (GK) type models, which include the major vector meson
pole contributions and at high momentum transfer conform to the predictions of
perturbative QCD, are combined with Hohler-Pietarinen (HP) models, which also
include the width of the rho meson and the addition of higher mass vector meson
exchanges, but do not evolve into the explicit form of PQCD at high momentum
transfer. Different parameterizations of the GK model's hadronic form factors,
the effect of including the width of the rho meson and the addition of the next
(in mass) isospin 1 vector meson are considered. The quality of fit and the
consistency of the parameters select three of the combined HP/GK type models.
Projections are made to the higher momentum transfers which are relevant to
electron-deuteron experiments. The projections vary little for the preferred
models, removing much of the ambiguity in electron-nucleus scattering
predictions.Comment: 18pp, 7 figures, using RevTeX with BoxedEPS macros; 1 new figure,
minor textual changes; email correspondence to [email protected]
Electromagnetic Form Factors of the Nucleon in an Improved Quark Model
Nucleon electromagnetic form factors are studied in the cloudy bag model
(CBM) with center-of-mass and recoil corrections. This is the first
presentation of a full set of nucleon form factors using the CBM. The center of
mass motion is eliminated via several different momentum projection techniques
and the results are compared. It is found that the shapes of these form factors
are significantly improved with respect to the experimental data if the Lorentz
contraction of the internal structure of the baryon is also appropriately taken
into account.Comment: revtex, 28 pages, 8 ps figs include
Valuing the commons : an international study on the recreational benefits of the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea provides benefits to all of the nine nations along its coastline, with some 85 million people living within the catchment area. Achieving improvements in water quality requires international cooperation. The likelihood of effective cooperation is known to depend on the distribution across countries of the benefits and costs of actions needed to improve water quality. In this paper, we estimate the benefits associated with recreational use of the Baltic Sea in current environmental conditions using a travel cost approach, based on data from a large, standardized survey of households in each of the 9 Baltic Sea states. Both the probability of engaging in recreation (participation) and the number of visits people make are modeled. A large variation in the number of trips and the extent of participation is found, along with large differences in current annual economic benefits from Baltic Sea recreation. The total annual recreation benefits are close to 15 billion EUR. Under a water quality improvement scenario, the proportional increases in benefits range from 7 to 18% of the current annual benefits across countries. Depending on how the costs of actions are distributed, this could imply difficulties in achieving more international cooperation to achieve such improvements.PostprintPeer reviewe
Hadron Polarizabilities and Form Factors
This is the summary of the working group on Hadron Polarizabilities and Form
Factors of the Chiral Dynamics Workshop in Mainz, September 1-5, 1997.Comment: 21 pages LaTeX2e, uses epsf, 9 fig
Measurement of the Electric Form Factor of the Neutron at Q^2 = 0.3-0.8 (GeV/c)^2
The electric form factor of the neutron, G_En, has been measured at the Mainz
Microtron by recoil polarimetry in the quasielastic D(e_pol,e'n_pol)p reaction.
Three data points have been extracted at squared four-momentum transfers Q^2 =
0.3, 0.6 and 0.8 (GeV/c)^2. Corrections for nuclear binding effects have been
applied.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in EPJ
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