2,690 research outputs found
The Trinity and the Freedom of God
One of the most serious problems facing contemporary Trinitarian theology concerns the extent to which terms we use in ordinary parlance can be used to describe God and God\u27s relations with us in history. This article argues that a contemporary doctrine of the immanent Trinity should help theologians recognize and respect the freedom of the triune God as the basis of human freedom. By allowing our concept of God to be shaped by who God is in Christ and the Spirit we would exclude any agnosticism with respect to the eternal Trinity and would not define God by our experiences and concepts. Any dualistic or monistic understanding of our relations with the Christian God would similarly be excluded. While many contemporary theologians claim to begin their reflections about God with the economic Trinitarian self-revelation, I contend that Rahner and many who follow his axiom of identity, with its vice versa, actually compromise both divine and human freedom; so that there is a trend today to make God dependent upon and indistinguishable from history; to believe that Jesus is the revealer in his humanity as such; to blur the distinction between the Holy Spirit and our human spirit, and to allow experience rather than the object of faith to determine theological truth
Mechanism of action of VP1-001 in cryAB(R120G)-associated and age-related cataracts
PurposeWe previously identified an oxysterol, VP1-001 (also known as compound 29), that partially restores the transparency of lenses with cataracts. To understand the mechanism of VP1-001, we tested the ability of its enantiomer, ent-VP1-001, to bind and stabilize αB-crystallin (cryAB) in vitro and to produce a similar therapeutic effect in cryAB(R120G) mutant and aged wild-type mice with cataracts. VP1-001 and ent-VP1-001 have identical physicochemical properties. These experiments are designed to critically evaluate whether stereoselective binding to cryAB is required for activity.MethodsWe compared the binding of VP1-001 and ent-VP1-001 to cryAB using in silico docking, differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), and microscale thermophoresis (MST). Compounds were delivered by six topical administrations to mouse eyes over 2 weeks, and the effects on cataracts and lens refractive measures in vivo were examined. Additionally, lens epithelial and fiber cell morphologies were assessed via transmission electron microscopy.ResultsDocking studies suggested greater binding of VP1-001 into a deep groove in the cryAB dimer compared with ent-VP1-001. Consistent with this prediction, DSF and MST experiments showed that VP1-001 bound cryAB, whereas ent-VP1-001 did not. Accordingly, topical treatment of lenses with ent-VP1-001 had no effect, whereas VP1-001 produced a statistically significant improvement in lens clarity and favorable changes in lens morphology.ConclusionsThe ability of VP1-001 to bind native cryAB dimers is important for its ability to reverse lens opacity in mouse models of cataracts
Particle dependence of elliptic flow in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV
The elliptic flow parameter () for and
has been measured at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at
GeV by the STAR collaboration. The values for both
and saturate at moderate , deviating
from the hydrodynamic behavior observed in the lower region. The
saturated values and the scales where the deviation begins are
particle dependent. The particle-type dependence of shows features
expected from the hadronization of a partonic ellipsoid by coalescence of
co-moving quarks. These results will be discussed in relation to the nuclear
modification factor () which has also been measured for and
by the STAR collaboration.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Strange Quark Matter 2003 Conference (SQM 2003):
updated with 2 figures from original talk that did not appear in the journa
Relativistic Viscous Fluid Dynamics and Non-Equilibrium Entropy
Fluid dynamics corresponds to the dynamics of a substance in the long
wavelength limit. Writing down all terms in a gradient (long wavelength)
expansion up to second order for a relativistic system at vanishing charge
density, one obtains the most general (causal) equations of motion for a fluid
in the presence of shear and bulk viscosity, as well as the structure of the
non-equilibrium entropy current. Requiring positivity of the divergence of the
non-equilibrium entropy current relates some of its coefficients to those
entering the equations of motion. I comment on possible applications of these
results for conformal and non-conformal fluids.Comment: 25 pages, no figures; v2: matches published versio
Evidence from Identified Particles for Active Quark and Gluon Degrees of Freedom
Measurements of intermediate pT (1.5 < pT < 5.0 GeV/c) identified particle
distributions in heavy ion collisions at SPS and RHIC energies display striking
dependencies on the number of constituent quarks in the corresponding hadron.
One finds that elliptic flow at intermediate pT follows a constituent quark
scaling law as predicted by models of hadron formation through coalescence. In
addition, baryon production is also found to increase with event multiplicity
much faster than meson production. The rate of increase is similar for all
baryons, and seemingly independent of mass. This indicates that the number of
constituent quarks determines the multiplicity dependence of identified hadron
production at intermediate pT. We review these measurements and interpret the
experimental findings.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, proceedings for SQM2006 conference in Los Angele
Evidence of Combat in Triceratops
Background: The horns and frill of Triceratops and other ceratopsids (horned dinosaurs) are interpreted variously as display structures or as weapons against conspecifics and predators. Lesions (in the form of periosteal reactive bone, healing fractures, and alleged punctures) on Triceratops skulls have been used as anecdotal support of intraspecific combat similar to that in modern horned and antlered animals. If ceratopsids with different cranial morphologies used their horns in such combat, this should be reflected in the rates of lesion occurrence across the skull. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used a G-test of independence to compare incidence rates of lesions in Triceratops (which possesses two large brow horns and a smaller nasal horn) and the related ceratopsid Centrosaurus (with a large nasal horn and small brow horns), for the nasal, jugal, squamosal, and parietal bones of the skull. The two taxa differ significantly in the occurrence of lesions on the squamosal bone of the frill (P = 0.002), but not in other cranial bones (P.0.20). Conclusions/Significance: This pattern is consistent with Triceratops using its horns in combat and the frill being adapted as a protective structure for this taxon. Lower pathology rates in Centrosaurus may indicate visual rather than physical use o
Formation of the in Two-Photon Collisions at LEP
The two-photon width of the meson has been
measured with the L3 detector at LEP. The is studied in the decay
modes , KK, KK,
KK, , , and
using an integrated luminosity of 140 pb at GeV and
of 52 pb at GeV. The result is
(BR) keV. The dependence of the cross section is studied for
GeV. It is found to be better described by a Vector Meson
Dominance model form factor with a J-pole than with a -pole. In addition,
a signal of events is observed at the mass. Upper limits
for the two-photon widths of the , , and are also
given
Magnetic Fields, Relativistic Particles, and Shock Waves in Cluster Outskirts
It is only now, with low-frequency radio telescopes, long exposures with
high-resolution X-ray satellites and gamma-ray telescopes, that we are
beginning to learn about the physics in the periphery of galaxy clusters. In
the coming years, Sunyaev-Zeldovich telescopes are going to deliver further
great insights into the plasma physics of these special regions in the
Universe. The last years have already shown tremendous progress with detections
of shocks, estimates of magnetic field strengths and constraints on the
particle acceleration efficiency. X-ray observations have revealed shock fronts
in cluster outskirts which have allowed inferences about the microphysical
structure of shocks fronts in such extreme environments. The best indications
for magnetic fields and relativistic particles in cluster outskirts come from
observations of so-called radio relics, which are megaparsec-sized regions of
radio emission from the edges of galaxy clusters. As these are difficult to
detect due to their low surface brightness, only few of these objects are
known. But they have provided unprecedented evidence for the acceleration of
relativistic particles at shock fronts and the existence of muG strength fields
as far out as the virial radius of clusters. In this review we summarise the
observational and theoretical state of our knowledge of magnetic fields,
relativistic particles and shocks in cluster outskirts.Comment: 34 pages, to be published in Space Science Review
Study of Z Boson Pair Production in e+e- Collisions at LEP at \sqrt{s}=189 GeV
The pair production of Z bosons is studied using the data collected by the L3
detector at LEP in 1998 in e+e- collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 189
GeV. All the visible final states are considered and the cross section of this
process is measured to be 0.74 +0.15 -0.14 (stat.) +/- 0.04 (syst.) pb. Final
states containing b quarks are enhanced by a dedicated selection and their
production cross section is found to be 0.18 +0.09 -0.07 (stat.) +/- 0.02
(syst.) pb. Both results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions.
Limits on anomalous couplings between neutral gauge bosons are derived from
these measurements
Search for Scalar Leptons in e+e- collisions at \sqrt{s}=189 GeV
We report the result of a search for scalar leptons in e+e- collisions at 189
GeV centre-of-mass energy at LEP. No evidence for such particles is found in a
data sample of 176 pb^{-1}. Improved upper limits are set on the production
cross sections for these new particles. New exclusion contours in the parameter
space of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model are derived, as well as new
lower limits on the masses of these supersymmetric particles. Under the
assumptions of common gaugino and scalar masses at the GUT scale, we set an
absolute lower limit on the mass of the lightest scalar electron of 65.5 Ge
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