Beta decay and other processes in strong electromagnetic fields

We consider effects of the fields of strong electromagnetic waves on various characteristics of quantum processes. After a qualitative discussion of the effects of external fields on the energy spectra and angular distributions of the final-state particles as well as on the total probabilities of the processes (such as decay rates and total cross sections), we present a simple method of calculating the total probabilities of processes with production of non-relativistic charged particles. Using nuclear beta-decay as an example, we study the weak and strong field limits, as well as the field-induced beta-decay of nuclei stable in the absence of the external fields, both in the tunneling and multi-photon regimes. We also consider the possibility of accelerating forbidden nuclear beta-decays by lifting the forbiddeness due to the interaction of the parent or daughter nuclei with the field of a strong electromagnetic wave. It is shown that for currently attainable electromagnetic fields all effects on total beta-decay rates are unobservably small.Comment: LaTeX, 30 pages, 2 figures. Invited contribution to the special issue of Yadernaya Fizika dedicated to the centennial anniversary of birthday of A.B. Migdal. V2: references adde

Phantom Energy with Variable G and Lambda

We have investigated a cosmological model of a phantom energy with a variable cosmological constant ($\Lambda$) depending on the energy density ($\rho$) as $\Lambda\propto \rho^{-\alpha}$, $\alpha=\rm const.$ and a variable gravitational constant ($G$). The model requires $\alpha<0$ and a negative gravitational constant. A negative gravitational constant may forbid \emph{black holes} to form a particle horizon in a background of phantom energy. This implies that black holes are naked, and consequently the \emph{Cosmic Censorship} theorem is violated. The cosmological constant evolves with time as, $\Lambda\propto t^{-2}$. For $\omega>-1$ and $\alpha<-1$ the cosmological constant, $\Lambda0$ and $\rho$ decrease with cosmic expansion. For ordinary matter (or dark matter), i.e., $\omega>-1$ we have $-10$ so that $G>0$ increases with time and $\rho$ decreases with time. Cosmic acceleration with dust particles is granted provided $-{2/3}0$.Comment: 7 pages, revtex

Accessing and assessing lunar resources with PROSPECT

PROSPECT is a package in development by ESA to assess the in-situ resource potential of lunar regolith. PROSPECT will: obtain sub-surface regolith samples, extract volatiles, identify chemical species, quantify abundances, and characterize isotopes

Self-similar solution of a nonsteady problem of nonisothermal vapour condensation on a droplet growing in diffusion regime

This paper presents a mathematically exact self-similar solution to the joint nonsteady problems of vapour diffusion towards a droplet growing in a vapour-gas medium and of removal of heat released by a droplet into a vapour-gas medium during vapour condensation. An equation for the temperature of the droplet is obtained; and it is only at that temperature that the self-similar solution exists. This equation requires the constancy of the droplet temperature and even defines it unambiguously throughout the whole period of the droplet growth. In the case of strong display of heat effects, when the droplet growth rate decreases significantly, the equation for the temperature of the droplet is solved analytically. It is shown that the obtained temperature fully coincides with the one that settles in the droplet simultaneously with the settlement of its diffusion regime of growth. At the obtained temperature of the droplet the interrelated nonsteady vapour concentration and temperature profiles of the vapour-gas medium around the droplet are expressed in terms of initial (prior to the nucleation of the droplet) parameters of the vapour-gas medium. The same parameters are used to formulate the law in accordance with which the droplet is growing in diffusion regime, and also to define the time that passes after the nucleation of the droplet till the settlement of diffusion regime of droplet growth, when the squared radius of the droplet becomes proportionate to time. For the sake of completeness the case of weak display of heat effects is been studied.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Managing fisheries to conserve North Sea groundfish and benthic invertebrate species diversity

Concerns over man’s impact on the environment and ecosystems of the world have resulted in a shift in emphasis in the management of marine natural resources. Consequently, an ecosystem approach to management (EAM) is in the process of being developed and implemented for the North Se

Cosmology with a long range repulsive force

We consider a class of cosmological models in which the universe is filled with a (non-electric) charge density that repels itself by means of a force carried by a vector boson with a tiny mass. When the vector's mass depends upon other fields, the repulsive interaction gives rise to an electromagnetic barrier which prevents these fields from driving the mass to zero. This can modify the cosmology dramatically. We present a very simple realization of this idea in which the vector's mass arises from a scalar field. The electromagnetic barrier prevents this field from rolling down its potential and thereby leads to accelerated expansion.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX (version accepted for publication in PRD). 3 new figures, extended discussion of observational consequence

Standardized postnatal management of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in Europe: The CDH EURO consortium consensus

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. To date, there are no standardized protocols for the treatment of infants with this anomaly. However, protocols based on the literature and expert opinion might improve outcome. This paper is a consensus statement from the CDH EURO Consortium prepared with the aim of achieving standardized postnatal treatment in European countries. During a consensus meeting between high-volume centers with expertise in the treatment of CDH in Europe (CDH EURO Consortium), the most recent literature on CDH was discussed. Thereafter, 5 experts graded the studies according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Criteria. Differences in opinion were discussed until full consensus was reached. The final consensus statement, therefore, represents the opinion of all consortium members. Multicenter randomized controlled trials on CDH are lacking. Use of a standardized protocol, however, may contribute to more valid comparisons of patient data in multicenter studies and identification of areas for further research

Breast cancer prognosis by combinatorial analysis of gene expression data

INTRODUCTION: The potential of applying data analysis tools to microarray data for diagnosis and prognosis is illustrated on the recent breast cancer dataset of van 't Veer and coworkers. We re-examine that dataset using the novel technique of logical analysis of data (LAD), with the double objective of discovering patterns characteristic for cases with good or poor outcome, using them for accurate and justifiable predictions; and deriving novel information about the role of genes, the existence of special classes of cases, and other factors. METHOD: Data were analyzed using the combinatorics and optimization-based method of LAD, recently shown to provide highly accurate diagnostic and prognostic systems in cardiology, cancer proteomics, hematology, pulmonology, and other disciplines. RESULTS: LAD identified a subset of 17 of the 25,000 genes, capable of fully distinguishing between patients with poor, respectively good prognoses. An extensive list of 'patterns' or 'combinatorial biomarkers' (that is, combinations of genes and limitations on their expression levels) was generated, and 40 patterns were used to create a prognostic system, shown to have 100% and 92.9% weighted accuracy on the training and test sets, respectively. The prognostic system uses fewer genes than other methods, and has similar or better accuracy than those reported in other studies. Out of the 17 genes identified by LAD, three (respectively, five) were shown to play a significant role in determining poor (respectively, good) prognosis. Two new classes of patients (described by similar sets of covering patterns, gene expression ranges, and clinical features) were discovered. As a by-product of the study, it is shown that the training and the test sets of van 't Veer have differing characteristics. CONCLUSION: The study shows that LAD provides an accurate and fully explanatory prognostic system for breast cancer using genomic data (that is, a system that, in addition to predicting good or poor prognosis, provides an individualized explanation of the reasons for that prognosis for each patient). Moreover, the LAD model provides valuable insights into the roles of individual and combinatorial biomarkers, allows the discovery of new classes of patients, and generates a vast library of biomedical research hypotheses