Ignition criteria for x-ray fast ignition inertial confinement fusion

The derivation of the ignition energy for fast ignition inertial confinement fusion is reviewed and one-dimensional simulations are used to produce a revised formula for the ignition energy of an isochoric central hot-spot, which accounts for variation in the radius of the hot-spot r_h as well as the density rho. The required energy may be as low as 1 kJ when rho*r_h ~ 0:36 g cm^-2; T ~ 20 keV, and rho greater or equal to 700 g cm^-2. Although there are many physical challenges to creating these conditions, a possible route to producing such a hot-spot is via a bright source of nonthermal soft x-rays. Further one-dimensional simulations are used to study the non-thermal soft x-ray heating of dense DT and it is found to offer the potential to significantly reduce hydrodynamic losses as compared to particle driven fast ignition due to the hotspot being heated supersonically in a layer-by-layer fashion. A sufficiently powerful soft x-ray source would be difficult to produce, but line emission from laser-produced-plasma is the most promising option

High Mass Triple Systems: The Classical Cepheid Y Car

We have obtained an HST STIS ultraviolet high dispersion Echelle mode spectrum the binary companion of the double mode classical Cepheid Y Car. The velocity measured for the hot companion from this spectrum is very different from reasonable predictions for binary motion, implying that the companion is itself a short period binary. The measured velocity changed by 7 km/ s during the 4 days between two segments of the observation confirming this interpretation. We summarize "binary" Cepheids which are in fact members of triple system and find at least 44% are triples. The summary of information on Cepheids with orbits makes it likely that the fraction is under-estimated.Comment: accepted by A

High Resolution Chandra Spectroscopy of Gamma Cassiopeia (B0.5IVe)

gamma Cas has long been famous for its unique hard X-ray characteristics. We report herein on a 53 ks Chandra HETGS observation of this target. An inspection of our spectrum shows that it is quite atypical for a massive star, with abnormally weak Fe XXV, XXVI lines, Ly-alpha lines of H-like species from Fe XVII, XXIII, XXIV, S XVI, Si XIV, Mg XII, Ne X, O VII, VIII, and N VII. Also, line ratios of the rif-triplet of for a few He-like ions XVII are consistent with the dominance of collisional atomic processes. Yet, the presence of Fe and Si fluorescence K features indicates that photoionization also occurs in nearby cold gas. The line profiles indicate a mean velocity at rest and a broadening of 500 km/s. A global fitting analysis of the line and continuum spectrum finds that there are 3-4 plasma emission components. The dominant hot (12 keV) component and has a Fe abundance of 0.22 solar. Some fraction of this component (10-30%) is heavily absorbed. The other 2-3 components, with temperatures 0.1, 0.4, 3 keV, are "warm," have a nearly solar composition, a lower column absorption, and are responsible for most other emission lines. The strength of the fluorescence features and the dual-column absorption model for the hot plasma component suggest the presence near the hot sites of a cold gas structure with a column density of 10^23 cm^-2. Since this value is consistent with theoretical estimates of the vertical disk column of this star, these attributes suggest that the X-rays originate near the star or disk. It is possible that the Fe anomaly in the hot component is related to the First Ionization Potential effect found in coronal structures around active cool stars. This would be yet another indication that the X-rays -rays are produced in the immediate vicinity of the Be star.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures (Fig. 3 colorized.) To be published in 01/10/04 Astrophysical Journal, Main Journal; included figures and updated formattin

Improving Underrepresented Minority Student Persistence in STEM.

Members of the Joint Working Group on Improving Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-convened by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute-review current data and propose deliberation about why the academic "pathways" leak more for URM than white or Asian STEM students. They suggest expanding to include a stronger focus on the institutional barriers that need to be removed and the types of interventions that "lift" students' interests, commitment, and ability to persist in STEM fields. Using Kurt Lewin's planned approach to change, the committee describes five recommendations to increase URM persistence in STEM at the undergraduate level. These recommendations capitalize on known successes, recognize the need for accountability, and are framed to facilitate greater progress in the future. The impact of these recommendations rests upon enacting the first recommendation: to track successes and failures at the institutional level and collect data that help explain the existing trends

350 Micron Dust Emission from High Redshift Objects

We report observations of a sample of high redshift sources (1.8<z<4.7), mainly radio-quiet quasars, at 350 microns using the SHARC bolometer camera at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Nine sources were detected (>4-sigma) and upper limits were obtained for 11 with 350 micron flux density limits (3-sigma) in the range 30-125mJy. Combining published results at other far-infrared and millimeter wavelengths with the present data, we are able to estimate the temperature of the dust, finding relatively low values, averaging 50K. From the spectral energy distribution, we derive dust masses of a few 10^8 M_sun and luminosities of 4-33x10^{12} L_sun (uncorrected for any magnification) implying substantial star formation activity. Thus both the temperature and dust masses are not very different from those of local ultraluminous infrared galaxies. For this redshift range, the 350 micron observations trace the 60-100 micron rest frame emission and are thus directly comparable with IRAS studies of low redshift galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 2 PS figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Long-term outcome after early infrainguinal graft failure

AbstractPurpose: To determine the long-term outcome and prognostic factors after early infrainguinal graft failure (<30 days).Methods: Retrospective analysis of limb salvage data, patency data, and prognostic risk factors in 112 new infrainguinal bypass grafts from 1985 to 1995 that occluded within 30 days of operation.Result: Thirty-six femoropopliteal and 76 femorotibial/femoropedal arterial bypass (“index”) procedures were performed for rest pain (50%), tissue loss (31%), or disabling claudication (19%). In 103 patients, an immediate additional revascularization (“takeback”) procedure was performed at the time of early graft failure. Life table analysis of the takeback procedures for threatened limbs (n = 84) revealed limb salvage rates of 74%, 54%, 40%, and 31% at 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. The 1-month limb salvage rate (threatened limbs) was 12% (1 of 8) in patients who were not taken back for revascularization and 33% (4 of 12) in patients who had undergone more than one takeback procedure within 30 days. The secondary graft patency rates for the takeback procedures (n = 103) were 70%, 37%, 27%, and 23% at 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Univariate and life table analysis revealed that patients who were given anticoagulation medication after the index procedure (before graft thrombosis) or patients who had undergone previous ipsilateral leg revascularization had significantly lower rates of limb salvage and graft patency (p < 0.05). The limb salvage rate was also significantly worse in patients who had single-vessel runoff compared with those who had multiple-vessel runoff (p < 0.01). Thrombectomy and revision or complete graft replacement had a better secondary patency rate than thrombectomy alone (p < 0.05). Autogenous vein grafts had better outcome than polytetrafluoroethylene-containing grafts, but statistical significance was not achieved. No significant differences in limb salvage or graft patency rates were found between femoropopliteal versus femorotibial/femoropedal bypass grafting, age, gender, previous inflow surgery, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, or cardiac, renal, or pulmonary disease.Conclusion: The long-term limb salvage and graft patency rates after takeback revascularization procedures for early graft failure are poor. Despite poor outcome, a single takeback procedure appears warranted in all patients. Multiple takeback procedures, however, do not appear to be justified, especially in patients who are given anticoagulation medication after the index bypass procedure, repeat leg bypass procedures, or if there is no potential for graft revision

Dealing with mobility: Understanding access anytime, anywhere

The rapid and accelerating move towards the adoption and use of mobile technologies has increasingly provided people and organisations with the ability to work away from the office and on the move. The new ways of working afforded by these technologies are often characterised in terms of access to information and people ‘anytime, anywhere’. This paper presents a study of mobile workers that highlights different facets of access to remote people and information, and different facets of anytime, anywhere. Four key factors in mobile work are identified from the study: the role of planning, working in ‘dead time’, accessing remote technological and informational resources, and monitoring the activities of remote colleagues. By reflecting on these issues, we can better understand the role of technology and artefact use in mobile work and identify the opportunities for the development of appropriate technological solutions to support mobile workers

Subnanosecond spectral diffusion measurement using photon correlation

Spectral diffusion is a result of random spectral jumps of a narrow line as a result of a fluctuating environment. It is an important issue in spectroscopy, because the observed spectral broadening prevents access to the intrinsic line properties. However, its characteristic parameters provide local information on the environment of a light emitter embedded in a solid matrix, or moving within a fluid, leading to numerous applications in physics and biology. We present a new experimental technique for measuring spectral diffusion based on photon correlations within a spectral line. Autocorrelation on half of the line and cross-correlation between the two halves give a quantitative value of the spectral diffusion time, with a resolution only limited by the correlation set-up. We have measured spectral diffusion of the photoluminescence of a single light emitter with a time resolution of 90 ps, exceeding by four orders of magnitude the best resolution reported to date

Psoriatic nail dystrophy is associated with erosive disease in the distal interphalangeal joints in psoriatic arthritis:a retrospective cohort study

Objective. To assess whether the association between psoriatic nail dystrophy and radiographic damage in the hands of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is specific to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Methods. A convenience sample of patients was collated from the Bath longitudinal PsA cohort. All patients had PsA according to the ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis criteria (CASPAR) criteria, scored radiographs of their hands, and documented nail scores as measured by the Psoriatic Nail Severity Score. Chi-square tests were performed to examine for association between features of nail dystrophy and radiographic damage in the DIP joints, and proximal interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal (non-DIP) joints of the corresponding digits. Results. There were 134 patients included, with a median age of 53 years (interquartile range; IQR 44-61) and disease duration of 7 years (IQR 3-17). The presence of any form of psoriatic nail dystrophy was associated with erosion at the DIP joints of the corresponding digit (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.23-2.83; p &lt; 0.004) and this association was primarily driven by the presence of nail onycholysis (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.12-2.62; p = 0.02). Nail subungual hyperkeratosis was more strongly associated with joint space narrowing, erosions, and osteoproliferation at the corresponding DIP joint compared to non-DIP joints (p &lt; 0.001). Nail pitting was not associated with erosions or osteoproliferation. Conclusion. The presence of psoriatic nail dystrophy, particularly onycholysis, is associated with erosive disease at the DIP joints. Subungual hyperkeratosis is more strongly associated with erosive damage at the DIP than non-DIP joints. These findings support the anatomical and pathological link between nail and DIP joint disease.</p