86 research outputs found
Complete 0 hbar omega calculations of Gamow-Teller strengths for nuclei in the iron region
Gamow-Teller strengths for selected nuclei in the iron region (A~56) have
been investigated via shell-model Monte Carlo calculations with realistic
interactions in the complete fp basis. Results for all cases show significant
quenching relative to single-particle estimates, in quantitative agreement with
(n,p) data. The J=1,T=0 residual interaction and the f_{7/2}-f_{5/2} spin-orbit
splitting are shown to play major roles in the quenching mechanism. Calculated
B(E2, 2^+_1 -> 0^+_1) values are in fair agreement with experiment using
effective charges of e_p=1.1e and e_n=0.1e.Comment: 13 pages + 1 postscript file, Caltech preprint MAP-16
Gamow-Teller strength in 54Fe and 56Fe
Through a sequence of large scale shell model calculations, total
Gamow-Teller strengths ( and ) in Fe and Fe are
obtained. They reproduce the experimental values once the operator
is quenched by the standard factor of . Comparisons are made with recent
Shell Model Monte Carlo calculations. Results are shown to depend critically on
the interaction. From an analysis of the GT+ and GT strength functions it is
concluded that experimental evidence is consistent with the sum rule.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX 3.0 using psfig, 7 Postscript figures included using
uufile
Ground and excited states Gamow-Teller strength distributions of iron isotopes and associated capture rates for core-collapse simulations
This paper reports on the microscopic calculation of ground and excited
states Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions, both in the electron capture
and electron decay direction, for Fe. The associated electron and
positron capture rates for these isotopes of iron are also calculated in
stellar matter. These calculations were recently introduced and this paper is a
follow-up which discusses in detail the GT strength distributions and stellar
capture rates of key iron isotopes. The calculations are performed within the
framework of the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation
(pn-QRPA) theory. The pn-QRPA theory allows a microscopic
\textit{state-by-state} calculation of GT strength functions and stellar
capture rates which greatly increases the reliability of the results. For the
first time experimental deformation of nuclei are taken into account. In the
core of massive stars isotopes of iron, Fe, are considered to be
key players in decreasing the electron-to-baryon ratio () mainly via
electron capture on these nuclide. The structure of the presupernova star is
altered both by the changes in and the entropy of the core material.
Results are encouraging and are compared against measurements (where possible)
and other calculations. The calculated electron capture rates are in overall
good agreement with the shell model results. During the presupernova evolution
of massive stars, from oxygen shell burning stages till around end of
convective core silicon burning, the calculated electron capture rates on
Fe are around three times bigger than the corresponding shell model
rates. The calculated positron capture rates, however, are suppressed by two to
five orders of magnitude.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, 10 table
The nucleon-nucleon interaction
We review the major progress of the past decade concerning our understanding
of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The focus is on the low-energy region
(below pion production threshold), but a brief outlook towards higher energies
is also given. The items discussed include charge-dependence, the precise value
of the coupling constant, phase shift analysis and high-precision NN
data and potentials. We also address the issue of a proper theory of nuclear
forces. Finally, we summarize the essential open questions that future research
should be devoted to.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures, iopart.cls style; Topical Review prepared for
J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phy
Shell-model Monte Carlo studies of fp-shell nuclei
We study the gross properties of even-even and nuclei with
using shell-model Monte Carlo methods. Our calculations account for all configurations in the -shell and employ the modified
Kuo-Brown interaction KB3. We find good agreement with data for masses and
total strengths, the latter employing effective charges and
. The calculated total Gamow-Teller strengths agree consistently
with the -values deduced from data if the shell model results
are renormalized by , as has already been established for -shell
nuclei. The present calculations therefore suggest that this renormalization
(i.e., in the nuclear medium) is universal.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, Caltech Preprint
Growth inhibition of oral mutans streptococci and candida by commercial probiotic lactobacilli - an in vitro study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probiotic bacteria are suggested to play a role in the maintenance of oral health. Such health promoting bacteria are added to different commercial probiotic products. The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of a selection of lactobacilli strains, used in commercially available probiotic products, to inhibit growth of oral mutans streptococci and <it>C. albicans in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight probiotic lactobacilli strains were tested for growth inhibition on three reference strains and two clinical isolates of mutans streptococci as well as two reference strains and three clinical isolates of <it>Candida albicans </it>with an agar overlay method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At concentrations ranging from 10<sup>9 </sup>to 10<sup>5 </sup>CFU/ml, all lactobacilli strains inhibited the growth of the mutans streptococci completely with the exception of <it>L. acidophilus </it>La5 that executed only a slight inhibition of some strains at concentrations corresponding to 10<sup>7 </sup>and 10<sup>5 </sup>CFU/ml. At the lowest cell concentration (10<sup>3 </sup>CFU/ml), only <it>L. plantarum </it>299v and <it>L. plantarum </it>931 displayed a total growth inhibition while a slight inhibition was seen for all five mutans streptococci strains by <it>L. rhamnosus </it>LB21, <it>L. paracasei </it>F19, <it>L. reuteri </it>PTA 5289 and <it>L. reuteri </it>ATCC 55730. All the tested lactobacilli strains reduced candida growth but the effect was generally weaker than for mutans streptococci. The two <it>L. plantarum </it>strains and <it>L. reuteri </it>ATCC 55730 displayed the strongest inhibition on <it>Candida albicans</it>. No significant differences were observed between the reference strains and the clinical isolates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The selected probiotic strains showed a significant but somewhat varying ability to inhibit growth of oral mutans streptococci and <it>Candida albicans in vitro</it>.</p
Fine-Grid Calculations for Stellar Electron and Positron Capture Rates on Fe-Isotopes
The acquisition of precise and reliable nuclear data is a prerequisite to
success for stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis studies. Core-collapse
simulators find it challenging to generate an explosion from the collapse of
the core of massive stars. It is believed that a better understanding of the
microphysics of core-collapse can lead to successful results. The weak
interaction processes are able to trigger the collapse and control the
lepton-to-baryon ratio () of the core material. It is suggested that the
temporal variation of within the core of a massive star has a pivotal
role to play in the stellar evolution and a fine-tuning of this parameter at
various stages of presupernova evolution is the key to generate an explosion.
During the presupernova evolution of massive stars, isotopes of iron, mainly
Fe, are considered to be key players in controlling ratio
via electron capture on these nuclide. Recently an improved microscopic
calculation of weak interaction mediated rates for iron isotopes was introduced
using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA)
theory. The pn-QRPA theory allows a microscopic \textit{state-by-state}
calculation of stellar capture rates which greatly increases the reliability of
calculated rates. The results were suggestive of some fine-tuning of the
ratio during various phases of stellar evolution. Here we present for
the first time the fine-grid calculation of the electron and positron capture
rates on Fe. Core-collapse simulators may find this calculation
suitable for interpolation purposes and for necessary incorporation in the
stellar evolution codes.Comment: 21 pages, 6 ps figures and 2 table
Dopamine acting at D1-like, D2-like and α1-adrenergic receptors differentially modulates theta and gamma oscillatory activity in primary motor cortex
The loss of dopamine (DA) in Parkinson’s is accompanied by the emergence of exaggerated theta and beta frequency neuronal oscillatory activity in the primary motor cortex (M1) and basal ganglia. DA replacement therapy or deep brain stimulation reduces the power of these oscillations and this is coincident with an improvement in motor performance implying a causal relationship. Here we provide in vitro evidence for the differential modulation of theta and gamma activity in M1 by DA acting at receptors exhibiting conventional and non-conventional DA pharmacology. Recording local field potentials in deep layer V of rat M1, co-application of carbachol (CCh, 5 μM) and kainic acid (KA, 150 nM) elicited simultaneous oscillations at a frequency of 6.49 ± 0.18 Hz (theta, n = 84) and 34.97 ± 0.39 Hz (gamma, n = 84). Bath application of DA resulted in a decrease in gamma power with no change in theta power. However, application of either the D1-like receptor agonist SKF38393 or the D2-like agonist quinpirole increased the power of both theta and gamma suggesting that the DA-mediated inhibition of oscillatory power is by action at other sites other than classical DA receptors. Application of amphetamine, which promotes endogenous amine neurotransmitter release, or the adrenergic α1-selective agonist phenylephrine mimicked the action of DA and reduced gamma power, a result unaffected by prior co-application of D1 and D2 receptor antagonists SCH23390 and sulpiride. Finally, application of the α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin blocked the action of DA on gamma power suggestive of interaction between α1 and DA receptors. These results show that DA mediates complex actions acting at dopamine D1-like and D2-like receptors, α1 adrenergic receptors and possibly DA/α1 heteromultimeric receptors to differentially modulate theta and gamma activity in M1
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