Rescaling of Nuclear Structure Functions

It is shown that nucleonic structure functions are $x-$ and $Q^{2}-$rescaled in nuclei. The $x-$rescaling accounts for nuclear effects in the case of exact scaling, while the $Q^{2}-$rescaling is responsible for a corresponding modification of quantum corrections. This result is obtained in the leading order for all flavour combinations and connects the two known models for the EMC-effect. Electroproduction and gluonic nuclear structure functions are calculated.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, 2 figures appended (compressed and uuencoded

Large normally hyperbolic cylinders in a priori stable Hamiltonian systems

We prove the existence of normally hyperbolic invariant cylinders in nearly integrable hamiltonian systems

White Light Interferometry for Quantitative Surface Characterization in Ion Sputtering Experiments

White light interferometry (WLI) can be used to obtain surface morphology information on dimensional scale of millimeters with lateral resolution as good as ~1 {\mu}m and depth resolution down to 1 nm. By performing true three-dimensional imaging of sample surfaces, the WLI technique enables accurate quantitative characterization of the geometry of surface features and compares favorably to scanning electron and atomic force microscopies by avoiding some of their drawbacks. In this paper, results of using the WLI imaging technique to characterize the products of ion sputtering experiments are reported. With a few figures, several example applications of the WLI method are illustrated when used for (i) sputtering yield measurements and time-to-depth conversion, (ii) optimizing ion beam current density profiles, the shapes of sputtered craters, and multiple ion beam superposition and (iii) quantitative characterization of surfaces processed with ions. In particular, for sputter depth profiling experiments of 25Mg, 44Ca and 53Cr ion implants in Si (implantation energy of 1 keV per nucleon), the depth calibration of the measured depth profile curves determined by the WLI method appeared to be self-consistent with TRIM simulations for such projectile-matrix systems. In addition, high depth resolution of the WLI method is demonstrated for a case of a Genesis solar wind Si collector surface processed by gas cluster ion beam: a 12.5 nm layer was removed from the processed surface, while the transition length between the processed and untreated areas was 150 {\mu}m.Comment: Applied Surface Science, accepted: 7 pages and 8 figure

Correlation search for coherent pion emission in heavy ion collisions

The methods allowing to extract the coherent component of pion emission conditioned by the formation of a quasi-classical pion source in heavy ion collisions are suggested. They exploit a nontrivial modification of the quantum statistical and final state interaction effects on the correlation functions of like and unlike pions in the presence of the coherent radiation. The extraction of the coherent pion spectrum from pi+pi-, pi+pi+ and pi-pi- correlation functions and single--pion spectra is discussed in detail for large expanding systems produced in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions.Comment: 21 pages, 3 eps figures, ReVTeX, corrected submission abstract. Version published in PRC 65 (2002) 064904. Added is a detailed explanation of the differences between pure coherent states and charge constrained coherent states in the case of a simple example model. The expressions for two-particle spectra taking into account both the final state interaction and the coherent component of pion emission are derived in a more general and transparent wa

Quantum statistics of overlapping modes in open resonators

We study the quantum dynamics of optical fields in weakly confining resonators with overlapping modes. Employing a recently developed quantization scheme involving a discrete set of resonator modes and continua of external modes we derive Langevin equations and a master equation for the resonator modes. Langevin dynamics and the master equation are proved to be equivalent in the Markovian limit. Our open-resonator dynamics may be used as a starting point for a quantum theory of random lasers.Comment: 6 pages, corrected typo

Holstein polarons in a strong electric field: delocalized and stretched states

The coherent dynamics of a Holstein polaron in strong electric fields is considered under different regimes. Using analytical and numerical analysis, we show that even for small hopping constant and weak electron-phonon interaction, the original discrete Wannier-Stark (WS) ladder electronic states are each replaced by a semi-continuous band if a resonance condition is satisfied between the phonon frequency and the ladder spacing. In this regime, the original localized WS states can become {\em delocalized}, yielding both `tunneling' and `stretched' polarons. The transport properties of such a system would exhibit a modulation of the phonon replicas in typical tunneling experiments. The modulation will reflect the complex spectra with nearly-fractal structure of the semi-continuous band. In the off-resonance regime, the WS ladder is strongly deformed, although the states are still localized to a degree which depends on the detuning: Both the spacing between the levels in the deformed ladder and the localization length of the resulting eigenfunctions can be adjusted by the applied electric field. We also discuss the regime beyond small hopping constant and weak coupling, and find an interesting mapping to that limit via the Lang-Firsov transformation, which allows one to extend the region of validity of the analysis.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures, submitted to PR

Search for the radiative decay η→π0γγ\eta \to \pi^0 \gamma \gamma in the SND experiment at VEPP-2M

The $\eta \to \pi^0 \gamma \gamma$ decay was investigated by the SND detector at VEPP-2M $e^+e^-$ collider in the reaction $e^+e^-\to\phi\to \eta\gamma$. Here we present the results and some details of this study. We report an upper limit (90% c.l.) $Br(\eta \to \pi^0 \gamma \gamma)<8.4\times 10^{-4}$ as our final result. Our upper limit does not contradict the earlier measurement by GAMS spectrometer. To facilitate future studies a rather detailed review of the problem is also given.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, LaTex. To be published in Nucl. Phys.

Hypomethylation of MB-COMT promoter is a major risk factor for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

The variability in phenotypic presentations and the lack of consistency of genetic associations in mental illnesses remain a major challenge in molecular psychiatry. Recently, it has become increasingly clear that altered promoter DNA methylation could play a critical role in mediating differential regulation of genes and in facilitating short-term adaptation in response to the environment. Here, we report the investigation of the differential activity of membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase (MB - COMT) due to altered promoter methylation and the nature of the contribution of COMT Val158Met polymorphism as risk factors for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by analyzing 115 post-mortem brain samples from the frontal lobe. These studies are the first to reveal that the MB - COMT promoter DNA is frequently hypomethylated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients, compared with the controls (methylation rate: 26 and 29 versus 60; P = 0.004 and 0.008, respectively), particularly in the left frontal lobes (methylation rate: 29 and 30 versus 81; P = 0.003 and 0.002, respectively). Quantitative gene-expression analyses showed a corresponding increase in transcript levels of MB - COMT in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients compared with the controls (P = 0.02) with an accompanying inverse correlation between MB - COMT and DRD1 expression. Furthermore, there was a tendency for the enrichment of the Val allele of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism with MB - COMT hypomethylation in the patients. These findings suggest that MB - COMT over-expression due to promoter hypomethylation and/or hyperactive allele of COMT may increase dopamine degradation in the frontal lobe providing a molecular basis for the shared symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. © Copyright 2006 Oxford University Press

Particlization in hybrid models

In hybrid models, which combine hydrodynamical and transport approaches to describe different stages of heavy-ion collisions, conversion of fluid to individual particles, particlization, is a non-trivial technical problem. We describe in detail how to find the particlization hypersurface in a 3+1 dimensional model, and how to sample the particle distributions evaluated using the Cooper-Frye procedure to create an ensemble of particles as an initial state for the transport stage. We also discuss the role and magnitude of the negative contributions in the Cooper-Frye procedure.Comment: 18 pages, 28 figures, EPJA: Topical issue on "Relativistic Hydro- and Thermodynamics"; version accepted for publication, typos and error in Eq.(1) corrected, the purpose of sampling and change from UrQMD to fluid clarified, added discussion why attempts to cancel negative contributions of Cooper-Frye are not applicable her

Soil biochemistry and microbial activity in vineyards under conventional and organic management at Northeast Brazil.

The São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that orgThe São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO2). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO2. Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g-1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm-3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm-3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards increased mycorrhization and general soil microbial activity