First observation of excited states in 118Ba: Possible evidence for octupole correlations in neutron-deficient barium isotopes

Quadrupole moments of the six known superdeformed ~SD! bands of 193Hg and the yrast SD band of 192Hg have been determined by a Doppler-shift-attenuation-method measurement utilizing the gammasphere array. The quadrupole moments of all 193Hg SD bands were found to be similar, suggesting the active single-particle orbitals in the mass-190 region exhibit only small shape-driving effects. Additionally, there is evidence for an unexpected difference in the quadrupole moments of SD bands in 192Hg and 193Hg

Identification of excited states in 117Cs: Systematics of the ν(h11/2)2 alignment

Excited states have been identified in the very neutron-deficient 11755Cs62 nucleus. High-spin spectroscopy has been performed using the Gammasphere array, and the assignment of gamma-ray transitions to 117Cs has been made in a separate experiment in which gamma rays were detected in coincidence with x rays and with recoiling evaporation residues. A previously observed sequence of five gamma rays has been extended by 11 transitions, to high spin, and has been identified as the yrast π(h11/2)[550]1/2- band of 117Cs. Two additional bands have been observed and are tentatively assigned to be based on protons in the [404]9/2+ and [422]3/2+ orbitals. Alignments of pairs of h11/2 neutrons and protons are observed in all of the bands. The alignments are compared to cranked Woods-Saxon calculations, and are discussed with respect to the effects of a neutron-proton interaction. Of particular interest are the features of the ν(h11/2)2 alignment in the π[550]1/2- band and of the π(h11/2)2 alignment in the [422]3/2+ band. The frequencies of these alignments can be qualitatively explained only if a neutron-proton interaction is taken into account

Identification of excited states in 119Ba

Excited states have been identified in the very neutron-deficient 119Ba nucleus. Two bands have been observed, which are likely to be based on h11/2 and (g7/2d5/2) neutron orbitals. Despite this being the first observation of excited states in 119Ba, the bands extend to (75/2)ℏ and (79/2)ℏ, respectively. The bands have been assigned to 119Ba using gamma-recoil and gamma-x-ray coincidences. Several quasiparticle alignments have been identified, involving neutron (h11/2)2 and proton (h11/2)2 aligned configurations. Furthermore, the bands show features which are reasonably consistent with smooth band termination at high spin. Theoretical results for 119Ba are discussed within the framework of cranked Woods-Saxon and Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations

First upper limits from LIGO on gravitational wave bursts

We report on a search for gravitational wave bursts using data from the first science run of the LIGO detectors. Our search focuses on bursts with durations ranging from 4 ms to 100 ms, and with significant power in the LIGO sensitivity band of 150 to 3000 Hz. We bound the rate for such detected bursts at less than 1.6 events per day at 90% confidence level. This result is interpreted in terms of the detection efficiency for ad hoc waveforms (Gaussians and sine-Gaussians) as a function of their root-sum-square strain h_{rss}; typical sensitivities lie in the range h_{rss} ~ 10^{-19} - 10^{-17} strain/rtHz, depending on waveform. We discuss improvements in the search method that will be applied to future science data from LIGO and other gravitational wave detectors.Comment: 21 pages, 15 figures, accepted by Phys Rev D. Fixed a few small typos and updated a few reference

A human ciliopathy reveals essential functions for NEK10 in airway mucociliary clearance

Mucociliary clearance, the physiological process by which mammalian conducting airways expel pathogens and unwanted surface materials from the respiratory tract, depends on the coordinated function of multiple specialized cell types, including basal stem cells, mucus-secreting goblet cells, motile ciliated cells, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-rich ionocytes, and immune cells1,2. Bronchiectasis, a syndrome of pathological airway dilation associated with impaired mucociliary clearance, may occur sporadically or as a consequence of Mendelian inheritance, for example in cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), and select immunodeficiencies3. Previous studies have identified mutations that affect ciliary structure and nucleation in PCD4, but the regulation of mucociliary transport remains incompletely understood, and therapeutic targets for its modulation are lacking. Here we identify a bronchiectasis syndrome caused by mutations that inactivate NIMA-related kinase 10 (NEK10), a protein kinase with previously unknown in vivo functions in mammals. Genetically modified primary human airway cultures establish NEK10 as a ciliated-cell-specific kinase whose activity regulates the motile ciliary proteome to promote ciliary length and mucociliary transport but which is dispensable for normal ciliary number, radial structure, and beat frequency. Together, these data identify a novel and likely targetable signaling axis that controls motile ciliary function in humans and has potential implications for other respiratory disorders that are characterized by impaired mucociliary clearance

Exploring the Bimodal Solar System via Sample Return from the Main Asteroid Belt: The Case for Revisiting Ceres

Abstract: Sample return from a main-belt asteroid has not yet been attempted, but appears technologically feasible. While the cost implications are significant, the scientific case for such a mission appears overwhelming. As suggested by the “Grand Tack” model, the structure of the main belt was likely forged during the earliest stages of Solar System evolution in response to migration of the giant planets. Returning samples from the main belt has the potential to test such planet migration models and the related geochemical and isotopic concept of a bimodal Solar System. Isotopic studies demonstrate distinct compositional differences between samples believed to be derived from the outer Solar System (CC or carbonaceous chondrite group) and those that are thought to be derived from the inner Solar System (NC or non-carbonaceous group). These two groups are separated on relevant isotopic variation diagrams by a clear compositional gap. The interface between these two regions appears to be broadly coincident with the present location of the asteroid belt, which contains material derived from both groups. The Hayabusa mission to near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (25143) Itokawa has shown what can be learned from a sample-return mission to an asteroid, even with a very small amount of sample. One scenario for main-belt sample return involves a spacecraft launching a projectile that strikes an object and flying through the debris cloud, which would potentially allow multiple bodies to be sampled if a number of projectiles are used on different asteroids. Another scenario is the more traditional method of landing on an asteroid to obtain the sample. A significant range of main-belt asteroids are available as targets for a sample-return mission and such a mission would represent a first step in mineralogically and isotopically mapping the asteroid belt. We argue that a sample-return mission to the asteroid belt does not necessarily have to return material from both the NC and CC groups to viably test the bimodal Solar System paradigm, as material from the NC group is already abundantly available for study. Instead, there is overwhelming evidence that we have a very incomplete suite of CC-related samples. Based on our analysis, we advocate a dedicated sample-return mission to the dwarf planet (1) Ceres as the best means of further exploring inherent Solar System variation. Ceres is an ice-rich world that may be a displaced trans-Neptunian object. We almost certainly do not have any meteorites that closely resemble material that would be brought back from Ceres. The rich heritage of data acquired by the Dawn mission makes a sample-return mission from Ceres logistically feasible at a realistic cost. No other potential main-belt target is capable of providing as much insight into the early Solar System as Ceres. Such a mission should be given the highest priority by the international scientific community

Finite element solution of unbounded field problems

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D66914/86 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo