Extended Optical Model Analyses of Elastic Scattering and Fusion Cross Section Data for the 7Li+208Pb System at Near-Coulomb-Barrier Energies using the Folding Potential

Simultaneous $\chi^{2}$ analyses previously made for elastic scattering and fusion cross section data for the $^{6}$Li+$^{208}$Pb system is extended to the $^{7}$Li+$^{208}$Pb system at near-Coulomb-barrier energies based on the extended optical model approach, in which the polarization potential is decomposed into direct reaction (DR) and fusion parts. Use is made of the double folding potential as a bare potential. It is found that the experimental elastic scattering and fusion data are well reproduced without introducing any normalization factor for the double folding potential and that both the DR and fusion parts of the polarization potential determined from the $\chi^{2}$ analyses satisfy separately the dispersion relation. Further, we find that the real part of the fusion portion of the polarization potential is attractive while that of the DR part is repulsive except at energies far below the Coulomb barrier energy. A comparison is made of the present results with those obtained from the Continuum Discretized Coupled Channel (CDCC) calculations and a previous study based on the conventional optical model with a double folding potential. We also compare the present results for the $^7$Li+$^{208}$Pb system with the analysis previously made for the $^{6}$Li+$^{208}$Pb system.Comment: 7 figures, submitted to PR

Non-line-of-sight Node Localization based on Semi-Definite Programming in Wireless Sensor Networks

An unknown-position sensor can be localized if there are three or more anchors making time-of-arrival (TOA) measurements of a signal from it. However, the location errors can be very large due to the fact that some of the measurements are from non-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths. In this paper, we propose a semi-definite programming (SDP) based node localization algorithm in NLOS environment for ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless sensor networks. The positions of sensors can be estimated using the distance estimates from location-aware anchors as well as other sensors. However, in the absence of LOS paths, e.g., in indoor networks, the NLOS range estimates can be significantly biased. As a result, the NLOS error can remarkably decrease the location accuracy. And it is not easy to efficiently distinguish LOS from NLOS measurements. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed that achieves high location accuracy without the need of identifying NLOS and LOS measurement.Comment: submitted to IEEE ICC'1

Extended Optical Model Analyses of Elastic Scattering and Fusion Cross Sections for 6Li + 208Pb System at Near-Coulomb-Barrier Energies by using Folding Potential

Based on the extended optical model approach in which the polarization potential is decomposed into direct reaction (DR) and fusion parts, simultaneous $\chi^{2}$ analyses are performed for elastic scattering and fusion cross section data for the $^{6}$Li+$^{208}$Pb system at near-Coulomb-barrier energies. A folding potential is used as the bare potential. It is found that the real part of the resultant DR part of the polarization potential is repulsive, which is consistent with the results from the Continuum Discretized Coupled Channel (CDCC) calculations and the normalization factors needed for the folding potentials. Further, it is found that both DR and fusion parts of the polarization potential satisfy separately the dispersion relation.Comment: 6 figure

Coupled-channels analyses for 9,11^{9,11}Li + 208^{208}Pb fusion reactions with multi-neutron transfer couplings

We discuss the role of two-neutron transfer processes in the fusion reaction of the $^{9,11}$Li + $^{208}$Pb systems. We first analyze the $^{9}$Li + $^{208}$Pb reaction by taking into account the coupling to the $^{7}$Li + $^{210}$Pb channel. To this end, we assume that two neutrons are directly transferred to a single effective channel in $^{210}$Pb and solve the coupled-channels equations with the two channels. By adjusting the coupling strength and the effective $Q$-value, we successfully reproduce the experimental fusion cross sections for this system. We then analyze the $^{11}$Li + $^{208}$Pb reaction in a similar manner, that is, by taking into account three effective channels with $^{11}$Li + $^{208}$Pb, $^{9}$Li + $^{210}$Pb, and $^{7}$Li + $^{212}$Pb partitions. In order to take into account the halo structure of the $^{11}$Li nucleus, we construct the potential between $^{11}$Li and $^{208}$Pb with a double folding procedure, while we employ a Wood-Saxon type potential with the global Aky\"uz-Winther parameters for the other channels. Our calculation indicates that the multiple two-neutron transfer process plays a crucial role in the $^{11}$Li + $^{208}$Pb fusion reaction at energies around the Coulomb barrier

Fusion reaction of a weakly-bound nucleus with a deformed target

We discuss the role of deformation of the target nucleus in the fusion reaction of the $^{15}$C + $^{232}$Th system at energies around the Coulomb barrier, for which $^{15}$C is a well-known one-neutron halo nucleus. To this end, we construct the potential between $^{15}$C and $^{232}$Th with the double folding procedure, assuming that the projectile nucleus is composed of the core nucleus, $^{14}$C, and a valance neutron. By taking into account the halo nature of the projectile nucleus as well as the deformation of the target nucleus, we simultaneously reproduce the fusion cross sections for the $^{14}$C + $^{232}$Th and the $^{15}$C + $^{232}$Th systems. Our calculation indicates that the net effect of the breakup and the transfer channels is small for this system.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

GAP-43 expression correlates with spinal motoneuron regeneration following root avulsion

Background: The growth-associated protein GAP-43 plays a crucial role in axonal regeneration in injured neurons. Methods: We have used immunohistochemistry to investigate the expression of GAP-43 in spinal motoneurons during nerve reconstruction following root avulsion in the neonatal and adult rats. Results: Following the injury, GAP-43-immunoreactivity (IR) could be found in adult avulsed motoneurons as early as 1 day, increased from 3 to 7 days and reached a maximal level at 2 weeks post-injury. The up-regulation of GAP-43 in adult avulsed motoneurons was accompanied with the axonal regeneration indicated by numerous regenerating motor axons entering the reimplanted ventral root and nerve. In contrast, GAP-43-IR could not be found in the neonatal avulsed motoneurons at any examined post-injury time points. This failure of up-regulation of GAP-43 was coincident with no axonal regeneration in the reimplanted nerve in the neonatal rats. Conclusion: Close association of GAP-43 expression and capacity of regeneration in reimplanted spinal nerve of avulsed motoneurons suggests that GAP-43 is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of root avulsion of brachial plexus. © 2009 Yuan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio

Anxiety and depression with neurogenesis defects in exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2-deficient mice are ameliorated by a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, Prozac

Intracellular cAMP and serotonin are important modulators of anxiety and depression. Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) also known as Prozac, is widely used against depression, potentially by activating cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through protein kinase A (PKA). However, the role of Epac1 and Epac2 (Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factors, RAPGEF3 and RAPGEF4, respectively) as potential downstream targets of SSRI/cAMP in mood regulations is not yet clear. Here, we investigated the phenotypes of Epac1 (Epac1− / −) or Epac2 (Epac2− / −) knockout mice by comparing them with their wild-type counterparts. Surprisingly, Epac2− / − mice exhibited a wide range of mood disorders, including anxiety and depression with learning and memory deficits in contextual and cued fear-conditioning tests without affecting Epac1 expression or PKA activity. Interestingly, rs17746510, one of the three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RAPGEF4 associated with cognitive decline in Chinese Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, was significantly correlated with apathy and mood disturbance, whereas no significant association was observed between RAPGEF3 SNPs and the risk of AD or neuropsychiatric inventory scores. To further determine the detailed role of Epac2 in SSRI/serotonin/cAMP-involved mood disorders, we treated Epac2− / − mice with a SSRI, Prozac. The alteration in open field behavior and impaired hippocampal cell proliferation in Epac2− / − mice were alleviated by Prozac. Taken together, Epac2 gene polymorphism is a putative risk factor for mood disorders in AD patients in part by affecting the hippocampal neurogenesis.published_or_final_versio

Activité anti-inflammatoire des feuilles dBorassus aethiopum Mart. (Arecaceae)

Le rônier est un palmier très utilisé dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle ; Le calcinât des feuilles est utilisé en boisson dans l’eau pour traiter la bilharziose viscérale. La tigelle de la noix germée en décoction lutte contre l’impuissance sexuelle, une activité anti-inflammatoire avec une inhibition de 70% de l’oedème induite par la carragénine a été révélée dans les extraits d’inflorescences mâles. La méthode de l’oedème induit par la carragénine de Winter a été utilisée sur des rats de souche Wistar pour mettre en évidence l’activité antiinflammatoire des feuilles de Borassus aethiopum. L’extrait d’acétate d’éthyle et sa fraction F1 à la dose 30 mg/kg ont une activité anti-inflammatoire voisine de celle de l’aspirine à 30 mg/kg; cette activité (exprimée en pourcentage d’inhibition) est respectivement de 79,21%, 73,16 et 92,53% à la première heure. Ainsi à la cinquième heure ces pourcentages sont 69,18%, 54,59% et 58,75% respectivement pour la référence, l’extrait d’acétate d’éthyle et la fraction F1.Mots clés: Borassus aethiopum Mart, feuilles et activité anti-inflammatoire