Baryonic contributions to e+e- yields in a hydrodynamic model of Pb+Au collisions at the SPS

We analyze e+e- yields from matter containing baryons in addition to mesons using a hydrodynamic approach to describe Pb+Au collisions at 158 A GeV/c. We use two distinctly different e+e- production rates to provide contrast. Although the presence of baryons leads to significant enhancement of e+e- emission relative to that from mesons-only matter, the calculated results fall below the data in the range 400 < M/MeV < 600. The calculated results are, however, only 1.3-1.5 standard deviations below the data, which may not be statistically significant.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, proceedings of Quark Matter 9

Near-infrared spectroscopy of the very low mass companion to the hot DA white dwarf PG1234+482

We present a near-infrared spectrum of the hot ($T_{\rm eff}$ $\approx$ 55,000 K) DA white dwarf PG 1234+482. We confirm that a very low mass companion is responsible for the previously recognised infrared photometric excess. We compare spectra of M and L dwarfs, combined with an appropriate white dwarf model, to the data to constrain the spectral type of the secondary. We find that uncertainties in the 2MASS $HK$ photometry of the white dwarf prevent us from distinguishing whether the secondary is stellar or substellar, and assign a spectral type of L0$\pm$1 (M9-L1).Therefore, this is the hottest and youngest ($\approx 10^6$ yr) DA white dwarf with a possible brown dwarf companion.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted by MNRA

Reflective-Functioning Manual Version 5 for Application to Adult Attachment Interviews

The term reflective function (RF) refers to the psychological processes underlying the capacity to mentalize, a concept which has been described in both the psychoanalytic (Fonagy, 1989; 1991) and cognitive psychology literatures (e.g. Morton & Frith, 1995). Reflective functioning or mentalization is the active expression of this psychological capacity intimately related to the representation of the self (Fonagy & Target, 1995; 996; Target & Fonagy, 1996). RF involves both a self-reflective and an interpersonal component that ideally provides the individual with a well-developed capacity to distinguish inner from outer reality, pretend from ‘real’ modes of functioning, intra-personal mental and emotional processes from interpersonal communications. Because of the inherently interpersonal origins to how the reflective capacity develops and expresses itself, this manual refers to reflective functioning, and no longer of reflective-self functioning (see Fonagy, Steele, Moran, Steele, & Higgitt, 1991a), as the latter term is too easily reduced to self-reflection which is only part of what is intended by the concept

Water ice clouds in a martian global climate model using data assimilation

The water cycle is one of the key seasonal cycles on Mars, and the radiative effects of water ice clouds have recently been shown to alter the thermal structure of the atmosphere. Current Mars General Circulation Models (MGCMs) are capable of representing the formation and evolution of water ice clouds, though there are still many unanswered questions regarding their effect on the water cycle, the local atmosphere and the global circulation. We discuss the properties of clouds in the LMD/UK MGCM and compare them with observations, focusing on the differences between the water ice clouds in a standalone model and those in a model which has been modified by assimilation of thermal and aerosol opacity spacecraft data

PPl 15: The First Brown Dwarf Spectroscopic Binary

PPl 15 is the first object to have been confirmed as a brown dwarf by the lithium test (in 1995), though its inferred mass was very close to the substellar limit. It is a member of the Pleiades open cluster. Its position in a cluster color-magnitude diagram suggested that it might be binary, and preliminary indications that it is a double-lined spectroscopic binary were reported by us in 1997. Here we report on the results of a consecutive week of Keck HIRES observations of this system, which yield its orbit. It has a period of about 5.8 days, and an eccentricity of 0.4+/-0.05. The rotation of the stars is slow for this class of objects. Because the system luminosity is divided between 2 objects with a mass ratio of 0.85, this renders each of them an incontrovertible brown dwarf, with masses between 60-70 jupiters. We show that component B is a little redder than A by studying their wavelength-dependent line ratios, and that this variation is compatible with the mass ratio. We confirm that the system has lithium, but cannot support the original conclusion that it is depleted (which would be surprising, given the new masses). This is a system of very close objects which, if they had combined, would have produced a low mass star. We discuss the implications of this discovery for the theories of binary formation and formation of very low mass objects.Comment: Latex, 18 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Astron.

Photoionization and Photoelectric Loading of Barium Ion Traps

Simple and effective techniques for loading barium ions into linear Paul traps are demonstrated. Two-step photoionization of neutral barium is achieved using a weak intercombination line (6s2 1S0 6s6p 3P1, 791 nm) followed by excitation above the ionization threshold using a nitrogen gas laser (337 nm). Isotopic selectivity is achieved by using a near Doppler-free geometry for excitation of the triplet 6s6p 3P1 state. Additionally, we report a particularly simple and efficient trap loading technique that employs an in-expensive UV epoxy curing lamp to generate photoelectrons.Comment: 5 pages, Accepted to PRA 3/20/2007 -fixed typo -clarified figure 3 caption -added reference [15

Is the Tsallis entropy stable?

The question of whether the Tsallis entropy is Lesche-stable is revisited. It is argued that when physical averages are computed with the escort probabilities, the correct application of the concept of Lesche-stability requires use of the escort probabilities. As a consequence, as shown here, the Tsallis entropy is unstable but the thermodynamic averages are stable. We further show that Lesche stability as well as thermodynamic stability can be obtained if the homogeneous entropy is used as the basis of the formulation of non-extensive thermodynamics. In this approach, the escort distribution arises naturally as a secondary structure.Comment: 6 page

Comparison of upper body strength gains between men and women after 10 weeks of resistance training

Resistance training (RT) offers benefits to both men and women. However, the studies about the differences between men and women in response to an RT program are not conclusive and few data are available about upper body strength response. The aim of this study was to compare elbow flexor strength gains in men and women after 10 weeks of RT. Forty-four college-aged men (22.63 +/- 2.34 years) and forty-seven college-aged women (21.62 +/- 2.96 years) participated in the study. The RT program was performed two days a week for 10 weeks. Before and after the training period, peak torque (PT) of the elbow flexors was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. PT values were higher in men in comparison to women in pre-and post-tests (p 0.05). Effect sizes were 0.57 and 0.56 for men and women, respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggests that men and women have a similar upper body strength response to RT

Mapping pontocerebellar connectivity with diffusion MRI

The cerebellum's involvement in cognitive, affective and motor functions is mediated by connections to different regions of the cerebral cortex. A distinctive feature of cortico-cerebellar loops that has been demonstrated in the animal work is a topographic organization that is preserved across its corticopontine, pontocerebellar, and cerebello-thalmo-cortical segments. Here we used tractography derived from diffusion imaging data to characterize the connections between the pons and the individual lobules of the cerebellum and generate a parcellation of the pons and middle cerebellar peduncle based on the pattern of connectivity. We identified a rostral to caudal gradient in the pons, similar to that observed in the animal work, such that rostral regions were preferentially connected to cerebellar lobules involved in non-motor, and caudal regions with motor regions. These findings advance our fundamental understanding of the cerebellum, and the parcellations we generated provide context for future research into the pontocerebellar tract's involvement in health and disease