Quasicontinuum γ\gamma-decay of 91,92^{91,92}Zr: benchmarking indirect (n,γn,\gamma) cross section measurements for the ss-process

Nuclear level densities (NLDs) and $\gamma$-ray strength functions ($\gamma$SFs) have been extracted from particle-$\gamma$ coincidences of the $^{92}$Zr($p,p' \gamma$)$^{92}$Zr and $^{92}$Zr($p,d \gamma$)$^{91}$Zr reactions using the Oslo method. The new $^{91,92}$Zr $\gamma$SF data, combined with photonuclear cross sections, cover the whole energy range from $E_{\gamma} \approx 1.5$~MeV up to the giant dipole resonance at $E_{\gamma} \approx 17$~MeV. The wide-range $\gamma$SF data display structures at $E_{\gamma} \approx 9.5$~MeV, compatible with a superposition of the spin-flip $M1$ resonance and a pygmy $E1$ resonance. Furthermore, the $\gamma$SF shows a minimum at $E_{\gamma} \approx 2-3$~MeV and an increase at lower $\gamma$-ray energies. The experimentally constrained NLDs and $\gamma$SFs are shown to reproduce known ($n, \gamma$) and Maxwellian-averaged cross sections for $^{91,92}$Zr using the {\sf TALYS} reaction code, thus serving as a benchmark for this indirect method of estimating ($n, \gamma$) cross sections for Zr isotopes.Comment: 10 pages and 9 figure

Extraction of thermal and electromagnetic properties in 45Ti

The level density and gamma-ray strength function of 45Ti have been determined by use of the Oslo method. The particle-gamma coincidences from the 46Ti(p,d gamma)45Ti pick-up reaction with 32 MeV protons are utilized to obtain gamma-ray spectra as function of excitation energy. The extracted level density and strength function are compared with models, which are found to describe these quantities satisfactorily. The data do not reveal any single-particle energy gaps of the underlying doubly magic 40Ca core, probably due to the strong quadruple deformation

Nuclear level densities and gamma-ray strength functions in 44,45Sc

The scandium isotopes 44,45Sc have been studied with the 45Sc(3He,alpha gamma)44Sc and 45Sc(3He,3He' gamma)45Sc reactions, respectively. The nuclear level densities and gamma-ray strength functions have been extracted using the Oslo method. The experimental level densities are compared to calculated level densities obtained from a microscopic model based on BCS quasiparticles within the Nilsson level scheme. This model also gives information about the parity distribution and the number of broken Cooper pairs as a function of excitation energy. The experimental gamma-ray strength functions are compared to theoretical models of the E1, M1, and E2 strength, and to data from (gamma,n) and (gamma,p) experiments. The strength functions show an enhancement at low gamma energies that cannot be explained by the present, standard models.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures. Published versio

Microcanonical entropies and radiative strength functions of 50,51^{50,51}V

The level densities and radiative strength functions (RSFs) of $^{50,51}$V have been extracted using the ($^3$He,$\alpha \gamma$) and ($^3$He,$^3$He$^{\prime} \gamma$) reactions, respectively. From the level densities, microcanonical entropies are deduced. The high $\gamma$-energy part of the RSF is described by the giant electric dipole resonance. A significant enhancement over the predicted strength in the region of $E_{\gamma} \lesssim 3$ MeV is seen, which at present has no theoretical explanation.Comment: 16 pages including 9 figure

Level densities and γ\gamma-ray strength functions in Sn isotopes

The nuclear level densities of $^{118,119}$Sn and the $\gamma$-ray strength functions of $^{116,118,119}$Sn below the neutron separation energy are extracted with the Oslo method using the ($^3$He, \,$\alpha \gamma$) and ($^3$He,$^3$He$^\prime\gamma$) reactions. The level density function of $^{119}$Sn displays step-like structures. The microcanonical entropies are deduced from the level densities, and the single neutron entropy of $^{119}$Sn is determined to be $(1.7 \pm 0.2)\,k_B$. Results from a combinatorial model support the interpretation that some of the low-energy steps in the level density function are caused by neutron pair-breaking. An enhancement in all the $\gamma$-ray strength functions of $^{116-119}$Sn, compared to standard models for radiative strength, is observed for the $\gamma$-ray energy region of $\simeq (4 -11)$ MeV. These small resonances all have a centroid energy of 8.0(1) MeV and an integrated strength corresponding to $1.7(9)\%$ of the classical Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule. The Sn resonances may be due to electric dipole neutron skin oscillations or to an enhancement of the giant magnetic dipole resonance

Distinct Olfactory Signaling Mechanisms in the Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles gambiae

A combination of gene silencing and behavioral studies in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae sheds light on the olfactory basis of DEET repulsion as well as reveals the role of another family of chemosensory receptors that facilitate olfaction in An. gambiae

Estimation in a Competing Risks Proportional Hazards Model Under Length-biased Sampling With Censoring

International audienceWhat population does the sample represent? The answer to this question is of crucial importance when estimating a survivor function in duration studies. As is well-known, in a stationary population, survival data obtained from a cross-sectional sample taken from the population at time $t_0$ represents not the target density $f(t)$ but its length-biased version proportional to $tf(t)$, for $t>0$. The problem of estimating survivor function from such length-biased samples becomes more complex, and interesting, in presence of competing risks and censoring. This paper lays out a sampling scheme related to a mixed Poisson process and develops nonparametric estimators of the survivor function of the target population assuming that the two independent competing risks have proportional hazards. Two cases are considered: with and without independent consoring before length biased sampling. In each case, the weak convergence of the process generated by the proposed estimator is proved. A well-known study of the duration in power for political leaders is used to illustrate our results. Finally, a simulation study is carried out in order to assess the finite sample behaviour of our estimators