The van allen radiation belt

Van Allen radiation belt and energetic protons and electrons trapped in geomagnetic fiel

Relic Radiation from an Evaporating Black Hole

We present a non-string-theoretic calculation of the microcanonical entropy of relic integer-spin Hawking radiation -- at fixed total energy $E$. The only conserved macroscopic quantity is the total energy $E$ (the total energy of the relic radiation). Data for a boundary-value approach, with massless, integer-spin perturbations, are set on initial and final space-like hypersurfaces. In the resulting 1-dimensional statistical-mechanics problem, the real part of the (complex) time separation at spatial infinity, $T = {\mid}T{\mid}\exp(-i\delta), \delta >0$, is the variable conjugate to the total energy. We count the number of weak-field configurations on the final space-like hypersurface with energy $E$. One recovers the Cardy formula and the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, if Re(T) is of the order of the black-hole life- time, leading to a statistical interpretation of black-hole entropy. The microcanonical entropy includes a logarithmic correction to the black-hole area law, which is {\it universal} (independent of black-hole parameters). Here, the discreteness of the energy levels is crucial. This approach is compared with that of string theory for the transition to the fundamental-string r\'egime in the final stages of evaporation. The squared coupling, $g^2$, regulating the transition to a highly-excited string state and {\it vice versa}, can be related to the angle, $\delta$, of complex-time rotation above. The strong-coupling r\'egime corresponds to a Euclidean black hole, while the physical limit of a Lorentzian space-time (as $\delta \to 0_+$) corresponds to the weak-coupling r\'egime. This resembles the transition to a highly-excited string-like state which subsequently decays into massless particles, thereby avoiding the naked singularity.Comment: To appear in International Journal of Modern Physics

Pitch angle distribution and mirror point densities in the outer radiation zone

Calculation of equatorial pitch angle distribution of trapped radiation from count rate of omnidirectional detector along line of force - mirror point density calculatio

O-225. Early cleavage of in-vitro fertilized human embryos to the 2-cell stage: a novel indicator of embryo quality and viability

A number of non-invasive methods have been proposed to evaluate embryo viability in human in-vitro fertilization programmes. In addition to biochemical analyses, a common method for the selection of embryos prior to transfer involves assessment of embryo quality and morphology. We propose a new method to evaluate embryo viability based on the timing of the first cell division. Fertilized embryos that had cleaved to the 2-cell stage 25 h post-insemination were designated as 'early cleavage' embryos while the others that had not yet reached the 2-cell stage were designated as 'no early cleavage'. In all cases the early cleavage embryos were transferred when available. Early cleavage was observed in 27 (18.9%) of the 143 cycles assessed. There were significantly (chi2 = 4.0; P = 0.04) more clinical pregnancies in the early cleavage group, 9/27 (33.3%), compared with the no early cleavage group, 17/116 (14.7%). No difference was found when comparing key parameters (age, stimulation protocol and semen characteristics) of couples belonging to both groups, pointing to an intrinsic property or factor(s) within the early cleaving embryos. We propose 'early cleavage' as a simple and effective non-invasive method for selection and evaluation of embryos prior to transfe

Optimizing ribavirin dose in HIV/hepatitis C (HCV) co-infected individuals treated for HCV

Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV share common transmission pathways and the acquisition of both viruses are relatively common. Concurrent treatment for HCV with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) should be considered in HIV co-infected individuals to decrease the progression of liver damage. Adverse effects and less satisfactory treatment outcomes are often concerns when treating co-infected individuals. Although, direct acting antivirals (DAAs) may increase SVR, they may not be possible because of drug-drug interactions. he objective of this study is to investigate the difference in response rates of HCV treatment in HIV co-infected inmates with varying doses of ribavirin. Retrospective medical chart reviews of 52 HCV/HIV co-infected inmates who underwent HCV therapy between 2003 and 2010. All received standard doses of pegylated interferon alpha 2a or 2b and 800–1600 mg of ribavirin depending on weight. The recommended dosage for genotypes 2 and 3 is 800 mg/day. For other genotypes, if weight is<75 kg, the recommended ribavirin dose is 1000 mg/day or 1200 mg/day if>75 kg. Efficacy was defined as attaining sustained virological response (SVR) six months post treatment. Univariate analyses was performed using SPSS-18; Chi-square test with p-value<0.05 was defined significant. 52 co-infected (3 females & 49 males) were identified. Mean age was 40±7 years. Caucasians accounted for 84.6%; First Nations for 13.5% and Asians 1.9%. 36 were concurrently on HAART. The genotype distribution was: geno 1, 66.0%; geno 2, 7.5%; geno 3, 26.4%. SVR by ribavirin dosage ratio (actual dosage/recommended dosage):=1.0; 41.2% (14/34),>1.0; 58.8% (20/34). Doses greater than 1.5 times were associated with higher adverse events and lower SVR. Suboptimal doses of weight-based ribavirin may be contributing to a lower treatment response in HCV/HIV co-infectants. In our experience, the optimal dose of ribavirin is between 1 and 1.2 times the current recommended dose. We recommend that ribavirin dose be individualized in co-infected in order to enhance the likelihood of achieving SVR. Dual therapy is more practical in many of our population because of chaotic lifestyle. Therefore optimizing the ribavirin dose should be initially undertaken

Strain dependence of the Mn anisotropy in ferromagnetic semiconductors observed by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism

We demonstrate sensitivity of the Mn 3d valence states to strain in the ferromagnetic semiconductors (Ga,Mn)As and (Al,Ga,Mn)As, using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The spectral shape of the Mn $L_{2,3}$ XMCD is dependent on the orientation of the magnetization, and features with cubic and uniaxial dependence are distinguished. Reversing the strain reverses the sign of the uniaxial anisotropy of the Mn $L_3$ pre-peak which is ascribed to transitions from the Mn 2p core level to p-d hybridized valence band hole states. With increasing carrier localization, the $L_3$ pre-peak intensity increases, indicating an increasing 3d character of the hybridized holes.Comment: 4 pages plus 2 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Improved α4\alpha^4 Term of the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment

We have completed the evaluation of all mass-dependent $\alpha^4$ QED contributions to the muon $g-2$, or $a_\mu$, in two or more different formulations. Their numerical values have been greatly improved by an extensive computer calculation. The new value of the dominant $\alpha^4$ term $A_2^{(8)} (m_\mu / m_e)$ is 132.6823 (72), which supersedes the old value 127.50 (41). The new value of the three-mass term $A_3^{(8)} (m_\mu / m_e, m_\mu / m_\tau)$ is 0.0376 (1). The term $A_2^{(8)} (m_\mu / m_\tau)$ is crudely estimated to be about 0.005 and may be ignored for now. The total QED contribution to $a_\mu$ is $116 584 719.58 (0.02)(1.15)(0.85) \times 10^{-11}$, where 0.02 and 1.15 are uncertainties in the $\alpha^4$ and $\alpha^5$ terms and 0.85 is from the uncertainty in $\alpha$ measured by atom interferometry. This raises the Standard Model prediction by $13.9 \times 10^{-11}$, or about 1/5 of the measurement uncertainty of $a_\mu$. It is within the noise of current uncertainty ($\sim 100 \times 10^{-11}$) in the estimated hadronic contributions to $a_\mu$.Comment: Appendix A has been rewritten extensively. It includes the 4th-order calculation for illustration. Version accepted by PR

Tectonic synthesis of the Olympic Mountains segment of the Cascadia wedge, using two-dimensional thermal and kinematic modeling of thermochronological ages

A fully coupled two-dimensional kinematic and thermal model of a steady state accretionary wedge, constrained by an extensive data set of fission track and (U-Th)/He ages for apatite and zircon, is here used to investigate the development of the Olympic Mountains segment of the Cascadia accretionary wedge. The model has two main free parameters: ε_(max), the maximum rate of erosion for a generic erosion function operating at the top of the wedge, and α, the distribution of sedimentary accretion into the wedge. The best fit values for ε_(max) and α and their confidence limits are determined through an iterative search of parameter space. This study represents the first time that such inversion methods have been used to quantify the thermal-kinematic evolution of an accretionary wedge. Our results suggest that horizontal transport plays an important role in the exhumation trajectories experienced by material passing through the Cascadia wedge. At a 95% confidence interval, 80 to 100% of the sedimentary sequence from the subducting Juan de Fuca Plate has been accreted at the front of the wedge offshore of the Olympics over the past 14 m.y. This frontally accreted material must then traverse the entire width of the wedge prior to its eventual exposure in the Olympic forearc high. Assessed in this two-dimensional framework, the fission track and (U-Th)/He age data sets from the Olympic Mountains are all best fit by ε_(max) of 0.9–1.0 mm yr^(−1), despite variation in the timescales relevant to the three chronometers. This result supports the hypothesis that the Olympic Mountains segment of the Cascadia accretionary wedge has been in a flux steady-state since ∼14 Ma. The demonstration of a flux balance across the Cascadia margin also suggests that margin-parallel transport has not had a significant role in driving uplift of the Olympic Mountains

In-plane uniaxial anisotropy rotations in (Ga,Mn)As thin films

We show, by SQUID magnetometry, that in (Ga,Mn)As films the in-plane uniaxial magnetic easy axis is consistently associated with particular crystallographic directions and that it can be rotated from the [-110] direction to the [110] direction by low temperature annealing. We show that this behavior is hole-density-dependent and does not originate from surface anisotropy. The presence of uniaxial anisotropy as well its dependence on the hole-concentration and temperature can be explained in terms of the p-d Zener model of the ferromagnetism assuming a small trigonal distortion.Comment: 4 pages, 6 Postscript figures, uses revtex