1,122 research outputs found
A photometric search for active Main Belt asteroids
It is well known that some Main Belt asteroids show comet-like features. A
representative example is the first known Main Belt comet 133P/(7968)
Elst-Pizarro. If the mechanisms causing this activity are too weak to develop
visually evident comae or tails, the objects stay unnoticed. We are presenting
a novel way to search for active asteroids, based on looking for objects with
deviations from their expected brightnesses in a database. Just by using the
MPCAT-OBS Observation Archive we have found five new candidate objects that
possibly show a type of comet-like activity, and the already known Main Belt
comet 133P/(7968) Elst-Pizarro. Four of the new candidates, (315) Constantia,
(1026) Ingrid, (3646) Aduatiques, and (24684) 1990 EU4, show brightness
deviations independent of the object's heliocentric distance, while (35101)
1991 PL16 shows deviations dependent on its heliocentric distance, which could
be an indication of a thermal triggered mechanism. The method could be
implemented in future sky survey programmes to detect outbursts on Main Belt
objects almost simultaneously with their occurrence.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A on December 20,
201
The Scattered Disk as the source of the Jupiter Family comets
The short period Jupiter family comets (JFCs) are thought to originate in the
Kuiper Belt; specifically, a dynamical subclass of the Kuiper Belt known as the
`scattered disk' is argued to be the dominant source of JFCs. However, the best
estimates from observational surveys indicate that this source may fall short
by more than two orders of magnitude the estimates obtained from theoretical
models of the dynamical evolution of Kuiper belt objects into JFCs. We
re-examine the scattered disk as a source of the JFCs and make a rigorous
estimate of the discrepancy. We find that the uncertainties in the dynamical
models combined with a change in the size distribution function of the
scattered disk at faint magnitudes (small sizes) beyond the current
observational limit offer a possible but problematic resolution to the
discrepancy. We discuss several other possibilities: that the present
population of JFCs is a large fluctuation above their long term average, that
larger scattered disk objects tidally break-up into multiple fragments during
close planetary encounters as their orbits evolve from the trans-Neptune zone
to near Jupiter, or that there are alternative source populations that
contribute significantly to the JFCs. Well-characterized observational
investigations of the Centaurs, objects that are transitioning between the
trans-Neptune Kuiper belt region and the inner solar system, can test the
predictions of the non-steady state and the tidal break-up hypotheses. The
classical and resonant classes of the Kuiper belt are worth re-consideration as
significant additional or alternate sources of the JFCs.Comment: 33 pages, 6 figures. Revised Content. To be published in The
Astrophysical Journa
Statistical Inspired Parton Distributions and the Violation of QPM Sum Rules
A quantum statistical parametrization of parton distributions has been
considered. In this framework, the exclusion Pauli principle connects the
violation of the Gottfried sum rule with the Ellis and Jaffe one, and implies a
defect in the Bjorken sum rule. However, in terms of standard parametrizations
of the polarized distributions a good description of the data is obtained once
a large gluon polarization is provided. Interestingly, in this description
there is no violation of the Bjorken sum rule.Comment: 10 pages, LateX + 15 figures, Talk given at ``Hadrons 96'' Workshop,
Novy Svet (CRIMEA), June 9-1
Repetitive low-frequency stimulation reduces epileptiform synchronization in limbic neuronal networks.
Deep-brain electrical or transcranial magnetic stimulation may represent a therapeutic tool for controlling seizures in patients presenting with epileptic disorders resistant to antiepileptic drugs. In keeping with this clinical evidence, we have reported that repetitive electrical stimuli delivered at approximately 1 Hz in mouse hippocampus-entorhinal cortex (EC) slices depress the EC ability to generate ictal activity induced by the application of 4-aminopyridine (4AP) or Mg2+-free medium (Barbarosie, M., Avoli, M., 1997. CA3-driven hippocampal–entorhinal loop controls rather than sustains in vitro limbic seizures. J. Neurosci. 17, 9308–9314.). Here, we confirmed a similar control mechanism in rat brain slices analyzed with field potential recordings during 4AP (50 μM) treatment. In addition, we used intrinsic optical signal (IOS) recordings to quantify the intensity and spatial characteristics of this inhibitory influence. IOSs reflect the changes in light transmittance throughout the entire extent of the slice, and are thus reliable markers of limbic network epileptiform synchronization. First, we found that in the presence of 4AP, the IOS increases, induced by a train of electrical stimuli (10 Hz for 1 s) or by recurrent, single-shock stimulation delivered at 0.05 Hz in the deep EC layers, are reduced in intensity and area size by low-frequency (1 Hz), repetitive stimulation of the subiculum; these effects were observed in all limbic areas contained in the slice. Second, by testing the effects induced by repetitive subicular stimulation at 0.2–10 Hz, we identified maximal efficacy when repetitive stimuli are delivered at 1 Hz. Finally, we discovered that similar, but slightly less pronounced, inhibitory effects occur when repetitive stimuli at 1 Hz are delivered in the EC, suggesting that the reduction of IOSs seen during repetitive stimulation is pathway dependent as well as activity dependent. Thus, the activation of limbic networks at low frequency reduces the intensity and spatial extent of the IOS changes that accompany ictal synchronization in an in vitro slice preparation. This conclusion supports the view that repetitive stimulation may represent a potential therapeutic tool for controlling seizures in patients with pharmacoresistant epileptic disorders
Quantum Statistical Parton Distributions and the Spin Crisis
Quantum statistical distributions for the partons provide a fair description
of deep inelastic scattering data at and . The study of
the polarized structure functions seems to suggest an alternative possible
solution of the {\it spin crisis} based on the Pauli principle. In this scheme,
in fact, the defects of the Gottfried sum rule and Ellis--Jaffe sum rule for
proton, result strongly connected. This possibility finds particular evidence
from the phenomenological observation that the relation seems well satisfied by parton distributions.Comment: plain LaTeX, 18 pages + 14 figures, revised version with changes in
the text and in some figures, to appear in Progress of Theor. Phys. Vol. 96
(October 1996) No.
Reproductive Coercion and Relationship Abuse Among Adolescents and Young Women Seeking Care at School Health Centers.
ObjectiveTo investigate demographic differences and evaluate how reproductive coercion and relationship abuse influences young females' care-seeking and sexual health behaviors.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional baseline survey data from sexually active female students (aged 14-19 years) who sought care from school health centers. Outcomes included recent (previous 3 months) reproductive coercion, physical or sexual adolescent relationship abuse, and nonpartner sexual violence victimization. Cluster-adjusted χ tests compared demographics and generalized linear mixed models estimated associations among reproductive coercion, adolescent relationship abuse (physical and sexual abuse in romantic relationships), and care-seeking and sexual health behaviors.ResultsOf 550 sexually active high school females, 12% reported recent reproductive coercion and 17% reported physical or sexual adolescent relationship abuse, with no significant demographic differences. Prevalence of recent nonpartner sexual violence was 17%. There were no observed significant differences in care-seeking behaviors among those with recent reproductive coercion compared with those without. Physical or sexual adolescent relationship abuse was associated with increased odds of seeking testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.08, 95% CI 1.05-4.13). Females exposed to both adolescent relationship abuse and reproductive coercion had higher odds of having a partner who was 5 or more years older (aOR 4.66, 95% CI 1.51-14.4), having two or more recent sexual partners (aOR 3.86, 95% CI 1.57-9.48), and using hormonal contraception only (aOR 3.77, 95% CI 1.09-13.1 vs hormonal methods with condoms).ConclusionAlmost one in eight females experienced recent reproductive coercion. We did not observe significant demographic differences in reproductive coercion. Partner age and number of sexual partners may elevate risk for abusive relationships. Relationship abuse is prevalent among high school students seeking care, with no clear pattern for case identification. By failing to identify factors associated with harmful partner behaviors, our results support universal assessment for reproductive coercion and relationship abuse among high school-aged adolescents, involving education, resources, and harm-reduction counseling to all patients.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01678378
Circuit quantum acoustodynamics with surface acoustic waves
The experimental investigation of quantum devices incorporating mechanical
resonators has opened up new frontiers in the study of quantum mechanics at a
macroscopic level. Superconducting microwave circuits have proven to be
a powerful platform for the realisation of such quantum devices, both in cavity
optomechanics, and circuit quantum electro-dynamics (QED).
While most experiments to date have involved localised nanomechanical
resonators, it has recently been shown that propagating surface acoustic waves
(SAWs) can be piezoelectrically coupled to superconducting qubits, and
confined in high-quality Fabry-Perot cavities up to microwave frequencies in
the quantum regime, indicating the possibility of realising coherent
exchange of quantum information between the two systems. Here we present
measurements of a device in which a superconducting qubit is embedded in, and
interacts with, the acoustic field of a Fabry-Perot SAW cavity on quartz,
realising a surface acoustic version of cavity quantum electrodynamics. This
quantum acoustodynamics (QAD) architecture may be used to develop new quantum
acoustic devices in which quantum information is stored in trapped on-chip
surface acoustic wavepackets, and manipulated in ways that are impossible with
purely electromagnetic signals, due to the times slower speed of
travel of the mechanical waves.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl
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