163 research outputs found
Vibrational excitation of diatomic molecular ions in strong-field ionization of diatomic molecules
A model based on the strong-field and Born-Oppenheimer approximations
qualitatively describes the distribution over vibrational states formed in a
diatomic molecular ion following ionization of the neutral molecule by intense
laser pulses. Good agreement is found with a recent experiment [X. Urbain et
al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 163004 (2004)]. In particular, the observed deviation
from a Franck-Condon-like distribution is reproduced. Additionally, we
demonstrate control of the vibrational distribution by a variation of the peak
intensity or a change of frequency of the laser pulse.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Molecular orbitals and strong-field approximation
V.I. Usachenko and S.-I. Chu [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 71}, 063410 (2005)] discuss
the molecular strong-field approximation in the velocity gauge formulation and
indicate that some of our earlier velocity gauge calculations are inaccurate.
Here we comment on the results of Usachenko and Chu. First, we show that the
molecular orbitals used by Usachenko and Chu do not have the correct symmetry,
and second, that it is an oversimplification to describe the molecular orbitals
in terms of just a single linear combination of two atomic orbitals. Finally,
some values for the generalized Bessel function are given for comparison.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Solar-like oscillations in the G2 subgiant beta Hydri from dual-site observations
We have observed oscillations in the nearby G2 subgiant star beta Hyi using
high-precision velocity observations obtained over more than a week with the
HARPS and UCLES spectrographs. The oscillation frequencies show a regular comb
structure, as expected for solar-like oscillations, but with several l=1 modes
being strongly affected by avoided crossings. The data, combined with those we
obtained five years earlier, allow us to identify 28 oscillation modes. By
scaling the large frequency separation from the Sun, we measure the mean
density of beta Hyi to an accuracy of 0.6%. The amplitudes of the oscillations
are about 2.5 times solar and the mode lifetime is 2.3 d. A detailed comparison
of the mixed l=1 modes with theoretical models should allow a precise estimate
of the age of the star.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures, accepted by ApJ. Fixed minor typo (ref to Fig
14
Influence of molecular symmetry on strong-field ionization: Studies on ethylene, benzene, fluorobenzene, and chlorofluorobenzene
Using the molecular strong-field approximation we consider the effects of
molecular symmetry on the ionization of molecules by a strong, linearly
polarized laser pulse. Electron angular distributions and total ionization
yields are calculated as a function of the relative orientation between the
molecule and the laser polarization. Our studies focus on ethylene
(CH), benzene (CH), fluorobenzene (CHF), and ortho
chlorofluorobenzene (1,2 CHClF), the molecules representing four
different point groups. The results are compared with experiments, when
available, and with the molecular tunneling theory appropriately extended to
non-linear polyatomic molecules. Our investigations show that the orientational
dependence of ionization yields is primarily determined by the nodal surface
structure of the molecular orbitals.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to Physical Review
A randomized assessment of adding the kinase inhibitor lestaurtinib to first-line chemotherapy for FLT3-mutated AML
The clinical benefit of adding FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3)-directed small molecule therapy to standard first-line treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not yet been established. As part of the UK AML15 and AML17 trials, patients with previously untreated AML and confirmed FLT3-activating mutations, mostly younger than 60 years, were randomly assigned either to receive oral lestaurtinib (CEP701) or not after each of 4 cycles of induction and consolidation chemotherapy. Lestaurtinib was commenced 2 days after completing chemotherapy and administered in cycles of up to 28 days. The trials ran consecutively. Primary endpoints were overall survival in AML15 and relapse-free survival in AML17; outcome data were meta-analyzed. Five hundred patients were randomly assigned between lestaurtinib and control: 74% had FLT3-internal tandem duplication mutations, 23% FLT3–tyrosine kinase domain point mutations, and 2% both types. No significant differences were seen in either 5-year overall survival (lestaurtinib 46% vs control 45%; hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI 0.70-1.15; P = .3) or 5-year relapse-free survival (40% vs 36%; hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI 0.69-1.12; P = .3). Exploratory subgroup analysis suggested survival benefit with lestaurtinib in patients receiving concomitant azole antifungal prophylaxis and gemtuzumab ozogamicin with the first course of chemotherapy. Correlative studies included analysis of in vivo FLT3 inhibition by plasma inhibitory activity assay and indicated improved overall survival and significantly reduced rates of relapse in lestaurtinib-treated patients who achieved sustained greater than 85% FLT3 inhibition. In conclusion, combining lestaurtinib with intensive chemotherapy proved feasible in younger patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML, but yielded no overall clinical benefit. The improved clinical outcomes seen in patients achieving sustained FLT3 inhibition encourage continued evaluation of FLT3-directed therapy alongside front-line AML treatment. The UK AML15 and AML17 trials are registered at www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17161961 and www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN55675535 respectively
Blood pressure response to renal denervation is correlated with baseline blood pressure variability: a patient-level meta-analysis
Background: Sympathetic tone is one of the main
determinants of blood pressure (BP) variability and
treatment-resistant hypertension. The aim of our study was
to assess changes in BP variability after renal denervation
(RDN). In addition, on an exploratory basis, we investigated
whether baseline BP variability predicted the BP changes
after RDN.
Methods: We analyzed 24-h BP recordings obtained at
baseline and 6 months after RDN in 167 treatmentresistant
hypertension patients (40% women; age, 56.7
years; mean 24-h BP, 152/90 mmHg) recruited at 11 expert
centers. BP variability was assessed by weighted SD [SD
over time weighted for the time interval between
consecutive readings (SDiw)], average real variability (ARV),
coefficient of variation, and variability independent of the
mean (VIM).
Results: Mean office and 24-h BP fell by 15.4/6.6 and 5.5/
3.7 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.001). In multivariable-adjusted
analyses, systolic/diastolic SDiw and VIM for 24-h
SBP/DBP decreased by 1.18/0.63 mmHg (P 0.01) and
0.86/0.42 mmHg (P 0.05), respectively, whereas no
significant changes in ARV or coefficient of variation
occurred. Furthermore, baseline SDiw (P ¼ 0.0006), ARV
(P ¼ 0.01), and VIM (P ¼ 0.04) predicted the decrease in
24-h DBP but not 24-h SBP after RDN.
Conclusion: RDN was associated with a decrease in BP
variability independent of the BP level, suggesting that
responders may derive benefits from the reduction in BP
variability as well. Furthermore, baseline DBP variability
estimates significantly correlated with mean DBP decrease
after RDN. If confirmed in younger patients with less
arterial damage, in the absence of the confounding effect
of drugs and drug adherence, baseline BP variability may
prove a good predictor of BP response to RDN
Kepler-21b: A 1.6REarth Planet Transiting the Bright Oscillating F Subgiant Star HD 179070
We present Kepler observations of the bright (V=8.3), oscillating star HD
179070. The observations show transit-like events which reveal that the star is
orbited every 2.8 days by a small, 1.6 R_Earth object. Seismic studies of HD
179070 using short cadence Kepler observations show that HD 179070 has a
frequencypower spectrum consistent with solar-like oscillations that are
acoustic p-modes. Asteroseismic analysis provides robust values for the mass
and radius of HD 179070, 1.34{\pm}0.06 M{\circ} and 1.86{\pm}0.04 R{\circ}
respectively, as well as yielding an age of 2.84{\pm}0.34 Gyr for this F5
subgiant. Together with ground-based follow-up observations, analysis of the
Kepler light curves and image data, and blend scenario models, we
conservatively show at the >99.7% confidence level (3{\sigma}) that the transit
event is caused by a 1.64{\pm}0.04 R_Earth exoplanet in a 2.785755{\pm}0.000032
day orbit. The exoplanet is only 0.04 AU away from the star and our
spectroscopic observations provide an upper limit to its mass of ~10 M_Earth
(2-{\sigma}). HD 179070 is the brightest exoplanet host star yet discovered by
Kepler.Comment: Accepted to Ap
Planetary Candidates Observed by Kepler. VIII. A Fully Automated Catalog With Measured Completeness and Reliability Based on Data Release 25
We present the Kepler Object of Interest (KOI) catalog of transiting
exoplanets based on searching four years of Kepler time series photometry (Data
Release 25, Q1-Q17). The catalog contains 8054 KOIs of which 4034 are planet
candidates with periods between 0.25 and 632 days. Of these candidates, 219 are
new and include two in multi-planet systems (KOI-82.06 and KOI-2926.05), and
ten high-reliability, terrestrial-size, habitable zone candidates. This catalog
was created using a tool called the Robovetter which automatically vets the
DR25 Threshold Crossing Events (TCEs, Twicken et al. 2016). The Robovetter also
vetted simulated data sets and measured how well it was able to separate TCEs
caused by noise from those caused by low signal-to-noise transits. We discusses
the Robovetter and the metrics it uses to sort TCEs. For orbital periods less
than 100 days the Robovetter completeness (the fraction of simulated transits
that are determined to be planet candidates) across all observed stars is
greater than 85%. For the same period range, the catalog reliability (the
fraction of candidates that are not due to instrumental or stellar noise) is
greater than 98%. However, for low signal-to-noise candidates between 200 and
500 days around FGK dwarf stars, the Robovetter is 76.7% complete and the
catalog is 50.5% reliable. The KOI catalog, the transit fits and all of the
simulated data used to characterize this catalog are available at the NASA
Exoplanet Archive.Comment: 61 pages, 23 Figures, 9 Tables, Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal
Supplement Serie
Characteristics of Kepler Planetary Candidates Based on the First Data Set: The Majority are Found to be Neptune-Size and Smaller
In the spring of 2009, the Kepler Mission commenced high-precision photometry
on nearly 156,000 stars to determine the frequency and characteristics of small
exoplanets, conduct a guest observer program, and obtain asteroseismic data on
a wide variety of stars. On 15 June 2010 the Kepler Mission released data from
the first quarter of observations. At the time of this publication, 706 stars
from this first data set have exoplanet candidates with sizes from as small as
that of the Earth to larger than that of Jupiter. Here we give the identity and
characteristics of 306 released stars with planetary candidates. Data for the
remaining 400 stars with planetary candidates will be released in February
2011. Over half the candidates on the released list have radii less than half
that of Jupiter. The released stars include five possible multi-planet systems.
One of these has two Neptune-size (2.3 and 2.5 Earth-radius) candidates with
near-resonant periods.Comment: Paper to accompany Kepler's June 15, 2010 data release; submitted to
Astrophysical Journal Figures 1,2,& 3 revised. Improved labeling on all
figures. Slight changes to planet frequencies in result
Planetary Candidates Observed by Kepler, III: Analysis of the First 16 Months of Data
New transiting planet candidates are identified in sixteen months (May 2009 -
September 2010) of data from the Kepler spacecraft. Nearly five thousand
periodic transit-like signals are vetted against astrophysical and instrumental
false positives yielding 1,091 viable new planet candidates, bringing the total
count up to over 2,300. Improved vetting metrics are employed, contributing to
higher catalog reliability. Most notable is the noise-weighted robust averaging
of multi-quarter photo-center offsets derived from difference image analysis
which identifies likely background eclipsing binaries. Twenty-two months of
photometry are used for the purpose of characterizing each of the new
candidates. Ephemerides (transit epoch, T_0, and orbital period, P) are
tabulated as well as the products of light curve modeling: reduced radius
(Rp/R*), reduced semi-major axis (d/R*), and impact parameter (b). The largest
fractional increases are seen for the smallest planet candidates (197% for
candidates smaller than 2Re compared to 52% for candidates larger than 2Re) and
those at longer orbital periods (123% for candidates outside of 50-day orbits
versus 85% for candidates inside of 50-day orbits). The gains are larger than
expected from increasing the observing window from thirteen months (Quarter 1--
Quarter 5) to sixteen months (Quarter 1 -- Quarter 6). This demonstrates the
benefit of continued development of pipeline analysis software. The fraction of
all host stars with multiple candidates has grown from 17% to 20%, and the
paucity of short-period giant planets in multiple systems is still evident. The
progression toward smaller planets at longer orbital periods with each new
catalog release suggests that Earth-size planets in the Habitable Zone are
forthcoming if, indeed, such planets are abundant.Comment: Submitted to ApJS. Machine-readable tables are available at
http://kepler.nasa.gov, http://archive.stsci.edu/kepler/results.html, and the
NASA Exoplanet Archiv
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