Reaction mechanisms of pair transfer

The mechanisms of nuclear transfer reactions are described for the transfer of two nucleons from one nucleus to another. Two-nucleon overlap functions are defined in various coordinate systems, and their transformation coefficients given between coordinate systems. Post and prior couplings are defined for sequential transfer mechanisms, and it is demonstrated that the combination of `prior-post' couplings avoids non-orthogonality terms, but does not avoid couplings that do not have good zero-range approximations. The simultaneous and sequential mechanisms are demonstrated for the $^{124}$Sn(p,t)$^{122}$Sn reaction at 25 MeV using shell-model overlap functions. The interference between the various simultaneous and sequential amplitudes is shown.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, chapter 34 in "50 Years of Nuclear BCS", edited by R. A. Broglia and V. Zelevinsky: ISBN 978-981-4412-48-3 Uses WS macros (included). Corrected text and calculations as in the published versio

Quantum mechanics and consciousness: Thoughts on a causal correspondence theory

Which way does causation proceed? The pattern in the material world seems to be upward: particles to molecules to organisms to brains to mental processes. In contrast, the principles of quantum mechanics allow us to see a pattern of downward causation. These new ideas describe sets of multiple levels in which each level influences the levels below it through generation and selection. Top-down causation makes exciting sense of the world: we can find analogies in psychology, in the formation of our minds, in locating the source of consciousness, and even in the possible logic of belief in God

Inclusive deuteron-induced reactions and final neutron states

We present in this paper a formalism for deuteron-induced inclusive reactions. We disentangle direct elastic breakup contributions from other processes (which we generically call non-elastic breakup) implying a capture of the neutron both above and below the neutron emission threshold. The reaction is described as a two step process, namely the breakup of the deuteron followed by the propagation of the neutron-target system driven by an optical potential. The final state interaction between the neutron and the target can eventually form an excited compound nucleus. Within this context, the direct neutron transfer to a sharp bound state is a limiting case of the present formalism.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Nuclear Reaction Mechanisms, Varenna, Ital

Absorption-Fluctuation Theorem for Nuclear Reactions: Brink-Axel, Incomplete Fusion and All That

We discuss the connection between absorption, averages and fluctuations in nuclear reactions. The fluctuations in the entrance channel result in the compound nucleus, Hauser-Feshbach, cross section, the fluctuations in the intermediate channels, result in modifications of multistep reaction cross sections, while the fluctuations in the final channel result in hybrid cross sections that can be used to describe incomplete fusion reactions. We discuss the latter in details and comment on the validity of the assumptions used in the develpoment of the Surrogate method. We also discuss the theory of multistep reactions with regards to intermediate state fluctuations and the energy dependence and non-locality of the intermediate channels optical potentials.Comment: 9 pages. Contribution to the International Workshop on Compound-Nuclear Reactions and Related Topics (CNR*2007), October 22-26, 2007, Fish Camp, California. To be published in AIP Proceedings (Editor Jutta Escher

Multidisplinary Simulation in Physical Therapist Assistant Education

Background and Purpose: Clinical simulation has been shown to be an effective method of teaching students in a controlled environment. Utilizing a realistic setting with built-in controls, allows students to practice skills, receive instructor feedback and complete self-assessments to refine performance prior to participation in terminal clinical education. Small group instructor-led debriefing is also an essential part of the process to facilitate reflection on performance. Currently there are very few published reports of multidisciplinary simulation including physical therapist assistant (PTA) students with high fidelity simulation mannequins and live standardized patients. Traditionally PTA students have very little, if any, actual contact with a multidisciplinary team to practice communication and interaction for efficient patient care prior to clinical education. This simulation experience brought together six different healthcare disciplines including respiratory care, paramedic, associate degree nursing, practical nursing, radiologic technology and PTA from one community college. Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe the results of PTA students’ communication, critical thinking and confidence as well as their satisfaction, during a multidisciplinary simulation experience using a series of four scenarios of varying complexity. Methods: PTA students (n=16) completed a series of four different simulations with both live patients and high fidelity simulation mannequins in conjunction with 113 allied health and nursing students at a community college during a four hour timeframe. All simulations were repeated seven times with different student groups over a four day period. Scenarios included one outpatient and three inpatients across the lifespan each with varying complexity that included an onset of a myocardial infarction during outpatient therapy, ICU transfer of a patient with a traumatic brain injury on mechanical ventilation, school age child with a fracture from suspected parental abuse, and a patient with COPD with abnormal vital sign response. PTA students were oriented prior to the experience and provided with a physical therapist evaluation and plan of care for each case. Following the simulation, students were surveyed about their knowledge, skill performance, learner satisfaction, critical thinking, self-confidence and communication. Instructor led-debriefing was also completed and qualitative results were collected. Results: When questioned whether the multidisciplinary simulation was a valuable experience, 100% reported yes. High survey scores from students were also received in the categories of knowledge, skill performance, learner satisfaction, critical thinking, self-confidence and communication. Themes from the instructor-led debriefing comments included the value of teamwork and learning what other professions do by working together. Communication was further enhanced by a group mind-mapping activity during the simulations. Faculty from each program reported the experience was effective not only meeting the stated objectives but led to their own deeper understanding of other healthcare team members. Conclusions/Discussion: This simulation allowed PTA students to experience real-life patient scenarios in a controlled environment in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team which complimented the PTA-only simulations completed earlier in the curriculum. It was a valuable learning activity for PTA students as it granted students additional practice to refine the necessary skills of professionalism, communication and teamwork to provide high quality patient care essential for clinical education and as future entry-level PTAs

How Influx Into the Natural Shows Itself in Physics: A Hypothesis

In order to link fine-tuning in physics with spiritual influx, I propose that the highest degree in physics is where ‘ends’ are received in physics. By ends, I refer to what it is that determines the means or causes in physics, and what it is that manages or influences to basis parameters (masses and charge values) of the quantum fields. This is fine-tuning, in the sense that it occurs not just for the whole universe (in the Big Bang, for example), but locally. That is, this fine-tuning is different at each time, and in point in space. Thus this influx can be specific to living organisms, and can occur at all the needed scales and levels in psychology and biology, namely every day and every micros-second of our lives