995 research outputs found
Freeze-out Configuration in Multifragmentation
The excitation energy and the nuclear density at the time of breakup are
extracted for the reaction at beam energies of 1 and 3.6
GeV/nucleon. These quantities are calculated from the average relative velocity
of intermediate mass fragments (IMF) at large correlation angles as a function
of the multiplicity of IMFs using a statistical model coupled with many-body
Coulomb trajectory calculations. The Coulomb component and
thermal component are found to depend oppositely on the
excitation energy, IMFs multiplicity, and freeze-out density. These
dependencies allow the determination of both the volume and the mean excitation
energy at the time of breakup. It is found that the volume remained constant as
the beam energy was increased, with a breakup density of about ,
but that the excitation energy increased to about 5.5 MeV/nucleon.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures available upon resues
Transport and recombination through weakly coupled localized spin pairs in semiconductors during coherent spin excitation
Semi-analytical predictions for the transients of spin-dependent transport
and recombination rates through localized states in semiconductors during
coherent electron spin excitation are made for the case of weakly spin-coupled
charge carrier ensembles. The results show that the on-resonant Rabi frequency
of electrically or optically detected spin-oscillation doubles abruptly as the
strength of the resonant microwave field gamma B_1 exceeds the Larmor frequency
separation within the pair of charge carrier states between which the transport
or recombination transition takes place. For the case of a Larmor frequency
separation of the order of gamma B_1 and arbitrary excitation frequencies, the
charge carrier pairs exhibit four different nutation frequencies. From the
calculations, a simple set of equations for the prediction of these frequencies
is derived
Investigations on nucleophilic layers made with a novel plasma jet technique
In this work a novel plasma jet technique is used for the deposition of nucleophilic films based on (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane at atmospheric pressure. Film deposition was varied with regard to duty cycles and working distance. Spectral ellipsometry and chemical derivatization with 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde using ATR- FTIR spectroscopy measurements were used to characterize the films. It was found that the layer thickness and the film composition are mainly influenced by the duty cycle
Large Interstellar Polarisation Survey. LIPS I: FORS2 spectropolarimetry in the Southern Hemisphere
Polarimetric studies of light transmitted through interstellar clouds may
give constraints on the properties of the interstellar dust grains.
Traditionally, broadband linear polarisation (BBLP) measurements have been
considered an important diagnostic tool for the study of the interstellar dust,
while comparatively less attention has been paid to spectropolarimetric
measurements. However, spectropolarimetry may offer stronger constraints than
BBLP, for example by revealing narrowband features, and by allowing us to
distinguish the contribution of dust from the contribution of interstellar gas.
Therefore, we have decided to carry out a Large Interstellar Polarisation
Survey (LIPS) using spectropolarimetric facilities in both hemispheres. Here we
present the results obtained in the Southern Hemisphere with the FORS2
instrument of the ESO Very Large Telescope. Our spectra cover the wavelength
range 380--950\,nm at a spectral resolving power of about 880. We have produced
a publicly available catalogue of 127 linear polarisation spectra of 101
targets. We also provide the Serkowski-curve parameters, as well as the
wavelength gradient of the polarisation position angle for the interstellar
polarisation along 76 different lines of sight. In agreement with previous
literature, we found that the best-fit parameters of the Serkowski-curve are
not independent of each other. However, the relationships that we obtained are
not always consistent with what was found in previous studies.Comment: Accepted by A&A (replaced on 12 October 2017 simply to correct a
Metadata error
Efficacy of different doses and time intervals of oral vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium in elderly nursing home residents
Summary: The effect of equivalent oral doses of vitamin D3 600 IU/day, 4200 IU/week and 18,000 IU/month on vitamin D status was compared in a randomized clinical trial in nursing home residents. A daily dose was more effective than a weekly dose, and a monthly dose was the least effective. Introduction: It is assumed that equivalent daily, weekly or monthly doses of vitamin D3 equally influence vitamin D status. This was investigated in a randomized clinical trial in nursing home residents. Methods: The study was performed in ten nursing homes including 338 subjects (76 male and 262 female), with a mean age of 84 (± SD 6.3 years). They received oral vitamin D3 either 600 IU/day, or 4200 IU/week, or 18,000 IU/month or placebo. After 4 months, calcium was added during 2 weeks, 320 mg/day or 640 mg/day or placebo. Outcome: serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone turnover markers. Statistical approach: linear multilevel analysis. Results: At baseline, mean serum 25(OH)D was 25.0 nmol/L (SD 10.9), and in 98%, it was lower than 50 nmol/L. After 4 months, mean serum 25(OH)D levels increased to 62.5 nmol/L (after daily vitamin D3 69.9 nmol/L, weekly 67.2 nmol/L and monthly 53.1 nmol/L, P<0.001 between groups). Median serum PTH levels decreased by 23% (p<0.001). Bone turnover markers did not decrease. Calcium supplementation had no effect on serum PTH and bone turnover. Conclusion: Daily vitamin D was more effective than weekly, and monthly administration was the least effective. © 2007 International Osteoporosis Foundation and National Osteoporosis Foundation
Fighting a losing battle: Vigorous immune response countered by pathogen suppression of host defenses in the chytridiomycosis-susceptible frog Atelopus zeteki
The emergence of the disease chytridiomycosis caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been implicated in dramatic global amphibian declines. Although many species have undergone catastrophic declines and/or extinctions, others appear to be unaffected or persist
at reduced frequencies after Bd outbreaks. The reasons behind this variance in disease outcomes are poorly
understood: differences in host immune responses have been proposed, yet previous studies suggest a lack
of robust immune responses to Bd in susceptible species. Here, we sequenced transcriptomes from clutchmates
of a highly susceptible amphibian, Atelopus zeteki, with different infection histories. We found
significant changes in expression of numerous genes involved in innate and inflammatory responses in
infected frogs despite high susceptibility to chytridiomycosis. We show evidence of acquired immune
responses generated against Bd, including increased expression of immunoglobulins and major histocompatibility
complex genes. In addition, fungal-killing genes had significantly greater expression in frogs
previously exposed to Bd compared with Bd-naĂŻve frogs, including chitinase and serine-type proteases.
However, our results appear to confirm recent in vitro evidence of immune suppression by Bd, demonstrated
by decreased expression of lymphocyte genes in the spleen of infected compared with control frogs. We propose susceptibility to chytridiomycosis is not due to lack of Bd-specific immune responses but instead is caused by failure of those responses to be effective. Ineffective immune pathway activation and timing of antibody production are discussed as potential mechanisms. However, in light of our findings,suppression of key immune responses by Bd is likely an important factor in the lethality of this fungus
Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes - Highlights from the Baltic Sea Sciences Congress at Rostock University, Germany, 19-22 March 2007
The Baltic Sea Science Congress was held at Rostock University, Germany, from 19 to 22 March 2007. In the session entitled"Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes" 20 presentations were given,including 7 talks and 13 posters related to the theme of the session.This paper summarises new findings of the upwelling-related studies reported in the session. It deals with investigationsbased on the use of in situ and remote sensing measurements as well as numerical modelling tools. The biogeochemicalimplications of upwelling are also discussed.Our knowledge of the fine structure and dynamic considerations of upwelling has increased in recent decades with the advent ofhigh-resolution modern measurement techniques and modelling studies. The forcing and the overall structure, duration and intensity ofupwelling events are understood quite well. However, the quantification of related transports and the contribution to the overall mixingof upwelling requires further research. Furthermore, our knowledge of the links between upwelling and biogeochemical processes is stillincomplete. Numerical modelling has advanced to the extent that horizontal resolutions of c. 0.5 nautical miles can now be applied,which allows the complete spectrum of meso-scale features to be described. Even the development of filaments can be describedrealistically in comparison with high-resolution satellite data.But the effect of upwelling at a basin scale and possible changes under changing climatic conditions remain open questions
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