5,518 research outputs found
Extreme longevity of the common gecko (Hoplodactylus maculatus) on Motunau Island, Canterbury, New Zealand
The longevity of common geckos (Hoplodactylus maculatus) on predator-free Motunau Island, North Canterbury, was investigated. Sixteen of 133 individuals marked between 1967-75 were re-captured in the summer of 1996/97. A growth curve was generated to estimate the age of these geckos at first capture, and from this their age in 1996/97; 10 were estimated to be at least 36 years old. In this cool-temperate habitat, H. maculatus matures late and has a low annual reproductive output over an extended lifespan. This suggests that nearby mainland populations would be particularly slow to recover from the impacts of introduced mammalian predators
Faddeev calculations of break-up reactions with realistic experimental constraints
We present a method to integrate predictions from a theoretical model of a
reaction with three bodies in the final state over the region of phase space
covered by a given experiment. The method takes into account the true
experimental acceptance, as well as variations of detector efficiency, and
eliminates the need for a Monte-Carlo simulation of the detector setup. The
method is applicable to kinematically complete experiments. Examples for the
use of this method include several polarization observables in dp break-up at
270 MeV. The calculations are carried out in the Faddeev framework with the CD
Bonn nucleon-nucleon interaction, with or without the inclusion of an
additional three-nucleon force.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure
Molecular Basis of Prostate Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Prostate Cancer is now the second biggest cause of cancer mortality in the UK. Media coverage has been rising, with some attributing to a rise in the cases diagnosed and treated in the NHS down to the “Fry and Turnbull effect”. Our understanding of prostate cancer has increased tremendously in the past decades, with advances in molecular biology and genomics driving the way to new treatments and diagnostics. This Special Edition of Translational Andrology and Urology 2019: Prostate Cancer Biology and Genomics aims to review the current state of prostate cancer genomics, proteomics, diagnostics and treatment
Apollo experiment S-217 IR/radar study of Apollo data
An experiment using Earth based remote sensing radar, infrared eclipse, and color difference data to deduce surface properties not visible in Apollo photography is reported. The Earth based data provided information on the small scale (centimeter sized) blockiness and on the surface chemical composition (titanium and iron contents) of the lunar surface. These deduced surface properties complemented the new Apollo photography, leading to refined geologic interpretations of the lunar surface
Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Biopsy Data to Guide Sampling Procedures for Prostate Cancer Biobanking
Previous methods for biobanking prostate tissue, following radical prostatectomy, generally involved random sampling. In order to increase efficiency, and enable a greater range of downstream applications, a more targeted method of sampling prostate tissue was developed. Here we use both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy data to target specific areas of the organ for sampling. The method involves use of a previously published prostate slicing device which removes a 5 mm transverse slice from a predetermined region of the prostate, followed by the removal of 6 mm punch biopsies from predetermined areas of this slice. These samples can be stored frozen or fixed for biobanking purposes, or used fresh immediately with 70% confidence of tumor content, as compared with 10% confidence from the random sampling approach. This enables the use of all standard downstream techniques such as genomics, proteomics or histological work, but also work that requires fresh tissue such as live tissue imaging or ex vivo culture
Reality in quantum mechanics, Extended Everett Concept, and consciousness
Conceptual problems in quantum mechanics result from the specific quantum
concept of reality and require, for their solution, including the observer's
consciousness into quantum theory of measurements. Most naturally this is
achieved in the framework of Everett's "many-worlds interpretation" of quantum
mechanics. According to this interpretation, various classical alternatives are
perceived by consciousness separately from each other. In the Extended Everett
Concept (EEC) proposed by the present author, the separation of the
alternatives is identified with the phenomenon of consciousness. This explains
classical character of the alternatives and unusual manifestations of
consciousness arising "at the edge of consciousness" (i.e. in sleep or trance)
when its access to "other alternative classical realities" (other Everett's
worlds) becomes feasible. Because of reversibility of quantum evolution in EEC,
all time moments in the quantum world are equivalent while the impression of
flow of time appears only in consciousness. If it is assumed that consciousness
may influence onto probabilities of alternatives (which is consistent in case
of infinitely many Everett's worlds), EEC explains free will, "probabilistic
miracles" (observing low-probability events) and decreasing entropy in the
sphere of life.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures in EP
Magnetic Levitation and Noncoalescence of Liquid Helium
We describe experiments in which drops of liquid helium-4, as large as 2 cm in diameter, are magnetically levitated. We have found that, when two or more drops are levitated in the same magnetic trap, the drops often remain in a state of apparent contact without coalescing. It appears that this effect is caused by the slow evaporation of liquid from the drops
Emergence of classicality in small number entangled systems
We show the transition from a fully quantized interaction to a semiclassical
one in entangled small number quantum systems using the quantum trajectories
approach. In particular, we simulate the microwave Ramsey zones used in Rydberg
atom interferometry, filling in the gap between the strongly entangling Jaynes
Cummings evolution and the semiclassical rotation of the atomic internal
states. We also correlate the information flowing with leaking photons to the
entanglement generation between cavity field and flying atom and detail the
roles played by the strong dissipation and the external driving force in
preserving atomic coherence through the interaction.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Experimental search for evidence of the three-nucleon force and a new analysis method
A research program with the aim of investigating the spin dependence of the
three-nucleon continuum in pd collisions at intermediate energies was carried
out at IUCF using the Polarized INternal Target EXperiments (PINTEX) facility.
In the elastic scattering experiment at 135 and 200 MeV proton beam energies a
total of 15 independent spin observables were obtained. The breakup experiment
was done with a vector and tensor polarized deuteron beam of 270 MeV and an
internal polarized hydrogen gas target. We developed a novel technique for the
analysis of the breakup observables, the sampling method. The new approach
takes into account acceptance and non-uniformities of detection efficiencies
and is suitable for any kinematically complete experiment with three particles
in the final state.Comment: Contribution to the 19th European Few-Body Conference, Groningen Aug.
23-27, 200
Successful private–public funding of paediatric medicines research: lessons from the EU programme to fund research into off-patent medicines
The European Paediatric Regulation mandated the European Commission to fund research on off-patent medicines with demonstrated therapeutic interest for children. Responding to this mandate, five FP7 project calls were launched and 20 projects were granted. This paper aims to detail the funded projects and their preliminary results. Publicly
available sources have been consulted and a descriptive
analysis has been performed. Twenty Research Consortia
including 246 partners in 29 European and non-European
countries were created (involving 129 universities or public funded research organisations, 51 private companies with 40 SMEs, 7 patient associations). The funded projects investigate 24 medicines, covering 10 therapeutic areas in all paediatric age groups. In response to the Paediatric Regulation and to apply for a Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation, 15 Paediatric Investigation Plans have been granted by the EMAPaediatric Committee, including 71 studies of whom 29 paediatric clinical trials, leading to a total of 7,300 children to be recruited in more than 380 investigational centres.
Conclusion: Notwithstanding the EU contribution for each
study is lower than similar publicly funded projects, and also considering the complexity of paediatric research, these projects are performing high-quality research and are progressing towards the increase of new paediatric medicines on the market. Private–public partnerships have been effectively implemented, providing a good example for future collaborative actions. Since these projects cover a limited number of offpatent drugs and many unmet therapeutic needs in paediatrics remain, it is crucial foreseeing new similar initiatives in forthcoming European funding programmes
- …