Proton rich nuclei at and beyond the proton drip line in the Relativistic Mean Field theory

Ground state properties of proton-rich odd-$Z$ nuclei in the region $55\le Z \le 73$ are studied in the relativistic mean field (RMF) theory. The RMF equations are solved by using the expansion method in the Harmonic-Oscillator basis. In the particle-particle channel, we use the state-dependent BCS method with a zero-range $\delta$-force, which has been proved to be effective even for neutron-rich nuclei. All the ground state properties, including the one-proton separation energies, the ground state deformations, the last occupied proton orbits and the locations of proton drip line, are calculated. Good agreement with both the available experimental data and the predictions of the RHB method are obtained.Comment: the version to appear in Progress of Theoretical Physics, more discussions adde

A review of the effectiveness of different on-site wastewater treatment systems and their management to reduce phosphorus pollution

Diffuse water pollution (DWP) is a major cause of SSSI waterbodies not meeting favourable condition and/or water quality objectives set under the EC Water Framework and Habitats Directives. Diffuse water pollution can come from a variety of sources, including agriculture, small un-consented point source discharges, and runoff from roads or urban areas. Natural England estimates that around 166 SSSIs are affected by DWP where pollution reduction plans are being developed for all or part of these sites; 40 of these plans cover Natura 2000 Protected Areas. Many of these DWP plans highlight small domestic discharges (SDDs), as potential sources of nutrients that are causing water quality problems, although often it is not known how significant they are. These include those from septic tanks (STs) and package treatment plants (PTPs). The most frequently highlighted problem associated with discharges from these systems is phosphorus (P) pollution, which causes eutrophication problems. However, it is often unclear how such problems should be resolved because there is little information on the efficacy of management advice that is currently being given to householders. Such advice includes the regular de-sludging of tanks, the use of P-free detergents, and the replacement of traditional STs with PTPs. This review assessed the information contained in publicly available literature with a view to enabling Natural England to improve the advice that they give on the correct management of SSDs in relation to reducing their P-related impacts on designated sites. The review found that there was very little knowledge and information available that could be used to develop a more evidence based approach to reducing P discharges from these systems. Based on the existing knowledge and information reviewed, it was concluded that the most effective options for reducing the levels of P discharged from on-site sewage treatment tanks to the environment are as follows: 1) Reducing P inputs to the tank, e.g. through the use of P free detergents, and 2) Using chemical precipitation to retain P within the tank and incorporate it into the sludge. It should be noted that the use of P free detergents is becoming increasingly common due to the introduction of recent European legislation (European Union, 2012). It is also important to note that, whilst chemical precipitation is an effective method of retaining P within tanks, issues of personal and environmental safety can be associated with this approach, and at this stage it is not appropriate for widespread use. In addition to the above, many other approaches to tank management also have the potential to effectively reduce P discharges from these systems. However, at present, there is insufficient data and information available for their level of efficacy to be determined. Other options that are often recommended include frequent de-sludging or replacing traditional STs with PTPs. It is unclear how and to what extent these other options are effective at reducing the P concentration in tank effluent or whether, in practice, these approaches could be making the situation even worse in some situations. In areas where the water table is high, ie <1.5 m below soil surface, impacts on nearby watercourses can probably be reduced by installing mounded soakaway systems. This review also identified key gaps in knowledge and recommends that further research be undertaken to answer the following questions: 1) To what extent do P concentrations of ST effluents differ from those of PTPs? 2) How does temporal variation in P output from STs and PTPs (from sub-daily to seasonal) affect the level of uncertainty associated with collecting and analysing a single effluent sample for monitoring/regulatory purposes? 3) How effective are STs and PTPs at breaking down waste if usage is intermittent or seasonal and what are the implications for levels of P in the discharged effluent? 4) Does de-sludging reduce effluent P concentrations? The results of this research would provide information on the key factors that affect effluent P concentrations from these tanks. This could then be incorporated into advice give to householders on how to reduce P outputs from these systems

Charge-exchange limits on low-energy α-particle fluxes in solar flares

This paper reports on a search for flare emission via charge-exchange radiation in the wings of the Lyα line of He II at 304 Å, as originally suggested for hydrogen by Orrall and Zirker. Via this mechanism a primary α particle that penetrates into the neutral chromosphere can pick up an atomic electron and emit in the He II bound-bound spectrum before it stops. The Extreme-ultraviolet Variability Experiment on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory gives us our first chance to search for this effect systematically. The Orrall-Zirker mechanism has great importance for flare physics because of the essential roles that particle acceleration plays; this mechanism is one of the few proposed that would allow remote sensing of primary accelerated particles below a few MeV nucleon&lt;sup&gt;–1&lt;/sup&gt;. We study 10 events in total, including the γ-ray events SOL2010-06-12 (M2.0) and SOL2011-02-24 (M3.5) (the latter a limb flare), seven X-class flares, and one prominent M-class event that produced solar energetic particles. The absence of charge-exchange line wings may point to a need for more complete theoretical work. Some of the events do have broadband signatures, which could correspond to continua from other origins, but these do not have the spectral signatures expected from the Orrall-Zirker mechanism

Handwriting and Occupational Therapy in the Schools

Handwriting is an important life skill, and handwriting tasks take up a significant amount of time during the school day. Research suggests that writing by hand influences reading skills, recall, academics, and motor and composition skills. Pediatric occupational therapists evaluate and treat children who are struggling with handwriting; therefore, it is important for practitioners to be aware of a variety of treatment strategies for addressing handwriting challenges. After participating in this session, the learner will be able to discuss the research on typical and atypical pencil grasps, identify and name 5 common handwriting errors, and explain 3 techniques for increasing handwriting legibility

Naltrexone Reduces Ethanol- and/or Water-Reinforced Responding in Rhesus Monkeys: Effect Depends Upon Ethanol Concentration

The opioid antagonist naltrexone reduces responding for ethanol. If naltrexone produces this effect by blocking ethanol-induced opioid activity, then naltrexone should reduce responding for ethanol regardless of level of the ethanol responding relative to an alternatively available reinforcer. In addition, if naltrexone competitively blocks ethanol-induced opioid activity, then the naltrexone effect may be surmountable by increasing ethanol concentration and, thus, ethanol intake (g/kg). This study was conducted to determine whether naltrexone will selectively reduce ethanol-reinforced responding when the ethanol concentration is varied such that ethanol fluid deliveries are less than, greater than, or equal to the fluid deliveries of concurrently available water. Methods : Four adult male rhesus monkeys were allowed to respond for ethanol or water concurrently for 2 hr per day. Ethanol concentration was either 2%, 8%, or 32%. On various days, either saline or naltrexone (0.1 mg/kg) was given intramuscularly 30 min before the drinking session. Results : When ethanol fluid deliveries were greater than those of water (at 2% ethanol), naltrexone reduced responding for ethanol. When the ethanol and water fluid deliveries were approximately equal (at 8% ethanol), naltrexone reduced both ethanol and water fluid deliveries. When water fluid deliveries were greater than those of ethanol (at 32% ethanol), naltrexone reduced responding for water. Conclusions : Thus, naltrexone reduced responding for the preferred fluid, either ethanol or water, depending on ethanol concentration. The effect was not surmountable by increasing ethanol concentration and, therefore, ethanol intake (g/kg). Naltrexone may reduce ethanol-reinforced responding by a mechanism other than that of blocking ethanol-induced opioid activity. Naltrexone may be inducing an aversive interoceptive state.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66374/1/j.1530-0277.1999.tb04668.x.pd

Non Local Electron-Phonon Correlations in a Dispersive Holstein Model

Due to the dispersion of optical phonons, long range electron-phonon correlations renormalize downwards the coupling strength in the Holstein model. We evaluate the size of this effect both in a linear chain and in a square lattice for a time averaged {\it e-ph} potential, where the time variable is introduced according to the Matsubara formalism. Mapping the Holstein Hamiltonian onto the time scale we derive the perturbing source current which appears to be non time retarded. This property permits to disentangle phonon and electron coordinates in the general path integral for an electron coupled to dispersive phonons. While the phonon paths can be integrated out analytically, the electron path integrations have to be done numerically. The equilibrium thermodynamic properties of the model are thus obtained as a function of the electron hopping value and of the phonon spectrum parameters. We derive the {\it e-ph} corrections to the phonon free energy and show that its temperature derivatives do not depend on the {\it e-ph} effective coupling hence, the Holstein phonon heat capacity is strictly harmonic. A significant upturn in the low temperature total heat capacity over $T$ ratio is attributed to the electron hopping which largely contributes to the action.Comment: Phys.Rev.B (2005

Noncontingent and Response-Contingent Intravenous Ethanol Attenuates the Effect of Naltrexone on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Activity in Rhesus Monkeys

Background : The mechanism by which the opioid antagonist naltrexone suppresses overconsumption of ethanol is unclear. Oral ethanol consumption in humans increases hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity, and recent studies suggest that naltrexone may reduce ethanol consumption by modifying the HPA-stimulating effects of ethanol. The purpose of this study was to measure in rhesus monkeys the effects of ethanol and naltrexone, alone and in combination, on plasma levels of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). Methods : Nine adult male and female rhesus monkeys with chronic, indwelling intravenous catheters were maintained on tethers that allowed ethanol delivery and blood sampling. In one study, the monkeys received intramuscular injections of saline or 0.32 mg/kg naltrexone followed by noncontingent intravenous bolus infusions of saline or 0.3 to 1.8 g/kg ethanol. In a second study, other monkeys were given intramuscular injections of saline or 0.01 to 0.3 mg/kg naltrexone and subsequently responded on levers to receive intravenous saline or ethanol 0.03 g/kg per injection. Results : Ethanol, delivered either response contingently or noncontingently, did not produce systematic changes in ACTH plasma levels. Naltrexone alone produced increases in plasma ACTH that were attenuated by the subsequent administration of noncontingent or response-contingent ethanol. Naltrexone also produced dose-dependent reductions in intravenous ethanol self-administration. Linear regression analysis indicated that ethanol intake was negatively correlated with the plasma levels of ACTH over time. Conclusions : The route of administration may modulate ethanol's effects on HPA activity. Ethanol may attenuate naltrexone's effect on the HPA axis by impairing HPA axis sensitivity to other stimuli. The negative correlation between ethanol intake and ACTH levels supports the notion that naltrexone's effect of increasing HPA axis activity may be related to its ability to suppress ethanol consumption.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66078/1/01.ALC.0000121655.48922.C4.pd