2,239 research outputs found
Evaluation of the gn-->pi-p differential cross sections in the Delta-isobar region
Differential cross sections for the process gn-->pi-p have been extracted
from MAMI-B measurements of gd-->pi-pp, accounting for final-state interaction
effects, using a diagrammatic technique taking into account the NN and piN
final-state interaction amplitudes. Results are compared to previous
measurements of the inverse process, pi-p--> ng, and recent multipole analyses.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. v2: Further clarifications and minor changes. A
new figure inserte
Post-operative atrial fibrillation is influenced by beta-blocker therapy but not by pre-operative atrial cellular electrophysiology
We investigated whether post-cardiac surgery (CS) new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is predicted by pre-CS atrial cellular electrophysiology, and whether the antiarrhythmic effect of beta-blocker therapy may involve pre-CS pharmacological remodeling. Atrial myocytes were obtained from consenting patients in sinus rhythm, just prior to CS. Action potentials and ion currents were recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Post-CS AF occurred in 53 of 212 patients (25%). Those with post-CS AF were older than those without (67 ± 2 vs 62 ± 1 years, P = 0.005). In cells from patients with post-CS AF, the action potential duration at 50% and 90% repolarization, maximum upstroke velocity, and effective refractory period (ERP) were 13 ± 4 ms, 217 ± 16 ms, 185 ± 10 V/s, and 216 ± 14 ms, respectively (n = 30 cells, 11 patients). Peak L-type Ca2+ current, transient outward and inward rectifier K+ currents, and the sustained outward current were −5.0 ± 0.5, 12.9 ± 2.4, −4.1 ± 0.4, and 9.7 ± 1.0 pA/pF, respectively (13-62 cells, 7-19 patients). None of these values were significantly different in cells from patients without post-CS AF (P > 0.05 for each, 60-279 cells, 29-86 patients), confirmed by multiple and logistic regression. In patients treated >7 days with a beta-blocker pre-CS, the incidence of post-CS AF was lower than in non-beta-blocked patients (13% vs 27%, P = 0.038). Pre-CS beta-blockade was associated with a prolonged pre-CS atrial cellular ERP (P = 0.001), by a similar degree (∼20%) in those with and without post-CS AF. Conclusion: Pre-CS human atrial cellular electrophysiology does not predict post-CS AF. Chronic beta-blocker therapy is associated with a reduced incidence of post-CS AF, unrelated to a pre-CS ERP-prolonging effect of this treatment
The Electrical Structure of Thunderstorms
The time histories of thunderstorm charge distribution during three storms occurring during the summer of 1940 in the vicinity of the Albuquerque Airport were investigated by the use of eight synchronized recording electrometers arranged in a particular pattern over a field 1.6 kilometers above sea level
Parameterization dependence of T matrix poles and eigenphases from a fit to piN elastic scattering data
We compare fits to piN elastic scattering data, based on a Chew-Mandelstam
K-matrix formalism. Resonances, characterized by T-matrix poles, are compared
in fits generated with and without explicit Chew-Mandelstam K-matrix poles.
Diagonalization of the S matrix yields the eigenphase representation. While the
eigenphases can vary significantly for the different parameterizations, the
locations of most T-matrix poles are relatively stable.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
Application of a picosecond soft x-ray source to time-resolved plasma dynamics
We demonstrate the application of an ultrashort x-ray source as an external probe to measure plasma dynamics. The plasma is generated by a 100-fs Ti:sapphire laser focused onto thin metallic films. Time-resolved spectroscopy of the gold x-ray probe transmission through a perturbed 1000 Å aluminum film reveals redshifts of the LL-shell photoabsorption edge. We show that the dynamic behavior of this shift is consistent with the relaxation of the aluminum following the compression generated by a shock wave traveling through the film. An analytic plasma model, with comparison to a numerical hydrodynamics model, indicates compression up to 1.4 times solid density. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69766/2/APPLAB-70-3-312-1.pd
Extended Partial-Wave Analysis of piN Scattering Data
We present results from a comprehensive partial-wave analysis of pi+-p
elastic scattering and charge-exchange data, covering the region from threshold
to 2.6 GeV in the lab pion kinetic energy, employing a coupled-channel
formalism to simultaneously fit pi-p-->eta n data to 0.8 GeV. Our main result,
solution SP06, utilizes a complete set of forward and fixed-t dispersion
relation constraints applied to the piN elastic amplitude. The results of these
analyses are compared with previous solutions in terms of their resonance
spectra and preferred values for couplings and low-energy parameters.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure
The Stockman\u27s Scorecard: Validity and Reliability as an Instrument for Measuring Stockmanship
The quality of beef cattle stockmanship typically is evaluated through quantitative and qualitative measurements of animal behavior. The Stockman\u27s Scorecard is an observation instrument that has been developed to directly measure the actions of beef cattle stockmen. This article documents a pilot project for determining the content validity, internal consistency, and intrarater reliability of the scorecard as an evaluation instrument. Our results show that the scorecard is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the actions of stockmen. The instrument can be a valuable tool for Extension educators in evaluating their stockmanship programming impacts
Remodelling of human atrial K+ currents but not ion channel expression by chronic β-blockade
Chronic β-adrenoceptor antagonist (β-blocker) treatment in patients is associated with a potentially anti-arrhythmic prolongation of the atrial action potential duration (APD), which may involve remodelling of repolarising K+ currents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic β-blockade on transient outward, sustained and inward rectifier K+ currents (ITO, IKSUS and IK1) in human atrial myocytes and on the expression of underlying ion channel subunits. Ion currents were recorded from human right atrial isolated myocytes using the whole-cell-patch clamp technique. Tissue mRNA and protein levels were measured using real time RT-PCR and Western blotting. Chronic β-blockade was associated with a 41% reduction in ITO density: 9.3 ± 0.8 (30 myocytes, 15 patients) vs 15.7 ± 1.1 pA/pF (32, 14), p < 0.05; without affecting its voltage-, time- or rate dependence. IK1 was reduced by 34% at −120 mV (p < 0.05). Neither IKSUS, nor its increase by acute β-stimulation with isoprenaline, was affected by chronic β-blockade. Mathematical modelling suggested that the combination of ITO- and IK1-decrease could result in a 28% increase in APD90. Chronic β-blockade did not alter mRNA or protein expression of the ITO pore-forming subunit, Kv4.3, or mRNA expression of the accessory subunits KChIP2, KChAP, Kvβ1, Kvβ2 or frequenin. There was no reduction in mRNA expression of Kir2.1 or TWIK to account for the reduction in IK1. A reduction in atrial ITO and IK1 associated with chronic β-blocker treatment in patients may contribute to the associated action potential prolongation, and this cannot be explained by a reduction in expression of associated ion channel subunits
Delta isobar masses, large N_c relations, and the quark model
Motivated by recent remarks on the Delta+ mass and comparisons between the
quark model and relations based on large-N_c with perturbative flavor breaking,
two sets of Delta masses consistent with these constraints are constructed.
These two sets, based either on an experimentally determined mass splitting or
a quark model of isospin symmetry breaking, are shown to be inconsistent. The
model dependence of this inconsistency is examined, and suggestions for
improved experiments are made. An explicit quark model calculation and mass
relations based on the large-N_c limit with perturbative flavor breaking are
compared. The expected level of accuracy of such relations is realized in the
quark model, except for mass relations spanning more than one SU(6)
representation. It is shown that the Delta0 and Delta++ pole masses and Delta0
- Delta+ = (Delta- - Delta++)/3 about 1.5 MeV are more consistent with model
expectations than the analogous Breit-Wigner masses and their splittings.Comment: 10 pages, including 1 eps figure, revte
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