728 research outputs found
Properties of the 5- state at 839 keV in 176Lu and the s-process branching at A = 176
The s-process branching at mass number A = 176 depends on the coupling
between the high-K ground state and a low-lying low-K isomer in 176Lu. This
coupling is based on electromagnetic transitions via intermediate states at
higher energies. The properties of the lowest experimentally confirmed
intermediate state at 839 keV are reviewed, and the transition rate between
low-K and high-K states under stellar conditions is calculated on the basis of
new experimental data for the 839 keV state. Properties of further candidates
for intermediate states are briefly analyzed. It is found that the coupling
between the high-K ground state and the low-K isomer in 176Lu is at least one
order of magnitude stronger than previously assumed leading to crucial
consequences for the interpretation of the 176Lu/176Hf pair as an s-process
thermometer.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Distant galaxy clusters in the COSMOS field found by HIROCS
We present the first high-redshift galaxy cluster candidate sample from the
HIROCS survey found in the COSMOS field. It results from a combination of
public COSMOS with proprietary H-band data on a 0.66 square degree part of the
COSMOS field and comprises 12 candidates in the redshift range 1.23 < z < 1.55.
We find an increasing fraction of blue cluster members with increasing
redshift. Many of the blue and even some of the reddest member galaxies exhibit
disturbed morphologies as well as signs of interaction.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, in print format, accepted for publication by A&A
Letter
Immune Sensitization to the 60 kD Heat Shock Protein and Pregnancy Outcome
Heat shock proteins are highly conserved proteins present in organisms ranging from bacteria to man. They are both dominant microbial immunogens and among the first proteins produced during mammalian embryo development. Since bacterial and human heat shock proteins share a high degree of amino acid sequence homology, it has been suggested that sensitization to bacterial heat shock proteins during an infection may result in autoimmunity to human heat shock proteins. Infertile couples seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF) may have been previously sensitized to bacterial heat shock proteins as a consequence of an asymptomatic upper genital tract infection. Due to daily clinical monitoring and precisely timed fertilization these patients are an ideal study group to investigate the effect of prior sensitization to heat shock proteins on preimplantation embryo development and implantation failure. Immune sensitization at the level of the cervix to the 60 kD heat shock protein (hsp60) has been associated with implantation failure in some IVF patients. Similarly, the highest prevalence of circulating hsp60 antibodies among IVF patients was found in the sera of women whose embryos failed to develop in vitro. To more directly assess whether humoral immunity to hsp60 influenced in vitro embryo development, a mouse embryo culture model was established. Monoclonal antibody to mammalian hsp60 markedly impaired mouse embryo development in vitro. These data suggest that immune sensitization to human hsp60, possibly developed as a consequence of infection, may adversely affect pregnancy outcome in some patients
Two-phonon 1- state in 112Sn observed in resonant photon scattering
Results of a photon scattering experiment on 112Sn using bremsstrahlung with
an endpoint energy of E_0 = 3.8 MeV are reported. A J = 1 state at E_x =
3434(1) keV has been excited. Its decay width into the ground state amounts to
Gamma_0 = 151(17) meV, making it a candidate for a [2+ x 3-]1- two-phonon
state. The results for 112Sn are compared with quasiparticle-phonon model
calculations as well as the systematics of the lowest-lying 1- states
established in other even-mass tin isotopes. Contrary to findings in the
heavier stable even-mass Sn isotopes, no 2+ states between 2 and 3.5 MeV
excitation energy have been detected in the present experiment.Comment: 10 pages, including 2 figures, Phys. Rev. C, in pres
Cosmological constraints from the cluster contribution to the power spectrum of the soft X-ray background. New evidence for a low sigma_8
We use the X-ray power spectrum of the ROSAT all-sky survey in the R6 band
(approximately 0.9-1.3 keV) to set an upper limit on the galaxy cluster power
spectrum. The cluster power spectrum is modelled with a minimum number of
robust assumptions regarding the structure of the clusters. The power spectrum
of ROSAT sets an upper limit on the Omega_m-sigma_8 plane which excludes all
the models with sigma_8 above sigma_8 = 0.5/(Omega_m^0.38) in a flat LCDM
universe. We discuss the possible sources of systematic errors in our
conclusions, mainly dominated by the assumed L_x-T relation. Alternatively,
this relation could be constrained by using the X-ray power spectrum, if the
cosmological model is known. Our conclusions suggest that only models with a
low value of sigma_8 (sigma_8 < 0.8 for Omega_m = 0.3) may be compatible with
our upper limit. We also find that models predicting lower luminosities in
galaxy clusters are favoured. Reconciling our cosmological constraints with
these arising by other methods might require either a high entropy floor or
wide-spread presence of cooling flows in the low-redshift clusters.Comment: 14 pages, 19 plots (2 as gif files). MNRAS submitte
Chlamydia trachomatis Infection, Immunity, and Pregnancy Outcome
Chlamydia trachomatis can ascend from the cervix to the fallopian tubes and survive for long periods of time without causing symptoms. The immune response to infection clears the extracellular organisms but leads to development of a persistent intracellular infection. Repeated cycles of productive infection and persistence eventually induce tubal occlusion and infertility. Persistently infected cells continue to synthesize the chlamydial 60 kD heat shock protein (hsp60). Immunity to conserved regions of hsp60 may result in autoimmunity to human hsp60. Expression of hsp60 by the embryo and decidua during early pregnancy may reactivate hsp60-sensitized lymphocytes, disturb pregnancy-induced immune regulatory mechanisms, and lead to immune rejection of the embryo. Due to this mechanism women with tubal infertility who are sensitized to the human hsp60 may have a decreased probability of successful outcome after undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer
Constraining dark energy with Sunyaev-Zel'dovich cluster surveys
We discuss the prospects of constraining the properties of a dark energy
component, with particular reference to a time varying equation of state, using
future cluster surveys selected by their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect. We compute
the number of clusters expected for a given set of cosmological parameters and
propogate the errors expected from a variety of surveys. In the short term they
will constrain dark energy in conjunction with future observations of type Ia
supernovae, but may in time do so in their own right.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, version accepted for publication in PR
Search for the electric dipole excitations to the multiplet in Sn
The odd-mass Sn nucleus was investigated in nuclear resonance
fluorescence experiments up to an endpoint energy of the incident photon
spectrum of 4.1 MeV at the bremsstrahlung facility of the Stuttgart University.
More than 50 mainly hitherto unknown levels were found. From the measurement of
the scattering cross sections model independent absolute electric dipole
excitation strengths were extracted. The measured angular distributions
suggested the spins of 11 excited levels. Quasi-particle phonon model
calculations including a complete configuration space were performed for the
first time for a heavy odd-mass spherical nucleus. These calculations give a
clear insight in the fragmentation and distribution of the , , and
excitation strength in the low energy region. It is proven that the
component of the two-phonon quintuplet built on
top of the ground state is strongly fragmented. The theoretical
calculations are consistent with the experimental data.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Recommended from our members
Low resistance n-contact for UVC LEDs by a two-step plasma etching process
The impact of plasma etching on the formation of low-resistance n-contacts on the AlGaN:Si current spreading layer during the chip fabrication of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) emitting at 265 nm is investigated. A two-step plasma etching process with a first rapid etching using BCl3/Cl2 gas mixture and a second slow etching step using pure Cl2 gas has been developed. The etching sequence provides smooth mesa side-walls and an n-AlGaN surface with reduced surface damage. Ohmic n-contacts with a contact resistivity of 3.5 10-4 Ωcm2 are obtained on Si-doped Al0.65Ga0.35N layers and the operating voltages of the UVC LEDs were reduced by 2 V for a current of 20 mA. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd
- âŠ