Spin projection in the shell model Monte Carlo method and the spin distribution of nuclear level densities

We introduce spin projection methods in the shell model Monte Carlo approach and apply them to calculate the spin distribution of level densities for iron-region nuclei using the complete $(pf+g_{9/2})$-shell. We compare the calculated distributions with the spin-cutoff model and extract an energy-dependent moment of inertia. For even-even nuclei and at low excitation energies, we observe a significant suppression of the moment of inertia and odd-even staggering in the spin dependence of level densities.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Can realistic interaction be useful for nuclear mean-field approaches?

Recent applications of the M3Y-type semi-realistic interaction to the nuclear mean-field approaches are presented: (i) Prediction of magic numbers and (ii) isotope shifts of nuclei with magic proton numbers. The results exemplify that realistic interaction, which is derived from the base $2N$ and $3N$ interaction, furnish a new theoretical instrument for advancing nuclear mean-field approaches.Comment: 9 pages including 6 figures, published in EPJA 52, 185 (2016

Conversion of brain cytosol profile from fetal to adult type during the perinatal period: Taurine-NAA exchange

Mammals face drastic environmental changes at birth. Appropriate adjustments of various systems must take place rapidly to accommodate this once in a life time event. The brain undergoes significant adjustments as well, the most obvious of which is in its need to meet the drastic increase in energy consumption at the neuronal cell membrane due to the explosive increase in neural activities after birth. Actual changes were found to be taken place in two systems, namely, acid base balance control and cytosolic energy transport. The adjustments are accomplished by converting cytosol microenvironment from a taurine rich fetal type environment to an N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) rich adult type environment during the post-natal period. High concentrations of taurine are necessary to provide effective buffering in the fetal brain, because the fetus cannot utilize the adult type of pCO2 dependent acid–base balance control system, namely respiration driven pCO2 changes. To accommodate the significantly higher demand of energy consumption at the membrane due to the increased neuronal activities, taurine has to be replaced by NAA, since the latter facilitates HEP transport from mitochondria to the membrane by passive diffusion