Collective motion in quantum diffusive environment

The general problem of dissipation in macroscopic large-amplitude collective motion and its relation to energy diffusion of intrinsic degrees of freedom of a nucleus is studied. By applying the cranking approach to the nuclear many-body system, a set of coupled dynamical equations for the collective classical variable and the quantum mechanical occupancies of the intrinsic nuclear states is derived. Different dynamical regimes of the intrinsic nuclear motion and its consequences on time properties of collective dissipation are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Using the nominal group technique to determine a nursing framework for a forensic mental health service : a discussion paper

The Nominal Group Technique is a method used to explore issues, generate ideas, and reach consensus on a topic. The Nominal Group Technique includes individual and group work and is designed to ensure participants have the same opportunity to engage and provide their opinions. While the technique has been used for around six decades to assist groups, in industry, and government organizations to examine issues and make decisions, this technique has received limited attention in nursing research, particularly in mental health. This discussion paper describes the use of a modified Nominal Group Technique for a study designed to determine a nursing decision-making framework for a state-wide forensic mental health service. Modifications were made to the traditional technique, to enable participants to make an informed and collective decision about a suitable framework for the novice to expert nurses, across secure inpatient, prison, and community forensic mental health settings. The Nominal Group Technique generated rich data and offered a structured approach to the process. We argue that the Nominal Group Technique offers an exciting and interactive method for nursing research and can increase opportunity for minority group members to participate. This technique also offers a time efficient way to engage busy clinical nurses to participate in research, with the advantage of members knowing the decision on the day of the group. Consideration, however, needs to be given to the duration and effect on participant concentration, and if not actively managed by facilitators, the possible emergence of group dynamics affecting individuals' decisions. © 2022 The Authors. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd

Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of gold nanostructures for LSPR bio-sensing applications

This main aim of this work is the development of optical biosensors based on the LSPR phenomenon in nano-structured gold films suitable for detection of low molecular weight analytes such as mycotoxins. A simple technology of annealing thin gold films was utilized for the formation of gold nano-islands exhibiting the LSPR effect. The morphology of gold nano-structures produced was studied with SEM and AFM, and their optical properties were analysed with UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The position of LSPR band appeared to depend on the dimensions of gold nano-islands. The dependence of the LSPR band spectral shift on the refractive index of a medium was studied with both UV-vis absorption and SE, and the refractive index sensitivity (RIS) was evaluated. The method of SE gave from two to three times higher values of RIS as compared to those obtained by absorption spectroscopy. LSPR bio-sensing tests were attempted using total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE); a noticeable spectral shift was recorded on course of immune binding of Aflatoxin B1 to specific antibodies immobilized on the surface of gol

An advance Towards the Synthesis of Ag Nanorod Arrays with Controlled Surface Roughness for SERS Substrates

An innovative approach to produce silver nanorod (NRs) arrays with controlled morphological parameters and surface roughness is presented. The Ag NRs were obtained using a three-stage fabrication process based on the electron beam exposure of a metal-polymer nanocomposite resist on a transparent substrate and development, a post bake and then a series of non-electrochemical metallization steps. After each step the evolution of the Ag NRs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology and optical transmittance (T) measurements for Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR). The transmittance measurements were interpreted using models based on the Finite Element Method (FEM)

Variation in Stability of Endogenous Reference Genes in Fallopian Tubes and Endometrium from Healthy and Ectopic Pregnant Women

RT-qPCR is commonly employed in gene expression studies in ectopic pregnancy. Most use RN18S1, β-actin or GAPDH as internal controls without validation of their suitability as reference genes. A systematic study of the suitability of endogenous reference genes for gene expression studies in ectopic pregnancy is lacking. The aims of this study were therefore to evaluate the stability of 12 reference genes and suggest those that are stable for use as internal control genes in fallopian tubes and endometrium from ectopic pregnancy and healthy non-pregnant controls. Analysis of the results showed that the genes consistently ranked in the top six by geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, were UBC, GAPDH, CYC1 and EIF4A2 (fallopian tubes) and UBC and ATP5B (endometrium). mRNA expression of NAPE-PLD as a test gene of interest varied between the groups depending on which of the 12 reference genes was used as internal controls. This study demonstrates that arbitrary selection of reference genes for normalisation in RT-qPCR studies in ectopic pregnancy without validation, risk producing inaccurate data and should therefore be discouraged

Real geographies and virtual landscapes: exploring the influence on place and space on mortality Lexis surfaces using shaded contour maps

This paper describes how shaded contour plots, applied to mortality data from the Human Mortality Database, can be used to compare between nations, and start to tease out some of the ways that place and space matters. A number of shaded contour plots are presented, in order to describe the age, period and cohort effects which are apparent within them. They show variations between different subpopulations within the same nation, over time, and between nations. In illustrating these intra- and international variations in the patterns, we hope to encourage the development of hypotheses about the influence of such factors on mortality rates. We conclude with a brief discussion about how such hypotheses might be developed into statistical models, allowing for more rigourous testing of hypotheses and projection across time, place and space

Meson-Baryon Form Factors in Chiral Colour Dielectric Model

The renormalised form factors for pseudoscalar meson-baryon coupling are computed in chiral colour dielectric model. This has been done by rearranging the Lippmann-Schwinger series for the meson baryon scattering matrix so that it can be expressed as a baryon pole term with renormalized form factors and baryon masses and the rest of the terms which arise from the crossed diagrams. Thus we are able to obtain an integral equation for the renormalized meson-baryon form factors in terms of the bare form factors as well as an expression for the meson self energy. This integral equation is solved and renormalized meson baryon form factors and renormalized baryon masses are computed. The parameters of the model are adjusted to obtain a best fit to the physical baryon masses. The calculations show that the renormalized form factors are energy-dependent and differ from the bare form factors primarily at momentum transfers smaller than 1 GeV. At nucleon mass, the change in the form factors is about 10% at zero momentum transfer. The computed form factors are soft with the equivalent monopole cut-off mass of about 500 MeV. The renormalized coupling constants are obtained by comparing the chiral colour dielectric model interaction Hamiltonian with the standard form of meson-nucleon interaction Hamiltonian. The ratio of $\Delta N\pi$ and $NN\pi$ coupling constants is found to be about 2.15. This value is very close to the experimental value.Comment: 16 pages, 7 postscript figure

Modelling longevity bonds: Analysing the Swiss Re Kortis bond

A key contribution to the development of the traded market for longevity risk was the issuance of the Kortis bond, the world's first longevity trend bond, by Swiss Re in 2010. We analyse the design of the Kortis bond, develop suitable mortality models to analyse its payoff and discuss the key risk factors for the bond. We also investigate how the design of the Kortis bond can be adapted and extended to further develop the market for longevity risk