First observation of excited states in 173Hg

The neutron-deficient nucleus 173Hg has been studied following fusion-evaporation reactions. The observation of gamma rays decaying from excited states are reported for the first time and a tentative level scheme is proposed. The proposed level scheme is discussed within the context of the systematics of neighbouring neutron-deficient Hg nuclei. In addition to the gamma-ray spectroscopy, the alpha decay of this nucleus has been measured yielding superior precision to earlier measurements.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Intravenous levosimendan-norepinephrine combination during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in a hemodialysis patient with severe myocardial dysfunction

This the case of a 63 year-old man with end-stage renal disease (on chronic hemodialysis), unstable angina and significantly impaired myocardial contractility with low left ventricular ejection fraction, who underwent off-pump one vessel coronary bypass surgery. Combined continuous levosimendan and norepinephrine infusion (at 0.07 μg/kg/min and 0.05 μg/kg/min respectively) started immediately after anesthesia induction and continued for 24 hours. The levosimendan/norepinephrine combination helped maintain an appropriate hemodynamic profile, thereby contributing to uneventful completion of surgery and postoperative hemodynamic stability. Although levosimendan is considered contraindicated in ESRD patients, this case report suggests that combined perioperative levosimendan/norepinephrine administration can be useful in carefully selected hemodialysis patients with impaired myocardial contractility and ongoing myocardial ischemia, who undergo off-pump myocardial revascularization surgery

Development of a New Clusterization Method for the GEM-TPC Detector

The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research FAIR, in Darmstadt Germany, will be one of the largest accelerator laboratories worldwide. The Superconducting FRagment Separator (Super-FRS)* is one of its main components. The Super-FRS can produce, separate and deliver high-energy radioactive beams with intensities up to 1e11 ions/s, covering projectiles from protons up to uranium and it can be used as an independent experimental device. The Gas Electron Multiplier-based Time Projection Chambers (GEM-TPC) in twin configuration is a newly developed beam tracking detector capable of providing spatial resolution of less than 1 mm with a tracking efficiency close to 100% at 1 MHz counting rate. The GEM-TPC (HGB4) was tested at the FRagment Separator (FRS), with 238U beam at 850 MeV/u. A new clusterization method was developed, for the first time and used for an analysis. This method allowed to access to waveforms of each strip signal within a single trigger in an event-by-event basis. The procedures involved in this method will be shown in details.Peer reviewe

Educational and family-related determinants of organized sports participation patterns from adolescence to emerging adulthood: A four-year follow-up study

This study aimed to identify organized sports participation patterns and their prevalence from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and the educational and family-related determinants of the patterns. Adolescents in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study answered a health behaviour questionnaire and reported on sports club participation at ages 15 and 19 (N = 609). In emerging adulthood, dropouts (total 41.05%; females 43.72%; males 36.56%), maintainers (30.87; 26.44; 38.33), nonparticipants (27.59; 29.32; 24.67), and joiners (0.49; 0.52; 0.44) (p = .024) were identified. A mixed multinomial logistic regression analysis showed, that male gender, as compared to female gender, increased the odds of being a maintainer rather than a nonparticipant or dropout. Among females, high achievement at school and aspiration towards upper secondary school at age 15 increased the odds of being a maintainer at age 19 rather than a nonparticipant. High achievement at school and experiencing a (strong) decrease in parental support for physical activity/sport increased the odds of being a dropout rather than a nonparticipant. Having no experience of a strong decrease in parental support increased the odds of being a maintainer rather than a dropout. Among males, aspiration towards upper secondary school increased the odds of being a maintainer or dropout rather than a nonparticipant. The most common reason for dropping out was study, which was also the most prevalent life status at age 19. The findings highlight a need for more flexible possibilities to combine organized sports participation and school studies, and the importance of parental support for physical activity/sport

Keratins regulate colonic epithelial cell differentiation through the Notch1 signalling pathway

Keratins (K) are intermediate filament proteins important in stress protection and mechanical support of epithelial tissues. K8, K18 and K19 are the main colonic keratins, and K8-knockout (K8(-/-)) mice display a keratin dose-dependent hyperproliferation of colonic crypts and a colitis-phenotype. However, the impact of the loss of K8 on intestinal cell differentiation has so far been unknown. Here we show that K8 regulates Notch1 signalling activity and differentiation in the epithelium of the large intestine. Proximity ligation and immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that K8 and Notch1 co-localize and interact in cell cultures, and in vivo in the colonic epithelial cells. K8 with its heteropolymeric partner K18 enhance Notch1 protein levels and activity in a dose dependent manner. The levels of the full-length Notch1 receptor (FLN), the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) and expression of Notch1 downstream target genes are reduced in the absence of K8, and the K8-dependent loss of Notch1 activity can be rescued with re-expression of K8/K18 in K8-knockout CRISPR/Cas9 Caco-2 cells protein levels. In vivo, K8 deletion with subsequent Notch1 downregulation leads to a shift in differentiation towards a goblet cell and enteroendocrine phenotype from an enterocyte cell fate. Furthermore, the K8(-/-) colonic hyperproliferation results from an increased number of transit amplifying progenitor cells in these mice. K8/K18 thus interact with Notch1 and regulate Notch1 signalling activity during differentiation of the colonic epithelium

Influences on the triple alpha process beyond the Hoyle state

The triple alpha process is studied using indirect methods. The beta decays of 12N and 12B are used to probe the triple alpha continuum of 12C. Different independent breakup channels are identified, consistently showing that the 10 MeV strength is dominated by a 0+ state interfering with the Hoyle state ghost. The 13.14 MeV region on the other hand is dominated by a 2+ state. Present: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan MI-48824, USA.</p

β-decay of 130

5 pages, 2 tables, 3 figures.--PACS nrs.: 23.40.Hc; 27.20.+n.The beta decay of O-13 has been studied at the IGISOL facility of the Jyvaskyla accelerator centre (Finland). By developing a low-energy isotope-separated beam of O-13 and using a modern segmented charged-particle detector array an improved measurement of the delayed proton spectrum was possible. Protons with energy up to more than 12 MeV are measured and the corresponding log(ft) values extracted. A revised decay scheme is constructed. The connection to molecular states and the shell model is discussed.This work was supported by the Academy of Finland under the Finnish Centre of Excellence Programme 2000–2005 (Project No. 44875, Nuclear and Condensed Matter Physics Programme at JYFL), by the European Union Fifth Framework Programme “Improving Human Potential - Access to Research Infrastructure” contract no. HPRI-CT-1999-00044, by the Spanish CICYT Agency under Project number FPA2002-04181-C04-02, and by the EU-RI3 (Integrated Infrastructure Initiative) under contract no 506065.Peer reviewe

Identification of isomeric states in the N=73 neutron-deficient nuclei 132Pr and 130La

Decays from isomeric states in the neutron-deficient N=73 nuclei 132Pr and 130La have been observed for the first time. Half-lives of 486(70) ns and 2.46(4) μs were measured for two isomeric states in 132Pr. The decay from the 486 ns (8‑) isomer has been interpreted as a hindered E1 transition from the bandhead state of the excited πh11/2⊗νg7/2 configuration. The decay from the 2.5 μs (8+) isomer is consistent with the Weisskopf estimate for a low-energy E2 transition. An analogous 0.74(3) μs decay from an (8+) isomer in the neighboring isotone 130La has also been observed which similarly can be explained if the transition has E2 character. The Weisskopf interpretation for the isomer hindrance is strengthened by the lack of evidence for shape or K isomerism due to the γ-soft shapes predicted by configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations

Study of Intermediate-spin States of Y-98

The nuclear structure of the odd–odd nucleus 98Y has been re-investigated by observing prompt γ rays emitted following the proton-induced fission of a 238U target, using the JUROGAM-II multidetector array. New highspin decays have been observed and placed in the level schemes using triple coincidences. The experimental level energies and γ-decay patterns are compared to GICM and QPRM calculations, assuming that this neutronrich N = 59 isotone is spherical at low energies and prolate deformed at intermediate spins.Web of Science47391691

The β-decay approach for studying 12C

6 pags., 3 figs. -- 9th International Conference on Clustering Aspects of Nuclear Structure and Dynamics (CLUSTERS'07) 3–7 September 2007, Stratford upon Avon, UKThe β-decays of the mirror nuclei 12B and 12N both populate states in 12C and they are therefore a precious source of information about this nucleus. Due to the selection rules of β-decay only 0+, 1+ and 2+ states are populated. This allows a very clean study of unbound states just above the 3α-threshold with those spin and parities. This probe has been applied in two experiments using two complementary experimental techniques: in the first the three α-particles emitted after β-decay are measured in coincidence in separate detectors using the ISOL method, while in the second method 12B and 12N are implanted in a detector and the summed energy of the three α-particles is measured directly. Preliminary results from the two approaches are presented. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd