Sub-barrier fusion excitation for the system 7^7Li+28^{28}Si

The sub-barrier fusion excitation functions are measured for the first time for the system $^7$Li +$^{28}$Si by the characteristic $\gamma$-ray method in the energy range $E_{lab}$= 7-11.5 MeV. The results show an enhancement, below the barrier, by about a factor of two when compared with the one-dimensional barrier penetration (1D BPM) model. Introduction of coupling with the rotational 2$^{+}$ state (1.779MeV) of the target improves the fit somewhat, but still an enhancement of about 25-40% remains.Comment: 4 pages,3 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Sub- and above barrier fusion of loosely bound 6^6Li with 28^{28}Si

Fusion excitation functions are measured for the system $^6$Li+$^{28}$Si using the characteristic $\gamma$-ray method, encompassing both the sub-barrier and above barrier regions, viz., $E_{lab}$= 7-24 MeV. Two separate experiments were performed, one for the above barrier region ($E_{lab}$= 11-24 MeV) and another for the below barrier region ($E_{lab}$= 7-10 MeV). The results were compared with our previously measured fusion cross section for the $^7$Li+$^{28}$Si system. We observed enhancement of fusion cross section at sub-barrier regions for both $^6$Li and $^7$Li, but yield was substantially larger for $^6$Li. However, for well above barrier regions, similar type of suppression was identified for both the systems.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, as accepted for publication in Eur.Phys.J.

Elastic scattering measurements for the 10C + 208Pb system at Elab = 66 MeV

Background: The influence of halo structure of 6 He, 8 B, 11Be, and 11Li nuclei in several mechanisms such as direct reactions and fusion is already established, although not completely understood. The influence of the 10C Brunnian structure is less known. Purpose: To investigate the influence of the cluster configuration of 10C on the elastic scattering at an energy close to the Coulomb barrier. Methods: We present experimental data for the elastic scattering of the 10C + 208Pb system at Elab = 66 MeV. The data are compared to the three- and the four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations assuming 9 B +p, 6 Be +α, and 8 Be +p + p configurations. Results: The experimental angular distribution of the cross sections shows the suppression of the Fresnel peak that is reasonably well reproduced by the continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations. However, the calculations underestimate the cross sections at backward angles. Couplings to continuum states represent a small effect. Conclusions: The cluster configurations of 10C assumed in the present work are able to describe some of the features of the data. To explain the data at backward angles, experimental data for the breakup and an extension of theoretical formalism towards a four-body cluster seem to be in need to reproduce the measured angular distribution.Ministerio de España de Economía y Competitividad, el Foro Regional Europeo Fondo de Desarrollo (FEDER) FIS2017- 88410-PPrograma Horizonte 2020 de la Unión Europea Subvención No. 654002Fondos SID 2019 (Università degli Studi di Padova, Italia) CASA_SID19_01

Elastic scattering measurements for the 10^{10}C + 208^{208}Pb system at Elab_{\rm lab} = 66 MeV

Background: The influence of halo structure of $^6$He, $^8$B, $^{11}$Be and $^{11}$Li nuclei in several mechanisms such as direct reactions and fusion is already established, although not completely understood. The influence of the $^{10}$C Brunnian structure is less known. Purpose: To investigate the influence of the cluster configuration of $^{10}$C on the elastic scattering at an energy close to the Coulomb barrier. Methods: We present experimental data for the elastic scattering of the $^{10}$C+$^{208}$Pb system at $E_{\rm lab}$ = 66 MeV. The data are compared to the three- and the four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations assuming $^9$B+$p$, $^6$Be+$\alpha$ and $^8$Be+$p$+$p$ configurations. Results: The experimental angular distribution of the cross sections shows the suppression of the Fresnel peak that is reasonably well reproduced by the continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations. However, the calculations underestimate the cross sections at backward angles. Couplings to continuum states represent a small effect. Conclusions: The cluster configurations of $^{10}$C assumed in the present work are able to describe some of the features of the data. In order to explain the data at backward angles, experimental data for the breakup and an extension of theoretical formalism towards a four-body cluster seem to be in need to reproduce the measured angular distribution.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figure

Measuring routine childhood vaccination coverage in 204 countries and territories, 1980-2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020, Release 1

Background Measuring routine childhood vaccination is crucial to inform global vaccine policies and programme implementation, and to track progress towards targets set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and Immunization Agenda 2030. Robust estimates of routine vaccine coverage are needed to identify past successes and persistent vulnerabilities. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020, Release 1, we did a systematic analysis of global, regional, and national vaccine coverage trends using a statistical framework, by vaccine and over time. Methods For this analysis we collated 55 326 country-specific, cohort-specific, year-specific, vaccine-specific, and dosespecific observations of routine childhood vaccination coverage between 1980 and 2019. Using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, we produced location-specific and year-specific estimates of 11 routine childhood vaccine coverage indicators for 204 countries and territories from 1980 to 2019, adjusting for biases in countryreported data and reflecting reported stockouts and supply disruptions. We analysed global and regional trends in coverage and numbers of zero-dose children (defined as those who never received a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis [DTP] vaccine dose), progress towards GVAP targets, and the relationship between vaccine coverage and sociodemographic development. Findings By 2019, global coverage of third-dose DTP (DTP3; 81.6% [95% uncertainty interval 80.4-82 .7]) more than doubled from levels estimated in 1980 (39.9% [37.5-42.1]), as did global coverage of the first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1; from 38.5% [35.4-41.3] in 1980 to 83.6% [82.3-84.8] in 2019). Third- dose polio vaccine (Pol3) coverage also increased, from 42.6% (41.4-44.1) in 1980 to 79.8% (78.4-81.1) in 2019, and global coverage of newer vaccines increased rapidly between 2000 and 2019. The global number of zero-dose children fell by nearly 75% between 1980 and 2019, from 56.8 million (52.6-60. 9) to 14.5 million (13.4-15.9). However, over the past decade, global vaccine coverage broadly plateaued; 94 countries and territories recorded decreasing DTP3 coverage since 2010. Only 11 countries and territories were estimated to have reached the national GVAP target of at least 90% coverage for all assessed vaccines in 2019. Interpretation After achieving large gains in childhood vaccine coverage worldwide, in much of the world this progress was stalled or reversed from 2010 to 2019. These findings underscore the importance of revisiting routine immunisation strategies and programmatic approaches, recentring service delivery around equity and underserved populations. Strengthening vaccine data and monitoring systems is crucial to these pursuits, now and through to 2030, to ensure that all children have access to, and can benefit from, lifesaving vaccines. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Assessing performance of the Healthcare Access and Quality Index, overall and by select age groups, for 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Health-care needs change throughout the life course. It is thus crucial to assess whether health systems provide access to quality health care for all ages. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019), we measured the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index overall and for select age groups in 204 locations from 1990 to 2019. Methods: We distinguished the overall HAQ Index (ages 0–74 years) from scores for select age groups: the young (ages 0–14 years), working (ages 15–64 years), and post-working (ages 65–74 years) groups. For GBD 2019, HAQ Index construction methods were updated to use the arithmetic mean of scaled mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) and risk-standardised death rates (RSDRs) for 32 causes of death that should not occur in the presence of timely, quality health care. Across locations and years, MIRs and RSDRs were scaled from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) separately, putting the HAQ Index on a different relative scale for each age group. We estimated absolute convergence for each group on the basis of whether the HAQ Index grew faster in absolute terms between 1990 and 2019 in countries with lower 1990 HAQ Index scores than countries with higher 1990 HAQ Index scores and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. SDI is a summary metric of overall development. Findings: Between 1990 and 2019, the HAQ Index increased overall (by 19·6 points, 95% uncertainty interval 17·9–21·3), as well as among the young (22·5, 19·9–24·7), working (17·2, 15·2–19·1), and post-working (15·1, 13·2–17·0) age groups. Large differences in HAQ Index scores were present across SDI levels in 2019, with the overall index ranging from 30·7 (28·6–33·0) on average in low-SDI countries to 83·4 (82·4–84·3) on average in high-SDI countries. Similarly large ranges between low-SDI and high-SDI countries, respectively, were estimated in the HAQ Index for the young (40·4–89·0), working (33·8–82·8), and post-working (30·4–79·1) groups. Absolute convergence in HAQ Index was estimated in the young group only. In contrast, divergence was estimated among the working and post-working groups, driven by slow progress in low-SDI countries. Interpretation: Although major gaps remain across levels of social and economic development, convergence in the young group is an encouraging sign of reduced disparities in health-care access and quality. However, divergence in the working and post-working groups indicates that health-care access and quality is lagging at lower levels of social and economic development. To meet the needs of ageing populations, health systems need to improve health-care access and quality for working-age adults and older populations while continuing to realise gains among the young. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Small suppression of the complete fusion of

The incomplete fusion cross section of the 6Li + 28Si weakly bound system at above barrier energies was deduced from the measured $\gamma$-ray cross sections. The complete fusion cross section was estimated from the measured total fusion and incomplete fusion cross section and is found to be 85-100% of the total fusion cross section. The coupled channel calculation has been performed considering ground and first excited states of 28Si target. The fusion cross section estimated from coupled channel calculation shows good agreement with measured total fusion cross section at higher energies. The suppression of about 15% of the fusion cross section predicted by coupled channel calculation shows good agreement with the complete fusion cross section. The effect of the channel couplings on the elastic scattering angular distribution is also investigated

Coupled channel effect in elastic scattering and fusion for 6,7Li+28Si

The fusion excitation and elastic angular distribution were measured for 6,7Li+28Si from below to above Coulomb barrier (≤ 3Vb) energies. The barrier distribution derived from the fusion data was found to be broad and asymmetric at the sub-barrier region, compared to 1D BPM estimation. Effect of rotational coupling on fusion was found to be not so dominant. Phenomenological optical potential parameters, with surface and volume type imaginary potentials, were obtained from f tting of elastic scattering data and energy dependence of real and imaginary surface strengths were investigated around the barrier. CDCC calculations considering only breakup of projectile were performed for 6,7Li+28Si with the elastic scattering data, using the code FRESCO. The effects of breakup of projectile on elastic cross section do not agree with the energy dependence of real and imaginary strength with volume type imaginary potential around the barrier

Coupled channel effect in elastic scattering and fusion for 6,7

The fusion excitation and elastic angular distribution were measured for 6,7Li+28Si from below to above Coulomb barrier (≤ 3Vb) energies. The barrier distribution derived from the fusion data was found to be broad and asymmetric at the sub-barrier region, compared to 1D BPM estimation. Effect of rotational coupling on fusion was found to be not so dominant. Phenomenological optical potential parameters, with surface and volume type imaginary potentials, were obtained from f tting of elastic scattering data and energy dependence of real and imaginary surface strengths were investigated around the barrier. CDCC calculations considering only breakup of projectile were performed for 6,7Li+28Si with the elastic scattering data, using the code FRESCO. The effects of breakup of projectile on elastic cross section do not agree with the energy dependence of real and imaginary strength with volume type imaginary potential around the barrier