2,406 research outputs found
Satellite laser ranging work at the Goddard Space Flight Center
Laser ranging systems, their range and accuracy capabilities, and planned improvements for future systems are discussed, the systems include one fixed and two mobile lasers ranging systems. They have demonstrated better than 10 cm accuracy both on a carefully surveyed ground range and in regular satellite ranging operations. They are capable of ranging to all currently launched retroreflector equipped satellites with the exception of Timation III. A third mobile system is discussed which will be accurate to better than 5 cm and will be capable of ranging to distant satellites such as Timation III and LAGEOS
A major population of mucosal memory CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells, coexpressing IL-18Rα and DR3, display innate lymphocyte functionality
Mucosal tissues contain large numbers of memory CD4(+) T cells that, through T-cell receptor-dependent interactions with antigen-presenting cells, are believed to have a key role in barrier defense and maintenance of tissue integrity. Here we identify a major subset of memory CD4(+) T cells at barrier surfaces that coexpress interleukin-18 receptor alpha (IL-18Rα) and death receptor-3 (DR3), and display innate lymphocyte functionality. The cytokines IL-15 or the DR3 ligand tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like cytokine 1A (TL1a) induced memory IL-18Rα(+)DR3(+)CD4(+) T cells to produce interferon-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-5, IL-13, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-22 in the presence of IL-12/IL-18. TL1a synergized with IL-15 to enhance this response, while suppressing IL-15-induced IL-10 production. TL1a- and IL-15-mediated cytokine induction required the presence of IL-18, whereas induction of IL-5, IL-13, GM-CSF, and IL-22 was IL-12 independent. IL-18Rα(+)DR3(+)CD4(+) T cells with similar functionality were present in human skin, nasal polyps, and, in particular, the intestine, where in chronic inflammation they localized with IL-18-producing cells in lymphoid aggregates. Collectively, these results suggest that human memory IL-18Rα(+)DR3(+) CD4(+) T cells may contribute to antigen-independent innate responses at barrier surfaces.Mucosal Immunology advance online publication, 1 October 2014; doi:10.1038/mi.2014.87
Pharmacokinetic and safety profile of raltegravir and ribavirin, when dosed separately and together, in healthy volunteers
Results: No statistically significant differences in PK parameters were observed for raltegravir between phases 2 and 3. A statistically significant decrease in maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and an increase in time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) were observed for ribavirin in phase 3 compared with phase 1 [GMR (95% confidence interval) 0.79 (0.62 –1.00) and 1.39 (1.08 –1.78), respectively], whereas no significant differences in other ribavirin PK parameters were observed between study phases. No clinically significant safety concerns were reported. Conclusions: The PK profile of ribavirin is altered when administered with raltegravir (reduced Cmax and increased Tmax), with no safety concerns identified. This is unlikely to be of clinical significance or have an impact on the antiviral effects of ribavirin in HIV-1- and HCV-co-infected subjects
Orbiter escape pole
A Shuttle type of aircraft (10) with an escape hatch (12) has an arcuately shaped pole housing (16) attachable to an interior wall and ceiling with its open end adjacent to the escape hatch. The pole housing 16 contains a telescopically arranged and arcuately shaped primary pole member (22) and extension pole member (23) which are guided by roller assemblies (30,35). The extension pole member (23) is slidable and extendable relative to the primary pole member (22). For actuation, a spring actuated system includes a spring (52) in the pole housing. A locking member (90) engages both pole members (22,23) through notch portions (85,86) in the pole members. The locking member selectively releases the extension pole member (23) and the primary pole member (22). An internal one-way clutch or anti-return mechanism prevents retraction of the extension pole member from an extended position. Shock absorbers (54)(150,152) are for absoring the energy of the springs. A manual backup deployment system is provided which includes a canted ring (104) biased by a spring member (108). A lever member (100) with a slot and pin connection (102) permits the mechanical manipulation of the canted ring to move the primary pole member. The ring (104) also prevents retraction of the main pole. The crew escape mechanism includes a magazine (60) and a number of lanyards (62), each lanyard being mounted by a roller loop (68) over the primary pole member (22). The strap on the roller loop has stitching for controlled release, a protection sheath (74) to prevent tangling and a hook member (69) for attachment to a crew harness
Revised experimental upper limit on the electric dipole moment of the neutron
We present for the first time a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the experimental results that set the current world sensitivity limit on the magnitude of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron. We have extended and enhanced our earlier analysis to include recent developments in the understanding of the effects of gravity in depolarizing ultracold neutrons; an improved calculation of the spectrum of the neutrons; and conservative estimates of other possible systematic errors, which are also shown to be consistent with more recent measurements undertaken with the apparatus. We obtain a net result of dn=−0.21±1.82×10−26  e cm, which may be interpreted as a slightly revised upper limit on the magnitude of the EDM of 3.0×10−26  e cm (90% C.L.) or 3.6×10−26  e cm (95% C.L.)
Finding periodic orbits in state-dependent delay differential equations as roots of algebraic equations
In this paper we prove that periodic boundary-value problems (BVPs) for delay
differential equations are locally equivalent to finite-dimensional algebraic
systems of equations. We rely only on regularity assumptions that follow those
of the review by Hartung et al. (2006). Thus, the equivalence result can be
applied to differential equations with state-dependent delays (SD-DDEs),
transferring many results of bifurcation theory for periodic orbits to this
class of systems. We demonstrate this by using the equivalence to give an
elementary proof of the Hopf bifurcation theorem for differential equations
with state-dependent delays. This is an alternative and extension to the
original Hopf bifurcation theorem for SD-DDEs by Eichmann (2006).Comment: minor revision, correcting mistakes in formulation of Lemma 2.3 and
A.5 (which are also present in the Journal paper): center of neighborhood
must be in , which is the case for the main theore
Determination of the Parity of the Neutral Pion via the Four-Electron Decay
We present a new determination of the parity of the neutral pion via the
double Dalitz decay pi^0 -> e+ e- e+ e-. Our sample, which consists of 30511
candidate decays, was collected from K_L -> pi0 pi0 pi0 decays in flight at the
KTeV-E799 experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. We confirm the
negative pi^0 parity, and place a limit on scalar contributions to the pi^0 ->
e+ e- e+ e- decay amplitude of less than 3.3% assuming CPT conservation. The
pi^0 gamma* gamma* form factor is well described by a momentum-dependent model
with a slope parameter fit to the final state phase space distribution.
Additionally, we have measured the branching ratio of this mode to be B(pi^0 ->
e+ e- e+ e-) = (3.26 +- 0.18) x 10^(-5).Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Typographical error in radiative branching ratio
(Eq. 6) correcte
Precise Measurements of Direct CP Violation, CPT Symmetry, and Other Parameters in the Neutral Kaon System
We present precise tests of CP and CPT symmetry based on the full dataset of
K to pipi decays collected by the KTeV experiment at Fermi National Accelerator
Laboratory during 1996, 1997, and 1999. This dataset contains 16 million K to
2pi0 and 69 million K to pi+pi- decays. We measure the direct CP violation
parameter Re(epsilon'/epsilon) = (19.2 pm 2.1)x10-4. We find the KL-KS mass
difference Deltam = (5270 pm 12)x10^6 hbar/s and the KS lifetime tauS = (89.62
pm 0.05)x10-12 s. We also measure several parameters that test CPT invariance.
We find the difference between the phase of the indirect CP violation
parameter, epsilon, and the superweak phase, phi_epsilon - phi_SW = (0.40 pm
0.56) degrees. We measure the difference of the relative phases between the CP
violating and CP conserving decay amplitudes for K to pi+pi- (phi+-) and for K
to 2pi0 (phi00), Delta phi = (0.30 pm 0.35) degrees. From these phase
measurements, we place a limit on the mass difference between K0 and K0bar,
DeltaM < 4.8 x 10-19 GeV/c^2 at 95% C.L. These results are consistent with
those of other experiments, our own earlier measurements, and CPT symmetry.Comment: 28 pages, 30 figures; removed extra figur
Detailed Study of the KL -> 3pi0 Dalitz Plot
Using a sample of 68 million KL -> 3pi0 decays collected in 1996-1999 by the
KTeV (E832) experiment at Fermilab, we present a detailed study of the KL ->
3pi0 Dalitz plot density. We report the first observation of interference from
KL->pi+pi-pi0 decays in which pi+pi- rescatters to 2pi0 in a final-state
interaction. This rescattering effect is described by the Cabibbo-Isidori
model, and it depends on the difference in pion scattering lengths between the
isospin I=0 and I=2 states, a0-a2. Using the Cabibbo-Isidori model, we present
the first measurement of the KL-> 3pi0 quadratic slope parameter that accounts
for the rescattering effect.Comment: accepted by Phys. Rev
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