Breathing-mode measurements in Sn isotopes and isospin dependence of nuclear incompressibility

T. Li {\it et al.}[Phys. Rev. C {\bf 81}, 034309 (2010)] have analyzed their measured breathing-mode energies of some tin isotopes in terms of a first-order leptodermous expansion, and find for the symmetry-incompressibility coefficient $K_{\tau}$ the value of -550 $\pm$ 100 MeV. Removing an approximation that they made, we find that the first-order estimate of $K_{\tau}$ shifts to -661 $\pm$ 144 MeV. However, taking into account higher-order terms in the leptodermous expansion shows that the data are compatible with the significantly lower magnitudes indicated by both another experiment and some theoretical estimates.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Pairing: from atomic nuclei to neutron-star crusts

Nuclear pairing is studied both in atomic nuclei and in neutron-star crusts in the unified framework of the energy-density functional theory using generalized Skyrme functionals complemented with a local pairing functional obtained from many-body calculations in homogeneous nuclear matter using realistic forces.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Contribution for the book "50 years of nuclear BCS", edited by R.A. Broglia and V. Zelevinsk

Superfluidity and entrainment in neutron-star crusts

Despite the absence of viscous drag, the neutron superfluid permeating the inner crust of a neutron star can still be strongly coupled to nuclei due to non-dissipative entrainment effects. Neutron superfluidity and entrainment have been systematically studied in all regions of the inner crust of a cold non-accreting neutron star in the framework of the band theory of solids. It is shown that in the intermediate layers of the inner crust a large fraction of "free" neutrons are actually entrained by the crust. The results suggest that a revision of the interpretation of many observable astrophysical phenomena might be necessary.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the ERPM conference, Zielona Gora, Poland, April 201

Sedentary behaviour and diet across the lifespan: an updated systematic review.

Sedentary behaviour and its association with dietary intake in young people and adults are important topics and were systematically reviewed in 2011. There is a need to update this evidence given the changing nature of sedentary behaviour and continued interest in this field. This review aims to assist researchers in better interpreting the diversity of findings concerning sedentary behaviour and weight status

Erosion-corrosion behaviour of Zirconia WC-6Co, WC-6Ni and SS316

The current study investigates a ceramic, two cermets and a metal under solid-liquid impingement with 3.5% NaCl and 150mg/l hydraulic fracturing sand at two extreme angles of impact, 90° and 20°. The materials tested were Zirconia, sintered WC-6Co, sintered WC-6Ni and SS316. Each material was exposed to a testing regime using re-circulating impinging jet apparatus with a velocity of 19m/s and one hour duration. The electrochemical properties of the materials were investigated in-situ through anodic and cathodic polarisation and application of cathodic protection. Post experimental analysis of the degraded surface was completed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Optical 3D Imaging. Zirconia exhibited a brittle response to erosion-corrosion testing with the mass loss at 90° being fifty times greater than the negligible mass loss at 20°. WC-6Co and WC-6Ni both outperformed SS316 under all solid-liquid impingement erosion-corrosion testing regimes. WC-6Ni exhibited slightly better erosion-corrosion resistance over WC-6Co at both 90° and 20°. SS316 had the best corrosion resistance and showed passivation during anodic polarisations in solid-liquid impingement conditions. The nickel binder increased the corrosion resistance of WC-6Ni over WC-6Co. Cathodic protection was successfully applied on sintered WC-6Co and SS316 isolating the key components of erosion-corrosion

Border parasites: schistosomiasis control among Uganda's fisherfolk

Copyright @ 2012 Taylor & Francis. This article has been made publically available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.It is recognized that the control of schistosomisais in Uganda requires a focus on fisherfolk. Large numbers suffer from this water-borne parasitic disease; notably along the shores of lakes Albert and Victoria and along the River Nile. Since 2004, a policy has been adopted of providing drugs, free of charge, to all those at risk. The strategy has been reported to be successful, but closer investigation reveals serious problems. This paper draws upon long-term research undertaken at three locations in northwestern and southeastern Uganda. It highlights consequences of not engaging with the day to day realities of fisherfolk livelihoods; attributable, in part, to the fact that so many fisherfolk live and work in places located at the country’s international borders, and to a related tendency to treat them as "feckless" and "ungovernable". Endeavours to roll out treatment end up being haphazard, erratic and location-specific. In some places, concerted efforts have been made to treat fisherfolk; but there is no effective monitoring, and it is difficult to gauge what proportion have actually swallowed the tablets. In other places, fisherfolk are, in practice, largely ignored, or are actively harassed in ways that make treatment almost impossible. At all sites, the current reliance upon resident "community" drug distributors or staff based at static clinics and schools was found to be flawed.The Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College, under the auspices of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Structure of neutron stars with unified equations of state

We present a set of three unified equations of states (EoSs) based on the nuclear energy-density functional (EDF) theory.These EoSs are based on generalized Skyrme forces fitted to essentially all experimental atomic mass data and constrained to reproduce various properties of infinite nuclear matter as obtained from many-body calculations using realistic two- and three-body interactions. The structure of cold isolated neutron stars is discussed in connection with some astrophysical observations.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the ERPM conference, Zielona Gora, Poland, April 201

Symmetry energy: nuclear masses and neutron stars

We describe the main features of our most recent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov nuclear mass models, based on 16-parameter generalized Skyrme forces. They have been fitted to the data of the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluation, and favour a value of 30 MeV for the symmetry coefficient J, the corresponding root-mean square deviation being 0.549 MeV. We find that this conclusion is compatible with measurements of neutron-skin thickness. By constraining the underlying interactions to fit various equations of state of neutron matter calculated {\it ab initio} our models are well adapted to a realistic and unified treatment of all regions of neutron stars. We use our models to calculate the composition, the equation of state, the mass-radius relation and the maximum mass. Comparison with observations of neutron stars again favours a value of J = 30 MeV.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, to appear in EPJA special volume on symmetry energ

Targeting tumor multicellular aggregation through IGPR-1 inhibits colon cancer growth and improves chemotherapy

Adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucially important for survival of normal epithelial cells as detachment from ECM triggers specific apoptosis known as anoikis. As tumor cells lose the requirement for anchorage to ECM, they rely on cell-cell adhesion 'multicellular aggregation' for survival. Multicellular aggregation of tumor cells also significantly determines the sensitivity of tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutics. In this report, we demonstrate that expression of immunoglobulin containing and proline-rich receptor-1 (IGPR-1) is upregulated in human primary colon cancer. Our study demonstrates that IGPR-1 promotes tumor multicellular aggregation, and interfering with its adhesive function inhibits multicellular aggregation and, increases cell death. IGPR-1 supports colon carcinoma tumor xenograft growth in mouse, and inhibiting its activity by shRNA or blocking antibody inhibits tumor growth. More importantly, IGPR-1 regulates sensitivity of tumor cells to the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin/adriamycin by a mechanism that involves doxorubicin-induced AKT activation and phosphorylation of IGPR-1 at Ser220. Our findings offer novel insight into IGPR-1's role in colorectal tumor growth, tumor chemosensitivity, and as a possible novel anti-cancer target.Grant support from: R01 CA175382/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States, R21 CA191970/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States, and R21 CA193958/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United State