Properties of the πh_(9/2)  νi_(13/2) band in odd-odd ~(188)Au

A new rotational band has been identified and assigned to 188Au for the first time using the 173Yb(19F,4nγ) reaction at the beam energies of 86 and 90 MeV. This band is proposed to be built on the πh9/2  νi13/2 configuration by comparing the band properties with known bands in neighboring nuclei. The prolate-to-oblate shape transition through triaxial shape has been proposed to occur around 188Au for the πh9/2  νi13/2 bands in odd-odd Au isotopes on the basis of total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations.     

Consistent Finite Element Calculations of Boundary and Internal Fluxes

The purpose of this paper is to develop a consistent method to calculate the fluxes or the stresses in an incompressible flow, particularly a turbulent flow. A post-processing technique has been developed such that fluxes or stresses are treated as unknown values, which are solved for, weakly, using the finite element method.

The method has been applied to calculate the Reynolds stresses in a turbulent channel flow. As a result of the new consistent method, the Reynolds stresses have shown good agreement with the DNS data confirming the momentum conservation of the finite element method.     

On Orbits in Double Flag Varieties for Symmetric Pairs

Let G be a connected, simply connected semisimple algebraic group over the complex number field, and let K be the fixed point subgroup of an involutive automorphism of G so that (G, K) is a symmetric pair. We take parabolic subgroups P of G and Q of K, respectively, and consider the product of partial flag varieties G/P and K/Q with diagonal K-action, which we call a double flag variety for a symmetric pair. It is said to be of finite type if there are only finitely many K-orbits on it. In this paper, we give a parametrization of K-orbits on G/P × K/Q in terms of quotient spaces of unipotent groups without assuming the finiteness of orbits. If one of P ? G or Q ? K is a Borel subgroup, the finiteness of orbits is closely related to spherical actions. In such cases, we give a complete classification of double flag varieties of finite type, namely, we obtain classifications of K-spherical flag varieties G/P and G-spherical homogeneous spaces G/Q.     

INHIBITORY EFFECT OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN PLUS ULTRAVIOLET-A ON INTERLEUKIN-1 PRODUCTION BY MURINE KERATINOCYTES

We report the effects of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) plus ultraviolet-A (UV-A) irradiation on interleukin-1 (IL-1) production by murine epidermal keratinocytes, correlating its effect on IL-1 with cell viability, DNA synthesis, and 8-MOP-DNA photoadduct formation. Freshly isolated murine keratinocytes were treated with various doses of 8-MOP (5-100 ng/mL; incubation time, 30 min) plus 1 J/cm2 UV-A and cultured for 1-3 days. The IL-1/epidermal cell-derived thymocyte-activating factor (ETAF) activity in both supernatant and cell extract was reduced proportionately with increasing doses of 8-MOP/UV-A. Interleukin-1 inhibitors induced by 8-MOP plus UV-A were not detected in either supernatant or cell extract. A clear reduction of the IL-1 production was induced by the treatment as low as 15 ng/mL 8-MOP plus 1 J/cm2 UV-A, which led to the formation of 0.52 8-MOP photoadducts per million DNa bases and affected neither cell viability nor DNA synthesis of the treated cells. Cells treated with 100 ng/mL 8-MOP and 1 J/cm2 UV-A exhibited 57% suppression of IL-1 production in both 2- and 3-day culture samples. This treatment resulted in the formation of 3.8 photoadducts per million bases as well as significant abrogation of DNA synthesis although cell viability was unchanged. These observations provide some insights into the phototoxicity mechanisms of 8-MOP and the effect of PUVA therapy on the cytokine regulation in keratinocytes.     

Solar diurnal anisotropy measured using muons in GRAPES-3 experiment in 2006

The GRAPES-3 experiment at Ooty contains a large-area (560 m²) tracking muon detector. This detector consists of 16 modules, each 35 m² in area, that are grouped into four supermodules of 140 m² each. The threshold energy of muons is sec(θ) GeV along a direction with zenith angle θ and the angular resolution of the muon detector is 6°. Typically, it records ~4×10⁹ muons every day. The muon detector has been operating uninterruptedly since 2001, thus providing a high statistics record of the cosmic ray flux as a function of time over one decade. However, prior to using these data, the muon rate has to be corrected for two important atmospheric effects, namely, variations in atmospheric pressure and temperature. Because of the near equatorial location of Ooty (11.4°N), the seasonal variations in the atmospheric temperature are relatively small and shall be ignored here. Due to proximity to the equator, the pressure changes at Ooty display a dominant 12 h periodic behaviour in addition to other seasonal changes. Here, we discuss various aspects of a novel method for accurate pressure measurement and subsequent corrections applied to the GRAPES-3 muon data to correct these pressure-induced variations. The pressure-corrected muon data are used to measure the profile of the solar diurnal anisotropy during 2006. The data, when divided into four segments, display significant variation both in the amplitude (~45%) and phase (~42 m) of the solar diurnal anisotropy during 2006, which was a period of relatively low solar activity.     

NUMERICAL STUDY ON CUT-AND-CONNECT OF TWO VORTEX RINGS ALONG PARALLEL AXES

A numerical study has been conducted to investigate the interaction of two viscous vortex rings along parallel axes. The generation of two vortex rings created by the ejection of a fluid through orifices and their cut-and-connect process were numerically simulated by solving the three-dimensional and time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations. Based on the quantitative velocity and pressure data obtained from the Navier-Stokes simulation, the distribution and the evolution of the vorticity, helicity density and energy dissipation function were analyzed. The helicity density and its relation with the energy dissipation function in three-dimensional flow fields were also examined. It was found that the energy dissipation plays an important role in the cancellation of the vortex circulation during the vortex tubes cutting. This energy dissipation process may be used to explain the cut-and-connect of vortex tubes in the high Reynolds number turbulent flow. The numerical solutions were compared with the experimental observations and measurements under the similar condition. The correspondence between the numerical simulation and the experimental measurement was satisfactory.