Charge density: A probe for the nuclear interaction in microscopic transport models

The transport properties of the ³⁶Ar +⁵⁸Ni system at measured with the INDRA array, are studied within the BNV kinetic equation. A general protocol of comparison between the N-body experimental fragment information and the one-body distribution function is developed using global variables, with a special focus on charge density. This procedure avoids any definition of sources and any use of an afterburner in the simulation. We shall discuss the feasibility of such an approach and the distortions induced by the finite detection efficiency and the completeness requirements of the data selection. The sensitivity of the different global observables to the macroscopic parameters of the effective nuclear interaction will be studied in detail.Received: 21 January 2003, Published online: 5 August 2003PACS: 25.70.-z Low and intermediate energy heavy-ion reactions - 24.10.-i Nuclear reaction models and methodsN. Le Neindre: Permanent address: Institut de Physique Nuclaire, IN2P3-CNRS, F-91406 Orsay cedex, France.     

Cs3BiCl6 : Un compose ferroelastique presentant une polarisation remanente a temperature ambiante

X-ray diffraction, calorimetric, dielectric and thermocurrent measurements have been carried out on Cs₃BiCl₆ ceramic samples. Three phase transitions have been detected at T₁ = 395 K, T₂ = 684 K and T₃ = 727 K. The T₃ transition is of ferroelastic-paraelastic type. The low temperature phase is characterized by remanent polarization. The depolarization current results probably from charge traps in potential minima which disappear at rising temperature.     

Intersection numbers for coherent configurations and the spectrum of a graph

It is shown that the intersection numbers of a coherent configuration are closely related to the determinant of a generic matrix for the corresponding adjacency algebra. This is important as both concepts provide isomorphism invariants for graphs.     

Description of a biofluorescence optical particle counter

A bioaerosol fluorescence detection system is being constructed using an ellipsoid reflector-based optical particle counter. The flux measuring device is to size submicron marine spray aerosol particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter. It will simultaneously non-destructively excite and detect fluorescence from organic matter contained in the aerosol. Chlorophyll-a is the primary fluorophor target, used as a marker for detecting phytoplankton (or derivatives thereof) in the particles. Particles have been sized to 500 nm in diameter and fluorescence detection testing is underway. The device will aid the quantification and identification of this organic material contained in marine spray aerosols, providing improved inputs into climate models and air quality assessments.     

A shell model for energy transfer in lanthanide elpasolite crystals

Published in Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spectroscopii, Vol. 62, No. 5, pp. 213–220, September–October, 1995.     

Programmed discrimination of qbits with added classical information

We investigate some properties of programmed quantum-state discriminators with simple programs. Bergou et al. [Phys. Rev. A 73, 062334 (2006)] have considered programmable devices which are supplied with two distinct but unknown program qbits and one data qbit which is certain to be identical to one or other of the program qbits. The task is to discriminate between the first and the second possibility. In this paper, we consider this state-discrimination problem when there is some additional classical information available. We find that in the minimum error discrimination mode, the probability of correct discrimination is increased by each type of classical information. The same is broadly true of unambiguous discrimination, with the chance of success improving when the overlap between the program qbits is reduced.     

Rapid surface-to-volume ratio and tortuosity measurement using Difftrain

Analysis of diffusion measurements as a function of observation time (Delta), to calculate surface-to-volume ratios (S/V) and tortuosities (kappa), is a useful tool in the characterisation of porous media using NMR. However, using conventional pulsed field gradient (PFG) measurements, this requires long total experiment times (typically hours). Here, we show how the rapid diffusion measurement pulse sequence, Difftrain, can be used to provide the required experimental data much more rapidly (typically within minutes) with a consequential reduction in total experiment time of typically over an order of magnitude. Several novel modifications to the Difftrain pulse sequence are also presented to tailor it to this particular application; these include a variable delay between echoes (to ensure optimal echo position with respect to Delta) and a variable tip angle for the refocusing pulse (to ensure optimal use of available signal). Difftrain is applied to measure both S/V and kappa for a model glass bead pack; excellent agreement is found with both a conventional PFG measurement and with a bulk gravimetric measurement of S/V.     

The changing of the guard: Molecular diversity and rapid evolution of β-defensins

Summary Defensins are small cationic peptides involved in innate immunity and are components of the first line of defence against invading pathogens. β-defensins are a subgroup of the defensin family that display a particular cysteine spacing and pattern of intramolecular bonding. These molecules are produced mostly by epithelia lining exposed surfaces and appear to have both antimicrobial and cell signalling functions. The unusually high degree of sequence variation in the mature peptide produced by the paralogous and in some cases orthologous genes implies extensive specialisation and species specific adaptation. Here we review recent functional data that are an important addition to our knowledge of the innate immune response and novel antibiotic design. We also consider the organisation and evolution of the genomic loci harbouring these genes where radical and rapid changes in β-defensin sequences have been shown to result from the interplay of both positive and negative selection. Consequently these genes provide some unusually clear glimpses of the processes of duplication and specialisation that have shaped the mammalian genome.     

Generalized classical theory of magnetism

We consider an Ising model with Kac potential ^dK(¦x¦) which may have arbitrary sign, and show, following Gates and Penrose, that the free energy in the classical limit0+ can be obtained from a variational principle. When the Fourier transform of the potential has its maximum atp=0 one recovers the usual mean-field theory of magnetism. When the maximum occurs forp ₀0, however, one obtains an oscillatory or helicoidal phase in which the magnetization near the critical point oscillates with period 2/¦p ₀¦. An example with a potential possessing parameter-dependent oscillations is shown to exhibit crossover phenomena and a multicritical Lifshitz point in the classical limit.