The experimental E1 strength distribution below 4 MeV in rare-earth nuclei suggests a local breaking of isospin symmetry. In addition to the octupole states, additional J^{π}=1^{-} states with ...enhanced E1 strength have been observed in rare-earth nuclei by means of (γ,γ') experiments. By reproducing the experimental results, the spdf interacting boson model calculations provide further evidence for the formation of an α cluster in medium-mass nuclei and might provide a new understanding of the origin of low-lying E1 strength.
This paper deals with the problem of decision making in the context of forward collision mitigation system design. The authors present a multilevel collision mitigation (CM) approach that allows a ...flexible tradeoff between potential benefit and the risk associated with driver acceptability and product liability. Due to its practical relevance, algorithms that allow for an efficient incorporation of both sensor and prediction uncertainties are further outlined. The performance tradeoffs that come along with different parameterizations are investigated by means of stochastic simulations on three dangerous traffic situations, namely 1) rear-end collisions due to an unexpected braking, 2) cutting-in vehicles, and 3) crossing traffic at intersections. The results show that an overly conservative CM system sacrifices much of its potential benefit. However, it is pointed out that the vision of accident-free driving can be achieved only through cooperative driving strategies
In the Ge-Sr mass region, isotopes with neutron number N≤40 are known to feature rapid shape changes with both nucleon number and angular momentum. To gain new insights into their structure, ...inelastic proton scattering experiments in inverse kinematics were performed on the rare isotopes 74,76Kr. This work focuses on observables related to the Jπ=41+ states of the Kr isotopes and, in particular, on the hexadecapole degree of freedom. By performing coupled-channels calculations, hexadecapole deformation parameters β4 were determined for the Jπ=41+ states of 74,76Kr from inelastic proton scattering cross sections. Two possible coupled-channels solutions were found. A comparison to predictions from nuclear energy density functional theory, employing both non-relativistic and relativistic functionals, clearly favors the large, positive β4 solutions. These β4 values are unambiguously linked to the well deformed prolate configuration. Given the β2−β4 trend, established in this work, it appears that β4 values could provide a sensitive measure of the nuclear shell structure.
Liver regeneration can be impaired by permanent oxidative stress and activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), known to regulate the cellular antioxidant response, and has ...been shown to improve the process of liver regeneration. A variety of factors regulate hepatic tissue regeneration, among them augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), attained great attention as being survival factors for the liver with proproliferative and antiapoptotic properties. Here we determined the Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE) regulated expression of ALR and show ALR as a target gene of Nrf2 in vitro and in vivo. The ALR promoter comprises an ARE binding site and, therefore, ALR expression can be induced by ARE-activator tertiary butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) in hepatoma cells and primary human hepatocytes (PHH). Promoter activity and expression of ALR were enhanced after cotransfection of Nrf2 compared with control and dominant negative mutant of Nrf2. Performing partial hepatectomy in livers from Nrf2+/+ mice compared with Nrf2-/- knock-out (KO) mice, we found increased expression of ALR in addition to known antioxidant ARE-regulated genes. Furthermore, we observed increased ALR expression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) compared with hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive hepatoma cells and PHH. Recently, it was demonstrated that HBV infection activates Nrf2 and, now, we add results showing increased ALR expression in liver samples from patients infected with HBV. ALR is regulated by Nrf2, acts as a liver regeneration and antioxidative protein and, therefore, links oxidative stress to hepatic regeneration to ensure survival of damaged cells.
The shape and collectivity of 106Cd was investigated via a sub-barrier-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory Re-accelerator facility ...using the JANUS setup. Transition matrix elements between low-lying states were found to agree with adopted values, and information on the shape and collectivity of higher-lying states was extracted for the first time. Locally optimized large-scale shell-model calculations were found to describe well the B(E2) transition strengths but failed to reproduce the spectroscopic quadrupole moments Qs. An analysis of the E2 rotational invariants and the normalized quadrupole moment qs indicates that this may be due to a significant degree of triaxiality in 106Cd which is not captured by the present shell-model calculations. Analogous calculations for the Fe isotopes (two protons below the Z=28 magic number) reveal the critical role of high-j neutron configurations for the description of quadrupole moments in the heavy Fe and Cd isotopes (two protons below magic Z=50), but this effect is insufficient to explain the shape of 106Cd, posing a puzzle for the understanding of nuclear structure towards N=50.
The aim of this study was to determine the value of T2 mapping for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial inflammation in different stages of systolic left ventricular dysfunction in dilated ...cardiomyopathy (DCM) in comparison with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).
A total of 132 subjects were enrolled between 2013 and 2016 (62 controls and 70 patients with DCM). All patients underwent CMR at 1.5 T and received coronary angiogram and EMB. CMR applied standard protocols including T2 mapping with Gradient And SpinEcho sequence (GRASE). Global T2 relaxation time was significantly increased in patients with DCM compared to the healthy controls (T2 time DCM vs. controls: 65.9 ± 6.2 vs. 60.0 ± 4.2 ms; P < 0.001). Of note, patients with the presence of inflammatory cells in EMB exhibited further elevation of T2 values (T2 time in patients with the presence of inflammatory cells vs. T2 time in patients without: 68.8 ± 5.8 vs. 64.7 ± 5.9 ms; P = 0.02). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of our data deciphered a global myocardial T2 time >65.3 ms as the best cut-off for distinction between the healthy controls and patients with myocardial inflammation sensitivity 93%, specificity 90%, P < 0.01, area under the curve (AUC) 0.95. In patients with DCM, this threshold identified patients with biopsy-proven inflammation with a sensitivity of 79% and specificity 58% (AUC 0.72).
In patients with DCM and presence of inflammatory cells in the myocardium, myocardial T2 relaxation times may help to non-invasively detect myocardial inflammation. Although there is an overlap of T2 values between patients and healthy controls, T2 mapping may facilitate the identification of patients who may benefit from EMB for therapeutic decision-making.
The heavy-ion inelastic scattering of the neutron-rich nucleus 29Ne to its excited states was studied using a 100.1 MeV/u 29Ne rare isotope beam on 181Ta and 9Be targets. The combined setup ...consisting of the GRETINA array, the TRIPLEX device and the S800 Spectrograph facilitates the simultaneous measurements of the two inelastic reactions, providing the first measurement of the transition strengths for this isotope. A sizable E2 strength B(E2↑) which amounts to 163(30) e2fm4 was determined in the excitation to the 931-keV state, demonstrating a large degree of collectivity. The present results of B(E2↑) are compared to various shell-model calculations, confirming the role of intruder configurations in 29Ne at the boundary of the island of inversion.
Neutron-deficient selenium isotopes are thought to undergo a rapid shape change from a prolate deformation near the line of beta stability towards oblate deformation around the line of N=Z. The point ...at which this shape change occurs is unknown, with inconsistent predictions from available theoretical models. A common feature in the models is the delicate nature of the point of transition, with the introduction of even a modest spin to the system sufficient to change the ordering of the prolate and oblate configurations. We present a measurement of the quadrupole moment of the first-excited state in radioactive ^{72}Se-a potential point of transition-by safe Coulomb excitation. This is the first low-energy Coulomb excitation to be performed with a rare-isotope beam at the reaccelerated beam facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. By demonstrating a negative spectroscopic quadrupole moment for the first-excited 2^{+} state, it is found that any low-spin shape change in neutron-deficient selenium does not occur until ^{70}Se.
The neutron-rich nuclei in the N = 28 island of inversion have attracted considerable experimental and theoretical attention, providing great insight into the evolution of shell structure and nuclear ...shape in exotic nuclei. In this work, for the first time, quadrupole collectivity is assessed simultaneously on top of the 3/2− ground state and the 7/2− shape-coexisting isomer of 43S, putting the unique interpretation of shape and configuration coexistence at N = 27 and 28 in the sulfur isotopic chain to the test. From an analysis of the electromagnetic transition strengths and quadrupole moments predicted within the shell model, it is shown that the onset of shape coexistence and the emergence of a simple collective structure appear suddenly in 43S with no indication of such patterns in the N = 27 isotone 45Ar.
A dedicated setup for the in-beam measurement of absolute cross-sections of astrophysically relevant charged-particle induced reactions is presented. These, usually very low, cross-sections at ...energies of astrophysical interest are important to improve the modeling of the nucleosynthesis processes of heavy nuclei. Particular emphasis is put on the production of the p nuclei during the astrophysical γ process. The recently developed setup utilizes the high-efficiency γ-ray spectrometer HORUS, which is located at the 10MV FN tandem ion accelerator of the Institute for Nuclear Physics in Cologne.
The design of this setup will be presented and results of the recently measured 89Y(p,γ)90Zr reaction will be discussed. The excellent agreement with existing data shows that the HORUS spectrometer is a powerful tool to determine total and partial cross-sections using the in-beam method with high-purity germanium detectors.
PDF
