Feasibility of extracting a Σ−\Sigma^- admixture probability in the neutron-rich Λ10^{10}_{\Lambda}Li hypernucleus

We examine theoretically production of the neutron-rich $^{10}_{\Lambda}$Li hypernucleus by a double-charge exchange ($\pi^-$, $K^+$) reaction on a $^{10}$B target with distorted-wave impulse approximation calculations. The result shows that the magnitude and shape of the calculated spectrum at 1.20 GeV/c by a one-step mechanism $\pi^-p \to K^+ \Sigma^-$ via $\Sigma^-$ doorways caused by a $\Sigma^-p \leftrightarrow \Lambda n$ coupling can explain the recent experimental data, and the $\Sigma^-$ admixture probability in $^{10}_{\Lambda}$Li is found to be the order of 10$^{-1}$ %. The ($\pi^-$, $K^+$) reaction provides a capability of extracting properties of wave functions with $\Lambda$-$\Sigma$ coupling effects in neutron-rich nuclei, together with the reaction mechanism.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

Effect of repeated heating on thermal behavior of crude palm oil

Thermal behavior of crude palm oil (CPO) is important to determine the optimal fractionation process and product yield. In this study, the effects of repeated heating on thermal behavior of CPO were examined by differential scanning calorimetry. CPO was heated at 80°C for 5 min, and heating was repeated five times to simulate the common conditions experienced by an oil before reaching the refinery. The result revealed that the thermal behavior of CPO changed after heating. The change, however, occurred only in the behavior of the high-melting stearin peak but not in the low-melting olein peak. Overheating split the stearin peak at 17.30°C to two peaks at 18.88 and 17.30°C and formed a new peak at 11.28°C. Apparently, a new substance has been synthesized

Hyperonic mixing in five-baryon double-strangeness hypernuclei in a two-channel treatment

Properties of hypernuclei $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$H and $_{\Lambda \Lambda }^5$He are studied in a two-channel approach with explicit treatment of coupling of channels ^3\text{Z}+\Lambda+\Lambda and \alpha+\Xi. Diagonal \Lambda\Lambda and coupling \Lambda\Lambda-\Xi N interactions are derived within G-matrix procedure from Nijmegen meson-exchange models. Bond energy \Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda} in $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$He exceeds significantly that in $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$H due to the channel coupling. Diagonal \Xi\alpha attraction amplifies the effect, which is sensitive also to \Lambda-core interaction. The difference of the \Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda} values can be an unambiguous signature of the \Lambda\Lambda-\Xi N coupling in \Lambda\Lambda hypernuclei. However, improved knowledge of the hyperon-nucleus potentials is needed for quantitative extraction of the coupling strength from future data on the \Lambda\Lambda hypernuclear binding energies.Comment: 11 pages with 3 figures; Phys. Rev. C, accepte

Determination of iodine value of palm oil based on triglyceride composition

The triglyceride (TG) composition of palm oil is normally determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC chromatograms indicated a good separation of most of the TG components in the oil. The TG can be classified based on either the TG groups, i.e., triunsaturated, monosaturated, disaturated, or trisaturated, or the number of double bonds, i.e., zero, one, two, three, or four double bonds. The more unsaturated the fatty acid, the greater the iodine value (IV). Therefore, it is hypothesized that the IV of an oil can be determined based upon the TG composition of the oil. Based on the TG groups, stepwise regression analysis showed that the areas of the disaturated, trisaturated, and triunsaturated TG peaks could predict the IV with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.990. The regression based on the number of double bonds yielded a good regression equation with R2=0.992. The important variables were the peak area of the fatty acids that contained zero, one, two, and three double bonds. This study concludes that the TG composition can be used to predict the IV of palm oil. The best prediction model is obtained by using the number of double bonds in the TG as the independent variable

Low-loss slot waveguides with silicon (111) surfaces realized using anisotropic wet etching

We demonstrate low-loss slot waveguides on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Waveguides oriented along the (11-2) direction on the Si (110) plane were first fabricated by a standard e-beam lithography and dry etching process. A TMAH based anisotropic wet etching technique was then used to remove any residual side wall roughness. Using this fabrication technique propagation loss as low as 3.7dB/cm was realized in silicon slot waveguide for wavelengths near 1550nm. We also realized low propagation loss of 1dB/cm for silicon strip waveguides

The Current State of Climate Change Perceptions and Policies in Myanmar: 2014 Report

This report was constructed to assess the current perceptions and policies regarding climate change in Myanmar. It is comprised of a country report outlining current policies relating to climate change, as well as results from two stakeholder perception surveys conducted at the local and national level in Myanmar. The stakeholder perception survey was administered to 33 local stakeholders and 12 national stakeholders from government organizations, farmers’ groups, universities, and research institutes. Results indicate that the primary concern regarding climate change is mostly concentrated on rainfall trends, such as drought and flooding. In addition, local stakeholders have concerns over heat stress, whereas national stakeholders are less concerned with the issue. Only 11 local stakeholders report that their institution currently has a division or staff member working on climate change issues. Seven of 12 national stakeholders reported that their institutions did have a division or staff member working on climate change issues

The Λ\Lambda-Σ\Sigma coupling effect in the neutron-rich Λ\Lambda-hypernucleus Λ10_{\Lambda}^{10}Li by microscopic shell model

We investigate the structure of the neutron-rich $\Lambda$-hypernucleus $_{\Lambda}^{10}$Li by using microscopic shell-model calculations considering a $\Lambda$-$\Sigma$ coupling effect. The calculated $\Sigma$-mixing probability in the $_{\Lambda}^{10}$Li ground state is found to be about 0.34 % which is coherently enhanced by the $\Lambda$-$\Sigma$ coupling configurations, leading to the energy shift 0.28 MeV which is about 3 times larger than that in $_{\Lambda}^{7}$Li. The importance of the $\Sigma$ configuration obtained by the $\Sigma N$ interaction and the potentiality of the neutron-rich environment are discussed.Comment: 6 figure

The Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adolescence and Adulthood

This article describes the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) manifested by 405 individuals between the ages of 10 and 53 years, all of whom had an ASD diagnosis. Data were collected using the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised (ADI-R) to assess the pattern of autism symptoms in adolescence and adulthood. Findings include that although virtually all sample members met the criteria for Autistic Disorder earlier in their childhood, just over half (54.8%) would have met autism criteria if current scores were used to complete the diagnostic algorithm; that adolescents were more likely to improve in the Reciprocal Social Interaction domain than the adults, whereas the adults were more likely to improve in the Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors and Interests domain, and there were no differences in severity of symptoms between cohorts in the Communication domain; and that individual symptoms showed unique trajectories, with greatest symptom abatement between lifetime and current ADI-R ratings for speaking in at least three-word phrases and the least symptom improvement for having friendships. Findings were interpreted in the context of life course development, reformulations of diagnostic criteria, and changing service contexts for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44621/1/10803_2004_Article_474978.pd

Exploring the link between MORF4L1 and risk of breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Proteins encoded by Fanconi anemia (FA) and/or breast cancer (BrCa) susceptibility genes cooperate in a common DNA damage repair signaling pathway. To gain deeper insight into this pathway and its influence on cancer risk, we searched for novel components through protein physical interaction screens. METHODS: Protein physical interactions were screened using the yeast two-hybrid system. Co-affinity purifications and endogenous co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to corroborate interactions. Biochemical and functional assays in human, mouse and Caenorhabditis elegans models were carried out to characterize pathway components. Thirteen FANCD2-monoubiquitinylation-positive FA cell lines excluded for genetic defects in the downstream pathway components and 300 familial BrCa patients negative for BRCA1/2 mutations were analyzed for genetic mutations. Common genetic variants were genotyped in 9,573 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers for associations with BrCa risk. RESULTS: A previously identified co-purifying protein with PALB2 was identified, MRG15 (MORF4L1 gene). Results in human, mouse and C. elegans models delineate molecular and functional relationships with BRCA2, PALB2, RAD51 and RPA1 that suggest a role for MRG15 in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Mrg15-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts showed moderate sensitivity to γ-irradiation relative to controls and reduced formation of Rad51 nuclear foci. Examination of mutants of MRG15 and BRCA2 C. elegans orthologs revealed phenocopy by accumulation of RPA-1 (human RPA1) nuclear foci and aberrant chromosomal compactions in meiotic cells. However, no alterations or mutations were identified for MRG15/MORF4L1 in unclassified FA patients and BrCa familial cases. Finally, no significant associations between common MORF4L1 variants and BrCa risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers were identified: rs7164529, Ptrend = 0.45 and 0.05, P2df = 0.51 and 0.14, respectively; and rs10519219, Ptrend = 0.92 and 0.72, P2df = 0.76 and 0.07, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While the present study expands on the role of MRG15 in the control of genomic stability, weak associations cannot be ruled out for potential low-penetrance variants at MORF4L1 and BrCa risk among BRCA2 mutation carriers.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are