An accurate closed-form approximate representation for the Hankelfunction of the second kind

A second-order asymptotic evaluation of the Hankel function is presented and its numerical evaluation for the case of large orders and large arguments is compared with the numerical results obtained using forward recursion. It is shown that the second-order results are very accurate as long as the argument is a few percent larger than the order of the function     

Modelling of the Surface-Event Identification Mechanism in Ge Detectors Equipped with NbSi Thin Films

A new generation of germanium composite bolometers, equipped with NbSi thin films, has been developed in the framework of the EDELWEISS experiment, presenting impressive surface event identification capabilities and a substantial improvement in the background rejection of heat and ionization detectors. In this work we present a simple thermal model which explain the surface-event identification mechanism via NbSi thin films sensors.      

Use of spa therapy to improve the quality of life of chronic low back pain patients

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness of adding spa therapy to usual drug treatment in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: A total of 224 patients were assigned randomly to either a treatment (n=128) or a control (n=96) group. Subjects in both groups received usual drug therapy. Those in the treatment group also underwent spa therapy in Vittel, France, for 6 days a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Effectiveness was assessed using a quality-of-life scale (the Duke Health Profile), clinical measures, and the Roland and Morris disability questionnaire. Groups were compared using an analysis of variance with repeated measures. RESULTS: At both 3 weeks and 3 months, patients in the treatment group exhibited significant improvement in measures of: physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, anxiety, depression, pain duration, pain intensity, and functional disability. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that spa therapy is an effective treatment for chronic low back pain patients.     

Identification of near surface events using athermal phonon signals in low temperature Ge bolometers for the EDELWEISS experiment

We present a study of a 100 g low temperature Ge detector, allowing identification of surface events down to the energy threshold. The bolometer is fitted with segmented electrodes and two NbSi Anderson insulator thermometric layers. Analysis of the athermal signals amplitudes allows us to identify and reject all events occurring in the first millimeter under the electrodes.     

Equivalent line current for cylindrical dipole antennas and its asymptotic behavior

The concept of an equivalent line source for representing the current on a cylindrical dipole antenna is introduced. It is shown that the Fourier series coefficients of this equivalent line source are related to those of the actual antenna current by exponentially growing factors that grow rapidly for the higher order harmonics. This is used to explain why Hallén's integral equation using an approximate kernel does not have an exact solution. The asymptotic behavior of the Fourier coefficients is established. An explanation of why approximate solutions to the approximate integral equation often provide good results for the current and input impedance is also given.     

Structure cristalline et proprietes physiques de CuxTiS2

The preparation, crystal structure, and electrical and magnetic properties of the compound Cu_xTiS₂ (0,7 < x < 1) are reported. This compound is a member of the family of layer compounds ABX₂ (A = Cu, Ag; B = Cr, V, Ti; X = S, Se, Te) with atoms X forming a cubic closed-packed array, atoms B occupying the octahedral holes between alternate X sheets and atoms A located in the tetrahedral holes in the remaining vacant layers. A three-dimensional X-Ray structure determination was performed on a single crystal of composition Cu_0.70TiS₂ with the final discrepancy indices R = 0.037, wR = 0.043. The structure is related to CdI₂ with the unit cell derived from 3 CdI₂ cells that are translated by $\text{|}\text{1}\text{3}\text{,}\text{1}\text{3}\text{, 1|}$ and with Cu atoms disordered in two independent tetrahedral sites between the CdI₂-type subunits. The magnetic susceptibility exhibits Pauli-paramagnetic behaviour and the results of Hall measurements confirm the metallic nature of the compound.