We address the two main questions relevant to microscopic nuclear structure calculations starting from a free NN potential. These concern the accuracy of these kinds of calculations and the extent to which they depend on the potential used as input. Regarding the first question, we present some results obtained for nuclei around doubly magic Sn and Pb by making use of an effective interaction d...

We introduce a microscopic and relativistic theory describing free scattering and finite nuclei for the octet baryons in a consistent quantum field theoretical framework based on Dirac-Brueckner theory and nuclear mean-field. In a first quantitative approach yet still heuristic for dealing with the Λ hyperon the quality of the description of finite (hyper)nuclei based on free meson exchange pot...

Abstract The aerodynamical optimal design (OD) of the shape of flying configurations (FCs) can be improved by refinements of its start software used for the optimization and of the optimization strategy itself. The author has two times enlarged the classical variational method. The first one consists in the inviscid global OD of the FC’s shape (the optimization of the camber, twist, thickness a...

This article, adapted from our acceptance speech of the Avanti Award in Lipids at the 47th Biophysical Society meeting in San Antonio, 2003, summarizes over 30 years of research in the area of lipid bilayers. Beginning with a theoretical model of the phase transition (J.F.N.), we have proceeded experimentally using dilatometry and density centrifugation to study volume, differential scanning ca...

Standard concepts of nuclear physics explaining the systematics of ground state spins in nuclei by the presence of specific coherent terms in the nucleon-nucleon interaction were put in doubt by the observation that these systematics can be reproduced with high probability by randomly chosen rotationally invariant interactions. We review the recent development in this area, along with new origi...

Examples are given of the usefulness of electrons in interaction with nuclei for probing fundamental interactions and structure.

The origin of sexual reproduction involved the evolution of zygotes from separate genomes and, like other social processes, should therefore be amenable to analysis using kin selection theory. I consider how kin structure affects sexual interactions in three contexts--the evolution of sexual reproduction, sex allocation and sexual conflict. Kin structure helps explain the even-handed replicatio...

The structural properties of model microgel particles are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations applying a coarse-grained model. A microgel is comprised of a regular network of polymers internally connected by tetra-functional cross-links and with dangling ends at its surface. The self-avoiding polymers are modeled as bead-spring linear chains. Electrostatic interactions are taken into...

Computing blood flows in a closed vascular system by isolating one section for simulation creates difficulties due to the time-periodic structure of the flow and possible non-physical back flow in the simplified geometry. We propose some solutions in the context of a simplified fluid structure interaction on a fixed geometry but with pressure dependent normal velocities at the compliant walls. ...