CO 2 Reduction Selective for C ≥2 Products on Polycrystalline Copper with N-Substituted Pyridinium Additives

DOE PAGES

Han, Zhiji; Kortlever, Ruud; Chen, Hsiang -Yun; ...

2017-07-21

Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to generate multicarbon products is of interest for applications in artificial photosynthetic schemes. This is a particularly attractive goal for CO 2 reduction by copper electrodes, where a broad range of hydrocarbon products can be generated but where selectivity for C–C coupled products relative to CH 4 and H 2 remains an impediment. Herein we report a simple yet highly selective catalytic system for CO 2 reduction to C ≥2 hydrocarbons on a polycrystalline Cu electrode in bicarbonate aqueous solution that uses N-substituted pyridinium additives. Selectivities of 70–80% for C 2 and C 3 products withmore » a hydrocarbon ratio of C ≥2/CH 4 significantly greater than 100 have been observed with several additives. 13C-labeling studies verify CO 2 to be the sole carbon source in the C ≥2 hydrocarbons produced. Upon electroreduction, the N-substituted pyridinium additives lead to film deposition on the Cu electrode, identified in one case as the reductive coupling product of N-arylpyridinium. As a result, product selectivity can also be tuned from C ≥2 species to H 2 (~90%) while suppressing methane with certain N-heterocyclic additives.« less

CO 2 Reduction Selective for C ≥2 Products on Polycrystalline Copper with N-Substituted Pyridinium Additives

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han, Zhiji; Kortlever, Ruud; Chen, Hsiang -Yun

Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to generate multicarbon products is of interest for applications in artificial photosynthetic schemes. This is a particularly attractive goal for CO 2 reduction by copper electrodes, where a broad range of hydrocarbon products can be generated but where selectivity for C–C coupled products relative to CH 4 and H 2 remains an impediment. Herein we report a simple yet highly selective catalytic system for CO 2 reduction to C ≥2 hydrocarbons on a polycrystalline Cu electrode in bicarbonate aqueous solution that uses N-substituted pyridinium additives. Selectivities of 70–80% for C 2 and C 3 products withmore » a hydrocarbon ratio of C ≥2/CH 4 significantly greater than 100 have been observed with several additives. 13C-labeling studies verify CO 2 to be the sole carbon source in the C ≥2 hydrocarbons produced. Upon electroreduction, the N-substituted pyridinium additives lead to film deposition on the Cu electrode, identified in one case as the reductive coupling product of N-arylpyridinium. As a result, product selectivity can also be tuned from C ≥2 species to H 2 (~90%) while suppressing methane with certain N-heterocyclic additives.« less

Selective catalytic two-step process for ethylene glycol from carbon monoxide

PubMed Central

Dong, Kaiwu; Elangovan, Saravanakumar; Sang, Rui; Spannenberg, Anke; Jackstell, Ralf; Junge, Kathrin; Li, Yuehui; Beller, Matthias

2016-01-01

Upgrading C1 chemicals (for example, CO, CO/H2, MeOH and CO2) with C–C bond formation is essential for the synthesis of bulk chemicals. In general, these industrially important processes (for example, Fischer Tropsch) proceed at drastic reaction conditions (>250 °C; high pressure) and suffer from low selectivity, which makes high capital investment necessary and requires additional purifications. Here, a different strategy for the preparation of ethylene glycol (EG) via initial oxidative coupling and subsequent reduction is presented. Separating coupling and reduction steps allows for a completely selective formation of EG (99%) from CO. This two-step catalytic procedure makes use of a Pd-catalysed oxycarbonylation of amines to oxamides at room temperature (RT) and subsequent Ru- or Fe-catalysed hydrogenation to EG. Notably, in the first step the required amines can be efficiently reused. The presented stepwise oxamide-mediated coupling provides the basis for a new strategy for selective upgrading of C1 chemicals. PMID:27377550

The c-axis charge traveling wave in a coupled system of Josephson junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukrinov, Yu. M.; Hamdipour, M.

2012-05-01

We demonstrate a manifestation of the charge traveling wave along the c axis (TW) in current voltage characteristics of coupled Josephson junctions in high- T c superconductors. The branches related to the TW with different wavelengths are found for the stacks with different number of Josephson junctions at different values of system's parameters. Transitions between the TW branches and the outermost branch are observed. The electric charge in the superconducting layers and charge-charge correlation functions for TW and outermost branches show different behavior with bias current. We propose an experimental testing of the TW branching by microwave irradiation.

Rotational spectrum of NSF3 in the ground and v5 = 1 vibrational states: observation of Q-branch perturbation-allowed transitions with delta(k - l) = 0, +/-3, +/-6 and anomalies in the rovibrational structure of the v5 = 1 state.

PubMed

Macholl, Sven; Mäder, Heinrich; Harder, Hauke; Margulès, Laurent; Dréan, Pascal; Cosléou, Jean; Demaison, Jean; Pracna, Petr

2009-01-29

The rotational spectrum of NSF3 in the ground and v5 = 1 vibrational states has been investigated in the centimeter- and millimeter-wave ranges. R-branch (J + 1 <-- J) transitions for J = 0, 1 and Q-branch rotational transitions for the v5 = 1 vibrational state have been measured by waveguide Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the range 8-26.5 GHz. The Q-branch transitions include 28 direct l-type doubling transitions (kl = +1, A1) <--> (kl = +1, A2) with J < or = 62, and 108 direct l-type resonance transitions following the selection rule delta k = delta l = +/-2 with J < or = 60 and G = |k - l| < or = 3. A process called "regional resonance" was observed in which a cluster of levels interacted strongly over a large range in J. This process led to the observation of 55 perturbation-allowed transitions following the selection rules delta(k - l) = +/-3, +/-6. In particular, (kl = +1, A+) <--> (kl = -2, A-), (kl = +4, A+) <--> (kl = +1, A-), (kl = +2) <--> (kl = -1), (kl = +3) <--> (kl = 0), (kl = +2) <--> (kl = -3), and (kl = +3) <--> (kl = -3). The various aspects of the regional resonances are discussed in detail. An accidental near-degeneracy of the kl = 0 and kl = -4 levels at J = 26/27 led to the observation of perturbation-allowed transitions following the selection rule delta(k-l) = +/-6 with (kl = +2) <--> (kl = -4). A corresponding near-degeneracy between kl = -1 and kl = -3 levels at J = 30/31 led to the detection of similar transitions, but with (kl = +3) <--> (kl = -3). In the range 230-480 GHz, R-branch rotational transitions have been measured by absorption spectroscopy up to J = 49 in the ground-state and up to J = 50 in the v5 = 1 vibrational state. The transition frequencies have been analyzed using various reduced forms of the effective Hamiltonians. The data for the v5 = 1 vibrational state have been fitted successfully using two models up to seventh order with delta k = +/-3 interaction parameters constrained (dt constrained to zero, and epsilon to zero or to the ground-state value). On the other hand, reductions with the (delta k = +/-1, deltal = -/+2) interaction parameter q12 fixed to zero failed to reproduce the experimental data since the parameters defining the reduction transformation do not arise in the correct order of magnitude. The ground-state data have been analyzed including parameters up to fourth order constraining either parameters of the delta k = +/-3 interactions to zero (reduction A), or of the delta k = +/-6 interactions to zero (reduction B). The unitary equivalence of the different parameter sets obtained is demonstrated for both vibrational states.

Doppler Lidar System Design via Interdisciplinary Design Concept at NASA Langley Research Center - Part I

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyer, Charles M.; Jackson, Trevor P.; Beyon, Jeffrey Y.; Petway, Larry B.

2013-01-01

Optimized designs of the Navigation Doppler Lidar (NDL) instrument for Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) were accomplished via Interdisciplinary Design Concept (IDEC) at NASA Langley Research Center during the summer of 2013. Three branches in the Engineering Directorate and three students were involved in this joint task through the NASA Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars (LARSS) Program. The Laser Remote Sensing Branch (LRSB), Mechanical Systems Branch (MSB), and Structural and Thermal Systems Branch (STSB) were engaged to achieve optimal designs through iterative and interactive collaborative design processes. A preliminary design iteration was able to reduce the power consumption, mass, and footprint by removing redundant components and replacing inefficient components with more efficient ones. A second design iteration reduced volume and mass by replacing bulky components with excessive performance with smaller components custom-designed for the power system. Mechanical placement collaboration reduced potential electromagnetic interference (EMI). Through application of newly selected electrical components and thermal analysis data, a total electronic chassis redesign was accomplished. Use of an innovative forced convection tunnel heat sink was employed to meet and exceed project requirements for cooling, mass reduction, and volume reduction. Functionality was a key concern to make efficient use of airflow, and accessibility was also imperative to allow for servicing of chassis internals. The collaborative process provided for accelerated design maturation with substantiated function.

Apparatus for supplying conditioned air at a substantially constant temperature and humidity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Obler, H. D. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

The apparatus includes a supply duct coupled to a source of supply air for carrying the supply air therethrough. A return duct is coupled to the supply duct for carrying return conditioned air therethrough. A temperature reducing device is coupled to the supply duct for decreasing the temperature of the supply and return conditioned air. A by-pass duct is coupled to the supply duct for selectively directing portions of the supply and return conditioned air around the temperature reducing device. Another by-pass duct is coupled to the return duct for selectively directing portions of the return conditioned air around the supply duct and the temperature reduction device. Controller devices selectively control the flow and amount of mixing of the supply and return conditioned air.

Atomistic mechanisms underlying selectivities in C 1 and C 2 products from electrochemical reduction of CO on Cu(111)

DOE PAGES

Xiao, Hai; Cheng, Tao; Goddard, III, William A.

2016-12-07

Practical environmental and energy applications of the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to chemicals and fuels require far more efficient and selective electrocatalysts beyond the only working material Cu, but the wealth of experimental data on Cu can serve to validate any proposed mechanisms. To provide design guidelines, we use quantum mechanics to predict the detailed atomistic mechanisms responsible for C 1 and C 2 products on Cu. Thus, we report the pH dependent routes to the major products, methane and ethylene, and identify the key intermediates where branches to methanol, ketene, ethanol, acetylene, and ethane are kinetically blocked. Furthermore,more » we discovered that surface water on Cu plays a key role in the selectivity for hydrocarbon products over the oxygen-containing alcohol products by serving as a strong proton donor for electrochemical dehydration reductions. We suggest new experiments to validate our predicted mechanisms.« less

Spectral broadening of optical transitions in InAs/GaAs coupled quantum dot pairs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, P.; Czarnocki, C.; Jennings, C.; Casara, J.; Monteros, A. L.; Zahbihi, N.; Scheibner, M.; Economou, S. E.; Bracker, A. S.; Pursley, B. C.; Gammon, D.; Carter, S. G.

The optical transitions in InAs/GaAs coupled quantum dot (CQD) pairs are investigated experimentally. These coupled dot systems provide new means to study the interaction of quantum states with the mechanical modes of the crystal environment. Here, the line width and line shape of CQD optical transitions are analyzed in detail as a function of temperature, excitation power, excitation energy, and tunnel coupling strength. A significant line broadening, up to 25 times the typical lifetime-limited linewidth of single-dot excitons, is being observed at level anti-crossings where the coherent tunnel coupling between spatially direct and indirect exciton states is considerable. The experimental observations are compared with theoretical predictions where linewidth broadening at anti-crossings is attributed to the phonon assisted transitions, and found to be strongly dependent on the energy splitting of the two exciton branches. This work focuses on understanding the linewidth broadening due to the pure dephasing, and fundamental aspects of the interaction of these systems with the local environment. This work was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Basic Research Award HDTRA1-15-1-0011.

Plasmonic Control of Multi-Electron Transfer and C-C Coupling in Visible-Light-Driven CO2 Reduction on Au Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Yu, Sungju; Wilson, Andrew J; Heo, Jaeyoung; Jain, Prashant K

2018-04-11

Artificial photosynthesis relies on the availability of synthetic photocatalysts that can drive CO 2 reduction in the presence of water and light. From the standpoint of solar fuel production, it is desirable that these photocatalysts perform under visible light and produce energy-rich hydrocarbons from CO 2 reduction. However, the multistep nature of CO 2 -to-hydrocarbon conversion poses a significant kinetic bottleneck when compared to CO production and H 2 evolution. Here, we show that plasmonic Au nanoparticle photocatalysts can harvest visible light for multielectron, multiproton reduction of CO 2 to yield C 1 (methane) and C 2 (ethane) hydrocarbons. The light-excitation attributes influence the C 2 and C 1 selectivity. The observed trends in activity and selectivity follow Poisson statistics of electron harvesting. Higher photon energies and flux favor simultaneous harvesting of more than one electron from the photocharged Au nanoparticle catalyst, inducing the C-C coupling required for C 2 production. These findings elucidate the nature of plasmonic photocatalysis, which involves strong light-matter coupling, and set the stage for the controlled chemical bond formation by light excitation.

Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses at Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch, Columbia, Tennessee

USGS Publications Warehouse

Outlaw, George S.

1993-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Columbia, Tennessee, conducted hydrologic and hydraulic analyses at Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch in the Little Bigby Creek watershed, Columbia, Tennessee, from 1990 through 1991. Results of the analyses can be used by city planners in the development of plans to replace several deteriorating and inadequate drainage structures. Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch drain small watersheds of 1.69 and 1.04 square miles, respectively. Flood discharges for 5-, lo-, and 25-year recurrence-interval storm events were calculated at the stream mouths using flood-frequency relations developed for use at small urban streams in Tennessee. For each stream, flood discharges at locations upstream from the mouth were calculated by subdividing the watershed and assigning a percentage of the discharge at the mouth, based on drainage area, to each subarea. Flood profiles for the selected recurrence-interval flood discharges were simulated for Akin Branch and Cayce Valley Branch for existing conditions and conditions that might exist if drainage improvements such as larger culverts and bridges and channel improvements are constructed. The results of the simulations were used to predict changes in flood elevations that might result from such drainage improvements. Analyses indicate that reductions in existing flood elevations of as much as 2.1 feet for the 5-year flood at some sites on Akin Branch and as much as 3.8 feet for the 5-year flood at some sites on Cayce Valley Branch might be expected with the drainage improvements.

Highly diastereoselective reductive coupling of 2-bromo-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropanamide with aldehydes promoted by triphenylphosphine-titanium(IV) isopropoxide. An efficient route to the synthesis of erythro-alpha-fluoro-alpha-(trifluoromethyl)-beta-hydroxy amides.

PubMed

Sato, Kei; Sekiguchi, Takashi; Ishihara, Takashi; Konno, Tsutomu; Yamanaka, Hiroki

2004-07-23

The reductive coupling reaction of N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-bromo-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropanamide (Weinreb amide) with various aldehydes under the influence of the combined reagent, 1.2 equiv each of triphenylphosphine and titanium(IV) isopropoxide, took place smoothly at ambient temperature to give the corresponding alpha-fluoro-alpha-(trifluoromethyl)-beta-hydroxy amides in a highly erythro-selective manner. The high erythro selectivity was also obtained even by employing a combination of triphenylphosphine (1.2 equiv) and a catalytic amount of titanium(IV) isopropoxide.

Cosmology in bimetric theory with an effective composite coupling to matter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gümrükçüoğlu, A. Emir; Heisenberg, Lavinia; Mukohyama, Shinji

We study the cosmology of bimetric theory with a composite matter coupling. We find two possible branches of background evolution. We investigate the question of stability of cosmological perturbations. For the tensor and vector perturbations, we derive conditions on the absence of ghost and gradient instabilities. For the scalar modes, we obtain conditions for avoiding ghost degrees. In the first branch, we find that one of the scalar modes becomes a ghost at the late stages of the evolution. Conversely, this problem can be avoided in the second branch. However, we also find that the constraint for the second branchmore » prevents the doubly coupled matter fields from being the standard ingredients of cosmology. We thus conclude that a realistic and stable cosmological model requires additional minimally coupled matter fields.« less

Metal ion cycling of Cu foil for selective C–C coupling in electrochemical CO 2 reduction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Kun; Sandberg, Robert B.; Akey, Austin J.

Here, electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to higher-value hydrocarbons beyond C 1 products is desirable for applications in energy storage, transportation and the chemical industry. Cu catalysts have shown the potential to catalyse C–C coupling for C 2+ products, but still suffer from low selectivity in water. Here, we use density functional theory to determine the energetics of the initial C–C coupling steps on different Cu facets in CO 2 reduction, and suggest that the Cu(100) and stepped (211) facets favour C 2+ product formation over Cu(111). To demonstrate this, we report the tuning of facet exposure on Cu foil throughmore » the metal ion battery cycling method. Compared with the polished Cu foil, our 100-cycled Cu nanocube catalyst with exposed (100) facets presents a sixfold improvement in C 2+ to C 1 product ratio, with a highest C 2+ Faradaic efficiency of over 60% and H 2 below 20%, and a corresponding C 2+ current of more than 40 mA cm –2.« less

Metal ion cycling of Cu foil for selective C–C coupling in electrochemical CO 2 reduction

DOE PAGES

Jiang, Kun; Sandberg, Robert B.; Akey, Austin J.; ...

2018-01-15

Here, electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to higher-value hydrocarbons beyond C 1 products is desirable for applications in energy storage, transportation and the chemical industry. Cu catalysts have shown the potential to catalyse C–C coupling for C 2+ products, but still suffer from low selectivity in water. Here, we use density functional theory to determine the energetics of the initial C–C coupling steps on different Cu facets in CO 2 reduction, and suggest that the Cu(100) and stepped (211) facets favour C 2+ product formation over Cu(111). To demonstrate this, we report the tuning of facet exposure on Cu foil throughmore » the metal ion battery cycling method. Compared with the polished Cu foil, our 100-cycled Cu nanocube catalyst with exposed (100) facets presents a sixfold improvement in C 2+ to C 1 product ratio, with a highest C 2+ Faradaic efficiency of over 60% and H 2 below 20%, and a corresponding C 2+ current of more than 40 mA cm –2.« less

THE S{sup 4}G PERSPECTIVE ON CIRCUMSTELLAR DUST EXTINCTION OF ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH STARS IN M100

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meidt, Sharon E.; Schinnerer, Eva; Munoz-Mateos, Juan-Carlos

2012-04-01

We examine the effect of circumstellar dust extinction on the near-IR (NIR) contribution of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in intermediate-age clusters throughout the disk of M100. For our sample of 17 AGB-dominated clusters we extract optical-to-mid-IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and find that NIR brightness is coupled to the mid-IR dust emission in such a way that a significant reduction of AGB light, of up to 1 mag in the K band, follows from extinction by the dust shell formed during this stage. Since the dust optical depth varies with AGB chemistry (C-rich or O-rich), our results suggest thatmore » the contribution of AGB stars to the flux from their host clusters will be closely linked to the metallicity and the progenitor mass of the AGB star, to which dust chemistry and mass-loss rate are sensitive. Our sample of clusters-each the analogue of a {approx}1 Gyr old post-starburst galaxy-has implications within the context of mass and age estimation via SED modeling at high-z: we find that the average {approx}0.5 mag extinction estimated here may be sufficient to reduce the AGB contribution in the (rest-frame) K band from {approx}70%, as predicted in the latest generation of synthesis models, to {approx}35%. Our technique for selecting AGB-dominated clusters in nearby galaxies promises to be effective for discriminating the uncertainties associated with AGB stars in intermediate-age populations that plague age and mass estimation in high-z galaxies.« less

Directing the Branching Growth of Cuprous Oxide by OH- Ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Kunfeng; Si, Yunfei; Xue, Dongfeng

The effect of OH- ions on the branching growth of cuprous oxide microcrystals was systematically studied by a reduction route, where copper-citrate complexes were reduced by glucose under alkaline conditions. Different copper salts including Cu(NO3)2, CuCl2, CuSO4, and Cu(Ac)2 were used in this work. The results indicate that the Cu2O branching growth habit is closely correlated to the concentration of OH- ions, which plays an important role in directing the diffusion-limited branching growth of Cu2O and influencing the reduction power of glucose. A variety of Cu2O branching patterns including 6-pod, 8-pod and 24-pod branches, have been achieved without using template and surfactant. The current method can provide a good platform for studying the growth mechanism of microcrystal branching patterns.

High performance of a cobalt–nitrogen complex for the reduction and reductive coupling of nitro compounds into amines and their derivatives

PubMed Central

Zhou, Peng; Jiang, Liang; Wang, Fan; Deng, Kejian; Lv, Kangle; Zhang, Zehui

2017-01-01

Replacement of precious noble metal catalysts with low-cost, non-noble heterogeneous catalysts for chemoselective reduction and reductive coupling of nitro compounds holds tremendous promise for the clean synthesis of nitrogen-containing chemicals. We report a robust cobalt–nitrogen/carbon (Co–Nx/C-800-AT) catalyst for the reduction and reductive coupling of nitro compounds into amines and their derivates. The Co–Nx/C-800-AT catalyst was prepared by the pyrolysis of cobalt phthalocyanine–silica colloid composites and the subsequent removal of silica template and cobalt nanoparticles. The Co–Nx/C-800-AT catalyst showed extremely high activity, chemoselectivity, and stability toward the reduction of nitro compounds with H2, affording full conversion and >97% selectivity in water after 1.5 hours at 110°C and under a H2 pressure of 3.5 bar for all cases. The hydrogenation of nitrobenzene over the Co–Nx/C-800-AT catalyst can even be smoothly performed under very mild conditions (40°C and a H2 pressure of 1 bar) with an aniline yield of 98.7%. Moreover, the Co–Nx/C-800-AT catalyst has high activity toward the transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene into aniline and the reductive coupling of nitrobenzene into other derivates with high yields. These processes were carried out in an environmentally friendly manner without base and ligands. PMID:28232954

A polymeric-semiconductor-metal-complex hybrid photocatalyst for visible-light CO(2) reduction.

PubMed

Maeda, Kazuhiko; Sekizawa, Keita; Ishitani, Osamu

2013-10-03

A polymeric carbon nitride semiconductor is demonstrated to photocatalyse CO2 reduction to formic acid under visible light (λ > 400 nm) with a high turnover number (>200 for 20 hours) and selectivity (>80%), when coupled with a molecular ruthenium complex as a catalyst.

From 6D superconformal field theories to dynamic gauged linear sigma models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apruzzi, Fabio; Hassler, Falk; Heckman, Jonathan J.; Melnikov, Ilarion V.

2017-09-01

Compactifications of six-dimensional (6D) superconformal field theories (SCFTs) on four- manifolds generate a large class of novel two-dimensional (2D) quantum field theories. We consider in detail the case of the rank-one simple non-Higgsable cluster 6D SCFTs. On the tensor branch of these theories, the gauge group is simple and there are no matter fields. For compactifications on suitably chosen Kähler surfaces, we present evidence that this provides a method to realize 2D SCFTs with N =(0 ,2 ) supersymmetry. In particular, we find that reduction on the tensor branch of the 6D SCFT yields a description of the same 2D fixed point that is described in the UV by a gauged linear sigma model (GLSM) in which the parameters are promoted to dynamical fields, that is, a "dynamic GLSM" (DGLSM). Consistency of the model requires the DGLSM to be coupled to additional non-Lagrangian sectors obtained from reduction of the antichiral two-form of the 6D theory. These extra sectors include both chiral and antichiral currents, as well as spacetime filling noncritical strings of the 6D theory. For each candidate 2D SCFT, we also extract the left- and right-moving central charges in terms of data of the 6D SCFT and the compactification manifold.

Highly Selective Coupling of Alkenes and Aldehydes Catalyzed by NHC–Ni–P(OPh)3: Synergy Between a Strong σ-Donor and a Strong π-Acceptor**

PubMed Central

Ho, Chun-Yu; Jamison, Timothy F.

2011-01-01

Both a strong electron donor (IPr) and a strong electron acceptor (P(OPh)3) are necessary for a highly selective, nickel-catalyzed coupling reaction between alkenes, aldehydes, and silyltriflates. Without the phosphite, catalysis is not observed and several side reactions are observed. The phosphite appears to suppress the formation of these byproducts and rescue the catalytic cycle by accelerating reductive elimination from an (IPr–Ni–H)(OTf) complex. PMID:17154217

Improved Acquisition for System Sustainment: Availability-Based Importance Framework for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Acquisition

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-30

when these equipment failures cause some of the worst accidents and environmental damages in human history such as the March 2011 Fukushima Nuclear ...ultimately facilitate the MRO acquisition process through effective maintenance triggers and supplier selection Task 2. Stochastic Availability Importance...dollars with a replacement plan lasting for several decades [GAO 2004]. A budget reduction of about 29 percent since 1990 has “forced the branches of the

Mapping momentum-dependent electron-phonon coupling and nonequilibrium phonon dynamics with ultrafast electron diffuse scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stern, Mark J.; René de Cotret, Laurent P.; Otto, Martin R.; Chatelain, Robert P.; Boisvert, Jean-Philippe; Sutton, Mark; Siwick, Bradley J.

2018-04-01

Despite their fundamental role in determining material properties, detailed momentum-dependent information on the strength of electron-phonon and phonon-phonon coupling (EPC and PPC, respectively) across the entire Brillouin zone has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that ultrafast electron diffuse scattering (UEDS) directly provides such information. By exploiting symmetry-based selection rules and time resolution, scattering from different phonon branches can be distinguished even without energy resolution. Using graphite as a model system, we show that UEDS patterns map the relative EPC and PPC strength through their profound sensitivity to photoinduced changes in phonon populations. We measure strong EPC to the K -point TO phonon of A1' symmetry (K -A1' ) and along the entire TO branch between Γ -K , not only to the Γ -E2 g phonon. We also determine that the subsequent phonon relaxation of these strongly coupled optical phonons involve three stages: decay via several identifiable channels to TA and LA phonons (1 -2 ps), intraband thermalization of the non-equilibrium TA/LA phonon populations (30 -40 ps) and interband relaxation of the TA/LA modes (115 ps). Combining UEDS with ultrafast angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy will yield a complete picture of the dynamics within and between electron and phonon subsystems, helping to unravel complex phases in which the intertwined nature of these systems has a strong influence on emergent properties.

Investigation of fluid-structure interaction with various types of junction coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmadi, A.; Keramat, A.

2010-10-01

In this study of water hammer with fluid-structure interaction (FSI) the main aim was the investigation of junction coupling effects. Junction coupling effects were studied in various types of discrete points, such as pumps, valves and branches. The emphasis was placed on an unrestrained pump and branch in the system, and the associated relations were derived for modelling them. Proposed relations were considered as boundary conditions for the numerical modelling which was implemented using the finite element method for the structural equations and the method of characteristics for the hydraulic equations. The results can be used by engineers in finding where junction coupling is significant.

Energetics and kinetics of the prebiotic synthesis of simple organic acids and amino acids with the FeS-H2S/FeS2 redox couple as reductant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schoonen, M. A.; Xu, Y.; Bebie, J.

1999-01-01

The thermodynamics of the FeS-H2S/FeS2 redox couple and a select number of reactions critical to the synthesis of simple carboxylic acids and amino acids have been evaluated as a function of temperature. This thermodynamic evaluation shows that the reducing power of the FeS-H2S/FeS2 redox couple decreases drastically with temperature. By contrast the equilibria describing the reduction of CO2 and the formation of simple carboxylic acids and amino acids require an increasingly higher reducing power with temperature. Given these two opposite trends, the thermodynamic driving force for CO2 reduction and amino acid formation with the FeS-H2S/FeS2 redox couple as reductant diminishes with increasing temperature. An evaluation of the mechanism of CO2 reduction by the FeS-H2S/FeS2 couple suggests that the electron transfer from pyrrhotite to CO2 is hindered by a high activation energy, even though the overall reaction is thermodynamically favorable. By comparison the electron transfer from pyrrhotite to either CS2, CO, or HCOOH are far more facile. This theoretical analysis explains the results of experimental work by Keefe et al. (1995), Heinen and Lauwers (1996) and Huber and Wachtershauser (1997). The implication is that a reaction sequence involving the reduction of CO2 with the FeS-H2S/FeS2 couple as reductant is unlikely to initiate a proposed prebiotic carbon fixation cycle (Wachtershauser, 1988b; 1990b, 1990a, 1992, 1993).

Beyond the 2008 Justice Reforms: Establishing a Legitimate Rule of Law in Mexico with Jury Trials

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-28

States with separation of powers , including executive, legislative, and judicial branches, granted by the 1917 Constitution. The executive branch role...law system prevents an overreaching judicial branch from legislating new laws. This provides a strong separation of powers . However, when coupled

Aggregation Dynamics Using Phase Wave Signals and Branching Patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakaguchi, Hidetsugu; Kusagaki, Takuma

2016-09-01

The aggregation dynamics of slime mold is studied using coupled equations of phase ϕ and cell concentration n. Phase waves work as tactic signals for aggregation. Branching structures appear during the aggregation. A stationary branching pattern appears like a river network, if cells are uniformly supplied into the system.

A coupled surface-water and ground-water flow model (MODBRANCH) for simulation of stream-aquifer interaction

USGS Publications Warehouse

Swain, Eric D.; Wexler, Eliezer J.

1996-01-01

Ground-water and surface-water flow models traditionally have been developed separately, with interaction between subsurface flow and streamflow either not simulated at all or accounted for by simple formulations. In areas with dynamic and hydraulically well-connected ground-water and surface-water systems, stream-aquifer interaction should be simulated using deterministic responses of both systems coupled at the stream-aquifer interface. Accordingly, a new coupled ground-water and surface-water model was developed by combining the U.S. Geological Survey models MODFLOW and BRANCH; the interfacing code is referred to as MODBRANCH. MODFLOW is the widely used modular three-dimensional, finite-difference ground-water model, and BRANCH is a one-dimensional numerical model commonly used to simulate unsteady flow in open- channel networks. MODFLOW was originally written with the River package, which calculates leakage between the aquifer and stream, assuming that the stream's stage remains constant during one model stress period. A simple streamflow routing model has been added to MODFLOW, but is limited to steady flow in rectangular, prismatic channels. To overcome these limitations, the BRANCH model, which simulates unsteady, nonuniform flow by solving the St. Venant equations, was restructured and incorporated into MODFLOW. Terms that describe leakage between stream and aquifer as a function of streambed conductance and differences in aquifer and stream stage were added to the continuity equation in BRANCH. Thus, leakage between the aquifer and stream can be calculated separately in each model, or leakages calculated in BRANCH can be used in MODFLOW. Total mass in the coupled models is accounted for and conserved. The BRANCH model calculates new stream stages for each time interval in a transient simulation based on upstream boundary conditions, stream properties, and initial estimates of aquifer heads. Next, aquifer heads are calculated in MODFLOW based on stream stages calculated by BRANCH, aquifer properties, and stresses. This process is repeated until convergence criteria are met for head and stage. Because time steps used in ground-water modeling can be much longer than time intervals used in surface- water simulations, provision has been made for handling multiple BRANCH time intervals within one MODFLOW time step. An option was also added to BRANCH to allow the simulation of channel drying and rewetting. Testing of the coupled model was verified by using data from previous studies; by comparing results with output from a simpler, four-point implicit, open-channel flow model linked with MODFLOW; and by comparison to field studies of L-31N canal in southern Florida.

Repetitively Coupled Chemical Reduction and Galvanic Exchange as a Synthesis Strategy for Expanding Applicable Number of Pt Atoms in Dendrimer-Encapsulated Pt Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Cho, Taehoon; Yoon, Chang Won; Kim, Joohoon

2018-06-13

In this study, we report the controllable synthesis of dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles (Pt DENs) utilizing repetitively coupled chemical reduction and galvanic exchange reactions. The synthesis strategy allows the expansion of the applicable number of Pt atoms encapsulated inside dendrimers to more than 1000 without being limited by the fixed number of complexation sites for Pt 2+ precursor ions in the dendrimers. The synthesis of Pt DENs is achieved in a short period of time (i.e., ∼10 min) simply by the coaddition of appropriate amounts of Cu 2+ and Pt 2+ precursors into aqueous dendrimer solution and subsequent addition of reducing agents such as BH 4 - , resulting in fast and selective complexation of Cu 2+ with the dendrimers and subsequent chemical reduction of the complexed Cu 2+ while uncomplexed Pt 2+ precursors remain oxidized. Interestingly, the chemical reduction of Cu 2+ , leading to the formation of Cu nanoparticles encapsulated inside the dendrimers, is coupled with the galvanic exchange of the Cu nanoparticles with the nearby Pt 2+ . This coupling repetitively proceeds until all of the added Pt 2+ ions form into Pt nanoparticles encapsulated inside the dendrimers. In contrast to the conventional method utilizing direct chemical reduction, this repetitively coupled chemical reduction and galvanic exchange enables a substantial increase in the applicable number of Pt atoms up to 1320 in Pt DENs while maintaining the unique features of DENs.

Fe-Catalyzed C–C Bond Construction from Olefins via Radicals

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

This Article details the development of the iron-catalyzed conversion of olefins to radicals and their subsequent use in the construction of C–C bonds. Optimization of a reductive diene cyclization led to the development of an intermolecular cross-coupling of electronically-differentiated donor and acceptor olefins. Although the substitution on the donor olefins was initially limited to alkyl and aryl groups, additional efforts culminated in the expansion of the scope of the substitution to various heteroatom-based functionalities, providing a unified olefin reactivity. A vinyl sulfone acceptor olefin was developed, which allowed for the efficient synthesis of sulfone adducts that could be used as branch points for further diversification. Moreover, this reactivity was extended into an olefin-based Minisci reaction to functionalize heterocyclic scaffolds. Finally, mechanistic studies resulted in a more thorough understanding of the reaction, giving rise to the development of a more efficient second-generation set of olefin cross-coupling conditions. PMID:28094980

[Compensation effect of cotton growth and development after soil salt content reduction at bud stage].

PubMed

Guo, Wen-Qi; Zhang, Pei-Tong; Li, Chun-Hong; Yin, Jian-Mei; Han, Xiao-Yong

2014-01-01

To elucidate the dynamic characteristics of cotton growth and development after soil salt content reduction (SD) at bud stage and its effect on yield formation, a pot experiment was conducted in which soil salt content was declined from 5 per thousand level to 2 per thousand level at cotton bud stage. The results showed that the plant height, biomass, total fruit branch and fruit node number, boll number, boll mass of cotton plants increased after soil salt content reduction at bud stage. The distribution proportions of biomass in root and boll decreased after soil salt content reduction, however, the distribution proportions of biomass in leaf, main stem and fruit branch were on the rise. The growth rate of cotton plant increased after soil salt content reduction. Plant dry matter accumulation rate of SD cotton exceeded CK cotton at 22 days after soil salt content reduction. The response of different organs of cotton plant were different to soil salt content reduction, the plant height was the earliest, followed by the fruit branch and fruit node formation, and the bud and boll were the latest, which indicated that the compensation effect of cotton growth and development after soil salt content reduction at bud stage firstly appeared on the formation and growth of new leaf, fruit branch and fruit node, and on this basis, gradually brought out yield compensation.

76 FR 13272 - Branch Offices

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-10

... DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Thrift Supervision Branch Offices AGENCY: Office of Thrift... required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507. The Office of Thrift Supervision within... below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction...

In situ IR studies of Co and Ce doped Mn/TiO2 catalyst for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Lu; Pang, Dandan; Zhang, Changliang; Meng, Jiaojiao; Zhu, Rongshu; Ouyang, Feng

2015-12-01

The Mn-Co-Ce/TiO2 catalyst was prepared by wet co-impregnation method for selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3 in the presence of oxygen. The adsorption and co-adsorption of NH3, NO and O2 on catalysts were investigated by in situ FTIR spectroscopy. The results suggested that addition of cobalt and cerium oxides increased the numbers of acid and redox sites. Especially, the cobalt oxide produced lots of Brønsted acid sites, which favor to the adsorption of coordinated NH3 through NH3 migration. Ce addition improved amide ions formation to reach best NO reduction selectivity. A mechanistic pathway over Mn-Co-Ce/TiO2 was proposed. At low-temperature SCR reaction, coordinated NH3 reacted with NO2-, and amide reacted with NO (ad) or NO (g) to form N2. NO2 was related to the formation of nitrite on Co-contained catalysts and the generation of sbnd NH2- on Ce-contained catalysts. At high temperature, the other branch reaction also occurred between the coordinated NH3 and nitrate species, resulting in N2O yield increase.

Synthesis of multimetallic nanoparticles by seeded methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiner, Rebecca Gayle

This dissertation focuses on the synthesis of metal nanocrystals (NCs) by seeded methods, in which preformed seeds serve as platforms for growth. Metal NCs are of interest due to their tunable optical and catalytic properties, which arise from their composition and crystallite size and shape. Moreover, multimetallic NCs are potentially multifunctional due to the integration of the properties of each metal within one structure. However, such structures are difficult to synthesize with structural definition due to differences in precursor reduction rates and the size-dependent solubility of bimetallic phases. Seed-mediated co-reduction (SMCR) is a method developed in the Skrabalak Laboratory that couples the advantages of a seeded method with co-reduction methods to achieve multimetallic nanomaterials with defined shape and architecture. This approach was originally demonstrated in a model Au-Pd system in which Au and Pd precursors were simultaneously reduced to deposit metal onto shape-controlled Au or Pd NC seeds. Using SMCR, uniformly branched core shell Au Au-Pd and Pd Au-Pd NCs were synthesized, with the shape of the seeds directing the symmetry of the final structures. By varying the seed shape and the temperature at which metal deposition occurs, the roles of adatom diffusion and seed shape on final NC morphology were decoupled. Moreover, by selecting seeds of a composition (Ag) different than the depositing metals (Au and Pd), trimetallic nanostructures are possible, including shape-controlled Ag Au-Pd NCs and hollow Au-Pd-Ag nanoparticles (NPs). The latter architecture arises through galvanic replacement. Shape-controlled core shell NCs with trimetallic shells are also possible by co-reducing three metal precursors (Ag, Au, and Pd) with shape-controlled Au seeds; for example, convex octopods, concave cubes, and truncated octahedra were achieved in this initial demonstration and was enabled by varying the ratio of Ag to Au/Pd in the overgrowth step as well as reaction pH. Ultimately, the final multimetallic nanostructure depends on the kinetics of metal deposition as well as seed composition, shape, reactivity, and crystallinity. In elucidating the roles of these parameters in nanomaterial synthesis, the rational design of new functional NCs becomes possible, which capitalize on the unique optical and catalytic properties of structurally defined multimetallic structures. In fact, branched Au-Pd NCs with high symmetry were found to be effective refractive index-based hydrogen sensors.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Structural Acousticcontrol Interior Noise Reduction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mei, Chuh; Bevan, Jeffrey S.

1999-01-01

The research results contained in this technical report were performed under the NASA grant entitled "Experimental and Numerical Structural Acoustic Control for Interior Noise Reduction". The report is based essentially on partial progress of the Ph.D. dissertation prepared by Jeffrey S. Bevan under direct guidance of Dr. Chuh Mei. The document presents a finite element formulation and control of sound radiated from cylindrical panels embedded with piezoceramic actuators. The extended MIN6 shallow shell element is fully electrical-structural coupled. A piezoelectric modal actuator participation (PMAP) is defined which indicates the actuator performance to each of the offending modes. Genetic algorithm is also employed to validate the sensor and actuator locations determined by the PMAP criteria. The work was conducted at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University. Mr. Travis L. Turner, Structural Acoustics Branch, NASA Langley Research Center is the technical monitor.

Phase-locking of magnetic islands diagnosed by ECE-imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tobias, Benjamin; Grierson, Brian A.; Muscatello, Christopher M.

2014-08-13

Millimeter-wave imaging diagnostics identify phase-locking and the satisfaction of 3-wave coupling selection criteria amongst multiple magnetic island chains by providing a localized, internal measurement of the 2D power spectral density, S(ω, k pol). In high-confinement tokamak discharges, these interactions impact both plasma rotation and tearing stability. Here, nonlinear coupling amongst neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) of different n-number, with islands not satisfying the poloidal mode number selection criterion {m, m ', m - m ' }, contributes to a reduction in core rotation and flow shear in the vicinity of the modes.

Retarded correlators in kinetic theory: branch cuts, poles and hydrodynamic onset transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Romatschke, Paul

In this paper, the collective modes of an effective kinetic theory description based on the Boltzmann equation in a relaxation-time approximation applicable to gauge theories at weak but finite coupling and low frequencies are studied. Real time retarded two-point correlators of the energy-momentum tensor and the R-charge current are calculated at finite temperature in flat space-times for large N gauge theories. It is found that the real-time correlators possess logarithmic branch cuts which in the limit of large coupling disappear and give rise to non-hydrodynamic poles that are reminiscent of quasi-normal modes in black holes. In addition to branch cuts,more » correlators can have simple hydrodynamic poles, generalizing the concept of hydrodynamic modes to intermediate wavelength. Surprisingly, the hydrodynamic poles cease to exist for some critical value of the wavelength and coupling reminiscent of the properties of onset transitions.« less

Hunting Down Massless Dark Photons in Kaon Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fabbrichesi, M.; Gabrielli, E.; Mele, B.

2017-07-01

If dark photons are massless, they couple to standard-model particles only via higher dimensional operators, while direct (renormalizable) interactions induced by kinetic mixing, which motivates most of the current experimental searches, are absent. We consider the effect of possible flavor-changing magnetic-dipole couplings of massless dark photons in kaon physics. In particular, we study the branching ratio for the process K+→π+π0γ ¯ with a simplified-model approach, assuming the chiral quark model to evaluate the hadronic matrix element. Possible effects in the K0-K¯ 0 mixing are taken into account. We find that branching ratios up to O (10-7) are allowed—depending on the dark-sector masses and couplings. Such large branching ratios for K+→π+π0γ ¯ could be of interest for experiments dedicated to rare K+ decays like NA62 at CERN, where γ ¯ can be detected as a massless invisible system.

Retarded correlators in kinetic theory: branch cuts, poles and hydrodynamic onset transitions

DOE PAGES

Romatschke, Paul

2016-06-24

In this paper, the collective modes of an effective kinetic theory description based on the Boltzmann equation in a relaxation-time approximation applicable to gauge theories at weak but finite coupling and low frequencies are studied. Real time retarded two-point correlators of the energy-momentum tensor and the R-charge current are calculated at finite temperature in flat space-times for large N gauge theories. It is found that the real-time correlators possess logarithmic branch cuts which in the limit of large coupling disappear and give rise to non-hydrodynamic poles that are reminiscent of quasi-normal modes in black holes. In addition to branch cuts,more » correlators can have simple hydrodynamic poles, generalizing the concept of hydrodynamic modes to intermediate wavelength. Surprisingly, the hydrodynamic poles cease to exist for some critical value of the wavelength and coupling reminiscent of the properties of onset transitions.« less

Synthesis of branched metal nanostructures with controlled architecture and composition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz, Nancy

On account of their small size, metal nanoparticles are proven to be outstanding catalysts for numerous chemical transformations and represent promising platforms for applications in the fields of electronics, chemical sensing, medicine, and beyond. Many properties of metal nanoparticles are size-dependent and can be further manipulated through their shape and architecture (e.g., spherical vs. branched). Achieving morphology control of nanoparticles through solution-based techniques has proven challenging due to limited knowledge of morphology development in nanosyntheses. To overcome these complications, a systematic examination of the local ligand environment of metal precursors on nanostructure formation was undertaken to evaluate its contribution to nanoparticle nucleation rate and subsequent growth processes. Specifically, this thesis will provide evidence from ex situ studies---Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis)---that support the hypothesis that strongly coordinated ligands delay burst-like nucleation to generate spherical metal nanoparticles and ligands with intermediate binding affinity regulate the gradual reduction of metal precursors to promote aggregated assembly of nanodendrites. These ex situ studies were coupled with a new in situ perspective, providing detailed understanding of metal precursor transformation, its direct relation to nanoparticle morphology development, and the ligand influence towards the formation of structurally complex metal nanostructures, using in situ synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Ultra Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (USAXS). The principles extracted from the study of monometallic nanostructure formation were also found to be generally applicable to the synthesis of bimetallic nanostructures, e.g., Pd-Pt architectures, with either core-shell or alloyed structures that were readily achieved by ligand selection. These outcomes provide a direct connection between fundamental principles of coordination chemistry and nanoparticle formation, with a stronger foundation for the predictive synthesis of future nanomaterials with controllable structural features.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of some Schiff base metal complexes containing benzoin moiety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Shahawi, M. S.; Al-Jahdali, M. S.; Bashammakh, A. S.; Al-Sibaai, A. A.; Nassef, H. M.

2013-09-01

The ligation behavior of bis-benzoin ethylenediamine (B2ED) and benzoin thiosemicarbazone (BTS) Schiff bases towards Ru3+, Rh3+, Pd2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ were determined. The bond length of M-N and spectrochemical parameters (10Dq, β, B and LFSE) of the complexes were evaluated. The redox characteristics of selected complexes were explored by cyclic voltammetry (CV) at Pt working electrode in non aqueous solvents. Au mesh (100 w/in.) optically transparent thin layer electrode (OTTLE) was also used for recording thin layer CV for selected Ru complex. Oxidation of some complexes occurs in a consecutive chemical reaction of an EC type mechanism. The characteristics of electron transfer process of the couples M2+/M3+ and M3+/M4+ (M = Ru3+, Rh3+) and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation and/or reduction were assigned. The nature of the electroactive species and reduction mechanism of selected electrode couples were assigned.

26 CFR 1.884-0 - Overview of regulation provisions for section 884.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... claim an exemption or rate reduction with respect to the branch profits tax, the branch-level interest... profits tax on certain earnings of a foreign corporation's U.S. trade or business; a branch-level interest... organization (as defined in section 7701(a)(18)) is not subject to the branch profits tax by reason of section...

Epicormic Branches and Lumber Grade of Bottomland Oak

Treesearch

James S. Meadows

1995-01-01

Epicormic branches can be a serious problem in management of hardwood forests for high-quality sawtimber production. In one study in central Alabama, defects caused by epicormic branches that developed following a partial cutting resulted in a 13 percent reduction in the value of willow oak lumber. Production of epicormic branches along the boles of hardwood trees is...

Nickel-catalyzed synthesis of diarylamines via oxidatively induced C-N bond formation at room temperature.

PubMed

Ilies, Laurean; Matsubara, Tatsuaki; Nakamura, Eiichi

2012-11-02

A nickel-catalyzed oxidative coupling of zinc amides with organomagnesium compounds selectively produces diarylamines under mild reaction conditions, with tolerance for chloride, bromide, hydroxyl, ester, and ketone groups. A diamine is bis-monoarylated. A bromoaniline undergoes N-arylation followed by Kumada-Tamao-Corriu coupling in one pot. The reaction may proceed via oxidatively induced reductive elimination of a nickel species.

Plasmons in Dimensionally Mismatched Coulomb Coupled Graphene Systems.

PubMed

Badalyan, S M; Shylau, A A; Jauho, A P

2017-09-22

We calculate the plasmon dispersion relation for Coulomb coupled metallic armchair graphene nanoribbons and doped monolayer graphene. The crossing of the plasmon curves, which occurs for uncoupled 1D and 2D systems, is split by the interlayer Coulomb coupling into a lower and an upper plasmon branch. The upper branch exhibits an unusual behavior with end points at finite q. Accordingly, the structure factor shows either a single or a double peak behavior, depending on the plasmon wavelength. The new plasmon structure is relevant to recent experiments, its properties can be controlled by varying the system parameters and be used in plasmonic applications.

Carbon-neutral energy cycles using alcohols.

PubMed

Fukushima, Takashi; Kitano, Sho; Hata, Shinichi; Yamauchi, Miho

2018-01-01

We demonstrated carbon-neutral (CN) energy circulation using glycolic acid ( GC )/oxalic acid ( OX ) redox couple. Here, we report fundamental studies on both catalyst search for power generation process, i.e. GC oxidation, and elemental steps for fuel generation process, i.e. OX reduction, in CN cycle. The catalytic activity test on various transition metals revealed that Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt have preferable features as a catalyst for electrochemical oxidation of GC . A carbon-supported Pt catalyst in alkaline conditions exhibited higher activity, durability, and product selectivity for electrooxidation of GC rather than those in acidic media. The kinetic study on OX reduction clearly indicated that OX reduction undergoes successive two-electron reductions to form GC . Furthermore, application of TiO 2 catalysts with large specific area for electrochemical reduction of OX facilitates the selective formation of GC .

Carbon-neutral energy cycles using alcohols

PubMed Central

Fukushima, Takashi; Kitano, Sho; Hata, Shinichi; Yamauchi, Miho

2018-01-01

Abstract We demonstrated carbon-neutral (CN) energy circulation using glycolic acid (GC)/oxalic acid (OX) redox couple. Here, we report fundamental studies on both catalyst search for power generation process, i.e. GC oxidation, and elemental steps for fuel generation process, i.e. OX reduction, in CN cycle. The catalytic activity test on various transition metals revealed that Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt have preferable features as a catalyst for electrochemical oxidation of GC. A carbon-supported Pt catalyst in alkaline conditions exhibited higher activity, durability, and product selectivity for electrooxidation of GC rather than those in acidic media. The kinetic study on OX reduction clearly indicated that OX reduction undergoes successive two-electron reductions to form GC. Furthermore, application of TiO2 catalysts with large specific area for electrochemical reduction of OX facilitates the selective formation of GC. PMID:29511392

Search for doubly charged Higgs bosons in like-sign dilepton final states at √s¯= 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

DOE PAGES

Aad, G.

2012-12-04

A search for doubly-charged Higgs bosons decaying to pairs of electrons and/or muons is presented. The search is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb -1 of pp collisions at √s¯ = 7 TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Pairs of prompt, isolated, high-p T leptons with the same electric charge (e ±e ±, e ±μ ±, μ ±μ ±) are selected, and their invariant mass distribution is searched for a narrow resonance. No significant excess over Standard Model background expectations is observed, and limits are placed on the cross sectionmore » times branching ratio for pair production of doubly-charged Higgs bosons. The masses of doubly-charged Higgs bosons are constrained depending on the branching ratio into these leptonic final states. Assuming pair production, coupling to left-handed fermions, and a branching ratio of 100% for each final state, masses below 409 GeV, 375 GeV, and 398 GeV are excluded for e ±e ±, e ±μ ±, and μ ±μ ±, respectively.« less

Evolution of branched regulatory genetic pathways: directional selection on pleiotropic loci accelerates developmental system drift.

PubMed

Johnson, Norman A; Porter, Adam H

2007-01-01

Developmental systems are regulated by a web of interacting loci. One common and useful approach in studying the evolution of development is to focus on classes of interacting elements within these systems. Here, we use individual-based simulations to study the evolution of traits controlled by branched developmental pathways involving three loci, where one locus regulates two different traits. We examined the system under a variety of selective regimes. In the case where one branch was under stabilizing selection and the other under directional selection, we observed "developmental system drift": the trait under stabilizing selection showed little phenotypic change even though the loci underlying that trait showed considerable evolutionary divergence. This occurs because the pleiotropic locus responds to directional selection and compensatory mutants are then favored in the pathway under stabilizing selection. Though developmental system drift may be caused by other mechanisms, it seems likely that it is accelerated by the same underlying genetic mechanism as that producing the Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities that lead to speciation in both linear and branched pathways. We also discuss predictions of our model for developmental system drift and how different selective regimes affect probabilities of speciation in the branched pathway system.

Ternary mixed crystal effects on interface optical phonon and electron-phonon coupling in zinc-blende GaN/AlxGa1-xN spherical quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Wen Deng; Chen, Guang De; Yuan, Zhao Lin; Yang, Chuang Hua; Ye, Hong Gang; Wu, Ye Long

2016-02-01

The theoretical investigations of the interface optical phonons, electron-phonon couplings and its ternary mixed effects in zinc-blende spherical quantum dots are obtained by using the dielectric continuum model and modified random-element isodisplacement model. The features of dispersion curves, electron-phonon coupling strengths, and its ternary mixed effects for interface optical phonons in a single zinc-blende GaN/AlxGa1-xN spherical quantum dot are calculated and discussed in detail. The numerical results show that there are three branches of interface optical phonons. One branch exists in low frequency region; another two branches exist in high frequency region. The interface optical phonons with small quantum number l have more important contributions to the electron-phonon interactions. It is also found that ternary mixed effects have important influences on the interface optical phonon properties in a single zinc-blende GaN/AlxGa1-xN quantum dot. With the increase of Al component, the interface optical phonon frequencies appear linear changes, and the electron-phonon coupling strengths appear non-linear changes in high frequency region. But in low frequency region, the frequencies appear non-linear changes, and the electron-phonon coupling strengths appear linear changes.

Base-Controlled Completely Selective Linear or Branched Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed C-H ortho-Alkylation of Azines without Preactivation.

PubMed

Tran, Gaël; Hesp, Kevin D; Mascitti, Vincent; Ellman, Jonathan A

2017-05-15

A [Rh I ]/bisphosphine/base catalytic system for the ortho-selective C-H alkylation of azines by acrylates and acrylamides is reported. This catalytic system features an unprecedented complete linear or branched selectivity that is solely dependent on the catalytic base that is used. Complete branched selectivity is even achieved for ethyl methacrylate, which enables the introduction of a quaternary carbon center. Excellent functional group compatibility is demonstrated for both linear and branched alkylations. The operational simplicity and broad scope of this transformation allow for rapid access to functionalized azines of direct pharmaceutical and agrochemical relevance. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Toxin detection using a tyrosinase-coupled oxygen electrode.

PubMed

Smit, M H; Rechnitz, G A

1993-02-15

An enzyme-based "electrochemical canary" is described for the detection of cyanide. The sensing system imitates cyanide's site of toxicity in the mitochondria. The terminal sequence of electron transfer in aerobic respiration is mimicked by mediator coupling of tyrosinase catalysis to an electro-chemical system. An enzyme-coupled oxygen electrode is created which is sensitive to selective poisoning. Biocatalytic reduction of oxygen is promoted by electrochemically supplying tyrosinase with electrons. Thus, ferrocyanide is generated at a cathode and mediates the enzymatic reduction of oxygen to water. An enzyme-dependent reductive current can be monitored which is inhibited by cyanide in a concentration-dependent manner. Oxygen depletion in the reaction layer can be minimized by addressing enzyme activity using a potential pulsing routine. Enzyme activity is electrochemically initiated and terminated and the sensor becomes capable of continuous monitoring. Cyanide poisoning of the biological component is reversible, and it can be reused after rinsing. The resulting sensor detects cyanide based on its biological activity rather than its physical or chemical properties.

Dispersion, mode-mixing and the electron-phonon interaction in nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dyson, A.; Ridley, B. K.

2018-03-01

The electron-phonon interaction with polar optical modes in nanostructures is re-examined in the light of phonon dispersion relations and the role of the Fuchs-Kliewer (FK) mode. At an interface between adjacent polar materials the frequencies of the FK mode are drawn from the dielectric constants of the adjacent materials and are significantly smaller than the corresponding frequencies of the longitudinal optic (LO) modes at the zone centre. The requirement that all polar modes satisfy mechanical and electrical boundary conditions forces the modes to become hybrids. For a hybrid to have both FK and LO components the LO mode must have the FK frequency, which can only come about through the reduction associated with phonon dispersion relations. We illustrate the effect of phonon dispersion relations on the Fröhlich interaction by considering a simple linear-chain model of the zincblende lattice. Optical and acoustic modes become mixed towards short wavelengths in both optical and acoustic branches. A study of GaAs, InP and cubic GaN and AlN shows that the polarity of the optical branch and the acousticity of the acoustic branch are reduced by dispersion in equal measures, but the effect is relatively weak. Coupling coefficients quantifying the strengths of the interaction with electrons for optical and acoustic components of mixed modes in the optical branch show that, in most cases, the polar interaction dominates the acoustic interaction, and it is reduced from the long-wavelength result towards the zone boundary by only a few percent. The effect on the lower-frequency FK mode can be large.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Holmgren, D.E.; Walker, D.J.; Harris, S.E.

Certain quartet levels in alkali-like systems retain metastability against autoionization while acquiring large radiative yields. This quasi-metastability occurs through selective coupling to non-autoionizing doublet levels by the spin-orbit interaction. An example of such a level is the 5p/sup 5/5d6s /sup 4/P/sub 5/2/ level of neutral Cs, which has a calculated branching ratio for radiation at 1091 A of 43%. Experimentally, we find that this line has an emission intensity equal to 1/6 of that of the strongest ion line of Cs/sup +/, and is a promising candidate for an extreme ultraviolet laser.

Cavity-Enhanced Optical Readout of a Single Solid-State Spin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Shuo; Kim, Hyochul; Solomon, Glenn S.; Waks, Edo

2018-05-01

We demonstrate optical readout of a single spin using cavity quantum electrodynamics. The spin is based on a single trapped electron in a quantum dot that has a poor branching ratio of 0.43. Selectively coupling one of the optical transitions of the quantum dot to the cavity mode results in a spin-dependent cavity reflectivity that enables spin readout by monitoring the reflected intensity of an incident optical field. Using this approach, we demonstrate spin-readout fidelity of 0.61. Achieving this fidelity using resonance fluorescence from a bare dot would require 43 times improvement in photon collection efficiency.

Pd@Pt Core–Shell Nanoparticles with Branched Dandelion-like Morphology as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Olefin Reduction

EPA Science Inventory

A facile synthesis based on the addition of ascorbic acid to a mixture of Na2PdCl4, K2PtCl6, and Pluronic P123 results in highly branched core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) with a micro–mesoporous dandelion-like morphology comprising Pd core and Pt shell. The slow reduction kinetics ...

Hunting Down Massless Dark Photons in Kaon Physics.

PubMed

Fabbrichesi, M; Gabrielli, E; Mele, B

2017-07-21

If dark photons are massless, they couple to standard-model particles only via higher dimensional operators, while direct (renormalizable) interactions induced by kinetic mixing, which motivates most of the current experimental searches, are absent. We consider the effect of possible flavor-changing magnetic-dipole couplings of massless dark photons in kaon physics. In particular, we study the branching ratio for the process K^{+}→π^{+}π^{0}γ[over ¯] with a simplified-model approach, assuming the chiral quark model to evaluate the hadronic matrix element. Possible effects in the K^{0}-K[over ¯]^{0} mixing are taken into account. We find that branching ratios up to O(10^{-7}) are allowed-depending on the dark-sector masses and couplings. Such large branching ratios for K^{+}→π^{+}π^{0}γ[over ¯] could be of interest for experiments dedicated to rare K^{+} decays like NA62 at CERN, where γ[over ¯] can be detected as a massless invisible system.

Injury and Disability: Identification and Reduction

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

Biomechanics Branch September 2009 Final Report for October 2005 to August 2009 DESTRUCTION NOTICE – Destroy by any method that will prevent...Division Biomechanics Branch Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 Approved for public release, distribution unlimited. NOTICE AND SIGNATURE PAGE...Chief Biomechanics Branch Biosciences and Protection Division Human Effectiveness Directorate 711 th

Boron-doped diamond semiconductor electrodes: Efficient photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction through surface modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Nitish; Hirano, Yuiri; Kuriyama, Haruo; Sudhagar, Pitchaimuthu; Suzuki, Norihiro; Katsumata, Ken-Ichi; Nakata, Kazuya; Kondo, Takeshi; Yuasa, Makoto; Serizawa, Izumi; Takayama, Tomoaki; Kudo, Akihiko; Fujishima, Akira; Terashima, Chiaki

2016-11-01

Competitive hydrogen evolution and multiple proton-coupled electron transfer reactions limit photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction in aqueous electrolyte. Here, oxygen-terminated lightly boron-doped diamond (BDDL) thin films were synthesized as a semiconductor electron source to accelerate CO2 reduction. However, BDDL alone could not stabilize the intermediates of CO2 reduction, yielding a negligible amount of reduction products. Silver nanoparticles were then deposited on BDDL because of their selective electrochemical CO2 reduction ability. Excellent selectivity (estimated CO:H2 mass ratio of 318:1) and recyclability (stable for five cycles of 3 h each) for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction were obtained for the optimum silver nanoparticle-modified BDDL electrode at -1.1 V vs. RHE under 222-nm irradiation. The high efficiency and stability of this catalyst are ascribed to the in situ photoactivation of the BDDL surface during the photoelectrochemical reaction. The present work reveals the potential of BDDL as a high-energy electron source for use with co-catalysts in photochemical conversion.

Sliding mode control of direct coupled interleaved boost converter for fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, W. Y.; Ding, Y. H.; Ke, X.; Ma, X.

2017-12-01

A three phase direct coupled interleaved boost converter (TP-DIBC) was recommended in this paper. This converter has a small unbalance current sharing among the branches of TP-DIBC. An adaptive control law sliding mode control (SMC) is designed for the TP-DIBC. The aim is to 1) reduce ripple output voltage, inductor current and regulate output voltage tightly 2) The total current carried by direct coupled interleaved boost converter (DIBC) must be equally shared between different parallel branches. The efficacy and robustness of the proposed TP-DIBC and adaptive SMC is confirmed via computer simulations using Matlab SimPower System Tools. The simulation result is in line with the expectation.

Exploiting basic principles to control the selectivity of the vapor phase catalytic oxidative cross-coupling of primary alcohols over nanoporous gold catalysts

DOE PAGES

Wang, Lu-Cun; Stowers, Kara J.; Zugic, Branko; ...

2015-05-20

It is important to achieve high selectivity for high volume chemical synthesis in order to lower energy consumption through reduction in waste. Here, we report the selective synthesis of methyl esters—methyl acetate and methyl butyrate—through catalytic O 2-assisted cross-coupling of methanol with ethanol or 1-butanol using activated, support-free nanoporous gold (npAu). Both well-controlled studies on ingots in UHV and experiments under ambient pressure catalytic conditions on both ingots and microspherical hollow shell catalysts reveal guiding principles for controlling selectivity. Under UHV conditions, the ester products of the cross-coupling of methanol with both ethanol and 1-butanol evolve near room temperature inmore » temperature-programmed reaction studies, indicating that the reactions occur facilely. Furthermore, under steady-state catalytic operation, high stable activity was observed for cross-coupling in flowing gaseous reactant mixtures at atmospheric pressure and 423 K with negligible combustion. Optimum selectivity for cross-coupling is obtained in methanol-rich mixtures due to a combination of two factors: (1) the relative coverage of the respective alkoxys and (2) the relative facility of their β-H elimination. The relative coverage of the alkoxys is governed by van der Waal’s interactions between the alkyl groups and the surface; here, we demonstrate the importance of these weak interactions in a steady-state catalytic process.« less

Diagenetic fate of organic contaminants on the Palos Verdes Shelf, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eganhouse, R.P.; Pontolillo, J.; Leiker, T.J.

2000-01-01

Municipal wastes discharged through deepwater submarine outfalls since 1937 have contaminated sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf. A site approximately 6-8 km downcurrent from the outfall system was chosen for a study of the diagenetic fate of organic contaminants in the waste-impacted sediments. Concentrations of three classes of hydrophobic organic contaminants (DDT + metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the long-chain alkylbenzenes) were determined in sediment cores collected at the study site in 1981 and 1992. Differences between the composition of effluent from the major source of DDT (Montrose Chemical) and that found in sediments suggests that parent DDT was transformed by hydrolytic dehydrochlorination during the earliest stages of diagenesis. As a result, p,p'-DDE is the dominant DDT metabolite found in shelf sediments, comprising 60-70% of ??DDT. The p,p-DDE/p,p'-DDMU concentration ratio decreases with increasing sub-bottom depth in sediment cores, indicating that reductive dechlorination of p,p'-DDE is occurring. Approximately 9-23% of the DDE inventory in the sediments may have been converted to DDMU since DDT discharges began ca. 1953. At most, this is less than half of the decline in p,p'-DDE inventory that has been observed at the study site for the period 1981-1995. Most of the observed decrease is attributable to remobilization by processes such as sediment mixing coupled to resuspension, contaminant desorption, and current advection. Existing field data suggest that the in situ rate of DDE transformation is 102-103 times slower than rates determined in recent laboratory microcosm experiments (Quensen, J.F., Mueller, S.A., Jain, M.K., Tiedje, J.M., 1998. Reductive dechlorination of DDE to DDMU in marine sediment microcosms. Science, 280, 722-724.). This explains why the DDT composition (i.e. o,p'-, p,p'-isomers of DDE, DDD, DDT) of sediments from this site have not changed significantly since at least 1972. Congener-specific PCB compositions in shelf sediments are highly uniform and show no evidence of diagenetic transformation. Apparently, the agents/factors responsible for reductive dechlorination of DDE are not also effecting alteration of the PCBs. Two types of long-chain alkylbenzenes were found in the contaminated sediments. Comparison of chain length and isomer distributions of the linear alkylbenzenes in wastewater effluent and surficial sediment samples indicate that these compounds undergo biodegradation during sedimentation. Further degradation of the linear alkylbenzenes occurs after burial despite relatively invariant isomer compositions. The branched alkylbenzenes are much more persistent than the linear alkylbenzenes, presumably due to extensive branching of the alkyl side chain. Based on these results, p,p'-DDE, PCBs, and selected branched alkylbenzenes are sufficiently persistent for use in molecular stratigraphy. The linear alkylbenzenes may also provide information on depositional processes. However, their application as quantitative molecular tracers should be approached with caution.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of some Schiff base metal complexes containing benzoin moiety.

PubMed

El-Shahawi, M S; Al-Jahdali, M S; Bashammakh, A S; Al-Sibaai, A A; Nassef, H M

2013-09-01

The ligation behavior of bis-benzoin ethylenediamine (B2ED) and benzoin thiosemicarbazone (BTS) Schiff bases towards Ru(3+), Rh(3+), Pd(2+), Ni(2+) and Cu(2+) were determined. The bond length of M-N and spectrochemical parameters (10Dq, β, B and LFSE) of the complexes were evaluated. The redox characteristics of selected complexes were explored by cyclic voltammetry (CV) at Pt working electrode in non aqueous solvents. Au mesh (100 w/in.) optically transparent thin layer electrode (OTTLE) was also used for recording thin layer CV for selected Ru complex. Oxidation of some complexes occurs in a consecutive chemical reaction of an EC type mechanism. The characteristics of electron transfer process of the couples M(2+)/M(3+) and M(3+)/M(4+) (M=Ru(3+), Rh(3+)) and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation and/or reduction were assigned. The nature of the electroactive species and reduction mechanism of selected electrode couples were assigned. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exploring the fatty acids of vernix caseosa in form of their methyl esters by off-line coupling of non-aqueous reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Hauff, Simone; Vetter, Walter

2010-12-24

Vernix caseosa is a greasy biofilm formed on the skin of the human fetus in the last period of pregnancy. This matrix is known to contain a range of uncommon branched chain fatty acids. In this study, we studied the fatty acid composition of vernix caseosa by non-aqueous reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) fractionation followed by gas chromatography-electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) of the fractions. For this purpose the fatty acids from vernix caseosa were converted into the corresponding methyl esters. These were fractionated by non-aqueous RP-HPLC using three serially connected C(18)-columns and pure methanol as the eluent. Aliquots of the HPLC fractions were directly analyzed by GC/EI-MS in the selected ion monitoring mode. Data analysis and visualization were performed by the creation of a two dimensional (2D) contour plot, in which GC retention times were plotted against the HPLC fractions. Inspection of the plot resulted in the detection of 133 different fatty acids but only 16 of them contributed more than 1% to the total fatty acids detected. Identification was based on HPLC and GC retention data, GC/MS-SIM and full scan data, as well as plotting the logarithmic retention times against the longest straight carbon chain. In selected cases, aliquots of the HPLC fractions were hydrogenated or studied by means of the picolinyl esters. Using these techniques, the number of double bonds could be unequivocally assigned to all fatty acids. Moreover, the number of methyl branches, and in many cases the positions of methyl branches could be determined. The enantioselective analysis of chiral anteiso-fatty acids resulted in the dominance of the S-enantiomers. However, high proportions of R-a13:0, R-a15:0, and R-a17:1 were also detected while a17:0 was virtually S-enantiopure. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Femtosecond buildup of phonon-plasmon coupling in photoexcited InP observed by ultrabroadband THz probing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, Rupert; Kübler, Carl; Tübel, Stefan; Leitenstorfer, Alfred

2006-02-01

We study the ultrafast transition of a pure longitudinal optical phonon resonance to a coupled phonon-plasmon system. Following 10-fs photoexcitation of intrinsic indium phosphide, ultrabroadband THz opto-electronics monitors the buildup of coherent beats of the emerging hybrid modes directly in the time domain with sub-cycle resolution. Mutual repulsion and redistribution of the oscillator strength of the interacting phonons and plasmons are seen to emerge on a delayed femtosecond time scale. Both branches of the mixed modes are monitored for various excitation densities N. We observe a pronounced anticrossing of the coupled resonances as a function of N. The characteristic formation time for phonon-plasmon coupling exhibits density dependence. The time is approximately set by one oscillation cycle of the upper branch of the mixed modes.

Thermal coupling effect on the vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films: time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Ze; Yong, Huadong; Zhou, Youhe

2018-05-01

In this paper, vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films are numerically investigated by the generalized time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau (TDGL) theory. Interactions between vortex motion and the motion induced energy dissipation is considered by solving the coupled TDGL equation and the heat diffusion equation. It is found that thermal coupling has significant effects on the vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films. Branching in the vortex penetration path originates from the coupling between vortex motion and the motion induced energy dissipation. In addition, the environment temperature, the magnetic field ramp rate and the geometry of the superconducting film also greatly influence the vortex dynamic behaviors. Our results provide new insights into the dynamics of superconducting vortices, and give a mesoscopic understanding on the channeling and branching of vortex penetration paths during flux avalanches.

C2-Selective Branched Alkylation of Benzimidazoles by Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed C-H Activation.

PubMed

Tran, Gaël; Confair, Danielle; Hesp, Kevin D; Mascitti, Vincent; Ellman, Jonathan A

2017-09-01

Herein, we report a Rh(I)/bisphosphine/K 3 PO 4 catalytic system allowing for the first time the selective branched C-H alkylation of benzimidazoles with Michael acceptors. Branched alkylation with N,N-dimethyl acrylamide was successfully applied to the alkylation of a broad range of benzimidazoles incorporating a variety of N-substituents and with both electron-rich and -poor functionality displayed at different sites of the arene. Moreover, the introduction of a quaternary carbon was achieved by alkylation with ethyl methacrylate. The method was also shown to be applicable to the C2-selective branched alkylation of azabenzimidazoles.

Structure-property relationships in a series of diglycerol tetraether model lipids and their lyotropic assemblies: the effect of branching topology and chirality.

PubMed

Markowski, Thomas; Drescher, Simon; Meister, Annette; Blume, Alfred; Dobner, Bodo

2014-06-14

Three novel diglycerol tetraether lipids with one membrane-spanning chain have been synthesized. These lipids contain only two or four racemic methyl branches at selected positions of the hydrophobic chains in contrast to natural lipids from archaebacterial membranes with an isoprenoid substitution pattern. The insertion of the methyl moieties was realized starting from either (RS)-citronellyl bromide or the inexpensive methyl malonic acid ethyl ester. For chain elongation the Cu-catalysed Grignard coupling reaction was used. The preparation of diglycerol tetraethers was either performed by condensing suitable blocked monoglycerol diethers by Grubbs metathesis or by reaction of the transmembrane C32-chain with blocked glycerols followed by further alkylation steps. Finally, we could show that the resulting lipids can form closed lipid vesicles comparable to the optically pure counterparts. Therefore, these much simpler lipids compared to the natural lipids from archaebacterial membranes are also suitable for preparation of stable tailored liposomes.

A novel branched TAT(47-57) peptide for selective Ni(2+) introduction into the human fibrosarcoma cell nucleus.

PubMed

Szyrwiel, Łukasz; Shimura, Mari; Shirataki, Junko; Matsuyama, Satoshi; Matsunaga, Akihiro; Setner, Bartosz; Szczukowski, Łukasz; Szewczuk, Zbigniew; Yamauchi, Kazuto; Malinka, Wiesław; Chavatte, Laurent; Łobinski, Ryszard

2015-07-01

A TAT47-57 peptide was modified on the N-terminus by elongation with a 2,3-diaminopropionic acid residue and then by coupling of two histidine residues on its N-atoms. This branched peptide could bind to Ni under physiological conditions as a 1 : 1 complex. We demonstrated that the complex was quantitatively taken up by human fibrosarcoma cells, in contrast to Ni(2+) ions. Ni localization (especially at the nuclei) was confirmed by imaging using both scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy and Newport Green fluorescence. A competitive assay with Newport Green showed that the latter displaced the peptide ligand from the Ni-complex. Ni(2+) delivered as a complex with the designed peptide induced substantially more DNA damage than when introduced as a free ion. The availability of such a construct opens up the way to investigate the importance of the nucleus as a target for the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity or carcinogenicity of Ni(2+).

Selective sp3 C-H alkylation via polarity-match-based cross-coupling.

PubMed

Le, Chip; Liang, Yufan; Evans, Ryan W; Li, Ximing; MacMillan, David W C

2017-07-06

The functionalization of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds is one of the most attractive strategies for molecular construction in organic chemistry. The hydrogen atom is considered to be an ideal coupling handle, owing to its relative abundance in organic molecules and its availability for functionalization at almost any stage in a synthetic sequence. Although many C-H functionalization reactions involve C(sp 3 )-C(sp 2 ) coupling, there is a growing demand for C-H alkylation reactions, wherein sp 3 C-H bonds are replaced with sp 3 C-alkyl groups. Here we describe a polarity-match-based selective sp 3 C-H alkylation via the combination of photoredox, nickel and hydrogen-atom transfer catalysis. This methodology simultaneously uses three catalytic cycles to achieve hydridic C-H bond abstraction (enabled by polarity matching), alkyl halide oxidative addition, and reductive elimination to enable alkyl-alkyl fragment coupling. The sp 3 C-H alkylation is highly selective for the α-C-H of amines, ethers and sulphides, which are commonly found in pharmaceutically relevant architectures. This cross-coupling protocol should enable broad synthetic applications in de novo synthesis and late-stage functionalization chemistry.

Selective sp3 C–H alkylation via polarity-match-based cross-coupling

PubMed Central

Le, Chip; Liang, Yufan; Evans, Ryan W.; Li, Ximing; MacMillan, David W. C.

2017-01-01

The functionalization of carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds is one of the most attractive strategies for molecular construction in organic chemistry. The hydrogen atom is considered to be an ideal coupling handle, owing to its relative abundance in organic molecules and its availability for functionalization at almost any stage in a synthetic sequence1. Although many C–H functionalization reactions involve C(sp3)–C(sp2) coupling, there is a growing demand for C–H alkylation reactions, wherein sp3 C–H bonds are replaced with sp3 C–alkyl groups. Here we describe a polarity-match-based selective sp3 C–H alkylation via the combination of photoredox, nickel and hydrogen-atom transfer catalysis. This methodology simultaneously uses three catalytic cycles to achieve hydridic C–H bond abstraction (enabled by polarity matching), alkyl halide oxidative addition, and reductive elimination to enable alkyl–alkyl fragment coupling. The sp3 C–H alkylation is highly selective for the α-C–H of amines, ethers and sulphides, which are commonly found in pharmaceutically relevant architectures. This cross-coupling protocol should enable broad synthetic applications in de novo synthesis and late-stage functionalization chemistry. PMID:28636596

Selective sp3 C-H alkylation via polarity-match-based cross-coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le, Chip; Liang, Yufan; Evans, Ryan W.; Li, Ximing; MacMillan, David W. C.

2017-07-01

The functionalization of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds is one of the most attractive strategies for molecular construction in organic chemistry. The hydrogen atom is considered to be an ideal coupling handle, owing to its relative abundance in organic molecules and its availability for functionalization at almost any stage in a synthetic sequence. Although many C-H functionalization reactions involve C(sp3)-C(sp2) coupling, there is a growing demand for C-H alkylation reactions, wherein sp3 C-H bonds are replaced with sp3 C-alkyl groups. Here we describe a polarity-match-based selective sp3 C-H alkylation via the combination of photoredox, nickel and hydrogen-atom transfer catalysis. This methodology simultaneously uses three catalytic cycles to achieve hydridic C-H bond abstraction (enabled by polarity matching), alkyl halide oxidative addition, and reductive elimination to enable alkyl-alkyl fragment coupling. The sp3 C-H alkylation is highly selective for the α-C-H of amines, ethers and sulphides, which are commonly found in pharmaceutically relevant architectures. This cross-coupling protocol should enable broad synthetic applications in de novo synthesis and late-stage functionalization chemistry.

Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection of mRNA Using Branched DNA Amplifiers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mao, Xun; Liu, Guodong; Wang, Shengfu

2008-11-01

We describe here an ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of m RNA protocol without RNA purification and PCR amplification. The new m RNA electrical detection capability is coupled to the amplification feature of branched DNA (bDNA) technology and with the nagnetic beads based electrochemical bioassay.

The pentose phosphate pathway leads to enhanced succinic acid flux in biofilms of wild-type Actinobacillus succinogenes.

PubMed

Bradfield, Michael F A; Nicol, Willie

2016-11-01

Increased pentose phosphate pathway flux, relative to total substrate uptake flux, is shown to enhance succinic acid (SA) yields under continuous, non-growth conditions of Actinobacillus succinogenes biofilms. Separate fermentations of glucose and xylose were conducted in a custom, continuous biofilm reactor at four different dilution rates. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase assays were performed on cell extracts derived from in situ removal of biofilm at each steady state. The results of the assays were coupled to a kinetic model that revealed an increase in oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) flux relative to total substrate flux with increasing SA titre, for both substrates. Furthermore, applying metabolite concentration data to metabolic flux models that include the OPPP revealed similar flux relationships to those observed in the experimental kinetic analysis. A relative increase in OPPP flux produces additional reduction power that enables increased flux through the reductive branch of the TCA cycle, leading to increased SA yields, reduced by-product formation and complete closure of the overall redox balance.

Directed branch growth in aligned nanowire arrays.

PubMed

Beaudry, Allan L; LaForge, Joshua M; Tucker, Ryan T; Sorge, Jason B; Adamski, Nicholas L; Li, Peng; Taschuk, Michael T; Brett, Michael J

2014-01-01

Branch growth is directed along two, three, or four in-plane directions in vertically aligned nanowire arrays using vapor-liquid-solid glancing angle deposition (VLS-GLAD) flux engineering. In this work, a dynamically controlled collimated vapor flux guides branch placement during the self-catalyzed epitaxial growth of branched indium tin oxide nanowire arrays. The flux is positioned to grow branches on select nanowire facets, enabling fabrication of aligned nanotree arrays with L-, T-, or X-branching. In addition, a flux motion algorithm is designed to selectively elongate branches along one in-plane axis. Nanotrees are found to be aligned across large areas by X-ray diffraction pole figure analysis and through branch length and orientation measurements collected over 140 μm(2) from scanning electron microscopy images for each array. The pathway to guided assembly of nanowire architectures with controlled interconnectivity in three-dimensions using VLS-GLAD is discussed.

Proton-coupled electron-transfer reduction of dioxygen catalyzed by a saddle-distorted cobalt phthalocyanine.

PubMed

Honda, Tatsuhiko; Kojima, Takahiko; Fukuzumi, Shunichi

2012-03-07

Proton-coupled electron-transfer reduction of dioxygen (O(2)) to afford hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was investigated by using ferrocene derivatives as reductants and saddle-distorted (α-octaphenylphthalocyaninato)cobalt(II) (Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc)) as a catalyst under acidic conditions. The selective two-electron reduction of O(2) by dimethylferrocene (Me(2)Fc) and decamethylferrocene (Me(10)Fc) occurs to yield H(2)O(2) and the corresponding ferrocenium ions (Me(2)Fc(+) and Me(10)Fc(+), respectively). Mechanisms of the catalytic reduction of O(2) are discussed on the basis of detailed kinetics studies on the overall catalytic reactions as well as on each redox reaction in the catalytic cycle. The active species to react with O(2) in the catalytic reaction is switched from Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc) to protonated Co(I)(Ph(8)PcH), depending on the reducing ability of ferrocene derivatives employed. The protonation of Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc) inhibits the direct reduction of O(2); however, the proton-coupled electron transfer from Me(10)Fc to Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc) and the protonated [Co(II)(Ph(8)PcH)](+) occurs to produce Co(I)(Ph(8)PcH) and [Co(I)(Ph(8)PcH(2))](+), respectively, which react immediately with O(2). The rate-determining step is a proton-coupled electron-transfer reduction of O(2) by Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc) in the Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc)-catalyzed cycle with Me(2)Fc, whereas it is changed to the electron-transfer reduction of [Co(II)(Ph(8)PcH)](+) by Me(10)Fc in the Co(I)(Ph(8)PcH)-catalyzed cycle with Me(10)Fc. A single crystal of monoprotonated [Co(III)(Ph(8)Pc)](+), [Co(III)Cl(2)(Ph(8)PcH)], produced by the proton-coupled electron-transfer reduction of O(2) by Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc) with HCl, was obtained, and the crystal structure was determined in comparison with that of Co(II)(Ph(8)Pc). © 2012 American Chemical Society

Frequency stabilization and transverse mode discrimination in injection-seeded unstable resonator TEA CO2 lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ancellet, G. M.; Menzies, R. T.; Brothers, A. M.

1987-01-01

Longitudinal mode selection by injection has been demonstrated as a viable technique for TEA-CO2 lasers with pulse energies of a Joule or greater. Once reliable generation of single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) pulses is obtained, the characteristics and the causes of intrapulse frequency variation can be studied. These include the effect of the decaying plasma, the thermal gradient due to the energy dissipation associated with the laser mechanism itself, and the pressure shift of the center frequency of the laser transition. The use of the positive-branch unstable resonator as an efficient means of coupling a discharge with large spatial dimensions to an optical cavity mode introduces another concern: namely, what can be done to emphasize transverse mode discrimination in an unstable resonator cavity while maintaining high coupling efficiency. These issues are discussed in this paper, and relevant experimental results are included.

Automated standardization technique for an inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Garbarino, John R.; Taylor, Howard E.

1982-01-01

The manifold assembly subsystem described permits real-time computer-controlled standardization and quality control of a commercial inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The manifold assembly consists of a branch-structured glass manifold, a series of microcomputer-controlled solenoid valves, and a reservoir for each standard. Automated standardization involves selective actuation of each solenoid valve that permits a specific mixed standard solution to be pumped to the nebulizer of the spectrometer. Quality control is based on the evaluation of results obtained for a mixed standard containing 17 analytes, that is measured periodically with unknown samples. An inaccurate standard evaluation triggers restandardization of the instrument according to a predetermined protocol. Interaction of the computer-controlled manifold assembly hardware with the spectrometer system is outlined. Evaluation of the automated standardization system with respect to reliability, simplicity, flexibility, and efficiency is compared to the manual procedure. ?? 1982.

Search for excited quarks in the γ + jet final state in proton-proton collisions at √{ s} = 8 TeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khachatryan, V.; Sirunyan, A. M.; Tumasyan, A.; Adam, W.; Bergauer, T.; Dragicevic, M.; Erö, J.; Fabjan, C.; Friedl, M.; Frühwirth, R.; Ghete, V. M.; Hartl, C.; Hörmann, N.; Hrubec, J.; Jeitler, M.; Kiesenhofer, W.; Knünz, V.; Krammer, M.; Krätschmer, I.; Liko, D.; Mikulec, I.; Rabady, D.; Rahbaran, B.; Rohringer, H.; Schöfbeck, R.; Strauss, J.; Taurok, A.; Treberer-Treberspurg, W.; Waltenberger, W.; Wulz, C.-E.; Mossolov, V.; Shumeiko, N.; Suarez Gonzalez, J.; Alderweireldt, S.; Bansal, M.; Bansal, S.; Cornelis, T.; De Wolf, E. A.; Janssen, X.; Knutsson, A.; Luyckx, S.; Ochesanu, S.; Roland, B.; Rougny, R.; Van De Klundert, M.; Van Haevermaet, H.; Van Mechelen, P.; Van Remortel, N.; Van Spilbeeck, A.; Blekman, F.; Blyweert, S.; D'Hondt, J.; Daci, N.; Heracleous, N.; Keaveney, J.; Kim, T. J.; Lowette, S.; Maes, M.; Olbrechts, A.; Python, Q.; Strom, D.; Tavernier, S.; Van Doninck, W.; Van Mulders, P.; Van Onsem, G. P.; Villella, I.; Caillol, C.; Clerbaux, B.; De Lentdecker, G.; Dobur, D.; Favart, L.; Gay, A. P. R.; Grebenyuk, A.; Léonard, A.; Mohammadi, A.; Perniè, L.; Reis, T.; Seva, T.; Thomas, L.; Vander Velde, C.; Vanlaer, P.; Wang, J.; Adler, V.; Beernaert, K.; Benucci, L.; Cimmino, A.; Costantini, S.; Crucy, S.; Dildick, S.; Fagot, A.; Garcia, G.; Mccartin, J.; Ocampo Rios, A. A.; Ryckbosch, D.; Salva Diblen, S.; Sigamani, M.; Strobbe, N.; Thyssen, F.; Tytgat, M.; Yazgan, E.; Zaganidis, N.; Basegmez, S.; Beluffi, C.; Bruno, G.; Castello, R.; Caudron, A.; Ceard, L.; Da Silveira, G. G.; Delaere, C.; du Pree, T.; Favart, D.; Forthomme, L.; Giammanco, A.; Hollar, J.; Jez, P.; Komm, M.; Lemaitre, V.; Liao, J.; Nuttens, C.; Pagano, D.; Perrini, L.; Pin, A.; Piotrzkowski, K.; Popov, A.; Quertenmont, L.; Selvaggi, M.; Vidal Marono, M.; Vizan Garcia, J. M.; Beliy, N.; Caebergs, T.; Daubie, E.; Hammad, G. H.; Aldá Júnior, W. L.; Alves, G. A.; Correa Martins Junior, M.; Dos Reis Martins, T.; Pol, M. E.; Carvalho, W.; Chinellato, J.; Custódio, A.; Da Costa, E. M.; De Jesus Damiao, D.; De Oliveira Martins, C.; Fonseca De Souza, S.; Malbouisson, H.; Matos Figueiredo, D.; Mundim, L.; Nogima, H.; Prado Da Silva, W. L.; Santaolalla, J.; Santoro, A.; Sznajder, A.; Tonelli Manganote, E. J.; Vilela Pereira, A.; Bernardes, C. A.; Dias, F. A.; Fernandez Perez Tomei, T. R.; Gregores, E. M.; Mercadante, P. G.; Novaes, S. F.; Padula, Sandra S.; Aleksandrov, A.; Genchev, V.; Iaydjiev, P.; Marinov, A.; Piperov, S.; Rodozov, M.; Sultanov, G.; Vutova, M.; Dimitrov, A.; Glushkov, I.; Hadjiiska, R.; Kozhuharov, V.; Litov, L.; Pavlov, B.; Petkov, P.; Bian, J. G.; Chen, G. M.; Chen, H. S.; Chen, M.; Du, R.; Jiang, C. H.; Liang, D.; Liang, S.; Plestina, R.; Tao, J.; Wang, X.; Wang, Z.; Asawatangtrakuldee, C.; Ban, Y.; Guo, Y.; Li, Q.; Li, W.; Liu, S.; Mao, Y.; Qian, S. J.; Wang, D.; Zhang, L.; Zou, W.; Avila, C.; Chaparro Sierra, L. F.; Florez, C.; Gomez, J. P.; Gomez Moreno, B.; Sanabria, J. C.; Godinovic, N.; Lelas, D.; Polic, D.; Puljak, I.; Antunovic, Z.; Kovac, M.; Brigljevic, V.; Kadija, K.; Luetic, J.; Mekterovic, D.; Sudic, L.; Attikis, A.; Mavromanolakis, G.; Mousa, J.; Nicolaou, C.; Ptochos, F.; Razis, P. A.; Bodlak, M.; Finger, M.; Finger, M.; Assran, Y.; Elgammal, S.; Mahmoud, M. A.; Radi, A.; Kadastik, M.; Murumaa, M.; Raidal, M.; Tiko, A.; Eerola, P.; Fedi, G.; Voutilainen, M.; Härkönen, J.; Karimäki, V.; Kinnunen, R.; Kortelainen, M. J.; Lampén, T.; Lassila-Perini, K.; Lehti, S.; Lindén, T.; Luukka, P.; Mäenpää, T.; Peltola, T.; Tuominen, E.; Tuominiemi, J.; Tuovinen, E.; Wendland, L.; Tuuva, T.; Besancon, M.; Couderc, F.; Dejardin, M.; Denegri, D.; Fabbro, B.; Faure, J. L.; Favaro, C.; Ferri, F.; Ganjour, S.; Givernaud, A.; Gras, P.; Hamel de Monchenault, G.; Jarry, P.; Locci, E.; Malcles, J.; Rander, J.; Rosowsky, A.; Titov, M.; Baffioni, S.; Beaudette, F.; Busson, P.; Charlot, C.; Dahms, T.; Dalchenko, M.; Dobrzynski, L.; Filipovic, N.; Florent, A.; Granier de Cassagnac, R.; Mastrolorenzo, L.; Miné, P.; Mironov, C.; Naranjo, I. N.; Nguyen, M.; Ochando, C.; Paganini, P.; Salerno, R.; Sauvan, J. B.; Sirois, Y.; Veelken, C.; Yilmaz, Y.; Zabi, A.; Agram, J.-L.; Andrea, J.; Aubin, A.; Bloch, D.; Brom, J.-M.; Chabert, E. C.; Collard, C.; Conte, E.; Fontaine, J.-C.; Gelé, D.; Goerlach, U.; Goetzmann, C.; Le Bihan, A.-C.; Van Hove, P.; Gadrat, S.; Beauceron, S.; Beaupere, N.; Boudoul, G.; Brochet, S.; Carrillo Montoya, C. A.; Chasserat, J.; Chierici, R.; Contardo, D.; Depasse, P.; El Mamouni, H.; Fan, J.; Fay, J.; Gascon, S.; Gouzevitch, M.; Ille, B.; Kurca, T.; Lethuillier, M.; Mirabito, L.; Perries, S.; Ruiz Alvarez, J. D.; Sabes, D.; Sgandurra, L.; Sordini, V.; Vander Donckt, M.; Verdier, P.; Viret, S.; Xiao, H.; Tsamalaidze, Z.; Autermann, C.; Beranek, S.; Bontenackels, M.; Edelhoff, M.; Feld, L.; Hindrichs, O.; Klein, K.; Ostapchuk, A.; Perieanu, A.; Raupach, F.; Sammet, J.; Schael, S.; Weber, H.; Wittmer, B.; Zhukov, V.; Ata, M.; Dietz-Laursonn, E.; Duchardt, D.; Erdmann, M.; Fischer, R.; Güth, A.; Hebbeker, T.; Heidemann, C.; Hoepfner, K.; Klingebiel, D.; Knutzen, S.; Kreuzer, P.; Merschmeyer, M.; Meyer, A.; Olschewski, M.; Padeken, K.; Papacz, P.; Reithler, H.; Schmitz, S. A.; Sonnenschein, L.; Teyssier, D.; Thüer, S.; Weber, M.; Cherepanov, V.; Erdogan, Y.; Flügge, G.; Geenen, H.; Geisler, M.; Haj Ahmad, W.; Hoehle, F.; Kargoll, B.; Kress, T.; Kuessel, Y.; Lingemann, J.; Nowack, A.; Nugent, I. M.; Perchalla, L.; Pooth, O.; Stahl, A.; Asin, I.; Bartosik, N.; Behr, J.; Behrenhoff, W.; Behrens, U.; Bell, A. J.; Bergholz, M.; Bethani, A.; Borras, K.; Burgmeier, A.; Cakir, A.; Calligaris, L.; Campbell, A.; Choudhury, S.; Costanza, F.; Diez Pardos, C.; Dooling, S.; Dorland, T.; Eckerlin, G.; Eckstein, D.; Eichhorn, T.; Flucke, G.; Garay Garcia, J.; Geiser, A.; Gunnellini, P.; Hauk, J.; Hellwig, G.; Hempel, M.; Horton, D.; Jung, H.; Kalogeropoulos, A.; Kasemann, M.; Katsas, P.; Kieseler, J.; Kleinwort, C.; Krücker, D.; Lange, W.; Leonard, J.; Lipka, K.; Lobanov, A.; Lohmann, W.; Lutz, B.; Mankel, R.; Marfin, I.; Melzer-Pellmann, I.-A.; Meyer, A. B.; Mnich, J.; Mussgiller, A.; Naumann-Emme, S.; Nayak, A.; Novgorodova, O.; Nowak, F.; Ntomari, E.; Perrey, H.; Pitzl, D.; Placakyte, R.; Raspereza, A.; Ribeiro Cipriano, P. M.; Ron, E.; Sahin, M. Ö.; Salfeld-Nebgen, J.; Saxena, P.; Schmidt, R.; Schoerner-Sadenius, T.; Schröder, M.; Spannagel, S.; Vargas Trevino, A. D. R.; Walsh, R.; Wissing, C.; Aldaya Martin, M.; Blobel, V.; Centis Vignali, M.; Erfle, J.; Garutti, E.; Goebel, K.; Görner, M.; Haller, J.; Hoffmann, M.; Höing, R. S.; Kirschenmann, H.; Klanner, R.; Kogler, R.; Lange, J.; Lapsien, T.; Lenz, T.; Marchesini, I.; Ott, J.; Peiffer, T.; Pietsch, N.; Rathjens, D.; Sander, C.; Schettler, H.; Schleper, P.; Schlieckau, E.; Schmidt, A.; Seidel, M.; Sibille, J.; Sola, V.; Stadie, H.; Steinbrück, G.; Troendle, D.; Usai, E.; Vanelderen, L.; Barth, C.; Baus, C.; Berger, J.; Böser, C.; Butz, E.; Chwalek, T.; De Boer, W.; Descroix, A.; Dierlamm, A.; Feindt, M.; Frensch, F.; Giffels, M.; Hartmann, F.; Hauth, T.; Husemann, U.; Katkov, I.; Kornmayer, A.; Kuznetsova, E.; Lobelle Pardo, P.; Mozer, M. U.; Müller, Th.; Nürnberg, A.; Quast, G.; Rabbertz, K.; Ratnikov, F.; Röcker, S.; Simonis, H. J.; Stober, F. M.; Ulrich, R.; Wagner-Kuhr, J.; Wayand, S.; Weiler, T.; Wolf, R.; Anagnostou, G.; Daskalakis, G.; Geralis, T.; Giakoumopoulou, V. A.; Kyriakis, A.; Loukas, D.; Markou, A.; Markou, C.; Psallidas, A.; Topsis-Giotis, I.; Panagiotou, A.; Saoulidou, N.; Stiliaris, E.; Aslanoglou, X.; Evangelou, I.; Flouris, G.; Foudas, C.; Kokkas, P.; Manthos, N.; Papadopoulos, I.; Paradas, E.; Bencze, G.; Hajdu, C.; Hidas, P.; Horvath, D.; Sikler, F.; Veszpremi, V.; Vesztergombi, G.; Zsigmond, A. J.; Beni, N.; Czellar, S.; Karancsi, J.; Molnar, J.; Palinkas, J.; Szillasi, Z.; Raics, P.; Trocsanyi, Z. L.; Ujvari, B.; Swain, S. K.; Beri, S. B.; Bhatnagar, V.; Dhingra, N.; Gupta, R.; Bhawandeep, U.; Kalsi, A. K.; Kaur, M.; Mittal, M.; Nishu, N.; Singh, J. B.; Kumar, Ashok; Kumar, Arun; Ahuja, S.; Bhardwaj, A.; Choudhary, B. C.; Kumar, A.; Malhotra, S.; Naimuddin, M.; Ranjan, K.; Sharma, V.; Banerjee, S.; Bhattacharya, S.; Chatterjee, K.; Dutta, S.; Gomber, B.; Jain, Sa.; Jain, Sh.; Khurana, R.; Modak, A.; Mukherjee, S.; Roy, D.; Sarkar, S.; Sharan, M.; Abdulsalam, A.; Dutta, D.; Kailas, S.; Kumar, V.; Mohanty, A. K.; Pant, L. M.; Shukla, P.; Topkar, A.; Aziz, T.; Banerjee, S.; Bhowmik, S.; Chatterjee, R. M.; Dewanjee, R. K.; Dugad, S.; Ganguly, S.; Ghosh, S.; Guchait, M.; Gurtu, A.; Kole, G.; Kumar, S.; Maity, M.; Majumder, G.; Mazumdar, K.; Mohanty, G. B.; Parida, B.; Sudhakar, K.; Wickramage, N.; Bakhshiansohi, H.; Behnamian, H.; Etesami, S. M.; Fahim, A.; Goldouzian, R.; Jafari, A.; Khakzad, M.; Mohammadi Najafabadi, M.; Naseri, M.; Paktinat Mehdiabadi, S.; Safarzadeh, B.; Zeinali, M.; Felcini, M.; Grunewald, M.; Abbrescia, M.; Barbone, L.; Calabria, C.; Chhibra, S. S.; Colaleo, A.; Creanza, D.; De Filippis, N.; De Palma, M.; Fiore, L.; Iaselli, G.; Maggi, G.; Maggi, M.; My, S.; Nuzzo, S.; Pompili, A.; Pugliese, G.; Radogna, R.; Selvaggi, G.; Silvestris, L.; Singh, G.; Venditti, R.; Verwilligen, P.; Zito, G.; Abbiendi, G.; Benvenuti, A. C.; Bonacorsi, D.; Braibant-Giacomelli, S.; Brigliadori, L.; Campanini, R.; Capiluppi, P.; Castro, A.; Cavallo, F. R.; Codispoti, G.; Cuffiani, M.; Dallavalle, G. M.; Fabbri, F.; Fanfani, A.; Fasanella, D.; Giacomelli, P.; Grandi, C.; Guiducci, L.; Marcellini, S.; Masetti, G.; Montanari, A.; Navarria, F. L.; Perrotta, A.; Primavera, F.; Rossi, A. M.; Rovelli, T.; Siroli, G. P.; Tosi, N.; Travaglini, R.; Albergo, S.; Cappello, G.; Chiorboli, M.; Costa, S.; Giordano, F.; Potenza, R.; Tricomi, A.; Tuve, C.; Barbagli, G.; Ciulli, V.; Civinini, C.; D'Alessandro, R.; Focardi, E.; Gallo, E.; Gonzi, S.; Gori, V.; Lenzi, P.; Meschini, M.; Paoletti, S.; Sguazzoni, G.; Tropiano, A.; Benussi, L.; Bianco, S.; Fabbri, F.; Piccolo, D.; Ferro, F.; Lo Vetere, M.; Robutti, E.; Tosi, S.; Dinardo, M. E.; Fiorendi, S.; Gennai, S.; Gerosa, R.; Ghezzi, A.; Govoni, P.; Lucchini, M. T.; Malvezzi, S.; Manzoni, R. A.; Martelli, A.; Marzocchi, B.; Menasce, D.; Moroni, L.; Paganoni, M.; Pedrini, D.; Ragazzi, S.; Redaelli, N.; Tabarelli de Fatis, T.; Buontempo, S.; Cavallo, N.; Di Guida, S.; Fabozzi, F.; Iorio, A. O. M.; Lista, L.; Meola, S.; Merola, M.; Paolucci, P.; Azzi, P.; Bacchetta, N.; Bisello, D.; Branca, A.; Carlin, R.; Checchia, P.; Dall'Osso, M.; Galanti, M.; Gasparini, F.; Gasparini, U.; Giubilato, P.; Gozzelino, A.; Kanishchev, K.; Meneguzzo, A. T.; Passaseo, M.; Pazzini, J.; Pegoraro, M.; Pozzobon, N.; Simonetto, F.; Torassa, E.; Tosi, M.; Triossi, A.; Vanini, S.; Ventura, S.; Zotto, P.; Zucchetta, A.; Zumerle, G.; Gabusi, M.; Ratti, S. P.; Riccardi, C.; Salvini, P.; Vitulo, P.; Biasini, M.; Bilei, G. M.; Ciangottini, D.; Fanò, L.; Lariccia, P.; Mantovani, G.; Menichelli, M.; Romeo, F.; Saha, A.; Santocchia, A.; Spiezia, A.; Androsov, K.; Azzurri, P.; Bagliesi, G.; Bernardini, J.; Boccali, T.; Broccolo, G.; Castaldi, R.; Ciocci, M. A.; Dell'Orso, R.; Donato, S.; Fiori, F.; Foà, L.; Giassi, A.; Grippo, M. T.; Ligabue, F.; Lomtadze, T.; Martini, L.; Messineo, A.; Moon, C. S.; Palla, F.; Rizzi, A.; Savoy-Navarro, A.; Serban, A. T.; Spagnolo, P.; Squillacioti, P.; Tenchini, R.; Tonelli, G.; Venturi, A.; Verdini, P. G.; Vernieri, C.; Barone, L.; Cavallari, F.; Del Re, D.; Diemoz, M.; Grassi, M.; Jorda, C.; Longo, E.; Margaroli, F.; Meridiani, P.; Micheli, F.; Nourbakhsh, S.; Organtini, G.; Paramatti, R.; Rahatlou, S.; Rovelli, C.; Santanastasio, F.; Soffi, L.; Traczyk, P.; Amapane, N.; Arcidiacono, R.; Argiro, S.; Arneodo, M.; Bellan, R.; Biino, C.; Cartiglia, N.; Casasso, S.; Costa, M.; Degano, A.; Demaria, N.; Finco, L.; Mariotti, C.; Maselli, S.; Migliore, E.; Monaco, V.; Musich, M.; Obertino, M. M.; Ortona, G.; Pacher, L.; Pastrone, N.; Pelliccioni, M.; Pinna Angioni, G. L.; Potenza, A.; Romero, A.; Ruspa, M.; Sacchi, R.; Solano, A.; Staiano, A.; Tamponi, U.; Belforte, S.; Candelise, V.; Casarsa, M.; Cossutti, F.; Della Ricca, G.; Gobbo, B.; La Licata, C.; Marone, M.; Montanino, D.; Schizzi, A.; Umer, T.; Zanetti, A.; Chang, S.; Kropivnitskaya, A.; Nam, S. K.; Kim, D. H.; Kim, G. N.; Kim, M. S.; Kong, D. J.; Lee, S.; Oh, Y. D.; Park, H.; Sakharov, A.; Son, D. C.; Kim, J. Y.; Song, S.; Choi, S.; Gyun, D.; Hong, B.; Jo, M.; Kim, H.; Kim, Y.; Lee, B.; Lee, K. S.; Park, S. K.; Roh, Y.; Choi, M.; Kim, J. H.; Park, I. C.; Park, S.; Ryu, G.; Ryu, M. S.; Choi, Y.; Choi, Y. K.; Goh, J.; Kwon, E.; Lee, J.; Seo, H.; Yu, I.; Juodagalvis, A.; Komaragiri, J. R.; Castilla-Valdez, H.; De La Cruz-Burelo, E.; Heredia-de La Cruz, I.; Lopez-Fernandez, R.; Sanchez-Hernandez, A.; Carrillo Moreno, S.; Vazquez Valencia, F.; Pedraza, I.; Salazar Ibarguen, H. A.; Casimiro Linares, E.; Morelos Pineda, A.; Krofcheck, D.; Butler, P. H.; Reucroft, S.; Ahmad, A.; Ahmad, M.; Hassan, Q.; Hoorani, H. R.; Khalid, S.; Khan, W. A.; Khurshid, T.; Shah, M. A.; Shoaib, M.; Bialkowska, H.; Bluj, M.; Boimska, B.; Frueboes, T.; Górski, M.; Kazana, M.; Nawrocki, K.; Romanowska-Rybinska, K.; Szleper, M.; Zalewski, P.; Brona, G.; Bunkowski, K.; Cwiok, M.; Dominik, W.; Doroba, K.; Kalinowski, A.; Konecki, M.; Krolikowski, J.; Misiura, M.; Olszewski, M.; Wolszczak, W.; Bargassa, P.; Beirão Da Cruz E Silva, C.; Faccioli, P.; Ferreira Parracho, P. G.; Gallinaro, M.; Nguyen, F.; Rodrigues Antunes, J.; Seixas, J.; Varela, J.; Vischia, P.; Bunin, P.; Gavrilenko, M.; Golutvin, I.; Kamenev, A.; Karjavin, V.; Konoplyanikov, V.; Lanev, A.; Malakhov, A.; Matveev, V.; Moisenz, P.; Palichik, V.; Perelygin, V.; Savina, M.; Shmatov, S.; Shulha, S.; Skatchkov, N.; Smirnov, V.; Zarubin, A.; Golovtsov, V.; Ivanov, Y.; Kim, V.; Levchenko, P.; Murzin, V.; Oreshkin, V.; Smirnov, I.; Sulimov, V.; Uvarov, L.; Vavilov, S.; Vorobyev, A.; Vorobyev, An.; Andreev, Yu.; Dermenev, A.; Gninenko, S.; Golubev, N.; Kirsanov, M.; Krasnikov, N.; Pashenkov, A.; Tlisov, D.; Toropin, A.; Epshteyn, V.; Gavrilov, V.; Lychkovskaya, N.; Popov, V.; Safronov, G.; Semenov, S.; Spiridonov, A.; Stolin, V.; Vlasov, E.; Zhokin, A.; Andreev, V.; Azarkin, M.; Dremin, I.; Kirakosyan, M.; Leonidov, A.; Mesyats, G.; Rusakov, S. V.; Vinogradov, A.; Belyaev, A.; Boos, E.; Bunichev, V.; Dubinin, M.; Dudko, L.; Ershov, A.; Klyukhin, V.; Kodolova, O.; Lokhtin, I.; Obraztsov, S.; Petrushanko, S.; Savrin, V.; Snigirev, A.; Azhgirey, I.; Bayshev, I.; Bitioukov, S.; Kachanov, V.; Kalinin, A.; Konstantinov, D.; Krychkine, V.; Petrov, V.; Ryutin, R.; Sobol, A.; Tourtchanovitch, L.; Troshin, S.; Tyurin, N.; Uzunian, A.; Volkov, A.; Adzic, P.; Dordevic, M.; Ekmedzic, M.; Milosevic, J.; Alcaraz Maestre, J.; Battilana, C.; Calvo, E.; Cerrada, M.; Chamizo Llatas, M.; Colino, N.; De La Cruz, B.; Delgado Peris, A.; Domínguez Vázquez, D.; Escalante Del Valle, A.; Fernandez Bedoya, C.; Fernández Ramos, J. P.; Flix, J.; Fouz, M. C.; Garcia-Abia, P.; Gonzalez Lopez, O.; Goy Lopez, S.; Hernandez, J. M.; Josa, M. I.; Merino, G.; Navarro De Martino, E.; Pérez-Calero Yzquierdo, A.; Puerta Pelayo, J.; Quintario Olmeda, A.; Redondo, I.; Romero, L.; Soares, M. S.; Albajar, C.; de Trocóniz, J. F.; Missiroli, M.; Brun, H.; Cuevas, J.; Fernandez Menendez, J.; Folgueras, S.; Gonzalez Caballero, I.; Lloret Iglesias, L.; Brochero Cifuentes, J. A.; Cabrillo, I. J.; Calderon, A.; Duarte Campderros, J.; Fernandez, M.; Gomez, G.; Graziano, A.; Lopez Virto, A.; Marco, J.; Marco, R.; Martinez Rivero, C.; Matorras, F.; Munoz Sanchez, F. J.; Piedra Gomez, J.; Rodrigo, T.; Rodríguez-Marrero, A. Y.; Ruiz-Jimeno, A.; Scodellaro, L.; Vila, I.; Vilar Cortabitarte, R.; Abbaneo, D.; Auffray, E.; Auzinger, G.; Bachtis, M.; Baillon, P.; Ball, A. H.; Barney, D.; Benaglia, A.; Bendavid, J.; Benhabib, L.; Benitez, J. F.; Bernet, C.; Bianchi, G.; Bloch, P.; Bocci, A.; Bonato, A.; Bondu, O.; Botta, C.; Breuker, H.; Camporesi, T.; Cerminara, G.; Colafranceschi, S.; D'Alfonso, M.; d'Enterria, D.; Dabrowski, A.; David, A.; De Guio, F.; De Roeck, A.; De Visscher, S.; Dobson, M.; Dupont-Sagorin, N.; Elliott-Peisert, A.; Eugster, J.; Franzoni, G.; Funk, W.; Gigi, D.; Gill, K.; Giordano, D.; Girone, M.; Glege, F.; Guida, R.; Gundacker, S.; Guthoff, M.; Hammer, J.; Hansen, M.; Harris, P.; Hegeman, J.; Innocente, V.; Janot, P.; Kousouris, K.; Krajczar, K.; Lecoq, P.; Lourenço, C.; Magini, N.; Malgeri, L.; Mannelli, M.; Marrouche, J.; Masetti, L.; Meijers, F.; Mersi, S.; Meschi, E.; Moortgat, F.; Morovic, S.; Mulders, M.; Musella, P.; Orsini, L.; Pape, L.; Perez, E.; Perrozzi, L.; Petrilli, A.; Petrucciani, G.; Pfeiffer, A.; Pierini, M.; Pimiä, M.; Piparo, D.; Plagge, M.; Racz, A.; Rolandi, G.; Rovere, M.; Sakulin, H.; Schäfer, C.; Schwick, C.; Sekmen, S.; Sharma, A.; Siegrist, P.; Silva, P.; Simon, M.; Sphicas, P.; Spiga, D.; Steggemann, J.; Stieger, B.; Stoye, M.; Treille, D.; Tsirou, A.; Veres, G. I.; Vlimant, J. R.; Wardle, N.; Wöhri, H. K.; Wollny, H.; Zeuner, W. D.; Bertl, W.; Deiters, K.; Erdmann, W.; Horisberger, R.; Ingram, Q.; Kaestli, H. C.; König, S.; Kotlinski, D.; Langenegger, U.; Renker, D.; Rohe, T.; Bachmair, F.; Bäni, L.; Bianchini, L.; Bortignon, P.; Buchmann, M. A.; Casal, B.; Chanon, N.; Deisher, A.; Dissertori, G.; Dittmar, M.; Donegà, M.; Dünser, M.; Eller, P.; Grab, C.; Hits, D.; Lustermann, W.; Mangano, B.; Marini, A. C.; Martinez Ruiz del Arbol, P.; Meister, D.; Mohr, N.; Nägeli, C.; Nessi-Tedaldi, F.; Pandolfi, F.; Pauss, F.; Peruzzi, M.; Quittnat, M.; Rebane, L.; Rossini, M.; Starodumov, A.; Takahashi, M.; Theofilatos, K.; Wallny, R.; Weber, H. A.; Amsler, C.; Canelli, M. F.; Chiochia, V.; De Cosa, A.; Hinzmann, A.; Hreus, T.; Kilminster, B.; Millan Mejias, B.; Ngadiuba, J.; Robmann, P.; Ronga, F. J.; Snoek, H.; Taroni, S.; Verzetti, M.; Yang, Y.; Cardaci, M.; Chen, K. H.; Ferro, C.; Kuo, C. M.; Lin, W.; Lu, Y. J.; Volpe, R.; Yu, S. S.; Chang, P.; Chang, Y. H.; Chang, Y. W.; Chao, Y.; Chen, K. F.; Chen, P. H.; Dietz, C.; Grundler, U.; Hou, W.-S.; Kao, K. Y.; Lei, Y. J.; Liu, Y. F.; Lu, R.-S.; Majumder, D.; Petrakou, E.; Tzeng, Y. M.; Wilken, R.; Asavapibhop, B.; Srimanobhas, N.; Suwonjandee, N.; Adiguzel, A.; Bakirci, M. N.; Cerci, S.; Dozen, C.; Dumanoglu, I.; Eskut, E.; Girgis, S.; Gokbulut, G.; Gurpinar, E.; Hos, I.; Kangal, E. E.; Kayis Topaksu, A.; Onengut, G.; Ozdemir, K.; Ozturk, S.; Polatoz, A.; Sogut, K.; Sunar Cerci, D.; Tali, B.; Topakli, H.; Vergili, M.; Akin, I. V.; Bilin, B.; Bilmis, S.; Gamsizkan, H.; Karapinar, G.; Ocalan, K.; Surat, U. E.; Yalvac, M.; Zeyrek, M.; Gülmez, E.; Isildak, B.; Kaya, M.; Kaya, O.; Bahtiyar, H.; Barlas, E.; Cankocak, K.; Vardarlı, F. I.; Yücel, M.; Levchuk, L.; Sorokin, P.; Brooke, J. J.; Clement, E.; Cussans, D.; Flacher, H.; Frazier, R.; Goldstein, J.; Grimes, M.; Heath, G. P.; Heath, H. F.; Jacob, J.; Kreczko, L.; Lucas, C.; Meng, Z.; Newbold, D. M.; Paramesvaran, S.; Poll, A.; Senkin, S.; Smith, V. J.; Williams, T.; Bell, K. W.; Belyaev, A.; Brew, C.; Brown, R. M.; Cockerill, D. J. A.; Coughlan, J. A.; Harder, K.; Harper, S.; Olaiya, E.; Petyt, D.; Shepherd-Themistocleous, C. H.; Thea, A.; Tomalin, I. R.; Womersley, W. J.; Worm, S. D.; Baber, M.; Bainbridge, R.; Buchmuller, O.; Burton, D.; Colling, D.; Cripps, N.; Cutajar, M.; Dauncey, P.; Davies, G.; Della Negra, M.; Dunne, P.; Ferguson, W.; Fulcher, J.; Futyan, D.; Gilbert, A.; Hall, G.; Iles, G.; Jarvis, M.; Karapostoli, G.; Kenzie, M.; Lane, R.; Lucas, R.; Lyons, L.; Magnan, A.-M.; Malik, S.; Mathias, B.; Nash, J.; Nikitenko, A.; Pela, J.; Pesaresi, M.; Petridis, K.; Raymond, D. M.; Rogerson, S.; Rose, A.; Seez, C.; Sharp, P.; Tapper, A.; Vazquez Acosta, M.; Virdee, T.; Cole, J. E.; Hobson, P. R.; Khan, A.; Kyberd, P.; Leggat, D.; Leslie, D.; Martin, W.; Reid, I. D.; Symonds, P.; Teodorescu, L.; Turner, M.; Dittmann, J.; Hatakeyama, K.; Kasmi, A.; Liu, H.; Scarborough, T.; Charaf, O.; Cooper, S. I.; Henderson, C.; Rumerio, P.; Avetisyan, A.; Bose, T.; Fantasia, C.; Heister, A.; Lawson, P.; Richardson, C.; Rohlf, J.; Sperka, D.; St. John, J.; Sulak, L.; Alimena, J.; Berry, E.; Bhattacharya, S.; Christopher, G.; Cutts, D.; Demiragli, Z.; Ferapontov, A.; Garabedian, A.; Heintz, U.; Jabeen, S.; Kukartsev, G.; Laird, E.; Landsberg, G.; Luk, M.; Narain, M.; Segala, M.; Sinthuprasith, T.; Speer, T.; Swanson, J.; Breedon, R.; Breto, G.; Calderon De La Barca Sanchez, M.; Chauhan, S.; Chertok, M.; Conway, J.; Conway, R.; Cox, P. T.; Erbacher, R.; Gardner, M.; Ko, W.; Lander, R.; Miceli, T.; Mulhearn, M.; Pellett, D.; Pilot, J.; Ricci-Tam, F.; Searle, M.; Shalhout, S.; Smith, J.; Squires, M.; Stolp, D.; Tripathi, M.; Wilbur, S.; Yohay, R.; Cousins, R.; Everaerts, P.; Farrell, C.; Hauser, J.; Ignatenko, M.; Rakness, G.; Takasugi, E.; Valuev, V.; Weber, M.; Babb, J.; Burt, K.; Clare, R.; Ellison, J.; Gary, J. W.; Hanson, G.; Heilman, J.; Ivova Rikova, M.; Jandir, P.; Kennedy, E.; Lacroix, F.; Liu, H.; Long, O. R.; Luthra, A.; Malberti, M.; Nguyen, H.; Shrinivas, A.; Sumowidagdo, S.; Wimpenny, S.; Andrews, W.; Branson, J. G.; Cerati, G. B.; Cittolin, S.; D'Agnolo, R. T.; Evans, D.; Holzner, A.; Kelley, R.; Klein, D.; Lebourgeois, M.; Letts, J.; Macneill, I.; Olivito, D.; Padhi, S.; Palmer, C.; Pieri, M.; Sani, M.; Sharma, V.; Simon, S.; Sudano, E.; Tadel, M.; Tu, Y.; Vartak, A.; Welke, C.; Würthwein, F.; Yagil, A.; Yoo, J.; Barge, D.; Bradmiller-Feld, J.; Campagnari, C.; Danielson, T.; Dishaw, A.; Flowers, K.; Franco Sevilla, M.; Geffert, P.; George, C.; Golf, F.; Gouskos, L.; Incandela, J.; Justus, C.; Mccoll, N.; Richman, J.; Stuart, D.; To, W.; West, C.; Apresyan, A.; Bornheim, A.; Bunn, J.; Chen, Y.; Di Marco, E.; Duarte, J.; Mott, A.; Newman, H. B.; Pena, C.; Rogan, C.; Spiropulu, M.; Timciuc, V.; Wilkinson, R.; Xie, S.; Zhu, R. Y.; Azzolini, V.; Calamba, A.; Ferguson, T.; Iiyama, Y.; Paulini, M.; Russ, J.; Vogel, H.; Vorobiev, I.; Cumalat, J. P.; Drell, B. R.; Ford, W. T.; Gaz, A.; Luiggi Lopez, E.; Nauenberg, U.; Smith, J. G.; Stenson, K.; Ulmer, K. A.; Wagner, S. R.; Alexander, J.; Chatterjee, A.; Chu, J.; Dittmer, S.; Eggert, N.; Mirman, N.; Nicolas Kaufman, G.; Patterson, J. R.; Ryd, A.; Salvati, E.; Skinnari, L.; Sun, W.; Teo, W. D.; Thom, J.; Thompson, J.; Tucker, J.; Weng, Y.; Winstrom, L.; Wittich, P.; Winn, D.; Abdullin, S.; Albrow, M.; Anderson, J.; Apollinari, G.; Bauerdick, L. A. T.; Beretvas, A.; Berryhill, J.; Bhat, P. C.; Burkett, K.; Butler, J. N.; Cheung, H. W. K.; Chlebana, F.; Cihangir, S.; Elvira, V. D.; Fisk, I.; Freeman, J.; Gao, Y.; Gottschalk, E.; Gray, L.; Green, D.; Grünendahl, S.; Gutsche, O.; Hanlon, J.; Hare, D.; Harris, R. M.; Hirschauer, J.; Hooberman, B.; Jindariani, S.; Johnson, M.; Joshi, U.; Kaadze, K.; Klima, B.; Kreis, B.; Kwan, S.; Linacre, J.; Lincoln, D.; Lipton, R.; Liu, T.; Lykken, J.; Maeshima, K.; Marraffino, J. M.; Martinez Outschoorn, V. I.; Maruyama, S.; Mason, D.; McBride, P.; Mishra, K.; Mrenna, S.; Musienko, Y.; Nahn, S.; Newman-Holmes, C.; O'Dell, V.; Prokofyev, O.; Sexton-Kennedy, E.; Sharma, S.; Soha, A.; Spalding, W. J.; Spiegel, L.; Taylor, L.; Tkaczyk, S.; Tran, N. V.; Uplegger, L.; Vaandering, E. W.; Vidal, R.; Whitbeck, A.; Whitmore, J.; Yang, F.; Acosta, D.; Avery, P.; Bourilkov, D.; Carver, M.; Cheng, T.; Curry, D.; Das, S.; De Gruttola, M.; Di Giovanni, G. P.; Field, R. D.; Fisher, M.; Furic, I. K.; Hugon, J.; Konigsberg, J.; Korytov, A.; Kypreos, T.; Low, J. F.; Matchev, K.; Milenovic, P.; Mitselmakher, G.; Muniz, L.; Rinkevicius, A.; Shchutska, L.; Skhirtladze, N.; Snowball, M.; Yelton, J.; Zakaria, M.; Hewamanage, S.; Linn, S.; Markowitz, P.; Martinez, G.; Rodriguez, J. L.; Adams, T.; Askew, A.; Bochenek, J.; Diamond, B.; Haas, J.; Hagopian, S.; Hagopian, V.; Johnson, K. F.; Prosper, H.; Veeraraghavan, V.; Weinberg, M.; Baarmand, M. M.; Hohlmann, M.; Kalakhety, H.; Yumiceva, F.; Adams, M. R.; Apanasevich, L.; Bazterra, V. E.; Berry, D.; Betts, R. R.; Bucinskaite, I.; Cavanaugh, R.; Evdokimov, O.; Gauthier, L.; Gerber, C. E.; Hofman, D. J.; Khalatyan, S.; Kurt, P.; Moon, D. H.; O'Brien, C.; Silkworth, C.; Turner, P.; Varelas, N.; Albayrak, E. A.; Bilki, B.; Clarida, W.; Dilsiz, K.; Duru, F.; Haytmyradov, M.; Merlo, J.-P.; Mermerkaya, H.; Mestvirishvili, A.; Moeller, A.; Nachtman, J.; Ogul, H.; Onel, Y.; Ozok, F.; Penzo, A.; Rahmat, R.; Sen, S.; Tan, P.; Tiras, E.; Wetzel, J.; Yetkin, T.; Yi, K.; Barnett, B. A.; Blumenfeld, B.; Bolognesi, S.; Fehling, D.; Gritsan, A. V.; Maksimovic, P.; Martin, C.; Swartz, M.; Baringer, P.; Bean, A.; Benelli, G.; Bruner, C.; Gray, J.; Kenny, R. P., III; Malek, M.; Murray, M.; Noonan, D.; Sanders, S.; Sekaric, J.; Stringer, R.; Wang, Q.; Wood, J. S.; Barfuss, A. F.; Chakaberia, I.; Ivanov, A.; Khalil, S.; Makouski, M.; Maravin, Y.; Saini, L. K.; Shrestha, S.; Svintradze, I.; Gronberg, J.; Lange, D.; Rebassoo, F.; Wright, D.; Baden, A.; Calvert, B.; Eno, S. C.; Gomez, J. A.; Hadley, N. J.; Kellogg, R. G.; Kolberg, T.; Lu, Y.; Marionneau, M.; Mignerey, A. C.; Pedro, K.; Skuja, A.; Tonjes, M. B.; Tonwar, S. C.; Apyan, A.; Barbieri, R.; Bauer, G.; Busza, W.; Cali, I. A.; Chan, M.; Di Matteo, L.; Dutta, V.; Gomez Ceballos, G.; Goncharov, M.; Gulhan, D.; Klute, M.; Lai, Y. S.; Lee, Y.-J.; Levin, A.; Luckey, P. D.; Ma, T.; Paus, C.; Ralph, D.; Roland, C.; Roland, G.; Stephans, G. S. F.; Stöckli, F.; Sumorok, K.; Velicanu, D.; Veverka, J.; Wyslouch, B.; Yang, M.; Zanetti, M.; Zhukova, V.; Dahmes, B.; Gude, A.; Kao, S. C.; Klapoetke, K.; Kubota, Y.; Mans, J.; Pastika, N.; Rusack, R.; Singovsky, A.; Tambe, N.; Turkewitz, J.; Acosta, J. G.; Oliveros, S.; Avdeeva, E.; Bloom, K.; Bose, S.; Claes, D. R.; Dominguez, A.; Gonzalez Suarez, R.; Keller, J.; Knowlton, D.; Kravchenko, I.; Lazo-Flores, J.; Malik, S.; Meier, F.; Snow, G. R.; Dolen, J.; Godshalk, A.; Iashvili, I.; Kharchilava, A.; Kumar, A.; Rappoccio, S.; Alverson, G.; Barberis, E.; Baumgartel, D.; Chasco, M.; Haley, J.; Massironi, A.; Morse, D. M.; Nash, D.; Orimoto, T.; Trocino, D.; Wang, R. J.; Wood, D.; Zhang, J.; Hahn, K. A.; Kubik, A.; Mucia, N.; Odell, N.; Pollack, B.; Pozdnyakov, A.; Schmitt, M.; Stoynev, S.; Sung, K.; Velasco, M.; Won, S.; Brinkerhoff, A.; Chan, K. M.; Drozdetskiy, A.; Hildreth, M.; Jessop, C.; Karmgard, D. J.; Kellams, N.; Lannon, K.; Luo, W.; Lynch, S.; Marinelli, N.; Pearson, T.; Planer, M.; Ruchti, R.; Valls, N.; Wayne, M.; Wolf, M.; Woodard, A.; Antonelli, L.; Brinson, J.; Bylsma, B.; Durkin, L. S.; Flowers, S.; Hill, C.; Hughes, R.; Kotov, K.; Ling, T. Y.; Puigh, D.; Rodenburg, M.; Smith, G.; Vuosalo, C.; Winer, B. L.; Wolfe, H.; Wulsin, H. W.; Driga, O.; Elmer, P.; Hebda, P.; Hunt, A.; Koay, S. A.; Lujan, P.; Marlow, D.; Medvedeva, T.; Mooney, M.; Olsen, J.; Piroué, P.; Quan, X.; Saka, H.; Stickland, D.; Tully, C.; Werner, J. S.; Zenz, S. C.; Zuranski, A.; Brownson, E.; Mendez, H.; Ramirez Vargas, J. E.; Alagoz, E.; Barnes, V. E.; Benedetti, D.; Bolla, G.; Bortoletto, D.; De Mattia, M.; Hu, Z.; Jha, M. K.; Jones, M.; Jung, K.; Kress, M.; Leonardo, N.; Lopes Pegna, D.; Maroussov, V.; Merkel, P.; Miller, D. H.; Neumeister, N.; Radburn-Smith, B. C.; Shi, X.; Shipsey, I.; Silvers, D.; Svyatkovskiy, A.; Wang, F.; Xie, W.; Xu, L.; Yoo, H. D.; Zablocki, J.; Zheng, Y.; Parashar, N.; Stupak, J.; Adair, A.; Akgun, B.; Ecklund, K. M.; Geurts, F. J. M.; Li, W.; Michlin, B.; Padley, B. P.; Redjimi, R.; Roberts, J.; Zabel, J.; Betchart, B.; Bodek, A.; Covarelli, R.; de Barbaro, P.; Demina, R.; Eshaq, Y.; Ferbel, T.; Garcia-Bellido, A.; Goldenzweig, P.; Han, J.; Harel, A.; Khukhunaishvili, A.; Miner, D. C.; Petrillo, G.; Vishnevskiy, D.; Ciesielski, R.; Demortier, L.; Goulianos, K.; Lungu, G.; Mesropian, C.; Arora, S.; Barker, A.; Chou, J. P.; Contreras-Campana, C.; Contreras-Campana, E.; Duggan, D.; Ferencek, D.; Gershtein, Y.; Gray, R.; Halkiadakis, E.; Hidas, D.; Lath, A.; Panwalkar, S.; Park, M.; Patel, R.; Rekovic, V.; Salur, S.; Schnetzer, S.; Seitz, C.; Somalwar, S.; Stone, R.; Thomas, S.; Thomassen, P.; Walker, M.; Rose, K.; Spanier, S.; York, A.; Bouhali, O.; Eusebi, R.; Flanagan, W.; Gilmore, J.; Kamon, T.; Khotilovich, V.; Krutelyov, V.; Montalvo, R.; Osipenkov, I.; Pakhotin, Y.; Perloff, A.; Roe, J.; Rose, A.; Safonov, A.; Sakuma, T.; Suarez, I.; Tatarinov, A.; Akchurin, N.; Cowden, C.; Damgov, J.; Dragoiu, C.; Dudero, P. R.; Faulkner, J.; Kovitanggoon, K.; Kunori, S.; Lee, S. W.; Libeiro, T.; Volobouev, I.; Appelt, E.; Delannoy, A. G.; Greene, S.; Gurrola, A.; Johns, W.; Maguire, C.; Mao, Y.; Melo, A.; Sharma, M.; Sheldon, P.; Snook, B.; Tuo, S.; Velkovska, J.; Arenton, M. W.; Boutle, S.; Cox, B.; Francis, B.; Goodell, J.; Hirosky, R.; Ledovskoy, A.; Li, H.; Lin, C.; Neu, C.; Wood, J.; Harr, R.; Karchin, P. E.; Kottachchi Kankanamge Don, C.; Lamichhane, P.; Sturdy, J.; Belknap, D. A.; Carlsmith, D.; Cepeda, M.; Dasu, S.; Duric, S.; Friis, E.; Hall-Wilton, R.; Herndon, M.; Hervé, A.; Klabbers, P.; Lanaro, A.; Lazaridis, C.; Levine, A.; Loveless, R.; Mohapatra, A.; Ojalvo, I.; Perry, T.; Pierro, G. A.; Polese, G.; Ross, I.; Sarangi, T.; Savin, A.; Smith, W. H.; Woods, N.; CMS Collaboration

2014-11-01

A search for excited quarks decaying into the γ + jet final state is presented. The analysis is based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb-1 collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at √{ s} = 8 TeV at the LHC. Events with photons and jets with high transverse momenta are selected and the γ + jet invariant mass distribution is studied to search for a resonance peak. The 95% confidence level upper limits on the product of cross section and branching fraction are evaluated as a function of the excited quark mass. Limits on excited quarks are presented as a function of their mass and coupling strength; masses below 3.5 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for unit couplings to their standard model partners.

Search for excited quarks in the γ+jet final state in proton–proton collisions at √s=8 TeV

DOE PAGES

Khachatryan, Vardan

2014-10-01

A search for excited quarks decaying into the γ+jet final state is presented. The analysis is based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb -1 collected by the CMS experiment in proton–proton collisions at √s =8 TeV at the LHC. Events with photons and jets with high transverse momenta are selected and the γ+jet invariant mass distribution is studied to search for a resonance peak. The 95% confidence level upper limits on the product of cross section and branching fraction are evaluated as a function of the excited quark mass. Limits on excited quarks are presented asmore » a function of their mass and coupling strength; masses below 3.5 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level for unit couplings to their standard model partners.« less

78 FR 22037 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-12

... on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of... the branch tax; the branch profits Tax; and the regulations on effectively connected income and the branch profits tax (Sec. Sec. 1.884-1, 1.884-2, 1.884-2T, 1.884-4, 1.884-5). DATES: Written comments...

Effect of inductive and capacitive coupling on the current–voltage characteristic and electromagnetic radiation from a system of Josephson junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rahmonov, I. R., E-mail: rahmonov@theor.jinr.ru, E-mail: ilhom-tj@inbox.ru; Shukrinov, Yu. M.; Atanasova, P. Kh.

We have studied the current–voltage characteristic of a system of long Josephson junctions taking into account the inductive and capacitive coupling. The dependence of the average time derivative of the phase difference on the bias current and spatiotemporal dependences of the phase difference and magnetic field in each junction are considered. The possibility of branching of the current–voltage characteristic in the region of zero field step, which is associated with different numbers of fluxons in individual Josephson junctions, is demonstrated. The current–voltage characteristic of the system of Josephson junctions is compared with the case of a single junction, and itmore » is shown that the observed branching is due to coupling between the junctions. The intensity of electromagnetic radiation associated with motion of fluxons is calculated, and the effect of coupling between junctions on the radiation power is analyzed.« less

High-Selectivity Electrochemical Conversion of CO 2 to Ethanol using a Copper Nanoparticle/N-Doped Graphene Electrode

DOE PAGES

Song, Yang; Peng, Rui; Hensley, Dale K.; ...

2016-09-28

Carbon dioxide is a pollutant, but also a potential carbon source provided an efficient means to convert it to useful products. Herein we report a nanostructured catalyst for the direct electrochemical reduction of dissolved CO 2 to ethanol with high Faradaic efficiency (63%) and high selectivity (84%). The catalyst is comprised of Cu nanoparticle on a highly textured, N-doped graphene film. Detailed electrochemical analysis and complementary DFT calculations indicate a novel mechanism in which multiple active sites, working sequentially, control the coupling of carbon monoxide radicals and mediate the subsequent electrochemical reduction to alcohol.

Using multitype branching processes to quantify statistics of disease outbreaks in zoonotic epidemics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sarabjeet; Schneider, David J.; Myers, Christopher R.

2014-03-01

Branching processes have served as a model for chemical reactions, biological growth processes, and contagion (of disease, information, or fads). Through this connection, these seemingly different physical processes share some common universalities that can be elucidated by analyzing the underlying branching process. In this work we focus on coupled branching processes as a model of infectious diseases spreading from one population to another. An exceedingly important example of such coupled outbreaks are zoonotic infections that spill over from animal populations to humans. We derive several statistical quantities characterizing the first spillover event from animals to humans, including the probability of spillover, the first passage time distribution for human infection, and disease prevalence in the animal population at spillover. Large stochastic fluctuations in those quantities can make inference of the state of the system at the time of spillover difficult. Focusing on outbreaks in the human population, we then characterize the critical threshold for a large outbreak, the distribution of outbreak sizes, and associated scaling laws. These all show a strong dependence on the basic reproduction number in the animal population and indicate the existence of a novel multicritical point with altered scaling behavior. The coupling of animal and human infection dynamics has crucial implications, most importantly allowing for the possibility of large human outbreaks even when human-to-human transmission is subcritical.

Highly Resolved Studies of Vacuum Ultraviolet Photoionization Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakar, Sandeep

We use measurements of dispersed fluorescence from electronically excited photoions to study fundamental aspects of intramolecular dynamics. Our experimental innovations make it possible to obtain highly resolved photoionization data that offer qualitative insights into molecular scattering. In particular, we obtain vibrationally resolved data to probe coupling between the electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom by studying the distribution of vibrational energy among photoions. Vibrationally resolved branching ratios are measured over a broad spectral range of excitation energy and their non-Franck-Condon behavior is used as a tool to investigate two diverse aspects of shape resonant photoionization. First, vibrational branching ratios are obtained for the SiF_4 5a _1^{-1} and CS_2 5sigma_{rm u} ^{-1} photoionization channels to help elucidate the microscopic aspects of shape resonant wavefunction for polyatomic molecules. It is shown that in such molecules the shape resonant wavefunction is not necessarily attributable to a specific bond in the molecule. Second, the multichannel aspect of shape resonant photoionization dynamics, reflected in continuum channel coupling, is investigated by obtaining vibrational branching ratios for the 2 sigma_{rm u}^{ -1} and 4sigma^{ -1} photoionization of the isoelectronic molecules N_2 and CO, respectively. These data indicate that effects of continuum coupling may be widespread. We also present the first set of rotationally resolved data over a wide energy range for the 2 sigma_{rm u}^{ -1} photoionization of N_2. These data probe the partitioning of the angular momentum between the photoelectron and photoion, and highlight the multicenter nature of the molecular potential. These case studies illustrate the utility of dispersed fluorescence measurements as a complement to photoelectron spectroscopy for obtaining highly resolved data for molecular photoionization. These measurements makes it possible to probe intrinsically molecular aspects, such as the vibration and rotation, of photoionization dynamics over an extended spectral range when used in conjunction with synchrotron radiation as the exciting source. Furthermore, the high resolution made possible by this technique provides high selectivity for accessing weaker ionization channels which are the ones strongly affected by resonant activity, and the present study repeatedly stresses the importance of this capability in discovering and deciphering new trends in resonant molecular ionization dynamics.

Applications of plastic optical fiber in communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tayahi, Moncef Ben

In this thesis, we report the results of our theoretical and experimental studies of large core polymer fibers. This relatively low loss and high bandwidth plastic optical fiber (POF) potentially have important applications in LAN. We measured the power penalty due to modal noise. We also developed a model to calculate the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the bit error rate (BER) floor just by knowing the coupling coefficient in the mode selective loss being considered. The calculated bandwidth using the WKB approximation was found to be 0.44 GHz per 100 m, which is much lower than the measured bandwidth of 3 GHz per 100 m. This discrepancy was explained by the presence of strong mode coupling in POFs. We studied distortions products in CATV systems. Composite second order (CSO) and composite triple beat (CTB) for different channels were measured using a spectrum analyzer and adjustable band pass filter. Since the CSO and the CTB did not meet the CATV standard, a predistortion circuit was used to minimize CSO and CTB products produced by the laser. The predistortion circuit provides a signal comprising multiple subcarrier signals substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in phase to those associated with the nonlinear transfer function of the laser being deployed. The RF signal is split into a primary branch that has a time delayed portion (80% of the RF signal), the secondary branch (10% of the RF signal) is where the second order products are generated with a 180 °phase shift from the fundamental, and the last remaining 10% of the RF signal is where the third order distortion products are generated with a 180 °phase shift from the fundamental. The output signal is taken as the summation of three signals processed by the branch circuits and coupled to the directly to the laser to be linearized. Finally, using cyclic transparent optical polymer (CYTOP), a perfluorinated graded index fiber, different transmission characteristics were investigated. CYTOP fiber has many outstanding characteristics superior to any other polymer waveguide. It can support multi-Gb/s date rates from 800 run to 1300 nm.

Pervasive positive selection on duplicated and nonduplicated vertebrate protein coding genes.

PubMed

Studer, Romain A; Penel, Simon; Duret, Laurent; Robinson-Rechavi, Marc

2008-09-01

A stringent branch-site codon model was used to detect positive selection in vertebrate evolution. We show that the test is robust to the large evolutionary distances involved. Positive selection was detected in 77% of 884 genes studied. Most positive selection concerns a few sites on a single branch of the phylogenetic tree: Between 0.9% and 4.7% of sites are affected by positive selection depending on the branches. No functional category was overrepresented among genes under positive selection. Surprisingly, whole genome duplication had no effect on the prevalence of positive selection, whether the fish-specific genome duplication or the two rounds at the origin of vertebrates. Thus positive selection has not been limited to a few gene classes, or to specific evolutionary events such as duplication, but has been pervasive during vertebrate evolution.

Whey protein supplementation does not alter plasma branched-chained amino acid profiles but results in unique metabolomics patterns in obese women enrolled in an 8-week weight loss trial

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background. Elevations of plasma concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are correlated with insulin resistance. Reduction in the activity of branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC) activity and impaired complete mitochondrial BCAA catabolism may contribute to this phenoty...

Reduction Potentials of [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Accessory Iron-Sulfur Clusters Provide Insights into the Energetics of Proton Reduction Catalysis.

PubMed

Artz, Jacob H; Mulder, David W; Ratzloff, Michael W; Lubner, Carolyn E; Zadvornyy, Oleg A; LeVan, Axl X; Williams, S Garrett; Adams, Michael W W; Jones, Anne K; King, Paul W; Peters, John W

2017-07-19

An [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum, CpI, is a model system for biological H 2 activation. In addition to the catalytic H-cluster, CpI contains four accessory iron-sulfur [FeS] clusters in a branched series that transfer electrons to and from the active site. In this work, potentiometric titrations have been employed in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at defined electrochemical potentials to gain insights into the role of the accessory clusters in catalysis. EPR spectra collected over a range of potentials were deconvoluted into individual components attributable to the accessory [FeS] clusters and the active site H-cluster, and reduction potentials for each cluster were determined. The data suggest a large degree of magnetic coupling between the clusters. The distal [4Fe-4S] cluster is shown to have a lower reduction potential (∼ < -450 mV) than the other clusters, and molecular docking experiments indicate that the physiological electron donor, ferredoxin (Fd), most favorably interacts with this cluster. The low reduction potential of the distal [4Fe-4S] cluster thermodynamically restricts the Fd ox /Fd red ratio at which CpI can operate, consistent with the role of CpI in recycling Fd red that accumulates during fermentation. Subsequent electron transfer through the additional accessory [FeS] clusters to the H-cluster is thermodynamically favorable.

"Outer-sphere to inner-sphere" redox cycling for ultrasensitive immunosensors.

PubMed

Akanda, Md Rajibul; Choe, Yu-Lim; Yang, Haesik

2012-01-17

This paper reports chemical-chemical (CC) and electrochemical-chemical-chemical (ECC) redox cycling, for use in ultrasensitive biosensor applications. A triple chemical amplification approach using an enzymatic reaction, CC redox cycling, and ECC redox cycling is applied toward electrochemical immunosensors of cardiac troponin I. An enzymatic reaction, in which alkaline phosphatase converts 4-aminophenyl phosphate to 4-aminophenol (AP), triggers CC redox cycling in the presence of an oxidant and a reductant, and electrochemical signals are measured with ECC redox cycling after an incubation period of time in an air-saturated solution. To obtain high, selective, and reproducible redox cycling without using redox enzymes, two redox reactions [the reaction between AP and the oxidant and the reaction between the oxidized form of AP (4-quinone imine, QI) and the reductant] should be fast, but an unwanted reaction between the oxidant and reductant should be very slow. Because species that undergo outer-sphere reactions (OSR-philic species) react slowly with species that undergo inner-sphere reactions (ISR-philic species), highly OSR-philic Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+) and highly ISR-philic tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) are chosen as the oxidant and reductant, respectively. The OSR- and ISR-philic QI/AP couple allows fast redox reactions with both the OSR-philic Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+) and the ISR-philic TCEP. Highly OSR-philic indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes minimize unwanted electrochemical reactions with highly ISR-philic species. Although the formal potential of the Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+)/Ru(NH(3))(6)(2+) couple is lower than that of the QI/AP couple, the endergonic reaction between Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+) and AP is driven by the highly exergonic reaction between TCEP and QI (via a coupled reaction mechanism). Overall, the "outer-sphere to inner-sphere" redox cycling in the order of highly OSR-philic ITO, highly OSR-philic Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+)/Ru(NH(3))(6)(2+) couple, OSR- and ISR-philic QI/AP couple, and highly ISR-philic TCEP allows high, selective, and reproducible signal amplification. The electrochemical data obtained by chronocoulometry permit a lower detection limits than those obtained by cyclic voltammetry. The detection limit of an immunosensor for troponin I in serum, calculated from the anodic charges in chronocoulometry, is ca. 10 fg/mL.

Distribution of molar mass and branching index of natural rubber from Hevea brasiliensis trees of different age by size exclusion chromatography coupled with online viscometry.

PubMed

Phan, T N; Lan, N T; Nga, N T

2004-05-01

Natural rubber from hevea brasiliensis trees (Thailand, RRIM 600 clone) of different age (8, 20, and 35 years) were characterized by size exclusion chromatography coupled with online viscometry according to their distribution of molar mass and branching index at a temperature of 70 degrees C using cyclohexane as solvent. Washing with an aqueous solution of sodium dodecylsulfate and subsequent saponification purified the natural rubber samples. With this procedure physical branching points caused by phospholipids, proteins and hydrophobic terminal units, mainly fatty acids, of the natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) molecule, could be removed leading to completely soluble polymer samples. All samples investigated possess a very broad (10 to 50,000 kg/mol) and distinct bimodal molar mass distribution. With increasing age the peak area in the low molar mass region decreases favoring the peak area in the high molar mass region. By plotting the branching index as a function of the both, the molar mass and the age of the trees.

Deep vein thrombus formation induced by flow reduction in mice is determined by venous side branches.

PubMed

Brandt, Moritz; Schönfelder, Tanja; Schwenk, Melanie; Becker, Christian; Jäckel, Sven; Reinhardt, Christoph; Stark, Konstantin; Massberg, Steffen; Münzel, Thomas; von Brühl, Marie-Luise; Wenzel, Philip

2014-01-01

Interaction between vascular wall abnormalities, inflammatory leukocytes, platelets, coagulation factors and hemorheology in the pathogenesis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is incompletely understood, requiring well defined animal models of human disease. We subjected male C57BL/6 mice to ligation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) as a flow reduction model to induce DVT. Thrombus size and weight were analyzed macroscopically and sonographically by B-mode, pulse wave (pw) Doppler and power Doppler imaging (PDI) using high frequency ultrasound. Thrombus size varied substantially between individual procedures and mice, irrespective of the flow reduction achieved by the ligature. Interestingly, PDI accurately predicted thrombus size in a very robust fashion (r2 = 0.9734, p < 0.0001). Distance of the insertion of side branches from the ligature significantly determines thrombus weight (r2 = 0.5597, p < 0.0001) and length (r2 = 0.5441, p < 0.0001) in the IVC, regardless of the flow measured by pw-Doppler with distances <1.5 mm drastically impairing thrombus formation. Occlusion of side branches prior to ligation of IVC did not increase thrombus size, probably due to patent side branches inaccessible to surgery. Venous side branches influence thrombus size in experimental DVT and might therefore prevent thrombus formation. This renders vessel anatomy and hemorheology important determinants in mouse models of DVT, which should be controlled for.

Mathematical modeling in biological populations through branching processes. Application to salmonid populations.

PubMed

Molina, Manuel; Mota, Manuel; Ramos, Alfonso

2015-01-01

This work deals with mathematical modeling through branching processes. We consider sexually reproducing animal populations where, in each generation, the number of progenitor couples is determined in a non-predictable environment. By using a class of two-sex branching processes, we describe their demographic dynamics and provide several probabilistic and inferential contributions. They include results about the extinction of the population and the estimation of the offspring distribution and its main moments. We also present an application to salmonid populations.

Oscillator strengths and branching fractions of 4d75p-4d75s Rh II transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouazza, Safa

2017-01-01

This work reports semi-empirical determination of oscillator strengths, transition probabilities and branching fractions for Rh II 4d75p-4d75s transitions in a wide wavelength range. The angular coefficients of the transition matrix, beforehand obtained in pure SL coupling with help of Racah algebra are transformed into intermediate coupling using eigenvector amplitudes of these two configuration levels determined for this purpose; The transition integral was treated as free parameter in the least squares fit to experimental oscillator strength (gf) values found in literature. The extracted value: <4d75s|r1|4d75p> =2.7426 ± 0.0007 is slightly smaller than that computed by means of ab-initio method. Subsequently to oscillator strength evaluations, transition probabilities and branching fractions were deduced and compared to those obtained experimentally or through another approach like pseudo-relativistic Hartree-Fock model including core-polarization effects.

Selecting superior yellow birch trees; a preliminary guide.

Treesearch

Knud E. Clausen; Richard M. Godman

1967-01-01

Describes procedures to follow and characteristics to consider in selecting superior yellow birch trees. The first selection should be on the basis of tree quality. Characteristics to consider are as follows: for the stem--straightness, roundness, taper grain, self-pruning, and absence of defects; for the crown--apical dominance, branch angle, and branch diameter;...

Selective methylative homologation: an alternate route to alkane upgrading.

PubMed

Bercaw, John E; Hazari, Nilay; Labinger, Jay A; Scott, Valerie J; Sunley, Glenn J

2008-09-10

InI3 catalyzes the reaction of branched alkanes with methanol to produce heavier and more highly branched alkanes, which are more valuable fuels. The reaction of 2,3-dimethylbutane with methanol in the presence of InI3 at 180-200 degrees C affords the maximally branched C7 alkane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane (triptane). With the addition of catalytic amounts of adamantane the selectivity of this transformation can be increased up to 60%. The lighter branched alkanes isobutane and isopentane also react with methanol to generate triptane, while 2-methylpentane is converted into 2,3-dimethylpentane and other more highly branched species. Observations implicate a chain mechanism in which InI3 activates branched alkanes to produce tertiary carbocations which are in equilibrium with olefins. The latter react with a methylating species generated from methanol and InI3 to give the next-higher carbocation, which accepts a hydride from the starting alkane to form the homologated alkane and regenerate the original carbocation. Adamantane functions as a hydride transfer agent and thus helps to minimize competing side reactions, such as isomerization and cracking, that are detrimental to selectivity.

Selective vibrational excitation of the ethylene--fluorine reaction in a nitrogen matrix. II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Frei, H.

1983-07-15

The product branching between 1,2-difluoroethane and vinyl fluoride (plus HF) of the selective vibrationally stimulated reaction of molecular fluorine with C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ has been studied in a nitrogen matrix at 12 K and found to be the same for five different vibrational transitions of C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ between 1896 and 4209 cm/sup -1/. The HF/DF branching ratio of the reaction of F/sub 2/ with CH/sub 2/CD/sub 2/, trans-CHDCHD, and cis-CHDCHD was determined to be 1.1, independent of precursor C/sub 2/H/sub 2/D/sub 2/ isomer and particular mode which excited the reaction. These results, as well as the analysis of themore » mixtures of partially deuterated vinyl fluoride molecules produced by each C/sub 2/H/sub 2/D/sub 2/ isomer indicate that the product branching occurs by ..cap alpha beta.. elimination of HF(DF) from a vibrationally excited, electronic ground state 1,2-difluoroethane intermediate. Selective vibrational excitation of fluorine reactions in isotopically mixed matrices t-CHDCHD/C/sub 2/H/sub 4//F/sub 2//N/sub 2/ and CH/sub 2/CD/sub 2//C/sub 2/H/sub 4//F/sub 2//N/sub 2/, and in matrices C/sub 2/H/sub 2//C/sub 2/H/sub 4//F/sub 2//N/sub 2/ revealed a high degree of isotopic and molecular selectivity. The extent to which intermolecular energy transfer occurred is qualitatively explained in terms of dipole coupled vibrational energy transfer. A study of the loss of absorbance of the C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ x F/sub 2/ pairs in case of ..nu../sub 9/ as a function of both the laser irradiation frequency within the absorption profile, and the ethylene concentration showed that the C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ x F/sub 2/ absorption is inhomogeneously broadened. Substantial depletion of reactive pairs which did not absorb laser light is interpreted in terms of Forster transfer.« less

GREENHOUSE GASES (ATMOSPHERIC PROTECTION BRANCH, AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL DIVISION, NRMRL)

EPA Science Inventory

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected for various scenarios and the most appropriate approaches and technologies for mitigation are identified by NRMRL's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division's Atmospheric Protection Branch (APB). These methods contribute to reduct...

Emergence of an Out-of-Plane Optical Phonon (ZO) Kohn Anomaly in Quasifreestanding Epitaxial Graphene.

PubMed

Politano, Antonio; de Juan, Fernando; Chiarello, Gennaro; Fertig, Herbert A

2015-08-14

In neutral graphene, two prominent cusps known as Kohn anomalies are found in the phonon dispersion of the highest optical phonon at q=Γ (LO branch) and q=K (TO branch), reflecting a significant electron-phonon coupling (EPC) to undoped Dirac electrons. In this work, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy is used to measure the phonon dispersion around the Γ point in quasifreestanding graphene epitaxially grown on Pt(111). The Kohn anomaly for the LO phonon is observed at finite momentum q~2k_{F} from Γ, with a shape in excellent agreement with the theory and consistent with known values of the EPC and the Fermi level. More strikingly, we also observe a Kohn anomaly at the same momentum for the out-of-plane optical phonon (ZO) branch. This observation is the first direct evidence of the coupling of the ZO mode with Dirac electrons, which is forbidden for freestanding graphene but becomes allowed in the presence of a substrate. Moreover, we estimate the EPC to be even greater than that of the LO mode, making graphene on Pt(111) an optimal system to explore the effects of this new coupling in the electronic properties.

76 FR 5611 - Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Short Term Sentences Acquisition

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-01

... action alternatives and the No Action Alternative. Natural, cultural, and socioeconomic resource impacts.... Cohn, Chief, or Issac J. Gaston, Site Selection Specialist, Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch..., Capacity Planning and Site Selection Branch. [FR Doc. 2011-1817 Filed 1-31-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P ...

Rational Design of a Hierarchical Tin Dendrite Electrode for Efficient Electrochemical Reduction of CO2.

PubMed

Won, Da Hye; Choi, Chang Hyuck; Chung, Jaehoon; Chung, Min Wook; Kim, Eun-Hee; Woo, Seong Ihl

2015-09-21

Catalysis is a key technology for the synthesis of renewable fuels through electrochemical reduction of CO2 . However, successful CO2 reduction still suffers from the lack of affordable catalyst design and understanding the factors governing catalysis. Herein, we demonstrate that the CO2 conversion selectivity on Sn (or SnOx /Sn) electrodes is correlated to the native oxygen content at the subsurface. Electrochemical analyses show that the reduced Sn electrode with abundant oxygen species effectively stabilizes a CO2 (.-) intermediate rather than the clean Sn surface, and consequently results in enhanced formate production in the CO2 reduction. Based on this design strategy, a hierarchical Sn dendrite electrode with high oxygen content, consisting of a multi-branched conifer-like structure with an enlarged surface area, was synthesized. The electrode exhibits a superior formate production rate (228.6 μmol h(-1)  cm(-2) ) at -1.36 VRHE without any considerable catalytic degradation over 18 h of operation. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Feedback coupling in dynamical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trimper, Steffen; Zabrocki, Knud

2003-05-01

Different evolution models are considered with feedback-couplings. In particular, we study the Lotka-Volterra system under the influence of a cumulative term, the Ginzburg-Landau model with a convolution memory term and chemical rate equations with time delay. The memory leads to a modified dynamical behavior. In case of a positive coupling the generalized Lotka-Volterra system exhibits a maximum gain achieved after a finite time, but the population will die out in the long time limit. In the opposite case, the time evolution is terminated in a crash. Due to the nonlinear feedback coupling the two branches of a bistable model are controlled by the the strength and the sign of the memory. For a negative coupling the system is able to switch over between both branches of the stationary solution. The dynamics of the system is further controlled by the initial condition. The diffusion-limited reaction is likewise studied in case the reacting entities are not available simultaneously. Whereas for an external feedback the dynamics is altered, but the stationary solution remain unchanged, a self-organized internal feedback leads to a time persistent solution.

Phylogenetic signal detection from an ancient rapid radiation: Effects of noise reduction, long-branch attraction, and model selection in crown clade Apocynaceae.

PubMed

Straub, Shannon C K; Moore, Michael J; Soltis, Pamela S; Soltis, Douglas E; Liston, Aaron; Livshultz, Tatyana

2014-11-01

Crown clade Apocynaceae comprise seven primary lineages of lianas, shrubs, and herbs with a diversity of pollen aggregation morphologies including monads, tetrads, and pollinia, making them an ideal group for investigating the evolution and function of pollen packaging. Traditional molecular systematic approaches utilizing small amounts of sequence data have failed to resolve relationships along the spine of the crown clade, a likely ancient rapid radiation. The previous best estimate of the phylogeny was a five-way polytomy, leaving ambiguous the homology of aggregated pollen in two major lineages, the Periplocoideae, which possess pollen tetrads, and the milkweeds (Secamonoideae plus Asclepiadoideae), which possess pollinia. To assess whether greatly increased character sampling would resolve these relationships, a plastome sequence data matrix was assembled for 13 taxa of Apocynaceae, including nine newly generated complete plastomes, one partial new plastome, and three previously reported plastomes, collectively representing all primary crown clade lineages and outgroups. The effects of phylogenetic noise, long-branch attraction, and model selection (linked versus unlinked branch lengths among data partitions) were evaluated in a hypothesis-testing framework based on Shimodaira-Hasegawa tests. Discrimination among alternative crown clade resolutions was affected by all three factors. Exclusion of the noisiest alignment positions and topologies influenced by long-branch attraction resulted in a trichotomy along the spine of the crown clade consisting of Rhabdadenia+the Asian clade, Baisseeae+milkweeds, and Periplocoideae+the New World clade. Parsimony reconstruction on all optimal topologies after noise exclusion unambiguously supports parallel evolution of aggregated pollen in Periplocoideae (tetrads) and milkweeds (pollinia). Our phylogenomic approach has greatly advanced the resolution of one of the most perplexing radiations in Apocynaceae, providing the basis for study of convergent floral morphologies and their adaptive value. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oligo-branched peptides for tumor targeting: from magic bullets to magic forks.

PubMed

Falciani, Chiara; Pini, Alessandro; Bracci, Luisa

2009-02-01

Selective targeting of tumor cells is the final goal of research and drug discovery for cancer diagnosis, imaging and therapy. After the invention of hybridoma technology, the concept of magic bullet was introduced into the field of oncology, referring to selective killing of tumor cells, by specific antibodies. More recently, small molecules and peptides have also been proposed as selective targeting agents. We analyze the state of the art of tumor-selective agents that are presently available and tested in clinical settings. A novel approach based on 'armed' oligo-branched peptides as tumor targeting agents, is discussed and compared with existing tumor-selective therapies mediated by antibodies, small molecules or monomeric peptides. Oligo-branched peptides could be novel drugs that combine the advantages of antibodies and small molecules.

Influences of tree, stand, and site characteristics on the production of epicormic branches in southern bottomland hardwood forests

Treesearch

James S. Meadows; J.C.G. Goelz; Daniel A. Skojac

2013-01-01

Epicormic branches are adventitious twigs that develop from dormant buds found along the main bole of hardwood trees. These buds may be released at any time during the life of the tree in response to various types of stimuli. Epicormic branches cause defects in the underlying wood and may cause significant reductions in both log grade and subsequent lumber value....

Optimizing C–C Coupling on Oxide-Derived Copper Catalysts for Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lum, Yanwei; Yue, Binbin; Lobaccaro, Peter

Here, copper electrodes, prepared by reduction of oxidized metallic copper, have been reported to exhibit higher activity for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 and better selectivity toward C 2 and C 3 (C 2+) products than metallic copper that has not been preoxidized. We report here an investigation of the effects of four different preparations of oxide-derived electrocatalysts on their activity and selectivity for CO 2 reduction, with particular attention given to the selectivity to C 2+ products. All catalysts were tested for CO 2 reduction in 0.1 M KHCO 3 and 0.1 M CsHCO 3 at applied voltagesmore » in the range from –0.7 to –1.0 V vs RHE. The best performing oxide-derived catalysts show up to ~70% selectivity to C 2+ products and only ~3% selectivity to C 1 products at –1.0 V vs RHE when CsHCO 3 is used as the electrolyte. In contrast, the selectivity to C 2+ products decreases to ~56% for the same catalysts tested in KHCO 3. By studying all catalysts under identical conditions, the key factors affecting product selectivity could be discerned. These efforts reveal that the surface area of the oxide-derived layer is a critical parameter affecting selectivity. A high selectivity to C 2+ products is attained at an overpotential of –1 V vs RHE by operating at a current density sufficiently high to achieve a moderately high pH near the catalyst surface but not so high as to cause a significant reduction in the local concentration of CO 2. On the basis of recent theoretical studies, a high pH suppresses the formation of C 1 relative to C 2+ products. At the same time, however, a high local CO 2 concentration is necessary for the formation of C 2+ products.« less

Optimizing C–C Coupling on Oxide-Derived Copper Catalysts for Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction

DOE PAGES

Lum, Yanwei; Yue, Binbin; Lobaccaro, Peter; ...

2017-07-06

Here, copper electrodes, prepared by reduction of oxidized metallic copper, have been reported to exhibit higher activity for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 and better selectivity toward C 2 and C 3 (C 2+) products than metallic copper that has not been preoxidized. We report here an investigation of the effects of four different preparations of oxide-derived electrocatalysts on their activity and selectivity for CO 2 reduction, with particular attention given to the selectivity to C 2+ products. All catalysts were tested for CO 2 reduction in 0.1 M KHCO 3 and 0.1 M CsHCO 3 at applied voltagesmore » in the range from –0.7 to –1.0 V vs RHE. The best performing oxide-derived catalysts show up to ~70% selectivity to C 2+ products and only ~3% selectivity to C 1 products at –1.0 V vs RHE when CsHCO 3 is used as the electrolyte. In contrast, the selectivity to C 2+ products decreases to ~56% for the same catalysts tested in KHCO 3. By studying all catalysts under identical conditions, the key factors affecting product selectivity could be discerned. These efforts reveal that the surface area of the oxide-derived layer is a critical parameter affecting selectivity. A high selectivity to C 2+ products is attained at an overpotential of –1 V vs RHE by operating at a current density sufficiently high to achieve a moderately high pH near the catalyst surface but not so high as to cause a significant reduction in the local concentration of CO 2. On the basis of recent theoretical studies, a high pH suppresses the formation of C 1 relative to C 2+ products. At the same time, however, a high local CO 2 concentration is necessary for the formation of C 2+ products.« less

Inhibited proton transfer enhances Au-catalyzed CO2-to-fuels selectivity.

PubMed

Wuttig, Anna; Yaguchi, Momo; Motobayashi, Kenta; Osawa, Masatoshi; Surendranath, Yogesh

2016-08-09

CO2 reduction in aqueous electrolytes suffers efficiency losses because of the simultaneous reduction of water to H2 We combine in situ surface-enhanced IR absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and electrochemical kinetic studies to probe the mechanistic basis for kinetic bifurcation between H2 and CO production on polycrystalline Au electrodes. Under the conditions of CO2 reduction catalysis, electrogenerated CO species are irreversibly bound to Au in a bridging mode at a surface coverage of ∼0.2 and act as kinetically inert spectators. Electrokinetic data are consistent with a mechanism of CO production involving rate-limiting, single-electron transfer to CO2 with concomitant adsorption to surface active sites followed by rapid one-electron, two-proton transfer and CO liberation from the surface. In contrast, the data suggest an H2 evolution mechanism involving rate-limiting, single-electron transfer coupled with proton transfer from bicarbonate, hydronium, and/or carbonic acid to form adsorbed H species followed by rapid one-electron, one-proton, or H recombination reactions. The disparate proton coupling requirements for CO and H2 production establish a mechanistic basis for reaction selectivity in electrocatalytic fuel formation, and the high population of spectator CO species highlights the complex heterogeneity of electrode surfaces under conditions of fuel-forming electrocatalysis.

Antimicrobial Dendrimeric Peptides: Structure, Activity and New Therapeutic Applications

PubMed Central

Scorciapino, Mariano A.; Serra, Ilaria; Manzo, Giorgia; Rinaldi, Andrea C.

2017-01-01

Microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics is one of the most outstanding medical and scientific challenges of our times. Despite the recognised need for new anti-infective agents, however, very few new drugs have been brought to the market and to the clinic in the last three decades. This review highlights the properties of a new class of antibiotics, namely dendrimeric peptides. These intriguing novel compounds, generally made of multiple peptidic sequences linked to an inner branched core, display an array of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities, usually coupled to low haemolytic activity. In addition, several peptides synthesized in oligobranched form proved to be promising tools for the selective treatment of cancer cells. PMID:28273806

Antimicrobial Dendrimeric Peptides: Structure, Activity and New Therapeutic Applications.

PubMed

Scorciapino, Mariano A; Serra, Ilaria; Manzo, Giorgia; Rinaldi, Andrea C

2017-03-03

Microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics is one of the most outstanding medical and scientific challenges of our times. Despite the recognised need for new anti-infective agents, however, very few new drugs have been brought to the market and to the clinic in the last three decades. This review highlights the properties of a new class of antibiotics, namely dendrimeric peptides. These intriguing novel compounds, generally made of multiple peptidic sequences linked to an inner branched core, display an array of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities, usually coupled to low haemolytic activity. In addition, several peptides synthesized in oligobranched form proved to be promising tools for the selective treatment of cancer cells.

A brain-liver circuit regulates glucose homeostasis.

PubMed

Pocai, Alessandro; Obici, Silvana; Schwartz, Gary J; Rossetti, Luciano

2005-01-01

Increased glucose production (GP) is the major determinant of fasting hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus. Previous studies suggested that lipid metabolism within specific hypothalamic nuclei is a biochemical sensor for nutrient availability that exerts negative feedback on GP. Here we show that central inhibition of fat oxidation leads to selective activation of brainstem neurons within the nucleus of the solitary tract and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and markedly decreases liver gluconeogenesis, expression of gluconeogenic enzymes, and GP. These effects require central activation of ATP-dependent potassium channels (K(ATP)) and descending fibers within the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve. Thus, hypothalamic lipid sensing potently modulates glucose metabolism via neural circuitry that requires the activation of K(ATP) and selective brainstem neurons and intact vagal input to the liver. This crosstalk between brain and liver couples central nutrient sensing to peripheral nutrient production and its disruption may lead to hyperglycemia.

Catalytic dehydroaromatization of n-alkanes by pincer-ligated iridium complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahuja, Ritu; Punji, Benudhar; Findlater, Michael; Supplee, Carolyn; Schinski, William; Brookhart, Maurice; Goldman, Alan S.

2011-02-01

Aromatic hydrocarbons are among the most important building blocks in the chemical industry. Benzene, toluene and xylenes are obtained from the high temperature thermolysis of alkanes. Higher alkylaromatics are generally derived from arene-olefin coupling, which gives branched products—that is, secondary alkyl arenes—with olefins higher than ethylene. The dehydrogenation of acyclic alkanes to give alkylaromatics can be achieved using heterogeneous catalysts at high temperatures, but with low yields and low selectivity. We present here the first catalytic conversion of n-alkanes to alkylaromatics using homogeneous or molecular catalysts—specifically ‘pincer’-ligated iridium complexes—and olefinic hydrogen acceptors. For example, the reaction of n-octane affords up to 86% yield of aromatic product, primarily o-xylene and secondarily ethylbenzene. In the case of n-decane and n-dodecane, the resulting alkylarenes are exclusively unbranched (that is, n-alkyl-substituted), with selectivity for the corresponding o-(n-alkyl)toluene.

Ionic liquids as an electrolyte for the electro synthesis of organic compounds.

PubMed

Kathiresan, Murugavel; Velayutham, David

2015-12-25

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) as a solvent and an electrolyte for electro organic synthesis has been reviewed. To date several ILs exist, however the ILs based on tetraalkylammonium, pyrrolidinium, piperidinium and imidazolium cations with BF4(-), PF6(-), and TFSI anions have been widely used and explored the most. Electro organic synthesis in ionic liquid media leading to the synthesis of a wide range of organic compounds has been discussed. Anodic oxidation or cathodic reduction will generate radical cation or anion intermediates, respectively. These radicals can undergo self coupling or coupling with other molecules yielding organic compounds of interest. The cation of the IL is known to stabilize the radical anion extensively. This stabilization effect has a specific impact on the electrochemical CO2 reduction and coupling to various organics. The relative stability of the intermediates in IL leads to the formation of specific products in higher yields. Electrochemical reduction of imidazolium or thiazolium based ILs generates N-heterocyclic carbenes that have been shown to catalyze a wide range of base or nucleophile catalyzed organic reactions in IL media, an aspect that falls into the category of organocatalysis. Electrochemical fluorination or selective electrochemical fluorination is another fascinating area that delivers selectively fluorinated organic products in Et3N·nHF or Et4NF·nHF adducts (IL) via anodic oxidation. Oxidative polymerization in ILs has been explored the most; although morphological changes were observed compared to the conventional methods, polymers were obtained in good yields and in some cases ILs were used as dopants to improve the desired properties.

Apparatus for reduction of selected ion intensities in confined ion beams

DOEpatents

Eiden, Gregory C.; Barinaga, Charles J.; Koppenaal, David W.

2001-01-01

An apparatus for producing an ion beam having an increased proportion of analyte ions compared to carrier gas ions is disclosed. Specifically, the apparatus has an ion trap or a collision cell containing a reagent gas wherein the reagent gas accepts charge from the analyte ions thereby selectively neutralizing the carrier gas ions. Also disclosed is the collision cell as employed in various locations within analytical instruments including an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

Correcting false positive medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency results from newborn screening; synthesis, purification, and standardization of branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines for use in their selective and accurate absolute quantitation by UHPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Minkler, Paul E; Stoll, Maria S K; Ingalls, Stephen T; Hoppel, Charles L

2017-04-01

While selectively quantifying acylcarnitines in thousands of patient samples using UHPLC-MS/MS, we have occasionally observed unidentified branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines. Such observations are not possible using tandem MS methods, which generate pseudo-quantitative acylcarnitine "profiles". Since these "profiles" select for mass alone, they cannot distinguish authentic signal from isobaric and isomeric interferences. For example, some of the samples containing branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines were, in fact, expanded newborn screening false positive "profiles" for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD). Using our fast, highly selective, and quantitatively accurate UHPLC-MS/MS acylcarnitine determination method, we corrected the false positive tandem MS results and reported the sample results as normal for octanoylcarnitine (the marker for MCADD). From instances such as these, we decided to further investigate the presence of branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines in patient samples. To accomplish this, we synthesized and chromatographically characterized several branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines (in addition to valproylcarnitine): 2-methylheptanoylcarnitine, 6-methylheptanoylcarnitine, 2,2-dimethylhexanoylcarnitine, 3,3-dimethylhexanoylcarnitine, 3,5-dimethylhexanoylcarnitine, 2-ethylhexanoylcarnitine, and 2,4,4-trimethylpentanoylcarnitine. We then compared their behavior with branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines observed in patient samples and demonstrated our ability to chromographically resolve, and thus distinguish, octanoylcarnitine from branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines, correcting false positive MCADD results from expanded newborn screening. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oxidative coupling of methane using inorganic membrane reactor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Y.H.; Moser, W.R.; Dixon, A.G.

1995-12-31

The goal of this research is to improve the oxidative coupling of methane in a catalytic inorganic membrane reactor. A specific target is to achieve conversion of methane to C{sub 2} hydrocarbons at very high selectivity and relatively higher yields than in fixed bed reactors by controlling the oxygen supply through the membrane. A membrane reactor has the advantage of precisely controlling the rate of delivery of oxygen to the catalyst. This facility permits balancing the rate of oxidation and reduction of the catalyst. In addition, membrane reactors minimize the concentration of gas phase oxygen thus reducing non selective gasmore » phase reactions, which are believed to be a main route for formation of CO{sub x} products. Such gas phase reactions are a cause for decreased selectivity in oxidative coupling of methane in conventional flow reactors. Membrane reactors could also produce higher product yields by providing better distribution of the reactant gases over the catalyst than the conventional plug flow reactors. Modeling work which aimed at predicting the observed experimental trends in porous membrane reactors was also undertaken in this research program.« less

D3-Equivariant coupled advertising oscillators model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chunrui; Zheng, Huifeng

2011-04-01

A ring of three coupled advertising oscillators with delay is considered. Using the symmetric functional differential equation theories, the multiple Hopf bifurcations of the equilibrium at the origin are demonstrated. The existence of multiple branches of bifurcating periodic solution is obtained. Numerical simulation supports our analysis results.

Geobacter metallireducens gen. nov. sp. nov., a microorganism capable of coupling the complete oxidation of organic compounds to the reduction of iron and other metals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lovley, D.R.; Giovannoni, S.J.; White, D.C.; Champine, J.E.; Phillips, E.J.P.; Gorby, Y.A.; Goodwin, S.

1993-01-01

The gram-negative metal-reducing microorganism, previously known as strain GS-15, was further characterized. This strict anaerobe oxidizes several short-chain fatty acids, alcohols, and monoaromatic compounds with Fe(III) as the sole electron acceptor. Furthermore, acetate is also oxidized with the reduction of Mn(IV), U(VI), and nitrate. In whole cell suspensions, the c-type cytochrome(s) of this organism was oxidized by physiological electron acceptors and also by gold, silver, mercury, and chromate. Menaquinone was recovered in concentrations comparable to those previously found in gram-negative sulfate reducers. Profiles of the phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids indicated that both the anaerobic desaturase and the branched pathways for fatty acid biosynthesis were operative. The organism contained three lipopolysaccharide hydroxy fatty acids which have not been previously reported in microorganisms, but have been observed in anaerobic freshwater sediments. The 16S rRNA sequence indicated that this organism belongs in the delta proteobacteria. Its closest known relative is Desulfuromonas acetoxidans. The name Geobacter metallireducens is proposed.

Best-Quality Vessel Identification Using Vessel Quality Measure in Multiple-Phase Coronary CT Angiography.

PubMed

Hadjiiski, Lubomir; Liu, Jordan; Chan, Heang-Ping; Zhou, Chuan; Wei, Jun; Chughtai, Aamer; Kuriakose, Jean; Agarwal, Prachi; Kazerooni, Ella

2016-01-01

The detection of stenotic plaques strongly depends on the quality of the coronary arterial tree imaged with coronary CT angiography (cCTA). However, it is time consuming for the radiologist to select the best-quality vessels from the multiple-phase cCTA for interpretation in clinical practice. We are developing an automated method for selection of the best-quality vessels from coronary arterial trees in multiple-phase cCTA to facilitate radiologist's reading or computerized analysis. Our automated method consists of vessel segmentation, vessel registration, corresponding vessel branch matching, vessel quality measure (VQM) estimation, and automatic selection of best branches based on VQM. For every branch, the VQM was calculated as the average radial gradient. An observer preference study was conducted to visually compare the quality of the selected vessels. 167 corresponding branch pairs were evaluated by two radiologists. The agreement between the first radiologist and the automated selection was 76% with kappa of 0.49. The agreement between the second radiologist and the automated selection was also 76% with kappa of 0.45. The agreement between the two radiologists was 81% with kappa of 0.57. The observer preference study demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed automated method for the selection of the best-quality vessels from multiple cCTA phases.

Detection of Pathways Affected by Positive Selection in Primate Lineages Ancestral to Humans

PubMed Central

Moretti, S.; Davydov, I.I.; Excoffier, L.

2017-01-01

Abstract Gene set enrichment approaches have been increasingly successful in finding signals of recent polygenic selection in the human genome. In this study, we aim at detecting biological pathways affected by positive selection in more ancient human evolutionary history. Focusing on four branches of the primate tree that lead to modern humans, we tested all available protein coding gene trees of the Primates clade for signals of adaptation in these branches, using the likelihood-based branch site test of positive selection. The results of these locus-specific tests were then used as input for a gene set enrichment test, where whole pathways are globally scored for a signal of positive selection, instead of focusing only on outlier “significant” genes. We identified signals of positive selection in several pathways that are mainly involved in immune response, sensory perception, metabolism, and energy production. These pathway-level results are highly significant, even though there is no functional enrichment when only focusing on top scoring genes. Interestingly, several gene sets are found significant at multiple levels in the phylogeny, but different genes are responsible for the selection signal in the different branches. This suggests that the same function has been optimized in different ways at different times in primate evolution. PMID:28333345

Efficient and Selective Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Reduction of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan using Water as the Hydrogen Source

DOE PAGES

Roylance, John J.; Kim, Tae Woo; Choi, Kyoung-Shin

2016-02-17

Reductive biomass conversion has been conventionally conducted using H 2 gas under high-temperature and-pressure conditions. Here, efficient electrochemical reduction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key intermediate for biomass conversion, to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), an important monomer for industrial processes, was demonstrated using Ag catalytic electrodes. This process uses water as the hydrogen source under ambient conditions and eliminates the need to generate and consume H 2 for hydrogenation, providing a practical and efficient route for BHMF production. By systematic investigation of HMF reduction on the Ag electrode surface, BHMF production was achieved with the Faradaic efficiency and selectivity nearing 100%, and plausiblemore » reduction mechanisms were also elucidated. Furthermore, construction of a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) composed of an n-type BiVO 4 semiconductor anode, which uses photogenerated holes for water oxidation, and a catalytic Ag cathode, which uses photoexcited electrons from BiVO 4 for the reduction of HMF to BHMF, was demonstrated to utilize solar energy to significantly decrease the external voltage necessary for HMF reduction. This shows the possibility of coupling electrochemical HMF reduction and solar energy conversion, which can provide more efficient and environmentally benign routes for reductive biomass conversion.« less

Stochastic coupled cluster theory: Efficient sampling of the coupled cluster expansion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scott, Charles J. C.; Thom, Alex J. W.

2017-09-01

We consider the sampling of the coupled cluster expansion within stochastic coupled cluster theory. Observing the limitations of previous approaches due to the inherently non-linear behavior of a coupled cluster wavefunction representation, we propose new approaches based on an intuitive, well-defined condition for sampling weights and on sampling the expansion in cluster operators of different excitation levels. We term these modifications even and truncated selections, respectively. Utilising both approaches demonstrates dramatically improved calculation stability as well as reduced computational and memory costs. These modifications are particularly effective at higher truncation levels owing to the large number of terms within the cluster expansion that can be neglected, as demonstrated by the reduction of the number of terms to be sampled when truncating at triple excitations by 77% and hextuple excitations by 98%.

Harmonic generation with an ultra-strongly coupled cavity polariton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crescimanno, Michael; Singer, Kenneth; Liu, Bin; McMaster, Michael

2017-04-01

The large dipole density in a new class of glassy organic dyes results in ultrastrong exciton-cavity field coupling leading to polariton splittings of over an eV. We describe the theoretical model and experimental protocol used to understand third harmonic generation (THG) in this system. We quantify the THG enhancement at the polariton branches through its dependence on coupling, cavity-exciton detuning and cavity finesse.

Impact of heavy hole-light hole coupling on optical selection rules in GaAs quantum dots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belhadj, T.; Amand, T.; Kunz, S.

2010-08-02

We report strong heavy hole-light hole mixing in GaAs quantum dots grown by droplet epitaxy. Using the neutral and charged exciton emission as a monitor we observe the direct consequence of quantum dot symmetry reduction in this strain free system. By fitting the polar diagram of the emission with simple analytical expressions obtained from k{center_dot}p theory we are able to extract the mixing that arises from the heavy-light hole coupling due to the geometrical asymmetry of the quantum dot.

Whole-Genome Positive Selection and Habitat-Driven Evolution in a Shallow and a Deep-Sea Urchin

PubMed Central

Oliver, Thomas A.; Garfield, David A.; Manier, Mollie K.; Haygood, Ralph; Wray, Gregory A.; Palumbi, Stephen R.

2010-01-01

Comparisons of genomic sequence between divergent species can provide insight into the action of natural selection across many distinct classes of proteins. Here, we examine the extent of positive selection as a function of tissue-specific and stage-specific gene expression in two closely-related sea urchins, the shallow-water Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and the deep-sea Allocentrotus fragilis, which have diverged greatly in their adult but not larval habitats. Genes that are expressed specifically in adult somatic tissue have significantly higher dN/dS ratios than the genome-wide average, whereas those in larvae are indistinguishable from the genome-wide average. Testis-specific genes have the highest dN/dS values, whereas ovary-specific have the lowest. Branch-site models involving the outgroup S. franciscanus indicate greater selection (ωFG) along the A. fragilis branch than along the S. purpuratus branch. The A. fragilis branch also shows a higher proportion of genes under positive selection, including those involved in skeletal development, endocytosis, and sulfur metabolism. Both lineages are approximately equal in enrichment for positive selection of genes involved in immunity, development, and cell–cell communication. The branch-site models further suggest that adult-specific genes have experienced greater positive selection than those expressed in larvae and that ovary-specific genes are more conserved (i.e., experienced greater negative selection) than those expressed specifically in adult somatic tissues and testis. Our results chart the patterns of protein change that have occurred after habitat divergence in these two species and show that the developmental or functional context in which a gene acts can play an important role in how divergent species adapt to new environments. PMID:20935062

Reduction Potentials of [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Accessory Iron–Sulfur Clusters Provide Insights into the Energetics of Proton Reduction Catalysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artz, Jacob H.; Mulder, David W.; Ratzloff, Michael W.

An [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum, CpI, is a model system for biological H 2 activation. In addition to the catalytic H-cluster, CpI contains four accessory iron-sulfur [FeS] clusters in a branched series that transfer electrons to and from the active site. In this work, potentiometric titrations have been employed in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at defined electrochemical potentials to gain insights into the role of the accessory clusters in catalysis. EPR spectra collected over a range of potentials were deconvoluted into individual components attributable to the accessory [FeS] clusters and the active site H-cluster, and reduction potentialsmore » for each cluster were determined. The data suggest a large degree of magnetic coupling between the clusters. The distal [4Fe-4S] cluster is shown to have a lower reduction potential (~ < -450 mV) than the other clusters, and molecular docking experiments indicate that the physiological electron donor, ferredoxin (Fd), most favorably interacts with this cluster. The low reduction potential of the distal [4Fe-4S] cluster thermodynamically restricts the Fd ox/Fd red ratio at which CpI can operate, consistent with the role of CpI in recycling Fd redthat accumulates during fermentation. In conclusion, subsequent electron transfer through the additional accessory [FeS] clusters to the H-cluster is thermodynamically favorable.« less

Reduction Potentials of [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Accessory Iron–Sulfur Clusters Provide Insights into the Energetics of Proton Reduction Catalysis

DOE PAGES

Artz, Jacob H.; Mulder, David W.; Ratzloff, Michael W.; ...

2017-06-21

An [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum, CpI, is a model system for biological H 2 activation. In addition to the catalytic H-cluster, CpI contains four accessory iron-sulfur [FeS] clusters in a branched series that transfer electrons to and from the active site. In this work, potentiometric titrations have been employed in combination with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at defined electrochemical potentials to gain insights into the role of the accessory clusters in catalysis. EPR spectra collected over a range of potentials were deconvoluted into individual components attributable to the accessory [FeS] clusters and the active site H-cluster, and reduction potentialsmore » for each cluster were determined. The data suggest a large degree of magnetic coupling between the clusters. The distal [4Fe-4S] cluster is shown to have a lower reduction potential (~ < -450 mV) than the other clusters, and molecular docking experiments indicate that the physiological electron donor, ferredoxin (Fd), most favorably interacts with this cluster. The low reduction potential of the distal [4Fe-4S] cluster thermodynamically restricts the Fd ox/Fd red ratio at which CpI can operate, consistent with the role of CpI in recycling Fd redthat accumulates during fermentation. In conclusion, subsequent electron transfer through the additional accessory [FeS] clusters to the H-cluster is thermodynamically favorable.« less

Oxidase catalysis via aerobically generated hypervalent iodine intermediates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maity, Asim; Hyun, Sung-Min; Powers, David C.

2018-02-01

The development of sustainable oxidation chemistry demands strategies to harness O2 as a terminal oxidant. Oxidase catalysis, in which O2 serves as a chemical oxidant without necessitating incorporation of oxygen into reaction products, would allow diverse substrate functionalization chemistry to be coupled to O2 reduction. Direct O2 utilization suffers from intrinsic challenges imposed by the triplet ground state of O2 and the disparate electron inventories of four-electron O2 reduction and two-electron substrate oxidation. Here, we generate hypervalent iodine reagents—a broadly useful class of selective two-electron oxidants—from O2. This is achieved by intercepting reactive intermediates of aldehyde autoxidation to aerobically generate hypervalent iodine reagents for a broad array of substrate oxidation reactions. The use of aryl iodides as mediators of aerobic oxidation underpins an oxidase catalysis platform that couples substrate oxidation directly to O2 reduction. We anticipate that aerobically generated hypervalent iodine reagents will expand the scope of aerobic oxidation chemistry in chemical synthesis.

Frequency stabilization in injection controlled pulsed CO2 lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menzies, Robert T.; Ancellet, Gerard M.

1987-01-01

Longitudinal mode selection by injection has been demonstrated as a viable technique for tailoring a TEA-CO2 laser with pulse energies of a Joule or greater to fit the requirements of a coherent lidar transmitter. Once reliable generation of single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) pulses is obtained, one can study the intrapulse frequency variation and attempt to determine the sources of frequency sweeping, or chirp. These sources include the effect of the decaying plasma, the thermal gradient due to the energy dissipation associated with the laser mechanism itself, and the pressure shift of the center frequency of the laser transition. The use of the positive-branch unstable resonator as an efficient means of coupling a discharge with transverse spatial dimensions of the order of centimeters to an optical cavity mode introduces another concern: namely, what can be done to emphasize transverse mode discrimination in an unstable resonator cavity while maintaining high coupling efficiency. These issues are briefly discussed in the paper, and representative experimental examples are included.

Modular jet impingement assemblies with passive and active flow control for electronics cooling

DOEpatents

Zhou, Feng; Dede, Ercan Mehmet; Joshi, Shailesh

2016-09-13

Power electronics modules having modular jet impingement assembly utilized to cool heat generating devices are disclosed. The modular jet impingement assemblies include a modular manifold having a distribution recess, one or more angled inlet connection tubes positioned at an inlet end of the modular manifold that fluidly couple the inlet tube to the distribution recess and one or more outlet connection tubes positioned at an outlet end of the modular manifold that fluidly coupling the outlet tube to the distribution recess. The modular jet impingement assemblies include a manifold insert removably positioned within the distribution recess and include one or more inlet branch channels each including an impinging slot and one or more outlet branch channels each including a collecting slot. Further a heat transfer plate coupled to the modular manifold, the heat transfer plate comprising an impingement surface including an array of fins that extend toward the manifold insert.

Resilience of branching and massive corals to wave loading under sea level rise--a coupled computational fluid dynamics-structural analysis.

PubMed

Baldock, Tom E; Karampour, Hassan; Sleep, Rachael; Vyltla, Anisha; Albermani, Faris; Golshani, Aliasghar; Callaghan, David P; Roff, George; Mumby, Peter J

2014-09-15

Measurements of coral structural strength are coupled with a fluid dynamics-structural analysis to investigate the resilience of coral to wave loading under sea level rise and a typical Great Barrier Reef lagoon wave climate. The measured structural properties were used to determine the wave conditions and flow velocities that lead to structural failure. Hydrodynamic modelling was subsequently used to investigate the type of the bathymetry where coral is most vulnerable to breakage under cyclonic wave conditions, and how sea level rise (SLR) changes this vulnerability. Massive corals are determined not to be vulnerable to wave induced structural damage, whereas branching corals are susceptible at wave induced orbital velocities exceeding 0.5m/s. Model results from a large suite of idealised bathymetry suggest that SLR of 1m or a loss of skeleton strength of order 25% significantly increases the area of reef flat where branching corals are exposed to damaging wave induced flows. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In situ damage detection in frame structures through coupled response measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, D.; Gurgenci, H.; Veidt, M.

2004-05-01

Due to the existence of global modes and local modes of the neighbouring members, damage detection on a structure is more challenging than damage on isolated beams. Detection of an artificial circumferential crack on a joint in a frame-like welded structure is studied in this paper using coupled response measurements. Similarity to real engineering structures is maintained in the fabrication of the test frame. Both the chords and the branch members have hollow sections and the branch members have smaller sizes. The crack is created by a hacksaw on a joint where a branch meets the chord. The methodology is first demonstrated on a single hollow section beam. The test results are then presented for the damaged and undamaged frame. The existence of the damage is clearly observable from the experimental results. It is suggested that this approach offers the potential to detect damage in welded structures such as cranes, mining equipment, steel-frame bridges, naval and offshore structures.

Surgical anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve: A new classification system for selective upper airway stimulation.

PubMed

Heiser, Clemens; Knopf, Andreas; Hofauer, Benedikt

2017-12-01

Selective upper airway stimulation (UAS) has shown effectiveness in treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The terminating branches of the hypoglossal nerve show a wide complexity, requiring careful discernment of a functional breakpoint between branches for inclusion and exclusion from the stimulation cuff electrode. The purpose of this study was to describe and categorize the topographic phenotypes of these branches. Thirty patients who received an implant with selective UAS from July 2015 to June 2016 were included. All implantations were recorded using a microscope and resultant tongue motions were captured perioperatively for comparison. Eight different variations of the branches were encountered and described, both in a tabular numeric fashion and in pictorial schema. The examinations showed the complex phenotypic surgical anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve. A schematic classification system has been developed to help surgeons identify the optimal location for cuff placement in UAS. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adsorption and Reaction of Acetaldehyde on Shape-Controlled CeO2 Nanocrystals: Elucidation of Structure-function Relationships

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mann, Amanda K; Wu, Zili; Calaza, Florencia

2014-01-01

CeO2 cubes with {100} facets, octahedra with {111} facets, and wires with highly defective structures were utilized to probe the structure-dependent reactivity of acetaldehyde. Using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), temperature-programmed surface reactions (TPSR), and in situ infrared spectroscopy it was found that acetaldehyde desorbs unreacted or undergoes reduction, coupling, or C-C bond scission reactions depending on the surface structure of CeO2. Room temperature FTIR indicates that acetaldehyde binds primarily as 1-acetaldehyde on the octahedra, in a variety of conformations on the cubes, including coupling products and acetate and enolate species, and primarily as coupling products on the wires. The percent consumptionmore » of acetaldehyde follows the order of wires > cubes > octahedra. All the nanoshapes produce the coupling product crotonaldehyde; however, the selectivity to produce ethanol follows the order wires cubes >> octahedra. The selectivity and other differences can be attributed to the variation in the basicity of the surfaces, defects densities, coordination numbers of surface atoms, and the reducibility of the nanoshapes.« less

The sensitivity of gas-phase models of dense interstellar clouds to changes in dissociative recombination branching ratios

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Millar, T. J.; Defrees, D. J.; Mclean, A. D.; Herbst, E.

1988-01-01

The approach of Bates to the determination of neutral product branching ratios in ion-electron dissociative recombination reactions has been utilized in conjunction with quantum chemical techniques to redetermine branching ratios for a wide variety of important reactions of this class in dense interstellar clouds. The branching ratios have then been used in a pseudo time-dependent model calculation of the gas phase chemistry of a dark cloud resembling TMC-1 and the results compared with an analogous model containing previously used branching ratios. In general, the changes in branching ratios lead to stronger effects on calculated molecular abundances at steady state than at earlier times and often lead to reductions in the calculated abundances of complex molecules. However, at the so-called 'early time' when complex molecule synthesis is most efficient, the abundances of complex molecules are hardly affected by the newly used branching ratios.

Catalytic Organometallic Reactions of Ammonia

PubMed Central

Klinkenberg, Jessica L.

2012-01-01

Until recently, ammonia had rarely succumbed to catalytic transformations with homogeneous catalysts, and the development of such reactions that are selective for the formation of single products under mild conditions has encountered numerous challenges. However, recently developed catalysts have allowed several classes of reactions to create products with nitrogen-containing functional groups from ammonia. These reactions include hydroaminomethylation, reductive amination, alkylation, allylic substitution, hydroamination, and cross-coupling. This Minireview describes examples of these processes and the factors that control catalyst activity and selectivity. PMID:20857466

Method for reduction of selected ion intensities in confined ion beams

DOEpatents

Eiden, Gregory C.; Barinaga, Charles J.; Koppenaal, David W.

1998-01-01

A method for producing an ion beam having an increased proportion of analyte ions compared to carrier gas ions is disclosed. Specifically, the method has the step of addition of a charge transfer gas to the carrier analyte combination that accepts charge from the carrier gas ions yet minimally accepts charge from the analyte ions thereby selectively neutralizing the carrier gas ions. Also disclosed is the method as employed in various analytical instruments including an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

Method for reduction of selected ion intensities in confined ion beams

DOEpatents

Eiden, G.C.; Barinaga, C.J.; Koppenaal, D.W.

1998-06-16

A method for producing an ion beam having an increased proportion of analyte ions compared to carrier gas ions is disclosed. Specifically, the method has the step of addition of a charge transfer gas to the carrier analyte combination that accepts charge from the carrier gas ions yet minimally accepts charge from the analyte ions thereby selectively neutralizing the carrier gas ions. Also disclosed is the method as employed in various analytical instruments including an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. 7 figs.

Survey of the Influence of the Width of Urban Branch Roads on the Meeting of Two-Way Vehicle Flows

PubMed Central

Chen, Qun; Zhao, Yunan; Pan, Shuangli; Wang, Yan

2016-01-01

Branch roads, which are densely distributed in cities, allow for the flow of local traffic and provide connections between the city and outlying areas. Branch roads are typically narrow, and two-way traffic flows on branch roads are thus affected when vehicles traveling in opposite directions meet. This study investigates the changes in the velocities of vehicles when they meet on two-way branch roads. Various widths of branch roads were selected, and their influence on traffic flows was investigated via a video survey. The results show that, depending on the average vehicle velocity, branch roads require different widths to prevent a large decrease in velocity when vehicles meet. When the velocity on a branch road is not high (e.g., the average velocity without meeting is approximately 6 m/s), appropriately increasing the road width will notably increase the meeting velocity. However, when the velocity is high (e.g., the average velocity without meeting is greater than 10 m/s), there is a large decrease in velocity when meeting even if the road surface is wide (6.5 m). This study provides a basis for selecting the width of urban branch roads and the simulation of bidirectional traffic on such roads. PMID:26881427

Survey of the Influence of the Width of Urban Branch Roads on the Meeting of Two-Way Vehicle Flows.

PubMed

Chen, Qun; Zhao, Yunan; Pan, Shuangli; Wang, Yan

2016-01-01

Branch roads, which are densely distributed in cities, allow for the flow of local traffic and provide connections between the city and outlying areas. Branch roads are typically narrow, and two-way traffic flows on branch roads are thus affected when vehicles traveling in opposite directions meet. This study investigates the changes in the velocities of vehicles when they meet on two-way branch roads. Various widths of branch roads were selected, and their influence on traffic flows was investigated via a video survey. The results show that, depending on the average vehicle velocity, branch roads require different widths to prevent a large decrease in velocity when vehicles meet. When the velocity on a branch road is not high (e.g., the average velocity without meeting is approximately 6 m/s), appropriately increasing the road width will notably increase the meeting velocity. However, when the velocity is high (e.g., the average velocity without meeting is greater than 10 m/s), there is a large decrease in velocity when meeting even if the road surface is wide (6.5 m). This study provides a basis for selecting the width of urban branch roads and the simulation of bidirectional traffic on such roads.

On the Higgs-like boson in the minimal supersymmetric 3-3-1 model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, J. G.; Pires, C. A. de S.; da Silva, P. S. Rodrigues; Siqueira, Clarissa

2018-03-01

It is imperative that any proposal of new physics beyond the standard model possesses a Higgs-like boson with 125 GeV of mass and couplings with the standard particles that recover the branching ratios and signal strengths as measured by CMS and ATLAS. We address this issue within the supersymmetric version of the minimal 3-3-1 model. For this we develop the Higgs potential with focus on the lightest Higgs provided by the model. Our proposal is to verify if it recovers the properties of the Standard Model Higgs. With respect to its mass, we calculate it up to one loop level by taking into account all contributions provided by the model. In regard to its couplings, we restrict our investigation to couplings of the Higgs-like boson with the standard particles, only. We then calculate the dominant branching ratios and the respective signal strengths and confront our results with the recent measurements of CMS and ATLAS. As distinctive aspects, we remark that our Higgs-like boson intermediates flavor changing neutral processes and has as signature the decay t → h+c. We calculate its branching ratio and compare it with current bounds. We also show that the Higgs potential of the model is stable for the region of parameter space employed in our calculations.

TREATABILITY STUDY BULLETIN: MOBILE VOLUME REDUCTION UNIT AT THE SAND CREEK SUPERFUND SITE

EPA Science Inventory

The Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL) Releases Control Branch (RCB) has developed a pilot-scale Mobile Volume Reduction Unit (VRU) to determine the feasibility of soil washing for the remediation of contaminated soils. This mobile unit, mounted on two trailers, can pro...

Transverse versus longitudinal tripolar configuration for selective stimulation with multipolar cuff electrodes.

PubMed

Nielsen, Thomas N; Kurstjens, G A Mathijs; Struijk, Johannes J

2011-04-01

The ability to stimulate subareas of a nerve selectively is highly desirable, since it has the potential of simplifying surgery to implanting one cuff on a large nerve instead of many cuffs on smaller nerves or muscles, or alternatively can improve function where surgical access to the smaller nerves is limited. In this paper, stimulation was performed with a four-channel multipolar cuff electrode implanted on the sciatic nerve of nine rabbits to compare the extensively researched longitudinal tripolar configuration with the transverse tripolar configuration, which has received less interest. The performance of these configurations was evaluated in terms of selectivity in recruitment of the three branches of the sciatic nerve. The results showed that the transverse configuration was able to selectively activate the sciatic nerve branches to a functionally relevant level in more cases than the longitudinal configuration (20/27 versus 11/27 branches) and overall achieved a higher mean selectivity [0.79 ± 0.13 versus 0.61 ± 0.09 (mean ± standard deviation)]. The transverse configuration was most successful at recruiting the small cutaneous and medium-sized peroneal branches, and less successful at recruiting the large tibial nerve.

Distributed Ferrite Isolation in Traveling-Wave Tubes.

DTIC Science & Technology

coupling to broadband edge modes of ferrite slabs. Evidence of coupling to the lower branch of edge mode, i.e., magnetostatic, has been obtained with L...band helix . Cold tests and analysis suggest coupling to ferrite edge modes from helix is easier at higher microwave frequencies. Plans for a hot...test at the 1-2 kW power level is an L-band TWT incorporating such distributed ferrites are described.

Diene Hydroacylation from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level via Ruthenium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Transfer Hydrogenation: Synthesis of β,γ-Unsaturated Ketones

PubMed Central

Shibahara, Fumitoshi; Bower, John F.; Krische, Michael J.

2011-01-01

Under the conditions of ruthenium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation, isoprene couples to benzylic and aliphatic alcohols 1a–1g to deliver β,γ-unsaturated ketones 3a–3g in good to excellent isolated yields. Under identical conditions, aldehydes 2a–2g couple to isoprene to provide an identical set of β,γ-unsaturated ketones 3a–3g in good to excellent isolated yields. As demonstrated by the coupling of butadiene, myrcene and 1,2-dimethylbutadiene to representative alcohols 1b, 1c and 1e, diverse acyclic dienes participate in transfer hydrogenative coupling to form β,γ-unsaturated ketones. In all cases, complete branch-regioselectivity is observed and, with the exception of adduct 3j, isomerization to the conjugated enone is not detected. Thus, formal intermolecular diene hydroacylation is achieved from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level. In earlier studies employing a related ruthenium catalyst, acyclic dienes were coupled to carbonyl partners from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level to furnish branched homoallylic alcohols. Thus, under transfer hydrogenative coupling conditions, all oxidations levels of substrate (alcohol or aldehyde) and product (homoallyl alcohol or β,γ-unsaturated ketone) are accessible. PMID:18841895

Reduction of Spectral Interferences in Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry by Selective Spectral-Line Modulation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-13

11/03 laboratory mini- computer (Maynard, MA) Boxcar Amplifier: Model 162 Boxcar averager with model 164 input gates (Princeton Applied Research Corp...nn! Office Attn: Der A. B. Amster, Attn: Dv. I. P. Peebles Chemitry Division .%,!l3I1rg 1;4, Section D China Lake, California 93555 666 Summer

Early-stage reduction of the dendritic complexity in basolateral amygdala of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guo, Congdi; Long, Ben; Hu, Yarong

Alzheimer's disease is a representative age-related neurodegenerative disease that could result in loss of memory and cognitive deficiency. However, the precise onset time of Alzheimer's disease affecting neuronal circuits and the mechanisms underlying the changes are not clearly known. To address the neuroanatomical changes during the early pathologic developing process, we acquired the neuronal morphological characterization of AD in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice using the Micro-Optical Sectioning Tomography system. We reconstructed the neurons in 3D datasets with a resolution of 0.32 × 0.32 × 1 μm and used the Sholl method to analyze the anatomical characterization of the dendritic branches. The results showed that, similar tomore » the progressive change in amyloid plaques, the number of dendritic branches were significantly decreased in 9-month-old mice. In addition, a distinct reduction of dendritic complexity occurred in third and fourth-order dendritic branches of 9-month-old mice, while no significant changes were identified in these parameters in 6-month-old mice. At the branch-level, the density distribution of dendritic arbors in the radial direction decreased in the range of 40–90 μm from the neuron soma in 6-month-old mice. These changes in the dendritic complexity suggest that these reductions contribute to the progressive cognitive impairment seen in APP/PS1 mice. This work may yield insights into the early changes in dendritic abnormality and its relevance to dysfunctional mechanisms of learning, memory and emotion in Alzheimer's disease. - Highlights: • Neuron-level, reduction of dendritic complexity in BLA of 9-month-old AD mice. • Specific range of branch decrease in density of 6-month-old AD mice. • 3D imaging with high resolution will provide insights into brain aging.« less

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of branches in dextran using high-performance anion exchange chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Yi, Lin; Ouyang, Yilan; Sun, Xue; Xu, Naiyu; Linhardt, Robert J; Zhang, Zhenqing

2015-12-04

Dextran, a family of natural polysaccharides, consists of an α (1→6) linked-glucose main (backbone) chain having a number of branches. The determination of the types and the quantities of branches in dextran is important in understanding its various biological roles. In this study, a hyphenated method using high-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) in parallel with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) and mass spectrometry (MS) was applied to qualitative and quantitative analysis of dextran branches. A rotary cation-exchange cartridge array desalter was used for removal of salt from the HPAEC eluent making it MS compatible. MS and MS/MS were used to provide structural information on the enzymatically prepared dextran oligosaccharides. PAD provides quantitative data on the ratio of enzyme-resistant, branched dextran oligosaccharides. Both the types and degree of branching found in a variety of dextrans could be simultaneously determined online using this method. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The moduli space of vacua of $$ \\mathcal{N}=2 $$ class $$ \\mathcal{S} $$ theories

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xie, Dan; Yonekura, Kazuya

We develop a systematic method to describe the moduli space of vacua of four dimensional N=2 class S theories including Coulomb branch, Higgs branch and mixed branches. In particular, we determine the Higgs and mixed branch roots, and the dimensions of the Coulomb and Higgs components of mixed branches. They are derived by using generalized Hitchin’s equations obtained from twisted compactification of 5d maximal Super-Yang-Mills, with local degrees of freedom at punctures given by (nilpotent) orbits. The crucial thing is the holomorphic factorization of the Seiberg-Witten curve and reduction of singularity at punctures. We illustrate our method by many examplesmore » including N=2 SQCD, T N theory and Argyres-Douglas theories.« less

Crown development in a pioneer tree, Rhus trichocarpa, in relation to the structure and growth of individual branches.

PubMed

Osada, Noriyuki

2006-01-01

Based on an allometric reconstruction, the structure and biomass-allocation patterns of branches and current-year shoots were investigated in branches of various heights in the pioneer tree Rhus trichocarpa, to evaluate how crown development is achieved and limited in association with height. Path analysis was conducted to explore the effects of light availability, basal height and size of individual branches on branch structure and growth. Branch angle was affected by basal height, whereas branch mass was influenced primarily by light availability. This result suggests that branch structure is strongly constrained by basal height, and that trees mediate such constraints under different light environments. Previous-year leaf area and light availability showed positive effects on current-year stem mass. In contrast, branch basal height and mass negatively affected current-year stem mass. Moreover, the length of stems of a given diameter decreased with increasing branch height. Therefore the cost of biomass investment for a unit growth in length is greater for branches of larger size and at upper positions. Vertical growth rate in length decreased with increasing height. Height-dependent changes in stem allometry and angle influenced the reduction in vertical growth rate to a similar degree.

Model independent new physics analysis in Λ _b→ Λ μ ^+μ ^- decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Diganta

2018-03-01

We study the rare Λ _b→ Λ μ ^+μ ^- decay in the Standard Model and beyond. Beyond the Standard Model we include new vector and axial-vector operators, scalar and pseudo-scalar operators, and tensor operators in the effective Hamiltonian. Working in the helicity basis and using appropriate parametrization of the Λ _b → Λ hadronic matrix elements, we give expressions of hadronic and leptonic helicity amplitudes and derive expression of double differential branching ratio with respect to dilepton invariant mass squared and cosine of lepton angle. Appropriately integrating the differential branching ratio over the lepton angle, we obtain the longitudinal polarization fraction and the leptonic forward-backward asymmetry and sequentially study the observables in the presence of the new couplings. To analyze the implications of the new vector and axial-vector couplings, we follow the current global fits to b→ sμ ^+μ ^- data. While the impacts of scalar couplings can be significant, exclusive \\bar{B}→ X_sμ ^+μ ^- data imply stringent constraints on the tensor couplings and hence the effects on Λ _b→ Λ μ ^+μ ^- are negligible.

Fertility desires of Yoruba couples of South-western Nigeria.

PubMed

Oyediran, Kolawole Azeez

2006-09-01

Using the matched wife-husband (763) sample from the data collected from Ogbomoso and Iseyin towns in Oyo State, Nigeria, this paper examines factors associated with couples' fertility intention. The analysis used logistic regression models for predicting the effects of selected socioeconomic background characteristics on a couple's fertility intention. Results indicate high levels of concurrence among husbands and wives on fertility intention. Where differences exist, husbands are more pronatalists than their wives. About 87% of pairs of partners reported similar fertility preferences. Of these couples, 59.5% wanted more children while only 27.8% reported otherwise. The logistic regression models indicated that a couple's fertility intention was associated with age, education, place of residence, frequency of television-watching and number of living children. Therefore, programme interventions aimed at promoting fertility reduction in Nigeria should convey fertility regulation messages to both husbands and wives.

Universal poroelastic mechanism for hydraulic signals in biomimetic and natural branches

PubMed Central

Louf, J.-F.; Guéna, G.; Badel, E.; Forterre, Y.

2017-01-01

Plants constantly undergo external mechanical loads such as wind or touch and respond to these stimuli by acclimating their growth processes. A fascinating feature of this mechanical-induced growth response is that it can occur rapidly and at long distance from the initial site of stimulation, suggesting the existence of a fast signal that propagates across the whole plant. The nature and origin of the signal is still not understood, but it has been recently suggested that it could be purely mechanical and originate from the coupling between the local deformation of the tissues (bending) and the water pressure in the plant vascular system. Here, we address the physical origin of this hydromechanical coupling using a biomimetic strategy. We designed soft artificial branches perforated with longitudinal liquid-filled channels that mimic the basic features of natural stems and branches. In response to bending, a strong overpressure is generated in the channels that varies quadratically with the bending curvature. A model based on a mechanism analogous to the ovalization of hollow tubes enables us to predict quantitatively this nonlinear poroelastic response and identify the key physical parameters that control the generation of the pressure pulse. Further experiments conducted on natural tree branches reveal the same phenomenology. Once rescaled by the model prediction, both the biomimetic and natural branches fall on the same master curve, enlightening the universality of our poroelastic mechanism for the generation of hydraulic signals in plants. PMID:28973910

Ultra-strong coupling with spin-split heavyhole cyclotron resonances in sGe QWs (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keller, Janine; Scalari, Giacomo; Maissen, Curdin; Paravicini-Bagliani, Gian Lorenzo; Haase, Johannes; Failla, Michele; Myronov, Maksym; Leadley, David R.; Lloyd-Hughes, James; Faist, Jérôme

2017-02-01

We study the ultra-strong coupling (USC) of Landau level transitions in strained Germanium quantum wells (sGe QW) to THz metasurfaces. The spin-splitting of the heavy-hole cyclotron resonance in sGe QWs due to the Rashba spin-orbit interaction in magnetic field offers an excellent platform to investigate ultra-strong coupling to a non-parabolic system. THz split ring resonators can be tuned to coincide with the single cyclotron transition (around 0.4 THz and a magnetic field of 1.5 T) or the spin-resolved transitions of the sGe QWs (at 1.3 THz and 4.5 T). Coupling to the single cyclotron yields a normalized USC rate of 25%, resulting from fitting with a Hopfield-like Hamiltonian model. Coupling to two or three cyclotron resonances in sGe QWs lead to the observation of multiple polaritons branches, one polariton branch for each oscillator involved in the system. An adaption of the theory allows to also describe this multiple-oscillator system and to determine the coupling strengths. The different Rabi-splittings for the multiple cyclotrons coupling to the same resonator mode relate to the underlying differences in the material. Furthermore, the visibility of an additional transition, possibly a light hole transition with very low carrier density, is strongly enhanced due to the coupling to the LC-resonance with a normalized strong coupling ratio of 4.7%. Future perspectives include controlling spin-flip transitions in USC and studying the impact of non-parabolicity on the ultra-strong coupling physics.

Nerve block of articular branches of the obturator and femoral nerves for the treatment of hip joint pain.

PubMed

Yavuz, Ferdi; Yasar, Evren; Ali Taskaynatan, Mehmet; Goktepe, Ahmet Salim; Tan, Arif Kenan

2013-01-01

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effectiveness of the nerve block of articular branches of obturator and femoral nerves in patients with intractable pain due to hip osteoarthritis. Twenty patients (8 female and 12 male; with a mean age 53.5 years) were retrospectively identified who had received nerve block of articular branches of obturator and femoral nerves for chronic hip joint pain due to hip osteoarthritis. The outcome measures (visual analogue pain scale, the level of patient satisfaction with nerve block, reduction rate of NSAID using) were assessed before the treatment and at the 1st and 3rd months after injection. Mean reduction in hip joint pain while walking and at night between the baseline and 1st month, and between the baseline and 3rd month were statistically significant (p< 0.05). At the 1st and 3rd months after treatment, the reduction rates of NSAID using were almost 67% and 71%; respectively. At the 1st and 3rd months after treatment, the level of patient satisfaction with nerve block were 73.00 ± 21.23 mm and 73.50 ± 18.14 mm; respectively. We found that nerve blocks of articular branches of obturator and femoral nerves were effective in short- and mid-term for reducing chronic hip joint pain.

76 FR 21945 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8848

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-19

... proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995... 8848, Consent to Extend the Time To Assess the Branch Profits Tax Under Regulations Sections 1.884-2(a... To Extend the Time To Assess the Branch Profits Tax Under Regulations Sections 1.884-2(a) and (c...

The influence of the side-chain sequence on the structure-activity correlations of immunomodulatory branched polypeptides. Synthesis and conformational analysis of new model polypeptides.

PubMed

Mezö, G; Hudecz, F; Kajtár, J; Szókán, G; Szekerke, M

1989-10-01

New branched polypeptides were synthesized for a detailed study of the influence of the side-chain structure on the conformation and biological properties. The first subset of polypeptides were prepared by coupling of tetrapeptides to poly[L-Lys]. These polymers contain either DL-Ala3-X [poly[Lys-(X-DL-Ala3)n

4'-alpha-C-Branched N,O-nucleosides: synthesis and biological properties.

PubMed

Chiacchio, Ugo; Genovese, Filippo; Iannazzo, Daniela; Piperno, Anna; Quadrelli, Paolo; Antonino, Corsaro; Romeo, Roberto; Valveri, Vincenza; Mastino, Antonio

2004-07-15

The synthesis of 4'-alpha-C-branched N,O-nucleosides has been described, based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones with vinyl acetate followed by coupling with silylated nucleobases, The obtained compounds have been evaluated for their activity against HSV-1, HSV-2, HTLV-1. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity have been also investigated: compound 10c shows moderate apoptotic activity in Molt-3 cells.

Evolution of the biosynthesis of the branched-chain amino acids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keefe, Anthony D.; Lazcano, Antonio; Miller, Stanley L.

1995-01-01

The origins of the biosynthetic pathways for the branched-chain amino acids cannot be understood in terms of the backwards development of the present acetolactate pathway because it contains unstable intermediates. We propose that the first biosynthesis of the branched-chain amino acids was by the reductive carboxylation of short branched chain fatty acids giving keto acids which were then transaminated. Similar reaction sequences mediated by nonspecific enzymes would produce serine and threomine from the abundant prebiotic compounds glycolic and lactic acids. The aromatic amino acids may also have first been synthesized in this way, e.g. tryptophan from indole acetic acid. The next step would have been the biosynthesis of leucine from alpha-ketoisovalerc acid. The acetolactate pathway developed subsequently. The first version of the Krebs cycle, which was used for amino acid biosynthesis, would have been assembled by making use fo the reductive carboxylation and leucine biosynthesis enzymes, and completed with the development of a single new enzyme, succinate dehydrogenase. This evolutionary scheme suggests that there may be limitations to inferring the origins of metabolism by a simple back extrapolation of current pathways.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation efficiency is upregulated during fasting in two major oxidative tissues of ducklings.

PubMed

Monternier, Pierre-Axel; Teulier, Loïc; Drai, Jocelyne; Bourguignon, Aurore; Collin-Chavagnac, Delphine; Hervant, Frédéric; Rouanet, Jean-Louis; Roussel, Damien

2017-10-01

Fasted endothermic vertebrates must develop physiological responses to maximize energy conservation and survival. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 1-wk. fasting in 5-wk. old ducklings (Cairina moschata) from whole-body resting metabolic rate and body temperature to metabolic phenotype of tissues and mitochondrial coupling efficiency. At the level of whole organism, the mass-specific metabolic rate of ducklings was decreased by 40% after 1-wk. of fasting, which was associated with nocturnal Tb declines and shallow diurnal hypothermia during fasting. At the cellular level, fasting induced a large reduction in liver, gastrocnemius (oxidative) and pectoralis (glycolytic) muscle masses together with a fuel selection towards lipid oxidation and ketone body production in liver and a lower glycolytic phenotype in skeletal muscles. At the level of mitochondria, fasting induced a reduction of oxidative phosphorylation activities and an up-regulation of coupling efficiency (+30% on average) in liver and skeletal muscles. The present integrative study shows that energy conservation in fasted ducklings is mainly achieved by an overall reduction in mitochondrial activity and an increase in mitochondrial coupling efficiency, which would, in association with shallow hypothermia, increase the conservation of endogenous fuel stores during fasting. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of rate constants and branching ratios for TCE degradation by zero-valent iron using a chain decay multispecies model.

PubMed

Hwang, Hyoun-Tae; Jeen, Sung-Wook; Sudicky, Edward A; Illman, Walter A

2015-01-01

The applicability of a newly-developed chain-decay multispecies model (CMM) was validated by obtaining kinetic rate constants and branching ratios along the reaction pathways of trichloroethene (TCE) reduction by zero-valent iron (ZVI) from column experiments. Changes in rate constants and branching ratios for individual reactions for degradation products over time for two columns under different geochemical conditions were examined to provide ranges of those parameters expected over the long-term. As compared to the column receiving deionized water, the column receiving dissolved CaCO3 showed higher mean degradation rates for TCE and all of its degradation products. However, the column experienced faster reactivity loss toward TCE degradation due to precipitation of secondary carbonate minerals, as indicated by a higher value for the ratio of maximum to minimum TCE degradation rate observed over time. From the calculated branching ratios, it was found that TCE and cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) were dominantly dechlorinated to chloroacetylene and acetylene, respectively, through reductive elimination for both columns. The CMM model, validated by the column test data in this study, provides a convenient tool to determine simultaneously the critical design parameters for permeable reactive barriers and natural attenuation such as rate constants and branching ratios. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hierarchical spin-orbital polarization of a giant Rashba system

PubMed Central

Bawden, Lewis; Riley, Jonathan M.; Kim, Choong H.; Sankar, Raman; Monkman, Eric J.; Shai, Daniel E.; Wei, Haofei I.; Lochocki, Edward B.; Wells, Justin W.; Meevasana, Worawat; Kim, Timur K.; Hoesch, Moritz; Ohtsubo, Yoshiyuki; Le Fèvre, Patrick; Fennie, Craig J.; Shen, Kyle M.; Chou, Fangcheng; King, Phil D. C.

2015-01-01

The Rashba effect is one of the most striking manifestations of spin-orbit coupling in solids and provides a cornerstone for the burgeoning field of semiconductor spintronics. It is typically assumed to manifest as a momentum-dependent splitting of a single initially spin-degenerate band into two branches with opposite spin polarization. Combining polarization-dependent and resonant angle-resolved photoemission measurements with density functional theory calculations, we show that the two “spin-split” branches of the model giant Rashba system BiTeI additionally develop disparate orbital textures, each of which is coupled to a distinct spin configuration. This necessitates a reinterpretation of spin splitting in Rashba-like systems and opens new possibilities for controlling spin polarization through the orbital sector. PMID:26601268

Hierarchical spin-orbital polarization of a giant Rashba system.

PubMed

Bawden, Lewis; Riley, Jonathan M; Kim, Choong H; Sankar, Raman; Monkman, Eric J; Shai, Daniel E; Wei, Haofei I; Lochocki, Edward B; Wells, Justin W; Meevasana, Worawat; Kim, Timur K; Hoesch, Moritz; Ohtsubo, Yoshiyuki; Le Fèvre, Patrick; Fennie, Craig J; Shen, Kyle M; Chou, Fangcheng; King, Phil D C

2015-09-01

The Rashba effect is one of the most striking manifestations of spin-orbit coupling in solids and provides a cornerstone for the burgeoning field of semiconductor spintronics. It is typically assumed to manifest as a momentum-dependent splitting of a single initially spin-degenerate band into two branches with opposite spin polarization. Combining polarization-dependent and resonant angle-resolved photoemission measurements with density functional theory calculations, we show that the two "spin-split" branches of the model giant Rashba system BiTeI additionally develop disparate orbital textures, each of which is coupled to a distinct spin configuration. This necessitates a reinterpretation of spin splitting in Rashba-like systems and opens new possibilities for controlling spin polarization through the orbital sector.

Disguised as a Sulfate Reducer: Growth of the Deltaproteobacterium Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus by Sulfide Oxidation with Nitrate.

PubMed

Thorup, Casper; Schramm, Andreas; Findlay, Alyssa J; Finster, Kai W; Schreiber, Lars

2017-07-18

This study demonstrates that the deltaproteobacterium Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus can grow chemolithotrophically by coupling sulfide oxidation to the dissimilatory reduction of nitrate and nitrite to ammonium. Key genes of known sulfide oxidation pathways are absent from the genome of D. alkaliphilus Instead, the genome contains all of the genes necessary for sulfate reduction, including a gene for a reductive-type dissimilatory bisulfite reductase (DSR). Despite this, growth by sulfate reduction was not observed. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a very high expression level of sulfate-reduction genes during growth by sulfide oxidation, while inhibition experiments with molybdate pointed to elemental sulfur/polysulfides as intermediates. Consequently, we propose that D. alkaliphilus initially oxidizes sulfide to elemental sulfur, which is then either disproportionated, or oxidized by a reversal of the sulfate reduction pathway. This is the first study providing evidence that a reductive-type DSR is involved in a sulfide oxidation pathway. Transcriptome sequencing further suggests that nitrate reduction to ammonium is performed by a novel type of periplasmic nitrate reductase and an unusual membrane-anchored nitrite reductase. IMPORTANCE Sulfide oxidation and sulfate reduction, the two major branches of the sulfur cycle, are usually ascribed to distinct sets of microbes with distinct diagnostic genes. Here we show a more complex picture, as D. alkaliphilus , with the genomic setup of a sulfate reducer, grows by sulfide oxidation. The high expression of genes typically involved in the sulfate reduction pathway suggests that these genes, including the reductive-type dissimilatory bisulfite reductases, are also involved in as-yet-unresolved sulfide oxidation pathways. Finally, D. alkaliphilus is closely related to cable bacteria, which grow by electrogenic sulfide oxidation. Since there are no pure cultures of cable bacteria, D. alkaliphilus may represent an exciting model organism in which to study the physiology of this process. Copyright © 2017 Thorup et al.

Pathogenic bacteria and microbial-source tracking markers in Brandywine Creek Basin, Pennsylvania and Delaware, 2009-10

USGS Publications Warehouse

Duris, Joseph W.; Reif, Andrew G.; Olson, Leif E.; Johnson, Heather E.

2011-01-01

The City of Wilmington, Delaware, is in the downstream part of the Brandywine Creek Basin, on the main stem of Brandywine Creek. Wilmington uses this stream, which drains a mixed-land-use area upstream, for its main drinking-water supply. Because the stream is used for drinking water, Wilmington is in need of information about the occurrence and distribution of specific fecally derived pathogenic bacteria (disease-causing bacteria) and their relations to commonly measured fecal-indicator bacteria (FIB), as well as information regarding the potential sources of the fecal pollution and pathogens in the basin. This study focused on five routinely sampled sites within the basin, one each on the West Branch and the East Branch of Brandywine Creek and at three on the main stem below the confluence of the West and East Branches. These sites were sampled monthly for 1 year. Targeted event samples were collected on two occasions during high flow and two occasions during normal flow. On the basis of this study, high flows in the Brandywine Creek Basin were related to increases in FIB densities, and in the frequency of selected pathogen and source markers, in the West Branch and main stem of Brandywine Creek, but not in the East Branch. Water exceeding the moderate fullbody-contact single-sample recreational water-quality criteria (RWQC) for Escherichia coli (E. coli) was more likely to contain selected markers for pathogenic E. coli (eaeA,stx1, and rfbO157 gene markers) and bovine fecal sources (E. hirae and LTIIa gene markers), whereas samples exceeding the enterococci RWQC were more likely to contain the same pathogenic markers but also were more likely to carry a marker indicative of human source (esp gene marker). On four sample dates, during high flow between October and March, the West Branch was the only observed potential contributor of selected pathogen and bovine source markers to the main stem of Brandywine Creek. Indeed, the stx2 marker, which indicates a highly virulent type of pathogenic E. coli, was found only in the West Branch and main stem at high flow but was not found in the East Branch under similar conditions. However, it must be noted that throughout the entire year of sampling there were occasions, during both high and normal flows, when both the East and West Branches were potential contributors of pathogen and microbial-source tracking markers to the main stem. Therefore, this study indicates that under selected conditions (high flow, October through March), West Branch Brandywine Creek Basin was the most likely source of elevated FIB densities in the main stem. These elevated densities are associated with more frequent detection of selected pathogenic E. coli markers (rfbO157 stx1) and are associated with MST markers of bovine source. However, during other times of the year, both the West Branch and East Branch Basins are acting as potential sources of FIB and fecally derived pathogens.

BRANCHED FIBERS FROM OLD FAST-TWITCH DYSTROPHIC MUSCLES ARE THE SITES OF TERMINAL DAMAGE IN MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

PubMed

Kiriaev, Leonit; Kueh, Sindy; Morley, John W; North, Kathryn N; Houweling, Peter J; Head, Stewart I

2018-02-07

A striking pathological feature of dystrophinopathies is the presence of morphologically abnormal branched skeletal muscle fibers. The deterioration of muscle contractile function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is accompanied by both an increase in number and complexity of these branched fibers. We propose that when number and complexity of branched fibers reaches a critical threshold, "tipping point" the branches in and of themselves are the site of contraction-induced rupture. In the present study, we use the dystrophic mdx mouse and littermate controls to study the pre-diseased dystrophic fast-twitch EDL muscle at 2-3-weeks, the peak myonecrotic phase at 6-9 weeks and finally "old" at 58-112 weeks. Using a combination of isolated muscle function contractile measurements coupled with single fiber imaging and confocal microscope imaging of cleared whole muscles we identified a distinct pathophysiology; acute fiber rupture at branch nodes, which occurs in "old" fast-twitch EDL muscle approaching the end stage of the dystrophinopathy muscle disease, where the EDL muscles are entirely composed of complexed branched fibers. This evidence supports our concept of "tipping point" where the number and extent of fiber branching reaches a level where the branching itself terminally compromises muscle function, irrespective of the absence of dystrophin.

Relaxation Matrix for Symmetric Tops with Inversion Symmetry: Line Coupling and Line Mixing Effects on NH3 Lines in the V4 Band

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ma, Q.; Boulet, C.; Tipping, R. H.

2017-01-01

Line shape parameters including the half-widths and the off-diagonal elements of the relaxation matrix have been calculated for self-broadened NH3 lines in the perpendicular v4 band. As in the pure rotational and the parallel v1 bands, the small inversion splitting in this band causes a complete failure of the isolated line approximation. As a result, one has to use formalisms not relying on this approximation. However, due to differences between parallel and perpendicular bands of NH3, the applicability of the formalism used in our previous studies of the v1 band and other parallel bands must be carefully verified. We have found that, as long as potential models only contain components with K1 equals K2 equals 0, whose matrix elements require the selection rule delta k equals 0, the formalism is applicable for the v4 band with some minor adjustments. Based on both theoretical considerations and results from numerical calculations, the non-diagonality of the relaxation matrices in all the PP, RP, PQ, RQ, PR, and RR branches is discussed. Theoretically calculated self-broadened half-widths are compared with measurements and the values listed in HITRAN 2012. With respect to line coupling effects, we have compared our calculated intra-doublet off-diagonal elements of the relaxation matrix with reliable measurements carried out in the PP branch where the spectral environment is favorable. The agreement is rather good since our results do well reproduce the observed k and j dependences of these elements, thus validating our formalism.

Early Changes in QRS Frequency Following Cardiac Resynchronization Predict Hemodynamic Response in Left Bundle Branch Block Patients.

PubMed

Niebauer, Mark J; Rickard, John; Tchou, Patrick J; Varma, Niraj

2016-05-01

QRS characteristics are the cornerstone of patient selection in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) and baseline QRS ≥150 milliseconds portends a good outcome. We previously showed that baseline QRS frequency analysis adds predictive value to LBBB alone and have hypothesized that a change in frequency characteristics following CRT may produce additional predictive value. We examined the QRS frequency characteristics of 182 LBBB patients before and soon after CRT. Patients were assigned to responder and nonresponder groups. Responders were defined by a decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) ≥15% following CRT. We analyzed the QRS in ECG leads I, AVF, and V3 before and soon after CRT using the discrete Fourier transform algorithm. The percentage of total QRS power within discrete frequency intervals before and after CRT was calculated. The reduction in lead V3 power <10 Hz was the best indicator of response. Baseline QRS width was similar between the responders and nonresponders (162.2 ± 17.2 milliseconds vs. 158 ± 22.1 milliseconds, respectively; P = 0.180). Responders exhibited a greater reduction in QRS power <10 Hz (-17.0 ± 11.9% vs. -6.6 ± 12.5%; P < 0.001) and a significant AUC (0.743; P < 0.001). A ≥8% decline in QRS power <10 Hz produced the best predictive values (PPV = 84%, NPV = 59%). Importantly, when patients with baseline QRS <150 milliseconds were compared, the AUC improved (0.892, P < 0.001). Successful CRT produces a significant reduction in QRS power below 10 Hz, particularly when baseline QRS <150 milliseconds. These results indicate that QRS frequency changes after CRT provide additional predictive value to QRS alone. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome type B and left bundle-branch block: electrophysiologic and radionuclide study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rakovec, P.; Kranjec, I.; Fettich, J.J.

1985-01-01

Coinciding left bundle-branch block and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome type B, a very rare electrocardiographic occurrence, was found in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy. Electrophysiologic study revealed eccentric retrograde atrial activation during ventricular pacing, suggesting right-sided accessory pathway. At programmed atrial pacing, effective refractory period of the accessory pathway was 310 ms; at shorter pacing coupling intervals, normal atrioventricular conduction with left bundle-branch block was seen. Left bundle-branch block was seen also with His bundle pacing. Radionuclide phase imaging demonstrated right ventricular phase advance and left ventricular phase delay; both right and left ventricular phase images revealed broad phase distribution histograms. Combinedmore » electrophysiologic and radionuclide investigations are useful to disclose complex conduction abnormalities and their mechanical correlates.« less

Peripheral nervous control of cold-induced reduction in the respiratory quotient of the rat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Refinetti, Roberto

1990-03-01

Cold-exposed rats show a reduction in the respiratory quotient which is indicative of a relative shift from carbohydrates to lipids as substrates for oxidative metabolism. In the present study, the effects of food deprivation and cold exposure on the respiratory quotient were observed. In addition, the involvement of the three main branches of the peripheral nervous system (sympathetic, parasympathetic, and somatic) was investigated by means of synaptic blockade with propranolol, atropine, and quinine, respectively. Both propranolol and quinine blocked the cold-induced decrease in respiratory quotient and increase in heat production, whereas atropine had only minor and very brief effects. It is concluded that both the sympathetic and somatic branches are involved in the metabolic changes associated with cold-induced thermogenesis and that the increase in metabolic heat production involves a shift from carbohydrate to lipid utilization irrespective of which of the two branches is activated.

Bite angle effects of diphosphines in C-C and C-X bond forming cross coupling reactions.

PubMed

Birkholz, Mandy-Nicole; Freixa, Zoraida; van Leeuwen, Piet W N M

2009-04-01

Catalytic reactions of C-C and C-X bond formation are discussed in this critical review with particular emphasis on cross coupling reactions catalyzed by palladium and wide bite angle bidentate diphosphine ligands. Especially those studies have been collected that allow comparison of the ligand bite angles for the selected ligands: dppp, BINAP, dppf, DPEphos and Xantphos. Similarities with hydrocyanation and CO/ethene/MeOH reactions have been highlighted, while rhodium hydroformylation has been mentioned as a contrasting example, in which predictability is high and steric and electronic effects follow smooth trends. In palladium catalysis wide bite angles and bulkiness of the ligands facilitate generally the reductive elimination thus giving more efficient cross coupling catalysis (174 references).

Search for single top-quark production via flavour-changing neutral currents at 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector.

PubMed

Aad, G; Abbott, B; Abdallah, J; Abdinov, O; Aben, R; Abolins, M; AbouZeid, O S; Abramowicz, H; Abreu, H; Abreu, R; Abulaiti, Y; Acharya, B S; Adamczyk, L; Adams, D L; Adelman, J; Adomeit, S; Adye, T; Affolder, A A; Agatonovic-Jovin, T; Agricola, J; Aguilar-Saavedra, J A; Ahlen, S P; Ahmadov, F; Aielli, G; Akerstedt, H; Åkesson, T P A; Akimov, A V; Alberghi, G L; Albert, J; Albrand, S; Alconada Verzini, M J; Aleksa, M; Aleksandrov, I N; Alexa, C; Alexander, G; Alexopoulos, T; Alhroob, M; Alimonti, G; Alio, L; Alison, J; Alkire, S P; Allbrooke, B M M; Allport, P P; Aloisio, A; Alonso, A; Alonso, F; Alpigiani, C; Altheimer, A; Alvarez Gonzalez, B; Álvarez Piqueras, D; Alviggi, M G; Amadio, B T; Amako, K; Amaral Coutinho, Y; Amelung, C; Amidei, D; Amor Dos Santos, S P; Amorim, A; Amoroso, S; Amram, N; Amundsen, G; Anastopoulos, C; Ancu, L S; Andari, N; Andeen, T; Anders, C F; Anders, G; Anders, J K; Anderson, K J; Andreazza, A; Andrei, V; Angelidakis, S; Angelozzi, I; Anger, P; Angerami, A; Anghinolfi, F; Anisenkov, A V; Anjos, N; Annovi, A; Antonelli, M; Antonov, A; Antos, J; Anulli, F; Aoki, M; Aperio Bella, L; Arabidze, G; Arai, Y; Araque, J P; Arce, A T H; Arduh, F A; Arguin, J-F; Argyropoulos, S; Arik, M; Armbruster, A J; Arnaez, O; Arnal, V; Arnold, H; Arratia, M; Arslan, O; Artamonov, A; Artoni, G; Asai, S; Asbah, N; Ashkenazi, A; Åsman, B; Asquith, L; Assamagan, K; Astalos, R; Atkinson, M; Atlay, N B; Augsten, K; Aurousseau, M; Avolio, G; Axen, B; Ayoub, M K; Azuelos, G; Baak, M A; Baas, A E; Baca, M J; Bacci, C; Bachacou, H; Bachas, K; Backes, M; Backhaus, M; Bagiacchi, P; Bagnaia, P; Bai, Y; Bain, T; Baines, J T; Baker, O K; Baldin, E M; Balek, P; Balestri, T; Balli, F; Banas, E; Banerjee, Sw; Bannoura, A A E; Bansil, H S; Barak, L; Barberio, E L; Barberis, D; Barbero, M; Barillari, T; Barisonzi, M; Barklow, T; Barlow, N; Barnes, S L; Barnett, B M; Barnett, R M; Barnovska, Z; Baroncelli, A; Barone, G; Barr, A J; Barreiro, F; Barreiro Guimarães da Costa, J; Bartoldus, R; Barton, A E; Bartos, P; Basalaev, A; Bassalat, A; Basye, A; Bates, R L; Batista, S J; Batley, J R; Battaglia, M; Bauce, M; Bauer, F; Bawa, H S; Beacham, J B; Beattie, M D; Beau, T; Beauchemin, P H; Beccherle, R; Bechtle, P; Beck, H P; Becker, K; Becker, M; Beckingham, M; Becot, C; Beddall, A J; Beddall, A; Bednyakov, V A; Bee, C P; Beemster, L J; Beermann, T A; Begel, M; Behr, J K; Belanger-Champagne, C; Bell, W H; Bella, G; Bellagamba, L; Bellerive, A; Bellomo, M; Belotskiy, K; Beltramello, O; Benary, O; Benchekroun, D; Bender, M; Bendtz, K; Benekos, N; Benhammou, Y; Benhar Noccioli, E; Benitez Garcia, J A; Benjamin, D P; Bensinger, J R; Bentvelsen, S; Beresford, L; Beretta, M; Berge, D; Bergeaas Kuutmann, E; Berger, N; Berghaus, F; Beringer, J; Bernard, C; Bernard, N R; Bernius, C; Bernlochner, F U; Berry, T; Berta, P; Bertella, C; Bertoli, G; Bertolucci, F; Bertsche, C; Bertsche, D; Besana, M I; Besjes, G J; Bessidskaia Bylund, O; Bessner, M; Besson, N; Betancourt, C; Bethke, S; Bevan, A J; Bhimji, W; Bianchi, R M; Bianchini, L; Bianco, M; Biebel, O; Biedermann, D; Bieniek, S P; Biglietti, M; Bilbao De Mendizabal, J; Bilokon, H; Bindi, M; Binet, S; Bingul, A; Bini, C; Biondi, S; Black, C W; Black, J E; Black, K M; Blackburn, D; Blair, R E; Blanchard, J-B; Blanco, J E; Blazek, T; Bloch, I; Blocker, C; Blum, W; Blumenschein, U; Bobbink, G J; Bobrovnikov, V S; Bocchetta, S S; Bocci, A; Bock, C; Boehler, M; Bogaerts, J A; Bogavac, D; Bogdanchikov, A G; Bohm, C; Boisvert, V; Bold, T; Boldea, V; Boldyrev, A S; Bomben, M; Bona, M; Boonekamp, M; Borisov, A; Borissov, G; Borroni, S; Bortfeldt, J; Bortolotto, V; Bos, K; Boscherini, D; Bosman, M; Boudreau, J; Bouffard, J; Bouhova-Thacker, E V; Boumediene, D; Bourdarios, C; Bousson, N; Boveia, A; Boyd, J; Boyko, I R; Bozic, I; Bracinik, J; Brandt, A; Brandt, G; Brandt, O; Bratzler, U; Brau, B; Brau, J E; Braun, H M; Brazzale, S F; Breaden Madden, W D; Brendlinger, K; Brennan, A J; Brenner, L; Brenner, R; Bressler, S; Bristow, K; Bristow, T M; Britton, D; Britzger, D; Brochu, F M; Brock, I; Brock, R; Bronner, J; Brooijmans, G; Brooks, T; Brooks, W K; Brosamer, J; Brost, E; Brown, J; Bruckman de Renstrom, P A; Bruncko, D; Bruneliere, R; Bruni, A; Bruni, G; Bruschi, M; Bruscino, N; Bryngemark, L; Buanes, T; Buat, Q; Buchholz, P; Buckley, A G; Buda, S I; Budagov, I A; Buehrer, F; Bugge, L; Bugge, M K; Bulekov, O; Bullock, D; Burckhart, H; Burdin, S; Burgard, C D; Burghgrave, B; Burke, S; Burmeister, I; Busato, E; Büscher, D; Büscher, V; Bussey, P; Butler, J M; Butt, A I; Buttar, C M; Butterworth, J M; Butti, P; Buttinger, W; Buzatu, A; Buzykaev, A R; Cabrera Urbán, S; Caforio, D; Cairo, V M; Cakir, O; Calace, N; Calafiura, P; Calandri, A; Calderini, G; Calfayan, P; Caloba, L P; Calvet, D; Calvet, S; Camacho Toro, R; Camarda, S; Camarri, P; Cameron, D; Caminal Armadans, R; Campana, S; Campanelli, M; Campoverde, A; Canale, V; Canepa, A; Cano Bret, M; Cantero, J; Cantrill, R; Cao, T; Capeans Garrido, M D M; Caprini, I; Caprini, M; Capua, M; Caputo, R; Cardarelli, R; Cardillo, F; Carli, T; Carlino, G; Carminati, L; Caron, S; Carquin, E; Carrillo-Montoya, G D; Carter, J R; Carvalho, J; Casadei, D; Casado, M P; Casolino, M; Castaneda-Miranda, E; Castelli, A; Castillo Gimenez, V; Castro, N F; Catastini, P; Catinaccio, A; Catmore, J R; Cattai, A; Caudron, J; Cavaliere, V; Cavalli, D; Cavalli-Sforza, M; Cavasinni, V; Ceradini, F; Cerio, B C; Cerny, K; Cerqueira, A S; Cerri, A; Cerrito, L; Cerutti, F; Cerv, M; Cervelli, A; Cetin, S A; Chafaq, A; Chakraborty, D; Chalupkova, I; Chang, P; Chapman, J D; Charlton, D G; Chau, C C; Chavez Barajas, C A; Cheatham, S; Chegwidden, A; Chekanov, S; Chekulaev, S V; Chelkov, G A; Chelstowska, M A; Chen, C; Chen, H; Chen, K; Chen, L; Chen, S; Chen, X; Chen, Y; Cheng, H C; Cheng, Y; Cheplakov, A; Cheremushkina, E; Cherkaoui El Moursli, R; Chernyatin, V; Cheu, E; Chevalier, L; Chiarella, V; Chiarelli, G; Chiodini, G; Chisholm, A S; Chislett, R T; Chitan, A; Chizhov, M V; Choi, K; Chouridou, S; Chow, B K B; Christodoulou, V; Chromek-Burckhart, D; Chudoba, J; Chuinard, A J; Chwastowski, J J; Chytka, L; Ciapetti, G; Ciftci, A K; Cinca, D; Cindro, V; Cioara, I A; Ciocio, A; Cirotto, F; Citron, Z H; Ciubancan, M; Clark, A; Clark, B L; Clark, P J; Clarke, R N; Cleland, W; Clement, C; Coadou, Y; Cobal, M; Coccaro, A; Cochran, J; Coffey, L; Cogan, J G; Colasurdo, L; Cole, B; Cole, S; Colijn, A P; Collot, J; Colombo, T; Compostella, G; Conde Muiño, P; Coniavitis, E; Connell, S H; Connelly, I A; Consorti, V; Constantinescu, S; Conta, C; Conti, G; Conventi, F; Cooke, M; Cooper, B D; Cooper-Sarkar, A M; Cornelissen, T; Corradi, M; Corriveau, F; Corso-Radu, A; Cortes-Gonzalez, A; Cortiana, G; Costa, G; Costa, M J; Costanzo, D; Côté, D; Cottin, G; Cowan, G; Cox, B E; Cranmer, K; Cree, G; Crépé-Renaudin, S; Crescioli, F; Cribbs, W A; Crispin Ortuzar, M; Cristinziani, M; Croft, V; Crosetti, G; Cuhadar Donszelmann, T; Cummings, J; Curatolo, M; Cuthbert, C; Czirr, H; Czodrowski, P; D'Auria, S; D'Onofrio, M; Da Cunha Sargedas De Sousa, M J; Da Via, C; Dabrowski, W; Dafinca, A; Dai, T; Dale, O; Dallaire, F; Dallapiccola, C; Dam, M; Dandoy, J R; Dang, N P; Daniells, A C; Danninger, M; Dano Hoffmann, M; Dao, V; Darbo, G; Darmora, S; Dassoulas, J; Dattagupta, A; Davey, W; David, C; Davidek, T; Davies, E; Davies, M; Davison, P; Davygora, Y; Dawe, E; Dawson, I; Daya-Ishmukhametova, R K; De, K; de Asmundis, R; De Benedetti, A; De Castro, S; De Cecco, S; De Groot, N; de Jong, P; De la Torre, H; De Lorenzi, F; De Pedis, D; De Salvo, A; De Sanctis, U; De Santo, A; De Vivie De Regie, J B; Dearnaley, W J; Debbe, R; Debenedetti, C; Dedovich, D V; Deigaard, I; Del Peso, J; Del Prete, T; Delgove, D; Deliot, F; Delitzsch, C M; Deliyergiyev, M; Dell'Acqua, A; Dell'Asta, L; Dell'Orso, M; Della Pietra, M; Della Volpe, D; Delmastro, M; Delsart, P A; Deluca, C; DeMarco, D A; Demers, S; Demichev, M; Demilly, A; Denisov, S P; Derendarz, D; Derkaoui, J E; Derue, F; Dervan, P; Desch, K; Deterre, C; Deviveiros, P O; Dewhurst, A; Dhaliwal, S; Di Ciaccio, A; Di Ciaccio, L; Di Domenico, A; Di Donato, C; Di Girolamo, A; Di Girolamo, B; Di Mattia, A; Di Micco, B; Di Nardo, R; Di Simone, A; Di Sipio, R; Di Valentino, D; Diaconu, C; Diamond, M; Dias, F A; Diaz, M A; Diehl, E B; Dietrich, J; Diglio, S; Dimitrievska, A; Dingfelder, J; Dita, P; Dita, S; Dittus, F; Djama, F; Djobava, T; Djuvsland, J I; do Vale, M A B; Dobos, D; Dobre, M; Doglioni, C; Dohmae, T; Dolejsi, J; Dolezal, Z; Dolgoshein, B A; Donadelli, M; Donati, S; Dondero, P; Donini, J; Dopke, J; Doria, A; Dova, M T; Doyle, A T; Drechsler, E; Dris, M; Dubreuil, E; Duchovni, E; Duckeck, G; Ducu, O A; Duda, D; Dudarev, A; Duflot, L; Duguid, L; Dührssen, M; Dunford, M; Duran Yildiz, H; Düren, M; Durglishvili, A; Duschinger, D; Dyndal, M; Eckardt, C; Ecker, K M; Edgar, R C; Edson, W; Edwards, N C; Ehrenfeld, W; Eifert, T; Eigen, G; Einsweiler, K; Ekelof, T; El Kacimi, M; Ellert, M; Elles, S; Ellinghaus, F; Elliot, A A; Ellis, N; Elmsheuser, J; Elsing, M; Emeliyanov, D; Enari, Y; Endner, O C; Endo, M; Erdmann, J; Ereditato, A; Ernis, G; Ernst, J; Ernst, M; Errede, S; Ertel, E; Escalier, M; Esch, H; Escobar, C; Esposito, B; Etienvre, A I; Etzion, E; Evans, H; Ezhilov, A; Fabbri, L; Facini, G; Fakhrutdinov, R M; Falciano, S; Falla, R J; Faltova, J; Fang, Y; Fanti, M; Farbin, A; Farilla, A; Farooque, T; Farrell, S; Farrington, S M; Farthouat, P; Fassi, F; Fassnacht, P; Fassouliotis, D; Faucci Giannelli, M; Favareto, A; Fayard, L; Federic, P; Fedin, O L; Fedorko, W; Feigl, S; Feligioni, L; Feng, C; Feng, E J; Feng, H; Fenyuk, A B; Feremenga, L; Fernandez Martinez, P; Fernandez Perez, S; Ferrando, J; Ferrari, A; Ferrari, P; Ferrari, R; Ferreira de Lima, D E; Ferrer, A; Ferrere, D; Ferretti, C; Ferretto Parodi, A; Fiascaris, M; Fiedler, F; Filipčič, A; Filipuzzi, M; Filthaut, F; Fincke-Keeler, M; Finelli, K D; Fiolhais, M C N; Fiorini, L; Firan, A; Fischer, A; Fischer, C; Fischer, J; Fisher, W C; Fitzgerald, E A; Flaschel, N; Fleck, I; Fleischmann, P; Fleischmann, S; Fletcher, G T; Fletcher, G; Fletcher, R R M; Flick, T; Floderus, A; Flores Castillo, L R; Flowerdew, M J; Formica, A; Forti, A; Fournier, D; Fox, H; Fracchia, S; Francavilla, P; Franchini, M; Francis, D; Franconi, L; Franklin, M; Frate, M; Fraternali, M; Freeborn, D; French, S T; Friedrich, F; Froidevaux, D; Frost, J A; Fukunaga, C; Fullana Torregrosa, E; Fulsom, B G; Fusayasu, T; Fuster, J; Gabaldon, C; Gabizon, O; Gabrielli, A; Gabrielli, A; Gach, G P; Gadatsch, S; Gadomski, S; Gagliardi, G; Gagnon, P; Galea, C; Galhardo, B; Gallas, E J; Gallop, B J; Gallus, P; Galster, G; Gan, K K; Gao, J; Gao, Y; Gao, Y S; Garay Walls, F M; Garberson, F; García, C; García Navarro, J E; Garcia-Sciveres, M; Gardner, R W; Garelli, N; Garonne, V; Gatti, C; Gaudiello, A; Gaudio, G; Gaur, B; Gauthier, L; Gauzzi, P; Gavrilenko, I L; Gay, C; Gaycken, G; Gazis, E N; Ge, P; Gecse, Z; Gee, C N P; Geich-Gimbel, Ch; Geisler, M P; Gemme, C; Genest, M H; Gentile, S; George, M; George, S; Gerbaudo, D; Gershon, A; Ghasemi, S; Ghazlane, H; Giacobbe, B; Giagu, S; Giangiobbe, V; Giannetti, P; Gibbard, B; Gibson, S M; Gilchriese, M; Gillam, T P S; Gillberg, D; Gilles, G; Gingrich, D M; Giokaris, N; Giordani, M P; Giorgi, F M; Giorgi, F M; Giraud, P F; Giromini, P; Giugni, D; Giuliani, C; Giulini, M; Gjelsten, B K; Gkaitatzis, S; Gkialas, I; Gkougkousis, E L; Gladilin, L K; Glasman, C; Glatzer, J; Glaysher, P C F; Glazov, A; Goblirsch-Kolb, M; Goddard, J R; Godlewski, J; Goldfarb, S; Golling, T; Golubkov, D; Gomes, A; Gonçalo, R; Goncalves Pinto Firmino Da Costa, J; Gonella, L; González de la Hoz, S; Gonzalez Parra, G; Gonzalez-Sevilla, S; Goossens, L; Gorbounov, P A; Gordon, H A; Gorelov, I; Gorini, B; Gorini, E; Gorišek, A; Gornicki, E; Goshaw, A T; Gössling, C; Gostkin, M I; Goujdami, D; Goussiou, A G; Govender, N; Gozani, E; Grabas, H M X; Graber, L; Grabowska-Bold, I; Gradin, P O J; Grafström, P; Grahn, K-J; Gramling, J; Gramstad, E; Grancagnolo, S; Gratchev, V; Gray, H M; Graziani, E; Greenwood, Z D; Grefe, C; Gregersen, K; Gregor, I M; Grenier, P; Griffiths, J; Grillo, A A; Grimm, K; Grinstein, S; Gris, Ph; Grivaz, J-F; Grohs, J P; Grohsjean, A; Gross, E; Grosse-Knetter, J; Grossi, G C; Grout, Z J; Guan, L; Guenther, J; Guescini, F; Guest, D; Gueta, O; Guido, E; Guillemin, T; Guindon, S; Gul, U; Gumpert, C; Guo, J; Guo, Y; Gupta, S; Gustavino, G; Gutierrez, P; Gutierrez Ortiz, N G; Gutschow, C; Guyot, C; Gwenlan, C; Gwilliam, C B; Haas, A; Haber, C; Hadavand, H K; Haddad, N; Haefner, P; Hageböck, S; Hajduk, Z; Hakobyan, H; Haleem, M; Haley, J; Hall, D; Halladjian, G; Hallewell, G D; Hamacher, K; Hamal, P; Hamano, K; Hamilton, A; Hamity, G N; Hamnett, P G; Han, L; Hanagaki, K; Hanawa, K; Hance, M; Hanke, P; Hanna, R; Hansen, J B; Hansen, J D; Hansen, M C; Hansen, P H; Hara, K; Hard, A S; Harenberg, T; Hariri, F; Harkusha, S; Harrington, R D; Harrison, P F; Hartjes, F; Hasegawa, M; Hasegawa, Y; Hasib, A; Hassani, S; Haug, S; Hauser, R; Hauswald, L; Havranek, M; Hawkes, C M; Hawkings, R J; Hawkins, A D; Hayashi, T; Hayden, D; Hays, C P; Hays, J M; Hayward, H S; Haywood, S J; Head, S J; Heck, T; Hedberg, V; Heelan, L; Heim, S; Heim, T; Heinemann, B; Heinrich, L; Hejbal, J; Helary, L; Hellman, S; Hellmich, D; Helsens, C; Henderson, J; Henderson, R C W; Heng, Y; Hengler, C; Henkelmann, S; Henrichs, A; Henriques Correia, A M; Henrot-Versille, S; Herbert, G H; Hernández Jiménez, Y; Herrberg-Schubert, R; Herten, G; Hertenberger, R; Hervas, L; Hesketh, G G; Hessey, N P; Hetherly, J W; Hickling, R; Higón-Rodriguez, E; Hill, E; Hill, J C; Hiller, K H; Hillier, S J; Hinchliffe, I; Hines, E; Hinman, R R; Hirose, M; Hirschbuehl, D; Hobbs, J; Hod, N; Hodgkinson, M C; Hodgson, P; Hoecker, A; Hoeferkamp, M R; Hoenig, F; Hohlfeld, M; Hohn, D; Holmes, T R; Homann, M; Hong, T M; Hooft van Huysduynen, L; Hopkins, W H; Horii, Y; Horton, A J; Hostachy, J-Y; Hou, S; Hoummada, A; Howard, J; Howarth, J; Hrabovsky, M; Hristova, I; Hrivnac, J; Hryn'ova, T; Hrynevich, A; Hsu, C; Hsu, P J; Hsu, S-C; Hu, D; Hu, Q; Hu, X; Huang, Y; Hubacek, Z; Hubaut, F; Huegging, F; Huffman, T B; Hughes, E W; Hughes, G; Huhtinen, M; Hülsing, T A; Huseynov, N; Huston, J; Huth, J; Iacobucci, G; Iakovidis, G; Ibragimov, I; Iconomidou-Fayard, L; Ideal, E; Idrissi, Z; Iengo, P; Igonkina, O; Iizawa, T; Ikegami, Y; Ikematsu, K; Ikeno, M; Ilchenko, Y; Iliadis, D; Ilic, N; Ince, T; Introzzi, G; Ioannou, P; Iodice, M; Iordanidou, K; Ippolito, V; Irles Quiles, A; Isaksson, C; Ishino, M; Ishitsuka, M; Ishmukhametov, R; Issever, C; Istin, S; Iturbe Ponce, J M; Iuppa, R; Ivarsson, J; Iwanski, W; Iwasaki, H; Izen, J M; Izzo, V; Jabbar, S; Jackson, B; Jackson, M; Jackson, P; Jaekel, M R; Jain, V; Jakobs, K; Jakobsen, S; Jakoubek, T; Jakubek, J; Jamin, D O; Jana, D K; Jansen, E; Jansky, R; Janssen, J; Janus, M; Jarlskog, G; Javadov, N; Javůrek, T; Jeanty, L; Jejelava, J; Jeng, G-Y; Jennens, D; Jenni, P; Jentzsch, J; Jeske, C; Jézéquel, S; Ji, H; Jia, J; Jiang, Y; Jiggins, S; Jimenez Pena, J; Jin, S; Jinaru, A; Jinnouchi, O; Joergensen, M D; Johansson, P; Johns, K A; Jon-And, K; Jones, G; Jones, R W L; Jones, T J; Jongmanns, J; Jorge, P M; Joshi, K D; Jovicevic, J; Ju, X; Jung, C A; Jussel, P; Juste Rozas, A; Kaci, M; Kaczmarska, A; Kado, M; Kagan, H; Kagan, M; Kahn, S J; Kajomovitz, E; Kalderon, C W; Kama, S; Kamenshchikov, A; Kanaya, N; Kaneti, S; Kantserov, V A; Kanzaki, J; Kaplan, B; Kaplan, L S; Kapliy, A; Kar, D; Karakostas, K; Karamaoun, A; Karastathis, N; Kareem, M J; Karentzos, E; Karnevskiy, M; Karpov, S N; Karpova, Z M; Karthik, K; Kartvelishvili, V; Karyukhin, A N; Kashif, L; Kass, R D; Kastanas, A; Kataoka, Y; Kato, C; Katre, A; Katzy, J; Kawagoe, K; Kawamoto, T; Kawamura, G; Kazama, S; Kazanin, V F; Keeler, R; Kehoe, R; Keller, J S; Kempster, J J; Keoshkerian, H; Kepka, O; Kerševan, B P; Kersten, S; Keyes, R A; Khalil-Zada, F; Khandanyan, H; Khanov, A; Kharlamov, A G; Khoo, T J; Khovanskiy, V; Khramov, E; Khubua, J; Kido, S; Kim, H Y; Kim, S H; Kim, Y K; Kimura, N; Kind, O M; King, B T; King, M; King, S B; Kirk, J; Kiryunin, A E; Kishimoto, T; Kisielewska, D; Kiss, F; Kiuchi, K; Kivernyk, O; Kladiva, E; Klein, M H; Klein, M; Klein, U; Kleinknecht, K; Klimek, P; Klimentov, A; Klingenberg, R; Klinger, J A; Klioutchnikova, T; Kluge, E-E; Kluit, P; Kluth, S; Knapik, J; Kneringer, E; Knoops, E B F G; Knue, A; Kobayashi, A; Kobayashi, D; Kobayashi, T; Kobel, M; Kocian, M; Kodys, P; Koffas, T; Koffeman, E; Kogan, L A; Kohlmann, S; Kohout, Z; Kohriki, T; Koi, T; Kolanoski, H; Koletsou, I; Komar, A A; Komori, Y; Kondo, T; Kondrashova, N; Köneke, K; König, A C; Kono, T; Konoplich, R; Konstantinidis, N; Kopeliansky, R; Koperny, S; Köpke, L; Kopp, A K; Korcyl, K; Kordas, K; Korn, A; Korol, A A; Korolkov, I; Korolkova, E V; Kortner, O; Kortner, S; Kosek, T; Kostyukhin, V V; Kotov, V M; Kotwal, A; Kourkoumeli-Charalampidi, A; Kourkoumelis, C; Kouskoura, V; Koutsman, A; Kowalewski, R; Kowalski, T Z; Kozanecki, W; Kozhin, A S; Kramarenko, V A; Kramberger, G; Krasnopevtsev, D; Krasny, M W; Krasznahorkay, A; Kraus, J K; Kravchenko, A; Kreiss, S; Kretz, M; Kretzschmar, J; Kreutzfeldt, K; Krieger, P; Krizka, K; Kroeninger, K; Kroha, H; Kroll, J; Kroseberg, J; Krstic, J; Kruchonak, U; Krüger, H; Krumnack, N; Kruse, A; Kruse, M C; Kruskal, M; Kubota, T; Kucuk, H; Kuday, S; Kuehn, S; Kugel, A; Kuger, F; Kuhl, A; Kuhl, T; Kukhtin, V; Kukla, R; Kulchitsky, Y; Kuleshov, S; Kuna, M; Kunigo, T; Kupco, A; Kurashige, H; Kurochkin, Y A; Kus, V; Kuwertz, E S; Kuze, M; Kvita, J; Kwan, T; Kyriazopoulos, D; La Rosa, A; La Rosa Navarro, J L; La Rotonda, L; Lacasta, C; Lacava, F; Lacey, J; Lacker, H; Lacour, D; Lacuesta, V R; Ladygin, E; Lafaye, R; Laforge, B; Lagouri, T; Lai, S; Lambourne, L; Lammers, S; Lampen, C L; Lampl, W; Lançon, E; Landgraf, U; Landon, M P J; Lang, V S; Lange, J C; Lankford, A J; Lanni, F; Lantzsch, K; Lanza, A; Laplace, S; Lapoire, C; Laporte, J F; Lari, T; Lasagni Manghi, F; Lassnig, M; Laurelli, P; Lavrijsen, W; Law, A T; Laycock, P; Lazovich, T; Le Dortz, O; Le Guirriec, E; Le Menedeu, E; LeBlanc, M; LeCompte, T; Ledroit-Guillon, F; Lee, C A; Lee, S C; Lee, L; Lefebvre, G; Lefebvre, M; Legger, F; Leggett, C; Lehan, A; Lehmann Miotto, G; Lei, X; Leight, W A; Leisos, A; Leister, A G; Leite, M A L; Leitner, R; Lellouch, D; Lemmer, B; Leney, K J C; Lenz, T; Lenzi, B; Leone, R; Leone, S; Leonidopoulos, C; Leontsinis, S; Leroy, C; Lester, C G; Levchenko, M; Levêque, J; Levin, D; Levinson, L J; Levy, M; Lewis, A; Leyko, A M; Leyton, M; Li, B; Li, H; Li, H L; Li, L; Li, L; Li, S; Li, X; Li, Y; Liang, Z; Liao, H; Liberti, B; Liblong, A; Lichard, P; Lie, K; Liebal, J; Liebig, W; Limbach, C; Limosani, A; Lin, S C; Lin, T H; Linde, F; Lindquist, B E; Linnemann, J T; Lipeles, E; Lipniacka, A; Lisovyi, M; Liss, T M; Lissauer, D; Lister, A; Litke, A M; Liu, B; Liu, D; Liu, H; Liu, J; Liu, J B; Liu, K; Liu, L; Liu, M; Liu, M; Liu, Y; Livan, M; Lleres, A; Llorente Merino, J; Lloyd, S L; Lo Sterzo, F; Lobodzinska, E; Loch, P; Lockman, W S; Loebinger, F K; Loevschall-Jensen, A E; Loginov, A; Lohse, T; Lohwasser, K; Lokajicek, M; Long, B A; Long, J D; Long, R E; Looper, K A; Lopes, L; Lopez Mateos, D; Lopez Paredes, B; Lopez Paz, I; Lorenz, J; Lorenzo Martinez, N; Losada, M; Lösel, P J; Lou, X; Lounis, A; Love, J; Love, P A; Lu, N; Lubatti, H J; Luci, C; Lucotte, A; Luehring, F; Lukas, W; Luminari, L; Lundberg, O; Lund-Jensen, B; Lynn, D; Lysak, R; Lytken, E; Ma, H; Ma, L L; Maccarrone, G; Macchiolo, A; Macdonald, C M; Maček, B; Machado Miguens, J; Macina, D; Madaffari, D; Madar, R; Maddocks, H J; Mader, W F; Madsen, A; Maeda, J; Maeland, S; Maeno, T; Maevskiy, A; Magradze, E; Mahboubi, K; Mahlstedt, J; Maiani, C; Maidantchik, C; Maier, A A; Maier, T; Maio, A; Majewski, S; Makida, Y; Makovec, N; Malaescu, B; Malecki, Pa; Maleev, V P; Malek, F; Mallik, U; Malon, D; Malone, C; Maltezos, S; Malyshev, V M; Malyukov, S; Mamuzic, J; Mancini, G; Mandelli, B; Mandelli, L; Mandić, I; Mandrysch, R; Maneira, J; Manfredini, A; Manhaes de Andrade Filho, L; Manjarres Ramos, J; Mann, A; Manousakis-Katsikakis, A; Mansoulie, B; Mantifel, R; Mantoani, M; Mapelli, L; March, L; Marchiori, G; Marcisovsky, M; Marino, C P; Marjanovic, M; Marley, D E; Marroquim, F; Marsden, S P; Marshall, Z; Marti, L F; Marti-Garcia, S; Martin, B; Martin, T A; Martin, V J; Martin Dit Latour, B; Martinez, M; Martin-Haugh, S; Martoiu, V S; Martyniuk, A C; Marx, M; Marzano, F; Marzin, A; Masetti, L; Mashimo, T; Mashinistov, R; Masik, J; Maslennikov, A L; Massa, I; Massa, L; Massol, N; Mastrandrea, P; Mastroberardino, A; Masubuchi, T; Mättig, P; Mattmann, J; Maurer, J; Maxfield, S J; Maximov, D A; Mazini, R; Mazza, S M; Mazzaferro, L; Mc Goldrick, G; Mc Kee, S P; McCarn, A; McCarthy, R L; McCarthy, T G; McCubbin, N A; McFarlane, K W; Mcfayden, J A; Mchedlidze, G; McMahon, S J; McPherson, R A; Medinnis, M; Meehan, S; Mehlhase, S; Mehta, A; Meier, K; Meineck, C; Meirose, B; Mellado Garcia, B R; Meloni, F; Mengarelli, A; Menke, S; Meoni, E; Mercurio, K M; Mergelmeyer, S; Mermod, P; Merola, L; Meroni, C; Merritt, F S; Messina, A; Metcalfe, J; Mete, A S; Meyer, C; Meyer, C; Meyer, J-P; Meyer, J; Meyer Zu Theenhausen, H; Middleton, R P; Miglioranzi, S; Mijović, L; Mikenberg, G; Mikestikova, M; Mikuž, M; Milesi, M; Milic, A; Miller, D W; Mills, C; Milov, A; Milstead, D A; Minaenko, A A; Minami, Y; Minashvili, I A; Mincer, A I; Mindur, B; Mineev, M; Ming, Y; Mir, L M; Mitani, T; Mitrevski, J; Mitsou, V A; Miucci, A; Miyagawa, P S; Mjörnmark, J U; Moa, T; Mochizuki, K; Mohapatra, S; Mohr, W; Molander, S; Moles-Valls, R; Monden, R; Mönig, K; Monini, C; Monk, J; Monnier, E; Montejo Berlingen, J; Monticelli, F; Monzani, S; Moore, R W; Morange, N; Moreno, D; Moreno Llácer, M; Morettini, P; Mori, D; Morii, M; Morinaga, M; Morisbak, V; Moritz, S; Morley, A K; Mornacchi, G; Morris, J D; Mortensen, S S; Morton, A; Morvaj, L; Mosidze, M; Moss, J; Motohashi, K; Mount, R; Mountricha, E; Mouraviev, S V; Moyse, E J W; Muanza, S; Mudd, R D; Mueller, F; Mueller, J; Mueller, R S P; Mueller, T; Muenstermann, D; Mullen, P; Mullier, G A; Murillo Quijada, J A; Murray, W J; Musheghyan, H; Musto, E; Myagkov, A G; Myska, M; Nachman, B P; Nackenhorst, O; Nadal, J; Nagai, K; Nagai, R; Nagai, Y; Nagano, K; Nagarkar, A; Nagasaka, Y; Nagata, K; Nagel, M; Nagy, E; Nairz, A M; Nakahama, Y; Nakamura, K; Nakamura, T; Nakano, I; Namasivayam, H; Naranjo Garcia, R F; Narayan, R; Narrias Villar, D I; Naumann, T; Navarro, G; Nayyar, R; Neal, H A; Nechaeva, P Yu; Neep, T J; Nef, P D; Negri, A; Negrini, M; Nektarijevic, S; Nellist, C; Nelson, A; Nemecek, S; Nemethy, P; Nepomuceno, A A; Nessi, M; Neubauer, M S; Neumann, M; Neves, R M; Nevski, P; Newman, P R; Nguyen, D H; Nickerson, R B; Nicolaidou, R; Nicquevert, B; Nielsen, J; Nikiforou, N; Nikiforov, A; Nikolaenko, V; Nikolic-Audit, I; Nikolopoulos, K; Nilsen, J K; Nilsson, P; Ninomiya, Y; Nisati, A; Nisius, R; Nobe, T; Nomachi, M; Nomidis, I; Nooney, T; Norberg, S; Nordberg, M; Novgorodova, O; Nowak, S; Nozaki, M; Nozka, L; Ntekas, K; Nunes Hanninger, G; Nunnemann, T; Nurse, E; Nuti, F; O'Brien, B J; O'grady, F; O'Neil, D C; O'Shea, V; Oakham, F G; Oberlack, H; Obermann, T; Ocariz, J; Ochi, A; Ochoa, I; Ochoa-Ricoux, J P; Oda, S; Odaka, S; Ogren, H; Oh, A; Oh, S H; Ohm, C C; Ohman, H; Oide, H; Okamura, W; Okawa, H; Okumura, Y; Okuyama, T; Olariu, A; Olivares Pino, S A; Oliveira Damazio, D; Oliver Garcia, E; Olszewski, A; Olszowska, J; Onofre, A; Onogi, K; Onyisi, P U E; Oram, C J; Oreglia, M J; Oren, Y; Orestano, D; Orlando, N; Oropeza Barrera, C; Orr, R S; Osculati, B; Ospanov, R; Otero Y Garzon, G; Otono, H; Ouchrif, M; Ould-Saada, F; Ouraou, A; Oussoren, K P; Ouyang, Q; Ovcharova, A; Owen, M; Owen, R E; Ozcan, V E; Ozturk, N; Pachal, K; Pacheco Pages, A; Padilla Aranda, C; Pagáčová, M; Pagan Griso, S; Paganis, E; Paige, F; Pais, P; Pajchel, K; Palacino, G; Palestini, S; Palka, M; Pallin, D; Palma, A; Pan, Y B; Panagiotopoulou, E; Pandini, C E; Panduro Vazquez, J G; Pani, P; Panitkin, S; Pantea, D; Paolozzi, L; Papadopoulou, Th D; Papageorgiou, K; Paramonov, A; Paredes Hernandez, D; Parker, M A; Parker, K A; Parodi, F; Parsons, J A; Parzefall, U; Pasqualucci, E; Passaggio, S; Pastore, F; Pastore, Fr; Pásztor, G; Pataraia, S; Patel, N D; Pater, J R; Pauly, T; Pearce, J; Pearson, B; Pedersen, L E; Pedersen, M; Pedraza Lopez, S; Pedro, R; Peleganchuk, S V; Pelikan, D; Penc, O; Peng, C; Peng, H; Penning, B; Penwell, J; Perepelitsa, D V; Perez Codina, E; Pérez García-Estañ, M T; Perini, L; Pernegger, H; Perrella, S; Peschke, R; Peshekhonov, V D; Peters, K; Peters, R F Y; Petersen, B A; Petersen, T C; Petit, E; Petridis, A; Petridou, C; Petroff, P; Petrolo, E; Petrucci, F; Pettersson, N E; Pezoa, R; Phillips, P W; Piacquadio, G; Pianori, E; Picazio, A; Piccaro, E; Piccinini, M; Pickering, M A; Piegaia, R; Pignotti, D T; Pilcher, J E; Pilkington, A D; Pina, J; Pinamonti, M; Pinfold, J L; Pingel, A; Pires, S; Pirumov, H; Pitt, M; Pizio, C; Plazak, L; Pleier, M-A; Pleskot, V; Plotnikova, E; Plucinski, P; Pluth, D; Poettgen, R; Poggioli, L; Pohl, D; Polesello, G; Poley, A; Policicchio, A; Polifka, R; Polini, A; Pollard, C S; Polychronakos, V; Pommès, K; Pontecorvo, L; Pope, B G; Popeneciu, G A; Popovic, D S; Poppleton, A; Pospisil, S; Potamianos, K; Potrap, I N; Potter, C J; Potter, C T; Poulard, G; Poveda, J; Pozdnyakov, V; Pralavorio, P; Pranko, A; Prasad, S; Prell, S; Price, D; Price, L E; Primavera, M; Prince, S; Proissl, M; Prokofiev, K; Prokoshin, F; Protopapadaki, E; Protopopescu, S; Proudfoot, J; Przybycien, M; Ptacek, E; Puddu, D; Pueschel, E; Puldon, D; Purohit, M; Puzo, P; Qian, J; Qin, G; Qin, Y; Quadt, A; Quarrie, D R; Quayle, W B; Queitsch-Maitland, M; Quilty, D; Raddum, S; Radeka, V; Radescu, V; Radhakrishnan, S K; Radloff, P; Rados, P; Ragusa, F; Rahal, G; Rajagopalan, S; Rammensee, M; Rangel-Smith, C; Rauscher, F; Rave, S; Ravenscroft, T; Raymond, M; Read, A L; Readioff, N P; Rebuzzi, D M; Redelbach, A; Redlinger, G; Reece, R; Reeves, K; Rehnisch, L; Reichert, J; Reisin, H; Relich, M; Rembser, C; Ren, H; Renaud, A; Rescigno, M; Resconi, S; Rezanova, O L; Reznicek, P; Rezvani, R; Richter, R; Richter, S; Richter-Was, E; Ricken, O; Ridel, M; Rieck, P; Riegel, C J; Rieger, J; Rifki, O; Rijssenbeek, M; Rimoldi, A; Rinaldi, L; Ristić, B; Ritsch, E; Riu, I; Rizatdinova, F; Rizvi, E; Robertson, S H; Robichaud-Veronneau, A; Robinson, D; Robinson, J E M; Robson, A; Roda, C; Roe, S; Røhne, O; Rolli, S; Romaniouk, A; Romano, M; Romano Saez, S M; Romero Adam, E; Rompotis, N; Ronzani, M; Roos, L; Ros, E; Rosati, S; Rosbach, K; Rose, P; Rosendahl, P L; Rosenthal, O; Rossetti, V; Rossi, E; Rossi, L P; Rosten, J H N; Rosten, R; Rotaru, M; Roth, I; Rothberg, J; Rousseau, D; Royon, C R; Rozanov, A; Rozen, Y; Ruan, X; Rubbo, F; Rubinskiy, I; Rud, V I; Rudolph, C; Rudolph, M S; Rühr, F; Ruiz-Martinez, A; Rurikova, Z; Rusakovich, N A; Ruschke, A; Russell, H L; Rutherfoord, J P; Ruthmann, N; Ryabov, Y F; Rybar, M; Rybkin, G; Ryder, N C; Saavedra, A F; Sabato, G; Sacerdoti, S; Saddique, A; Sadrozinski, H F-W; Sadykov, R; Safai Tehrani, F; Sahinsoy, M; Saimpert, M; Saito, T; Sakamoto, H; Sakurai, Y; Salamanna, G; Salamon, A; Salazar Loyola, J E; Saleem, M; Salek, D; Sales De Bruin, P H; Salihagic, D; Salnikov, A; Salt, J; Salvatore, D; Salvatore, F; Salvucci, A; Salzburger, A; Sammel, D; Sampsonidis, D; Sanchez, A; Sánchez, J; Sanchez Martinez, V; Sandaker, H; Sandbach, R L; Sander, H G; Sanders, M P; Sandhoff, M; Sandoval, C; Sandstroem, R; Sankey, D P C; Sannino, M; Sansoni, A; Santoni, C; Santonico, R; Santos, H; Santoyo Castillo, I; Sapp, K; Sapronov, A; Saraiva, J G; Sarrazin, B; Sasaki, O; Sasaki, Y; Sato, K; Sauvage, G; Sauvan, E; Savage, G; Savard, P; Sawyer, C; Sawyer, L; Saxon, J; Sbarra, C; Sbrizzi, A; Scanlon, T; Scannicchio, D A; Scarcella, M; Scarfone, V; Schaarschmidt, J; Schacht, P; Schaefer, D; Schaefer, R; Schaeffer, J; Schaepe, S; Schaetzel, S; Schäfer, U; Schaffer, A C; Schaile, D; Schamberger, R D; Scharf, V; Schegelsky, V A; Scheirich, D; Schernau, M; Schiavi, C; Schillo, C; Schioppa, M; Schlenker, S; Schmieden, K; Schmitt, C; Schmitt, S; Schmitt, S; Schneider, B; Schnellbach, Y J; Schnoor, U; Schoeffel, L; Schoening, A; Schoenrock, B D; Schopf, E; Schorlemmer, A L S; Schott, M; Schouten, D; Schovancova, J; Schramm, S; Schreyer, M; Schroeder, C; Schuh, N; Schultens, M J; Schultz-Coulon, H-C; Schulz, H; Schumacher, M; Schumm, B A; Schune, Ph; Schwanenberger, C; Schwartzman, A; Schwarz, T A; Schwegler, Ph; Schweiger, H; Schwemling, Ph; Schwienhorst, R; Schwindling, J; Schwindt, T; Sciacca, F G; Scifo, E; Sciolla, G; Scuri, F; Scutti, F; Searcy, J; Sedov, G; Sedykh, E; Seema, P; Seidel, S C; Seiden, A; Seifert, F; Seixas, J M; Sekhniaidze, G; Sekhon, K; Sekula, S J; Seliverstov, D M; Semprini-Cesari, N; Serfon, C; Serin, L; Serkin, L; Serre, T; Sessa, M; Seuster, R; Severini, H; Sfiligoj, T; Sforza, F; Sfyrla, A; Shabalina, E; Shamim, M; Shan, L Y; Shang, R; Shank, J T; Shapiro, M; Shatalov, P B; Shaw, K; Shaw, S M; Shcherbakova, A; Shehu, C Y; Sherwood, P; Shi, L; Shimizu, S; Shimmin, C O; Shimojima, M; Shiyakova, M; Shmeleva, A; Shoaleh Saadi, D; Shochet, M J; Shojaii, S; Shrestha, S; Shulga, E; Shupe, M A; Shushkevich, S; Sicho, P; Sidebo, P E; Sidiropoulou, O; Sidorov, D; Sidoti, A; Siegert, F; Sijacki, Dj; Silva, J; Silver, Y; Silverstein, S B; Simak, V; Simard, O; Simic, Lj; Simion, S; Simioni, E; Simmons, B; Simon, D; Sinervo, P; Sinev, N B; Sioli, M; Siragusa, G; Sisakyan, A N; Sivoklokov, S Yu; Sjölin, J; Sjursen, T B; Skinner, M B; Skottowe, H P; Skubic, P; Slater, M; Slavicek, T; Slawinska, M; Sliwa, K; Smakhtin, V; Smart, B H; Smestad, L; Smirnov, S Yu; Smirnov, Y; Smirnova, L N; Smirnova, O; Smith, M N K; Smith, R W; Smizanska, M; Smolek, K; Snesarev, A A; Snidero, G; Snyder, S; Sobie, R; Socher, F; Soffer, A; Soh, D A; Sokhrannyi, G; Solans, C A; Solar, M; Solc, J; Soldatov, E Yu; Soldevila, U; Solodkov, A A; Soloshenko, A; Solovyanov, O V; Solovyev, V; Sommer, P; Song, H Y; Soni, N; Sood, A; Sopczak, A; Sopko, B; Sopko, V; Sorin, V; Sosa, D; Sosebee, M; Sotiropoulou, C L; Soualah, R; Soukharev, A M; South, D; Sowden, B C; Spagnolo, S; Spalla, M; Spangenberg, M; Spanò, F; Spearman, W R; Sperlich, D; Spettel, F; Spighi, R; Spigo, G; Spiller, L A; Spousta, M; Spreitzer, T; Denis, R D St; Stabile, A; Staerz, S; Stahlman, J; Stamen, R; Stamm, S; Stanecka, E; Stanescu, C; Stanescu-Bellu, M; Stanitzki, M M; Stapnes, S; Starchenko, E A; Stark, J; Staroba, P; Starovoitov, P; Staszewski, R; Steinberg, P; Stelzer, B; Stelzer, H J; Stelzer-Chilton, O; Stenzel, H; Stewart, G A; Stillings, J A; Stockton, M C; Stoebe, M; Stoicea, G; Stolte, P; Stonjek, S; Stradling, A R; Straessner, A; Stramaglia, M E; Strandberg, J; Strandberg, S; Strandlie, A; Strauss, E; Strauss, M; Strizenec, P; Ströhmer, R; Strom, D M; Stroynowski, R; Strubig, A; Stucci, S A; Stugu, B; Styles, N A; Su, D; Su, J; Subramaniam, R; Succurro, A; Sugaya, Y; Suk, M; Sulin, V V; Sultansoy, S; Sumida, T; Sun, S; Sun, X; Sundermann, J E; Suruliz, K; Susinno, G; Sutton, M R; Suzuki, S; Svatos, M; Swiatlowski, M; Sykora, I; Sykora, T; Ta, D; Taccini, C; Tackmann, K; Taenzer, J; Taffard, A; Tafirout, R; Taiblum, N; Takai, H; Takashima, R; Takeda, H; Takeshita, T; Takubo, Y; Talby, M; Talyshev, A A; Tam, J Y C; Tan, K G; Tanaka, J; Tanaka, R; Tanaka, S; Tannenwald, B B; Tannoury, N; Tapprogge, S; Tarem, S; Tarrade, F; Tartarelli, G F; Tas, P; Tasevsky, M; Tashiro, T; Tassi, E; Tavares Delgado, A; Tayalati, Y; Taylor, F E; Taylor, G N; Taylor, W; Teischinger, F A; Teixeira Dias Castanheira, M; Teixeira-Dias, P; Temming, K K; Temple, D; Ten Kate, H; Teng, P K; Teoh, J J; Tepel, F; Terada, S; Terashi, K; Terron, J; Terzo, S; Testa, M; Teuscher, R J; Theveneaux-Pelzer, T; Thomas, J P; Thomas-Wilsker, J; Thompson, E N; Thompson, P D; Thompson, R J; Thompson, A S; Thomsen, L A; Thomson, E; Thomson, M; Thun, R P; Tibbetts, M J; Ticse Torres, R E; Tikhomirov, V O; Tikhonov, Yu A; Timoshenko, S; Tiouchichine, E; Tipton, P; Tisserant, S; Todome, K; Todorov, T; Todorova-Nova, S; Tojo, J; Tokár, S; Tokushuku, K; Tollefson, K; Tolley, E; Tomlinson, L; Tomoto, M; Tompkins, L; Toms, K; Torrence, E; Torres, H; Torró Pastor, E; Toth, J; Touchard, F; Tovey, D R; Trefzger, T; Tremblet, L; Tricoli, A; Trigger, I M; Trincaz-Duvoid, S; Tripiana, M F; Trischuk, W; Trocmé, B; Troncon, C; Trottier-McDonald, M; Trovatelli, M; True, P; Truong, L; Trzebinski, M; Trzupek, A; Tsarouchas, C; Tseng, J C-L; Tsiareshka, P V; Tsionou, D; Tsipolitis, G; Tsirintanis, N; Tsiskaridze, S; Tsiskaridze, V; Tskhadadze, E G; Tsukerman, I I; Tsulaia, V; Tsuno, S; Tsybychev, D; Tudorache, A; Tudorache, V; Tuna, A N; Tupputi, S A; Turchikhin, S; Turecek, D; Turra, R; Turvey, A J; Tuts, P M; Tykhonov, A; Tylmad, M; Tyndel, M; Ueda, I; Ueno, R; Ughetto, M; Ugland, M; Ukegawa, F; Unal, G; Undrus, A; Unel, G; Ungaro, F C; Unno, Y; Unverdorben, C; Urban, J; Urquijo, P; Urrejola, P; Usai, G; Usanova, A; Vacavant, L; Vacek, V; Vachon, B; Valderanis, C; Valencic, N; Valentinetti, S; Valero, A; Valery, L; Valkar, S; Valladolid Gallego, E; Vallecorsa, S; Valls Ferrer, J A; Van Den Wollenberg, W; Van Der Deijl, P C; van der Geer, R; van der Graaf, H; van Eldik, N; van Gemmeren, P; Van Nieuwkoop, J; van Vulpen, I; van Woerden, M C; Vanadia, M; Vandelli, W; Vanguri, R; Vaniachine, A; Vannucci, F; Vardanyan, G; Vari, R; Varnes, E W; Varol, T; Varouchas, D; Vartapetian, A; Varvell, K E; Vazeille, F; Vazquez Schroeder, T; Veatch, J; Veloce, L M; Veloso, F; Velz, T; Veneziano, S; Ventura, A; Ventura, D; Venturi, M; Venturi, N; Venturini, A; Vercesi, V; Verducci, M; Verkerke, W; Vermeulen, J C; Vest, A; Vetterli, M C; Viazlo, O; Vichou, I; Vickey, T; Vickey Boeriu, O E; Viehhauser, G H A; Viel, S; Vigne, R; Villa, M; Villaplana Perez, M; Vilucchi, E; Vincter, M G; Vinogradov, V B; Vivarelli, I; Vives Vaque, F; Vlachos, S; Vladoiu, D; Vlasak, M; Vogel, M; Vokac, P; Volpi, G; Volpi, M; von der Schmitt, H; von Radziewski, H; von Toerne, E; Vorobel, V; Vorobev, K; Vos, M; Voss, R; Vossebeld, J H; Vranjes, N; Vranjes Milosavljevic, M; Vrba, V; Vreeswijk, M; Vuillermet, R; Vukotic, I; Vykydal, Z; Wagner, P; Wagner, W; Wahlberg, H; Wahrmund, S; Wakabayashi, J; Walder, J; Walker, R; Walkowiak, W; Wang, C; Wang, F; Wang, H; Wang, H; Wang, J; Wang, J; Wang, K; Wang, R; Wang, S M; Wang, T; Wang, T; Wang, X; Wanotayaroj, C; Warburton, A; Ward, C P; Wardrope, D R; Washbrook, A; Wasicki, C; Watkins, P M; Watson, A T; Watson, I J; Watson, M F; Watts, G; Watts, S; Waugh, B M; Webb, S; Weber, M S; Weber, S W; Webster, J S; Weidberg, A R; Weinert, B; Weingarten, J; Weiser, C; Weits, H; Wells, P S; Wenaus, T; Wengler, T; Wenig, S; Wermes, N; Werner, M; Werner, P; Wessels, M; Wetter, J; Whalen, K; Wharton, A M; White, A; White, M J; White, R; White, S; Whiteson, D; Wickens, F J; Wiedenmann, W; Wielers, M; Wienemann, P; Wiglesworth, C; Wiik-Fuchs, L A M; Wildauer, A; Wilkens, H G; Williams, H H; Williams, S; Willis, C; Willocq, S; Wilson, A; Wilson, J A; Wingerter-Seez, I; Winklmeier, F; Winter, B T; Wittgen, M; Wittkowski, J; Wollstadt, S J; Wolter, M W; Wolters, H; Wosiek, B K; Wotschack, J; Woudstra, M J; Wozniak, K W; Wu, M; Wu, M; Wu, S L; Wu, X; Wu, Y; Wyatt, T R; Wynne, B M; Xella, S; Xu, D; Xu, L; Yabsley, B; Yacoob, S; Yakabe, R; Yamada, M; Yamaguchi, D; Yamaguchi, Y; Yamamoto, A; Yamamoto, S; Yamanaka, T; Yamauchi, K; Yamazaki, Y; Yan, Z; Yang, H; Yang, H; Yang, Y; Yao, W-M; Yasu, Y; Yatsenko, E; Yau Wong, K H; Ye, J; Ye, S; Yeletskikh, I; Yen, A L; Yildirim, E; Yorita, K; Yoshida, R; Yoshihara, K; Young, C; Young, C J S; Youssef, S; Yu, D R; Yu, J; Yu, J M; Yu, J; Yuan, L; Yuen, S P Y; Yurkewicz, A; Yusuff, I; Zabinski, B; Zaidan, R; Zaitsev, A M; Zalieckas, J; Zaman, A; Zambito, S; Zanello, L; Zanzi, D; Zeitnitz, C; Zeman, M; Zemla, A; Zeng, Q; Zengel, K; Zenin, O; Ženiš, T; Zerwas, D; Zhang, D; Zhang, F; Zhang, H; Zhang, J; Zhang, L; Zhang, R; Zhang, X; Zhang, Z; Zhao, X; Zhao, Y; Zhao, Z; Zhemchugov, A; Zhong, J; Zhou, B; Zhou, C; Zhou, L; Zhou, L; Zhou, M; Zhou, N; Zhu, C G; Zhu, H; Zhu, J; Zhu, Y; Zhuang, X; Zhukov, K; Zibell, A; Zieminska, D; Zimine, N I; Zimmermann, C; Zimmermann, S; Zinonos, Z; Zinser, M; Ziolkowski, M; Živković, L; Zobernig, G; Zoccoli, A; Zur Nedden, M; Zurzolo, G; Zwalinski, L

A search for single top-quark production via flavour-changing neutral current processes from gluon plus up- or charm-quark initial states in proton-proton collisions at the LHC is presented. Data collected with the ATLAS detector in 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] are used. Candidate events for a top quark decaying into a lepton, a neutrino and a jet are selected and classified into signal- and background-like candidates using a neural network. No signal is observed and an upper limit on the production cross-section multiplied by the [Formula: see text] branching fraction is set. The observed 95 % CL limit is [Formula: see text] and the expected 95 % CL limit is [Formula: see text]. The observed limit can be interpreted as upper limits on the coupling constants of the flavour-changing neutral current interactions divided by the scale of new physics [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and on the branching fractions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].

Analysis of adaptive evolution in Lyssavirus genomes reveals pervasive diversifying selection during species diversification.

PubMed

Voloch, Carolina M; Capellão, Renata T; Mello, Beatriz; Schrago, Carlos G

2014-11-19

Lyssavirus is a diverse genus of viruses that infect a variety of mammalian hosts, typically causing encephalitis. The evolution of this lineage, particularly the rabies virus, has been a focus of research because of the extensive occurrence of cross-species transmission, and the distinctive geographical patterns present throughout the diversification of these viruses. Although numerous studies have examined pattern-related questions concerning Lyssavirus evolution, analyses of the evolutionary processes acting on Lyssavirus diversification are scarce. To clarify the relevance of positive natural selection in Lyssavirus diversification, we conducted a comprehensive scan for episodic diversifying selection across all lineages and codon sites of the five coding regions in lyssavirus genomes. Although the genomes of these viruses are generally conserved, the glycoprotein (G), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L) and polymerase (P) genes were frequently targets of adaptive evolution during the diversification of the genus. Adaptive evolution is particularly manifest in the glycoprotein gene, which was inferred to have experienced the highest density of positively selected codon sites along branches. Substitutions in the L gene were found to be associated with the early diversification of phylogroups. A comparison between the number of positively selected sites inferred along the branches of RABV population branches and Lyssavirus intespecies branches suggested that the occurrence of positive selection was similar on the five coding regions of the genome in both groups.

Analysis of Adaptive Evolution in Lyssavirus Genomes Reveals Pervasive Diversifying Selection during Species Diversification

PubMed Central

Voloch, Carolina M.; Capellão, Renata T.; Mello, Beatriz; Schrago, Carlos G.

2014-01-01

Lyssavirus is a diverse genus of viruses that infect a variety of mammalian hosts, typically causing encephalitis. The evolution of this lineage, particularly the rabies virus, has been a focus of research because of the extensive occurrence of cross-species transmission, and the distinctive geographical patterns present throughout the diversification of these viruses. Although numerous studies have examined pattern-related questions concerning Lyssavirus evolution, analyses of the evolutionary processes acting on Lyssavirus diversification are scarce. To clarify the relevance of positive natural selection in Lyssavirus diversification, we conducted a comprehensive scan for episodic diversifying selection across all lineages and codon sites of the five coding regions in lyssavirus genomes. Although the genomes of these viruses are generally conserved, the glycoprotein (G), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L) and polymerase (P) genes were frequently targets of adaptive evolution during the diversification of the genus. Adaptive evolution is particularly manifest in the glycoprotein gene, which was inferred to have experienced the highest density of positively selected codon sites along branches. Substitutions in the L gene were found to be associated with the early diversification of phylogroups. A comparison between the number of positively selected sites inferred along the branches of RABV population branches and Lyssavirus intespecies branches suggested that the occurrence of positive selection was similar on the five coding regions of the genome in both groups. PMID:25415197

7. VIEW OF REDUCTION GEARS. TRUNNION SUPPORT GIRDERS, SIDES OF ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

7. VIEW OF REDUCTION GEARS. TRUNNION SUPPORT GIRDERS, SIDES OF COUNTERWEIGHTS, WITH LOWER BUFFERS, LOOKING WEST FROM WEST CANAL PIER. - East Division Street Bridge, Spanning North Branch Canal at West Division Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL

Complete genome sequence of Dehalogenimonas lykanthroporepellens type strain (BL-DC-9T) and comparison to Dehalococcoides strains

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siddaramappa, Shivakumara; Delano, Susana; Green, Lance D.

2012-01-01

Dehalogenimonas lykanthroporepellens is the type species of the genus Dehalogenimonas, which belongs to a deeply branching lineage within the phylum Chloroflexi. This strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, non spore forming, Gram negative staining bacterium was first isolated from chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater at a Superfund site located near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. D. lykanthroporepellens was of interest for genome sequencing for two reasons: (a) its unusual ability to couple growth with reductive dechlorination of environmentally important polychlorinated aliphatic alkanes and (b) its phylogenetic position distant from previously sequenced bacteria. The 1,686,510 bp circular chromosome of strain BL-DC-9{sup T} contains 1,720 predicted proteinmore » coding genes, 47 tRNA genes, a single large subunit rRNA (23S-5S) locus, and a single, orphan, small unit rRNA (16S) locus.« less

THE EFFECTS OF TRANSIENT REDUCTIONS IN FUNCTIONAL LEAF AREA ON STOMATAL CONDUCTANCE: BRANCH LEVEL EXPERIMENTS ON YOUNG AND OLD TREES

EPA Science Inventory

As trees age and increase in size, the resistance along the water transport path has been hypothesized to increase and potentially limit the ultimate size a tree can reach. Past research has demonstrated that branches are a source of significant resistance in the transport path....

76 FR 62689 - Tax Return Preparer Penalties Under Section 6695

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-11

... the penalty if a member of its principal management or the principal management of a branch office... members of the principal management (or principal officers) of the firm or a branch office participated in... Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d...

HIV transmission risk among HIV seroconcordant and serodiscordant couples: dyadic processes of partner selection.

PubMed

Eaton, Lisa A; West, Tessa V; Kenny, David A; Kalichman, Seth C

2009-04-01

Selecting sex partners of the same HIV status or serosorting is a sexual risk reduction strategy used by many men who have sex with men. However, the effectiveness of serosorting for protection against HIV is potentially limited. We sought to examine how men perceive the protective benefits of factors related to serosorting including beliefs about engaging in serosorting, sexual communication, and perceptions of risk for HIV. Participants were 94 HIV negative seroconcordant (same HIV status) couples, 20 HIV serodiscordant (discrepant HIV status) couples, and 13 HIV positive seroconcordant (same HIV status) couples recruited from a large gay pride festival in the southeastern US. To account for nonindependence found in the couple-level data, we used multilevel modeling which includes dyad in the analysis. Findings demonstrated that participants in seroconcordant relationships were more likely to believe that serosorting reduces concerns for condom use. HIV negative participants in seroconcordant relationships viewed themselves at relatively low risk for HIV transmission even though monogamy within relationships and HIV testing were infrequent. Dyadic analyses demonstrated that partners have a substantial effect on an individual's beliefs and number of unprotected sex partners. We conclude that relationship partners are an important source of influence and, thus, intervening with partners is necessary to reduce HIV transmission risks.

Diastereoselective sp2-sp3 coupling of sugar enol ethers with unactivated cycloalkenes: new entries to C-branched sugars.

PubMed

Hussain, Nazar; Tatina, Madhu Babu; Rasool, Faheem; Mukherjee, Debaraj

2016-10-25

Sugar enol ethers undergo efficient coupling at C-2 with unactivated cycloalkenes under a low Pd loading affording allylic substitution products. High diastereoselectivity was observed at the allylic centre with sterically hindered substrates. Generation of a π-allyl complex by the Pd(ii) catalyst via cleavage of the allylic C-H bond of the cycloalkene may be responsible for the formation of sp 2 -sp 3 coupling products.

Ultrastrong exciton-photon coupling in single and coupled organic microcavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bin; Bramante, Rosemary; Valle, Brent; Singer, Kenneth; Khattab, Tawfik; Williams, Jarrod; Twieg, Robert

2015-03-01

We have demonstrated ultrastrong light-matter coupling in organic planar microcavities composed of a neat glassy organic dye film between two metallic (aluminum) mirrors in a half-cavity configuration. Such cavities are characterized by Q factors around 10. Tuning the thickness of the organic layer enables the observation of the ultrastrong coupling regime. Via reflectivity measurements, we observe a very large Rabi splitting around 1.227 eV between upper and lower polariton branches at room temperature, and we detect polariton emission from the lower polariton branch via photoluminescence measurements. The large splitting is due to the large oscillator strength of the neat dye glass, and to the match of the low-Q cavity spectral width to the broad absorption width of the dye film material. We also study the interaction between excitonic states of neat glassy organic dye and cavity modes within coupled microcavity structures. The high-reflectivity mirrors are formed from distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR), which are multilayer films fabricated using the coextrusion process, containing alternating layers of high (SAN25, n =1.57) and low (Dyneon THV 220G, n =1.37) refractive index dielectric polymers. Nonlinear optical measurements will be discussed. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation Center for Layered Polymer Systems (CLiPS) under Grant Number DMR-0423914.

Quantum interference in coherent tunneling through branched molecular junctions containing ferrocene centers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xin; Kastlunger, Georg; Stadler, Robert

2017-08-01

In our theoretical study where we combine a nonequilibrium Green's function approach with density functional theory we investigate branched compounds containing ferrocene moieties in both branches which, due to their metal centers, are designed to allow for asymmetry induced by local charging. In these compounds the ferrocene moieties are connected to pyridyl anchor groups either directly or via acetylenic spacers in a metaconnection, where we also compare our results with those obtained for the respective single-branched molecules with both meta- and paraconnections between the metal center and the anchors. We find a destructive quantum interference (DQI) feature in the transmission function slightly below the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, which dominates the conductance even for the uncharged branched compound with spacer groups inserted. In an analysis based on mapping the structural characteristics of the range of molecules in our article onto tight-binding models, we identify the structural source of the DQI minimum as the through-space coupling between the pyridyl anchor groups. We also find that local charging in one of the branches changes the conductance only by about one order of magnitude, which we explain in terms of the spatial distributions of the relevant molecular orbitals for the branched compounds.

Nerve monitoring-guided selective hypoglossal nerve stimulation in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

PubMed

Heiser, Clemens; Hofauer, Benedikt; Lozier, Luke; Woodson, B Tucker; Stark, Thomas

2016-12-01

Selective stimulation of the upper airway is a new therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. The aim of the study was to determine if a selective nerve integrity monitoring (NIM) system could aid in precise placement of the cuff electrode in selective upper-airway stimulation. Single-center, prospective clinical trial. Twenty patients who received a selective upper-airway stimulation system (Inspire Medical Systems, Maple Grove, MN) were implanted by using a NIM system. The tongue motions were recorded during surgery and 2 months postoperatively from the transoral view and by transnasal endoscopy. All patients exhibited consistent protrusion at tongue front and tongue base. The nerve monitoring system helped to place the cuff electrode around the protrusion and stiffening branches, while excluding the retractor branches of the hypoglossal nerve. This report demonstrated a novel use of a NIM system to identify the functional separation between inclusion and exclusion branches of the hypoglossal nerve for implantation of a selective upper-airway stimulation system. 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2852-2858, 2016. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Overview of the Advanced High Frequency Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miranda, Felix A.

2015-01-01

This presentation provides an overview of the competencies, selected areas of research and technology development activities, and current external collaborative efforts of the NASA Glenn Research Center's Advanced High Frequency Branch.

Closer insight into the structure of moderate to densely branched comb polymers by combining modelling and linear rheological measurements.

PubMed

Ahmadi, Mostafa; Pioge, Sandie; Fustin, Charles-Andre; Gohy, Jean-Francois; van Ruymbeke, Evelyne

2017-02-07

Synthesis of combs with well-entangled backbones and long branches with high densities has always been a challenge. Steric hindrance frequently leads to coupling of chains and structural imperfections that cannot be easily distinguished by traditional characterization methods. Research studies have therefore tried to use a combination of different methods to obtain more information on the actual microstructures. In this work, a grafting-from approach is used to synthesize poly(n-butyl acrylate) combs using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in three steps including the synthesis of a backbone, cleavage of protecting groups and growth of side branches. We have compared the linear viscoelastic properties theoretically predicted by a time marching algorithm (TMA) tube based model with the measured rheological behaviour to provide a better insight into the actual microstructure formed during synthesis. For combs with branches smaller than an entanglement, no discernible hierarchical relaxation can be distinguished, while for those with longer branches, a high frequency plateau made by entangled branches can be separated from backbone's relaxation. Dilution of the backbone, after relaxation of side branches, may accelerate the final relaxation, while extra friction can delay it especially for longer branches. Such a comparison provides a better assessment of the microstructure formed in combs.

Hydraulic properties and fine root mass of Larix sibirica along forest edge-interior gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chenlemuge, Tselmeg; Dulamsuren, Choimaa; Hertel, Dietrich; Schuldt, Bernhard; Leuschner, Christoph; Hauck, Markus

2015-02-01

At its southernmost distribution limit in Inner Asia, the boreal forest disintegrates into forest fragments on moist sites (e.g. north-facing slopes), which are embedded in grasslands. This landscape mosaic is characterized by a much higher forest edge-to-interior ratio than in closed boreal forests. Earlier work in the forest-steppe ecotone of Mongolia has shown that Larix sibirica trees at forest edges grow faster than in the forest interior, as the more xeric environment at the edge promotes self-thinning and edges are preferentially targeted by selective logging and livestock grazing. Lowered stand density reduces competition for water in these semi-arid forests, where productivity is usually limited by summer drought. We studied how branch and coarse root hydraulic architecture and xylem conductivity, fine root biomass and necromass, and fine root morphology of L. sibirica respond to sites differing in water availability. Studying forest edge-interior gradients in two regions of western Mongolia, we found a significant reduction of branch theoretical (Kp) and empirical conductivity (Ks) in the putatively more drought-affected forest interior in the Mongolian Altai (mean precipitation: 120 mm yr-1), while no branch xylem modification occurred in the moister Khangai Mountains (215 mm yr-1). Kp and Ks were several times larger in roots than in branches, but root hydraulics were not influenced by stand density or mean annual precipitation. Very low fine root biomass: necromass ratios at all sites, and in the forest interior in particular, suggest that L. sibirica seeks to maintain a relatively high root conductivity by producing large conduits, which results in high root mortality due to embolism during drought. Our results suggest that L. sibirica is adapted to the semi-arid climate at its southernmost distribution limit by considerable plasticity of the branch hydraulic system and a small but apparently dynamic fine root system.

Floods on Duck River and Flat, Big Spring, Bomar, and Little Hurricane Creeks and Pettus and Holland Branches and unnamed tributaries to Bomar and Little Hurricane Creeks and Holland Branch in the vicinity of Shelbyville, Tennessee

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

This flood hazard information report describes the extent and severity of the flood potential along selected reaches of the Duck River; Flat, Big Spring, Bomar, and Little Hurricane Creeks; Pettus and Holland Branches; and unnamed tributaries to Bomar and Little Hurricane Creeks and Holland Branch in the vicinity of Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Niche specialization of novel Thaumarchaeota to oxic and hypoxic acidic geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park

PubMed Central

Beam, Jacob P; Jay, Zackary J; Kozubal, Mark A; Inskeep, William P

2014-01-01

Novel lineages of the phylum Thaumarchaeota are endemic to thermal habitats, and may exhibit physiological capabilities that are not yet observed in members of this phylum. The primary goals of this study were to conduct detailed phylogenetic and functional analyses of metagenome sequence assemblies of two different thaumarchaeal populations found in high-temperature (65–72 °C), acidic (pH∼3) iron oxide and sulfur sediment environments of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Metabolic reconstruction was coupled with detailed geochemical measurements of each geothermal habitat and reverse-transcriptase PCR to confirm the in situ activity of these populations. Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal and housekeeping proteins place these archaea near the root of the thaumarchaeal branch. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that these populations are chemoorganotrophic and couple growth with the reduction of oxygen or nitrate in iron oxide habitats, or sulfur in hypoxic sulfur sediments. The iron oxide population has the potential for growth via the oxidation of sulfide to sulfate using a novel reverse sulfate reduction pathway. Possible carbon sources include aromatic compounds (for example, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate), complex carbohydrates (for example, starch), oligopeptides and amino acids. Both populations contain a type III ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase used for carbon dioxide fixation or adenosine monophosphate salvage. No evidence for the oxidation of ammonia was obtained from de novo sequence assemblies. Our results show that thermoacidophilic Thaumarchaeota from oxic iron mats and hypoxic sulfur sediments exhibit different respiratory machinery depending on the presence of oxygen versus sulfide, represent deeply rooted lineages within the phylum Thaumarchaeota and are endemic to numerous sites in YNP. PMID:24196321

RELAX: detecting relaxed selection in a phylogenetic framework.

PubMed

Wertheim, Joel O; Murrell, Ben; Smith, Martin D; Kosakovsky Pond, Sergei L; Scheffler, Konrad

2015-03-01

Relaxation of selective strength, manifested as a reduction in the efficiency or intensity of natural selection, can drive evolutionary innovation and presage lineage extinction or loss of function. Mechanisms through which selection can be relaxed range from the removal of an existing selective constraint to a reduction in effective population size. Standard methods for estimating the strength and extent of purifying or positive selection from molecular sequence data are not suitable for detecting relaxed selection, because they lack power and can mistake an increase in the intensity of positive selection for relaxation of both purifying and positive selection. Here, we present a general hypothesis testing framework (RELAX) for detecting relaxed selection in a codon-based phylogenetic framework. Given two subsets of branches in a phylogeny, RELAX can determine whether selective strength was relaxed or intensified in one of these subsets relative to the other. We establish the validity of our test via simulations and show that it can distinguish between increased positive selection and a relaxation of selective strength. We also demonstrate the power of RELAX in a variety of biological scenarios where relaxation of selection has been hypothesized or demonstrated previously. We find that obligate and facultative γ-proteobacteria endosymbionts of insects are under relaxed selection compared with their free-living relatives and obligate endosymbionts are under relaxed selection compared with facultative endosymbionts. Selective strength is also relaxed in asexual Daphnia pulex lineages, compared with sexual lineages. Endogenous, nonfunctional, bornavirus-like elements are found to be under relaxed selection compared with exogenous Borna viruses. Finally, selection on the short-wavelength sensitive, SWS1, opsin genes in echolocating and nonecholocating bats is relaxed only in lineages in which this gene underwent pseudogenization; however, selection on the functional medium/long-wavelength sensitive opsin, M/LWS1, is found to be relaxed in all echolocating bats compared with nonecholocating bats. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

75 FR 33888 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-15

... required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently... Tax; TD 8432, Branch Profits Tax; and TD 8657, Regulations on Effectively Connected Income and the Branch Profits Tax (Sec. Sec. 1.884-1, 1.884-2, 1.884- 2T, 1.884-4, 1.884-5). DATES: Written comments...

Effects of thinning intensity and crown class on cherrybark oak epicormic branching five years after treatment

Treesearch

Luben D. Dimov; Erika Stelzer; Kristi Wharton; James S. Meadows; Jim L. Chambers; Kenny Ribbeck; E. Barry Moser

2006-01-01

Thinning in oak-dominated stands may have many desirable consequences, including increases in tree growth and mast production. One of the potential disadvantages, however, is the proliferation of epicormic branches, which leads to reduction in lumber quality and value. We assessed the effects of thinning intensity and initial crown class on cherrybark oak (...

Branch number matters: Promoting catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol over gold nanostars by raising the number of branches and coating with mesoporous SiO2.

PubMed

Ndokoye, Pancras; Zhao, Qidong; Li, Xinyong; Li, Tingting; Tade, Moses O; Wang, Shaobin

2016-09-01

In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that highly branched gold nanostars (AuNSs) and silica-coated AuNSs (AuNSs@mSiO2) could potentially serve as efficient hydrogenation catalysts. The catalytic activity could be promoted by raising the number of tipped-branches of AuNSs, which reveals that the tips play an important role as active sites. The fabricated sharply-pointed AuNSs benefit the electron transfer from BH4 anions to 4-nitrophenol. Coating AuNSs with mesoporous silica (AuNSs@mSiO2) further enhanced the reduction rate and recyclability, and also contributed to reducing the induction period. The AuNSs@mSiO2 (50-100nm in diameter) are large enough to be catalytically inactive, but they consist of sharply-pointed tips with the radius of 2.6-3.6nm, which are rich in coordinately unsaturated sites similar to those of nanoparticles and clusters. Such features in structure and activity would also extend their application range in heterogeneous catalysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of elevated CO(2) concentration and nutrition on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and needle respiration of field-grown Norway spruce trees.

PubMed

Roberntz, Peter; Stockfors, Jan

1998-04-01

To study the effects of elevated CO(2) on gas exchange, nonstructural carbohydrate and nutrient concentrations in current-year foliage of 30-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees, branches were enclosed in ventilated, transparent plastic bags and flushed with ambient air (mean 370 &mgr;mol CO(2) mol(-1); control) or ambient air + 340 &mgr;mol CO(2) mol(-1) (elevated CO(2)) during two growing seasons. One branch bag was installed on each of 24 selected trees from control and fertilized plots. To reduce the effect of variation among trees, results from each treated branch were compared with those from a control branch on the same whorl of the same tree. Elevated CO(2) increased rates of light-saturated photosynthesis on average by 55% when measured at the treatment CO(2) concentration. The increase was larger in shoots with high needle nitrogen concentrations than in shoots with low needle nitrogen concentrations. However, shoots grown in elevated CO(2) showed a decrease in photosynthetic capacity compared with shoots grown in ambient CO(2). When measured at the internal CO(2) concentration of 200 &mgr;mol CO(2) mol(-1), photosynthetic rates of branches in the elevated CO(2) treatments were reduced by 8 to 32%. The elevated CO(2) treatment caused a 9 to 20% reduction in carboxylation efficiency and an 18% increase in respiration rates. In response to elevated CO(2), starch, fructose and glucose concentrations in the needles increased on average 33%, whereas concentrations of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and boron decreased. Needle nitrogen concentrations explained 50-60% of the variation in photosynthesis and CO(2) acclimation was greater at low nitrogen concentrations than at high nitrogen concentrations. We conclude that the enhanced photosynthetic rates found in shoots exposed to elevated CO(2) increased carbohydrate concentrations, which may have a negative feedback on the photosynthetic apparatus and stimulate cyanide-resistant respiration. We also infer that the decrease in nutrient concentrations of needles exposed to elevated CO(2) was the result of retranslocation of nutrients to other parts of the branch or tree.

Motivational Factors Affecting Athletes in Selecting the Sport Branches of Athletics, Ski and Tennis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akyüz, Murat; Agar, Muharrem; Akyüz, Öznur; Dogru, Yeliz

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to research the motivational factors affecting athletes to select the branches of athletics, ski and tennis. Within the scope of the research, the survey developed by H. Sunay in 1996 was implemented and solution for the problem of the research was searched through the findings that were obtained from the survey. SPSS…

Nanoscale plasmonic waveguides for filtering and demultiplexing devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akjouj, A.; Noual, A.; Pennec, Y.; Bjafari-Rouhani, B.

2010-05-01

Numerical simulations, based on a FDTD (finite-difference-time-domain) method, of infrared light propagation for add/drop filtering in two-dimensional (2D) Ag-SiO2-Ag resonators are reported to design 2D Y-bent plasmonic waveguides with possible applications in telecommunication WDM (wavelength demultiplexing). First, we study optical transmission and reflection of a nanoscale SiO2 waveguide coupled to a nanocavity of the same insulator located either inside or on the side of a linear waveguide sandwiched between Ag. According to the inside or outside positioning of the nanocavity with respect to the waveguide, the transmission spectrum displays peaks or dips, respectively, which occur at the same central frequency. A fundamental study of the possible cavity modes in the near-infrared frequency band is also given. These filtering properties are then exploited to propose a nanoscale demultiplexer based on a Y-shaped plasmonic waveguide for separation of two different wavelengths, in selection or rejection, from an input broadband signal around 1550 nm. We detail coupling of the 2D add/drop Y connector to two cavities inserted on each of its branches.

Mapping of the corals around Hendorabi Island (Persian Gulf), using WorldView-2 standard imagery coupled with field observations.

PubMed

Kabiri, Keivan; Rezai, Hamid; Moradi, Masoud

2018-04-01

High spatial resolution WorldView-2 (WV2) satellite imagery coupled with field observations have been utilized for mapping the coral reefs around Hendorabi Island in the northern Persian Gulf. In doing so, three standard multispectral bands (red, green, and blue) were selected to produce a classified map for benthic habitats. The in-situ observations were included photo-transects taken by snorkeling in water surface and manta tow technique. The satellite image has been classified using support vector machine (SVM) classifier by considering the information obtained from field measurements as both training and control points data. The results obtained from manta tow demonstrated that the mean total live hard coral coverage was 29.04% ± 2.44% around the island. Massive corals poritiids (20.70%) and branching corals acroporiids (20.33%) showed higher live coral coverage compared to other corals. Moreover, the map produced from satellite image illustrated the distribution of habitats with 78.1% of overall accuracy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Loss of Highly Branched Arabinans and Debranching of Rhamnogalacturonan I Accompany Loss of Firm Texture and Cell Separation during Prolonged Storage of Apple1

PubMed Central

Peña, María J.; Carpita, Nicholas C.

2004-01-01

Growth and maturation of the edible cortical cells of apples (Malus domestica Borkh) are accompanied by a selective loss of pectin-associated (1→4)-β-d-galactan from the cell walls, whereas a selective loss of highly branched (1→5)-α-l-arabinans occurs after ripening and in advance of the loss of firm texture. The selective loss of highly branched arabinans occurs during the overripening of apples of four cultivars (Gala, Red Delicious, Firm Gold, and Gold Rush) that varied markedly in storage life, but, in all instances, the loss prestages the loss of firm texture, measured by both breaking strength and compression resistance. The unbranched (1→5)-linked arabinans remain associated with the major pectic polymer, rhamnogalacturonan I, and their content remains essentially unchanged during overripening. However, the degree of rhamnogalacturonan I branching at the rhamnosyl residues also decreases, but only after extensive loss of the highly branched arabinans. In contrast to the decrease in arabinan content, the loss of the rhamnogalacturonan I branching is tightly correlated with loss of firm texture in all cultivars, regardless of storage time. In vitro cell separation assays show that structural proteins, perhaps via their phenolic residues, and homogalacturonans also contribute to cell adhesion. Implications of these cell wall modifications in the mechanisms of apple cortex textural changes and cell separation are discussed. PMID:15247384

Absolute Integral Cross Sections for the State-selected Ion-Molecule Reaction N2+(X2Σg+ v+ = 0-2) + C2H2 in the Collision Energy Range of 0.03-10.00 eV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yuntao; Xiong, Bo; Chung Chang, Yih; Ng, C. Y.

2016-08-01

Using the vacuum ultraviolet laser pulsed field ionization-photoion source, together with the double-quadrupole-double-octopole mass spectrometer developed in our laboratory, we have investigated the state-selected ion-molecule reaction {{{{N}}}2}+({X}2{{{{Σ }}}{{g}}}+; v + = 0-2, N+ = 0-9) + C2H2, achieving high internal-state selectivity and high kinetic energy resolution for reactant {{{{N}}}2}+ ions. The charge transfer (CT) and hydrogen-atom transfer (HT) channels, which lead to the respective formation of product {{{C}}}2{{{{H}}}2}+ and N2H+ ions, are observed. The vibrationally selected absolute integral cross sections for the CT [σ CT(v +)] and HT [[σ HT(v +)] channels obtained in the center-of-mass collision energy (E cm) range of 0.03-10.00 eV reveal opposite E cm dependences. The σ CT(v +) is found to increase as E cm is decreased, and is consistent with the long-range exothermic CT mechanism, whereas the E cm enhancement observed for the σ HT(v +) suggests effective coupling of kinetic energy to internal energy, enhancing the formation of N2H+. The σ HT(v +) curve exhibits a step at E cm = 0.70-1.00 eV, suggesting the involvement of the excited {{{C}}}2{{{{H}}}2}+({A}2{{{{Σ }}}{{g}}}+) state in the HT reaction. Contrary to the strong E cm dependences for σ CT(v +) and σ HT(v +), the effect of vibrational excitation of {{{{N}}}2}+ on both the CT and HT channels is marginal. The branching ratios and cross sections for the CT and HT channels determined in the present study are useful for modeling the atmospheric compositions of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. These cross sections and branching ratios are also valuable for benchmarking theoretical calculations on chemical dynamics of the titled reaction.

Branched GAX cycle gas fired heat pump

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erickson, D.C.; Anand, G.; Papar, R.A.

1996-12-31

GAX absorption heat pump cycles are characterized by the Generator Absorber Heat eXchange (GAX) between the high temperature end of the absorber and the low temperature end of the generator. The improved thermodynamic performance of the basic GAX cycle coupled with its mechanical simplicity has attracted substantial interest in using this cycle for gas-cooling. However, to be competitive in a cooling dominated market, the cycle has to achieve high cooling performance and also low installed cost. The Branched GAX (BGAX) cycle promises higher cooling performance using similar components as the basic GAX cycle and an additional solution pump. By increasingmore » the solution flow rate at the hot end of the absorber, the BGAX cycle makes more complete use of the temperature overlap. As a result, less external heat is supplied and higher COPs are obtained. A breadboard prototype of the BGAX cycle has been developed and is now operating. A novel thermosyphon cooled absorber eliminates the need for the outdoor hydronic loop, and reduces cost by 10%. Other component improvements yield another 10% cost reduction. The breadboard prototype has operated for more than 200 hours. Gas cooling COP = 0.87 has been consistently achieved at 30.6 C (87 F) ambient conditions. At the 35 C (95 F) ambient capacity rating condition, a cooling load of 4.5 refrigeration tons was achieved at a cycle COP = 0.95.« less

Rare branched fatty acids characterize the lipid composition of the intra-aerobic methane oxidizer "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera".

PubMed

Kool, Dorien M; Zhu, Baoli; Rijpstra, W Irene C; Jetten, Mike S M; Ettwig, Katharina F; Sinninghe Damsté, Jaap S

2012-12-01

The recently described bacterium "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera" couples the oxidation of the important greenhouse gas methane to the reduction of nitrite. The ecological significance of "Ca. Methylomirabilis oxyfera" is still underexplored, as our ability to identify the presence of this bacterium is thus far limited to DNA-based techniques. Here, we investigated the lipid composition of "Ca. Methylomirabilis oxyfera" to identify new, gene-independent biomarkers for the environmental detection of this bacterium. Multiple "Ca. Methylomirabilis oxyfera" enrichment cultures were investigated. In all cultures, the lipid profile was dominated up to 46% by the fatty acid (FA) 10-methylhexadecanoic acid (10MeC(16:0)). Furthermore, a unique FA was identified that has not been reported elsewhere: the monounsaturated 10-methylhexadecenoic acid with a double bond at the Δ7 position (10MeC(16:1Δ7)), which comprised up to 10% of the total FA profile. We propose that the typical branched fatty acids 10MeC(16:0) and 10MeC(16:1Δ7) are key and characteristic components of the lipid profile of "Ca. Methylomirabilis oxyfera." The successful detection of these fatty acids in a peatland from which one of the enrichment cultures originated supports the potential of these unique lipids as biomarkers for the process of nitrite-dependent methane oxidation in the environment.

Q branches of the nu7 fundamental of ethane (C2H6) Integrated intensity measurements for atmospheric measurement applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rinsland, C. P.; Harvey, G. A.; Levine, J. S.; Smith, M. A. H.; Malathy Devi, V.; Thakur, K. B.

1986-01-01

Laboratory spectra covering the nu7 band of ethane (C2H6) have been recorded, and measurements of integrated intensities of selected Q branches from these spectra are reported. The method by which the spectra were obtained is described, and a typical spectrum covering the PQ3 branch at 2976.8/cm is shown along with a plot of equivalent width vs. optical density for this branch. The values of the integrated intensities reported for each branch are the means of five different optical densities.

The emergence and early evolution of biological carbon-fixation.

PubMed

Braakman, Rogier; Smith, Eric

2012-01-01

The fixation of CO₂ into living matter sustains all life on Earth, and embeds the biosphere within geochemistry. The six known chemical pathways used by extant organisms for this function are recognized to have overlaps, but their evolution is incompletely understood. Here we reconstruct the complete early evolutionary history of biological carbon-fixation, relating all modern pathways to a single ancestral form. We find that innovations in carbon-fixation were the foundation for most major early divergences in the tree of life. These findings are based on a novel method that fully integrates metabolic and phylogenetic constraints. Comparing gene-profiles across the metabolic cores of deep-branching organisms and requiring that they are capable of synthesizing all their biomass components leads to the surprising conclusion that the most common form for deep-branching autotrophic carbon-fixation combines two disconnected sub-networks, each supplying carbon to distinct biomass components. One of these is a linear folate-based pathway of CO₂ reduction previously only recognized as a fixation route in the complete Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, but which more generally may exclude the final step of synthesizing acetyl-CoA. Using metabolic constraints we then reconstruct a "phylometabolic" tree with a high degree of parsimony that traces the evolution of complete carbon-fixation pathways, and has a clear structure down to the root. This tree requires few instances of lateral gene transfer or convergence, and instead suggests a simple evolutionary dynamic in which all divergences have primary environmental causes. Energy optimization and oxygen toxicity are the two strongest forces of selection. The root of this tree combines the reductive citric acid cycle and the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway into a single connected network. This linked network lacks the selective optimization of modern fixation pathways but its redundancy leads to a more robust topology, making it more plausible than any modern pathway as a primitive universal ancestral form.

Production of nitrous oxide from anaerobic digester centrate and its use as a co-oxidant of biogas to enhance energy recovery.

PubMed

Scherson, Yaniv D; Woo, Sung-Geun; Criddle, Craig S

2014-05-20

Coupled Aerobic-anoxic Nitrous Decomposition Operation (CANDO) is a new process for wastewater treatment that removes nitrogen from wastewater and recovers energy from the nitrogen in three steps: (1) NH4(+) oxidation to NO2(-); (2) NO2(-) reduction to N2O gas; and (3) N2O conversion to N2 with energy production. In this work, we optimize Steps 1 and 2 for anaerobic digester centrate, and we evaluate Step 3 for a full-scale biogas-fed internal combustion engine. Using a continuous stirred reactor coupled to a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor, we observed sustained partial oxidation of NH4(+) to NO2(-) and sustained (3 months) partial reduction of NO2(-) to N2O (75-80% conversion, mass basis), with >95% nitrogen removal (Step 2). Alternating pulses of acetate and NO2(-) selected for Comamonas (38%), Ciceribacter (16%), and Clostridium (11%). Some species stored polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and coupled oxidation of PHB to reduction of NO2(-) to N2O. Some species also stored phosphorus as polyphosphate granules. Injections of N2O into a biogas-fed engine at flow rates simulating a full-scale system increased power output by 5.7-7.3%. The results underscore the need for more detailed assessment of bioreactor community ecology and justify pilot- and full-scale testing.

Electrochemical CO 2 reduction on Au surfaces: mechanistic aspects regarding the formation of major and minor products

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cave, Etosha R.; Montoya, Joseph H.; Kuhl, Kendra P.

In the future, industrial CO 2 electroreduction using renewable energy sources could be a sustainable means to convert CO 2 and water into commodity chemicals at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. This study focuses on the electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 on polycrystalline Au surfaces, which have high activity and selectivity for CO evolution. Here, we explore the catalytic behavior of polycrystalline Au surfaces by coupling potentiostatic CO 2 electrolysis experiments in an aqueous bicarbonate solution with high sensitivity product detection methods. We observed the production of methanol, in addition to detecting the known products of CO 2 electroreduction onmore » Au: CO, H 2 and formate. We suggest a mechanism that explains Au's evolution of methanol. Specifically, the Au surface does not favor C-O scission, and thus is more selective towards methanol than methane. These insights could aid in the design of electrocatalysts that are selective for CO 2 electroreduction to oxygenates over hydrocarbons.« less

Electrochemical CO 2 reduction on Au surfaces: mechanistic aspects regarding the formation of major and minor products

DOE PAGES

Cave, Etosha R.; Montoya, Joseph H.; Kuhl, Kendra P.; ...

2017-01-06

In the future, industrial CO 2 electroreduction using renewable energy sources could be a sustainable means to convert CO 2 and water into commodity chemicals at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. This study focuses on the electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 on polycrystalline Au surfaces, which have high activity and selectivity for CO evolution. Here, we explore the catalytic behavior of polycrystalline Au surfaces by coupling potentiostatic CO 2 electrolysis experiments in an aqueous bicarbonate solution with high sensitivity product detection methods. We observed the production of methanol, in addition to detecting the known products of CO 2 electroreduction onmore » Au: CO, H 2 and formate. We suggest a mechanism that explains Au's evolution of methanol. Specifically, the Au surface does not favor C-O scission, and thus is more selective towards methanol than methane. These insights could aid in the design of electrocatalysts that are selective for CO 2 electroreduction to oxygenates over hydrocarbons.« less

Evolution of a Fourth Generation Catalyst for the Amination and Thioetherification of Aryl Halides

PubMed Central

Hartwig, John F.

2010-01-01

Conspectus Synthetic methods to form the carbon-nitrogen bonds in aromatic amines are fundamental enough to be considered part of introductory organic courses. Arylamines are important because they are common precursors to or substructures within active pharmaceutical ingredients and herbicides produced on ton scales, as well as conducting polymers and layers of organic light-emitting diodes produced on small scale. For many years, this class of compound was prepared from classical methods, such as nitration, reduction and reductive alkylation, copper-mediated chemistry at high temperatures, addition to benzyne intermediates, or direct nucleophilic substitution on particularly electron-poor aromatic or heteroaromatic halides. During the past decade, these methods to form aromatic amines have been largely supplanted by palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of amines with aryl halides. The scope and efficiency of the palladium-catalyzed processes has gradually improved with successive generations of catalysts to the point of being useful for the synthesis of both milligrams and kilograms of product. This Account describes the conceptual basis and utility of our latest, “fourth-generation” catalyst for the coupling of amines and related reagents with aryl halides. The introductory sections of this account describe the progression of catalyst development from the first-generation to current systems and the motivation for selection of the components of the fourth-generation catalyst. This progression began with catalysts containing palladium and sterically hindered monodentate aromatic phosphines used initially for coupling of tin amides with haloarenes in the first work on C-N coupling. A second generation of catalysts was then developed based on the combination of palladium and aromatic bisphosphines. These systems were then followed by third-generation systems catalysts on the combination of palladium and a sterically hindered alkylmonophosphine or N-heterocyclic carbene. During the past five years, we have studied a fourth-generation catalyst for these reactions containing ligands that combine the chelating properties of the second-generation systems with the steric hindrance and strong electron donation of the third-generation systems. This combination has created a catalyst that couples aryl chlorides, bromides and iodides with primary amines, N-H imines, and hydrazones in high yield, with broad scope, high functional group tolerance, nearly perfect selectivity for monoarylation, and the lowest levels of palladium that have been used for C-N coupling. This catalyst is based on palladium and a sterically hindered version of the Josiphos family of ligands that possesses a ferrocenyl-1-ethylbackbone, a hindered di-tert-butylphosphino group, and a hindered dicyclohexylphosphino group. This latest generation of catalyst not only improves the coupling of primary amines and related nucleophiles, but it has dramatically improved the coupling of thiols with haloarenes to form C-S bonds. This catalyst system couples both aliphatic and aromatic thiols with chloroarenes with much greater scope, functional group tolerance, and turnover numbers than had been observed previously. The effects of structural features of the Josiphos ligand on catalyst activity have been revealed by examining the reactivity of catalysts generated from ligands lacking one or more of the structural elements of the most active catalyst. These modified ligands lack the relative stereochemistry of the ferrocenyl-1-ethyl backbone, the strong electron donation of the dialkylphosphino groups, the steric demands of the alkylphosphine groups, or the stability of the ferrocenyl unit. This set of studies showed that each one of these structural features contributed to the high reactivity and selectivity of the catalyst containing the hindered, bidentate Josiphos ligand. Finally, a series of studies on the effect of electronic properties on the rates of reductive elimination have recently distinguished between the effect of the properties of the M-N σ-bond and the nitrogen electron pair on the rate of reductive elimination. These studies have shown that the effect of substituents attached to the metal-bound nitrogen or carbon atoms on the rate of reductive elimination are similar. Because the amido ligands contain an electron pair, while the alkyl ligands do not, we have concluded that the major electronic effect is transmitted through the σ-bond. In other words, we have concluded that the electronic effect on the metal-nitrogen σ bond dominates an electronic effect on the nitrogen electron pair. PMID:18681463

Modeling of two-dimensional nanoscale Y-bent plasmonic waveguides with cavities for demultiplexing of the telecommunication wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noual, A.; Akjouj, A.; Pennec, Y.; Gillet, J.-N.; Djafari-Rouhani, B.

2009-10-01

Numerical simulations, based on a finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method, of infrared light propagation for add/drop filtering in two-dimensional (2D) metal-insulator-metal (Ag-SiO2-Ag) resonators are reported to design 2D Y-bent plasmonic waveguides with possible applications in telecommunication wavelength demultiplexing (WDM). First, we study optical transmission and reflection of a nanoscale SiO2 waveguide coupled to a nanocavity of the same insulator located either inside or on the side of a linear waveguide sandwiched between Ag. According to the inside or outside positioning of the nanocavity with respect to the waveguide, the transmission spectrum displays peaks or dips, respectively, which occur at the same central frequency. A fundamental study of the possible cavity modes in the near-infrared frequency band is also given. These filtering properties are then exploited to propose a nanoscale demultiplexer based on a Y-shaped plasmonic waveguide for separation of two different wavelengths, in selection or rejection, from an input broadband signal around 1550 nm. We detail coupling of the 2D add/drop Y connector to two cavities inserted on each of its branches. Selection or rejection of a pair of different wavelengths depends on the inside or outside locations (respectively) of each cavity in the Y plasmonic device.

N-acetylgalactosamine-functionalized dendrimers as hepatic cancer cell-targeted carriers.

PubMed

Medina, Scott H; Tekumalla, Venkatesh; Chevliakov, Maxim V; Shewach, Donna S; Ensminger, William D; El-Sayed, Mohamed E H

2011-06-01

There is an urgent need for novel polymeric carriers that can selectively deliver a large dose of chemotherapeutic agents into hepatic cancer cells to achieve high therapeutic activity with minimal systemic side effects. PAMAM dendrimers are characterized by a unique branching architecture and a large number of chemical surface groups suitable for coupling of chemotherapeutic agents. In this article, we report the coupling of N-acetylgalactosamine (NAcGal) to generation 5 (G5) of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM-NH₂) dendrimers via peptide and thiourea linkages to prepare NAcGal-targeted carriers used for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents into hepatic cancer cells. We describe the uptake of NAcGal-targeted and non-targeted G5 dendrimers into hepatic cancer cells (HepG2) as a function of G5 concentration and incubation time. We examine the contribution of the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) to the internalization of NAcGal-targeted dendrimers into hepatic cancer cells through a competitive inhibition assay. Our results show that uptake of NAcGal-targeted G5 dendrimers into hepatic cancer cells occurs via ASGPR-mediated endocytosis. Internalization of these targeted carriers increased with the increase in G5 concentration and incubation time following Michaelis-Menten kinetics characteristic of receptor-mediated endocytosis. These results collectively indicate that G5-NAcGal conjugates function as targeted carriers for selective delivery of chemotherapeutic agents into hepatic cancer cells. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Role of epistasis on the fixation probability of a non-mutator in an adapted asexual population.

PubMed

James, Ananthu

2016-10-21

The mutation rate of a well adapted population is prone to reduction so as to have a lower mutational load. We aim to understand the role of epistatic interactions between the fitness affecting mutations in this process. Using a multitype branching process, the fixation probability of a single non-mutator emerging in a large asexual mutator population is analytically calculated here. The mutator population undergoes deleterious mutations at constant, but at a much higher rate than that of the non-mutator. We find that antagonistic epistasis lowers the chances of mutation rate reduction, while synergistic epistasis enhances it. Below a critical value of epistasis, the fixation probability behaves non-monotonically with variation in the mutation rate of the background population. Moreover, the variation of this critical value of the epistasis parameter with the strength of the mutator is discussed in the appendix. For synergistic epistasis, when selection is varied, the fixation probability reduces overall, with damped oscillations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quinone reduction via secondary B-branch electron transfer in mutant bacterial reaction centers.

PubMed

Laible, Philip D; Kirmaier, Christine; Udawatte, Chandani S M; Hofman, Samuel J; Holten, Dewey; Hanson, Deborah K

2003-02-18

Symmetry-related branches of electron-transfer cofactors-initiating with a primary electron donor (P) and terminating in quinone acceptors (Q)-are common features of photosynthetic reaction centers (RC). Experimental observations show activity of only one of them-the A branch-in wild-type bacterial RCs. In a mutant RC, we now demonstrate that electron transfer can occur along the entire, normally inactive B-branch pathway to reduce the terminal acceptor Q(B) on the time scale of nanoseconds. The transmembrane charge-separated state P(+)Q(B)(-) is created in this manner in a Rhodobacter capsulatus RC containing the F(L181)Y-Y(M208)F-L(M212)H-W(M250)V mutations (YFHV). The W(M250)V mutation quantitatively blocks binding of Q(A), thereby eliminating Q(B) reduction via the normal A-branch pathway. Full occupancy of the Q(B) site by the native UQ(10) is ensured (without the necessity of reconstitution by exogenous quinone) by purification of RCs with the mild detergent, Deriphat 160-C. The lifetime of P(+)Q(B)(-) in the YFHV mutant RC is >6 s (at pH 8.0, 298 K). This charge-separated state is not formed upon addition of competitive inhibitors of Q(B) binding (terbutryn or stigmatellin). Furthermore, this lifetime is much longer than the value of approximately 1-1.5 s found when P(+)Q(B)(-) is produced in the wild-type RC by A-side activity alone. Collectively, these results demonstrate that P(+)Q(B)(-) is formed solely by activity of the B-branch carriers in the YFHV RC. In comparison, P(+)Q(B)(-) can form by either the A or B branches in the YFH RC, as indicated by the biexponential lifetimes of approximately 1 and approximately 6-10 s. These findings suggest that P(+)Q(B)(-) states formed via the two branches are distinct and that P(+)Q(B)(-) formed by the B side does not decay via the normal (indirect) pathway that utilizes the A-side cofactors when present. These differences may report on structural and energetic factors that further distinguish the functional asymmetry of the two cofactor branches.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coles, David M.; Lidzey, David G.

We construct a microcavity in which the extended optical path length of the cavity (5.9 μm) permits a series of closely spaced optical modes to be supported. By placing a J-aggregated cyanine dye into the cavity, we reach the strong-coupling regime and evidence a simultaneous optical hybridization between the organic-exciton and a number of the confined cavity modes, forming an effective ladder of polariton branches. We explore the emission from such cavities and evidence a polariton-population on adjacent polariton branches around k{sub ∥} = 0.

Selection for production-related traits in Pelargonium zonale: improved design and analysis make all the difference

PubMed Central

Molenaar, Heike; Glawe, Martin; Boehm, Robert; Piepho, Hans-Peter

2017-01-01

Ornamental plant variety improvement is limited by current phenotyping approaches and neglected use of experimental designs. The present study was conducted to show the benefits of using an experimental design and corresponding analysis in ornamental breeding regarding simulated response to selection in Pelargonium zonale for production-related traits. This required establishment of phenotyping protocols for root formation and stem cutting counts, with which 974 genotypes were assessed in a two-phase experimental design. The present paper evaluates this protocol. The possibility of varietal improvement through indirect selection on secondary traits such as branch count and flower count was assessed by genetic correlations. Simulated response to selection varied greatly, depending on the genotypic variances of the breeding population and traits. A varietal improvement of over 20% is possible for stem cutting count, root formation, branch count and flower count. In contrast, indirect selection of stem cutting count by branch count or flower count was found to be ineffective. The established phenotypic protocols and two-phase experimental designs are valuable tools for breeding of P. zonale. PMID:28243453

Selection for production-related traits in Pelargonium zonale: improved design and analysis make all the difference.

PubMed

Molenaar, Heike; Glawe, Martin; Boehm, Robert; Piepho, Hans-Peter

2017-01-01

Ornamental plant variety improvement is limited by current phenotyping approaches and neglected use of experimental designs. The present study was conducted to show the benefits of using an experimental design and corresponding analysis in ornamental breeding regarding simulated response to selection in Pelargonium zonale for production-related traits. This required establishment of phenotyping protocols for root formation and stem cutting counts, with which 974 genotypes were assessed in a two-phase experimental design. The present paper evaluates this protocol. The possibility of varietal improvement through indirect selection on secondary traits such as branch count and flower count was assessed by genetic correlations. Simulated response to selection varied greatly, depending on the genotypic variances of the breeding population and traits. A varietal improvement of over 20% is possible for stem cutting count, root formation, branch count and flower count. In contrast, indirect selection of stem cutting count by branch count or flower count was found to be ineffective. The established phenotypic protocols and two-phase experimental designs are valuable tools for breeding of P. zonale .

Detecting Signatures of Positive Selection along Defined Branches of a Population Tree Using LSD.

PubMed

Librado, Pablo; Orlando, Ludovic

2018-06-01

Identifying the genomic basis underlying local adaptation is paramount to evolutionary biology, and bears many applications in the fields of conservation biology, crop, and animal breeding, as well as personalized medicine. Although many approaches have been developed to detect signatures of positive selection within single populations and population pairs, the increasing wealth of high-throughput sequencing data requires improved methods capable of handling multiple, and ideally large number of, populations in a single analysis. In this study, we introduce LSD (levels of exclusively shared differences), a fast and flexible framework to perform genome-wide selection scans, along the internal and external branches of a given population tree. We use forward simulations to demonstrate that LSD can identify branches targeted by positive selection with remarkable sensitivity and specificity. We illustrate a range of potential applications by analyzing data from the 1000 Genomes Project and uncover a list of adaptive candidates accompanying the expansion of anatomically modern humans out of Africa and their spread to Europe.

Evaluation of SSME test data reduction methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Santi, L. Michael

1994-01-01

Accurate prediction of hardware and flow characteristics within the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) during transient and main-stage operation requires a significant integration of ground test data, flight experience, and computational models. The process of integrating SSME test measurements with physical model predictions is commonly referred to as data reduction. Uncertainties within both test measurements and simplified models of the SSME flow environment compound the data integration problem. The first objective of this effort was to establish an acceptability criterion for data reduction solutions. The second objective of this effort was to investigate the data reduction potential of the ROCETS (Rocket Engine Transient Simulation) simulation platform. A simplified ROCETS model of the SSME was obtained from the MSFC Performance Analysis Branch . This model was examined and tested for physical consistency. Two modules were constructed and added to the ROCETS library to independently check the mass and energy balances of selected engine subsystems including the low pressure fuel turbopump, the high pressure fuel turbopump, the low pressure oxidizer turbopump, the high pressure oxidizer turbopump, the fuel preburner, the oxidizer preburner, the main combustion chamber coolant circuit, and the nozzle coolant circuit. A sensitivity study was then conducted to determine the individual influences of forty-two hardware characteristics on fourteen high pressure region prediction variables as returned by the SSME ROCETS model.

The histone acetyltransferase GCN5 and the transcriptional coactivator ADA2b affect leaf development and trichome morphogenesis in Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Kotak, Jenna; Saisana, Marina; Gegas, Vasilis; Pechlivani, Nikoletta; Kaldis, Athanasios; Papoutsoglou, Panagiotis; Makris, Athanasios; Burns, Julia; Kendig, Ashley L; Sheikh, Minnah; Kuschner, Cyrus E; Whitney, Gabrielle; Caiola, Hanna; Doonan, John H; Vlachonasios, Konstantinos E; McCain, Elizabeth R; Hark, Amy T

2018-05-30

The histone acetyltransferase GCN5 and associated transcriptional coactivator ADA2b are required to couple endoreduplication and trichome branching. Mutation of ADA2b also disrupts the relationship between ploidy and leaf cell size. Dynamic chromatin structure has been established as a general mechanism by which gene function is temporally and spatially regulated, but specific chromatin modifier function is less well understood. To address this question, we have investigated the role of the histone acetyltransferase GCN5 and the associated coactivator ADA2b in developmental events in Arabidopsis thaliana. Arabidopsis plants with T-DNA insertions in GCN5 (also known as HAG1) or ADA2b (also known as PROPORZ1) display pleiotropic phenotypes including dwarfism and floral defects affecting fertility. We undertook a detailed characterization of gcn5 and ada2b phenotypic effects in rosette leaves and trichomes to establish a role for epigenetic control in these developmental processes. ADA2b and GCN5 play specific roles in leaf tissue, affecting cell growth and division in rosette leaves often in complex and even opposite directions. Leaves of gcn5 plants display overall reduced ploidy levels, while ada2b-1 leaves show increased ploidy. Endoreduplication leading to increased ploidy is also known to contribute to normal trichome morphogenesis. We demonstrate that gcn5 and ada2b mutants display alterations in the number and patterning of trichome branches, with ada2b-1 and gcn5-1 trichomes being significantly less branched, while gcn5-6 trichomes show increased branching. Elongation of the trichome stalk and branches also vary in different mutant backgrounds, with stalk length having an inverse relationship with branch number. Taken together, our data indicate that, in Arabidopsis, leaves and trichomes ADA2b and GCN5 are required to couple nuclear content with cell growth and morphogenesis.

Integrated Modeling System for Analysis of Watershed Water Balance: A Case Study in the Tims Branch Watershed, South Carolina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setegn, S. G.; Mahmoudi, M.; Lawrence, A.; Duque, N.

2015-12-01

The Applied Research Center at Florida International University (ARC-FIU) is supporting the soil and groundwater remediation efforts of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) by developing a surface water model to simulate the hydrology and the fate and transport of contaminants and sediment in the Tims Branch watershed. Hydrological models are useful tool in water and land resource development and decision-making for watershed management. Moreover, simulation of hydrological processes improves understanding of the environmental dynamics and helps to manage and protect water resources and the environment. MIKE SHE, an advanced integrated modeling system is used to simulate the hydrological processes of the Tim Branch watershed with the objective of developing an integrated modeling system to improve understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes within the Tims Branch watershed. MIKE SHE simulates water flow in the entire land based phase of the hydrological cycle from rainfall to river flow, via various flow processes such as, overland flow, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and groundwater flow. In this study a MIKE SHE model is developed and applied to the Tim branch watershed to study the watershed response to storm events and understand the water balance of the watershed under different climatic and catchment characteristics. The preliminary result of the integrated model indicated that variation in the depth of overland flow highly depend on the amount and distribution of rainfall in the watershed. The ultimate goal of this project is to couple the MIKE SHE and MIKE 11 models to integrate the hydrological component in the land phase of hydrological cycle and stream flow process. The coupled MIKE SHE/MIKE 11 model will further be integrated with an Ecolab module to represent a range of water quality, contaminant transport, and ecological processes with respect to the stream, surface water and groundwater in the Tims Branch watershed at Savannah River Site.

Fixation probability of a nonmutator in a large population of asexual mutators.

PubMed

Jain, Kavita; James, Ananthu

2017-11-21

In an adapted population of mutators in which most mutations are deleterious, a nonmutator that lowers the mutation rate is under indirect selection and can sweep to fixation. Using a multitype branching process, we calculate the fixation probability of a rare nonmutator in a large population of asexual mutators. We show that when beneficial mutations are absent, the fixation probability is a nonmonotonic function of the mutation rate of the mutator: it first increases sublinearly and then decreases exponentially. We also find that beneficial mutations can enhance the fixation probability of a nonmutator. Our analysis is relevant to an understanding of recent experiments in which a reduction in the mutation rates has been observed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Search for H → gamma gamma produced in association with top quarks and constraints on the Yukawa coupling between the top quark and the Higgs boson using data taken at 7 TeV and 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

DOE PAGES

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; ...

2015-01-05

A search is performed for Higgs bosons produced in association with top quarks using the diphoton decay mode of the Higgs boson. Selection requirements are optimized separately for leptonic and fully hadronic final states from the top quark decays. The dataset used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb -1 of proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and 20.3 fb -1 at 8 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess over the background prediction is observed and upper limits are set on the t¯tH production cross section. Themore » observed exclusion upper limit at 95% confidence level is 6.7 times the predicted Standard Model cross section value. In addition, limits are set on the strength of the Yukawa coupling between the top quark and the Higgs boson, taking into account the dependence of the t¯tH and tH cross sections as well as the H→γγ branching fraction on the Yukawa coupling. Lower and upper limits at 95% confidence level are set at -1.3 and +8.0 times the Yukawa coupling strength in the Standard Model.« less

Tailoring the nature and strength of electron-phonon interactions in the SrTiO3(001) 2D electron liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Z.; McKeown Walker, S.; Tamai, A.; Wang, Y.; Ristic, Z.; Bruno, F. Y.; de la Torre, A.; Riccò, S.; Plumb, N. C.; Shi, M.; Hlawenka, P.; Sánchez-Barriga, J.; Varykhalov, A.; Kim, T. K.; Hoesch, M.; King, P. D. C.; Meevasana, W.; Diebold, U.; Mesot, J.; Moritz, B.; Devereaux, T. P.; Radovic, M.; Baumberger, F.

2016-08-01

Surfaces and interfaces offer new possibilities for tailoring the many-body interactions that dominate the electrical and thermal properties of transition metal oxides. Here, we use the prototypical two-dimensional electron liquid (2DEL) at the SrTiO3(001) surface to reveal a remarkably complex evolution of electron-phonon coupling with the tunable carrier density of this system. At low density, where superconductivity is found in the analogous 2DEL at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface, our angle-resolved photoemission data show replica bands separated by 100 meV from the main bands. This is a hallmark of a coherent polaronic liquid and implies long-range coupling to a single longitudinal optical phonon branch. In the overdoped regime the preferential coupling to this branch decreases and the 2DEL undergoes a crossover to a more conventional metallic state with weaker short-range electron-phonon interaction. These results place constraints on the theoretical description of superconductivity and allow a unified understanding of the transport properties in SrTiO3-based 2DELs.

High temperature stress and its effect on pollen development and morphological components of harvest index in the C3 model grass Brachypodium distachyon

PubMed Central

Harsant, Jeffrey; Pavlovic, Lazar; Chiu, Greta; Sultmanis, Stefanie; Sage, Tammy L.

2013-01-01

The effect of high temperatures on harvest index (HI) and morphological components that contribute to HI was investigated in two lines (Bd21 and Bd21-3) of Brachypodium distachyon, a C3 grass recognized as a tractable plant, to address critical issues associated with enhancing cereal crop yields in the presence of global climate change. The results demonstrated that temperatures ≥32 °C eliminated HI. Reductions in yield at 32 °C were due primarily to declines in pollen viability, retention of pollen in anthers, and pollen germination, while abortion of microspores by the uninucleate stage that was correlated with abnormal tapetal development resulted in yield failure at 36 °C. Increasing temperatures from 24 to 32 °C resulted in reductions in tiller numbers but had no impact on axillary branch numbers per tiller. Grain developed at 24 and 28 °C primarily in tiller spikes, although spikes on axillary branches also formed grain. Grain quantity decreased in tiller spikes but increased in axillary branch spikes as temperatures rose from 24 to 28 °C. Differential patterns of axillary branching and floret development within spikelets between Bd21 and Bd21-3 resulted in higher grain yield in axillary branches of Bd21-3 at 28 °C. The response of male reproductive development and tiller branching patterns in B. distachyon to increasing temperatures mirrors that in other cereal crops, providing support for the use of this C3 grass in assessing the molecular control of HI in the presence of global warming. PMID:23771979

Molecular evolution accompanying functional divergence of duplicated genes along the plant starch biosynthesis pathway

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Starch is the main source of carbon storage in the Archaeplastida. The starch biosynthesis pathway (sbp) emerged from cytosolic glycogen metabolism shortly after plastid endosymbiosis and was redirected to the plastid stroma during the green lineage divergence. The SBP is a complex network of genes, most of which are members of large multigene families. While some gene duplications occurred in the Archaeplastida ancestor, most were generated during the sbp redirection process, and the remaining few paralogs were generated through compartmentalization or tissue specialization during the evolution of the land plants. In the present study, we tested models of duplicated gene evolution in order to understand the evolutionary forces that have led to the development of SBP in angiosperms. We combined phylogenetic analyses and tests on the rates of evolution along branches emerging from major duplication events in six gene families encoding sbp enzymes. Results We found evidence of positive selection along branches following cytosolic or plastidial specialization in two starch phosphorylases and identified numerous residues that exhibited changes in volume, polarity or charge. Starch synthases, branching and debranching enzymes functional specializations were also accompanied by accelerated evolution. However, none of the sites targeted by selection corresponded to known functional domains, catalytic or regulatory. Interestingly, among the 13 duplications tested, 7 exhibited evidence of positive selection in both branches emerging from the duplication, 2 in only one branch, and 4 in none of the branches. Conclusions The majority of duplications were followed by accelerated evolution targeting specific residues along both branches. This pattern was consistent with the optimization of the two sub-functions originally fulfilled by the ancestral gene before duplication. Our results thereby provide strong support to the so-called “Escape from Adaptive Conflict” (EAC) model. Because none of the residues targeted by selection occurred in characterized functional domains, we propose that enzyme specialization has occurred through subtle changes in affinity, activity or interaction with other enzymes in complex formation, while the basic function defined by the catalytic domain has been maintained. PMID:24884572

Brain enlargement and dental reduction were not linked in hominin evolution

PubMed Central

Smaers, Jeroen B.; Holloway, Ralph L.

2017-01-01

The large brain and small postcanine teeth of modern humans are among our most distinctive features, and trends in their evolution are well studied within the hominin clade. Classic accounts hypothesize that larger brains and smaller teeth coevolved because behavioral changes associated with increased brain size allowed a subsequent dental reduction. However, recent studies have found mismatches between trends in brain enlargement and posterior tooth size reduction in some hominin species. We use a multiple-variance Brownian motion approach in association with evolutionary simulations to measure the tempo and mode of the evolution of endocranial and dental size and shape within the hominin clade. We show that hominin postcanine teeth have evolved at a relatively consistent neutral rate, whereas brain size evolved at comparatively more heterogeneous rates that cannot be explained by a neutral model, with rapid pulses in the branches leading to later Homo species. Brain reorganization shows evidence of elevated rates only much later in hominin evolution, suggesting that fast-evolving traits such as the acquisition of a globular shape may be the result of direct or indirect selection for functional or structural traits typical of modern humans. PMID:28049819

Genetic algorithm-based multi-objective optimal absorber system for three-dimensional seismic structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Wenjie; Li, Hongnan; Song, Gangbing; Huo, Linsheng

2009-03-01

The problem of optimizing an absorber system for three-dimensional seismic structures is addressed. The objective is to determine the number and position of absorbers to minimize the coupling effects of translation-torsion of structures at minimum cost. A procedure for a multi-objective optimization problem is developed by integrating a dominance-based selection operator and a dominance-based penalty function method. Based on the two-branch tournament genetic algorithm, the selection operator is constructed by evaluating individuals according to their dominance in one run. The technique guarantees the better performing individual winning its competition, provides a slight selection pressure toward individuals and maintains diversity in the population. Moreover, due to the evaluation for individuals in each generation being finished in one run, less computational effort is taken. Penalty function methods are generally used to transform a constrained optimization problem into an unconstrained one. The dominance-based penalty function contains necessary information on non-dominated character and infeasible position of an individual, essential for success in seeking a Pareto optimal set. The proposed approach is used to obtain a set of non-dominated designs for a six-storey three-dimensional building with shape memory alloy dampers subjected to earthquake.

Narrowing of the Upwelling Branch of the Brewer-Dobson Circulation and Hadley Cell in Chemistry-Climate Model Simulations of the 21st Century

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Feng; Stolarski, Richard S.; Pawson, Steven; Newman, Paul A.; Waugh, Darryn

2010-01-01

Changes in the width of the upwelling branch of the Brewer-Dobson circulation and Hadley cell in the 21st Century are investigated using simulations from a coupled chemistry-climate model. In these model simulations the tropical upwelling region narrows in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. The narrowing of the Brewer-Dobson circulation is caused by an equatorward shift of Rossby wave critical latitudes and Eliassen-Palm flux convergence in the subtropical lower stratosphere. In the troposphere, the model projects an expansion of the Hadley cell's poleward boundary, but a narrowing of the Hadley rising branch. Model results suggest that the narrowing of the Hadley cell ascent is also eddy-driven.

Search for a standard model-like Higgs boson in the μ^+μ^- and e^+e^- decay channels at the LHC

DOE PAGES

Khachatryan, Vardan

2015-03-26

A search is presented for a standard model-like Higgs boson decaying to the μ +μ - ore +e - final states based on proton–proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The data correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.0 fb -1 at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and 19.7 fb -1 at 8 TeV for the μ +μ - search, and of 19.7 fb -1 at 8 TeV for the e +e - search. Upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction at the 95% confidence level are reported for Higgs boson masses inmore » the range from 120 to 150 GeV. For a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV decaying to μ +μ -, the observed (expected) upper limit on the production rate is found to be 7.4 ( ) times the standard model value. This corresponds to an upper limit on the branching fraction of 0.0016. Similarly, for e +e -, an upper limit of 0.0019 is placed on the branching fraction, which is ≈3.7×105 times the standard model value. These results, together with recent evidence of the 125 GeV boson coupling to τ-leptons with a larger branching fraction consistent with the standard model, confirm that the leptonic couplings of the new boson are not flavour-universal.« less

Preparation and thermo-optic switch properties based on chiral azobenzene-containing polyurethane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Feiyan; Qiu, Fengxian; Yang, Dongya; Cao, Guorong; Guan, Yijun; Zhuang, Lin

2013-07-01

A chiral azo chromophore compound 4-(4'-nitro-phenyl-diazenyl)-phenyl-1,2-propanediol ether (NPDPPE) was prepared with p-nitroaniline, phenol and R(-)-3-chloro-1,2-propanediol by the diazo-coupling reaction. Then, the chromophore molecule NPDPPE was polymerized with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) to obtain novel chiral azobenzene-containing polyurethane (CACPU). The chemical structures of chromophore molecule and CACPU were characterized by the FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The physical properties (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusion coefficient, and specific heat capacity) and mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness) of CACPU thin films were measured. The refractive index and thermo-optic (TO) coefficient (dn/dT) of CACPU thin film was investigated for TE (transversal electric) polarizations by using an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration at the wavelengths of 532, 650 and 850 nm. The transmission loss of film was measured using the charge coupled device (CCD) digital imaging devices. A Y-branch switch and Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) thermo-optic switches based on thermo-optic effect were proposed and the performances of switches were simulated. The results showed that the power consumption of the Y-branch thermo-optic switch was only 3.28 mW. The rising and falling times of Y-branch and MZI switches were 12.0 ms and 2.0 ms, respectively. The conclusion has potential significance to improve and develop new Y-branch digital optical switch (DOS), MZI thermo-optic switch, directional coupler (DC) switch and optical modulators.

Search for a standard model-like Higgs boson in the μ+μ- and e+e- decay channels at the LHC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khachatryan, V.; Sirunyan, A. M.; Tumasyan, A.; Adam, W.; Bergauer, T.; Dragicevic, M.; Erö, J.; Fabjan, C.; Friedl, M.; Frühwirth, R.; Ghete, V. M.; Hartl, C.; Hörmann, N.; Hrubec, J.; Jeitler, M.; Kiesenhofer, W.; Knünz, V.; Krammer, M.; Krätschmer, I.; Liko, D.; Mikulec, I.; Rabady, D.; Rahbaran, B.; Rohringer, H.; Schöfbeck, R.; Strauss, J.; Taurok, A.; Treberer-Treberspurg, W.; Waltenberger, W.; Wulz, C.-E.; Mossolov, V.; Shumeiko, N.; Suarez Gonzalez, J.; Alderweireldt, S.; Bansal, M.; Bansal, S.; Cornelis, T.; De Wolf, E. A.; Janssen, X.; Knutsson, A.; Luyckx, S.; Ochesanu, S.; Rougny, R.; Van De Klundert, M.; Van Haevermaet, H.; Van Mechelen, P.; Van Remortel, N.; Van Spilbeeck, A.; Blekman, F.; Blyweert, S.; D'Hondt, J.; Daci, N.; Heracleous, N.; Keaveney, J.; Lowette, S.; Maes, M.; Olbrechts, A.; Python, Q.; Strom, D.; Tavernier, S.; Van Doninck, W.; Van Mulders, P.; Van Onsem, G. P.; Villella, I.; Caillol, C.; Clerbaux, B.; De Lentdecker, G.; Dobur, D.; Favart, L.; Gay, A. P. R.; Grebenyuk, A.; Léonard, A.; Mohammadi, A.; Perniè, L.; Reis, T.; Seva, T.; Thomas, L.; Vander Velde, C.; Vanlaer, P.; Wang, J.; Zenoni, F.; Adler, V.; Beernaert, K.; Benucci, L.; Cimmino, A.; Costantini, S.; Crucy, S.; Dildick, S.; Fagot, A.; Garcia, G.; Mccartin, J.; Ocampo Rios, A. A.; Ryckbosch, D.; Salva Diblen, S.; Sigamani, M.; Strobbe, N.; Thyssen, F.; Tytgat, M.; Yazgan, E.; Zaganidis, N.; Basegmez, S.; Beluffi, C.; Bruno, G.; Castello, R.; Caudron, A.; Ceard, L.; Da Silveira, G. G.; Delaere, C.; du Pree, T.; Favart, D.; Forthomme, L.; Giammanco, A.; Hollar, J.; Jafari, A.; Jez, P.; Komm, M.; Lemaitre, V.; Nuttens, C.; Pagano, D.; Perrini, L.; Pin, A.; Piotrzkowski, K.; Popov, A.; Quertenmont, L.; Selvaggi, M.; Vidal Marono, M.; Vizan Garcia, J. M.; Beliy, N.; Caebergs, T.; Daubie, E.; Hammad, G. H.; Aldá Júnior, W. L.; Alves, G. A.; Brito, L.; Correa Martins Junior, M.; Dos Reis Martins, T.; Mora Herrera, C.; Pol, M. E.; Carvalho, W.; Chinellato, J.; Custódio, A.; Da Costa, E. M.; De Jesus Damiao, D.; De Oliveira Martins, C.; Fonseca De Souza, S.; Malbouisson, H.; Matos Figueiredo, D.; Mundim, L.; Nogima, H.; Prado Da Silva, W. L.; Santaolalla, J.; Santoro, A.; Sznajder, A.; Tonelli Manganote, E. J.; Vilela Pereira, A.; Bernardes, C. A.; Dogra, S.; Fernandez Perez Tomei, T. R.; Gregores, E. M.; Mercadante, P. G.; Novaes, S. F.; Padula, Sandra S.; Aleksandrov, A.; Genchev, V.; Iaydjiev, P.; Marinov, A.; Piperov, S.; Rodozov, M.; Stoykova, S.; Sultanov, G.; Tcholakov, V.; Vutova, M.; Dimitrov, A.; Glushkov, I.; Hadjiiska, R.; Kozhuharov, V.; Litov, L.; Pavlov, B.; Petkov, P.; Bian, J. G.; Chen, G. M.; Chen, H. S.; Chen, M.; Du, R.; Jiang, C. H.; Plestina, R.; Romeo, F.; Tao, J.; Wang, Z.; Asawatangtrakuldee, C.; Ban, Y.; Li, Q.; Liu, S.; Mao, Y.; Qian, S. J.; Wang, D.; Zou, W.; Avila, C.; Chaparro Sierra, L. F.; Florez, C.; Gomez, J. P.; Gomez Moreno, B.; Sanabria, J. C.; Godinovic, N.; Lelas, D.; Polic, D.; Puljak, I.; Antunovic, Z.; Kovac, M.; Brigljevic, V.; Kadija, K.; Luetic, J.; Mekterovic, D.; Sudic, L.; Attikis, A.; Mavromanolakis, G.; Mousa, J.; Nicolaou, C.; Ptochos, F.; Razis, P. A.; Bodlak, M.; Finger, M.; Finger, M.; Assran, Y.; Ellithi Kamel, A.; Mahmoud, M. A.; Radi, A.; Kadastik, M.; Murumaa, M.; Raidal, M.; Tiko, A.; Eerola, P.; Fedi, G.; Voutilainen, M.; Härkönen, J.; Karimäki, V.; Kinnunen, R.; Kortelainen, M. J.; Lampén, T.; Lassila-Perini, K.; Lehti, S.; Lindén, T.; Luukka, P.; Mäenpää, T.; Peltola, T.; Tuominen, E.; Tuominiemi, J.; Tuovinen, E.; Wendland, L.; Talvitie, J.; Tuuva, T.; Besancon, M.; Couderc, F.; Dejardin, M.; Denegri, D.; Fabbro, B.; Faure, J. L.; Favaro, C.; Ferri, F.; Ganjour, S.; Givernaud, A.; Gras, P.; Hamel de Monchenault, G.; Jarry, P.; Locci, E.; Malcles, J.; Rander, J.; Rosowsky, A.; Titov, M.; Baffioni, S.; Beaudette, F.; Busson, P.; Charlot, C.; Dahms, T.; Dalchenko, M.; Dobrzynski, L.; Filipovic, N.; Florent, A.; Granier de Cassagnac, R.; Mastrolorenzo, L.; Miné, P.; Mironov, C.; Naranjo, I. N.; Nguyen, M.; Ochando, C.; Paganini, P.; Regnard, S.; Salerno, R.; Sauvan, J. B.; Sirois, Y.; Veelken, C.; Yilmaz, Y.; Zabi, A.; Agram, J.-L.; Andrea, J.; Aubin, A.; Bloch, D.; Brom, J.-M.; Chabert, E. C.; Collard, C.; Conte, E.; Fontaine, J.-C.; Gelé, D.; Goerlach, U.; Goetzmann, C.; Le Bihan, A.-C.; Van Hove, P.; Gadrat, S.; Beauceron, S.; Beaupere, N.; Boudoul, G.; Bouvier, E.; Brochet, S.; Carrillo Montoya, C. A.; Chasserat, J.; Chierici, R.; Contardo, D.; Depasse, P.; El Mamouni, H.; Fan, J.; Fay, J.; Gascon, S.; Gouzevitch, M.; Ille, B.; Kurca, T.; Lethuillier, M.; Mirabito, L.; Perries, S.; Ruiz Alvarez, J. D.; Sabes, D.; Sgandurra, L.; Sordini, V.; Vander Donckt, M.; Verdier, P.; Viret, S.; Xiao, H.; Tsamalaidze, Z.; Autermann, C.; Beranek, S.; Bontenackels, M.; Edelhoff, M.; Feld, L.; Hindrichs, O.; Klein, K.; Ostapchuk, A.; Perieanu, A.; Raupach, F.; Sammet, J.; Schael, S.; Weber, H.; Wittmer, B.; Zhukov, V.; Ata, M.; Brodski, M.; Dietz-Laursonn, E.; Duchardt, D.; Erdmann, M.; Fischer, R.; Güth, A.; Hebbeker, T.; Heidemann, C.; Hoepfner, K.; Klingebiel, D.; Knutzen, S.; Kreuzer, P.; Merschmeyer, M.; Meyer, A.; Millet, P.; Olschewski, M.; Padeken, K.; Papacz, P.; Reithler, H.; Schmitz, S. A.; Sonnenschein, L.; Teyssier, D.; Thüer, S.; Weber, M.; Cherepanov, V.; Erdogan, Y.; Flügge, G.; Geenen, H.; Geisler, M.; Haj Ahmad, W.; Heister, A.; Hoehle, F.; Kargoll, B.; Kress, T.; Kuessel, Y.; Künsken, A.; Lingemann, J.; Nowack, A.; Nugent, I. M.; Perchalla, L.; Pooth, O.; Stahl, A.; Asin, I.; Bartosik, N.; Behr, J.; Behrenhoff, W.; Behrens, U.; Bell, A. J.; Bergholz, M.; Bethani, A.; Borras, K.; Burgmeier, A.; Cakir, A.; Calligaris, L.; Campbell, A.; Choudhury, S.; Costanza, F.; Diez Pardos, C.; Dooling, S.; Dorland, T.; Eckerlin, G.; Eckstein, D.; Eichhorn, T.; Flucke, G.; Garay Garcia, J.; Geiser, A.; Gunnellini, P.; Hauk, J.; Hempel, M.; Horton, D.; Jung, H.; Kalogeropoulos, A.; Kasemann, M.; Katsas, P.; Kieseler, J.; Kleinwort, C.; Krücker, D.; Lange, W.; Leonard, J.; Lipka, K.; Lobanov, A.; Lohmann, W.; Lutz, B.; Mankel, R.; Marfin, I.; Melzer-Pellmann, I.-A.; Meyer, A. B.; Mittag, G.; Mnich, J.; Mussgiller, A.; Naumann-Emme, S.; Nayak, A.; Novgorodova, O.; Ntomari, E.; Perrey, H.; Pitzl, D.; Placakyte, R.; Raspereza, A.; Ribeiro Cipriano, P. M.; Roland, B.; Ron, E.; Sahin, M. Ö.; Salfeld-Nebgen, J.; Saxena, P.; Schmidt, R.; Schoerner-Sadenius, T.; Schröder, M.; Seitz, C.; Spannagel, S.; Vargas Trevino, A. D. R.; Walsh, R.; Wissing, C.; Aldaya Martin, M.; Blobel, V.; Centis Vignali, M.; Draeger, A. R.; Erfle, J.; Garutti, E.; Goebel, K.; Görner, M.; Haller, J.; Hoffmann, M.; Höing, R. S.; Kirschenmann, H.; Klanner, R.; Kogler, R.; Lange, J.; Lapsien, T.; Lenz, T.; Marchesini, I.; Ott, J.; Peiffer, T.; Pietsch, N.; Poehlsen, J.; Poehlsen, T.; Rathjens, D.; Sander, C.; Schettler, H.; Schleper, P.; Schlieckau, E.; Schmidt, A.; Seidel, M.; Sola, V.; Stadie, H.; Steinbrück, G.; Troendle, D.; Usai, E.; Vanelderen, L.; Vanhoefer, A.; Barth, C.; Baus, C.; Berger, J.; Böser, C.; Butz, E.; Chwalek, T.; De Boer, W.; Descroix, A.; Dierlamm, A.; Feindt, M.; Frensch, F.; Giffels, M.; Hartmann, F.; Hauth, T.; Husemann, U.; Katkov, I.; Kornmayer, A.; Kuznetsova, E.; Lobelle Pardo, P.; Mozer, M. U.; Müller, Th.; Nürnberg, A.; Quast, G.; Rabbertz, K.; Ratnikov, F.; Röcker, S.; Simonis, H. J.; Stober, F. M.; Ulrich, R.; Wagner-Kuhr, J.; Wayand, S.; Weiler, T.; Wolf, R.; Anagnostou, G.; Daskalakis, G.; Geralis, T.; Giakoumopoulou, V. A.; Kyriakis, A.; Loukas, D.; Markou, A.; Markou, C.; Psallidas, A.; Topsis-Giotis, I.; Agapitos, A.; Kesisoglou, S.; Panagiotou, A.; Saoulidou, N.; Stiliaris, E.; Aslanoglou, X.; Evangelou, I.; Flouris, G.; Foudas, C.; Kokkas, P.; Manthos, N.; Papadopoulos, I.; Paradas, E.; Bencze, G.; Hajdu, C.; Hidas, P.; Horvath, D.; Sikler, F.; Veszpremi, V.; Vesztergombi, G.; Zsigmond, A. J.; Beni, N.; Czellar, S.; Karancsi, J.; Molnar, J.; Palinkas, J.; Szillasi, Z.; Raics, P.; Trocsanyi, Z. L.; Ujvari, B.; Swain, S. K.; Beri, S. B.; Bhatnagar, V.; Gupta, R.; Bhawandeep, U.; Kalsi, A. K.; Kaur, M.; Kumar, R.; Mittal, M.; Nishu, N.; Singh, J. B.; Kumar, Ashok; Kumar, Arun; Ahuja, S.; Bhardwaj, A.; Choudhary, B. C.; Kumar, A.; Malhotra, S.; Naimuddin, M.; Ranjan, K.; Sharma, V.; Banerjee, S.; Bhattacharya, S.; Chatterjee, K.; Dutta, S.; Gomber, B.; Jain, Sa.; Jain, Sh.; Khurana, R.; Modak, A.; Mukherjee, S.; Roy, D.; Sarkar, S.; Sharan, M.; Abdulsalam, A.; Dutta, D.; Kailas, S.; Kumar, V.; Mohanty, A. K.; Pant, L. M.; Shukla, P.; Topkar, A.; Aziz, T.; Banerjee, S.; Bhowmik, S.; Chatterjee, R. M.; Dewanjee, R. K.; Dugad, S.; Ganguly, S.; Ghosh, S.; Guchait, M.; Gurtu, A.; Kole, G.; Kumar, S.; Maity, M.; Majumder, G.; Mazumdar, K.; Mohanty, G. B.; Parida, B.; Sudhakar, K.; Wickramage, N.; Bakhshiansohi, H.; Behnamian, H.; Etesami, S. M.; Fahim, A.; Goldouzian, R.; Khakzad, M.; Mohammadi Najafabadi, M.; Naseri, M.; Paktinat Mehdiabadi, S.; Rezaei Hosseinabadi, F.; Safarzadeh, B.; Zeinali, M.; Felcini, M.; Grunewald, M.; Abbrescia, M.; Barbone, L.; Calabria, C.; Chhibra, S. S.; Colaleo, A.; Creanza, D.; De Filippis, N.; De Palma, M.; Fiore, L.; Iaselli, G.; Maggi, G.; Maggi, M.; My, S.; Nuzzo, S.; Pompili, A.; Pugliese, G.; Radogna, R.; Selvaggi, G.; Silvestris, L.; Venditti, R.; Zito, G.; Abbiendi, G.; Benvenuti, A. C.; Bonacorsi, D.; Braibant-Giacomelli, S.; Brigliadori, L.; Campanini, R.; Capiluppi, P.; Castro, A.; Cavallo, F. R.; Codispoti, G.; Cuffiani, M.; Dallavalle, G. M.; Fabbri, F.; Fanfani, A.; Fasanella, D.; Giacomelli, P.; Grandi, C.; Guiducci, L.; Marcellini, S.; Masetti, G.; Montanari, A.; Navarria, F. L.; Perrotta, A.; Primavera, F.; Rossi, A. M.; Rovelli, T.; Siroli, G. P.; Tosi, N.; Travaglini, R.; Albergo, S.; Cappello, G.; Chiorboli, M.; Costa, S.; Giordano, F.; Potenza, R.; Tricomi, A.; Tuve, C.; Barbagli, G.; Ciulli, V.; Civinini, C.; D'Alessandro, R.; Focardi, E.; Gallo, E.; Gonzi, S.; Gori, V.; Lenzi, P.; Meschini, M.; Paoletti, S.; Sguazzoni, G.; Tropiano, A.; Benussi, L.; Bianco, S.; Fabbri, F.; Piccolo, D.; Ferretti, R.; Ferro, F.; Lo Vetere, M.; Robutti, E.; Tosi, S.; Dinardo, M. E.; Fiorendi, S.; Gennai, S.; Gerosa, R.; Ghezzi, A.; Govoni, P.; Lucchini, M. T.; Malvezzi, S.; Manzoni, R. A.; Martelli, A.; Marzocchi, B.; Menasce, D.; Moroni, L.; Paganoni, M.; Pedrini, D.; Ragazzi, S.; Redaelli, N.; Tabarelli de Fatis, T.; Buontempo, S.; Cavallo, N.; Di Guida, S.; Fabozzi, F.; Iorio, A. O. M.; Lista, L.; Meola, S.; Merola, M.; Paolucci, P.; Azzi, P.; Bacchetta, N.; Bisello, D.; Branca, A.; Carlin, R.; Checchia, P.; Dall'Osso, M.; Dorigo, T.; Dosselli, U.; Galanti, M.; Gasparini, F.; Gasparini, U.; Giubilato, P.; Gozzelino, A.; Kanishchev, K.; Lacaprara, S.; Margoni, M.; Meneguzzo, A. T.; Pazzini, J.; Pozzobon, N.; Ronchese, P.; Simonetto, F.; Torassa, E.; Tosi, M.; Zotto, P.; Zucchetta, A.; Zumerle, G.; Gabusi, M.; Ratti, S. P.; Re, V.; Riccardi, C.; Salvini, P.; Vitulo, P.; Biasini, M.; Bilei, G. M.; Ciangottini, D.; Fanò, L.; Lariccia, P.; Mantovani, G.; Menichelli, M.; Saha, A.; Santocchia, A.; Spiezia, A.; Androsov, K.; Azzurri, P.; Bagliesi, G.; Bernardini, J.; Boccali, T.; Broccolo, G.; Castaldi, R.; Ciocci, M. A.; Dell'Orso, R.; Donato, S.; Fiori, F.; Foà, L.; Giassi, A.; Grippo, M. T.; Ligabue, F.; Lomtadze, T.; Martini, L.; Messineo, A.; Moon, C. S.; Palla, F.; Rizzi, A.; Savoy-Navarro, A.; Serban, A. T.; Spagnolo, P.; Squillacioti, P.; Tenchini, R.; Tonelli, G.; Venturi, A.; Verdini, P. G.; Vernieri, C.; Barone, L.; Cavallari, F.; D'imperio, G.; Del Re, D.; Diemoz, M.; Grassi, M.; Jorda, C.; Longo, E.; Margaroli, F.; Meridiani, P.; Micheli, F.; Nourbakhsh, S.; Organtini, G.; Paramatti, R.; Rahatlou, S.; Rovelli, C.; Santanastasio, F.; Soffi, L.; Traczyk, P.; Amapane, N.; Arcidiacono, R.; Argiro, S.; Arneodo, M.; Bellan, R.; Biino, C.; Cartiglia, N.; Casasso, S.; Costa, M.; Degano, A.; Demaria, N.; Finco, L.; Mariotti, C.; Maselli, S.; Migliore, E.; Monaco, V.; Musich, M.; Obertino, M. M.; Ortona, G.; Pacher, L.; Pastrone, N.; Pelliccioni, M.; Pinna Angioni, G. L.; Potenza, A.; Romero, A.; Ruspa, M.; Sacchi, R.; Solano, A.; Staiano, A.; Tamponi, U.; Belforte, S.; Candelise, V.; Casarsa, M.; Cossutti, F.; Della Ricca, G.; Gobbo, B.; La Licata, C.; Marone, M.; Schizzi, A.; Umer, T.; Zanetti, A.; Chang, S.; Kropivnitskaya, A.; Nam, S. K.; Kim, D. H.; Kim, G. N.; Kim, M. S.; Kong, D. J.; Lee, S.; Oh, Y. D.; Park, H.; Sakharov, A.; Son, D. C.; Kim, T. J.; Kim, J. Y.; Song, S.; Choi, S.; Gyun, D.; Hong, B.; Jo, M.; Kim, H.; Kim, Y.; Lee, B.; Lee, K. S.; Park, S. K.; Roh, Y.; Choi, M.; Kim, J. H.; Park, I. C.; Ryu, G.; Ryu, M. S.; Choi, Y.; Choi, Y. K.; Goh, J.; Kim, D.; Kwon, E.; Lee, J.; Seo, H.; Yu, I.; Juodagalvis, A.; Komaragiri, J. R.; Md Ali, M. A. B.; Castilla-Valdez, H.; De La Cruz-Burelo, E.; Heredia-de La Cruz, I.; Hernandez-Almada, A.; Lopez-Fernandez, R.; Sanchez-Hernandez, A.; Carrillo Moreno, S.; Vazquez Valencia, F.; Pedraza, I.; Salazar Ibarguen, H. A.; Casimiro Linares, E.; Morelos Pineda, A.; Krofcheck, D.; Butler, P. H.; Reucroft, S.; Ahmad, A.; Ahmad, M.; Hassan, Q.; Hoorani, H. R.; Khalid, S.; Khan, W. A.; Khurshid, T.; Shah, M. A.; Shoaib, M.; Bialkowska, H.; Bluj, M.; Boimska, B.; Frueboes, T.; Górski, M.; Kazana, M.; Nawrocki, K.; Romanowska-Rybinska, K.; Szleper, M.; Zalewski, P.; Brona, G.; Bunkowski, K.; Cwiok, M.; Dominik, W.; Doroba, K.; Kalinowski, A.; Konecki, M.; Krolikowski, J.; Misiura, M.; Olszewski, M.; Wolszczak, W.; Bargassa, P.; Beirão Da Cruz E Silva, C.; Faccioli, P.; Ferreira Parracho, P. G.; Gallinaro, M.; Lloret Iglesias, L.; Nguyen, F.; Rodrigues Antunes, J.; Seixas, J.; Varela, J.; Vischia, P.; Bunin, P.; Golutvin, I.; Gorbunov, I.; Kamenev, A.; Karjavin, V.; Konoplyanikov, V.; Lanev, A.; Malakhov, A.; Matveev, V.; Moisenz, P.; Palichik, V.; Perelygin, V.; Savina, M.; Shmatov, S.; Shulha, S.; Skatchkov, N.; Smirnov, V.; Zarubin, A.; Golovtsov, V.; Ivanov, Y.; Kim, V.; Levchenko, P.; Murzin, V.; Oreshkin, V.; Smirnov, I.; Sulimov, V.; Uvarov, L.; Vavilov, S.; Vorobyev, A.; Vorobyev, An.; Andreev, Yu.; Dermenev, A.; Gninenko, S.; Golubev, N.; Kirsanov, M.; Krasnikov, N.; Pashenkov, A.; Tlisov, D.; Toropin, A.; Epshteyn, V.; Gavrilov, V.; Lychkovskaya, N.; Popov, V.; Safronov, G.; Semenov, S.; Spiridonov, A.; Stolin, V.; Vlasov, E.; Zhokin, A.; Andreev, V.; Azarkin, M.; Dremin, I.; Kirakosyan, M.; Leonidov, A.; Mesyats, G.; Rusakov, S. V.; Vinogradov, A.; Belyaev, A.; Boos, E.; Bunichev, V.; Dubinin, M.; Dudko, L.; Ershov, A.; Klyukhin, V.; Kodolova, O.; Lokhtin, I.; Obraztsov, S.; Perfilov, M.; Petrushanko, S.; Savrin, V.; Azhgirey, I.; Bayshev, I.; Bitioukov, S.; Kachanov, V.; Kalinin, A.; Konstantinov, D.; Krychkine, V.; Petrov, V.; Ryutin, R.; Sobol, A.; Tourtchanovitch, L.; Troshin, S.; Tyurin, N.; Uzunian, A.; Volkov, A.; Adzic, P.; Ekmedzic, M.; Milosevic, J.; Rekovic, V.; Alcaraz Maestre, J.; Battilana, C.; Calvo, E.; Cerrada, M.; Chamizo Llatas, M.; Colino, N.; De La Cruz, B.; Delgado Peris, A.; Domínguez Vázquez, D.; Escalante Del Valle, A.; Fernandez Bedoya, C.; Fernández Ramos, J. P.; Flix, J.; Fouz, M. C.; Garcia-Abia, P.; Gonzalez Lopez, O.; Goy Lopez, S.; Hernandez, J. M.; Josa, M. I.; Navarro De Martino, E.; Pérez-Calero Yzquierdo, A.; Puerta Pelayo, J.; Quintario Olmeda, A.; Redondo, I.; Romero, L.; Soares, M. S.; Albajar, C.; de Trocóniz, J. F.; Missiroli, M.; Moran, D.; Brun, H.; Cuevas, J.; Fernandez Menendez, J.; Folgueras, S.; Gonzalez Caballero, I.; Brochero Cifuentes, J. A.; Cabrillo, I. J.; Calderon, A.; Duarte Campderros, J.; Fernandez, M.; Gomez, G.; Graziano, A.; Lopez Virto, A.; Marco, J.; Marco, R.; Martinez Rivero, C.; Matorras, F.; Munoz Sanchez, F. J.; Piedra Gomez, J.; Rodrigo, T.; Rodríguez-Marrero, A. Y.; Ruiz-Jimeno, A.; Scodellaro, L.; Vila, I.; Vilar Cortabitarte, R.; Abbaneo, D.; Auffray, E.; Auzinger, G.; Bachtis, M.; Baillon, P.; Ball, A. H.; Barney, D.; Benaglia, A.; Bendavid, J.; Benhabib, L.; Benitez, J. F.; Bernet, C.; Bianchi, G.; Bloch, P.; Bocci, A.; Bonato, A.; Bondu, O.; Botta, C.; Breuker, H.; Camporesi, T.; Cerminara, G.; Colafranceschi, S.; D'Alfonso, M.; d'Enterria, D.; Dabrowski, A.; David, A.; De Guio, F.; De Roeck, A.; De Visscher, S.; Di Marco, E.; Dobson, M.; Dordevic, M.; Dupont-Sagorin, N.; Elliott-Peisert, A.; Eugster, J.; Franzoni, G.; Funk, W.; Gigi, D.; Gill, K.; Giordano, D.; Girone, M.; Glege, F.; Guida, R.; Gundacker, S.; Guthoff, M.; Hammer, J.; Hansen, M.; Harris, P.; Hegeman, J.; Innocente, V.; Janot, P.; Kousouris, K.; Krajczar, K.; Lecoq, P.; Lourenço, C.; Magini, N.; Malgeri, L.; Mannelli, M.; Marrouche, J.; Masetti, L.; Meijers, F.; Mersi, S.; Meschi, E.; Moortgat, F.; Morovic, S.; Mulders, M.; Musella, P.; Orsini, L.; Pape, L.; Perez, E.; Perrozzi, L.; Petrilli, A.; Petrucciani, G.; Pfeiffer, A.; Pierini, M.; Pimiä, M.; Piparo, D.; Plagge, M.; Racz, A.; Rolandi, G.; Rovere, M.; Sakulin, H.; Schäfer, C.; Schwick, C.; Sharma, A.; Siegrist, P.; Silva, P.; Simon, M.; Sphicas, P.; Spiga, D.; Steggemann, J.; Stieger, B.; Stoye, M.; Takahashi, Y.; Treille, D.; Tsirou, A.; Veres, G. I.; Wardle, N.; Wöhri, H. K.; Wollny, H.; Zeuner, W. D.; Bertl, W.; Deiters, K.; Erdmann, W.; Horisberger, R.; Ingram, Q.; Kaestli, H. C.; Kotlinski, D.; Langenegger, U.; Renker, D.; Rohe, T.; Bachmair, F.; Bäni, L.; Bianchini, L.; Buchmann, M. A.; Casal, B.; Chanon, N.; Dissertori, G.; Dittmar, M.; Donegà, M.; Dünser, M.; Eller, P.; Grab, C.; Hits, D.; Hoss, J.; Lustermann, W.; Mangano, B.; Marini, A. C.; Martinez Ruiz del Arbol, P.; Masciovecchio, M.; Meister, D.; Mohr, N.; Nägeli, C.; Nessi-Tedaldi, F.; Pandolfi, F.; Pauss, F.; Peruzzi, M.; Quittnat, M.; Rebane, L.; Rossini, M.; Starodumov, A.; Takahashi, M.; Theofilatos, K.; Wallny, R.; Weber, H. A.; Amsler, C.; Canelli, M. F.; Chiochia, V.; De Cosa, A.; Hinzmann, A.; Hreus, T.; Kilminster, B.; Lange, C.; Millan Mejias, B.; Ngadiuba, J.; Robmann, P.; Ronga, F. J.; Taroni, S.; Verzetti, M.; Yang, Y.; Cardaci, M.; Chen, K. H.; Ferro, C.; Kuo, C. M.; Lin, W.; Lu, Y. J.; Volpe, R.; Yu, S. S.; Chang, P.; Chang, Y. H.; Chang, Y. W.; Chao, Y.; Chen, K. F.; Chen, P. H.; Dietz, C.; Grundler, U.; Hou, W.-S.; Kao, K. Y.; Lei, Y. J.; Liu, Y. F.; Lu, R.-S.; Majumder, D.; Petrakou, E.; Tzeng, Y. M.; Wilken, R.; Asavapibhop, B.; Singh, G.; Srimanobhas, N.; Suwonjandee, N.; Adiguzel, A.; Bakirci, M. N.; Cerci, S.; Dozen, C.; Dumanoglu, I.; Eskut, E.; Girgis, S.; Gokbulut, G.; Gurpinar, E.; Hos, I.; Kangal, E. E.; Kayis Topaksu, A.; Onengut, G.; Ozdemir, K.; Ozturk, S.; Polatoz, A.; Sunar Cerci, D.; Tali, B.; Topakli, H.; Vergili, M.; Akin, I. V.; Bilin, B.; Bilmis, S.; Gamsizkan, H.; Karapinar, G.; Ocalan, K.; Sekmen, S.; Surat, U. E.; Yalvac, M.; Zeyrek, M.; Gülmez, E.; Isildak, B.; Kaya, M.; Kaya, O.; Cankocak, K.; Vardarlı, F. I.; Levchuk, L.; Sorokin, P.; Brooke, J. J.; Clement, E.; Cussans, D.; Flacher, H.; Goldstein, J.; Grimes, M.; Heath, G. P.; Heath, H. F.; Jacob, J.; Kreczko, L.; Lucas, C.; Meng, Z.; Newbold, D. M.; Paramesvaran, S.; Poll, A.; Senkin, S.; Smith, V. J.; Williams, T.; Bell, K. W.; Belyaev, A.; Brew, C.; Brown, R. M.; Cockerill, D. J. A.; Coughlan, J. A.; Harder, K.; Harper, S.; Olaiya, E.; Petyt, D.; Shepherd-Themistocleous, C. H.; Thea, A.; Tomalin, I. R.; Womersley, W. J.; Worm, S. D.; Baber, M.; Bainbridge, R.; Buchmuller, O.; Burton, D.; Colling, D.; Cripps, N.; Cutajar, M.; Dauncey, P.; Davies, G.; Della Negra, M.; Dunne, P.; Ferguson, W.; Fulcher, J.; Futyan, D.; Gilbert, A.; Hall, G.; Iles, G.; Jarvis, M.; Karapostoli, G.; Kenzie, M.; Lane, R.; Lucas, R.; Lyons, L.; Magnan, A.-M.; Malik, S.; Mathias, B.; Nash, J.; Nikitenko, A.; Pela, J.; Pesaresi, M.; Petridis, K.; Raymond, D. M.; Rogerson, S.; Rose, A.; Seez, C.; Sharp, P.; Tapper, A.; Vazquez Acosta, M.; Virdee, T.; Zenz, S. C.; Cole, J. E.; Hobson, P. R.; Khan, A.; Kyberd, P.; Leggat, D.; Leslie, D.; Martin, W.; Reid, I. D.; Symonds, P.; Teodorescu, L.; Turner, M.; Dittmann, J.; Hatakeyama, K.; Kasmi, A.; Liu, H.; Scarborough, T.; Charaf, O.; Cooper, S. I.; Henderson, C.; Rumerio, P.; Avetisyan, A.; Bose, T.; Fantasia, C.; Lawson, P.; Richardson, C.; Rohlf, J.; St. John, J.; Sulak, L.; Alimena, J.; Berry, E.; Bhattacharya, S.; Christopher, G.; Cutts, D.; Demiragli, Z.; Dhingra, N.; Ferapontov, A.; Garabedian, A.; Heintz, U.; Kukartsev, G.; Laird, E.; Landsberg, G.; Luk, M.; Narain, M.; Segala, M.; Sinthuprasith, T.; Speer, T.; Swanson, J.; Breedon, R.; Breto, G.; Calderon De La Barca Sanchez, M.; Chauhan, S.; Chertok, M.; Conway, J.; Conway, R.; Cox, P. T.; Erbacher, R.; Gardner, M.; Ko, W.; Lander, R.; Miceli, T.; Mulhearn, M.; Pellett, D.; Pilot, J.; Ricci-Tam, F.; Searle, M.; Shalhout, S.; Smith, J.; Squires, M.; Stolp, D.; Tripathi, M.; Wilbur, S.; Yohay, R.; Cousins, R.; Everaerts, P.; Farrell, C.; Hauser, J.; Ignatenko, M.; Rakness, G.; Takasugi, E.; Valuev, V.; Weber, M.; Burt, K.; Clare, R.; Ellison, J.; Gary, J. W.; Hanson, G.; Heilman, J.; Ivova Rikova, M.; Jandir, P.; Kennedy, E.; Lacroix, F.; Long, O. R.; Luthra, A.; Malberti, M.; Nguyen, H.; Olmedo Negrete, M.; Shrinivas, A.; Sumowidagdo, S.; Wimpenny, S.; Andrews, W.; Branson, J. G.; Cerati, G. B.; Cittolin, S.; D'Agnolo, R. T.; Evans, D.; Holzner, A.; Kelley, R.; Klein, D.; Kovalskyi, D.; Lebourgeois, M.; Letts, J.; Macneill, I.; Olivito, D.; Padhi, S.; Palmer, C.; Pieri, M.; Sani, M.; Sharma, V.; Simon, S.; Sudano, E.; Tu, Y.; Vartak, A.; Welke, C.; Würthwein, F.; Yagil, A.; Barge, D.; Bradmiller-Feld, J.; Campagnari, C.; Danielson, T.; Dishaw, A.; Flowers, K.; Franco Sevilla, M.; Geffert, P.; George, C.; Golf, F.; Gouskos, L.; Incandela, J.; Justus, C.; Mccoll, N.; Richman, J.; Stuart, D.; To, W.; West, C.; Yoo, J.; Apresyan, A.; Bornheim, A.; Bunn, J.; Chen, Y.; Duarte, J.; Mott, A.; Newman, H. B.; Pena, C.; Rogan, C.; Spiropulu, M.; Timciuc, V.; Vlimant, J. R.; Wilkinson, R.; Xie, S.; Zhu, R. Y.; Azzolini, V.; Calamba, A.; Carlson, B.; Ferguson, T.; Iiyama, Y.; Paulini, M.; Russ, J.; Vogel, H.; Vorobiev, I.; Cumalat, J. P.; Ford, W. T.; Gaz, A.; Luiggi Lopez, E.; Nauenberg, U.; Smith, J. G.; Stenson, K.; Ulmer, K. A.; Wagner, S. R.; Alexander, J.; Chatterjee, A.; Chu, J.; Dittmer, S.; Eggert, N.; Mirman, N.; Nicolas Kaufman, G.; Patterson, J. R.; Ryd, A.; Salvati, E.; Skinnari, L.; Sun, W.; Teo, W. D.; Thom, J.; Thompson, J.; Tucker, J.; Weng, Y.; Winstrom, L.; Wittich, P.; Winn, D.; Abdullin, S.; Albrow, M.; Anderson, J.; Apollinari, G.; Bauerdick, L. A. T.; Beretvas, A.; Berryhill, J.; Bhat, P. C.; Bolla, G.; Burkett, K.; Butler, J. N.; Cheung, H. W. K.; Chlebana, F.; Cihangir, S.; Elvira, V. D.; Fisk, I.; Freeman, J.; Gao, Y.; Gottschalk, E.; Gray, L.; Green, D.; Grünendahl, S.; Gutsche, O.; Hanlon, J.; Hare, D.; Harris, R. M.; Hirschauer, J.; Hooberman, B.; Jindariani, S.; Johnson, M.; Joshi, U.; Kaadze, K.; Klima, B.; Kreis, B.; Kwan, S.; Linacre, J.; Lincoln, D.; Lipton, R.; Liu, T.; Lykken, J.; Maeshima, K.; Marraffino, J. M.; Martinez Outschoorn, V. I.; Maruyama, S.; Mason, D.; McBride, P.; Merkel, P.; Mishra, K.; Mrenna, S.; Musienko, Y.; Nahn, S.; Newman-Holmes, C.; O'Dell, V.; Prokofyev, O.; Sexton-Kennedy, E.; Sharma, S.; Soha, A.; Spalding, W. J.; Spiegel, L.; Taylor, L.; Tkaczyk, S.; Tran, N. V.; Uplegger, L.; Vaandering, E. W.; Vidal, R.; Whitbeck, A.; Whitmore, J.; Yang, F.; Acosta, D.; Avery, P.; Bortignon, P.; Bourilkov, D.; Carver, M.; Cheng, T.; Curry, D.; Das, S.; De Gruttola, M.; Di Giovanni, G. P.; Field, R. D.; Fisher, M.; Furic, I. K.; Hugon, J.; Konigsberg, J.; Korytov, A.; Kypreos, T.; Low, J. F.; Matchev, K.; Milenovic, P.; Mitselmakher, G.; Muniz, L.; Rinkevicius, A.; Shchutska, L.; Snowball, M.; Sperka, D.; Yelton, J.; Zakaria, M.; Hewamanage, S.; Linn, S.; Markowitz, P.; Martinez, G.; Rodriguez, J. L.; Adams, T.; Askew, A.; Bochenek, J.; Diamond, B.; Haas, J.; Hagopian, S.; Hagopian, V.; Johnson, K. F.; Prosper, H.; Veeraraghavan, V.; Weinberg, M.; Baarmand, M. M.; Hohlmann, M.; Kalakhety, H.; Yumiceva, F.; Adams, M. R.; Apanasevich, L.; Bazterra, V. E.; Berry, D.; Betts, R. R.; Bucinskaite, I.; Cavanaugh, R.; Evdokimov, O.; Gauthier, L.; Gerber, C. E.; Hofman, D. J.; Khalatyan, S.; Kurt, P.; Moon, D. H.; O'Brien, C.; Silkworth, C.; Turner, P.; Varelas, N.; Albayrak, E. A.; Bilki, B.; Clarida, W.; Dilsiz, K.; Duru, F.; Haytmyradov, M.; Merlo, J.-P.; Mermerkaya, H.; Mestvirishvili, A.; Moeller, A.; Nachtman, J.; Ogul, H.; Onel, Y.; Ozok, F.; Penzo, A.; Rahmat, R.; Sen, S.; Tan, P.; Tiras, E.; Wetzel, J.; Yetkin, T.; Yi, K.; Barnett, B. A.; Blumenfeld, B.; Bolognesi, S.; Fehling, D.; Gritsan, A. V.; Maksimovic, P.; Martin, C.; Swartz, M.; Baringer, P.; Bean, A.; Benelli, G.; Bruner, C.; Kenny, R. P., III; Malek, M.; Murray, M.; Noonan, D.; Sanders, S.; Sekaric, J.; Stringer, R.; Wang, Q.; Wood, J. S.; Barfuss, A. F.; Chakaberia, I.; Ivanov, A.; Khalil, S.; Makouski, M.; Maravin, Y.; Saini, L. K.; Shrestha, S.; Skhirtladze, N.; Svintradze, I.; Gronberg, J.; Lange, D.; Rebassoo, F.; Wright, D.; Baden, A.; Belloni, A.; Calvert, B.; Eno, S. C.; Gomez, J. A.; Hadley, N. J.; Kellogg, R. G.; Kolberg, T.; Lu, Y.; Marionneau, M.; Mignerey, A. C.; Pedro, K.; Skuja, A.; Tonjes, M. B.; Tonwar, S. C.; Apyan, A.; Barbieri, R.; Bauer, G.; Busza, W.; Cali, I. A.; Chan, M.; Di Matteo, L.; Dutta, V.; Gomez Ceballos, G.; Goncharov, M.; Gulhan, D.; Klute, M.; Lai, Y. S.; Lee, Y.-J.; Levin, A.; Luckey, P. D.; Ma, T.; Paus, C.; Ralph, D.; Roland, C.; Roland, G.; Stephans, G. S. F.; Stöckli, F.; Sumorok, K.; Velicanu, D.; Veverka, J.; Wyslouch, B.; Yang, M.; Zanetti, M.; Zhukova, V.; Dahmes, B.; Gude, A.; Kao, S. C.; Klapoetke, K.; Kubota, Y.; Mans, J.; Pastika, N.; Rusack, R.; Singovsky, A.; Tambe, N.; Turkewitz, J.; Acosta, J. G.; Oliveros, S.; Avdeeva, E.; Bloom, K.; Bose, S.; Claes, D. R.; Dominguez, A.; Gonzalez Suarez, R.; Keller, J.; Knowlton, D.; Kravchenko, I.; Lazo-Flores, J.; Malik, S.; Meier, F.; Snow, G. R.; Zvada, M.; Dolen, J.; Godshalk, A.; Iashvili, I.; Kharchilava, A.; Kumar, A.; Rappoccio, S.; Alverson, G.; Barberis, E.; Baumgartel, D.; Chasco, M.; Haley, J.; Massironi, A.; Morse, D. M.; Nash, D.; Orimoto, T.; Trocino, D.; Wang, R.-J.; Wood, D.; Zhang, J.; Hahn, K. A.; Kubik, A.; Mucia, N.; Odell, N.; Pollack, B.; Pozdnyakov, A.; Schmitt, M.; Stoynev, S.; Sung, K.; Velasco, M.; Won, S.; Brinkerhoff, A.; Chan, K. M.; Drozdetskiy, A.; Hildreth, M.; Jessop, C.; Karmgard, D. J.; Kellams, N.; Lannon, K.; Luo, W.; Lynch, S.; Marinelli, N.; Pearson, T.; Planer, M.; Ruchti, R.; Valls, N.; Wayne, M.; Wolf, M.; Woodard, A.; Antonelli, L.; Brinson, J.; Bylsma, B.; Durkin, L. S.; Flowers, S.; Hart, A.; Hill, C.; Hughes, R.; Kotov, K.; Ling, T. Y.; Puigh, D.; Rodenburg, M.; Smith, G.; Winer, B. L.; Wolfe, H.; Wulsin, H. W.; Driga, O.; Elmer, P.; Hebda, P.; Hunt, A.; Koay, S. A.; Lujan, P.; Marlow, D.; Medvedeva, T.; Mooney, M.; Olsen, J.; Piroué, P.; Quan, X.; Saka, H.; Stickland, D.; Tully, C.; Werner, J. S.; Zuranski, A.; Brownson, E.; Mendez, H.; Ramirez Vargas, J. E.; Barnes, V. E.; Benedetti, D.; Bortoletto, D.; De Mattia, M.; Gutay, L.; Hu, Z.; Jha, M. K.; Jones, M.; Jung, K.; Kress, M.; Leonardo, N.; Lopes Pegna, D.; Maroussov, V.; Miller, D. H.; Neumeister, N.; Radburn-Smith, B. C.; Shi, X.; Shipsey, I.; Silvers, D.; Svyatkovskiy, A.; Wang, F.; Xie, W.; Xu, L.; Yoo, H. D.; Zablocki, J.; Zheng, Y.; Parashar, N.; Stupak, J.; Adair, A.; Akgun, B.; Ecklund, K. M.; Geurts, F. J. M.; Li, W.; Michlin, B.; Padley, B. P.; Redjimi, R.; Roberts, J.; Zabel, J.; Betchart, B.; Bodek, A.; Covarelli, R.; de Barbaro, P.; Demina, R.; Eshaq, Y.; Ferbel, T.; Garcia-Bellido, A.; Goldenzweig, P.; Han, J.; Harel, A.; Khukhunaishvili, A.; Petrillo, G.; Vishnevskiy, D.; Ciesielski, R.; Demortier, L.; Goulianos, K.; Lungu, G.; Mesropian, C.; Arora, S.; Barker, A.; Chou, J. P.; Contreras-Campana, C.; Contreras-Campana, E.; Duggan, D.; Ferencek, D.; Gershtein, Y.; Gray, R.; Halkiadakis, E.; Hidas, D.; Kaplan, S.; Lath, A.; Panwalkar, S.; Park, M.; Patel, R.; Salur, S.; Schnetzer, S.; Somalwar, S.; Stone, R.; Thomas, S.; Thomassen, P.; Walker, M.; Rose, K.; Spanier, S.; York, A.; Bouhali, O.; Castaneda Hernandez, A.; Eusebi, R.; Flanagan, W.; Gilmore, J.; Kamon, T.; Khotilovich, V.; Krutelyov, V.; Montalvo, R.; Osipenkov, I.; Pakhotin, Y.; Perloff, A.; Roe, J.; Rose, A.; Safonov, A.; Sakuma, T.; Suarez, I.; Tatarinov, A.; Akchurin, N.; Cowden, C.; Damgov, J.; Dragoiu, C.; Dudero, P. R.; Faulkner, J.; Kovitanggoon, K.; Kunori, S.; Lee, S. W.; Libeiro, T.; Volobouev, I.; Appelt, E.; Delannoy, A. G.; Greene, S.; Gurrola, A.; Johns, W.; Maguire, C.; Mao, Y.; Melo, A.; Sharma, M.; Sheldon, P.; Snook, B.; Tuo, S.; Velkovska, J.; Arenton, M. W.; Boutle, S.; Cox, B.; Francis, B.; Goodell, J.; Hirosky, R.; Ledovskoy, A.; Li, H.; Lin, C.; Neu, C.; Wood, J.; Clarke, C.; Harr, R.; Karchin, P. E.; Kottachchi Kankanamge Don, C.; Lamichhane, P.; Sturdy, J.; Belknap, D. A.; Carlsmith, D.; Cepeda, M.; Dasu, S.; Dodd, L.; Duric, S.; Friis, E.; Hall-Wilton, R.; Herndon, M.; Hervé, A.; Klabbers, P.; Lanaro, A.; Lazaridis, C.; Levine, A.; Loveless, R.; Mohapatra, A.; Ojalvo, I.; Perry, T.; Pierro, G. A.; Polese, G.; Ross, I.; Sarangi, T.; Savin, A.; Smith, W. H.; Taylor, D.; Verwilligen, P.; Vuosalo, C.; Woods, N.; CMS Collaboration

2015-05-01

A search is presented for a standard model-like Higgs boson decaying to the μ+μ- or e+e- final states based on proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The data correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.0 fb-1 at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and 19.7 fb-1 at 8 TeV for the μ+μ- search, and of 19.7 fb-1 at 8 TeV for the e+e- search. Upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction at the 95% confidence level are reported for Higgs boson masses in the range from 120 to 150 GeV. For a Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV decaying to μ+μ-, the observed (expected) upper limit on the production rate is found to be 7.4 (6.5-1.9+2.8) times the standard model value. This corresponds to an upper limit on the branching fraction of 0.0016. Similarly, for e+e-, an upper limit of 0.0019 is placed on the branching fraction, which is ≈ 3.7 ×105 times the standard model value. These results, together with recent evidence of the 125 GeV boson coupling to τ-leptons with a larger branching fraction consistent with the standard model, confirm that the leptonic couplings of the new boson are not flavour-universal.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) Device and Module Reliability, Performance of a Loop Heat Pipe Subjected to a Phase-Coupled Heat Input to an Acceleration Field

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

AFRL-RQ-WP-TR-2016-0108 SILICON CARBIDE (SiC) DEVICE AND MODULE RELIABILITY Performance of a Loop Heat Pipe Subjected to a Phase-Coupled... Heat Input to an Acceleration Field Kirk L. Yerkes (AFRL/RQQI) and James D. Scofield (AFRL/RQQE) Flight Systems Integration Branch (AFRL/RQQI...CARBIDE (SiC) DEVICE AND MODULE RELIABILITY Performance of a Loop Heat Pipe Subjected to a Phase-Coupled Heat Input to an Acceleration Field 5a

Oxidative phosphorylation in Debaryomyces hansenii: physiological uncoupling at different growth phases.

PubMed

Cabrera-Orefice, Alfredo; Guerrero-Castillo, Sergio; Díaz-Ruíz, Rodrigo; Uribe-Carvajal, Salvador

2014-07-01

Physiological uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) was studied in Debaryomyces hansenii. In other species, such as Yarrowia lipolytica and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, OxPhos can be uncoupled through differential expression of branched respiratory chain enzymes or by opening of a mitochondrial unspecific channel (ScMUC), respectively. However D. hansenii mitochondria, which contain both a branched respiratory chain and a mitochondrial unspecific channel (DhMUC), selectively uncouple complex I-dependent rate of oxygen consumption in the stationary growth phase. The uncoupled complex I-dependent respiration was only 20% of the original activity. Inhibition was not due to inactivation of complex I, lack of protein expression or to differential expression of alternative oxidoreductases. Furthermore, all other respiratory chain activities were normal. Decrease of complex I-dependent respiration was due to NAD(+) loss from the matrix, probably through an open of DhMUC. When NAD(+) was added back, coupled complex I-activity was recovered. NAD(+) re-uptake was independent of DhMUC opening and seemed to be catalyzed by a NAD(+)-specific transporter, which was sensitive to bathophenanthroline, bromocresol purple or pyridoxal-5'-phosphate as described for S. cerevisiae mitochondrial NAD(+) transporters. Loss of NAD(+) from the matrix through an open MUC is proposed as an additional mechanism to uncouple OxPhos. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Anion exchange membranes for electrochemical oxidation-reduction energy storage system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odonnell, P. M.; Sheibley, D. W.; Gahn, R. F.

1977-01-01

Oxidation-reduction couples in concentrated solutions separated by appropriate ion selective membranes were considered as an attractive approach to bulk electrical energy storage. A key problem is the development of the membrane. Several promising types of anionic membranes are discussed which were developed and evaluated for redox energy storage systems. The copolymers of ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate with either 2-vinylpyridine or vinylbenzl chloride gave stable resistance values compared to the copolymer of vinylbenzlchloride and divinylbenzene which served as the baseline membrane. A polyvinylchloride film aminated with tetraethylenepentamine had a low resistance but a high ion transfer rate. A slurry coated vinylpyridine had the lowest ion transfer rate. All these membranes functioned well in laboratory cells at ambient temperatures with the acidic chloride oxidant/reductant system, Fe 3, Fe 2/Ti 3, Ti 4.

Mutations in algal and cyanobacterial Photosystem I that independently affect the yield of initial charge separation in the two electron transfer cofactor branches.

PubMed

Badshah, Syed Lal; Sun, Junlei; Mula, Sam; Gorka, Mike; Baker, Patricia; Luthra, Rajiv; Lin, Su; van der Est, Art; Golbeck, John H; Redding, Kevin E

2018-01-01

In Photosystem I, light-induced electron transfer can occur in either of two symmetry-related branches of cofactors, each of which is composed of a pair of chlorophylls (ec2 A /ec3 A or ec2 B /ec3 B ) and a phylloquinone (PhQ A or PhQ B ). The axial ligand to the central Mg 2+ of the ec2 A and ec2 B chlorophylls is a water molecule that is also H-bonded to a nearby Asn residue. Here, we investigate the importance of this interaction for charge separation by converting each of the Asn residues to a Leu in the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and the cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, and studying the energy and electron transfer using time-resolved optical and EPR spectroscopy. Nanosecond transient absorbance measurements of the PhQ to F X electron transfer show that in both species, the PsaA-N604L mutation (near ec2 B ) results in a ~50% reduction in the amount of electron transfer in the B-branch, while the PsaB-N591L mutation (near ec2 A ) results in a ~70% reduction in the amount of electron transfer in the A-branch. A diminished quantum yield of P 700 + PhQ - is also observed in ultrafast optical experiments, but the lower yield does not appear to be a consequence of charge recombination in the nanosecond or microsecond timescales. The most significant finding is that the yield of electron transfer in the unaffected branch did not increase to compensate for the lower yield in the affected branch. Hence, each branch of the reaction center appears to operate independently of the other in carrying out light-induced charge separation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Manifestation of Nonuniversality of Lepton Interactions in Spontaneously Violated Mirror Symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dyatlov, I. T.

2018-03-01

Data from the LHCb experiments are indicative of a substantial distinction between the B → K (or K*) + e + e - and B → K (or K*) + μ + μ - branching ratios (April 2017). The branching ratio for the e+e- channel is substantially greater than that for the μ + μ - channel, whereas Standard Model (SM) calculations require that they be equal to each other. The above distinction may suggest the existence of a new interaction changing generations and discriminating between leptons that has couplings that are much greater than and are inverse in strength to the SM fermion couplings to the Higgs boson. Under conditions of spontaneously violated mirror symmetry, the coupling of SM particles to the second Higgs scalar that is inevitably present there and which is in principle heavy possesses precisely these properties. An inverse character of this coupling and its strength are not an additional hypothesis but a necessary condition for qualitatively reproducing, in addition, the observed charged-lepton mass hierarchy and the structure of weak lepton mixing—the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) matrix. Within the mirror model being considered, all properties of the new interaction, including its inverse character, are due to the hierarchical character of the quark and charged-lepton mass spectrum.

Coupled channels description of the α-decay fine structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delion, D. S.; Ren, Zhongzhou; Dumitrescu, A.; Ni, Dongdong

2018-05-01

We review the coupled channels approach of α transitions to excited states. The α-decaying states are identified as narrow outgoing Gamow resonances in an α-daughter potential. The real part of the eigenvalue corresponds to the Q-value, while the imaginary part determines the half of the total α-decay width. We first review the calculations describing transitions to rotational states treated by the rigid rotator model, in even–even, odd-mass and odd–odd nuclei. It is found that the semiclassical method overestimates the branching ratios to excited 4+ for some even–even α-emitters and fails in explaining the unexpected inversion of branching ratios of some odd-mass nuclei, while the coupled-channels results show good agreement with the experimental data. Then, we review the coupled channels method for α-transitions to 2+ vibrational and transitional states. We present the results of the Coherent State Model that describes in a unified way the spectra of vibrational, transitional and rotational nuclei. We evidence general features of the α-decay fine structure, namely the linear dependence between α-intensities and excitation energy, the linear correlation between the strength of the α-core interaction and spectroscopic factor, and the inverse correlation between the nuclear collectivity, given by electromagnetic transitions, and α-clustering.

A practical and catalyst-free trifluoroethylation reaction of amines using trifluoroacetic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, Keith G.; Faizova, Radmila; Denton, Ross M.

2017-06-01

Amines are a fundamentally important class of biologically active compounds and the ability to manipulate their physicochemical properties through the introduction of fluorine is of paramount importance in medicinal chemistry. Current synthesis methods for the construction of fluorinated amines rely on air and moisture sensitive reagents that require special handling or harsh reductants that limit functionality. Here we report practical, catalyst-free, reductive trifluoroethylation reactions of free amines exhibiting remarkable functional group tolerance. The reactions proceed in conventional glassware without rigorous exclusion of either moisture or oxygen, and use trifluoroacetic acid as a stable and inexpensive fluorine source. The new methods provide access to a wide range of medicinally relevant functionalized tertiary β-fluoroalkylamine cores, either through direct trifluoroethylation of secondary amines or via a three-component coupling of primary amines, aldehydes and trifluoroacetic acid. A reduction of in situ-generated silyl ester species is proposed to account for the reductive selectivity observed.

Fragrance release from the surface of branched poly (amide)s.

PubMed

Aulenta, Francesca; Drew, Michael G B; Foster, Alison; Hayes, Wayne; Rannard, Steven; Thornthwaite, David W; Youngs, Tristan G A

2005-01-31

Enzymes are powerful tools in organic synthesis that are able to catalyse a wide variety of selective chemical transformations under mild and environmentally friendly conditions. Enzymes such as the lipases have also found applications in the synthesis and degradation of polymeric materials. However, the use of these natural catalysts in the synthesis and the post-synthetic modification of dendrimers and hyperbranched molecules is an application of chemistry yet to be explored extensively. In this study the use of two hydrolytic enzymes, a lipase from Candida cylindracea and a cutinase from Fusarium solani pisii, were investigated in the selective cleavage of ester groups situated on the peripheral layer of two families of branched polyamides. These branched polyamides were conjugated to simple fragrances citronellol and L-menthol via ester linkages. Hydrolysis of the ester linkage between the fragrances and the branched polyamide support was carried out in aqueous buffered systems at slightly basic pH values under the optimum operative conditions for the enzymes used. These preliminary qualitative investigations revealed that partial cleavage of the ester functionalities from the branched polyamide support had occurred. However, the ability of the enzymes to interact with the substrates decreased considerably as the branching density, the rigidity of the structure and the bulkiness of the polyamide-fragrance conjugates increased.

Coupling catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation of HCN over HZSM-5 modified by metal (Fe,Cu) oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yanan; Liu, Jiangping; Cheng, Jinhuan; Wang, Langlang; Tao, Lei; Wang, Qi; Wang, Xueqian; Ning, Ping

2018-01-01

In this work, a series of metal oxides (Fe,Cu) modified HZSM-5 catalysts were synthesized by incipient-wetness impregnation method and then characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, UV-vis, FT-IR and XPS measurements. The catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation behaviors toward HCN were investigated. The results indicated that the Fe-Cu/HZSM-5 catalysts exhibited more excellent performence on coupling catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation of HCN than HZSM-5, Fe/HZSM-5, Cu/HZSM-5, and both nearly 100% HCN conversion and 80% N2 selectivity were obtained at about 250 °C. The improved catalytic performance could be ascribed to the creation of highly dispersed iron and copper composites on the surface of the HZSM-5 support, the excellent redox and regulated acid properties of the active ingredients. Moreover, the highly N2 selectivity could be attributed to the good interaction between the Fe and Cu nanocomposites which was facilitated to the NH3-SCR (selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3) reaction.

Replacing Conventional Carbon Nucleophiles with Electrophiles: Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Alkylation of Aryl Bromides and Chlorides

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

A general method is presented for the synthesis of alkylated arenes by the chemoselective combination of two electrophilic carbons. Under the optimized conditions, a variety of aryl and vinyl bromides are reductively coupled with alkyl bromides in high yields. Under similar conditions, activated aryl chlorides can also be coupled with bromoalkanes. The protocols are highly functional-group tolerant (−OH, −NHTs, −OAc, −OTs, −OTf, −COMe, −NHBoc, −NHCbz, −CN, −SO2Me), and the reactions are assembled on the benchtop with no special precautions to exclude air or moisture. The reaction displays different chemoselectivity than conventional cross-coupling reactions, such as the Suzuki–Miyaura, Stille, and Hiyama–Denmark reactions. Substrates bearing both an electrophilic and nucleophilic carbon result in selective coupling at the electrophilic carbon (R–X) and no reaction at the nucleophilic carbon (R–[M]) for organoboron (−Bpin), organotin (−SnMe3), and organosilicon (−SiMe2OH) containing organic halides (X–R–[M]). A Hammett study showed a linear correlation of σ and σ(−) parameters with the relative rate of reaction of substituted aryl bromides with bromoalkanes. The small ρ values for these correlations (1.2–1.7) indicate that oxidative addition of the bromoarene is not the turnover-frequency determining step. The rate of reaction has a positive dependence on the concentration of alkyl bromide and catalyst, no dependence upon the amount of zinc (reducing agent), and an inverse dependence upon aryl halide concentration. These results and studies with an organic reductant (TDAE) argue against the intermediacy of organozinc reagents. PMID:22463689

Electric vehicle drive train with direct coupling transmission

DOEpatents

Tankersley, J.B.; Boothe, R.W.; Konrad, C.E.

1995-04-04

An electric vehicle drive train includes an electric motor and an associated speed sensor, a transmission operable in a speed reduction mode or a direct coupled mode, and a controller responsive to the speed sensor for operating the transmission in the speed reduction mode when the motor is below a predetermined value, and for operating the motor in the direct coupled mode when the motor speed is above a predetermined value. The controller reduces the speed of the motor, such as by regeneratively braking the motor, when changing from the speed reduction mode to the direct coupled mode. The motor speed may be increased when changing from the direct coupled mode to the speed reduction mode. The transmission is preferably a single stage planetary gearbox. 6 figures.

Electric vehicle drive train with direct coupling transmission

DOEpatents

Tankersley, Jerome B.; Boothe, Richard W.; Konrad, Charles E.

1995-01-01

An electric vehicle drive train includes an electric motor and an associated speed sensor, a transmission operable in a speed reduction mode or a direct coupled mode, and a controller responsive to the speed sensor for operating the transmission in the speed reduction mode when the motor is below a predetermined value, and for operating the motor in the direct coupled mode when the motor speed is above a predetermined value. The controller reduces the speed of the motor, such as by regeneratively braking the motor, when changing from the speed reduction mode to the direct coupled mode. The motor speed may be increased when changing from the direct coupled mode to the speed reduction mode. The transmission is preferably a single stage planetary gearbox.

Branches of the Facial Artery.

PubMed

Hwang, Kun; Lee, Geun In; Park, Hye Jin

2015-06-01

The aim of this study is to review the name of the branches, to review the classification of the branching pattern, and to clarify a presence percentage of each branch of the facial artery, systematically. In a PubMed search, the search terms "facial," AND "artery," AND "classification OR variant OR pattern" were used. The IBM SPSS Statistics 20 system was used for statistical analysis. Among the 500 titles, 18 articles were selected and reviewed systematically. Most of the articles focused on "classification" according to the "terminal branch." Several authors classified the facial artery according to their terminal branches. Most of them, however, did not describe the definition of "terminal branch." There were confusions within the classifications. When the inferior labial artery was absent, 3 different types were used. The "alar branch" or "nasal branch" was used instead of the "lateral nasal branch." The angular branch was used to refer to several different branches. The presence as a percentage of each branch according to the branches in Gray's Anatomy (premasseteric, inferior labial, superior labial, lateral nasal, and angular) varied. No branch was used with 100% consistency. The superior labial branch was most frequently cited (95.7%, 382 arteries in 399 hemifaces). The angular branch (53.9%, 219 arteries in 406 hemifaces) and the premasseteric branch were least frequently cited (53.8%, 43 arteries in 80 hemifaces). There were significant differences among each of the 5 branches (P < 0.05) except between the angular branch and the premasseteric branch and between the superior labial branch and the inferior labial branch. The authors believe identifying the presence percentage of each branch will be helpful for surgical procedures.

Intracavity Faraday modulation spectroscopy (INFAMOS): A tool for radical detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gianella, Michele; Pinto, Tomas H. P.; Wu, Xia; Ritchie, Grant A. D.

2017-08-01

We present the intra-cavity Faraday modulation spectroscopy technique, whereby optical feedback cavity-enhanced spectroscopy is coupled with Faraday modulation spectroscopy to greatly enhance the interaction path length of a laser beam with a paramagnetic sample in a magnetic field. We describe a first prototype based upon a cw quantum cascade laser targeting a selection of fundamental rovibrational R-branch transitions of nitric oxide (1890 cm-1), consisting of a linear cavity (finesse F =6300 ) and a water-cooled solenoid. We demonstrate a minimum detectable Verdet constant of Vmin=4.7 ×10-14 rad cm-1 G-1 H z-1/2 (at SNR = 1), corresponding to a single-pass rotation angle of 1.6 ×10-10 rad Hz-1/2 and a limit of detection of 0.21 ppbv Hz-1/2 NO.

Application of artificial intelligence to pharmacy and medicine.

PubMed

Dasta, J F

1992-04-01

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science dealing with solving problems using symbolic programming. It has evolved into a problem solving science with applications in business, engineering, and health care. One application of AI is expert system development. An expert system consists of a knowledge base and inference engine, coupled with a user interface. A crucial aspect of expert system development is knowledge acquisition and implementing computable ways to solve problems. There have been several expert systems developed in medicine to assist physicians with medical diagnosis. Recently, several programs focusing on drug therapy have been described. They provide guidance on drug interactions, drug therapy monitoring, and drug formulary selection. There are many aspects of pharmacy that AI can have an impact on and the reader is challenged to consider these possibilities because they may some day become a reality in pharmacy.

Assortative Mating for Emotional Intelligence.

PubMed

Śmieja, Magdalena; Stolarski, Maciej

2018-01-01

Assortative mating has been studied on a broad range of variables, including intelligence and personality traits. In the present study we analysed the effect of assortative mating for ability emotional intelligence (EI) on a sample of heterosexual couples ( N  = 382), including dating and married couples. Correlation analyses revealed moderate similarity of Pearson's r  = .27 for general EI score, and was slightly weaker (from .18 to .23) for branch scores. Regression analyses showed that the Perception branch was the strongest single predictor of a partner's general EI score, both in males and females. Continuous parameter estimation (CPEM) revealed that the magnitude of the correlation does not increase with age, thus it is highly possible that the obtained similarity reflects initial assortment (i.e., similarity at the starting point of the relationship), rather than convergence (i.e., increasing similarity with time). It seems that EI is a significant factor influencing mate assortment processes.

Compact Feeding Network for Array Radiations of Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Jun Jun; Yin, Jia Yuan; Zhang, Hao Chi; Cui, Tie Jun

2016-03-01

We propose a splitter feeding network for array radiations of spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which are guided by ultrathin corrugated metallic strips. Based on the coupled mode theory, SPP fields along a single waveguide in a certain frequency range can be readily coupled into two adjacent branch waveguides with the same propagation constants. We propose to load U-shaped particles anti-symmetrically at the ends of such two branch waveguides, showing a high integration degree of the feeding network. By controlling linear phase modulations produced by the U-shaped particle chain, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that the SPP fields based on bound modes can be efficiently radiated to far fields in broadside direction. The proposed method shows that the symmetry of electromagnetic field modes can be exploited to the SPP transmission network, providing potential solutions to compact power dividers and combiners for microwave and optical devices and systems.

Electron capture dissociation in a branched radio-frequency ion trap.

PubMed

Baba, Takashi; Campbell, J Larry; Le Blanc, J C Yves; Hager, James W; Thomson, Bruce A

2015-01-06

We have developed a high-throughput electron capture dissociation (ECD) device coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer using novel branched radio frequency ion trap architecture. With this device, a low-energy electron beam can be injected orthogonally into the analytical ion beam with independent control of both the ion and electron beams. While ions and electrons can interact in a "flow-through" mode, we observed a large enhancement in ECD efficiency by introducing a short ion trapping period at the region of ion and electron beam intersection. This simultaneous trapping mode still provides up to five ECD spectra per second while operating in an information-dependent acquisition workflow. Coupled to liquid chromatography (LC), this LC-ECD workflow provides good sequence coverage for both trypsin and Lys C digests of bovine serum albumin, providing ECD spectra for doubly charged precursor ions with very good efficiency.

Unimolecular Logic Gate with Classical Input by Single Gold Atoms.

PubMed

Skidin, Dmitry; Faizy, Omid; Krüger, Justus; Eisenhut, Frank; Jancarik, Andrej; Nguyen, Khanh-Hung; Cuniberti, Gianaurelio; Gourdon, Andre; Moresco, Francesca; Joachim, Christian

2018-02-27

By a combination of solution and on-surface chemistry, we synthesized an asymmetric starphene molecule with two long anthracenyl input branches and a short naphthyl output branch on the Au(111) surface. Starting from this molecule, we could demonstrate the working principle of a single molecule NAND logic gate by selectively contacting single gold atoms by atomic manipulation to the longer branches of the molecule. The logical input "1" ("0") is defined by the interaction (noninteraction) of a gold atom with one of the input branches. The output is measured by scanning tunneling spectroscopy following the shift in energy of the electronic tunneling resonances at the end of the short branch of the molecule.

Organic compounds and cadmium in the tributaries to the Elizabeth River in New Jersey, October 2008 to November 2008: Phase II of the New Jersey Toxics Reduction Workplan for New York-New Jersey Harbor

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bonin, Jennifer L.

2010-01-01

Samples of surface water and suspended sediment were collected from the two branches that make up the Elizabeth River in New Jersey - the West Branch and the Main Stem - from October to November 2008 to determine the concentrations of selected chlorinated organic and inorganic constituents. The sampling and analyses were conducted as part of Phase II of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Plan-Contaminant Assessment and Reduction Program (CARP), which is overseen by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Phase II of the New Jersey Workplan was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey to define upstream tributary and point sources of contaminants in those rivers sampled during Phase I work, with special emphasis on the Passaic and Elizabeth Rivers. This portion of the Phase II study was conducted on the two branches of the Elizabeth River, which were previously sampled during July and August of 2003 at low-flow conditions. Samples were collected during 2008 from the West Branch and Main Stem of the Elizabeth River just upstream from their confluence at Hillside, N.J. Both tributaries were sampled once during low-flow discharge conditions and once during high-flow discharge conditions using the protocols and analytical methods that were used in the initial part of Phase II of the Workplan. Grab samples of streamwater also were collected at each site and were analyzed for cadmium, suspended sediment, and particulate organic carbon. The measured concentrations, along with available historical suspended-sediment and stream-discharge data were used to estimate average annual loads of suspended sediment and organic compounds in the two branches of the Elizabeth River. Total suspended-sediment loads for 1975 to 2000 were estimated using rating curves developed from historical U.S. Geological Survey suspended-sediment and discharge data, where available. Concentrations of suspended-sediment-bound polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Main Stem and the West Branch of the Elizabeth River during low-flow conditions were 534 ng/g (nanograms per gram) and 1,120 ng/g, respectively, representing loads of 27 g/yr (grams per year) and 416 g/yr, respectively. These loads were estimated using contaminant concentrations during low flow, and the assumed 25-year average discharge, and 25-year average suspended-sediment concentration. Concentrations of suspended-sediment-bound PCBs in the Main Stem and the West Branch of the Elizabeth River during high-flow conditions were 3,530 ng/g and 623 ng/g, respectively, representing loads of 176 g/yr and 231 g/yr, respectively. These loads were estimated using contaminant concentrations during high-flow conditions, the assumed 25-year average discharge, and 25-year average suspended-sediment concentration. Concentrations of suspended-sediment-bound polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-difuran compounds (PCDD/PCDFs) during low-flow conditions were 2,880 pg/g (picograms per gram) and 5,910 pg/g in the Main Stem and West Branch, respectively, representing average annual loads of 0.14 g/yr and 2.2 g/yr, respectively. Concentrations of suspended-sediment-bound PCDD/PCDFs during high-flow conditions were 40,900 pg/g and 12,400 pg/g in the Main Stem and West Branch, respectively, representing average annual loads of 2.05 g/yr and 4.6 g/yr, respectively. Total toxic equivalency (TEQ) loads (sum of PCDD/PCDF and PCB TEQs) were 3.1 mg/yr (milligrams per year) (as 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD) in the Main Stem and 28 mg/yr in the West Branch during low-flow conditions. Total TEQ loads (sum of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs) were 27 mg/yr (as 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD) in the Main Stem and 32 mg/yr in the West Branch during high-flow conditions. All of these load estimates, however, are directly related to the assumed annual discharge for the two branches. Long-term measurement of stream discharge and suspended-sediment concentrations would be needed to verify these loads. On the basis of the loads cal

Effect of genotype and environment on branching in weedy green millet (Setaria viridis) and domesticated foxtail millet (Setaria italica) (Poaceae).

PubMed

Doust, Andrew N; Kellogg, Elizabeth A

2006-04-01

Many domesticated crops are derived from species whose life history includes weedy characteristics, such as the ability to vary branching patterns in response to environmental conditions. However, domesticated crop plants are characterized by less variable plant architecture, as well as by a general reduction in vegetative branching compared to their progenitor species. Here we examine weedy green millet and its domesticate foxtail millet that differ in the number of tillers (basal branches) and axillary branches along each tiller. Branch number in F(2:3) progeny of a cross between the two species varies with genotype, planting density, and other environmental variables, with significant genotype-environment interactions (GEI). This is shown by a complex pattern of reaction norms and by variation in the pattern of significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) amongst trials. Individual and joint analyses of high and low density trials indicate that most QTL have significant GEI. Dominance and epistasis also explain some variation in branching. Likely candidate genes underlying the QTL (based on map position and phenotypic effect) include teosinte branched1 and barren stalk1. Phytochrome B, which has been found to affect response to shading in other plants, explains little or no variation. Much variation in branching is explained by QTL that do not have obvious candidate genes from maize or rice.

Optimizing Cellular Networks Enabled with Renewal Energy via Strategic Learning.

PubMed

Sohn, Insoo; Liu, Huaping; Ansari, Nirwan

2015-01-01

An important issue in the cellular industry is the rising energy cost and carbon footprint due to the rapid expansion of the cellular infrastructure. Greening cellular networks has thus attracted attention. Among the promising green cellular network techniques, the renewable energy-powered cellular network has drawn increasing attention as a critical element towards reducing carbon emissions due to massive energy consumption in the base stations deployed in cellular networks. Game theory is a branch of mathematics that is used to evaluate and optimize systems with multiple players with conflicting objectives and has been successfully used to solve various problems in cellular networks. In this paper, we model the green energy utilization and power consumption optimization problem of a green cellular network as a pilot power selection strategic game and propose a novel distributed algorithm based on a strategic learning method. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves correlated equilibrium of the pilot power selection game, resulting in optimum green energy utilization and power consumption reduction.

Evolution of the Behavioral Sciences Branch of the Space Medicine and Health Care Systems Office at the Johnson Space Center.

PubMed

Fiedler, Edna R; Carpenter, Frank E

2005-06-01

This paper presents a brief history of psychology and psychiatry roles in psychological selection and how these roles have evolved into the Behavioral Sciences Branch at the Johnson Space Center USC), Houston, TX. Since the initial selection of the Mercury Seven, the first United States astronauts, psychologists and psychiatrists have been involved in astronaut selection activities. Initially very involved in psychological selection of astronauts, the role of behavioral health specialists waned during the Gemini and Apollo years. With the onset of the NASA/Mir/International Space Station Program, the introduction of payload and mission specialists, and international collaboration, the evolving need for behavioral health expertise became apparent. Medical and psychological selection processes were revisited and the Johnson Space Center developed a separate operational unit focused on behavioral health and performance. This work unit eventually became the Behavioral Sciences branch of the Space Medicine and Health Care Systems Office. Research was allocated across groups at JSC, other NASA space centers, and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, and was funded by NASA Headquarters. The current NASA focus on human space exploration to the Moon and beyond re-emphasizes the importance of the human-centered approach.

EMC Global Climate And Weather Modeling Branch Personnel

Science.gov Websites

Comparison Statistics which includes: NCEP Raw and Bias-Corrected Ensemble Domain Averaged Bias NCEP Raw and Bias-Corrected Ensemble Domain Averaged Bias Reduction (Percents) CMC Raw and Bias-Corrected Control Forecast Domain Averaged Bias CMC Raw and Bias-Corrected Control Forecast Domain Averaged Bias Reduction

[Effects of Loquat-Branch Dust Substitution on Ganoderma lucidum Cultivation in Its Main Active Components].

PubMed

Zhang, Ping; Chen, Feng; Lai, Teng-qiang; Jin, Ling-yun; Li, Ye

2015-12-01

To select the best Ganoderma lucidum cultivation medium of replacing sawdust into loquat-branch dust, in order to realize high output and high quality production of Ganoderma lucidum. Loquat-branch dust was added as substitution in Ganoderma lucidum cultivation, its effects on the biomass and the content of Ganoderma polysaccharides, triterpenoids and flavonoids were analyzed. By using loquat-branch dust in culture, Ganoderma lucidum grew well with normal fruiting body obtained and spores released. Compared with control group, the biological efficiency was increased by 11.34%, when the addition of the loquat-branch dust was 80%, while the amount of spore had little difference. When the addition of the loquat-branch dust was 90%, the content of Ganoderma polysaccharides and triterpenoids was increased by 32.29% and 30.58% respectively, while the efficiency of flavonoids had little difference. Using loquat-branch dust cultivation can improve the quality of Ganoderma lucidum. According to the comprehensive score, 80% loquat-branch dust is the most suitable cultivation medium.

Highly branched polyethylenes as lubricant viscosity and friction modifiers

DOE PAGES

Robinson, Joshua W.; Zhou, Yan; Qu, Jun; ...

2016-10-08

A series of highly branched polyethylene (BPE) were prepared and evaluated in a Group I base oil as potential viscosity and friction modifiers. The performance of these BPEs supports the expected dual functionality. Changes in polarity, topology, and molecular weight of the BPEs showed significant effects on the lubricants' performance with respect to viscosity index and friction reduction. In conclusion, this study provides scientific insights into polymer design for future lubricant development activities.

CO2 capture by polymeric membranes composed of hyper-branched polymers with dense poly(oxyethylene) comb and poly(amidoamine)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taniguchi, Ikuo; Wada, Norihisa; Kinugasa, Kae; Higa, Mitsuru

2017-11-01

Due to CO2-philic nature of polyoxyethylene (POE), a dense POE comb structure was tethered onto PMMA backbone to develop CO2 separation membranes over N2. The resulting hyper-branched polymers displayed preferential CO2 permeation. When the polymer thin layer was formed on a high gas permeable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) support by a spray-coating manner, the resulting thin film composite (TFC) membranes displayed very high CO2 permeability. However, the CO2 selectivity, which was the permeability ratio of CO2 over N2, was moderate and lower than 50. To enhance the selectivity, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) was introduced to the hyper-branched polymers in the CO2-selective layer of the TFC membranes. The CO2 selectivity increased from 47 to 90 with increasing PAMAM content to 40 wt%, and it was drastically enhanced to 350 with PAMAM content of 50 wt%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and laser microscope revealed formation of PAMAM-rich domain at the higher amine content, where CO2 could readily migrate in comparison to the other polymeric fractions.

Identifying sensitive ranges in global warming precipitation change dependence on convective parameters

DOE PAGES

Bernstein, Diana N.; Neelin, J. David

2016-04-28

A branch-run perturbed-physics ensemble in the Community Earth System Model estimates impacts of parameters in the deep convection scheme on current hydroclimate and on end-of-century precipitation change projections under global warming. Regional precipitation change patterns prove highly sensitive to these parameters, especially in the tropics with local changes exceeding 3mm/d, comparable to the magnitude of the predicted change and to differences in global warming predictions among the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 models. This sensitivity is distributed nonlinearly across the feasible parameter range, notably in the low-entrainment range of the parameter for turbulent entrainment in the deep convection scheme.more » This suggests that a useful target for parameter sensitivity studies is to identify such disproportionately sensitive dangerous ranges. Here, the low-entrainment range is used to illustrate the reduction in global warming regional precipitation sensitivity that could occur if this dangerous range can be excluded based on evidence from current climate.« less

Identifying sensitive ranges in global warming precipitation change dependence on convective parameters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bernstein, Diana N.; Neelin, J. David

A branch-run perturbed-physics ensemble in the Community Earth System Model estimates impacts of parameters in the deep convection scheme on current hydroclimate and on end-of-century precipitation change projections under global warming. Regional precipitation change patterns prove highly sensitive to these parameters, especially in the tropics with local changes exceeding 3mm/d, comparable to the magnitude of the predicted change and to differences in global warming predictions among the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 models. This sensitivity is distributed nonlinearly across the feasible parameter range, notably in the low-entrainment range of the parameter for turbulent entrainment in the deep convection scheme.more » This suggests that a useful target for parameter sensitivity studies is to identify such disproportionately sensitive dangerous ranges. Here, the low-entrainment range is used to illustrate the reduction in global warming regional precipitation sensitivity that could occur if this dangerous range can be excluded based on evidence from current climate.« less

Spectral and mode properties of surface plasmon polariton waveguides studied by near-field excitation and leakage-mode radiation measurement

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

We present a method to couple surface plasmon polariton (SPP) guiding mode into dielectric-loaded SPP waveguide (DLSPPW) devices with spectral and mode selectivity. The method combined a transmission-mode near-field spectroscopy to excite the SPP mode and a leakage radiation optical microscope for direct visualization. By using a near-field fiber tip, incident photons with different wavelengths were converted into SPPs at the metal/dielectric interface. Real-time SPP radiation images were taken through leakage radiation images. The wavelength-dependent propagation lengths for silver- and gold-based DLSPPWs were measured and compared. It confirms that silver-based SPP has a propagation length longer than a gold-based one by 1.25, 1.38, and 1.52 times for red, green, and blue photons. The resonant coupling as a function of wavelength in dual DLSPPWs was measured. The coupling lengths measured from leakage radiation images were in good agreement with finite-difference time domain simulations. In addition, the propagation profile due to multi-SPP modes interference was studied by changing position of the fiber tip. In a multimode DLSPPW, SPP was split into two branches with a gap of 2.237 μm when the tip was at the center of the waveguide. It became a zigzag profile when the SPP was excited at the corner of the waveguide. PMID:25177228

Automatic detection of lung vessel bifurcation in thoracic CT images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maduskar, Pragnya; Vikal, Siddharth; Devarakota, Pandu

2011-03-01

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for detection of lung nodules have been an active topic of research for last few years. It is desirable that a CAD system should generate very low false positives (FPs) while maintaining high sensitivity. This work aims to reduce the number of false positives occurring at vessel bifurcation point. FPs occur quite frequently on vessel branching point due to its shape which can appear locally spherical due to the intrinsic geometry of intersecting tubular vessel structures combined with partial volume effects and soft tissue attenuation appearance surrounded by parenchyma. We propose a model-based technique for detection of vessel branching points using skeletonization, followed by branch-point analysis. First we perform vessel structure enhancement using a multi-scale Hessian filter to accurately segment tubular structures of various sizes followed by thresholding to get binary vessel structure segmentation [6]. A modified Reebgraph [7] is applied next to extract the critical points of structure and these are joined by a nearest neighbor criterion to obtain complete skeletal model of vessel structure. Finally, the skeletal model is traversed to identify branch points, and extract metrics including individual branch length, number of branches and angle between various branches. Results on 80 sub-volumes consisting of 60 actual vessel-branching and 20 solitary solid nodules show that the algorithm identified correctly vessel branching points for 57 sub-volumes (95% sensitivity) and misclassified 2 nodules as vessel branch. Thus, this technique has potential in explicit identification of vessel branching points for general vessel analysis, and could be useful in false positive reduction in a lung CAD system.

Successful Treatment by Balloon Angioplasty Under Portography for Late-Onset Stenosis of Portal Vein After Cadaveric Liver Transplantation

PubMed Central

Shiba, Hiroaki; Sadaoka, Shunichi; Wakiyama, Shigeki; Ishida, Yuichi; Misawa, Takeyuki; Yanaga, Katsuhiko

2013-01-01

A 69-year-old woman, who underwent cadaveric liver transplantation for non-B, non-C liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma in April 2009, was admitted to our hospital because of graft dysfunction. Enhanced computed tomography revealed stenosis of the left branch of the portal vein, obstruction of the right branch of the portal vein at porta hepatis, and esophagogastric varices. Balloon angioplasty of the left branch of the portal vein under transsuperior mesenteric venous portography was performed by minilaparotomy. After dilatation of the left branch of the portal vein, the narrow segment of the portal vein was dilated, which resulted in reduction of collateral circulation. At 7 days after balloon angioplasty, esophageal varices were improved. The patient made a satisfactory recovery, was discharged 8 days after balloon angioplasty, and remains well. PMID:24229043

Person-Organization Fit and Its Effect on Retention of Army Officers with Less Than Eight Years of Active Duty Service

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-12

insight into the physical and mental well-being of employees, and identify and develop desired leadership traits in employees. Person -organization fit...advocate general) will be considered as self-select for person - vocation fit and therefore will be excluded. 17 Table 2. Basic Branches Grouped...considered as self-select for person - vocation fit and may skew the results for personnel assigned to the basic branches. Studies examining related concepts

Large scale structure formation of the normal branch in the DGP brane world model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Song, Yong-Seon

2008-06-15

In this paper, we study the large scale structure formation of the normal branch in the DGP model (Dvail, Gabadadze, and Porrati brane world model) by applying the scaling method developed by Sawicki, Song, and Hu for solving the coupled perturbed equations of motion of on-brane and off-brane. There is a detectable departure of perturbed gravitational potential from the cold dark matter model with vacuum energy even at the minimal deviation of the effective equation of state w{sub eff} below -1. The modified perturbed gravitational potential weakens the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect which is strengthened in the self-accelerating branch DGP model.more » Additionally, we discuss the validity of the scaling solution in the de Sitter limit at late times.« less

Guilt-selective functional disconnection of anterior temporal and subgenual cortices in major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Green, Sophie; Lambon Ralph, Matthew A; Moll, Jorge; Deakin, John F W; Zahn, Roland

2012-10-01

Proneness to overgeneralization of self-blame is a core part of cognitive vulnerability to major depressive disorder (MDD) and remains dormant after remission of symptoms. Current neuroanatomical models of MDD, however, assume general increases of negative emotions and are unable to explain biases toward emotions entailing self-blame (eg, guilt) relative to those associated with blaming others (eg, indignation). Recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in healthy participants have shown that moral feelings such as guilt activate representations of social meaning within the right superior anterior temporal lobe (ATL). Furthermore, this area was selectively coupled with the subgenual cingulate cortex and adjacent septal region (SCSR) during the experience of guilt compared with indignation. Despite its psychopathological importance, the functional neuroanatomy of guilt in MDD is unknown. To use fMRI to test the hypothesis that, in comparison with control individuals, participants with remitted MDD exhibit guilt-selective SCSR-ATL decoupling as a marker of deficient functional integration. Case-control study from May 1, 2008, to June 1, 2010. Clinical research facility. Twenty-five patients with remitted MDD (no medication in 16 patients) with no current comorbid Axis I disorders and 22 controls with no personal or family history of MDD. Between-group difference of ATL coupling with a priori SCSR region of interest for guilt vs indignation. We corroborated the prediction of a guilt-selective reduction in ATL-SCSR coupling in MDD vs controls (familywise error-corrected P=.001 over the region of interest) and revealed additional medial frontopolar, right hippocampal, and lateral hypothalamic areas of decoupling while controlling for medication status and intensity of negative emotions. Lower levels of ATL-SCSR coupling were associated with higher scores on a validated measure of overgeneralized self-blame (67-item Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaire). Vulnerability to MDD is associated with temporofrontolimbic decoupling that is selective for self-blaming feelings. This provides the first neural mechanism ofMDD vulnerability that accounts for self-blaming biases.

Hyaluronic Acid Surface Modified Liposomes Prepared via Orthogonal Aminoxy Coupling: Synthesis of Nontoxic Aminoxylipids Based on Symmetrically α-Branched Fatty Acids, Preparation of Liposomes by Microfluidic Mixing, and Targeting to Cancer Cells Expressing CD44.

PubMed

Bartheldyová, Eliška; Effenberg, Roman; Mašek, Josef; Procházka, Lubomír; Knötigová, Pavlína Turánek; Kulich, Pavel; Hubatka, František; Velínská, Kamila; Zelníčková, Jaroslava; Zouharová, Darina; Fojtíková, Martina; Hrebík, Dominik; Plevka, Pavel; Mikulík, Robert; Miller, Andrew D; Macaulay, Stuart; Zyka, Daniel; Drož, Ladislav; Raška, Milan; Ledvina, Miroslav; Turánek, Jaroslav

2018-06-25

New synthetic aminoxy lipids are designed and synthesized as building blocks for the formulation of functionalized nanoliposomes by microfluidization using a NanoAssemblr. Orthogonal binding of hyaluronic acid onto the outer surface of functionalized nanoliposomes via aminoxy coupling ( N-oxy ligation) is achieved at hemiacetal function of hyaluronic acid and the structure of hyaluronic acid-liposomes is visualized by transmission electron microscopy and cryotransmission electron microscopy. Observed structures are in a good correlation with data obtained by dynamic light scattering (size and ζ-potential). In vitro experiments on cell lines expressing CD44 receptors demonstrate selective internalization of fluorochrome-labeled hyaluronic acid-liposomes, while cells with down regulated CD44 receptor levels exhibit very low internalization of hyaluronic acid-liposomes. A method based on microfluidization mixing was developed for preparation of monodispersive unilamellar liposomes containing aminoxy lipids and orthogonal binding of hyaluronic acid onto the liposomal surface was demonstrated. These hyaluronic acid-liposomes represent a potentially new drug delivery platform for CD44-targeted anticancer drugs as well as for immunotherapeutics and vaccines.

Search for the production of single vector-like and excited quarks in the Wt final state in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.

2016-02-17

A search for vector-like quarks and excited quarks in events containing a top quark and a W boson in the final state is reported here. The search is based on 20.3 fb -1 of proton-proton collision data taken at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector. Events with one or two leptons, and one, two or three jets are selected with the additional requirement that at least one jet contains a b-quark. Single-lepton events are also required to contain at least one large-radius jet from the hadronic decay of a high-p T Wmore » boson or a top quark. No significant excess over the expected background is observed and upper limits on the cross-section times branching ratio for different vector-like quark and excited-quark model masses are derived. As a result, for the excited-quark production and decay to W t with unit couplings, quarks with masses below 1500 GeV are excluded and coupling-dependent limits are set.« less

Novel Swelling-Resistant Sodium Alginate Membrane Branching Modified by Glycogen for Highly Aqueous Ethanol Solution Pervaporation.

PubMed

Ji, Chen-Hao; Xue, Shuang-Mei; Xu, Zhen-Liang

2016-10-12

A novel carbohydrate chain cross-linking method of sodium alginate (SA) is proposed in which glycogen with the branched-chain structure is utilized to cross-link with SA matrix by the bridging of glutaraldehyde (GA). The active layer of SA composite ceramic membrane modified by glycogen and GA for pervaporation (PV) demonstrates great advantages. The branched structure increases the chain density of the active layer, which compresses the free volume between the carbohydrate chains of SA. Large amounts of hydroxyl groups are consumed during the reaction with GA, which reduces the hydrogen bond formation between water molecules and the polysaccharide matrix. The two factors benefit the active layer with great improvement in swelling resistance, promoting the potential of the active layer for the dehydration of an ethanol-water solution containing high water content. Meanwhile, the modified active layer is loaded on the rigid α-Al 2 O 3 ceramic membrane by dip-coating method with the enhancement of anti-deformation and controllable thickness of the active layer. Characterization techniques such as SEM, AFM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and water contact angle are utilized to observe the composite structure and surface morphology of the composite membrane, to probe the free volume variation, and to determine the chemical composition and hydrophilicity difference of the active layer caused by the different glycogen additive amounts. The membrane containing 3% glycogen in the selective layer demonstrates the flux at 1250 g m -2 h -1 coupled with the separation factor of 187 in the 25 wt % water content feed solution at the operating temperature of 75 °C, reflecting superior pervaporation processing capacity compared with the general organic PV membranes in the same condition.

Sleep promotes branch-specific formation of dendritic spines after learning

PubMed Central

Yang, Guang; Lai, Cora Sau Wan; Cichon, Joseph; Ma, Lei; Li, Wei; Gan, Wen-Biao

2015-01-01

How sleep helps learning and memory remains unknown. We report in mouse motor cortex that sleep after motor learning promotes the formation of postsynaptic dendritic spines on a subset of branches of individual layer V pyramidal neurons. New spines are formed on different sets of dendritic branches in response to different learning tasks and are protected from being eliminated when multiple tasks are learned. Neurons activated during learning of a motor task are reactivated during subsequent non-rapid eye movement sleep, and disrupting this neuronal reactivation prevents branch-specific spine formation. These findings indicate that sleep has a key role in promoting learning-dependent synapse formation and maintenance on selected dendritic branches, which contribute to memory storage. PMID:24904169

Stability branching induced by collective atomic recoil in an optomechanical ring cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ian, Hou

2017-02-01

In a ring cavity filled with an atomic condensate, self-bunching of atoms due to the cavity pump mode produce an inversion that re-emits into the cavity probe mode with an exponential gain, forming atomic recoil lasing. An optomechanical ring cavity is formed when one of the reflective mirrors is mounted on a mechanical vibrating beam. In this paper, we extend studies on the stability of linear optomechanical cavities to such ring cavities with two counter-propagating cavity modes, especially when the forward propagating pump mode is taken to its weak coupling limit. We find that when the atomic recoil is in action, stable states of the mechanical mode of the mirror converge into branch cuts, where the gain produced by the recoiling strikes balance with the multiple decay sources, such as cavity leakage in the optomechanical system. This balance is obtained when the propagation delay in the dispersive atomic medium matches in a periodic pattern to the frequencies and linewidths of the cavity mode and the collective bosonic mode of the atoms. We show an input-output hysteresis cycle between the atomic mode and the cavity mode to verify the multi-valuation of the stable states after branching at the weak coupling limit.

Process for the conversion of lower alcohols to higher branched oxygenates

DOEpatents

Barger, Paul T.

1996-01-01

A process is provided for the production of branched C.sub.4+ oxygenates from lower alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and mixtures thereof. The process comprises contacting the lower alcohols with a solid catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide support having components selected from the group consisting of oxides of zinc, magnesium, zirconia, titanium, manganese, chromium, and lanthanides, and an activation metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metal, Group IB metals, and mixtures thereof. The advantage of the process is improved yields and selectivity to isobutanol which can subsequently be employed in the production of high octane motor gasoline.

Process for the conversion of lower alcohols to higher branched oxygenates

DOEpatents

Barger, P.T.

1996-09-24

A process is provided for the production of branched C{sub x} oxygenates from lower alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and mixtures thereof. The process comprises contacting the lower alcohols with a solid catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide support having components selected from the group consisting of oxides of zinc, magnesium, zirconia, titanium, manganese, chromium, and lanthanides, and an activation metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metal, Group IB metals, and mixtures thereof. The advantage of the process is improved yields and selectivity to isobutanol which can subsequently be employed in the production of high octane motor gasoline.

Adavanced RTG and thermoelectric materials study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eggers, P. E.

1971-01-01

A comprehensive, generalized two-dimensional RTG analysis computer program was developed. This program is capable of analyzing any specified RTG design under a wide range of transient as well as steady-state operating conditions. The feasibility of a new concept for the design of segmented (or single-phase) thermoelectric couples was demonstrated. A SiGe-PbTe segmented couple involving pressure contacted junctions at the intermediate- and hot-junction temperatures was successfully encapsulated in a hermetically sealed bellows enclosure. This bellows-encapsulated couple was operated between a hot- and cold-junction temperature of 1200 K and 450 K, respectively, with a measured energy conversion efficiency of 7.6 + or - .5 per cent. An experimental study of selected sublimation barrier schemes revealed that a significant reduction in the sublimation rate of p-type PbTe could be achieved by using multiple layers of SiO2 fibers. A comparison of the barrier effectiveness is given for three different barrier designs.

Direct Coupling of Thermo- and Photocatalysis for Conversion of CO2 -H2 O into Fuels.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Kong, Guoguo; Meng, Yaping; Tian, Jinshu; Zhang, Lijie; Wan, Shaolong; Lin, Jingdong; Wang, Yong

2017-12-08

Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction into renewable hydrocarbon solar fuels is considered as a promising strategy to simultaneously address global energy and environmental issues. This study focused on the direct coupling of photocatalytic water splitting and thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 in the conversion of CO 2 -H 2 O into fuels. Specifically, it was found that direct coupling of thermo- and photocatalysis over Au-Ru/TiO 2 leads to activity 15 times higher (T=358 K; ca. 99 % CH 4 selectivity) in the conversion of CO 2 -H 2 O into fuels than that of photocatalytic water splitting. This is ascribed to the promoting effect of thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 by hydrogen atoms generated in situ by photocatalytic water splitting. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Axonal properties determine somatic firing in a model of in vitro CA1 hippocampal sharp wave/ripples and persistent gamma oscillations

PubMed Central

Traub, Roger D.; Schmitz, Dietmar; Maier, Nikolaus; Whittington, Miles A.; Draguhn, Andreas

2012-01-01

Evidence has been presented that CA1 pyramidal cells, during spontaneous in vitro sharp wave/ripple (SPW-R) complexes, generate somatic action potentials that originate in axons. ‘Participating’ (somatically firing) pyramidal cells fire (almost always) at most once during a particular SPW-R whereas non-participating cells virtually never fire during an SPW-R. Somatic spikelets were small or absent, while ripple-frequency EPSCs and IPSCs occurred during the SPW-R in pyramidal neurons. These experimental findings could be replicated with a network model in which electrical coupling was present between small pyramidal cell axonal branches. Here, we explore this model in more depth. Factors that influence somatic participation include: (i) the diameter of axonal branches that contain coupling sites to other axons, because firing in larger branches injects more current into the main axon, increasing antidromic firing probability; (ii) axonal K+ currents; and (iii) somatic hyperpolarization and shunting. We predict that portions of axons fire at high frequency during SPW-R, while somata fire much less. In the model, somatic firing can occur by occasional generation of full action potentials in proximal axonal branches, which are excited by high-frequency spikelets. When the network contains phasic synaptic inhibition, at the axonal gap junction site, gamma oscillations result, again with more frequent axonal firing than somatic firing. Combining the models, so as to generate gamma followed by sharp waves, leads to strong overlap between the population of cells firing during gamma the population of cells firing during a subsequent sharp wave, as observed in vivo. PMID:22697272

Planar slot coupled microwave hybrid

DOEpatents

Petter, Jeffrey K.

1991-01-01

A symmetrical 180.degree. microwave hybrid is constructed by opening a slot line in a ground plane below a conducting strip disposed on a dielectric substrate, creating a slot coupled conductor. Difference signals propagating on the slot coupled conductor are isolated on the slot line leaving sum signals to propagate on the microstrip. The difference signal is coupled from the slot line onto a second microstrip line for transmission to a desired location. The microstrip branches in a symmetrical fashion to provide the input/output ports of the 180.degree. hybrid. The symmetry of the device provides for balance and isolation between sum and difference signals, and provides an advantageous balance between the power handling capabilities and the bandwidth of the device.

Higgs boson couplings to bottom quarks: two-loop supersymmetry-QCD corrections.

PubMed

Noth, David; Spira, Michael

2008-10-31

We present two-loop supersymmetry (SUSY) QCD corrections to the effective bottom Yukawa couplings within the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM). The effective Yukawa couplings include the resummation of the nondecoupling corrections Deltam_{b} for large values of tanbeta. We have derived the two-loop SUSY-QCD corrections to the leading SUSY-QCD and top-quark-induced SUSY-electroweak contributions to Deltam_{b}. The scale dependence of the resummed Yukawa couplings is reduced from O(10%) to the percent level. These results reduce the theoretical uncertainties of the MSSM Higgs branching ratios to the accuracy which can be achieved at a future linear e;{+}e;{-} collider.

C-fuzzy variable-branch decision tree with storage and classification error rate constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shiueng-Bien

2009-10-01

The C-fuzzy decision tree (CFDT), which is based on the fuzzy C-means algorithm, has recently been proposed. The CFDT is grown by selecting the nodes to be split according to its classification error rate. However, the CFDT design does not consider the classification time taken to classify the input vector. Thus, the CFDT can be improved. We propose a new C-fuzzy variable-branch decision tree (CFVBDT) with storage and classification error rate constraints. The design of the CFVBDT consists of two phases-growing and pruning. The CFVBDT is grown by selecting the nodes to be split according to the classification error rate and the classification time in the decision tree. Additionally, the pruning method selects the nodes to prune based on the storage requirement and the classification time of the CFVBDT. Furthermore, the number of branches of each internal node is variable in the CFVBDT. Experimental results indicate that the proposed CFVBDT outperforms the CFDT and other methods.

Behaviorally-based couple therapies reduce emotional arousal during couple conflict.

PubMed

Baucom, Brian R; Sheng, Elisa; Christensen, Andrew; Georgiou, Panayiotis G; Narayanan, Shrikanth S; Atkins, David C

2015-09-01

Emotional arousal during relationship conflict is a major target for intervention in couple therapies. The current study examines changes in conflict-related emotional arousal in 104 couples that participated in a randomized clinical trial of two behaviorally-based couple therapies. Emotional arousal is measured using mean fundamental frequency of spouse's speech, and changes in emotional arousal from pre-to post-therapy are examined using multilevel models. Overall emotional arousal, the rate of increase in emotional arousal at the beginning of conflict, and the duration of emotional arousal declined for all couples. Reductions in overall arousal were stronger for TBCT wives than for IBCT wives but not significantly different for IBCT and TBCT husbands. Reductions in the rate of initial arousal were larger for TBCT couples than IBCT couples. Reductions in duration were larger for IBCT couples than TBCT couples. These findings suggest that both therapies can reduce emotional arousal, but that the two therapies create different kinds of change in emotional arousal. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coupling molecular catalysts with nanostructured surfaces for efficient solar fuel production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Tong

Solar fuel generation via carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction is a promising approach to meet the increasing global demand for energy and to minimize the impact of energy consumption on climate change. However, CO2 is thermodynamically stable; its activation often requires the use of appropriate catalysts. In particular, molecular catalysts with well-defined structures and tunability have shown excellent activity in photochemical CO2 reduction. These homogenous catalysts, however, suffer from poor stability under photochemical conditions and difficulty in recycling from the reaction media. Heterogenized molecular catalysts, particularly those prepared by coupling molecular catalysts with solid-state surfaces, have attracted more attention in recent years as potential solutions to address the issues associated with molecular catalysts. In this work, solar CO2 reduction is investigated using systems coupling molecular catalysts with robust nanostructured surfaces. In Chapter 2, heterogenization of macrocyclic cobalt(III) and nickel (II) complexes on mesoporous silica surface was achieved by different methods. Direct ligand derivatization significantly lowered the catalytic activity of Co(III) complex, while grafting the Co(III) complex onto silica surface through Si-O-Co linkage resulted in hybrid catalysts with excellent activity in CO2 reduction in the presence of p-terphenyl as a molecular photosensitizer. An interesting loading effect was observed, in which the optimal activity was achieved at a medium Co(III) surface density. Heterogenization of the Ni(II) complex on silica surface has also been implemented, the poor photocatalytic activity of the hybrid catalyst can be attributed to the intrinsic nature of the homogeneous analogue. This study highlighted the importance of appropriate linking strategies in preparing functional heterogenized molecular catalysts. Coupling molecular complexes with light-harvesting surfaces could avoid the use of expensive molecular photosensitizers. In Chapter 3, effective coupling of the macrocyclic Co(III) complex with titanium dioxide (TiO¬2) nanoparticles was achieved by two deposition methods. The synthesized hybrid photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized with a variety of techniques. Upon UV light irradiation, photoexcited electrons in TiO2 nanoparticles were transferred to the surface Co(III) catalyst for CO2 reduction. Production of carbon monoxide (CO) from CO2 was confirmed by isotope labeling combined with infrared spectroscopy. Deposition of the Co(III) catalyst through Ti-O-Co linkages was essential for the photo-induced electron transfer and CO2-reduction activity using the hybrid photocatalysts. In Chapter 4, molecular Re(I) and Co(II) catalysts were coupled with silicon-based photoelectrodes, including a silicon nanowire (SiNW) photoelectrode, to achieve photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction. Photovoltages between 300-600 mV were obtained using the molecular catalysts on the silicon photoelectrodes. SiNWs exhibited enhanced properties, including significantly higher photovoltages than a planar silicon photoelectrode, the ability to protect one of the molecular catalysts from photo-induced decomposition, and excellent selectivity towards CO production in CO2 reduction. Recent theoretical and experimental work have demonstrated low-energy, binuclear pathways for CO2-to-CO conversion using several molecular catalysts. In such binuclear pathways, two metal centers work cooperatively to achieve two-electron CO2 reduction. Chapter 5 describes our effort to promote the binuclear pathway by grafting the molecular Co(III) catalyst onto silica surfaces. Different linking strategies were attempted to achieve this goal by planting the surface Co(III) sites in close proximity.

Durable Fluorocarbon-Based Coatings for Aircraft

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-11-01

synthesized two novel monomers, 2-fluoro-2- perfluorooctyl - 1,3-propanediol and 2-fluoro-2- perfluoro (2-ethylhexyl)-1,3-propanediol, and demonstrated that...propanediols, two branched perfluoroalkyl methanols, perfluoro -1H,1H-2-ethylhexanol (pefluoro-1-ethylpentyl methanol) and perfluoro - 1H,1H-2,2...malonates. Reduction of the perfluorinated malonates gave the perfluoroalkyl -branched 1,3-propanediols. R-OH + HBr R-Br cat. O O OCH 2CH3 OCH 2CH3 + O O

Fresh insight to functioning of selected enzymes of the nitrogen cycle.

PubMed

Eady, Robert R; Antonyuk, Svetlana V; Hasnain, S Samar

2016-04-01

The global nitrogen cycle is the process in which different forms of environmental N are interconverted by microorganisms either for assimilation into biomass or in respiratory energy-generating pathways. This short review highlights developments over the last 5 years in our understanding of functionality of nitrogenase, Cu-nitrite reductase, NO reductase and N2O reductase, complex metalloenzymes that catalyze electron/proton-coupled substrate reduction reactions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In situ STM investigation of aromatic poly(azomethine) arrays constructed by "on-site" equilibrium polymerization.

PubMed

Tanoue, Ryota; Higuchi, Rintaro; Ikebe, Kiryu; Uemura, Shinobu; Kimizuka, Nobuo; Stieg, Adam Z; Gimzewski, James K; Kunitake, Masashi

2012-10-02

Two-dimensional (2D) arrays of π-conjugated aromatic polymers produced by surface-selective Schiff base coupling reactions between an aromatic diamine and an aromatic dialdehyde were investigated in detail using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy. Surface-selective coupling was achieved for almost all diamine/dialdehyde combinations attempted, although several combinations did not proceed even in homogeneous aqueous alkaline solution. Most of the combinations of an aromatic diamine and a dialdehyde, except the combinations of 4,4'-azodianiline with mono/bithiophenedicarboxaldehyde, formed highly ordered π-conjugated polymer arrays on an iodine-modified Au(111) surface in aqueous solution at a suitable pH. The simplest polymer of the various combinations tested, obtained from the combination of 1,4-diaminobenzene with terephthaldicarboxaldehyde, gave a 2D array consisting of linearly connected benzene units. Poly(azomethine) adlayers caused a positive shift in the electrochemical potential of the butterfly shaped oxidative adsorption and reductive desorption of iodine. The acceleration of the reductive desorption of iodine suggests the existence of a weak interaction between the polymer layer and iodine. Not only the first polymer adlayers but also partially adsorbed secondary adlayers with "on-top" epitaxial behavior were frequently observed for all polymer systems. The alignment of the polymer chains in the adlayers possessed a certain regularity in terms of a regular interval between polymer chains because of repulsive interpolymer interactions.

Single top quark production as a probe of anomalous tqγ and tqZ couplings at the FCC-ee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanpour, Hamzeh; Khatibi, Sara; Yanehsari, Morteza Khatiri; Najafabadi, Mojtaba Mohammadi

2017-12-01

In this paper, a detailed study to probe the top quark Flavour-Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) tqγ and tqZ at the future e-e+ collider FCC-ee in two different center-of-mass energies of 240 and 350 GeV is presented. A set of useful variables are proposed and used in a multivariate technique to separate signal e-e+ → Z / γ → t q bar (t bar q) from Standard Model background processes. The study includes a fast detector simulation based on the DELPHES package to consider the detector effects. The upper limits on the FCNC branching ratios at 95% confidence level (CL) in terms of the integrated luminosity are presented. It is shown that with 300 fb-1 of integrated luminosity of data, FCC-ee would be able to exclude the effective coupling strengths above O (10-4 -10-5) which is corresponding to branching fraction of O (0.01 - 0.001)%. We show that moving to a high-luminosity regime leads to a significant improvement on the upper bounds on the top quark FCNC couplings to a photon or a Z boson.

Search for single production of scalar leptoquarks in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV

DOE PAGES

Khachatryan, V.; Sirunyan, A. M.; Tumasyan, A.; ...

2016-02-24

In this paper, a search is presented for the production of both first- and second-generation scalar leptoquarks with a final state of either two electrons and one jet or two muons and one jet. The search is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energy √s =8 TeV recorded with the CMS detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.6 fb -1. Upper limits are set on both the first- and second-generation leptoquark production cross sections as functions of the leptoquark mass and the leptoquark couplings to a lepton and a quark. Results are compared withmore » theoretical predictions to obtain lower limits on the leptoquark mass. At 95% confidence level, single production of first-generation leptoquarks with a coupling and branching fraction of 1.0 is excluded for masses below 1730 GeV, and second-generation leptoquarks with a coupling and branching fraction of 1.0 is excluded for masses below 530 GeV. Finally, these are the best overall limits on the production of first-generation leptoquarks to date.« less

Investigation of a method for repairing the hot gas system branch 2 of the Symphonie-Satellite MV2 in orbit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braun, H.

1981-01-01

The failure of all engines on the Symphonie MV2 satellite is attributed to blockage of the oxidizer branch caused by metal salts precipitating and forming a gel which constricts the narrow passage. Laboratory tests and other simulations conducted to observe the behavior of artificially produced jellies on a vacuum show that a removal or at least a reduction of the blockage in the oxidizer branch is possible by evacuation. The greatest blockage appears to occur in the filter. This fact restricts the capability to perform repairs in orbit because the filter installed ahead of the valve cannot by subjected to a vacuum.

High precision NC lathe feeding system rigid-flexible coupling model reduction technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xuan, He; Hua, Qingsong; Cheng, Lianjun; Zhang, Hongxin; Zhao, Qinghai; Mao, Xinkai

2017-08-01

This paper proposes the use of dynamic substructure method of reduction of order to achieve effective reduction of feed system for high precision NC lathe feeding system rigid-flexible coupling model, namely the use of ADAMS to establish the rigid flexible coupling simulation model of high precision NC lathe, and then the vibration simulation of the period by using the FD 3D damper is very effective for feed system of bolt connection reduction of multi degree of freedom model. The vibration simulation calculation is more accurate, more quickly.

Polariton-acoustic-phonon interaction in a semiconductor microcavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassabois, G.; Triques, A. L. C.; Bogani, F.; Delalande, C.; Roussignol, Ph.; Piermarocchi, C.

2000-01-01

The broadening of polariton lines by acoustic phonons is investigated in a semiconductor microcavity by means of interferometric correlation measurements with subpicosecond resolution. A decrease of the polariton-acoustic phonon coupling is clearly observed for the lower polariton branch as one approaches the resonance between exciton and photon states. This behavior cannot be explained in terms of a semiclassical linear dispersion theory but requires a full quantum description of the microcavity in the strong-coupling regime.

Description and field analysis of a coupled ground-water/surface-water flow model (MODFLOW/BRANCH) with modifications for structures and wetlands in southern Dade County, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Swain, E.D.; Howie, Barbara; Dixon, Joann

1996-01-01

A coupled surface-water model (BRANCH) and ground-water model (MODFLOW) model were tested to simulate the interacting wetlands/surface-water/ ground-water system of southern Dade County. Several options created for the MODFLOW ground- ground-water model were used in representing this field situation. The primary option is the MODBRANCH interfacing software, which allows leakage to be accounted for between the MODFLOW ground-water model and the BRANCH dynamic model for simulation of flow in an interconnected network of open channels. A modification to an existing software routine, which is referred to as BCF2, allows cells in MODFLOW to rewet when dry--a requirement in representing the seasonal wetlands in Dade County. A companion to BCF2 is the modified evapotranspiration routine EVT2. The EVT2 routine changes the cells where evapotranspiration occurs, depending on which cells are wet. The Streamlink package represents direct connections between the canals and wetlands at locations where canals open directly into overland flow. Within the BRANCH model, the capability to represent the numerous hydraulic structures, gated spillways, gated culverts, and pumps was added. The application of these modifications to model surface-water/ground-water interactions in southern Dade County demonstrated the usefulness of the coupled MODFLOW/BRANCH model. Ground-water and surface-water flows are both simulated with dynamic models. Flow exchange between models, intermittent wetting and drying, evapotranspiration, and hydraulic structure operations are all represented appropriately. Comparison was made with a simulation using the RIV1 package instead of MODBRANCH to represent the canals. RIV1 represents the canals by user-defined stages, and computes leakage to the aquifer. Greater accuracy in reproducing measured ground- water heads was achieved with MODBRANCH, which also computes dynamic flow conditions in the canals, unlike RIV1. The surface-water integrated flow and transport two-dimensional model (SWIFT2D) was also applied to the southeastern coastal wetlands for comparison with the wetlands flow approximation made in MODFLOW. MODFLOW simulates the wetlands as a highly conductive upper layer of the aquifer, whereas SWIFT2D solves the hydrodynamic equations. Comparison in this limited test demonstrated no specific advantage for either method of representation. However, much additional testing on a wider variety of geometric and hydraulic situations, such as in areas with greater tidal or other dynamic forcing effects, is needed to make definite conclusions. A submodel of the existing southern Dade County model schematization was used to examine water-delivery alternatives proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For this application, the coupled MODFLOW/BRANCH model was used as a design tool. A new canal and several pumps to be tested to maintain lower water levels in a residential area (while water levels in the Everglades are raised) were added to the model schematization. The pumps were assumed to have infinite supply capacity in the model so that their maximum pumping rates during the simulation could be used to determine pump sizes.

Bifurcation of the Kuroshio Extension at the Shatsky Rise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hurlburt, Harley E.; Metzger, E. Joseph

1998-04-01

A 1/16° six-layer Pacific Ocean model north of 20°S is used to investigate the bifurcation of the Kuroshio Extension at the main Shatsky Rise and the pathway of the northern branch from the bifurcation to the subarctic front. Upper ocean-topographic coupling via a mixed barotropic-baroclinic instability is essential to this bifurcation and to the formation and mean pathway of the northern branch as are several aspects of the Shatsky Rise complex of topography and the latitude of the Kuroshio Extension in relation to the topography. The flow instabilities transfer energy to the abyssal layer where it is constrained by geostrophic contours of the bottom topography. The topographically constrained abyssal currents in turn steer upper ocean currents, which do not directly impinge on the bottom topography. This includes steering of mean pathways. Obtaining sufficient coupling requires very fine resolution of mesoscale variability and sufficient eastward penetration of the Kuroshio as an unstable inertial jet. Resolution of 1/8° for each variable was not sufficient in this case. The latitudinal extent of the main Shatsky Rise (31°N-36°N) and the shape of the downward slope on the north side are crucial to the bifurcation at the main Shatsky Rise, with both branches passing north of the peak. The well-defined, relatively steep and straight eastern edge of the Shatsky Rise topographic complex (30°N-42°N) and the southwestward abyssal flow along it play a critical role in forming the rest of the Kuroshio northern branch which flows in the opposite direction. A deep pass between the main Shatsky Rise and the rest of the ridge to the northeast helps to link the northern fork of the bifurcation at the main rise to the rest of the northern branch. Two 1/16° "identical twin" interannual simulations forced by daily winds 1981-1995 show that the variability in this region is mostly nondeterministic on all timescales that could be examined (up to 7 years in these 15-year simulations). A comparison of climatologically forced and interannual simulations over the region 150°E-180°E, 29°N-47°N showed greatly enhanced abyssal and upper ocean eddy kinetic energy and much stronger mean abyssal currents east of the Emperor Seamount Chain (about 170°E) in the interannual simulations but little difference west of 170°E. This greatly enhanced the upper ocean-topographic coupling in the interannual simulations east of 170°E. This coupling affected the latitudinal positioning of the eastward branches of the Kuroshio Extension and tended to reduce latitudinal movement compared to the climatologically forced simulation, including a particularly noticeable impact from the Hess Rise. Especially in the interannual simulations, effects of almost all topographic features in the region could be seen in the mean upper ocean currents (more so than in instantaneous currents), including meanders and bifurcations of major and minor currents, closed circulations, and impacts from depressions and rises of large and small amplitudes.

High-yield aqueous synthesis of multi-branched iron oxide core-gold shell nanoparticles: SERS substrate for immobilization and magnetic separation of bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamer, Ugur; Onay, Aykut; Ciftci, Hakan; Bozkurt, Akif Göktuğ; Cetin, Demet; Suludere, Zekiye; Hakkı Boyacı, İsmail; Daniel, Philippe; Lagarde, Fabienne; Yaacoub, Nader; Greneche, Jean-Marc

2014-10-01

The high product yield of multi-branched core-shell Fe3- x O4@Au magnetic nanoparticles was synthesized used as magnetic separation platform and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. The multi-branched magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by a seed-mediated growth approach using magnetic gold nanospheres as the seeds and subsequent reduction of metal salt with ascorbic acid in the presence of a stabilizing agent chitosan biopolymer and silver ions. The anisotropic growth of nanoparticles was observed in the presence of chitosan polymer matrix resulting in multi-branched nanoparticles with a diameter over 100 nm, and silver ions also play a crucial role on the growth of multi-branched nanoparticles. We propose the mechanism of the formation of multi-branched nanoparticles while the properties of nanoparticles embedded in chitosan matrix are discussed. The surface morphology of nanoparticles was characterized with transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. Additionally, the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were also examined. We also demonstrated that the synthesized Fe3- x O4@Au multi-branched nanoparticle is capable of targeted separation of pathogens from matrix and sensing as SERS substrates.

Evaluation of N,N-dialkylamides as promising process extractants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathak, P. N.; Prabhu, D. R.; Kanekar, A. S.; Manchanda, V. K.

2010-03-01

Studies carried out at BARC, India on the development of new extractants for reprocessing of spent fuel suggested that while straight chain N,N-dihexyloctanamide (DHOA) is promising alternative to TBP for the reprocessing of irradiated uranium based fuels, branched chain N,N-di(2-ethylhexyl)isobutyramide (D2EHIBA) is suitable for the selective recovery of 233U from irradiated Th. In advanced fuel cycle scenarios, the coprocessing of U/Pu stream appears attractive particularly with respect to development of proliferation resistant technologies. DHOA extracted Pu(IV) more efficiently than TBP, both at trace-level concentration as well as under uranium/plutonium loading conditions. Uranium extraction behavior of DHOA was however, similar to that of TBP during the extraction cycle. Stripping behavior of U and Pu (without any reductant) was better for DHOA than that of TBP. It was observed during batch studies that whereas 99% Pu is stripped in four stages in case of DHOA, only 89% Pu is stripped in case of TBP under identical experimental conditions. DHOA offered better fission product decontamination than that of TBP. GANEX (Group ActiNide EXtraction) and ARTIST (Amide-based Radio-resources Treatment with Interim Storage of Transuranics) processes proposed for actinide partitioning use branched chain amides for the selective extraction of uranium from spent fuel feed solutions. The branched-alkyl monoamide (BAMA) proposed to be used in ARTIST process is N,N-di-(2-ethylhexyl)butyramide (D2EHBA). In this context, the extraction behavior of U(VI) and Pu(IV) were compared using D2EHIBA, TBP, and D2EHBA under similar concentration of nitric acid (0.5 — 6M) and of uranium (0-50g/L). These studies suggested that D2EHIBA is a promising extractant for selective extraction of uranium over plutonium in process streams. Similarly, D2EHIBA offered distinctly better decontamination of 233U over Th and fission products under THOREX feed conditions. The possibility of simultaneous stripping and precipitation of thorium (as oxalate) from loaded organic phase was explored using 0.05M oxalic acid. Ammonium diuranate (ADU) precipitation was performed on the oxalate supernatant for the recovery of uranium. Quantitative recovery (>99.9%) of Th as well as of U was achieved. Radiolytic studies suggested that irradiated DHOA and D2EHIBA behaved better with respect to fission product decontamination as compared to that of TBP.

Ideal crop plant architecture is mediated by tassels replace upper ears1, a BTB/POZ ankyrin repeat gene directly targeted by TEOSINTE BRANCHED1.

PubMed

Dong, Zhaobin; Li, Wei; Unger-Wallace, Erica; Yang, Jinliang; Vollbrecht, Erik; Chuck, George

2017-10-10

Axillary branch suppression is a favorable trait bred into many domesticated crop plants including maize compared with its highly branched wild ancestor teosinte. Branch suppression in maize was achieved through selection of a gain of function allele of the teosinte branched1 (tb1) transcription factor that acts as a repressor of axillary bud growth. Previous work indicated that other loci may function epistatically with tb1 and may be responsible for some of its phenotypic effects. Here, we show that tb1 mediates axillary branch suppression through direct activation of the tassels replace upper ears1 ( tru1 ) gene that encodes an ankyrin repeat domain protein containing a BTB/POZ motif necessary for protein-protein interactions. The expression of TRU1 and TB1 overlap in axillary buds, and TB1 binds to two locations in the tru1 gene as shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation and gel shifts. In addition, nucleotide diversity surveys indicate that tru1 , like tb1 , was a target of selection. In modern maize, TRU1 is highly expressed in the leaf trace vasculature of axillary internodes, while in teosinte, this expression is highly reduced or absent. This increase in TRU1 expression levels in modern maize is supported by comparisons of relative protein levels with teosinte as well as by quantitative measurements of mRNA levels. Hence, a major innovation in creating ideal maize plant architecture originated from ectopic overexpression of tru1 in axillary branches, a critical step in mediating the effects of domestication by tb1.

Promoting Ethylene Selectivity from CO2 Electroreduction on CuO Supported onto CO2 Capture Materials.

PubMed

Yang, Hui-Juan; Yang, Hong; Hong, Yu-Hao; Zhang, Peng-Yang; Wang, Tao; Chen, Li-Na; Zhang, Feng-Yang; Wu, Qi-Hui; Tian, Na; Zhou, Zhi-You; Sun, Shi-Gang

2018-03-09

Cu is a unique catalyst for CO 2 electroreduction, since it can catalyze CO 2 reduction to a series of hydrocarbons, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. Nevertheless, such Cu catalysts suffer from poor selectivity. High pressure of CO 2 is considered to facilitate the activity and selectivity of CO 2 reduction. Herein, a new strategy is presented for CO 2 reduction with improved C 2 H 4 selectivity on a Cu catalyst by using CO 2 capture materials as the support at ambient pressure. N-doped carbon (N x C) was synthesized through high-temperature carbonization of melamine and l-lysine. We observed that the CO 2 uptake capacity of N x C depends on both the microporous area and the content of pyridinic N species, which can be controlled by the carbonization temperature (600-800 °C). The as-prepared CuO/N x C catalysts exhibit a considerably higher C 2 H 4 faradaic efficiency (36 %) than CuO supported on XC-72 carbon black (19 %), or unsupported CuO (20 %). Moreover, there is a good linear relationship between the C 2 H 4 faradaic efficiency and CO 2 uptake capacity of the supports for CuO. The local high CO 2 concentration near Cu catalysts, created by CO 2 capture materials, was proposed to increase the coverage of CO intermediate, which is favorable for the coupling of two CO units in the formation of C 2 H 4 . This study demonstrates that pairing Cu catalysts with CO 2 capture supports is a promising approach for designing highly effective CO 2 reduction electrocatalysts. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Highly selective biaryl cross-coupling reactions between aryl halides and aryl Grignard reagents: a new catalyst combination of N-heterocyclic carbenes and iron, cobalt, and nickel fluorides.

PubMed

Hatakeyama, Takuji; Hashimoto, Sigma; Ishizuka, Kentaro; Nakamura, Masaharu

2009-08-26

Combinations of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and fluoride salts of the iron-group metals (Fe, Co, and Ni) have been shown to be excellent catalysts for the cross-coupling reactions of aryl Grignard reagents (Ar(1)MgBr) with aryl and heteroaryl halides (Ar(2)X) to give unsymmetrical biaryls (Ar(1)-Ar(2)). Iron fluorides in combination with SIPr, a saturated NHC ligand, catalyze the biaryl cross-coupling between various aryl chlorides and aryl Grignard reagents in high yield and high selectivity. On the other hand, cobalt and nickel fluorides in combination with IPr, an unsaturated NHC ligand, exhibit interesting complementary reactivity in the coupling of aryl bromides or iodides; in contrast, with these substrates the iron catalysts show a lower selectivity. The formation of homocoupling byproducts is suppressed markedly to less than 5% in most cases by choosing the appropriate metal fluoride/NHC combination. The present catalyst combinations offer several synthetic advantages over existing methods: practical synthesis of a broad range of unsymmetrical biaryls without the use of palladium catalysts and phosphine ligands. On the basis of stoichiometric control experiments and theoretical studies, the origin of the unique catalytic effect of the fluoride counterion can be ascribed to the formation of a higher-valent heteroleptic metalate [Ar(1)MF(2)]MgBr as the key intermediate in our proposed catalytic cycle. First, stoichiometric control experiments revealed the stark differences in chemical reactivity between the metal fluorides and metal chlorides. Second, DFT calculations indicate that the initial reduction of di- or trivalent metal fluoride in the wake of transmetalation with PhMgCl is energetically unfavorable and that formation of a divalent heteroleptic metalate complex, [PhMF(2)]MgCl (M = Fe, Co, Ni), is dominant in the metal fluoride system. The heteroleptic ate-complex serves as a key reactive intermediate, which undergoes oxidative addition with PhCl and releases the biaryl cross-coupling product Ph-Ph with reasonable energy barriers. The present cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by iron-group metal fluorides and an NHC ligand provides a highly selective and practical method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls as well as the opportunity to gain new mechanistic insights into the metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.

6-O-Branched Oligo-β-glucan-Based Antifungal Glycoconjugate Vaccines.

PubMed

Liao, Guochao; Zhou, Zhifang; Liao, Jun; Zu, Luning; Wu, Qiuye; Guo, Zhongwu

2016-02-12

With the rapid growth in fungal infections and drug-resistant fungal strains, antifungal vaccines have become an especially attractive strategy to tackle this important health problem. β-Glucans, a class of extracellular carbohydrate antigens abundantly and consistently expressed on fungal cell surfaces, are intriguing epitopes for antifungal vaccine development. β-Glucans have a conserved β-1,3-glucan backbone with sporadic β-1,3- or β-1,6-linked short glucans as branches at the 6-O-positions, and the branches may play a critical role in their immunologic functions. To study the immunologic properties of branched β-glucans and develop β-glucan-based antifungal vaccines, three branched β-glucan oligosaccharides with 6-O-linked β-1,6-tetraglucose, β-1,3-diglucose, and β-1,3-tetraglucose branches on a β-1,3-nonaglucan backbone, which mimic the structural epitopes of natural β-glucans, were synthesized and coupled with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) to form novel synthetic conjugate vaccines. These glycoconjugates were proved to elicit strong IgG antibody responses in mice. It was also discovered that the number, size, and structure of branches linked to the β-glucan backbone had a significant impact on the immunologic property. Moreover, antibodies induced by the synthetic oligosaccharide-KLH conjugates were able to recognize and bind to natural β-glucans and fungal cells. Most importantly, these conjugates elicited effective protection against systemic Candida albicans infection in mice. Thus, branched oligo-β-glucans were identified as functional epitopes for antifungal vaccine design and the corresponding protein conjugates as promising antifungal vaccine candidates.

Pyruvate Decarboxylase Catalyzes Decarboxylation of Branched-Chain 2-Oxo Acids but Is Not Essential for Fusel Alcohol Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PubMed Central

ter Schure, Eelko G.; Flikweert, Marcel T.; van Dijken, Johannes P.; Pronk, Jack T.; Verrips, C. Theo

1998-01-01

The fusel alcohols 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and 2-methyl-propanol are important flavor compounds in yeast-derived food products and beverages. The formation of these compounds from branched-chain amino acids is generally assumed to occur via the Ehrlich pathway, which involves the concerted action of a branched-chain transaminase, a decarboxylase, and an alcohol dehydrogenase. Partially purified preparations of pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) have been reported to catalyze the decarboxylation of the branched-chain 2-oxo acids formed upon transamination of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Indeed, in a coupled enzymatic assay with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, cell extracts of a wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain exhibited significant decarboxylation rates with these branched-chain 2-oxo acids. Decarboxylation of branched-chain 2-oxo acids was not detectable in cell extracts of an isogenic strain in which all three PDC genes had been disrupted. Experiments with cell extracts from S. cerevisiae mutants expressing a single PDC gene demonstrated that both PDC1- and PDC5-encoded isoenzymes can decarboxylate branched-chain 2-oxo acids. To investigate whether pyruvate decarboxylase is essential for fusel alcohol production by whole cells, wild-type S. cerevisiae and an isogenic pyruvate decarboxylase-negative strain were grown on ethanol with a mixture of leucine, isoleucine, and valine as the nitrogen source. Surprisingly, the three corresponding fusel alcohols were produced in both strains. This result proves that decarboxylation of branched-chain 2-oxo acids via pyruvate decarboxylase is not an essential step in fusel alcohol production. PMID:9546164

Measurement of $$\\sigma\\cdot$$Br($$W + \\gamma$$) and $$\\sigma\\cdot$$BR($$Z + \\gamma$$) and Search for Anomalous $W$ ($$\\gamma$$) and $Z$ ($$\\gamma$$) Couplings at $$\\sqrt{s}$$ = 1.8-TeV

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vondracek, Mark Frank

1994-11-01

Measurements of the production cross section times branching ratio for W + γ and Z + γ processes, where the W decays into a muon and neutrino and the Z decays into a muon pair, have been made from the analysis of 18.6±0.7 pb -1 of high-P T muon data from proton-antiproton (pmore » $$\\bar{p}$$) collisions. The data were collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) during the 1992-93 run. In a search for central photons (|η| < 1.1) with transverse energy above 7 GeV and angular separation from the muon by at least ΔR = 0. 7, where ΔR = √(Δ Φ 2+ Δη 2) , we find 7 W γ and 4 Zγ candidates. This translates into cross section times branching ratios of 9.0 ± 6.4 pb for the Wγ process and 6.6 ± 3.4 pb for the Zγ process. Separate measurements were made for photon E T values above 11 Ge V and 15 Ge V. The cross section times branching ratio results were used to calculate a series of cross section ratios. An analysis designed to search for anomalous couplings between the gauge bosons was also carried out using these results. Assuming only one anomalous coupling to be non-zero at a time, the 95% CL limits on W γ anomalous couplings are, -3.7 < Δ κ< 3.7, -1.2 < λ< 1.2, -3.8 < $$\\tilde{κ}$$, < 3.8 and -1.2 < $$\\tilde{λ}$$ < 1.2. For ZZγ anomalous couplings the experimental limits are measured to be, at the 95% CL, -4.6 < h$$Z\\atop{30}$$ (h$$Z\\atop{10}$$ ) < 4.6 and -1.1 < h$$Z\\atop{40}$$ (h$$Z\\atop{20}$$) < 1.1. For Zγγ anomalous couplings the experimental limits are measured to be, at the 95% CL, -4.9 < h$$γ\\atop{30}$$ ($$γ\\atop{10}$$) < 4.9 and -1.2 < $$γ\\atop{40}$$ ( $$γ\\atop{20}$$ ) < 1.2. Limits are placed on electromagnetic multi pole moments for both the W and Z bosons using the measured limits of the anomalous couplings, and are presented in this thesis. All of the measurements presented in this thesis are consistent with Standard Model expectations.« less

Pediatric Oncology Branch - training- resident electives | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Resident Electives Select pediatric residents may be approved for a 4-week elective rotation at the Pediatric Oncology Branch. This rotation emphasizes the important connection between research and patient care in pediatric oncology. The resident is supervised directly by the Branch’s attending physician and clinical fellows. Residents attend daily in-patient and out-patient rounds, multiple weekly Branch conferences, and are expected to research relevant topics and present a 30-minute talk toward the end of their rotation.

Pediatric Oncology Branch - training- medical student rotations | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Medical Student Rotations Select 4th-year medical students may be approved for a 4-week elective rotation at the Pediatric Oncology Branch. This rotation emphasizes the important connection between research and patient care in pediatric oncology. The student is supervised directly by the Branch’s attending physician and clinical fellows. Students attend daily in-patient and out-patient rounds and multiple weekly Branch conferences, and are expected to research relevant topics and present a 30-minute talk near the end of their rotation.

Broadband Microwave Study of Reaction Intermediates and Products Through the Pyrolysis of Oxygenated Biofuels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abeysekera, Chamara; Hernandez-Castillo, Alicia O.; Fritz, Sean; Zwier, Timothy S.

2017-06-01

The rapidly growing list of potential plant-derived biofuels creates a challenge for the scientific community to provide a molecular-scale understanding of their combustion. Development of accurate combustion models rests on a foundation of experimental data on the kinetics and product branching ratios of their individual reaction steps. Therefore, new spectroscopic tools are necessary to selectively detect and characterize fuel components and reactive intermediates generated by pyrolysis and combustion. Substituted furans, including furanic ethers, are considered second-generation biofuel candidates. Following the work of the Ellison group, an 8-18 GHz microwave study was carried out on the unimolecular and bimolecular decomposition of the smallest furanic ether, 2-methoxy furan, and it`s pyrolysis intermediate, the 2-furanyloxy radical, formed in a high-temperature pyrolysis source coupled to a supersonic expansion. Details of the experimental setup and analysis of the spectrum of the radical will be discussed.

Intracavity Faraday modulation spectroscopy (INFAMOS): A tool for radical detection.

PubMed

Gianella, Michele; Pinto, Tomas H P; Wu, Xia; Ritchie, Grant A D

2017-08-07

We present the intra-cavity Faraday modulation spectroscopy technique, whereby optical feedback cavity-enhanced spectroscopy is coupled with Faraday modulation spectroscopy to greatly enhance the interaction path length of a laser beam with a paramagnetic sample in a magnetic field. We describe a first prototype based upon a cw quantum cascade laser targeting a selection of fundamental rovibrational R-branch transitions of nitric oxide (1890 cm -1 ), consisting of a linear cavity (finesse F=6300) and a water-cooled solenoid. We demonstrate a minimum detectable Verdet constant of V min =4.7×10 -14  rad cm -1  G -1  Hz -1/2 (at SNR = 1), corresponding to a single-pass rotation angle of 1.6×10 -10  rad Hz -1/2 and a limit of detection of 0.21 ppbv Hz -1/2 NO.

Nanocrystals with linear and branched topology

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Milliron, Delia; Manna, Liberato; Hughes, Steven M.

2007-12-04

Disclosed herein are nanostructures comprising distinct dots and rods coupled through potential barriers of tuneable height and width, and arranged in three dimensional space at well defined angles and distances. Such control allows investigation of potential applications ranging from quantum information processing to artificial photosynthesis.

High-contrast grating hollow-core waveguide splitter applied to optical phased array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Che; Xue, Ping; Zhang, Hanxing; Chen, Te; Peng, Chao; Hu, Weiwei

2014-11-01

A novel hollow-core (HW) Y-branch waveguide splitter based on high-contrast grating (HCG) is presented. We calculated and designed the HCG-HW splitter using Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA). Finite-different timedomain (FDTD) simulation shows that the splitter has a broad bandwidth and the branching loss is as low as 0.23 dB. Fabrication is accomplished with standard Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) process. The experimental measurement results indicate its good performance on beam splitting near the central wavelength λ = 1550 nm with a total insertion loss of 7.0 dB.

Measurement of the Branching Fraction of the Exclusive Decay B0 --> K*0gamma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barrera, Barbara

The b {yields} s{gamma} transition proceeds by a loop penguin diagram. It may be used to measure precisely the couplings of the top quark and to search for the effects of any new particles appearing in the loop. We present a preliminary measurement of the branching fraction of the exclusive decay, B{sup 0} {yields} K*{sup 0}{gamma}. They use 8.6 x 10{sup 6} B{bar B} decays to measure B(B{sup 0} {yields} K*{sup 0}{gamma}) = (5.4 {+-} 0.8 {+-} 0.5) x 10{sup -5}.

Tables of stark level transition probabilities and branching ratios in hydrogen-like atoms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Omidvar, K.

1980-01-01

The transition probabilities which are given in terms of n prime k prime and n k are tabulated. No additional summing or averaging is necessary. The electric quantum number k plays the role of the angular momentum quantum number l in the presence of an electric field. The branching ratios between stark levels are also tabulated. Necessary formulas for the transition probabilities and branching ratios are given. Symmetries are discussed and selection rules are given. Some disagreements for some branching ratios are found between the present calculation and the measurement of Mark and Wierl. The transition probability multiplied by the statistical weight of the initial state is called the static intensity J sub S, while the branching ratios are called the dynamic intensity J sub D.

Identification and characterization of cuticular hydrocarbons from a rapid species radiation of Hawaiian swordtailed crickets (Gryllidae: Trigonidiinae: Laupala).

PubMed

Mullen, Sean P; Millar, Jocelyn G; Schal, Coby; Shaw, Kerry L

2008-02-01

A previous investigation of cuticular hydrocarbon variation among Hawaiian swordtail crickets (genus Laupala) revealed that these species differ dramatically in composition of cuticular lipids. Cuticular lipid extracts of Laupala species sampled from the Big Island of Hawaii also possess a greatly reduced number of chemicals (as evidenced by number of gas chromatography peaks) relative to ancestral taxa sampled from the geologically older island of Maui. One possible explanation for this biogeographic pattern is that reduction in chemical diversity observed among the Big Island taxa represents the loss of ancestral hydrocarbons found on Maui. To test this hypothesis, we characterized and identified the structures of cuticular hydrocarbons for seven species of Hawaiian Laupala, two from Maui (ancestral) and five from the Big Island of Hawaii (derived) by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Big Island Laupala possessed a reduced number of alkenes as well as a reduction in the diversity of methyl-branch positions relative to species sampled from Maui (ancestral), thus supporting our hypothesis of a founder-induced loss of chemical diversity. The reduction in diversity of ancestral hydrocarbons was more severe within one of the two sister lineages on the Big Island, suggesting that post-colonizing processes, such as drift or selection, also have influenced hydrocarbon evolution in this group.

Effect of non-classical current paths in networks of 1-dimensional wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Echternach, P. M.; Mikhalchuk, A. G.; Bozler, H. M.; Gershenson, M. E.; Bogdanov, A. L.; Nilsson, B.

1996-04-01

At low temperatures, the quantum corrections to the resistance due to weak localization and electron-electron interaction are affected by the shape and topology of samples. We observed these effects in the resistance of 2D percolation networks made from 1D wires and in a series of long 1D wires with regularly spaced side branches. Branches outside the classical current path strongly reduce the quantum corrections to the resistance and these reductions become a measure of the quantum lengths.

Effects of plant size, temperature, and light intensity on flowering of Phalaenopsis hybrids in Mediterranean greenhouses.

PubMed

Paradiso, Roberta; De Pascale, Stefania

2014-01-01

Mediterranean greenhouses for cultivation of Phalaenopsis orchids reproduce the warm, humid, and shaded environment of tropical underbrush. Heating represents the highest production cost, due to the high thermal requirements and the long unproductive phase of juvenility, in which plants attain the critical size for flowering. Our researches aimed to investigate the effect of plant size, temperature, and light intensity, during the phase of flower induction, on flowering of modern genotypes selected for Mediterranean greenhouses. Three experiments were carried out to compare (i) plant size: reduced size versus size considered optimal for flowering (hybrids "Sogo Yukidian," "Chain Xen Diamond," and "Pinlong"); (ii) temperature: moderate reduction of temperature versus standard thermal regime (hybrid "Premium"); (iii) light intensity: supplemental lighting versus reference light intensity (hybrid "Premium"). The premature exposure of plants to the inductive treatment delayed the beginning of flowering and reduced the flower stem quality, in all the tested hybrids. In "Premium," the lower temperature did not affect flowering earliness and commercial quality of flower stems compared to the standard regime, whereas it promoted stem branching. In the same hybrid, supplemental lighting anticipated flowering and promoted the emission of the second stem and the stem branching, compared to the reference light regime.

Suppressed prostate epithelial development with impaired branching morphogenesis in mice lacking stromal fibromuscular androgen receptor.

PubMed

Lai, Kuo-Pao; Yamashita, Shinichi; Vitkus, Spencer; Shyr, Chih-Rong; Yeh, Shuyuan; Chang, Chawnshang

2012-01-01

Using the cre-loxP system, we generated a new mouse model [double stromal androgen receptor knockout (dARKO)] with selectively deleted androgen receptor (AR) in both stromal fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, and found the size of the anterior prostate (AP) lobes was significantly reduced as compared with those from wild-type littermate controls. The reduction in prostate size of the dARKO mouse was accompanied by impaired branching morphogenesis and partial loss of the infolding glandular structure. Further dissection found decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of the prostate epithelium in the dARKO mouse AP. These phenotype changes were further confirmed with newly established immortalized prostate stromal cells (PrSC) from wild-type and dARKO mice. Mechanistically, IGF-1, placental growth factor, and secreted phosphoprotein-1 controlled by stromal AR were differentially expressed in PrSC-wt and PrSC-ARKO. Moreover, the conditioned media (CM) from PrSC-wt promoted prostate epithelium growth significantly as compared with CM from PrSC-dARKO. Finally, adding IGF-1/placental growth factor recombinant proteins into PrSC-dARKO CM was able to partially rescue epithelium growth. Together, our data concluded that stromal fibromuscular AR could modulate epithelium growth and maintain cellular homeostasis through identified growth factors.

Herbivore-induced volatiles in the perennial shrub, Vaccinium corymbosum, and their role in inter-branch signaling.

PubMed

Rodriguez-Saona, Cesar R; Rodriguez-Saona, Luis E; Frost, Christopher J

2009-02-01

Herbivore feeding activates plant defenses at the site of damage as well as systemically. Systemic defenses can be induced internally by signals transported via phloem or xylem, or externally transmitted by volatiles emitted from the damaged tissues. We investigated the role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) in activating a defense response between branches in blueberry plants. Blueberries are perennial shrubs that grow by initiating adventitious shoots from a basal crown, which produce new lateral branches. This type of growth constrains vascular connections between shoots and branches within plants. While we found that leaves within a branch were highly connected, vascular connectivity was limited between branches within shoots and absent between branches from different shoots. Larval feeding by gypsy moth, exogenous methyl jasmonate, and mechanical damage differentially induced volatile emissions in blueberry plants, and there was a positive correlation between amount of insect damage and volatile emission rates. Herbivore damage did not affect systemic defense induction when we isolated systemic branches from external exposure to HIPVs. Thus, internal signals were not capable of triggering systemic defenses among branches. However, exposure of branches to HIPVs from an adjacent branch decreased larval consumption by 70% compared to those exposed to volatiles from undamaged branches. This reduction in leaf consumption did not result in decreased volatile emissions, indicating that leaves became more responsive to herbivory (or "primed") after being exposed to HIPVs. Chemical profiles of leaves damaged by gypsy moth caterpillars, exposed to HIPVs, or non-damaged controls revealed that HIPV-exposed leaves had greater chemical similarities to damaged leaves than to control leaves. Insect-damaged leaves and young HIPV-exposed leaves had higher amounts of endogenous cis-jasmonic acid compared to undamaged and non-exposed leaves, respectively. Our results show that exposure to HIPVs triggered systemic induction of direct defenses against gypsy moth and primed volatile emissions, which can be an indirect defense. Blueberry plants appear to rely on HIPVs as external signals for inter-branch communication.

Evaluation of the precipitation-runoff modeling system, Beaver Creek basin, Kentucky

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bower, D.E.

1985-01-01

The Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) was evaluated with data from Cane branch and Helton Branch in the Beaver Creek basin of Kentucky. Because of previous studies, 10.6 years of record were available to establish a data base for the basin including 60 storms for Cane Branch and 50 storms for Helton Branch. The model was calibrated initially using data from the 1956-58 water years. Runoff predicted by the model was 94.7% of the observed runoff at Cane Branch (mined area) and 96.9% at Helton Branch (unmined area). After the model and data base were modified, the model was refitted to the 1956-58 data for Helton Branch. It then predicted 98.6% of the runoff for the 10.6-year period. The model parameters from Helton Branch were then used to simulate the Cane Branch runoff and discharge. The model predicted 102.6% of the observed runoff at Cane Branch for the 10.6 years. The simulations produced reasonable storm volumes and peak discharges. Sensitivity analysis of model parameters indicated the parameters associated with soil moisture are the most sensitive. The model was used to predict sediment concentration and daily sediment load for selected storm periods. The sediment computations indicated the model can be used to predict sediment concentrations during storm events. (USGS)

Nitrite reduction mechanism on a Pd surface.

PubMed

Shin, Hyeyoung; Jung, Sungyoon; Bae, Sungjun; Lee, Woojin; Kim, Hyungjun

2014-11-04

Nitrate (NO3-) is one of the most harmful contaminants in the groundwater, and it causes various health problems. Bimetallic catalysts, usually palladium (Pd) coupled with secondary metallic catalyst, are found to properly treat nitrate-containing wastewaters; however, the selectivity toward N2 production over ammonia (NH3) production still requires further improvement. Because the N2 selectivity is determined at the nitrite (NO2-) reduction step on the Pd surface, which occurs after NO3- is decomposed into NO2- on the secondary metallic catalyst, we here performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments to investigate the NO2- reduction pathway on the Pd surface activated by hydrogen. Based on extensive DFT calculations on the relative energetics among ∼100 possible intermediates, we found that NO2- is easily reduced to NO* on the Pd surface, followed by either sequential hydrogenation steps to yield NH3 or a decomposition step to N* and O* (an adsorbate on Pd is denoted using an asterisk). Based on the calculated high migration barrier of N*, we further discussed that the direct combination of two N* to yield N2 is kinetically less favorable than the combination of a highly mobile H* with N* to yield NH3. Instead, the reduction of NO2- in the vicinity of the N* can yield N2O* that can be preferentially transformed into N2 via diverse reaction pathways. Our DFT results suggest that enhancing the likelihood of N* encountering NO2- in the solution phase before combination with surface H* is important for maximizing the N2 selectivity. This is further supported by our experiments on NO2- reduction by Pd/TiO2, showing that both a decreased H2 flow rate and an increased NO2- concentration increased the N2 selectivity (78.6-93.6% and 57.8-90.9%, respectively).

DNA-Templated Introduction of an Aldehyde Handle in Proteins.

PubMed

Kodal, Anne Louise B; Rosen, Christian B; Mortensen, Michael R; Tørring, Thomas; Gothelf, Kurt V

2016-07-15

Many medical and biotechnological applications rely on protein labeling, but a key challenge is the production of homogeneous and site-specific conjugates. This can rarely be achieved by simple residue-specific random labeling, but generally requires genetic engineering. Using site-selective DNA-templated reductive amination, we created DNA-protein conjugates with control over labeling stoichiometry and without genetic engineering. A guiding DNA strand with a metal-binding functionality facilitates site-selectivity by directing the coupling of a second reactive DNA strand in the vicinity of a protein metal-binding site. We demonstrate DNA-templated reductive amination for His6 -tagged proteins and metal-binding proteins, including IgG1 antibodies. We also used a cleavable linker between the DNA and the protein to remove the DNA and introduce a single aldehyde on the protein. This functions as a handle for further modifications with desired labels. In addition to directing the aldehyde positioning, the DNA provides a straightforward route for purification between reaction steps. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Global Proteome Response to Deletion of Genes Related to Mercury Methylation and Dissimilatory Metal Reduction Reveals Changes in Respiratory Metabolism in Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA

DOE PAGES

Qian, Chen; Johs, Alexander; Chen, Hongmei; ...

2016-07-27

Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA can reduce, sorb, and methylate mercury (Hg); however, the underlying biochemical mechanisms of these processes and interdependent metabolic pathways remain unknown. In this study, shotgun proteomics was used to compare global proteome profiles between wild-type G. sulfurreducens PCA and two mutant strains: a ΔhgcAB mutant, which is deficient in two genes known to be essential for Hg methylation and a ΔomcBESTZ mutant, which is deficient in five outer membrane c-type cytochromes and thus impaired in its ability for dissimilatory metal ion reduction. We were able to delineate the global response of G. sulfurreducens PCA in both mutantsmore » and identify cellular networks and metabolic pathways that were affected by the loss of these genes. Deletion of hgcAB increased the relative abundances of proteins implicated in extracellular electron transfer, including most of the c-type cytochromes, PilA-C, and OmpB, and is consistent with a previously observed increase in Hg reduction in the hgcAB mutant. Deletion of omcBESTZ was found to significantly increase relative abundances of various methyltransferases, suggesting that a loss of dissimilatory reduction capacity results in elevated activity among one-carbon metabolic pathways and thus increased methylation. We show that G. sulfurreducens PCA encodes only the folate branch of the Wood Ljungdahl pathway, and proteins associated with the folate branch were found at lower abundance in the ΔhgcAB mutant strain than the wild type. In conclusion, this observation supports the hypothesis that the function of HgcA and HgcB may be linked to one carbon metabolism through the folate branch of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway by providing methyl groups required for Hg methylation.« less

Total synthesis of (+)-ileabethoxazole via an iron-mediated Pauson-Khand [2 + 2 + 1] carbocyclization.

PubMed

Williams, David R; Shah, Akshay A

2014-06-18

Studies describe the total synthesis of (+)-ileabethoxazole (1) using a Stille cross-coupling reaction of propargylic stannanes with 5-iodo-1,3-oxazoles to produce 1,1-disubstituted allenes (11). An iron-mediated [2 + 2 + 1] carbocyclization yields a novel cyclopentenone for elaboration to 1. Site-selective palladium insertion reactions allow for regiocontrolled substitutions of the heterocycle. Asymmetric copper hydride reductions are examined, and strategies for the formation of the central aromatic ring are discussed.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Allylation of Tertiary Alkyl Halides with Allylic Carbonates.

PubMed

Chen, Haifeng; Jia, Xiao; Yu, Yingying; Qian, Qun; Gong, Hegui

2017-10-09

The construction of all C(sp 3 ) quaternary centers has been successfully achieved under Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of allylic carbonates with unactivated tertiary alkyl halides. For allylic carbonates bearing C1 or C3 substituents, the reaction affords excellent regioselectivity through the addition of alkyl groups to the unsubstituted allylic carbon terminus. The allylic alkylation method also exhibits excellent functional-group compatibility, and delivers the products with high E selectivity. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Microwave spectrum, structure, dipole moment, and Coriolis coupling of 1,1-difluoroallene

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Durig, J. R.; Li, Y. S.; Tong, C. C.; Zens, A. P.; Ellis, P. D.

1974-01-01

Microwave spectra from 12.4 to 40.0 GHz were recorded for five isotopic species of 1,1-difluoroallene. A-type transitions were observed and R-branch assignments were made for the ground state and two vibrationally excited states. Several structural parameters of the compounds were determined. The dipole moment value obtained from Stark splitting was 2.07 plus or minus 0.03 D. A Coriolis coupling was observed between the two-low-frequency C = C = C bending modes.

Structure of FabH and factors affecting the distribution of branched fatty acids in Micrococcus luteus.

PubMed

Pereira, Jose H; Goh, Ee-Been; Keasling, Jay D; Beller, Harry R; Adams, Paul D

2012-10-01

Micrococcus luteus is a Gram-positive bacterium that produces iso- and anteiso-branched alkenes by the head-to-head condensation of fatty-acid thioesters [coenzyme A (CoA) or acyl carrier protein (ACP)]; this activity is of interest for the production of advanced biofuels. In an effort to better understand the control of the formation of branched fatty acids in M. luteus, the structure of FabH (MlFabH) was determined. FabH, or β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III, catalyzes the initial step of fatty-acid biosynthesis: the condensation of malonyl-ACP with an acyl-CoA. Analysis of the MlFabH structure provides insights into its substrate selectivity with regard to length and branching of the acyl-CoA. The most structurally divergent region of FabH is the L9 loop region located at the dimer interface, which is involved in the formation of the acyl-binding channel and thus limits the substrate-channel size. The residue Phe336, which is positioned near the catalytic triad, appears to play a major role in branched-substrate selectivity. In addition to structural studies of MlFabH, transcriptional studies of M. luteus were also performed, focusing on the increase in the ratio of anteiso:iso-branched alkenes that was observed during the transition from early to late stationary phase. Gene-expression microarray analysis identified two genes involved in leucine and isoleucine metabolism that may explain this transition.

Association mapping in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) reveals independent control of apical vs. basal branching.

PubMed

Nambeesan, Savithri U; Mandel, Jennifer R; Bowers, John E; Marek, Laura F; Ebert, Daniel; Corbi, Jonathan; Rieseberg, Loren H; Knapp, Steven J; Burke, John M

2015-03-11

Shoot branching is an important determinant of plant architecture and influences various aspects of growth and development. Selection on branching has also played an important role in the domestication of crop plants, including sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Here, we describe an investigation of the genetic basis of variation in branching in sunflower via association mapping in a diverse collection of cultivated sunflower lines. Detailed phenotypic analyses revealed extensive variation in the extent and type of branching within the focal population. After correcting for population structure and kinship, association analyses were performed using a genome-wide collection of SNPs to identify genomic regions that influence a variety of branching-related traits. This work resulted in the identification of multiple previously unidentified genomic regions that contribute to variation in branching. Genomic regions that were associated with apical and mid-apical branching were generally distinct from those associated with basal and mid-basal branching. Homologs of known branching genes from other study systems (i.e., Arabidopsis, rice, pea, and petunia) were also identified from the draft assembly of the sunflower genome and their map positions were compared to those of associations identified herein. Numerous candidate branching genes were found to map in close proximity to significant branching associations. In sunflower, variation in branching is genetically complex and overall branching patterns (i.e., apical vs. basal) were found to be influenced by distinct genomic regions. Moreover, numerous candidate branching genes mapped in close proximity to significant branching associations. Although the sunflower genome exhibits localized islands of elevated linkage disequilibrium (LD), these non-random associations are known to decay rapidly elsewhere. The subset of candidate genes that co-localized with significant associations in regions of low LD represents the most promising target for future functional analyses.

Active shape control of composite blades using shape memory actuation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandra, Ramesh

2001-10-01

This paper presents active shape control of composite beams using shape memory actuation. Shape memory alloy (SMA) bender elements trained to memorize bending shape were used to induce bending and twisting deformations in composite beams. Bending-torsion coupled graphite-epoxy and kevlar-epoxy composite beams with Teflon inserts were manufactured using an autoclave-molding technique. Teflon inserts were replaced by trained SMA bender elements. Composite beams with SMA bender elements were activated by heating these using electrical resistive heating and the bending and twisting deformations of the beams were measured using a mirror and laser system. The structural response of the composite beams activated by SMA elements was predicted using the Vlasov theory, where these beams were modeled as open sections with many branches. The bending moment induced by a SMA bender element was calculated from its experimentally determined memorized shape. The bending, torsion, and bending-torsion coupling stiffness coefficients of these beams were obtained using analytical formulation of an open-section composite beam with many branches (Vlasov theory).

Epsilon-near-zero modes for tailored light-matter interaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Campione, Salvatore; Liu, Sheng; Benz, Alexander

Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) modes arising from condensed-matter excitations such as phonons and plasmons are a new path for tailoring light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Complex spectral shaping can be achieved by creating such modes in nanoscale semiconductor layers and controlling their interaction with multiple, distinct, dipole resonant systems. Examples of this behavior are presented at midinfrared frequencies for ENZ modes that are strongly coupled to metamaterial resonators and simultaneously strongly coupled to semiconductor phonons or quantum-well intersubband transitions (ISTs), resulting in double- and triple-polariton branches in transmission spectra. For the double-polariton branch case, we find that the best strategy to maximizemore » the Rabi splitting is to use a combination of a doped layer supporting an ENZ feature and a layer supporting ISTs, with overlapping ENZ and IST frequencies. As a result, this design flexibility renders this platform attractive for low-voltage tunable filters, light-emitting diodes, and efficient nonlinear composite materials.« less

Epsilon-near-zero modes for tailored light-matter interaction

DOE PAGES

Campione, Salvatore; Liu, Sheng; Benz, Alexander; ...

2015-10-20

Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) modes arising from condensed-matter excitations such as phonons and plasmons are a new path for tailoring light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Complex spectral shaping can be achieved by creating such modes in nanoscale semiconductor layers and controlling their interaction with multiple, distinct, dipole resonant systems. Examples of this behavior are presented at midinfrared frequencies for ENZ modes that are strongly coupled to metamaterial resonators and simultaneously strongly coupled to semiconductor phonons or quantum-well intersubband transitions (ISTs), resulting in double- and triple-polariton branches in transmission spectra. For the double-polariton branch case, we find that the best strategy to maximizemore » the Rabi splitting is to use a combination of a doped layer supporting an ENZ feature and a layer supporting ISTs, with overlapping ENZ and IST frequencies. As a result, this design flexibility renders this platform attractive for low-voltage tunable filters, light-emitting diodes, and efficient nonlinear composite materials.« less

Feasibility of quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for targeted measurement of renal ischemia during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

PubMed

Goel, Utsav O; Maddox, Michael M; Elfer, Katherine N; Dorsey, Philip J; Wang, Mei; McCaslin, Ian Ross; Brown, J Quincy; Lee, Benjamin R

2014-01-01

Reduction of warm ischemia time during partial nephrectomy (PN) is critical to minimizing ischemic damage and improving postoperative kidney function, while maintaining tumor resection efficacy. Recently, methods for localizing the effects of warm ischemia to the region of the tumor via selective clamping of higher-order segmental artery branches have been shown to have superior outcomes compared with clamping the main renal artery. However, artery identification can prolong operative time and increase the blood loss and reduce the positive effects of selective ischemia. Quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) can provide a convenient, real-time means to aid in artery identification during laparoscopic PN. The feasibility of quantitative DRS for real-time longitudinal measurement of tissue perfusion and vascular oxygenation in laparoscopic nephrectomy was investigated in vivo in six Yorkshire swine kidneys (n=three animals ). DRS allowed for rapid identification of ischemic areas after selective vessel occlusion. In addition, the rates of ischemia induction and recovery were compared for main renal artery versus tertiary segmental artery occlusion, and it was found that the tertiary segmental artery occlusion trends toward faster recovery after ischemia, which suggests a potential benefit of selective ischemia. Quantitative DRS could provide a convenient and fast tool for artery identification and evaluation of the depth, spatial extent, and duration of selective tissue ischemia in laparoscopic PN.

Feasibility of quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for targeted measurement of renal ischemia during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goel, Utsav O.; Maddox, Michael M.; Elfer, Katherine N.; Dorsey, Philip J.; Wang, Mei; McCaslin, Ian Ross; Brown, J. Quincy; Lee, Benjamin R.

2014-10-01

Reduction of warm ischemia time during partial nephrectomy (PN) is critical to minimizing ischemic damage and improving postoperative kidney function, while maintaining tumor resection efficacy. Recently, methods for localizing the effects of warm ischemia to the region of the tumor via selective clamping of higher-order segmental artery branches have been shown to have superior outcomes compared with clamping the main renal artery. However, artery identification can prolong operative time and increase the blood loss and reduce the positive effects of selective ischemia. Quantitative diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) can provide a convenient, real-time means to aid in artery identification during laparoscopic PN. The feasibility of quantitative DRS for real-time longitudinal measurement of tissue perfusion and vascular oxygenation in laparoscopic nephrectomy was investigated in vivo in six Yorkshire swine kidneys (n=three animals). DRS allowed for rapid identification of ischemic areas after selective vessel occlusion. In addition, the rates of ischemia induction and recovery were compared for main renal artery versus tertiary segmental artery occlusion, and it was found that the tertiary segmental artery occlusion trends toward faster recovery after ischemia, which suggests a potential benefit of selective ischemia. Quantitative DRS could provide a convenient and fast tool for artery identification and evaluation of the depth, spatial extent, and duration of selective tissue ischemia in laparoscopic PN.

Supramolecular Porphyrin Cages Assembled at Molecular–Materials Interfaces for Electrocatalytic CO Reduction

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Conversion of carbon monoxide (CO), a major one-carbon product of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, into value-added multicarbon species is a challenge to addressing global energy demands and climate change. Here we report a modular synthetic approach for aqueous electrochemical CO reduction to carbon–carbon coupled products via self-assembly of supramolecular cages at molecular–materials interfaces. Heterobimetallic cavities formed by face-to-face coordination of thiol-terminated metalloporphyrins to copper electrodes through varying organic struts convert CO to C2 products with high faradaic efficiency (FE = 83% total with 57% to ethanol) and current density (1.34 mA/cm2) at a potential of −0.40 V vs RHE. The cage-functionalized electrodes offer an order of magnitude improvement in both selectivity and activity for electrocatalytic carbon fixation compared to parent copper surfaces or copper functionalized with porphyrins in an edge-on orientation. PMID:28979945

Supramolecular Porphyrin Cages Assembled at Molecular–Materials Interfaces for Electrocatalytic CO Reduction

DOE PAGES

Gong, Ming; Cao, Zhi; Liu, Wei; ...

2017-09-13

Conversion of carbon monoxide (CO), a major one-carbon product of carbon dioxide (CO 2) reduction, into value-added multicarbon species is a challenge to addressing global energy demands and climate change. Here in this paper, we report a modular synthetic approach for aqueous electrochemical CO reduction to carbon-carbon coupled products via self-assembly of supramolecular cages at molecular-materials interfaces. Heterobimetallic cavities formed by face-to-face coordination of thiol-terminated metalloporphyrins to copper electrodes through varying organic struts convert CO to C2 products with high faradaic efficiency (FE = 83% total with 57% to ethanol) and current density (1.34 mA/cm 2) at a potential ofmore » -0.40 V vs RHE. The cage-functionalized electrodes offer an order of magnitude improvement in both selectivity and activity for electrocatalytic carbon fixation compared to parent copper surfaces or copper functionalized with porphyrins in an edge-on orientation.« less

Selection of airgap layers for circuit timing optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyun, Daijoon; Shin, Youngsoo

2017-03-01

Airgap refers to a void formed in place of some inter metal dielectric (IMD). It brings about the reduction in coupling capacitance, which may contribute to improvement in circuit performance. We introduce two problems in this context. First is to choose the layers, where airgap should be applied, in such a way that total negative slack (TNS) is minimized for a given circuit. This has been motivated by the fact that best choice of airgap layers is different for different circuits. An algorithm is proposed to solve the problem, and is assessed against a naive approach in which airgap layers are simply fixed; additional 8% TNS reduction, on average of a few test circuits, is demonstrated. In the second problem, some wires of critical paths that are on non-airgap layers are reassigned to airgap layers such that TNS is further reduced; additional 3 to 14% of TNS reduction is observed.

Quantum Field Theories Coupled to Supergravity: AdS/CFT and Local Couplings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Große, Johannes

2007-11-01

This article is based on my PhD thesis and covers the following topics: Holographic meson spectra in a dilaton flow background, the mixed Coulomb-Higgs branch in terms of instantons on D7 branes, and a dual description of heavy-light mesons. Moreover, in a second part the conformal anomaly of four dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories coupled to classical N=1 supergravity is explored in a superfield formulation. The complete basis for the anomaly and consistency conditions, which arise from cohomological considerations, are given. Possible implications for an extension of Zamolodchikov's c-theorem to four dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories are discussed.

Qualitative validation of the reduction from two reciprocally coupled neurons to one self-coupled neuron in a respiratory network model.

PubMed

Dunmyre, Justin R

2011-06-01

The pre-Bötzinger complex of the mammalian brainstem is a heterogeneous neuronal network, and individual neurons within the network have varying strengths of the persistent sodium and calcium-activated nonspecific cationic currents. Individually, these currents have been the focus of modeling efforts. Previously, Dunmyre et al. (J Comput Neurosci 1-24, 2011) proposed a model and studied the interactions of these currents within one self-coupled neuron. In this work, I consider two identical, reciprocally coupled model neurons and validate the reduction to the self-coupled case. I find that all of the dynamics of the two model neuron network and the regions of parameter space where these distinct dynamics are found are qualitatively preserved in the reduction to the self-coupled case.

76 FR 30092 - Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Select Agent Registration

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-24

...] Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Select Agent Registration... . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the select agent registration process... Dr. Charles Divan, Branch Chief, Agriculture Select Agent Program, RIPPS, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road...

Power of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization-MS Reconstructed Ion Chromatograms in the Characterization of Small Differences in Polymer Microstructure.

PubMed

Epping, Ruben; Panne, Ulrich; Falkenhagen, Jana

2018-03-06

From simple homopolymers to functionalized, 3-dimensional structured copolymers, the complexity of polymeric materials has become more and more sophisticated. With new applications, for instance, in the semiconductor or pharmaceutical industry, the requirements for the characterization have risen with the complexity of the used polymers. For each additional distribution, an additional dimension in analysis is needed. Small, often isomeric heterogeneities in topology or microstructure can usually not be simply separated chromatographically or distinguished by any common detector but affect the properties of materials significantly. For a drug delivery system, for example, the degree of branching and branching distribution is crucial for the formation of micelles. Instead of a complicated, time-consuming, and/or expensive 2D-chromatography or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) method, that also has its limitations, in this work, a simple approach using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry is proposed. The online coupling allows the analysis of reconstructed ion chromatograms (RICs) of each degree of polymerization. While a complete separation often cannot be achieved, the derived retention times and peak widths lead to information on the existence and dispersity of heterogeneities. Although some microstructural heterogeneities like short chain branching can for large polymers be characterized with methods such as light scattering, for oligomers where the heterogeneities just start to form and their influence is at the maximum, they are inaccessible with these methods. It is also shown that with a proper calibration even quantitative information can be obtained. This method is suitable to detect small differences in, e.g., branching, 3D-structure, monomer sequence, or tacticity and could potentially be used in routine analysis to quickly determine deviations.

Neurovascular structures of the mandibular angle and condyle: a comprehensive anatomical review.

PubMed

Yang, Hun-Mu; Won, Sung-Yoon; Kim, Hee-Jin; Hu, Kyung-Seok

2015-11-01

Various surgical interventions including esthetic surgery, salivary gland excision, and open reduction of fracture have been performed in the area around the mandibular angle and condyle. This study aimed to comprehensively review the anatomy of the neurovascular structures on the angle and condyle with recent anatomic and clinical research. We provide detailed information about the branching and distributing patterns of the neurovascular structures at the mandibular angle and condyle, with reported data of measurements and proportions from previous anatomical and clinical research. Our report should serve to help practitioners gain a better understanding of the area in order or reduce potential complications during local procedures. Reckless manipulation during mandibular angle reduction could mutilate arterial branches, not only from the facial artery, but also from the external carotid artery. The transverse facial artery and superficial temporal artery could be damaged during approach and incision in the condylar area. The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve can be easily damaged during submandibular gland excision or facial rejuvenation treatment. The main trunk of the facial nerve and its upper and lower distinct divisions have been damaged during parotidectomy, rhytidectomy, and open reductions of condylar fractures. By revisiting the information in the present study, surgeons will be able to more accurately prevent procedure-related complications, such as iatrogenic vascular accidents on the mandibular angle and condyle, complete and partial facial palsy, gustatory sweating (Frey syndrome), and traumatic neuroma after parotidectomy.

In Situ Quantification of Experimental Ice Accretion on Tree Crowns Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

PubMed Central

Nock, Charles A.; Greene, David; Delagrange, Sylvain; Follett, Matt; Fournier, Richard; Messier, Christian

2013-01-01

In the eastern hardwood forests of North America ice storms are an important disturbance event. Ice storms strongly influence community dynamics as well as urban infrastructure via catastrophic branch failure; further, the severity and frequency of ice storms are likely to increase with climate change. However, despite a long-standing interest into the effects of freezing rain on forests, the process of ice accretion and thus ice loading on branches remains poorly understood. This is because a number of challenges have prevented in situ measurements of ice on branches, including: 1) accessing and measuring branches in tall canopies, 2) limitations to travel during and immediately after events, and 3) the unpredictability of ice storms. Here, utilizing a novel combination of outdoor experimental icing, manual measurements and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), we perform the first in situ measurements of ice accretion on branches at differing heights in a tree crown and with increasing duration of exposure. We found that TLS can reproduce both branch and iced branch diameters with high fidelity, but some TLS instruments do not detect ice. Contrary to the expectations of ice accretion models, radial accretion varied sharply within tree crowns. Initially, radial ice accretion was similar throughout the crown, but after 6.5 hours of irrigation (second scanning) radial ice accretion was much greater on upper branches than on lower (∼factor of 3). The slope of the change in radial ice accretion along branches increased with duration of exposure and was significantly greater at the second scanning compared to the first. We conclude that outdoor icing experiments coupled with the use of TLS provide a robust basis for evaluation of models of ice accretion and breakage in tree crowns, facilitating estimation of the limiting breaking stress of branches by accurate measurements of ice loads. PMID:23741409

TCP transcription factor, BRANCH ANGLE DEFECTIVE 1 (BAD1), is required for normal tassel branch angle formation in maize.

PubMed

Bai, Fang; Reinheimer, Renata; Durantini, Diego; Kellogg, Elizabeth A; Schmidt, Robert J

2012-07-24

In grass inflorescences, a structure called the "pulvinus" is found between the inflorescence main stem and lateral branches. The size of the pulvinus affects the angle of the lateral branches that emerge from the main axis and therefore has a large impact on inflorescence architecture. Through EMS mutagenesis we have identified three complementation groups of recessive mutants in maize having defects in pulvinus formation. All mutants showed extremely acute tassel branch angles accompanied by a significant reduction in the size of the pulvinus compared with normal plants. Two of the complementation groups correspond to mutations in the previously identified genes, RAMOSA2 (RA2) and LIGULELESS1 (LG1). Mutants corresponding to a third group were cloned using mapped-based approaches and found to encode a new member of the plant-specific TCP (TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN FACTOR) family of DNA-binding proteins, BRANCH ANGLE DEFECTIVE 1 (BAD1). BAD1 is expressed in the developing pulvinus as well as in other developing tissues, including the tassels and juvenile leaves. Both molecular and genetics studies show that RA2 is upstream of BAD1, whereas LG1 may function in a separate pathway. Our findings demonstrate that BAD1 is a TCP class II gene that functions to promote cell proliferation in a lateral organ, the pulvinus, and influences inflorescence architecture by impacting the angle of lateral branch emergence.

Adaptive evolution of tight junction protein claudin-14 in echolocating whales.

PubMed

Xu, Huihui; Liu, Yang; He, Guimei; Rossiter, Stephen J; Zhang, Shuyi

2013-11-10

Toothed whales and bats have independently evolved specialized ultrasonic hearing for echolocation. Recent findings have suggested that several genes including Prestin, Tmc1, Pjvk and KCNQ4 appear to have undergone molecular adaptations associated with the evolution of this ultrasonic hearing in mammals. Here we studied the hearing gene Cldn14, which encodes the claudin-14 protein and is a member of tight junction proteins that functions in the organ of Corti in the inner ear to maintain a cationic gradient between endolymph and perilymph. Particular mutations in human claudin-14 give rise to non-syndromic deafness, suggesting an essential role in hearing. Our results uncovered two bursts of positive selection, one in the ancestral branch of all toothed whales and a second in the branch leading to the delphinid, phocoenid and ziphiid whales. These two branches are the same as those previously reported to show positive selection in the Prestin gene. Furthermore, as with Prestin, the estimated hearing frequencies of whales significantly correlate with numbers of branch-wise non-synonymous substitutions in Cldn14, but not with synonymous changes. However, in contrast to Prestin, we found no evidence of positive selection in bats. Our findings from Cldn14, and comparisons with Prestin, strongly implicate multiple loci in the acquisition of echolocation in cetaceans, but also highlight possible differences in the evolutionary route to echolocation taken by whales and bats. © 2013.

Phenomenology in minimal theory of massive gravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Felice, Antonio De; Mukohyama, Shinji; Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe

2016-04-15

We investigate the minimal theory of massive gravity (MTMG) recently introduced. After reviewing the original construction based on its Hamiltonian in the vielbein formalism, we reformulate it in terms of its Lagrangian in both the vielbein and the metric formalisms. It then becomes obvious that, unlike previous attempts in the literature of Lorentz-violating massive gravity, not only the potential but also the kinetic structure of the action is modified from the de Rham-Gabadadze-Tolley (dRGT) massive gravity theory. We confirm that the number of physical degrees of freedom in MTMG is two at fully nonlinear level. This proves the absence ofmore » various possible pathologies such as superluminality, acausality and strong coupling. Afterwards, we discuss the phenomenology of MTMG in the presence of a dust fluid. We find that on a flat homogeneous and isotropic background we have two branches. One of them (self-accelerating branch) naturally leads to acceleration without the genuine cosmological constant or dark energy. For this branch both the scalar and the vector modes behave exactly as in general relativity (GR). The phenomenology of this branch differs from GR in the tensor modes sector, as the tensor modes acquire a non-zero mass. Hence, MTMG serves as a stable nonlinear completion of the self-accelerating cosmological solution found originally in dRGT theory. The other branch (normal branch) has a dynamics which depends on the time-dependent fiducial metric. For the normal branch, the scalar mode sector, even though as in GR only one scalar mode is present (due to the dust fluid), differs from the one in GR, and, in general, structure formation will follow a different phenomenology. The tensor modes will be massive, whereas the vector modes, for both branches, will have the same phenomenology as in GR.« less

Corona-Solar Wind Coupling Review

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

been reviewed and is approved for publication" E. G. Mullen E. G. Mullen Contract Manager Chief, Space Particles Environment Branch FOR THR COIN 1a...modeled, partly because the acceleration mechanism is still under study. Conclusions This review has been a survey of the current state of knowlede of

Optical fiber-fault surveillance for passive optical networks in S-band operation window

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeh, Chien-Hung; Chi, Sien

2005-07-01

An S-band (1470 to 1520 nm) fiber laser scheme, which uses multiple fiber Bragg grating (FBG) elements as feedback elements on each passive branch, is proposed and described for in-service fault identification in passive optical networks (PONs). By tuning a wavelength selective filter located within the laser cavity over a gain bandwidth, the fiber-fault of each branch can be monitored without affecting the in-service channels. In our experiment, an S-band four-branch monitoring tree-structured PON system is demonstrated and investigated experimentally.

Optical fiber-fault surveillance for passive optical networks in S-band operation window.

PubMed

Yeh, Chien-Hung; Chi, Sien

2005-07-11

An S-band (1470 to 1520 nm) fiber laser scheme, which uses multiple fiber Bragg grating (FBG) elements as feedback elements on each passive branch, is proposed and described for in-service fault identification in passive optical networks (PONs). By tuning a wavelength selective filter located within the laser cavity over a gain bandwidth, the fiber-fault of each branch can be monitored without affecting the in-service channels. In our experiment, an S-band four-branch monitoring tree-structured PON system is demonstrated and investigated experimentally.

Eban HIV/STD risk reduction intervention: conceptual basis and procedures.

PubMed

2008-09-01

To describe the Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention being evaluated in the NIMH Multisite HIV/STD Prevention trial for heterosexual African American couples, including the integrated theoretical framework, the structure, core elements and procedures of the intervention, and how the content was shaped by culturally congruent concepts to address the needs of the study target population. The Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention is designed to address multilevel individual-, interpersonal-, and community-level factors that contribute to HIV/STD transmission risk behaviors among heterosexual African American couples who are HIV serodiscordant. The Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention employs a mixed modality, couple-based approach that is based on an integrated ecological framework incorporating social cognitive theory and uses an Afrocentric paradigm that is informed by previous evidence-based couples HIV prevention interventions. For this randomized controlled trial, African American serodiscordant couples were recruited from 4 urban sites (Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia) and were randomized to either the Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention (treatment condition) or a Health Promotion Intervention that served as an attentional control condition. Both interventions had 4 individual couple sessions and 4 group sessions, but only the treatment condition was focused on reducing HIV/STD risk behaviors. Behavioral and biological data were collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 6 and 12 months. The theoretical framework, core elements, and content of each session are described and lessons learned from this intervention trial are discussed. An HIV prevention intervention combining couple and group sessions can be feasibly implemented with African American HIV-serodiscordant couples who remain at high risk of HIV/STD transmission. The lessons learned from the trial suggest that the participants responded very well to both the couple and the group sessions. Participant feedback suggests that the cultural congruence of the intervention and use of African American cofacilitators made them feel comfortable disclosing risky behaviors. Participant feedback also suggests that the intervention's couple-based focus on enhancing dyadic communication and decision-making skills was key to helping the couples work together to overcome barriers to using condoms. Participant and facilitator evaluations of the Eban Risk Reduction Intervention suggest that couples responded well to the Afrocentric content and mixed modalities of the intervention sessions. Couple sessions were optimal for enhancing interpersonal and microlevel factors, including communication, problem solving, and decision making.

Rational growth of branched nanowire heterostructures with synthetically encoded properties and function

PubMed Central

Jiang, Xiaocheng; Tian, Bozhi; Xiang, Jie; Qian, Fang; Zheng, Gengfeng; Wang, Hongtao; Mai, Liqiang; Lieber, Charles M.

2011-01-01

Branched nanostructures represent unique, 3D building blocks for the “bottom-up” paradigm of nanoscale science and technology. Here, we report a rational, multistep approach toward the general synthesis of 3D branched nanowire (NW) heterostructures. Single-crystalline semiconductor, including groups IV, III–V, and II–VI, and metal branches have been selectively grown on core or core/shell NW backbones, with the composition, morphology, and doping of core (core/shell) NWs and branch NWs well controlled during synthesis. Measurements made on the different composition branched NW structures demonstrate encoding of functional p-type/n-type diodes and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as well as field effect transistors with device function localized at the branch/backbone NW junctions. In addition, multibranch/backbone NW structures were synthesized and used to demonstrate capability to create addressable nanoscale LED arrays, logic circuits, and biological sensors. Our work demonstrates a previously undescribed level of structural and functional complexity in NW materials, and more generally, highlights the potential of bottom-up synthesis to yield increasingly complex functional systems in the future. PMID:21730174

Composite Overview and Composite Aerocover Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caraccio, Anne; Tate, LaNetra; Dokos, Adam; Taylor, Brian; Brown, Chad

2014-01-01

Materials Science Division within the Engineering Directorate tasked by the Ares Launch Vehicle Division (LX-V) and the Fluids Testing and Technology Development Branch (NE-F6) to design, fabricate and test an aerodynamic composite shield for potential Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle infusion and a composite strut that will serve as a pathfinder in evaluating calorimeter data for the CRYOSTAT (cryogenic on orbit storage and transfer) Project. ATP project is to carry the design and development of the aerodynamic composite cover or "bracket" from cradle to grave including materials research, purchasing, design, fabrication, testing, analysis and presentation of the final product. Effort consisted of support from the Materials Testing & Corrosion Control Branch (NE-L2) for mechanical testing, the Prototype Development Branch (NE-L3) for CAD drawing, design/analysis, and fabrication, Materials & Processes Engineering Branch (NE-L4) for project management and materials selection; the Applied Physics Branch (NE-LS) for NDE/NDI support; and the Chemical Analysis Branch (NE-L6) for developmental systems evaluation. Funded by the Ares Launch Vehicle Division and the Fluids Testing and Technology Development Branch will provide ODC

Mechanisms of calcification and its relation to photosynthesis and respiration in the coral Seriatopora hystrix at a volcanic carbon dioxide seep

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strahl, J.; Fabricius, K.; de Beer, D.

2016-02-01

Ocean acidification due to rising partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in the atmosphere is predicted to profoundly affect marine ecosystems. Studies on coral reef communities at volcanic CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea (PNG) show reductions in coral diversity and structural complexity where mean pH is reduced by 0.3 units. For example, the abundance of the scleractinian coral Seriatopora hystrix is significantly reduced at seep sites in PNG. To assess the physiological mechanisms for these community shifts in response to ocean acidification, we collected branches of S. hystrix at a seep (pCO2= 803, pHTotal = 7.8) and a control site (pCO2 = 323, pHTotal = 8.1) in PNG. We determined rates of oxygen production, oxygen consumption and calcification of live coral branches in light and dark incubation experiments. While net photosynthesis and dark respiration rates in the corals remained similar at high and low pCO2, their rates of light and dark calcification considerably decreased at high pCO2. In order to investigate the mechanism of calcification under acidified and ambient conditions and its coupling to photosynthesis and respiration, we further studied Ca2+, pH and O2 dynamics with microsensors. The results of these analyses will allow us to determine whether limited capacity for physiological acclimatization rather than lower recruitment success have led to reduced densities of sensitive corals such as S. hystrix at high pCO2 sites.

Manipulating the optical properties of symmetrically branched Au/Pd nanocrystals through interior design.

PubMed

DeSantis, Christopher J; Skrabalak, Sara E

2014-05-25

Au/Pd octopods with hollow, cubic interiors and Oh symmetry were synthesized for the first time by etching core@shell Pd@Au/Pd octopods to selectively remove their Pd interiors. Integration of multiple architectural features - in this case branching symmetry, composition, and interior design - into one nanostructure provides design strategies to new plasmonic colloids.

Student Choice in Higher Education: Motivations for Choosing to Study at an International Branch Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkins, Stephen; Balakrishnan, Melodena Stephens; Huisman, Jeroen

2012-01-01

The international branch campus has emerged as a prominent feature on the international higher education landscape. Although there exists a fairly substantial body of literature that has sought to identify the motivations or choice criteria used by international students to select countries and institutions, there has to date been little research…

Pediatric Oncology Branch - training- resident electives | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Resident Electives Select pediatric residents may be approved for a 4-week elective rotation at the Pediatric Oncology Branch. This rotation emphasizes the important connection between research and patient care in pediatric oncology. The resident is supervised directly by the Branch’s attending physician and clinical fellows. Residents attend daily in-patient and out-patient

Clinical and electrocardiographic presentations of transient trifascicular block in three cats.

PubMed

Oxford, Eva M; Giacomazzi, Flavia B; Moïse, N Sydney; Santilli, Roberto A

2018-06-01

This report describes transient trifascicular block in three cats presented with lethargy and inappetence, and elevated cardiac troponin I concentrations. The electrocardiogram (ECG) of cat 1 showed a sinus rhythm with pronounced first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, right bundle branch block, and left anterior fascicular block. The ECG of cat 2 showed truncular left bundle branch block alternating with left anterior fascicular block coupled with prolonged PR intervals, second-degree heart block, and paroxysmal third-degree AV block. The ECG of cat 3 showed first-degree AV block with concomitant right bundle branch block. The diagnosis of trifascicular block was made when paroxysmal third-degree AV block was documented. All cats recovered with medical management within weeks. Each cat resumed a sinus rhythm. Elevated cardiac troponin I concentrations suggested myocarditis that improved. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental and Computational Studies of Sound Transmission in a Branching Airway Network Embedded in a Compliant Viscoelastic Medium

PubMed Central

Dai, Zoujun; Peng, Ying; Mansy, Hansen A.; Sandler, Richard H.; Royston, Thomas J.

2015-01-01

Breath sounds are often used to aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease. Mechanical and numerical models could be used to enhance our understanding of relevant sound transmission phenomena. Sound transmission in an airway mimicking phantom was investigated using a mechanical model with a branching airway network embedded in a compliant viscoelastic medium. The Horsfield self-consistent model for the bronchial tree was adopted to topologically couple the individual airway segments into the branching airway network. The acoustics of the bifurcating airway segments were measured by microphones and calculated analytically. Airway phantom surface motion was measured using scanning laser Doppler vibrometry. Finite element simulations of sound transmission in the airway phantom were performed. Good agreement was achieved between experiments and simulations. The validated computational approach can provide insight into sound transmission simulations in real lungs. PMID:26097256

Experimental and computational studies of sound transmission in a branching airway network embedded in a compliant viscoelastic medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Zoujun; Peng, Ying; Mansy, Hansen A.; Sandler, Richard H.; Royston, Thomas J.

2015-03-01

Breath sounds are often used to aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease. Mechanical and numerical models could be used to enhance our understanding of relevant sound transmission phenomena. Sound transmission in an airway mimicking phantom was investigated using a mechanical model with a branching airway network embedded in a compliant viscoelastic medium. The Horsfield self-consistent model for the bronchial tree was adopted to topologically couple the individual airway segments into the branching airway network. The acoustics of the bifurcating airway segments were measured by microphones and calculated analytically. Airway phantom surface motion was measured using scanning laser Doppler vibrometry. Finite element simulations of sound transmission in the airway phantom were performed. Good agreement was achieved between experiments and simulations. The validated computational approach can provide insight into sound transmission simulations in real lungs.

Monoterpene separation by coupling proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry with fastGC.

PubMed

Materić, Dušan; Lanza, Matteo; Sulzer, Philipp; Herbig, Jens; Bruhn, Dan; Turner, Claire; Mason, Nigel; Gauci, Vincent

2015-10-01

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is a well-established technique for real-time analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Although it is extremely sensitive (with sensitivities of up to 4500 cps/ppbv, limits of detection <1 pptv and the response times of approximately 100 ms), the selectivity of PTR-MS is still somewhat limited, as isomers cannot be separated. Recently, selectivity-enhancing measures, such as manipulation of drift tube parameters (reduced electric field strength) and using primary ions other than H3O(+), such as NO(+) and O2 (+), have been introduced. However, monoterpenes, which belong to the most important plant VOCs, still cannot be distinguished so more traditional technologies, such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have to be utilised. GC-MS is very time consuming (up to 1 h) and cannot be used for real-time analysis. Here, we introduce a sensitive, near-to-real-time method for plant monoterpene research-PTR-MS coupled with fastGC. We successfully separated and identified six of the most abundant monoterpenes in plant studies (α- and β-pinenes, limonene, 3-carene, camphene and myrcene) in less than 80 s, using both standards and conifer branch enclosures (Norway spruce, Scots pine and black pine). Five monoterpenes usually present in Norway spruce samples with a high abundance were separated even when the compound concentrations were diluted to 20 ppbv. Thus, fastGC-PTR-ToF-MS was shown to be an adequate one-instrument solution for plant monoterpene research.

Brunet-Derrida Behavior of Branching-Selection Particle Systems on the Line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bérard, Jean; Gouéré, Jean-Baptiste

2010-09-01

We consider a class of branching-selection particle systems on {mathbb{R}} similar to the one considered by E. Brunet and B. Derrida in their 1997 paper “Shift in the velocity of a front due to a cutoff”. Based on numerical simulations and heuristic arguments, Brunet and Derrida showed that, as the population size N of the particle system goes to infinity, the asymptotic velocity of the system converges to a limiting value at the unexpectedly slow rate (log N)-2. In this paper, we give a rigorous mathematical proof of this fact, for the class of particle systems we consider. The proof makes use of ideas and results by R. Pemantle, and by N. Gantert, Y. Hu and Z. Shi, and relies on a comparison of the particle system with a family of N independent branching random walks killed below a linear space-time barrier.

Fisher information matrix for branching processes with application to electron-multiplying charge-coupled devices

PubMed Central

Chao, Jerry; Ward, E. Sally; Ober, Raimund J.

2012-01-01

The high quantum efficiency of the charge-coupled device (CCD) has rendered it the imaging technology of choice in diverse applications. However, under extremely low light conditions where few photons are detected from the imaged object, the CCD becomes unsuitable as its readout noise can easily overwhelm the weak signal. An intended solution to this problem is the electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD), which stochastically amplifies the acquired signal to drown out the readout noise. Here, we develop the theory for calculating the Fisher information content of the amplified signal, which is modeled as the output of a branching process. Specifically, Fisher information expressions are obtained for a general and a geometric model of amplification, as well as for two approximations of the amplified signal. All expressions pertain to the important scenario of a Poisson-distributed initial signal, which is characteristic of physical processes such as photon detection. To facilitate the investigation of different data models, a “noise coefficient” is introduced which allows the analysis and comparison of Fisher information via a scalar quantity. We apply our results to the problem of estimating the location of a point source from its image, as observed through an optical microscope and detected by an EMCCD. PMID:23049166

Automated anatomical labeling of bronchial branches extracted from CT datasets based on machine learning and combination optimization and its application to bronchoscope guidance.

PubMed

Mori, Kensaku; Ota, Shunsuke; Deguchi, Daisuke; Kitasaka, Takayuki; Suenaga, Yasuhito; Iwano, Shingo; Hasegawa, Yosihnori; Takabatake, Hirotsugu; Mori, Masaki; Natori, Hiroshi

2009-01-01

This paper presents a method for the automated anatomical labeling of bronchial branches extracted from 3D CT images based on machine learning and combination optimization. We also show applications of anatomical labeling on a bronchoscopy guidance system. This paper performs automated labeling by using machine learning and combination optimization. The actual procedure consists of four steps: (a) extraction of tree structures of the bronchus regions extracted from CT images, (b) construction of AdaBoost classifiers, (c) computation of candidate names for all branches by using the classifiers, (d) selection of best combination of anatomical names. We applied the proposed method to 90 cases of 3D CT datasets. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can assign correct anatomical names to 86.9% of the bronchial branches up to the sub-segmental lobe branches. Also, we overlaid the anatomical names of bronchial branches on real bronchoscopic views to guide real bronchoscopy.

The Direction of Fluid Dynamics for Liquid Propulsion at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffin, Lisa W.

2012-01-01

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-designated center for the development of space launch systems. MSFC is particularly known for propulsion system development. Many engineering skills and technical disciplines are needed to accomplish this mission. This presentation will focus on the work of the Fluid Dynamics Branch (ER42). ER42 resides in the Propulsion Systems Department at MSFC. The branch is responsible for all aspects of the discipline of fluid dynamics applied to propulsion or propulsion-induced loads and environments. This work begins with design trades and parametric studies, and continues through development, risk assessment, anomaly investigation and resolution, and failure investigations. Applications include the propellant delivery system including the main propulsion system (MPS) and turbomachinery; combustion devices for liquid engines and solid rocket motors; coupled systems; and launch environments. An advantage of the branch is that it is neither analysis nor test centric, but discipline centric. Fluid dynamics assessments are made by analysis, from lumped parameter modeling through unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD); testing, which can be cold flow or hot fire; or a combination of analysis and testing. Integration of all discipline methods into one branch enables efficient and accurate support to the projects. To accomplish this work, the branch currently employs approximately fifty engineers divided into four teams -- Propellant Delivery CFD, Combustion Driven Flows CFD, Unsteady and Experimental Flows, and Acoustics and Stability. This discussion will highlight some of the work performed in the branch and the direction in which the branch is headed.

Atraumatic haemarthrosis following total knee replacement treated with selective embolisation.

PubMed

Karataglis, Dimitrios; Marlow, Duncan; Learmonth, Duncan J A

2006-06-01

Spontaneous haemarthrosis in the absence of anticoagulant medication or a bleeding disorder is a very rare complication after total knee arthroplasty. A case of recurrent spontaneous haemarthrosis following total knee replacement in a 69-year-old patient is reported. Angiography was used to aid the diagnosis. It demonstrated an abnormal blush of vessels around the anterior aspect of the knee joint, that was fed by genicular branches and a recurrent branch of the anterior tibial artery. Selective embolisation of the bleeding vessels with coils led to immediate control of the bleeding. No further recurrence of haemarthrosis has been recorded.

Model predictive control of a lean-burn gasoline engine coupled with a passive selective catalytic reduction system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Pingen; Lin, Qinghua; Prikhodko, Vitaly Y.

Lean-burn gasoline engines have demonstrated 10–20% engine efficiency gain over stoichiometric engines and are widely considered as a promising technology for meeting the 54.5 miles-per-gallon (mpg) Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard by 2025. Nevertheless, NOx emissions control for lean-burn gasoline for meeting the stringent EPA Tier 3 emission standards has been one of the main challenges towards the commercialization of highly-efficient lean-burn gasoline engines in the United States. Passive selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, which consist of a three-way catalyst and SCR, have demonstrated great potentials of effectively reducing NOx emissions for lean gasoline engines but may cause significant fuelmore » penalty due to ammonia generation via rich engine combustion. The purpose of this study is to develop a model-predictive control (MPC) scheme for a lean-burn gasoline engine coupled with a passive SCR system to minimize the fuel penalty associated with passive SCR operation while satisfying stringent NOx and NH3 emissions requirements. Simulation results demonstrate that the MPC-based control can reduce the fuel penalty by 47.7% in a simulated US06 cycle and 32.0% in a simulated UDDS cycle, compared to the baseline control, while achieving over 96% deNOx efficiency and less than 15 ppm tailpipe ammonia slip. The proposed MPC control can potentially enable high engine efficiency gain for highly-efficient lean-burn gasoline engine while meeting the stringent EPA Tier 3 emission standards.« less

Development of a titanium dioxide-coated microfluidic-based photocatalyst-assisted reduction device to couple high-performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for determination of inorganic selenium species.

PubMed

Shih, Tsung-Ting; Lin, Cheng-Hsing; Hsu, I-Hsiang; Chen, Jian-Yi; Sun, Yuh-Chang

2013-11-05

We developed a selective and sensitive hyphenated system employing a microfluidic-based vapor generation (VG) system in conjunction with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS) detection for the determination of trace inorganic selenium (Se) species. The VG system exploited poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates of high optical quality to fabricate a microfluidic-based photocatalyst-assisted reduction device (microfluidic-based PCARD). Moreover, to reduce the consumption of photocatalysts during analytical procedures, a microfluidic-based PCARD coated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) was employed to avoid consecutive loading. Notably, to simplify the coating procedure and improve the stability of the coating materials, a dynamic coating method was utilized. Under the optimized conditions for the selenicals of interest, the online HPLC/TiO2-coated microfluidic-based PCARD/ICPMS system enabled us to achieve detection limits (based on 3σ) of 0.043 and 0.042 μg L(-1) for Se(IV) and Se(VI), respectively. Both Se(IV) and Se(VI) could be efficiently vaporized within 15 s, while a series of validation experiments indicated that our proposed method could be satisfactorily applied to the determination of inorganic Se species in the environmental water samples.

Comment on linewidths and shifts in the Stokes-Raman Q branch of D2 in He

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Sheldon; Blackmore, Robert; Monchick, Louis

1989-01-01

Collision-induced widths and shifts for Raman Q-branch transitions of D2 in He were calculated from S matrices obtained with converged close coupling scattering calculations on an accurate theoretical interaction potential. Results agree well with experimental values. Discrepancies between experimental line shifts and theoretical values from an earlier study (Blackmore et al., 1988) are traced to a computational error in that work. The effects of vibrational inelasticity and of centrifugal distortion on energy levels and on potential matrix elements, all of which were ignored in the earlier study, are explicitly considered here and found to be small.

The Exciton-Polariton Dispersion Law under the Action of Strong Pumping in the Region of the M-Band of Luminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khadzhi, P. I.; Nad'kin, L. Yu.; Markov, D. A.

2018-04-01

The double-pulse interaction with excitons and biexcitons in semiconductors is studied theoretically. It is shown that the dispersion law of carrier wave has three branches under the action of a powerful pumping in the region of the M-band of luminescence. Values of parameters at which the dispersion law branches can intersect due to the degeneration of the exciton level energy have been found. The effect of a significant change in the force of coupling between the exciton and photon of a weak pulse with a change in the pumping intensity is predicted.

Orbital State Manipulation of a Diamond Nitrogen-Vacancy Center Using a Mechanical Resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, H. Y.; MacQuarrie, E. R.; Fuchs, G. D.

2018-04-01

We study the resonant optical transitions of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center that is coherently dressed by a strong mechanical drive. Using a gigahertz-frequency diamond mechanical resonator that is strain coupled to a NV center's orbital states, we demonstrate coherent Raman sidebands out to the ninth order and orbital-phonon interactions that mix the two excited-state orbital branches. These interactions are spectroscopically revealed through a multiphonon Rabi splitting of the orbital branches which scales as a function of resonator driving amplitude and is successfully reproduced in a quantum model. Finally, we discuss the application of mechanical driving to engineering NV-center orbital states.

[Branched alkanes and other apolar compounds produced by the cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus from the Negev desert].

PubMed

Dembitskiĭ, V M; Dor, I; Shkrob, I; Aki, M

2001-01-01

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on serially coupled capillary columns with different polarity of stationary phases showed that the soil cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus from the Negev desert produces an unusual mixture of 4 normal and more than 60 branched alkanes, as well as a number of fatty acids, cyclic and unsaturated hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones. The dominant compounds were heptadecane (12%), 7-methylheptadecane (7.8%), hexadecanoic acid (6.5%), (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid (5.6%), 4-ethyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane (2.8%), (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (2.8%), and 4-methyl-5-propylnonane (2.7%).

Bidirectional optical coupler for plastic optical fibers.

PubMed

Sugita, Tatsuya; Abe, Tomiya; Hirano, Kouki; Itoh, Yuzo

2005-05-20

We have developed a low-loss bidirectional optical coupler for high-speed optical communication with plastic optical fibers (POFs). The coupler, which is fabricated by an injection molding method that uses poly (methyl methacrylate), has an antisymmetric tapered shape. We show that the coupler has low insertion and branching losses. The tapered shape of the receiving branch reduces beam diameter and increases detection efficiency coupling to a photodetector, whose area is smaller than that of the plastic optical fiber. The possibility of more than 15-m bidirectional transmission with a signaling bit rate up to 500 Mbits/s for simplex step-index POFs is demonstrated.

Selective and graded recruitment of cat hamstring muscles with intrafascicular stimulation.

PubMed

Dowden, Brett R; Wilder, Andrew M; Hiatt, Scott D; Normann, Richard A; Brown, Nicholas A T; Clark, Gregory A

2009-12-01

The muscles of the hamstring group can produce different combinations of hip and knee torque. Thus, the ability to activate the different hamstring muscles selectively is of particular importance in eliciting functional movements such as stance and gait in a person with spinal cord injury. We investigated the ability of intrafascicular stimulation of the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve to recruit the feline hamstring muscles in a selective and graded fashion. A Utah Slanted Electrode Array, consisting of 100 penetrating microelectrodes, was implanted into the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve in six cats. Muscle twitches were evoked in the three compartments of biceps femoris (anterior, middle, and posterior), as well as semitendinosus and semimembranosus, using pulse-width modulated constant-voltage pulses. The resultant compound muscle action potentials were recorded using intramuscular fine-wire electrodes. 74% of the electrodes per implant were able to evoke a threshold response in these muscles, and these electrodes were evenly distributed among the instrumented muscles. Of the five muscles instrumented, on average 2.5 could be selectively activated to 90% of maximum EMG, and 3.5 could be selectively activated to 50% of maximum EMG. The muscles were recruited selectively with a mean stimulus dynamic range of 4.14 +/- 5.05 dB between threshold and either spillover to another muscle or a plateau in the response. This selective and graded activation afforded by intrafascicular stimulation of the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve suggests that it is a potentially useful stimulation paradigm for eliciting distinct forces in the hamstring muscle group in motor neuroprosthetic applications.

Quantitative analysis of arterial flow properties for detection of non-calcified plaques in ECG-gated coronary CT angiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Jun; Zhou, Chuan; Chan, Heang-Ping; Chughtai, Aamer; Agarwal, Prachi; Kuriakose, Jean; Hadjiiski, Lubomir; Patel, Smita; Kazerooni, Ella

2015-03-01

We are developing a computer-aided detection system to assist radiologists in detection of non-calcified plaques (NCPs) in coronary CT angiograms (cCTA). In this study, we performed quantitative analysis of arterial flow properties in each vessel branch and extracted flow information to differentiate the presence and absence of stenosis in a vessel segment. Under rest conditions, blood flow in a single vessel branch was assumed to follow Poiseuille's law. For a uniform pressure distribution, two quantitative flow features, the normalized arterial compliance per unit length (Cu) and the normalized volumetric flow (Q) along the vessel centerline, were calculated based on the parabolic Poiseuille solution. The flow features were evaluated for a two-class classification task to differentiate NCP candidates obtained by prescreening as true NCPs and false positives (FPs) in cCTA. For evaluation, a data set of 83 cCTA scans was retrospectively collected from 83 patient files with IRB approval. A total of 118 NCPs were identified by experienced cardiothoracic radiologists. The correlation between the two flow features was 0.32. The discriminatory ability of the flow features evaluated as the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.65 for Cu and 0.63 for Q in comparison with AUCs of 0.56-0.69 from our previous luminal features. With stepwise LDA feature selection, volumetric flow (Q) was selected in addition to three other luminal features. With FROC analysis, the test results indicated a reduction of the FP rates to 3.14, 1.98, and 1.32 FPs/scan at sensitivities of 90%, 80%, and 70%, respectively. The study indicated that quantitative blood flow analysis has the potential to provide useful features for the detection of NCPs in cCTA.

Prevalence and elimination of sibling neurite convergence in motor units supplying neonatal and adult mouse skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Teriakidis, Adrianna; Willshaw, David J; Ribchester, Richard R

2012-10-01

During development, neurons form supernumerary synapses, most of which are selectively pruned leading to stereotyped patterns of innervation. During the development of skeletal muscle innervation, or its regeneration after nerve injury, each muscle fiber is transiently innervated by multiple motor axon branches but eventually by a single branch. The selective elimination of all but one branch is the result of competition between the converging arbors. It is thought that motor neurons initially innervate muscle fibers randomly, but that axon branches from the same neuron (sibling branches) do not converge to innervate the same muscle fiber. However, random innervation would result in many neonatal endplates that are co-innervated by sibling branches. To investigate whether this occurs we examined neonatal levator auris longus (LAL) and 4th deep lumbrical (4DL) muscles, as well as adult reinnervated deep lumbrical muscles (1-4) in transgenic mice expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) as a reporter. We provide direct evidence of convergence of sibling neurites within single fluorescent motor units, both during development and during regeneration after nerve crush. The incidence of sibling neurite convergence was 40% lower in regeneration and at least 75% lower during development than expected by chance. Therefore, there must be a mechanism that decreases the probability of its occurrence. As sibling neurite convergence is not seen in normal adults, or at later timepoints in regeneration, synapse elimination must also remove convergent synaptic inputs derived from the same motor neuron. Mechanistic theories of synaptic competition should now accommodate this form of isoaxonal plasticity. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Milling of rice grains. The degradation on three structural levels of starch in rice flour can be independently controlled during grinding.

PubMed

Tran, Thuy T B; Shelat, Kinnari J; Tang, Daniel; Li, Enpeng; Gilbert, Robert G; Hasjim, Jovin

2011-04-27

Whole polished rice grains were ground using cryogenic and hammer milling to understand the mechanisms of degradation of starch granule structure, whole (branched) molecular structure, and individual branches of the molecules during particle size reduction (grinding). Hammer milling caused greater degradation to starch granules than cryogenic milling when the grains were ground to a similar volume-median diameter. Molecular degradation of starch was not evident in the cryogenically milled flours, but it was observed in the hammer-milled flours with preferential cleavage of longer (amylose) branches. This can be attributed to the increased grain brittleness and fracturability at cryogenic temperatures, reducing the mechanical energy required to diminish the grain size and thus reducing the probability of chain scission. The results indicate, for the first time, that branching, whole molecule, and granule structures of starch can be independently altered by varying grinding conditions, such as grinding force and temperature.

Multi-branched Cu2O nanowires for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Chunxin; Shu, Yun; Zhou, Xiaowei; Ren, Yang; Liu, Zhu

2018-03-01

Multi-branched cuprous oxide nanowires (Cu2O NWs) were prepared by one-step hydrothermal method of a facile process. The architecture of these Cu2O NWs was examined by scanning electron microscopy, and the resulting crystal nanowire consists of the trunk growing along [100] plane and the branch growing along [110] plane. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in the experiment indicates that pure Cu2O NWs prepared at 150 °C have a higher photocatalytic activity (90% MO were degraded within 20 min without the presence of H2O2) compared with the samples obtained at other temperatures. In the photoelectrochemical test, pure Cu2O NWs had outstanding photoelectric response, which corresponds to the catalytic performance. The superior photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the absence of grain boundaries between the small branches and the nanowire trunk, which is conducive to the transport of photo-generated carriers, and the reduction of Cu impurities to reduce the number of recombination centers.

Characterization of structural and electrical properties of ZnO tetrapods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Yu-Dong; Mai, Wen-Jie; Jiang, Peng

2011-12-01

ZnO tetrapods were synthesized by a typical thermal vapor-solid deposition method in a horizontal tube furnace. Structural characterization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and select-area electron diffraction (SAED), which shows the presence of zinc blende nucleus in the center of tetrapods while the four branches taking hexagonal wurtzite structure. The electrical transport property of ZnO tetrapods was investigated through an in-situ nanoprobe system. The three branches of a tetrapod serve as source, drain, and "gate", respectively; while the fourth branch pointing upward works as the force trigger by vertically applying external force downward. The conductivity of each branch of ZnO-tetrapods increases 3-4 times under pressure. In such situation, the electrical current through the branches of ZnO tetrapods can be tuned by external force, and therefore a simple force sensor based on ZnO tetrapods has been demonstrated for the first time.

Cell type-specific delivery of short interfering RNAs by dye-functionalised theranostic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Press, Adrian T.; Traeger, Anja; Pietsch, Christian; Mosig, Alexander; Wagner, Michael; Clemens, Mark G.; Jbeily, Nayla; Koch, Nicole; Gottschaldt, Michael; Bézière, Nicolas; Ermolayev, Volodymyr; Ntziachristos, Vasilis; Popp, Jürgen; Kessels, Michael M.; Qualmann, Britta; Schubert, Ulrich S.; Bauer, Michael

2014-12-01

Efficient delivery of short interfering RNAs reflects a prerequisite for the development of RNA interference therapeutics. Here, we describe highly specific nanoparticles, based on near infrared fluorescent polymethine dye-derived targeting moieties coupled to biodegradable polymers. The fluorescent dye, even when coupled to a nanoparticle, mimics a ligand for hepatic parenchymal uptake transporters resulting in hepatobiliary clearance of approximately 95% of the dye within 45 min. Body distribution, hepatocyte uptake and excretion into bile of the dye itself, or dye-coupled nanoparticles can be tracked by intravital microscopy or even non-invasively by multispectral optoacoustic tomography. Efficacy of delivery is demonstrated in vivo using 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase siRNA as an active payload resulting in a reduction of plasma cholesterol levels if siRNA was formulated into dye-functionalised nanoparticles. This suggests that organ-selective uptake of a near infrared dye can be efficiently transferred to theranostic nanoparticles allowing novel possibilities for personalised silencing of disease-associated genes.

Bifurcations and stability of standing waves in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation on the tadpole graph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noja, Diego; Pelinovsky, Dmitry; Shaikhova, Gaukhar

2015-07-01

We develop a detailed analysis of edge bifurcations of standing waves in the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation on a tadpole graph (a ring attached to a semi-infinite line subject to the Kirchhoff boundary conditions at the junction). It is shown in the recent work [7] by using explicit Jacobi elliptic functions that the cubic NLS equation on a tadpole graph admits a rich structure of standing waves. Among these, there are different branches of localized waves bifurcating from the edge of the essential spectrum of an associated Schrödinger operator. We show by using a modified Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method that the bifurcation of localized standing waves occurs for every positive power nonlinearity. We distinguish a primary branch of never vanishing standing waves bifurcating from the trivial solution and an infinite sequence of higher branches with oscillating behavior in the ring. The higher branches bifurcate from the branches of degenerate standing waves with vanishing tail outside the ring. Moreover, we analyze stability of bifurcating standing waves. Namely, we show that the primary branch is composed by orbitally stable standing waves for subcritical power nonlinearities, while all nontrivial higher branches are linearly unstable near the bifurcation point. The stability character of the degenerate branches remains inconclusive at the analytical level, whereas heuristic arguments based on analysis of embedded eigenvalues of negative Krein signatures support the conjecture of their linear instability at least near the bifurcation point. Numerical results for the cubic NLS equation show that this conjecture is valid and that the degenerate branches become spectrally stable far away from the bifurcation point.

RP-UHPLC-UV-ESI-MS/MS analysis of LPMO generated C4-oxidized gluco-oligosaccharides after non-reductive labeling with 2-aminobenzamide.

PubMed

Frommhagen, Matthias; van Erven, Gijs; Sanders, Mark; van Berkel, Willem J H; Kabel, Mirjam A; Gruppen, Harry

2017-08-07

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are able to cleave recalcitrant polysaccharides, such as cellulose, by oxidizing the C1 and/or C4 atoms. The analysis of the resulting products requires a variety of analytical techniques. Up to now, these techniques mainly focused on the identification of non-oxidized and C1-oxidized oligosaccharides. The analysis of C4-oxidized gluco-oligosaccharides is mostly performed by using high pressure anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC). However, the alkaline conditions used during HPAEC analysis lead to tautomerization of C4-oxidized gluco-oligosaccharides, which limits the use of this technique. Here, we describe the use of reverse phase-ultra high performance liquid chromatography (RP-UHPLC) in combination with non-reductive 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB) labeling. Non-reductive 2-AB labeling enabled separation of C4-oxidized gluco-oligosaccharides from their non-oxidized counterparts. Moreover, RP-UHPLC does not require buffered mobile phases, which reduce mass spectrometry (MS) sensitivity. The latter is seen as an advantage over other techniques such as hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and porous graphitized carbon coupled to MS. RP-UHPLC coupled to UV detection and mass spectrometry allowed the identification of both labeled non-oxidized and C4-oxidized oligosaccharides. Non-reductive labeling kept the ketone at the C4-position of LPMO oxidized oligosaccharides intact, while selective reducing agents such as sodium triacetoxyborohydride (STAB) reduced this ketone group. Our results show that RP-UHPLC-UV-ESI-MS in combination with non-reductively 2-AB labeling is a suitable technique for the separation and identification of LPMO-generated C4-oxidized gluco-oligosaccharides. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Bacterial respiration of arsenic and selenium

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stolz, J.F.; Oremland, R.S.

1999-01-01

Oxyanions of arsenic and selenium can be used in microbial anaerobic respiration as terminal electron acceptors. The detection of arsenate and selenate respiring bacteria in numerous pristine and contaminated environments and their rapid appearance in enrichment culture suggest that they are widespread and metabolically active in nature. Although the bacterial species that have been isolated and characterized are still few in number, they are scattered throughout the bacterial domain and include Gram- positive bacteria, beta, gamma and epsilon Proteobacteria and the sole member of a deeply branching lineage of the bacteria, Chrysiogenes arsenatus. The oxidation of a number of organic substrates (i.e. acetate, lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, ethanol) or hydrogen can be coupled to the reduction of arsenate and selenate, but the actual donor used varies from species to species. Both periplasmic and membrane-associated arsenate and selenate reductases have been characterized. Although the number of subunits and molecular masses differs, they all contain molybdenum. The extent of the environmental impact on the transformation and mobilization of arsenic and selenium by microbial dissimilatory processes is only now being fully appreciated.

Removal and toxicity reduction of naphthenic acids by ozonation and combined ozonation-aerobic biodegradation.

PubMed

Vaiopoulou, Eleni; Misiti, Teresa M; Pavlostathis, Spyros G

2015-03-01

A commercial naphthenic acids (NAs) mixture (TCI Chemicals) and five model NA compounds were ozonated in a semibatch mode. Ozonation of 25 and 35 mg/L NA mixture followed pseudo first-order kinetics (k(obs)=0.11±0.008 min(-1); r(2)=0.989) with a residual NAs concentration of about 5 mg/L. Ozone reacted preferentially with NAs of higher cyclicity and molecular weight and decreased both cyclicity and the acute Microtox® toxicity by 3.3-fold. The ozone reactivity with acyclic and monocyclic model NAs varied and depended on other structural features, such as branching and the presence of tertiary or quaternary carbons. Batch aerobic degradation of unozonated NA mixture using a NA-enriched culture resulted in 83% NA removal and a 6.7-fold decrease in toxicity, whereas a combination of ozonation-biodegradation resulted in 89% NA removal and a 15-fold decrease in toxicity. Thus, ozonation of NA-bearing waste streams coupled with biodegradation are effective treatment processes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Control of Delta Avulsion by Downstream Sediment Sinks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salter, Gerard; Paola, Chris; Voller, Vaughan R.

2018-01-01

Understanding how fluxes are partitioned at delta bifurcations is critical for predicting patterns of land loss and gain in deltas worldwide. Although the dynamics of river deltas are influenced from both upstream and downstream, previous studies of bifurcations have focused on upstream controls. Using a quasi-1-D bifurcation model, we show that flow switching in bifurcations is strongly influenced by downstream sediment sinks. We find that coupling between upstream and downstream feedbacks can lead to oscillations in water and sediment flux partitioning. The frequency and initial rate of growth/decay of the oscillations depend on both upstream and downstream conditions, with dimensionless bifurcate length and bypass fraction emerging as key downstream parameters. With a strong offshore sink, causing bypass in the bifurcate branches, we find that bifurcation dynamics become "frozen"; that is, the bifurcation settles on a permanent discharge ratio. In contrast, under depositional conditions, we identify three dynamical regimes: symmetric; soft avulsion, where both branches remain open but the dominant branch switches; and full avulsion. Finally, we show that differential subsidence alters these regimes, with the difference in average sediment supply to each branch exactly compensating for the difference in accommodation generation. Additionally, the model predicts that bifurcations with shorter branches are less asymmetric than bifurcations with longer branches, all else equal, providing a possible explanation for the difference between backwater length distributaries, which tend to be avulsive, and relatively stable mouth-bar-scale networks. We conclude that bifurcations are sensitive both quantitatively and qualitatively to downstream sinks.

Constraints and implications on Higgs FCNC couplings from precision measurement of Bs→μ+μ- decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiang, Cheng-Wei; He, Xiao-Gang; Ye, Fang; Yuan, Xing-Bo

2017-08-01

We study constraints and implications of the recent LHCb measurement of B (Bs→μ+μ-) for tree-level Higgs-mediated flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions. Combined with experimental data on the Bs mass difference Δ ms and the h →μ τ and h →τ+τ- decay branching ratios from the LHC, we find that the Higgs FCNC couplings are severely constrained. The allowed regions for Bs→μ τ , τ τ and h →s b decays are obtained. Current data allow large C P violation in the h →τ+τ- decay. Consequences of the Cheng-Sher ansatz for the Higgs-Yukawa couplings are discussed in some detail.

Pediatric Oncology Branch - training- medical student rotations | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Medical Student Rotations Select 4th-year medical students may be approved for a 4-week elective rotation at the Pediatric Oncology Branch. This rotation emphasizes the important connection between research and patient care in pediatric oncology. The student is supervised directly by the Branch’s attending physician and clinical fellows. Students attend daily in-patient and

Management of Intractable Nasal Hyperreactivity by Selective Resection of Posterior Nasal Nerve Branches

PubMed Central

Takahara, Daisuke; Hamamoto, Takao; Ishino, Takashi; Hirakawa, Katsuhiro

2017-01-01

The posterior nasal nerves emerge from the sphenopalatine foramen and contain sensory and autonomic nerve components. Posterior nasal neurectomy is an effective method to remove pathological neural networks surrounding the inferior turbinate that cause unregulated nasal hypersensitivity with excess secretion in patients with severe allergic rhinitis (AR). We describe the sophisticated endoscopic surgical procedure that allows feasible access to the confined area and selective resection of the nerve branches with the preservation of the sphenopalatine artery (SPA). We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 23 symptomatic severe AR patients who failed to respond to standard medical treatment and underwent surgery. There have been no major complications after surgery including nasal bleeding or transient numbness of the upper teeth. The mean total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) were decreased by 70.2% at 12 months after the procedure. Our comparison of the clinical effectiveness based on the number of severed nerve branches revealed that the improvement of the TNSS was significantly higher in patients with >2 branches. We conclude that this minimally invasive technique that preserves the SPA is clinically useful and decreases the rate of postoperative complications. This trial is registered with UMIN000029025. PMID:29379524

Management of Intractable Nasal Hyperreactivity by Selective Resection of Posterior Nasal Nerve Branches.

PubMed

Takahara, Daisuke; Takeno, Sachio; Hamamoto, Takao; Ishino, Takashi; Hirakawa, Katsuhiro

2017-01-01

The posterior nasal nerves emerge from the sphenopalatine foramen and contain sensory and autonomic nerve components. Posterior nasal neurectomy is an effective method to remove pathological neural networks surrounding the inferior turbinate that cause unregulated nasal hypersensitivity with excess secretion in patients with severe allergic rhinitis (AR). We describe the sophisticated endoscopic surgical procedure that allows feasible access to the confined area and selective resection of the nerve branches with the preservation of the sphenopalatine artery (SPA). We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 23 symptomatic severe AR patients who failed to respond to standard medical treatment and underwent surgery. There have been no major complications after surgery including nasal bleeding or transient numbness of the upper teeth. The mean total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) were decreased by 70.2% at 12 months after the procedure. Our comparison of the clinical effectiveness based on the number of severed nerve branches revealed that the improvement of the TNSS was significantly higher in patients with >2 branches. We conclude that this minimally invasive technique that preserves the SPA is clinically useful and decreases the rate of postoperative complications. This trial is registered with UMIN000029025.

Genetic variability and heritability on Kipas Putih soybean mutant lines using gamma rays irradiation (M3 generation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nilahayati; Rosmayati; Hanafiah, D. S.; Harahap, F.

2018-02-01

The objective of the research was to determine the selection criteria in Kipas Putih Soybean with gamma rays irradiation in M3 generation. In this study there are four populations namely population 0 Gray (control), 100 Gray, 200 Gray and 300 Gray. The results showed that high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was obtained on the number of pods and seed weight per plant in population 200 Gy, number of branches on 100 Gy and 300 Gy, number of pods and seed weight per plants 100 and 200 Gy, moderate GCV in number of branches on 100 and 300 Gy while other characters such as plant height, numbers of branches on 200 Gy, flowering and harvest age have narrow GCV criteria. High heritability values are found in 300 Gy on plant height, number of branches 300 Gy, number of pods and seed weight per plant 200 Gy, days to flower 200 Gy and 300 Gy and days to harvest of all doses. Based on the genetic variabiliy and heritability, characters that can be used as selection criteria in this study is number of pods and seeds weight per plant, days to flower and days to harvest.

Microstimulation of the lumbar DRG recruits primary afferent neurons in localized regions of lower limb.

PubMed

Ayers, Christopher A; Fisher, Lee E; Gaunt, Robert A; Weber, Douglas J

2016-07-01

Patterned microstimulation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) has been proposed as a method for delivering tactile and proprioceptive feedback to amputees. Previous studies demonstrated that large- and medium-diameter afferent neurons could be recruited separately, even several months after implantation. However, those studies did not examine the anatomical localization of sensory fibers recruited by microstimulation in the DRG. Achieving precise recruitment with respect to both modality and receptive field locations will likely be crucial to create a viable sensory neuroprosthesis. In this study, penetrating microelectrode arrays were implanted in the L5, L6, and L7 DRG of four isoflurane-anesthetized cats instrumented with nerve cuff electrodes around the proximal and distal branches of the sciatic and femoral nerves. A binary search was used to find the recruitment threshold for evoking a response in each nerve cuff. The selectivity of DRG stimulation was characterized by the ability to recruit individual distal branches to the exclusion of all others at threshold; 84.7% (n = 201) of the stimulation electrodes recruited a single nerve branch, with 9 of the 15 instrumented nerves recruited selectively. The median stimulation threshold was 0.68 nC/phase, and the median dynamic range (increase in charge while stimulation remained selective) was 0.36 nC/phase. These results demonstrate the ability of DRG microstimulation to achieve selective recruitment of the major nerve branches of the hindlimb, suggesting that this approach could be used to drive sensory input from localized regions of the limb. This sensory input might be useful for restoring tactile and proprioceptive feedback to a lower-limb amputee. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Intralaryngeal neuroanatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve of the rabbit

PubMed Central

Ryan, Stephen; McNicholas, Walter T; O'Regan, Ronan G; Nolan, Philip

2003-01-01

We undertook this study to determine the detailed neuroanatomy of the terminal branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in the rabbit to facilitate future neurophysiological recordings from identified branches of this nerve. The whole larynx was isolated post mortem in 17 adult New Zealand White rabbits and prepared using a modified Sihler's technique, which stains axons and renders other tissues transparent so that nerve branches can be seen in whole mount preparations. Of the 34 hemi-laryngeal preparations processed, 28 stained well and these were dissected and used to characterize the neuroanatomy of the RLN. In most cases (23/28) the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) was supplied by a single branch arising from the RLN, though in five PCA specimens there were two or three separate branches to the PCA. The interarytenoid muscle (IA) was supplied by two parallel filaments arising from the main trunk of the RLN rostral to the branch(es) to the PCA. The lateral cricoarytenoid muscle (LCA) commonly received innervation from two fine twigs branching from the RLN main trunk and travelling laterally towards the LCA. The remaining fibres of the RLN innervated the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) and comprised two distinct branches, one supplying the pars vocalis and the other branching extensively to supply the remainder of the TA. No communicating anastomosis between the RLN and superior laryngeal nerve within the larynx was found. Our results suggest it is feasible to make electrophysiological recordings from identified terminal branches of the RLN supplying laryngeal adductor muscles separate from the branch or branches to the PCA. However, the very small size of the motor nerves to the IA and LCA suggests that it would be very difficult to record selectively from the nerve supply to individual laryngeal adductor muscles. PMID:12739619

Abnormal vascular and neural retinal morphology in congenital lifetime isolated growth hormone deficiency.

PubMed

Pereira-Gurgel, Virginia M; Faro, Augusto C N; Salvatori, Roberto; Chagas, Thiago A; Carvalho-Junior, José F; Oliveira, Carla R P; Costa, Ursula M M; Melo, Gustavo B; Hellström, Ann; Aguiar-Oliveira, Manuel H

Experimental models demonstrate an important role of GH in retinal development. However, the interactions between GH and the neuro-vascularization of the human retina are still not clear. A model of untreated congenital isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) may clarify the actions of GH on the retina. The purpose of this work was to assess the retinal neuro-vascularization in untreated congenital IGHD (cIGHD). In a cross sectional study, we performed an endocrine and ophthalmological assessment of 25 adult cIGHD subjects, homozygous for a null mutation (c.57+1G>A) in the GHRH receptor gene and 28 matched controls. Intraocular pressure measurement, retinography (to assess the number of retinal vascular branching points and the optic disc and cup size), and optical coherence tomography (to assess the thickness of macula) were performed. cIGHD subjects presented a more significant reduction of vascular branching points in comparison to controls (91% vs. 53% [p=0.049]). The percentage of moderate reduction was higher in cIGHD than in controls (p=0.01). The percentage of individuals with increased optic disc was higher in cIGHD subjects in comparison to controls (92.9% vs. 57.1%). The same occurred for cup size (92.9% vs. 66.7%), p<0.0001 in both cases. There was no difference in macula thickness. Most cIGHD individuals present moderate reduction of vascular branching points, increase of optic disc and cup size, but have similar thickness of the macula. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transcriptome-based phylogeny of endemic Lake Baikal amphipod species flock: fast speciation accompanied by frequent episodes of positive selection.

PubMed

Naumenko, Sergey A; Logacheva, Maria D; Popova, Nina V; Klepikova, Anna V; Penin, Aleksey A; Bazykin, Georgii A; Etingova, Anna E; Mugue, Nikolai S; Kondrashov, Alexey S; Yampolsky, Lev Y

2017-01-01

Endemic species flocks inhabiting ancient lakes, oceanic islands and other long-lived isolated habitats are often interpreted as adaptive radiations. Yet molecular evidence for directional selection during species flocks radiation is scarce. Using partial transcriptomes of 64 species of Lake Baikal (Siberia, Russia) endemic amphipods and two nonendemic outgroups, we report a revised phylogeny of this species flock and analyse evidence for positive selection within the endemic lineages. We confirm two independent invasions of amphipods into Baikal and demonstrate that several morphological features of Baikal amphipods, such as body armour and reduction in appendages and sensory organs, evolved in several lineages in parallel. Radiation of Baikal amphipods has been characterized by short phylogenetic branches and frequent episodes of positive selection which tended to be more frequent in the early phase of the second invasion of amphipods into Baikal when the most intensive diversification occurred. Notably, signatures of positive selection are frequent in genes encoding mitochondrial membrane proteins with electron transfer chain and ATP synthesis functionality. In particular, subunits of both the membrane and substrate-level ATP synthases show evidence of positive selection in the plankton species Macrohectopus branickii, possibly indicating adaptation to active plankton lifestyle and to survival under conditions of low temperature and high hydrostatic pressures known to affect membranes functioning. Other functional categories represented among genes likely to be under positive selection include Ca-binding muscle-related proteins, possibly indicating adaptation to Ca-deficient low mineralization Baikal waters. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Sleeping site selection by proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

PubMed

Feilen, Katie L; Marshall, Andrew J

2014-12-01

Primates spend at least half their lives sleeping; hence, sleeping site selection can have important effects on behavior and fitness. As proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) often sleep along rivers and form bands (aggregations of one male groups) at their sleeping sites, understanding sleeping site selection may shed light on two unusual aspects of this species' socioecology: their close association with rivers and their multilevel social organization. We studied sleeping site selection by proboscis monkeys for twelve months at Sungai Tolak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia to test two main hypotheses regarding the drivers of sleeping site selection: reduction of molestation by mosquitoes and anti-predator behavior. We identified to genus and collected data on the physical structure (diameter at breast height, relative height, branch structure, and leaf coverage) of sleeping trees and available trees in three forest types. We used resource selection function models to test specific predictions derived from our two hypotheses. The monkeys preferred to sleep in large trees with few canopy connections located along rivers. The selection of large emergent trees was consistent with both of our main hypotheses: decreased molestation by mosquitoes and reduced potential entry routes for terrestrial predators. Although we are only beginning to understand how sleeping sites might influence behavior, grouping, and potential survival of this species, our study has shown that proboscis monkeys (at Sungai Tolak) have a very strong preference for large trees located near the river. As these trees are often the first to be logged by local villagers, this may exacerbate the problems of forest loss for these endangered monkeys. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Electric coupling between distant nitrate reduction and sulfide oxidation in marine sediment

PubMed Central

Marzocchi, Ugo; Trojan, Daniela; Larsen, Steffen; Louise Meyer, Rikke; Peter Revsbech, Niels; Schramm, Andreas; Peter Nielsen, Lars; Risgaard-Petersen, Nils

2014-01-01

Filamentous bacteria of the Desulfobulbaceae family can conduct electrons over centimeter-long distances thereby coupling oxygen reduction at the surface of marine sediment to sulfide oxidation in deeper anoxic layers. The ability of these cable bacteria to use alternative electron acceptors is currently unknown. Here we show that these organisms can use also nitrate or nitrite as an electron acceptor thereby coupling the reduction of nitrate to distant oxidation of sulfide. Sulfidic marine sediment was incubated with overlying nitrate-amended anoxic seawater. Within 2 months, electric coupling of spatially segregated nitrate reduction and sulfide oxidation was evident from: (1) the formation of a 4–6-mm-deep zone separating sulfide oxidation from the associated nitrate reduction, and (2) the presence of pH signatures consistent with proton consumption by cathodic nitrate reduction, and proton production by anodic sulfide oxidation. Filamentous Desulfobulbaceae with the longitudinal structures characteristic of cable bacteria were detected in anoxic, nitrate-amended incubations but not in anoxic, nitrate-free controls. Nitrate reduction by cable bacteria using long-distance electron transport to get privileged access to distant electron donors is a hitherto unknown mechanism in nitrogen and sulfur transformations, and the quantitative importance for elements cycling remains to be addressed. PMID:24577351

Genes and QTLs controlling inflorescence and stem branch architecture in Leymus (Poaceae: Triticeae) Wildrye.

PubMed

Larson, Steven R; Kellogg, Elizabeth A; Jensen, Kevin B

2013-01-01

Grass inflorescence and stem branches show recognizable architectural differences among species. The inflorescence branches of Triticeae cereals and grasses, including wheat, barley, and 400-500 wild species, are usually contracted into a spike formation, with the number of flowering branches (spikelets) per node conserved within species and genera. Perennial Triticeae grasses of genus Leymus are unusual in that the number of spikelets per node varies, inflorescences may have panicle branches, and vegetative stems may form subterranean rhizomes. Leymus cinereus and L. triticoides show discrete differences in inflorescence length, branching architecture, node number, and density; number of spikelets per node and florets per spikelet; culm length and width; and perimeter of rhizomatous spreading. Quantitative trait loci controlling these traits were detected in 2 pseudo-backcross populations derived from the interspecific hybrids using a linkage map with 360 expressed gene sequence markers from Leymus tiller and rhizome branch meristems. Alignments of genes, mutations, and quantitative trait loci controlling similar traits in other grass species were identified using the Brachypodium genome reference sequence. Evidence suggests that loci controlling inflorescence and stem branch architecture in Leymus are conserved among the grasses, are governed by natural selection, and can serve as possible gene targets for improving seed, forage, and grain production.

Photovoltaic efficiency of intermediate band solar cells based on CdTe/CdMnTe coupled quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prado, Silvio J.; Marques, Gilmar E.; Alcalde, Augusto M.

2017-11-01

In this work we show the calculation of optimized efficiencies of intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs) based on Mn-doped II-VI CdTe/CdMnTe coupled quantum dot (QD) structures. We focus our attention on the combined effects of geometrical and Mn-doping parameters on optical properties and solar cell efficiency. In the framework of {k \\cdot p} theory, we accomplish detailed calculations of electronic structure, transition energies, optical selection rules and their corresponding intra- and interband oscillator strengths. With these results and by following the intermediate band model, we have developed a strategy which allows us to find optimal photovoltaic efficiency values. We also show that the effects of band admixture which can lead to degradation of optical transitions and reduction of efficiency can be partly minimized by a careful selection of the structural parameters and Mn-concentration. Thus, the improvement of band engineering is mandatory for any practical implementation of QD systems as IBSC hardware. Finally, our calculations show that it is possible to reach significant efficiency, up to  ∼26%, by selecting a restricted space of parameters such as quantum dot size and shape and Mn-concentration effects, to improve the modulation of optical absorption in the structures.

Photovoltaic efficiency of intermediate band solar cells based on CdTe/CdMnTe coupled quantum dots.

PubMed

Prado, Silvio J; Marques, Gilmar E; Alcalde, Augusto M

2017-11-08

In this work we show the calculation of optimized efficiencies of intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs) based on Mn-doped II-VI CdTe/CdMnTe coupled quantum dot (QD) structures. We focus our attention on the combined effects of geometrical and Mn-doping parameters on optical properties and solar cell efficiency. In the framework of [Formula: see text] theory, we accomplish detailed calculations of electronic structure, transition energies, optical selection rules and their corresponding intra- and interband oscillator strengths. With these results and by following the intermediate band model, we have developed a strategy which allows us to find optimal photovoltaic efficiency values. We also show that the effects of band admixture which can lead to degradation of optical transitions and reduction of efficiency can be partly minimized by a careful selection of the structural parameters and Mn-concentration. Thus, the improvement of band engineering is mandatory for any practical implementation of QD systems as IBSC hardware. Finally, our calculations show that it is possible to reach significant efficiency, up to  ∼26%, by selecting a restricted space of parameters such as quantum dot size and shape and Mn-concentration effects, to improve the modulation of optical absorption in the structures.

Analytic theory for the selection of Saffman-Taylor fingers in the presence of thin film effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tanveer, S.

1989-01-01

An analytic theory is presented for the width selection of Saffman-Taylor fingers in the presence of thin film effect. In the limit of small capillary number Ca and small gap to width ratio epsilon, such that epsilon much less than Ca much less than 1, it is found that fingers with relative width lambda less than 1/2 are possible such that lambda squared (1-lambda)/(1-2 lambda) = k epsilon/Ca(sup 3/2), where the positive constant k depends on the branch of solution and equals 2.776 for the first branch. A fully nonlinear analysis is necessary in this problem even to obtain the correct scaling law. It is also shown how in principle, the selection rule for arbitrary Ca can be obtained.

Coupled Metal/Oxide Catalysts with Tunable Product Selectivity for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction.

PubMed

Huo, Shengjuan; Weng, Zhe; Wu, Zishan; Zhong, Yiren; Wu, Yueshen; Fang, Jianhui; Wang, Hailiang

2017-08-30

One major challenge to the electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to useful fuels and chemical products is the lack of efficient catalysts that can selectively direct the reaction to one desirable product and avoid the other possible side products. Making use of strong metal/oxide interactions has recently been demonstrated to be effective in enhancing electrocatalysis in the liquid phase. Here, we report one of the first systematic studies on composition-dependent influences of metal/oxide interactions on electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction, utilizing Cu/SnO x heterostructured nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a model catalyst system. By adjusting the Cu/Sn ratio in the catalyst material structure, we can tune the products of the CO 2 electrocatalytic reduction reaction from hydrocarbon-favorable to CO-selective to formic acid-dominant. In the Cu-rich regime, SnO x dramatically alters the catalytic behavior of Cu. The Cu/SnO x -CNT catalyst containing 6.2% of SnO x converts CO 2 to CO with a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 89% and a j CO of 11.3 mA·cm -2 at -0.99 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, in stark contrast to the Cu-CNT catalyst on which ethylene and methane are the main products for CO 2 reduction. In the Sn-rich regime, Cu modifies the catalytic properties of SnO x . The Cu/SnO x -CNT catalyst containing 30.2% of SnO x reduces CO 2 to formic acid with an FE of 77% and a j HCOOH of 4.0 mA·cm -2 at -0.99 V, outperforming the SnO x -CNT catalyst which only converts CO 2 to formic acid in an FE of 48%.

Understanding Selectivity for the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formic Acid and Carbon Monoxide on Metal Electrodes

DOE PAGES

Feaster, Jeremy T.; Shi, Chuan; Cave, Etosha R.; ...

2017-06-22

Increases in energy demand and in chemical production, together with the rise in CO 2 levels in the atmosphere, motivate the development of renewable energy sources. Electrochemical CO 2 reduction to fuels and chemicals is an appealing alternative to traditional pathways to fuels and chemicals due to its intrinsic ability to couple to solar and wind energy sources. Formate (HCOO –) is a key chemical for many industries; however, greater understanding is needed regarding the mechanism and key intermediates for HCOO – production. This work reports a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 tomore » HCOO – on polycrystalline Sn surfaces, which have been identified as promising catalysts for selectively producing HCOO –. Our results show that Sn electrodes produce HCOO –, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H 2) across a range of potentials and that HCOO – production becomes favored at potentials more negative than –0.8 V vs RHE, reaching a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 70% at –0.9 V vs RHE. Scaling relations for Sn and other transition metals are examined using experimental current densities and density functional theory (DFT) binding energies. While *COOH was determined to be the key intermediate for CO production on metal surfaces, we suggest that it is unlikely to be the primary intermediate for HCOO – production. Instead, *OCHO is suggested to be the key intermediate for the CO 2RR to HCOO – transformation, and Sn’s optimal *OCHO binding energy supports its high selectivity for HCOO –. Lastly, these results suggest that oxygen-bound intermediates are critical to understand the mechanism of CO 2 reduction to HCOO – on metal surfaces.« less

Understanding Selectivity for the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formic Acid and Carbon Monoxide on Metal Electrodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feaster, Jeremy T.; Shi, Chuan; Cave, Etosha R.

Increases in energy demand and in chemical production, together with the rise in CO 2 levels in the atmosphere, motivate the development of renewable energy sources. Electrochemical CO 2 reduction to fuels and chemicals is an appealing alternative to traditional pathways to fuels and chemicals due to its intrinsic ability to couple to solar and wind energy sources. Formate (HCOO –) is a key chemical for many industries; however, greater understanding is needed regarding the mechanism and key intermediates for HCOO – production. This work reports a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 tomore » HCOO – on polycrystalline Sn surfaces, which have been identified as promising catalysts for selectively producing HCOO –. Our results show that Sn electrodes produce HCOO –, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H 2) across a range of potentials and that HCOO – production becomes favored at potentials more negative than –0.8 V vs RHE, reaching a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 70% at –0.9 V vs RHE. Scaling relations for Sn and other transition metals are examined using experimental current densities and density functional theory (DFT) binding energies. While *COOH was determined to be the key intermediate for CO production on metal surfaces, we suggest that it is unlikely to be the primary intermediate for HCOO – production. Instead, *OCHO is suggested to be the key intermediate for the CO 2RR to HCOO – transformation, and Sn’s optimal *OCHO binding energy supports its high selectivity for HCOO –. Lastly, these results suggest that oxygen-bound intermediates are critical to understand the mechanism of CO 2 reduction to HCOO – on metal surfaces.« less

On the ecogeomorphological feedbacks that control tidal channel network evolution in a sandy mangrove setting

PubMed Central

van Maanen, B.; Coco, G.; Bryan, K. R.

2015-01-01

An ecomorphodynamic model was developed to study how Avicennia marina mangroves influence channel network evolution in sandy tidal embayments. The model accounts for the effects of mangrove trees on tidal flow patterns and sediment dynamics. Mangrove growth is in turn controlled by hydrodynamic conditions. The presence of mangroves was found to enhance the initiation and branching of tidal channels, partly because the extra flow resistance in mangrove forests favours flow concentration, and thus sediment erosion in between vegetated areas. The enhanced branching of channels is also the result of a vegetation-induced increase in erosion threshold. On the other hand, this reduction in bed erodibility, together with the soil expansion driven by organic matter production, reduces the landward expansion of channels. The ongoing accretion in mangrove forests ultimately drives a reduction in tidal prism and an overall retreat of the channel network. During sea-level rise, mangroves can potentially enhance the ability of the soil surface to maintain an elevation within the upper portion of the intertidal zone, while hindering both the branching and headward erosion of the landward expanding channels. The modelling results presented here indicate the critical control exerted by ecogeomorphological interactions in driving landscape evolution. PMID:26339195

IMPROVED V II log(gf) VALUES, HYPERFINE STRUCTURE CONSTANTS, AND ABUNDANCE DETERMINATIONS IN THE PHOTOSPHERES OF THE SUN AND METAL-POOR STAR HD 84937

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wood, M. P.; Lawler, J. E.; Den Hartog, E. A.

2014-10-01

New experimental absolute atomic transition probabilities are reported for 203 lines of V II. Branching fractions are measured from spectra recorded using a Fourier transform spectrometer and an echelle spectrometer. The branching fractions are normalized with radiative lifetime measurements to determine the new transition probabilities. Generally good agreement is found between this work and previously reported V II transition probabilities. Two spectrometers, independent radiometric calibration methods, and independent data analysis routines enable a reduction in systematic uncertainties, in particular those due to optical depth errors. In addition, new hyperfine structure constants are measured for selected levels by least squares fittingmore » line profiles in the FTS spectra. The new V II data are applied to high resolution visible and UV spectra of the Sun and metal-poor star HD 84937 to determine new, more accurate V abundances. Lines covering a range of wavelength and excitation potential are used to search for non-LTE effects. Very good agreement is found between our new solar photospheric V abundance, log ε(V) = 3.95 from 15 V II lines, and the solar-system meteoritic value. In HD 84937, we derive [V/H] = –2.08 from 68 lines, leading to a value of [V/Fe] = 0.24.« less

Genetic diversity and selection gain in the physic nut (Jatropha curcas).

PubMed

Brasileiro, B P; Silva, S A; Souza, D R; Santos, P A; Oliveira, R S; Lyra, D H

2013-07-08

The use of efficient breeding methods depends on knowledge of genetic control of traits to be improved. We estimated genetic parameters, selection gain, and genetic diversity in physic nut half-sib families, in order to provide information for breeding programs of this important biofuel species. The progeny test included 20 half-sib families in 4 blocks and 10 plants per plot. The mean progeny heritability values were: 50% for number of bunches, 47% for number of fruits, 35% for number of seeds, 6% for stem diameter, 26% for number of primary branches, 14% for number of secondary branches, 66% for plant height, and 25% for survival of the plants, demonstrating good potential for early selection in plant height, number of branches, and number of fruits per plant. In the analysis of genetic diversity, genotypes were divided into 4 groups. Genotypes 18, 19, 20, and 8 clustered together and presented the highest means for the vegetative and production. Lower means were observed in the 17, 12, 13, and 9 genotypes from the same group. We detected genetic variability in this population, with high heritability estimates and accuracy, demonstrating the possibility of obtaining genetic gains for vegetative characters and production at 24 months after planting.

Self-Synchronized Phenomena Generated in Rotor-Type Oscillators: On the Influence of Coupling Condition between Oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonkobara, Yasuhiro; Mori, Hiroki; Kondou, Takahiro; Ayabe, Takashi

Self-synchronized phenomena generated in rotor-type oscillators mounted on a straight-line spring-mass system are investigated experimentally and analytically. In the present study, we examine the occurrence region and pattern of self-synchronization in two types of coupled oscillators: rigidly coupled oscillators and elastically coupled oscillators. It is clarified that the existence regions of stable solutions are governed mainly by the linear natural frequency of each spring-mass system. The results of numerical analysis confirm that the self-synchronized solutions of the elastically coupled oscillators correspond to those of the rigidly coupled oscillators. In addition, the results obtained in the present study are compared with the previously reported results for a metronome system and a moving apparatus and the different properties of the phenomena generated in the rotor-type oscillators and the pendulum-type oscillators are shown in terms of the construction of branches of self-synchronized solution and the stability.

WIYN Open Cluster Study. LXXVI. Li Evolution Among Stars of Low/Intermediate Mass: The Metal-deficient Open Cluster NGC 2506

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anthony-Twarog, Barbara J.; Lee-Brown, Donald B.; Deliyannis, Constantine P.; Twarog, Bruce A.

2018-03-01

HYDRA spectra of 287 stars in the field of NGC 2506 from the turnoff through the giant branch are analyzed. With previous data, 22 are identified as probable binaries; 90 more are classified as potential non-members. Spectroscopic analyses of ∼60 red giants and slowly rotating turnoff stars using line equivalent widths and a neural network approach lead to [Fe/H] = ‑0.27 ± 0.07 (s.d.) and [Fe/H] = ‑0.27 ± 0.06 (s.d.), respectively. Li abundances are derived for 145 probable single-star members, 44 being upper limits. Among turnoff stars outside the Li-dip, A(Li) = 3.04 ± 0.16 (s.d.), with no trend with color, luminosity, or rotation speed. Evolving from the turnoff across the subgiant branch, there is a well-delineated decline to A(Li) ∼1.25 at the giant branch base, coupled with the rotational spindown from between ∼20 and 70 km s‑1 to less than 20 km s‑1 for stars entering the subgiant branch and beyond. A(Li) remains effectively constant from the giant branch base to the red giant clump level. A new member above the clump redefines the path of the first-ascent red giant branch; its Li is 0.6 dex below the first-ascent red giants. With one exception, all post-He-flash stars have upper limits to A(Li), at or below the level of the brightest first-ascent red giant. The patterns are in excellent qualitative agreement with the model predictions for low/intermediate-mass stars which undergo rotation-induced mixing at the turnoff and subgiant branch, first dredge-up, and thermohaline mixing beyond the red giant bump.

Enhancement of the microbial community biomass and diversity during air sparging bioremediation of a soil highly contaminated with kerosene and BTEX.

PubMed

Kabelitz, Nadja; Machackova, Jirina; Imfeld, Gwenaël; Brennerova, Maria; Pieper, Dietmar H; Heipieper, Hermann J; Junca, Howard

2009-03-01

In order to obtain insights in complexity shifts taking place in natural microbial communities under strong selective pressure, soils from a former air force base in the Czech Republic, highly contaminated with jet fuel and at different stages of a bioremediation air sparging treatment, were analyzed. By tracking phospholipid fatty acids and 16S rRNA genes, a detailed monitoring of the changes in quantities and composition of the microbial communities developed at different stages of the bioventing treatment progress was performed. Depending on the length of the air sparging treatment that led to a significant reduction in the contamination level, we observed a clear shift in the soil microbial community being dominated by Pseudomonads under the harsh conditions of high aromatic contamination to a status of low aromatic concentrations, increased biomass content, and a complex composition with diverse bacterial taxonomical branches.

N-doped graphene coupled with Co nanoparticles as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Geng; Lu, Wangting; Cao, Feifei; Xiao, Zhidong; Zheng, Xinsheng

2016-01-01

Development of low-cost and highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still a great challenge for the large-scale application of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Herein, a noble metal-free ORR electrocatalyst in the form of N-doped graphene coupled with part of Co nanoparticles encased in N-doped graphitic shells (named as SUCo-0.03-800) is prepared by facile one-step pyrolysis of the mixture of sucrose, urea and cobalt nitrate. The novel structure is confirmed by High Resolution-TEM, XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. SUCo-0.03-800 presents comparable ORR catalytic activity to commercial Pt/C catalyst with a dominating four-electron pathway under alkaline conditions, and both of its mass activity and volume activity also outperform Co-free N-doped graphene and other Co/N-C hybrids with higher Co content, which may probably be ascribed to the high specific surface area, novel structure and synergistic effect between encased Co nanoparticles and N-doped graphitic shell. Additionally, SUCo-0.03-800 also shows outstanding stability and improved selectivity towards ORR, making it a promising alternative to Pt with potential application in fuel cells and metal-air batteries.

Terahertz and infrared spectroscopic evidence of phonon-paramagnon coupling in hexagonal piezomagnetic YMnO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadlec, C.; Goian, V.; Rushchanskii, K. Z.; Kužel, P.; Ležaić, M.; Kohn, K.; Pisarev, R. V.; Kamba, S.

2011-11-01

Terahertz and far-infrared electric and magnetic responses of hexagonal piezomagnetic YMnO3 single crystals are investigated. Antiferromagnetic resonance is observed in the spectra of magnetic permeability μa [H(ω) oriented within the hexagonal plane] below the Néel temperature TN. This excitation softens from 41 to 32 cm-1 upon heating and finally disappears above TN. An additional weak and heavily-damped excitation is seen in the spectra of complex dielectric permittivity ɛc within the same frequency range. This excitation contributes to the dielectric spectra in both antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. Its oscillator strength significantly increases upon heating toward room temperature, thus providing evidence of piezomagnetic or higher-order couplings to polar phonons. Other heavily-damped dielectric excitations are detected near 100 cm-1 in the paramagnetic phase in both ɛc and ɛa spectra, and they exhibit similar temperature behavior. These excitations appearing in the frequency range of magnon branches well below polar phonons could remind electromagnons, however their temperature dependence is quite different. We have used density functional theory for calculating phonon dispersion branches in the whole Brillouin zone. A detailed analysis of these results and of previously published magnon dispersion branches brought us to the conclusion that the observed absorption bands stem from phonon-phonon and phonon-paramagnon differential absorption processes. The latter is enabled by strong short-range in-plane spin correlations in the paramagnetic phase.

Length divergence of the lattice thermal conductivity in suspended graphene nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majee, Arnab K.; Aksamija, Zlatan

2016-06-01

Thermal properties of graphene have attracted much attention, culminating in a recent measurement of its length dependence in ribbons up to 9 μ m long. In this paper, we use the improved Callaway model to solve the phonon Boltzmann transport equation while capturing both the resistive (umklapp, isotope, and edge roughness) and nonresistive (normal) contributions. We show that for lengths smaller than 100 μ m , scaling the ribbon length while keeping the width constant leads to a logarithmic divergence of thermal conductivity. The length dependence is driven primarily by a ballistic-to-diffusive transition in the in-plane (LA and TA) branches, while in the hydrodynamic regime when 10 μ m 100 μ m due to the coupling between in-plane and flexural modes. This coupling leads to renormalization of ZA phonon dispersion in the long-wavelength range, preventing further divergence of thermal conductivity. We also uncover a strong dependence on sample width, which we attribute to the interplay between nonresistive normal and diffusive edge scattering in the Poisseuille flow regime. We conclude that normal processes play a crucial role in the length and width dependence of thermal transport in graphene in the hydrodynamic regime and dictate the relative in-plane (LA+TA) to out-of-plane (ZA) contribution to transport.

Science-Technology Coupling: The Case of Mathematical Logic and Computer Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner-Dobler, Roland

1997-01-01

In the history of science, there have often been periods of sudden rapprochements between pure science and technology-oriented branches of science. Mathematical logic as pure science and computer science as technology-oriented science have experienced such a rapprochement, which is studied in this article in a bibliometric manner. (Author)

Hydrogen and formate oxidation coupled to dissimilatory reduction of iron or manganese by Alteromonas putrefaciens

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lovley, D.R.; Phillips, E.J.P.; Lonergan, D.J.

1989-01-01

The ability of Alteromonas putrefaciens to obtain energy for growth by coupling the oxidation of various electron donors to dissimilatory Fe(III) or Mn(IV) reduction was investigated. A. putrefaciens grew with hydrogen, formate, lactate, or pyruvate as the sole electron donor and Fe(III) as the sole electron acceptor. Lactate and pyruvate were oxidized to acetate, which was not metabolized further. With Fe(III) as the electron acceptor, A. putrefaciens had a high affinity for hydrogen and formate and metabolized hydrogen at partial pressures that were 25-fold lower than those of hydrogen that can be metabolized by pure cultures of sulfate reducers or methanogens. The electron donors for Fe(III) reduction also supported Mn(IV) reduction. The electron donors for Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction and the inability of A. putrefaciens to completely oxidize multicarbon substrates to carbon dioxide distinguish A. putrefaciens from GS-15, the only other organism that is known to obtain energy for growth by coupling the oxidation of organic compounds to the reduction of Fe(III) or Mn(IV). The ability of A. putrefaciens to reduce large quantities of Fe(III) and to grow in a defined medium distinguishes it from a Pseudomonas sp., which is the only other known hydrogen-oxidizing, Fe(III)-reducing microorganism. Furthermore, A. putrefaciens is the first organism that is known to grow with hydrogen as the electron donor and Mn(IV) as the electron acceptor and is the first organism that is known to couple the oxidation of formate to the reduction of Fe(III) or Mn(IV). Thus, A. putrefaciens provides a much needed microbial model for key reactions in the oxidation of sediment organic matter coupled to Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction.

Enhancement of exchange bias in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic core-shell nanoparticles through ferromagnetic domain wall formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Rui; Ding, Shilei; Lai, Youfang; Tian, Guang; Yang, Jinbo

2018-01-01

The spin configuration in the ferromagnetic part during the magnetization reversal plays a crucial role in the exchange bias effect. Through Monte Carlo simulation, the exchange bias effect in ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic core-shell nanoparticles is investigated. Magnetization reversals in the ferromagnetic core were controlled between the coherent rotation and the domain wall motion by modulating the ferromagnetic domain wall width with parameters of uniaxial anisotropy constant and exchange coupling strength. An anomalous monotonic dependence of exchange bias on the uniaxial anisotropy constant is found in systems with small exchange coupling, showing an obvious violation of classic Meiklejohn-Bean model, while domain walls are found to form close to the interface and propagate in the ferromagnetic core with larger uniaxial anisotropy in both branches of the hysteresis. The asymmetric magnetization reversal with the formation of a spherical domain wall dramatically reduces the coercive field in the ascending branch, leading to the enhancement of the exchange bias. The results provide another degree of freedom to optimize the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles for applications.

Next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the decay of Higgs to vector meson and Z boson

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Qing-Feng; Wang, An-Min

2018-02-01

The exclusive decay of the Higgs boson to a vector meson (J/ψ or Υ(1S)) and Z boson is studied in this work. The decay amplitudes are separated into two parts in a gauge invariant manner. The first part comes from the direct coupling of the Higgs boson to the charm (bottom) quark and the other from the HZZ* or the loop-induced HZ γ* vertexes in the standard model. While the branching ratios from the direct channel are much smaller than those of the indirect channel, their interference terms give nontrivial contributions. We further calculate the QCD radiative corrections to both channels, which reduce the total branching ratios by around 20% for both (J/ψ or Υ(1S)) production. Our results provide a possible chance to check the SM predictions of the {{Hc}}\\bar{{{c}}}({{Hb}}\\bar{{{b}}}) coupling and to seek for hints of new physics at the High Luminosity LHC or future hadron colliders. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (11375168)

The lepton flavor violating exclusive b bar → s bar ℓi- ℓj+ decays in SUSY without R-parity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheng, Jin-Huan; Song, Jia-Jia; Wang, Ru-Min; Yang, Ya-Dong

2018-05-01

Inspired by the recent anomaly measurements of the lepton-flavor violating decays h → μτ and the lepton flavor non-universality in decays b bar → s bar ℓ-ℓ+, we investigate the lepton flavor violating exclusive b bar → s bar ℓi- ℓj+ (i ≠ j and ℓ = e , μ , τ) decays within supersymmetry. Relevant R-parity violating couplings are constrained by using the latest experimental upper limits on the branching ratios of Bs → ℓi- ℓj+ and B →K (*) ℓi- ℓ j + flavor changing neutral current processes, and we find that all relevant branching ratios are very sensitive to the moduli of the squark and sneutrino exchange coupling products. In addition, the constrained lepton number violating effects on the dilepton invariant mass spectra, the single lepton polarization asymmetries and the differential forward-backward asymmetries are also studied. These lepton-flavor violating B decays could be used for the search of lepton flavor violation at the running LHC and the forthcoming Belle-II.

Mediation Analysis of the Efficacy of the Eban HIV/STD Risk-Reduction Intervention for African American HIV Serodiscordant Couples.

PubMed

El-Bassel, Nabila; Jemmott, John B; Bellamy, Scarlett L; Pequegnat, Willo; Wingood, Gina M; Wyatt, Gail E; Landis, J Richard; Remien, Robert H

2016-06-01

Targeting couples is a promising behavioral HIV risk-reduction strategy, but the mechanisms underlying the effects of such interventions are unknown. We report secondary analyses testing whether Social-Cognitive-Theory variables mediated the Eban HIV-risk-reduction intervention's effects on condom-use outcomes. In a multisite randomized controlled trial conducted in four US cities, 535 African American HIV-serodiscordant couples were randomized to the Eban HIV risk-reduction intervention or attention-matched control intervention. Outcomes were proportion condom-protected sex, consistent condom use, and frequency of unprotected sex measured pre-, immediately post-, and 6 and 12 months post-intervention. Potential mediators included Social-Cognitive-Theory variables: outcome expectancies and self-efficacy. Mediation analyses using the product-of-coefficients approach in a generalized-estimating-equations framework revealed that condom-use outcome expectancy, partner-reaction outcome expectancy, intention, self-efficacy, and safer-sex communication improved post-intervention and mediated intervention-induced improvements in condom-use outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of targeting outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, and safer-sex communication in couples-level HIV risk-reduction interventions.

The Black Community Perspective: Recruiting Blacks into Combat Arms

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

relevant data and discusses reasons for the racial imbalance in Combat Arms branches. It also summarizes a qualitative research study involving interviews...racial imbalance in Combat Arms branches. It also summarizes a qualitative research study involving interviews of ten African-American leaders in...representation among general officers, as more than 59% of the Army’s generals are selected from the combat arms. This research study reviews

Fiber lengths in stems and branches of small hardwoods on southern pine sites

Treesearch

F. G. Manwiller

1974-01-01

The 22 species selected for analysis comprise over 95 percent of the hardwood volume occurring on pine sites. Ten trees 6 inch. in diameter at breast height (DBH) of each species were taken from throughout that portion of the species' range occurring in the South. Pie-shaped wedges, removed at 48-inch intervals along the stem and each branch, were combined within...

Remote sensing of methane with OSAS-lidar on the 2ν3 band Q-branch: Experimental proof

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galtier, Sandrine; Anselmo, Christophe; Welschinger, Jean-Yves; Sivignon, J. F.; Cariou, Jean-Pierre; Miffre, Alain; Rairoux, Patrick

2018-06-01

Optical sensors based on absorption spectroscopy play a central role in the detection and monitoring of atmospheric trace gases. We here present for the first time the experimental demonstration of OSAS-Lidar on the remote sensing of CH4 in the atmosphere. This new methodology, the OSAS-Lidar, couples the Optical Similitude Absorption Spectroscopy (OSAS) methodology with a light detection and ranging device. It is based on the differential absorption of spectrally integrated signals following Beer Lambert-Bouguer law, which are range-resolved. Its novelty originates from the use of broadband laser spectroscopy and from the mathematical approach used to retrieve the trace gas concentration. We previously applied the OSAS methodology in laboratory on the 2ν3 methane absorption band, centered at the 1665 nm wavelength and demonstrated that the OSAS-methodology is almost independent from atmospheric temperature and pressure. In this paper, we achieve an OSAS-Lidar device capable of observing large concentrations of CH4 released from a methane source directly into the atmosphere. Comparison with a standard in-situ measurement device shows that the path-integrated concentrations retrieved from OSAS-Lidar methodology exhibit sufficient sensitivity (2 000 ppm m) and observational time resolution (1 s) to remotely sense methane leaks in the atmosphere. The coupling of OSAS-lidar with a wind measurement device opens the way to monitor time-resolved methane flux emissions, which is important in regards to future climate mitigation involving regional reduction of CH4 flux emissions.

Early Experience with the Use of Inner Branches in Endovascular Repair of Complex Abdominal and Thoraco-abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

PubMed

Katsargyris, Athanasios; Marques de Marino, Pablo; Mufty, Hozan; Pedro, Luis Mendes; Fernandes, Ruy; Verhoeven, Eric L G

2018-05-01

Visceral arteries in fenestrated and branched endovascular repair (F/BEVAR) have been addressed by fenestrations or directional side branches. Inner branches, as used in the arch branched device, could provide an extra option for visceral arteries "unsuitable" for fenestrations or directional side branches. Early experience with the use of inner branches for visceral arteries in F/BEVAR is described. All consecutive patients treated by F/BEVAR for complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or thoraco-abdominal aneurysm (TAAA) using stent grafts with inner branches were included. Data were collected prospectively. Thirty-two patients (28 male, mean age 71.6 ± 8.3 years) were included. Seven (21.9%) patients had a complex AAA and 25 (78.1%) had a TAAA. A stent graft with inner branches only was used in four (12.5%) patients. The remaining 28 (87.5%) patients received a stent graft with fenestrations and inner branches. In total 52 vessels were targeted with inner branches. Technical success was achieved in all 32 (100%) patients. All 38 inner branch target vessels in grafts including fenestrations and inner branches were instantly catheterised (<1 minute), whereas catheterisation of target vessels in "inner branch only" grafts proved more difficult (<1 minute, n = 3; 1-3 min, n = 4; and >3 min, n = 7). The 30 day operative mortality was 3.1% (1/32). Estimated survival at 1 year was 80.0% ± 8.3%. During follow-up, four renal inner branches occluded in three patients. The estimated inner branch target vessel stent patency at 1 year was 91.9 ± 4.5%. The estimated freedom from re-intervention at 1 year was 78.4% ± 8.9%. Early data suggest that visceral inner branches might represent a feasible third option to address selected target vessels in F/BEVAR. Stent grafts with inner branch(es) in combination with fenestrations seem to be a better configuration than stent grafts with inner branches alone. Durability of the inner branch design needs further investigation. Copyright © 2018 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Triamcinolone Acetonide Selectively Inhibits Angiogenesis in Small Blood Vessels and Decreases Vessel Diameter within the Vascular Tree

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McKay, Terri L.; Gredeon, Dan J.; Vickerman, Mary B.; Hylton, alan G.; Ribita, Daniela; Olar, Harry H.; Kaiser, Peter K.; Parsons-Wingerter, Patricia

2007-01-01

The steroid triamcinolone acetonide (TA) is a potent anti-angiogenesis drug used to treat retinal vascular diseases that include diabetic retinopathy, vascular occlusions and choroidal neovascularization. To quantify the effects of TA on branching morphology within the angiogenic microvascular tree of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of quail embryos. Increasing concentrations of TA (0-16 ng/ml) were applied topically on embryonic day 7 (E7) to the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of quail embryos cultured in Petri dishes, and incubated for an additional 24 or 48 hours until fixation. Binary (black/white) microscopic images of arterial end points were quantified by VESGEN software (for Generational Analysis of Vessel Branching) to obtain major vascular parameters that include vessel diameter (Dv), fractal dimension (Df), tortuosity (Tv) and densities of vessel area, length, number and branch point (Av, Lv, Nv and Brv). For assessment of specific changes in vascular morphology induced by TA, the VESGEN software automatically segmented the vascular tree into branching generations (G1...G10) according to changes in vessel diameter and branching. Vessel density decreased significantly up to 34% as the function of increasing concentration of TA according to Av, Lv, Brv, Nv and Df. TA selectively inhibited the growth of new, small vessels, because Lv decreased from 13.14plus or minus 0.61 cm/cm2 for controls to 8.012 plus or minus 0.82 cm/cm2 at 16 ng TA/ml in smaller branching generations (G7-G10), and for Nv from 473.83 plus or minus 29.85 cm(-)2 to 302.32 plus or minus 33.09 cm-()2. In contrast, vessel diameter (Dv) decreased throughout the vascular tree (G1-G10).

In Vitro Fermentation of Linear and α-1,2-Branched Dextrans by the Human Fecal Microbiota▿

PubMed Central

Sarbini, Shahrul R.; Kolida, Sofia; Naeye, Thierry; Einerhand, Alexandra; Brison, Yoann; Remaud-Simeon, Magali; Monsan, Pierre; Gibson, Glenn R.; Rastall, Robert A.

2011-01-01

The role of structure and molecular weight in fermentation selectivity in linear α-1,6 dextrans and dextrans with α-1,2 branching was investigated. Fermentation by gut bacteria was determined in anaerobic, pH-controlled fecal batch cultures after 36 h. Inulin (1%, wt/vol), which is a known prebiotic, was used as a control. Samples were obtained at 0, 10, 24, and 36 h of fermentation for bacterial enumeration by fluorescent in situ hybridization and short-chain fatty acid analyses. The gas production of the substrate fermentation was investigated in non-pH-controlled, fecal batch culture tubes after 36 h. Linear and branched 1-kDa dextrans produced significant increases in Bifidobacterium populations. The degree of α-1,2 branching did not influence the Bifidobacterium populations; however, α-1,2 branching increased the dietary fiber content, implying a decrease in digestibility. Other measured bacteria were unaffected by the test substrates except for the Bacteroides-Prevotella group, the growth levels of which were increased on inulin and 6- and 70-kDa dextrans, and the Faecalibacterium prausnitzii group, the growth levels of which were decreased on inulin and 1-kDa dextrans. A considerable increase in short-chain fatty acid concentration was measured following the fermentation of all dextrans and inulin. Gas production rates were similar among all dextrans tested but were significantly slower than that for inulin. The linear 1-kDa dextran produced lower total gas and shorter time to attain maximal gas production compared to those of the 70-kDa dextran (branched) and inulin. These findings indicate that dextrans induce a selective effect on the gut flora, short-chain fatty acids, and gas production depending on their length. PMID:21666027

Aerospace Applications of Optimization under Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padula, Sharon; Gumbert, Clyde; Li, Wu

2003-01-01

The Multidisciplinary Optimization (MDO) Branch at NASA Langley Research Center develops new methods and investigates opportunities for applying optimization to aerospace vehicle design. This paper describes MDO Branch experiences with three applications of optimization under uncertainty: (1) improved impact dynamics for airframes, (2) transonic airfoil optimization for low drag, and (3) coupled aerodynamic/structures optimization of a 3-D wing. For each case, a brief overview of the problem and references to previous publications are provided. The three cases are aerospace examples of the challenges and opportunities presented by optimization under uncertainty. The present paper will illustrate a variety of needs for this technology, summarize promising methods, and uncover fruitful areas for new research.

Aerospace Applications of Optimization under Uncertainty

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padula, Sharon; Gumbert, Clyde; Li, Wu

2006-01-01

The Multidisciplinary Optimization (MDO) Branch at NASA Langley Research Center develops new methods and investigates opportunities for applying optimization to aerospace vehicle design. This paper describes MDO Branch experiences with three applications of optimization under uncertainty: (1) improved impact dynamics for airframes, (2) transonic airfoil optimization for low drag, and (3) coupled aerodynamic/structures optimization of a 3-D wing. For each case, a brief overview of the problem and references to previous publications are provided. The three cases are aerospace examples of the challenges and opportunities presented by optimization under uncertainty. The present paper will illustrate a variety of needs for this technology, summarize promising methods, and uncover fruitful areas for new research.

The Direction of Fluid Dynamics for Liquid Propulsion at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffin, Lisa W.

2012-01-01

The Fluid Dynamics Branch's (ER42) at MSFC mission is to support NASA and other customers with discipline expertise to enable successful accomplishment of program/project goals. The branch is responsible for all aspects of the discipline of fluid dynamics, analysis and testing, applied to propulsion or propulsion-induced loads and environments, which includes the propellant delivery system, combustion devices, coupled systems, and launch and separation events. ER42 supports projects from design through development, and into anomaly and failure investigations. ER42 is committed to continually improving the state-of-its-practice to provide accurate, effective, and timely fluid dynamics assessments and in extending the state-of-the-art of the discipline.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aranda, J. I.; Ramirez-Zavaleta, F.; Tututi, E. S.

The Higgs-mediated flavor violating bottom-strange quarks transitions induced at the one-loop level by a nondiagonal Hbs coupling are studied within the context of an effective Yukawa sector that comprises SU{sub L}(2)xU{sub Y}(1)-invariant operators of up to dimension six. The most recent experimental result on B{yields}X{sub s{gamma}} with hard photons is employed to constrain the Hbs vertex, which is used to estimate the branching ratio for the B{sub s{yields}{gamma}{gamma}} decay. It is found that the B{sub s{yields}{gamma}{gamma}} decay can reach a branching ratio of the order of 4x10{sup -8}, which is 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the current experimental limit.

Selective Photophysical Modification on Light-Emitting Polymer Films for Micro- and Nano-Patterning

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xinping; Liu, Feifei; Li, Hongwei

2016-01-01

Laser-induced cross-linking in polymeric semiconductors was utilized to achieve micro- and nano-structuring in thin films. Single- and two-photon cross-linking processes led to the reduction in both the refractive index and thickness of the polymer films. The resultant photonic structures combine the features of both relief- and phase-gratings. Selective cross-linking in polymer blend films based on different optical response of different molecular phases enabled “solidification” of the phase-separation scheme, providing a stable template for further photonic structuring. Dielectric and metallic structures are demonstrated for the fabrication methods using cross-linking in polymer films. Selective cross-linking enables direct patterning into polymer films without introducing additional fabrication procedures or additional materials. The diffraction processes of the emission of the patterned polymeric semiconductors may provide enhanced output coupling for light-emitting diodes or distributed feedback for lasers. PMID:28773248

Extra- and intramuscular nerve supply of the muscles of the anterior antebrachial compartment: applications for selective neurotomy and for botulinum toxin injection.

PubMed

Lepage, D; Parratte, B; Tatu, L; Vuiller, F; Monnier, G

2005-12-01

Hypertonia of the upper limb due to spasticity causes pronation of the forearm and flexion of wrist and fingers. Nowadays this spasticity is often treated with injections of botulinum toxin and sometimes with selective fascicular neurotomy. To correctly perform this microsurgical technique, it is necessary to get precise knowledge of the extramuscular nerve branching in order to be better able to select the motor branches which supply the muscles involved in spasticity. The same knowledge is required for botulinum toxin injections which must be made as near as possible to the zones where intramuscular nerve endings are the densest, which is also where neuromuscular junctions are the most numerous. Thus, it is necessary to better know these zones, but their knowledge remains today imprecise. The muscles of the anterior compartment of 30 forearms were dissected, first macroscopically, then microscopically, to study the extra- and intramuscular nerve supply and the distribution of terminal nerve ramifications. The results were then linked to surface topographical landmarks to indicate the precise location of motor branches for each muscle with the aim of proposing appropriate surgical approaches for selective neurotomies. Then for each muscle, the zones with the highest density of nerve endings were divided into segments, thus determining the optimal zones for botulinim toxin injections.

Palatoglossus coupling in selective upper airway stimulation.

PubMed

Heiser, Clemens; Edenharter, Günther; Bas, Murat; Wirth, Markus; Hofauer, Benedikt

2017-10-01

Selective upper airway stimulation (sUAS) of the hypoglossal nerve is a useful therapy to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Is it known that multiple obstructions can be solved by this stimulation technique, even at the retropalatal region. The aim of this study was to verify the palatoglossus coupling at the soft palate during stimulation. Single-center, prospective clinical trail. Twenty patients who received an sUAS implant from April 2015 to April 2016 were included. A drug-induced sedated endoscopy (DISE) was performed before surgery. Six to 12 months after activation of the system, patients' tongue motions were recorded, an awake transnasal endoscopy was performed with stimulation turned on, and a DISE with stimulation off and on was done. Patients with a bilateral protrusion of the tongue base showed a significantly increased opening at the retropalatal level compared to ipsilateral protrusions. Furthermore, patients with a clear activation of the geniohyoid muscle showed a better reduction in apnea-hypopnea index. A bilateral protrusion of the tongue base during sUAS seems to be accompanied with a better opening of the soft palate. This effect can be explained by the palatoglossal coupling, due to its linkage of the muscles within the soft palate to those of the lateral tongue body. 4 Laryngoscope, 127:E378-E383, 2017. © 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Genomic reconstruction of novel sediment phyla enlightens roles in sedimentary biogeochemical cycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, B.; Lazar, C.; Seitz, K.; Teske, A.; Hinrichs, K. U.; Dick, G.

2015-12-01

Estuaries are among the most productive habitats on the planet. Microbes in estuary sediments control the turnover of organic carbon, and the anaerobic cycling of nitrogen and sulfur. These communities are complex and primarily made up of uncultured lineages, thus little is known about how ecological and metabolic processes are partitioned in sediments. We reconstructed 82 bacterial and 24 archaeal high-quality genomes from different redox regimes (sulfate-rich, sulfate-methane transition zone, and methane-rich zones) of estuary sediments. These bacteria belong to 23 distinct groups, including uncultured candidate phyla (eg. KSB1, TA06, and KD3-62), and three newly described phyla (WOR-1, and -2, and -3). The archaea encompass 8 widespread sediment lineages including MGB-D, RC-III and IV, Z7ME43, Parvarchaeota, Lokiarchoaeta (MBG-B), SAGMEG, Bathyarchaeota (groups MCG-1, -6, -7, and -15) and previously unrecognized deeply branched phylum "Thorarchaeota". The uncultured phyla mediate essential biogeochemical processes of the estuarine environment. Z7ME43 archaea have genes for S disproportionation (S0 reduction and thiosulfate reduction and oxidation). SAGMEG appear to be strict anaerobes capable of coupling CO/H2 oxidation to either S0 or nitrite reduction and have novel RubisCO genes for carbon fixation. Thorarchaeota contain pathways for acetate production from the degradation of detrital proteins and intermediate S cycling. Furthermore, the gene content of this group revealed links in the evolutionary histories of archaea and eukaryotes. This dataset extents our knowledge of the metabolic potential of several uncultured phyla. We were able to chart the flow of carbon and nutrients through the multiple layers of bacterial processing and reveal potential ecological interactions within the communities.

False-positive defects on exercise 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT imaging, but not on dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT imaging, in a patient with right bundle branch block (RBBB).

PubMed

Javadi, Hamid; Jallalat, Sara; Semnani, Shahriar; Mogharrabi, Mehdi; Nabipour, Iraj; Abbaszadeh, Moloud; Assadi, Majid

2013-01-01

False-positive findings with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) have frequently been identified in the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) and tend to lower the accuracy of MPI in individuals with normal coronary angiographs. Pharmacologic stress is recognized as the preferred method for MPI in patients with LBBB. In contrast, very few studies have evaluated the effect of right bundle branch block (RBBB) on MPI, and there is no consensus regarding the selection of pharmacologic versus exercise stress during MPI for the RBBB patient. In this study, we present a 45-year-old man with RBBB, who has a normal coronary artery angiography, but who showed abnormal myocardial perfusion with exercise MPI, and normal perfusion on dipyridamole MPI. The aim of the study is to stimulate awareness that the stress method selected for patients with RBBB can potentially interfere with the accuracy of the data.

Synthesis of Renewable Lubricant Alkanes from Biomass-Derived Platform Chemicals.

PubMed

Gu, Mengyuan; Xia, Qineng; Liu, Xiaohui; Guo, Yong; Wang, Yanqin

2017-10-23

The catalytic synthesis of liquid alkanes from renewable biomass has received tremendous attention in recent years. However, bio-based platform chemicals have not to date been exploited for the synthesis of highly branched lubricant alkanes, which are currently produced by hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of long-chain n-paraffins. A selective catalytic synthetic route has been developed for the production of highly branched C 23 alkanes as lubricant base oil components from biomass-derived furfural and acetone through a sequential four-step process, including aldol condensation of furfural with acetone to produce a C 13 double adduct, selective hydrogenation of the adduct to a C 13 ketone, followed by a second condensation of the C 13 ketone with furfural to generate a C 23 aldol adduct, and finally hydrodeoxygenation to give highly branched C 23 alkanes in 50.6 % overall yield from furfural. This work opens a general strategy for the synthesis of high-quality lubricant alkanes from renewable biomass. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Modification of aniline containing proteins using an oxidative coupling strategy.

PubMed

Hooker, Jacob M; Esser-Kahn, Aaron P; Francis, Matthew B

2006-12-13

A new bioconjugation reaction has been developed based on the chemoselective modification of anilines through an oxidative coupling pathway. Aryl amines were installed on the surface of protein substrates through lysine acylation reactions or through the use of native chemical ligation techniques. Upon exposure to NaIO4 in aqueous buffer, the anilines coupled rapidly to the aromatic rings of N,N-dialkyl-N'-acyl-p-phenylenediamines. The identities of the reaction products were confirmed using ESI-MS and through comparison to small molecule analogs. Control experiments indicated that none of the native amino acids participated in the reaction. The resulting bioconjugates were found to be stable toward hydrolysis from pH 4 to pH 11 and in the presence of many commonly used oxidants, reductants, and nucleophiles. A fluorescent phenylenediamine reagent was synthesized for the selective detection of aniline labeled proteins in mixtures, and the reaction was used to append the C-terminus of the green fluorescent protein with a single PEG chain. When combined with techniques for the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins, this bioorthogonal coupling method should prove useful for a number of applications requiring a high degree of labeling specificity.

Web-Based Computational Chemistry Education with CHARMMing III: Reduction Potentials of Electron Transfer Proteins

PubMed Central

Perrin, B. Scott; Miller, Benjamin T.; Schalk, Vinushka; Woodcock, H. Lee; Brooks, Bernard R.; Ichiye, Toshiko

2014-01-01

A module for fast determination of reduction potentials, E°, of redox-active proteins has been implemented in the CHARMM INterface and Graphics (CHARMMing) web portal (www.charmming.org). The free energy of reduction, which is proportional to E°, is composed of an intrinsic contribution due to the redox site and an environmental contribution due to the protein and solvent. Here, the intrinsic contribution is selected from a library of pre-calculated density functional theory values for each type of redox site and redox couple, while the environmental contribution is calculated from a crystal structure of the protein using Poisson-Boltzmann continuum electrostatics. An accompanying lesson demonstrates a calculation of E°. In this lesson, an ionizable residue in a [4Fe-4S]-protein that causes a pH-dependent E° is identified, and the E° of a mutant that would test the identification is predicted. This demonstration is valuable to both computational chemistry students and researchers interested in predicting sequence determinants of E° for mutagenesis. PMID:25058418

Identifizierung der Nitratabbauprozesse und Prognose des Nitratabbaupotenzials in den Sedimenten des Hessischen Rieds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kludt, Christoph; Weber, Frank-Andreas; Bergmann, Axel; Knöller, Kay; Berthold, Georg; Schüth, Christoph

2016-09-01

Microbial denitrification contributes significantly to the mitigation of nitrate contamination in sedimentary aquifers by reducing nitrate coupled to the consumption of organic carbon (heterotrophic) and iron sulphides like pyrite (autotrophic). However, these phases are often only present in trace amounts and can become depleted, so that denitrification will eventually cease. In order to implement measures within the EC-Water Framework Directive, we investigated the denitrification potential and the denitrification processes in the sediments of the Hessian Ried. The reduction potential was quantified and characterized by solid-phase analyses of drill core samples. Depth-oriented investigations of hydrochemistry (i.e. stable isotopes, N2Excess) allowed determining nitrate input, reduction progress and average reduction kinetics upstream of selected wells. Despite low sulphide contents (max. 123 mg-S/kg), autotrophic denitrification was typically the dominant process. The results can be used to delineate risk areas, downstream of which denitrification can be expected to cease in the near future.

Mechanistics and photo-energetics of macrocycles and photodynamic therapy: An overview of aspects to consider for research.

PubMed

Horne, Tamarisk K; Cronjé, Marianne J

2017-02-01

Research within the field of photodynamic therapy has escalated over the past 20 years. The required conjunctional use of photosensitizers, particularly of the macrocycle structure, has lead to a vast repertoire of derivatives that branch classes and subclasses thereof. Each exhibits a differential range of physiochemical properties that influence their potential applications within the larger phototherapy field for use in either diagnostics, photodynamic therapy, both or none. Herein, we provide an overview of these properties as they relate to photodynamic therapy and to a lesser extent diagnostics. By summarizing the mechanistics of photodynamic therapy coupled to the photo-energetics displayed by macrocycle photosensitizers, we aimed to highlight the critical aspects any researcher should be aware of and consider when selecting and performing research for therapeutic application purposes. These include photosensitizer, photophysical and structural properties, synthesis design and subsequent attributes, main applications within research, common shortcomings exhibited and the current methods practiced to overcome them. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

ORF phage display to identify cellular proteins with different functions.

PubMed

Li, Wei

2012-09-01

Open reading frame (ORF) phage display is a new branch of phage display aimed at improving its efficiency to identify cellular proteins with specific binding or functional activities. Despite the success of phage display with antibody libraries and random peptide libraries, phage display with cDNA libraries of cellular proteins identifies a high percentage of non-ORF clones encoding unnatural short peptides with minimal biological implications. This is mainly because of the uncontrollable reading frames of cellular proteins in conventional cDNA libraries. ORF phage display solves this problem by eliminating non-ORF clones to generate ORF cDNA libraries. Here I summarize the procedures of ORF phage display, discuss the factors influencing its efficiency, present examples of its versatile applications, and highlight evidence of its capability of identifying biologically relevant cellular proteins. ORF phage display coupled with different selection strategies is capable of delineating diverse functions of cellular proteins with unique advantages. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Selective electrocatalysts toward a prototype of the membraneless direct methanol fuel cell.

PubMed

Feng, Yan; Yang, Jinhua; Liu, Hui; Ye, Feng; Yang, Jun

2014-01-22

Mastery over the structure of nanomaterials enables control of their properties to enhance their performance for a given application. Herein we demonstrate the design and fabrication of Pt-based nanomaterials with enhanced catalytic activity and superior selectivity toward the reactions in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) upon the deep understanding of the mechanisms of these electrochemical reactions. In particular, the ternary Au@Ag2S-Pt nanocomposites display superior methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) selectivity due to the electronic coupling effect among different domains of the nanocomposites, while the cage-bell structured Pt-Ru nanoparticles exhibit excellent methanol tolerance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode because of the differential diffusion of methanol and oxygen in the porous Ru shell of the cage-bell nanoparticles. The good catalytic selectivity of these Pt-based nanomaterials via structural construction enables a DMFC to be built without a proton exchange membrane between the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode.

Selective electrocatalysts toward a prototype of the membraneless direct methanol fuel cell

PubMed Central

Feng, Yan; Yang, Jinhua; Liu, Hui; Ye, Feng; Yang, Jun

2014-01-01

Mastery over the structure of nanomaterials enables control of their properties to enhance their performance for a given application. Herein we demonstrate the design and fabrication of Pt-based nanomaterials with enhanced catalytic activity and superior selectivity toward the reactions in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) upon the deep understanding of the mechanisms of these electrochemical reactions. In particular, the ternary Au@Ag2S-Pt nanocomposites display superior methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) selectivity due to the electronic coupling effect among different domains of the nanocomposites, while the cage-bell structured Pt-Ru nanoparticles exhibit excellent methanol tolerance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode because of the differential diffusion of methanol and oxygen in the porous Ru shell of the cage-bell nanoparticles. The good catalytic selectivity of these Pt-based nanomaterials via structural construction enables a DMFC to be built without a proton exchange membrane between the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. PMID:24448514

Computing the scalar field couplings in 6D supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saidi, El Hassan

2008-11-01

Using non-chiral supersymmetry in 6D space-time, we compute the explicit expression of the metric the scalar manifold SO(1,1)×{SO(4,20)}/{SO(4)×SO(20)} of the ten-dimensional type IIA superstring on generic K3. We consider as well the scalar field self-couplings in the general case where the non-chiral 6D supergravity multiplet is coupled to generic n vector supermultiplets with moduli space SO(1,1)×{SO(4,n)}/{SO(4)×SO(n)}. We also work out a dictionary giving a correspondence between hyper-Kähler geometry and the Kähler geometry of the Coulomb branch of 10D type IIA on Calabi-Yau threefolds. Others features are also discussed.

Origin of the incommensurate phase of quartz: I. Inelastic neutron scattering study of the high temperature β phase of quartz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolino, G.; Berge, B.; Vallade, M.; Moussa, F.

1992-07-01

The origin of the incommensurate phase of quartz is attributed to a gradient interaction between the optical soft mode of the α-β transition of quartz and a transverse acoustic mode. To test this model high resolution inelastic neutron scattering studies of the lattice dynamics of quartz have been performed. For the first time, a resolved zone center soft mode has been observed in the β phase of quartz at 1 THz at 1 250 K, confirming the displacive character of this transition. Along [xi 0 0] a strong interaction has been observed between this soft mode and the acoustic branch with u_{xy} shear strain. The softening of the two mixed branches produced by this interaction has been followed by decreasing temperature. Near the transition a dip appears in the lower frequency branch, which goes continuously to 0 near xi=0.035 at the incommensurate phase transition. Due to a large damping, the soft branch is overdamped near the transition leading to a quasielastic peak. Along [ xi xi 0] where the soft mode is coupled with the longitudinal acoustic mode, no dip is observed in the lower frequency mode. These results are in good agreement with the predictions of the gradient interaction model discussed in the following paper. L'existence de la phase incommensurable du quartz est attribuée à une interaction entre le gradient du mode mou optique de la transition α β et un mode acoustique transverse. Pour vérifier ce modèle, des mesures de diffusion inélastique des neutrons, de haute résolution, ont été faites. Un mode mou résolu en centre de zone a, pour la première fois, été observé vers 1 THz à 1 250 K, dans la phase β du quartz, confirmant le caractère displacif de cette transition. Le long de [ xi 0 0] , une forte interaction est observée entre ce mode mou et la branche acoustique ayant une déformation de cisaillement u_{xy}. L'amollissement des deux branches mixtes, résultant de cette interaction, a été suivi en fonction de la température. Près de la transition, un minimum apparaît sur la branche basse fréquence, qui décroît continuement jusqu'à 0 pour xi=0,035 à la transition incommensurable. En raison d'un amortissement important, la branche molle est suramortie près de la transition, ce qui produit un pic quasiélastique. Le long de [xi xi 0], où le mode mou est couplé avec le mode acoustique longitudinal, aucun minimum n'est observé. Ces résultats sont en bon accord avec les prédictions du modèle de couplage avec un gradient, dèveloppé dans l'article suivant.

High polymorphism in MHC-DRB genes in golden snub-nosed monkeys reveals balancing selection in small, isolated populations.

PubMed

Zhang, Pei; Huang, Kang; Zhang, Bingyi; Dunn, Derek W; Chen, Dan; Li, Fan; Qi, Xiaoguang; Guo, Songtao; Li, Baoguo

2018-03-13

Maintaining variation in immune genes, such as those of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), is important for individuals in small, isolated populations to resist pathogens and parasites. The golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), an endangered primate endemic to China, has experienced a rapid reduction in numbers and severe population fragmentation over recent years. For this study, we measured the DRB diversity among 122 monkeys from three populations in the Qinling Mountains, and estimated the relative importance of different agents of selection in maintaining variation of DRB genes. We identified a total of 19 DRB sequences, in which five alleles were novel. We found high DRB variation in R. roxellana and three branches of evidence suggesting that balancing selection has contributed to maintaining MHC polymorphism over the long term in this species: i) different patterns of both genetic diversity and population differentiation were detected at MHC and neutral markers; ii) an excess of non-synonymous substitutions compared to synonymous substitutions at antigen binding sites, and maximum-likelihood-based random-site models, showed significant positive selection; and iii) phylogenetic analyses revealed a pattern of trans-species evolution for DRB genes. High levels of DRB diversity in these R. roxellana populations may reflect strong selection pressure in this species. Patterns of genetic diversity and population differentiation, positive selection, as well as trans-species evolution, suggest that pathogen-mediated balancing selection has contributed to maintaining MHC polymorphism in R. roxellana over the long term. This study furthers our understanding of the role pathogen-mediated balancing selection has in maintaining variation in MHC genes in small and fragmented populations of free-ranging vertebrates.

Fractal structures and fractal functions as disease indicators

USGS Publications Warehouse

Escos, J.M; Alados, C.L.; Emlen, J.M.

1995-01-01

Developmental instability is an early indicator of stress, and has been used to monitor the impacts of human disturbance on natural ecosystems. Here we investigate the use of different measures of developmental instability on two species, green peppers (Capsicum annuum), a plant, and Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an animal. For green peppers we compared the variance in allometric relationship between control plants, and a treatment group infected with the tomato spotted wilt virus. The results show that infected plants have a greater variance about the allometric regression line than the control plants. We also observed a reduction in complexity of branch structure in green pepper with a viral infection. Box-counting fractal dimension of branch architecture declined under stress infection. We also tested the reduction in complexity of behavioral patterns under stress situations in Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Fractal dimension of head-lift frequency distribution measures predator detection efficiency. This dimension decreased under stressful conditions, such as advanced pregnancy and parasitic infection. Feeding distribution activities reflect food searching efficiency. Power spectral analysis proves to be the most powerful tool for character- izing fractal behavior, revealing a reduction in complexity of time distribution activity under parasitic infection.

Can measurements of 2HDM parameters provide hints for high scale supersymmetry?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharyya, Gautam; Das, Dipankar; Pérez, M. Jay; Saha, Ipsita; Santamaria, Arcadi; Vives, Oscar

2018-05-01

Two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) are minimal extensions of the Standard Model (SM) that may still be discovered at the LHC. The quartic couplings of their potentials can be determined from the measurement of the masses and branching ratios of their extended scalar sectors. We show that the evolution of these couplings through renormalization group equations can determine whether the observed 2HDM is a low energy manifestation of a more fundamental theory, as for instance, supersymmetry, which fixes the quartic couplings in terms of the gauge couplings. At leading order, the minimal supersymmetric extension of the SM (MSSM) dictates all the quartic couplings, which can be translated into a predictive structure for the scalar masses and mixings at the weak scale. Running these couplings to higher scales, one can check if they converge to their MSSM values, and more interestingly, whether one can infer the supersymmetry breaking scale. Although we study this question in the context of supersymmetry, this strategy could be applied to any theory whose ultraviolet completion unambiguously predicts all scalar quartic couplings.

Multifunctional voltage source inverter for renewable energy integration and power quality conditioning.

PubMed

Dai, NingYi; Lam, Chi-Seng; Zhang, WenChen

2014-01-01

In order to utilize the energy from the renewable energy sources, power conversion system is necessary, in which the voltage source inverter (VSI) is usually the last stage for injecting power to the grid. It is an economical solution to add the function of power quality conditioning to the grid-connected VSI in the low-voltage distribution system. Two multifunctional VSIs are studied in this paper, that is, inductive-coupling VSI and capacitive-coupling VSI, which are named after the fundamental frequency impedance of their coupling branch. The operation voltages of the two VSIs are compared when they are used for renewable energy integration and power quality conditioning simultaneously. The operation voltage of the capacitive-coupling VSI can be set much lower than that of the inductive-coupling VSI when reactive power is for compensating inductive loads. Since a large portion of the loads in the distribution system are inductive, the capacitive-coupling VSI is further studied. The design and control method of the multifunctional capacitive-coupling VSI are proposed in this paper. Simulation and experimental results are provided to show its validity.

Multifunctional Voltage Source Inverter for Renewable Energy Integration and Power Quality Conditioning

PubMed Central

Dai, NingYi; Lam, Chi-Seng; Zhang, WenChen

2014-01-01

In order to utilize the energy from the renewable energy sources, power conversion system is necessary, in which the voltage source inverter (VSI) is usually the last stage for injecting power to the grid. It is an economical solution to add the function of power quality conditioning to the grid-connected VSI in the low-voltage distribution system. Two multifunctional VSIs are studied in this paper, that is, inductive-coupling VSI and capacitive-coupling VSI, which are named after the fundamental frequency impedance of their coupling branch. The operation voltages of the two VSIs are compared when they are used for renewable energy integration and power quality conditioning simultaneously. The operation voltage of the capacitive-coupling VSI can be set much lower than that of the inductive-coupling VSI when reactive power is for compensating inductive loads. Since a large portion of the loads in the distribution system are inductive, the capacitive-coupling VSI is further studied. The design and control method of the multifunctional capacitive-coupling VSI are proposed in this paper. Simulation and experimental results are provided to show its validity. PMID:25177725

Transporter Protein-Coupled DPCPX Nanoconjugates Induce Diaphragmatic Recovery after SCI by Blocking Adenosine A1 Receptors.

PubMed

Minic, Zeljka; Zhang, Yanhua; Mao, Guangzhao; Goshgarian, Harry G

2016-03-23

Respiratory complications in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are common and have a negative impact on the quality of patients' lives. Systemic administration of drugs that improve respiratory function often cause deleterious side effects. The present study examines the applicability of a novel nanotechnology-based drug delivery system, which induces recovery of diaphragm function after SCI in the adult rat model. We developed a protein-coupled nanoconjugate to selectively deliver by transsynaptic transport small therapeutic amounts of an A1 adenosine receptor antagonist to the respiratory centers. A single administration of the nanoconjugate restored 75% of the respiratory drive at 0.1% of the systemic therapeutic drug dose. The reduction of the systemic dose may obviate the side effects. The recovery lasted for 4 weeks (the longest period studied). These findings have translational implications for patients with respiratory dysfunction after SCI. The leading causes of death in humans following SCI are respiratory complications secondary to paralysis of respiratory muscles. Systemic administration of methylxantines improves respiratory function but also leads to the development of deleterious side effects due to actions of the drug on nonrespiratory sites. The importance of the present study lies in the novel drug delivery approach that uses nanotechnology to selectively deliver recovery-inducing drugs to the respiratory centers exclusively. This strategy allows for a reduction in the therapeutic drug dose, which may reduce harmful side effects and markedly improve the quality of life for SCI patients. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/363441-12$15.00/0.

Bisecting GlcNAc restricts conformations of branches in model N-glycans with GlcNAc termini.

PubMed

Hanashima, Shinya; Suga, Akitsugu; Yamaguchi, Yoshiki

2018-02-01

Bisected N-glycans play significant roles in tumor migration and Alzheimer's disease through modulating the action and localization of their carrier proteins. Such biological functions are often discussed in terms of the conformation of the attached N-glycans with or without bisecting GlcNAc. To obtain insights into the effects of bisecting GlcNAc on glycan conformation, a systematic NMR structural analysis was performed on two pairs of synthetic N-glycans, with and without bisecting GlcNAc. The analysis reveals that terminal GlcNAcs and bisecting GlcNAc cooperate to restrict the conformations of both the α1-3 and α1-6 branches of N-glycans. 1 H and 13 C chemical shift comparisons suggest that bisecting GlcNAc directly modulates local conformation. Unique NOE correlations between core-mannose and the α1-3 branch mannose as well as the 3 J C-H constant of the glycoside linkage indicate that bisecting GlcNAc restricts the conformation of the 1-3 branch. The angles of the glycosidic bonds between core-mannose and α1-6 branch mannose derived from 3 J C-H and 3 J H-H coupling constants show that terminal GlcNAcs restrict the distribution of the ψ angle to 180° and the bisecting GlcNAc increases the distribution of the ω angle +60° in the presence of terminal GlcNAcs. It is feasible that restriction of branch conformations by bisecting GlcNAc has important consequences for protein-glycan interplay and following biological events. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluating Changes in the Molecular Composition and Optical Properties of Pacific Ocean Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) caused by Borodeuteride Reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianca, M.; Blough, N. V.; Del Vecchio, R.; Cartisano, C. M.; Schmitt-Kopplin, P.; Gonsior, M.

2016-02-01

Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR MS) is a powerful tool to obtain detailed molecular information for complex DOM and was combined in this study with optical measurements to determine the molecular fingerprint of Pacific Ocean DOM before and after borodeuteride reduction. Selective chemical reductions, using sodium borodeuteride, has been previously demonstrated to produce unique mass markers of ketone and aldehyde-containing species in ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. These functional groups have also been proposed to be responsible for chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) long wavelength optical properties through charge transfer interactions and their chemical reduction has shown to irreversibly alter the CDOM optical properties. ESI-FT-ICR MS coupled with borodeuteride reduction was thus applied to reference material, Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA), and CDOM extracts collected from Station ALOHA, in the North Pacific Ocean during December 2014. Results showed distinct differences between samples collected at different depths, indicating that the combination of FT-ICR-MS with borodeuteride reduction is a useful analytical tool to further understand marine DOM molecular composition. When this method is combined with optical measurements, specific insights into the CDOM composition can also be obtained.

Effects of hemin, CO2, and pH on the branching of Candida albicans filamentous forms.

PubMed

Jakab, Ágnes; Antal, Károly; Emri, Tamás; Boczonádi, Imre; Imre, Alexandra; Gebri, Enikő; Majoros, László; Pfliegler, Walter Péter; Szarka, Máté; Balla, György; Balla, József; Pócsi, István

2016-12-01

Morphological transitions of wild-type and oxidative stress-tolerant Candida albicans strains were followed in the RPMI-FBS culture medium at pH values and CO 2 levels characteristic for the anatomical niches inhabited by this opportunistic human pathogen fungus, including the oral cavity as well as the intestinal and vaginal lumens. Selected cultures were also supplemented with hemin modeling bleedings. Germination as well as elongation and branching of hyphae were monitored in the cultures using time-lapse video microscopy. Unexpectedly, branching time, which is defined as the time taken until the first branch of hypha emerges for the first time after germination, correlated well with alterations in the environmental conditions meanwhile no such correlations were found for germination time (time lasted until the appearance of the germination tube). Based on these observations, hypotheses were set up to estimate the significance of branching time in the pathogenesis of both superficial and systemic candidiases.

Advanced Technical Considerations for Implanting the t-Branch Off-the-Shelf Multibranched Stent-Graft to Treat Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms.

PubMed

Ferreira, Marcelo; Ferreira, Diego; Cunha, Rodrigo; Bicalho, Guilherme; Rodrigues, Eduardo

2018-06-01

To demonstrate different techniques and device modifications that can expand the anatomic suitability of the off-the-shelf multibranched t-Branch for treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The t-Branch device is not customized for specific patient anatomy, and the most frequent limitations to its use are an inadequate sealing zone and renal artery anatomy. Experience with this device has prompted the development of several techniques that can be employed to maximize the suitability of this stent-graft. Advice is offered on modification of the device to minimize the risk of paraplegia or better match patient anatomy. Maneuvers are explained to ease delivery through tortuous anatomy or existing stent-grafts, catheterize visceral target vessels, select a bridging stent, reduce ischemia time in the limbs, and alter the configuration of the branches. Employing adjunctive maneuvers can increase the anatomic suitability of the t-Branch; in our experience, these techniques have increased the applicability to more than 80% of all elective and urgent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm cases.

Z'→ggg decay in left-right symmetric models with three and four fermion families

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montaño, J.; Napsuciale, M.; Vaquera-Araujo, C. A.

2011-12-01

We study the Z'→q¯q,ggg decays in the context of a manifest left-right symmetric gauge theory with three and four generations. The Z' couplings to quarks are fixed essentially by the parameters of the standard model and we obtain Γ(Z'→qq¯)≈14GeV for MZ'≈1TeV. For the Z'→ggg decay and three families we obtain a branching ratio BR(Z'→ggg)=(Γ(Z'→ggg))/(Γ(Z'→qq¯))=1.2-2.8×10-5 for mZ'=700-1500GeV. The fourth generation produces an enhancement in the branching ratio for Z' masses close to the b¯'b' threshold and a dip for Z' masses close to the t¯'t' threshold. Using the values of the fourth-generation quark masses allowed by electroweak precision data, we obtain a branching ratio BR(Z'→ggg)=(1-6)×10-5 for mZ'=(700-1500)GeV.

Glueballs on the baryonic branch of Klebanov-Strassler: dimensional deconstruction and a light scalar particle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elander, Daniel; Piai, Maurizio

2017-06-01

Within gauge/gravity duality, we compute the scalar and tensor mass spectrum in the boundary theory defined by the five-dimensional sigma-model coupled to gravity obtained by constraining to eight scalars the truncation on T 1,1 that corresponds to the Papadopoulos-Tseytlin (PT) ansatz. We study fluctuations around the 1-parameter family of backgrounds that lift to the baryonic branch of the Klebanov-Strassler (KS) system, and interpolates between the KS background and the Maldacena-Nunez one (CVMN). We adopt a gauge invariant formalism in the treatment of the fluctuations that we interpret as states of the dual theory. The tensor spectrum interpolates between the discrete spectrum of the KS background and the continuum spectrum of the CVMN background, in particular showing the emergence of a finite energy range containing a dense set of states, as expected from dimensional deconstruction. The scalar spectrum shows analogous features, and in addition it contains one state that becomes parametrically light far from the origin along the baryonic branch.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Ying -Hsuan; Shao, Shu -Heng; Wang, Yifan

We study up to 8-derivative terms in the Coulomb branch effective action of (1,1) little string theory, by collecting results of 4-gluon scattering amplitudes from both perturbative 6D super-Yang-Mills theory up to 4-loop order, and tree-level double scaled little string theory (DSLST). In previous work we have matched the 6-derivative term from the 6D gauge theory to DSLST, indicating that this term is protected on the entire Coulomb branch. The 8-derivative term, on the other hand, is unprotected. In this paper we compute the 8-derivative term by interpolating from the two limits, near the origin and near the infinity onmore » the Coulomb branch, numerically from SU(k) SYM and DSLST respectively, for k=2,3,4,5. We discuss the implication of this result on the UV completion of 6D SYM as well as the strong coupling completion of DSLST. As a result, we also comment on analogous interpolating functions in the Coulomb phase of circle-compactified (2,0) little string theory.« less

Improved deoxyribozymes for synthesis of covalently branched DNA and RNA.

PubMed

Lee, Christine S; Mui, Timothy P; Silverman, Scott K

2011-01-01

A covalently branched nucleic acid can be synthesized by joining the 2'-hydroxyl of the branch-site ribonucleotide of a DNA or RNA strand to the activated 5'-phosphorus of a separate DNA or RNA strand. We have previously used deoxyribozymes to synthesize several types of branched nucleic acids for experiments in biotechnology and biochemistry. Here, we report in vitro selection experiments to identify improved deoxyribozymes for synthesis of branched DNA and RNA. Each of the new deoxyribozymes requires Mn²(+) as a cofactor, rather than Mg²(+) as used by our previous branch-forming deoxyribozymes, and each has an initially random region of 40 rather than 22 or fewer combined nucleotides. The deoxyribozymes all function by forming a three-helix-junction (3HJ) complex with their two oligonucleotide substrates. For synthesis of branched DNA, the best new deoxyribozyme, 8LV13, has k(obs) on the order of 0.1 min⁻¹, which is about two orders of magnitude faster than our previously identified 15HA9 deoxyribozyme. 8LV13 also functions at closer-to-neutral pH than does 15HA9 (pH 7.5 versus 9.0) and has useful tolerance for many DNA substrate sequences. For synthesis of branched RNA, two new deoxyribozymes, 8LX1 and 8LX6, were identified with broad sequence tolerances and substantial activity at pH 7.5, versus pH 9.0 for many of our previous deoxyribozymes that form branched RNA. These experiments provide new, and in key aspects improved, practical catalysts for preparation of synthetic branched DNA and RNA.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Choi, Jin Woo; Kim, Hyo-Cheol, E-mail: angiointervention@gmail.com; Chung, Jin Wook

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the radiologic findings and imaging response of chemoembolization via branches of the splenic artery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: From January 2001 to July 2010, we observed tumor staining supplied by branches of the splenic artery in 34 (0.6%) of 5,413 patients with HCC. Computed tomography (CT) scans and digital subtraction angiograms of these patients were retrospectively reviewed in consensus by two investigators. Results: A total of 39 tumor feeding-vessels in 34 patients were identified: omental branches from the left gastroepiploic artery (n = 5), branches from the short gastric arterymore » (n = 9), and omental branches directly from the splenic artery (n = 25). Branches of the splenic artery that supplied tumors were revealed on the celiac angiogram in 29 (85%) of 34 patients and were detected on pre-procedure CT images in 27 (79%) of 34 patients. Selective chemoembolization was achieved in 38 of 39 tumor-feeding vessels. Complete or partial response of the tumor fed by branches of the splenic artery, as depicted on follow-up CT scans, was achieved in 21 (62%) patients. No patient developed severe complications directly related to chemoembolization via branches of the splenic artery. Conclusions: Omental branches directly from the splenic artery are common tumor-feeding vessels of the splenic artery in cases of advanced HCC with multiple previous chemoembolizations. Tumor-feeding vessels of the splenic artery are usually visualized on the celiac angiogram or CT scan, and chemoembolization through them can be safely performed in most patients.« less

Facile fabrication of redox-responsive thiol-containing drug delivery system via RAFT polymerization.

PubMed

Zhuang, Yuanyuan; Su, Yue; Peng, Yu; Wang, Dali; Deng, Hongping; Xi, Xiaodong; Zhu, Xinyuan; Lu, Yunfeng

2014-04-14

A novel kind of redox-responsive polymeric drug delivery system has been designed and prepared successfully through the coupling of the multithiol branched polymers and thiol-containing drugs. The branched poly((S-(4-vinyl) benzyl S'-propyltrithiocarbonate)-co-(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)) (poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA)) was synthesized by one-pot reaction via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization. Subsequently, the hydrophobic thiol-containing anticancer drug 6-mercaptopurine (MP) was conjugated to poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA) by thiol-disulfide exchange reaction, resulting in the formation of poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA)-S-S-MP conjugate. Due to its amphiphilicity, poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA)-S-S-MP conjugate self-assembled into amphiphilic micelles in aqueous solution. Under a reductive environment, the disassembly of polymeric micelles resulted in the MP release. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) measurements demonstrated that the poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA)-S-S-MP micelles could be taken up by Raji cells (a Burkitt lymphoma cell line). The viability of the Raji cells incubated with the glutathione (GSH) mediated poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA)-S-S-MP micelles was investigated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The experimental results showed that the viability of the glutathione monoester (GSH-OEt) pretreated cells was lower than that without pretreatment, while the viability of the buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) pretreated cells was higher than that without pretreatment. The poly(VBPT-co-PEGMA)-S-S-MP micelles could induce the apoptosis of Raji cells, and the apoptosis behavior was dose-dependent. This redox-responsive polymer-drug conjugate provides a promising platform for the delivery of thiol-containing biological molecules.

Factors affecting water quality and net flux of solutes in two stream basins in the Quabbin Reservoir drainage basin, central Massachusetts,1983-85

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rittmaster, R.L.; Shanley, J.B.

1995-01-01

The factors that affect stream-water quality were studied at West Branch Swift River (Swift River), and East Branch Fever Brook (Fever Brook), two forested watersheds that drain into the Quabbin Reservoir, central Massachusetts, from December 1983 through August 1985. Spatial and temporal variations of chemistry of precipitation, surface water; and ground water and the linkages between chemical changes and hydrologic processes were used to identify the mechanisms that control stream chemistry. Precipitation chemistry was dominated by hydrogen ion (composite p.H 4.23), sulfate, and nitrate. Inputs of hydrogen and nitrate from pre- cipitation were almost entirely retained in the basins, whereas input of sulfate was approximately balanced by export by streamflow draining the basins. Both streams were poorly buffered, with mean pH near 5.7, mean alkalinity less than 30 microequivalents per liter, and sulfate concen- trations greater than 130 microequivalents per liter. Sodium and chloride, derived primarily from highway deicing salts, were the dominant solutes at Fever Brook. After adjustments for deicing salts, fluxes of base cations during the 21-month study were 2,014 and 1,429 equivalents per hectare in Swift River and Fever Brook, respectively. Base cation fluxes were controlled primarily by weathering of hornblende (Fever Brook) and plagioclase (Swift River). The overall weathering rate was greater in the Swift River Basin because easily weathered gabbro underlies one subbasin which comprises 11.2 percent of the total basin area but contributed about 77 percent of the total alkalinity. Alkalinity export was nearly equal in the two basins, however, because some alkalinity was generated in wetlands in the Fever Brook Basin through bacterial sulfate reduction coupled with organic-carbon oxidation.

A flap based on the plantar digital artery arch branch to improve appearance of reconstructed fingers: Anatomical and clinical application.

PubMed

Tang, Lin-Feng; Ju, Ji-Hui; Liu, Yue-Fei; Lan, Bo; Hou, Rui-Xing

2018-02-01

To investigate blood supply features of the flap based on the plantar digital artery arch and arch branch artery, and the treatment of outcomes of reconstructed fingers by the plantar digital artery arch branch island flap. Eight fresh foot specimens were employed with red emulsion infusion and microdissection. The vascular organization was observed in the second toe, such as initiation site, the course, and the number of the plantar digital artery arch branch. There were 15 fingers of 13 patients (8 males and 5 females) with finger defects accompanied by toe transfer, using the plantar digital artery arch branch flap inserted in the neck of the second toe to correct the appearance defect caused by a narrow "neck" and a bulbous tip. The intact plantar digital arches were identified in all specimens. The plantar digital artery arch had 5 branches. The range of external diameter of the arch branch was 0.4-0.6 mm. All the plantar digital artery arch branch island flaps and the reconstructed fingers survived. These cases were conducted with a follow-up period for 3-18 months (average, 9 months). All the plantar digital artery arch branch island flaps and reconstructed fingers demonstrated a satisfactory appearance and favorable sense function. The reconstructed finger-tip characteristic was good, with no obvious scar hyperplasia. The range of flexion and extension of reconstructed fingers was favorable as well. The plantar digital artery arch and arch branch artery possess regular vasa vasorum and abundant vascularity. A flap based on the plantar digital artery arch branch is an ideal selection for plastic surgery of reconstructed fingers. Copyright © 2017 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mapping of Small Nerve Trunks and Branches Using Adaptive Flexible Electrodes.

PubMed

Xiang, Zhuolin; Sheshadri, Swathi; Lee, Sang-Hoon; Wang, Jiahui; Xue, Ning; Thakor, Nitish V; Yen, Shih-Cheng; Lee, Chengkuo

2016-09-01

Selective stimulation is delivered to the sciatic nerve using different paris of contacts on a split-ring electrode, while simulatneous recordings are acquired by the neural ribbon electrodes on three different branches. Two hook electrodes are also implanted in the muscle to monitor the activated muscle responses. It shows that the high precision implantation of electrodes, increases the efficacy and reduces the incidence of side effects.

Analysis of seasonal water pollution based on rainfall feature at Anyang river basin in Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, J. G.; Lee, Y. K.; Kim, T. H.; Hwang, E. J.

2005-08-01

To determine selected water pollution parameters of the Anyang River (one of the biggest contributory branches of the Han River in Korea) and its main tributaries, the geological and topographical and rainfall features in its basin were investigated, and the resulting data were tabulated. Samples were collected at the upper, mid and down parts of the Anyang River and its branches and were analyzed based on biochemical and chemical methods, Korean biotic index (KBI) and Saprobien systems. Selected parameters of concern include BOD, heavy metals, nonpoint pollution and sewage discharge. The Anyang River basin has a torrential heavy rainfall; however, the rate of rainfall significantly varies from season to season. Water pollution levels in the dry season increase dramatically. The mainstream of the Anyang River is classified as fifth grade polysaprobic water according to Saprobien system. In addition, the biotic index is over 2.5 in overall. General pollution at the junction of the Anyang River and each branch stream varies. Possible countermeasures to improve the water quality of the river include intercept the non-treated waste water and sewage at the Anyang River junction and each branch stream, enforcement of water management during the rainy season, and continuous investment on environmental restoration.

78 FR 47320 - Preventing Skin Cancer Through Reduction of UV Exposure

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-05

..., Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease... melanoma and skin cancer risk-related behaviors, conducts applied research and evaluation, and translates....regulations.gov . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meg Watson, Epidemiologist, Epidemiology and Applied...

Search for new light gauge bosons in Higgs boson decays to four-lepton final states in p p collisions at s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

DOE PAGES

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; ...

2015-11-01

This research presents a search for Higgs bosons decaying to four leptons, either electrons or muons, via one or two light exotic gauge bosons Z d, H → ZZ d → 4ℓ or H → Z dZ d → 4ℓ. The search was performed using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 20 fb –1 at the center-of-mass energy of \\(\\sqrt{s} = 8\\) TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed data are well described by the Standard Model prediction. Upper bounds on the branching ratio of H → ZZ d →more » 4ℓ and on the kinetic mixing parameter between the Z d and the Standard Model hypercharge gauge boson are set in the range (1-9) × 10 –5 and (4–17) × 10 -2 respectively, at 95% confidence level assuming the Standard Model branching ratio of H → ZZ* → 4ℓ, for Z d masses between 15 and 55 GeV. Upper bounds on the effective mass mixing parameter between the Z and the Z d are also set using the branching ratio limits in the H → ZZ d → 4ℓ search, and are in the range (1.5-8.7) × 10 -4 for 15 < m Zd < 35 GeV. Upper bounds on the branching ratio of H → Z dZ d → 4ℓ and on the Higgs portal coupling parameter, controlling the strength of the coupling of the Higgs boson to dark vector bosons are set in the range (2–3) × 10 -5 and (1–10) × 10 -4 respectively, at 95% confidence level assuming the Standard Model Higgs boson production cross sections, for Z d masses between 15 and 60 GeV.« less

Modular Assembly of Hierarchically Structured Polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leophairatana, Porakrit

The synthesis of macromolecules with complex yet highly controlled molecular architectures has attracted significant attention in the past few decades due to the growing demand for specialty polymers that possess novel properties. Despite recent efforts, current synthetic routes lack the ability to control several important architectural variables while maintaining low polydispersity index. This dissertation explores a new synthetic scheme for the modular assembly of hierarchically structured polymers (MAHP) that allows virtually any complex polymer to be assembled from a few basic molecular building blocks using a single common coupling chemistry. Complex polymer structures can be assembled from a molecular toolkit consisting of (1) copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), (2) linear heterobifunctional macromonomers, (3) a branching heterotrifunctional molecule, (4) a protection/deprotection strategy, (5) "click" functional solid substrates, and (6) functional and responsive polymers. This work addresses the different challenges that emerged during the development of this synthetic scheme, and presents strategies to overcome those challenges. Chapter 3 investigates the alkyne-alkyne (i.e. Glaser) coupling side reactions associated with the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) synthesis of alkyne-functional macromonomers, as well as with the CuAAC reaction of alkyne functional building blocks. In typical ATRP synthesis of unprotected alkyne functional polymers, Glaser coupling reactions can significantly compromise the polymer functionality and undermine the success of subsequent click reactions in which the polymers are used. Two strategies are reported that effectively eliminate these coupling reactions: (1) maintaining low temperature post-ATRP upon exposure to air, followed by immediate removal of copper catalyst; and (2) adding excess reducing agents post-ATRP, which prevents the oxidation of Cu(I) catalyst required by the Glaser coupling mechanism. Post-ATRP Glaser coupling was also influenced by the ATRP synthesis ligand used. The order of ligand activity for catalyzing Glaser coupling was: linear bidentate > tridentate > tetradentate. Glaser coupling can also occur for alkynes held under CuAAC reaction conditions but again can be eliminated by adding appropriate reducing agents. With the strategy presented in Chapter 3, alkyne-terminated polymers of high-functionality were produced without the need for alkyne protecting groups. These "click" functional building blocks were employed to investigate the overall efficiency of the CuAAC "click" coupling reactions between alkyne- and azide-terminated macromonomers as discussed in Chapter 4. Quantitative convolution modeling of the entire molecular weight distribution post-CuAAC indicates a CuAAC efficiency of about 94% and an azide substitution efficiency of >99%. However, incomplete functionality of the azide-terminated macromonomer (˜92%) proves to be the largest factor compromising the overall efficacy of the coupling reactions, and is attributed primarily to the loss of bromine functionality during synthesis by ATRP. To address this issue, we discuss in Chapter 6 the development of a new set of molecular building blocks consisting of alkyne functional substrates and heterobifunctional degradable linkers that allow the growth and subsequent detachment of polymers from the solid substrate. Complex polymeric structures are created by progressive cycles of CuAAC and deprotection reactions that add building blocks to the growing polymer chain ends. We demonstrate that these building blocks were completely stable under both CuAAC and deprotection reaction conditions. Since the desired product is covalently bound to the solid surface, the unreacted monomers/macromonomers and by-products (i.e. non-functional building blocks) can be easily separated from the product via removal of the polymer-tethered solid substrate in one step. Chapter 5 discusses how MAHP was employed to prepare a variety of hierarchically structured polymers and copolymers with controlled branching architectures. alpha-azido,o-TIPS-alkyne-heterobifunctional and heterotrifunctional building blocks were first prepared via ATRP and organic synthesis. Preliminary NMR and SEC studies demonstrated that these building blocks all satisfied the criteria necessary for MAHP: (1) the TIPS protecting group is stable during ATRP and CuAAC, (2) the "click" functionality is completely regenerated during the deprotection step, and (3) the CuAAC reaction of branching macromonomers is quantitative (>94%). To demonstrate the concept, poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-dipolystyrene- b-dipoly(tert-butyl acrylate) penta-block branching copolymacromer was prepared via MAHP and quantitively characterized with SEC and NMR. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Coupled-Circulation-Chemistry Studies with the Finite-Volume CCM: Trace Gas Transport in the Tropopause Region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pawson, Steven; Lin, Shian-Jiann; Rood, Richard B.; Nebuda, Sharon; Nielsen, J. Eric; Douglass, Anne R.

2000-01-01

A joint project between the Data Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC and NCAR involves linking the physical packages from the Community Climate Model (CCM) with the flux-form semi-Lagrangian dynamical core developed by Lin and Rood in the DAO. A further development of this model includes the implementation of a chemical package developed by Douglass and colleagues in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch at NASA GSFC. Results from this coupled dynamics-radiation-chemistry model will be presented, focussing on trace gas transport in the tropopause region.

Hopf bifurcation with dihedral group symmetry - Coupled nonlinear oscillators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golubitsky, Martin; Stewart, Ian

1986-01-01

The theory of Hopf bifurcation with symmetry developed by Golubitsky and Stewart (1985) is applied to systems of ODEs having the symmetries of a regular polygon, that is, whose symmetry group is dihedral. The existence and stability of symmetry-breaking branches of periodic solutions are considered. In particular, these results are applied to a general system of n nonlinear oscillators coupled symmetrically in a ring, and the generic oscillation patterns are described. It is found that the symmetry can force some oscillators to have twice the frequency of others. The case of four oscillators has exceptional features.

GOMA 6.0 :

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schunk, Peter Randall; Rao, Rekha Ranjana; Chen, Ken S

Goma 6.0 is a finite element program which excels in analyses of multiphysical processes, particularly those involving the major branches of mechanics (viz. fluid/solid mechanics, energy transport and chemical species transport). Goma is based on a full-Newton-coupled algorithm which allows for simultaneous solution of the governing principles, making the code ideally suited for problems involving closely coupled bulk mechanics and interfacial phenomena. Example applications include, but are not limited to, coating and polymer processing flows, super-alloy processing, welding/soldering, electrochemical processes, and solid-network or solution film drying. This document serves as a users guide and reference.

The Torque of the Planet: NASA Researcher Uses NCCS Computers to Probe Atmosphere-Land-Ocean Coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

The study of Earth science is like a giant puzzle, says Braulio Sanchez. "The more you know about the individual pieces, the easier it is to fit them together." A researcher with Goddard's Space Geodesy Branch, Sanchez has been using NCCS supercomputer and mass storage resources to show how the angular momenta of the atmosphere, the oceans, and the solid Earth are dynamically coupled. Sanchez has calculated the magnitude of atmospheric torque on the planet and has determined some of the possible effects that torque has on Earth's rotation.

Nitrogen fertilization decouples roots and microbes: Reductions in belowground carbon allocation limit microbial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrara, J.; Walter, C. A.; Govindarajulu, R.; Hawkins, J.; Brzostek, E. R.

2017-12-01

Nitrogen (N) deposition has enhanced the ability of trees to capture atmospheric carbon (C). The effect of elevated N on belowground C cycling, however, is variable and response mechanisms are largely unknown. Recent research has highlighted distinct differences between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees in the strength of root-microbial interactions. In particular, ECM trees send more C to rhizosphere microbes to stimulate enzyme activity and nutrient mobilization than AM trees, which primarily rely on saprotrophic microbes to mobilize N. As such, we hypothesized that N fertilization would weaken root-microbial interactions and soil decomposition in ECM stands more than in AM stands. To test this hypothesis, we measured root-microbial interactions in ECM and AM plots in two long-term N fertilization studies, the Fernow Experimental Forest, WV and Bear Brook Watershed, ME. We found that N fertilization led to declines in plant C allocation belowground to fine root biomass, branching, and root exudation in ECM stands to a greater extent than in AM stands. As ECM roots are tightly coupled to the soil microbiome through energy and nutrient exchange, reductions in belowground C allocation were mirrored by shifts in microbial community composition and reductions in fungal gene expression. These shifts were accompanied by larger reductions in fungal-derived lignolytic and hydrolytic enzyme activity in ECM stands than in AM stands. In contrast, as the AM soil microbiome is less reliant on trees for C and are more adapted to high inorganic nutrient environments, the soil metagenome and transcriptome were more resilient to decreases in belowground C allocation. Collectively, our results indicate the N fertilization decoupled root-microbial interactions by reducing belowground carbon allocation in ECM stands. Thus, N fertilization may reduce soil turnover and increase soil C storage to a greater extent in forests dominated by ECM than AM trees.

Manipulating the architecture of bimetallic nanostructures and their plasmonic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeSantis, Christopher John

There has been much interest in colloidal noble metal nanoparticles due to their fascinating plasmonic and catalytic properties. These properties make noble metal nanoparticles potentially useful for applications such as targeted drug delivery agents and hydrogen storage devices. Historically, shape-controlled noble metal nanoparticles have been predominantly monometallic. Recent synthetic advances provide access to bimetallic noble metal nanoparticles wherein their inherent multifunctionality and ability to fine tune or expand their surface chemistry and light scattering properties of metal nanoparticles make them popular candidates for many applications. Even so, there are currently few synthetic strategies to rationally design shape-controlled bimetallic nanocrystals; for this reason, few architectures are accessible. For example, the "seed-mediated method" is a popular means of achieving monodisperse shape-controlled bimetallic nanocrystals. In this process, small metal seeds are used as platforms for additional metal addition, allowing for conformal core shell nanostructures. However, this method has only been applied to single metal core/single metal shell structures; therefore, the surface compositions and architectures achievable are limited. This thesis expands upon the seed-mediated method by coupling it with co-reduction. In short, two metal precursors are simultaneously reduced to deposit metal onto pre-formed seeds in hopes that the interplay between two metal species facilitates bimetallic shell nanocrystals. Au/Pd was used as a test system due to favorable reduction potentials of metal precursors and good lattice match between Au and Pd. Alloyed shelled Au Au/Pd nanocrystals were achieved using this "seed-mediated co-reduction" approach. Symmetric eight-branched Au/Pd nanocrystals (octopods) are also prepared using this method. This thesis investigates many synthetic parameters that determine the shape outcome in Au/Pd nanocrystals during seed-mediated co-reduction. Plasmonic, catalytic, and assembly properties are also investigated in relation to nanocrystal shape and architecture. This work provides a foundation for the rational design of architecturally defined bimetallic nanostructures.

Documentation of the Douglas-fir tussock moth outbreak-population model.

Treesearch

J.J. Colbert; W. Scott Overton; Curtis. White

1979-01-01

Documentation of three model versions: the Douglas-fir tussock moth population-branch model on (1) daily temporal resolution, (2) instart temporal resolution, and (3) the Douglas-fir tussock moth stand-outbreak model; the hierarchical framework and the conceptual paradigm used are described. The coupling of the model with a normal-stand model is discussed. The modeling...

Effects on Calculated Half-Widths and Shifts from the Line Coupling for Asymmetric-Top Molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ma, Q.; Boulet, C.; Tipping, R. H.

2014-01-01

The refinement of the Robert-Bonamy formalism by considering the line coupling for linear molecules developed in our previous studies [Q. Ma, C. Boulet, and R. H. Tipping, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 034305 (2013); 140, 104304 (2014)] have been extended to asymmetric-top molecules. For H2O immersed in N2 bath, the line coupling selection rules applicable for the pure rotational band to determine whether two specified lines are coupled or not are established. Meanwhile, because the coupling strengths are determined by relative importance of off-diagonal matrix elements versus diagonal elements of the operator -iS1 -S2, quantitative tools are developed with which one is able to remove weakly coupled lines from consideration. By applying these tools, we have found that within reasonable tolerances, most of the H2O lines in the pure rotational band are not coupled. This reflects the fact that differences of energy levels of the H2O states are pretty large. But, there are several dozen strongly coupled lines and they can be categorized into different groups such that the line couplings occur only within the same groups. In practice, to identify those strongly coupled lines and to confine them into sub-linespaces are crucial steps in considering the line coupling. We have calculated half-widths and shifts for some groups, including the line coupling. Based on these calculations, one can conclude that for most of the H2O lines, it is unnecessary to consider the line coupling. However, for several dozens of lines, effects on the calculated half-widths from the line coupling are small, but remain noticeable and reductions of calculated half-widths due to including the line coupling could reach to 5%. Meanwhile, effects on the calculated shifts are very significant and variations of calculated shifts could be as large as 25%.

Effects on calculated half-widths and shifts from the line coupling for asymmetric-top molecules

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Q.; Boulet, C.; Tipping, R. H.

2014-06-28

The refinement of the Robert-Bonamy formalism by considering the line coupling for linear molecules developed in our previous studies [Q. Ma, C. Boulet, and R. H. Tipping, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 034305 (2013); 140, 104304 (2014)] have been extended to asymmetric-top molecules. For H{sub 2}O immersed in N{sub 2} bath, the line coupling selection rules applicable for the pure rotational band to determine whether two specified lines are coupled or not are established. Meanwhile, because the coupling strengths are determined by relative importance of off-diagonal matrix elements versus diagonal elements of the operator −iS{sub 1} − S{sub 2}, quantitative toolsmore » are developed with which one is able to remove weakly coupled lines from consideration. By applying these tools, we have found that within reasonable tolerances, most of the H{sub 2}O lines in the pure rotational band are not coupled. This reflects the fact that differences of energy levels of the H{sub 2}O states are pretty large. But, there are several dozen strongly coupled lines and they can be categorized into different groups such that the line couplings occur only within the same groups. In practice, to identify those strongly coupled lines and to confine them into sub-linespaces are crucial steps in considering the line coupling. We have calculated half-widths and shifts for some groups, including the line coupling. Based on these calculations, one can conclude that for most of the H{sub 2}O lines, it is unnecessary to consider the line coupling. However, for several dozens of lines, effects on the calculated half-widths from the line coupling are small, but remain noticeable and reductions of calculated half-widths due to including the line coupling could reach to 5%. Meanwhile, effects on the calculated shifts are very significant and variations of calculated shifts could be as large as 25%.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qian, Chen; Johs, Alexander; Chen, Hongmei

Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA can reduce, sorb, and methylate mercury (Hg); however, the underlying biochemical mechanisms of these processes and interdependent metabolic pathways remain unknown. In this study, shotgun proteomics was used to compare global proteome profiles between wild-type G. sulfurreducens PCA and two mutant strains: a ΔhgcAB mutant, which is deficient in two genes known to be essential for Hg methylation and a ΔomcBESTZ mutant, which is deficient in five outer membrane c-type cytochromes and thus impaired in its ability for dissimilatory metal ion reduction. We were able to delineate the global response of G. sulfurreducens PCA in both mutantsmore » and identify cellular networks and metabolic pathways that were affected by the loss of these genes. Deletion of hgcAB increased the relative abundances of proteins implicated in extracellular electron transfer, including most of the c-type cytochromes, PilA-C, and OmpB, and is consistent with a previously observed increase in Hg reduction in the hgcAB mutant. Deletion of omcBESTZ was found to significantly increase relative abundances of various methyltransferases, suggesting that a loss of dissimilatory reduction capacity results in elevated activity among one-carbon metabolic pathways and thus increased methylation. We show that G. sulfurreducens PCA encodes only the folate branch of the Wood Ljungdahl pathway, and proteins associated with the folate branch were found at lower abundance in the ΔhgcAB mutant strain than the wild type. In conclusion, this observation supports the hypothesis that the function of HgcA and HgcB may be linked to one carbon metabolism through the folate branch of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway by providing methyl groups required for Hg methylation.« less

The K tree score: quantification of differences in the relative branch length and topology of phylogenetic trees.

PubMed

Soria-Carrasco, Víctor; Talavera, Gerard; Igea, Javier; Castresana, Jose

2007-11-01

We introduce a new phylogenetic comparison method that measures overall differences in the relative branch length and topology of two phylogenetic trees. To do this, the algorithm first scales one of the trees to have a global divergence as similar as possible to the other tree. Then, the branch length distance, which takes differences in topology and branch lengths into account, is applied to the two trees. We thus obtain the minimum branch length distance or K tree score. Two trees with very different relative branch lengths get a high K score whereas two trees that follow a similar among-lineage rate variation get a low score, regardless of the overall rates in both trees. There are several applications of the K tree score, two of which are explained here in more detail. First, this score allows the evaluation of the performance of phylogenetic algorithms, not only with respect to their topological accuracy, but also with respect to the reproduction of a given branch length variation. In a second example, we show how the K score allows the selection of orthologous genes by choosing those that better follow the overall shape of a given reference tree. http://molevol.ibmb.csic.es/Ktreedist.html

Control of mobility in molecular organic semiconductors by dendrimer generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lupton, J. M.; Samuel, I. D.; Beavington, R.; Frampton, M. J.; Burn, P. L.; Bässler, H.

2001-04-01

Conjugated dendrimers are of interest as novel materials for light-emitting diodes. They consist of a luminescent chromophore at the core with highly branched conjugated dendron sidegroups. In these materials, light emission occurs from the core and is independent of generation. The dendron branching controls the separation between the chromophores. We present here a family of conjugated dendrimers and investigate the effect of dendron branching on light emission and charge transport. We apply a number of transport measurement techniques to thin films of a conjugated dendrimer in a light-emitting diode configuration to determine the effect of chromophore spacing on charge transport. We find that the mobility is reduced by two orders of magnitude as the size of the molecule doubles with increased branching or dendrimer generation. The degree of branching allows a unique control of mobility by molecular structure. An increase in chromophore separation also results in a reduction of intermolecular interactions, which reduces the red emission tail in film photoluminescence. We find that the steady-state charge transport is well described by a simple device model incorporating the effect of generation, and use the materials to shed light on the interpretation of transient electroluminescence data. We demonstrate the significance of the ability to tune the mobility in bilayer devices, where a more balanced charge transport can be achieved.

Project Eban: An HIV/STD Intervention for African American Couples

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Objective To describe the Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention being evaluated in the NIMH Multisite HIV/STD Prevention trial for heterosexual African American couples, including the integrated theoretical framework, the structure, core elements and procedures of the intervention and how the content was shaped by culturally congruent concepts to address the needs of the study target population. Design The Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention is designed to address multilevel individual, interpersonal and community level factors that contribute to HIV/STD transmission risk behaviors among heterosexual African American couples who are HIV serodiscordant. Methods The Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention employs a mixed modality, couples-based approach that is based on an integrated ecological framework incorporating social cognitive theory and uses an Afro-centric paradigm that is informed by previous evidence-based couples HIV prevention interventions. For this randomized controlled trial, African American serodiscordant couples were recruited from four urban sites (Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia) and were randomized to either the Eban HIV/STD Risk Reduction Intervention (treatment condition) or a Health Promotion Intervention that served as an attentional control condition. Both interventions had 4 individual couple sessions and 4 group sessions, but only the treatment condition was focused on reducing HIV/STD risk behaviors. Behavioral and biological data were collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 6 and 12 months. The theoretical framework, core elements and content of each session are described and lessons learned from this intervention trial are discussed. Results An HIV prevention intervention combining couple and group sessions can be feasibly implemented with African American HIV serodiscordant couples who remain at high risk of HIV/STD transmission. The lessons learned from the trial suggest that the participants responded very well to both the couple and group sessions. Participant feedback suggests that the cultural congruence of the intervention and use of African American co-facilitators made them feel comfortable disclosing risky behaviors. Participant feedback also suggests that the intervention’s couples-based focus on enhancing dyadic communication and decision-making skills were key to helping the couples work together to overcome barriers to using condoms. Conclusion Participant and facilitator evaluations of the Eban Risk Reduction Intervention suggest that couples responded well to the Afro-centric content and mixed modalities of the intervention sessions. Couple sessions were optimal for enhancing interpersonal and microlevel factors, including communication, problem solving, and decision making. PMID:18724186

Impact of Lesion Placement on Efficacy and Safety of Catheter-Based Radiofrequency Renal Denervation.

PubMed

Mahfoud, Felix; Tunev, Stefan; Ewen, Sebastian; Cremers, Bodo; Ruwart, Jennifer; Schulz-Jander, Daniel; Linz, Dominik; Davies, Justin; Kandzari, David E; Whitbourn, Robert; Böhm, Michael; Melder, Robert J

2015-10-20

Insufficient procedural efficacy has been proposed to explain nonresponse to renal denervation (RDN). The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different patterns of lesion placements on the efficacy and consistency of catheter-based radiofrequency RDN in pigs. The impact of increasing number of lesions versus location of RDN was investigated in a porcine model (Group 1; n = 51). The effect of treating the main artery, the branches, and the 2 combined was compared in Group 2 (n = 48). The durability of response and safety of combined treatment of the main artery plus branches was examined in Group 3 (n = 16). Renal norepinephrine (NE) tissue content and renal cortical axon density were assessed. Increasing the number of RF lesions (4, 8, and 12) in the main renal artery was not sufficient to yield a clear dose-response relationship on NE content and axon density. In contrast, targeted treatment of the renal artery branches or distal segment of the main renal artery resulted in markedly less variability of response and significantly greater reduction of both NE and axon density than conventional treatment of only the main renal artery. Combination treatment (main artery plus branches) produced the greatest change in renal NE and axon density with the least heterogeneity. The changes were durable through 28 days post-treatment. These data provide the rationale for investigation of an optimized approach for RDN in future clinical studies. This may have profound implications for the clinical application of RDN, as this approach may not only achieve greater reductions in sympathetic activity but also reduce treatment effect variability. Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bole girdling affects metabolic properties and root, trunk and branch hydraulics of young ponderosa pine trees.

PubMed

Domec, Jean-Christophe; Pruyn, Michele L

2008-10-01

Effects of trunk girdling on seasonal patterns of xylem water status, water transport and woody tissue metabolic properties were investigated in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. Laws.) trees. At the onset of summer, there was a sharp decrease in stomatal conductance (g(s)) in girdled trees followed by a full recovery after the first major rainfall in September. Eliminating the root as a carbohydrate sink by girdling induced a rapid reversible reduction in g(s). Respiratory potential (a laboratory measure of tissue-level respiration) increased above the girdle (branches and upper trunk) and decreased below the girdle (lower trunk and roots) relative to control trees during the growing season, but the effect was reversed after the first major rainfall. The increase in branch respiratory potential induced by girdling suggests that the decrease in g(s) was caused by the accumulation of carbohydrates above the girdle, which is consistent with an observed increase in leaf mass per area in the girdled trees. Trunk girdling did not affect native xylem embolism or xylem conductivity. Both treated and control trunks experienced loss of xylem conductivity ranging from 10% in spring to 30% in summer. Girdling reduced xylem growth and sapwood to leaf area ratio, which in turn reduced branch leaf specific conductivity (LSC). The girdling-induced reductions in g(s) and transpiration were associated with a decrease in leaf hydraulic conductance. Two years after girdling, when root-to-shoot phloem continuity had been restored, girdled trees had a reduced density of new wood, which increased xylem conductivity and whole-tree LSC, but also vulnerability to embolism.

Dyadic Qualitative Analysis of Condom Use Scripts Among Emerging Adult Gay Male Couples.

PubMed

Starks, Tyrel J; Pawson, Mark; Stephenson, Rob; Sullivan, Patrick; Parsons, Jeffrey T

2018-04-03

Sexual risk reduction among gay male couples has received increasing attention in light of evidence that primary partners account for many-and possibly most-new HIV infections. This study examined the content of condom use scripts in interviews conducted with both members of 17 HIV-negative gay male couples. In each couple, at least one partner was an emerging adult (aged 18 to 29). Three scripts were identified: romantic love, unanticipated condomless anal intercourse (CAI), and negotiated safety. Scripts varied in their emphasis on emotional factors versus HIV risk reduction, the salience of sexual agreements, and the presence of an explicit communication goal. Results indicated that condom use may vary for couples as a result of script content and from the fluid adoption of scripts across contexts. Results highlighted potential tensions between emotional closeness and HIV prevention. Condom use cessation and sexual agreements-a potential mechanism for HIV risk reduction-may also serve as expressions of intimacy. This implies interventions that facilitate direct communication about sexual and relational goals-as well as those that expand couples' repertoires for expressing emotional closeness-may enhance sexual health for gay couples, particularly during the period of emerging adulthood.

Soliton-impurity interaction in two Ablowitz-Ladik chains with different coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamburova, R. S.; Primatarowa, M. T.

2014-12-01

The interaction of solitons with point defects in a system of coupled Ablowitz- Ladik (AL) chains is studied numerically. The system is a discrete analog of coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations. Two types of interchain coupling are investigated: one which admits reduction of the system to the standard integrable AL model (dispersive coupling) and one which couples opposite sites of the chains and does not admit reduction to the AL model (nondispersive coupling). The action of the two coupling types is additive and they can compensate each other in some cases. We have obtained that the single-peak bound soliton-defect solution (attractive impurity) is stable against perturbations, while the double-peak bound soliton-defect solution (repulsive impurity) is unstable and can be easily destroyed. Linear point defects do not influence the period of energy transfer and it is close to the period for the homogeneous case.

Conversion of Syngas-Derived C2+ Mixed Oxygenates to C3-C5 Olefins over ZnxZryOz Mixed Oxides Catalysts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, Colin D.; Lebarbier, Vanessa M.; Flake, Matthew D.

2016-04-01

In this study we report on a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide type catalyst capable of converting a syngas-derived C2+ mixed oxygenate feedstock to isobutene-rich olefins. Aqueous model feed comprising of ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, methanol, and propanol was used as representative liquid product derived from a Rh-based mixed oxygenate synthesis catalyst. Greater than 50% carbon yield to C3-C5 mixed olefins was demonstrated when operating at 400-450oC and 1 atm. In order to rationalize formation of the products observed feed components were individually evaluated. Major constituents of the feed mixture (ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate) were found tomore » produce isobutene-rich olefins. C-C coupling was also demonstrated for propanol feedstock - a minor constituent of the mixed oxygenate feed - producing branched C6 olefins, revealing scalability to alcohols higher than ethanol following an analogous reaction pathway. Using ethanol and propanol feed mixtures, cross-coupling reactions produced mixtures of C4, C5, and C6 branched olefins. The presence of H2 in the feed was found to facilitate hydrogenation of the ketone intermediates, thus producing straight chain olefins as byproducts. While activity loss from coking is observed complete catalyst regeneration is achieved by employing mild oxidation. For conversion of the mixed oxygenate feed a Zr/Zn ratio of 2.5 and a reaction temperature of 450oC provides the best balance of stability, activity, and selectivity. X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals the presence of primarily cubic phase ZrO2 and a minor amount of the monoclinic phase, with ZnO being highly dispersed in the lattice. The presence of ZnO appears to stabilize the cubic phase resulting in less monoclinic phase as the ZnO concentration increases. Infrared spectroscopy shows the mixed oxide acid sites are characterized as primarily Lewis type acidity. The direct relationship between isobutene production and the ratio of basic/acidic sites was demonstrated. An optimized balance of active sites for isobutene production from acetone was obtained with a basic/acidic site ratio of ~2. This technology for the conversion of aqueous mixtures of C2+ mixed oxygenates provides significant advantages over other presently studied catalysts in that its unique properties permit the utilization of a variety of feeds in a consistently selective manner.« less

Ab-initio modeling of electromechanical coupling at Si surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoppe, Sandra; Müller, Stefan, E-mail: stefan.mueller@tuhh.de; Michl, Anja

The electromechanical coupling at the silicon (100) and (111) surfaces was studied via density functional theory by calculating the response of the ionization potential and the electron affinity to different types of strain. We find a branched strain response of those two quantities with different coupling coefficients for negative and positive strain values. This can be attributed to the reduced crystal symmetry due to anisotropic strain, which partially lifts the degeneracy of the valence and conduction bands. Only the Si(111) electron affinity exhibits a monotonously linear strain response, as the conduction band valleys remain degenerate under strain. The strain responsemore » of the surface dipole is linear and seems to be dominated by volume changes. Our results may help to understand the mechanisms behind electromechanical coupling at an atomic level in greater detail and for different electronic and atomic structures.« less

Modulational Instability in a Pair of Non-identical Coupled Nonlinear Electrical Transmission Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eric, Tala-Tebue; Aurelien, Kenfack-Jiotsa; Marius Hervé, Tatchou-Ntemfack; Timoléon Crépin, Kofané

2013-07-01

In this work, we investigate the dynamics of modulated waves non-identical coupled nonlinear transmission lines. Traditional methods for avoiding mode mixing in identical coupled nonlinear electrical lines consist of adding the same number of linear inductors in each branch. Adding linear inductors in a single line leads to asymmetric coupled nonlinear electrical transmission lines which propagate the signal and the mode mixing. On one hand, the difference between the two lines induced the fission for only one mode of propagation. This fission is influenced by the amplitude of the signal and the amount of the input energy as well; it also narrows the width of the input pulse soliton, leading to a possible increasing of the bit rate. On the other hand, the dissymmetry of the two lines converts the network into a good amplifier for the ω_ mode which corresponds to the regime admitting low frequencies.

Selected Resources and Bibliography

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New Directions for Higher Education, 2011

2011-01-01

This chapter provides an annotated bibliography of resources pertaining to international branch campuses (IBCs). This collection of references has been selected to represent the breadth of emerging scholarship on cross-border higher education and is intended to provide further resources on a range of concerns surrounding cross-border higher…

Propulsion Airframe Aeroacoustics Technology Evaluation and Selection Using a Multi-Attribute Decision Making Process and Non-Deterministic Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burg, Cecile M.; Hill, Geoffrey A.; Brown, Sherilyn A.; Geiselhart, Karl A.

2004-01-01

The Systems Analysis Branch at NASA Langley Research Center has investigated revolutionary Propulsion Airframe Aeroacoustics (PAA) technologies and configurations for a Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) type aircraft as part of its research for NASA s Quiet Aircraft Technology (QAT) Project. Within the context of the long-term NASA goal of reducing the perceived aircraft noise level by a factor of 4 relative to 1997 state of the art, major configuration changes in the propulsion airframe integration system were explored with noise as a primary design consideration. An initial down-select and assessment of candidate PAA technologies for the BWB was performed using a Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) process consisting of organized brainstorming and decision-making tools. The assessments focused on what effect the PAA technologies had on both the overall noise level of the BWB and what effect they had on other major design considerations such as weight, performance and cost. A probabilistic systems analysis of the PAA configurations that presented the best noise reductions with the least negative impact on the system was then performed. Detailed results from the MADM study and the probabilistic systems analysis will be published in the near future.

Tunable heat conduction through coupled Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Ruixia; Yuan, Zongqiang; Wang, Jun; Zheng, Zhigang

2015-01-01

We conduct a study on heat conduction through coupled Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) chains by using classical molecular dynamics simulations. Our attention is dedicated to showing how the phonon transport is affected by the interchain coupling. It has been well accepted that the heat conduction could be impeded by the interchain interaction due to the interface phonon scattering. However, recent theoretical and experimental studies suggest that the thermal conductivity of nanoscale materials can be counterintuitively enhanced by the interaction with the substrate. In the present paper, by consecutively varying the interchain coupling intensity, we observed both enhancement and suppression of thermal transport through the coupled FPU chains. For weak interchain couplings, it is found that the heat flux increases with the coupling intensity, whereas in the case of strong interchain couplings, the energy transport is found to be suppressed by the interchain interaction. Based on the phonon spectral energy density method, we attribute the enhancement of the energy transport to the excited phonon modes (in addition to the intrinsic phonon modes), while the upward shift of the high-frequency phonon branch and the interface phonon-phonon scattering account for the suppressed heat conduction.

Bacterial manganese reduction and growth with manganese oxide as the sole electron acceptor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myers, Charles R.; Nealson, Kenneth H.

1988-01-01

Microbes that couple growth to the reduction of manganese could play an important role in the biogeochemistry of certain anaerobic environments. Such a bacterium, Alteromonas putrefaciens MR-1, couples its growth to the reduction of manganese oxides only under anaerobic conditions. The characteristics of this reduction are consistent with a biological, and not an indirect chemical, reduction of manganese, which suggest that this bacterium uses manganic oxide as a terminal electron acceptor. It can also utilize a large number of other compounds as terminal electron acceptors; this versatility could provide a distinct advantage in environments where electron-acceptor concentrations may vary.

Protective Effects of Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction (MPFF) on a Novel Experimental Model of Chronic Venous Hypertension.

PubMed

das Graças C de Souza, Maria; Cyrino, Fatima Zga; de Carvalho, Jorge J; Blanc-Guillemaud, Vanessa; Bouskela, Eliete

2018-05-01

To assess protective effects of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) on microcirculation in an original chronic model of hind limb venous hypertension with low blood flow in small animals. Vein ligatures were performed on male hamsters, as follows: A-right femoral vein; A + B-right femoral vein and its right branch; A + C-right femoral vein and its left branch; A + B + C-right femoral and its right and left branches; D-external right iliac vein. In sham operated groups, similar vascular dissections were performed without ligatures. Superficial (epigastric) and central (jugular) venous pressure evaluations were made during a 10 week period. Hamsters subjected to A + B + C and D ligatures were selected for leukocyte rolling and sticking, functional capillary density (FCD), and venular and arteriolar diameter observations. D ligature was selected to evaluate pharmacological treatment efficacy. MPFF (100 mg/kg), concomitant active flavonoids of MPFF (diosmetin, hesperidin, linarin, and isorhoifolin) (10 mg/kg), diosmin (100 mg/kg) or drug vehicle were administered orally during 2 weeks before vein ligature and 6 weeks thereafter. A, A + B and A + C models maintained venous return through collaterals. From the 2 nd to the 10 th weeks after vein ligatures, A + B + C and D models elicited a progressive increase of superficial venous pressure (3.83 ± 0.65 vs. 8.56 ± 0.72 mmHg, p < .001 and 4.13 ± 0.65 vs. 9.35 ± 0.65 mmHg, p < .001, respectively) with significant changes to the microcirculation. As D model significantly increased superficial venous pressure without affecting central venous pressure, it was used to evaluate the long-term effects of treatment. Compared with vehicle, MPFF, concomitant active flavonoids of MPFF, and diosmin, significantly decreased leukocyte-endothelium interaction and prevented FCD reduction. Only MPFF significantly prevented venular enlargement as observed in the vehicle treated group. MPFF was more effective than diosmin in improving all microvascular variables. The superiority of MPFF over diosmin alone can be explained by the synergistic beneficial effects of the association between diosmin and active flavonoids of MPFF. Copyright © 2018 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Flow injection biamperometric analysis of isoniazid].

PubMed

Zhang, J C; Zhao, C; Song, J F

2001-09-01

To establish a simple, rapid, and accurate electrochemical method for on-line determination of isoniazid. Based on the flow injection biamperometry for irreversible couple system, and using two preanodized platinum electrodes with the applied potential difference of 0 V, the biamperometric method for the determination of isoniazid has been proposed by coupling the catalytic oxidation of isoniazid and the reduction of platinum oxide. Common excipients, inorganic ions, amino acids, vitamins and proteins do not interfere with the determination. Linear relationship between current and the concentration of isoniazid is obtained in the range of 1.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-4) mol.L-1 (gamma = 0.998, n = 11). The RSD of 1.8% was obtained for 8 successive determinations of 1.0 x 10(-5) mol.L-1 isoniazid. The proposed method has been shown to be sensitive, selective, rapid (120 samples.h-1), and suitable for the on-line direct determination of isoniazid.